davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-10

you are like your father, Rufe. Good
day!"
And the bluff official abruptly closed the
interview.
But he had given the boy praise enough.
Like his father! Any old employe of the
Transcontinental could have told what kind
of man Engineer John Bonner had been in
three words, square, honest, upright" and
that Engineer Bonner had died hero-stick-
ing to his engine and going down to death
with it to save the crowded passenger train
behind him. when he might have jumped to
safety and allowed the train to plunge down
to destruction.
Like his father! Aye, Rnfe meant always
to be like bis father.
When the particulars of the interview with
the master mechanic had been given. little
Ben capered about with amazing agility, Con-
sidering that he had to be assisted by a
crutch.
He had fine scheme of future triumphs,
all evolved for his big brother. By-and-by
E9fe os would become an engineer era and handle
he would haul long through freights, and
after a while he would be, promoted to the
passenger service and people would see that
he would be like his father.
then, Rufe," Ben added, triumphantly.
"Well, what Will you be doing?
Rufe well knew Ben's ambition; but it was
always a pleasant subject for discussion.
O0, III De al operator Luens anu Wutu
you get your. train orders. from me you'll
always know they're %. X answered Ben,
with proud Importance. "And then. after a
long while, I'll be the train dispatcher"
''Whewl"
"Oh, you needn't whistlel You'll be the
master mechanic then, or"-in q prophetic
whisper-"the superintendent"
"Whewl" whistled Rufe again.
But he was well pleased with Ben's pro
phesy.
Perhaps they would never reach those high
places; but it was good for them to possess
the ambition and energy that urged them to
strive to win them.
Bright and early next morning Rufe re-
ported for duty, and was duly installed upon
No. 96, as fireman, under command of En-
gineer Jim Horn.
Little Ben was there to watch with admi-
ration while Rufe threw his first shovel of
coal into the fre-box. and to hurrah in his
small but enthusiastic voice when 96 went
rafting away to begin the days switching.
Rufe's days were passed in hard work. It
was no light task to keep the ever>hungry
fire supplied with coal; but he did his work
faithfully and well, and kept the brasswork
brighter and the blackwork cleaner than the
former fireman had done-so said Jim Horn.
And he surely and steadily mastered the de-
tails of managing the great machine.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-10

Jim Horn explained this and that, and Rufc
listened intelligently and remembered He
was working with purpose.
jim Horn was a good man to work with,
Rufe thought at first. for the engineer was
kind and social; but after while the boy
found that there was something wrong with
Jm-he went on an occasional spree after
working hours
Perhaps that did not lessen his ability as
an engineer now, but Rufe. knew that it would
do so, sooner or later, if persisted in; and
time proved that Rufe was right.
Little Ben's time was not all occupied with
the tasks at the cottage. He discharged the
routine of work there, and then each day
practiced with pen and pad of paper, work
ing, to acquire rapid and legible handwriting,
and when this was done he regularly hoped
perched on a stool and listened to the clatter.
ing of the "sounders'' as the messages clicked
by, Already he knew the Morse alphabet
and was slowly learning to take the clicking
The operator and the boy got on famously
together. The man knew the lads ambition
and assisted him as well as he could
By,and, by, when Rqfe told little Ben tri-
umphantly that Jim Horn had allowed him
to run No. So oyer the seven miles between
lrondale and Humboldt Junction without
assistance, Ben had it to tell that the opera
tor had permitted him to take message from
the WIRE" and send the answer clicking back,
and had praised his proficiency.
you'll have your engine after a while, and
I'll have my. Office. And then they'll see what
we can do"
And presently "they" did see, although it
was before Rufe had his engine and Ben his
office.
Besides doing the switching in the yards at
Irondale, No. 96 made two trips a day to
Humboldt junction, seven miles away, over
beyond Centropolis, transferring the freight
cars that were "cut out" at Irondale for
the B. & S. w. r. R., and bringing back from
the junction those that were left there by
the B. & S. w.
On the day IN question the little train of
| four fiat cars had been made up at the iunc-
| tion, and as the single brakeman who had
attended to the duty swung himself on to the
last car, the train started with fierce Jerk
that almost flung him from his feet, and went
tearing forward at rate that told him that
something unusual was the matter.
'The engineers been drinking again." he
said to himself, little annously.
The fact was that Jim had been on pro
tracted spree for several nights, SOLDERING up
in the daytime sufficiently to attend to his
duties, but steadily approaching a state Of
deiirium.
Instead of the speed diminishing, it mo-
mentardily increased, until the brakeman knew
| to a certainty that there was something ter
Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-10

