Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-02-28

HNEN1e(SM denim overclothes and mechanics cap,
ElGSSSz but the big-boned, thin-faced young
man who was abbing the snout of
the oil-can into the vitas of the ten-wheeler had
missed it. His overalls, which were as much to
large crcumferentiay they lacking in length,
were innocent of soap and water, hrs jumper was
little more than greasy rag and to complete the
motley, he was wearing a cap which was the latest
wrinkle in golf headgear.
Vice-President, Lockhart's private car, NADIA"
was coupled in the of Number Five, and at the
breakfast-sation stop three members OF the party
Miss Lockhart the vice-president and Mr.. Balm
bridge Brockton, had descended take the fresh
and down beside the NADIA" Miss Althea had said
81 want to the engine; don't you know always
want TO see the enene?" And so the three of them
had walked up the long platform, clear of the
scurrying throngs of breakfast seekers, to where the
big Baldwin" stood throbbing and shuddering
preparatory to its plunge into the tunne-ke gate
way of Gringo Canyon
This the way Miss Lockhart came to see Or
sman. In the ordinary course OF things he would
scarcely have had second glance of hers; but with
such intention in mind the peppery president
stood his friend. Major Lockhart had been known
to have lagman called down for the lack of
button on his uniform; and Ormans ill-htting
Clothes the OIL the coal smut, and the particolored
"Ha!' he snorted, 81 wonder how long Hoskins
has been putting roustabouts in charge of his first
class trains?"
which Brockton, decenty reluctant to witness the
shaming of fellow man, turned away Miss Althea
stood her ground hoping that the engineer had not
heard But it was said Of the vice-president that his
rapiers all broad-swords.
Eyes. I mean you!" he rasRed, when ,tOrman
Strengthened up and faced him. ''You disgrace
TO the service-a harlequin, sir! There is no excuse
for the engineer of passenger train masquerading
as a round-house wiper. Report to Mr. Hoskins
when you get in, and say to him. with my compile
ments, that the auditing department will approve
voucher for box Of soap and supply of wash
buckets for the use of the company enginemen. .
ooh, unc1ew said Althea, under her breath; anu
her visible distress changed the engineers scowl of
resentment into a shame-faced grin.
I'm afraid do look rather tough" he admitted
good naturedly. And there is no excuse, as you
say. I'll report to Mr.. Hoskns-and mention the
box of soap"
Althea was watching him narrowly as he spoke,
with her womans heart full of sympathy. She was
not of those who believe that all the finer feelings
monopolzed by the leisure classes, and she
generously indignant
Now, if there be women whom emotion mars
and their is multiple of all the others-there
are a few whose charms heightened thereby.
Miss Althea of the few; and Brockton, who
had reattached himself to the group, thought he had
seen her entirely beautiful Also, it dis
turbed him little to reflect that the exciting
an uphash of womanly sympathy for
washed workingman. AS he knew to his own dis
comhture, Miss Lockhart had exaggerated re-
spect for who had work to do and did it. It
was clearly the moment for DIVERSION and he made
1--WE are due to leave Major" he said, consult
ing his watch Don't you think we'd best be get
ting back to the carr"
For the first few miles of the canyon-stormins
Miss Athea sat with Brocktons cousin. Alicia, be-
hind the broad windows in the observation end of
the NADIA" watching the cliffs and peaks swing
right and left with the curves and thinking point
The outing trip, which now three days old
and which to pause indefinitely at Undercff
Inn, Summer resort in the heart of the main
range, had not been, nor did it promise to be- an
unalloyed JOY. While her invitation to join the party
had come from her uncle in his proper person.
Althea was beginning to suspect that it had been
prompted by certain matchmaking proclivities on
the part of the vice-president's wife Mrs Lockhar
H. was young woman, and cambridge Brockton
was her cousin, once removed
Althea had known Brockton since his college days.
and had liked him as much as she could like any
man who was content to do nothing. Left to her
self, she might have come, in time, to look with
favor upon, his woong, which energetic as
anything he did But, with all its Weddings the
woman-heart has latent quality of stubbornness;
and when Miss Althea began to suspect that Mrs.
Lockhart had planned things, she set her fine white
teeth firmly upon steady resolve not to be mar
keted," at least, not while she was on the small
rnatch-nakers own ground.
That her fortune had anything to do with the
matchmaking, with Brockton's DEVOTION she
was unwilling to believe, since Brockton had
enough of his own to make him the most uncon-
scionable of idlers. Yet she remembered, with a
curious little thrill of scorn, that the fortune hunting
instinct was in the Brockton blood Alicia, the fair
haired, serene-eyed cousin who sat within arms
reach, looking out upon this same bac1ward-racng
procession of peaks and cliffs, had once-so gossip
said-broken an engagement almost between the
church STEPS and the altar because the had told
her he had been cut out of his fathers will.
Such thoughts not altogether pleasant and
she was rather glad when Brockton flung his cigar
away and came in from the platform to draw up a
chair beside her.
Enjoying the scenery by height and depth?" he
said, making idle talk, was his won't
Eyes and no; not as much as l should if we were
going toward it instead of running away from it.
she rcjoined
ct is disappointing to catch fleeing glimpses OF
it Just as it is vanishing"
The vce-presdent had been closeted in his s1ate-
room with Hoskins the general manager and the
two joined the group at the observation win
dows in time to hear Atheas reply
You may ride the engine if you'd lie to, Miss
Lockhart" said the general manager. "Mr. Brock
ton can go with you. I'll arrange it at the next
stop if you care 20 try it."
Althea sa;G: Thank you" and meant it. From
childhood she had Lad Of shivering reverence
for locomotives and ship engines, and FOR the nler
who made them obey. But her second thought was
the recollection of mans humiliation, and the hope
that the opportunity might offer for her to blunt ht