The Meeker herald., 1907-01-05
JEALOUSY OF
1856 And 1855

Nov, It's funny, Amt It.; that en-
jines have little twists n turns In
their behavin' same ~ human bein's.
said the fat engineer. There was the
135 and 1856.
"They were Just rs much alike n
two peas In pod when they drst
came from the locomotive works n
were put In commission. l had the 1876
and Bill Sykes ran the 1856. 'Twa'n't
very long before / began to notice .
spirit OF rivalry between 'em. ~ 1t
were. Just as II they were . couple
Of cooks after the attentions OF the
cop on the block.
AN they did hne work. too. II
Bill Sykes made a particularly hne
run with 1876. then Id come along e
go him . little better with my en-.
CINE.
Il got to know the 1856 Just like .
book n was onto her every whim
n curve. One day there came orders
for Bill Sykes's enjine to go In the
shop for extensive repairs. 1t seemed
ID kinder affect the 1876 FIRST along
n she'd go over the road rs II she
missed friend. but after week or
wo she was Just as good, as ever m
dom great work.
"One nne day the 1876 came out Of
the repair Respondent In \ new coat
OF paint m lookin' fine m dandy.
Shed been completely overhauled. n
the master mechanic had determined
to experiment in the new style Of
straight stack n extension front boil
er which were just becomin' fash.
ionable on the roads them days. SO
he had equipped the 1876 with the new
makeup to see how 1t would go.
She certainly did look like available
cash when she came down the pike
her nrst trip out from the shop.
THE new tangled apparatus seemed
to put naughty spirit into her, too.
m ~ she nirted past her sister. the
1875. she shot the steam out Of her
cylinder cocks a. II to say: Well, I
guess I got you backed on the boards
now. sure pop Just unused n said
to myself: Pride goeth before fall
I'D had experience enough with en-
jines to know that they were q good
deal like women m the .equippin' Of
the 1856 with the up-to-date hnery
would make my engine a. sulky ~
woman whose neishbor has = princess
dress n she hasn't. An 1t sure
enough did raise Old Ned with the
1876.
Shed work all right when I'd h.st
start on . trip with her. but II we'd
chance to meet n pass the 1876 ON the
way. 1t was all on with my old girl
for the rest Of that run. The enjine
dispatcher came hack ON me about
the 1876 goin' OF her feed m not
doin' her usual work.
!. Now says TO him, you needn't
Jump all over me about 1t. That en-
fine 10 just eatin' her nues out with
Jealousy. Look how that 136 IL decked
out in . straight front m the 1856
still wearin' the old style diamond
stock basque
but he Just gave me the cold stare
m told me to beat 1t with my senti.
ment N deliver the merchandise with
the 1856. or mebbe would like to 20
back frin' n complete my primary
education ON 4 locomotive.
"On top of this foolish rumors were
bein' circulated among the men sayin'
was Jealous m was layin' down on
my Job. bein' sore because they
wouldn't M up my enjine. However
that may be. there wasn't much i'm.
provement in the cuttin' up Of the
136. 1t was gettin' 20 that when the
1855 would pass the 1856 my enjine
would slip m slide her wheels n
the very steam In her pipes would
hiss.
"Ono slippery mornin' I was Just
leavin' the round house with my sulky
machine n maxim for the turntable
when saw the swell appearin' 1856
glidin' on the table to come into the
house. reached for the throttle to
shut OF my enjine n give 'em the
right Of way. when banso! kabust!
went something on top Of the boiler.
n in an instant my side of the cab
was filled with steam.
II was 10 startled by the sudden
explosion, which on investigation
proved to be caused by the breakin'
Of the water glass on the injector, that
! pulled the throttle the wrong way,
n under full head Of steam like
some wild animal leapin' on its prey,
We jumped toward our spick n span
rival. Smash! wecame together head on
'n'when the wreckers pulled the enjines
apart the stylish headpiece Of the
1856 was All knocked to smithereens
m the boiler head n stack Of my en-.
line were also knocked OF.
when both enjines came out of the
shop they each had been equipped with
the up-to-date front piece. n there
was no further trouble with the 1856.
Some evil minded persons declared
that broke the water glass at the
critical moment just on purpose SOS
/ cuuid rom the 1876 without suspicion