ribly wrong The little string of empty flat
cars swayed from side to side as if the next
moment would see them slung from the track
as they roared over the crossings and tore
onward, with the telegraph poles seeming to
feirly flash by in the opposite direction.
The brakeman ran forward on the cars,
staggering, and being flung this way and that,
and cIambered up on to the tender, winch zen
coal to the cab. 1t was full of steam, and
he found Jim Horn hanging out on the step
on the right-han side, looking wild and dazed.
There was frenzied glare in his eyes, which
told its own story.
Young Rufe Bonner was in the cab; but
his white, set face was out Of the window to
escape the steam.
Jump, lly-jump" yelled jim, over the
uproar. "The throttle valve is pulled clear
out and the engine running wild! Jump,
boys!"
To Jump seemed but to leap to certain
death; but, as he uttered the warning cry,
il almost seemed that the engine was far ahead
of him the instant he left the step.
'fWhat shall we do. Rufe?" shouted the
brakeman, in the young fellows ear.
s'Stay by herl" cried Rufe.
In that time of peril he thought of his
father and his devotion to duty.
Centropolis was in sight. Would the track
be clear, or would there be collision, and
they be dashed to destruction?
Irondale, with its network OF tracks, switch,
es and spurs-with its swarm Of cars and
engines always on the move-was only three
miles beyond.
The steam-gauge registered ninety pounds,
and there was no hope that the tremendous
power would die out in five or six minutes.
IL warning could only be got to Irondale,
there was the bare possibility that the tracks
could be SO cleared and switches thrown that
open way would be left for No. 90, and she
could dash onward over clear track till her
fury was exhausted.
But there seemed no possible chance that
warning could be got to Irondale. Still, he
must remain with the engine and do what he
could-keep the whistle blowing to warn trav-
elers from the track at the various crossings
He could do that much, at any rate
But his boyish heart was sick with the fear
of it all the while he stayed manfully at his
post, there seemed SO little of hope before
him.
Somewhere over beyond Irondale the spe-
cial bearing the superintendent was coming.
If by miracle the track was cleared, the
special might have left the last station, and
no warning be able to reach it. But he would
keep the whistle going, and-he would do his
duty, come what might.
There was little Ben waiting for him at
home. Oh, it was too horrible!
CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX
Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-10
Copyright by James Elversn.)

V1Yl ELL. Ben, what do you think it is?'
WI cried Rufus Bonner, finging wide
the cottage door.
ESHYll Something good, Rufe, answered
tZZlaly little Ben Bonner, eagerly, hopping
in from. the kitchen at a rate that
made his Srutch play rapid cliekety,elaek on on
the way your face shines What is ii 2"
'I'm to fire ON No. &C."
'fWhoop-ee! That's goodl ] was dreadful
afraid it would be something bad, but just
knew it wouldn't be-"
And, with this contradictory statement,
little Ben hopped all around his big brother,
and bade him tell all about it, "every smitch'''
done.
In all the village. of Irondale, resounding
day and night with the clamor of engine
bells and whistles and the roar and rattle cf
trains, or, for that matter, along, the whole
length of the Transcontinental Railway, there
were not two happier persons, that day, than
Rufe and Ben Bonner; and yet the simple
cause Of all their joy. was that Rufe had Sc
cured the back breaking, position of fireman
on the switch engine. old No. 96.
But, from their standpoint, there was abun-
dant cause for rejoicing, for this was promo
ton and one step toward still better things.
Rufe had worked faithfully at his task as
engine wiper in the round house, but still,
when he had been abruptly summoned to
appear before the stern old master mechanic
on the morrow, he had awaited the meeting
with a certain vague dread. and little Ben
had been in quite hutter of apprehension.
It might be that the force Of employees was
to be cut down. There could be number
of causes for dismissal, and dismissal would
be decided hardship for them.
There were only two of them now-litt1e
Ben and big Rufe- since Engineer Bonner, the
father. had died beneath the wreck of his en-
CINE. doing his duty.
Rufe earned the money and paid the rent
and provided the food and clothing. while
Ben swept the house, made the bed and
cooked the simple dishes which were within
his ability to. cook. The, rest they. bought
ready prepared, or had kind Mrs. Hooley cook
for them.
Rufe furnished the muscle and did the great
things, and Ben did the little things; and the
big redcheeked fellow, and the thin-faced,
old-fashioned little fellow got on very comfort
ably together; but Rufe must keep steadily at
work, or things would not go so well
At the interview the master mechanic had
spoken almost grufhy, but straight to the
point.
'I have been watching you, Rufe," he said.
''You have done well, SO far. You are capable
of firing on 96. Report for duty tomorrow
Thank you, sir!" stammered Rufe. I7-
Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-10

