Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-03-12


1t stuck IN my crop-the idea OF put
ting the boy or pilot engine to take
all the dangers ahead Of that partic-
ular train. But had good deal else
to think of besides. From the minute
the silk got into the McCloud yards
we posted double guards around.
About 12 o'clock that night we held q
council Of war; which ended In our
running the train into the ont freight
house. The result was that by morn
Ing we had a new train made up. 1t
consisted of fourteen refrigerator cars
loaded with oranges which had come
In mysteriously the night before. 1t
was announced that the silk would be
held for the present and the oranges
rushed through. Bright and early the
refrigerator train was run down to the
Ice houses. and twenty men were put
TO work icing the oranges. At o'clock
McCurdy pulled In the local passenger
with engine 105. Our plan was to
cancel the local and run him right out
with the oranges. When he got In ne
reported the 105 had sprung tire. 1t
knocked our scheme into cooked hat.
There was lantern jawed confer
ence I'm the roundhouse.
"What can you do?" asked the super
intendent in desperation.
"There's only one thing ] can do
Put Bartholomew Mullen on 1t with
the A and put McCurdy to bed for
No. 9 tonight" responded Neighbor.
We were running first in, first out
but we took care to always have some
body for l and . who at least knew an
injector from an mir pump.
1t was S o'clock. looked into thu
locomotive stalls. The first-the only
man In sight was Bartholomew Mullen
He was very busy polishing the "A. He
had gOod steam OIL her, and the old tul
was wheeling as II she had the asthma
| The a was old, she was homely. she
was rickety. but Bartholomew Mullen
wiped her battered nose rs deferential
ly as IL she had been spick-span. spi
der driver. tail truck mail racer.
She wasn't much-the A. But IN
those days Bartholomew wasn't much
and the Al was Bartholomew's.
"How is she steaming. Bartholo
mew?" I sung out. He was right III
the middle of her. Looking up. he fin
gered his waste modestly and blushed
through dab of crude petroleum over
his eye.
"Hundred and thirty, sir. She's ter
rible free steamer. the old A. I'm al
ready to run her out"
"Who's marked up to fire for you
Bartholomew"
Bartholomew Mullen looked at me
fraternally.
"NeIghbor couldn't give me anybody
but a wiper" said Bartholomew In q
sort of wouldn't that-kill-you tone.
The unconscious arrogance OF the
boy quite knocked me, so soon had
honors changed his point Of view-las'
night despised wiper, Mt daybreak ar
engineer, and his nose In the air Mt the
idea Of taking on wiper for fireman
and all SO innocent.
"Would you object, Bartholomew"
suggested gently. Ito train master
for fireman.
II don't think so. SIR"
'Thank you. because ! am goinf
down to GAINESVILLE this morning my
self, and thought I'd ride with you
Is 1t all rlght?"
"oh. yes. sir. II NeIghbor dOesn'
care"
l smiled. He didn't know VIII
Neigbbor took orders from, but b
thought evidently not from me.
"Then run her down to the oranges
Bartholomew, and couple OF, and wei
order ourselves out. See?"
The A really looked like baby cal
rage when we got her In front OF tn
refrigerators. However. after the nef
essary prelimlnaries We gave q yer,
sporty toot and pulled out. In fey
minutes we were sailing down th
valley. =
For ffty miles We bobbed along wit
| our cargo of iced silk az easy as Oh
] shoes, for need hardly explain tina