The Railroad Man's Magazine, Jul 1910

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MASCOTS OF THE

The Mastep Mechanic By ROBERT JI ROGERS

A Lesson ii) Railroad Construction

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In answering this advertisement it is desirable that you mention The Railroad Man's Magazine. THE RMLROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE CONTENTS FOR JULY SERIALS.

The Man Who Wasn't Game. Part ! William S. Wright . 219 President of the Line. Part III John Wellsley Sanders 293

Without Lights. Part V J. Aubrey Tyson . . 331

A Heart of the North. Part IV George Van Schaick . 365 SHORT STORIES. Nailing Ninety-Four. (Illustrated.) Robert Fulkerson Hoffman 203

The Gold Coupler Augustus Wittfeld . 234 Boglip's Canine Party C. W. Beels 249

Walworth, the Snob. (Illustrated.) Robert T. Creel . 265

Stealing an Armored Train. (Illustrated.) Frederick J. Liesmann 273

Taming Bad Bill Goode. (Illustrated.) Emmet F. Harte . 305

Smoke's Lost Independence. (Illustrated.) Horace H. Herr . 319 The Biograph Bandits. (Illustrated.) .• Henry H. Tinkham 355 SPECIAL ARTICLES. Mascots of the Rail. (Illustrated.) Waller Gardner 193 The New Home of the New York Central. (Illustrated.) Stephen Angus Cox 212 Observations of a Country Station-Agent. No. 26. (Illus-

trated.) J. E. Smith . . 226 Ten Thousand Miles by Rail. No. 2. More Dramas of

Dixie Land. (Illustrated.) Gilson Willets . 237 Help (or Men Who Help Themselves. No. 33. The Master Mechanic Robert H. Rogers 256 When Rules Were Scarce E. A. Spears 280 The First Railroad Across South America George W. Grant 281

Taking Orders from Death. ( Illustrated.) Peter Mulligan . 286 James H. Lawrence, Oldest Railroad Wage-Earner. (Il- lustrated.) Nathan E. Burke 301 The Science of Rate-Making ...... Thaddeus Stevens 313

Making Up Lost Time . . John Walters 325 The Flight of the Coyote Special. True Story. No. 46. (Illustrated.) C. E. Van Loan 342

Old-Timer Tales. No. 6. The Evil Genius of the 888 . Arno Dosch . . 351 Handling 1200 Trains a Day T. S. Dayton 361 VERSE AND DIVERSE. The Lure of the Rails. (Poem.) Leslie Curtis 218 By the Light of the Lantern 268 The Railroad Man's Brain Teasers 376 The Sunny Side of the Track 377 MISCELLANEOUS.

Government Meals, 75 Cents .... 202 Bronze Instead of Brass . 312 An Engineer Rhymester 211 Train Despatching by Telephone 329

Risks Life to Save Child . . . . . 217 Third Oldest Pennsy Employee Dead 330

Tie Farms for the Pennsylvania . . . 236 Railroads To Take Up Farming 341

The Fastest Thing on Wheels .... 248 A Tell-Tale That Is Popular . 350 Why the Chief Clerk Laughed .... 264 Grade Crossings Are Disappearing 354

Swift Business 264 Pennsy Instruction Cars . 364

A School for Stokers 292 On the Editorial Carpet . . . 379 ISSUED MONTHLY BY THE FRANK A. MVNSEY COMPANY. 175 Fifth Avenue. New York, and Temple House. Temple Avenue. E. C, London Fk**k A UoiMBV, I'rc.M-'-r ]:i m.i.i H. Trrnummur, SMfftuj. Cimi-tflpiim II Pan, Trouimr.

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THE MILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE

Vol. XII. JULY, 1910. No. 2.

Mascots of the Rail.

BY WALTER GARDNER.

BASEBALL-PLAYERS, soldiers, and sailors are not the only men who attempt to ward oft" their Jonahs and bring good luck to themselves by keeping mascots. Railroad men from the beginning have shown a leaning toward animal proteges; and. though a goat trailing his whiskers about a roundhouse, or a dog riding in an engine-cab. would seem apt to prove anything but a hoodoo-killer, the little god of luck sometimes works things out peculiarly. In the days when discipline was not so rigid as at present, and so long as the men got their trains over the road on time, the officials did not concern themselves particularly about what the men did. A cock - fight in the roundhouse-pit did not bring about the severe jacking up that it would now. In the early seventies, and even later, mascots were privileged characters, and train-crews often carried them on their runs from one division to another.

How a Goat Butted Into a Romance, and How the Strange Intuitions of a Cat and Dog Made History on the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern.

^AKE the deuce and hook on " What can you expect when the crew " to the wrecker, Jimmie." haven't a mascot? " What's the matter " Oh, come off the perch, Walt. What's " now? a mascot got to do with it?" " Fifteen is in the ditch " Oh, nothing, so far as I know. But on Lone Tree Hill." you know that is the only train on this "Wonder 'twasn't 17. That's the road whose crew hasn't a mascot of some hoodoo train on this road. What's the kind." " matter with 15 ? " I don't believe in this mascot busi- " Broke in two at the summit, and, ness. I don't say there is anything in it about half-way down, the front trucks of but, back in the seventies, the boys at the the tail-end climbed the rail." Fredericktown roundhouse had a great " He must have piled" them well to assortment of animals — a little zoo of need the wrecker." their own." 1RR J 93 194 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

"Well, what of it?" applying to his head and neck, when " You know that Fredericktown was Murphy landed. the division on the Belmont branch of " He struck Jerry square, and Jerry- the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and South- went over the bucket, under the con- ern. At that time the furnaces at Iron necting-rod, and into the pit. The floor- Mountain, on the Texas branch, were ing was even with the crown of the rail running full time, turning out pig, and on the outside of the pit, and the plank- the result was that traffic was constantly ing was slippery with the grease that had increasing. The boys -had pigs, dogs, dripped from the boxes. cats, goats, and a rooster." " Jerry's hands were also soapy, so " Fine lot of farmers that gang must there was nothing he could catch to check have been." himself. He struck the opposite side of " They were all to the good, just the the pit below the rail, the pit being same. Well, one of the chief moguls walled with brick, and fell to the bottom around that roundhouse was a full-grown in a crumpled heap. goat that the boys had named Murphy, after the roadmaster. Murphy wore a Billy Meets Murphy. goatee, and so did the goat. Murphy " did not like it, but he knew better than The boys thought that he was killed, to cheep. So Murphy, the goat, ranged and if he had struck the side of the pit in and out of the roundhouse at his own with his head he would most assuredly sweet will, and Murphy, the roadmaster. have broken his neck. As it was, he never showed up there if he could help it. struck with his shoulders, and when the " The boys had teased the goat until boys got him out from under the engine they had him trained so that the unfor- he was found to be only stunned. tunate who had occasion, in the course " Just across the street was a grocery- of his work, to stoop to pick up anything, store, and over this was the Railroad Ho- while Billy was in range, was sure to get tel, kept by the widow of a railroader a salute. and her daughters. Her house was al- " JeTry Phalen. who was firing the 30, ways filled to capacity by the railroaders. came in on No. 1 from St. Louis. While Murphy, the roadmaster, stopped there the hostler was setting the 30 in her stall, when in town ; and Murphy, the goat, Jerry was shucking overalls and jumper, was a privileged character. In fact, he and getting ready to wash up. was on the best of terms with the land- lady and her daughters. A Goat with a Purpose. " The work was too heavy for the old lady and the girls, and they hired some " Jerry wore a red flannel undershirt, help. The newcomer, was a jolly Irish and when the engine was set in her stall girl named Maggie Malone, but the rail- he took the tender bucket and drew it roaders at once dubbed her " Biddy," and full of water ; then climbed down to the Biddy she was to the end of the chap- floor. It being a cold day. he picked up ter. Now, Biddy had not been properly a link and put it in the stove until it was introduced to Murphy, the goat, and did red hot. then dropped it into the pail of not know that he was a character of im- heating it so could a portance in the water,' up he have back yard ; so, one day, good wash. when she found him turning over an as- " Murphy sat on his hunkers, a few sortment of tomato and fruit cans, she feet from the stove, chewing his cud and started after him with a broom. wagging his beard. He paid no attention " Now, Murphy, like all sensible mas- to Jerry, and Jerry did not give him a culines, had a wholesome respect for a thought. broom, especially when it was wielded by " Jerry set his bucket of water on the a buxom Irish girl. He gravely and se- floor some little distance from the stove, dately retired to the alley where he stood and in the position he occupied he was wagging his beard and surveying Biddy just forward of the 30's leading drivers. closely until she vanished into the He got a bar of soap, and had just kitchen, when he returned to the round- worked up a nice lather, which he was house. Murphy was sensible, and could MASCOTS OF THE RAIL. 195

JERRY WENT OVER THE BUCKET AND INTO THE PIT."

take a hint at the end of a broomstick as " Murphy at once meandered around 'well as any one, so he cut out his visits the sandhouse, and Biddy scrambled to to the Railroad Hotel. her feet just in time to see Dennis, who was doing his level best to keep a straight " " Biddy Makes a Good Target. face, offering to help her out. Now, Biddy had not seen or heard anything of " Biddy had forgotten all about Mur- Murphy, the goat ; so she sailed into phy until, one day, there came an order Dennis, accusing him of bumping her for an extra train-crew and engine 36 to into the cinder-pit, and informing him take a special over the south end. Word in choice Gaelic that he was no gentle- was sent to the boarding-house to have man. the dinner kettles delivered at the round- " The more Dennis tried to explain the house. So a good lunch was put up, and more voluble she became, and finally,' as Biddy was sent to the house with it. he thought of her flying leap into the " She handed it up to Dennis O'Brien, cinder-pit. lie could restrain himself no the fireman, the two chaffing the while, longer, and sat down on a wheelbarrow and Dennis daring her to climb into the and fairly yelled. This was adding in- engine. But Biddy knew the work was sult to injury, and Biddy stalked off, too pressing, and, telling him she would highly offended, followed by advice from take that dare some day when she had Dennis not to wear barber-pole stockings more time, she started back to the hotel. thereafter. " On the way she had to pass the coal- shute. and, stopping, she placed her foot Murphy's Downfall. on the rail and stooped over to tie a shoe- lace, just as Murphy came out from un- " Murphy showed poor judgment. der the coal-shute. He wasn't the kind He was no respecter of persons, and this

of a goat to decline a challenge ; so he led to his downfall. One day, Master lowered his head, gathered his feet to- Mechanic Haynes came down from Ca- gether, and launched his body -full at the rondelet on a tour of inspection, and, * unsuspecting Biddy. He struck her fair, after he" had gone through the 1 rip and she pitched forward into the cinder- shop, he was looking over the round- pit. house, piloted by the roundhouse fore- 196 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE. man. Engine 48 was in one of the stalls was too old and tough to make into mut- — a big. eight-wheel freight-engine. Her ton, and not a man, from roundhouse right cylinder-cocks were not working foreman to call-boy, could be found who smoothly for some reason, and, just as would act as executioner. " the two came up to the engine, the round- A consultation was held, and it was house foreman was handed the engineers decided that Dennis O'Brien and Mike report. The two men stopped by the Fitzgerald should take Murphy aboard cylinder, and. with his left hand on the the 36 when she pulled out on No. 1 pilot-beam, Haynes leaned over to look over the south end, and at a favorable at the cylinder-cocks just as Murphy opportunity, where they thought Murphy came around the nose of the pilot. was likely to find a good home, drop him •" Murphy backed off a few feet, and overboard and let him shift for himself. hit the master mechanic fairly and " They got Murphy up into the gang- squarely, sending him down on his hands way of the 36 with no trouble, but Mur- and knees, barking his hands and serious- phy was not inclined to stay ; so they tied ly fracturing his dignity. Then the storm him to the brakestaff with a cord and broke. The air fairly sizzled, _ and pulled out on No. 1 on time. " Haynes showed a command of strong . Now, Mike and Dennis should have language that none of the boys had ever known enough about goats to know imagined he possessed. Murphy passed that nothing but a chain will hold the on, calmly chewing his cud and- wagging brute if he takes a notion to leave ; so, his beard, as innocent as a babe ; but his when No. 1 stopped at the depot at Mar- fate was sealed. The word was passed quand, away went Murphy, with the fraz- to remove Murphy from this vale of zled end of the cord, which he had tears, and from thenceforward and for- chewed in two, still flying from his neck. ever, no goats were to be allowed in or " The boys thought it was all right, around any roundhouse on the system. and wired from the next stop that Mur- • " The boys were sorely tried. They phy had got away and deserted at Mar- could not bear the idea of death for quand, and went on to the end of the Murphy, and the question of selling him run, coming back the next day on No. 2. was not to be considered, for Murphy When the 36 was run into her stall, there was Murphy, superintending the operation, as was his usual custom. Then Jerry Phalen took him on the 30, intending to carry him to Carondelet or St. Louis. But Murphy proved too slick. He worked out of the dog-chain they had tied him up with, and when the train stopped at Mine La Motte. the first station, four miles north, Murphy went overboard and took to the timber. Mur- phy's escape was duly reported to the roundhouse gang, and when the 30 came

back on No. 1, the next day, Murphy was on deck as usual. "Matters were getting serious. Haynes was an easy-going man, but when he gave an order it had to be obeyed or somebody had .to suffer. The boys did not know what to do. Killing Murphy-

was not to be thought of ; so Will Allen, who was running baggage and express from St. Louis to Belmont, and who had heard of the escapades of Mur- phy, as. indeed, had every man in the service, suggested a plan. " HE CHRISTENED IT TIPPERARY.' —

MASCOTS OF THE RAIL. 197

" No.. 1 and No. 2 met at Frederick- gether : for when Jerry came in Dennis town, and had twenty minutes for din- Avent out, and the boys began to demand ner. So, during the stop, one day, he that Dennis make good by showing up told the boys to put a tag on Murphy ad- his game-cock. " dressed to Frank Johnson, who was run- One day' Dennis came in on No. 2, ning baggage on the Cairo, Arkansas and and as his engine was set in her stall Texas, the " cat " road, out of Cairo, and he climbed down with a crate in his he would see him on this trip and ar- hand in which there was a sure enough range with him to take' Murphy and pass game-cock. Dennis told the boys that him on to the next baggageman, and thus he was named Donegal, and that Done- get him far enough away so that he could gal could lick Tipperary any day in the not get back. week and not half try. " When Allen came north on No. 2, " Now, some of the boys were from the next day, he told the boys to have Tipperary. some from Donegal, but the Murphy ready for him the next trip bulk of them were from other parts of which would be two days later, as he had Ireland. It was not long before the men his lay-over in St. Louis—and that John- were lined up according to their prefer- son would transfer him to the Little ence, and the majority were in favor of Rock run at the Little Rock and Mem- Tipperary. Whether it was a test of the phis junction. So, when he came down popularity of the two men, or whether on No. 1, Murphy was duly installed in the preference was caused by the recollec- a corner of the baggage-car, and fastened tions of the ' ould dart,' was a question so that it was impossible to get away. that was an open one. " He was turned over to Johnson, who " One day the 30 dropped her crown fook him down over the cat road to the sheet as she was coming in on No. 1 and Little Rock and Memphis-, and the bag- went into the ' rip ' shop, while another gageman there took him on to Little engine took her run for one trip. This Rock. What finally became of Murphy was the opportunity that the boys had none of the boys ever heard. been waiting for, and the wires soon flashed the news to the boys on both divi- A Mix-Up Between Mascots. sions that Tipperary and Donegal were to settle the question as to which was the " Murphy's successor was a Spanish better bird at two o'clock that afternoon. red game-cock, which a lad living at This time was chosen, for No. 1 and No. Mine La Motte, and attending school in 2 were both out of the way, and there Fredericktown, gave to Jerry Phalen. was nothing due until 4.30 p.m. Jerry was very proud of the bird, and boasted that he could lick anything that Tipperary Turns the Trick. wore feathers. He christened it Tipper- ary, and arranged .with Biddy that she " One of the pits in a vacant stall was was to feed him and see that he was selected as the battle-ground, and Jerry taken care of while he was absent on his got down at one end with Tipperary, runs. Biddy in tune became very fond while Dennis, with Donegal, occupied of Tipperary, and he was soon a pet in the other. The enginemen, wipers, sta- and around the roundhouse, as well as at tion-men, and all the men in railway the boarding-house. service who could get away crowded " Dennis O'Brien, who fired the 36, around the pit, and the fight was prompt- ran opposite Jerry and the 30 ; and when ly begun. the 30 was cut from her train and the " Tipperary was slow, and Donegal 36 backed down to hook on. the two forced the fighting, getting in a crack on used to chaff each other considerably, and Tipperary that sent him staggering. Jer- Dennis boasted that he had a black game- ry took him up and handled him care- cock at Belmont that could and would fully, but it was plain to all that Tip- wallop Tipperary. perary was mad clear through. When " As 36 ran on the south end and the the birds were released they went at each 30 on the north end, there did not seem other, but neither scored. Then Tipper- to be much chance for the two to get to- ary, with' wings dragging, flew at Done- : :

198 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE. gal, and struck him with his left gaff, " Jerry was a great fellow for ani- sending the spur clear through Done- mals, except cats. He never had much gal's head. use for cats, and his next venture in the " A considerable amount of money had pet line after Tipperary's death was a been wagered, not only in Frederick- dog, one of these little, yellow, tin-can- town, but along the whole branch. The to-tail sort of animals. odds were largely in favor of Tipperary, " He came into the roundhouse at though why was never understood. From Fredericktown one day, chased by an that time forward Tipperary was cock of empty can that some boy had tied to his the walk. One morning Biddy went out stub of a tail. He did not have much of into the yard and found Tipperary dead, a narrative to speak of. his throat having been cut by some ani- He was just about all in, and as he stag- mal, presumably a weasel. Jerry took the gered into the roundhouse with that tin- body to a taxidermist in St. Louis and can continuation thumping behind him, had it mounted, and placed it on the he happened to turn into the stall where boiler-head, above the steam-gage, in the No. 30 was standing, the wipers having 30's cab. just fired her up to go north on No. 2.. " This was in the early seventies and Cupid Gets Busy. in those days it was the practise to get as much brass as possible on an engine. " Dennis swore that Biddy- had hoo- Sand-box. dome, cylinders and steam- dooed Donegal because he laughed at chests were brass- jacketed and the fire- her when Murphy butted her into the men were expected to put in their leisure cinder-pit, but Biddy affirmed that Den- time around the roundhouse in keeping nis was a prevaricator and that he was a bright shine on them. not to be believed on oath. " Engine No. 30 had a fair share of "Jerry always hit it off pretty well brass about her, and her drivers, truck with Biddy though she insisted that he and tender-wheels were painted a bril- •was well named,, and that he had a liant red. In fact she was as pretty as a failin' for every girl he met. As time country girl at a county fair, but it kept went on it seemed to be an open ques- Jerry pretty busy keeping her bright and tion as to which stood the highest in the smart. graces of the fair Irish girl, Jerry or Jerry was an Irishman, and while he Dennis. None of the boys could settle was fond of the fair sex in general, so far the question, for when Dennis was in as the boys knew the 'only things on earth he and Biddy were always sparring. that he really cared for were Harry Mc- " One day Dennis came in on No. 2, Quaide, his engineer, and engine 30. and as the 30 backed down and hooked on, he said, just as Jerry swung up on Just a Yellow Dog. to the footboard " " ' You had better fix it up with that Jerry, smoking a short, black, clay Carondelet girl, Jerry, or you will be pipe, and clad in overalls and jumper, left in the race.' was busily engaged in polishing up a " Jerry told him not to worry about cylinder-jacket when the yellow dog put the Carondelet girl, and No. 2 pulled in an appearance. The brute staggered out. Dennis went over to the round- up to Jerry. -sank back on his hunkers, house^ and washed up, then went to the and looking up into the fireman's face, hotel for his dinner. whined piteously. " That afternoon some of the boys saw " Something about the forlorn aspect him and Biddy going up-town together, of the brute, or it may have been the but they thought nothing of it at the plaintive appeal to his sympathy, attract- time, but at the supper-table another girl ed Jerry's attention. He took his pipe was waiting on the table and the land- from his mouth, looked at the dog for a lady told them that Dennis and Maggie minute, and said Malone had been married that afternoon, " 1 Poor devil. You are in hard lines, '' Dennis had got a two weeks' layoff and ain't you? they were going to St. Louis on No. 4. " The dog looked at him piteously. :

MASCOTS OF THE RAIL. 199

" He patted the dog's head and then, "The hostler climbed on the engine, taking his knife, cut the cord that at- and took her out to the turntable, turned tached the can to the stub of a tail, which her and ran her out to the coal-chute the dog kept thumping on the floor. track where she was coaled up, but the ' " It was about noon and Jerry started dog seemed to be fully satisfied with his for his boar'ding-house. As he was en- surroundings. tering the dining-room he met the girl "The leading time T>f No. 2 was 1.45 who had taken Biddy's place in the p.ST. This was before the day of inject- ors, and it was customary when an engine came out of the roundhouse to run her up and clown the line for half a mile or so to pump her up. This was done with the 30, she running north of the town a mile or so. but the dog seemed to enjoy the situation.

house, and asked her to take HE CAME INTO THE ROUNDHOUSE CHASED the dog back and give him a BY AN EMPTY CAN." good feed. " The girl did so, and as Jerry came out of the house after dinner the yellow dog was waiting for him beside the door. Jerry When Jerry backed the engine down to went on to the roundhouse, and, followed the depot, just as the 36 had pulled on by the dog, climbed into the cab, looked to the siding, Dennis called at his fire, and got ready for his run to "'Jerry, don't name the dog Done- St. Louis. gal.' " ' \ ou can bet your sweet life I won't. Couldn't Feeze the Dog. He's too yellow.' " Then Harry McQuaide, the engi- "The dog«Sat on the floor for awhile, neer, swung into. the gangway, and the but receiving no further attention from first thing that he spied was the yellow Jerry, he leaped up into the gangway dog. and up on to the fireman's seat. Jerry " ' Hello, Jerry,' he said, ' where did ' thought that when the engine began to you get the pup ? move that he would get frightened and " ' Huh. I didn't get the purp. He leap off. But he was not that kind of a got me.' do

can episode and how the brute seemed muzzle in the cab-wjndow. on the fire- determined to keep close to him. Harry man's side had come to be as much a stepped across and patted the dog on the fixture as the cab itself. He never by head. any chance climbed up on the right side, " 1 All right, Jerry. We'll keep him and though Harry coaxed him over once and call him Dick. He is the 30's mas- or twice he seemed to know,, by instinct, cot and we can't afford to lose him.' as it were, that in his place on the left side he was in no one's way. A Canine Passenger. " The 30 was coming south one day on No. 1, and just as they pulled out of " With some waste they fixed up a bed Bismarck the enginemen noticed that Dick for him on the running-board between was getting uneasy, and when they swung the fireman's locker and the door of the into the long stretch alongside the St. cab. and Dick fell into it as snugly as Francis River he began to bark furiously. though he had never been anywhere else. " He leaped from his seat to the deck " All the way to St. Louis that dog and seized Harry's trouser-leg. endeavor- sat upon his bunch of waste and kept ing to pull him away. his eyes on the track ahead. Once when " Harry shook him loose but it did a steer got on the track and Harry no good. He pulled again. Again he -whistled he became excited and barked was shaken loose when he leaped to his furiously until, the steer left -the road- place on the running-board and barked bed. When they passed it Dick did not violently. He jumped to the deck again, turn his head. He seemed to think that and again seized Harry's trouser-leg, by his barking he had driven the steer pulling with all his might to get him out of the way, and that what happened away from the right side. ' to the bovine after that was no concern " ' What's the matter with the purp ? of his. Harry asked of Jerry. " When the train stopped at the St. " ' Don't know, unless he wants you Louis depot and the backup pilot came to stop.' on to take the train back to Carondelet, " ' Well. I'm going to see if there is • that dog still kept his place, and -when anything the matter with ihis bed,' and the engine was set in the house and her he crossed over to the fireman's side, fire was drawn, he condescended to get while Dick leaped back to his place on down. Jerry bought him some bones and the running-board and twisted himself scraps of meat and he remained in the into all sorts of shapes in an effort to house. He would not go far from the show his pleasure at getting Harry over engine, and when she was fired up and to his side of the engine. " backed No. 1 up to the Plum Street de- Just as McQuaide leaned forward pot in St. Louis, Dick was in his place on to examine the bunch of waste that was the running-board. Dick's- bed. the right side rod snapped, " It was not long until 30's mascot and the end, whirling around like an was known all over the division, and immense flail, stripped the right side of when Jerry aud Harry were both away the engine completely, ripping away the from the engine the hostler was the only side of the cab and the running-board, person that he would permit to come from the quadrant outward. aboard. When the engine was in the " With the fragment of steel thrash- house he apparently considered that his ing alongside at each turn of the driver. responsibility was ended. Harry finally managed to reach over and " The boys all petted him and endeav- shut her off. He then got down and dis- ored to make friends with him, but while- connected her. going into Fredericktown he received all their overtures in a con- working his left side only. descending sort of way, 'none of them " If Dick had not succeeded in enti- made any impression. His love and loy- cing Harry away from the right side, the alty were due to Jerry and Harry in the probability is that he would have been order named, and to no others. killed. Now the question is: Did that " Dick had been banging over the div- yellow pup know that side rod was go- ision for about six months, and his yellow in l; to snap? MASCOTS OF THE RAIL 201

" After this episode Dick owned the torn cat. He was undoubtedly the larg- whole 'road, from St. Louis- to* Belmont. est tame cat that I have ever seen. There' He grew fat and lazy, but he never was not a white hair oh him. missed a trip that the 30 made, and when " Well, that cat took a fancy to the old she went into the backshop Dick took 112 for some reason, and when we would his layoff. pull in he would spring into the gang- " None of the other runners could way and up on the fireman's seat, where

• coax him on to their engines. He was he would curl up until we got to Car- absolutely and unquali- fiedly loyal to the 30 and her crew, and especially to Jerry. It soon got so that when you would see Dick you could be sure that Jerry was near, and if you saw Jerry it was a safe bet that Dick was not far away. Dick ran on the 30 for a long time until he finally went the way that all good doggies go. " Well. Marsh, it's up to you now. It's your turn to spin a yarn." " All right, boys," said Marsh. " Well, as you are telling dog and goat

stories, I will have to go back to the seventies, when I was firing the old 1 12 on the Illinois Cen- tral. Bob McQuaide was my engineer, a brother to Harry that you spoke of on the Iron Mountain, and when I passed and was set up, Bob went to the Iron Mountain, the brothers desiring to have SAT UP ON MY LOCKER AND MEOWED THREE OR FOUR TIMES." a run on the same road.. Bob was as cool and nervy a runner as bondale. Then he would spring to the you ever saw. He had served in the ground and disappear until we came in Union army during the war, and had on the up trip, when he would come frequently been employed as a runner aboard and ride back to DuQuoin. " when it was necessary for the army to At that time we were pulling way handle trains. He was not a bit super- freight, and had a twenty-four hour lay stitious. over at Centralia. That cat never would " Our run was from Centralia to ride on another engine. One day the 112 Cairo, and at that time the two best had been sent into the shop for light re- towns between the points named were pairs, and engine 122. off the north end, DuQuoin and Carbondale, and I suppose took her run. The only mistake that cat are so yet. At DuQuoin was the junc- ever made was on this trip. When 122 tion with the St. Louis, Alton and Terre stopped at the depot the cat sprang Haute, which, in connection with the aboard as usual, but he went on out on Illinois Central, formed the Cairo Short the other side. Line from St. Louis to Cairo. " The boys tried to coax him on to " The agent at DuQuoin had a black the other engines, but they could never : : — —

202 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE. succeed; 112 was the only engine in " ' We'll stop all the same,' he said. his opinion. He .never mistook another " We ran to within a hundred feet of fur her, except in that one instance. the bridge and stopped. We both climbed Change of the runs made no difference. down and went ahead. The spring Night or day, fast, through, or way floods had piled a lot of drift against the freight, it was all the same -to Tommy bridge, and the water, piling up against as long as 112 was pulling it. this dam. had softened the earth and " One day we pulled into DuQuoin, worked its way through the bank just southbound, about noon. Tommy was on above the north abutment, cutting the time as usual and sprang aboard. He back filling out from behind the mason- sat up on my locker for a moment and ry and leaving an ugly hole across>»liich meowed three or four times. Then he the track remained suspended. leaped to the ground and disappeared. " There being no joints above the " ' What ails the cat? ' said Bob. break, and the rails stretching across, the " ' Hanged if I know. Possibly he ties held up to the rails by the spikes, remembered that he had an engagement leaving the track apparently all right as with Maria, and tried to excuse himself.' seen from above. If we had not stopped I answered. and gone ahead we would never have " Just as we pulled out Tommy was discovered the washout. We would have sitting on his hunkers on the platform piled all that train into the hole right and he fairly squalled as we passed him. on top of that engine. " ' There's something wrong,' said Bob " We backed up to Elkdale, reported

' and that cat knows it. He tried to tell the washout, .and there we lay until the us plain as any one could.' track was cribbed up so we could cross. " ' Oh, nonsense,' I ansAvered. " Tommy resumed his trips after that, " ' All the same, keep your eyes peeled.' and he kept them up for some time, when " For some reason, which I cannot ex- he finally failed to show up, and we sup- plain to this day, I could not shake off pose that he was killed. All the same, the impression that something was wrong 112 was his engine, and none of the boys with the Big Muddy bridge, four miles could get him onto another, even by

north of Carbondale, but I did not men- picking him up bodily and carrying him tion it to Bob. As we pulled out of aboard, for he would spit and scratch, Elkdale, Bob said and the moment that he was released " ' Walt, I am going to stop at the Big would leap to the ground as though the Muddy. There's something wrong with engine burned his feet. the bridge.' " At any rate, the question before the ' is "J Do you know that I have had the court same feeling ever since we left DuQuoin, " ' What did that cat know ? and if he and I cannot give any reason for feeling knew about the Big Muddy Bridge, how " so,' I replied. did he know if? '

GOVERNMENT MEALS, 75 GENTS.

THE Intercolonial Railway of Canada, pre- given." It operates its own sleeping and senting its claims to public patronage, dining cars, and serves table d'hote meals " says that As a government road, it is owned all at seventy-five cents —which are fully by the people, and in the operating of the up to the best furnished by railroads in line this principle is ever kept in view, so the United States. Passenger and Agents' that the best available service will be Journal.

It's harder work to pull up a steep grade than to drift down one, but it's safer so long as you keep going forward. —The Tallow Pot's Diary. NAILING NINETY-FOUR.

BY ROBERT FULKBRSON HOFFMAN.

Something Sinister Creeps Into the Life of High Haven, and the Back-Shop Takes Action.

,IQH HAVEN had but one the industrial war against the desert and lynching. 1 And as lynch- the mountains. ings go that was not a A proud little community, whose pride complete success. gave no offense, had grown up around the " There's a chink open shops. It had the just pride of attain- somewheres along the ment in the face of very great odds, hav- ground-line of our cabin, boys," said ing, normally, a peace and contentment stocky Jim Endy, elevating himself to a keyed high with the tang of the clear seat on a vise-bench between the engine- upper air. laden pits of High Haven shops. True, it had its little lines of social " That's it," said old Tom Waring demarcation and, occasionally, some small "with an anxious note reaching almost dissension. For example: Mrs. Mahalie, to a quaver in his voice. " There's a wife of Jim Mahalie, who ran the limited

slat off en our coop and something's crope . turn and turn about with Nick Botts. " in ! might not speak to Mrs. Botts for several The little group that stood about in clays, while the acrimonious discussion the few remaining minutes of that noo-i was on as to who " burned up the dri- hour, in turn expressed this idea vari- ving-boxes " on engine 1003. ously. That was the first angry swirl But such things were sporadic. They of talk that came eddying to the surface ran their' short course and left no per- from the deeply disturbed undercurrent manent hurt. The little ripples of dis- of feeling which was surging in the turbed feelings subsided in due time, and shops. High Haven resumed its wonted pride They were good shops arrd very well- of calm. manned. For many years, they had stood The men tactfully calmed the teapot in all the dignity of a trusted sentinel as tempests which, from time to time, the railroad's last mechanical outpost in loomed large upon the women's horizon 203 204 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

—and quarreled sociably over their own motion, and turning into the treasury small differences. more actual dollars per man employed This, it will be seen, was all quite as than ever has been got out of your men it should be and, on the whole, High before. " Haven had made its impress deeply upon No pay unless we succeed, and no the road's affairs. Its good name had dead timber left when we get through gone afar, even, in the person of Tom with your shops. We aim to please." This Waring's stripling son, it had substan- short symposiunv of the survival of the tially reached the general manager's of- fittest and the uncaught naively conclu- " fice. The young man, as file clerk, was ded : Our operatives are never caught. " making good in Chicago, and High Ha- Absolute secrecy guaranteed ! ven listened with shining eyes when old That letter bore, also, a few penciled Tom sometimes unbent to speak of the words from one who was not much given boy's little trials and tribulations and to debate in the higher management of successes. the road. The general manager, there- Yes, High Haven had been both proud fore, called in the general superintendent and happy. But, now, this stealthy trou- of motive power. " it " ble—something which it did not under- I detest ! said the general man- stand—was creeping upon the little town. ager, quite frankly. " I despise the One by one, in quick succession, the whole spy system as thoroughly as' I did older men were being weeded out of the when I was a mechanic at the bench, and shops and made derelicts. They lined up I hope that this will not be for long. " along the picket-fence at the railroad sta- But we've got to try it before we can tion, breaking their hearts while they say absolutely that it is both ultimately tried bravely to smile when the limited worthless and immediately disturbing, as whisked in and out again behind engines I believe it to be. which their hands had lovingly built and " Put it on and send me the original petted to perfection. reports as fast as you get them." One by one, the honest but sometimes Therefore, there was a spotter, or spot- outspoken younger men were being ters, in High Haven shops. Therefore, turned adrift and disappearing into the High Haven was much disturbed in that world of work beyond the mountain, memorable month of its trial, and Jim while strange faces of still younger men Endy, sturdy pit-man, was the first to were taking their places in the shops. give concrete expression to the thought When pressed for a reason for these that was shaping itself slowly in the shop. things, the master mechanic looked trou- After that, the idea went murmuring bled and walked away with his chin upon down the pit-line amid the ringing rata- his breast unanswering, for the first time, plan of hand-hammers clinking out the in High Haven's knowledge of him. merry ring of smitten steel. Day by The root of the trouble grew far away day. it was discussed and punctuated by —as far as Chicago, even—and High the boom of sledges and the sharp spang Haven was tasting the first bitter fruit Of riveting hammers upon giant shells of of that growth. steel standing big, solemn and forsaken- It began with a yellow-looking circu- looking in the boiler-shop. lar letter that came in the general man- The anvils rang it subtly in the black- ager's daily grist of mail. The letter- smith-shop, and men there " read the head seemed harmless enough. From menace of it in the lurid flames that " The Industrial Improvement Corpora- flared and leaped above the forges. tion." it professed to come. The buzz-saws of the cab-shop hummed " Plans That Place Progressive Peo- with.it. The great forest of running ple," its further headlines set forth in belts on the machine side, just over the conspicuous type above a detailed offer to straight track from the pit side of the " give an exact daily report upon the in- back-shop, whirled it into the surcharged dividuality, personal and general charac- air and wafted it to every guardian of teristics, working efficiency, and loyalty lathe and planer and other busy, moving of any working force on earth, weeding device that worked for the good name of out the undesirable, taking up the lost High Haven and the good of the service. NAILING NINETY-FOUR. 205

Yes, that much was established beyond upon the lizard. The process of elimi- reasonable doubt. There "was a fat in nation had gone on at the shops until the meal-box ; a beetle on the limb ; a Tom Waring's was one of the few gray lizard at the bee-hive anything you like heads that remained. The " mavericks," ; as parallel, but somebody was secretly as Jim Endy called them—the newer accusing. Somebody was listening to the men who had not been long enough in accuser while the defendant was un- the shop to properly acquire and assimi- heard. Somebody was delivering judg- late the " brand " of' High Haven—had ment against which there was no effec- become a considerable factor in the shop's tive appeal. total, and Jim, with some lingering in- Who? stincts of his earlier days as a cattleman Men searched each other's faces fur- upon the up-lands, searched their faces tively to no .avail. The scorer-beetle, unflaggingly for some sign or ear-mark cutting his fatal circle around the young which might point the way to their pedi- hickory limb, is so like the color of the gree or possible ownership. • thing which it destroys that a passing But, he found nothing worth while. look will not betray its presence. Yet, Men in uniform, however modest, look the limb quickly dies. quite a deal alike in general. Men's The lurking lizard is so like the sun- faces, like printer's type, sometimes read washed rock upon which it glides that, quite the reverse of what they are meant often, it is only the quick darting of its to finally convey. tongue that may arrest the eye. But, if Perhaps the situation would never have by chance one should step upon the in- drawn down to an actual focus upon the sidious thing—that would be very dif- secret offender if the postmaster's wife ferent ! had not been hard put to it for a bit of So far, no one had chanced to step morning gossip.

ONE BY ONE THE OLDER MEN WERE BEING WEEDED OUT OF THE SHOPS. —

206 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

ran the length of the picket- fence brigade in the next few days. It crossed the tracks and made its rapid way into the shops. Men began to look askance at old Tom Waring. Some- times he suddenly found himself standing alone where, a moment before, a group of his fellows had stood earn- estly talking while he approached. A fierce and re- sentful spirit was being fo- mented against him, but, as yet, there was nothing definite upon which to center it in the way of accusation. If he noticed these things, Waring gave no sign. Per- haps he unconsciously with- drew a little closer into himself, but under normal" conditions this would have been easily accounted for. He was at all times a reticent sort; and, furthermore, all who IT FLEW SWIFTLY PAST HIS CLUTCHING FINGERS. were a part of the old life of High Haven knew that, save " " How is Mrs. Waring? she asked a for his occasional unbending to report morning caller at the delivery window. the progress of his absent son, his " Um-huh. Too bad she don't get thought was chiefly with the patient, better—Yes, I help at the window here white-faced little wife at home. sometimes, but not much—That is a They knew that each morning, time out bright boy of Tom Waring's ! There of mind, he had propped the frail is hardly a three days that goes by little body upon the pillows in its bed, but that he sends a letter from Chicago and with his own roughened but gentle Um-huh. Yes, he's in the general man- hands bathed the half-transparent hands ager's office, you know, and doing well, and face of his wife, brushed out her soft " they say—Yes. Well, good morning ! hair and made her ,as comfortable as That was all. But. one of the pa- might be before leaving her to the care thetic old graybeards who had but re- of a domestic and taking his way to his cently been relegated to the picket-fence work on the pits. brigade was there "with his aching heart, For this and for other things as kindly, waiting for the letter that had not come they had honored him as 'few men were in answer to his appeal to headquarters honored in High Haven's quiet way. for a hearing, but which he had not yet But, if it is found that a man is a traitor, the courage to believe would never come. in any walk of life, all other facts at He heard that morning chat and, dis- once shrink to minor significance. A appointed as usual, went away ponder- storm was evidently gathering around

ing it. Every three days, eh, and doing Tom Waring. A seemingly little thing well. So Tom was doing well. He had precipitated it. his job, undisturbed. On one side of the pit upon which en- Why should he have? His age didn't gine 1003 was receiving repairs, stood save him. What saved him? the vise-bench at which Waring worked. So he mulled it over until his quick Beside him worked Jim Endy. fitting up suspicion became a conviction. The idea shoes and wedges for that side of the " !

NAILING NINETY-FOUR. 207

engine. On the opposite side of the pit think of stopping there to free hands and Jake Halprecht manned the bench, fit- faces of the heavier grime before going ling similar parts for the corresponding home for the day, crowded into the room side of 1003. and overflowed noisily into the shop. Jake, peering malevolently through Above the growing clamor, in which the frames under the engine in a furtive Tom Waring's name was being bandied study of Tom Waring as he worked, al- about very recklessly, there arose, at lowed one of the heavy dead shoes which length, one voice that spoke clearly the he was trying against a pedestal-jaw, to dominant note: slip from his grasp. The sharp-cornered, " This thing's gone far enough heavy casting gritted across the pedestal- When he comes down-town, to-night, he binder and darted into the pit with no gets the question, square, and he's got to " word of warning to announce its coming. give the answer ! It struck a glancing blow behind the While this voice of menace was rising ear of one of Jim Endy's " maverick in the shops the summer sun was bestow- machinists who was stooping there, and ing its evening benediction upon the lit- slid to rest in the brick-paved bottom of tle red telegraph-office at Bright Angel, the pit. The man dropped without a a half-hour's ride eastward over the sound, and lay there with the blood well- mountain. ing from a three-inch gash which showed There and then, big Jim Mahalie, with the white gleam of the bone before the square-set jaw and smiling eyes, was red flood poured forth and drenched his heading the west-bound limited into the hidden face. siding for water and to let the general They lifted him out and laid him on manager's one-car special go by on its Tom Waring's bench, and it was Wa- way eastward. ring's skilful hands that stanched the He saw it coming far away over the gaping wound, and Waring who best en- buttes, and, while the water was being acted the part of the good Samaritan rushed into the tender of his own engine, until the man could be taken away for he made a quick, sure inspection below, further attention. and stood waiting to see the special roll In a week he was back — with band- rapidly past. aged head—at the pit. Senseless at the In the observation end of the special time of the accident, he did not know the simple evening meal was being eaten whose hands had given him first aid. by the general manager and his secretary. Possibly he was so constituted that he The slight repast had reached that stage did not especially care. In any event, of its serving which would require no within two days of his return the dis- further attendance from the cook- facto- turbing rumors that pointed toward Tom tum-porter, so that able and zealous ser- Waring were renewed with a venom that vitor seized the opportunity to set in or- passed all that had previously been der the forward compartment of the car, shown. which served as the secretary's office. Somebody had heard that Waring's Dusting, adjusting, and guardedly re- boy had written from Chicago that Jim arranging the mass of papers upon the Endy was likely to lose out soon. No- secretary's desk, he made the well-mean- body had told Tom Waring of this, but ing mistake of raising a window - sash everybody else had heard it within those close beside' the desk just when one of pregnant two days. the swift little catspaws which frequent- Jim Endy did lose out. He was dis- ly dab down from the upper air on the charged within twenty-four hours from Great Divide added its swirl to the com- the time the rumor became current. No motion set up by the flying train. reason given, and Jim was too proud to Instantly, one flattened sheaf of pa- ask for any. He joined the picket-fence pers, from which he had lifted the paper- brigade, and waited. weight, rose with a rustling flutter. It That evening, after the shop-whistle flew swiftly past his clutching fingers and had blown, there was an unusual hubbub fetched up, tossing and tumbling, be- and crowding in and about the shop wash- tween the driving-wheels of Jim Maha- room. Men who. ordinarily, did not lie's engine as the special swept past. "

208 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

Jim picked up the papers, and stood haggard glance. Then his eyes fell, and looking expectantly at the receding train. he spoke: He waited for the stop signal from the " Boys, my wife— " " special's engine-whistle to indicate that Cheer up ! broke in a voice he did the loss was reported, and that they not know. " Never mind your wife, for would stop and pick up the papers. a little while. There's something else we No signal sounded. The train rapidly- want to talk about." faded into a lessening speck in the dis- •Waring straightened at this as if he tance, and Jim knew that the porter, had been struck. For the first time he after one frightened glance from the open took understanding note of his surround- window, had decided to defer the evil ings. He saw a general movement of hour of reckoning—take a continuance, men from the adjacent streets and cor- as it were, and hope for the hest. ners toward the tree beneath which he Thus suddenly become the custodian stood. * of this waif of correspondence. Jim What he did not see, however, was a glanced with natural interest at the top- coil of rope that swung at the hip of one most sheet. His face paled the merest of the approaching throng. Perhaps it shade. Then it reddened with a surge was as well for those who stood imme- of anger. diately about him that he did not see

He looked hastily up' to the fireman that ; for. whatever else Tom Waring perched on the waterspout, and noted might prove to be, he had the courage with relief that he was watching anxi- and the sinews of a man. ously the flow of water into the tender. One comprehensive glance he took, Climbing hastily back to his seat in the and said: " " cab, Mahalie's eyes burned through the Well, talk it, then ! contents of the papers, swiftly, surely as The response came promptly. The he was wont to read a sheaf of tissue thickening crowd shaped itself auto- orders. When the waterspout clanked up matically into a circle around him. against the roadside tank, he knew those "Who's the spotter in the shop?" de- writings as he would have known a hand- manded the voice that had admonished ful of orders, at one sure reading. He him insolently to cheer up. was ready to " run on them." The booming station-call of Jim Ma- Tom Waring came down-town that halie's engine came rolling down through evening in High Haven. He came just the dusk as if ir unintelligible answer. when the dusk was growing deep and " I don't know ' replied Waring quiet- the yelimv lights were beginning to show ly, as the echoes of the limited's whistle thickly along the main street near the died out upon the mountainside. " tracks. He came with heavy step and "No, you don't ! said the voice de- bowed head, as one whose trouble is too risively. " What's your boy writing about deep for speech, yet cries aloud for the from Chicago?" friendly company of men. " That is none of your business," re- The streets nearest the tracks were plied Waring, still quietly. " " more than usually alive. Men stood in You're the spotter ! declared the little knots and larger groups, here and voice, and the man with white-bandaged there, upon the nearer corners. But Wa- head pressed forward from his place be- ring did not notice it. He came steadily side Jake Halprecht and thrust out his on across the little plaza which opens jaw aggressively. upon the tracks beside the station and "You lie!" shouted Waring as he joined the group strung out along the leaped toward the man. picket-fence and swelled to a cluster of At the word, the crowd split and up- silent men beneath the lone cottonwood heaved into a dozen fighting centers, in which stands sentinel at the edge of the which battled those who believed in Tom plaza. Waring and those who believed that he Halting there, he lifted his eyes for a was false. single glance abdut him. He saw Jake The bandaged head was shuffled be- Halprecht, Jim Endy, and others whom yond Waring's reach, and many hands he knew, or did not know, in that one were clutching, tearing, pounding at : ! ! :

NAILING NINETY-FOUR. 209

Waring's body in return for the storm his last mad onslaught, and he was tear- of blows which die was dealing fiercely ing the rope down, hand over hand, from upon them at every side. the limb, ripping it loose from Waring's Upon this shouting, battling throng neck, and casting it away over the heads Tim Mabalie looked out in astonishment of the men who remained upright as his engine glided to a stop at the edge around him.

of the plaza. His quick wits guessed but Half senseless, he supported Waring, once, and guessed right. He Leaped while he snarled forth the bitterest words from the engine-cab, and, with brawny of denunciation that ever rang across the arms toughened by years of battling with plaza of High Haven " murderous reverse-levers, began beating Stand away ! You cursed camp-fol- his way through the riotous mob toward lowers ! You dogs ! You coyotes ! You, Waring. I mean you ' mavericks ' ; " breed He was strong. He was fiercely :an- High Haven couldn't a play gry. But they were many, and he was of its own as low as this " hut one. With his eyes fixed on Tom " Sit down, Tom! Waring, he saw the stealthy coil" of rope He let Waring down gently to a place hurtle through the air and fasten its run- at the foot of the tree, and made an ef- ning noose at Tbm's'throat. fort to fan him with his oil-glazed cap. He saw the loose end go writhing up- " Jim." said Waring faintly. Then "ward and over a limb of the cottonwood, ln's voice took on greater power, and he and saw the line run taut. Again, he added the one magic word that pene- saw Tom's battling suddenly cease while trated to the outer rim of the now silent his hands clutched futilely at the stran- crowd, and went farther toward healing gling loop around his neck. the bread) in High Haven affairs than Then he had no ckear recollection of any other that he might have uttered what he saw until he was done trampling " Boys, my wife—my wife died a few over the bodies of men who fell before minutes ago." 2 R R :

210 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

" " Oh, my goodness ! moaned a deep quickly reached and read the topmost voice from the midst of the awe-struck writing, the effect of that brief communi- throng. cation was electric: " You know," continued Waring's Worked with Tom Waring, Jim voice, " she's been long sick, but the end Endy. and Jake Halprecht to-day on en- came that suddenlike that it fair struck gine 1003. Halprecht dropped a dead- I I sort of me dumb. guess wandered shoe on me. Knocked me clean out. down here, looking for somebody to stand Bad cut back of ear. Have to lay off by me for a mite until I can get used to rest of this week. the idea. Don't know whether done on pur- " I want to go home now." he con- pose, but they are getting hot and dan- cluded, struggling to regain his feet. gerous. Guess I can bluff them some more. Endy " Wait. Tom," said Jim Mahalie. Jim ought to be fired quick, and next Tom Waring. Started spot- " Brace up for a while. We ought to ter talk. Fire Halprecht. He's a dub know about this — and then I'm going and too old. 94. with you." He thrust his hand deep within his " That is all," said Jim Mahalie. blouse and brought forth the vagrant " Can any of you enthusiastic gentlemen " sheaf of papers from Bright Angel si- nail this patriot who signs ' 94 ' ? ding. The man with the bandaged head sud- " Hold your lamp here a minute, denly broke loose from the slackened Perky, will you?" he called to the con- grasp of Halprecht and darted through ductor of the limited. the edge of the crowd. He sprang across The gay little green-and-white lantern the platform of one of trie cars in the bobbed its way through the fringe of the limited, with Jake Halprecht and Jim crowd, and by its light Mahalie read Endy close behind. aloud a line from one of the papers which Across the yard, through the round- he was rapidly shifting with skilful fin- house, and into the black depths of the gers. boiler-shop the chase led, and it ended At the first word the man of the band- beside a rivet-heating forge upon which aged head began edging toward the rim the fire still smoldered. of the crowd. He was stooping and They did not strike him. Nobody pressing for a final exit, when Jake Hal- deigned to kick him. They stat'ed at him precht's big hand fell heavily upon his in a species of loathing wonder until shoulder. Jim Endy gritted through his clenched " " " Wait ! commanded Jake. No- teeth " " ' " body goes now ! You maverick 7 It was all there. Word after word. That word settled the fate of the fu- Line after line. Page after page. Each gitive. He did not bear the brand of of Jim Mahalie's brief and pointed ex- High Haven. He must bear a brand of - tracts held something which, somebody his own. It was quickly done. recognized and instantly connected with Jim Endy's hand had lost none of its something else—all having a common old-time skill with the " running-iron." trend ; all leading to one inevitable de- The fire on the forge flared up for a lit- duction. tle time and then died down again. Every pitiful little human weakness or When " 94 " went over the mountain defection that might not " make for suc- that night, he was neither bruised nor cess " in the shop's daily doings was par- beaten—but his number, was aching and ticularly set forth there by day and date burning upon his back. • and hour. There is now no line of discredited Poor, well-meaning, average human veterans, smiling with breaking hearts, kind was laid bare in that merciless along the fence-line at High Haven. epitome of the policy of the survival of Time and experience have evolved a the fittest. They were able documents more acceptable form of retirement. Just of their kind. how much of this is due to the manner It was short and cold and very calm, of the return of the general manager's that reading of Mahalie's; and when he papers, it might be difficult to say. : ! —! ;

NAILING NINETY-FOUR. 211

HE MUST BEAR A BRAND OF HIS OWN.

However, he received them promptly "It is too good to keep—or too con- through the proper channel, with full in- founded bad. I'll have to tell you formation. He, personally, took them to " Why this diabolical- outfit turned in the general superintendent of motive- a report against you!" power, and, after he had closed the door " Yes. I know that," was the reply. against all intrusion, banged them upon " But they put in a report on me! " in- the desk with the terse command sisted the general manager. " And just "Destroy them! Yourself! You yesterday we discovered that they were know how it finished at High Haven? ivorking up a case against the board of

Think of it ! And with the limited directors, and had designs upon the " standing by! chairman of the board—who employed

He paused—and continued : them ! A week more of it. and they " Destroy them ! Put every one of would have owned the road " " those men back as soon as you can with- Don't forget to destroy them ! he " out making a parade of it ! said, with a backward nod toward the He turned about, and had reached the papers as he passed out. door, when he said with an odd smile: Thev were destroyed. AN ENGINEER RHYMESTER.

IX spile of the bad weather that prevailed cause of your delaying No. S?" The engi- over most of the country during the neer is a friend of Shandy Maguire and a last four months, passenger-trains have rival of the engineer-poet. He answered: been run with wonderful punctuality on mi 'St of the lines. One night a freight-train " The wind was high, the steam was low on the Milwaukee road was stalled and de- The train was heavy and hard to tow; layed an important passenger-train. An The coal was slack and full of. slate irate super wired the engineer the well- That's why we held up Number 8." klibwn ominous phrase. " What was the Railway and Locomotive Engineering, 212 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE,

Drawn from the Architect? Designs' THE NEW TERMINAL BUILDING FOR THE NEW YORK CENTRAL LINES IN NEW YORK CITY. THIS MAGNIFICENT STRUCTURE IS BEING ERECTED ON THE SITE OF THE OLD TER- MINAL WITHOUT THE SLIGHTEST INTERRUPTION TO THE TRAIN SCHEDULES. The New Home of the New York Central.

BY STEPHEN AN GUS COX.

THE New York Central Railroad is rapidly pushing to completion its new terminal on Forty-Second Street. New York City. Its officials are meeting the cry for larger and better transportation facilities in the metropolis with a terminal that will be the acme of constructive skill. Mil- lions of dollars are being spent for the safety, comfort, and convenience of its with ingenuity that borders on wonderment, is patrons ; and, an a new depot being constructed with the razing of the old one still going on. while the terminal trackage is being doubled without a single interference to the regular passenger-train schedules. It is a marvel of engineering skill.

In the Heart of New York City a Gigantic Terminal Is Being Con- structed While the Old One Is Being Demolished, and the Schedules of a Great System Remain Unchanged.

