Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-06-07
DAILY STORY
LOCOMOTIVE NO, 8.

transferred his affections TO MS engine
his friends had hopes for him.
For two months No. S and her engi-
neer had the best of luck. Then came
an accident by which they were
thrown into the ditch. No. was pref
ty well smashed, and Tom Is7ayton had
ribs and leg broken. The first in
Qury he made after the surgeons had
fixed him up and he had regained con-
seriousness was after his pet. He said
nothing of his own hurts. They did not
count There was Il week or so in
which the master mechanic did not
know whether to send No. s to the
scrap heap or the repair shops. They
did not tell this to Tom. but he seemed
20 realize the crisis, and he fretted and
worried until the doctors were mysti-
fed Then word was brought one
morning by the fireman that ''Swcet-
heart was to be repaired and made rs
good as new, and within an hour the
doctors saw such Il change in the big
man that they were mystified again.
No. s and Tom were put back on the
old run, and for the next three years
they We're in way public characters.
Not an accident of any sort happened
them. Other locomotives were ditchcd
caught IN collision or became victims
to spread rails. Other engineers We're
killed or discharged or manned for life
No matter for snow or rain or fog or
darkness. the pair could be counted on.
However, iron and steel will not al
ways last. Indeed, they grow old fast
er than flesh and blood. There came 4
day when No. s began to limp and
complain. For three months Tom tin
kered and patched and concealed her
condition, but this could not go on for
long. She began to lose her strength
and speed and to be taken with queer
spells, and one day the master me-
chanic overhauled her and pursod his
lips ard turned his back on the cngi-
neer
What is it," asked Tom in anxious
tones
'She has lived her day as Il passen-
ger engine. She may last for another
year on freight. You will havn to
change to No. II after this run" ...
Big Tom walked away without an
| other word and sat down in the dark
est corner of the roundhouse and
brooded. If some one had told him
! that on the morrow he must divorce
| or abandon n wife he could not have
| taken it worse After two or three
hours he walked about, but men left
| him to himself The report had gone
out. and they We're sorry for him. His
| run was to begin at S O'Clock that even
| ing. and the weather promised a Wild
| night. Some said that he would wan
| der away and not be there to take his
train out. but they We're mistaken. lie
| was on time. and to all outsiders he
| suppressed his feelings. To his fire
man he said in voice hardly above n
| whisper:
| Ben, the sweetheart has got to go.
| This is her last trip before the coaches.
| They are going to put her on the
freight"
Put you know she is getting Old"
replied the fireman.
But they Shan't disgrace and humili-
ate her DO you hear-they shan't do
| it. She's been good and loyal and true,
and l won't have it,
Maybe they will change their minds
tomorrow"
The engineer turned away without
another word and busted himself about
the departure, and promptly on the
minute No. s steamed ont of the depot
as proudly as ever in her life. There
| was Il gale and dOwnpour of rain.
She began TO slip and strain and
wheeze ere she had gone Il mile. At
the junction, ten miles ont, she had
lost two minutes time. The fireman
looked at Big Tom and saw him shak-
ing his head mOurnfully. When the
signal to go ahead had been given, the
engineer turned and said:
'Son. l want you to climb over the
tender on to the platform of the bag
| gage car. When | check her up You
are TO cut me loose and brake the train
to standStill."
Heavens. but you can't do THAR
shouted the fireman.
But will do it. Don't say another
word. We have been partners for
three years and L don't want to hurt
4 you. but by the gods of heaven you
will do as l order or 1 will throw you
from the cab"'
There wiz be an accidentw gasped
the other.
"Will you goT
! The man was dangerous. There was
light in his eyes no one had evel
seen before and on his mouth n smile
that was positively wicked. The fire
man crawled over the coal and diSap
peared. A moment later the speed
of the engine was checked and wa
freed from the train, and with a wall
ing blast from the whistle she leapet