The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1907-04-18
SpoiHn&a a
Romance
BY CLAUDE PAMARES
Copyright, 1906, by E. C. Parcels

The brokers' private secretary looked
up in astonishment as the gray haired
old broker, who was frigidity itself,
hailed the visitor with:
"Well, well, Tom, but where the devil
did you spring from this morning?'
And Tom, who appeared to be fully
as old and frigid and gray haired as
the other, replied:
"Say, Jim, it's good for sore eyes to
see you. The g. and S. road wants a
thousand new freight cars, and I'm in
the east to raise loan. How are you,
anyhow? Feeling pretty gay, old boy p
And then the broker and the general
manager sat down for chat over old
days at college and talked Of this and
that for an hour before the broker said:
"By the way, Tom, I've got boy out
on your road"
'You don't say! He hasn't been near
me with letter.
"But he's there. You remember my
boy Dave? Always fussing around
with machinery since he was kid.
wanted to make broker Of him, but a
couple of years ago. after going through
the Polytechnic against n Y wishes, he
threw me over. He wanted to go rail
roading, and wanted him here and so
we had falling out"
"You don't say?"
II didn't drive him from the house,
but he left just the same. Said he was
going to make his own fortune and all
that bosh. Hasn't had a cent Of his
Income from me in over year He
writes to his mother. but never hear
direct from him. Got brains, think,
but he's self willed and inclined to be
an ass''
Don't be too hard on him. II 1t
isn't his way to skin the lambs, let him
try some other. believe you used
to be known as old Obstinacy' once
upon time"
'Yes, l remember. If you happen to
come across the boy and he deserves
a lift, give it to him. No petting or
pampering. though. Let him have all
the roughlng it he wants.
Away out west on the G. and s.
railroad there was a young man of
twenty-five working as fireman on an
engine drawing a local. Two years
before when he had applied to the su-
perintendent Of motive power for
something to do the .'super" had look.
ed him over In contempt on account OF
his white hands and patent leather
shoes and replied:
want work, eh? Well, I'll give il
to you. Go up to the roundhouse and
tell Sam to set you to work as a wiper
The pay will be $26 per month. and II
you get grease spots on that dandy
suit of yours the company won't pay
for the cleaning"
The official turned away with a
grin, thinking that that was the las,
of the young man, but he was mistak
en-. When three days had passed the
boss of the roundhouse reported:
"Jay, you sent me Jim Dandy of .
wiper. Hanged If he don't seem tt
know something about machinery"
"What, did the young fellow show
upT" asked the super" in surprise
Been working right along. and he's
the handiest chap I've had since my
time here. You'll be promoting hin
out of the house in a month";
The young man was watched close
ly and kept track of. He had been pu
at the very dirtiest work and given tht
poorest pay, but he made no com
plants. His time came when an en-
gine was telephoned for in a hurry ant
there was nobody to run her ort of tn,
house and up the yard. He stepped
into the cab and had the table turned
for him and turned the engine owe
without comment. He was going bacl
to his work when the superintendent
asked:
did you ever fire an engineY"
mo, sir"
''Think you couldy'
"Tm ready to give it a trial.
| Two weeks later he was put on
yard engine. The engineer meant t
| find fault with him because he wa
dandy" but no opportunity occur
red. He was kept in his place for 81:
months, as there were many to be pre-
NOTED in advance Of him, but he wa
finally given a place on the loca
When this engineer was asked to re
port on his cub" he said:
Hes a peach in his way, but
dunno how he'll pan out in the enc
He's one of these book engineers. II
thinks he could take an engine t
pieces and set her up again by tn
books, and I'm lookin' to see his hea
get swelled until the road has t
bounce him.
Things were in this shape when tn
general manager returned from Ney
York. He had forgotten about Davi
Holmes for the moment. He wante
to so down the road for few miles
! and so he took the local.
He was accompanied by his daugl
ter Nettie, but not in the car. It wa
said of this piquant girl of eightee
years that she ran the G. and S. roa
by running her father. She wanted
go down on the engine. and she ha
her way about it, and the meeting b,
tween her and 1.-The handsome fir,
man." as Dave was called, had cons,
quences. He had on his jumper IN
was grimy, but she saw beyond tha
Her heart was beating faster befor
she had been in the cab five minutes
During the next month that cab rid
was repeated three or four times Q
one excuse and another. but the el
gineer grinned and said nothing. VIII: