The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-09-06
LoooMoTTvE no. 8.
(By NJ. Quad.)

place; il was another event when the
nrsrs train was made up for the ter
minus; it was a third when big Tom
Orayton was put in charge of No. 8.
He had run a construction train
throughout the building of the line 1t
had come to be known to a small cir
Gle that Big Tom had had a love af-
1alr IN the past, and that he would
have been married man but for the
accidental death of his sweetheart AS
II was they said he was silent man
because he could not get over his
grief To his fireman in the cab and
mis- companions at the round house or
the boarding house he had so little to
say that he was often spoken of as
Tom The Silent"
After Tom had taken No. there
was a change in him. His fireman
was the first to notice and report it.
The engineer didn't lay aside his re-
serve, but he was seen smiling much
oftener. and the fireman had caught
him patting the new engine and talk
ing to her as if she was a human be-
ing To an outsider this would have
been sneered at; to a railroad man it
was different They realized at once
that Tom had accepted No. for a
sweetheart. Men who live lives of
peril respond to sentiment quicker
than others. There wasn't sneer or
a laugh or an unkind word. On the
contrary, men whispered that it was
bad thing for a strong man to brood
and grieve, and that it was a good
thing Big Tom had found a new
sweetheart
For two months No. and her en-
gineer had the best of luck. Then
came an accident by which they were
thrown into the ditch. No. was
pretty well smashed. and Tom Dray-
ton had ribs and leg broken: The
first inquiry he made after the sur
geons had fixed him up and he had re-
gained consciousness was after his pet.
When they softly told him how she
had been damaged two great tears
welled out of his eyes and lay upon
his cheeks. He said nothing of his
own hurts; they did not count. There
was a week or so in which the master
mechanic did not know whether to
send No. to the scrap heap or the re-
pair shops. They did not tell this to
Tom, but he seemed to realize the
crisis and he fretted and worried until
the doctors We're mystif1ed. Then
word was brought one morning by the
fireman that sweetheart was to be
repaired and made as good as new,
and within an hour the doctors saw
such a change in the big man that
they were mystified again
Tom and his locomotive came out
together-one from the hospital and
the other from the shops. and when
he went down to the round house 10
see and talk to her even the wipers
there walked away and gave them
chance to greet each other as lovers
do Next day No. and Tom were
put back on the old run, and for the
next three years they were in way
public characters. They were pointed
out and Dragged about as the most
faithful pair on the line. Not an acei-
dent of any sort happened them. Other
locomotives were ditched, caught In
collision Or became victims to spread
rails. other engineers were killed
or discharged. or MANNED for life No
matter for snow or rain or fog or
darkness, the pair could be counted
will n
always last. Indeed, they grow old
faster than flesh ana blood There
came a day when No. began to
limp and complain. For three months
Tom tinkered and patched and con-
realed 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 mechanic overhauled
her and pursed his lips and turned his
back on the engineer.
What is it?' asked Tom in anxious
tones.
she has lived her day as a passen-
ger engine. She may last for another
year on freight. You will have to
change to No. Z after this run
Big Tom walked away without an
other word and sat down in the dark
est corner of the round house and
brooded. If some one had told him
that on the morrow he must get a
divorce or abandon a wife he could
not have taken 1t worse. After two
Or three hours he walked about, but
men left him to himself. The re-
port had gone out and they were
sorry for him. His run was to be-
gin at eight o'clock that evening, and
The weather promised a wild night. !
Some said that he would wander away
and not be there to take his train
put but they were mistaken. He was
on time, and to all outsiders he sup
pressed his feelings. To his fireman
he said in a voice hardly above a
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"
But you know she IS getting DID, !
replied the fireman.
But they shan't disgrace and hu- |
initiate her Do you hear-they shan't |
DO it, She's been good and loyal and
true, and won't have it,
Maybe they will change their
minds tomorrow"
The engineer turned away without |
mother word and busted himself about |
The departure, and promptly on the |
minute No. steamed out of the |
aepot as proudly ever in her life. |
There was a gale and a downpour of !
.ain. She began to slip and strain and |
The junction. ten miles out, she had |
lost two minutes time. The fireman |
looked at Big Tom and saw him shak-
ing his head mournfully. When the /
Egnal to go ahead had been given the
engineer turned and said:
son, I want you to climb over the |
tender on to the platform of the bag
gage car. When / check her up you
ire to cut me loose and brake the
rain to a standstill.
Heavens, but you can't do that!"
il1outed the fireman.
But will do 1t. Don't say another
word. We have been partners for
three wears and 1 don't want to hurt
Fou, but by the gods of heaven you
Kill do as I order or I will throw you
lrcr,n tn q ca h., i