The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-05-07
Old
'Ninety-Seven'

old man entered the yard and walked
slowly up and down among the en-
gines. lingering longest around old
80" the huge, high-smoke-stacked To-
connective. still on duty, but soon to be
retired and devoted to most inglOri-
Gus end by means Of a sham coils
ion
4 few Of the e-jeaned heroes
around the depot objected more or less
vigorously to the presence of the
stranger. for 1t is dangerous place
for the nimble and quick-eyed, and the
old man was half blind. and his ears
were closed to even the shrill whistle
Of the trains. But some OF the men
remembered that the bent and feeble
veteran was an old engineer. the old
est on the road. and "97" had been
for years dearer to him than wife, o.
child or friend.
Al Reece had kept his post until five
years before. carefully concealing from
the argus-eyed inspectors the fact Of
his partial blindness and infirmity. He
had been an engineer for SO years. 1t
is matter of history that he took the
first train over the road. and "97" was
his second love. The first he had
gone over a bridge with. after feeling
her heart beats culver through his
own breast and feeling her response
to his every desire for 20 years.
It's strange thing how a man gets
to love a creature Of iron and steel.
There wasn't an engine along the d..
vision kept in better shape than 49,"
New styles were adopted. and all the
late inventions came in. but the "old
girl" kept her place, and AL Reece kept
her in it by his care.
| The old-fashioned brass mountings
we're as bright as the day they were
fitted on, and there wasn't q speck or
bit Of dust about her anywhere.
But as time passed on the men be.
gan to look half pityingly at the old
engineer and whisper that perhaps he
would have to be retired before "97"
was called In.
why. he can't see a foot In front
Of him." said one OF the young fel-
lows, land it's a mighty risk to let a
blind man run an engine!"
The same thought was moving the
directors, for they could no longer ig-
more the fact Of his condition. But
those who believe corporations have
no souls might have learned much II
they had witnessed the scene in the
superintendents Office when old AL.
Reece was pensioned and discharged.
The news had been broken to him
by man who looked at the bowed fig.
ure with manly tears and at the con
clusion Of the Interview had taken the
toil-worn hand, that had held the lever
for so many years, in his own as q
son might have done.
The old engineer lifted his eyes, full
Of the piteous look the blind have, to
his face.
MY trips about over. anyway" he
said, IAN l don't want to slow up at
the terminal on old 81 But it's all
right, sir. it's all right might have
had some accident on account of my
eyes an have carried on the folks
that want ready for the last station
lut don't believe | would. really
didn't need to see with her. She was
eyes for me; and she had too much
sense TO go wrong.
There's jest one favor want tC
ask. sir: Have EN- let me though the
gates whenever she's in from her trips
It'll be comfort to us both, sir"
, For long time the engine. under ;
; strong, young hand. kept her regular
runs But she got fractions ant
cranky, and was finally used only In
the yards. Old AL never missed hi:
visit to her, though he grew feebleI
all the time, and seemed to mourn
over her changed and neglected ap
pearance.
; One day as he leaned against hel
dull sides, patting her and talking
OF the days they had passed togeth
er. young switchman. new in tn,
yards and ignorant stepped up u
him.
This is the last day for old ~
he called into the dull ears. "Som,
showmen have bought her, an theyAr
going to take her down on the sidtnl
an run her OF the upper bridge. Tw'
trainloads comm from Newton to %
1t. And therer be fireworks and ,
great sight"
The old man put his hand to ht
throat and leaned more heavily agatns
the condemned engine. The young fel
low continued:
Better be here I'm be . big show
She'll have steam up an be eent Wild
Starts at nine, II it's pretty dark"
He went vhisuing away TO ct th>
switch for the eight O'Clock flyer, IN,
the Old engineer was left alone. Blu
. fush was on the fuTowed fAce, IN
the dim eyes burned with . stE1ne
light
SHE'S ready now said ths directo
IN hour later to . group Of tratnmen
VINO had been stoking up the old q
CINE. md hanging her s1des with g3y
y covered bannse2 1hb y her h
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