The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-10-06
Spelling A !:
ROMANCE
And Turning It Into a Com
monpIace Affair.
BY A U

The brokers' private secretary looked
ur in establishment as the gray haired
old broker, who was frigidity itself,
hailed the visitor with:
"Well, well, Tom, but where did you
spring from this morning"
And Tom, who appeared to be fully
as old and frigid and gray haired as
the other, replied: ''f
"Say, Jim, it's good for sore eyes to
see you. The G. and S. road wants 4
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 a chat over old
days at college and talked of this and
that for an hour before the broker said:
by the way, Tom. I've got a boy u
ID your road"
You don't say! He hasn't been near
ne with a letter."
But he's there. You remember my
boy Dave? Always fussing around
with machinery since he was IL kid. I
wanted to make a broker of him, but a
couple of years ago. after going through
the Polytechnic against my wishes, he
threw me over. He wanted to go rail-
reading. and l wanted him here and so
VIC had a falling out"
You don't say"
Il didn't drive him from the house.
but he left just the same. Said he was
going to make his own fortune and ali
that bosh. Hasn't had 81 cent Of his
income from me in ovs Il year. He
writes to his mother. but | never hear
Greet from him. Got brains. | think.
but he's self willcd and inclined to be
al ass"
Don't be too hard Oh him. If it
isn't his way to skin the lambs let him
try some other. l believe you used to
be known as Old Obstinacy' once upon
a'time.."
Yes. I remember. If you happen to
come across the boy and he deserves
a lift give it to him, No petting or
pampering. though. Let him have all
the roughing it he wants."
Away out west on the G. and S.
railroad there was a young man of
twenty-five working as fireman ON an
engine drawing q local. Two years
before. when he had applied to the III
perintendcnt of motive power for
something to do. the super" had
looked him over in contempt on nc
count Of his white hands and patent
leather shoes and replied:
Want work. eh? Well, I'll give it
TO you. Go up to the %roundhouse and
tell Sam to set you to work as 4 wiper.
The pay will be $2G 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 Il
grin. thinking that that was the last
Of the young man, but he was mis-
taken. When three days had passed
the boss Of the %roundhouse reported:
Jay, you sent me a Jim dandy Of q
wiper. Hanged if he don't seem to
know something about machinery"
What! Did the young fellow show
up?' asked the SUPER in surprise.
Been working right along, and he's
the handiest chap I've had since my
time here. You'll be promoting him
out Of the house in a month"
The young man was watched close
y and kept track Of. He had been put
at the very dirtsest work and given the
poorest pay. but he made no COM
plants. His time came when an en-
xine was telephoned for in a hurry and
there was nobody to run her out Of the
house and up the yard. He stepped
.nto the cab aud had the table turned
for him and turned the engine over
without comment. He was going back
10 his work when the superintendent
asked:
Did you ever Ore an engine7"
mo. sir."
Think you c0uld?"
I'm ready to give IL q trial."
Two weeks later he was put on q
yard engine. The engineer meant to
f,ad fault with him because he was
a dandy" but no opportunity occur-
red. He was kept in his place for six
months, AZ there were many to be pro-
Noted in advance Of him. but he wa
finally given q place on the local.
when this engineer wa asked to re-
port on bis "cub" he said:
He's q peach in his way. but I
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 Get her up again by the
books, and I'm iookin' 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
60 20 down the road for a few miles.
and so he took the local.
He was accompanied by his daugh-
ter Nettie, but not in the a It was
said of this piquant girl Of eighteen