N the heart of New York, the to an end—made a disappointing finish, great modern, matter-of-fact so to speak—in Jersey City or Hoboken, city, a miracle is being wrought. and the tired passengers must needs tum- One of the greatest engineer- ble out of the cars, go -swarming down ing feats of railroad history the narrow, sloping chutes and aboard is being accomplished. The the ferry-boats, there to dwell a seem- Grand Central "Station, one of the busiest ingly interminable period, wlijle the boat of the world's termini, is being ra^ed, its was backing and filling, ducking and tracks torn up, its yards quarried, its dodging the innumerable river-craft, and switches and signals changed and re-, paying a course for a slip somewhere changed every day. along the river-front on. the New York A mighty new terminal being con- side. structed simultaneously with the de=- Originally huilt in 1 S 7 I. , the station struction of the- old one. and not a train was enlarged in 1S98 and 1900; but the of the 700 that run in and out of it constantly increasing traffic made im- daily is being delayed. perative a much larger station, and the It is a work such as giants might be New York Central Railroad Company, expected to achieve, an immense won- realizing that in another decade New der-inspiring section of the great future York will be a city of six or eight mil- brought into use half a century ahead of lions, with three or four times the present time. traffic, decided to build for the future. The New York Central Railroad Com- pany for thirty-nine years has been the A Daring Undertaking. only railroad company with a passenger station on Manhattan Island. All other_ The enlarging of a terminal in the lines, from South. West, and North came heart of New York City is a task only 213 214 THE .RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE. to be undertaken by the most daring. commandeered for the purpose, and a Where acres of property, perhaps the splendidly fitted station appeared before most valuable in the •world, have to be the New Yorker .had hardly become swept away, the cost of yard tracks aware of the fact that changes were becomes mighty high. ing made. The Pennsylvania Railroad Company From behind this terminal two levels gave an illustration of what can be done of track pushed their way out toward in this direction with unlimited resources. the tunnel. They were the beginning of The New York Central is giving an illus- a new order of things. tration of what can be done with unlim- Gradually they widened, stretching out ited resources and engineering genius. westward toward the old station, until They bought nearly twenty-two acres of there were twenty-three tracks on the up- real estate, and ruthlessly swept down per level and nine tracks on the lower millions of dollars' worth of residences level. Then began the work of destruc- and stores. But in yard trackage twen- tion of the old tracks and yards. ty-two acres is not an enormous area, A thousand men. like an angry army and more is needed if the company would of invading insects, began tearing with not again be face to face with the same •their seemingly puny strength at what problem in a very short time. had been the monumental labor of an There must be an end of, the buying earlier generation. There was something up of the city, and especially when the tragically ruthless in this terrible sacri- purchase prices run to fabulous sums per fice to the god of expansion. front foot. They already had twenty- three acres in the old terminal, and this Drilling Into the Earth. added to the twenty - two made what would strike one as a good-sized yard. They pounded their whirling steel It did not strike the responsible offi- stings into the earth and tore out her cials of the New York Central that way, rock-bound .heart, but all along the so they set about to see how they 'could rhythmic pulsing of the drills beat the double it without investing in more real air like the music of the song of indus- estate. try. In the weird glow of electric flare- Simplest thing in the world, of course, lights they drilled and drilled, and the to excavate and make two levels. Yery night, instead of softening the sounds of simple, indeed, on paper. However, it destruction, made them appear all the is for the directors to command and the more relentlessly eager. engineers to obey. To the watching New Yorkers it seems , If the directors say that all trains as if the New York Central had decided must be drawn into New York City by to make wreck and chaos -of all- it could electric-power, it must be done. If the lay its hands on. directors say that trains must run into a It was not until practically a few terminal of two, or even more, levels, months ago that to the experienced eye that also must be done. In engineering some semblance of order, some idea of there are apparently no impossibilities. design, could be gained from the apparent chaos. The First Work. As the tracks from the new portion of the yards reached to the"" old one. the The first work was a work of destruc- old terminal began to be destroyed and tion. Commuters coming in every morn- the old tracks to be torn up. ing saw the outline of the yards changing The tearing down of the station, with day by day with the rapidity of magic. its enormous and heavy train-shed and Buildings that had been landmarks to the accommodating of the tremendous them for years as they emerged from crowds is one of the engineering feats the Park Avenue tunnel were destroyed of the day. To move the trairi-shed over overnight. ' • the heads of the passengers a most in- Over on the East Side the temporary genious scheme was evolved. terminal sprang into existence, the lower An enormous movable traveler was floor of the Grand Central Palace was built in accordance with .the contour of THE NEW HUME OF THE NEW VuRK CENTRAL. 215 the train-shed, and mounted on wheels, around the loop, and after the baggage- which ran on rails laid in the middle of cars have been placed on a track adja- the platforms. The train-sheds were recent to a baggage platform, equipped moved in sections of twenty and forty with elevators and conveyors, the rest of feet, the roof covering, which consisted the train will be placed on tracks in the of corrugated iron and glass, being re- storage-yard. moved to the floor of the traveler. The trusses) having a span of 200 feet Trains Down an Incline. and a height of ninety feet, were cut out in eight sections and lowered onto the Inbound suburban trains will be sent traveler-floor by derricks, this work be- to the suburban level down an incline- ing done in the daytime. track, either at the extreme west side of At night two tracks were assigned to Park Avenue or on one about the center the construction department, and the of the avenue, thence onto a track ad- refuse material was placed on cars and jacent to a platform, and in most oases sent out on the road. Temporary wooden on the west side of the yard. sheds were built behind the traveler, so Here the passengers alight ; and if as to leave very little uncovered space. the train is to depart immediately, it is When the traveler reached the fence reloaded, sent around the loop, and rises at the north side of the present concourse, on an incline-track to the main level on the work became more difficult for the the east side of Park Avenue, and thence reason that no supports could be placed onto the road. on the concourse, it being filled with peo- Trains that are. not to go out for a while ple most of the time ; but the difficulty are placed in the suburban storage-yard. was surmounted, and the roofing and Thus the business of the two yards will trusses successfully removed. be kept separate, and all confusion inci- The base of the trusses extended sev- dent to transferring equipment from one eral feet below the level of the platforms, level to the other will be avoided. however, and to prevent the necessity of As may be supposed, in a yard the size tearing up a goodly portion of the con- of the Grand Central Terminal, with its course, an acetylene - oxygen blow - pipe sixty - seven tracks, aggregating thirty- was used, and by means of the flame thus two miles, a perfect system of signaling produced the trusses were burned off at and train control is necessary. Without the level of the platform. such a system it would be impossible to get 700 trains through the narrow neck The Track Arrangement. of our hypothetical bottle every twenty- fpur hours without collisions and wrecks. tracks the upper, man controls the entire train Of the forty-two on One _ or express-train level, twenty-nine will movement of the Grand Central Termi-

be adjacent to platforms ; and of the nal. He is stationed at Mott Haven, twenty-five local, or lower-level tracks, and is called the chief interlocking di- seventeen will be adjacent to platforms. rector. Between his office and the Five of the upper-level tracks at the Grand Central Station are five towers, in extreme west side will be connected, by which are lever switchboards, it being means of loops, with yard tracks on the possible to open or close any switch by east side, while the majority of the pushing a lever, and thus diverting a tracks on the suburban level will have train onto any track desired. loops at the southern end, connecting In each of these towers there is a bay them with the storage-tracks at the east window, and in the window sits the side of the yard. tower-director, who, when he sees a train Inbound through trains from the neck coining, gives an order to one of the of this immense bottle will, in the ma- operators, who pushes the proper lever, jority of cases, be diverted onto one of and the train moves onto the proper the five tracks already mentioned as be- track. ing connected by loops with the tracks The trains on the different divisions

a I the east side. After the passengers are designated by a different letter on have alighted the trains will be taken all the train-sheets. Trains of the II a r- 216 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

lem Division are denominated X, those empty into and from this enormous bot- on the New York, New Haven and Hart- tle. There are the Hudson River and ford Division by Y, and those on the Harlem divisions of the New York Cen- Hudson River Division by Z. tral, and the New York, New Haven and If a train arrives at Mott Haven, and Hartford road. the chief interlocking director wires to The Grand Central Station, the crown- the towers that Z-21 has arrived, the ing glory of this great terminal, will directors in the towers know that train stand on the site of the old building, the No. 21, of the Hudson River Division, is demolition of which will begin the first referred to. When the train comes in of May. The new station will be 600 sight the director gives the order to one feet long, 300 feet wide, and 105 feet of the men, who pushes the proper lever. high. At the street level it will be 745 This system has been described fully feet long, 480 feet wide, and 45 feet in a previous number of The Railroad deep. The building will be bounded by Man's Magazine, so it is not necessary Depew Place on the east, Forty-Second to more than refer to it here. Street on the south, Vanderbilt Avenue The tearing up of the old tracks, the on the west, and Forty- Fifth Street on excavating and erection of the tremen- the north ; but the building will be set dous girders which are to form the back from Forty-Second Street and Van- groundwork and support for, the upper derbilt Avenue about 60 feet, providing level, was more than a problem of tre- a wide plaza on the south and west. mendous construction — it was also a problem of ingenuity. Every move had The Station. to be laid out on paper, and new com- binations of signals and switches worked The original plans of the station itself out before a rail could be torn up, or have been changed considerably from the there might have been unending delays.. first design, and the building, when fin- Never before was work so scientific- ished, will present a-nnique spectacle of ally ordered and so minutely planned in a self-supporting terminal. the order of its execution. Excavating As may be seen from the architects' alone was a task so stupendous as to drawings, which we reproduce, a sky- daunt all but the dauntless. Over scraper building will reach up from the 1,500,000 cubic yards of earth and rock main structure, and the rental from the have been excavated already, and the offices contained in it are expected to work is little more than half completed. practically defray the working cost of the The rock-drilling varies from five to fifty terminal. feet, and already enough rock has been The main entrance to the station will removed to build a pyramid as large as be at Forty-Third Street, on the Vander- the famous ones of Egypt. bilt Avenue side. On descending a short flight of stairs to a level about ten feet Like a Bottle's Neck. below the street, one will find himself on the main concourse, which will be 120 To get an adequate idea of the diffi- feet wide, 500 feet long, and 100 feet culties of constructing a tremendously high. The suburban concourse will be wide terminal station with two levels and the same width, but only 400 feet long. with every track in almost constant use, South of this concourse, and between it it must be borne in mind that the entire and tlie l-'ortv-Second Street front, will be - traffic must be poured through the Park a large waiting-room, ticket-offices, etc. It Avenue tunnel as through the neck of will not be necessary for passengers to go a bottle. through this room in going to and from The ingenuity demanded in laying out trains. Around three sides of the con- these tracks, and in apportioning the course, at about the street level, will be trains that run over them, is positively a balcony, to which carriage passenger* uncanny. Like everything connected and those entering from the street wiL with this tremendous undertaking, one have access.

has to think of it in superlatives. The The main concourse will connect only trains of practically three railroads with outbound trains. An arriving con- —

THE NEW HOME OF THE N.EW YORK CENTRAL. 217

course for through trains will be built at with electricity all that is necessary is to the east side of the building, thus avoid- provide room with the trains. It was this ing the confusion usually existing where that made possible the creating of a sec- incoming and outgoing passengers com- ond level, which could be utilized for the mingle on one concourse. suburban train service. Below the concourse and waiting-room, As the terminal is to be used by the on a floor immediately between them and New York, New Haven and Hartford the suburban track level, will be a large Railroad Company, as well as by the New mezzanine concourse connecting with the York Central, the presidents of these two Subway, and enabling arriving and de- companies are in full control, and they parting suburban passengers to go to and give final decisions on all plans evolved

from the Subway and suburban track level by engineers, architects, etc. ; and under without having to ascend to the street. them, and having direct charge of the For several years past all the trains work, is a vice-president of each road, entering and departing from the Grand who in turn is assisted by a joint com- Central Terminal have been hauled by mittee of three representatives of each electric locomotives. Consequently the road, these committees making recommen- smoke and gas-fumes, so disagreeable to dations on all plans submitted by the passengers while the train was traversing engineers and architects. the tunnel, have disappeared. The total amount of steel used in the In addition, what are known as multi- construction will be 86,000 tons. This ple unit trains are in operation. These would require in the neighborhood of cars have a motor, and can be operated 3,000 cars to haul, and would make a as units or any number together. train about twenty - five or thirty miles The use of electricity as a motive pow- long. er made a great change at the terminal. The capacity of the old terminal was With steam-locomotives, a high train-shed 366 car»; the capacity of the new terminal was necessary to provide ventilation, but will be 1,149 cars. RISKS LIFE TO SAVE CHILD.

Fireman on Pilot Snatches Little One from Death Beneath Rapidly Moving Engine.

WHILE the engine was going about thir- was playing in the sand, and was stooping ty-five miles an hour and approach- over so that it looked like a dog. I imme- ing the town of Donahue, Iowa, Fireman diately shut off the steam and put on the Fred Sies, -of the Monticello accom- air, and then saw Sies running out on the modation-train on the Milwaukee, standing running-board to the front of the engine. " On the pilot of the engine, No. 573, grabbed When we came to a full stop I hated to a three-year-old child, playing in the sand in go out and look at the spot where we had the middle of the track, by the neck and undoubtedly killed the boy, as I thought saved its life. sure that he would have been run over, and The experience is one which, he stales, Sies as well. I never was so surprised as he does not care to have repeated. when I saw my fireman step up to the cab "If any man deserves a Carnegie medal, holding the child by the neck." this fireman certainly does." said Engineer Both fireman and engineer state that the Frank Cowden, of the train after the train mother of the child, living close by, ran out had arrived in Davenport. of the house when she saw the train ap- " We were coining down the track at the proaching, but turned in horror and fled rate of about forty miles an hour, and were back as she evidently did not want to see within a mile and a half of Donahue." he the child killed. said, " when I saw something ahead of us After the train was stopped and she got in the middle of the track. her child, her excitement and "joy were so

" I thought it was a dog, but suddenly saw great that she could not utter a word. The it was a child, as it raised up. The child Railway Record. ! —

THE LURE OF THE RAILS.

BY LESLIE CURTIS.

Written for "The Railroad Man's Magazine."

fj-jHHINING rails, shining rails, beckon not to me.

My place is by the fireside, my children at my knee;

^y P' ace ' s by tne fireside, with every loving bond. •IeLS Why does my restless, pulsing heart go seeking the

/ff] beyond? Why will my thoughts go roaming over mountain, plain, and -lea?

Haunting rails, taunting rails, beckon not to me

Shining rails, shining rails, let my spirit rest.

Even in my dreams I see lines that meet the West;

Even in my dreams I see prairie land and hill.

Hold me closer, love of mine. Restless heart, be still. Ties of home take hold on me, drown the engine's roar

Cruel, sneering, leering rails, torture me no more!

Shining rails, shining rails, glistening in the light. You who greet the frozen North—meet the land of white; You who greet the frozen North—ah, my thoughts run wild!

Who is crying, love of mine? Can it be the child? Wilful thoughts stray back again from the frozen zone.

Maddening rails, saddening rails, go your way alone.

Shining rails, shining rails, turning toward the South,

Stronger is the loved one's kiss upon my willing mouth; Stronger is the loved one's kiss—yet I seem to see Sunny climes and graceful palms—they are calling me.

I must answer, love of mine! I'll return—but when? Cruel, bitter, loving rails— I am yours again. — ! a

THE MAN WHO WASN'T GAME

BY WILLIAM S. WRJGHT.

It Isn't Always Well to Take a Chance Acquaint- ance Too Seriously—He May Be an Enemy.

CHAPTER I. but there must be something—something that keeps men down besides their own Master of His Fate. acts.

Why Should I preach, or why should

'ROKE! I even think? Have such men as I the I. John Anderson, thirty right to do either? years old, born of respectable Perhaps you can answer that question parents, living until my twen- when you Jiave heard my story. ty - first year in a thriving At twenty-one I ran away from my Western town, having had good home. 1 resented a scolding that every advantage that education and kind- my father had given me—that was all. ly'parental indulgence could bring, know - We lived in Hampton, Wyoming— the full meaning of that word—better, conventional place of some ten thousand perhaps, than any other man on earth. inhabitants. I was accustomed to pur- 1 do not bar the unfortunate who stands chase the household necessaries at the in the bread-line from night to night. I town stores for my mother. do not bar the needy mendicant who does On this particular day she sent me out not taste food for days at a time, and who with twenty dollars. It was a big sum to begs from door to door. 1 do not bar me. When I left her at ten o'clock in the

the man who has spent his all and looks morning I had no more intention of not vainly for work. I have been broke returning home than she had of killing broke in every sense of the word. me. I kissed her good-by. I have been without money for years. She told me not to harbor any ill-feel-

I have known what it is to pick crusts of ing against my father. But, somehow or bread from the refuse of a kitchen. I other. I felt he had harmed me deeply. have slept in public parks on summer It wasn't what he said that hurt— it was nights, and stood in doorways on winter the maimer in which he said it.' nights. Something possessed me as I walked I have even begged to be taken into down the street. A new light seemed to city prisons just to get some food and come into my life. I began to slowly re- shelter from the cold. It is not so bad alize that, as I had just come of age, I when one can find neither work nor food was of some importance in the world, to spend a few days or weeks, or months and that it was up to me to put that im- even, in prison. At least there is some portance to the test. humanity inside the gray walls. A man It was impossible to do so in Hampton. can't starve, and he has a blanket to roll That " village," as I sneeringly dubbed in every night. it, was no place for me. What wouldn't

But it is hard when a man is ambitious. 1 give to be back there now I am ambitious. I want work. I want I was just turning into the main street to live like other men. Only a little will of our town, when my will was strong satisfy me. upon me. . I have tried hard—mighty hard. I am I would not pay the bills! I would not a believer in that thing called fate, not turn back! I would go! 219 —; .

220 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

I walked straight to the railroad sta- then turned to my mother. I knew that tion and secured a ticket for Omaha. Al- she was now worrying because I had not though the agent knew me, he didn't show returned home, and I pictured to myself any surprise when I purchased a ticket hor feelings when darkness came and I out of town. 1 suppose that I did it in would not be home to join in our evening such a mechanical way that it did not meal. occur to him that I was purchasing the I did not worry about my father. I ticket for myself. knew that, with his cold-blooded demean- The train rumbled into the depot and or, he would simply look upon my de^ came to a halt. It was then shortly after parture as just what might happen to any- noon. In the scurry and hurry of alight- young man. He had no sentiment. Life ing passengers and the good-bys of the with him was all practical and matter of departing ones, in the exchange of in- fact. We are simply creatures {p shape coming and outgoing freight, busily han- our own destinies, he thought, and I was dled by the depot men, I got aboard. only shaping mine. I found a seat in the rear of the As we sped along, and twilight came, smoker — a small, badly ventilated car I tried to time the exact moment when the fumes of bad tobacco were so dense my father would be returning home. I that I began to be stifled. Some twenty could see my mother, with tears in her men were lounging about the seats—some eyes, telling him that something terrible were asleep, some still smoking : but they must have happened to me, and I can see all had the dismal air of tiresome travel. him denying that such was the case—that Somehow or other, I did not think of 1 was old enough to take care of myself, home ; that motley crowd of hard-looking and that I would be sure to turn up all men had arrested my thoughts. I began right in the end. to wonder who they were, and whither He had that all-pervading belief in they were going, if it really were possible human nature that any man thrown on for human beings to get so low in the his own resources, provided he has grit scale of life, when my senses were punc- and determination, will ultimately land " " tured by a shrill voice : All aboard ! on his feet. And I knew that he lost no It was drawn out in the monotone fa- sleep that first night that I was absent miliar to conductors. The train gave a from home, although my mother probably sudden jolt. The locomotive puffed cried her eyes out, wondering if I were - once, twice, thrice—and then it secured its dead or alive. momentum. When I reached Omaha, and stood . In another minute we were moving alone and desolate on the sidewalk in ahead easily, and faster—faster—faster. front of the great railway station, I de- The familiar spots in the outskirts of the termined for a moment to return home. town went by—first in the easy stage of But it dawned on me with much force observation, then so fast that I was re- that I was a thief as well as a runaway. minded only of the saying of some noted And yet. wouldn't my mother have giv- humorist : that the telegraph-poles looked en all that I had taken, and all that she like a fine-tooth comb. possessed, if I would have returned that It may seem incongruous that anything night. humorous should have entered my mind It was too late now. The damage had then. But. as this narrative will show, been done. I was my own master—the the humorous in life always struck me designer of my own fate. Nobody could forcibly. say a word to me as to what I should or It mattered little about the seriousness should not do. I had only my own com-

of my condition ; even with hunger gnaw- mands to obey. There is something in that. ing at my vitals, I never failed to see the Night came on, and it was pretty cold. humorous side of a situation, and I pre- I was hungry, and I wandered to a cheap -u me that this optimistic streak, so to restaurant near the station, where, for speak, is accountable for the fact that I twenty cents. I secured a greasy beef- am alive to-day to write this story. steak, smothered in a wad of greasy on- We were -oi>n in a part of the country ion-, and a cup of coffee that must have was strange to me. My thoughts been brewed from the bark of a tree. THE MAN WHO WASN'T GAME 221

Compared with the plain, but well- where the word " Office " on a glass door cooked and tasty, meals that my mother told me that I should apply there. There so gladly prepared for our little home, was only one light on the landing, and the this repast was like unto the swill that odor—nay, let me now give it its proper is thrown to hogs. But hunger is its own name, smell—was enough to choke an or- best cook, I have frequently learned since. dinary mortal. After I had finished my meal I walked I entered the office. It was a dingy af- down to the station and watched the fair—a room of perhaps eight square feet, trains as they were shunted back and forth six of which were partitioned off by a in the yards. Railroads had ever, a fascina- brass net work. Directly in front of the tion for me, and I was getting deeply in- door there was a window in the brass terested in several new passenger-locomo- work, and through this a man thrust his tives attached to the fast trains for the head and asked me what I wanted. East and West, when the darkness came " I should like to have a room for the upon me. night," I answered. The myriad lights of the railway yards " How much? " he asked. seemed to dazzle my eyes, and, before I I remembered the sign outside, and my knew it. I was blinking and tired. The meager purse, and told him that the ten- next thing to do was to find a place, to cent variety would suit my taste just then. sleep. "What is your name?" he asked as My first impression was tu crawl in he pushed a book in front of me and some box car and pass the night. I saw handed me a pen. three standing on a siding near a freight- I took the pen, and started to write at station, and started across the tracks to the place he indicated, but it suddenly them. A man yelled to me to go back. struck me that I could not give my own Evidently he was on the lookout for name in such a place. I wrote down tramps. the " John " —that was common enough I sat in the station near the stove until —but what should I indite as a surname ? another man—this one in uniform—came Long training, or instinct, or Heaven up to me and asked me what train I was knows what, forced me to make the " A," waiting for. and before I knew it I had written the I didn't know, of course, so he hustled name " Andrews." me into the street again, with the forcible I have since read somewhere that crim- reminder that the station was no place inals assuming names generally use their for bums, neither was it a hotel. own initials; that there is some unseen It was too cold to wander the streets, power that guides the hand to do this, no which I would "gladly have done in order matter how much the mind may force it to save my money. But when I remem- to do otherwise. bered that on the morrow I would have " How old are you?" he asked when to start out in search of work, it seemed Ik- had written my name."- to me that the best thing for me to do " Twenty-one," I truthfully answered. was to get a good sleep. " Where were you born ? " was the next

I walked "along a dimly lighted thor- query. oughfare and into another— I have- trav- I hesitated. What difference could it eled so much since that I do not remem- make to him what I said? ber the names — and finally my eyes r" Chicago," I finally told him, with a caught a sign, faintly showing under a tremor. _ flickering gas-light that seemed destined "What is your occupation?" was to be extinguished with every puff of the hurled at me. " wind, the sign: Clerk," I said, half under my breath. ROOMS He wrote down each answer as if each 10, 15, and 25 cents were gospel truth. He asked me one or two more questions— the names and ages MEN ONLY of my parents, which brought forth black- I entered the place, and walked a din- ened lies. I finally mustered up courage gy flight of wooden stairs to a landing. to ask him why it was necessary to pursue : —; !

222 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

this mode of cross-examination for the All, perhaps, had given fictitious names simple purpose of renting a ten - cent —just as I had—and if all .committed sui- room. cide, or if the place burned down and all He did not hesitate to answer. He were incinerated, who would mourn gave it to me quick and straight from the them? shoulder. He said But the odor of the place—the foul, " So we will know who you are, in case impure stench ! It made my head ache. you commit suicide. The law requires it." For a moment I thought of- the cleanliness He was a cheerless - looking, lantern- of my own home, and the pride that my jawed consumptive of some forty-five good mother took in keeping it whole- years, into whose life disappointment some. A tear burned on my cheek. 1 must have crept and died. He didn't threw myself on the cot without removing know just how deeply those words cut .even my coat or shoes. and he didn't care. I wanted to go to sleep and forget H e struck a -great brass gong, and looked 'everything. upon me with the calm indifference of I buried my face in that awful pillow. one who knows a tramp when he sees one It was a hard, canvas affair, without any as he took the dime 1 handed him and pillow-slip, and scores of heads had rest-

thrust it in a cluttered-up cash-drawer. ed there before mine.

His ring was answered -by' a shuffle of But it did seem good to lie down, even feet outside. A man rattled down-stairs if the odors of the place were getting and entered. It was evident that in this more and more unbearable, and the hotel the attendants cared but Little for snoring and the restless occupants were on the comfort of the sleepers. my nerves. " Show him up to twenty-seven," said As I listened to them, a terrible wave of the man behind the brass work to the real homesickness completely engulfed "7 man who entered. me. I grew restless, cried, I even This second individual nodded to me, moaned. door. I as I and opened , the "followed he would have given anything—anything

started up another flight of stairs more to have been "home ! I knew the torture dimly lighted than the first. that my mother was suffering for me. Her He opened the door of a room—a large, voice was calling. The -darkness fright- poorly ventilated room, in which a hun- ened me. Those men around me seemed to dred men were sleeping. Then it came to mock the good that I had in me. I wanted me that my ten cents did not entitle me to to go home— I wanted to go home a single room. My guide 'led me on The next thing that I knew, some one among the lines of cots placed close to was prodding me violently in the middle each other in perfect order. of the back. It was dark—only a red lamp gleamed over the solitary door to show the way II. out, in case of fire. We walked almost CHAPTER to the end of the room, when he stopped The Man in the Next Cot. in front of a vacant cot, pointed, and made his exit. HAD been sound asleep. Whoever jj There were no tips in that hostelry. was trying to awaken me evidently The vacant cot to which he pointed \Vas had been working pretty hard in that di- " twenty-seven." I looked at it a moment rection, for before I regained my waking and then sat down on it. My hands senses he had poked me violently with touched the musty blanket and the hard his fist, and always in the same place in pillow, and a shudder ran through my the middle of my back. body. Then I tried to look around me. Thinking that something had hap- On every cot, so far as I could see, pened, I sat up. The man who had been was a man. Some were asleep, some must so intent on waking me was the occupant have been awake, many were snoring like of the cot beside mine. He was a short, sawmills, and many more were restless sandy man. He wore a cheap, black suit, but all were human derelicts, with no which was much the worse for dirt, and a story to tell about themselves. blue shirt. !

THE MAX WHO WASN'T GAME. 223

His hair was long and disheveled, and unseemly impertinence, I smiled at him as his stubbly beard, offset by. a mustache if it made no difference to me whether that was reddish and somewhat heavy, I used a handkerchief or towel. gave him an appearance that was not I finished drying and started for* the inviting to a young man who had just door. He followed me. I made for the thrust himself alone on the mercy of the street, and he was close at my heels. wicked world. I reached the sidewalk and looked around He was the first to speak. me. It was a cold, bleak morning, and "Time to get up, pal; they'll throw to make matters worse, a dismal rain was you out of this dump in a few minutes." falling. I thanked him, and looking around me I looked in the direction of the rail- I noticed that the cots were being slowly road station only a few blocks away, and emptied one by one. my eye caught a huge clock— it pointed " Come with me and I will show you to the hour of seven. That was the where to wash," he volunteered. hour when all the sleepers in the place I followed him. I suppose that I where I had passed the night were turned would have followed a dog. \I felt that into the streets. it was easy then to follow anything save I thought that I would go over to the my own inclination. station for a while. It would be inter- He led the way across the hall to a esting now to watch the trains and the smaller room opposite the one in which men going to work—and, maybe, I would we had slept. Around a battered sink, be fortunate enough to find employment. a score or more of men of all ages were Just as I was starting away my rubbing yellow soap on their hands and " friend " who had lurked in the door- into their eyes and ears. Then they way of the hostelry came out and ap- would plunge their hands under the fau- proached me. " cets from which flowed goodly streams, Can't we go and get a little break- and rinse the suds away. They seemed fast ? " he asked. to be enjoying it'. It wasn't a bad suggestion. I replied The water looked refreshing, but there that I thought that I would go some- was a dismal taste in my mouth and a where for a cup of coffee. " " stickiness about my face and hair that I'll go along," he responded. I seemed to defy any cleansing property on know a place up here a block or two," earth. and he jerked his head in a direction I removed my coat, collar, and tie. I opposite from the railway station. waited patiently until there was an open- We walked along together. He asked I washed indeed, I me my name. I told him that it was ing—and then ; seemed to be cleansing my very soul. My, " John." I did not attempt to give him but that water was good my last name. " Now for a rub on the towel. But, alas, Mine's Billy Brown," he volunteered. " there were only three towels and they Say, let's be pals. Where are you head- had been used so many times by so many ing for." men that they were not only slopping with " I'm going to look for something to water but black with dirt. I hadn't the do when I've had some coffee," I said. courage to tackle one of them, so I He smiled as if I didn't mean it. We deftly extracted my handkerchief from exchanged a few more commonplaces it to when a dingy restaurant. It my pocket and began to use , dry we reached my face and hands. was dignified by a huge sign over the Some one was laughing at me. door, announcing that coffee and cakes I turned. It was the unkempt being could be purchased for ten cents and by who had so rudely awakened me. a dozen or more sad-visaged pies in the " Not used to this sort of thing, son- show-window. ny? " he said. Billy entered first. I followed. He My mother had taught me to look only led the way to a table in the rear of the on the pleasant side of things, and espe- place, and brushed the multitudinous cially in dealing with my fellow man. I flies from -the oil-cloth with a sweep of remembered this, and while I resented his his arm. He took a chair opposite me 224 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

and there we sat awaiting the coming of from his pocket handed them to the girl. the attendant. I thanked him, and noticed that the girl A. fat girl with her hair still in papers, wa$ eying him pretty steadily. hastened in from the kitchen' with her " Think I seen you afore," she ob- mouth full of her own breakfast, and served with a peculiar squint in her right tried to ask us what we would have. optic. " Coffee V sinkers." said Billy. " Why, I always come here for break- A nod from me indicated to her that fast, don't I?'" asked Billy, smiling. I would take the same. " Don't gimme none of that con," re- She vanished, and before she had time plied the girl. " You ain't no reg'lar in to return with two thick and steaming this dump. I knows 'em all. I seen

cups of a concoction that might have your picter in th' paper, an' it didn't have passed for coffee with a horse, and a them whiskers on it, neither." plate containing six leaden links that Bill laughed and I laughed as we arose were never intended for anything but and started for the door. Just as we were sinkers, Billy had leaned over and was emerging into the street, Billy called becoming confidential. back: "Guess you've got another guess " If it's work you're looking for, pal, comin', sis." " I want you to stick to me, an' I can put M'ebbeT ain't mistaken," shouted sis. you wise to a little job in this town that I felt a little better. The food, the will make us both rich." man's companionship, the promise of the " Something you're interested in ? " I work, the girl's blarney were all needed said, with all the enthusiasm I possessed. to balance the bleakness of the weather. " Yes. It's a hotel down here." Perhaps it wasn't going' to be so hard " A hotel," I echoed. " What sort of to face the world after all. Perhaps I " a place—are you going to open it? would find in Bill a good friend. " To be sure I am," he answered. We walked to the station and sat down " I won't say anything more about it under the shed. He bought a newspaper • now, but you meet me to-night, at eight and scanned it hurriedly. Then he passed o'clock in front of that joint where we it to me. But I didn't care to read. " slept last night, an' I will tell you all " Tell me more about the hotel job? " about it. I can't do it now ! , I said. " " He said some other things which I do S-s-sh ! he replied, and looked not remember while he soused the sink- queerly about him. " Don't speak of that ers in his coffee and dripped the liquid now. I'll tell you about that to-night." onto his vest while trying to guide the He looked around him again. " " combination to his mouth. Indeed, I . Come," he said, there is a park thought that he was a little excited, but right up here. Let's go up there and sit put it down to his prospects. for a while. It's much pleasanter than " You're the kind of young man I here." " " like," he continued. I saw you come But it's raining," I said. " " in last night. I watched you as you sat That's nothing," he answered. 1 on your cot. I heard you cryin'. I couldn't know a place that beats this for shelter." go to sleep." He started and I followed. I turned " " I don't blame you," I said. It is my collar up around -my neck and thrust a dirty hole. I never slept in such a my hands into my pockets, for it was get- place before." ting colder and colder—and I couldn't " " I thought so." said Billy. But it imagine why he wanted to leave the sta- ain't so bad when you get used to it." tion where at least we were sheltered Would I ever get used to it? from the wind. Billy choked the last bit of leaden We entered a street that seemed to be N sinker down with the iast gulp of near- a business thoroughfare. Neither of us coffee, and the fat girl appeared again. said a word. After we had walked some " Which one of you gents agoin' to three or four blocks I noticed two tall pay fer this? " she asked. business-like men crossing the street in

I fumbled for my share of it, but Billy our direction. said, " I will," and taking two dimes They were looking straight at us. " ; —

THE MAN WHO WASN'T GAME. 225

There could be no mistake about that. Then, as Bill came toward us, the de-

I thought that they might be friends of tective, who was holding me calmly, Bill, so I nudged his arm. reached to his hip-pocket for his pistol. Bill looked and caught their eyes. I saw it gleam in his hand. Then as if possessed with a demon, he I saw him deliberately put his finger suddenly turned and ran. on the trigger—and wait. One of the men started after him, and He waited until the unfortunate man I* noticed that he pulled a pistol as he was barely twenty feet away, then fired did so. straight at him. I saw Bill throw his I stood stock still watching my van- hands up and stop just before the report ishing companion and his pursuer, when —but it was too late. the second man walked up to me and laid Bill fell in the street, a great crowd his hand on my arm. around him. My custodian took a grip " Anyhow, we've got you," he said. on my wrist, twisted it so that it brought " " Me ! I said, choking and burning. my hand up to the middle of my back " I don't understand— and marched me off to jail. A crowd " " You're under arrest ! he answered. followed, and I could hear occasional " " " " Come with me ! mutterings about bank " and rob- " .. He began to lead me away by the arm bery —and then it came upon me that I heard a pistol-shot—then another. I was in bad. They seemed to be very close by. I tried to explain my position to the Suddenly a crowd emerged from a side officer. He would not listen.

street. Bill had doubled on his tracks I was marched to the door of the city and was being pursued by the populace prison. An officer opened it, and closed back to the' spot where he had first seen it with a clang when my captor and I the strangers. were safe inside. The latter did not re- I saw him coming in my direction. The lax his hold on me until we stopped in man with me took a tighter hold on my front of a high desk, behind which sat coat. a heavily uniformed policeman—the head I made a desperate effort to free my- of his district. self. "What have you got. Clancy?" he This only made, him grab me the asked my captor. tighter. He threw back his coat and " Doyle an' me landed Red Pete, the exhibited a silver shield on his breast, bank-robber, this morning." on which I hastily caught the word, " Did you have to shoot?" asked the " Detective." man behind the desk. I knew then it was foolish to make " Yes. I pulled on him. Let Aim resistance. have it straight." Bill was running in our direction. It "Is he dead?" was plain that he didn't see us. " Don't know. It's pretty hard to kill

The hunted look on his face, his star- them guys. He fell, anyhow, an' I hus- ing, determined eyes, haunt me to this tled this feller off here." day. "Who's this?'" asked the man behind On he came, the crowd close at his the desk. " " " heels, yelling, Stop thief ! Stop thief ! This," said Clancy, as he jerked me The second detective was following in around so that I faced him, " this is Red the crowd, but it was evident that he was- Pete's pal. He's the fellow who pulled afraid to shoot now for fear of hitting off that robbery at the Eagle Hotel on some one in the mob. Monday night."

(To be co n t i n u e d . )

A work-train may be carrying as good brains as a private car, but you've got to prove it. It's what you are that counts, not what you claim to be.

3 RR Observations of a Country Station-Agent.

BY J. E. SMITH.

No. 26.—In Which Schwartz Tells of His Troubles While Purchasing Right-of-Way from Farmers, and Especially with " Pap," an Unwashed Antique, and His Bonehead Son.

Acw-J T does not particularly matter It looks easy to go out among our s | what department of railroad neighbor farmers and buy, for a fair work a man looks into, there price, small parallel strips of land.

: i'i is likely to be found some- But Schwartz was sad and sunburnt. 1 thing of interest—something He talked disparagingly of the farmer. out of the ordinary, showing unexpected " Don't make the mistake," he said, " slants of human understanding. depreciatingly, that the farmer is either The greatest mind of the literary world an easy mark or that he is a friend to the made the truthful observation that " there railroad. He can't be coaxed, wheedled, -are sermons in stones." On the railroad cajoled or frightened into giving us -an that means the stone-mason gang. If the inch on a fair basis. He won't meet us stone-mason gang furnishes thrills of half way—not a quarter of the way. He romance and adventure, why not the won't even come a foot in our direction. fence gang, the section gang, the bridge " We've got to run him down and carpenters or the lineman? And it is bivouac on his own premises, and hold true that in all these places there are him while we explain that we want a stories of unusual experience and human strip of his land, and that we will pay interest. him well for it. When he finds we must A seeker of railroad stories should have it, he sees at once that the land search these out-of-the-way places, and lying along the railroad is the most fer- poke and rake about in these unpromising tile on the farm, and that we_are about fields, and he is often rewarded with a to rob him of his most valuable posses- find. sions. I had this idea in mind when one long "Then he- digs into the past for. a day last summer I fell in with Schwartz. generation or two, and revives all the Schwartz is our railroad real estate old grievances of fencing, drainage, fire man. We are double tracking our road and stock claims he has ever had against and Schwartz had been buying addi- the railroad, lumps them into a fine round tional right of way along the line. aggregate, doubles the value of the land, " The public call it double tracking." stacks it all up in one grand total, and We of the railroad allude to it as the puts it up to us that we .can have the " second track." Both mean the same strip—probably an acre all told— for thing. nine hundred and forty dollars and eighty- All along our right-of-way we needed cents. little strips of land, ten, twenty, sixty or " This pays all the old debts that we a hundred feet wide to complete the work do not owe, and includes the farmer's of the second track. future good will, together with the ulti-

Began in the July. 1907. Railroad Man's Magazine. Sinelc copies. 10 cents. 226 1 :

OBSERVATIONS OF A COUNTRY STATION-AGENT. 227 ma turn that not a " chimed 'cent less will in the attitude of having to do this. That buy it." we -were compelled by conditions to spend When you tell a farmer that the rail- vast sums to enlarge our plant. We were road has made his farm what it is," and driven to it and in reality we were un- that without railroads his farm would not willing purchasers of the strip of land be a third of its present value, he looks needed. at you with innocent surprise and asks " After I had presented the matter in " What would your blamed old road this way to the first fanner I visited, I " be if it wasn't for the farms, huh? was pointedly informed that he had no That's the kind of an argument that land for sale. goes around in a circle. It's nix on a " Now, the land was in his wife's farmer, because he knows he's the center name—a little forty-acre farm—and the of the universe. poorest kind of a place. All we needed " Take this country through here," of it was a strip of twenty feet along a continued Schwartz. " I had to purchase gully to give us room for a fill, and twenty-three strips along our right-of-way for the railroad. What did I run up against? Three things-:—sentiment, sharp practise, and pig-headed obstinacy. " Maybe you would be interested to hear some of my expe- " eh riences ; you would, ? Schwartz lit a stogie designed in Wheeling, slid down in the seat until he rested comfortably on the small of his back, and hung a few clouds of smoke about the circumambient. Then he began: " I said sentiment, didn't I ? You did not know people are sentimental about land, did you? Well, they are. The farmer and his family are associated very closely with inanimate things, and they become at-

tached to them. His hedge 1 her f PLANTED 'EM THERE THE DAY HIM AN* HER fence, his meadow, his strip of MA WAS MARRIED." woodland, all appeal to him with a sort of dumb affection that a man the ground was so poor along there that_ without a soul cannot understand." grass would hardly grow on it. " real I gave a quick nod to show that I I offered them three times the understood. value, and I knew they needed the " All the farmers I approached with money. " the explanation that we wanted a strip After a little while the man was of land to allow the railroad to spread willing -to sell, but the woman would out a little, came back with the same not listen to it. " expression, ' I ain't got no land for sale." I argued the case with her, and told \ " Then I explained that the railroad her as I told them all, that the railroad

must have it. That its business had out- woufd take it anyway. " grown its present facilities. It now must We can take any property for the have two tracks. That the business of operation of our trains, through condemnation proceedings, but we only resort i In- country is greater every year, and that we are forced to increase our capacity to the courts when everything else has * to take care of it. I presented ourselves failed. 228 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

" So I explained to the woman how idee of her'n. They ain't eny sense in it. we would proceed if she did not sell it You know they's two old apple-trees on to us, and how it would be to her profit that strip. That's the reason! It's to accept the figure I made her rather them! They ain't much account. Her than drive us to that extremity. pa planted 'em there the day him and her " She was a little weezeo, shrunken ma was married. They was two children, creature, and I saw she had a horror of you know—my wife and the one that going to the court, still she would not died. They wus raised under them trees_ budge an inch. " Her pa ust to say he had four in his " She did not try to drive a bargain. family: Ann and Sade and the Rambow The price gave her no concern. She sim- and the Pippin tree. And, mister, if that ply would not sell, and her reason was woman has any sewing or work of that the purely feminine one of ' just because.' kind to do, when the days are warm, " She shed tears and became hysterical. you'll always find her right out there

" ' I would sell anywhere else on the under that pippin-tree. 'Tain't the ap- farm except right there,' she cried. ples, mister ; it's 'cause of her pa. I hope " We could not use a strip anywhere you won't tell eny one, mister ; I'd hate else orr the farm. We had to have the for it to git out. It 'ud kind o' disgrace twenty feet at the gully to widen our fill. us. You see, you'd cut 'em down. That's I tried to make her understand it that what worries her, mister.' way, but she was absolutely immovable. " I assured him I would say nothing. " It puzzled me why she was willing I also assured him that Ave would drop to part with a strip any other place, but the matter for the present and give her was so unreasonably unyielding at the time to struggle with her feelings. I left very spot we actually had to have. with the utmost contempt for that shriv- " The man did all he could for me. eled husband, who was ashamed and but we made no headway with the woman. apologetic for perhaps the only touch of " At length, he led me out behind the sentiment that had ever come under Ins log barn and made a shamefaced con- observation. fession. " There now comes some darker his-

" ' I'm ashamed of her. mister ; I am, tory. Within six weeks both trees were for sure,' he said, with a' sort of weak- dying. When this became apparent we eyed lowliness. ' It's just a durn cranky had no trouble completing the deal and

40 J MoaMAN k" • "i DID NOT WANT TO BE UNREASONABLE AND HOLD YOU UP." OBSERVATIONS OF A COUNTRY STATION-AGENT. 229

taking the possession of the strip. " Why did they die? The husband told me with a half- exultant smirk and a cunning side whisper. " He bored them to the heart, filled the holes with a solution of common salt and something else, and then plugged them up. " His wife thought it was Providence. " The husband saved himself the disgrace of his wife's emotions, and at the same time fastened his clutches on some railroad money. " While this deal was pend- ing I was busy with others in the same neighborhood. I made headway slowly. " I could have dealt with many of the farmers without much delay, but I found that each had a pride in being able to drive a sharp bargain, and was fearful his neighbor would do better than he. They were all touchy on that point. "pap's got his mind made up. so hev i." " Nothing hurts the pride qf the farmer,—or humiliates him more, " I felt impelled to" remind him that than to ascertain that another farmer has the railroad really had the money and driven a better bargain. was willing to pay a fair price. I wanted " They can talk to me of captains of to caution him not to throw his land finance, industrial promoters, and hot- away. air purveyors of the cities, but when you " I admired and commended his broad undertake to put one over on a haystack public spirit, but I made it plain to him artist you have got to be a pretty peart that the railroad did not expect this ad- citizen or you will lose a bunck of cuticle ditional right-of-way strip without main the operation. king some payment. " " All this made it hard for me to se- I was to call on him again in two cure an opening. Each farmer decided days. He wanted a little time to do some to wair until he saw what I was paying figuring. He wanted, you understand, the others. only what was exactly right, but he could

" I found it necessary to at least close not tell offhand ; and if I would come one transaction, and thereby establish a back in two days he would give me his price, so I selected what appeared to me proposition in writing. " to be the meekest brother for the initial I went away in high spirits, and re- onslaught. turned ditto. " " I picked him out from all the rest. I felt that he was a conscientious old He was a little, unassuming, pious, non- man, and I was sure he wanted to trim cesisting man. He agreed so readily with down his figures to the lowest possible all I said, and admitted every proposition limit. so "fully and freely, that I began to think " When I returned, he bade me sit. He he was going to make us a present of the asked after my- personal welfare with a strip through his farm. kind of Christian solicitude and humility. ! : —

230 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

He asked about our railroad, and ex- total? By going back to the time of pressed the mild hope that it was pros- Adam and coming down through the Dark pering. Ages to the present day. " ' Some people are prejudiced against " You see, he thought he had us railroads,' said he, ' but I ain't. This that we had to buy his half-acre at any country wouldn't amount to much if it price—so he added everything to it he wasn't for railroads. Some people are could think of. always taking advantage of them and " There were crumpled-tailed pigs, holding them up for everything they can woolly sheep, short-horned cows, and get out of them. I Sever believed in other domestic animals slaughtered at that. Right's right. I believe in be- regular intervals in time past by the railing as fair and square in dealing with a road, and settled on a compromised val- railroad company as I would with one of ue. All of these were indicated in an my neighbors.' appalling list, and the difference justly " He handed me an envelope. due, as viewed by the owner, was carried " ' It's all wrote out and put down in out as a debit. black and white, what I will take to deed " For instance, here are some of the to the railroad that ten-foot strip. We're items that I remember particularly

ready to make the deed any time. We'll "'June 5, 1873, the company's train sign up the papers any time you want us killed a spotted calf. They paid me ten to. That ten foot amounts to three-sev- dollars. I consider the actual value of enths of one acre. I called it a half- that calf, twenty dollars; Balance due

acre. That's clost to it. I figured every- me—$10.' thing purty clost. I did not want to be " ' On an average, they kill one turkey, unreasonable, and hold you up. like some goose or chicken every two weeks. They people do.' do not consider a claim for a fowl. They " You asked me what the envelope con- say it is of no consequence. In forty tained. I haven't yet recovered from the years they have killed 800 fowls. 800 shock of my first glimpse of the ' within fowls at thirty cents each — a very low document.' Remember, this party was average—leaves due me for poultry, hand-picked for an opener. His talk $240.'

was so smooth and fair. I thought I was " ' The railroad furnishes a highway going to make a fine start. Mind you, I for tramps. Tramps steal annually from told him, in an hour of weakness, not to me ten dollars' worth of produce. Total, give his land away — that we actually forty years, at ten per year, $400.' wanted to pay something. " ' The railroad section - foreman has " There were four foolscap pages of carried water from my well in the barn- disgusting details, itemized and listed in yard for 40 years for his gang. Five per a fair hand. cent of cost of well and pump upkeep in " The grand total—the final considera- forty years, $63.20.' tion—for the one-half acre of raw farm- " ' Twenty-eight engines a day pass my land was carried to the very bottom of the field on the south, emitting dense black last page and set down in large bold smoke which obscures the sunlight on ten figures. acres, thirty minutes a day. Retards " What do you think farm-land sells growth and maturity of crop one twenty- for around here? One hundred dollars fifth. Total, two dollars per year, 40 an acre. That's a fair average. A half- years, $80.' acre would be fifty dollars. I would "Can you beat that last item? And gladly have paid him twice that, but I'll to think, I picked on the author of it as be jumped up if that innocent, unsophis- the easiest one of the bunch." ticated personification of justice didn't Schwartz threw away a half-smoked make his figures on it one thousand three cigar in disgust. hundred and forty-two dollars and ninety " Oh. yes, we finally got the half-acre. cents He came across. But not until we had our " And I picked on him as the easiest lawsuit with Blairs. Cost us about three one of the bunch. That's what hurts. hundred. That's so much we don't like to " How did he arrive at that magnificent talk about it. ! —

OBSERVATIONS OF A COUNTRY STATION-AGENT. 231

" " ' I must tell you about the Blairs Pap knows his business. So do I»' there were two of them, father and son. Blair interrupted. ' When we want to They owned adjoining farms along the sell any land to the railroad, we'll let right of way. We needed a twenty-foot you know.' strip of each farm. "He disposed of the whole matter a " I called on the younger Blair first. number of times by that ultimatum. He gave me a very cool reception. " Nevertheless, I went at once to

" ' This is my land,' said he. ' I own ' pap's ' house. ' Pap ' was about the it, and I pay the taxes on it. When I finest old ruin I have ever seen. He was want to sell any of it to the railroad I'll let you know.' " Evidently it would have held • up our second track work a long time if we had waited for Blair to let us know. He did not seem to be the ' let you knoAV ' kind. So I conveyed the information to him, with a sort of confidential assurance, that when a railroad had to have more land for additional running track, it could go into court and get it by condemnation proceedings. " I added that we wanted to deal fairly with the people, and that we expected to pay more than the land was worth, but that we would not be held up for exorbitant figures, and that no man nor set of men could block the outlined improvement " This plain talk had no effect on Mr. Blair. He bat- NOEM«N LXND- ted his weak eyes with a wise J. owl snap, and informed me "it isn't too late yet," i yelled, land once more that the was "you should take a little trip— his, and that when he wanted say down to indianapolis." to sell any of it to the railroad, he'd let me know, etc. After that unkempt, unwashed, and uncared for. he assumed a sullen silence, and I made He had defied the invasion and ravages no further headway. of all the germs of germdom, and had " ' I will see' your father,' I said, taking scorned every known law of sanitation. up a new lead, ' and see what he thinks As a consequence, he was only eighty- about it. If I can come to. terms with seven years old, and deaf at that. him, I should be able to do so with you.' " All about him was a state of decay. " ' You can see pap if you want to, The house was an early-day log. One but it ain't no use,' said Blair. ' Pap's corner had sunk down close to the got his mind made up. So hev I. Ain't ground, like a tired horse shifting its enything can change us.' weight on one leg. 1 It can do no harm to explain mat- " I yelled my proposition to him with

' ters to your father,' I argued. I want all l he details ; then I paused, partly for to put our proposition before him and breath and partly for him to give some give him the railroad's reason for want- expression. He asked with a child's ing a strip of his land.' innocence: — — —'

232 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

' " " How old do you say I be? der. I got back to the original proposi- ' About sixty-eight,' I said, aiming tion and endeavored to show the old man for a complimentary shot. that selling us a -strip of land twenty " He gave a dry cackle. feet wide would in no way impair his " ' I was eighty-seven, second of last value as an antique. All I could get out March. I ain't never rode on a train.' of him was that he had never rode on a " ' Never rod* on a train? ' I repeated. train. I showed him the land was rather

"all 'son' could do was to kick the dog every time a train whistled."

" ' No ! Never been inside of the cars. poor where we wanted a strip, and that Eighty-seven the second day of last altogether it amounted to only seven- March, and never rode on a train.' eighths of an acre

" ' " ' 1 It isn't too late yet.' I yelled. He never rode on a train ! " ' You should take a little trip —say down —And that we would pay him dou- to Indianapolis—some day.' ble its farm value, and build him a new " ' Me ride on a train? Not me! hog-proof fence clear through " All at once I understood him. '"He never rode on a train.' " " People have various ambitions. Al- —And that we would take care of his most every one wants place, power, or surface water, and our stone arch would riches, but this old man wanted to be a be deepened to improve the general curio. He wanted to be the prize fossil. drainage of his place He wanted to be pointed out as the man " ' He never rode on a train.' of eighty-seven who had never ridden on " After a fruitless chase around a circle a train. The distinction he craved was a number of times. I sought the son. " that he had stayed hitched true to the ' I ain't got nothin' more to say,' prehistoric. said the son, squinting at me through " 1 People come from all around to narrow eyes. 'I'll do what pap does, see me,' he added, with a show of pride. and nothin' else. If pap will sell you a ' At the old settlers' meetin' I sets on the strip, I will. But, understand, we ain't

! platform, and the speaker tells 'em all got no land for sale. Gidup " about it. No, sir, never rode on a train.' I beat it to the old homestead to " With superficial ejaculations of won- have another talk with pap. ' :

OBSERVATIONS OF A COUNTRY STATION-AGENT. 233

" ' I'm back again,' I called out cheer- of his attitude in the matter. He could ily. ' I just had a talk with your son. not understand it. He did not know He says that if you'll sell us a strip of there was anything beyond private owner- your land, he'll do the same.' ship. He does not know yet what they " ' He told you so, too, didn't he ? Yes, mean by ' rights of the community ' and ' ' sir, I ain't never rode on a train ! eminent domain.' " ' He said he'd sell if you—' " As for ' pap,' that fine old antique, he " 1 Some people say it ain't so. I kin got to tell the judge, the lawyer, the ap-

prove it ! No, sir, I never rode on a train praisers and all others in the case, that and I'm eighty-seven—eighty-seven the he ' hadn't never rode on a train.' second day of March.' " Encouraged by a cunning lawyer who 1 — " ' You see we must have the land found him good picking, son ' came " ' Ain't many can say what I can when back at us with suits for damages, suits they git as old as I am, that they ain't for trespass, and injunction proceedings. ' " never rode on a train ! Nevertheless, we fenced off the strip.

" I hurried to the son. A trusty steam shovel reduced it to the

" ' See here,' I said to him. ' I do not proper grade, and a new track holds it think I can come to any agreement with forever. your father. He doesn't seenr to grasp " For a long time, all ' son ' could do the proposition I am making/ was to kick the dog every time a train " ' Well,' replied the son, ' I'll do what whistled. And ' pap ' not only assured pap does. But we ain't got any land for all concerned that he'd never rode on a

' ' sale. Gidup ! train, but ding blast his hide if ever he " I could not make any headway with would.' that precious pair. The son was hostile " By and by, a new and brilliant idea but evasive. He kept me running to percolated ' son's ' thick head. ' ' pap ' on an impossible errand. ' Pap " He plotted a half acre of ground

was complimented with my visits. He on the top of the hill, and named it thought I was down there through a keen ' High Point Cemetery.' curiosity to see the rare old man, the " It abuts the railroad right-of-way, backwoods oddity, the pioneer wonder and the railroad can never encroach on that had never ridden on a train. that sacred reserve. We can never again " Negotiations came to a standstill. widen our right-of-way on bis farm.

' ' " " I threatened son with court pro- The law recognizes a burial-place as ceedings. a hallowed and consecrated spot. ' Son.' " The answer he returned offhand was in his malicious resentment, has headed that if any railroad man attempted to off any further advance we may ever come on his side of the fence with pick want to make in his direction. " and shovel or a surveyor's outfit, he'd fill Kind and considerate Providence him full of buckshot. helped the scheme along by removing

1 "He put up a sign ' No trespassing.' ' pap ' from this vale of railroads." " " Now, the progress of a great enter- ' Son ' planted him one foot from prise does not halt at a sign, nor can it the right-of-way fence. be stayed by the buckshot argument of a " They will not expect the railroad to hostile land owner. In this case we went furnish an epitaph, but here's one any- into court. way—borrowing an expression from a " They opposed us at every angle and pure-food-law label. It has the flavor they were venomous in their opposition. of Shakespeare

" But we got the land, and we paid ' P. A. P. them less than we had offered before we Lived 88 years and never rode on a train. started proceedings. Was agin all things that's modern, " The whole thing was nothing but Automobiles, baths, and phones. And curses be on the railroad pig-headed obstinacy arising from an That dares disturb these bones. ignorant prejudice against railroads.

' " " It was a great revelation to 'son to I could tell you more," said Schwartz, learn that land belonging to him could " but I'm out of stogies. I need the dope be taken for railroad purposes regardless to keep me thinking." :

THE GOLD COUPLER

BY AUGUSTUS WITTFELD.

The Star Detective Uses His Skill and Mental Telepathy to Penetrate a Mystery.

ARLOCK BJONES was the your left hand. That can indicate noth- - JZ&^S ' star detective °f tne Pole- ing but that you have been playing pool." mafaFWfnr ^fflL^^L to-Pole Railway. When I " I might have been playing billiards," ^^SgljxjgL stepped into his sumptuous I suggested. " " ^tsBigy apartments and found him Yes," he replied ; but you don't intently scrutinizing a coup- know how." ling-pin. he gave me a quick glance, and " Carlock," I commented, " you're a said wonder. What is the case you are work- " " Ah. Watchem. 1 see you have lots of ing on? " " leisure ; and as your wife has gone away, This," he replied, is the most per- I feel that I can depend on you to join plexing case that has come to my notice me in this case." since I recovered my sanity. The time I gasped. Pushem lost forty minutes on his run, " "' " ! ejaculated. It I Remarkable I . and was assigned to the task of dis- beats the time-table how you deduce these covering and returning them, was a kin- things that none but mvself am aware dergarten proposition to the problem of." that confronts me now." " Dead easy," he replied. You have He paused, and, filling his pipe with

on a bright red necktie. That fact pro- a piece of oily waste, he lit it. Then, claims to the world that your wife has baring his arm, he vaccinated himself gone to the country. You generally shave with an ivory point. " " yourself ; but, as you have a clean shave I am doing this," he said, to make and your face is free from gashes. I know it difficult for me to catch anything. I that you have been to the barber's. That, hate to work on an easy job." and the fact that you have been playing " But what is this case that is baffling pool, is evidence that you have time to you ? " I asked. offer up on the altar of ennui." " Watchem," he replied irritatedly, " But how do you know T have been " how often have I told you that you playing pool?" I asked in an awestruck should be more perspicuous in your re- voice. marks? I am not baffled. I am never " Well." he replied, " you have chalk baffled. I may be perplexed, but not on the lapel and tail of your coat, and baffled. Perplexity is what gives zest to also between the thumb and forefinger of my art. :

THE GOLD COUPLER. 235

" The only time I was baffled was sends me a gold coupling-pin, and I pro- when I was run over and cut to pieces by pose to keep it." the night express. Then my skill in put- " Did the letter give no clue to the ting jig-saw puzzles together stood me in sender ? " I asked. good stead, and I was quickly on my " Ah, Watchem," he commented, " you feet. What baffled me was the fact that are improving; I had forgotten to read people thought me a_ dead one when I it." was merely run down. He rescued the letter from the waste- " I received this coupling-pin in a let- basket, where he had thrown it, and, ter this morning. Even with my won- shutting his eyes, he read it to me. derful power of perception, which I have It ran as follows: cultivated with the latest approved pat- Mr. Carlock Bjones, New York City, terns of cultivators, I might have over- N.. Y. looked it had it not dropped from the Dear Mr. Bjones— I am enclosing pedal ex- envelope and struck me on the you a sample of our new coupling-pin. tremity. Had it struck me on the head, which I am desirous of having adopted I would not have thought much, but I by the Pole-to-Pole Railway. Knowing instantly reasoned that there was some- of your connection with the railway in thing on foot." question, and having read of your ex- He opened a sub-cellarette, and pour- traordinary ability of fastening things upon those who iare ing out a glass of benzin, he tossed it unwilling to have things fastened upon them, I send- off neatly. Then, striking a lucifer, he am ing you the enclosed as a retainer ignited 'his breath, and his face was il- for your services in having your road lumined. adopt this pattern of pin. The draft "What is it?" I gasped. pins are made of the finest quality of " Just a light luncheon," he replied. Graft steel, while those which are in- When he had finished his naphtha tended for exerting a pull on the pur- lunch, he picked up the coupling-pin and chasing end are as you will notice, manu- gazed at it intently. factured from eighteen karat Graft gold. " Watchem," he asked, "do you notice I will 'be pleased to see you at my hunting-lodge in the anything unusual about this coupling- Arrowdondacks pin?" this evening, when, we can discuss details. Very respectfully. I gazed at it quizzically. E. Z. Graft. " Nothing," I replied, " except that it " is a coupling-pin." There is more in this," said Carlock, " " Watchem," he said, " I cannot see than appears on the surface. No man that the constant grind of domesticity has ever had to offer me a bribe twice. has sharpened your wits appreciably. Watchem, we must make haste ere the " Cannot you see that it is made of gold? promoter of this useful device changes " Wonderful," I ejaculated. his mind. No man can make me such " But why should any one send you a an alluring proposition and escape. gold coupling-pin?" I asked. " Watchem," he hissed, " before the " Let us reason this thing out by de- clocks strike the hour of midnight I shall duction," he replied. have the signature of E. Z. Graft to one " Had the sender wished me harm, he of my non-breakable contracts. Come, would have sent me a dynamite bomb or we lose time ! But wait ! I have an a safety-razor. The fact that he sent me idea. Why should we consume time in a coupling-pin can indicate but one thing, going to the Arrowdondacks when it is and that is that he wishes to couple up in my power to summon our quarry to " with me. You don't have to be link's-eyed me by my marvelous telepathic powers? to detect that. But the motive? We He rapped sharply upon the table two must search that out. What do you make or three times, and then muffled himself " of it, Watchem? up in the raps, which made him look like " I'm afraid I'll have to give it up," a mahatma doing the esoteric. I could I ventured. see his massive mind working behind his " . Yes, but I don't propose to," he re- impassive brow as he concentrated upon plied. " It's not every day that some one the task in hand. His power in that line 236 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE. was marvelous. Often have I seen him your troubles to your wife without hav- wink ominously to the drug clerk. ing to come to me." His massive brows were knitting like The portly party paled. " How do a stocking-machine, while beads of per- you know all these things?" he asked. spiration stood upon his forehead ready "It is my business to know every- for the stringing. Suddenly an auto- thing," replied Carlock. " I know you mobile-horn sounded outside, and we are not married, because nobody loves a heard the moan of an emergency-brake at fat man. I know you are in trouble, be- Carlock's door. cause you own an automobile, and I know " Hist! " he exclaimed. " It's he." that your chauffeur has left you because Expectantly, we waited. The silence you used the emergency-brake in making was disquieting. Suddenly the elevator- a social stop. A chauffeur never uses a doors clanged, and the indicator inside brake of any kind. He goes ahead and Carlock's door announced the fact that breaks the machine by running into some- a portly gentleman weighing two hun- thing." " " " dred and seventy-six pounds stood upon Marvelous ! gasped the visitor. As the mat, outside the portal. you know these things, perhaps you can There was a knock. Carlock glided to tell me mv name." the door and threw it open. The visitor " E. Z. "Graft," replied Carlock. entered, staggering, and would have fall- " You lose," said the portly party. " E. en had not Carlock prevented him. Z. Graft was arrested this morning for " Mr. Carlock Bjones?" he asked. bribery." " That's me," replied Carlock. " You " Then, who are you? " demanded Car- are in trouble. Really, my dear sir, you lock. " " should get married ; then you could tell That," said he, is another story."

