The Lambertville record., 1911-09-22
SPOILINC A
ROMANCE
And Turning 1t Into a Com
monplaCe Affair.
BY CLAUDE PAMAREs.


The brokers' private secretary looked
up In astonishment as the gray haired
old broker, who was frigidity itself,
hailed the visitor with:
"Well, well, Tom, but where did you
spring from this mornlngY
And Tom, who appeared to be fully
as old and frigid and gray haired as
the other, replied:
-Say, Jim, It's good for sore eyes to
see you. The G. and s. road wants n
thousand new freight cars, and I'm In
the east to raise "A loan. How are you
anyhow? Feeling pretty gay, old boy"
And then the broker and the general
manager sat down for II chat over old
days Mt college and talked of this and
that for an hour before the broker said:
"By the way, Tom. I've got n boy out
on your road"
"You don't say! He hasn't been near
me with II letter"
"But he's there. You remember my
boy DaveF Always fussing around
with machinery since he was II kid. |
wanted to make broker of him, but
couple Of years ago, after going through
the Polytechnic against my wishes, he
threw me over. He wanted to go rail
roadlng, and wanted him here and so
we had falling out"
"You don't say
II didn't drive him from the house.
lint ha Inft tho Said hn
going to make his own fortune and all
that bosh Hasn't had cent OF his
income from me In over II year. He
writes to his mother, but | never hear
direct from him. Got brains, | think.
but he's self wllled and inclined to be
an ass"
Don't be too hard on him. II 1t
isn't his way to skin the lambs let him
try some other. believe you used to
be known as odd Obstinacy' once upon
n time"
yes, | remember. If you happen to
come across the boy and he deserves
a lift give it TO him No petting or
pamperlng. though Let him have all
the roughing 1t he wants"
Away out west on the G. and s.
railroad there was young man Of
twenty-five working as fireman on an
engine drawing local Two years
before, when he had applied to the su-
perlntendcnt of motive power for
something to do, the super" had
looked him over in contempt on ac-
count of his white hands and patent
leather shoes and replied
"Want work, eh2 Well, III give 1t
10 you. Go UP to the roundh0use and
tell Sum to set you to work rs n wiper
The pay will be $26 per month"; and II
you get grease spots on that dandy
suit of yours the company won't pay
for the cleaning"
The official turned away with
grin, thinking that that was the last
of the young nun, but he was mis-
taken When three dnys had passed
the boss of the roundhouse reported:
"Jny. you sent me Il jim dandy OF
wiper. Hanged If he don't seem to
know something about machinery"
What, Did the young fellow show
upf' asked the super" In surprise
'Reen working right along. and he's
the handiest chap I've had since my
time here You'll he promoting him
out of the house In a month"
The young man was watched close
ly and kept track of. He had been put
at the very drtiest work and given the
poorest pay, but he made no com
plants His time came when an en-
gine was telephoned for in II hurry and
there was nobody to run her out of the
house and up the yard He stepped
into the cab and had the table turned
for him and turned the engine over
without comment He was going back
to his work when the superintendent
asked
Did you ever fire an engine?"
mo. sir"
"rhink you couldY'
I'm ready to give II n trial"
Two weeks later he was put on
yard engine The engineer meant to
find fault with him because he was
II dandy" but no opportunity occur
red He was kept in his place for six
months, as there were many to be pro
noted In advance of him, but he was
finally given II place on the local,
When this engineer was asked to re-
port on his cub" he said:
Hes Il peach in his way. but |
dunno how he'll pan out In the end
He's one of these book engineers. He
thinks he could take an engine to
pieces and set her up again by the
books, and I'm lookin' to see his head
get swelled until the road has to
bounce him"
Things were in this shape when the
general manager returned from New
York. He had forgotten about David
Holmes for the moment. He wanted
10 20 down the road for II few miles.
and SO he took the local,
He was accompanied 10y his daugh-
ter Nettie, hut not in the car 1t was
said of this piquant girl Of eighteen
years that she ran the q. and s. road
by running her father, She wanted to
go down on the engine, and she had
her way about Il, and the meeting be-
tween her and the handsome fire
man" as Dave WAS called, had cOnse-
Quences. He had on his jumper and
wRs grimy. hut she saw beyond that
Her heart was taatiag faster before
she had been in the cab five minutes.
4 -. 4