La Junta tribune., 1907-09-14

the Denver Hier caught at the foot Ike
rat in n trap.
Ben Buckley was only big boy
then. braking on freighis | WAS dis,
patching under Alex Campbell on the
West End. Ben was 4 tall loose joint
cd fellow. but gentle ns a kitten; legs
ns long ns pinch bars. y"t none too
lon. running for the Beverly switch
that night His great chum In those
days WIS Andy Cameron. Andy WIS
tn" youngest engineer on tile line. fhe
first time ever saw them together
Andy short and chubby as n duck.
WIS dancins around. half dressed. on
The roof OF the bath house. trying TO get
away from Ben, who had the lire hose
below, playing on him with two inch
stream Of Ice water. They were up to
some sort OF prank all the time.
June was usually II rush month with
us. From the coast we cnugh, the new
crop Japan teas and the fall importa-
tons OF China silks. California still
sent her fruits. and Colorado was be
ginning cattle shipments. From Wy
omlne came sheep and from Oregon
steers. and all these not merely In car.
loads, but In solid trains. At times we
were swamped. The overland traffic
alone was enough to keep us busy. on
top OF II came great movement OF
grain from Nebraska that summer. and
to crown our troubles n rate war
sprHug up. Every man. woman aud
child east OF the Mississippi appeared
To have but one object In iifc-,hat WAS
to get TO california and to go over our
road. The passenger traffic hurdened
our resources to the last degree
I was putting on new men every day
then. We start them nj brakins on
frelehis, Usually they work FOR years
Mt that before they got n train. but
when train dispatcher is short on
crews he must have them and can only
press the best material within reach.
Ben Buckley had not been braking
three months when l called him up
one day and asked him II he wanted
n train.
Yes. sir. I'D like one first rate. but
you know ! haven't been braking very
long. Mr. Reed" said he frankly.
''How long have you been In the
tistil N'F
I spoke brusquely. though knew
without even looking at my service
card just how long II was.
Three months. Mr.. Reed
II WAS right TO n day.
"l'll probably have to send you out
on - this afternoon" | saw him
stiffcn like u ramrod 'You know
were pretty short" continued.
yes SIR
your head on your shoulders and your
train on your ordcrst''
Ben laughed little. Il think I do.
VIII there be two sections todayt'
They're loading eighteen cars of
stock at Ogalalla. II we get any hogs
of the Beaver there will be two big
sections. | shall mark you m for the
first one anyway and send you out
right behind the hicr. Get your badge
and your punch from Carpenter, aud,
whatever you do. Buckley, don't get
ratified
NO. sir. Thank YOU. Air, Reel.
But his thank you'' was 50 pleas
ant | couldn't altogether ignore II. I
compromised with cough. Perfect
courtesy even In the hands OF the awk-
wardest boy that ever wore his trou.
scrs short Il II surprisingly handy
thing TO disarm gruff people with. Ren
was undeniably awkward his les
We're too long and his trousers decided
ly out OF tcuch with his feet hut
turned away with the conviction that
In spite OF his cawkiness there was
something to the boy. That night
proved 1t.
When the fier pulled in from the
west in the afternoon II carried two
extra sleepers. In all eight Pullmans.
and every one OF them loaded To the
ventilntors. While the train was
changing engines and crews the ex.
ctIrsionists swarmed out OF the hot
ears TO walk up and down the Mat
form. They We're from New Yor'. and
had a band with them-as jolly a
crowd as we ever hauled-and ] no
ticed many boys and girls sprinkleil
among the grown folks.
AS the heavy train pulled slowly ont
the band played, the women waved
handkerchiers and the boys shouted
themselves hoarse.
Half an hour after the filer left. n.
the fast stock freight. wound like
great snake around the blum after 1t.
Ben Buckley tall and straight as q
pine. stood on the caboosc. 1t was his
first train. and he looked as IL he felt
1t.
In the evening got reports Of heavy
rains cnst Of MS. and after - reported
.'outv of Turner Junction and pulled
over the divide toward Beverly 1t was
stor,ning hard all along the line. Fly
the time they reached the hill Ben had
his men ont setting brakes = tough
work on that kind OF night. bus