TIE FARMS FOR THE PENNSYLVANIA.

To Plant Over Three Million Black Locust and Red Oak Trees for Future Road-Bed Construction.

SINCE it has become apparent that the all of them in its magnitude. It is contem- timber supply is decreasing, and with plated to plant three and a.half million trees

i; die supply of suitable . timber for rail- within a period of eight years. road ties, the large transportation companies Unlike some of the railroad " tie-wood are taking steps which will ensure available plantations." those of the Pennsylvania are limber in the future. not confined to the cultivation of the quick- The Pennsylvania Railroad Company is growing catalpa, but give preference to acting under the pressure of economic ne- black locust and red oak. And the effort cessity, the growing scarcity of railroad ties is not confined to the cultivation of suita- and the increasing cost of (those available ble timber, but involves the study and eradi- having pointed the necessity of making pro- cation of insect enemies of different trees vision for the future. and the perfection of wood preservative This great undertaking calling for pro- processes. fessional skill of a high order, a very con- Altogether the work is a complex and siderable outlay of land and capital and a different one, but if it results in securing patient waiting for results, is in line with to the railroads a regular and adequate sup- other similar forestry experiments by rail- ply of the material it will probably justify roads in '.he United States, but differs from the cost and trouble.

To keep popular with the back-shop men, keep out, keep out of the back shops. —Epigrams of the M. M. : : :

Ten Thousand Miles by Rail.

BY GILSON WILLETS, Special Traveling Correspondent of "The Railroad Man's Magazine."

WE are again clown in Dixie-land with Mr. Willets. Through the medium of the yarns that he spins here, we encounter hairbreadth escapes from death with the Kuklux Klan and we. meet other dangerous persons, including that band of marauders known as the Night Riders. Those outlaws seemed to hold a peculiar grudge against railroad men, and the stories that the boys have given our traveling correspondent indicate that many a Southern train-crew started out with its life in its hand. Mr. Willets has called these little stories dramas—and dramas they are in the truest sense of the word. Each one contains the elements of a stage play.

No. 2 —MORE DRAMAS OF DIXIE LAND.

The Hobo and the Ice-Water—Defying the Night Riders—The Tobacco War—One Man's Slaughter—K. K. Hanging Parties—Zach Martin's Story—The Stolen $50,000.

dSSjp HAD not been in Bristol. Ten- " You go away, and I'll come out," an- ' nessee, half .an hour Avhen a swered the man inside. ~detective-story was literally "No; I'll stay right here," White re- thrust upon me. Nearly torted. every railroad man I met on " You will, will you? " called the man that Queen and Crescent trip inside the car. And with thaf, he let fly seemed bent upon pouring into my ears a at White—fired straight at the detective, " special officer " story. Here's the one who was standing within six feet of him.

1 heard at Bristol White fell. The hobo ran for his life. Detective Gene White, of the South- White was found, seriously wounded, by ern Railway, was standing on the plat- Earl Smith, of Bristol. form at the Bristol Station, waiting for White had once befriended Smith in an the train for Washington. Seeing a man hour of need ; and so, when the young slouch past the station and down the man reached the station with his sorry tracks. White said to himself: burden, he said to the station-master " It's Porter Wynn. the hobo. What's " I saw the tramp who did this job, " he up to now ? and I'll know him when I see him again. White followed the man of the slouchy I mean to find him—you just watch me." gait—followed him through the Bristol Next morning, Smith—dressed now as yards till finally he saw the hobo climb a hobo—took a train for Bluff City, Ten- into an empty freight. White walked up to nessee. He believed that the man who the door of the car and called shot White would make his way down the " " Come out of there ! track to Bluff City.

Series beean la June Railroad Mtn'i Mxulnt. Slnclt copici, 10 ccati. 237 : :

238 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

Arriving at Bluff City. Smith went to At Knoxville, Engineer Hawley, of the water-tank, sat down, and waited. the Southern Railway, told me of an ex- Surely enough, the tramp came slouch- perience of a friend of his—Engineer ing down the track. Seeing one who ap- Buck Thorn—commonly called " Buck- peared to be of his own class, he ac- thorn "—"With Night Riders at Russell- costed Smith, and the two engaged in ville, Kentucky. conversation for more than half an hour, It was on a night in January. Buck- till finally the tramp said thorn was pulling a Louisville and Nash- " Wonder where I can get a drink of ville passenger-train slowly into Russell- " water ? ville, when suddenly he saw a big blaze " At the station," promptly replied rising from the middle of the town. " " " Smith. Come along. I'll show you the It's the Night Riders ! he cried to water-cooler." They entered the station, and Smith led his prey to the cooler, and bade him drink. As the tramp lifted the cup to

his mouth. Smith suddenly cried : " Drop that, and throw up your hands, " Porter Wynn ! Wynn looked up to find that he was staring into the wrong end of a big gun.. " Sit down," ordered Smith.

In Custody.

Wynn sat, and his captor relieved him of his gun, and kept him covered till an east-bound freight came along, on which Smith convoyed his captive back to Bris- tol. After turning his prisoner over to the authorities, Smith went to the hospital, where Detective White lay suffering. Smith told him what he had done. "You're a born special officer," groane'd White. " The Southern Railway will need you—when you grow up." The explanation of " when you grow his fireman. " They're burning the to- " " up is that the young man who disguised bacco warehouses here ! himself as a hobo and went down intu- "How do you know?" the fireman itively to the place where he believed the asked. man who nearly killed- his friend would " Instinct," answered the engineer. appear was barely sixteen years of age. " The town is asleep. Blow the whistle." .Bristol railroad men assured me that On the track ahead Buckthorn and his the Southern Railway really intends to fireman beheld a band of men wearing " employ Earl Smith as a detective when black masks. Some carried rifles ; others he grows up," and, as Earl Smith is now lanterns, which they waved as a com- nearing the age of twenty-one, he hasn't mand for Buckthorn to halt his train. much longer to wait for the promised job. Buckthorn brought his train to a stop, and, while the masked men swarmed Defying the Night Riders. around the engine, the leader cried " You, there—in the cab ! You're At both Knoxville and Chattanooga, Buckthorn, are you not?" railroad men related stories of uncom- - " Yes," came the answer. fortable and even fatal experiences of " Do you want to be alive to-morrow " train-crews with the famous raiders of night this time? " the South—the Night Riders. 1 certainly do." TEN THOUSAND MILES BY RAIL. 239

" Then, don't you blow that whistle or but they never had a chance to use them. warn the town in any other way of what Buck Thorn is alive and well to-day. you see happening to the warehouses. You may proceed." The Tobacco War Hero. Buckthorn proceeded. But the moment the train entered the town limits At Chattanooga, a trainman of the he began, with daredevil courage, blow- Southern Railway, James Riley, known ing the whistle. on the line as " Little Jim," told me of One prolonged shriek—a screech of the experience of two employees of the alarm that lasted during the time con- Louisville and Nashville during a raid of sumed by his train in passing through the the Night Riders at Hopkinsville. Ken- town. tucky. Peter Morgan was the watchman at the Hopkinsville depot. The hour was

midnight ; and, seemingly, the only person awake in the whole place was this same Peter Morgan. It was his duty to watch not only the passenger-station, but also the freight-house, where much tobacco was- stored. While Morgan, paced up and down outside the passenger-depot, six men wearing black masks suddenly loomed up in front of him, seized him, and. before he could cry out an alarm, tied a piece of tobacco-bagging over his mouth. They threw him on the ground, and bound him hand and foot. One of the men then sat down beside him with a shotgun across his knee. He did not speak a word. Morgan knew that the Night Riders had come. As if rising out of the earth, scores and scores of masked men appeared at the station, the helpless watchman estimating that they numbered at least two hun- Past the station he flew, knowing that dred. The station door was forced open, if he pulled down his life would not be and they filed in. worth a penny. If there were any pas- Morgan was carried in and laid on the sengers on the train who wanted to get floor, while the Night Riders maintained off at Russellville, they were carried by. absolute silence. The leader appeared and parceled his The Torch Applied. men in squads, numbering from six to twenty. Then all filed out again. Only The shriek of that locomotive-whistle the bound watchman and his silent guard, awoke the town. The citizens rushed to with the shotgun across his knees, wc-r..- the rescue of the burning warehouses. left. The L. and N. road foreman of engines advised Buckthorn, the next day. to In the Mouth of Death. lay off for at least two weeks, and stay in hiding. The engineer did so for two days, Five minutes later the sky was illu- and then reported for duty. minded by a mighty blaze. The tobacco- " I'm going to make my run," he said. warehouses were afire. Morgan heard " " and to the winds with the Riders! shots and the cries and curses of men and He and his fireman carried rifles, as groans of women. well as revolvers, for a month after that. It happened that a train of cars loaded — :

240 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

with tobacco stood near the station. To I acteS on the trainman's tip. this train some of the raiders applied a One day in August, 1909, a train of torch, and then went to help their com- the Gainesville Midland Railway began rades at the warehouses. pulling away from its terminal at Silas Lyman, an L. and N. trainman Monroe, Georgia, bound for Belmont, a who happened to be laying over in Hop- run of thirty-two miles. The conductor, kinsville that night, while making his in passing through the Jim Crow car, way down to the station saw the raiders overheard one of the passengers say: II set fire to the train-load of tobacco. Ly- Ah ain't got no ticket, but Ah'm man hid behind a tree till the torchmen goin' to ride to Belmont just the same." ran off toward the town. The conductor promptly pulled the "By Jove!" exclaimed Lyman. "I signal-cord and, after a long argument, think I can save that end car." the t/ain went on minus the negro. He dashed to the train, sprang in be- Later in the day, that same negro ap- tween the two last cars, and uncoupled peared at a general store in Monroe and them. asked for some buck-shot-. The absent- " She's loose." he told himself, " but minded clerk gave him, instead, some how am I to move her? I need something bird-shot. That mistake probably saved I can use as a lever." the lives of a number of railroad men as well as the lives of over a score of The Burning Train. citizens of Monroe. The following morning, the manager He thought a moment, and remem- of the Western Union office in the depot, bered a tool -box near by. Running to the Sam Stannard, came rushing into the box, he found that the section-men for- office of Train Despatcher Joe Thomp- tunately had left several tools lying on son, crying the ground, among them a crowbar used "D'ye hear those shots up street?" for moving rails. "Yes. What's up? A war?" Leyman seized this and ran back to the " A railroad man has been shot. And burning tobacco train. —you've got two guns, haven't you, To his joy he found that the flames Joe? Give me one of 'em. You take had not yet reached the end car. Using the other. Now come along to the the crowbar as a lever, he got the car into front." motion, when PiiigJ Ping.' The train despatcher and the telegraph Lyman fell in his tracks wounded. man rushed up the main street, when Thus Silas Lyman, L. and N. train- suddenly Joe Thompson staggered and man, became one of the Heroes of the fell, peppered with bird-shot. tobacco war. At the time, he was not The report of a gun had come from on duty. In the voluntary act of trying somewhere in the arcade of the Bank of to save property entrusted to the railroad Monroe. Toward that place Sam Stan- from which he derived his daily bread, nard started. he nearly lost his life. " Wait a moment, Stannard! " cried a He suffered for. months from the al- man. running up and joining the teleg- most fatal bullets. Without one warn- rapher. " I'll go with vou. It's that ing word he had been shot down by negro, ' Bully ' Wade." members of the latter-day Kuklux Klan. " Oh, yes, Tennessee and Kentucky Like a Battle-Field. are peaceful States these days," added the Chattanooga trainman. " And G'o'gia The newcomer was Dr. Forsythe, the is sometimes just as peaceful— in another mayor of Monroe. He had hardly way. If you want to hear the GVgia spoken the name, " Bully " Wade, when end of the business from a railroad man's down he went, too, wounded in the leg. view-point, you go over to Chickamauga Stannard now looked around be- and see old Jake Wylie. He's a retired wildered. All over the street lay men, Gainesville Midland railroader, and he'll wounded as on a battle-field. tell you all about the peaceful times in Stannard saw Steve Burke, one of the his State." railroad telegraphers, running toward : I

TEN THOUSAND MILES BY RAIL. 241 him—when down went Burke with a battle in which twenty-nine white men wound in the head. were wounded and one negro killed. Send twelve and trained Then along came Roy Fisher, one of men nurses. the call-boys of the G. M. R. R. He, " Who killed the enemy? " asked Train too, fell before the negro's gun. Despatcher Joe Thompson, some days Joe Kendall, the trainmaster, next. fell later when Stannard visited him at his with a volley in his breast* bedside. Ed Strong, cashier of the Southern " Don't Express Company, and Jack Marryman, know," replied Stannard. " The station-master, and the baggage- the Southern Express agent at the depot, man, and the station-porter, and the were the next victims. yardmaster, and two trainmen, Besides these railroad men. some and a conductor, and one or engineers, twenty citizens of the town were laid two and about three section-hands, yours low by the double-barreled shotgun in and trulv, all fired the hands of " Bully " Wade. at the same time— " " think." Some one's got to kill that man ! said Stannard. with a glance at the Kuklux Hanging Parties. prostrate forms of his friends and co- workers. " I guess it's up to me." Engineer " Hen " Rust and With that, he walked deliberately up to Conductor Sullivan were in charge the enemy, but not while the enemy was of a night passenger-train out of Decatur, Alabama, reloading his gun—no, but just as the on the run through the Tennessee bot- enemy pointed his gun at the telegraph toms up to Nashville. man and pulled the trigger. Their "command" consisted of three Bird-shot whistled all round Stannard. trainmen, who worked the hand-brakes but still he advanced on the enemy till whenever " Hen " Rust called for stop. he looked straight into his eyes. a For some unaccountable reason, their " Bully " Wade fired his last shot—at train was extremely Stannard. popular with certain citizens, who had the misfortune to A second later the enemy was no more. be regarded as undesirable by the Kuklux President Baldwin, at Savannah, and Klan. General Manager Eppes. and General It was on the old Nashville Freight and Passenger Agent Veazey, at and Decatur Railroad connecting at Athens, each received this message the Alabama town with the Southern Rail- Depot and yard force here nearly all way, and at the Tennessee town with the out of commission as the result of a Tennessee Central. The train left Decatur at 10 p.m.. and arrived at Nashville at 10 a.m... returning the next night. Rust and Sullivan's train was stopped in the Tennessee bot-

ONE OF THE MEN SAT DOWN WITH A SHOTGUN ACROSS HIS KNEE. 4 R R :

242 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE. toms somewhere about midnight, about Rust swung round to find himself every third night, by men shrouded in looking into the muzzle of a rifle. white-cotton sheets with slits for eye- - " You're powerful interested in this holes. These white apparitions. Rust meetin', partner," said the white-sheeted and Sullivan called the " ghosts of the man behind the Winchester. " Get rail." down and come right along." The ghostly ones would stop the train " No," protested Rust. " I'll stay by waving firebrands across the track. here. You don't need me. I'll take Then they would take one of the un- your word for the meeting. Me and my desirables from the train, lead him off conductor and my crew don't want to the right-of-way to the nearest cedar- attend no more meetings of yours. We tree, and order the train crew to come are tired of them. We're staying on the along and witness the proceedings. train to-night." After attending about a dozen of these " You're mistaken, partner. Your nocturnal hanging parties, Rust and train-crew is on hand, all of 'em, espe- Sullivan and their crew were unanimous cially your conductor. Come on now, or in agreeing that the thing had become we'll take you anyway." monotonous, and that the next time the The upshot of this matter was that white-robed executioners appeared and " Hen " Rust left his cab and proceeded ordered out the train-crew to witness a in the company of the K. K's., to the hanging, to a man. they would decline usual spot chosen for the night's hanging. the invitation. Meantime, Conductor Sullivan, in the And There Was Sullivan. opinion of the K. K.'s, had joined the undesirable class, Sullivan's crime being What was his amazement, when he ar- that he had told, with harrowing details, rived at the cedar-tree, to find that the stories of the hangings he had witnessed, central figure of the entertainment was and, in particular, how he had seen three none other than Conductor Sullivan. bodies swinging on one cedar. There stood Sullivan surrounded by Then came the night when Sullivan the sheeted K. K's. with a lariat around and Rust, and their three minions of the his neck, and his eyes staring upward brake-wheels were to " strike " when along the lariat to where it was thrown ordered to come forward and watch a over a stout limb. " swinging. " You're not goin' to swing Sullivan? " It was some time after midnight—the cried Rust. " What's he done? usual time. The train was running " He's been spraddlin' information through the Tennessee bottoms—the around Decatur and Nashville," said one usual place. Once again Rust beheld the of the K. K.'s., " which is some ag'in " ghosts of the rails " waving firebrands the code" of honor upon which we-all across his track. To avoid a fusillade of have from time to time duly invited him shots, he whistled for brakes. to attend these yere meetin's. But look here, Rust. What we-all is goin' to pro- The Meeting Called. pose now, is to give this conductor just one more chance -to bve. He must prom-

. Immediately, the train was surrounded ise and you must promise and your crew by K. K.'s. The engineer knew that must promise that this Sullivan man will some undesirable was being carried off hereafter for all time go away from this the train. A voice beside his cab, said region and never come back." " Reckon you want to witness this yere "Oh, is that all you want?" cried meetin' out of justice, partner."^ Rust gleefully. "All right! take that " No, I don't," answered Rust, not so rope off Sullivan. We promise he'll much as turning his face to the speaker. never run again through these bottoms." " Yes, you do, partner," insisted the Sullivan was released. And the train- " man beside the cab. You- want to at- men abandoned that run. « tend this meetin' mighty bad. Now At the station at Montgomery, Ala- you're a handsome cuss—and I'd like bama, I found a tremendous crowd ofj to take a look at your face. Turn round." outgoing passenger*. : —

TEN THOUSAND MILES BY RAIL. 243

•' Is this a usual crowd?" I asked the ager named Cecil Gabbett. The three conductor. of them, plus the catamount, started the " It's a usual Saturday crowd, sir," week-end excursions which are now so he replied. popular throughout the South. " " But why' Saturday? " I asked. It was on the Atlanta and West " Excursion rate—round trip for a one-way fare, sir. We call them Saturday - Sunday excursions because the tickets sold at that rate are good Saturday to Monday—over to Atlanta, or up to Birmingham and Chattanoo- ga or down to Mobile and New Orleans. My name's Frobeck."

HE WALKED DELIBERATELY UP TO THE ENEMY BUT NOT WHILE THE ENEMY WAS RELOADING HIS GUN.

Thus began an acquaintance which led Point Railroad," Frobeck continued. to yarn-spinning on Frobeck's part, in " The engineer and conductor whom I've the course of which he said just named were running a train up to Atlanta from Montgomery. At Gab- Cats and Cats. bettville. when the train stopped, a man stepped up to McWaters and offered him " Tell you what started these Satur- a dead catamount which he himself had day-Sunday excursions, sir. It was a just killed—saying the engineer could cat." have the carcass for two bits. "Cat?" " Just for fun McWaters bought the " Yes, sir. A dead cat. A cat about cat and tied it by the tail to the bumper five feet long, -sir. A catamount. Be- of ln's engine with the body spraddling sides the cat. there -was an engineer down the pilot. named Jack McWaters, and a conductor " At every station all the way to At- named Zach Martin, and a general man- lanta crowds gathered round the engine :

244 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE. and asked McWaters no end of questions that shack for two years. In all that about the catamount. time it had been unoccupied. " Now. hitched to the end of that train Toward that light now, on the night was the private car of the general man- in question, a man unknown to the neigh- ager. Cecil Gabbett. After five or six borhood made his way stealthily till he stations had been passed with crowds reached the door of the shack. Then swarming arcund. the engine at each suddenly he shoved the door open, en- place the G. M. called for the conduc- tered, and found a man lying on the tor, Zach Martin, to come to his car. floor. " The G. M. asked him what all the " I want to talk to you, Beeler," said fuss was about. Zach told him about the the visitor. catamount and then added " I'm perfectly willing to talk," an- " ' There are lots of folks in these swered the man on the floor, in a weak crowds who would like to spend Sunday voice. in Atlanta. But they complain that the fare is too high. They can't afford it.'

" ' Why not make a special Saturday- Sunday excursion rate? ' suddenly exclaimed General Manager Gabbett. " ' Yes,' replied Martin. ' Take 'em up to Atlanta and back for fhe price of a one-way ticket—and you'll get 'em in droves.' " And the thing was done," Conduc- tor Frobeck said in conclusion.

The Southern Pacific.

From Espee men in Los Angeles, I gathered the facts of awemarkable case of railroad sleuthing that might be en- " titled : A Railroad's Human Blood- hounds, or The Deep Dark Secre: of Fifty Thousand Dollars." A train over the new Brownsville railroad of the Texas Gulf Coast pulled into the Brownsville station. A minute later, Fireman Charles Beeler fell in a faint on the floor of the cab. Members of the train crew lifted the fireman out of the cab and laid him on the ground. Presently he regained consciousness and his first words were: RUST SWUNG AROUND TO FIND HIMSELF LOOK- " I'm going to die, boys, because I've ING INTO THE MUZZLE OF A RIFLE. nothing more to live for." To no one did he explain why he had "You know me?" asked the new- " nothing more to live for." but all could comer. see that Fireman Beeler was a very sick " Yes. You're Anderson, one of the man, though not so far gone but that he Espee's bloodhounds. I know that you felt he could stand the journey back to and others have been watching me for Houston—which he did. Soon after ar- five whole years. But the game's ended, riving at Houston, however, the railroad cap. I'm all in. I crawled in here to men lost all track of him. die." " What had become of Charley Beeler? Then I reckon you're -ready now to In a shack on the outskirts of Hous- tell where you hid that money." ton, a light appeared. Those living in " I am." 'replied Beeler. " Til tell you 1 the neighborhood had not seen a light in the whole story, and when I've finished : : : :

TEN THOUSAND MILES BY RAIL. 245

" What are you thinking about," she asked, " that you make me repeat everything I say before you answer?" " I'm thinking of your new dress," Charley replied. At the theater he bought two of the best seats, took his wife in, seated her, then suddenly said " I'll have to leave you alone a while. I must do an errand down at the Espee Station. I'll be back in time for the you Espee bloodhounds will quit my second act." trail and leave me to die in peace, 'cause Next morning, railroad and express you're goin' to believe my story." circles in San Antonio were agitated by Beeler related a tale as thrilling as a the news that a package of money con- melodrama. It was, as nearly as the. taining $50,000 shipped over the South- Espee men in New Orleans could re- ern Pacific in care of Wells, Fargo & member, as follows Company, from New Orleans, had van- One evening in the spring of 1907, the ished from the car in which it arrived money-clerk of Wells, Fargo & Com- at the Espee Station at San Antonio. pany, at San Antonio, Texas, left the During the morning, young Mrs. Beel- office and went home to supper. At the er rushed into the Wells, Fargo office, finish of the meal the clerk's pretty wife, crying Anna, said " What has become of my husband? " Charley, take me to the show to- He left me at the theater last night say- night, will you?," ing he would return in time for the sec- " " " Charley said, you bet ! After sup- ond act. But I have not seen him since ! per the wife dressed herself in her very best. On the Hunt. " " But it isn't much of a gown, is it? she said, then added that she wished An Espee detective, Jack Williams, she had at least one pretty frock such as happened to be in the express office at one of those worn by the manager's the time, and overheard the lamentations wife—meaning the local manager of of the money-clerk's pretty wife. Wil- Wells Fargo. liams had already been assigned to run Now Charley Beeler—for that was the down that $50,000. Learning that Beeler clerk's name—loved his wife deeply, and had disappeared, the detective at once wanted to please her. left the express office and proceeded to That night she broached the. very sub- wire up and down the Espee line all the ject which, for a long time, had been one way out to El Paso and all the way down of Beeler's manias, namely, that such a to New Orleans, warning all to look out fine-looking young woman should have for a young man with close-cropped fine clothes. hair, age twenty-four, tall, slim, black mustache, black eyes, good-looking and The Promise. fairly well-educated. Before nightfall, word came to Wil- " " " Hang it all ! he exclaimed, you liams in San Antonio that Beeler had shall have as fine a dress as any woman been seen in Uvalde, a town about half- in San Antonio. I'll get it for vou, some- way between San Antonio and Spofford. how." Straightway, some half a dozen_ officers " How?" asked the wife. in the employ of the Espee and Wells, " " I'll earn it. of course." Fargo, headed" by Williams, rode spe- " " " Good ! she exclaimed happily. cial west to Uvalde. On the way to the theater, Charley There they found that Beeler had Beeler was so absent-minded that he struck the trail into the trackless desert failed to hear remarks his- wife addressed of South Texas, evidently bound for the to him. Mexican border. Beeler had hired a wag- — :

246 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

(Mexican rural police) in

the chase ; and once when they struck a" river they bought a boat outright, and then returned it to the seller, this in order to get quickly across. After weeks of such work, suffering hardship, exposure, and starvation, Beeler was caught. He was found in a thicket in a region of Mexico where few white men had ever been. The fugitive was found fast asleep. While he still slept, the sleuths hand- cuffed him. Without waiting for the formalities o f extradition, Detective Williams and his comrades marched Beeler back to the Rio Grande, across into Texas, and up to San Antonio^ where the young man confessed to having taken the money. He refused, however, to

tell where he had hidden it. He was sentenced to seven years on a Texas penal farm. " " My wife Anna ! Beeler cried, as he was led away to " "CHARLEY, TAKE ME TO THE SHOW, TO-NIGHT ? serve his sentence. How is " it I have not seen her? on in Uvalde, from his wife's brother The sleuths had purposely kept the the only undertaker in town. This fur- heart-broken wife away from Beeler. So nished the necessary clue. now when the prisoner asked for her, for Hiring ponies and taking a supply of the hundredth time, Williams replied: provisions, the sleuths rode forth on " Your wife is dead." Beeler's trail following the wagon-tracks. Beeler "staggered, seemed on the verge Down toward the Rio Grande the trail of swooning when the detective added: led until they found the wagon aban- " And since she is dead the money doned, but no Beeler, and no fifty thou- won't be much good to you. You to'ok sand. One of the horses had been aban- the money in order to buy pretty dresses doned, too, Beeler evidently having for her, didn't you? Well, she's beyond mounted the other. needing dresses now." Again southward the trail led till the sleuths lost it entirely. Then they spread Out on the Penal Farm. out in a big semicircle, picked up the trail, advanced to the Rio Grande and But the trick didn't work. Instead of across it and into Mexico. weakening under this sweating process, Through the North Mexican wilder- the prisoner cried " ness, and over the Santa Rosa Moun- You lie ! She's alive ! She's too young tains, the sleuths kept up the pursuit. to die. I'll tell you nothing about the "

Having plenty of money, they bought money ! fresh ponies as soon as those they rode He went to the penal farm. About were worn out. They employed ruroles once a year regularly, for seven years, TEN THOUSAND MILES BY RAIL. 247

either Williams- or some other Espee or his wife.- To his further dismay, he Wells Fargo detective would show up at found that the undertaker, his wife's the farm and endeavor to get Beeler to brother, had disappeared one week after betray the hiding-place of the cash. But receiving the corpse of the convict from each time" the detective was defeated. the penal farm. In the last year of Beeler's term at the In frantic haste, Beeler then started penal farm, an epidemic struck the camp for the Uvalde Station of the Espee. The and many of the convicts died. Each station was some distance from the town night the prisoners buried their own and, before he reached his destination, dead or prepared the bodies of departed Beeler found that he was being followed. comrades for shipment to relatives in He even recognized his follower,—De- various places. tective Anderson, of the Espee. One night, Beeler was put to work Instead of going to the railroad sta- preparing a certain body for shipment to tion, Beeler went back to the town. An- Uvalde. Texas, that being the deed con- derson was watching him closely. vict's home. In one of the dead man's After hiding for three days in a sa- pockets,. Beeler came across a little slip of loon, he succeeded, in the middle of the paper and a small bit of lead pencil. Of night, in getting away unobserved, as he a sudden, then, solely on impulse,- Beeler supposed, by the relentless bloodhound. wrote a few words addressed to the only Beeler hastened then to the railroad sta- undertaker at Uvalde—Tils wife's brother. tion, crawled underneath the building, He slipped the paper into one of the dug into the earth with his bare hands, dead convict's socks. To Beeler's joy, and finally uttered an agonized cry. the corpse was carried out of the camp " Come out of there. Beeler." sudden- without ^inspection. ly cried a voice. " What are you do- A few months later, Beeler was re- ing?" leased. He hastened to San Antonio in Beeler, panting and dripping with search of his wife, only to find that she perspiration, came from under the station .had left the city years before, saying to confront the omnipresent Anderson. that she was going to her brother at " So that's where you hid the money, is Uvalde. iti" said the sleuth. " Beeler journeyed on to Uvalde, but no " No, it isn't," answered Beeler. Look one there knew of the whereabouts of for yourself." The next day Beeler learned that his brother-in-law had been seen down in the Brownsville region, and forthwith he began a five-year search for that undertaker. He managed to work his way down to Brownsville, being employed part of the time as a cowboy. Finally, when the railroad began building through, he secured a job as fireman on the engine of a construction-train. When the road be-

"so that's where you hid the money?" : "

248 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

gan running freight-trains, he was given You found me there at theTnoment»I dis- a regular run as fireman. covered that the money, as welL as the Night and day he was on the lookout undertaker had disappeared. You believe " for his brother-in-law. and night and day me, do you not? he was watched by the railroad detectives " I do. Beeler," said the detective. until finally the day when he fainted in " And now I want you to believe me, too. the cab. .as described at the beginning of Your wife is dead." this story, and then traveled up to Hous- " Yes, I knew it," answered Beeler. ton and crawled to the empty shack, only "' That's what made me faint in the cab to be confronted once more by Anderson. of the locomotive. Just before I fainted "What did I write on that paper?" I overheard some passengers talking at

Beeler now said to the detective, in telling the station. I heard one of them say : his story. " I wrote down the hiding- " ' And Anna — Anna Beeler — she's place of the fifty thousand dollars. I gone, too —died of a broken heart." knew my brother-in-law, being the only " But, good-by, cap," added Beeler. " " undertaker in Uvalde, would find it when You'll leave me to die in peace? he prepared the body for burial. " Yes." " " I wrote that if he would go to the " And call off all the other detectives? hiding-place and get the money, he could " Yes." keep twenty-five thousand dollars as his As Anderson started to leave the shack, share in payment for holding' the remain- Beeler's eyes brightened, and he said-: ing half of the money safe for me until I " Say. cap. I've got just one happy came for it. But he made away with the thought. I keep thinking of that, just whole fifty thousand dollars. And for nothing but that all the time. It is—that five years I've been searching for him, I did it all for the woman I loved. Pret- meaning to kill him on sight." ty soon. .cap, I'll see her. and then— "And the hiding-place?" the detec- Anderson, the Espee's human blood- tive asked. " Where was it?" hound, had closed the shack door very " Under the depot at Uvalde, of course. softly on the dead.

In the August number, Mr. Willets will relate some exciting stories told to him by the boys of the G. A. R., south of the Potomac River. THE FASTEST THING ON WHEELS.

THIS title now rightfully belongs to the it does not have the -advantage of a smooth automobile, we are told by a writer track on which to run. " in The Engineering Record. Motor-driven The long-threatened increase in rail- vehicles of all kinds, including steam and way speeds to sensational figures is yet far electric locomotives, are now led in the from coming to pass, and the one hundred- race for speed-records by the rubber-tired mile-an-hour train, seriously projected near- car that has no rails at all to run on. Says ly twenty years ago, is still in the dim dis- the paper just named tance. The stern chase of the automobile " It is casually worth noting that the auto- is likely to be, as usual, a long chase. These mobile speed record, which has remained transcendental speeds are perhaps" likely to for four years at a rate of 127.6 miles per be long in coming as a matter of common hour over the measured mile, has again transportation, but every raising of the been raised, this time by a gasoline auto- record ought to be a. stimulus toward faster mobile of 200 rated horse-power. The trains in those cases where speed really be- figure touched is 131.72 miles per hour, the comes of practical importance. The me- measured mile being covered in 27.33 sec- chanical possibilities are still very far onds. ahead of practise, and the fundamental ques- " This puts the locomotive record of 120 tion has become merely one of commercial miles per hour quite in the shade, and passes desirability." even the top speed obtained in the Zossen The automobile that made the record re- electric-locomotive tests of 1903. Thus the ferred to by The Engineering Record was general speed-record passes into the hands the " Lightning Benz." driven by Barney of the automobile in spite of the fact that Oldfield. at Davtona. Florida, on March 16. BOGLIP'S CANINE PARTY

BY C. W. BEELS.

" Moral Suasion " Was All Right for Children, But It Would Not Go with a Bull Terrier.

BOGLIP was a She also held that the knowledge of fEPTIMUSsalesman by profession and a that fact on the part of the youngsters humanitarian by instinct. The invested the father or mother with a re-

I first of these necessitated his spect that would otherwise be lacking. presence from 9 a.m. till 5 Luckily, though, the quartette of Bog- p.m. in a big New York whole- lip children were, as a rule, mightily sale store, the second resulted well-behaved, as children go, and the in the shaping of a portion of the do- occasion was rare, indeed, when the ideas mestic policy of his New Rochelle home of Mr. and Mrs. Boglip came into col- on what he believed to be ideal lines. lision in regard to punishment. Being a man of family, he had plenty This was fortunate, perhaps, for Mr. of opportunities to put his pet theory Boglip, for he was a little man who had into practise, which was, that under no followed the marital instincts of most circumstances should a child be made to little men — he married a woman who feel the shingle, the slipper, or the rod. weighed a third more than he did and " Moral suasion, sir, is the only thing who towered three inches above him. that a youngster needs in the way of dir Had Mrs.- B. chosen to back her be- rection or discipline." Mr. Boglip would liefs with her personality, there would declare to" the individual who wasn't of have been no doubt as to the outcome. his way of thinking. " The man who lifts But' two things militated against her his hand against a child, brutalizes him- enforcing her methods with her muscles. self and the helpless victim of his bar- The first was that, like most big people, barity, at one and the same time. Spare she was good-nature personified ; the sec- the rod, sir, and you spare the child the ond, the Boglip dog-kennel, which calls suffering and humiliation which you have for explanation. no~ right to inflict upon it." The Boglips were no exception to their So, mounted on his hobby, he would neighbors in the matter of dogs. Nearly follow a dozen different trails of argu- every resident for miles around had a ment, all of which led to the justifica- kennel. tion of his beliefs. Whether he succeed- At one end of the lawn of the Boglip ed in convincing his auditor was a home was a strip of ground enclosed by matter of which he took little account, wire netting. Inside were three kennels, for, like a good many people of fixed in one of which lived Mrs. Boglip's fat opinions, Mr. Boglip had more desire to and wheezy Irish water spaniel, while give tongue to the latter than to convert another was given over to an Airedale others to his way of thinking. terrier with a rather malformed right ear. Now, it wasn't that Mrs. Boglip be- This dog had been given to Boglip by lieved that the indiscriminate infliction a generous friend who bred the animals of physical pain on her children did them and had no use for those which were not good, but she did hold that a parent had physically perfect. the right to keep the rod as a sort of The third kennel was devoted to a Court of Last Resort. couple of nondescripts, the special prop- —

250 THE RAILROAD MAN'S' MAGAZINE.

erty and delight of the Boglip children, Gaelic extraction had spoken of him as who 'always called them " mutts." Like a " half-boiled shrimp," just because he most dogs of mixed ancestors and no had accidentally trodden on her toes. pedigree, they were jolly, alert, and in- Mrs. Boglip, also, had had a trying telligent, much more so, indeed, than day of it herself. What with the un-

their somewhat blooded confreres. heralded flitting of her colored help ; a The space in front of and around the bedroom ceiling that, for no apparent kennels was liberal, sanded, and formed a cause whatever, had descended on clean tidies capital exercise and romping ground for and spreads ; a kitchen range which " the canines. Access was obtained by a had sulked for hours and then became so gate in the wire fence, the key to the lock furiously industrious that it reduced most being in the Boglip kitchen out of the dinner .whereof to cinders ; neighbors, who of reach of the Boglip youngsters. called at ungodly times, stayed unreason- Now, there was one remarkable and ably long, and said unkind things about peculiar connection between the Boglip people whom Mrs. Boglip liked: a dis- children and the Boglip dogs. Mr. Bog- pute with the laundry over missing arti- lip was not always logical in the observ- cles, and, lastly, the children. ance of his set views on punishment. He The children dressed, their faces shiny began to find that the children—Ephraim, with washing, were waiting" in their play- Elihu, Sarah, and Ruth, whom he had room for the call to their .returning pa. lovingly named for biblical persons They were accustomed to have their sup- were growing more unmanageable with per after the grown-ups, and in the in- their years. terval hatched schemes of mischief for Like all youngsters they were in mis- the morrow. chief from morning till night, and, when Mr. Boglip entered his home with father came home in the evening, mother nasty, little flying pains playing over his would tell him how they had nearly, forehead, betokening a neuralgic head- driven her mad. and father, in order to ache. His nerves were raw and his tem- get even and uphold his theories so far per likewise, and, Mrs. Boglip as she as possible, took a whip, hiked to the placed the chops on the table, began to kennels and " took it out on the dogs." tell of the vagaries of the stove and the They yelped blue murder, while the desertion of Jennie, the colored cook. Boglip four looked on in delight and in- In his heart, Mr. Boglip felt rather wardly praised their father's method of glad for an outlet for his depression. administering punishment to them. Mrs. Naturally, he didn't say so. He did re- Boglip called him a fool and criticized mark, raspingly, something to the effect his behavior, and she warned him sound- that if Mrs. Boglip was incapable of ly never to touch Wally. the wheezy dog. managing either a range or a servant, it One evening Mr. Boglip reached his would be cheaper for them to go board- home in bad humor. On this particular ing than to continue the farce of house- day. everything had gone wrong. He had keeping. missed trains going and coming, and as He knew that his wife hated a board- most people should know, this, when it ing-house with a whole-souled hatred, happens to a commuter, is looked upon and that, as a matter of fact, she was an as both misfortune and disgrace. excellent manager and housewife. One of his biggest Western customers Mrs. Boglip paused in helping the hadn't shown up as per promise, and an- chops, looked down—literally down— other had bought much less than usual. upon her small spouse, opened her mouth Mr. Boglip had also smashed a couple of to speak, closed it again, and once more valuable samples, which were charged plunged her fork into the meat. She to his commission account. selected two of the best chops with elab- He had been " called down " by one orate care, matched each with the meal- of his chiefs in regard to his alleged fail- iest of potatoes and handed the plate to ure to push a line of American goods, her husband without a word.

and, to crown it all, when in a Subway Mr. Boglip took the plate with a dem- car on his way to the Grand Central onstration nf contempt and martyrdom Depot, a large and aggressive lady of that didn't escape the notice or allay the " : " —:

BOGLIP'S CANINE- PARTY.

exasperation of Mrs. Boglip. But she parlor, tripped and fell against that pret-

continued to keep her lips closed. Mr. ty vase you gave me on my birthday. I Boglip munched discontentedly for a few I—wouldn't have had that broken for " moments and then, after assuring him- anything !

self that it wasn't on the table, demanded Here Mrs. Boglip sniffed deliberately, tomato sauce. and with feminine unreasonableness, " There isn't any," said Mrs. Boglip, arose, walked around the table, kissed her somewhat sharply. "I've already told husband on the forehead, and ignoring you that it was only at the last moment his attempt to explain, excuse, or dissem-

that I found that the dinner which I had ble, returned to her place and continued really cooked was spoiled, so I had to " Next thing, three of them managed get the chops all of a hurry. Consequent- to get little Ruth into one of the apple- ly, there wasn't time for tomato sauce trees and wouldn't take her down. She or—or anything else." was crying as if her heart would break, Mr. Boglip noted with relish the lame the pretty dear, when I went to her help. termination of Mrs. Boglip's explanation " And in the meantime, Sarah and and determined to rub it in. " Well." he Ephraim had managed to stick leaves all began, " this finishes —me. If you can't over the cat with that library paste you keep house better than brought home the other night, and the The sentence was never ended. Mrs. poor frightened creature, no^_ knowing Boglip arose in her wrath and towering what it was doing, ran up the parlor cur- over the little man, wagged a compelling tains and then jumped clean from the right hand at him. pole to the mantelpiece, smashing the '" That will do, Septimus Boglip," she vase that Aunt Ellen gave us last Christ- said. " I say that that will do. Don't mas as well as two of the— you go talking about my housekeeping Mr. Boglip rose suddenly, gurgled vio- when those children of yours are making lently and reseated himself suddenly as a laughing stock of you and me because Mrs. Boglip eyed him sternly. of your fool ideas about their training. " As I was saying, the cat broke two I give you fair warning, Septimus, that crystal ornaments on the candelabra that the next time the children need a whip- you value so much because somebody be- ping, they'll get it, and get it good from longing to you brought it from England me!" —at least you say they did—though for Mr. Boglip tried to interrupt, but the life of me. I can't see why that failed, Mrs. Boglip silencing him with a should make it any more valuable. I'm gesture that seemed to imply that he sure that any day in the week I can buy simply wasn't to be heard from till she prettier and cheaper things., at any of had had her say. So she went on the big stores in New York." " You are grumbling because for once Mr. Boglip held up his hand in feeble in your life you've had to eat chops in- protest. While he managed to change the stead of roast chicken ! Poor fellow, poor direction he didn't interfere with the starved fellow, how my heart goes out strength of the current of his wife's elo- to you ! But as between unexpected quence. Like a good many other nor- chops and four children filled with the mally quiet souls, Mrs. Boglip, once very old mischief— what?" aroused, was difficult to quell. Mrs. Boglip jerked out the last word " Then." relentlessly continued the of her sentence with a force and sud- wife, " I had but barely cleaned up the denness that startled Mr. Boglip into mess and cleaned off the cat, when bang! " swallowing quite a large lump of prac- crash ! went something—in your den ! tically unchewed mutton, and he knew Mr. Boglip dropped his knife and that he was in for an attack of indiges- fork, and forgetful of chops or com-

tion. Again he tried to speak, but Mrs. mands, snorted sepulchrally : "What was Boglip prevented. it?" " The first thing this morning and just " Well," said Mrs. Boglip after a after you had left." continued the now brief pause, " I almost hate to tell you. thoroughly aroused wife, " Ephraim, Not that I am afraid that you will pun- while chasing Elihu through the front ish the children, but for your own sake." "—" —

2r,2 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

" Go on." replied Boglip resignedly. " Well, that's all right," broke in Mr. " I s'pose the cat didn't murder the can- Boglip testily, " get back to Ruth and ary or try to elope with—the chops." all the rest of it." " " I said that the noise came from your As I learned later, after all the fish den—not from the parlor or the ice-box," had been caught, some one of your hope- answered Mrs. Boglip coldly. " Any- fuls—" how. I ran up-stairs, and there I found " Ours.'-' remarked Mr. Boglip. " But you'll have another potato, won't " Yours." repeated Mrs. Boglip. " Your you, Septimus?" she asked anxiously. hopefuls thought that it would be a good "Go on!" shouted Mr. Boglip, lick- thing to clear out the aquarium. They ing a pair of dry lips. tried to lift it off the stand onto the " Well," resumed Mrs. Boglip, sighing floor. One side, is smashed to atoms and heavily, but not without certain enjoy- the carpet of your den will have to be ment, " as I got near the head of the cleaned, and I'm much afraid that the stairs, the children came out of your dear little snails and lizards and polly- den giggling, Septimus, giggling, mind wogs—that is as many of them as I can you. I asked them what they, had been fi$d— will never be themselves again." doing. ' Fishing,' explained Ephraim, Mr. Boglip groaned. ' ' ' " smashing things,' 'added Sarah. Gee ! But that isn't it," resumed Mrs. said Elihir, ' ain't it a good thing we ain't Boglip. " When the aquarium tilted, a got a dad like Mr. Joplin?' If we had. good deal of the water in it hit your we'd get it good and plenty to-night.' bookcase, and that old stamp-album of And then all three of them laughed up- yours is soaked through and through roariously." and—" "Mr. Boglip moved uneasily in his Mr. Boglip was on his feet. The " chair. " Where was Ruth all this time? stamp-album was a much treasured relic he asked, in default of something better of his boyhood. * to say. " Send the children to me at once, " I'll come to that presently," said Martha," he said. A gleam of hope shot Mrs. Boglip. " Well, I went into your over Mrs. Boglip's face at the tone and den and of all the messes. Your ' moral expression of her little husband. suasion ' dear, hadn't stopped your chil- " Are you going to punish them as " " dren from fishing in the aquarium ! they deserve? she asked suggestively. Mr. Boglip jumped with surprise and The query was w-ell-meant but ill- horror. The aquarium with its swim- timed. It served to remind Mr. Bo \ ming and crawling tenants was another of his theories of discipline. of his hobbies. And the children had " Never mind calling them down," r> " been taught to hold it as a sacred thing. said, after a. moment of hesitation. V .i " Yes," resumed Mrs. Boglip with go up to them." unction, " they had bent pins into fishing- " Finish your dinner first, dear," hooks, had gotten thread out of my work coaxed Mrs. Boglip. basket and were using fish-food for bait. Mr. Boglip shook his head gloomily. No wonder that the poor things—the —fish " I've no more appetite—and T don't I mean—had bitten freely and were think the children will have any when I " What? " shouted Mr. Boglip. get through with them." With this he " As I entered the room," replied Mrs. ascended to the pi ay- room. Boglip, " Ruth—Ruth, mind you—was Mrs. Boglip sank in a chair. She was holding that double-tailed goldfish that after all somewhat sorry for what she you were so proud of, trying to pull a had started. She hoped that Boglip bent pin out of his jaw. wouldn't chastise them too much. She " But that was nothing to the rest of hoped that he would keep his temper. what I saw. On the carpet were lying They were only children, and he was a nearly every fish that had lived in the child once—and aquarium. It's astonishing the number Mrs. Boglip heard issuing from the of scales that'll come off one little fish end of the garden an agonized and and how those scales will spread and wheezy yelp. She recognized the cry of stick. It took me over an hour to— Wally. This was followed by a series !

BOGLIP'S CANINE PARTY. 253

of assorted and spasmodic " ki yist " and By an unlucky coincidence, and, as be- she knew that once more Mr. Boglip was fore, Mr. Boglip, on this particular day. visiting upon the dogs vicarious ven- had undergone a great many things geance bred of the misdeeds of his chil- which had led to his discomfort. He was dren. snappy and cross. He replied that Mrs. She hastened to the scene of trou- Boglip didn't know what she was talking ble, determined that, anyhow, Wally about, and that he proposed to treat and

should receive protection. train his children as he pleased ; and The conversation which ensued be- what was more, he would do as "he liked tween husband and wife was decidedly when he liked and where he liked around more to the point than usual. Mr. Bog- his own home! With this and a final lip had been wrought up to sheer exas- glare at Mrs. Boglip, he stamped up- peration. Mrs. Boglip's trials of the day stairs to where the small culprits were were crowned by the howls of Wally. A awaiting him. conflagration of tempers was inevitable. Mrs. Boglip waited for a moment and Mrs. Boglip accused her husband of then slipped quietly out of the room. cowardly treatment of a " poor, dumb, She returned in about ten minutes, with unresisting creature." Mr. Boglip de- something akin to a grim smile on her clared that Wally had snapped at him face.. Above, she could still hear her lit- when he entered the enclosure. Mrs. Bog- tle hubby lecturing his recalcitrant flock, lip didn't believe it. Mr. Boglip averred his remarks being occasionally punctu- that he was speaking the truth and that ated by a shrill protest or explanation. he had kicked the spaniel in self-defense. Finally the talk ceased, the door Mrs. Boglip wanted to know why he opened and the youngsters descended to had gone to the kennel in the first place. supper. Mr. Boglip responded that he had a per- A little later, Mrs. Boglip heard her fect right to go where he wished in his husband come down into the hall, rattle own house and in the domains attached quietly among the sticks in the umbrella- thereto, or words to that effect. stand, retreat into the kitchen, return and " " But not to kick my dog ! insisted open the door which led into the garden. the lady. Then she went to the kitchen and found " Yes, ma'am, to kick your dog or the key to the kennel gone. Again she " anybody else's dog who snaps at me ! smiled as grimly. retorted Mr. Boglip. Mr. Boglip, as he made his way to the Mrs. Boglip eyed her small spouse for dogs through the fast falling dusk was a moment in silence. Then she spoke fuming furiously. If there is one thing consolingly to Wally, turned on her heel more than another which breeds bad and walked toward the house. temper, it is a growing conviction that Ten minutes later, Mr. Boglip's bad one's most cherished ideals are wrong. temper was some whar evaporated. He en- It really did seem to Mr. Boglip as tered the unlighted parlor, found his if " moral suasion " was a flat failure so wife meditatively contemplating the far as his children were concerned. An- moon through a cluster of tree-tops, the gry with them, with himself, with Mrs. children having gone to bed. Boglip, with everybody and everything, A week elapsed since the events just suffering from the unreasonable irrita- recorded. The children had been be- tion which arises from frayed nerves, having well and the dogs had not been he, as he neared the kennels, felt his visited by Boglip save in kindness. But gorge rise at the thought of the fat and returning tq New Rochelle one evening, bronchial Wally. He determined that Mr. Boglip was greeted by his wife with he would wallop the brute with whole- tales of ill-doing on the part of the kid- hearted joy, in spite of his wife and the dies, to which was added the statement, whole world made with earnest emphasis, that if he So he turned the key in the lock and failed to do his duty toward them by entered, administering the corporal punishment to The impressions made on Mr. Bog- which they were clearly entitled, the wife lip's mentality by the immediate subse- herself would set the birch a swinging. quent events are to this "day of a some- " "

254 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE. what blurred and confused nature. Vio- ance, the bulldog muttering an accom- lating the usual rule, neither Wally, the paniment of canine profanity and ever Airedale, nor the mutts were visible. and anon dashing around the kennel in Shining eyes from the depths of the the direction of the Boglip legs. kennels told of the animals being at Then he yelled for the children, the home, but of their disinclination to re- neighbors, for anybody to come to his ceive visitors on the outside. help. And his appeals, loud-voiced and Mr. Boglip had scarcely time to think pathetic as they were, proved to be fruit- over the queer behavior of the dogs when less. something big, squatty, black, emerged In the midst of his terror. Mr. Boglip from the farther corner of the enclosure couldn't but help thinking that it was and growled gutturally as it swaggered very queer that nobody seemed to take toward him. heed to his frantic calls for aid, especial- Notwithstanding the dark, Mr. Boglip, ly as the houses were not so distant from with a sensation as if his internal organs each other and some people or other were had suddenly quitted him, saw that he usually around after business hours. was facing an able-bodied bulldog whose In- the meantime the bulldog was giv- voice and attitude told that it was con- ing evidence of growing impatient. His templating mischief. growls grew more blood-curdling and his Naturally, Mr. Boglip.'s first impulse actions more alarming. He developed was to back for the door. Unfortunately a nasty way of sidling around toward for him, it closed outward with a snap- Mr. Boglip and then making a short spring arrangement. Before he could swift dash that called for a tremendous open it, the dog hurled itself at him amount of agility on the part of the gen- like a small cyclone. Mr. Boglip, by tleman in question so that his person a bit of as neat footwork as was ever seen might be preserved intact. outside of a sixteen-foot ring, avoided Even as he thus escaped, the dog the onset and put one of the kennels be- would grind his teeth angrily and re- tween him and his assailant. mark as to what would happen when he But like a flash, the doa; turned and_. gat a good hold of the Boglip calves. pursued the fleeing legs of the little man. Mr. Boglip thought that it would be Mr. Boglip spun around to the other side a good thing to try something akin to of the kennel just in time to preserve " moral suasion " on the dog. So he be- the integrity of his calves. Then he had gan : " to reverse the motion as the dog made a Good bow-wow ! Nicey bow-wow. counter attack. Fine dog— Twice or thrice was this repeated, and "G-r-r-r-r-r-r! " said the bulldog from then the creature halted, growled angrily the other side of the kennel. and tried to jump 'across the kennel-roof. "Oh!" replied,. Mr. Boglip in all Mr. Boglip, scared and perspiring, felt sincerity, " certainly if you think so. All grateful that the quarters of Wally were the same, I think you are a remarkably tall and had a sloping roof which" pre- well-developed 'specimen of 3'our kind. vented the paws-of the bulldog from get- And I do hope that— ting a hold. Here Mr. Boglip's blarney was cut An inspiration seized on 'Mr. Boglip short. The dog made a brilliant at- and he yelled to the dogs in the kennels tempt to get at him via the kennel-roof. for help. The reply thereto was a chorus That it failed was another matter. But of barks which could be translated into its effort gave Mr. Boglip an idea which apologetic mockery and even glee. he proceeded to,put into effect. So it seemed to the beleagured one, The lop of the enclosure was a stout and the memory of the undeserved flog- sort of railing. The space between this gings which he had given the animals railing and the top of Wally's kennel came back to him with painful- forceful- was some three feet. Mr. Boglip, when riess. the dashes of the bulldog permitted, had Next, Mr. Boglip howled aloud for taken cognizance of these facts, and had his wife. But she answered not. Again come to the conclusion that if he could and again he sent out shrieks for assist- once gain the kennel-roof he would have — —

BOGLIP'S CANINE PARTY. 255 no difficulty in jumping to the railing into the sitting-room and back into the and then to the ground. hall, up-stairs and down-stairs, diving in- Outside of the enclosure he would be to the cellar and emerging via the gar- safe. Even as he cast about for the den, back into the house again—shouting means and moment for his attempt to and cursing, while the dog jumped at him, gain his freedom, he thought with gloat- bumping into him. all the while growling ing of the revenge that he would have on and snarling. the creature who had caused him so much As he ran. Mr. Boglip ceased not his terror 'and loss of perspiration. appeals to Mrs. Boglip or somebody to To stand on the other side of the wire come to his aid. Every leap of the dog fence armed with a sufficient whip and was followed by a yellTrom the pursued 'twould be an act of justice at which even one. his wife could not take exception. Mr. Boglip had gone the circuit of the At this instant the bulldog, tired of house twice and was making a final dash merely growling, made a vicious rush up-stairs. Sore and winded, he had just at Mr. Bpglip. The little man, using reached the top landing when his foot both hands and feet, vaulted upward slipped and down he rolled. and, to his delight and amazement, found The dog was upon him. It fastened himself on the kennel -roof. Poising him- its teeth in the tails of Boglip's coat, and self, he hopped over the intervening it held on as oiilv a bulldog can. space between himself and the railing, There he was. sprawled on the floor, and. the next instant, found himself on his canine adversary right beside him the lawn. The feat was 'the occasion with its jaws set and determined on the for a volley of growls from the bulldog nether part of his garment. and a chorus of barks from the other "Help! Help! Oh. help!" he yelled. " animals. Come quick ! For Heaven's sake ! He's Mr. Boglip halted not, but made for killing me!" And these words were the house, determined that he would take followed by one of those indescribable his revenge while it was hot and handy yelps that only the truly frightened can In his late encounter he had dropped utter. the stick which he had taken with him A door opened at the head of the to the kennels, but he had, in reserve, a stairs. Mrs. Boglip appeared calm and big dog-whip— a cruel, business-like af- cool, the four children gathering around fair—that could be felt through the her. They stood on the landing and thickest hide. And when he had this in looked down at their unfortunate master. his hand he " Come here, Towser. Come here.

1 A sort of triumphant " yap " caused Good doggie. ' said Mrs. Boglip in the him to pause and look back. To his kindest, sweetest voice. Immediately the horror he saw the bulldog in the act of bulldog released Boglip's coat, and whi- clearing the fence. ning and wagging his tail ambled up- There was only one thing to be done stairs and curled in a heap at Mrs. under the circumstances and Mr. Boglip Boglip's feet, the allegory of complete did it. He fled for the shelter of the docility. house, the dog in 'hot pursuit. The " I guess that will teach you a les- kitchen-door was of the swinging order son, Septimus," said the wife. " Perhaps and opened inward. To it Mr. Boglip you know enough now to keep your hands ' dashed, beating the animal by a scant off the dogs." yard or so. If Septimus Boglip had learned a les- Once inside, Mr. Boglip stayed not on son nobody could have decided at that the order of his going but got. Out of moment. He simply looked as if he had the kitchen into the hallway, from thence lost all power to ever speak again.

A passenger train makes the most splurge, but the freight brings the money. Keep on plodding.—Trifles from the Traffic-Manager. HELP FOR MEN WHO HELP T H E M S E LV E S — N U M B E R 33. (The Rogers Group. No. 4.) THE MASTER MECHANIC.

BY ROBERT H. ROGERS.

THE annual convention of the American Railway Master Mechanics' Association will be held in Atlantic City, New Jersey, June 15-22. It is undoubtedly the most important gathering of the year to the entire mechanical department of the railroad world. None but master mechanics in active service are eligible to sit in the councils of this body, and each of the seven hundred-odd members who will attend will represent motive-power ideas prevailing over thousands of miles of track. In view of the fact that these conferences make railroad history, a discussion of some of the problems which are sure to be brought up for consideration at the meeting is not untimely, and is apt to prove entertaining to those whose interest is with the trials and tribulations of the " captains of the rolling-stock." Mr. Rogers deals with these problems in his article.

What It Means To Be the " Boss of the Bosses." It Is Difficult for Him to Earn His Title, and When He Does, His Life Is Beset with Worries of a Superior Brand.