N ELL Ben, what do you think It is p
cried Rufus Bonner, finging wide
j the cottage door.
81! Something good, Rufe," answered
y little Ben Bonner, eagerly, hopping
The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-03-08
MUNICIPAL POLITICS.

The principles Of tho Occur d'Alene
Civic Improvement league, as dc.
: clared In the platform adopted at last
evenings meeting, can be Endorsed
by every law abiding citizen of the
city, because they have the right
ring. II the league nominatates a
ticket for ward and city officers COM
posed Of men who will act along the
conservative lines OF the platform, its
Nchances of success at the polls may be
good. The success of it's ticket at
the polls, however, depends more on
the personnel of the candidates than
upon the platform, and ON the men
who compose the opposition ticket.
While public sentiment may be large
Ay In sympathy with the declaration OF
prinjples of the league, people will
walt until the tickets are In the field
before declaring how they intend to
vote. AS the Press has heretofore
declared, 1t Is men, level headed, con,
ser vative men Of business ability and
good judgment, who should manage
the affairs Of the embryo city, and
not radicals Of either extreme, so that
the civic league has yet It's most Inn
lportant cwork to perform in the nom
.inatiun Of ticket.
The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-03-08

Most all young monarchs Degin neir
sway with the idea that the old way Is
played out. But office soDefs euthu
slasm." and with age and discretion
reaction may be looked for II re-
forms have bordered upon radicallsn.
The tate shah was a reforper frou
the start who worked quietly Taxes
were reduced, railways and teIegraphs
extended. commerce and education
fostered, all without trumpeting and
bid for applause. To crown all, the
sovereign granted his people a consti-
tuition without being asked for the
boon. Looking ahead, he saw that the
true interests Of Persia would demand
political freedom, and he surrendered
his absolute power into the hands Of
parliament. The young man who sue
ceeded preferred to taste the sweets of
absolute power. after the manner Of
oriental despots. No ''westernization"
for him. Anyway his people won't
miss an old friend II they have to give
up the new toy handed them by the
late shah at his passing.
The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-03-08
Under the Cross
Loriginal.l

[Original.l
ELI Plat was having a hard time to
make a living. He went from house
to house selling any little article he
could get a dealer to trust him with,
and his life was passed principally In
looking In at doors which were slam
med In his face One day, receiving
no answer to his ring Mt a handsome
residence. he tried the knob opened
the door and walked In. Hearing no
sound, he reconnoltered as far as the
second story, from a back window OF
which he saw a woman In the yard
hanging up clothes. The premises had
evidently been left In her care. Pull
ing open Il bureau drawer, he saw a
box and, opening the box, small for
tune In jewels.
The human mind Is capable of great
elaboration In Il very small space OF
time. ELI Platts certainly was. He
had never stolen or robbed. Indeed,
he had calculated the chances of such
methods and knew they were decided
" against dishonesty. The goods were
usually recovered, and the thief went
to state prison. Plat concluded TO
take the jewels, hide them, suffer the
consequences of the theft and when Il
free man again recover the treasure
and take good long comfortable rest.
He decided and acted deliberately, not
on the usual impulse Of a thief.
That night he took the jewels to u
block on which the only building was
brick Junkshop. Somebody had once
taught him to ind the north star by
the pointer stars. so he took thirty
steps from the northwest corner OF the
tunkshop toward the north star. stop
ped and. with rusty shovel he found
outside the Junkshop, dug a hole and
buried his treasure.
He had been seen coming away with
the Jewels and when they were missed
was arrested. identified and sent to the
penltentlary.
Seven years later ELI Plat. just dis
charged, sauntered by the block where
he had buried the Jewels. A number
of buildings had been erected: but, for
tunately for ELI. he recognized the junk
shop, though Il was now used for a
feed store, He looked toward the
spot whore he had buried his treasure
The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-03-08
The Simple Life In Kansas.
Says the Chapman Advertiser:

