Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1921-06-10
:. WalWOrth
The Snob
I'D
BY ROBERT T. cREEL
(copyright.)

Say, Percy. would ye mind throw
in little coal In the bloom.n' fire
box? Ye know, she won't make steam
unless she's kept warm" said Smut
Hicks, gazing mildly at his new fire
man.
Adrian Walworth. Jr., FASTENED the
departure Of a drop Of Precipitation
that hung on his chin. closed the fire
door, and felt for his monoele, the
better to perceive the man who had
made such strange request.
For 1t was strange, IN view Of the
fact that Adrian Walworth. Jr., had
been shovelIng coal steadily for the
last six hours. though with small re-
suits in the shape of steam, Having
forgotten his precious glass, he was
forced to make such observations as
he could with the naked eye.
"Ah-my name is Mister WaIworth. "
he stated resentfully. II seemed that
this person must be kept In his place.
His mocking speech was not to be toll
Grated 0oa---,-yssas.. .,ss.s~ .r7ss-~
"Not while you're taIlow-pot on this
smoke-wagon, quoth Hicks. "All you
got to do is keep 'er hot. I'll tend to
the sociabilities."
My word" murmured the young
man, returning to his work.
This thing OF learning the business
from the ground up. he reflected. was
not without its embarrassments.
Here was he. the son of the vice
president of the road. recently re-
turned from an English college. sub
ordinate to common engineer. This
trying position gave rise to another
problem. How should he address his
task-master?
Due respect for his own social
standing prevented the use of the word
mister" nor could he call the man
Snub. He had begun by calling him
my good man." but when the worthy
Hicks jerked open the throttle, and he
saw the greater part of his fire pass
out the smokestack. he rejected the
term as unsuitable.
With some disgust, the elder Wal
worth had noted the affected man
nerisms Of his newly graduated son,
and, after some elaboration, he de-
cided that 1t was out of the question
to start the boy on his career until
he had outgrown some of his snob-
bishness.
For this purpose he knew there was
nothing better than a period of serv-
ice as a fireman, feeling assured that
whatever qualities of manhood were
In the boys makeup would be brought
to the surface as in no other way.
SO it was that, being spared the pre-
liminary labor of the rOundhOuse, the
young man had been called for his
first trip.
Following a confidential talk on the
subject with Adrian's father, Hicks
firmly resolved TO do his duty toward
he new fireman. or "stOker," as Wal
worth. Jr., was pleased to call him
lelf.
AS his train consisted of a string
# empties, the engineer feared that
he young man might find the work
90 easy, so from the start he had
CLEANED" the fire when
he gage began to show a fairly good
pressure. During one Of the infre-
Iuent breathing intervals. Adrian, Jr.,
limbed YEARLY TO his seat-box.
"Gettin' pretty cold in here, Percy"
elled Hicks suggestively. The en-
ryO fireman started to step down, but |
n raising his leg the muscle suddenly
as tired muscles will. A sec
nd later Hicks noted his strained at
tude.
What d'you think you area
hicken?' he asked gruffly. Put down
our leg. an get up little steam"
"I believe I've a bally cramp. old
hap. All, it's all right now"
No sooner was one leg released than
lie other was drawn up in the same
ay. Perhaps 1T was touch of pity
lat made the engineer take the
lovel.
Get up on the tank an shove down
zine coal. while put In a fire." he
1--WE got to be movin'
ong-
With sigh of relief, Walworth, Jr..
jagged his tired feet upon the ten
r and did as he was hidden. Al
ough his determination TO do his
,rk well had carried him thus far
thout serious trouble. he was much
0 sleepy to resist the sui he warmth
the morning sun and the rocking
,tion OF the train.
He sat down. AS some philosopher
s observed, one thing always leads a
another. In this instance, repOSe n