HE position of division mas- his own while in this latter capacity, to ter mechanic is hard to se- single him out from a dozen other com- cure, because it is largely a petent foremen, he could never become survival of the fittest. It a general foreman, for only the best of goes without saying that he these, with the additional proviso that who can write " M. M." after his name, things break somewhere near right, may must have been a machinist above the at last achieve the enviable grade in the ordinary, or the quality of bis work service wherein the distinction may be would never have attracted enough atten- enjoyed of " bossing bosses." tion to have raised him to even a gang This is the plane occupied by the mas- boss, and. certainly, he must have been ter mechanic, ot, as time-honored shop

a little better than the other gang leaders vernacular must always have it, the " old when the powers that be elevated him to man." foreman, or roundhouse foreman. The mere fact, however, of being Without some distinguishing feats of skilled in the trade is far from being the sn m iw April Kailroad Man's Maffaeine. Single copies, 10 cents. 256

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v THE MASTEJ . MECHANIC. 257

only reason for advancement. Because a master mechanics may be placed, quickly man is a good foreman or even a good become aware of the fact that their supe- roundhouse foreman, which latter may riors never actually worked for a living be likened to a veritable oasis in the field with the time-honored tools of the trade of talent, does not imply the certainty and furthermore it is evident to them that he will shine as a master mechanic. in many cases that they cannot hold on While it is true that every foreman has without special advice and assistance, his troubles in plenty, and not disputing which is never noticed in connection that he handles them in a way from which with the master mechanic who came up it might well be inferred that he could through the established routine. handle anything, they are nevertheless 'For instance, it may be necessary to not the troubles which associate with the have an assistant master mechanic, and head of things. They are composed one or two other supernumeraries, who largely of minor details which often carry really carry their chief on their backs, with them a great deal of vexation and and the men know if. It is needless to worry. add that nothing so effectually destroys It is not hard to find a man in the busi- the prestige of the big boss as for it to be ness who can handle a myriad of nerve- known that he is not resourceful. destroying trivialities,' but the same man will often fall down utterly, while con- Daily Routine. tending with only one or two of the graver problems. The duties of a master mechanic vary The true gage of promotion is whether on different railroads in minor details, or not a foreman can advance sufficiently but primarily they call for the adequate beyond the limitations of his own field, maintenance of all rolling stock entrusted which, although big as it may be to him, to his care in order to insure the satisfac- is, after all, only a unit in the organiza- tory handling of the traffic, and the exer- tion, to assume with equal interest and cise of the greatest economy consistent charity, the role of guiding spirit to each with the results desired. of the many departments which compose It is necessary that he surround him- the large terminal shops. self with capable heads of departments, and that he should see that these heads Training a Master Mechanic. have men capable of filling their positions in case of emergency. His daily There are probably one thousand mas- conference with the general foreman, and ter rhechanics in active railroad service others whose presence may be necessary, in this country, and ninety per cent of maps out the work to be followed, and them, at least, have come up from the daily reports from, or preferably visits to, ranks of the hammer, chisel, and monkey his outlying terminals enable him to keep wrench. There are other foremanships in touch with the various conditions and in plenty from which they might have to adjust any irregularities. graduated, but the school of the machinist As the master mechanic stands at the seems to stand the test of time. The head of all mechanical matters on his writer can recall very few instances division, which is often two hundred where representatives df other occupa- miles long, with large main shops, many tions have been chosen. Only two boiler- outlying points, and probably three hun- maker foremen, and about a dozen road dred or more locomotives, he must of a foremen of engines, have made good as necessity be practical, and broadly in- master mechanics, but this proportion of formed in the business. the total is so small as to be scarcely He is obliged to render momentous worthy of mention. decisions on points raised by foremen Some few roads have essayed the ex- representing two dozen trades or occupa- periment of training bright young men, tions every day, even if there is a general through special apprenticeship courses, foreman, boss blacksmith, foreman boiler- to enter directly into these positions, but maker, or what not, who are charged with the results have been disappointing. The the direct supervision. shop men over whom these made-to-order No matter how efficient a shop organ- 5 R R : ;

258 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

" ization may be, questions are arising all Four answered : The engine failures, the time in the shops, involving costs, and and what is coming to you after they " " the best way to minimize the expense. In happen ; another, To suit the superin- " this connection he is considered an au- tendent," and the tenth, To keep my thority on the best practises in running job." and firing locomotives. These matters The question was put at random, and find their way eventually to the head of the replies are quoted exactly as given. the plant as the court of last resort, and They embrace the entire category of what it would be difficult to preside in that may be called the tribulations of a mas- capacity and retain the respect of this ter mechanic;- the features, in fact, which .formidable body of practical men, each are hardest to combat, and of which any

a master of his own work, unless there one is likely to have a" vital bearing on the was behind the incumbent a tremendous tenure of his job. There is no need to reserve fund of experience, gained slowly look further, and in the tact, ability and and even painfully, through many years caliber of the man in general to meet in the ranks, or in subordinate supervis- these issues squarely lies his chances for ing capacities. holding on to the position which has cost the best years of his working life to A Census of Worries. attain. If these sources of trouble were ar- Once in a while you will find a master ranged in their proper order of impor-

mechanic who will tell you that the con- tance they would read : first, keep the ditions which he has to meet are impos- men satisfied; second, hold down the

it, sible, and he will firmly believe too, engine failures ; third, suit the superin-

notwithstanding its evident fallacy, mani- tendent : fourth, watch the monthly ap- fested by the fact that he does not hold propriation and the supply of material the only such position in the country, and and fifth, watch the job. that there are other men who are getting This is a more clever arrangement than along while combating the same prob- it looks, although it may not be consid- lems. ered consistent with a divisional organ- The conditions are not impossible, al- ization, in that the superintendent is

though in a few places they may be placed third on the list ; but a moment's unequal. If they were impossible the reflection will make it apparent that in annals of the job would record a series keeping the men satisfied and fighting the of personal failures to make good such as engine failures, the master mechanic has have never characterized any business. already endeared himself to the superin- The fact is, whether unequal or not. tendent. some men have their positions all their The reason why the most important its " lives, through properly interpreting personal consideration, watching . the requirements, and not looking for trouble job," is placed last, is because measurable until it comes to them. success in the first four should insure the On different occasions during the past last. few years the writer has asked ten master mechanics, with whom he was well ac- Getting Along With the Men. quainted, and who represented as many sections of the country, practically the A brief consideration of the five same question troublesome items enumerated may serve " What feature in the duties of your to convej' a better understanding regard-

position gives you the most concern ; that ing the human side of the master mechan- is, what do you find to be your greatest ic's work, than much detail description source of trouble?" of the actual handling of the shops. This The replies were interesting, although latter is largely routine work, well looked " curiously divergent. Two said : To get after by competent foremen, and the " material to keep the engines going ; results promptly tabulated for ready ref- one, " To keep within the monthly appro- erence by clerks in each department. priation, and hold down the costs," and It merely remains to glance at the sum- another, " In keeping the men satisfied." mary once in a while to estimate whether THE MASTER MECHANIC. 259

affairs in general are moving for the good has the knack of handling men.' Some or bad, but the handling of these other of you may say that you can't jolly all matters which the various master mechan- men along, but that is not what I mean. ics assigned as trouble-makers are a per- You can treat them all alike to the best sonal duty, and cannot be entrusted to of your ability, ta"ke an interest in their any one. affairs, whether assumed or real, and Keeping the men satisfied should not when you have become endeared to them properly belong in the list of master there will never be a grievance which you mechanics' troubles-; on the other hand, cannot settle in your own little office. I it should be among the few rewards per- lay great stress on gaining the good will taining to an office which has far more of the men, as it is half of the battle." thorns than roses. It is no doubt the all- potent factor in the success of any master Unconscious Good-Fellowship.

mechanic ; and it lies simply in two words —" be fair," but more strongly than these Once D. R. Killinger, who is now mas- in " treat them all alike." ter mechanic on the New Haven road The time has passed long ago when the somewhere, while on a brief visit to master mechanic could stand on the edge South Boston, gained the good will of " of the turntable pit and literally " cuss the largest body of railroad men in the the engines in and out of the house. They quickest time on record, and without any will arrive and depart quicker, and his me- premeditated move in that direction. chanical delay-sheet will present a much J-Ie had some forty or fifty engines better average, if every man's little weak- which were taken care of at that point, ness is understood and deferred to so far although it was located on another divi-

' as consistent with the maintenance of the sion than his own, and being rather new proper discipline. on the road had their numbers typewrit- ten in his own office, which list he pasted An Exponent of Civility. in the crown of his hat for ready reference before starting out.

Andrew J. Cromwell, for thirty years While wandering through South Bos- master mechanic on the Baltimore and ton's grand maze of some hundred loco- Ohio, and for a lengthy period previous motives which put up there every dinner to his death its superintendent of motive hour, it became necessary for him to look power, was the exponent of civility on within his hat every time he passed an the part of boss to workman. engine in order that it might be identified Even when in his last-named position from the list as one of his own or other- he never failed to say good morning to an wise. ashpit man, or any other laborer he might This continuous hat-tipping was viewed meet on his way to the office, and if in with much complacence by the engineers, walking through the shops' he saw an firemen, machinists, boilermakers, and apprentice with his lathe loafing on wipers, who were loud in their praise of die slowest speed, he would merely Mr. Killinger's supposed polite saluta- say, " Don't you think you could tions as he made his way among them. make better time; Joe, by throwing that For that matter Dave was naturally polite belt up a speed?" .This he thought enough in those days to give each one a preferable to the time-honored form: bona fide salute, but these are the facts, " Here ! boy ! sling that belt up ! If you even if the telling has been some delayed. - were driving Snails, one would get away from you." Whether it was any better Engine Troubles. or not, it made the boy feel better because his opinion had been consulted by the There is little humor in the second master mechanic, and he ran his lathe up tribulation, the problem of engine fail- to the normal speed from that time on. ures. So much has been said and so much " It is merely in the study of human written on this bugbear that anything nature," said Andy, on one public occa- else could scarcely fail in superfluity, sion, " where lies the secret of the much but, in brief, an engine failure means exploited and very much overdone ' he something which goes wrong with the :

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engine after being delivered by the round- proper advantages of opportunities on house, and which may result in time being the run in question, and discipline the lost while on the road. runner in accordance with his ideas con- Engines are carefully watched by the cerning the gravity of the offense, the train despatcher while with their trains, engineer would probably point to his and he can tell from his sheet as they twenty or twenty-five years' successful are reported by the various offices record, and no doubt send his grievance whether they are holding the schedule. committee after the master mechanic. If not he will wire the conductor of Should the latter, on the other hand, the train asking the cause, although in and for the sake of peace, fall back on all probability the conductor will be first the time-honored and time-worn " bad on the wire advising him. These mis- coal," to explain the two minutes, the haps are tabulated in the superintendent's superintendent of motive power, if he was office every day on a form which the Erie on the job, and he generally is, would calls " 1372," and the B. and O., " 1004." likely come back, asking the master me- It makes no difference what they are chanic to state definitely wherein the coal

called after copies have reached the was bad ; in other words, how much slate, general superintendent and the super- sulfur, bone, ash, and other non-combusti- intendent of motive power. They are ble substances figured in its composition. synonymous with " please explain," " can you tell us why," etc., and all_the attend- The Safe Middle Course. ing evils, the bulk of which will fall on the master mechanic in the handling of Explanations of engine failures truly an amount of correspondence which place a man between Scylla and Cha- would be staggering to a layman. rybdis, because the middle ground is Each and every engine failure must restricted to a degree, and once or twice trivial, either be explained, no matter how worked over, there is no more to it. Some and it requires a cool, well-balanced head of the explanations which desperation to interrogate the engineer and to subse- evolves would make a dead man turn quently present the explanation on an over in his grave, to wit acceptable basis to the superintendent of " This crosshead failed due to an old motive power, who, as a rule, is equally concealed defect which could not be well versed, if not sharper, than the mas- detected in an ordinary roundhouse in- " " ter mechanic. spection ; another, Owing to a high northwest wind which prevailed while Making Explanations. the engine was being sanded, some par- ticles were blown into the truck box, Some of these problems are knotty in resulting in delay on the road of ten " the extreme. For instance, two minutes minutes from box heating ; and still are lost on a certain important run, on another, " Pipe to auxilliary reservoir account of what the engineer and con- failed, causing delay of twenty-seven min- " ductor report as low steam." If the utes while engineer made temporary re- master mechanic should say in his ex- pairs. This' failure was due to pipe being " planation that it was up to the fireman," short-threaded, and was a builder's de- they would probably tell him to relieve fect of a concealed nature. This part the fireman, or question his judgment in had never been repaired or removed since using an incompetent man. the engine was received here." If he should say that the blower pipe " tipped over," or the " exhaust base Going Into Details. leaked," he is called upon to explain why he despatched the engine in a condition A great many of these explanations are allowing such things to be possible, espe- soundly based, but many are not so. To cially in view of the fact that everything handle the matter intelligently an ob- is inspected daily, and the inspection servant man will make each case an made a matter of record. object lesson, and strengthen his organ- If he should claim that the engineer ization to insure, if possible against a was incompetent, or at least did not take recurrence. THE MASTER MECHANIC. 261

Sometimes letters will come back sta- He is all powerful within his own ter- ting that the coal is as good as used on ritory, so much so that to all intent and any other railroad for locomotives, costs purpose he is practically general manager just as much per ton, and that conse- of his own little railroad, and the master quently in the future bad coal would no mechanic will be sorely tried if he fails longer be accepted as an excuse. to gain his good opinion on the very This does not alter the fact, however, start. that very often the coal is bad, in the broadest acceptance of the term, and in Another Complex Situation. such a case the best thing for the master mechanic to do would be to read up thor- The master mechanic must furnish the oughly on the subject of fuel, and prove power from his roundhouses in the shape his contention, if he can. of locomotives to cover the regular time Along the lines of the coal problem, card, and any others at the call of the one of a master mechanic's trials, and despatcher which may be required for certainly not the least, is for the rumor freight or extra movement, hence he has to go broadcast over the division that the become identified as the most important

fuel is not up to the standard ; and it member of the division staff, and the way will require many days, if not weeks, to he measures up to the requirements of his swing the firemen back into line. Some job has a material bearing on the record of his most exacting days will be spent in which the superintendent will make while missionary work among the latter, preach- in office. " ing always from one text : Fine coal Primarily the superintendent wants his does not necessarily mean bad coal." trains run on time, and, just as important, But a number of the firemen will always he wants power to move them when a remain outside the fold to insist that so movement is necessary. Thus is brought long as it has no lumps it is no good. about another complex situation with Some engineers are prone to resent any which many master mechanics are con- questions concerning any engine failure, tending every day. considering them to be imputations on their ability. Patience and tact are both The Devil and ihe Deep Sea. requisite to secure the facts. " " Why, that was only a minute ! some A man could never be placed more of them will exclaim, and they don't seem curiously between two fires than in trying to grasp the idea that just as long a letter to please both the superintendent and the is required to explain a delay of a minute motive power department, especially when as one of twenty. the freight movement is heavy. His It should be added, however, that en- natural inclination would be to keep gineers, to a man, fight hard to keep a peace at home, and to this end, turn the delay off the run slip, and this is all the power as fast as possible. It would be more commendable in view of the iact easier if an engine arrives on his ashpit, that it is exercised irrespective of any with flues tight, and otherwise O. K. in feeling which they may have against the its basic principle, but" still reporting master mechanic or the shop. No case several little jobs, to let these latter go, can be recalled by the writer in which a and turn it straight out on the road again. delay was wilfully brought about. This procedure is sure to gain friends on his own division among the trans- Satisfying the Super. portation people, but if the power runs down for lack of care in the meantime " Keeping the superintendent satis- he will very likely fall into disrepute fied," may or may not be assumed as a with the superintendent of motive power. trial to the master mechanic. It depends On the other hand, if he holds the engine largely on his own attitude toward that in the roundhouse, and painstakingly and official. The modern operation of rail- thoroughly does all of the reported work, roading divides the entire system into a a lament may go up from the same trans- number of independent divisions, over portation people in regard to slow move- each of which is placed a superintendent. ments from, the roundhouse, and their 262 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

inability to furnish power for the require- with scarcity of money. The material is, ments of the traffic. of course, handled by the stores depart- This situation requires the middle ment, and the master mechanic is not ground again, and all the common sense, directly responsible for its being on hand, judgment and diplomacy which the mas- although kept in his own storehouse. ter mechanic can work into it. Some The monthly requisition for what is superintendents may be what are called assumed to be needed is prepared by the " seven-by-nine " men, but the large ma- storekeeper, who is not under the juris- jority are " broad gage " in its fullest diction of the master mechanic, although acceptance, and will stand by the master it is not supposed to be forwarded for mechanic nobly after the freight rush is action until approved by him. The stuff over and he has his shop full of engines seldom ever returns in the bulk indicated for repairs. by the requisition or in season to forestall the embarrassing situations which must Keeping Down the Bills. result when the supplies run out. There is no greater trial for any man's The question of keeping within the patience than to have a bunch of orders appropriation for expenses is probably returned to his office every day, marked as vexatious, if not more so, than the " not in stock." It is always something engine failures. The approved plan of for which the greatest need exists. As a the present day is to allow each master rule, the shortage is in connection with mechanic a monthly sum on which to run the lighter supplies, and the extremes to his department ; that is, so far as salaries which a man may be driven to counteract and wages are concerned. If he has a the situation would scarcely be credited. principal shop, working about one thou- A temporary remedy is often sought sand men, and three or four little outlying by the roundhouse foreman in robbing roundhouses on his division, he may be one engine for another, _and when the allowed forty thousand dollars to pay master mechanic sanctions reluctantly everybody on his roll. The amount of this procedure he knows in his heart that these appropriations is fixed by those who the thing once started, it will never stop. have an intimate personal knowledge of the territories in which they will be spent, Robbing Peter to Pay Paul. which is well evidenced by the fact that in the majority of cases they are just suffi- The writer worked for a road some cient to make both ends meet, and no years ago which possessed more than its more. quota of able-bodied requisition slashers, The master mechanic can pull through who performed their functions on these on his appropriation by alloting a certain things after they reached the general daily amount to each department, with a offices. An example of their skill might grand daily total of one-thirtieth of what be quoted in the instance of one item, it calls -for, but in order to tell just how which will illustrate about what befell he stands on his expenditures it is neces- the others. sary that the accounts be totaled every It called for " six dozen coal scoops, or day. firemen's shovels," a very modest con- sumption when 4,500 locomotives were Empty Stock-Rooms. cared for every month, but the requisition cutter got busy with it by drawing his If rush work necessitates overtime to pen through the word " dozen," thus be worked the appropriation is generally leaving " six coal scoops " for the pur- so tight that he will be in a hole on the chasing agent to furnish. The six came close of that day, and must try to get it along in due course but they didn't last back the next. If very much in the hole, long enough to get in the storehouse. through poor management or circum- In addition to the shortage of shovels stances over which he has no control, the the situation was also reflected in this shops must be put on shorter working manner: it was not out of the accepted hours until the balance is restored. order of things to see an engine go out Scarcity of material is about on a line on an important passenger run with a :

THE MASTER MECHANIC. 263 lantern wired in the headlight cage for " Mr. So-and-So, I have a hammer and want of an interior, and when one-would a broken chisel on my engine, and no arrive on the ashpit a gang of men would monkey wrench. The tool boy says he be waiting to remove the grease plugs, can't fit me out any better. I will go coupler knuckles, headlight reflector, and out if you say so, but I will not be respon- occasionally the air hose, with which to sible for want of tools to get into clear get another engine in service. Even the with if the engine breaks down." fire hooks and shaker bars ran " first in, What will the master mechanic do in first out," and it is recalled that they were that case, with the matter put squarely so hard pressed at times that the tanks up to him? Time may be pressing, and and reverse lever latches were put in the perhaps even then the engineer should be chain gang. on his train. He will try the storehouse, That storehouse also ran out of nuts. and they have no monkey wrenches, the They had plenty, of course, for two and tool boy could have told him that. In one-half or three inch bolts, which would the last extremity, and in order to prevent have been quite acceptable in some marine a terminal delay, he will order a monkey engine works, but none of the common wrench taken off an engine which is not sizes, seven-eighths, or inch, which loco- going out, and away goes the tool system. motives eat up in profusion. In. consequence, a machinist, at thirty Holding Down the Job. cents an hour, would spend half a day rooting in the scrap pile for old, dis- The problem based on the trial of carded nuts, and the other half tapping " keeping the job " is frequently influ- the rust from the threads of the few he enced by the often groundless fear of was lucky enough to find. losing it. The surest way to lose it is to The entire situation was distressing in be worrying all the time over such a possi- the extreme, but in all fairness to the bility. Many a poor fellow, when he general executive handling of railroads feels that he is weakening, and he is this- was an exceptional case. It is merely entitled to sincere sympathy, has been mentioned as illustrative of what a master known to sit in his office " like patience mechanic may have to contend with, and on a monument, smiling at grief," mean- what he must know how to meet if it while waiting for the lightning to strike. arises, otherwise he cannot produce any If he had gone out and hustled around locomotives to haul the trains. the shops a bit he would have felt better anyhow, and maybe the bolt would have How the Tools Get Mixed. missed him after all. There is, however, room for worry over The majority of roundhouses and ter- this particular feature, especially when minal points are short of locomotive tool things are not going very good. The ex- equipment ; that is, oil cans, headlight perience of more than one master me- chimnies, lantern globes, coal picks, fire chanic can attest that it is harder to keep hooks, and other items of a similar ilk. the job under certain environment than They all have a system of tool inspection it is to get it, and to get it implies just and accounting beyond criticism, but they about twenty-five years' hard work in the insist that it is an almost impossible task subordinate grades. to live up to the requirements. Men have worked faithfully through- The situation is held within reasonable out that long period in the quest of this bounds when the engines are assigned to particular position, only to lose it shortly regular crews who have a personal inter- after acquisition in the drop of a hat. The est in looking after the equipment, but it causes which bring about retirement in is practically hopeless when the engines some instances are too subtle to define. run in the chain gang, by any crew whose The majority, no doubt, are soundly turn is " first out." based on facts satisfying to the manage- The engineers do not stop short of the ment, but some of them savor somewhat master mechanic's office in filing com- of injustice, which is not ordinarily asso- plaints regarding shortage along this par- ciated with railroads. ticular line Although the position, unfortunately, 264 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

is of a tenure extremely precarious, there If it is his initial experience in the posi- need be no alarm if vigilance is never tion, enthusiasm will not wane for a long relaxed over the smallest item which may time, but when it does it would be better -make trouble. If a man puts in his best to forestall the inevitable by withdrawing. licks the first year, makes a material re- It may be, after all, that enthusiasm, duction in the number of engine failures, rightly directed, is the chief requisite for and maintains a reasonably better show- success in this trying position. Many mas- ing than his predecessor, he has estab- ter mechanics will never mention these lished a most convenient reference table trials and tribulations which this article •for guidance in the future. has, in a measure, dissected. They find In those twelve months the master a positive joy in fighting trouble because mechanic will have broken-down turn- they know that they can beat it, and they tables, shortage of help, lack of engines, have only to glance back over their careers to say nothing of material, request from to realize that scarcely a situation could every man under his jurisdiction for an arise which has not confronted them be- increase, clamor from each outlying point fore and been effectually disposed of. for an additional man or so, and enough There is an inborn spirit of optimism letters requesting explanations to put a in these successful men which rises su- border on the universe; but when he is preme above all petty grief. When it is over with it all, and still has his job, with present the thought is untenable that they maybe a little raise in pay, he can dismiss are special targets for adversity, and they the getting through bugaboo, and look are ready to admit that the fellow on the the future in the face with a stouter heart. next division may have his troubles, too. WHY THE CHIEF CLERK LAUGHED. THE chief clerk leaned back and emitted I am reminded at this station of a pas- a prolonged laugh. " Tell us about sage of Scripture where the Saviour asked it," said the rate clerk and the stenographer for bread and they gave Him a stone. in unison. I asked for a warehouseman and they " Here is one that has the agent that was gave me a beautiful eighteen-year-old girl canned out at the coal-mine backed off the to tickle the telephone. This lets me handle board," replied the chief clerk as he read: the U. S. mail; in fact everything that is to Mr. B. B. Blank, D., F. and P. A. Ry., Mon- do, as one who wears petticoats is not

tana : adapted to the work incumbent to a railway Dear Sir—Attached hereto please find station. Of course, if she was a telegraph- statement of emigrant movables received at operator and understood station work, I this station and star stations for the could get along, but I haven*t the time to months of February and March. teach her, and as I have been doing this kin- I regret very much in overlooking this re- dergarten stunt for some time, I find my port and likewise do not care to complain patience considerably worried. of the reasons as it only reflects on the agent, NoW, if you will kindly put in a word to and he is at once put down as a chronic the superintendent for me, I may be enabled kicker. But I beg to advise that I have had to get a man in place of this fair damsel. four or five green operators to break in, I can use him for a warehouseman as well and, besides, having all the work to do my- as a phoneite. Yours truly, self. I have to check over what they do. Agent. SWIFT BUSINESS. A WESTERN railroad recently received on your part. The baby we ordered the the following letter: go cart for has grown out of it. But it Dear Sir—In answer to yours of the will come in handy anyway, for we have 26th of June, I have delayed this letter an other baby boy 12 lbs. I am sorry on account of my barber-shop burning but cant help it. We also wrote the To- out and I moved to Decatur, Illinois. bacco Co. about it. Hoping we may Inclosed find B. of Laddin. I ordered get it in a few days.

the carrage 11 month ago. Swift Busi- Ship to , ness. I hope there are no more delay Decatur, Ills. WALWORTH, THE SNOB.

BY ROBERT T. CREEL.

A Battle Royal That Found the Mettle of a Victim of Too Much Higher Education.

i AY, Percy, would ye mind throwing prevented the use of the word in' a little coal in the bloom- "mister;" nor could he call the man in' fire-box? Ye know, she Snub. He had begun by calling him won't make steam unless she's "my good man," but. when the worthy kept warm," said Snub Hicks, Hicks jerked open the throttle, and he gazing mildly at his new fire- saw the greater part of his fire pass out man. the smokestack, he rejected the term as Adrian Walworth, Jr., hastened the de- unsuitable. parture of a drop of perspiration that With some disgust, the elder Walworth hung on his chin, closed the fire-door, had noted the affected mannerisms of and felt for his monocle, the better to his newly graduated son, and, after some perceive the man who had made such a deliberation, he decided that it was out strange request. of the question to start the boy on his For it was strange, in view of the fact career until he had outgrown some of that Adrian Walworth, Jr., had been his snobbishness. shoveling coal steadily for the past six For this purpose he knew there was hours, though with small results in the nothing better than a period of service shape of steam. Having forgotten his as a fireman, feeling assured that what- precious glass, he was forced to make ever qualities of manhood were in the such observations as he could with the boy's make-up would be brought to the naked eye. surface as in no other way. So it was "Ah—my name is Mister Walworth," that, being spared the preliminary labor he stated resentfully. It seemed that of the roundhouse, the young man had this person must be kept in his place. been called for his first trip. His mocking speech was not to be tol- Following a confidential talk on the erated. subject with Adrian's father, Hicks " Not while you're tallow-pot on this firmly resolved to do his duty toward the smoke-wagon," quoth Hicks. " All you new fireman, or " stoker," as Walworth, got to do is keep 'er hot. I'll tend to Jr., was pleased to call himself. the sociabilities." As his train consisted of a string of " My word," murmured the young empties, the engineer feared that the man, returning to his work. young man might find the work too easy, This thing of learning the business so from the start he had systematically from the ground up, he reflected, was not " cleaned " the fire when the gage began without its embarrassments. to show a fairly good pressure. Dur- Here was he, the son of the vice-presi- ing one of the infrequent breathing in- dent of the road, recently returned from tervals, Adrian, Jr., climbed wearily to an English college, subordinate to a his seat-box. common engineer. This trying position " Gettin' pretty cold in here, Percy," gave rise to another problem. How yelled Hicks suggestively. The embryo should he address his task-master? fireman started to step down, but on Due respect for his own social stand- raising his leg the muscle suddenly 265 a

266 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

cramped, as tired muscles will. A sec- cars, Snub, an' that bunch of dagoes say ond later Hicks noted his strained atti- they're goin' to stay on till they get to tude. Ardmore. What'll we do about it?" "What d'you think you are — questioned the brakeman. chicken? " he asked gruffly. " Put down " Reckon we could put 'em off? " your leg, an' get up a little steam." " Nope. There's too many of 'em. " I believe I've a bally cramp, old All got knives." chap. Ah, it's all right now." " Think it'd be all right to leave that No sooner was one leg released than car here? " queried Hicks, turning to the the other was drawn up in the same way. agent. Perhaps it was a touch of pity that "You might," returned the other; made the engineer take the shovel. " I guess there won't be any trouble " Get up on the tank an' shove down about it." some coal, while I put in a fire," he Uncoupling the engine, they switched commanded. " We got to be movin' back to the rear of the train, which they along." pushed ahead for some distance, leaving With a sigh of relief, Walworth, Jr., a clear track for their maneuvers. The dragged his tired feet upon the tender car chosen by the Italians was in front and did as he was bidden. Although his of the other two; therefore, Hicks determination to do his work well had deemed it best to approach them from carried him thus far without serious the rear. trouble, he was much too sleepy to resist - It was the work of but a few minutes to the subtle warmth of the morning sun haul them out on the main line ; then, and the rocking motion of the train. with suddenly accelerated speed, to shunt He sat down. As some philosopher the flat car back on the siding, and, has observed, one thing always leads to while the Italians were yet trying to another. In this instance, repose led to stop it, push the two box cars triumph- slumber. It also led Hicks to profanity. antly toward the waiting train. Shovel in hand, 'he advanced on the These moves had been watched with erring fireman, who slept serenely, un- keen delight by young Walworth, who conscious of impending disaster. De- so far forgot his dignity as to wave a liberately setting himself, Hi^ks swung grimy hand at the disgruntled laborers the shovel, bringing it down forcefully as they passed. No sooner was the ges- on the back of the sleeper. ture made than he heard a noise differ- It was as if the secret spring of life ent from that ordinarily made by the had been touched. The long form of engine, whereupon Hicks cursed loudly Walworth, Jr., sprang upright, his lips and closed the throttle. emitting a word that sounded like " We're stuck for a few minutes, kid," " "mercy! he said, with an apprehensive glance at "I must have fallen asleep!" he ex- the Italians, who, seeing his predica- claimed, rubbing his eyes, ment, were swarming along in pursuit, The two resumed their places in the like angry bees. " You try to stand 'em cab, and neither spoke until they round- off till I see if I can get 'er tinkered up." ed the curve that brought them in sight It was a nervous fireman that watched of Meadow Siding. Here were waiting the leaders of the rabble gain on the a gang of Italian laborers who had been slowly moving engine. Yet in his bear- employed on some construction work at ing there was nothing of fear. It was the place. Seeing the train, the work- rather the ""excitement of the thorough- men made a rush for a flat car that was bred before going into action. standing with t^-o box cars on the side Yelling to his followers, the foremost track, the whole crew clambering aboard. attacker mounted the first step ; then, "Wonder what's doin'?" said Hicks. stopping the full swing of Adrian's " Them dagoes seem to be excited." heavy shoe with his chin, he bit off a While they were taking water the word together with a portion of his head brakeman came running up, fol- tongue and plunged over backward so lowed by the station-agent. precipitately that it must have surprised " We got orders to pick up them three even himself. WALWORTH, THE SNOB. 267

After breaking the force of his fall stomach. At that moment Hicks, hav- with the back of his head, he experienced ing completed his work and opened the no difficulty in alighting, and lay quiet throttle, turned his attention to the fight. One of the Italians had taken advantage of the momentary diversion to gain a foothold on the gangway, and was aiming a blow at the fireman's back with his stiletto. Seeing this, the engineer made haste to smite him on the head with his trusty wrench, performing the feat in much the same way one would drive a nail.

STOPPING THE FULL SWING OF ADRIAN'S HEAVY SHOE WITH HIS CHIN.

thereafter, as if satisfied with the day's The man crumpled down in a heap, work. thus ending the struggle, the others be- In the meantime, his companions ing already left behind by the swiftly pressed onward in such numbers that the moving engine. fireman, using feet and shovel alternate- Safely out of danger, the engineer and ly, found it no easy task to keep the his fireman stood looking calmly at each narrow gangway clear. Hicks, working other. madly, shouted encouragement: If their faces were expressive of their " That's the dope. You got 'em fud- thoughts, it was evident that each felt dled, Percy. Keep after 'em." himself guilty of misjudging the other. " " " Take that, you beggar ! grunted I owe you something for that, and, Adrian, striking valiantly at a man who believe me, I am sincerely grateful, Mr. had slashed the leg of his overalls. Hicks," said the young man, with respect- " Look out ! There's one comin' over ful admiration in his voice. " " the tank ! cried Hicks. Don't mention it. You're the goods, When the newcomer, stumbling and an' I'm glad to have you on the engine, sliding on the coal, lurched toward him, Mr. Walworth," replied the older man Adrian shifted the shovel to his left hand warmly. and drove his gloved right into the man's " Here's my hand," said Walworth. —

WHAT'S THE ANSWER?

By the Questions Answered Ligkf of for the Lantern Railroad Men

ASK US!

like to be as useful to our readers as we can; but, because of the great popularity WE of this department, we are forced to impose certain restrictions. In future, we shall be compelled to limit its scope to the answering of questions of an inform- ative, technical, or historical nature only. Letters concerning positions WILL NOT be answered in this department. All letters should be signed with the full name of the writer, as an indication of his good faith. We will print only his initials.

PLEASE state the length of a circle stance of your problem, care should be taken formed by a one-degree curve, and if that on the second weighing the end of the curve the distance around a two-degree car off the scale should be as level as in the one-half of the one-degree curve. would be first weighing. You will often notice that E., San Bernardino, California. H. the ground on both ends of the scale either The radius of a one-degree curve is 5730 runs up or down hill, which would make an feet, or a diameter of 11,430 feet; the radius irregularity. Weighing anything on an in- of a two-degree curve is 2,865 feet, or a clined scale is never reliable. A scale should be absolutely level. diameter of 5,730 feet ; therefore, a curve of one degree is twice the size of a two-degree J* curve. MB., Baltimore, Maryland.—The num- • ber of locomotives built during the FIFTY-FOOT car is to be weighed on past year is little greater than A scale, thus necessitating the 1008 fig- a forty-foot the weighing of each end separately. ures, in spite of the improvement in general To obtain the correct weight of the car is business conditions during 1909. However, it essential that each truck be placed the same it has really been but a few months since the distance from end of scale? Under the railways came into the market with substan- the re- same circumstances what would be tial inquiries, and deliveries on orders placed located on an incline? T. sult if scale was — at the beginning of this movement did not P. D., Dallas, Texas. begin until last fall. Returns from fourteen The fifty-foot car should be weighed by locomotive builders in the United States and placing each truck as near as possible in the Canada (estimating the output of two small center of the scale, and the sum of the two plants), show a total of 2,887 engines built, weights will be the weight of the car within of a total of 3,233 ordered. Of the 2.653 a few pounds. We have often weighed main built in the United States, 2,362 were for do- connecting-rods for locomotives, one end at mestic use and 291 for export. These figures a time, and had them come out within half include 16 electric anK 119 compound loco- a pound of the true weight; but, in the in- motives. The Canadian engines, 234, were 268 BY THE LIGHT OF THE LANTERN. 269

all for domestic service. Since 1893, the (1) With everything in proper condition banner year in this industry was 1907, with and friction reduced to a minimum, we see 7,362 locomotives, and the poorest year was little to choose from in this regard between 1894, with but 695 engines. any of the various gears. The fastest mile ever run by a steam locomotive was made in 32 seconds by the famous 999. equipped decide a bet, please say if it is the law with Stephenson link motion and balanced TO in Arkansas that no one-engine train slide-valve. The Walschaert shall consist of more than twenty-six motion is more accessible to cars. A claims that if there are twenty- repairs and inspection than the seven or more cars, the law compels the use other, but the distribution of steam is no of two engines. B claims there is no such better, as is clearly shown by an analysis and law. Who is right?—C. L. B., Creede, Colo- comparison of indicator cards taken under rado. the same conditions with each motion. (2) They are running Pacific, or 4-6-2, Arkansas has no law providing that trains engines on the " Century " at this writing. of more than twenty-six cars must have two The Philadelphia and Reading has made engines. In fact, no law whatsoever along most of its famous runs on the Atlantic City such lines. There is a law in that State pro- division with the Atlantic, or 4-4-2 type, and viding that trains of twenty-five cars or on the Atlantic Coast Line ten-wheel, or more must have three brakemen, but this 4-6-0 engines, were in use up to a very re- does not affect lines under fifty miles in cent date. A good many of these things length. depend on the personal ideas of the various J* motive-power management, and there is no hard and JH. R., Rochester, New York.—A lengthy fast rule for any of them. • search fails to bring [o light any data (3) Its advertisement reads in part as fol- " regarding the " R. and H." Railroad in lows : Engines so equipped will pull a New York State. After the careful exam- greater tonnage with less fuel and water, ination o* various records ' which we have and make the same time as engines equipped made to locate this road we are inclined to with any other gear." We never had any the opinion that it never existed, or if it did, practical experience with this motion, and very it, it was in the nature of a private enterprise know little about except that engi- of exceedingly limited scope. You mention neers with whom we have talked who are the probable length of the road as three running it say that it is very serviceable and economical. miles. Therefore, it would seem that for this to be put out of business on account of (4) It is quite hard to outline this elabo- a strike of trainmen and operators would rate operation in detail within this space, and be a joke. One crew and one operator, or more so when we are unaware how much real no operator at all, should suffice to run it, knowledge you have of the subject. The if a junk line. best way, and, really, the only way, is to get J* the centers of the main pedestals, which can be readily done from the center of the ex- WHAT is generally supposed to be the haust port in the cylinders, and use this point best locomotive valve gear for very as the working basis. After you have se- fast speed, such as Philadelphia and cured the center of the pedestals mentioned, Reading trains, or Twentieth Century and squared them across the frames, simply Limited? work each way from that pedestal. It is (2) What kind of engines are used on above trains, also Atlantic Coast Line? impossible to go very far wrong in this job Where were they built? What is diameter if ordinary care is used, but without the exer- of driving-wheels and what system of air- cise of this car.e, grave complications will brake is in use? Are they piston or slide ensue, such as worn brasses and knuckle- valve, superheater or compound engines ? pins, cut driving-tire flanges, and a poor Baker-Pilliod valve gear sup- (3) Is the riding engine. posed to be better than the Walschaert? (5) The best system is to put the wheels (4) Describe the best method of laying the the eccentrics fastened off shoes and wedges on an engine so that under engine with the wheels will tram square with the engine. temporarily and go through the entire opera- (5) What is the best system of laying off tion of valve setting. When complete, scribe main driving axle for eccentric key-ways? the key-ways off in the axle and cut them. (6) What is the correct way to have pres- By following this plan you will know to a sure-plate steam-chest cover lined up with on nicety what you have. If, however, it is there has been new copper washers when considered absolutely necessary to cut the gaskets applied to steam-chest and cover? key-ways before the wheels go under it can (7) Are there any engines in this country be done, but the liability for off-set eccentric with Joy valve-gear, or with a superheater keys is always in evidence following the oper- in the. fire-box ?—T. J. M. :

270 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

ation. If indirect-motion engine, an simply much we are unprepared to say. as your place the main wheels with the crank-pin on question does not embody sufficient data for the exact forward center and advance the even a surmise. It would, in fact, require an forward motion eccentric toward the pin the elaborate indicator test to arrive at the exact exact sum of the lap of the slide-valve and figures. However, roughly speaking, the the lead desired. saving should he at least two tons of coal This can be done quite readily by means and, maybe, 2,000 gallons of water. of a heavy butt steel square placed 'on a board under the eccentric, after the right J* angle position to the crank-pin of the latter W. F., Mullan, Idaho.—The tractive has been ascertained. Seven-eighths outside power of a locomotive multiplied by lap one-eighth inch the speed in and lead would be a pro- miles per hour, divided by 375, gressive movement of one inch on the board gives the horse-power. for the square butt. The back motion eccentric should be set as far below the pin as the forward is above. There are some very T> E. S., Pierce City, Missouri.—There are clever ideas in vogue for determining the -U« no division superintendents on the Alaska position of eccentrics without valve-setting Central Railroad at present. J. R. as a preliminary, and the writer has prac- Van Cleve is the master mechanic. Address tised them all —but, in the long run, it will Seward, Alaska. be found advisable to proceed as first indicated in this answer. The eccentrics are so heavy these days, SK. C, Davisville, West Virginia.—If • will and so liable to commence working at an you send a more detailed descrip- " tion of your early date, that anything like a " stepped key proposed valve-motion we will be pleased to advise is a grievous fault, and a " stepped key " is concerning its merits. idea quite likely in any plan other than honest Any new tending to further eliminate valve-setting. parts will always be viewed with favor by railway (6) If the steam-chest has new or annealed motive-power management. In regard to copper joints the general practise is to allow the duplex air-pump, you were not one-sixteenth inch for the compression of sufficiently explicit in indicating to just what ports in the copper. When the cover is finally bolted the cylinders you refer. air-cylinders down there should be no less than three- The are compounded, i.e., the thirty-seconds of an inch between the pres- large cylinder draws in air at atmospheric sure-plate and the top of the valve. pressure, compresses it to about one-half the required pressure, and (7) Don't know of any Joy valve-gear in exhausts it into the small this country, and no engines in the world or high-pressure air-cylinder, where it is further with superheaters in the fire-box. compressed to the required reservoir pressure and exhausted into the main JS reservoir. The steam-cylinders are not com- LE. D., Gastonia, North Carolina.—The pounded. • standard length of a rail is thirty feet, but they have been rolled much longer than that. We believe that at one time ex- WHERE can a standard railroad book periments were made on the Pennsylvania of rules, signals, etc.. be obtained? Please describe with rails even sixty feet long. There are (2) the Wals- chaert valve-gear, with a diagram. few now above thirty feet used anywhere. (3) How many types of locomotives are there, with their name's? What is the fastest two locomotives of some given (4) locomotive, what TAKE make, and on what road ?—L. O. S., Topeka, type and give each 1,000 tons to haul Kansas. and 100 miles to run. If one of the engines was taking steam eight inches of its (1) Apply to Railway and Locomotive En- stroke, and the other six inches, what would gineering, 136 Liberty Street, be the difference in coal and jvater, and which New York City, and list would use the least?—O. A. D., Sedalia. Mis- a will be sent you from which a souri. selection can be made. You might also address the Railroad Age-Gasette, New York One of these engines is using two inches City. less steam than the other for each one-half (2) The Walschaert valvfi-gear differs turn of the wheels, or a total saving of eight from the ordinary link motion in having inches reckoning both sides of the engine, in only one eccentric-rod, in altering the posi- each revolution. Necessarily it will use tion or travel of the valve by moving the much less water and fuel than the one run- end of a bar attached to the end of the valve- ning in the eight-inch cut-off, but just how rod up and down in the link, without moving - BY THE LIGHT OF THE LANTERN. 271

the link, and in having the valve-rod also at- The figures following the names in each tached to a lever that derives its, motion of the above definitions, are intended to il- from the cross-head. lustrate the wheel arrangement. This last detail determines the lap and For example: the 4-6-2. or Pacific type. lead of the valve and gives them a fixed From the figures we gather that it has a four-

value ; whereas, the ordinary link motion wheel engine truck, six connected drivers, gives a variable lap and lead, affected by the and a two-wheel trailer. The hyphen be- valve travel. The Welschaert gear derives its tween the figures indicates that each section motion from an eccentric crank, or return of the wheel arrangement is an independent crank, on the main crank-pin. unit. This is conceded to be the cleverest The eccentric-rod is secured to one end arrangement yet devised to describe a loco- of the link, which is pivoted in the center on motive in the smallest space. Very little a pin held by a bracket bolted to the guide- practise is required to become thoroughly yoke. The link-block is secured to a radius familiar with its intent. arm or bar, one end of which is attached to (4) It is very hard to pick out the " fast- the end of the valve-rod and the other end est " locomotive. All modern passenger to the lifting arm of the reverse shaft. The power is fast enough if not overloaded, and motion imparted to the valve by the cross- nothing but an exhaustive test would indicate head connection is small, as the cross-head ' the survival of the fittest. However, the fast- arm and union link are attached to the lower est passenger-train running regularly in this end of the combining or combination lever, country is probably the Twentieth Century while the radius arm and valve-rod are con- Limited, of the New York Central lines. This nected close to the upper end, thus impart- train is run, at present, by a Pacific, 4-6-2 ing only a slight motion to the valve-rod. engine, one of which is numbered 3565. For large locomotives, Walschaert's gear It is equipped with Walschaert valve-gear, is now extensively used, because it has light- and weighs, in working order, 266.000 er moving parts, and these parts are more pounds. accessible for inspection and repair than With one exception, one of the same type those of the common form of link motion. built for the Pennsylvania, this is the heaviest We cannot furnish a drawing of this mo- passenger locomotive ever built of this type, tion. Write to either of the firms mentioned although there is an articulated on the Santa in reply to your first question. Fe which exceeds the weight of either. [An article describing at length the Wals- chaert valve-gear, its inventor, and its appli- B., N. S. S., "Idaho."—The mechan- cation to locomotives is being prepared for JG an early number of The Railroad Man's • ical department of the Florida East Coast is Magazine.—The Editor.] Railway constituted as follows : G. A. Miller, superintendent of motive power; (3) The following represents the types of D. Vanaman, locomotives as enumerated in Whyte's sys- C. master mechanic, and W, L. Singleton, master car builder. tem of locomotives classification which is Address of all St. Augustine, Florida. generally in vogue : Four-wheel switcher, 0-4-0; 4-coupIed and trailing, 0-4-2; Forney Forney 4-coupled, 0-4-6; 4-coupled, 0-4-4; M., Brennerton, Washington.—Our 0-6-0 6-coupled and DF. 6-wheel switcher, ; • records indicate that N. M. Maine is trailing, 0-6-2 Forney 6-coupled, 0-6-4 ; For- ; master mechanic at Miles City, on the Chi- 6-coupled, 0-6-6; 8-wheel switcher, ney cago, Milwaukee and Puget Sound Rail- 0-8-0; 8-coupled and trailing, 0-8-2; 10- way, but some changes have been made re- wheel switcher, 0-10-0: 8-wheel articulated, cently and it may be possible that he has been 0-6-6-0; 16- 0-4-4-0; 12-wheel articulated, transferred or promoted. wheel articulated. 0-8-8-0; 4-coupled, 2-4-0; Columbia, 2-4-2; 4-coupled double ender, 2-4-4; 4-coupled double-ender, 2-4-6; mogul, MUST a man fire a freight-train before 2-6-0; prairie, 2-6-2; 6-coupled double-ender, he can fire a passenger? (2) Must engineers run freight 6-coupled double-ender, 2-6-6 ; con- 2-6-4 1 2-8-2 before running passenger? solidation, 2-8-0 ; Mikado. ; 8-coupled (3) Where do all the engineers go—as a double-ender, 2-8-4; decapod, 2-10-0; 10- fireman is promoted after five years? double-ender, 2-10-2; centipede, 2-12- coupled (4) If an engineer is discharged can he 2; 8-wheel American, 4-4-0; Atlantic, 4-4-2: get a position as engineer again without 4-coupled double-ender, 4-4~4! 4-coupled firing? —H. E. B., Streator, Illinois. double-ender, 4-4-6; 10-wheel. 4-6-0; Pacific, 6- double-ender. 4-6-4 ; (1) It is practically the universal rule, 4-6-2 ; 6-coupled coupled double-ender, 4-6-6; 12-wheel, 4-8-0; and, independent of this consideration, a mastadon, 4-10-0. new man would have small chance of secur- 272 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

ing a passenger job from the fact that they ties which this construction presents over are considered better jobs through the shorter the long and narrow fire-box. hours, and are bid off by the older men when (5) It would depend, of course, on the they become vacant. service which the engines were in. A good (2) Always. fireman can fire anything. (3) There is no hard-and-fast rule gov- erning a fireman's promotion. Some men A., Malvern, Iowa.—The only in- fire ten years, or even longer. Engineers re- GC. • stance of which we have been ad- tire in a higher ratio than might be imagined vised where operators are carried on trains through the age limit, which is now practi- is where trains are electric lighted, and the cally universal on all roads. electrician in charge is competent to act as (4) His chances are very poor. It is an operator. We cannot find any record doubtful if he could secure employment where they are carried in the capacity of again as engineer in this country, but this operator, solely for that work. would, of course, be somewhat influenced by a consideration of the offense which resulted in his dismissal. HOW many roads west of the river have installed the telephone for despatching trains? Please give their names, WW. W., S. M.—There is no superin-" mileage, and the salaries paid chief despatch- • tendent of motive power or master ers.—F. E. H., Fort Wayne, Indiana. mechanic on the Grand Trunk Pacific in the No roads east or west of the Mississippi territory which you mention. William Gell River have made a complete .installation of is master mechanic, and George W. Robb, the telephone system. A recent compilation assistant master mechanic, both at Rivers, shows five per cent of the total trunk-line Manitoba. B. B. Kelliher, chief engineer, mileage of this country to be operated by and H. A. Woods, assistant chief engineer, telephonic train despatching circuits, but ev- are located at Montreal, Quebec. ery road upon which it was then in use con- St templated a further extension. MC. H., High Point. Texas.—The most In the territory to which you have particu- • popular engine in freight service lar reference, it will be found in part on the on the two roads which you mention in Chicago, Burlington and Quincy between Iowa, is the 2-8-0 type. We have no statis- Aurora and Mendota, 46 miles; Aurora and tics on the largest number of wide fire-boxes Chicago, 37 miles, and Aurora and Savannah, which they run in that service, and cannot 108 miles. pass on the comparative merits of the roads. The following Western roads are making extended applications and, in time, expect to operate by telephone exclusively: Illinois DOES the Santa Fe use coal for fuel ex- Central, Canadian Pacific, Chicago, Mil- tensively on any of its divisions in* waukee and St. Paul, and Chicago and North- New Mexico or Arizona? western. (2) What salary does a road foreman of The Michigan Central, Union engines draw? Pacific, and Santa Fe have been making (3) Does an engineer generally receive extensive ex- more pay than a conductor ?- periments and may install such systems. As (4) Which, is the hardest on the fireman, we have frequently stated in this department, an engine with a wide or a narrow fire-box, the innovation has implied absolutely no or with large or small drivers? change in the previous compensation given (5) Is an average size Pacific type en- despatchers and operators. We are unable gine harder to fire than an average size At- to say exactly what a despatcher's pay is on lantic type?— C. V. McM., Kansas City. the above roads, but, in all probability, it will approximate $150 a month. (1) They were using coal east of Wins- low and oil west, over the desert, but we J* cannot speak definitely at this time. TS. G, Tyrone, Pennsylvania. — There (2) From $125 to $150 per month, plus • appears to be somewhat of stagna- his expenses while away from his home station in railroad building in the Far South- tion 011 business. west at the present writing, and we do not (3) As a rule, yes. find any activity in new construction other " (4) There is no real difference. " Hard than that with which you are familiar. At is dependent on the skill of the man and the all events, on any new road the mechanical requirements of the service. More work department is about the last to be organized, may be required to keep the grate covered in' as in the construction woNj the locomotives an extended fire-box, but this is well com- handling the same are provided by the con- pensated for in the superior steaming quali- tractors and run by men on his pay-roll. : :

STEALING AN ARMORED TRAIN

BY FREDERICK J. LIESMANN.

An Attempted Hold-up Brings Back Pleasant Mem- ories of Revolutionary Days on the Island of Cuba.

CLEARLY remember that I had that rag off your face and come around just glanced over John Par- here. Le'see how you look." ker's big irregular scrawl With ludicrous concern the bandit let " To hors shoing—$14.00," down the hammer of his weapon, put it when I heard a faint, click— into Ins pocket and shambled into the of- click! and directly afterward fice as if the entire proceeding was a

": the voice—thick, guttural, and, it seemed mere matter of course. . to me, just a bit tremulous It was a gaunt, homely boy of eighteen, " " Hold up your hands ! a hunger-marked, poverty-stricken, gro- That and the quick rustle of Reese's tesquely pathetic wretch that cowered newspaper as we both looked up. against the grating, blinking at us with The devil— I knew him by his horns the helpless look of a trapped rabbit. and long pointed red face—was leaning Scoville's eye took in every detail of his in the big office-window, his elbow stead- miserable figure. that ran along the " What's the ied on the counter . idea of the stick-up, grating. In his hand was a large re- son? " he asted kindly. " Busted? " volver—the muzzle was scarcely a foot " Busted," murmured the boy. " Hun- from the superintendent's head. gry. No work. I cain't git work." His Scoville, his pen poised in air, glanced voice was husky, and I saw the glint of at his satanic majesty with remarkable a tear in his eye as he barked savagely at indifference. Scoville: "I've gotta eat, ain't I?" " " Speaking to me? he inquired. "We've all got to eat," said the su- " Y-yes, I'm speaking to you!" perintendent, after a long pause, " Reese, " Just a minute, please," said Scoville, get him a feed and a bunk and put him and calmly resumed his writing. on one o' them snatch-teams to-morrow. For a moment the devil stared at Sco- Seven o'clock to-morrow, boy. You un- ville as "IT mesmerized. Then I saw that derstand? " He turned again to his desk. the satanic visage was, in reality, a human " Say," half whispered the boy, as he face topped by a low, and Reese went out, " ain't he " slouched hat, and masked the limit? below by a soiled handker- " H'm," laughed the fore- chief. To my surprise, his man. " You've only seen him pistol-hand sank slowly to the hire a man. You orter see him counter. fire one." " " Holy Moses ! he quav- ered, " I cain't shoot a man Some seven years elapsed and him a writinV after I left the Acme people Scoville made a dab with before I saw Reese again. his blotter and swung easily We were building the South- around. ern Branch, and on my first "Say, kid," he drawled. trip over the line I met the " You're — a — peach. Take REESE. old fellow. 6 R R 273 : —

274 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

,'V

' tA

SCOVILLE GLANCED AT HIS SATANIC MAJESTY WITH REMARKABLE INDIFFERENCE,

Loquacious and friendly as ever, he " If you was a Cuban insurgent, in an insisted on showing me everything of in- insurgent's uniform, and you knew that terest in the camp. As we passed the Big every Spanish soldier in the Island would Fill he suddenly seized my arm. shoot you on sight—you understand ? " Bill," said he. " D'ye know that that no matter what they would or would stumpy square-shouldered plug up there not do - afterward, you was well aware " on the dump ? from previous experience that the first " " Why," I asked. Isn't that Sco- thing they'd do would be to cut down on " ville, who used to he supe at the Acme ? you with intent to kill and cripple ; and " Right you are. That's him. That if you was the commanding officer, field young cuh with him's Johnny Britt, the staff, and band of an insurgent column assistant supe. Them two's what I call consisting of yourself, two other Ameri-

the stick-up twins." cans and a Cuban ; and while percolating "The stick-up twins, eh? Where do through the jungle four strong, as men- " they get that name? tioned, you came out on a railroad and "They earned it, by Jimminy! They saw standing thereon an armored train earned it and I give it to them. I seen guarded by eight hundred gallant galoots them two stiffs—you know what I seen o' the Spanish army, all armed to the them two stiffs do? I seen them two teeth and loaded for bear; and, whereas, thieves steal an armored railway train " Would you, under them circumstan- from the kingdom o' Spain." ces, have the bronze audacity to—try to " ! steal that Here ! Here Reese. What kind — — —armored train?" " of a romance is this you're building?" I would have the good judgment," I " Just to give you a faint idea of the said, "to steal swiftly away from that magnitude o' that there undertaking," armored train." said the old man. " Lemme put you a " Well, them two done it." hypothetical question, to wit "Did what? Stole away?" :

STEALING THE ARMORED TRAIN. 275

" Naw," exclaimed the old man. "Stole Yes, Machado started it. He was always the train. Yes, I mean that them two for starting something he couldn't fin- cheap pilferers had the monumental, mar- ish." * ble gall to go and steal, that armored Reese gravely relighted his pipe. train. " Yep," he continued, " that was Ma- " Oh, I'll admit- I helped 'em do it," chado's long suit. If he could have fin- he continued deprecatingly, " but I only ished all he started he'd 'a' been a pip- helped 'em do it to show 'em they pin. couldn't do it—and, by gosh, they went " Colonel Machado, with all respect to and done it." the fool, had the world skinned in this " Reese," said I, " if you can demon- here one respect, to wit strate to me how that thing was done, I'll " He could put up a job on somebody buy you the most expensive drink in the and demonstrate to your entire satisfac- State of Colorado." tion that the victim had no more chance The old man crammed a horny finger than an armless wonder would have with into the bowl of his pipe. a typewriter, and yet, when the other " We had the class all right—Scoville fellow got through working on him, and Britt and me were there with bells you'd have to drag Machado out with a

on. And Weber— say, that Dutchman hook. I think one . o' them hickory- had the science of explosives down ta headed general staffs rolled this armored the thin blue milk. He'd orter been an train pill for him. anarchist. Honest, I believe that plug " They were going to lay an ambush could 'a' took a snowball and a box o' for eight hundred Spaniards and an ar- matches and cracked a bank. mored train at a place where the railroad " Then there was Delgado. He was a made a long bend northward along a negro, but, believe me, Bill, he was some deep dry creek. While they were eating grub-rustler and cook. Oh, yes. We had them Spaniards alive, Sefior Scoville was the class all right, but that bunch we to take his Americanos, and blow up the traveled with—say! track behind the train so she couldn't get " On the square, Bill, they must 'a' had back, when he intimated something about a bumper crop o' colonelcies when they the chance of failure. invented one onto the Honorable Don " ' The illustreeous seiior,' says Ma- Sebastian Guillerme, etc., etc., Machado. chado, plumb Napoleonic, ' makes the I remember the day we hit up with him, joke. My genius knows not the failure.' Weber says to me. " That, mind you, when they'd cleaned

" ' You, R-reece ! Dat distinggished- him every time he'd faced the flag. The looking officerr. Ve haf been assigned durned old package o' peanuts was to hiss eommant.' simply born with a corn on his bean, and "'What,' says I. 'That pot-bellied didn't know it. gink with the wind-strainers draped on- " ' What do you think of the colonel's to his chops? Gentlemen, we've had to scheme, Reese? ' says Scoville, when we endure some freaks, but, suf—fering Jupi- were alone.

