The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1907-02-28

Wltn tue COUlpuuyi tudL WIS Duu mum
ilton.
EYES," growled Dad, combating the
protests of the strikers committee, 81
know It, belong to your lodge. Bu
I'll tell you now-an I've told yor
afore-T aln't gon' to strike on the
company so long as Neighbor liz master
mechanic on this division; alnt a-goin
to do 1t, an you might as well quit
II you Jaw here from now till Christ
mas. 'twon't change my mind mar
bit"
And they didn't change it, Through
the calm and through the storm, and
1t stormed hard for awhile, Dad Ham
iton, whenever we could supply him
with an engineer, fired religiously.
No other man I'm the service could
have done It without getting killed
but Dad was old enough TO father any
man among the strikers. Moreover
he was giant physically and eccep-
tric enough to move along through the
heat of the crisis Indifferent to the
abuse of the other men. His gray
hairs and his tremendous pbysical
strength saved him from personal t39'
1ence.
Our master mechanic. Neighbor,
was another big man, six feet an inch
in his stockings, and strong as draw
bar. Between Neighbor and the old
fireman there existed some sort of n
bond-a liking. an affinity. Dad Ham
1lton had fired on our division ten
years. There was no promotion for
Dad; he could never be an engineer,
Though only Neighbor knew why. But
his job of firing on the river division
was sure as long ns Neghber signed
fhe payrolls mt the rOundhousc.
Hence there was no surprise wneH
the superintendent offered him an en-
refused to take it.
I'm Il fireman, and Nelghbor knows
1t. l amt no engineer. I'll make
steam for any man you put in the cab
with me. but | won't touch a throttle
for no man. | laid it down. and I'll
never pinch it again-an no otfense
T. you, Neighbor, neither"
Dad on that subject; threats and en-
treaties were useless. Then, too in
spite of his prOfessed willingness TO
throw coal for any man we put on his
engine, he was continually rowing
about the green runners we gave him.
From the standpoint of a railroad man
they We're tough assortment; for
fellow may be a good painter, or
handy man with Jack plane, or an
expert machlnest even and yet fail
ure as an engine runner.
After we got hold of Foley, Neighbor
put him on awhile with Dad, and the
grizZled fireman quickly declared that
Foley was the only man on the pay
roll who knew how to move a train.
The little chap proved such re-
markable find that tried hard to get
some of his eastern chums to come
out and join him. After u good bit
OF hustIing we did get half u dozen
more Reading boys for our new corps
of engine men. but the East End Of
ficials kept all but one OF them on their
own divisions. That one we got be-
cause nobody on the East End wanted
him
They've crlmped the whole bunch.
Foley" said l, answering his inquiries.
There's just one fellow reported here
he came in on this morning.
Neighbours had little talk with him,
but he doesn't think much of him. l
guess we're out the transportation on
that fellow"
whats his name?' asked Foley.
-Is he off the Reading"
"Claims he is; his name is MeNeai'--
"McNealY' echoed Foley, surprised
mot George McNeal?"
II don't know what his first name ls
He's nothing but boy"
Ozark complexioned fellow?"
Perhaps you'd call him that; sort OF
soft spoken"
"Georgie McNeal. sure's you're born.
If you've got him you've got a bird.
lie ran opposite me between New York
and Philadelphia on the limited.
want to see him right Off. If it's Geor-
gle, you're all right"
Foley's talk went a good way with
me any time. When / told Nelghbor
about il he pricked up his ears, While
we were debating in rushed Foley
with the kid, AS he called him.
AS luck would have it. NeighbOr put
the boy on the pa with Dad Hamil-
ION, and Dad proceeded at once to
make what Foley termed "a great
roar"
whats the matter?" demanded
= 'ghbor roughly when the old fire
lnan complained.
IF you're goin' TO pull these trains
with boys. ! guess It's time for me TO
quit. I'm gettin' pretty old, anyhow"
whats the matterf" growled Neigh
bOr, still surlier. knowing full well that
X the old fellow had a good reason he
would have blurted IL out at the start
"NOthin's the matter. only I'd like
my time"
"You won't get IT," said Neighbor
go back on your run. Ii
MeNeal don't behave. report him To
me. and he'll get his time"
1t was a favOrlte trick OF Neighbor's
Whenever the old fireman got to buck
ing about his engineer the master me-
chanic threatened to discharge the en-
glneer. That settled It. Dad Hamilton
wouldn't for the world be the cause OF
another man out of job. no
matter how little he liked him.
The old fellow went back 10 work
nollIied, but It was evident that he
and MeSeai didn't half get on together 4.
asl... A.. i. s.Ga.....