Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-08-01
The Argus Daily Short Story
The Train Baby-By William Alfred Corey.
copyrighted 1910. by Associated Literary PresA

The shrill cries of the motherless
child arose above the roar of the train
and the labored coughing of the two
big mogul engines as the Overland linn
tied slowly climbed the steep grades
between Salida and Marshall pass.
Do what she would, the woman the
train crew had installed as nurse could
not pacify the poor little waif. 1t had
been supplied with everything a baby
could be imagined to need or want
Indeed, the nurse had a suspicion
that this overattention and overfeed-
ing were what allied the infant in the
present crisis. Too much and toe
many kinds of candy from people who
could think of no other way to show
their interest had brought on collie.
Come back and see Paciica. BILL"
said the conductor to the engineer of
the through train when she finally
came TO a stop on the cold but sun
crowned height OF the pass. ''Pacifica's
In a bad way. Maybe you can quiet
the kid Nobody else can"
The trainmen had named the baby
"Pacifica" and adopted her as their
own when they wired the authorities
in Los Angeles of the mothers death
and made arrangements for the in
fant's care. 1.-The little czarina.' "Ba-
byoffsky'' and various other names
had been suggested. But Cy Werner.
the fireman, whom the engineer de-
scribed as "a sort of bookish. sentimen-
tai cuss," had insisted on "Pacifica'
as the most appropriate name. and the
rest had acquiesced. So "Pacifica" the
little stranger was throughout the rest
of the long journey.
"All right, Mr.. Barnes" said the big
engineer; I'll be there directly
And directly" when he had finished
''oiling 'er up" and deposited the long
nosed can in its place in the cab, he
started back along the train to where
the little uncrowned queen lay yelling
at full lung power. which was excel
lent and kicking and fighting like a
true revolutionist.
The engineers hypnotic presence
worked quick and marvellous results.
Hi. there, We little furreigner, wot's
the matter?' he called out. dangling
glove above tie improvised crib with
one hand and catching diminutive
pink toe between the fingers of the
other. "Wots the matter? Don't Amer
ky suit ye nother?'
Then he opened his eyes wide and
said ''Boor" as he bent down low and
looked into the blue depths of the big
orbs.
'O-o-ogle, oogle, goo, coo" said the
baby as her cries suddenly ceased and
a wide smile of delight spread itself
over her face.
81 think so myself" said the engi-
neer. tickling Pacifica's fat chin with a
stout finger.
"Goo-goo-google geeP' again re-
marked the baby, suddenly grasping
the engineers long mustaches with
both hands and hanging on as though
suspended in midair.
Ouch, ye little terrorist, WINGED
the engineer. while the ring OF by
standers roared.
But the infantile crisis was passed, |
and with that's the way to do it,
air the man of the throttle and drive
wheels went back to his seat In the |
Fab. the conductor called "All aboard"
and the train resumed its journey to-
ward the sunset slope.
They were showed in for day be
fore reaching Ogden. and Paciica was
almost the sole diversion wherewith |
he storm bound community beguiled |
the slow hours A stranger in far |
strange land. she had more friends |
han she could well manage. though all |
we're willing to be managed. The only |
baby on the train. her welfare was APP
the one concern of all.
Elegant, fur wrapped ladies brought |
iainties from the Pullman car buffet
10 please the child of poverty and mis-
fortune. Dignified men of wealth and |
affairs inquired anxiously as to- the
title ones comfort and wanted to |
SnaH IL there was anything they |