" ' ' ' ter ! if that there Darwinian party don't Great ! says I. When they give prove to be the yellowest, quittingest, or- him the grand run, we, being by our- neriest fizzle we've ever been up against, selves, can beat it through the brush like I'll eat your old sock. I don't claim no gentlemen without having a pack o' Cu- gift o' prophecy, but you'll find that I've bans running all over us.' got the potent dope on Mr. Machado, all " ' Ach, R-reece,' says Weber, ' you're

O. K. I a bessimist. You're alvays exberiencing " And if that gallinipper could be a sour bickels.' " superior officer, you can well imagine All right, thinks I. I'd rather .be a "what the rank and file was. The best- pessimist under criticism than an opti- balanced gun they ever issued me, I bust- mist under a headstone. ed, over the upper right-hand corner of " I will .say, however, in all justice his chief o' staff. Aw, well, he didn't to the colonel, that the deathtrap he have nothing to do with stealing the picked out for them Spaniards was a armored train, except that he started- it. peach. There were three different ways — :

276 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

" by which him and the general staff could Somehow, we all felt sort o' spotted take a swift sneak without exposing about that scrap from the very beginning. themselves. She didn't start right. They just kept " Three ways, understand, outside of bat—batting and pop—popping at each , plain running away. I'd always consid- other in a half-hearted, indifferent kind ered the last-mentioned as amply suffi- of a way until Scoville says cient, having never yet seen a bullet over- " ' Boys, that there don't sound just take one o' them heroes after he'd got right to me, somehow. Them Spaniards fairly started. As far as our part was are extending to the northeast. First concerned—well, if you cared to see box thing you know there'll come a 'puff o' cars jump around like fleas and railroad bullets from that flank, and before they tracks get right up and embrace each all get by you'll see Machado's outfit other like long-lost brothers, just let coming out of that creek bottom like a Weber place the dynamite. bat out of a burning house. What I " We'd fooled around all of two hours wish, particular, to forecast is that when after we'd got our dynamite placed and they jump out in front of them Spanish the wire strung into the brush, smoking Mausers, and try to beat it over the rail- and dialoging over the situation, when road dump, the results are going to be Bat! Bat! Br—r—rt! Bat-^bat! they plumb astonishing.' opened up. " ' What if they should come a pilfer- " ' We're off,' says Johnny Britt. ing down this side of the track? ' I asked.

" ' ' " ' Yes,' says I. and I'll bet the col- We're going up the line where we onel'll cut the corners as close as any of can see them before they see us,' Scoyille

'em.' answered. ' It ain't that I care a whole

"you'll find that i've got the dope on mr. machado, ALL O. K." : ' '

STEALING THE ARMORED TRAIN. 277

lot — only the place where I want to camp is due south of here, and I don't want to have to outrun the whole Span- ish army eastward and then circle back eight or ten miles to find my roosting-

place. - . ( " ' Weber can stay ~ here and look out for the train. He's got sense enough to run when a run's right. I. guess he can slide through the brush about as swift by hisself as he could with four of us stepping on his heels, anyway.' " Weber gave him one contemptuous look.

" ' ' Bessimist ! says he,

! i Sickles " It certainly was dog- goned white of 'em to stay on their own side of the track. Any man what was ever hot - footed through the tall uncut by "DELGADO came whizzing out of the firmament." a bunch o' rowdy rough- necks can tell you that this here idea of strung along the dump below her,' Britt blundering onto a row of rifles is entire- cut in. '.But at that, she's our train!' ly a vulgar and poisonous proposition. So "'Got 'em again, ain't you?' says I. there being absolutely nothing to hinder ' Did I hear you say she was our train?' us, we eventually went and took a look at " ' That's what I said.' that armored train. Then we all sat '"All right, Dopey. You can have down. Scoville looked her over a bit, and her.' he says " We wrangled a bit and then Britt " ' There she is, Reese.' promulgated the following nutty notion.

" ' ' Say, Britt,' says I, there she is. To my mind, it had the fifth essence of

' That's her.' foolishness skinned plumb.

." ' ' ' Aw, the dooce ! You don't say. I I tell you, boys,' says he. We've thought that there was a pair o' gum got the dope on 'em forty ways from boots.' Sunday, and if we let this here oppor- " ' Engine, box car, flat car, caboose,' tunity get away from us we'll be yellow says Scoville. ' Plated six feet high with dogs. There they've got all their dead- boiler-iron, loop-holed for rifles, loaded lights on that flight. We hop aboard the with feed and ammunition, steam up and train, three of us shoot up the guard, her safety-valve a popping off, and not Reese pulls her out.

! one soul aboard, so help me, Moses ' Tlfe first time one o' them ginks " ' Don't overlook them twenty-five hears a .45 buzz past his receiver he'll gentry standing along the shady side of run plumb to Spain. -Before that bunch her,' says I. along the track realize what's going on, " ' Nor a hundred and fifty more we've brushed by 'em like a pay-car pass- — — ' —;

278 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

ing a tramp ; and they've got no more bury Cansar, not .to praise him. Will you armored train than a fish has feathers.' kindly poke your nut out o' that window

" ' , Of course they won't shoot,' I put and give Mr. Weber the high sign, bein, sort o' sarcastic. fore the durned Dutch yokel blows us' ' " ' Not through that armor,' Scoville plumb off o' the earth ? gets back. "As I slowed her down to the place " ' Say, look here,' says I. ' Do you where the track was mined, everybody two apple-knockers actually figure on had his head stuck out to locate Weber. riding that train out o' here?' Finally Britt saw him.

" ' " ' ' Sure.' Hey ! Weber ! he sings out, waving

" ' All right, boys. Every fool to his his hat. ' It's us. Don't shoot V own foolishness. I'll help you do it, "'D'ye see him?' calls Scoville. simply to prove to you that it can't be " ' Yes. He understands. It's all done. Me'n Britt to the engine, Delgado right.' to the flat car, Scoville the caboose. " ' All right, Reese,' says Scoville.

' ' You're game ? Le's go ! Pull her across.' " In ten seconds we reached the train. " I guess I started her up a little faster Britt no more than hit the engine than than Weber expected. I know we got he ran his rifle over the tender and, as I the box car and engine clean across, and reached for the 'throttle, crack—ow! he Britt was still waving when whif—/ cut down on a little flop-eared, tailor- oom! Dust, smoke and cinders spouted made lieutenant and shot the whole top fifty feet into the air. The flat car reared out of his new hat. up in the middle, broke in two, and rolled " That individual made some kind of off the dump. a remark to heaven, and took it north on " Amid a shower of bolts, splinters, the air-line without even looking back. and Mauser cartridge-clips the front end Before Scoville and Delgado really got of the caboose slid easily off into the hole, started the other twenty-four were run- and sat there like a big, awkward cow. ning him neck-and-neck and I had her on As I glanced around, Delgado came the move. Britt ducked into the cab. Avhizzing but o' the firmament and hit the "'Jerk us out.o' here, Reese!' he ground like a ton o' brick. I started to- squealed. ward him, but Scoville waved me back. " Feeling the wheels grip, I pulled her " ' Back to the engine, Reese. He wide open and, we jumped at the gang never even knew what hit him.' along the dump like we were shot out of " Just then Weber's rifle popped. As a gun. the bullet spatted into the dump, we saw " Surprised? Them galoots were so a spot of smoke and, under it. the faint surprised that if Delgado hadn't heaved flicker of Weber's legs going south. a .45 past their snouts they'd be in a " ' Aw, you're making a brilliant re- trance yet. treat, ain't you — you oak-'headed "' — Get down!' yells Britt, and as we Dutch ' squeals Scoville, shaking his went to the floor Pr—r—row! they fist at the jungle.

" ' ' ' popped it to us. To the engine ! yells Britt, le's " Bill, the amount o' glass and splin- take what's left and get out o' here. For ters and chunks of coal them fellows Heaven's sake, listen to that firing ! knocked off o' that train in the space of " I noticed, then, that the Spaniards two hundred yards, was a holy fright. were handing Machado one awful pack- And noise? When they finally got their age of Mauser. magazines empty the comparative silence " ' Yes,' says I, ' le's get out while we was so pronounced that you could hear can. I think they're flying the colonel's it. As we slid away I looked back and kite.' At that, Scoville hops onto the seen 'em jumping up and down, shaking car. their fists at us like crazy men. " ' Give her the juice,' says he.

" ' ' " Aw, peevish ! Peevish ! says Britt. You talk about your record runs ! I ' They look sort o* irritated about some- jammed the throttle into the last notch thing.' I gave her every pound of steam that was " ' Mr. Britt,' says I, ' we've come to in her. For a moment she struggled and a —

STEALING AN ARMORED TRAIN. 279

fought against her own weight

. with the fury of a trapped ti- gress—a writhing column of smoke above her, beneath her a stream of fire, and then " Right and left the jungle broke up and steamed away in a jumble of little hills, scur- rying around each other like rats. Rodcs and trees jumped up, gave us a glance, and flit- ted past. The track ahead was a hurrying blur of brown, double-striped with a shimmer of gray. " Above the clang and clatter of her running-gear sounded the rack—rack!' —rack— rack! a—rack—rack! of her wheels hitting the joints. Her funnel roared like' a tornado, her cab was a madhouse of spattering cinders, and the wind was whizzing through her broken window-panes. " I've coasted 'em down thg long grades of the Appala- chian foot-hills so fast that you LEFT THE RAILS HANGING had to look twice to see 'em, ACROSS IT LIKE A BRIDGE." and slammed across the Kansas prairies neck-and-neck with the wind, " Before he quit talking there came the but. suf—fering Jupiter! this durned old bellow of a field-gun up in the brush rattle-trap was a perfect cyclone of steam and a shell whizzed over us, sputtering and steel. ' like a wet snowball. One look at that " Without "one touch of brake or throt- battery was enough for me.

" ' ' ' tle we hit the curve -like we'd been flung There, idiot ! I shouted, you see from the clouds. For an instant she what you've done? ' tottered and bucked, lurching" from rail "'What?* says he—and bang! bang! to rail, and then, as we skidded into the Whop—ti

Britt,' I yells. ' This ain't no picnic' ward, and, as the pony trucks toppled " ' Well,' he grins back, ' I don't want out over the embankment, her boiler our own comrades to run over us.' plunged deep into the road-bed, hurling : , a

280 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE. me through the window. As I crashed bunch.' And lemme tell you, Bill, they' into a mat of underbrush, the box car didn't lose any time trying me out. skated across the wreck and came reeling " That- fight queered the colonel's cab- at me like a thing of life. Even yet, bage. The insurgents bounced the bid when I take a few too many, that box chromo so hard that he splattered." car chases me all night long. Reese paused. " Johnny Britt? To this day Johnny " By the way. you'd orter remember Britt can't tell you when nor how he left that fellow Britt." her nor where he landed. " I ? I never heard of him before." "As Britt dragged me out- of the " Don't you remember the kid that brush, Scoville dropped out of the box- tried to stick us up down at the Acme " car cool as ice. that time? " 1 Hurt, Reese? ' says he. ."What?-''

1 " Not so badly,' I answered, ' but " That's him," chuckled Reese. " Le's what I can outrun anything in this go'n get that drink." WHEN RULES WERE SCARCE.

BY E. A. SPEARS.

" HP HEY are always telling that it is better and report at the other end that you have A on the railroad these days than in the delivered them, and you, hand over the bills gocd did times," said the old conductor, with the number of each of the cars. " and in a way, life on the roads is better " In the old days, you wouldn't pass a 'than it used to be, and in another way, it train in a hundred miles, perhaps, and you isn't. Things used to go along in an easy didn't have to know a great deal about the manner and you didn't have to use a great road. deal of brain power. But it isn't such a cinch now. You must Why, not much more than ten years know all the trains on the division, and, ago, a crew stopped a freight-train down at practically, at what time each one will be at Sherburne and went to a dance, and were each of the stations. You must know every hour or more. To-day, if a train inch of the track, the grades, there an m curves, is five minutes "late, ypu get a telegram switches, and signals. which runs like this " You must also know the Book of Rules, " ' Please advise us why No. X was late.' keep track of the bulletin-board, know the We used to stop trains at. good swim- jiien you come in contact with, be aware of ming-holes along the way and go in swim- special rules, study the mechanism of the ming. That's a fact. You can see life was engine, and be conversant with a heap of a bit easier then. other things. "' Xot a great many years ago. they could ".You've got to be studying all the time, ditch a freight-train forty cars high, set and, along with this, you have the manual them afire and go on with the rest, and noth- labor to perform, heave coal if you're a fire- ing much would come of it. To-day, if you man, work the levers, oil .the engine, if you're bust the knuckle you've got to tie a tag to it an engineer, depending upon what you do. " and send it in along with a letter telling They are always telling how many got how it happened. their hands and feet cut off. and how many " When* conductors had it in 'for the engi- were killed on the^road. The fact is, in neer, he would hook onto thirty cars — those days, it was the regular thing to go good load at that time. It would make the out half-cocked and with a half-pint in engineer mad. The conductor would re- your hip-pocket. A good many were drunk port that he had hauled fifteen cars, and when they got hurt. To-day, if they even the head office wouldn't know the differ- smell the trace of a drink on your breath, ence. The next day the conductor might you get more than a cross-eyed look. take ten cars and report that he had taken " Rule G. on the New York Central, says fifteen, and thus juggle the figures as he that a railroad man entering a saloon is liked. sufficient cause for his discharge. Railroad- "It's different now. The office hands ing is a strict business to-day. and, in some you out a fistful of bills and says. ' Take ways, the men had an easier time of it some those cars to Station Z.' You take them all years ago." The First Railroad Across South America.

BY GEORGE W. GRANT.

THE proud peaks of the Andes that for years have defied all efforts of man to gird their lofty summits with rails of steel, have at last succumbed to the unceasing pound of compressed-air drills and the rending, tearing force of high explosives. Where, from the beginning of time, silence has brooded over the fields of eternal snow, the shrill whistle of the locomotive and the shriek of steel on steel is now heard—triumphant battle cries pro- claiming that man has won another battle against the relentless forces of nature that block his way to progress and civilization. The history of the Trans-Andean Railroad is a story of human toil and suffering. Scores of lives have been sacrificed and failure upon failure recorded, but with a stamina and grit that is found only in heroes, the men who held in their hands the destiny of a continent have again and again flung their forces against the cruel mountain steeps, sometimes to pause, blinded and bleeding, but only to go on with renewed vigor. This finally won out, and the Trans-Andean system stands, to-day, a monument of human per- severance and ingenuity.

How Nine Days of Travel Have Been Cut Off Between the Pacific and the Atlantic Ports of South America by the Most Strenuous Railroad Building Ever Known in History.

far away that very few of even The schedule - time of through trains the best - informed practical from ocean to ocean will be twenty-nine *0 men and scientific experts in hours. this country or in Europe There are many South American rail- | know much about it, one of roads in operation. The Argentine alone the most remarkable railroads has 14,000 miles of them across the pam- in the world has just been com- pas or prairies, besides its 700 miles of pleted. This is the Trans-Andean Rail- tracks reaching to the slopes of the An- road of South America, opened for traf- des, and 1,000 miles of them stretching fic early in the spring, after thirty-seven north of the boundaries of Bolivia. Bo- years of construction. livia has what is probably the costliest Making its way over the worst moun- railroad anywhere — a mountain line up tain ranges that steel rails ever climbed, among the northern Andes that has never planned with terrific grades that cost paid. might be reduced, and the system prove a All in all, however, the total mileage success commercially from the start, it below the Isthmus of Panama amounts to joins the east and west coast of the south- scarcely a seventh of that of the United ern continent, extending in a straight States, Canada, and Mexico. The Trans- line from Buenos Ayres to Valparaiso. Andean Railroad is the first transconti- 282 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE. nental line in the entire southern hemis- By vast efforts, the lower slopes were phere, for Africa thus far has none. finally conquered. In 1903 there were New names are now being added to the fojty-three miles still uncompleted, how- history of railroading—names that in la- ever, between the Chilean and the Argen- ter years may be as famous as those of the tine terminals, with all the heavy moun- men who, when the western section of the tain work between practically untouched. United States was still the Far West, in spite of every obstacle, solved the problem The First Failure. of girding the North American continent from shore to shore ; names such as Theo- The Clarks' plans was a railroad in dore Judah, Leland Stanford, and Collis spirals, burrowing through the mountains P. Huntington. What these men did in thousands of feet below their summits. the sixties has again been accomplished In this way they intended to do away with in this new Atlantic-to-Pacific line, 882 the enormously heavy grades that would miles long, with a mountain section, con- otherwise be necessary f.or at least thirty taining 160 miles of steep, winding miles. Driving the road 'through the grades. mountains, the snow problem would also C. P. White, of England, was the man be eliminated, they argued, for at least who took up the work when the original five months in the year the coach road projectors, John and Matthew Clark, across the frontier is made useless by were unable to finance it any longer, find- snow avalanches and torrents of mud ing, after twenty-five years of experiment from the precipitous peak. and toil, that no investors could b© in- The wealth of the mines of Golconda duced to put money into their engineering poured yearly into this spiral construc- theories. tion might have made such a scheme possible. Most capitalists, however, while The Master Minds. willing to take big chances, did not see it in the light of a good investment ; but, , After six years as resident engineer, before the spiral idea petered out and oth- with the knowledge that his plans were er interests replaced the Clarks' backers, working out to perfection, Mr. White $3,000,000 worth of electrical machinery broke down, his eyes becoming seriously for the work was carried up into these affected by the Snow glare of the Andes, mountains on mules and an army of Chil- and his health generally giving way under ean peons put to work. the strain. All the machinery is there yet, in- Frank T. McGinnis, an American en- cluding a number of dynamos, electric gineer, who succeeded him, pierced the drills, and turbines. An engineer who last foot of granite in the Summit Tunnel, has recently been over the work stated thus joining the Argentine and Chile, and that there was easily $75,000 worth, of finishing up all the work with the excep- copper reposing on the mountainside. tion of the clear-up. With all this nothing was accom- Under White was the German engineer plished. The Clarks bored in ten or fif- Hummerson, who has since retired, and teen places, and then gave up. Bertram Norton, an Englishman. No one has ever estimated the vast White Takes Charge. sums that John and Matthew Clark spent in attempting to drive a railroad over the White took the bull by the horns. The Andes. It was simple enough to build London houses of the New York firms along the Argentine pampas, where cat- of W. R. Grace & Co. and J. P. Morgan tle, wine, and wheat furnished the bulk & Co. were then financing the under- of the freight business, and the route taking, and had contracted to join the from the Chilean coast to the Andes also two lines of road that stuck ineffectively ' was an easy matter. But when it came up into the mountains, the Chilean gov- to the stretch that is less than a hundred ernment guaranteeing the interest on the miles in an air-line over the mountains, bonds. - the years went by, and a railroad was as White jammed the road through, car- far off as ever. ing little for the steeps, forcing it over ;

THE FIRST RAILROAD ACROSS SOUTH AMERICA. 283

the mountains in the shortest, simplest the Chilean side up the mountains along way. The Oroyo Railroad, the famous the River Aconcagua. That has been Peruvian road already mentioned, has a about the average size of the construction- great many switchbacks. Construction gangs, but does not include the men in of that sort, according to the ideas of this the swamps cutting timber for the false master engineer, was too costly to be con- work, nor the men scattered over the near- sidered. Even a one-meter road begins by country buying mules. to run into dollars very quickly when its tracks •"louble upon themselves many Carrying a Railroad on Mules. times. Therefore, White ran the Trans-An- The Chilean mule has been nearly as dean road up the precipitous barrier on great a factor in the- construction of the the Chilean side as a railroad has seldom ocean-to-ocean railroad as has the peon. been run before, and never before over Small, strong, patient, unlike the big Mis- such a distance. souri mules, but full of energy, these lit- He practically ignored grades. For tle animals have for the past seven years mile after mile of this mountain section been the advance guard of the railroad as the grades he planned and built are eight it climbed over the mountain-tops. per cent. This means, to the man riding A mule's load averages about 150 down, that the track drops away so fast pounds, and tons and tons of heavy ma- that a few feet ahead it literally disap- chinery, to say nothing of timber and pears, so far as the eye can see. In or- supplies, were transported in this man- dinary railroading, even in very moun- ner. The hard work killed close to 200 tainous districts, the maximum grade is a month. but four per cent. The tunnel work meant much compli- Under ordinary railroad conditions cated machinery that had to be hauled up such a line would not, of course, be prac- the mountains. If a mule could not car- ticable. By making the steepest portions ry a part, it had to be dragged by a team a rack road, however, even heavily loaded of mules, or, at the worst, pinched along freight - trains can readily negotiate the with iron bars. grades. The rack comprises a cogged Pinching consists of prying underneath track, into which mesh specially cogged the mass to be moved with crowbars and wheels upon the engine. Thus the train advancing it inch by inch. Sometimes, in is prevented from slipping back, and the mountain railroad work, there is no other cogged wheels get a purchase that enables way. The mules did most of the mov- them to climb a very heavy grade. ing, however, and the triumph of this vast The operation of the rack system may and revolutionary enterprise belongs to well be understood by those who are them in part. familiar with the railroad up Pike's Peak. One victory of the little beasts was the The Trans-Andean road is very similar. carrying of four three-cyKnder, 120 horse- The engines have two sets of cylinders power oil-engines, and one of two-cylin- and rack-wheels, beside the ordinary dri- der, 80 horse-power, that drove the air- ving-wheels, which work simultaneously compressOrs for the tunneling at the and, notwithstanding what seems a some- mountain-tops. Three of these engines what complicated mechanism, the trains were moved, with vast toil, to the Argen- are able to make close to twenty miles an tine slope, while two were placed on the hour. The engine enters the rack with Chilean side. scarcely a sound. The larger four of these had to be Peons and mules are the real forces, knocked down into 800 pieces. It took without which the boring of the fifteen one man and four assistants three weeks

tunnels which occur in the thirteen high- , to put each engine together. est miles of the road would have been im- The peon workmen received six to possible. eight pesos, $1.50 to $2.00, a day. A cu- About 800 men have Been at this work rious labor feature was that many of the for the past seven years, ever since the gang-bosses were Italians. These Ital- new engineering force climbed into the ians have proved more successful bosses saddle and mounted from Los Angeles on than the Chileans, and were hired wher- 284 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE. ever possible. They received ten pesos, It has been a common malady upon the $2.50. a day. There were practically no Trans-Andean, and scores of engineers Italians at all working on the road as la- have had to give up their work for this borers. reason. ' Peons subsist upon potatoes, beans, In no other branch of human effort charcha (dried cow's meat), and drink daes ingenuity, forethought, and the their native wine. On the march of the power of adapting circumstances to ends, railroad they have been living in camps count so much as in the construction of of wooden buildings covered with corru- a big mountain railroad. gated iron. One instance of where an engineer's keen mind saved a vast quantity of haul- Obstacles Met With. ing was shown by a scheme he devised for moving supplies. The point he de- The dangers of building a railroad up sired to reach was almost directly above, the Chilean slopes of the Andes, the rest 800 feet higher up the mountain, an al- of the work having been, comparatively most vertical climb. The trip by the speaking, child's play, have been little coach road required a detour of several told ; but we have numerous instances of miles, and by the railroad line, partly men working on narrow shelves being constructed, it was almost as far. swept off into the river below, by snow- The engineer did not hesitate a mo- slides, or engulfed in a torrent of mud ment. A glance showed him his oppor- and stones. The decrees of fate are ac- tunity. Though from point to point it cepted without complaint by these Latin- was almost a vertical air-line, he man- Americans, and as their companions dis- aged to build an inclined plane road up appear, one by one, they simply cross the 800 feet cliff. Two box cars bal- themselves, say a prayer, and go on with anced each other on this, one ascending their work. Oftener than otherwise while the other was descending. For bodies are never recovered. months the box cars on the cable carried None of the figures of the death role machinery, food, oil, timber, doing a^ay. can be approximated. All that is cer- with a haulage of at least more than two tain is that the work has gone doggedly miles. Considering the vast amount of on, and there is small fear that the Trans- work it did, this temporary inclined plane Andean Construction Company will not road cost almost nothing. collect the million and a half dollars bonus due it for finishing the road ahead What One Engine Did. of contract time. Heedless of everything but that of moving forward as rap- Engineering experts interested in the idly as possible, engineers, gang-bosses, progress of this Andean road have not and workmen have striven with the pre- yet ceased to talk of an American engine cision of the most well-drilled armies in that made a wonderful freight carrying the field. record from Los Andes, the Chilean end No part of the world more cruel, from of the road, to the mountain-line ter- the point of view of the railroad builder, minus. can be imagined. Nearly 12,000 feet This engine is -said to have done the above sea level, with the cruel snows that bulk of freight carrying for the construc- block the coach road over the Uspallata or tion work. It handled enormous loads Gombre Pass between Chile and' the Ar- over sections of track that are now using gentine to contend with, and avalanches the rack, and did so without any cog- of snow and mud always menacing, the wheel traction devices whatever. It was situation is dangerous in the extreme. a regular locomotive in all its details ex- There is a persistent high and biting cept in its engine parts. These consisted wind, and the snow glare grows fearful of a three-cylinder vertical engine bolted to the eyes after a time. Shortness of to the side of the boiler with its main breath and other afflictions of high alti- driving shaft connected by universal tudes add to the list of sufferings. joints to all the trucks of the engine and White, the chief, was not the only one tender, thus making every truck a driver. who was afflicted with snow blindness. It did the trick, however, and did it THE FIRST RAILROAD ACROSS SOUTH AMERICA. 285 well. The history of the Trans-Andean many travelers to make it, and the mov- Railway is filled with incidents such as ing of much freight was impractical. this, which go to show how the problem of half a century was solved in record A Boon to Travelers. time. It was a big job, the biggest sort of one, and carried to completion in spite The new road also cuts off the same of the thousand and one difficulties en- number of days between Chilean ports countered. Even the timber used in the and New York, London, and Hamburg. tunnel building due to the quick-rotting Hence its commercial advantages are characteristics of the native redwood, had enormous, and will rapidly grow even to be brought down from Puget Sound. greater. Building the mountain stretch There are few bridges along the line, has cost over six million dollars, but it but none of them are very remarkable. is well worth it. White's plans kept the road hugging the It shortens the route between Europe cliffs, and closely notched deeply into the and the east coasts of South America by sides of the mountains, finding a foot- about 1,000 miles. From ocean to ocean possible digging, blasting, it is miles long. in its hold wherever ; 888 Even uncom- and here and there bridging a chasm pleted condition, with the necessity of with a space of concrete ; reducing ex- making the journey over the moun- penses and getting results at one and tains by muleback or by stage, the traffic the same time was his object. in 1907 amounted to 244,000 passengers. Wherever he had to he drove a tun- On the lower sections the tunnels were nel. The Summit Tunnel is the master- driven by hand. There are twenty-five work of all ; two miles long, directly of them in all. The locomotives which under the boundary of the two republics, are to be used are of the combined type, and 3,000 feet under the mountainside. being equipped with rack wheels, and Precisely over its center, by a peculiar weigh about 100 tons each. They were chance in the Uspallata Pass, is the won- decided on after much experimenting. derful bronze statue of the " Christ of the The contractors believe they are the Andes," erected by Chile and Brazil heaviest meter gage engines ever built. jointly, to symbolize an eternal peace Wheelwright was the name of the man pact between them. who first proposed the road. He sent a One piece of bridge-work which de- communication regarding it to the Royal serves attention is the " Salto Soldato," Geographical Society of London "just or Soldier's Leap. A single concrete fifty years ago. But Wheelwright was span, which resembles the center of an only a dreamer. He is all but forgotten hour-glass, the canon above and below now. Coupled with the history of the having the form of a double bottle. Trans-Andean road will go the names of American rolling stock, American rails Grace, Morgan, White, and McGinnis. and ties, are to be used on. this road. It South America has long been waiting must be said, however, that in the con- for such a railroad. It has many lines of struction work some Belgian engines have tracks, but they only fragmentarily serve given famous service. the needs of trade. The continent's Thus the Trans-Andean Railroad has great volume of commerce is principally become. a reality, and the time it takes to carried on over its vast network of rivers, travel from Buenos Ayres and other in semi-primitive fashion. Huge sections cities of the Argentine to Valparaiso, of territory yet await exploration in Santiago, and all of Chile has been cut Brazil and Bolivia. Here is still the from ten days to twenty-nine hours. Up great field of river navigation, the Ori- to now, unless one cared to ride a day noco on the north, the Amazon, the and a half on muleback, or in a jouncing Parana, and the River de la Platte fur- coach over the Uspallata or Combre ther on the south, the Magdalena in Co- Pass, and this was only possible in the lombia,- the Rio Negro in Southern Ar- late spring, summer, or early fall, the gentina, and the San Francisco in Cen- only convenient way was to take a steamer tral Brazil. The Amazon system alone around Cape Horn. Such a journey contains 15,000 miles of water that is overland was too venturesome to tempt commercially navigable. !

Taking Orders from Death

BY PETER MULLIGAN.

WHEN coupling cars meant holding up a link with one hand and drop- ping a pin with the other, while the draw-heads tried to crush out your life in their vise-like grip, being a member of a train-erew was on a par with wearing the khaki and letting Molos take pot-shots at you with their rusty Mausers. Those were the days when the Grim Reaper claimed a heavy toll, and the railroad men who met death with their boots on was more than double the number in these days of the standard gage and the Janney coupler. Only men who either put no value at all upon their lives or were brave to the 'point of recklessness, could have stood the strain of setting brakes on an old-fashioned double-gage road with its broad and narrow jimmies jumping about in the freedom of their three-link couplings, "and trying to shoulder each other off the track—which they quite often succeeded in doing.

Although the Door of the Caboose Was Frequently Hung with Crape, It Was Difficult To Dampen the Spirits of the Courageous Crews.

ca- like this 1 HE man who named the with them as they pulled into boose evidently regarded it the main track never did reach to-mor- in a comical light. Try to row, and there were others, too. who think a few tragic thoughts laughed at its evil record, and managed about -it, and you find it is to stop short of the line. impossible. The name is And, at that, it was one of those ab- against it. It is difficult for any one to surd, old-fashioned cabooses that rocked regard it seriously. There it goes bob- and bumped and groaned and squealed,

bing along at the end of the train like and seemed to i have a premonition that an old woman shooing her chickens. the train behind would catch up some Caboose day and boost it down the grade, making But there was a caboose that used to it more ridiculous and undignified than make men shiver when they climbed ever. aboard. There have been others, too, but none that sent such cascades of cold ^ A Caboose's Grim Record. pouring down the spinal column. As it jerked forward out of the yard, with a But, of course, it did not happen that groan, every man in it would say to him- way. Premonitions are -great deceivers. " self : I take that all back about what The man who kept off the water, because I was going to do to-morrow. I'll make he was sure he was preordained to be this little run first, and then, if I am still drowned, got hanged, and the old ca- moving around, I'll consider the matter boose that expected to be lifted from be- further." hind and turned on its nose in the ditch, Quite a few men who carried thoughts got mixed up in —but, wait a minute, let 286 TAKING ORDERS FROM DEATH. 287 the caboose come to its ignominious and one day, while sitting in the old caboose, well^-deserved end all in good time. an engine, which was getting ready to It was No. 312—held in unpleasant blow up, drew in alongside. And when memory—and its wheels were six feet it went off, like a big fire-cracker, it apart, to fit the track of the Erie twenty- caught 312, with Marvin inside, and did five years ago. This comical old piece not even leave the hoodoo. of rolling stock, after taking home the This is the most complete, single and bodies of a score of men killed in hand- startling record left from the old days of ling the train, rounded out 'its career by the double rail on the Erie, which lasted wearing mourning for a solid year. for a period of ten years, and is the It is 'safe to say that this record is bloodiest piece of railroading ever unequaled in the history of railroading. known. Where there is one man killed It means that it was in at the death of on the Erie to-day, the veterans assert twelve members of its crew within twelve that there were five hundred who met months, as mourning was only worn for their ends at that terrible time. Death each victim one month. With four or rode on every train, and " they had a five men in a train crew, as they used to man for breakfast " every morning. be made up on the Erie, a toll of twelve meant more than two complete crews. In Mixing the Gages. fact, it was three, as the conductor lived through it all, only to ride old 312 to a It was all brought about by a fact that more sudden and unexpected end than is not known, even by most of the men any of his crews. who are operating the Erie to-day. The War could not have done worse. The Erie was one of the first railroads, and same piece of crape, tacked to the door, was laid with a six-foot gage. Onoe hung there until it was weather-worn. started that way, it was extended at the Each time, as a month rounded towards same gage, and for forty years engines its close, and the crew thought that at last the spell had been broken, then a crash and a groan, and 312 had registered another victim. " I was only on her for two months at the end," said the sole survivor, in remi- niscent horror, " but I saw two of the twelve die. Bennett, who began breaking with me to take the place of a man who had been killed, was climbing over an empty coal dump, known as a ' jimmy,' and was right in the middle when the train gave a jerk that opened the dump, and threw him flat on the track. The other was Cline, who succeeded him. At Newburgh Junction he was making a three-link coupling, when his foot became caught between two rails, and the train cut off both his legs. I helped carry him home—there was no other place to take him—and there he bled to death." Of the other ten, six were killed making couplings, one was hurled from the top of a box car by a sudden jerk, and the other three started out from the caboose in the night to set the brakes, and were found afterwards on the track ground to pulp. Marvin, the conductor, figured it out that he must have a charmed life, but THE TRAIN CUT OFF BOTH HIS LEGS. 288 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

suddenly picked up or dropped slack, that was safely the end of him. In icy weather, in pitch black night, on an uneven track— is it any wonder the deaths were counted by hundreds?

Riding With Death.

They were gay, wild fellows who were running the Erie in those days, if the few who survived are any indication, but the accidents had a trick of happening in such an order that they did not grow hardened. As soon as one big wreck took place, there would be two more almost immediately. It was uncanny, and it sent many a train crew out for a run with a pretty sure hunch that some one was going to come to the end of his rope with a sudden jerk before the night was over. The first question every train crew asked the moment it reached the end of HOOKING A NARROW AND A BROAD-GAGE. the division, or upon appearing for work, was: "Anybody killed?" If, as was the size of a barn-door hauled cars as usually the case, they heard the details wide as a house all the way from New of some awful accident, they lost a little York City to the Great Lakes, of their starch, and stepped lively to see When it was decided to narrow down, if they could not prevent themselves the old gage was left for the use of the from being counted two or three. It's old rolling' stock, and cars of both gages all well enough to laugh at it as a super- were hauled in the same trains. Death stition now, but .it was too real to be lurked between the gages, and the men neglected. who worked those trains flirted with it Coupling was the worst. The old pin every moment of their runs. was bad enough on any road, but hook- In making up the trains there was not ing together a narrow and a broad-gage time to separate the broad and the nar- car was ten times as dangerous. The row gage cars, and they were hooked brakeman had to stand so that one draw- together indiscriminately. The draw- head would drive him into the other car, heads missed each other by a foot, and if he did not make the coupling right on to make the coupling it was necessary to the second, and jump back to safety. use three links, or two full links and one The" stories of those who failed run be- broken link, a coupling that was called yond reckoning, and all have the same the toggle. With so much iron between ghastly similarity. the cars, when the train was taut, there often was a jump of about five feet to Getting Rid of the Man-Eaters. make. If the cars were of the same height Some cars seemed to have a personal this was not so bad, but it was an adven- animus, and killed for the joy of slaugh- ture to cross if they were not. The com- ter. Two became notorious, and were bination most disliked was having a known from one end of the line to the jimmy between two box cars. The jim- other. They were iron coal-dumps, stan- mies were mounted from the side, and to dard gage, built as samples, to see how reach the steps the brakeman had to let they would work in comparison with the go with both hands, and throw himself old-fashioned wooden jimmies. Fortu- forward, trusting to luck that he would nately no others were ever put into serv- land. If just at that moment the train ice, for they could hardly have had TAKING ORDERS FROM DEATH. 289 bloodier careers if they had been built more common was death from the break- as engines of destruction. ing of a coupling. When the strain The dead^vood at the end of the steel slackened, and was picked up again sud- dumps was just narrow enough to miss denly, a pin was liable to jump out, or the coupling on the jimmies, but wide a coupling break. If a man was passing enough to pin a brakeman fast. At first," from one car to another at that inauspi- the danger in them was not realized, but cious moment, down he went between the it was noticed before long that a man wheels. who was caught between one of them and a jimmy did not get off with a mere How Sully Disciplined Them. squeezing and a dislocated liver. It always, killed. Stories that are much more easily told Then word was passed along the line are of the funny things that happened. that they .were as dangerous to handle as There was one engineer, Pete Sully, who dynamite, and an .unspoken agreement made use of the slack for his own pur- Was made to get rid of them. poses. He was older than most of the They began to have accidents. They men, and had an idea they needed a little did not seem to be able to keep the rails, and now anil then, they turned up un- accountably in "the ditch. But each time .they were jerked back, and put into the service again. And still their bloody record grew. - "Inured as the crews were to" accidents, they hated to see those dumps in the train. They knew it meant trouble. A flagman, a white-haired conductor now, solved the problem. The two dumps were together one night, and were being shoved up an incline that ended in a sheer drop. The flagman saw the chance. When the first was at the right spot, he signaled to give it an extra shove, and over it went, tearing away from the coupling, and smashing into an unusable mass. " Just one more little shove," he cried to the engineer. " Ah, there she goes, and that's the last of those man-eating dumps." Couplings had to be loose, otherwise the cars would have been jerked off the track sideways. At the best, the strain between two cars of different gages was all the rails could stand.' When ,a train started forward, and couplings went taut, it sounded like a rattle" o£ musketry. Each„car received a jolt more violent than the' one before, and by -ttoe time the caboose was readied it was almost pulled in two. As the track was full of little pitches, every now and then an extra little jerk would pass - through the traii^ even in motion, and old timers tell many a tale of men, who were not expecting it, being whirled from the t

Punishing a Passenger.

Waiting until one night when the Pat- erson man had on his evening clothes and his high hat. Sully put his information to use. According to his custom, the « passenger leaned back in a chair, and braced his^feet against the forward end of the .car. In five minutes, as usual, he HE BURIED HIS FACE DEEP IN THE THICK BLACK PASTE. was asleep, with his head between his knees, and his high hat pointed directly holding in both hands a whole thick, at the wall. juicy huckleberry pie, and he was just .The train was extra. slack that night, putting it up to his mouth hungrily when and when Sully threw on the reverse it the iar came. His hands flew up and jerked the caboose forward with a rush, his head down, and he buried his face and brought it to a dead stop. Sully was deep in the thick black paste. entirely successful. He drove the Pater- Sully, of course, heard about it, and son man's hat clear up to his chin, and it inspired him to other efforts. Trapper they ha"d to cut it off. Winfield, later a widely known Erie con- The jimmies made the trains partic- ductor, but then a greaser, had a habit ularly loose, as they were short, and had TAKING ORDERS FROM DEATH. 291

only single trucks. They were also " Johnson piled up so many jimmies," highly sensitive, and half a dozen of Jordan went on, " that he gradually them between two heavier cars would at grew more careful. And after he had the least provocation jump over each smashed in the end of his own nose for other like a flock of sheep. being too free with the throttle, no mat- Mose Jordan, formerly yardmaster at ter what was in the road, he would not the Jersey City terminal, but a brakeman pull up in a hurry. and freight-conductor in the days of the double rail, gave some idea how it was Ditching a Section-Crew.

. from the stories he told. " One day we were coming through " Coming around a curve one day, he the Outerkills," he said, " picking up saw the section-crew on a hand-car ahead, empties at all the side tracks, and before long we had nineteen jimmies in a string. This left a lot of slack in the train, and every time we stopped or started it sounded like a roll of thunder. I was in the cab with Billy Johnson, the engi-

- neer, and he was picking up and letting out on the speed rather recklessly.

When the Jimmies Jumped.

" The trouble came all at once. I had just turned around to see what had become of Carter, my rear brakeman, when Johnson threw on the reverse a little too sudden. Quick as a wink the whole train shortened up, and the heavy cars in the rear set the jimmies to jumping. Carter was right in the middle of one when it broke its coupling, and 'made a flying leap to the second one ahead. At every jump he landed on top, and after some of the finest gymnastics you ever saw, there he was twenty-five feet in the air on top of the pile of nineteen jimmies. " It was right in front of a station, THE JAR TORE THE WATER BARREL LOOSE. but the operator lived on a farm half a mile away, and i started across the fields but he had no intention of jeopardizing to get him. Just about the. time I was his jimmies for them, although they all out of breath from running and curs- thought he had. It didn't kill any of

• ing the whole race of operators at the them, but it dumped the whole outfit same time, I tripped on a pumpkin-vine, into a swamp. Johnson watched them and there I lay, swearing I would never go, and it struck him funny. So he sat run a train again in my life, when I there, and laughed, and kept on laughing \ heard Carter perched up there in the air until the section-crew got sore. Since he give me the laugh. Johnson was another had hurt his nose, his laugh also had a of those laughing fellows, and there the peculiarly unpleasant sound.' There was two of them sat, just watching me, and an old Irishman in the crew, and he was enjoying it, while I scared up the wreck- sitting there in the swamp, trying to ing crew. It made me hot, and I got up knock the dents out of his dinner pail.

1 and came walking slowly back. " Laugh on, you can afford it, ol' flat 1 " ' « Now, Mr. Carter,' I said, you Can nose,' he said, as if he had not just missed just come down off your jimmies and go being run down, ' but if you had to put get your own wrecking crew.' out a good dollar fer a new bucket, you'd " —

292 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

' be 1 a u g h i n " on Bush Boyd, a fa- t'other side o' yer mous old engineer face.' of those days, want- When all the ed to do something broad - gage rolling on this occasion stock had been that would make it worn out. the six- memorable, and be foot gage was torn told about for years up. Aften ten years, to come. He set beginning in the about making his middle '70s, and preparations secret- ending in the mid- ly, and even the dle 'SOs, there was other men on the to be an end to the train did not know slaughter. So many what was in store men had been killed until the morning and so many fam- they pulled out of ilies had lost a fa- Port Jervis, on the ther, or a son, dur- New York division, ing the reign of with the first all- terror, that the new s t a n d a r d-gage regime was greet- train. ed with wild re- Just before they joicings. Nowadays, started, and while when month after the w hole town month passes with- stood around to out a single man be- cheer them off, he ing killed on the THE PLUG-HAT GANG. got the crew togeth- Erie, and the use of er, and gave each all the latest safety devices, it is difficult one an enormous, bell - shaped beaver to realize what tins meant ; but the men hat. It was a sensation. News of the who were running trains at that time " plug hat_gang " went ahead of them celebrated the occasion as if it were the by wire down the Ramapo, and the Dela- close of a war. Trains were cheered as ware and the countryside, turned out to they passed through towns, and the rail- see them pass, with Bush Boyd's beaver road men themselves saw the last of the and a cigar a foot long sticking out of double rail with profound thanksgiving." the window of the cab. A SCHOOL FOR STOKERS.

HPHE Buffalo. Rochester and Pittsburgh lustrated by stereopticon views of the fire- A Railway has sent out a lecture-car for box as it is seen under various conditions.. the purpose of instructing the firemen along All ithe so-called " diseases " of a fire are the line in the art of stoking. thus illustrated and explained, including Mr. E. G. Kinyon is in general charge of the fire that is over-fed and poorly stoked, the car. fires in which clinkers have formed, and the The lectures are given morning, afternoon ideal fire burning without smoke because suf- and evening. They begin with a somewhat ficient air is supplied to give the oxygen elementary explanation of the process of necessary for combustion. The Railroad combustion and conclude with a lecture il- and Engineering Review.

An engine wouldn't be any use if it couldn't run backward. Don't mind a reverse. —Philosophy of a Hog Head. —

PRESIDENT OF THE LINE

BY JOHN WELLSLEY SANDERS.

The Master Mechanic Meets an Old Acquaintance — and Gasps.

SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS.

VINCENT WILSON, having risen from the apprentice shop to mechanical superintendent of the* Mainland System, has discovered what he believes to be a leak in the affairs of the company, and criticizes to President Harvey Jones the action of the board of directors on voting $20,000 for certain purchases. Wilson visits a former employee of the Mainland System, *' Doc " Ferguson, who imparts to him the information that Kaintuck, a former friend of both, had developedleprosy and been sent to the leper settlement at Molokai. "Kain- " tuck was betrothed to a beautiful girl, Meriel Planquette, whose address Wilson is very- desirous of obtaining from "Doc" "Doc" refuses to give this information unless Wilson pays him $5,000. Meriel Planquette, after "Kaintuck" had been sent to the leper settlement, married John Toylmore, formerly New York representative of the Mainland System, who, shortly after their marriage had been killed in an automobile accident. She now has many suitors, among them, Bertrand Clivers, an elderly broker, and Jimmie Winters, young and impetuous. She loves the latter and promises to marry him, but is won over at the very last moment by- Clivers and leaves with him for Europe.

CHAPTER VI. Jimmie. with more courage than he ever imagined he possessed, called at the Con- The Woman He Loved. tinental for the express purpose of seeing Meriel. O Meriel Planquette became That love for woman that 110 man can Mrs. Bertrand Clivers. And banish, when once it gets hold of him, Jimmie Winters made up his had laid its tentacles on Jimmie's heart. mind that he would be re- He was still madly, blindly, deeply in venged. It mattered little to love with the woman, notwithstanding the him when, where, or how miserable manner in which she had treat- but he was going to be reed him. venged. Clivers would suffer for de- He was still mad in his infatuation. It liberately stealing the woman, he loved. would not wear away. No other thought But Mr. and Mrs. Clivers had not gone seemed sufficiently powerful to crush it to Europe. That was merely a bluff. It within him. was simply intended to put Jimmie off He mtist see Meriel—he was going to the track. They took a spacious suite of see her, and tell her that he still loved rooms in the Continental—a great, glit- her, and that her husband had married tering hotel on Fifth Avenue. her for no good purpose. It was announced in the papers to the He approached the massive entrance of* effect that " Bertrand Clivers, the emi- the Continental—his courage increasing nent financier and promoter, who recently every second. married the widow of the late John Toyl- The avenue was bright with the morn- more, after a charming romance, had ta- ing sunshine. Hundreds of gay, prosper- ken rooms at the Continental Flotel, ous New Yorkers were strolling along the where they would entertain extensively." sidewalks—for Fifth Avenue is ever the Two days after this notice appeared, favorite place of promenade for the New Begin in the May Railroad Man's Kagatine. Single copies, 10 cents. 293 " —

294 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

Yorker—and, on a fine day, it is one of scene—and it would never do for her to the rare sights of the world. be the central figure in a Fifth Avenue many liveries, and sidewalk tragedy especially Carriages, gay with ; as she had smooth-sliding automobiles, filed up and reaped the goal of her desire—marriage down, guided in the proper direction by to a rejaL. millionaire of the New York the well-knit, military-looking mounted world of finance. police that constitute one of the most " Come in," she said softly. prized departments of the metropolis Jimmie obeyed. He was glad that she the traffic squad. seemed to be showing some degree of com- Jimmie Winters wondered if all the mon sense. " Once inside the hotel, she people that he saw were as unhappy as led the way to the oriental room—a heav- he. He wondered if any other man had ily furnished, heavily perfumed, dimly nestling in his heart so cruel and hurtful lit parlor near the main office, where two" a thorn. people could hold a quiet conversation Just then his eye was arrested by a huge in a quiet corner without being disturbed orange-colored touring-car that glided up by prying eyes. to the entrance of the Continental. Meriel picked out a large divan hung It was hardly fifty feet from him. and surrounded by a mass of East Indian The chauffeur brought it to a halt. and Turkish trappings. She sat in one One of the liveried attendants of the corner, partly hidden from any observer, hotel pirouetted down the steps and and Jimmie took a seat by her side. opened "the door of the , car. Meriel " Jimmie, what did you mean by ac- stepped out. costing me in that way?" " She was arrayed in all the gorgeousness I couldn't help it, Meriel—I had to of fashion. her dainty see I just to." of the world From you— had . shoes to her hat, she was a thing for all "How did you find out that I am stop- " women to envy and all men to admire. ping at this hotel ? " Jimmie hastened his footsteps. Here I read it in the papers." was his chance. Fate could not have Meriel brightened and smiled faintly. treated him more kindly. Clivers was a good press-agent, anyhow. " In another moment he was by her side. How could you have done it, Me- " " " Meriel ! he said tremblingly. Me- riel? You know that I love you you " — riel ! promised to marry me—you knew that my She turned full upon him. The hotel whole life was centered jm making you attendant who was carrying her cloak ad- my wife. How c oitld you, Meriel?" vanced as if to protect her. The woman smiled. It was the sar- But there was something in Jimmie's donic smile of cheap contempt. face that told the attendant that -he was "Oh, Jimmie," she said finally, "I not so much an interloper as his action didn't take you seriously." might indicate. " Didn't take me seriously? After what several colors in as Meriel turned many I said—what I did ! Great Heaven, Me- " seconds, and drew herself up in all her riel, what do you call ' seriously,' then? haughtiness before she spoke. " Come, Jimmie, don't '- be an angry " What' do you want?" she asked. boy. You will get over this sooner or la- " I want to speak to .you, Meriel." ter. Some nice girl will come along, and " Mrs. Clivers, please." ' you will marry her and make her a good Her tone indicated her cold - blooded husband." imperiousness. Clearly, she was the wom- His hand resting on the divan was close an who would marry for money, who to hers. She stroked it as one would pat would love for money, who would give all a pet dog. that was nearest and dearest to her for 'She arose as if to go. money. Jimmie rose, too, and confronted her. " I want to speak to you, Meriel," said " Meriel," he said, with some firmness, " " Jimmie. I want— to speak to you. I " where are you going? want to tell you "Jimmie—you fool! I must dress for His voice was trembling. She feared luncheon." that he would break down and create a He caught her by the wrist. His grasp — —

PRESIDENT OF THE LINE. 295

was tightened by his anger. His fingers ry. He wanted to think—he wanted to

' seemed to press into her flesh like the be alone to plan his revenge. blades of a knife. He hurt her. His The more he thought; the more he be- face showed that he meant to hurt her came convinced1 that he would never fal- but she knew' better than to cry out. ter even in the slightest degree from the " !"' Jimmie—don't she muttered under course of his revenge when he had it her breath. thoroughly planned'. " Meriel," he said, with more determi- " Even if I kill him," said the boy to nation than she believed he possessed, himself, " I s-hall not care. Many a man " there will be no-luncheon for you until has killed for the woman he loves. But, you have heard me. no—that would be cowardly." " You let that vile brute steal you from He sank back in a reverie, heedless of

! you from ! dog fro. me Yes—steal me The the people who passed to and . Just stole you from me—and—by all that is why he waited in the hotel lie did not " good, he has got to pay the penalty ! know. It did' not occur to him to do

He gritted his teeth in the intensity of - anything else. Some inward force told his meaning. He weighed each word him that he had better stay there for a carefully, in order to bring out their full while. Something might turn up. irapfessiveness, but spoke hardly louder He might see Meriel again—and he than an ordinary whisper. The other oc- might see her husband. cupants of the room had not the slightest If the latter, he would walk straight indication that anything out of the ordi- up to him and nary was happening between them. He arose and walked up and down the " He stole you from me, Meriel—you. long hall, lined with its rich and easy whom I love and worship—and he is go- idlers, many of whom were gathering for

ing to pay for it ! I will have revenge the luncheon-hour. To the preoccupied even if it takes my life. I can't tell you youth, they were only automatic chatter-

how much I hate him ! I can't tell you boxes. If there were any pretty women how much pleasure it will give me to see 'among them, Jimmie did yot notice them. " him suffer ! He strolled up one corridor and down an- He released his grip. Meriel looked other, until finally he reached a little al- at him for a moment. If she grasped the cove off the main hallway. fact that his determined face showed only In a corner of the alcove two men were too plainly that he meant every word he sitting. Their heads were together, and said, she did not give any indication. they were talking in an earnest whisper, " Good-by," she said. " I must not looking furtively about now and then, as talk to you any more. You're a bad boy, if fearing an intruder. Jimmie." One of the men was Vincent Wilson, ^ She walked away. Jimmie's eyes fol 1 the other was Tom Tracie—the star lowed her until she had turned the corner sleuth of the detective bureau of the New of the hall and vanished. Indeed', she York police department. was beautiful. Such a face, such a figure, Just what drew Jimmie Winters to lie such wonderful eyes, such a fascinating interested in them he hardly knew. Try- manner, thought the young man—just the ing to appear as disinterested as possible, sort of woman worth fighting for—and he took a seat near them, pulled a letter fight he would. from his pocket, and pretended to read. " I wish I didn't love her so," he said The other men looked at him for an in- to himself, as he stepped out into the main stant, and then, assuming that he had no office of the hotel. interest in what they were saying, resumed their talk. "You say she is living here?" said CHAPTER VII. Tom Tracie to Vincent Wilson. "Yes; I am sure of it." replied Vin- The Conversation in 635. cent Wilson. " I've traced her to this JIMMIE WINTERS dropped into one place." of the huge leather chairs that " What is her married name ? " asked adorned the corridors of the great hostel- the detective. : : —

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" Clivers," said the younger man. "Mr. James E. Winters, Walter F. At the sound of the name Jimmie gave Winters & Co., Brokers, New York." a sudden start—so sudden, indeed, that it " might have frightened the twb men had I am Mr. Walter Winters's son," said they not been particularly interested in J immie, to clench his identity. their own conversation. And clench it he did. The name of They talked at length, but although Walter Winters stood for all that was Al Jimmie Jieard an occasional word or two- in Wall Street, and the clerk knew it. in which certain large sums of money and Besides, the firm had branch offices on " graft " and " theft " were mentioned, he the foyer hall of the hotel, and it would could gather nothing that would give him have been an easy matter to have proven a lead as to the direct nature of the sub- the identity further. ject of the two strangers. " That's' all right, Mr. Winters," said Still, his keen intuition told him that the clerk. " The man to whom you refer it was in connection with Meriel's hus- is Mr. Vincent Wilson. He is a railroad band. man connected with the Mainland Sys- He must make the acquaintance of the tem." men. " Could you arrange for me to meet It would not do to thrust himself upon him?" asked Jimmie, recognizing the them—that would be undiplomatic. fact fully that his question was somewhat He would wait until the proper time nervy. came. He would follow them and find The clerk was not amiss to do the well- out where they went, and call on them at known broker's son a favor. Certainly. their office's, if possible. They finally Ihere could be no harm in it. Jimmie arose to go. Winters was a young man of great re- Jimmie noticed them as they shook spectability, and, furthermore, thought hands. The elder man said, so loud that the clerk, any one could not go wrong he could plainly hear doing a favor to such a man. " I am sure that we will get at the bot- " I will certainly introduce you if I % tom of this." happen to see him around," said the clerk, They walked down the hall together, " but "—here he hesitated a second stopping once or twice to renew their "why not send up your card? I will talk, and when they reached the main phone to him and tell him who you are." fi street door they parted. " I wish you would," said Jimmie. I The detective turned down the avenue. will consider it a great favor—and I shall The younger man went to the hotel desk, be glad to return it some time." and nodded to the clerk, who handed him " Not at all, Mr. Winters," said the a key. Then he turned to one of the ele- clerk. vators and went up-stairs. He went into the private office to* tele- There was nothing for Jimmie to do phone. Jimmie waited outside, trem- now' but ask the clerk the man's name. bling in every nerve—he knew not why. He walked up to the desk, and said ha- Presently the clerk emerged. " stily : Mr. Wilson will be very glad to have " Will you please tell me the name of you go up to his room. It is No. 635, that gentleman to whom you just gave on the sixth floor. Front," he continued, " his room key ? calling to a bell-boy, " show this gentle- The clerk, alive to the numerous agents man up to 635." for and grafters and runners in gambling- Jimmie tried to offer thanks, but . the places, who frequent all large hotels, clerk politely bowed and was gone. forestalled Jimmie by saying that it was Three minutes later Jimmie knocked not the policy of the hotel to give the at the door of 635.

names of its guests to strangers. Vincent Wilson opened it, and bade

" I should like to know particularly, him enter. Wilson recognized instantly for I think that I can do him a service," the young man who had taken the seat in said Jimmie. " My name is Winters," the alcove so close to Tracie and himself, and Jimmie handed the clerk a card read- and broke the ice of the situation by saying ing pleasantly " —:—

PRESIDENT OF THE LINE. 297

-' I believe I saw you sitting down-stairs "My God!" exclaimed Jimmie, won- a short while ago, Mr. Winters." dering how Meriel could be connected " Yes," replied Jirnmie, " and you must with such a charge. pardon me when I tell you that I over- " I brought my suspicions .before the heard a part of the conversation between president of the company, after con- you and your friend. That is what brought vincing myself that if I could find Meriel me here. I don't know but I may be of Planquette I could secure from her—un- some service to you." der pressure, perhaps—certain informa- " I hope so," said Wilson in the same tion that would lead to the culprit. pleasant manner that always characterized " Miss Planquette was a poor girl in his conversation. our town, and was engaged to a young " First of all, let me tell you who I fellow now in the leper settlement at am, and why I am here," Jimmie began. Molokai. Shortly after he went there she Recognizing that he was the aggressor, fell in love with a man, who showered her so to speak, Vincent Wilson had the right with jewels, and disappeared. to a perfect and thorough acquaintance " There is an old fellow out in our of the man who had intruded on him. So town who keeps tabs on her pretty close- he told him all about his family, as well ly for some reason or other. His name is as himself, and added that if Mr. Wilson ' Doc ' Ferguson. I tried to get him to tell had any doubts as to whom he was deal- me Miss Planquette's address, but he de- ing with, all he had to do was to step manded five thousand dollars for the in- down-stairs into the branch office of Win- formation." " " ters & Co. and satisfy himself. Gee whiz-z-z ! said the now startled Vincent Wilson was satisfied. He in- and surprised Jimmie. " That was quite " vited Jimmie to a seat, closed the tran- a price ! som over the door, evidently to indicate " I guess that Ferguson saw that I that he .wanted secrecy. He was as anx- needed his information badly, and he put ious to hear what Jimmie had to say as his price at the top notch." " the young man was to tell it. It isn't possible that she—that she " What did I say tnat aroused your could have— interest, Mr. Winters?" asked Wilson. Jimmie didn't attempt the rest of his " You spoke of a woman — Mrs. thought. It was too much to think for Clivers." an instant that Meriel—his Meriel " " Do you know her ? could have been mixed up in a shady " Yes," replied Jimmie, with just a matter. breath of hesitancy. If a blush slipped " I don't say that she had any direct

onto his cheek, Vincent Wilson did not connection with the theft ; but I do think

notice it. that she could give some information that

• " Well," said Wilson, " since you have would lead to the possible capture of the taken me into your confidence, I will take thief." you into mine. The only agreement that " Do you mean to tell me that she may I will ask regarding what I may say to have been mixed up in a crooked transac-

you is this : In the event of our conversation, or the friend of any one whom she tion turning out to be absolutely useless knew to be a thief and a grafter? " asked to both of us, we agree never to divulge Jimmie, with considerable force, hardly to a third party what we may say here." satisfied with Wilson's answer. " I agree to that heartily," said Jim- " To the first part of your question I

' ' mie. would answer, No ; to the second part " Both men shook hands to seal the com- I would say, ' I do not know.' pact. There was a pause. Jimmie was think- " I am employed by the Mainland Sys- ing with set face. Wilson finally said tem," began Wilson, " and, in my official " Tell me your interest in her, Mr. capacity with that railroad, I discovered Winters. Remember we are speaking in certain things that led me to believe that the strictest confidence." some one connected with the road is ta- Jimmie did not answer. king money for his personal use. To be " You very kindly gave me the most plain, some one has been grafting." satisfactory* reference as to your stand- : —