No Kansas home IL altogether happy
without q bathtub, a bouquet of flowers
on the dinner table and a Bible In the liv-
ing room. When the whole family batheB
In . basin there IL apt to be uncleanli-
mesa, which u close kin to the devil,
bread and meat, no clean linen. no flow
ers no shining silver, there Is apt to be
cross words or quarreis. And when there
are Bibles only on the shelves in the dark
corners OF the library worldlinoss soon
grips the occupants of any homo.
The average man who keeps clean inside
and outside, who looks at the flower and
not the dust, who reads the Bible and
loves his wife and baby. is the best citi-
zen He Ia worth more to the community
than the individual who has a mansion
and a library and stocks and bonds and
inside the Satan OF seihshness bigger than
Z woodchuclk-
The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-03-08
The Dismal swamU.

A trip Into the Dismal swamp Il to
tAe one OF the attractions offered the
ampproachlng Jamestown exposition. II
IN proposed to open up steamboat
STOate through the 1000 square miles
Sonvolved, which, moreover are said not
% be 50 dismal as their name Indicates.
lGt was the traditional reputation OF the
swegion which inspired Tom Moore to
write tho weird ballad Lake OF tho
Dismal swamp" beginning with these
aanes:
tEhey made her grave too cold and damp
knr soul 80 warm and true.
And she's gone 70 the Lake OF the Dismal
swamp
where all night long. with freely lamp,
She paddles her white eanoO,
To this day the uncanny morass Ii
sAeid before young negroes as place to
52eep away frora Snakes and ghosts
Are said 20 hold high reyel there. The
Dismal swamp was oace the hiding
place of runaway slaves The swamp
stself was not terrible To them. 1t
Hseemed almost heavenly II they could
'aucceed ~ reaching It. The dismal
part wa helr Digit scross the south,
ara states. once the haven was gained
ahere was security. There was also
plenty Of game Tradition says that
whole tribes OF negroes gathered there.
They soon relapsed into a primitive
llfe they hunted ashed aud slept.
faT elemental passions arous.
-. s4e '& clalmtied occasional
esaeprodauons on Hle b,alar settlements
ard Acknowledged al aol, 10 the
strongest mdlyidual Few negroes vol
auntarily left the swamp for cIvlllza
don.
Washington began the construction
~ q canal to drain the swamp. and a
sew years ago the United States gov
eminent improved at the cost OF 81,
S0MOoo lumber canal which at pres
-@mt connects the waters OF Chesapeake
nay with Alhemarle sound. Large areas
- morass have become traversable by
sDallestrians owing to the drainage AZ
t1snded BY the canal
The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-03-08
SIDEWALKS.

The action Of the city council in
sieciding TO have the cement side.
walks out to the curb line, twelve
feet from the property line, with
Ia wn grass plot between, is not the
best location for such walks. The
.weason given Is that IL tho walks are
! placed in the center, telephone and
other poles will therefore, as they
{ nre, In many cases, set where the walk
should be. The Press contends that
the center between property and curE
line is the place for these walks, and
IL the poles interfere the owners
should be required TO move them,
The city Is extending an accommoda-
tion to these companies and is under
nc obligation to distlgure streets .and
walks because the poles are set In
3 ceTnin place. Ii seems to us u uni
form system should he adopted with
regard TO laying permanent cement
walks and that this Is case where
ahe newly organized Civic Improve
ment league might Interfere to great
advantage. The system Of walks is
for permanent improvement aud ought
20 be started right
The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-03-08

The changing OF the name Of lake
street TO Bancroft Is a fitting tribute
Of recognition to one of the oldest
sAnd most highly respected pioneers of
Occur d'Alene, II. L. Bancroft.
The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-03-08
- shah,u penenerate Son.

