The herald., 1914-10-29

engineer. 60 ge
a job driving {
truck. Throttle-pull on a Brooklyn per
am. ulator. Hire out to the push-cart
trust. Bah,
You run this old cow-killer into the
turntable pit one day. You forget YOU
ever heard Of injectors the next. You
let her water fall two feet below the
glass. and she drops a crown-sheet.
And then you try to Adam It of on
this poor Eve" pointing to the fifth
! button Of his waistcoat. Il get called
up on the carpet. and accused OF neglI-
gence on duty. And me peacefully and
innocently eating lunch when It hap
pened."
Yes, eating lunch," Cockrill went
on. trying to be calm and judicial;
eating II on that very seat where
you're sitting now. Twas your fault,
and you know It; and II l didn't de-
fend you. and plead for your job with
tears In my eyes, you'd been fired,
you good-for-nothing loafer. Then you
go and blame 1t all on mel"
Weren't you under the engine?" ask
ed Dorgan, with frigid politeness.
Hadn't you just left the cab? Was
l any where around when you left?"
You were. AS l remarked a min
ute ago, you were sitting in the same
position you now occupy
Il was not" said Dorgan.
You were." retorted Cockrill; "and
II you get me any madder than l am
I'll drop this can and lick the ever
lasting blazes out Of you
Yes, you'd drop the can" said Dor
gan scornfully, "and pick up the shov-
el. You couldn't lick a stick Of candy.
You're wrong about my blaming it on
you. anyhow.
Our genial and lovable superinten-
dent, John Flathead McKinney-worse
luck to him-asked me distinctly who
was to blame. me or you; and who did
/ say? Who did 1 say, you migrate
full, bum engineer?"
You said me, Of course" respond
ed Cockrill. You turned and betrayed
me and lied about me, and / ought
to have you fred. l think will yet"
The rattle Of mutilated English over
came even the sharp kissing of steam
In the engine-cab. Fireman and engi-
neer were having It out for the sixty
first time, and It was now four weeks
since the locomotive had blown OF an
upper sheet.
The roundhouse door swung open on
creaky hinges, and attention to duty
prevented further war for the mo-
ment. Cockrill opened the throttle,
and the big engine glidsd softly into
her stall.
In the perpetual dusk Of the round
house fat. red-faced man picked his
way among the tracks and over the
pilots. II was Superintendent McKin-
ney.
Where's Cockrill-' he asked of q
wiper.
He Just. came In, SIR" answered
that menial person. His engine is on
the last track"
Mckinney strobe forward. and Cock,
I'LL saw him. coming.
Shut up, now." he cautioned the
suddenly mute Dorgan. Here's the
old snake himself. with more ques-
tions to ask"
The cinders crunched under McKin-
ney's tread. Are you up there, Cock.
rill?' he asked.
Il am" replied the engineer.
so am l." put in Dorgan, his sar-
,asm totally lost on the fiorid super
ntendent who climbed heavily into
he cab.
Now" began Mckinney iudicially,
when he got his breath, for the last
line, l want to find out about that
That thing cost one hun
lred and eighty dollars to fix up, and
want to find out why It happened,
nd which OF you let it happen?"
Mr.. Mckinney" Dorgan broke In |
there's no use obscuring
he issue. as they say In law. I am I
blame. did 1t. Mr.. Cockrill here
ad nothing to do with 1t any more
han you. II there's any punishment,
deserve 1t. and I'm ready to take G
:"
Before he had finished the "t" in
IT, CockrtlPs voice filled the cab.
Mr.. Mckinney. this young fellow is
living you the finest example of 10y
lty to comrade you ever heard OF.
ie Is deliberately lying to save me.
The truth OF the matter is that Dor. h
an was eating lunch In the station $
Ihen the sheet blew of. 1t was due i
oiely to my own negligence, and I'm u
eady to suffer the consequences" o
There was a brief pause. The 81 p
nee was broken only by the cluck. Ii
Iuck Of the airpump. Mckinney t.
lrned right-about face, and laid his o.
and on the rail. A half grin wrin- h
led his face and deepened Its ruddy n
DOM. Il
You two are the cheerfulest liars I
'er saw" he said. Don't let II han
n again" Thereupon he descended
ON the cab
CHARTER