298 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

ing," Wilson continued. "If you have want to get a look at this man. He is any doubts regarding me. you are at lib- staying here with his wife. Let's go down erty to wire at my expense to. the presi- and get some luncheon. They may be in dent of the Mainland System—Mr. Har- the dining-room now." vey Jones. Our home offices are in Louis- ville. Kentucky." He waited a moment. Then Jimmie CHAPTER VIII. said Meriel at Luncheon. " Thank you. Mr. Wilson. There is no occasion to do that. I am satisfied as to "yiNCENT WILSON and Jimmie v your position, and I believe in you. I Winters went down-stairs, and I was engaged to Mrs. Clivers. You will found an unoccupied table at a far end respect my feelings, I know, when I tell of the large dining - room, where most you that I am deeply in love with her, of the guests and those who regularly and she seemed to be in love with me. lunched at the Continental took their mid- " Our wedding day was set. I had gone day meal. home to Boston, where my mother lives, The table was in the remotest corner to break the news to her. When I returned of the room, but so situated that Wilson to New York, a few days later, and called and Winters had a complete view of the at her apartments, I was told by her but- entire room. ler that in the meantime she had married They ordered a light repast, over which ' Clivers. . they lingered for an hour and a half, " Now," said Jimmie, rising, and bring- during which time they reviewed every ing his hand down on a near-by table to detail of the case as they were interested add every possible emphasis to what he in it. At the end of their talk, they were was going to say—" now, Clivers is the on an excellent understanding. man I want to get even with ! He stole They trusted each other implicitly, and, the woman I loved when she promised to "while Vincent Wilson did not take t5o marry me ! I hate him with a hatred much to heart the value of the revenge that is something awful, Mr. Wilson that Jimmie would have orr- his enemy, " and I want to have my revenge \ he was willing to help his young friend. If there was the slightest quota of And Jimmie was willing to give Vincent doubt in what Jimmie had just said, it every -possible assistance to learn the was shattered by the intensity of his ex- source of the leak in the Mainland Sys- pression. Vincent Wilson saw in the set tem's finances. and rigid muscles of the young man's face They were about to give up their quest that he was determined to make good his when Jimmie, who had been scanning the threat. dining - room entrance, suddenly stopped " Did you always know her as Meriel talking. Planquette?" asked Wilson. " There she is now," he said, touching " When I first met her, she had just his companion's arm and indicating the moved to New York. She was then the dark, handsome, well-dressed woman who wife of a man named John Toyhnore, was entering and, asking the head waiter who was killed in an automobile acci- to show her a table. dent." Wilson saw her. He would never have " " What kind of a Aap is this Clivers? recognized the graceful, gentle, well- asked Wilson again. groomed woman as the poor girl whom he " I've got him sized up as a fake pro- remembered only indistinctly in Louis- moter and a paper capitalist. He makes ville. " " money, but just how nobody seems to By Jove, she does look fine ! he said. know. We wouldn't carry his account, But where was Mr. Clivers? Apparent- and I doubt if any respectable brokerage ly she was alone. firm in the city will have anything to do She was unaccompanied, much to the with him. He's a big, burly man, well discomfort of the two men. She crossed dressed, and he 'certainly has plenty of the room under escort of the head waiter money." and took a table some distance from them. " This interests me, Mr. Winters. I " Now, remember. Winters, there is :

PRESIDENT OF THE LINE. 299

only one thing that I ask. and that is that himself to be—merely an. impostor—she you will arrange it somehow so that I might be induced to divorce the financier, can see Mrs. Clivers. I only have eight and return to him. or ten questions that I want to ask her." Jimmie looked around and saw Vincent " I will do the best I can," said Jim- Wilson still sitting at the table. " mie. Suppose that I go over and talk " There is a friend of mine at a table " " to her now ? opposite." said Jimmie. May I call " " Clivers maybe hi the hallway, lurk- him over and introduce him ? ing around," suggested Wilson. The tension of talking commonplaces " Oh, I'm not afraid of him." Jimmie to Jimmie had begun to wear, and Me- replied, smiling. riel, glad of any interruption to change His plan was to get Meriel in conver- the subject, acquiesced. sation, and then call Vincent Wilson to Jimmie, with -his customary gallantry., her table under the guise of an old arose, bowed, walked over to where Wil- friend. son was still sitting, and returned with Meriel was not startled when she the railroad man. After the introduction, looked up and saw Jimmie by her chair. and when the three were seated. Jimmie Indeed, she was too good an actress, and broke the silence

too diplomatic, ever to let a situation get " Mr. Wilson is a friend of mine from \ the best of her. She greeted Jimmie as if Louisville." " " he had never had the slightest difference Oh, indeed ! with her. Yes." Vincent broke in. " Louisville Jimmie was the first to speak. has been my home for a number of years. " " Meriel," he said, I want you to for- I went to school there." give me if I hurt you this morning. You " Indeed," repeated Meriel. must really overlook it. I have worried " I hope to go there some day," said " about you—and I am sorry." Jimmie. I am told that it is a beautiful " Don't mention it, Jimmie," she said. city." "I'm glad to see you sensible again, and " Indeed," said Meriel again. " Have I'm sure that we can always be cjood you been to any of the theaters here since friends." your arrival. Mr. Wilson?" she contin- Then she invited him to sit down. A ued, turning to the railroad man and waiter drew up a chair. somewhat anxious to change the subject

' "May I ask where the ' better half from Louisville. is? " he asked. Wilson said that he had not. Meriel " I just said good-by to him for a while. finished her last sip of tea. Jimmie pre- He has to run over to Louisville for three cluded a lot of dry-rot conversation if or four days on' business. It is a place they sat there any longer, and was greatly that I dojiot care much about, so I stay relieved when Meriel rose. Wilson did at home," and she smiled as she spoke. not ply her with any questions. " My," said Jimmie, with feigned sur- Just as they were saying good-by, Jim- prise—" fleeing from so beautiful a bride, mie asked Meriel when Mr. Clivers would " already? return from Louisville. It was not that Then followed a lot of insiricere small he cared to know. He would probably talk, for neither meant a word that was have been delighted if Mr. Clivers" had said. Meriel' had married the pompous met his death in Louisville. He asked it Clivers for his money. She knew it—but only as a matter of the most abject polite- she veered from talking about- it. In her ness. heart she had all of her old love for Jim- " Sunday night," replied' Meriel. with mie, but she wanted to smother it as much her sweetest smile. "He arrives here on as possible whenever he was around. the seven o'clock train." As for Jimmie, the method that he was •She entered the elevator, and the men about to pursue was being slowly thought were alone. out and carefully planned even as he " Thank Heaven you asked her that spoke to her. If he could bring to her, last question," said Wilson. " How did in some way, the proof that Bertrand you know that I wanted to know when Clivers was not all that he represented Clivers would return?" — "

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" I don't know why I asked her that As the moments wore on, Jimmie now particular question," replied Jimmie. and then took out his watch with some " It seemed to be the only thing that I uneasiness. had in mind at the time. Somehow or Maybe Clivers wasn't coming that

other, it was mighty hard to talk to her." night ; maybe Meriel had made a mis- " Will you meet me here Sunday night take, or was only fooling them. Perhaps, when Clivers arrives?" asked Wilson. after all, it was a fool's errand on which " Surely," said Jimmie, " but don't ask they were bent. me to introduce him to you. I don't want It was nearly thirty minutes past sev- to insult you." en, and Clivers had not arrived. Jim- " I don't want to meet him," said Wil- mie was clearly nervous ; but the other " son ; I only want to. see him. —For some men, more used to meeting obstacles, reason or other my intuition tells me that only laughed at his uneasiness. " 1 must get a look at this man. I will I will go to the clerk and ask if the liave Tom Trade, of the detective bureau, train is any la— with me." Jimmie did not finish his sentence. "All right," said Jimmie, "we three Clivers was entering. Two bell-boys will meet right here at seven o'clock sharp rushed toward him, grabbed his valises, on Sunday night." and made for the elevators. They knew. Mr. Clivers was already registered, and/ did not escort him, as is customory, to the CHAPTER IX. clerk's desk. " There he is now," said Jimmie, as the The Late Arrival. portly arrival appeared. There Could be T^HEY parted, and Vincent Wilson no mistake. A tall man he was, perhaps hurried down to the Metropolitan close to six feet "with a very protruding Police Building, where he found Tom stomach and particularly large feet, on Trade. To the detective he related all which he was not very steady because of that happened, that afternoon. his terrible bulk. His face was large and Tracie listened eagerly. He was per- adorned with a heavy, black mustache. If fectly willing to make the. engagement for he had removed his hat, it would have Sunday evening, as he had been assigned been observed that he was possessed of a to the case to .assist. Wilson. But he heavy shock of hair which he kept close- couldn't see what good could be gained ly plastered to his head. " " by getting a peep at Clivers. Where? asked Wilson. " — "But Wilson insisted that he had a. There," replied Jimmie " that big " hunch " that Clivers should be looked man with the heavy mustache." " over. " And when I get these, hunches," That," replied Wilson— " that 1 Why, said Vincent, " something usually comes that's—that's—" He seemed to be gasp- " " of them." ing. That's Blander ! " At seven o'clock Sunday night the three Who?" asked the other men in uni- men. after a jolly dinner at the Conti- son. " nental, at which Jimmie made a most That's Blander," repeated Wilson. " agreeable host, found a comfortable Wait ; I will go and speak to him." lounge in the main hall of the hotel. In- That night Vincent Wilson wired to qulry proved that the train from Louis- Harvey Jones, president of the Mainland ville—tlie fast? express, on which passen- System, at his private house in Louis- gers traveled who wanted to make time ville : was some fifteen minutes late, and the trio Have a clue. Must remain here a few settled down to kill time. days longer. Will return Tuesday night,

(To be cc ntinued .)

A side-track is a mighty useful thing, but don't stay with it too long. Kick for running orders. —An Old Con's Con. James H. Lawrence, Oldest Railroad Wage-Earner.

BY NATHAN E. BURKE.

NINETY years old, but still at work in the roundhouse, James Harvey Lawrence, a veteran wiper of the N. Y., O. & W., enjoys the distinction of being the oldest regularly employed railroad man in America. There may be older railroad men in this country, and, if so, we should be glad to hear from them. However, our sources of information lead us to have little doubt that .to James Harvey Lawrence alone belongs the title of " Patriarch of the Track." The ranks of the old guard of railroad men who were boys when the first locomotives went wheezing along their wooden rails are growing thin- ner, year by year, but Time has been kind to many of them, and the healthy out-door lives they led have kept them well and happy while their less hardy brothers have been forced to answer the final call.

Ran a Foot-Race with the First Engine on the Erie When a Boy, and Has Since Established a Roundhouse Record of Wiping a Thousand Miles of Locomotives.

T the age of ninety, James the railroad has developed from practi- r\ Harvey Lawrence, a wiper cally a small line to one of great value. on the New York, Ontario He is probably the only man living who and Western, stopped work saw the odd little trains of the early ^ long enough one day to thirties, and is still up and busy every figure out for me that he morning. had polished up locomotives enough to His position in the railroad world is make a solid train reaching from New so unique, he has spent so many toiling York to Chicago. Having kept a record years at one of the most wearying tasks of them, he was able to arrive at a that falls to the lot of those who serve total figure of 70,640, and any one who the mistresses . of steel, that I went to cares to verify his calculations may read- Middletown, New York, where he has ily do so. I was content to take it on lived all these years, to have a talk with faith, but he was not satisfied with that, him and learn with how much courage and insisted on showing me his figures. a man can face his day's work in his You can work it out for yourself, but ninety-first year. you should have no trouble in taking my word for it when you learn that here is Patriarch of the Roundhouse. a man who saw the first locomotives* built, yet is still busy at his work of At his age one might reasonably ex- slicking them up. pect to locate him at the warmest spot Within the period of Lawrence's life behind the stove, or sitting in the sun 301 302 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

on- the sheltered side of the house, but eighty-two years old I was boss wiper, - when I found hkn he was at work in the and turned out ten engines a day. Now roundhouse, with a reasonable expecta- I'm too old for that, and some one else tion of making his string reach to has to do it,' but while I lasted I was a Omaha, or at least, Des Moines. worker. Ask Phil. I was an old man Phil Mitchell, 4he yard boss, and " a when he .was only a boy, but when I was white man " Lawrence told me feelingly, seventy I could do more work than at took me over and introduced me in per- any time in my life." son. At the moment he was passing around an engine with remarkable spry- Races with First Locomotive. ness. " Hallo, pop," Mitchell hailed him jo- The Erie, as well as the New York, cosely, " the boys tell me you're thinking Ontario and Western, passes through of marrying and settling down." Middletown, and I knew that the Erie The old man stopped, and, shaking his had been built .through .that section when head with the saddest expression in the there was hardly three hundred miles of world, solemnly assured Mitchell there track in the country. I asked him if that

was nothing in it. was where he had first seen a train. " You don't want to believe all you " I lived eight miles from here," he " hear, Phil," he commented. replied, and I was a fairly well grown " Well, it's mighty funny," Mitchell youth, near twenty years old, before the continued, " but I notice you see all the Erie was built. Why, I can remember pretty girls as they go by." the days before steamboats were at all " Oh, I didn't say I couldn't appre- common. I remember in particular a ciate a pretty girl," the old man laughed, trip 1 took with my grandmother from " I don't expect I'll ever be too old for New-burgh to New York, down the Hud- that." son in a sloop, and it took us three days. From these pleasantries you might So you can guess everybody for miles gather that he is a young man for his around turned out when the first train years, but that is not so. He is all of came through. Anything that could run his ninety years, and they weigh down ten miles an hour and keep it up, unless

on him the more on account of the hard something happened to it, was wonderful,

work he has done. But, in spite of it, perfectly wonderful. > When f* think he moves around for hours at a time about it now7 it makes me laugh. without sitting down to rest. "That "engine was surely a comical " See this one," he said, pointing out sight to see squeaking along, but it didn't

an ordinary freight-engine. seem that way to us then. Why, it wasn't " When I first looked on a railroad you much bigger than a sewing machine, but could have put all the locomotives in the it made a powerful lot of fuss about country inside her boiler. But I didn't itself. We were country boys from the begin wiping then. Why, it was hardly backwoods, and, of course, we had to go more than yesterday that I broke in at clown the track to watch for the first the railroad business. I was sixty years train to come in, while our elders stayed before I ever wiped an engine." at the station and waited. It was a pretty " Most men would be ready to quit long wait, too, as it was so hard to keep about that time," I ventured. the train on the rails. " I wasn't so young myself," he went " Finally, we must have got two miles on, " but I had to work just the same. I down the track before the engine came had been a wheelwright, but when they in sight. When she was pretty near up began to build the big shops thirty years lo us, we started to run ahead, and. the ago. it cut out all of the independent e*ig;neer steamed up to get enough speed blacksmiths, and I had to turn to some- to run us off the track. But he couldn't thing else. This was the first thing L do it. We turned around and mocked' at >mi< k. and I have been at it ever since. him, and only the little fellows had to " And I have wiped some, too," he get out of the way." " ' -aid proudly. My record shows a list The old man seemed to relish the I'd like to see duplicated. -. Until I was recollection. JAMES H. LAWRENCE, OLDEST RAILROAD WAGE-EARNER. 303

JAMES H. LAWRENCE. Drawn by H. M. Bunker from a thotograUt by the Times-Press, Middlettrwn. H. Y.

J' It was a long time ago, and I don't engine and set her back on the rails remember very well," he continued, " but after some one had kicked them into I can still see that little squeaking thing place. swaying from one side to the other, about " That kind of railroading didn't last to bust itself scaring up enough speed long, and it wasn't a great while before to drive a parcel of boys off the track. they had ballast in the road-beds. When I took a ride for the first time, a few "Off Again, On Again." years later, we didn't get off the track more than half a dozen times in fifty " Just before, or just after, we reached miles. At that time they were still using the statioif, "the rails spread, and down wooden rails, with iron straps along the went the engine between them in the side, but there were cross-pieces serving mud. You couldn't believe they ever the purpose of ties. run trains on such rails as those. They " When you get on a train now, you were just strips" of wood, the size of a don't look for anything to happen, and scantling, fastened along in a line with- you're pretty sure of getting in some- ou\ any cross-ties to keep them the right where near on time, but a ride on a train distance apart. in those days was a different matter. The " When you looked down a stretch of coaches were hardly bigger than wagons, track you could see that it was a prettv and the engineer could shout his orders crazy road to put a train over. But, to the conductor from the back of the even if they did go off the rails, it didn't train. make any difference. They never had "But what gets me is that those little enough speed to hurt anything, and three engines, with boilers no bigger than a or four men could just about pick up the barrel, used to make a heap more fuss 304 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

than these big fellows here in the round- was a grown man when this happened, it house. They would come howling over was borne in on me how old he really is. the hills like a hand of Indians, and you " Why do you keep on working at your could hear them puffing on the grades age? " I asked. for miles." The lids of the old man's eyes quiv- ered, and I thought for a moment he had A Panther with Wheels. been hurt by my brutal question. But it was not that—he was thinking. The Mr. Lawrence didn't tell me this story, idea had never been presented to him so but it happened in the same part of the pointedly, and it took a minute to frame country. There was an old trapper on an adequate answer. the Delaware, who lived by himself and " There's more than one reason," he carried on his operations in the hills, so finally said. " All my life I've had to that he did not see the rails laid, and help my relations, and it took every cent knew nothing of the Erie. Vaguely he I've laid by. So, when Jhe time came might have heard of railroads, but he that I couldn't earn so much as a younger had no visual knowledge of them. Every man, I had nothing, saved, and 1 simply day about the same time he began to had to keep- on working." hear panther cries on the other side of the hill, and each time he stalked them Keeps On Despite Years. to the creek, where he lost them. Day after day it kept up", and he set " It seems to mo," I interrupted, " that traps until the woods were full of them, they might have helped you then." but with no result. The animals' strange "They would," he admitted, "if I'd conduct and few scattered calls in the let them. I live with my granddaughter, middle of the day mystified him, and he and she keeps wanting me to stop, but decided to be on hand to pounce upon you see I wouldn't be happy, and that's it the next time it let loose. what I tell her. After you've worked While lying in wait on the hillside he every day for about eighty years, you

heard the panther far down the creek, can't stop, and that's all there is to it. I marking its progress with agonizing cries wouldn't know what to do with myself that increased in shrillness as it ap- with so much time on my hands. proached. Any one who has ever heard a " Here I am perfectly happy. I know panther and listened while its •voice ran this place so well, and I am so used .to it from deepest pathos to a wild demoniacal now that I miss it more than you imagine laugh can understand exactly how he felt. when I'm sick. You see, it's pretty much With his old flintlock primed, head^ all of life that I have left. When eve- down, sprinting through the underbrush ning comes, and I am tired, I sit at home to get within range before the beast and read the paper and go to bed early." got the scent, he did not have time " But don't you ever feel in the morn- " to analyze the notes in the panther's cry, ing that you'd like to rest a little longer? " or he might have thought it had a I'm not as fresh as I used to be," he strangely metallic ring. Instead, as the confessed. " but I have noticed, this," he cries came nearer, he hurried the faster, added "confidentially. " When a man has and, seeing what appeared to be a clear worked until he is. pretty old, and quits, space ahead, he leaped out and opened he doesn't last long. Now, I want to live fire on the strangest monster he had ever a few years yet, so I think I'll just peg seen. But, before he could reload, it along until I can't do anything any- knocked him into the gutter beside the more." railroad track. With that he turned and left me and When I remembered that Lawrence went back to work.

Gold cylinders haul no tonnage ; neither do cold feet. — Letters to a Steam Producer. I

TAMING BAD BILL GOODE.

BY EMMET F. HARTE.

This Time Honk and Horace Purify the "Sacred Pre- cincts of Valhalla from the Taint of Trespassers.

HE completion of the spur When he wasn't cobbling up the mo- connecting Valhalla with tor-car, which had a penchant for break- the main line at Millards- ing down without the slightest excuse, he ville was quite an event. was installing lights. We had a half-holiday and When he wasn't surveying, charting speeches. The company put grades, or putting in a new factory of a brand-new, splinterfied, gasoline mo- some kind, he was piloting some of tor-car in commission on our branch. It Dade's would-be investors around in a made two round trips a day. halo of hot air, or dissuading some un- Valhalla became a station, and I be- desirable character from making Val- came station-agent. It was the easiest halla his final home. job I've had since the Spanish War, Honk constituted himself a strict cen- when I —but post mortems are odious, sor over everything that came in, whether according to my favorite author. Be- declared dutiable or not. He claimed a tween the busy hours when the motor was clairvoyant sense of discernment; could due out and in, I spent my strenuous mo- spot a person of questionable attainments ments in catching grasshoppers and swi- farther than a turkey buzzard could smell ping at the darkling pools of the purling ripe meat, he said. creeklet for trout in the Mystic Hills. All this he told me during the evenings We had the medicine - house brought while the phonograph played "Chicken over for our own accommodations, and Chowder," and he whiled away the time life loomed large and pleasant in the perfecting a new-fangled typewriter that offing. It seemed a palpitant strain of would add, subtract, multiply, extract delightful melody to me. I gained fif- the greatest, common divisor, and match- teen pounds the first thirty days. you for the cigars.

Honk pretended to be very busy ; I What was it I started to tell? Oh, guess he was ; Honk never was otherwise. yes, about bad Bill Goode. I'll recount He was like a peanut-vender trying to about how William Goode happened to operate six corn-poppers at the same time. light in our pleasant midst. He came at Whenever anything went wrong with an inadvertent moment. any of the multitudinous array of ma- One night,' down to the power-house, chinery which was being unloaded and— which was now running all fine and dan- set up daily around Valhalla, Honk was dy, and was Honk's particular hobby, the the man to adjust it. He was a tinker man that hostlers around, or did hostler from Tinkerton, was Honk. around (he isn't any more), the gentle When a motor jammed, a spark-arrest- soul whose duties were to keep the brass- er went to sleep on its beat, or a cen- work bright and shining, and the cobwebs trifugal pump got the colic, who fixed it ? from hanging down and getting in the Honk. way, carelessly and without due tact and When plumbing leaked, wires refused discretion, probably while dreaming of to tote fair, or bearings squeaked, Honk the dear old days when he toted a hod, was the physician. stood a slicing-bar, or some such emblem 8 R R 305 —

306 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

of office, against Honk's biggest dynamo, profunda or barytone crescendo, you whereof things happened. might call it. Red, green, blue, and variegated "What line of business, please?" I things, and the roaring as of mighty asked politely. deeps loosened and up-ended. The pow- " Common tourist," he said without er-house went out of business so quick asperity. that the annunciator broke its arm get- " Try the Palazzo," I recommended. ting back to taw, and the wheel-base fell " Two dollars a day and up. American afoul of the doo-dad before the magneto or European, according to taste. Two " could whirl and annihilate the annihila- blocks up street. Next ! tor. He murmured thanks and sauntered in At least, that is my morbid conception that direction, or maybe he didn't mur- of the disaster, gleaned from hearsay. mur thanks, I don't remember. You can take it or leave it. I wasn't I mentioned him to Honk later. present when the thing occurred. " Looks like either a ranchero, a cabal- They wigwagged for Honk with the lero, or a hobo, I can't say which," I siren. Ever reAvind or rewire or rejuggle said. " Or he may be a duke, traveling an armature, or whatever you call it? in apropos, or whatever you call it." I'm no electric sharp, or I might be able Honk was inattentive. to speak technically on the subject, and " That was as complete a burn-out as then nobody would understand me. "I ever saw," he said, referring to the late I know enough about the crazy stuff short-circuit. " Why,- man, she crossed to drop a zinc into a jar or to tell when her current through six separate layers I've burned my thumb on a hot end of insulation, reversed the incongruity, " that's all. and evolved a —rif he didn't say that, he The whole line of dope is cards and said something that sounded like it, any- spades for Honk, though. He knows way. just where to catch hold and not get I happened to be passing the Palazzo stung. It's all coconut candy for him. in a day or two, and stopped in to beat It took a sixty-hour shift for him and his the slot machine out of a cigar. The little toolbag, however, in this instance. clerk was a crony of mine. As a patriot and a promoter, I re- " Seen the poker player, yet ? " he frained from fishing for the next two or asked. three days, and checked in the visitors " No," I said. " Who 'tis?" during Honk's absence. That's how the " William W. Goode," he made reply. two-times before mentioned Goode party " Tall, smooth-faced gent, with a sad got by the guarded gate. look and a black hat. Rooms here, and Honk said afterward that he would eats when he's hungry. He's a card ex- have nailed him as a crook of the first pert. Last evening he trimmed our dear water before the motor had got done beloved boss of this hotel, here, of a squealing for town, but that's as may be. thousand iron men in a friendly sitting The gentleman appeared civilized. at a dollar limit in Room 88. Pie's go- He was dressed modestly in male apparel. ing to board it out." His shoes, I noticed, needed a shine sev- I was charmed and diverted. " " eral days overdue ; his collar was tar- Where'd they get their permit? I " nished, and cuffs he had none ; but he inquired. We don't aim to make no was sober. His hat was broad, biack, sportsman's paradise out of Valhalla that and parted in the middle. He carried a I've heard tell of. This is Spotless Town, traveling kit that might have contained according to the blue-prints." either burglar tools or a cook book, so far He winked adroitly. as I knew. " I know," he said. " I'm aware of He walked unexcitedly over to where the fact that your long, hungry friend I stood, receiving the guests of Valhalla Simpson, who has been czaring around in my vice-Honkian capacity, and won- here ever since the P. and P. promul- dered where the best hotel was. gated the place, has got a bug of that voice He had mild, grayish eyes, and a sort, but;— Pshaw ! We've got a city between a tenor and a barytone—a tenor here now, a municipality. Didn't we —

TAMING BAD BILL GOODE. 307 adopt a charter by popular vote two weeks ago? Didn't we elect a mayor and three fran- chise dispensers ? We did. " We're forging to the front. All we need now is a little public spirit, civic pride, and a cafe or two, and we have arrived. And our friend Goode is going to fix it so he can open up a cafe, next door here to (the Palazzo. Wake up, Dreamy, and " get in the, procesh ! .Now, neither Honk nor I are identified with the dry movement personally. We only expected to start Val- halla off on the right foot. There be weak mortals who can't resist temptation like- he and I can. What we had in the private stores of the medicine- house was nobody's business. " it from You take THEY COME ON ME SUDDEN, AND THEY RE ALWAYS FATAL me, son," I said. " I'm TO SOMEBODY." grand vizier to the Ca- , lif Haroun Al Raschid, heap biggity from the salty and brackish waters of muck-a-de-muck. There won't be no Tough River, and I cqme clean. At boozorium in Valhalla soon. Not any. times I am mean in my conduct and dan- And I've got a mental panorama of this gerous to be safe," he went on to ex- card-artist star boarder of yours going plain. over the divide in a shower of sparks as " Sorry to meet you," said Honk. soon as Hancock Simpson hears of his " When do you expect your spell to be delinquencies. Why don't you get a de- at its worst?" That seemed to irritate " cent cigar-lighter around this dump ? our guest somewhat, and in his moment Well, what do you think? Bill Goode of anger he produced from either side, came down to the medicine-house that where they had been concealed beneath evening and interviewed us, the calif his coat, a large blue-barreled revolver and me, his aide-de-camp. Bad Bill's two, I counted 'em, two—which he han- breath savored of the red, red beverage, dled familiarly, one in either hand. and his eye watered, but he was firm of " I'm losing control of myself now," step and garrulous. he said. " They come on me sudden, and "Simpson, ef the P. and .P. outfit?" they're always fatal to somebody." I be- he inquired. " I've heard of you, some. lieved him unreservedly. Honk seemed

You think you're it around here, don't unconvinced. you? Some says you'll 'do, and some says " Yes," our visitor bellowed. " I went maybe. My name's Goode. I'm a hate- out of my way to hunt you fellows up ful and poisonous proposition. I come and settle this matter. I hear you in- ) " —

308 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

tend to run me out of this town. I hear The bad man from Borneo couldn't you don't like my style of beauty." resist the temptation to turn his head, by " ( Curses. I hear I'm not nice enough which lapse from vigilance we got him. to play in your yard." (More curses.) When his guns were captured, and our " I—I—" bloodthirsty visitant somewhat messed " " " Shut up ! said Honk. You'll over, Honk lectured him, gave him an wake up our pet parrot there in his cage hour in which to leave Valhalla forever, —he's a light sleeper. Horace, this led him to the door, and kicked him ruth- man," he continued, addressing me lessly from the platform, all spraddled " this man is bad. He admits it. He out. has come down here to pick a fuss out " So much for the hateful and poison- of us, Horace." ous proposition," he remarked, as we re- " I nodded. It so appeared to me. turned to our cozy chairs. Many are " We will feed him to the tiger," Honk called but few are chosen. Such is life resumed. " He must be sacrificed. It in the Far West. As I was saying, the will do him good, besides benefiting absence of red rays in these vapor lamps him." is a peculiarity which will render them He allowed his gaze to wander past impracticable for illuminating purposes the armed man, as if fixed on some ap- in the ordinary— sense. But ! My idea proaching object. Try this, some time ; would be " etc. it works. I went to bed leaving him still talk- " Steady, steady, Hector," he said. ing, or talking still, whichever you pre- " Nip him, boy, noiv.' fer, and filing a saw. We did not notice Bad Bill around for two days. Two days, four hours, and thirty-nine minutes, to be exact. Promptly at that .minute he reappeared with a team, wagon, and two camp-followers, all loaded down with guns, pis- tols, knives, cartridge-belts, and tffe other impedimenta of brigandage. They drove straight to the Plaza, in the center of Valhalla, unhitched and picketed out their plugs in the park, threw up a forti- fied camp, and took possession of the city in the name of Riot and Disorder. Wouldn't that blow off your hat? They awed us on the first jump; I'll have to admit that. You take three irre- sponsible drunken ruffians, clothed in smoke and profanity, and let them march up and down the streets of a peaceful community, shooting out window-panes and otherwise roistering and intimidating indiscriminately in all directions, and the timid quake* in their puttees. It even wears on us more

intrepid souls ; the noise of their shooting got in my ears I SURPRISED HONK IN THE ACT OF DEVOURING A COLD POTATO. so that I secreted myself un- — "

TAMING BAD BILL GOODE. 309

der my bunk in the medicine-house and " All problems have a solution, all dis- walled up the opening with canned goods. eases a cure, all poisons an antidote, ac- What Honk did I couldn't say. I'm cording to exact science." " " not his grand vizier all the time. I have Hip, hip ! I cheered in a whisper. " my half-holidays. It was said that Bad " What's the answer? Bill and his wayward crew swore to kill, " I've been cogitating," he continued. maim, and lacerate Honk and me at sight, " Don't hurry me. All day, while I lay and that they craved the sight of us — I mean, while you lay—secreted from begged and pleaded for that boon, in the eyes of men, and the vandals ripped fact. and tore through the streets of this, our All day the fusillade continued, except fair city, I sat and busied my wonderful at intervals when the besiegers were re- brain with thinkings. " loading themselves and their guns ; all Now. since I've partly dined, I don't day business was at a standstill in Val- mind confiding that this Bad Bill Goode halla, and the three drank deeply from person and his confreres in hoodlumism their stock of refreshments in the wagon, are my meat. Science wins over savage* strewed bottles in all directions, and took ry. ,lt has been so all down through— pot-shots at everything in sight. " Bang.' Bang! " went something, com-

It was a reign of terror ; Valhalla was ing down the street. hra state of beleaguerment. They came " Finish your diatribe later," I said. " " down during the afternoon, and..shot out Me fof the weeds ! most of the medicine-house windows. I I hurried out. leaped, and lit running. remained under my bunk, and held no Later I discovered Honk beside me. It conversation with them whatsoever; I didn't seem to exert him much to keep knew that if I got started I'd go too far up with my short stride. He talked as Ave —several miles at least. marathoned. Somewhere along about nine-thirty in " As I was saying"" he resumed, " sci- the evening I heard a stealthy step out- ence has disclosed the curative and re- side. A key was inserted in the lock juvenating properties in a ray of light. guardedly, and Honk entered. I knew Certain diseases disappear like they were him by his sniff. shot out of a gun upon the application of I emerged from my sanctuary some- the violet ray. Tottering invalids are what crumpled, and surprised him in the made whole, sores healed, devils exor- act of devouring a cold potato. He had cised. come home to eat. " All right, I call the bet and raise you " " How you startled me ! he said. a few chips. If a violet ray cures a sick " Where'd you come from ? I feared the man, there must be something to sicken a worst had happened to you. Well," brisk- well man. It's the law of opposites. " -ly, "what's the news from the front? Every condition has its alternative, I've just this minute returned from a every argument two sides. Very plausible junket south of town. The alfalfa-fields reasoning. look fine." " If a violet ray fixes 'em up, what tears " " The news," I said, is not reas- 'em down ? What are the primary colors " suring. Valhalla is in the hands of the in a prism ? Don't interrupt ! I slowed Goths. Rome' is burning, and the tom- down, puffing, but was too winded to an- tom sounds in the market-place," I re- swer. ported- " Violet, indigo, red—etc." He fell " " Now that L have arrived on the over an obstacle in the darkness. I wait- scene," he mused, " we must devise ways ed. " Curses on the guy that left that " and means to stop the conflagration. I water cut-off sticking up ! he comment- feel better since that sandwich. First, the ed. " Indigo and orange rays, Horace,

proposition is this : We have before us a will do the business. How do I know? problem. A foreign and deleterious ele- Never mind. Shoot 'em at a living organ- ment has appeared in our midst. Our ism, and what happens? " body politic is attacked by a malignant, His blood clogs in the capillaries, cancerous, parasitic growth — a fungus his nerves curl up and sting him, his has sprung up. heart fails, his lungs refuse to perform !

310 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE. their vital work of purification, and the around. Science is taboo for you. Don't little microbes that lurk in every nook you know that light shining through a and corner of his system, waiting for just blue glass is not a blue ray? Of course, such a moment, swarm out and go for you don't. him. " Butch, watch him to see that he don't " There you are. His harvest days are fall in the -fire while I'm up aloft. And, over, for a spell." Butch, bring me that boxful of bottles " Well, then," I said, " you never had off the shelf—the one I warned you about. a more glorious opportunity to inoculate I'll show you some sure - enough blue a bunch of marauders than now presents. rays." " What are you running away for? " Just the same— " I started to get

•" " " Running away ! he snorted. Huh back, but he was gone. He scuttled up the You've got a gyroscope in your occiput. ladder, and fastened himself somehow, We're not running away—we're on our with the search-light swinging in front way ; to the power-house, Horace. You of him, just below the hood of the stack. seemed in a hurry ; that's all the difference I climbed up about half-way to see the I can see." show and to yelp the word down to Batch We were, in fact, headed in that direc- when to turn on the juice. tion, although I hadn't noticed it partic- It was a good half-mile to the Plaza, ularly. A couple of blocks farther brought where the center of trouble was. We us there, and Honk proceeded to put his could hear faint hallos and the occasion- theories into practise. al crack of guns, and see little spurts of Butch Poteet was chief cook and offi- fire. Honk passed the official call for ciator at the power-house at night. We current, I handed it on down, and Butch enlisted his services. flipped over his cut-in switch. There was a thousand-candle search- First came shooting the dazzling gleam light over in the corner. Honk built it of white light that slipped through the one day while killing time. It had never darkness like a sword-blade, and waved been used, but was warranted to stab a along the streets, breaking and spraying hole in the dark for I forget how many at the end into a cascade of light that miles. showed up the pores in the bricks. A We put that search-light in shape pret- mouse couldn't have hidden himself where ty shortly. Connected up a coil of wire that ray struck. to it. trimmed her with new carbons, Honk located the despoilers in about greased, primed, and hoisted her up the ten seconds. There they were, three ladder on the two-hundred foot stack maudlin puppets, waving their puny arms above the boiler-room, where we had a and shaking their little fists in defiance. sweep at every crook and turn of Val- Bang! Bang! Bangity! went their pis- halla. tols. It sounded like the popping of pop- " They can t get away." chuckled corn at that distance, and the bullets fell Honk. " This stunt is too simple for considerably short—not any too short to grown men to engage in, but it's inex- suit me, though. pensive, and will do the work. We could It looked like a moving picture with go down and clean 'em out at their own the " gr-r-r" of Honk's machine up kind of game, but that is so littery. This above. Goode and his partners stood is better." — about half-way between the big fountain " It is," I agreed " much better. On m the Plaza and the corner where the " with the dance ! two stone lions are, and they kept on wa- I took an enthusiastic interest in the ving their flippers and wasting ammuni- setting of the stage for action. I like tion. That was the way the scene looked long-range fighting. when Honk turned on his medicine. "How do you color your lights?" I I don't pretend to say how he did it. queried. " Have you got any blue glass He clinkered and squittered a minute, " to squirt it through ? with his bottles and his light, humming " My boy." Honk spoke sympathetical- a tune to himself. The bright white beam ly, " have your brain force for the ab- of light up above me suddenly turned a struse problems of eating and waddling ghastly gray, then purple, cobalt, black 1 1

TAMING BAD BILL GOODE. 311

Valhalla had come, scratched but intact, from the clutches of the enemy. I fWl i J 1 I clattered down the ladder, while 1 wii 1 -pS Honk unlimbered his apparatus. Butch *—ivri ' i ); ; / it in sat smoking his pipe nonchalantly and

l' ' 1

\ i 44 ? \ IMl . i-=— i

''we're not running away—we're 'on' our

way ; to the power house, horace."

almost, gruesome, horrible - looking. I poring over the Evening Clarion. Noth- looked once, and shut my eyes. It gave ing excited Butch except a dime novej. me a chill. " I guess I didn't put 'em down' on When I looked again, he was shooting their crawlers, eh?" said Honk, lugging a thick, gummy, yellow streak of light in his paraphernalia. " Gimme a chew, into them that made me still sicker to look somebody. Don't all speak at once. Say, at. I could guess what it was doing to that stuff's hard on the nerves ! Look those guys at the end of the ray. how my hands are swelled up where it hit

Then he changed back to the blue 'em. Come along, Horace ; if you can again, and- I saw one of the victims start control your cowardly legs, we'll go up to run. He made a jump, then crumpled and clear off the mess on the lawn." up, and fell on all fours like a dog. I Well, there wasn't any bad men whoop- imagined I could hear him " ki-yi." ing around the Plaza any more. Bad 'Twas very interesting and instructive Bill Goode and his huskies had reformed. to see .Bad Bill try to fight that indigo There they sat on the grass, all hunkered dope that was turning his microbes loose up, sicker than hounds with cholera in- to undo him, and to see \t finally wilt him. fantum, looking around like their last The other two were down and rooting in friend had made good his escape. the grass of the park "before we fetched " Come, come," said Honk, lifting Bill Bad Bill, but he got his a plenty, after so Goode by the ear, " this'll never do. The long a time. big show's over. The little boys must He ran fifty yards for a tree, but skiddoo for home, before the booger man couldn't make it. Honk just actually gets 'em. This park is supposed to close swamped him with poisonous rays before at nine o'clock, and here it is ten-thirty. he got there. He threw up his fins and You fellows are due for a rough-housing fell like a corn-stalk before Kabibonokka, right now." " sir," the north wind, and freedom rose up out No, sir ; yes, the wild and wool- pf the shrubbery whither she had fled, and ly ones squeaked in chorus. " Don't hurt rcconnoitered. us ; we're sick. We're all shot to pieces." —

312 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

" " They looked it. Chills, fever, typhoid, Ta-ta, good-by, and farewell ! said pneumonia, rheumatism, pip, roup, and Honk. " Whip up, now, and don't both- boll-weevil. They had 'em all. Not a er to come back. Your work is finished whoop or glare was left. here. If either one of you fellows ever Tottering, limping, and bent with mis- does come back as long as I'm hanging ery, they caught up their plugs at Honk's out in this neighborhood, please feel sor-

THIS PARK IS SUPPOSED TO CLOSE AT NINE O CLOCK. direction, hooked them to the schooner, ry for yourselves. You've had your last and hoisted themselves on board, with sample. Next time you'll get the real ar- " many creaks and complaints. ticle. Now, hike ! Bad Bill had a terrific chill before he Bad Bill Goode propped himself up got both feet in, which was followed by with a shaking arm, and looked at us with faintness, nausea, headache, and flatu- an air of apathy. Then a last flicker of his lency. The other two were having diz- outlaw's spirit stirred him, and he shook ziness and hot flushes alternated by tor- a trembling forefinger at Honk. pid liver and that all-gone feeling, when " Eh-eh-pooh pooh for you!" he Honk headed the team into the street. squeaked as they drove away into the The helm was hard aport, and their night. " We ain't afraid of you, dad- " course was laid for the open sea. bust you ! Whip up, boys, an' let's go ! BRONZE INSTEAD OF BRASS. AN order recently issued by the Atchi- This will do away with the constant ex- son, Topeka and Santa Fe will re- pense of polishing and keeping it in shape. sult in every car and coach on the system Bronze will hold its color unaffected by the being sent to the shops and the brass trim- elements, and will never grow dull and dis- mings will give way to those of a statuary tasteful to the eye. A little cleaning now • bronze. The hat-racks, side-rods, light- and then for sanitary purposes is all that is fixtures, and every piece of brass will be necessary. Railway and Engineering Re- taken out or covered with a coat of bronze. view. ;

The Science of Rate-Makin

BY THADDEUS STEVENS.

THE whole range of commercial statistics knows of no more complicated, delicate, and far-reaching process than the making of freight rates on American railroads. The vast territories covered, the different requirements of those territories, and the widely varied products which the enormous area yields, combine to make a problem that only the best-balanced and most orderly minds can cope with. In addition to this, all these conditions are constantly changing; and when it is considered that the rate-makers must work within the lines defined by forty-six different State governments, as well as the Federal government, the size of the task can be imagined. Rate-making is a science in process of evolution—a science whose fundamental premises are being constantly changed, and the professors of which need to be more up to date than those of any other science, because they are a direct economic force in the communitv.

The Systematic Manner by Which the Present Elaborate but Excellent Schedule Is Built Up from the Invention of an Ordinary Freight Clerk.

^HE making of a freight-rate the infant railroad divided its territory between two points on dif- into ten-mile districts, and adjusted its ferent lines of railway is rates at a hundred pounds per ten miles. not the work of one man They soon awoke, however, to the fact it is the joint product of a that the value of the goods hauled was hundred brains. If the ar- an important element in their cost of ticle covered is a new and hitherto un- transportation. Therefore, the Camden classified one, perhaps a thousand peo- and the other little lines then in exist- ple will each have contributed their ence evolved classifications of merchan- quota of information or advice before dise, fixing rates according to class in- the price of its transportation is agreed stead of commodity. upon. When one of the historic first rail- Birth of Classification. ways in America was built, out of Cam- den, South Carolina, the wagon freight- Thus was born the basing of rates on ers charged twenty cents per cubic foot the class of goods, a system which with for light weight, and a dollar a hun- certain exceptions prevails on all the dred pounds for heavy articles. This American railroads to-day. These ex- was for twenty miles or less, because ceptions are the special commodity rates, that distance was a day's work. The which are far in the minority. Camden Railroad's charter decreed that Every article of merchandise that a its charges should not exceed ten and railroad handles is supposed to be listed fifty cents—half what the wagon freight- in the official classification-book which ers were charging. So the officials of governs in the region where its trains

3i3 1 — —

'314 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

run. In this book is listed alphabeti- in the territory east of the Mississippi cally between eight and ten thousand and north of the Ohio Rivers, and con- articles. tains six classes. The Southern Classi- In the column opposite each is a fig- fication, with fourteen different classes, ure or a letter of the alphabet showing in the territory east of the Mississippi the class to which it belongs. Now, this and south of the Ohio Rivers. The classification is of no value by itself, any Western Classification, with ten classes, more than the thumb would be without in the territory west of the Mississippi. the fingers. There is also a Transcontinental Clas- The freight tariff is its necessary com- sification, which applies on some classes plement. Taking the two together, the of through freight from and to the Pa- rate is arrived at. cific Coast. A few of the State Railroad If you ask a clerk in a freight-office Commissions have also muddled things for a rate on " blood, dried, in pack- by establishing local classifications with- ages," Chicago to New York, for in- in their boundaries, but these are not of stance, he will not start back in horror, much importance. and reach for his steel eraser as a weap- Even now, after seventy-five years of on of defense. He will reach for his study, the classification arrangement is

classification-book, casually . remark that not perfect. Each of the three big clas- it is third class in less than car-loads and sifications differs materially from the sixth class in car-loads. other. A universal uniform system will prob-\ Chaos of Standards. ably come some day. It almost came in \

1890, when a uniform freight classifica- I

• *Then he will look in his tariff -book, tion, prepared with much travail and

and say that the rate on the former isj friction, was approved by all the rail- I forty-two cents— or whatever it is—and* roads in the country but one—an East-/"

the rate on the latter twenty-one cents. , em trunk line—which defeated the If he had not had both the classification movement. and the tariff before him, he could not But changing the existing order of have told you the rate. things is considered by most traffic men The basis, then, of the freight-rate is to involve pretty serious risks. They say the classification. Years ago, each rail- that a uniform classification could be road had its own classification, and the adopted only through interminable fights

mail who wanted to ship a case of shoes v and compromises, that it would mean the from Boston to Baltimore could get only changing of rates all over the country, the haziest of ideas as to what the and would upset business conditions through rate would be—he knew even mightily. less what his competitor was likely to pay. Methods of Agreement. Before the adoption of the present system—there are but three sets of clas- The classifications are made up and sifications now—there were 138 distinct guarded by the classification committees classifications in the Eastern trunk appointed by the various railroads oper- line territory alone. History is silent ating in the territories concerned. These as to how many there were in the Middle classification committees are in session States and the West, but there must have every working day from nine in the been an appalling number. morning until five in the afternoon. The reduction in the number of clas- One part of their work is issuing ru- sifications to three was brought about by lings on the class certain commodities the growth of through traffic, and of shall take. Local agents, bill clerks friendly relations between the warring even general freight-agents and traffic railway officials. These three classifica- managers themselves—are continually " tions—born, as one writer puts it, of being stumped " on how to classify " " deliberation, discussion, and strife certain articles which do not appear to are as follows. be listed specifically or lo be covered by The Official Classification is supreme the frequent initials " N. O. S." (not ;

THE SCIENCE OF RATE-MAKING. 315

specified) placed after the des- otherwise they take up a lot of room ; therefore, ignation. they .pay double first class rates. When the highest freight official in Value puts books, blankets, sixty-cent the general office cannot tell what the watches, etc., in the first class along with classification should be, he refers it to wash-boilers not 'nested. Nested wash- the committee, and they give their de- boilers take second class because they cision. occupy less room. The reason why sand Each classification, as has been said, and sawdust and other bulky articles contains between eight and ten thousand take the lowest class and rate is because items. These are grouped under from they are cheap, and the lowest rate is six to fourteen classes. Generally speak- " all the traffic will bear." • ing, whether an article in the classifica- Another delicate point for the classi- tion takes the first—or highest— class, or fication experts to decide upon is, for the tenth, or fourteenth, is determined by instance, if they conclude to charge its bulk, weight, and value. crackers, in baskets, at the first-class rate But there are a lot of other things in less than car-loads, what the- same which the classification committees have shall pay in full car-load lots. They to take into account. They have to con- take the fourth-class rate in sucli quan- sider whether the goods are crude, rough tities, by the way.

; or finished ; liquid or dry knocked down Now, a car-load lot does not mean

or. set up ; loose or in bulk ; nested or in how much can be crowded into a par-

boxes, or otherwise packed ; if vegeta- ticular car; it means, for one thing, how bles, whether green or dry, desiccated or little the minimum car-load. In the the is evaported ; the, market value, and East the minimum 30,000 pounds, ex- shipper's representations as to their char- cept in certain classes of goods, like acter. church furniture, settees, and tables

where the minimum is 1 0,000 pounds. Variety of Rates. Why exceedingly nice judgment is required in fixing the classes on car-loads Also, they have to consider the prob- and less may be better understood when able cost of the service, length, and dura- it is considered that the railroad must

tion of the haul; the season and manner continually foster its business ; that by

of shipment ; the space occupied and the means of shipping in car-loads, a big

weight ; whether in car-load or less than dealer can get his goods cheaper and

car-load lots ; the volume of annual ship- undersell his small competitor. A wide

ments to be calculated on ; the sort of difference between the two rates would car required, whether flat, gondola, box, hurt the New York jobber, for instance,

tank, or special ; whether ice or heat who wished to reach directly the retail

must be furnished ; the speed of trains trade of the West, and it would favor necessary for perishable or otherwise the jobber in the West or South who re-

rush goods ; the risk of handling, either quired a low rate for his wholesale ship- to the goods themselves or to other prop- ments. weights, actual and estimated erty ; the the carrier's risk or owner's release from Territorial Conditions. damage or loss. For instance, agricultural implements One eminent expert—Judge Noyes, of set up—ready for use—take double first- Connecticut— is the authority for the rattan statement " class rate ; lounges of bamboo or that the tendency of the

' take three times the first-class rate Official ' classification is to protect the ashes, brick, salt, sand, sawdust, etc., Eastern manufacturer by reducing the take the lowest or sixth class. 'All these difference between rates for retail and " " are from the Official or Eastern Clas- wholesale shipments ; while the inclina- ' sification. tion of the ' Western ' and ' Southern Cost largely governs the classification. classifications is to promote the interests The rate on silk is high, because it is of the wholesale dealers within their ter- valuable and takes but little space. ritory. Feather beds are not worth much, but The fixing up and keeping in order of 316 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

the official classifications of goods is com- charge for each class of freight between plex enough; but the making of the two points, arid those which are arbitrary freight tariffs which apply to them is a rates independent of the classification. task so enormous on each line, and the These latter are called commodity rates. result—that is, the relation between the cost of the service and the price charged Factors in Rate-Making. for it—is so wavering and inexact, that rate-making is still one of the greatest In the making of a freight-rate, en- problems of railroading. Enough has tirely different elements get into the cen- been written and printed about it to fill ter of the stage from those, concerned a good many book-shelves, and there is with the building up of the classifica- " • as much diversity of opinion as to the tions. As one writer puts it : The clas- proper method of arriving at the cost of sifications determine the relation of hauling goods, and how much to charge charges; the tariff, the specific charge. the customer for.it—the freight-rate—as Different roads with the same classifica- there is about the right road to heaven. tion must make very different rates for Years ago, before the birth of the In- similar services." terstate Commerce Commission, this busi- Here are a few things which traffic ness was handled by railroad associations people have to keep in mind in arriving which were known by the shorter and at a rate basis. more expressive word " pools." Each of Are there heavy grades on the line, or these was presided over by a- high-browed even a moimtain range to cross, while the expert who actually knew more about competing line runs through compara- the science of rate-making than any of tively level country? The density of the the railroad officials had had time to traffic also has a good deal to do with learn, and, therefore, received an enor- determining the rate. mous salary. The road that runs through deserts or These associations were made up of a country that is sparsely settled must the competing lines in each territory, and charge a high rate—comparatively—or it was their aim to agree upon uniform else the receivers will get it. So much rates between various points. Further, if of the railroad's expenses- go on whether

one line should get more than its pro- it does business or not that when it comes • portion of earnings, it should pay over to figuring the cost of hauling the va- the excess to the other lines. rious classes of freight, the usual custom is to regard this total expenditure End of Railroad Pools. as a whole as a basis to figure from. But, great as the science of statistics Rate-cutting was a frequent feature, applied to railroading has become, it is notwithstanding all these precautions. still impossible to determine exactly what Legislation finally abolished all railroad it costs to haul any particular commod- pools, and now the task of deciding on ity any particular distance. joint rates is part of the day's work of There are a few basic principles in the railroad traffic department. rate-making that form the solid ground The rate department on each large from which the experts work. One of road employs continuously from twenty these is that commodities that move in to forty skilled men whose sole business solid train-loads over long distances can

it is to try to arrive at the probable cost be carried at a less cost per ton per mile of hauling certain merchandise. Their than those that are hauled in separate conclusions furnish a basis for the fu- car-loads on trains that carry different ture arguments between the different kinds of, freight, or freight that moves railroads concerned as to what rate to in less than car-load lots. ( put into the tariff, and what share of a Therefore, the lowest rates are always through rate each road shall receive for be.tween the great consuming and dis- its haul. tributing centers, like Chicago and New There are two classes of tariffs: those York. The rates between these two great based on the classification, which tell cities have been arrived at after years how many cents per hundred pounds to of fighting and compromise between the THE SCIENCE OF RATE-MAKING. 317

mighty warriors in the field of transpor- various railroads have so painfully and tation and between the communities af- laboriously built up between themselves, fected as well. They are called " one and how easily disturbed. Touch the hundred per cent rates." rate on iron products out of Chicago,

In the--same way the rates between in- . and Joliet furnaces and Pittsburgh rail- termediate cities and territories have been ways will be thrown out of gear. established as percentages of the one As a consequence of a recent change in hundred per cent rate. New York to rates from Baltimore to Atlanta, and Pittsburgh is sixty per cent of the Chi- Louisville to Atlanta, three-fourths of cago rate, for instance. Cleveland is the railroad rates in the United States seventy-one per cent, Detroit seventy- were affected, and the total changes in eight per cent, Indianapolis ninety-three rates necessitated by this initial change Peoria, one not less per cent ; beyond Chicago, were than one hundred thousand. hundred and ten per cent, and St. Louis The rates on the Pacific Coast are be- one hundred and sixteen per cent of the- set by the same complications as those

, New York to Chicago rate. east of the Rockies, and must be kept in adjustment with the ocean rates as well. The Hundred Per Cent Rate. The merchants in the vast territory west of the Mississippi River, in brief, are all Rates from Boston and interior New competing for trade in that vast territory. England points, rates from the territory The rate adjustment now existing surrounding Buffalo and Pittsburgh, and there is the result of all this competition from other interior points are also estab- between themselves and among the rail- lished in relation to the New York-Chi- roads. Yet, changes have to be made cago rate, as well as rates to and from continually to meet the fluctuating con- Norfolk and other points in Virginia. ditions of industry and commerce, and Rates in the opposite direction—from such changes are the things that call for Chicago to New York—are also on the the exercise of the utmost diplomacy same one hundred per cent basis, upon and experience of the traffic on the great which are likewise made practically all lines interested. the West to East rates from points on Even the commodities themselves com- the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers and the pete in rate-making. It is a general territory to the north and east of them. principle that crude or raw materials It is interesting, just here, to tell-what should, other things being equal, pay happens when a railroad rate on an ar- lower railroad rates than what is manu- ticle of general production and consump- factured from them. For instance, the tion is reduced or increased between an rates on pig iron are lower than on steel Eastern and a Western point in the ter- blooms and ingots, though the only dif- ritory specified. All railroad rates are ference between them is that the latter are reduced between all Eastern and all worth a trifle more. A change in the rate

Western points ; rates for combined lake of any raw material, therefore, affects

and rail transportation are cut; rates via every article manufactured from it. the Erie Canal and the Great Lakes are lowered to maintain the proper differ- Invention of a Freight Clerk. ence between them and the all-rail rates " and the rail-and-lake rates ; rates on The system of one hundred per cent through traffic from and to points west rates " explained above was devised by

of the Mississippi River and from and James M c G ra ham . a clerk in the freight • to points south of the Ohio River come department of the Pennsylvania Rail-

/' down ; rates may also be decreased to and road. It simplified enormously the ma- from points in Canada. Experts say king of tariffs, and also removed the that the change in but a single one of the complications surrounding the fixing of rate bases mentioned has forced the rates from points common to two or more changing of not less than eight thousand routes, via either of those routes to an- rates. other common point.

This shows what a delicately balanced A city like Chicago or New York is • " house of cards is the rate system that called a basing point." That is, the 318 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE. rate to such a point is one dollar, for in- principal of which is competition with stance. To points beyond that, within the water routes of transportation. Most certain territory, it is such and such a of the heavy transcontinental traffic percentage in addition. moves under commodity-rates. Large cities are not necessarily basing These rates also are especially favored points, however; but geographical cen- by railroads wishing to foster new indus- ters of vast freight movements are "also tries along their lines or to enable manu- taken. Some of these are Peoria, Daven- facturers to reach out into new markets. port, Dubuque, Sioux City, St. Joseph, Not infrequently a railroad will make a and Leavenworth. low commodity-rate between two given The result of all this complicated sys- points only, and leave otherwise undis- tem of rate building that has been brief- turbed the class-rates in the same terri- ly outlined is that every freight official, tory. That is because they deem some big and little, and even the traveling individual industry or group of industries representatives of the freight department will be fostered thereby. and the station-agents of the big mod- The railroads in this matter of rate-* ern railroad, are continually collecting making really play the part of paternal- information leading to readjustment ly protective governments who desire to after readjustment of freight-rates. foster growing enterprises within their When it is finally decided by one that territories, and do so by raising or lower- a rate should be changed, the matter is ing the customs tariffs. carefully^ calculated statistically in the Of course, commodity-rates are fre- rate department. The result is submitted quently withdrawn after their object has to the head of the traffic department, and been accomplished. It is easier to do he discusses it pro and con from every this than it is to change the tariffs based point of view with those who have ex- on the class-rates which may affect a less pert knowledge bearing on the matter. restricted region. After it has been thoroughly gone over A railroad, however, 3S might be gath- and the arguments tested, link by link, ered from the above, is far from a phil- why it should be changed, the traffic anthropic, enterprise in the fostering of manager, like the ambassador and diplo- weakling industries. It is a public enter- mat of one great nation treating with prise for private gain, and one of the another, takes it up with the road or principal bases for the fixing of a rate* is roads interested, cautiously or vigorously designated by that widely abused and as the case may warrant. Then comes greatly misunderstood term, " what the the test of the relative abilities of the traffic will bear." various traffic managers. A freight charge has to be, in the long The same difficulties of adjustment run, no greater than the difference be- apply to the commodity-rates as to those tween the cost of production at the place governed by the tariff and classification of origin plus the merchants' profits and —in fact more, because each relates to a the price which can be obtained for the specific article of merchandise. The commodity at the place of destination. much greater part in bulk of the freight The railroad has to make its rates so transported in the United States moves that it may earn a fair average profit, at commodity-rates, although the greater and yet so that the greatest volume of gross revenue is from the goods carried goods may find a market over its lines. at class rates. If the rates on dry-goods and on coal These commodity-rates apply generally were the same, the road's total revenue on heavy or bulky merchandise or mate- would not pay its expenses ; if it at- rial like grain, lumber, coal and iron. tempted to charge as much for hauling Commodity-rates are lower than class- coal as for dry-goods, the coal-cars would rates for a variety of reasons, one of the not be in use at all. SMOKE'S LOST INDEPENDENCE

HORACE H. HERR.

