The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1906-12-27
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unlii tue traln slowed down In Helena
yard that her weary eyes closed
Every man on the Rocky Mountain
division knew that Jack Everett's
mother was coming out on NO. 1, and
as Jack was the apple of the eye of
every man on the division, from super
intendent to section boss there was q
general feeling that No. / must take
her over the division In style.
Though BLACK" Swayzey, of the 423,
and Dan McLane, OF the 479, had an
intimate acquaintance with every bolt
and bearing Of their big machines. that
| acquaintance was personally renewed,
aud prolonged visits paid with torch,
wrench. soft hammer and oil can be-
fore they would allow the engines to
be taken out Of Helena roundhouse.
They spoke words of wisdom to their
firmen, too. Words Of railway wisdom
that told volumes of what the furnace
suffers might expect If they failed to
furnish steam In plenty for the run.
which the engineers suggested would In
all probability keep them busy.
So it was that everything was ready
for a record-breaker, when, as Jacks
mother fell asleep in the "Oneta," the
engines backed down on the train
Sawhill's silyer-plated lamp swung out ;
and with echoing toots they picked up
their load with Jacks orders to run
three hours late from Helena to Mis-
soula-for the Montana division had
made up nothing of the four hours.
Lets see," said Jack to himself as
he received the report of their Depart
IRE at his Office where the Rartlesnake
and He'll Gate join their waters, and.
tipping back at the open window.
blinked at the familiar face OF the
clock. -Four hours-that will give
Swayzey chance to pick up ten min
utes on the hill and fifty minutes from
Blossburg to Missoula, and still keep
on the safe side OF that order. He
surely can't do better than that even II
do want to get 'Marmsie' here as
quick as / cam"
The situation looked good to him,
and he began to give way No. is time
to freight trains with lavish hand.
He believed in the maxim that freighs
trains pay passenger crews wages.
But BLACK" Swayzey hadn't taken
orders from Jack for two years for
nothing and, knowing the young dis
patcher's habit OF helping those who
helped themselves, chuckled as he hook
Ell the 423 up add opened her out to
tear of the miles
IF you keep the old beast hot, he
yelled across the cab to shorty" Nc
Cone, his fireman, well have Everett
canceling a lot of those orders be Is
passing out to freight trains, and then
grinned, for the escaping steam was
singing over the roar OF the exhaust
even then as he steadied himself to
round the curve at Birdseye, and
squinted at the cloud Of black smoke
pouring out of the big McQueen's
stack.
Digging along behind In desperate
effort to keep the pace, the hog"
coughed frantically. with Dan McLane
leaning half way out OF the cab win
dow keeping watch on a pin that was
a bit tender 1t made Jacks yes
sparkle with delight when the opeA stor
at Butler reported the double-header
by without having stopped for water.
That meant ten minutes saved.
Other duties called his attention.
Two freights just In from the west end
were ready for orders. waiting to pull
out of Heron; a stock train was calling
for orders at Horse Plains; Trout
Greek wanted help for a delayed way
freight up White Pine Hill against No.
81 and a helper at Arlee must come
over the mountain to have its boiler
washed out. BY the time he had ST.
fenced the clamor of the night hawks
west of Missoula the operator at Bloss-
burg reported No. 1 rolling out OF the
tunnel.
They had made up twenty-five min
utes coming up the hill. A record run
sure enough. 1t meant that they would
crowd the order to run three hours
late before Swayzey whistled for the
Garrison yardpost. They must be Civ
en- a chance, and, telling Blossburg to
copy for No. 1, Jack quickly picked
ur the freights to which he had gwen
away the time. and sent an order can
ceiling the favors against No. /, and
giving that train an order to run three
hours late to Elliston and two hours
late from there to Missoula.
Each station repeated the order back,
the train crews signed 1t and were re-
leased, and Swayzey, now freed from
McLane's numbering giant, dropped out
OF Blossburg so precipitately that Saw
hill had to forget his dignity and catch
the first coach he might or get left be-
hind.
Jack tipped back in his chair again,
loosened his vest, and filled his rings
with the cool night breeze of June that
blew from the foothills. Then with de-
liberation stuffed tobacco into his pipe
and aided its purpose with match.
The moonlight tipped the distant
snow caps with silver. Il shone over
the little town which was all asleep
but for the chugging activity Of chubby.
important switch engines that kicked
and pushed and pulled cars here aud
there In obedience to waving lamps,
spitefully banging those they cast or
against their fellows slumbering on the
side tracks. The clang of iron on iron
echoed through the still air and
brought long-drawn ''yap zap yar-r-r"
of defiance from a lone coyote on his
launches In the Indian burying ground
ON the nearest terrace Of foothills. The
roar Of the He'll Gate over its rock
sfrswu cl,annal reached the oflce In a