The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1908-01-10
Locomotive No. 8.


his friends had hopes for him.
For two months No. 8 and her engi-
neer had the best Of luck. Then came
an accident by which they were
thrown into the ditch. No. 8 was pref
ty well smashed, and Tom Drayton had
ribs and leg broken. The first In
quiry he made after the surgeons had
fixed him up and he had regained con-
seriousness was after his pet. He said
nothing Of his own hurts. They did not
count There was a week or SO in
which the master mechanic did not
know whether to send No. 8 to the
scrap heap or the repair shops. They
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 a change in the big
man that they were mystified again.
No. 8 and Tom were put back on the
old run, and for the next three years
they were in a way public characters.
Not an accident of any sort happened
them. Other locomotives were ditched
caught In collision or became victims
to spread rails. Other engineers were
IiIloH or diccho wood or m a I'D For Ito
No matter for snow or rain or fog or
darkness the pair could be counted on.
However, iron and steel will not al
ways last. Indeed, they grow old fast
CT than flesh and blood. There came a
day when No. 8 began to limp and
complain. For three months Tom tin
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 itT asked Tom in anxious
tones.
"She has lived her day as a passen-
ger engine. She may last for another
year on freight. You will 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. If some one had told him
that on the morrow he must divorce
or abandon a wife he could not have
taken 1t 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 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 voice hardly above a
whisper:
Ben, the sweetheart has got to go.
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-
ate her. Do you hear-they shan't do
It! She's been good and loyal and true,
and won't have it."
Maybe they will change their minds
tomorrow"
The engineer turned away without
another word and busted himself about
the departure. and promptly on the
minute No. steamed out Of the depot
as proudly as ever in her life There
was gale and downpour of rain.
She began to slip and strain and
wheeze ere she had gone mile. AT
the junction, ten miles out, she had
lost two minutes time. The fireman
looked at Big Tom and saw him shak-
Ing his head mournfully. When the
signal to go ahead had been given, the
engineer turned and said
"Son, want you to climb over the
tender on to the platform OF the bag
gage car. When l check her UP you
are to cut me loose and brake the train
to standstill."
Heavens. but you can't do that!'
shouted the fireman.
But I will do 1t. Don't say another
word. We have been partners for
three years and I don't want to hurt
you. but by the gods of heaven you
will do as I order or will throw you
from the cabv'
There will be an accidentw gasped
the other.
"Will you go?''
The man was dangerous. There was
light in his eyes no one had ever
seen before and on his mouth a smile
, that was positively wicked. The fire.
man crawled over the coal and disap-
peared. A moment later the speed
OF the engine was checked and was
freed from the train. and with a wall
Ing blast from the whistle she leaped
forward into the darkness. Ten miles
down the line a great tree had blown
across the track. She was running at
nifty miles an hour when she struck
1t, and her big engineer was smiling
and chuckling and patting her and
saving.