Why He Signed Up the Matrimonial 31 Order with Molly Stevens, After a Fourth- of-July Baseball Game.

men all his life, it hain't no wonder that two of the fellows didn't take kindly to his back shop and passed in their checks. I was right alongside of Lon Ringsley when the celebration started, and after I see him draw one of them smoke-poles with a muzzle on it as big as a diamond stack, I happened to remember that I'd forgot something over to the roundhouse, and as I went right over there by the shortest route, to see what it was, I wasn't present at the concludin' performance.

Every one who stayed said that it was "worth the money, but when the prose- cutin' attorney was huntin' for witnesses he couldn't find enough to convict any- SWUNG BACK AND FORTH FOR A MOMENT. body, and the town council decided that, for the public safety, they would have to EEING as how Flagstaff, Ari- lock the switch on hoss-racin' in the fu- L zona, is several train lengths ture. removed from Bunker Hill Of course, the Fourth of July has got and the rest of them famous to be celebrated some way or another, Revolution stations, one don't and with hoss-racin' off the time-card the expect it to celebrate the town voted for baseball. The first year Fourth of July accordin' to a nine from the roundhouse took all the the standard book of rules. But I sure steam out of the brakemen's nine ; and remember two celebrations down there the next year the soldier boys from Fort that were full tonnage when it come to Apache came over and coupled onto a the genuine fireworks. double - header victory by beatin' the The first one was the time old Lon roundhouse in the morning and the brake- Kingsley, from Shevelon Creek, brought men in the afternoon. that yaller hoss of his'n over to race a But the next year we had Smoke Du- flea-bit gray owned by an Indian trader gan playin' with us, and we picked one at Ream's Canon ; and the other was good team from everything between the when Smoke lost his independence and high switches. We invited the uniformed several large chunks of his epidermis. boys back, believin' that we would be able After that hoss-race the town turned to tie a large piece of hardware onto out and give the stake-holder a decent them. They come over, and brought a funeral, and the company doctor was band with them, and there was a special pickin' bullets out of four other fellows from Ash Fork and another one from for a week. Winslow, and I'll bet my meal - ticket Seein' as how the doctor didn't know against a blind gasket that Bunker Hill much about the workin' parts of a cow- or Philadelphia couldn't done the job of puncher, havin' been workin' on railroad celebratin' any better. 319 : —

320 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

Smoke was the whole works that day He could send that ball up to the bat- engine, cars, and caboose. When it come ter on a fifty per cent grade ; he'd make it to railroadin', I can't say that Smoke was come straight half the route, then send very much. I think lie must of got his it off on a side track ; and the batter early experience driviri 1 a mule-car, for would break in two trying to hit some- when Sam Parks give him a job in the thing that wasn't there. roundhouse he didn't know the difference After we had seen him workin' for a between a steam-chest and a sand-dome. month or so, we all had an idea what was Everybody looked on him as a harmless gain' to happen to the soldiers on the sort of cuss, good-natured, with a facial Fourth. map about as handsome as a Colorado But of course none of us fellows was potato. figurin' that Stevens girl in the results For a few days the gang let him make of the game, seein' as how she wasn't one mileage running after left-handed mon- of the players, and only one of the en- key-wrenches, screw oil, and keys for the thusiastic fans ; but I reckon that a man steam gage, until the day Shorty Studer never makes a record run but what there's sent him out to polish the whistle on 660, a woman mixed up in it some place—if so that the tone would be more shrill. it's no more than a woman telegrapher de- Smoke -polished that whistle for two livering him an order. hours, and the hostler, being in on the All of us fellows who hadn't signed up deal, kept a little fire in the box, and the matrimonial 3 1 orders were willing to enough steam on, so that .Smoke could divide our checks with Molly Stevens. test the whistle semioccasionally. Of She was so good-lookin' that every fel- course, it was a little warm on top of low running out of Flagstaff was whis- that boiler, and the whistle was uncom- tlin' to her every time he went by the fortably hot in spots; but Smoke was house. But she kept us. in the chain- there when it come to sticking with the gang for her favors, running us first in job, tooting that whistle every ten min- and first out, being plumb nice to all of utes, until it drew the attention of old man us, and puttin' in her time keepin' house Parks himself, and he went down and put for her father, just as if that was to be the boy next^ her regular run for the rest of her days. Shorty Studer had one real light that I Of course, seein' as how Smoke Dugan know of. It didn't go to a finish because was only a machinist helper, and so the gang stopped it, but Smoke was going blamed homely, we all thought that as strong; and after that he had more real far as being called for a place in Molly's work to do, and less light mileage. affections was concerned he was clear He hadn't been workin' more'n two down at the end of the extra list. weeks until he got out with the ball- I guess there was more than one fellow tossers. From that day on he had right who felt his drivers slippin' when Smoke of track over everything in town. Sam showed up for the big game, "with " Flag- Parks himself, beside being one of the staff," in spankin' new silk letters across best master mechanics on the pike, was the front of his uniform, a loomin' up like some judge of ball playin', knowing some an electric headlight on a dark night. of them perfessional ]3layers back East When I asked him where he filed his by their first name. requisition for such supplies his face got

The first time he saw Smoke Dugan as red as his uniform, and it was the same passin' the pill over the pan, he turned color as a danger-flag—and he managed to me and says to make me understand that Molly Ste- " That fellow's a world-beater. He's vens had put the letters there for good got steam to burn." luck. Of course, I knew that the old man I took the slow sign right there—but knew that steam won't burn, so I just then, that ain't got anything to do with smiled and let it go at that. Steam wasn't the celebration. the only thing Smoke had. He could I bought me a first-class ticket for the twist that ball around so it would do a big game, and went inside the ropes. All reverse curb that made the Crookton loop the time the boys were breakin' in for the look like a straight track. real run I kept thinkin' that it would of SMOKE'S LOST INDEPENDENCE. 321 been a blessing to have been born more Chuck managed to get the ball just of a ball-player and less of an engineer, outside the main line between the second and the big game finally started, and Mol- and third station and reached the first ly Stevens hadn't showed up. corner, and then— Well, amojig other When that girl wasn't way ahead of things, old man Parks lost f*Jur dollars her running-schedule for a ball-game, it and ten cents. was because the track was soft ; and when He was standing up on the grand- the game started, and she hadn't regis- stand seat, with his hands in his pockets, tered in, I was plumb-sure there had been when Smoke came up to bat. After the a wreck. But Smoke was shootin' through the pellet just as if everything was all right, and it. wasn't long before things got so interesting that I forgot everything but the game. The baseball track, or switchin' yard, was right across from the depot. It was just a generous chunk of the flat, with a rope around it. Any one who stayed outside the rope was a piker; so everybody paid his two bits and came inside. I reckon no man ever got a bigger two bits' wortfi of baseball any other place in the world. The soldier boys had imported a pitch- er from Albuquerque, and he was plumb good. When he started to throw that ball he got in motion like a rotary snow- plow, and when that ball hit the catcher's glove it sounded like a Mexican switch- crew couplin' into a dog-house. Why, our boys had about as much human rotary had let go the ball, there chance of hittin' that pill as a hand-car was an awful crash ; and just as soon as has of beatin' the limited on a level track, the old man realized that Smoke's bat and at the end of the fourth trick our and the ball had met head-on, and that boys hadn't been outside the yard limits, the ball was a doin' its best to make its 'ceptin' Reub Downs, who got so scared get-away to Utah, he jerked his hands he jumped in front of the ball and got from his pockets, grabbed his hat, and the right-of-track to the first sidin' ; and did several things unbecoming the most even he killed so much time there that dignified master mechanic in a respected he got twelve hours late on his runnin' or- community. When he pulled his hands ders and lost his rights. There we was from his pockets he jerked all his money with the inside of a link to our credit, and out too, and got so excited that he didn't the soldiers down on the board with one know it. score. I noticed that Smoke had asked some Believe me, Smoke was using the short of the boys the time between each in- stroke, with sand on the rails, and beatin' ning, and, just before he came up to bat,

if it it her on the back all the way ; and I looked at my watch and noted that hadn't been that Chuck Burgette cor- was just twenty minutes until No. 22, nered an ant-hill when he was about to carrying all those Eastern tourists in the put the vent down on an easy pop-up, the finest string of varnished wagons ever on soldiers would have been juggling ciphers a rail, would be pullin' down from Belle- too. mont. " Then it come down to our take of the I jes' says to myself, Those Eastern fifth trick, with Chuck Burgette first out, sports will get a glimpse of a plumb and Smoke marked up as the second sec- good ball game." Then came that crash, tion. and Chuck Burgette cut down the right- 9 R R 322 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

of-way, giving eacli station the go-by as About that time everybody saw the if he was the only train operatin' on that smoke less than a mile up the track, and piece of track. When he crossed the knowing that the bridge wasn't nothin' plate with the first score, old man Parks but wood, most of the spectators 'started and I was lookin' for Smoke. He had for it. gone plumb crazy. Instead of follow- Parks led the bunch. I carried more tonnage than the old man, and I stopped long enough to look at my watch. It was three- twenty. No. 22 had been out of Belle- mont just two minutes if she was on time, and with Ste-

vens pullin' her, it was a good bet that she was right on the dot. Stevens—that explained it. I knew right away * why Smoke had been watching the time. Mollie Stevens! Well, 1 decided of a sudden that I wanted to get to that bridge myself, and, after I got under way, 1 made pretty fair time, too. The old man led me by fifty yards, and I led the crowd by a hundred, and I was the last to start. Guess there's nothin' to be ashamed of in that record. That bridge was burning. The canon there is a hundred feet deep and about sixty feet wide, and THE CANON BRIDGE IS it's as straight up and " ON FIRE ! down as the sides of a box car. The smoke and ing the rails to that first sack, he had flames made it impossible to walk across. jumped the rope, and was a good hun- The ties were burning; one rail had al- dred yards up the railroad track, cap in ready begun to twist; and there was hand. If he had been going any faster Smoke in his red uniform, the old man he wouldn't have been touchin' even the without his hat, and me minus everything high spots. I could discard, includin' most of my Old man Parks reaches down and wind. " 22," grabs me by the shoulder. For a minute It's almost time for said Smoke ; I thought I had been caught between the and while the old man quickly pulled his bumpers. watch. I broke the silence tryin' to in- " Davis," he says, kinda husky-like, as hale a little air. if his flues were stopped up, " the canon " In twelve minutes," gasped the old " bridge is on fire ! man. That's every word that was spoken. SMOKE'S LOST INDEPENDENCE. 323

The track between Bellemont and it was about twenty feet above the Flagstaff is so crooked that a snake would ground. He was right over die far bank break its neck tryin' to follow it. It's when the bridge settled and one of the down the mountainside, and if a fellow's big uprights fell, crashing into the cable, pullin' a long string, he has to slow down and snappin' it in two as if it had been his engine to let the caboose get out of a string. the way. I just turned my head away, but that Less than fifty yards west of the canon didn't keep me from hearing the sound bridge the track goes sharply to the left of a whistle which came down the moun-

along a precipice ; once around this curve tainside. there is a mile stretch, the longest piece The crowd began to yell, and I turned of straight track between Bellemont and around again. Smoke was standing - Flagstaff ; but, with no flyin' machine across there, on one foot, about ten feet handy, and that bridge nothin' less than from the canon's brink. the slatted gates ef a chasm, it didn't His face was bleeding. He didn't look look as if there was a chance to get a like Smoke at all. He was pullin' off the signal around that curve. red shirt of his baseball uniform ; and if I'm sure strong for evolution since he heard the cheering, or the roaring of that Fourth of July. There's no doubt the fire, or the crash of falling bridge but if you trace the line back far enough, timbers, he didn't let on. you'll find you're uncomfortably closely Down on his hands and knees he went, related to an ape. and then the smoke and flames from the Now, there was Smoke, for instance. bridge cut off our line of vision. The When he saw that one cable into which old man and I moved back from the heat, the telegraph-wires were gathered, run- and we didn't either of us make any re- ning alongside the bridge, he reverted to marks addressed to the crowd. type right away. I don't know how many pay-days went There wasn't nothin' human about by before I heard the long whistle which him. His face wasn't natural ; he was told me that Stevens "was coming into just an ape dressed up in a red uniform, that straight track, and I knew that the goin' across some ravine on a grape-vine. old man and the crowd was waiting for Before the old man or I knew what that little toot-toot that would tell us Smoke was about, he had stepped out on Stevens had the signal. one of the side girders of the bridge, 1 was just about ready to send in my balanced there a moment, and jumped application for the pension-list when it toward the cable, six feet away. He came. fcaught it with his hands, swung back and • Well, I looked at the old man, and he forth a moment, then started, hand over looked at me. A moment later an engine hand, toward the other side. pilot, a smoke-stack, and a number-plate I don't reckin I'm from the same race poked into view just at the curve—and of apes 'cause it made me feel sick and stopped. dizzy to see him swinging there, with the That was a good celebration we had flames and smoke trying their best to in Flagstaff that night. reach out after him. All those Eastern folks from No. 22 I didn't like the sight of it, but I came round by the trail, across the canon, couldn't help lookin' ; and as he ne^ared and joined us. There was red light from the other side, and his steps with his the roundhouse to the station and clear hands became slower and shorter, .1 ui the main street, and they kept sput- " couldn't help a sayin', My God ! If he terin' as long as the supply at the store- just had a tail to help him hold on." house held out. 'Course, that wasn't nothin' nice to say I understand there was some speech-

at that time, but the old man didn't -even makin', too ; and that Fort Apache band say that much, and the crowd, which had sure did cut up with them soldier airs, got up, just stood and watched and held and Smoke got in in time to see the their breath. finish. Hu was all but over. On the far side We went around the trail, a good two, the cable was strung from a pole so that miles, and brought him in with the town : :

324 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

the apex of a truck, he delivered the real superior goods in the way of a Fourth-of-July oration. He paid his compliments to the spirit of heroism for which America is noted, and made a few remarks regarding one Smoke Du- gan, who, at that moment, was resting as easy as one could with a broken leg, a lacerated face, two badly mutilated hands, and minus several inches of skin from various spots on his anatomy.

I hose remarks on Smoke started the biggest night of cheerin' I ever lived through. It got so noisy 1 had to go over to the roundhouse and set down by an engine that was blowin' off, to find a place quiet enough to think. GOT SO SCARED HE JUMPED IN FRONT OF THE BALL. When the old man got down from the truck after bus; and as the bus wasn't big enough the Daniel Webster stunt, he says to me. to accommodate the whole town, every- he says body stayed behind but the old man and " Davis, this is a real Fourth-of-July

the company doctor. celebration ; but, if I am any judge of It was after dark when the bus backed human nature, the fellow everybody's up to the one-room emergency hospital, cheerin' has just lost his independence." but that didn't keep me and the rest of Seein' how at times I have the shadow the town from bein' there ; and it wasn't of an intellect, I knew what he meant, dark enough to keep me from seein' that and I says Molly Stevens and her father got out of " Yes, sir, Mister Parks, and he de- the bus. serves the best lady in the land." Then I remembered that Molly had a " And a better job," added the old habit of making trips with her father man, as he walked away into the crowd. when he had to take his run out or be And the ball game ! They called it a on the road on Christmas, the Fourth of tie. One to one in the fifth. They're July, or her birthday. scheduled to play it off next Fourth, and. An hour after the arrival of the bus, if I'm any place this side of Halley's the old man came out of the hospital, comet, I'll be right there. Believe me, it walked over to the depot, where, from will be some game. —

Making Up Lost Time

BY JOHN WALTERS.

WHILE a general impression exists among laymen that making up lost time means dashing clown grades and around curves at a mile a minute, with a wide-open throttle, maximum speed laws and time spotters make such a performance somewhat risky. How the lost minutes are to be caught up and pushed hack into eternity under the engine drivers, is a problem that has brought gray hairs to more than one eagle-eye, and is more than ever the great question that perplexes engineers. Now and then the regulations are broken and no one is the wiser—but it is only the engineer who saves every second that might have been wasted in starting and stopping, and who plans the speed of his run down to a nicety of seconds and rail-lengths, who really succeeds in these days of fast schedules and limited trains.

The Many Changing Factors Which Must Be Taken into Account by the Man at the Throttle, in Solving the Brain-Racking Problem of Bringing in on Time a Train That Is Late.

HE reputation of having its quickly as possible. Not many of the trains on time is one of the railroads will tolerate anything like that most important assets of a nowadays. There are strict orders against railroad. Delays, however, making up time in the spectacular way are liable to occur when in which most people think it is done. least expected. For a thou- Railroad executives have come to be- sand and one reasons a train may fail to lieve that if the public thought for a reach its destination .at the moment the moment that the engineer was allowed schedule calls for. It may be held up to dash ahead with a train and to rely in a block by some obstruction ahead, the entirely on his own judgment as to the rails may be slippery, there may be a margin of safety, the passengers, present hot box, a fast freight may get in the and prospective, would be terrified, and way—this has been known to happen the railroad would get a bad name. " brakeshoes may be tight, and at certain " Absolute safety is now the open motto stations time may be lost in the handling of railroad managers. Not a single of baggage. More frequently than the chance or risk must be taken. public dreams of, there is time to be made up. How is it done? Maximum Speed Rules. It is by no means as simple as it looks. The days are long past when the man in Not only are time schedules made so the cab could drive ahead at reckless that as large a margin as possible may speed—" go through the curves instead of be left for delays, but over every mile of around them," as one old-timer said, and track there is clearly indicated the maxi- rush the train along with the single idea mum speed at which a train can be run. of winning back the lost minutes as Where there is a stretch of steel, for in- 325 326 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE. stance, where time may possibly be eaten at points which it is believed present up at the rate of eighty miles an hour, the peculiar temptations to the engineer for directions are that sixty miles shall be the breaking of speed laws and to catch the top speed. If an engineer is found him in the act. to have transgressed, he suffers a bad The result is that the matter of making quarter of an hour in the superintendent's up time on the Eastern roads-—the West- or trainmaster's office. ern still give considerable leeway—has But it is always the pride of every rail- become a very complicated one. It is a road to be on time. The New York Cen- problem that requires the utmost clever- tral made a public announcement not long ness and skill in emergencies. ago that over a given period of several The factors of the problem are con- months their Twentieth Century Limited, tinually changing ; the engine, the track, to and from Chicago, had been. on time the weight of the train, the weather, etc. ninety-nine and a fraction per cent of The suceess of the solution depends more its runs. than all else on the personal skill and experience of the individual engineer. Planning a Run. Making up time does not consist of a series of hair-raising dashes over long The Erie takes vast satisfaction in its stretches of road. It is done by gaining official statement lately that it was ahead it back a moment here, another there, and of all railroads coming into New York so on. in making a record of a. fraction over It takes every atom of ingenuity to ninety-six per cent of all of its trains do the trick. That chances-are taken now being on time. and then cannot be denied, but these An engineer must not be caught break- chances are not so great as they might ing rules. He must run with the avoid- seem to any one who did not possess an ance of every risk of preventable acci- intimate knowledge of the strength and dents. If he wishes to be thought a good power of track and engine, and a nice man in his business, and a credit to his regard for the laws of gravitation. railroad, he must manage somehow to Firemen often brag more about making get his train in on time, to the dot, with up time than the engineers. " Finest unfailing regularity. Thus it is that a feller on the road to fire for," one of curious set of unwritten laws has come them will say about the man on whose into existence among the engine crews. left-hand side he works. The substance of these is that lost time " He's no hand to make lunch-counter must be made up somehow. runs. He don't tell the girls at the bean- Stretching the rules in regard to fast ery how it happened, so I have -to," he running is officially not countenanced, if will conclude with a grin. known, and yet the man in the cab who slips through on time, despite every ob- He Got In on Time. stacle, keeps the best run. and ranks highest in the regard of his superiors, from Making up time is more difficult on the president down. some roads and on certain hundred-mile As a matter of fact the engineer who stretches than on others. From New is not capable of planning successfully York to Port Jervis, for instance, is in every way how to get back the lost eighty-eight miles on the Erie. The usual minutes is regarded as lacking in ability. running time is about two hours and fif- Hardly one of them, however, will ac- teen minutes, including stops. This part knowledge this to an outsider. All pref- of the Erie is full of curves, and if an ace everything they have to say by the engineer makes up ten or fifteen minutes statement that they are held down by the on this run it is considered pretty good official maximum rates of speed. work. The executives also make the same The record of time regained there is point. This is strongly substantiated by twenty-three minutes. The 142 miles the fact that many railroads in the East from New York to Albany over the Cen- send out men who might be called time tral is a fairly straight bit of track. spotters. Their business is to lie in wait " Big Arthur " Allen, who brings the !

MAKING UP LOST TIME. 327

Empire State Express from the capital der back through a long vista of yester- down to High Bridge, has left Albany days. He could see himself again and forty minutes late—but here is the story again with a heavy handicap of lost time as they tell it around the master me- to be won back.

chanic's office: . To do this he had to cajole and per- " The super ripped around that they suade the vast and complicated mass of were forty minutes late in pulling out, steel that he drove. It was not simply and Big Arthur sat in the cab and never a huge bulk of metal that was governed said a,word. by purely mechanical laws, but something " ' N'ow,' says the superintendent, ra- that seemed half-human that needed a ther sarcastic, ' I suppose you know that pat of approval now and then, and a this is the Empire State Express you're thorough understanding, if the best re- running?' sults were to be obtained. The machines , " ' Yep,' says ' Big Arthur.' that he had handled during his more

' - - " Well, do you know what time she's than half a century of service were not supposed to pull into High Bridge?' so different from the mare that he was " 1 Yep,' says Big Arthur again, and driving now. that's all he did say. But, holy smoke " Let her alone," he said, " when she's how he did run! Jim, the fireman, kept doing her best. her hot. They say the porters on the " There's a great difference in men private car were scared green. A hun- when it comes to running an engine," dred miles an hour some of the way. She went on Charley Mygatt. " Never for- came in on time to the dot." get that. Time is made by the man who knows how to get the most out of his A Veteran Engineer. engine. It's the little things that count then. You might not think, perhaps, how Charles H. Mygatt, of the Erie, has some will use up time at stations. Yet, probably run an engine longer than any as much as five minutes may be gained other man in the United States, and has in the skilful making of a stop. made up as much time as any engineer " One man will shut off steam long bein the sendee. Certainly there is no fore he needs to, and his train will come other engineer who has served on com- into the station slowly. Another, who

pany so long on one division of the same understands the road and his engine, is railroad. cool and watchful, will keep up full It is fifty-three years now since Mygatt speed to the last possible second. He got his engine. He started in 1852 as will calculate so that with not a particle water boy, and four years later became of time lost he will bring his train to a an engineer. Railroads were young in stop precisely where he should. those days, and so were the engineers. Just lately, having reached the age of Saving Every Moment. seventy, he has been retired, but still con- tinues in the railroad's employ, in the " Yes, in a run of a hundred miles you yard service at Port Jervis. keep figuring little matters like this, and Mygatt is the typical mechanical ex- you hurry right along. We know just pert. His gray chin-beard gives him an what we are doing, just what we can do, air of picturesqueness. Big-framed, rud- and when time is to be made up we can dy-cheeked, clear-eyed, he does not begin tell every second how much we are gain- to look his seventy years. Riding behind ing. An engineer doesn't keep taking

the thoroughbred mare he drives at a out his watch ; he can feel to the instant brisk clip over the country roads recently, how the miles are being eaten up. he told me of his experiences in making " Keep steam up to the maximum pres- up time. sure," the old engineer went on. " That " Let her alone when she's doing her means having ready for instant service best," said Mygatt. " Don't drive her at every second all the energy there is. > at first. An engine's like a horse—the That's how to .drive an engine, "and, let not engineer more you worry her, the less she'll do." me say that every , appre- The veteran's thoughts began to wan- ciates it. .

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328 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

" But you can't make a really good " That's the whole secret of running run without it. Everything depends on and making up time. You must know the man who is firing for you. There your engine like a wife. Then, when are some firemen who can't keep up it's necessary, she'll come up to the steam. One will go too fast at the start, scratch. You can't stay on any road for

and tire before the end of the run ; an- fifty years without understanding that. other will be too slow all the way, and Each engine is different from all the so on. rest, the same as women are, and they " Making up time looks easy. People even vary in temper from day to day. " who don't know much about railroading Another thing to remember is that think that all a man has to do is to drive a good part of the secret of making up ahead, thinking of nothing but keeping time is never to attempt it until you know at top speed. I might as well let this that your engine is in just the right con- mare run away; that would be the same dition. The engineer must test her as principle. he starts. He can usually tell in a moment or so. Everything depends on how When to Go Slow. she responds. In a few miles you know whether you can count on her to do her

" I know what an engine can do, even prettiest. better than the speed I can safely get out " Some years ago I had a party of of this horse. When I have had time to officials of the road, and it was necessary make up I have planned it all out from to make some fast time. As we pulled the start. out of Jersey City I planned just how " Risk? No, not if a man's competent I was going to do it. I knew we would his business track, maximum to take of the and knows ; have some curves at the speed orders, and all that. It doesn't maximum of speed, and I did it without do for a man in the cab to get the repu- exceeding a fraction, though it broke all tation of being reckless. the dishes in the diner. " A little of that, and when anything " One safe way to make up time—the does go wrong you can imagine where the one that is most commonly followed blame lights first. No, a man's got to is to strike the best gait you can^ and make good in some other way—by think- keep it up. It's surprising how many ing and calculating. A railroad wants minutes you can save by close attention a man who can bring his train in on to that simple method. time without taking unusual chances. " When you're starting out to make A Narrow Escape. up time there are certain places where, " for your own safety, you've got to go ' It's harder nowadays to make up slow. An engineer must know these. time than it used to be. Years ago the Sometimes he doesn't. One day, on this schedule for most of the runs used to be very division of the Erie. I was running about thirty miles an hour. That left a at a pretty good clip. This part of the big margin when you were behind time, road is full of curves, and there is one as it was possible to hook her up to sLxty that was pretty bad. or seventy miles an hour here and there. " The train I was hauling was an im- " Now, those same runs are scheduled portant one. We had started late, and at forty or forty-five miles an hour, and there was a lot of time to be made up. at a good many points where you might My engine was in the best of condition. gain time there are maximum speed or- We struck that curve a bit too fast. She ders out against you. It takes a keen made a jump and came down on the rails engineer to do the trick of making up with such a jolt that I thought she had ten or fifteen minutes in a short run. broken every spring in her. Out West, though, on those long stretches " Yes, she came down all right, and of level track, it's different. we got in on time, but I was a little "In the course of years there are some nervous for a second op so. But I knew exciting moments. Yes, they do come, what my engine could do, and she didn't but engineers never think much about disappoint me. them once they are past. Just a part of MAKING UP LOST TIME. 329

the day's work. Here's one experience he was. I suppose any one who didn't I happen to remember: understand engine driving would have " It happened some years ago when I been. It looked worse than it was. It was a comparatively young man. We simply required a moment of careful were making up time in great shape. No handling. maximum speed rules in those days. It " ' Wait till we get on the other curve,"

' was up in the mountains, where the I yelled ; can't do anything on this simple and compound curves are as thick track.' as blackberries in summer. " With the front drivers still off the " I wasn't taking any chances, but I rails we whirled around that curve, and was making my engine do the best that on to the next, and then, as my friend was in her. Danger? No, not when the in the cab held his breath, the front dri- engineer knows his business. Everything vers dropped back on the steel, and the depends on that. We had just hit a com- engine jogged along the same as ever. pound curve, and were negotiating the " I wouldn't care to try to duplicate first twist when the front drivers jumped that feat every day in the week, however. the track. When those things happen we seldom " Some minor official of the road was talk about them afterward. We forget with me in the cab. I don't remember them, and they don't get on the official now just who. I only recall how scared records."

TRAIN DESPATCHING BY TELEPHONE.

Growth of the New System Which Doubles the Speed of Message Transmission and Gives Fewer Opportunities for Operators to Make Mistakes.

ONE of the most important innovations this line is in the development of experi- which has taken place in the history enced men and first-class machinery to of railroading is that being put into effect handle numbers of trains in all kinds of com- now by many of the railroads throughout the plicated and intricate maneuvers without country, namely, a new method of despatch- accident and without delay. ing trains, says K. W. Endres in the Rail- Time is a great essential in handling train way and Engineering Review. The tele- movements. With the telegraph a de^ phone is gradually replacing the telegraph spatcher has always been limited to the for this service on many of the big railroad speed at which the ordinary operator can systems in the United States, and with the receive messages and work the key ; and change, departs one of the most conspic- this speed, even with the most expert men, uous features that has accompanied railroad- would not average more than fifty words ing since its early beginnings. per minute. The aim throughout in train-despatching With 'the telephone it is easily possible to is to eliminate mistakes, and the result of speak one hundred words per minute, and the effort which has been extended along the gain in time is obvious. Furthermore, 330 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

the operator at the way station writes it tion operator can call up the despatcher and " down as he receives it. The telephone, say, Bill, No. 32 just passed," he feels therefore, eliminates one chance for mis- much better acquainted with that despatcher takes whioh has been existent with the tele- than if he said the same thing by means of graphic method, in that the despatcher sent a series of dots and dashes. One de- his message and then wrote it out as it was spatcher said that he had never been repeated back to him by the way stations. " mad " since the telephone system had been Now the despatcher can call in as many sta- put into operation. tion operators as he wishes, can give them The system about to be installed on the the train orders, and have each man repeat Georgia Railroad will equip the division the order back to him, word by word, spell- between Augusta and Atlanta, Georgia, a ing out the stations and figures and under- distance of 171 miles; and from Camak, lining each word as it comes in. Georgia, to Macon, a distance of 74 miles. The actual results in the two years the Other railroads in the South which have telephone has been in use in this country for been active in adopting the telephone method this purpose have shown that not a single of handling .train movements are the South- accident has occurred due to the telephone ern Railway, the Chesapeake and Ohio, the method of despatching. Norfolk and Western, the Seaboard Air Another great advantage which the rail- Line, the Atlantic Coast Line, and the Caro- roads did not appreciate until after they had lina and Ohio Railway. their new system in operation, was the gain The system employed by all these rail- that resulted in discipline and cooperation roads is practically uniform throughout. between the men. It is what is known as the Western Electric- It is a curious phase of human nature, but Gill system and employs the Gill selector it seems to be a fact, that when a way sta- with Western Electric telephone apparatus.

THIRD OLDEST PENNSY EMPLOYE DEAD.

ANDREW NEBINGER, the third oldest present home on North Sixth Street. His pensioner on the Pennsylvania lines wife died eighteen years ago. east of Pittsburgh and Erie, died on April At the outbreak of the Civil War he was 29, at his home in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad as a after an illness of fifteen weeks. carpenter. He entered the government serv- Mr. Nebinger was ninety-one years old on ice and took an important part in McClel- March 17. He was a native of York Coun- lan's campaign. At the close of the waj he ty 'and came from a long-lived family, his again entered the railroad service and con- mother having been eighty-seven at her tinued until retired. He was employed* as a death, and his father seventy-nine. master carpenter, having built a number of His name has been unique on the pension the bridges between Ha-rrisburg and Phila-

rolls of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- delphia. , , pany, says The Patriot, of Harrisburg, in The other two employees over ninety years an interesting account of the veteran's life, of age are Andrew Abels, of Philadelphia, because of the fact that he was one of the who was bom May 23, 1817, and retired Jan- three men whose ages are more than ninety uary 1, 1900, and David B. Price, of Sun- years, and was one of the first benefited when bury division, born November 8. 1S18, and the company established its pension fund in retired at the same time. 1900. The death of Mr. Nebinger takes away the He also had the distinction of having ' second of the Pennsylvania's oldest men voted for William Henry Harrison, on the within a year, the first being James Cullen, Whig ticket, and of having eaten dinner at of Spruce Creek, who died last summer. Harper's Ferry with Henry Clay. He is survived by one daughter, Mrs.

Mr. Nebinger came to this city with his Henrietta Lucas ; four grandsons, one grand- family from Lewisburg, his birthplace, in daughter, Miss Henrietta L. Bishop, and two i860, and for over fifty years resided in his brothers, Lewis M. and Edwin Nebinger. : "

WITHOUT LIGHTS

BY J. AUBREY TYSON.

Two Travelers that Were Forced to Become a Law Unto Themselves.

SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS.

FRED ERSKINE visits the general manager of the Chicago, St. Louis and Western Railroad, Andrew Warrington, with a letter from his father, who was an engineer on the engine Warrington fired. It is understood that when Fred has graduated, Warring- ton will place him. He now finds that he is unable to do so. Bonds of the value of half a million dollars have been stolen, and suspicion points toward Warrington's son. Warrington, senior, is suspicious of the motives of Montresor, who has gained the friendship of Joe Warrington, and apparently of Louise, Warrington's daughter. The old man gives the task of solving the disappearance of the bonds to Erskine. He is to work absolutely in the dark, receiving no recognition from Warrington, using any means he wishes. He is to take Louise to the opera that night, but Louise, suspecting him, has the coachman drive to Lincoln Park, and there Fred is assaulted by a man whom he believes to be Monlresor. Erskine is walking on the lake shore, when he meets Barney McGrane, the discharged coachman of the Warringtons, who is very loyal to Miss Warrington. Erskine succeeds in convincing him that he is Miss Warrington's friend, and the coachman agrees to work with him. Others arrive, and Erskine gathers that it is their intention to kill Warrington. He meets the young fellow, who agrees to confide in him, but as Erskine leads the way from the shore Joe Warrington is mortally stabbed. During his last moments he discloses to Erskine that the bonds are being expressed by Montresor to Tacoma, in a typewriter machine-box. Erskine and Barney decide to leave the city and follow up the box containing the bonds. They arrive at Wapita Falls. Barney sees Louise and her mother alighting from the train, and imparts this intelligence to Erskine, who, meanwhile, has discovered the box ' labeled for Tacoma. Securing tickets for the train on which this box has been shipped, he finds the two women on board, and visits them in their stateroom, where he tells them of Joe's death. The two women leave the train near the Washington State line and Erskine fears that they have stopped to telegraph to Warrington, accusing himself and Barney of bringing about the young man's death. Determined to recover the bonds at all costs, he decides to hold up the train behind which he knows carries Montresor and the express box which he is after. He and Barney slip from their Pullman as the train nears Two Rivers, and securing a hand-car, set out for the tunnel-mouth they have selected for the hold-up. On the way the hand-car runs away and upsets while they are trying to prevent its crashing into a freight-train ahead, but both escape with a few bruises.

CHAPTER XVI. " As I have told you, this revolver contains nothing but blank cartridges. Fire A Fateful Encounter. these whenever you think it necessary to intimidate persons who may be disposed HEN McGrane arrived to offer resistance. The belt is filled at the spot at which with ball cartridges, which are not to be the Altoona man was used, however, until we get away from " awaiting him, Erskine the train. Is this clear to you now? bade him put down the " Yes, sir," replied the Irishman dubi- suit - case he carried, ously. Then, after a pause, he added: then slipped a revolver and cartridge- "But if I see Montresor— belt into his hands. " If you see Montresor, be especially Speaking deliberately, Erskine said careful that he does not recognize you,

Began in the March Railroad Man's M a e a z i a e Single copies. 1 cents. 331 332 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

and, above all things, do not forget that Two minutes passed, then Erskine your revolver must hold nothing more heard the whistle again. He inferred than blanks. All I will take from the that the train, having passed Two Riv- train is stolen property, which I intend ers without slackening speed, was now at to return to its rightful owner. We the top of the grade down which the must score a bloodless victory." hand-car had rushed. From his match- " And when the train stops where am box he extracted several matches, and, I goin' to begin?" asked McGrane. leaning forward, peered back along the " You will get to the cab of the loco- line. motive and cover the engineer and fire- Then, faintly at first, but growing man. Neither of these must touch a brighter each moment, he saw the glow hand to a lever until I enter the cab of the headlight of the approaching and give them the word to do so. When train! And now the desperate man felt I appear you will leave the rest to me. as if some remorseless hand suddenly Jiad Neither of these men must be injured, sundered the last tie that bound him to for I will have use for them when I get the cleanly things of life. from the express-car the box I pointed There seemed to come to him the out to you at Wapiti Falls. Now, put knowledge that all the ambitious plans on this mask, and tie it firmly." of his youth had gone for naught. Be- " In a moment both men were masked. reft of honor and self-respect, he trem- From his suit-case Erskine now took a blingly awaited the brand of criminality. couple of signal torpedoes. One of Into the honest, rugged features of his these he placed on one of the rails; loving father he could look no more. then, bidding McGrane follow him, he Failure would mean a long period of picked up his suit-case and ran on about confinement behind prison-bars. Success a hundred yards. There he laid the —how little his reward would be, after second torpedo on a rail. all! With McGrane at his heels, the Al- He was wavering now. With a wild, toona man quickly continued on his way exultant thrill he suddenly realized that up the grade. Once he halted, and, stri- it was not yet too late to draw back from king a match, he glanced at his watch. the desperate act he had meditated. Then He saw that the Cascade flier was now he seemed to see again the wan, despair- due at Two Rivers. ing face of Andrew Warrington, and he The two men jogged on until finally remembered all that Andrew Warrington they came to the top of the grade. There had done for him. Erskine stopped and listened. All was In his ears echoed the words of the " still. Between the two rails the Altoona general manager's dying son : My hon- man now placed one of the two little tin or, and my father's." And he wondered cylinders he had taken from his suit-case how—if he failed in his quest—Andrew ' a few minutes before. The second cylin- Warrington would explain to Louise his der he left in his pocket. reasons for causing her to become ac- " Now, Barney, keep a grip on your quainted with 'Frederick Erskine. suit-case until you are beside the cab of For several minutes the headlight of " I the locomotive," Erskine said. When the onrushing locomotive had disap- you climb up on the engine, drop the peared from his view, but the rumble of case on the ground beside it and cover the approaching train was growing loud- the two men with your gun. Go a hun- er in his ears. Then, like the crack of dred paces along the track and wait for a mighty whip, goading him on to action, the train. I will join you as soon as I came the detonation of the first of the fire this flare." torpedoes.

McGrane had scarcely left Erskine's He struck a match, and held it over side when, from the east, there came the the top of the little tin cylinder between long, quivering shriek of a locomotive. the rails. Before the match went out Erskine's heart seemed to leap to his a little ruby glow began to spread be-

mouth ; but, quickly mastering himself, neath it. he drew out a match-box and dropped Brighter and brighter grew the red- on one knee beside the little cylinder. dish light. Erskine rose and tottered WITHOUT L1GHTS. 333

from it, and, as he ran, the detonation of ter," and the address he had read in the the second torpedo sounded in his ears. baggage-room at Wapiti Falls. It suddenly occurred to Erskine now He directed the men to take it to the that he had a race to run, and, gripping side door of the car, and they obeyed his suit-case, he plunged on madly. From him. With a thrust of his foot he sent behind him came the whistling of air- it out into the night. brakes, and a dull, grinding sound that When I go close the door, and do assured him that the train was slowing not open it again until you are out of down. The glow of the flare he had gunshot," he commanded. lighted was so bright that he dared not As he finished speaking he left the look over his shoulder lest the engineer car, and the door was closed behind him. of the locomotive should see his masked Moving quickly, Erskine grasped the face, and prepare to offer effectual resist- rope handles of the box and hurried with ance or decide to put on speed again. it to the front of the train. There he At length he became aware of the fact threw it. on the platform at the doorless that a dark figure, a score of paces far- end of the baggage-car. This done, he ther on, was crouching beside the track, tossed up his suit-case, and McGrane's and he knew it was McGrane. Then the beside it, after which he hurried to the red light vanished- suddenly, a whistle locomotive and mounted to the cab. sounded sharply, and a broad stream of Just as he was about to enter the cab yellow light shot ahead of him along the a dark figure moved toward him, and track. Erskine suddenly realized that he was The locomotive of the Cascade flier looking into the muzzle of a revolver. " " was close behind him. Turning abrupt- McGrane ! exclaimed the Altoona ly, the Altoona man leaped from the man in a warning voice. track, and a moment later the great, hiss- With an oath, the dark figure leaned ing locomotive slowed down beside him. toward him. From the muzzle of the Erskine looked for McGrane. The revolver leaped a flash of flame that al- Irishman already was in action, and was most blinded him, and the report of the only four or five paces away. revolver pistol's discharge rang in his " " . All right, sir ! McGrane called re- ears. As he grappled with the man who

assuringly ; then, reaching up to the had fired at him, Erskine saw that he hand-rail of the locomotive, he swung was slighter than McGrane.

himself up to the cab. • Erskine's left hand had closed around For only a moment did Erskine hesi- the right wrist of- his adversary, and his

tate ; then, as he heard the Irishman right hand gripped the stranger's throat. " " shout Hands up ! to the occupants of It required only a second or two to con- the cab, he dashed down to the express- vince Erskine that he was the stronger car. of the two, and, satisfied of this, he re- The incidents that followed happened laxed his hold on the throat of his as- quickly, and ever afterward they seemed sailant. to Erskine like those of a nightmare. With a quick movement of his right How he entered the express-car he did hand, he grasped the still smoking re- not know. He remembered seeing around volver, then swung it against the other's him two or three blanched faces as he head. With a low groan, the stranger, looked at them over his revolver. He clutching Erskine's mask, collapsed and had asked the occupants of the car if sank to the floor of the cab. they had a typewriter aboard. This he Realizing that the revolver which he had assured them was all that he wanted, had just taken was the one, filled with and as he spoke he knew by the expres- blank cartridges, which he had given to sions on the faces of the men he addressed McGrane, Erskine now drew from his that they believed him to be mad. belt the weapon that he had carried at Satisfied that he was a dangerous luna- the time he entered the express-car. This tic, however, they quickly decided to hu- was loaded with ball cartridges, and, mor him. One of them pointed to a box dominated by a spirit of desperation, he in one of the corners of the car. On the was resolved to shoot any one who now box were the words, " Anxell Typewri- attacked him. "

334 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

Already his game seemed half lost, for, a half-stifled groan from the lips of the unmasked as he was, he was in imminent still unconscious McGrane. On the elder danger of being seen by some one who Erskine this appeared to have no effect. would be able to describe his features To the younger man, however, it came to those who, within a few hours, would as a call to action, and again he reached essay the task of running him down. for the throttle lever. " " By the light of the lantern that hung Stop ! old Sam Erskine command- above the gages, Erskine now saw the ed hoarsely. finish of a struggle that had been waged The son opened the throttle wider. on the fireman's side of the cab. Felled The father laid a hand on his arm. by a powerful uppercut on the chin, Mc- "Boy—boy—are you mad?" he mut- Grane lay gasping in a corner, while the tered. brawny, square-shouldered man who had Fred shook his head. " No," he an- put him there turned sharply to confront swered gloomily. the new intruder. The old man pointed to the corner in Erskine was thinking quickly and act- which McGrane was lying. ing surely now. Resolved that no aid " Is that fellow—the fellow with the should come to the engineer and fireman mask—a friend of yours, Fred?" he from the cars behind him, he stepped asked in shaking accents. across the body of the man he had The young man nodded. The fingers knocked down and opened the throttle. of the engineer sank deeply into the arm A thrill of exultation passed through they grasped. The locomotive was rap- him as the great locomotive began to idly gathering headway now. The rum- move. A moment later his revolver was ble of its wheels was growing louder, leveled at the head of the black-capped and the two men swayed as it took a man, in the blue jumper and overalls, curve. Old Sam's eyes wandered to the who had mastered McGrane. body of his fireman, who lay with his " " Hands up, or I'll let you have it ! feet in the cab and his head and out- Erskine said, in a low, deliberate voice. stretched hands on the floor of the tender. " Well, blaze away, you— " began the The eyes of the old engineer grew nar- other, leaping forward. rower. " But he stopped—stopped with a hand And it was my own flesh' and blood " extended toward the weapon, on the trig- that struck down Ned Latlock ! he mut- ger of which Erskine's finger was trem- tered. Then his face grew whiter and " bling — stopped before it was too late. more tense as he added : Is that your Moved by a common impulse, each of the black mask that's a lyin' there beside " staring men drew back, and the hand him ? that grasped the revolver slowly fell to The younger man's only answer was a Erskine's side. Over the features of both nod. The old engineer drew back, and spread a look of horror, and their eyes his trembling hand fell from the arm grew glazed and wide. which it had been gripping. The blue-clad man was the first to " Fred— Fred—boy— we've been dream- break the silence that fell upon them. in', ain't we?" Sam Erskine asked in " " " Fred—Fred— oh, Heaven—my son ! pleading accents. There's somethin' he stammered. snapped in this old fool head of mine, And the other murmured feebly: and things is runnin' queer. It ain't " " — Father ! true, is it, Fred, that you—that I Fred was on the engineer's bench now, and was peering through the window. CHAPTER XVII. His left hand grasped the throttle-lever. great numbness had settled on his fac- The Hand on the Throttle. A ulties, and he moved mechanically. A S motionless as if carved of stone, The old engineer, breathing heavily father and son continued to gaze and with his features twitching spasmod- upon each other with expressions of hor- ically, waited for an answer. He waited ror that seemed to deepen as the moments in vain. From the compressed lips of passed. From a corner of the cab came his son there came no sound. Walking : ; —!

WITHOUT LIGHTS. 335

unsteadily to the young man who now Flier, the Chicago, St. Louis and West- occupied his seat, Sam laid a hand on his ern is responsible for its safe delivery at shoulder. Tacoma. " It ain't no dream, son, I guess," he "If you've took anything out of the said huskily. " Now, what have you got Dale car, it goes back at the next stop to say? Yes,' you've got to speak. When we make, or into the hands of the sheriff I'm on duty I ain't got no mind or heart you go when we pull into Weatherbee. for anything in all the world but my This is my first run as its engineer engine, track, and signals. —and, by Heaven, she's goin' through " When I'm out of my cab my mind, on time. That bench is mine, and you'll " heart, hopes, and pride are all for you. get down from it. Get down, 1 say ! I'm on duty now, and I'm goin' to run Pale and haggard, Fred Erskine rose

this engine ; but first I'm goin' to find out as his father took a determined step in why two masked men held her up and his direction. Suddenly the old man laid out Ned Tatlock. And so, by hesitated, and darted a swift" glance at Heaven, you'll speak, or you and me will the closed door of the fire-box. Sudden- " start right now for Hades together ! ly he was kneeling beside the prostrate With blazing eyes and clenched fists, form of his fireman. His eyes gleamed the old engineer drew back threatening- wildly as he stood upright again. ly. Fred's face was livid as, turning, " Well, since you've done for him, he looked over his shoulder at his father you've got to do his work," growled the but he met the elder man's gaze unflinch- engineer. " Draw him in and lay him ingly. alongside that four-flushing gun-fighter "Speak!" the engineer repeated. of yours, then get hold of a shovel and " W hy did you hold up this train to- heave in the coal. Come— step lively " night ? There ain't nothin' more to say until we In the ears of the young man were get to Weatherbee." ringing the words the general manager Fred stepped down, and a moment had spoken scarcely more than two days later his father, with a hand on the before. throttle, was peering out into the dark- " Your relations with me must not be ness. Without pausing to cast off his known to any person other than our- coat, Fred drew the inanimate fireman selves." to one side of the cab, and then flung And, like his father's, Fred Erskine's open the door of the fire-box. duty was clear. Andrew Warrington's Once in the course of the next five confidence must be respected, and his minutes old Sam Erskine looked over orders obeyed to the letter. his shoulder. His features were white " " Speak, boy — speak ! commanded and grim, but the expression of anxiety Erskine, in a strident voice. " I ask you, in his eyes gradually gave place to one

for the last time : Why did you hold up of transient satisfaction as he observed this train?" with what vigor his brawny son was ad- With the gaze of his bloodshot eyes dressing himself to his task. still on the face of his father, Fred Wider and wider the engineer opened Erskine answered grimly the throttle, and faster and faster "Because the. Dale express-car, just plunged onward, the great swaying steel behind you, was carrying stolen prop- monster beneath him. The Altoona man erty—property which I have been sent —coatless and hatless now, and with out here to recover." streams of perspiration streaking the

" Was it stolen by the Dale Express grime that was settling on his face Company?" the old man demanded kept watchful eyes on the gages, and sharply. never permitted his energy to flag. " No, but the Dale express was acting Once, while the interior of the cab as carrier for the thief." was aglow with the fierce light that is- " Then, by Heaven, it is with the thief sued from the open door of the fire-box, you have to reckon—but you've got to Fred saw that McGrane had recovered reckon first with me. While the Dale consciousness and, leaning on one of his

car is runnin' as a part of the Cascade elbows, was gazing at him with wonder- : "

336 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

ing eyes. Nodding glumly, the young Trailing the shovel behind him, the man went on with his work. young man stepped to where his father Fred Erskine had been thus engaged was sitting and laid a hand on one of for about ten minutes when a low ex- his shoulders. clamation from Tatlock, the fireman, " My friend and I must leave this train caused him to look in his direction. Ris- at Tyrcone," he said. J ing with difficult}', Tatlock leaned for- " We make no stop this side of Wea- ward and looked malignantly at the man therbee," reiterated the engineer, turning who was in the act of throwing another again to his window. shovelful of coal into the fire-box. " Come, father— " began the son, in a " " What the deuce are you doing now? tone of conciliation. the fireman demanded, in a surly tone. " We stop at Weatherbee," shouted the " It's all right, Ned," said the engi- engineer, determinedly, above the roar of neer, in a hollow voice. " Just you keep the engine. still and pull yourself together until we " Well, listen to me," Fred command- get to Weatherbee. This boy knows what ed in a tone that caused his father to turn he is doin' and he's takin' his orders his head again. " The law, more humane from me. There ain't goin' to be no than you, presumes a man to be inno- trouble for is more : Ned— you." cent until his guilt proved. This pre- There was a pause, then Tatlock asked sumption is all I ask of you. You demand " " Are you all right. Sam? a proof of my innocence at a time when " Yes, son— all right," replied the en- those who are able to speak in my favor, gineer, but there was a gulping sound in and who have closed my own lips, are his throat as he said it. too far away to aid me in the situation Fred's voice was the next to break the that confronts me now." silence. " The situation that confronts you now " " What time do we get to Tyrcone? is two black masks, two revolvers, a held- he asked. up train, a laid-out fireman and ten min- " An hour and ten minutes " answered utes lost from the schedule of the Cas- the engineer, shortly. cade Limited," thundered the engineer. " That is where you pass the Coast " And there's more. You've said you've Express, is it not? " the Altoona man took somethin' out of the Dale express- went on. car that the Dale was responsible for the " Yes." delivery of. " " Are you scheduled to stop there? " I say ' back it goes, or into the hands " No. Our first stop is at Weather- of the Weatherbee sheriff go you and the bee." gun-fighter what wore mask Number Fred looked speculatively in the di- Two.' Well, that's all, I guess—except rection of McGrane. The Irishman was that' we go by Tyrcone aflyin', and that watching him closely, and, fully recov- the first stop of this here train is Wea- ered from the effects of the blow which therbee—'cordin' to train orders." had rendered him unconscious, seemed " Then, by Heaven, you'll be playing now to be expecting some sort of a sig- into the hands of— nal from the man under whose direction " I'll be playin' into the hands of the be had been working. Chicago, St. Louis and Western Rail- Fred Erskine glanced again at the road, lad, and that's why I'm right here gages, then, leaning on his shovel, he at this throttle." turned to the engineer. For several minutes Fred's secret trem- " We'll have to slow down at Tyr- bled on bis livid lips, but duty scored cone," he said, doggedly. a partial triumph. As the old engineer turned slowly in " No," he answered, breathlessly. " All his seat, his pale face was working con- unconsciously, you are in league with a vulsively. criminal—a thief and a- murderer—and " Not this trip, son," he answered in you are betraying the interests of the a shaking voice that was scarcely audible very company you are trying to serve. above the clatter and roar of the speed- From the car behind us I took only a — ing locomotive. box. The person to whom it was con- WITHOUT LIGHTS. 337

signed will never dare complain of its Further conversation was impossible loss, for he is none other than the person now, and again Fred Erskine, throwing who stole it from its rightful owner. It open the fire-box door, resumed the work is to that rightful owner that I purpose of throwing in coal. On the left of the restoring it." cab, McGrane and the fireman, each ig- The light of hope and restored confi- norant of the purpose of his chief, sat dence flickered over the old man's face, in gloomy silence. but in a few moments it was gone again. - From time to time the engineer glanced " Justice don't wear no black masks, at his clock and gages, but, for the most nor hold up trains to get- what's comin' part his gaze was directed along the " to it, son," the engineer retorted. Jus-, track ahead of him. At length, the loud tice stands up, fair and square, and roar ceased suddenly, and once more a gets its own in the bright light of day. rush of fresh air swept from the cab the And so—and so—well, son, you see there choking smoke and dust that had filled ain't no use in talkin'. This here train it. The tunnel was behind them. don't slow down until she gets to Wea- Raising his arm, Fred Erskine passed therbee." his sleeve over his forehead and freed it " You think then, that— " the son be- from the perspiration which was stream- gan. ing jntp his eyes. He judged that the The old man shook his head. locomotive was rushing onward at the " ^ It ain't for me to do no thinkin'," rate of sixty miles an hour. If this rate he answered, moodily. " An engineer on was maintained, the train would be at duty has got to .be all eyes. Thoughts, Tyrcune in fifty minutes. son, ain't his line of business. What- For the next half hour the four occu- ever deep thinkin' is to be done is done pants of the cab were silent. Fred worked by them what runs this road from offices. indefatigably but, as he worked, he kept ; Until them thoughts gets worked into watchful eyes on the clock. At length train orders, they're no business of an lie motioned to McGrane to come to engineer's. where he was standing. " I got eyes for train orders, cab-gages, As the Irishman rose, Tatlock leaped track-signals and them ihere slots in the to his feet and looked, at him threaten- quadrant, and that about lets me out ingly. McGrane hesitated and as he when I'm on a run—unless black masks returned the fireman's gaze, his eyes and guns get in my way—and so, un- gleamed balefully. " " less I see a signal put against me. this Look sharp, Sam ! cried the fire- old girl of mine keeps right on until she man to the engineer. gets to Weatherbee." Sam Erskine turned quickly. His son It was not fear that set Fred Erskine addressed McGrane. " trembling as he drew back, nor was it en- There's a water-tap and basin in the forced resignation that chilled his mind tender," he said, sharply. " Get rid of and heart. He had been addressing a some of that grime and blood, and wait man he never had known before— a man by the tap for me." who had the face and figure of his father, " Is it all right, Sam?" but, withal, a heart of steel and the cold, The engineer nodded and again looked remorseless voice of an executioner. And through his window. McGrane shuffled yet he knew that under any circumstances out to the tender. Tatlock reluctantly other than these the old man at the settled himself in the fireman's seat, throttle would lay down his life for him. while Fred Erskine, leaning on his shovel, " You won't trust me, then ? " the looked gloomily at the closed door of the young man cried, reproachfully. fire-box. Through the forward windows swept Five minutes passed, then Fred moved a cloud of smoke and stinging dust which slowly to where his father was sitting had been belched from the smoke-stack and laid a hand on his shoulder. The of the wildly rushing engine, and the old engineer turned sharply. He saw deafening roar that followed plainly in- that the left hand of his son still rested dicated that the locomotive had plunged on the handle of the shovel and that his- into the darkness of the Dumbell tunnel. right was grasping a revolver. 10 R R "

338 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE. " We slow down four hundred yards— of his trembling hands lay idly on the this side of the Tyrcone station, or lever which was the lever of his son's the Altoona man began, but the express- fate—and his. ion that he saw on the face of his father stopped him. It was such an expression as hunters have seen on the faces of mor- CHAPTER XVIII. tally wounded animals which, knowing Caught in a Corner. that death is inevitable, turn their dazed, wondering eyes upon the agents of their T^HE descent from the top of the big destruction. tender to the platform at the end " Or you go on alone." the young man of the baggage-car constituted an under- finished. • taking from which even the" stout heart The eyes of the old engineer grew of McGrane shrank aghast. Erskine ac- wider. " You—you mean that you—that complished it successfully, however, and you—" he faltered. the Irishman followed him. " I mean that if this train takes me . The car on which the two men now past Tyrcone to-night, it will take me found themselves was a blind baggage. past as a corpse," the young man an- Here, on the platform, the Altoona man swered calmly. found the box and suit - cases he had For a minute longer each looked into placed there at the time he held up the the other's eyes. Then old Sam Erskine train. slowly turned from the son who had been From one of the' suit-cases, Erskine his pride. now produced a screw-driver and ham- Slipping the revolver into a pocket of mer with which he had provided him- his trousers, the Altoona man drew back. self before he left Chicago, and in a Ag'ain the fireman had risen and was couple of minutes he had succeeded in watching him warily. removing the cover from the box. " Here, Tatlock, is your shovel," Fred With a rapidly beating heart, the said, quietly. " I think you are able to young man began to examine the con- use it now." tents of the box which he had made such As the fireman took the shovel from arduous efforts to obtain. Immediately his hand, Fred Erskine turned and, pick- beneath the cover he came upon a bunch ing up the coat, collar and neck-tie he of old newspapers. Casting these aside, had removed shortly after he 'had as- he found beneath them five packages of sumed the duties of a fireman, he re- bonds, of unequal sizes. These he quick- treated to the tender. There he found ly transferred to the suit-cases, after McGrane wiping his face and hands on which he flung the typewriter-box from a handkerchief. the train. Without speaking to his companion. Glancing now at his watch, Erskine Fred filled the basin with clean water saw that the train was due at Tyrcone in and then proceeded to remove the grime five minutes. Once or twice McGrane that had settled on his skin. When this had spoken to him, but the Altoona man was done, he put on his collar and neck- scarcely seemed to hear his words, and tie and then donned his coat". they were unanswered. " Now let's get back to the tender," The train was speeding on at the rate he said in a low voice to the Irishman. of about fifty-five miles an hour. Far As he led the way up the sloping darker than the night were the young mound of coal toward the rear of the man's thoughts as he sat on the car plat- tender, the young man paused and looked form with his grim face turned to the over his shoulder. dark mountains which the hurrying train At this moment Tatlock threw open was passing. Threatened with prosecu- the door of the fire-box, and the white tion on the charge of having been con- [dare that issued from the fiery furnace nected with the death of Joseph War- revealed to Fred Erskine's eyes the rington, and branded as a criminal by his sturdy figure of his father at his post. father who seemed resolved to sacrifice The old engineer's chin was on his breast, his only son to a stern, but misguided, and. as he stared out into the night, one sense of duty. Frederick Erskine felt as :

WITHOUT LIGHTS. 339

if every dour of hope was closed against Sam Erskine, the father, had tri- him. The world seemed to have con- umphed over Sam Erskine, the duty- tracted until it was no larger than a pris- bound engineer, and the son had been on-yard, and he felt that no matter where given the benefit of the doubt. Gripping he might turn, he would be unable to the handles, of both suit-cases, the Al- escape the vigilance -of scores of unseen toona man turned to McGrane. eyes that were watching his every move- " When the train slows down, we've ment. got to get away from it as quickly as we The unfortunate man knew, too, that can, Barney," he said in quick, nervous if his father proved to be so unrelenting accents. " On a siding, somewhere about as to carry him on to Weatherbee, all the station, is the West Coast Express, hope of escape would be vain. Even if which' we left at Two Rivers. We must his father kept silent on the subject of board it again. the hold-up, the men in the express-car " There is only one chance in ten that would speak : and Tatlock, the fireman, we can get to our berths without being would- give a careful description of the seen, but we must take it. Keep close to two men he had seen unmasked. me, and let me do all the talking." All this Fred had realized when, ap- " We've got to make another jump proaching his father, he had threatened from the train while it's movin' ? " asked to commit suicide if he should be car- tlie Irishman dubiously. " ried beyond Tyrcone. where the West Yes, and pray Heaven that it may Coast Express, which he had left at Two be the last," Erskine answered siftenly. Rivers, now was awaiting the passage of " There ain't no use in prayin', sir," the Cascade Limited. Within his grasp growled McGrane ; "for after we jumped he held the bonds Which represented the at Two Rivers, I prayed that never again honor of the Warrington family, and yet might we take another header such as the restoration of those bonds to their that. And that there prayer was scarce- proper place was to be prevented by his ly dry on my lips when we went a kitin' own father's unrelenting sense of duty. and a sommersettin' from the hand-car.'' And now the young man began to re- " You'd better take one of these suit- proach himself for his failure to take his cases," said Erskine half reluctantly. " father into his confidence. He was satis- Keep a tight grip on it, and don't let fied that if Andrew Warrington had fore- go when you strike the ground. This seen the situation that confronted his time I am going to let you jump first. agent, he would have been willing that When you find your feet, come after me Samuel Erskine should be given as much as soon as you can. There will be no information as might be necessary to en- time for me to go back to look for you." able him to act with more intelligence. " All right, sir." the Irishman assent-

But it was too late now to effect this ed ; then, after a pause, he added compromise with the letter of his instruc- " You've changed your mind, I guess,

1 tions. While he had found it possible to about Miss Warrington chargin us with descend from the back of the big tender murder and havin' the train searched for to the platform of the baggage-car, he us." was manifestly unable to return by the " We'll have to take our chances, Bar- way he had come. ney. Since the train was not searched at He was resolved that if he passed Two Rivers, there seems to be ground Tyrcone, he would carry out the threat for the hope that it may not be searched he had made to his father. Gradually here." it dawned on Erskine's mind that the lo- Rising from the platform on which he comotive was slackening speed. The had been crouching, Erskine descended young man stiffened suddenly, and he the steps on the right, and, grasping the slipped back into his trousers-pocket the hand-rail, leaned outward. Each mo- revolver he had half-drawn out. The ment found the train proceeding more spirit of hopelessness that had dominated slowly, and, as Fred looked forward him only a moment before now gave along the line, he saw at last the lights place to mingled exultation and self-re- of the station which the train was approach. . proaching. 340 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

'" All ready. Barney," he said quietly, Scarcely more than a minute sufficed and as he spoke he moved back to give to enable the two men to get between place to his companion. The Irishman the trains. As Erskine had expected, the stepped down. doors of the vestibuled platforms were " Don't jump until I give the word," open, and he and McGrane quickly directed Erskine. mounted the steps of the car which they Slower and slower moved the train, had left at Two Rivers. Erskine, who but it was not until it was within a led the way, had advanced only a little couple of hundred yards of the station distance into the car, however, when he that Erskine bade his companion take the drew back suddenly. leap. Between the two long rows of green This time the Irishman had no diffi- curtains which screened the sleeping oc- culty in keeping his feet as they struck cupants of the berths from the aisle of the ground. Erskine followed prompt- the car, he saw the white-clad figure of ly, and in a moment McGrane caught up the negro porter. Had he and McGrane with him. not been carrying suit-cases, he would Fred quickly led the way from the not have hesitated for a moment. When track to the shadow of a warehouse, and, he and his companion had left the train screened by this, he continued on in the at Two Rivers, it had been impossible, direction taken by the train. The two of course, for him to close behind him men had advanced only a few paces, how- the door through which they had leaped ever. Jtvhen Erskine saw something that from the vestibuled platform. brought his heart to his throat. It was scarcely probable that this open The Cascade Limited was stopping at door had escaped the notice of-some mem- the station ! Knowing that this train was ber of the train-crew before Tyrcone was not scheduled to stop at Tyrcone, there reached ; but it was most likely that the was only one inference to be drawn from person who had found it open had the fact that it had stopped there to- ascribed the fact to some act of careless- night. The hold-up of the train was to ness on the part of one of the trainmen. be reported to the proper authorities. The return of two men with suit-cases, As a result of the brief stop at the taken in connection with the report of scene of the hold-up. due to Erskine's the hold-up of the Cascade flier, which prompt action in getting the train into even now must be spreading in and motion, no opportunity had been afford- around the station, most naturally would ed the men in the express-car to get into be regarded with suspicion. communication with the conductor or the Having retreated beyond the porter's engine-crew. Had the train continued view, Erskine was trying to formulate on its way, such communication could some excuse for his presence with the not have been had until Weatherbee was suit-case in that part of the car when he reached. suddenly realized that he was standing in This would have given Erskine ample front of the door of the stateroom in time to carry out the plan he had formu- which he had interviewed Miss Warring- lated. And so to the unfortunate young ton. Miss Warington had left the train man it seemed clear that a sense of duty at Bernardville, and had not returned had triumphed over his father's affec- to it. tions, after all. It was most probable, therefore, that Only for a moment did Frederick Er- the stateroom which had been vacated by skine hesitate, however ; then, turning to her and her mother was still unoccupied. McGrane, he urged him to greater haste. Trying the door, he found that it was The Cascade flier had stopped between unlocked. In another moment he had the waiting West Coast Express and the pushed it open. " " station platform, and it was the space Quick, Barney—here.! he directed. between the two trains that Erskine now As soon as his companion was in, Er- was heading toward. The car from skine closed the door. The interior of which he and his companion had leaped the stateroom was lighted, but, unlike the at Two Rivers was the second from the berths in the other part of the car, these rear of the train. had not been made up for the night. — :

WITHOUT LIGHTS. 341

Erskine, looking at McGrane, scowled when the door opened and a negro por- slightly. As a result of washing on the ter, carrying two suit-cases, entered the locomotive tender, the Irishman was clean stateroom. The newcomer halted abrupt-

enough ; but the sharp run he had taken ly, and looked at Erskine and McGrane

to the car in which he now found him- with an expression of surprise. - Fred self had caused him to lose his breath, saw that it was not the porter who be- and he was panting slightly. longed to the car.

