The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1908-08-18

home and let the money 60"
Mr.. ThedfOrd," said I, bob is sick,
but ! can run this machine to Junction
City in time TO connect with the train
you want; but you viii have 10 fire for
me, as the Two cleaners are drunk, as
you see, and there isn't another man in
this village knows the engine from the
tender hardly"
hope that have been forgiven that
lie, for there were two or three men
that could have fired all right. but il
struck me all OF sudden that here
was fine chance TO get even with
Billy, and let him see whether it took
any knowhOw to fire an engine for
ll0-mHes run.
II 90 happened that we had just wood
ed up ON the nome trip II a little sta
ton three miles from Georgetown. so
We had plenty of fuel aboard to make
the run with.
Can you do it?" says he. "Remem-
Der, 1t Is 10 miles, and it is $40 now.
50 you have only two and a half hours
to make the run that generally takes
doub.e that time"
Il can do it" says /, eli you vii. jump
aboard, pull of your coat and do lust
as | tel! YOU"
No sooner said than done. and in ten
minutes we had the old engine on the
turntAbe, turned her around and
were off.
IL the road was rough when we ran
a our usual speed. tina, night. making
ioubie time, it was just awful. As we
he" around the curves it seemed as il
We should lose the track al every turn
| OF the drivers, and the poor old ms
chine rocked aud swayed so that. used
as | was to it, ! could hardy keep on
my seat by the lever.
IL it was hard on me. what must it
have been to poor old BLY,? | could
hardly keep from laughing in his fac.
as l watched him and heard him
groan IS h. handed the heavy sticks
We used for fuel.
The heat Of the weather. added to
! that OF the furnace and the unusual
work, made him look a. II NJ was in
Turkish bath. The water ran down
his face, his stiff white collar hung
| down on his shoulders like a wet rag
and his beautiful smooth shirt bosom
looked as il some one had thrown
pail OF dirty water over him.
Ills hands were torn and cut from
| handling the wood, and take it alto
/ gether he was the most uulike,v-.ook-
ing railway president | ever saw.
Once in awhile | had to shout at him 10
| lay the wood even in the furnace. and
would tell him he would get the knack.
| OF it in time.
Whenever he tried to rest told him
We were losing steam. md if he wanted
| 10 catch that train he mustn't idle over
| the work.
II | had thought to hitch a cat on
when we started we should have run
much smoother; bur il was too late 10
| think OF that now. and 50 on We rushe Z
now through woodlands. now past
| grain fields, lurching first to one side
aud then Ia The other. until I expe cted
every minute 10 land wrong side up
in the ditch.
However. ,uck was with us that night.
and we pulled up at Junction City at
just II. Poor old Billy could hardy
Climb down from the engine, but he
managed 20 gasp out:
Come to my office at two o'clock
next Saturday"
learned afterward that. finding the
Chicago train was behind time. he
hunted up 8 clothing store and rugged
himself out so as to look like civilized
man, which he didn't when he left me.
l managed 10 find a fireman " no was
willing to make the run back with NE.
and l finally go; home at three O'Clock.
and, finding the cleaners little so
bered up. got to be & as soon a. possible.
for l was c,ean played out.
told Bob about my trip next day.
and thought ne would die laughing to
think OF old Billy playing fireman. But
al he said was:
I'm afraid thatll settle your hash.
Jim, for he will find out that YOU
worked him more than was needed"
The next Saturday at two o'c,ock I
reported at the presidents office. won
dering whether l was going to be re.
49, ~ .NA my All q W VI h OF YET kicked
out for my impudence.
When | entered the office there sat
the old man, spick and span as ever
and showing no signs ofhis hard work
We'll, young man" says he. you
helped me OUT the other night, but
would not go through the same expert
ence again for $4,000. At the same
time l think you were trying 10 get
even with me for not doing what you
asked about your salary. and | have
concluded that this line can dispense
with your services"
At this my heart went down into my
boots, for can tell you it isn't an easy
thing to get new job when you can't
bring recommendation from your last
pace. Then he went on to say:
II have letter here from the super
intendent OF the Chicago Il Western,
asking il | can recommend to them an
engineer who has sharp eye and cool
head TO run their new fast night ex-
press. l have written in reply that I
can recommend such man. one James
Martin, who will report for service the
LIST OF Septe mber. The pay will be 500