The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1910-01-06

Duffy,
Brakeman
list a Big. Stupid Lad That's
|, Faithful lntireIy."
!, BY FRANK IL. SWEET.
, Copyright, 1909. by American Press
} Association.
BY FRANK IL. SWEET.


Duffy. brakeman on No. 3, sat III
the roundhouse with his head in his
hands.
Katie had been accepting McArdle's
attentions with ~ostentatious favor or
late, and the evening before starting
out, in his presence, she had turned
to McArdle and spoken Of the delights
of trolley riding. 1t had resulted IN a
prompt invitation. while ne stood stu
pidly by and listened.
So when the warning foot of the
engine recalled the men from their
lunch Duffy rose with all the indie
cision gone from his gray eyes and
square chin.
An increasing rumble was vibrating
the rails to the west. Another few
minutes and the express would sweep
in. making its three minutes stop and
then tear Off into the east. As it's rear
car passed the rails of the siding the
switch tender would connect the rails
and allow the freight to roll out.
Duffy climbed to the top OF the last
box car and grhsped the brake wheel.
then turned toward the engine and
waited for the signal. His face was
white. but intexible. his gaze steady.
The vibration became a roar, and the
express rounded the curve and rushed
down upon them. past the siding. Then
came the signal. the brakes were zoos
ed and the long freight Strengthened
out upon the main track like a huge
snake slipping from its lair.
1t had been showing for an hour.
soft and sticky and clinging to what
Eel it touched. Presently the snow
became rain. and a little later the
weather dropped 20 degrees and the
oozy mass froze into a smooth. solid
coating yer the tops of the cars.
Old brakemen know what that
means-the worst peril in the lives of
men who walk freights. Usually there
is snow In the ice or the ice is frozen
with enough roughness to allow foot
hold. But when it is perfectly smooth
and so hard that a heavy boot can
make no i%ndentation then the brake
man knows that with all precautions
he is very. very near to death. With
the cars motionless it is a feat to walk
the narrow planks of their tops; with
them jerking and humping and sway
ing on side grades and around curves
it is a feat that we'll nigh becomes q
miracle.
Duffy was naturally slow and me-
thodical and. though daring all. careful
to a degree. Fortunately there were
few stops or grades that called for
extra braking. and for the most part
he was able to stay at the rear car
brake and even occasionally during
long runs to slip down into the ca
boose.
But as the afternoon grayed into
evening and the evening BACKED into
night, his face grew more troubled and
anxious. Beyond Elton was a wild
country. with sharp up and down
grades where brakes would have to
be frequently changed. On that part
OF the road in the darkness a careful
man on top Of the freight would be In
such danger as the soldier facing bat
teries
Duffy had been thinking OF the hills
q OF the almost certain fate of reck-
less. inexperienced McArdle on the
night trip through them. His square
chin and white face meant the extend
ing Of the right hand Of friendship to
his successful rival and the giving up
OF any personal matter or advantage
that would tend to the rivals help. for
that would be the best way to help
Katie. There was a scarcity OF brake
men In the passenger service. and be-
fore long n Of them would be sure Of
promotion. His name would come be-
fore McArdle's on the freight promo
ton. Now he must find some way to
lower his record SO that McArdle's
name should rank first. The passenger
service meant comparative safety and
better remuneration.
But those hills! He had been think
Ing Of them since the melted snow be-
came rigid. CLASSY Ice. and now the
words of the experienced brakeman
confirmed his worst fears. IL McArdIe
took the hill trip there would be no use
planning help for Katie through him.
As for planning help without. IL such
thoughts occurred to Duffy they were
spurned unceremoniously aside. Katie
loved McArdle. Bnt what could he do.
Nothing presented itself until they
reached Marshall junction. where the
conductor found q telegram stating
that No. q, down freight. was an hour
behind and that instead OF waiting for
her there they would hurry on and
wait at Norwood. ten miles beyond Ell
ton. This would bring them to Elton
twelve minutes Ia advance Of schedule.
and instead Of remaining the usual
twenty minutes they would only atop
four OF dye, just long enough to change
men. Usually the new shift were
longing shout the station. smoking
and exchanging experiences. but Duffy
remembered that McArdle. with his
customary r~ecklessness. was 10 the
habit Of hurrytng across the station ut
the last moment and swinging himself
upcn the train after It had started.