Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-04-02

an idea. after her terrific collision, that
she could not stand heavy main line
passenger runs. so he put her OH the
| Acton cut off. 1t was what railroad
men call jerk water run, whatever
that may be, little jaunt Of ten miles
across the divide connecting the north
ern division with the Denver stem.
1t was just about like running a troll
ley. and the run was given to Dad
Sinclair. for after that lift at Oxford
his back was never strong enough to
shovel coal. and. he had to take an EN-
gine or quit railroading.
Thus 1t happened that after many
years he took the throttle once more
and ran over twice day. as he does
yet from Acton to Willow Creek.
His boy, George Sinclair, the kid
engineer, took the run Oh the tlier op-
p0site Foley just as soon as he got
well.
George. who was never happy un-
less he had eigla or ten Pullmans be-
hind him and the right Of way over
everything between Omaha and Den.
yer, made great sport of his fathers
little smoking car and day coach be-
hind the big engine.
Foley made sport Of the remodeled
engine. He used to stand by While
the old engineer was oiling and ask
him whether he thought she could
catch Il Jack rabbit. 81 mean" Foley
would say. IF the rabbit was feeling
WELL"
Dad Sinclair took 1t all grimly and
quietly. lie had railroaded too long to
care for anybody's chaff. But one day.
after the skyscraper had got her fiues
pretty we'll chalked up with alkall. Fe-
lev insisted that she must be renamed.
81 have the only genuine s!iyscraper
on the West End myself" declared Fo-
ley. He did have new Class ii ell
gine. and she was awe inspiring. III
truth. II don't PROPOSE" he continued.
"to have her confused with your old
tub any longer, Dad"
Dad, Oling his cd tub affectionately.
answered ne.er word.
"Shes full: Of soda, isn't she, fatherT
asked George, standing by.
"ReckOn she Is, son."
Full of water. SUPPOSE"
"Try to keep her that way. son."
"Sal Soda, isn't it, Dad?"
snow, / can't say. AS to that ! can't
say"
"WeIl call her Sal Soda, George"
suggested Foley.
NO" interpOsed George. stop q
bit have it. Not Sal Soda ut all.
Make it Soda Water Sal"
Then they laughed uproariously. and
in the teeth Of Dad Sinclair's protests
for he objected at once and vigorously
the queer name stuck to the engine,
and sticks yet.
To have seen the great hulking ma
chine you would never have suspected
there could be another story left in her.
Yet one there was-a story Of the wind.
AS she stood, too. when old man Sin
clair took her on the Acton run, she
was the best illustration ! have ever
seen of the adase that one can never
tell from the looks of frog how far
it will jump.
Have you ever felt the wind? Not,
| think. unless you have lived Oh the
seas or on the plains. People every.
where think the wind blows. but 1t
really blows only on the ocean and on
the pralries.
The summer that Dad took the Acton
run it blew for month steadily-all
Of one August-liot. dry. merciless, the
despair of the farmer and the terror of
trainmen.
1t was OIL an August evening, with
the gale still sweeping up from the
southwest. that Dad came numbering
into Acton with his little trolley train.
He had barely pulled UP ut the plat
form to unload his passengers when
the station agent, Norris Reynolds,
coatless and hatless, rushed up to the
engine ahead of the hostler and sprang
into the cab. Reynolds was one of
the quietest fellows In the service. To
see him without coat or hat didn't
count for much in such weather, but
to see him sallow with fright and al
most speechless was enough to stir
even old Dad Sinclair.
1t was not Dads habit to ask ques-
tions but he locke at the man in Ques.
tioning amazement. Reynolds choked
and caught at his breath as he seized
the engineers arm and pointed down
the line.
Dad" he gasped "three cars Of coal
standing over there on the second spur
blew loose few minutes ago"
"Where are they?"
"Where are they? Blown through
the switch and down the line forty
miles an hour"
The old man grasped the frightened
man by the shoulder. "What do you
mean? How long ago? When Is l
due? Talk quick. man! WHAT'S the
matter with you"
"Not five minutes ago. No. Is due
here in less than thirty minutes. They'll
go into her sure. Dad" cried Reyn-
olds. all In a fright, "what'll do?
For heavens sake. do something! l
called up Riverton and tried to catch
1, but she'd passed. | was too late.
There1l be a wreck. and I'm booked
'or the penitcntiary. What can do?"
All t,,o ,.I,;In tl,n ctofjon avout mimic