Gilpin observer., 1914-10-08

engineer. 90 get
job driving a
truck. Throttle-pull on a Brooklyn per-
ambulator. 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 off 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 it on that very seat where
you're sitting now. Twas your fault,
and you know it: and if 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 it all on me-"
Weren't you under the engine?' ask
ed Dorgan, with frigid pollteness.
Hadn't you just left the cab? Was
l any where around when you left?'
You were. AS | 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
if you get me any madder than / 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-
ell You couldn't lick 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 cid l say, you migrate
full, bum engineer?"
You said me, of course" respond
ed Cockrill. You turned and betrayed
me and lied about me. and l ought
to have you fred. / 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 off 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 glided 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. 1t was Superintendent Mckin-
ney.
Where's Cockrlll?" he asked OF
wiper.
He just. came in. sir" answered
that menial person. His engine is on
the last track"
Mckinney strobe forward, and Cock
rill saw him. coming.
shut up. now.'h he cautioned the
suddenly mute Dorgan. Here's tks
old snake himself. with more ques-
tions to ask"
The cinders crunched under McKin-
neys tread Are you up there, Cock
rill?" he asked.
Il am" replied the engineer.
80 am L. put in Dorgan. his sar-
casm totally lost on the florid super
intendent, who climbed heavily into
the cab.
Now" began Mckinney judicIally.
when he got his breath, for the last
time. want to find out about that
crown-sheet. That thing cost one hun
dred and eighty dollars to fix up, ana
l want to find out why 1t happened.
and which of you let 1t happen?"
Mr.. Mckinney" Dorgan broke in
contritely. there's no use obscuring
the issue, as they say in law. l am
to blame. l did it, Mr.. Cockrll here
had nothing to do with 1t any more
than you. If there's any punishment.
| deserve 1t, and I'm ready to take
IT,"
Before he had finished the st" In
it, Cockrill's voice filled the cab.
Mr. Mckinney. this young fellow is
giving you the finest example of 10y
atty to comrade you ever heard of.
/ He is deliberately lying to save me.
THE truth of the matter is that Dor
gan was eating lunch In the station
when the sheet blew off. 1t was due
solely to my own negligence, and I'm
ready to suffer the consequences.
There was brief pause. The ST.
lence was broken only by the cluck-
| cluck of the air-pump. Mckinney
turned right-about face, and laid his
hand on the rail. A half grin wrin-
kled his face and deepened its ruddy
bloom.
You two are the cheerfulest liars l
ever saw" he said. Don't let It hap.
| Den apnin - rTharannnn Ia. ia.s..... - :.