Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-22

NJ oasv with that plumbago or there
a,v brass trimmin's left on this
"a baldwin Hog" ~
eo ureat big genial engineer climbed into
and Mike, his model fireman. con-
a .,sd shining up the brass ana steer Oh
< .rsine with dope" Big Bill awaiting
y" sat idly looking out the window at
MING Brandish
a ,,vou,l be gettin' promoted one OF these
,.,s Mike. IL you nurse this o,o ealdwIn
days .'i,h all that goose grease" he smiled.
slons ao,n. TO get my clearance papers
m.,,rouqb to super of the division, be-
clear -, n,e said Mike Brandish emphat-
cally 20 ,,,o ,.s, "niqh, line" on the
q r.. pulled out of her station that
C, on time Everything was running
pBn' ,or Big Bill and Mike were part of
n,cked crew and they ioved every nut
~ plston in their engine.
anu shup,,her ph 2S carried valuable express and
~ she was the star train of the line,
man,rg n run of which any train crew
might be PROUD. ,,.,, -. ,,,o eu.,
...,,on Mike leaned over to Big Bill and
H.arked "I'll be glad when we get through
me Ten-Mile. It's TOO placK ior comfort
tonight" w .,,o,o, 80 600,
u..,gb dense timber, a beat despised even
W. y" ,he old trackwalker who lived in a hut
~ the road and made the walk daily, care
s,v inspecting each rail ana bolt. Spring
sreshets sometimes washed away the rails
!. r,ost unexpected places and after a
storm the track was olteh ht'ereo WITH
debris ,,,
rtes tonight" replied Big Bill.
X az nothn' happens you WILL" responded
Mike.
& suddenly nosed their way through the great
Il sorests. growing thick on both sides of the
road bed
~. sde of the cab cried, "Bill, amt that a
lIght?" ,.,. 49,. g..
Z ahead !" cried Big Bill turning to find Mike
right beside him, his voice seeming far OH
4 because of the engines roar.
Mike returned to his watch, and Big Bill
..ro,ned his eyes until they watered watch
,ng a elinting speck in the distance.
The light moved, it was swinging across
.,s track. Just beyond gentle curve. He
,salized that the light was red, and his
hand gripped the throttle tight
,sThere's no bridge an no water near
n 49, -" he cried to Mike, slowing down.
"rt must be old Solomon. he's found
.... across the track or somethin,' cried
Mike nervously.
Number 2s was coming to stop and
p,r pill was straining his eyes ahead, grip
vlng the throttle.
suddenly he peered ahead ana shouteo'
.v.et close I'D by the boiler head, Mike.
Ths fireman obeyed quickly picking up
hig lump Of coal and crouching in the
steel shelter nj
Two shadowy figures flashed before Big
4 aul,s ewes. He thought of the valuable
express and mail. 49,, A.. .hrot
tle open -, .,,.-, ,oi,o
to run the gantlet." ,,,.
As he spoke a bullet whizzed above ms
4 head. he ducked beneath the Winoow' M Mnoiu
,na tight 70 the wide-open throttle. dozen
bullets whirled and flew about ms head'
he saw hand on the rail beside him'
Mike leaned forward and threw the chunk
a, coal. The hand suddenly disappeared
Inother bullet smashed an indicator
Il No "a had responded to the emergency and
vas fast leaping out of harms way.
Big Bill sat up straight and blew out MS
breath.
Lucky didn't STOP! he cfie"'
f~ God yes"
4 vou had that piece Of coal. I'll bet one or
them wishes he hadn't tried to hold UP 20
! tonight" co,
those bullets sang a regular song dioh
they?" gasped Mike.
That's the kind of song don't nave any
4 ear for" replied Big Bill.
Il AT the next station he made nasty re-
1 port of the affair and 2s sped on unois-
turbed making her trip on time.
Two weeks later Big Bill and Mike were
inst leaving their engine in the home yards
when a man from the office stepped up ana
ad, "The old man wants to see you boys
ct the office"
"Wonder what's UP now?" queried Big
| Bn climbing out of his greasy overalls.
"I bet we get a little word of thanks Tor
n taking % past those holdup dopes,' re-
M marked Mike.
'Maybe so. But It wasn't much The
road don't thank you for doing your duty
they pay you for that" smiled Big Bill
throwing back his shoulders and walking
/ beside Mike to the super's office,
IA When they entered the 'old man STEP
ped quickly forward and invited them into
bis private office.
n BILL" he said to the trusty engineer,
a 'the road wants me to thank you for what
you did in Ten-Mile. They've expressed
their good wishes in tangible form.
IA Here, look at this"
He placed a neat package In Big Bilrs
"A hands, and Bill, blushng like boy, STOOD
Slent
open It," suggested the super.
Big Bills fingers nervousy snapped the
4 twne and he took out a handsome warren a
IA high-class railroad mans watch thing he
had long coveted.
IA On the back of it was engraved:
ITO Big Bill Tompkins for
his bravery at Ten-Mile. With
the best wishes of the C.,
Q. & B."
When Big Bill had bashfuly stammerec
out his thanks the super turned to Mike aho
aid
"You are promoted to engineer, II yol
can pass the eye test. You can take II this
Afternoon il you like and well put you II
on good run"
Mikes face broke into a beam OF delight
He left the office with Big Bill and both OF
them rushed home as fast as their legs
would carry them, to tell the great soo'
news to the loved ones at home
The watch was a token for which mar
might work life time, and the promotioi
Sor Mike was a stroke of good luck ne ha'
&'snly dreamed about before
IN Two months later Mike Brandish mad'
The rounds of his own engine with shih!