The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-31


He's all right" Gene replied, when
it comes to the stock end of the game
and making traffic deals and building up
new business, but he doesn't know any
thing about the practical part of ope-
rating a road. If he had the old man to
help him in that end they'd make pair
you couldn't beat anywhere"
"Mr. Patterson must be pretty good
man."
Good" Gene became enthusiastic,
hes the best that ever happened. He's
the man that does Things right and does
them when it's time" He pointed down
the platform toward man emerging
from the operators office. That's the
old man. He's got to chase over to Mn
newanda today with the general mana
| ger, but he knows there's his work to
be done just the same. t. j., the pompous
old four fiusher may think railroading
stops with him, but Tom Patterson
knows it DON'T
IF he's the superintendent" the
stranger commented, why doesn't he
have Thirteen fixed up to suit your
"Bah,'' Gene had worked himself up to
the point where he forgot his usual
practice of not talking business matters
With strangers, bah, Morehead says
! Thirteen amt worth wasting much on.
What does he know about engines?"
| Peterson and the general manager ap-
preached and the little man greeted the
| superintendent with a laughing remark
Mr. Peterson, I've Just been hearing
some more of your praises being sung
20, you mustn't mind Gene Markham"
| the superintendent smiled. IF everybody
thought as highly of me as he does I'd be
president of the railroads of the world
He turned to the engineer. you've met
Mr. Morehead. haven't you, GeneT'
| The engineer nodded his head and the
general manager spoke to him with an
air of gravity which Gene misinterpreted
spoke: - ~ lggsslsNxlp
Mr. Markham has also been enumer-
ating the virtues of his engine"
/ How Is the old tub Gene?" The SUI
perlntendent's eyes twinkled.
ooh, she may last couple of days
longer" Gene waved his hand lovingly at
the old locomotive, .but when she goes
she's going all at once. She needs FIX
ing"
| "She needs new engine" Peterson
retorted with a smile; that's the trouble
with her." Before the engineer could
franc a retort, the superintendent added,
as the three men started away, Make
her behave today, Gene. 1t isn't often
she has the chance to pull the superin-
tondent and the general manager and the
president"
AS the three walked down the platform
to the private car Gene Markham stared
at them. laughing as Peterson told them
of the engineers faithful devotion to him
because he had taken him outs of the
gutter years before.
He doesn't like Morehead" the SUPER
intendent explained, because he thinks I
ought to have the general managers
place, at least, and probably the pres
ident's chair If he thought Morehead
wanted Thirteen kept on the run he'd
wreck her this trip. believe"
When they disappeared into the car
Gene Markham climbed slowly into the
engine cab still dazed.
| Frank" he said humbly. At hone 7
didn't queer the Old Man by my chatter
to the president. But who the b
could know that little man was President
| Howard?"
| The southbound train on the main line
pulled into Grand Junction, unloaded and
continued on its way. A few minutes
later Gene started Thirteen putting over
| the tracks that led westward into the
mountains The train crawled around the
great curve until 1t reached a higher
level, and then darted between two hills
and began the long, winding trip through
the valleys and canyons. 1t was thirty
miles to Minnewanda, though bird
| could have covered the distance in TWEEN
canyon and were speeding across a pla-
teau Frank answered Genes thoughts:
| ~ l reckon the president is human,
same as the rest of us. If you scratch
deep enough-and the G. M, too.'
Thirteen plunged into the nav of an
other gulnh and the engineer did not re-
ply. This was the beginning of Warmer
canyon, the most dangerous place on the
run, whore the ,ack chung to the side of
| the hill for several miles, and then dart.
eo down a. grade too steep to jibe with
sood railway construction. At the bottom
| of the hill the track ran into n lttle
opening in the canyon, where Wammer
station was built alongside the swirlIne
mountain stream.
tino was built alongside the swirlins
mountain stream
Markham always held his breath when
ne reached the summit of Wammer hill.
ana usually breathed softly as they ran
down IT, FEELING unconsciously that softer
breathing would make the train steadier.
rms day,while not frightened, he was
moro careful than usual. though one who
did not know would have thought him
the opposite.
The running time between Grand juno
ton and Minnewanda averaged about 20
miles and hour, but owning to the curves
ana grades 1t was necessary at times to
make 40 or So Gene usually took the
Wammer grade at even greater speed
Old Thirteen puffed up to the summit
and lurched over and with a little more
Jerking and lurching the rest Of the train
Ioliowed and the speed began to quicken |
Gene pushed packed the throttle, letting
the train move by its own momentum.
and held one hand on the air brake
while Frank stood ready to give the
trainmen the signal for the air brake.
Suddenly they heard a strange thump- |
ing. man, even an engineer, unac-
quainted with the idiosyncrasies of Old
Thirteen, would have thought she was
emitting strange noises at all times but |
Gene and Frank knew them from long
familiarity. This was a new sound and |
BODIED trouble. 1t came from the fireman's |
side and caused the men to exchange ap- |
prehensive glances. The train had gained |
full head way, and was rolling down the |
hill at nearly a mile a minute. Frank |
was about to stick his head through the |
side window when Markham yelled at |
him:
ut is the driving rod! Get back; get |
back, d. your
The. fireman sprang back and tumbled |
into The coal just as a giant steel arm |
shot through the floor of the cab. tearing |
a great hole 1t moved so rapidly they |
could scarcely see 1t with their bullying |
eyes. 1t thrashed against the side. bat
terng the car into splinters; 1t smashed |
against the driving wheels until Gene |
thought they would break; it darted for |
ward and tried to pound off the cylinder |
Frank crouched back on the tender.
watching the devastating steel arm with
fascinated gaze. Gene stared ahead, |
yDanto11,, 1oulatinor the cha meas ne cfov,