As rule the son is the radical and
sIhe father the conservative. But the
xsOa Of the late ruler OF Persia springs
aaa exception on the world just at the
Zane when radicalism Is shaking the
-aaldest thrones now under the sun
The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-03-08

S25OO-A fine corner lot S2HxI4o
feet with room house; bath room, pan
try and clothes closets; good barn and other
outbuildings. No better location, very
close in.
The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-03-08
Desirable Homes

S35OO-Here is your chance to buy
beautiful home: A 7 room modern house,
all hard finish plaster. with bath room, pan
try and clothes closets, stone cellar and
foundations; nice porches; two lots, one
corner; first class location, close in.
The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-03-08

$4,000 takes this new S room plastered
bungalow with good cellar and outbuildings
Lot a corner, 8oxI4o feet, very close in.
The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-03-08

$4,000 will buy 434 acres of No. /
farm land with good 7 room house; hard
finish plaster fine brick cellar; good barn,
poultry house and other outbui1dings, city
water; located u mile from school. No
better for the money.
The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-03-08

5000 will buy two lots 45xI32 feet,
each with a new room plastered bunga-
low; good outbuildings. Located in the
best residence part of the city.
The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-03-08

$500 takes this up-to-date 7 room
modern cottage; electric lights, hot air fur
mace, stone basement, first class cellar and
outbuildings Lot has IS foot frontage;
shade trees, shrubbery and beautiful lawn,
street graded, very close in.
The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-03-08
Farm Land

$45OO-41 acres of No. farm land,
9 acres in orchard bearing fruit, with good
room house; cistern, barn and other out
buildings, located 2A miles from city.
The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-03-08

Sl75O-2 lots, each 52xI2o feet, with
a good room house; pantry, clothes clos
cts, front hall and porch, and cellar; city
water inside; good outbuildings. No better
location, very close in.
The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-03-08
Special Bargains in Lots
In any part of the city and new adj
ditionS

$l25-1 lot 5ox125 feet
$3.50 lot 5oxI25 feet.
300 - lots 5oxI25 feet, one corner.
20 lots, one corner; 5ox125 feet
$oOO-4 one-half acre lots, with spring
water piped on ground.
$6OO-will buy fine lots, one a cor
ner. Good location,
S65O-Beautiful corner lot on 4th
street, 6oxG4o feet, close in.
S65O-Fi7e lot on 4th street 5ox15o
feet close in.
$500 takes this fine corner lot, very
close in.
$500 will buy splendid lots very
close In; no better location in city for lodg-
ing house
SIOoO-Fine corner lot on 4th street.
65xI22 feet, very close in.
SiOOO-Beautiful lot 6ox15o feet, To-
Gated on 4th street, very close in.
$780, lot 5oxI27 feet. Good loca-
ton.
S225 will buy lot on Occur d'Aiene
The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-03-08

Boys school pants at NOrquist's.
The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-03-08

$780, lots, a corner, with a a
room house, good barn and other outbuild-
ings; some young fruit trees. This is
bargain.
The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-03-08
A BARGAIN
SNAP

SI400-A new room house, all-wired
for electric lights, clothes closets and pan.
try, good cellar and outbuildings, very
close to city high school.
Free press., 1907-12-28
Electric Lights are Resumed.

Up until Wednesday evening the res
ident portion of the town has been with
out lights for eight days and the street
lights have been turned out at 10
o'clock. But now the big boiler has
been repaired and the lights are re-
sumed all over the city. The boiler
was first patched up by couple of
boiler makers from the railroad shops
at Ellis but when they had finished the
boiler still continued to leak as badly as
ever. Haffamier & Jordan at once
discharged them and telegraphed to
Kansas City for professional boiler
makers. The men arrived and in few
days repaired the boiler in first class
shape. After having to put up with
poor electric lights and coal oil lamps
for week the patrons will better ap-
preciate the advantages of the electric
light.
Free press., 1907-12-28
Kansas ConSressuNen.

Speaker of the House of Congress
Mr.. Cannon has announced his COM
mittees for this year. Following are
committees assignment of Kansans.
made recently.
Anthony-M Military affairs, railways
and canals, enrolled bills.
Calderhead-Waysa and means, inva-
lid pensions.
Campbell Indian affairs, District of
Columbia, pensions.
Madison-Ins1lar affairs, labor.
Miller-Claims, chairman election No.
2, industrial arts andsexpositions.
Murdock k-Postoffices and pOstroads.
Reeder-I Irrigation, chairman, Missis-
sippi river.
Scott-Agriculture, chairman.
All Kansas Jared excellently but
Scott, Calderhead, Campbell and Reed
er particularly so. Chairmanships are
the best Kansas has had for years.
Congressman Reeder of this District
secured what he has been after for
several years-the valuable chairman
ship of the committee on Irrigation.