The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-09-03
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The Wildwood Limited
By Cy Warman
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Copyright, by ]. B. Lippincott Coz

But can't you explain that now?"
We'll, not easy. It's down in the
records-its Scripture now, as the
Old Man would say. No, the best l
can do is to take my medicine like
man; I've got month yet to think
it over"
After that they sat in silence, this
childless couple, trying to fashion to
themselves how it would seem to be
superannuated.
The short December days were all
too short for Henry. He counted the
hours, marked the movements of the
minute hand on the face of his cab
clock. and measured the miles he
would have, not to do" but to enjoy
before Christmas. AS the weeks went
by the old engineer became changed
man. He had always been cheerful,
happy, and good-natured. Now he be.
came thoughtful, silent. melancholy.
There was not man on the first di-
vision but grieved because he was 60
ing, but no man would dare say so to
Henry Sympathy is about the hard
est thing stout heart ever had to
endure.
While Henry was out on his last
trip his wife waited upon the master
mechanic and asked him to bring his
wife over and spend Christmas eve
| with Henry and help her to cheer him
up, 1nd the Old Man promised to call
that evening.
Although there were half dozen
palms itching for the throttle of the
La Sale, no man had vet been as.
signed to the run.
Henry saw the La Sale cross the
turn-table and back into the round.
house, and while he looked her over"
examining every link and pin, each
lever and link-lifter, the others hur,
ried away, for it was Christmas eve.
and nobody cared to say good-by to
the old engineer.
When he had walked around her half
a dozen times, touching her FURNISHED
ma1nplns with the back of his hand,
he climbed into the cab and began to
gather up his trinkets, his comb and
toothbrush, a small steel monkey.
wrench, and a slender brass torch
that had been given him by a friend,
There he sat upon the soft-cushioned
coach seat that his wife had coveted
and looked along the handwriting.
He leaned from the cab window and
glanced along the twin stubs of steel
that passed through the open door
and stopped short at the pit-symbol.
izing the end of his run on the rail
The old boss wiper came with his
crew to clean the La Sale, but when
he saw the driver there in the cab
he passed him by.
Presently the slamp-lighters came
and began lighting the oil-lamps that
stood in the brackets along the wall
but before their CLEAN had reached
his face the old engineer slid down
and hurried away home with never
a backward glance.
! Ihat night when Mrs Kaufman had
passed the popcorn and red apples
and they had all eaten and the mer
had lighted cigars, the engineers wife
brought worn Bible out and drew
a chair near the master mechanic
] The Old Man, as he was called. looked
at the book, then at the woman who
held 1t open on her lap.
DO you believe this book?" she
asked, earnestly.
Absolutely" he answered,
All that is written here?"
All" said the man."
Then she turned to the fiy-leaf and
read the record of Henry's birth. the
day, the month, the year.
Henry came and looked at the bool,
and the faded handwriting, trying to
remember. but it was too far away.
The old Bible had been discovered
that day deep down in a trunk OF
old trinkets that had been sent tc
Henry when his mother died. years
ago.
The old engineer took the book and
held 1T on his knees. turned it's limr
leaves, and dropped upon them the
tribute of strong mans tear.
The Old Man." called for the letter
he had written, erased the date. sci
it forward four years, and handed i,
back to Henry.
Here, Hank" said he, heres a
Christmas gift for you"
So when the Wildwood Limited was
limbered up that Christmas Henry
leaned from the window, leaned back
tugged at the throttle again, smiled
over at the fireman, and said: Now
Billy, watch her swallow that cold
stiff steel at about mile minute.