Evening journal., 1907-10-11
Locomotive No. 5.

Tom DraytOn, locomotive engineer,
lost his sweetheart by death From
that day Tom was marked for melan-
choly, but when he seemed to have
transferred his affections to his engine
his friends had hopes for him.
For two months No 8 and her engl-
neer had the best Of luck Then came
an accident by which they were
thrown into the ditch. No. was pret-
ty we'll smashed, and Tom Drayton had
ribs and a leg broken. The first in
qulry he made after the surgeons had
fixed him mp and he had regained con-
sciousness was after his pet. He said
nothing Of his own hurts. They did not
count. There was a week or SO I'm
which the master mechanic dd not
know whether to send No ? to the
scrap heap or the repair shops. They
did not tell this to Tom, but he seemed
to realize the crisis, and he fretted and
worried until the doctors were mysti-
fed. Then word was brought one
morning by the fireman that sweet
heart was to be repaired and made as
good as new, and within an hour the
doctors saw such change in the big
man that they were mystihed again.
No 8 and Tom were put back on the
old run. and for the next three years
they We're in a way public characters.
Not an accident Of any sort happened
them. Other locomotives were ditchcd,
caught IN collision or became victims
10 spread rails. Other engineers were
killed or discharged or MANNED for life
No matter for snow or rain or sog or
darkness. the pair could be counted on
However. iron and steel win not al
ways last Indeed, they grow old fast
er than flesh and blood. There came a
day when No. began TO limp and
complain. For three months Tom tip
kered and patched and concealed 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 me-
chanic overhauled her and pursed his
lips and turned his back on the engi-
neer.
"What is it2' asked Tom in anxious
tones.
"she has lived her day as a passen-
ger engine. She may last for another
year on freight You viii have to
change to No. II after this rum"
Big Tom walked away without an
other word and sat down in the dark
est corner of the roundhouse and
brooded. II some one had told him
that on the morrow he must divorce
or abandon a wife he could not have
taken It worse After two or three
hours he walked about but men left
him to himself. The report had gone
out and they were sorry for him. His
run was TO begin at o'clock that even
ing, and the weather promised a wild
night. Some said that he would wan
der away and not be there to take his
train out, but they were mistaken. He
was on time. and to all outsiders he
suppressed his feelings. To his FIRE
man he said in a voice hardly above a
whisper:
"Ben, the sweetheart has got to so.
This Is her last trip before the coaches.
They are going TO put her on the
freight"
But you know she is getting Old ="
replied the fireman.
But they shan't disgrace and humili.
ite her Do you hear-they shan't q
O. She's been good and loyal and true
nd l won't have IT,"
Maybe they will change their mind.
omorrOw"
The engineer turned away withou
Mother word and busied himself abou
20 departure, and promptly on II,
'ilute No. steamed out of the depo
proudly as ever in her life. Ther
as a gale and a downpour Of rain
se began to- slip and strain an,
-heeze ere she had gone q mile Al
ee junction, ten miles out, she had
st two minutes, time The fireman
oked at Big Ton and,saw him shak-
2 his head mournfully When the
srai 20 go ahead had been given, the
agineer turned and said:
Son, / want you to climb ever the
cnder on TO the platform OF the bag.
age car When I check her up you
re 70 cut me loose and brake the train
o standstill"
Heavens, but you can't do thatr'
shouted the fireman.
But I win do it, Don't say another
word. We have been partners FOR
three years and don't want to hurt
you. but by the gods Of heaven you
viii do as I order or l win throw you
from the cabr'
There will be an accidentlp gasped
the other.
viii you goY' -...