La Junta tribune., 1907-08-03

an Idea. after her terrific collision. that
she could not stand heavy main line
passenger runs, 30 he put her on the
Acton cut OF. IL was what railroad
men call n jerk water run, whatever
that may be-. little jannt OF ten miles
across the divide connecting the north
ern division with the Denver stem.
II was lust about like running a troll
ley, and the run was given To Dad
Sinclair. FOR after that lift at oxford
his back was never strong enough to
shovel coal. and lie had to take an en-
gine or quit raliroadins.
Thus 1t happened that after many
years he took the throttle once more
and ran over. twice day. as he does
yet. from Acton to Willow Creek.
His boy. Georgle Sinclair, the kid
engineer, took the run on the fiier op-
posite Foley just a. soon as he got
well.
Gcorgie. who was never happy un-
less he had eight or ten Fullmnns be
hind him and the right OF way over
everything between Omaha and Den
yer. made great sport of his fathers
liiiI. smoking car aud day coach he
hind the big engine.
Foley made sport OF the remodcied
engine He used to stand by while
the old engineer was oillnc ana ask
him whether he thought she could
catch n jack rabbit. Il mean Foley
would say, III the rabbit was feeling
well"
Dad Sinclair took II all grimly and
quietly. He had rallroadcd too long to
care for anybo-iy's chan. but one day.
after the skyscraper had got her f'ues
pretty well chalked up with aikail. 10
ley Insisted that she must be renamed.
Il have the only genuine skyscraper
on the West End myself" declared Fo-
ley. He did have new Class IL en-
Eine. and she was awe inspiring. In
truth. Il don't propose he continued.
'.to have her confused with your old
tub any longer, Dad"
Dad. oIlng his old tub afrectionatoly.
answered never word.
"Shc's full OF soda. isn't she. father:"
asked George. standing by.
'Rcckon she Is, SON.
Full OF water. suprosey'
TRY to keep her that way. SON"
'.Sai Soda. isn't II. pad?
"Now, | can't say. As 10 that can't
say"
Wen call her Sal Soda. George
suggested Foley.
NO" interposed George. stop
bit have II. Not sal Soda Mt all.
Make IL Soda Water Sal
Then they laughed uproariousiy. and
In the teeth of Dad Sinclair's protests
Il.
the queer name stuck 10 the engine.
and sticks yet.
To have seen the great hulklng ma
chine You would never have suspected
there could be another story left In her
Yet one there was--a story OF the wind
As she stood, too when old man Sin
clair took her on the Acton run. she
was the best illustration have ever
seen of the adage that one can never
tell from the looks Of frog how far
II will jump. ~---~-~---
Have you ever felt the wind: Not,
! think, unless you have lived on the
seas or on the plains. People every
where think the wind blows, but IL
really blows only on the ocean and on
the prairies.
Tie summer that Dad took the Acton
frun IL blew for asmtnth ssteAd,lSs ~
OF one Augnst-hot. dry. mcrcilcss. the
despair of the farmer and the terror of
trainmen.
II was on an August evening. with
the gale still sweeping up from the
southwest. that Dad came numbering
into Acton with his little trolley train.
Ia naI t..J NJ sh.. ,,Ir q.
form TO unload his passengers when
the station agent Morris Reynolds.
coatiess and hatiess, rushed up TO the
engine ahead of the hostler and sprang
into the cab. Reynolds was one OF
the quietest fellows In the service. To
see him without coat or hat didn't
count for much in such weather, but
TO see him sallow with fright and al
most speechless was enough to stir
even old Dad Sinclair.
1t was not Dads habit to ask qnes-
tons. but he looked ut the man in Iucs-
tioning amazement. Reynolds choked
and caught Mt his breath as he seized
the engineers arm and pointed down
the line.
Dad" he gasped. three cars Of coal
standing over there on the second spur
blew loose few minutes ago.
Where are they?'
where are they? Blown through
the switch and down the line forty
miles an hour
The old man grasped the frightened
man 10y the shoulder. what do you
mean; How long ngoi When Ia
due? Talk quick. man. What's the
matter with your
"Not five minutes ago. No. is due
here In less than thirty minutes. They'll
so into her sure. Dad" cried Reyn-
olis. all in fright. "what'll 10;
For heavens sake do something,