Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1908-10-08
OLD DAMS
TUSSLE
loODSTishs. - sSs-ssssss fss. q

wait q minuts," sstd tae superin-
tendent Of motive power. and you'll
witness pleasant Ettle Incident"
What's thstr' asked.
I'm going to reward q hero. This
check nor . thousand dollars the d.
rectors have voted old Dan; and, fur
thermore. I'm Eoing to give him charge
OIL the new mogul we've Just turned
out OF the shops. Every driver on the
road Is eating his heart cut hoping
he'll get No. 1900; but AFTER weighing
every mans claims thoroughly. I've
come to the conciusiOu nobody's emit
tied to her but Dan. You knew about
his battle with the cyclone, didn't
your"
IN or heard Of n
y. I thought everybody read of
the lsh he made with our Limited
Into - teeth Of q cyclone last month
"rw in the papers"
Il didn't see It"
We'll, he'll be here in q minute. and
I'll get him to tell you"
AT this moment the door opened
and short, slender little old man en-
tered. He carried his cap in his hand;
his blue Jean overalls and Jumper were
grimed with oil and elnders and his
hands were incassd In suekskis gloves.
black with use.
You wanted to See me. ssrf" he
Inquired In q respectful. almost timid
voice, holding the cap bashfully be-
hind him and bowling awkwardly.
Yes. Dan, come in"
Tho little old man came forward and
I saw his features more clearly. His
face was short and broad. his chin
noticezbly square. Small, steady gray
eyes, set closely together, looked
straight at US, and In them perceived
nothing OF uueasiness or curiosity.
Duty is this mans religion" whis-
persd the superintendent Take a
seat, Dan" he said aloud
The engineer obeyed. but he was
obliged TO sit on the edge Of the chair,
in order to let his toes touch the floor.
He pulled on his gloves and rolled
them up with his cxp. holding the bun
de In his lap AZ old women hold their
knitting when resting.
You remember l told yox, Dan,
that the directors proposed to take
some notice Of that episode last
month";
The old man sQuirmed In hts seat,
dropped his eyes to the floor, funbIed
the cap and gloves. 6 suspicion Of a
smile beneath his thin, gray uustache.
I'D rather roy hadn't done anything
about 1t. sir. It's all past and gone.
and it apt worth bringing NJ kgsin-
] didn't do anything but my duty. Be-
sides, you know. my fireman"
Two tears trickled down his cheeks.
I'VE don't regard II matter of
duty. Dan, for you to tackle cyclones
IN the open prairie. nor do We reward
men for discharging their duty. We
pay them for that. What we want to
reward you for Is bravery. Judgment
and nerve"
The engineer mumbled something.
hut the superintendent continued:
AT the last meeting of the directors
1t was voted to present you with a
check for thousand dollars; and now
I've sent for you to tell you that I'm
going to give you the new moGul, No.
1900"
The gloves and cap dropped to the
Moor; the dingy hands were clasped
over the watering eyes, and the small
physique shook with sobs. For q fOv
minutes we watched the emotions of
the little old man, and neither of US
could restrain q choking sensation that
drove mist over our own eyes. After
= time the engineer become more COM
posed.
TN take No. 1900. sir, and thank
you for her with an my heart. and
treat her az we'll az know how: but
the check can't take thatI Nv
fireman, Joe Colby, lost his life in that
affair and left q wife and four children.
They must have the check. air. rhay
need 1T and 1t belongs to them. You
see, Joe was trying to buy a NttIe
home. He'd just gone into the build
ing association. and they'd advanced
him q thousand dollars, and he'd only
moved into his cottage . week before.
Won't you f1x that cheek, sir, 50 can
set the money and taee II over "a Mr..
Colby before 1 % On my run? And
lmaya't tell her the directors voted IT
to her Joof"
AS he said thSs he arOee and slammed
forward, . look Of intense eagerness
IN his swollen syss--a beseeching ex-
pression-which brought . smile of
seQuissesnee to the face ct the super
intsHdsAt, who was watching him
closely.
Yes. Dan Put ye11 AAms o. the
lback Of this"
The old man Afnxed his Endorsement
- The back Of the cheek. while the "a.
psrintsndent touched q bell.
Take this over 70 thu treasurer's