Glancing in a mirror, Erskine sur- "This ain't yo' room, is it, sah?" the veyed his own reflection critically. He, negro asked. too, bore no marks of his recent adven- " No," Erskine answered promptly. ture; but, unlike the Irishman, he showed " The two ladies who occupied it got out no effect of his exertions. Thus far he at Bernardville, and as my friend and I had succeeded rather better than he had were not quite in shape for sleep, we expected. It was essential, however, that stepped in here. Has it been engaged?" he get to his section with the suit-cases " Yes, sah," said the porter. " The with the least possible, delay, and this ladies is back Ugain." must be done in a manner that would en- Erskine started. " The ladies who—" able him to elude observation. he began, but the rest of the sentence " Brace up, Barney, and get your died on his lips. wind," he said impatiently.. " You look From behind the negro came the low, as if you had been running a marathon." cold voice of a- woman McGrane was about to reply when " These men are known to me, porter. something struck the door, and imme- You mav put down the suit-cases and diately afterward the two men heard the go." sound of voices. The porter placed the suit-cases on the " Sit down," commanded Erskine in a floor, and smilingly pocketed the coin low voice, and as he spoke he sank into that was held out to him, then he left one of the seats. the room. Louise Warrington and her The two men were scarcely seated mother entered. Louise closed the door. (To be continued.) RAILROADS TO TAKE UP FARMING.

New York Central's Demonstration Farms to Encourage Crop Raising. —Burlington for Good Wagon Roads.

THE New York Central has determined adopted it will thereby increase its own to run at least three demonstration business and add to its own profits." farms along" its road for the purpose of il- In the same way railways are becoming lustrating the best methods in crop pro- more interested in good roads as a business duction, fruit growing, etc. These farms proposition. The Burlington Railroad has will be under the control of experts sup- done much for good road building, and has plied by the State College of Agriculture. issued a booklet on the subject, besides giving " There is nothing philanthropic in this other practical encouragement. work," says the president of the railway. Good roads help the railroads, help every- " It is simply a matter of business. 1 f the body. Every-State is awakening to this fact, line can show how to increase the produc- and an era of good road building has well tion of farms along its route by the means started. Illinois Republican.

One good rail isn't the whole railroad. Experience as an engineer doesn't mean you can run the railroad better than the president.—Admonitions of the Old Man. The Flight of the Coyote Special.

BY C. E. VAN LOAN.

THE TRUE STORY SERIES. Whenever railroad men fall to discussing" shotgun runs and long-distance record-breaking specials, the conversation is sure to veer around to the trip of the Coyote Special over the line of the Santa Fe between Los Angeles and Chicago, 2,265 miles in forty-four hours and fifty-four minutes. That was railroading. Where have they beaten it ? Yes, Scotty was the man who did it. Have your own opinion about him, but there is one thing which you cannot take away from Scotty, and that is the distinction of having bought and paid for the fastest ride over the Rockies and across the plains ever made possible by steam and steel. The Coyote's record still stands and it is likely to stand for some time.

How the Graving for Notoriety and Love .of the Unusual, of a Califor- nia Miner, Brought About the Fastest Long-Distance Run Ever Made in the History of Railroading.

TRUE STORY, NUMBER FORTY- SIX.

.ALTER SCOTT has one in the West calls " Scotty," was well been called the a young man who was clever enough man of mystery, and to sell something which he never proved a lot of people are he had to a lot of Eastern millionaires. still puzzling their His appearance as a man of mystery was brains about him. an accident. Some say that he was hired by the San- One night a husky young man in the ta Fe to advertise the road they say he outfit of a cow-puncher walked up to a ; train-robber they say he was a Angeles clerk and for a was a ; Los cigar asked counterfeiter, and wonderful tales have fifty-cent cigar. been told of his cache of thousand-dollar He tendered in payment a one-hundred- notes in a cave in Death Valley. dollar note. The clerk 'said he could not

As a matter of fact, Scott, whom every change it.

5 Editor's Note : All the stories published in this True Story Series have been carefully verified by application to officers or employees of the roads or companies concerned who are in a position to be acquainted with the facts. Contributors should give us the names of responsible persons to whom we may apply for such verification, in order that fruitless inquiries may be avoided. This condition does not imply any lack of confidence in the veracity of our contributors, but is imposed merely to give greater weight and authenticity to the stories.

Seriei began in the October, 1906, Railroad Man's Magazine. Single Copies, 10 centt. 342 :

THE FLIGHT OF THE COYOTE SPECIAL. 343

"Well, change half of it!" said, the Barstow to Los Angeles—a matter of stranger, whereupon he tore the bill in one hundred and forty-one miles over the two, left half of it on the show-case, and Cajon Pass, and through the garden- walked away. But he remembered the spot of southern California. number for, whatever may have been Scotty broke the record with ; a whoop the matter with him, Scott was not crazy. and a hurrah, and he liked the sensation A reporter happened along, saw the so well that inside of ten days he slipped

torn bill, and, not being able to find Scott quietly out to Barstow ; and I received a and talk with him,- went away and wrote telegram from there, saying that the man him up as the man of mystery. of mystery was in the office at that point, Scotty, believing everything he saw in arranging for a second special train. I

the papers, at once made up his mind that wired him that he was crazy ; he wired there must be something mysterious about back himself; and thereafter he did his best Pay no attention ! I'm coming in to to live up to the part. There is your ex- arrange for a special train from Los planation of Walter Scott in a nutshell. Angeles to Chicago to lower the record As for his amazing supply of money, he made by the Peacock Special. got it in the most prosaic manner in the world— in the form of drafts upon New That was news. Scotty came rolling York banking institutions ; and the men in from Barstow, stripped to the waist, .who sent him the drafts were convinced and working" on the engine with Finley, that he had a mine. the crack driver of the division. With In the -first place, Scotty liked noto- his usual blast of trumpets, he announced

riety ; that is, he liked it before he got too that he was going over to Chicago in for- much of it. In the second place, he had ty-five hours. something to—sell. It may have been a mine, and it may have been conversation

about a mine ; at any rate, it was for sale,

and Eastern men bought it. The Coyote Special grew out of two things—Scott's love for notoriety, and his desire to convince people that he had a

good thing. , As a matter of fact,

he had two good things; but it would be unkind to print their names. They furnished the money, and it bought themselves an interest in a gold-mine. They weie buying an interest in themselves, but they did not know that until afterward. It is the general opinion out West that if a man is smart enough to sell a gold brick to an Eastern millionaire, he is entitled to the proceeds.

• Now, about that train. After the 'incident of the torn one-hundred-dollar-bill—and that trick belonged to the justly celebrated Steve Brodie, who also went back after the pieces—Scotty began to appear next to live reading matter in the public prints. When he could not HE TORE THE think of anything else to do, BILL IN TWO. he hired a special train from ; —

344 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

The Santa Fe was annoyed. The rec- agreed to arrange a forty-six-hour sched- ord of the Peacock Special, which had ule* for the two thousand two hundred and made the fastest time over the road, east sixty-five miles, giving the special the bound, was fifty-seven hours and fifty-six right of way over everything on wheels, minutes ; and that was railroading to any including the palatial limited, the pride man who knows what the Santa Fe grades of the road. are like in California, Arizona. New Mex- As soon as the money was paicf over, " ico, and Colorado. Byrne sent out a flood of telegrams. All For a few days Scotty talked and the right; get ready," they said. That hap- Santa Fe figured. Every little while pened late on Saturday afternoon. At Scotty would " spur the ole Santa Fay in noon the next day the Coyote backed the shoulder," as he called it ; and Eastern into the yard, ready to start at one o'clock. newspapers began to wake up and send There were four passengers—-Walter in queries asking when the train was to Scott, his wife, Frank Holman, a friend start. of mine who went along for the fun of On Saturday, July 8. 1905, Scotty the trip, and the writer. walked into the office of John J. Byrne, When the minute-hand of the clock general passenger-agent of the Santa Fe crept to the top of the dial, Conductor in Los Angeles, and laid down a roll of George Simpson gave Engineer John Fin- thousand-dollar bills. ley the finger, old 442 coughed once, slid "I've come to buy speed!" said he. rapidly over the clattering switches, and " What'll you take to do forty-five the great run for the record was on. " hours? From the first minute of the trip we That was the beginning of a two-hour began fighting that forty-six hour sched- confab. Byrne had an idea what the ule. Finley had been allowed three hours road could do, for the wires had been and twenty minutes in which to make humming for four days. Every division Barstow — one hundred and forty-one superintendent along the entire route had miles away, over the steep Cajon Pass made a report; Byrne had the figures the record time for the run. At San Ber- under his hand. It was his opinion that nardino, sixty miles out, we were to pick to attempt anything like a forty-five-hour up a second engine for the climb up grade, schedule would be suicide. drop her by a flying-switch, and go on *"I think I am safe in saying that we down the other side to the Mojave Desert. will better fifty hours for you," said he. All that it needed to get Finley's fight- •• That would lower the record by almost ing-blood into action was a four-minute eight hours for the east-bound run." stop on account of a hot tank-box ; after No. Wouldn't do. Wouldn't do at that he knocked out miles under forty-five all. Scotty wanted speed. As for that seconds, and came booming into San Ber- Peacock Special, he knew all about her nardino four minutes ahead of the sched- and Byrne's eyes opened wide when ule. Scotty began to tell about the number of Leaving San Bernardino with an extra times she had been put in the hole for engine, the Coyote tackled the first of the

hand-cars, as Scotty expressed it. five mountain ranges ; and Conductor " / know what this road can do if I get Simpson, who had been in- charge of the the engines I want," said the man of mys- Peacock Special and the Lowe Special, tery. " And I want the right of way which established the west-bound record, over every train on the road, with the kept his watch in his hand and one eye switches spiked half an hour in front of on the mile-posts. me." The run to the summit was made in " See here," said Byrne, " how do you faster time than it had ever been made come to know so much about prairie before; the second engine jumped ahead, types, balance compounds, and grades, took a flying-switch, and was in the clear " and things? as the short train came pounding by, top- " I ought to know a little," said~Scott. ping the crest of the first range of hills. " I beat my way over your old road about The track twisting down to the desert thirty times. I know every foot of it." was a dangerous place on which to at- In the end. Passenger-Agent Byrne tempt speed : but Finley knew every inch THE FLIGHT OF THE COYOTE SPECIAL. 345

" WE GIVE THE OLE GIRL FITS ON THAT GRADE !

of it, and he let the Coyote out to the Then Engineer Gallegher took com- danger-limit. His best mile was done mand for the run over the Mojave Desert. in thirty-nine seconds flat ; from Summit The thermometer in the car registered to Helen, thirty-five miles on a bad grade, one hundred and twenty degrees, and the his time was thirty-three minutes. With silver-gray dust of the desert, following old 442 screeching like a lunatic, the the train like a cloud, sifted in at every special whirled around the long curve in- crack. Mrs. Scott retired to the drawing- to Barstow twenty-five minutes ahead of room, as the motion of the train made her the forty-six hour schedule. ill. Scotty rode the engine from Summit With our coats and vests laid aside, the' to Barstow, and he came back into the rest of us haunted the water-cooler ; and Pullman spattered from head to foot with I remember that Gallegher took the horse- grease and oil. shoe curve outside of Bagdad at such a " We give the ole girl fits on that terrific clip that it knocked us all out of grade!" was his "comment. our seats. Barstow was Scotty's stamping-ground At 6.38 that evening we went through —the point at which he outfitted for his Fenner at better than a mile a minute, many trips out into the Death Valley and on the switch was the east-bound country. The desert rats had their own overland which had left Los Angeles at opinion of Scotty and his mine ; but they 7.30 that morning. With her start of five were all on hand to give him a cheer, and and a half hours we had run her down " sic him " onto the record. in five hours and thirty-eight minutes, Those fellows knew Scotty when he averaging twice her speed. By schedule ate his meals at a fifteen-cent lunch-coun- we were due in Needles at 7.30. Galle- ter; and, while they had an opinion that gher brought us in at 7.17, and grieved they had entertained the king of the bunco because he had not done better. men. thev were not too proud to wish him Needles made a record for a short well. stop. Gallegher took 1005 away, and 346 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

1010—the new engine, with a wild man ninety miles an hour? They were shaking named Jackson at the throttle —had the hands and holding her old nozzle wide " Coyote moving again in exactly sixty sec- open. Me for them ! onds hy a stop-watch. Trainmaster Mills In the dark the Coyote took to the had rehearsed the whole program. mountains on the Arizona side of the line. " This fellow Jackson," said the new At Seligman, four hundred and sixty conductor, " came down and just natural- miles out, we picked up mountain time,

WE WERE TRYING TO EAT A SALAD WHEN JACKSON HIT THB ABRUPT CURVE ON THE CALIFORNIA SIDE. ly bullied 'em into letting him haul this and the watches reported us eleven min- train. Drives her like there wasn't a utes ahead of the schedule. , curve on the line. hey?". Everybody knew that it was on the Jackson did. We were trying to eat a mountain divisions that the fight must be salad when Jackson hit the abrupt curve won or lost. On the Santa Fe " race- on the California side of the Colorado track " east of La Junta the balance com- River. My salad landed in my lap, and pounds were waiting, and, as Scotty told the table was swept clean. Glasses were Byrne, " You ain't got a man on your road smashed, plates flew about the floor, and knows how fast them balance compounds the two waiters, turned from black to can go." gray, hung on with both hands. Scotty If the mountain divisions could de- liked that. liver the goods and snake the Coyote into " Do you know what Finley and his La Junta within the forty-six-hour sched- fireman were doing when they were com- ule, the balance compounds across Kansas ing down the Cajon this afternoon at could be depended on for the rest. : !

THE FLIGHT OF THE COYOTE SPECIAL. 347

Between sunset and sunrise the Coyote Superintendent Gibson had given his streaked across Arizona, a night of fight- word to knock half an hour off the best ing against heavy grades. The small Ari- time ever made over his division, the zona towns flickered by the windows of Lowe Special holding the record. His the Pullman like a hatful of sparks men made us a present of an additional tossed out into a gale, and Division Su- four minutes, for we were in Albu- perintendent Gibson held his watch in his querque at 9.30 Monday morning, 888 hand most of the night. miles from Los Angeles. We made our

Gibson is a great railroad man ; noth- longest stop at a station in Albuquerque, ing surprises him. Nothing gets a rise where they restocked the diner and picked out of him. When he hoisted himself up a new outfit, which included Train- aboard the train at Williams he did not master Jim Kurn. a fine specimen of a congratulate anybody, or make any talk mountain railroad man. about what his division was going to do. " It's a lot easier to be on a plain's " "What delayed you?" was all he division," said Kurn ; but I like this

asked ; and he put that question to men mountain country, even if we do have to who had been knocking the spots out of put in twenty-two hours a clay fighting the best running time ever made on a these grades. We'll show you some regu- mountain division. lar railroading when we get down on the I did not sleep any the first night. Glorieta." Scotty, being built of whalebone and in- Railroad men the country over know dia-rubber, 'went to his berth and snored. about the Glorieta Pass. Ed Sears is the Holman prowled up and down between name of the engineer who took us from the diner and the Pullman, not being Lamy to Las Vegas, up one side of the able to make up his mind which would Glorieta and down the other, and a three be the best place on the train in case of per cent grade on both sides. There was a smash. some repairing being done on the far side Geyer, the German chef, who deserves of the Glorieta, and Sears had two slow a medal, prepared a midnight lunch for orders to four miles an hour. He rolled Holman, and while we were eating, the them up into a little ball and dropped train came to a stop at some unknown them out of the cab-window. place in the hills. Out in the dark, high- " If they pick us up in the ditch," said pitched and clear, like the bark of a Sears. " never let it be said that they coyote, came a voice found any slow orders on us. We're " " " Ohee, Scotty! off! The man of mystery was snoring in the Sears jerked the Coyote up Apache Pullman, and did not respond. Canon at forty-five miles an hour. We " Oh, Scotty ! Come outen that and had a passenger on this part of the run " show yourself ! —a young man whose uncle was one of No answer. the high officials of the road. When the " You ain't all swelled up because you Coyote crossed the top of the ridge and got money, are you? I knowed you started down the other side, Sears showed when vou was poor. Come out and sav us the railroading that Jim Kurn had " howdy ! been talking about. Kurn was out to Silence from the train. make up the time which Arizona had lost " Hey, there ! I'm thirsty, I am ! I and send us out of the mountains with a ain't got no fool pride like some people chance to beat forty-six hours into Chi- I'd take a drink with a hawss-thief, I cago. " would! Ha-a-a-ay, Scotty ! Down the eastern slope of the Glorieta Then the train began to move, and Pass the road is one long succession of the unseen serenader gave vent to his compound curves laid out on the side of feelings with some of the most remark- a mountain strewn with immense boul- able profanity a mau ever shuddered to ders. The first time that Ed Sears hear. slammed into a compound curve, the " I guess that must have been Bill," wheels on one side of the Pullman lift- - said Scott, the next morning. " Friend ed about two inches from the track and of mine." came down again with a bang that made —

348 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

people ever had that came out alive." As we pulled into Las Vegas, the passenger came over to say good-by. " I want to get over into Kansas in a hurry," said -'he, " and I'm no quitter, but I've had all this sort of thing that I want. I'd rather ride on a slow freight than on this train. Send me the newspaper clippings, will you? The porter on the Pull- man also announced himself after that Glorieta joy- ride. "Ridiculous; plum ri- " diculous ! he said. From Las Vegas to Ra- ton, over the mountains, SCOTTY TRIED TO WALK DOWN THE AISLE. and then a tremendous sprint from La Junta and the dust spurt out of the cracks in the the beginning of the " race-track " and woodwork of the car. ' the balance compounds. Hud Gardner That was the program all the way brought us into La Junta exactly even down the side of the mountain. I looked with the revised schedule. To do it he at Jim Kurn. He was doubled up in a gave her nine notches and threw away the balk with his watch in his hand. I ven- lever. tured to ask him what would happen if Engineer Dave Lesher took the Co- the train should leave the track on one yote out of La Junta, and his actual run- of those dangerous curves. ning time for the first 120 miles was 111 " The only question," remarked Kurn, minutes. It is 202 miles from La Junta " would be the size of the splinters. to Dodge City, and it was done in 198 Don't talk about it." minutes, including three stops caused by The Pullman leaped and swayed from a hot box on the diner. side to side as it righted itself around Scotty worried about that hot box, and,

the curves : Seotty tried to walk down because of it, elected to ride in the diner, the aisle, and his shoulder went through with a bucket of cracked ice always with- one of the windows. Our passenger did in reach. Once, when the Coyote was not seem to be enjoying himself, and forced to stop, Scotty was packing chunks I speak for myself—there was one man of ice into that hot box before the wheels aboard who was trainsick. were through turning. There was a piece of track on the side Somewhere between Newton and Kan- of that mountain where it seemed that we sas City, after midnight, I was in the were running over choppy water. That diner, trying to find something to eat. was one of the places where the track One of the crew of the special, a train-

was being repaired ; one of the four- master, I think, dropped in after a sand- mile-an-hour " slow orders." Ed Sears wich. Like most of the men east of La ran over at a mile a minute. Junta, he had never heard of Walter " This is what you call fancy railroad- Scott, and had not the faintest idea as ing," remarked Kurn. when the engine to why the run was being made. He had whistled for Las Vegas. " They laid me heard, in a hazy way, that the man who out a tough schedule, but we've gained bought the train was a mining million- eight minutes on her, and you've had the aire. fastest ride down the Glorieta that any At the same time, Scott came in from THE FLIGHT OF THE COYOTE SPECIAL. 349 the-engine, stripped to his shirt and trou- Chicago in forty-five hours. The orig- sers, and sat down. inal schedule had been smashed to bits " Well," said the trainmaster. " what after leaving La Junta. kind of dash-blank fool is it that's hiring At Fort Madison, with 239 miles still this train? What's his idea?" to go, we were turned oyer to a big, quiet Scotty winked. I said that, so far as German named Losee, the engineer whom I could judge, the idea was to get to the officials of the road had selected to Chicago as soon as possible. set the high-speed mark for the trip. He " Man must be crazy," said the train- had one mile in thirty-nine seconds to master. " Raving crazy. Nobody but a beat, and that mile was made by the first fool would want to run this fast N Ain't engineer in charge of the train, John that so?" And he appealed to Scotty Finley. himself. Scott asked Losee what he thought he " Don't put it up to me, mister," said could make the distance in, and Losee Scotty. " You see, I happen to be that shook his head. " " " darn fool you've been talking about." Wait ! he said. I'll tell you when The trainmaster was still qualifying we get to. Chicago." his remark the last we saw of him. Between the two little stations of At 3.37 in the morning we pulled into Cameron and Surrey, in Illinois, there is

Kansas- City, _ stopped just long enough a slight down-grade. The distance is to make a flying change of engines, and two and eight-tenths miles. It was here we were off again. With daylight we that Losee was to let her out and see figured that we had a chance to reach what a balance compound could do.

" I HAPPEN TO BE THAT DARN FOOL YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT." 350 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

There were three split-second watches on of the time of the Lowe Special, west the train, brought along for the purpose bound. She had bettered fifty miles an of timing that dash between Cameron hour between the points, and a thousand and Surrey. Losee made 'the two and miles of the distance had been a tremen- eight-tenths miles in 1.35 flat, or a trifle dous battle with mountain grades. better than 10S miles an hour. Trouble The thing which pleased Scotty the with his engine laid him out for ten min- most was that he had beaten forty-five utes, but he did the 239 miles in 244 hours, a thing which General Passenger- minutes, including three stops. Agent Byrne had said was impossible. The Coyote, dusty and smelling to Here is the telegram he sent Byrne re- heaven of scorched waste, limped into the minding him of that circumstance: Polk Street Station in Chicago at 11.54 "Forty-four; fifty-four! I guess I'm on Tuesday morning, thirteen hours and " crazy ! twelve minutes ahead of the best time ever made by an east-bound special, and The man who beats it will have to be seven hours and fifty-five minutes ahead crazy.

A TELL-TALE THAT IS POPULAR.

A TELL-TALE is not always a desira- This spotter is placed in the freight-yards ble article of furniture to have of the Xew York Central in New York about, but it is a thing that the New York City, and also at the other end of the elec- Central finds absolutely necessary in order tric division. The freight-yards are run to cope with certain conditions. However, by the faithful old stand-by steam locomo- as the .tell-tale is stationary, and is sup- tives., and, therefore, there is no third rail. ported on three legs, not being, therefore, When the cars leave the yards they have, of of the uncomfortable, human variety, the em- course, to run over tracks equipped with ployees of the road do not ai all object to its third rail.^ presence ; in fact, it is a great help to them. The third rail is fourteen inches higher This tell-tale is a spotter in more ways than the track and the purpose of the tell- than one, and wherever it places its spot tale is to detect any object on the freight- cars, extended in' such a manner as to_foul the third rail —for instance, a broken journal box or some other faulty part. As will be seen by a glance at the ac- companying diagram, the device consists of a skeleton frame carrying a pivoted marker. The while ends of the device constitute the marker. This marker is loaded thickly with white lead, and any obstruction which would run amuck the third rail strikes the painted board and swings it around until it rings a bell in a switchman's shanty close by, at the same time receiving the mark of the paint. The switchman immediately locates the car more easily, notifies the yardmaster, and the car is cut out for repair or adjustment, whichever it may require. The box-like arrangements at the top and the foot of the frame, carry the batteries which are connected to the switchman's A NEW YORK CENTRAL TELL-TALE. bell by the wires that are also visible in the and leaves its mark, the tale it tells is taken drawing. The New York, New Haven and notice of with a degree of respect that could Hartford has these detectors placed on its never be given to a human spotter, no mat- line just before it joins the third-rail sys- ter how truthful he might, by accident, tem of the Central, the New Haven's elec- happen to be. trical system being overhead trolley. OLD-TIMER TALES-No. 6.

The Evil Genius of the 888.

BY ARNO DOSCH.

TN the April issue of The Railroad Man's Magazine, as No. 3 of these A Old-Timer Tales, we published the story of the wonderful record of the 999, of the New York Central Lines, in her day—some seventeen years ago—the most remarkable of all locomotives. She had a sister, the 888, built to resemble her so closely that every tiny bolt was an exact duplication. It was hoped that the 888 would not only equal, but actually eclipse the wonderful record that her sister held for speed and regularity of performance. She was even constructed with more care, in order to gain such an end. But, alas! only evil came her way. Hers was the direct antithesis of the story of the illustrious 999—the story of a giant mechanism that went down to a terrible doom. Many of our readers asked us to print this story of the 888, after the story of the 999 had appeared. We immediately assigned Mr. Dosch to the task of preparing it. It is a pleasure, indeed, to serve our readers in this way.

A Locomotive Built to Make a Startling Record, Only to Become the Victim of an Unbroken Series of Mishaps and Disasters that Finally Sent Her to Her Doom.

.NGINE 999, on the New York learned is that a shifting-engine in the Central, made the fastest Albany yards bears the number 888. The mile ever run, as railroad tragedy that made 888 into a shifting-en-

men all know ; but who gine is forgotten. ever heard of her sister, It is the fate of sisters, whether they

• the 888 ? are ships or locomotives, that one makes Built along identical lines, every -detail a big name arid becomes a household the same, one flashed into the lime-light word, while the other remains in ob-

to remain there for years, while the other scurity ;. but few have been thrust into —her spirit broken, her speed gone—has ignominy by so cruel a misfortune as 888. been condemned to a mediocre existence by a fate that is almost human in its An Unkind Fate. pathos. The story is only known among a few She had as engineer old Nathan Hager, railroad men on the Albany Division of who believed in her, and he used to say the New York Central. In the big of- that she would equal or even break her fices of the company, in New York, there sister's record if she only had a chance. is a record of it buried among files that Both were built to haul the Empire State are never opened, but all that is to be Express, and both developed high speed. Series began in the February Railroad Ma n's Magazine. Single Copies, (0 cents.

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352 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

That 999 was sent to the Columbian Ex- represented so much strength and power position and shown to be the fastest en- that was gone—and, now that I know the gine in the world, instead of 888, Nathan story, it seems to me as if the spirit had Hager always laid to luck. actually been in that mask, and had come In fact, he used to boast that he had to life to tell its own tragic history. come pretty near to breaking the record of 999, with the whole of the Empire The Spirit of 888.

State Express behind him ; and tried to do it nearly every night, going east over Sitting there beside Acting Chief Keat- the level stretch of track between Syracuse ing, who had had an active part in the and Utica. most momentous occasion in the life of It was undoubtedly the greatest joy in 888, I looked up at the breastplate, and his life to see her limber up and begin to said burn the rails until the passengers rocked " You were an engine, and all but hu- in their berths. man once. I wish you could speak." But the evil genius that sometimes at- And, as well as a spirit can, it replied. " tends mechanical sisters was with her, and It was just before dawn," it began, she could not leave it behind even at six- " and it seemed as if Nathan Hager and ty-^-seventy—seventy-five miles an hour. I were the only live things in all that It was, indeed, while going at this ter- stretch of waste country lying to the west rific pace that fate got between the rails of Rome. and sent 888 smashing into oblivion. " Didn't know Nathan Hager? He Her body lives on. The neat lines are was a grand old man, and my friend. He gone, the graceful poise is lacking, what used to pat me and tell me that I was is left of her is pensioned off as a shifter as good a girl as my sister, and some day. but her soul left her that night on No- he would show them what I could do. vember 18, 1895, when four young idiots For forty years, ever since 1853, he had Avho wanted to be desperadoes removed been in the service, and I was given him the fish-plates and opened the rails before as a reward for a long record without her, two miles west of Rome, New York. serious accident. "He had a father who was ninety years Her Breastplate Preserved. old, and a mother eighty-three, who lived at Little Falls, to the east of Utica. Every After the wreck a doctor from Rome night as we rushed through I used to Avho had attended the injured found her give a little, low whistle for him, so that breastplate torn from her body, lying in they would know it was we. " the mud. Picking it up, he threw it into Being old people who did not sleep the back of the buggy, and carried it soundly, they would hear it, and drop off back to Rome, where he made a present again, conscious that we were all right. " of it to Thomas H. Barry, the chief of Years and years before my time he police. had been signaling them ; and it came Barry hung it on the wall, and there to be as much a pleasure to me as to hhn. it has remained ever since, marked on the Neither of us ever forgot. outer circle, " Schenectady Locomotive " On that account, Hager always liked Works, 1893," and in the center, in large to pass Little Falls on time. If we were figures, " 888." a little late, we tried to pick it up before She bears another breastplate now, but we reached there. That night we were the spirit of the old engine that was as fifteen minutes to the bad, and as soon good as her sister, 999, remains in the as we cleared Syracuse Hager began to police station at Rome with the old breast- open up. " plate. We liked it, both of us, and that When I went to Rome to get the story night I was feeling good. " of 888, the first thing I saw when I As we flew down the clean line of stepped into the police station in search the rails, I lost all sense of time and of information was the breastplate of 888 space. If there was one piece of track looking down on me from the wall. It on which we felt safe just then, it was was like the face of some live thing—it in the waste west of Rome. THE EVIL GEN I US OF THE 888. 353

" Two weeks before, in the morning, a until then. When I went into the ditch, fish-plate had been found tonv off, and I picked my tender off the track as if some tools lying near made it look as if it were a rock in a sling and threw it some one had been trying to throw the over my head so hard that it buried it- rails. self in the mud. " " So a guard had been placed to patrol When it left the rails, it jerked the the track. Only the night before we had first of the mail-cars over us and threw passed several track-walkers, and we did it seventy-five feet beyond. not know that they had just been taken off. '•A deadhead. Robert Bond, of Syra- cuse, was on the forward end of that The Wreck. car and, with the car literally flying, he i had a ride in the last few seconds o£ his " But, guard, or no guard, we had an life that beat anything that was ever eye out for the spot where the fish-plate made on a railroad. had been torn loose, although we did not " The mail-clerks were all in the sec- let up on the speed. All at once we could ond car and they were hurled to the rear see that the gleam along, the tops of the end -like so many potatoes, and well it rails was broken two hundred yards was for them. This car struck the first ahead. car and crumpled half its length, but the " Two hundred yards ! At the speed we mail-clerks lay unconscious in the un- were going, what could we do to save our- harmed end. selves in that little space? " The sleepers were so far behind that " Hager threw on the reverse, and I they had been jerked almost to a stand- never worked s°o hard in my life as I still before they left the track. All but did in the next few seconds trying to' let one landed in the swamp. down on the speed. " Quivering and stunned, I lay in the " It was all off with us. We had no ditch. I was clear of the tracks and the chance, and we knew it ; but we hoped wrecking crew did not bother with me. to save the twelve mail-clerks and the Then the breastplate was brought here passengers asleep in our cars. It was a ter- and I clung to' it, for I knew the engine rible moment. The steam rushed to my was dead." throat and throttled me, and my wheels pounded up and down on the rails until The Desperadoes. I rocked like a mad engine. " But I could not get down my speed. As the spirit paused, I turned to Keat- Maybe it was fifty miles an hour, maybe ing and he pointed over his head to a it wasn't. All I. know is that I struck the photograph of four boys, subscribed with I the ties ten feet ahead of where left the names : Herbert Plato, Fred Bristol,

track to - pieces for a rails, and tore the Theodore Hibbard and J. Watson Hild- hundred yards before I jumped the em- retfr. in the bankment and . landed on my back The first three, he told me, were na- swamp. tives of, Rome and the fourth, the lead- " just as I turned, my light flashed ing spirit, the wayward son of a New across the waste and showed four boys York lawyer. legging it for all they were worth. The The history of the crime is curious, hat of one blew off, but he did not stop particularly as several other gangs of to pick it up. Hager saw them too. but boys scattered through half a dozen the next instant he was deep in the mud States, tried to duplicate it within the with all my weight on top." next few months. It made a big stir at the time. A Crippled Giant. Hildreth was sixteen and brimful of outlawry. He had read about robber The, recording ticker that reported the chiefs and he wanted to be one. After Rome patrolmen on their beats clicked being expelled from several schools he for a'moment at my elbow and then the had chosen Rome as a seat for his spirit went on. operations and had obtained an allowance " I didn't really know what speed was from his father on the pretense of at- 11 RR 354 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE. tending an agricultural college that had the wreck and understood what it meant no existence in fact. With his allowance for a train to be derailed at fifty miles he was able to organize a gang and sup- an hour they turned and fled. Hildreth ply it with" ready money which he dealt lost his hat, and, although it had his out in a grandiose manner. He was the name printed on the inside, he did not boy leader of Rome and the other three stop for it then. Vaguely,, however, he numbered his lieutenants. realized that it would implicate him if They drank and smoked and played found, cards until late at night and in general But he showed what a boy he was. In regarded themselves as hard characters. Rome there lives a newspaper corre- But card-playing palled and Hildreth spondent, Dick Howland, who is known had to offer his gang something more the country round, and the moment any- thrilling. So he suggested holding up thing happens some one always runs to the express. tell him about it first. On this morning At once it appealed to their imagin-' he was still asleep when he heard a ations as a desperately evil undertaking, breathless voice calling under his win- so they pocketed their revolvers, which "

GRADE CROSSINGS ARE DISAPPEARING.

WHILE invariably avoiding grade cross- York division. On the lines of heaviest ings on new and revised construc- traffic between New York and Washing- tion work, the Pennsylvania Railroad has, ton and Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, the in the last ten years, been eliminating all company has abolished 256 public grade crossings at grade as rapidly as practicable. crossings in the past ten years. The 774 A compilation for the period since Jan- public crossings remaining are scattered uary i, 1900, shows that 673 grade crossings over 574 miles of road, and are. with a have been removed on the lines of the sys- few exceptions, at unfrequented highways, tem east of Pittsburgh and Erie. These where traffic is inconsiderable. There have figures are of record of September 1. 1909. also been removed, in addition to the 256 and do not include the ten crossings to be public crossings, 129 private crossings eliminated by the change, of line to be made at grade. — Railway and Locomotive En- through Eristol. Pennsylvania, on the New gineering. THE BIOGRAPH BANDITS

BY HENRY H. TINKHAM.

A Case of the Turning of the Worm, with Some Results That Surprised the Worm.

LATTERY slowly backed the feriors at the throttle graduated from his wheezing old " 99 " down class and gained their reward in the from the roundhouse and pre- proud possession of the fast, spider-dri- pared to couple to his train. vered, main-line engines. For, on the As his n<*me indicates, Slat- Stone Island, seniority did not rule. tery was Irish. He was still For weeks something within him had on the near side of forty, but been worrying Slattery. He ceased to seemed to lack that strain of combative- view things with the same complacent at- ness and initiative that is inbred in al- titude of philosophical satisfaction. Per- most every individual of predominant haps it was his Celtic blood at last assert- Celtic blood. He had always preferred ing itself. He seemed awakening to a unobtrusively to slip along the pathway belated realization that, while others of least resistance. forged ahead, he had been hopelessly at So it was, while Slattery was held on a standstill. " backwoods " and " brush " runs, many Pride, which had heretofore been an of his juniors in the service and his in- unknown quantity in Slattery's make-up,

'good! don't say that word to me. i ain't good for nuthin'. 355 :

356 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE. was coming into its own. He boiled in- The 1066 picked up her thirteen Pull- wardly as his quickened imagination pic- mans as if they were a train of paper tured the sorry figure he must have cut coaches, and they whisked past Slattery's all these years in the eyes of more favored little 99 as one snaps the long lash of fellow workmen. For Slattery was ma- a whip. Slattery's scowl became even king' that very human mistake of ascri- more threatening. bing his own failures to the partiality of Mooney, his conductor, came up- with unappreciative employers. He became the orders. Hejjassed Slattery his"' flim- ill-tempered, critical, and dissatisfied. sy," and waited for him to look it over. As he hung listlessly out of the cab- Slattery read window, waiting for the signal to send Train No. him away upon that despised run over 43, Eng. 99, Condtr. Mooney, Engr. Slattery. will stop on the Gull Mountain division, he was in a signal two miles east Gull's Head. particularly sour mood. In his mind he Condtr. Mooney to 'transmit explana- cases ran over the of a dozen or more tory instructions to crew. younger men who had been pushed up and over him to the choicest of main-line Mooney grinned appreciatingly as the throttles. There was Everett, for in- engineer's frown dissolved and a puzzled stance. expression shone in his eyes. Slattery's Slattery had scarcely turned his mind astonishment was real. He slowly spelled to the young engineer when No. 5, the the order . through a second time. main-line flier, roared into the train-shed " What is it all about? " he finally in- from the West, bringing a vast cloud of quired. " dust, and stopping with a businesslike We're goin' ter be held up," ex- flourish and a shrieking of air-brakes. plained Mooney, his grin broadening. At the throttle of the big 1066, one of " I know that," said Slattery shortly. the finest machines on the whole road, " But why?" which pulled the fast train, was Everett, " Real hold-up," said Mooney. the object of Slattery's present bitterness. "What?" Slattery looked over the big Pacific " Yep," continued the conductor, en- locomotive with an envious eye. He joying his engineer's wide-eyed amaze- gazed with secret admiration upon her ment. " Real goods. Goin' ter flag us, massive, symmetrical lines, the almost shoot us up, blow up the express-car, and human Walschaert valve-gear, her du- go through the passengers. And we got- plex pump, the great low-pressure cylin- ter stand fer it. That's th' orders." der, and even the little automatic bell- Slattery's none too patient temper was ringer perched high upon her enormous gettingj.way from him. boiler. He glanced at her safety-valve, " Aw, cut that kiddin'," he said. " drumming merrily at the apex of the Straight goods," returned Mooney. . steam-dome under a pressure that would " Some movin'-picture concern's goin' have torn the little 99 to shreds. ter take- a train-robbery picture down in Everett, the proud possessor of this the rock cut on the Gull's Head Hill. masterpiece of locomotive art, had begun They fixed it up with th' old man. Ask'd his railroading under Slattery's watchful him first if thev couldn't pull it off on eye. Slattery had taught him all he knew No. 5.

" ' ' about locomotives. Nope,' McLane told 'em, I can't Slattery's unpleasant frame of mind bother No. 5.' Then they asked about was amply reflected in his uninviting us. scowl ; and as Everett swung down from " ' Sure,' he says ' 43's got all day ter the 1066's lofty gangway with a cheery get inter Lake City. Yer c'n hold her up greeting, he returned an unfriendly if yer wanter,' and with that he wrote grunt. - Everett looked at him curiously, an order to Shanahan." " and hesitated as if to pursue the conver- Got all day to get there in; eh ? " re- sation, but, noting Slattery's forbidding peated Slattery savagely. frown, turned away with a shrug and de- - " We don't 'mount to much round voted himself to oiling. here, Mooney. Wouldn't bother No. 5. Five minutes later No. 5 pulled out. Oh, no! She's too good! There's that THE B10GRAPH BANDITS. 357

kid, Everett ! Why, when I took him his sarcasm upon the inexperienced off the farm he couldn't tell a draw-head youth, but finally grew silent, and grim- from a steam-gage. Taught him all he ly devoted himself to running. knows. An' now he's so high and mighty In spite of her leaking boiler-tubes, he the old- man won't even bother him. But drove the old engine with a nicety of cut- " Slattery I Slattery spoke his own name off that conserved her run-down steam

with a world of sarcastic emphasis. supply ; and as the fireman regained his " " " Slattery ! he repeated. He don't nerve, she was soon 'mount to nuthin'. Got all day to get wheeling along close to inter Lake City. Hold him up? Throw fifty miles an hour. him in the ditch? Sure ! He's just plain Mooney, behind in the no account, that's all." train, glanced appre- Slattery's tone was full of self-pity, hensively out upon the but Mooney, to whom the whole affair hurrying scenery, as the was a welcome diversion in the day's trucks clicked over rail- work, chuckled at his discomfort with un- feigned glee. " What's matter, Slat? Ain't yer feel- in' good ? " he quesr - tioned. Slattery bristled. "Good?" he echoed. " Good ! Don't say that word to me. I ain't good for nuthin'." Mooney went back to his train, shaking his head. A minute later he gave Slattery the signal, and No. 43 pulled out. Jumped »out, perhaps, was more the word, for Slattery turned on the sand and gave the old 99 a wide throttle. She slipped wildly a second; then her drivers, caught, and she nearly pulled the knuckles off A FIGURE, WAVING A RED CLOTH, DETACHED ITSELF the automatic couplers. FROM THE GROUP. No. 43 left Whitely so precipitously she almost ran away joints at ever-decreasing intervals until from the astonished Mooney, who stood they blended in one wild, incessant rattle dreaming on the platform. of gear. The old coaches were jumping Out in front, Slattery was breaking in and swaying like ships at sea, and pas- a green fireman, whom he cursed, criti- sengers were beginning to look alarmed. cised, and bulldozed until the boy was so In the cab, Slattery, still running at a nervous he could hardly spread the coal. furious pace, kept growling to himself The fire got thin, a cold draft struck as he repeated, over and over, McLane's the 99's scaly old crown-sheet, and two slighting reference. or three of her tubes began leaking. " Hold her up, if you want to. She's As she refused to steam freely, the en- got all day to get into Lake City. But gineer continued for some time to vent No. 5— " Slattery's temper blazed. He 358 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

cursed anew, and gave the creaking, With steam pouring from her ill- bucking old 99 another notch of throttle. packed stuffing boxes, her age-loosened No. 43 was the single daily train over cross-heads, and the driving and connect- the Lake City or Gull Mountain Division. ing rod bearings uttering a wild chorus She carried mail and express in a com- of metallic remonstrance at the unaccus- bination baggage-coach. From division tomed shaking, the old 99 fled down headquarters at Whitely, she followed the grade toward the waiting train-rob- the main line twelve miles and then went bers, gaining speed with every turn of off to the north for a three-hour climb her rusty driving-wheels. over the sharp grades of Gull Mountain As they drew near, Slattery saw that to the mining-camp known as Lake City. an obstruction had been placed across Gull's Head, mentioned in Slattery's the rails, and soon a figure, waving a peculiar orders, was the junction-point red cloth, detached itself from the ex- where No. 43 was destined to leave the pectant little group of biograph " ban- main-line steel and roll out upon the dits " and started along the track toward " Gull Mountain Division." the approaching train. Slattery waited The place specified in the order di- until he was within three hundred yards recting No. 43 to submit to the indignity of the flagman before he acknowledged of a pseudo train robbery was a wild the signal with a blast of the whistle. stretch of track where the right-of-way He grinned exultantly as the figures on literally was carved out of solid gran- the track shuffled about in a pantomime ite, an ideal stage setting for a hold-up of anxiety. It was quite evident that picture. they feared he was not going to stop. Slattery had the old 99 going at a *• At the last moment Slattery tossed the pace that would have been a credit even lever of the engineer's valve into the to the " favored " Everett and his pet emergency notch, and every truck buckled Prairie type passenger racer, as she up as the brakes locked tight. To make dipped over the brow of the hill leading the stop more effective, he threw the old to the rocky cut where the hold-up was 99 into the reverse and turned a hatful scheduled to take place. Ten miles of of steam into her cylinders. hill and dale had been covered in ex- She bucked like a yearling, coughed actly ten minutes, and No. 43 was three and snorted a few times, locked her dri- minutes ahead of time when Slattery vers, and settled back into the breeching noted with a grin the little group of like a balky mule. figures hurrying about far down the Slattery then saw that the obstruction track. They evidently were not expect- consisted of several ties piled loosely ing so early an arrival. upon the rails, and as the train lost head- While he reviewed and soliloquized way he smiled to himself. Among the over the many indignities he fancied had little party out ahead, arranged in ap- been heaped upon him, a sudden reso- proved bandit formation, there was a lution shaped itself in his overwrought dull glitter of blue steel firearms. brain. - At first it was but a wild, vague When he was yet one hundred feet idea, but in his poignant self-pity it away he threw off the air with one hand soon grew into a fixed resolve. He de- and pulled the throttle wide with the termined to demonstrate his independ- other. He sent the sand streaming un- ence to the company and to administer a der the tires of the driving-wheels to suitable rebuke for all the accumulated give certain traction and, cursing hap- wrongs - it had heaped upon a faithful pily, reached for the whistle-cord, and and devoted servant. sent up a few wild shrieks of defiance.

Slattery's Irish was beginning to be ( )n the down grade the old engine very much in evidence, and his awaken- caught the rails and leaped ahead like a ing threatened to be as thorough as it frightened doe. There was precipitant had been delayed. His decision once scattering of armed and masked men as made, the engineer devoted himself to the low-hung pilot of the old 99 picked the execution of his wild plan in a up the ties and tossed them vindictively manner that would be well in keeping hither and thither. Startled cries arose with his ideas of a just revenge. from the would-be train-robbers. — :

THE BIO GRAPH BANDITS. 359

Slattery leaned far out of his window and cursed them deeply and joyfully. Their reply was a fusillade of shots, and involuntarily the engineer ducked low, though he knew the shots were the discharge of. hlank cartridges. Somehow he fancied, however, that he heard the whistle of lead. Mooney's shrill summons to stop was borne to the engineer on the signal-cord from the coaches that the 99 was gaining momentum with every turn of her cranks. Slattery's grin was wide and —it was real. " Sure they can hold up No. 43," he gurgled to himself in high glee. " Sure they can not!"

smoking. During the last mile Mooney vainly had been striv- ing to scale the tank in order to get over into the cab ; but, .'Slattery was going so fast and the cars were bounding so high at the rail-joints, he THERE WAS A PRECIPITANT dared not trust himself on the SCATTERING OF plunging, insecure footing. ARMED MEN AS THE He had made a dozen futile LOW-HUNG PILOT attempts to stop the speed- of the old gg PICKED UP THE mad Slattery with the con- TIES. ductor's brake-valve, but it failed to operate. When they pulled up at the The anxious fireman stole a wonder- junction, Mooney raced ahead and met ing glance at his engineer. Finally he Slattery as the engineer leisurely swung leaned over and yelled in Slattery's ear down out of the cab. The conductor was " They'll ' can ' you sure." apoplectic. He choked and sputtered be- Slattery nodded, not the least dis- fore he finally managed to control his turbed at the prospect. outraged throat. " Maybe they think they can play their " What's matt'r you, you blank, blank, monkey-shines on me," he yelled across blankety blanked fool? Why in Hades lo the nervous fireman. didn't ye stop? Couldn't ye hear me

" ' ' Maybe they'll hold up old Slattery. pullin' yer down? Want me ter break Everett and his No. 5's too good. Sure! the darned cord?" Mooney's questions But Slattery—maybe they'll hold him came so fast Slattery couldn't have got- up. Yes, maybe they will ; but not to- ten in a reply. Slattery didn't want to. day." Slattery laughed loudly. He enjoyed Mooney's paroxysm. The train came into Gull's Head, all " Can they hold up .No. 43 ? " he — :

360 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE. asked airily, looking at the sky, the trees, " How did you happen to get next to the little station, and finally at the angry it? Do tell?" conductor. " How'd r happen to get next to Then he answered himself what ? " demanded Slattery belligerently. " Sure they can not." _ He grinned His temper was slipping- again. broader than ever as Mooney exploded " Well," commented the telegrapher, into a torrent of profanity. looking the engineer over admiringly, " No. 5's too good," continued Slat- " you take it cool enough." Slattery tery. " Couldn't afford to bother No. started to say something, but 'the op- 5. Oh. no! Everett might lose some erator had devoted himself to the wire. nickel off the 1066. But No. 43—huh! The sounder was speaking. She's got all day.' " McLane sends congratulations," he " Say, Moon', old boy, did they hold translated as the dots and dashes flowed us up?" Slattery simply was hysterical in over the wire from headquarters. with glee. Slattery looked sheepishly about, and he " Did they hold us up? Yes, they did coughed nervously. —not! " the gleeful engineer repeated " Old man's kiddin' ye before he ties again and again. on the ' can,' " was Mooney's grinning The Gull's Head station-agent, com- comment. The sounder again took up ing down the platform, interrupted Slat- its message. tery's boisterous merriment. " McLane says," repeated the oper- " Come into the office," he said, ad- ator, " ' Express-car of No. 43 carried dressing the engineer. " Old man wants fifty thousand dollars in gold for pay- to talk With you." master of _ Yellow Boy Mine at Lake Slattery's loud laughter died in his City.' " There was a break in the stac- throat. He had had his master - stroke cato voice of the instrument. Slattery's of revengeful independence, and now he eyes were popping from his head. Then must pay the penalty. He thought of the operator resumed his.measured trans- Maggie and the little Slatterys, whom he lation of the metallic Morse.

" ' loved, at home. McLane says : Received tip five But there was a snug little balance re- minutes after you pulled out that mov- corded on the pages of the family banking picture frame-up was a " stall " to book, and Slattery thought he knew cover attack on express-car. Kid Glea- where he could get a job. Anyway, he son, escaped Carson City convict, led had demonstrated his independence. He bandits. Posse in pursuit. Your action squared his shoulders and smiled again, saved company fifty thousand dollars. and jauntily followed the operator into Will not forget. Report to me in morn- " the boxlike telegraph office. Mooney ing.' trailed silently along behind. " Now, ain't ye the fine, sly old " Fine bit of work," commented the divil?" reproached Mooney, lapsing into station-agent as he reached for the key broad brogue in the shock of surprise and began calling division headquarters. and astonishment. "What?" asked Slattery, eying him Slattery was no -fool. He knew how suspiciously. and when to keep his mouth closed. Handling 1200 Trains a Day

By T. S. DAYTON.

RAILROAD man and weather prophet—that's the artistic combination that is the make-up of a signal-man who handles the Coney Island crowds. If a storm comes up suddenly, the great crowd of pleasure- seekers make a rush for home, and they are shipped there safely at the rate of i ,000 a minute. That's going some. Think of moving the entire population of St. Louis in all directions, some as far as twenty miles, in a few hours. The men who accomplish this feat sometimes work so hard during their trick on the hot summer days that water has to be thrown on them.

The Gigantic Task at Culver Terminal, Coney Island, When Over 500,000 People Make Up Their Minds To Take a Day's Outing.

OPING and praying for re- each minute of the eight hours he is on lief, New York had tossed duty. in its sleep and cursed at During his trick comes what the elec- " its work through three tricians call the peak of the load." days of almost intolerable People get tired, or a storm comes up, heat. Saturday's weather and every one tries to get home at once. forecast promised no relief. With a nod of greeting to the man he By three o'clock that afternoon there was to relieve, the " peak " boss took off were more people at Coney Island than his coat and collar and rolled up his shirt- Pittsburgh six o'clock sleeves. He glanced at the brazen sky there are in ; by the number of pleasure-seekers was great- and at the thermometer in the tower. er than the population of St. Louis. Over Then, for a moment, he studied the trains seven hundred and fifty thousand people and trolleys on the tracks below. At his swarmed the streets and beaches. But gesture that he was ready, the man who the daily miracle of summer railroading had been on duty since eight that morn- was not half done. ing gave place to him, and the monoto- " At four o'clock the boss of the " peak nous calling out of track numbers to the trick climbed the stairs of the switchmen at the switch-levers in the tower " tower at the Culver terminal. Through went on without interruption : Six, elev- this railway station three-fourths of the en, four, five, twelve." visitors to Coney Island pass. This As each number was called, a switch train-despatcher, or signal - man—un- was set, and a car or train moved in or known to the general public and unno- out. The lever-men were stripped down ticed by them—controls the lives and to sleeveless undershirts and trousers, safetv of more than a thousand people like the gun-crew of a man-of-war in ac- 361 : —

362 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE. tion. They worked swiftly, but with the While nearly two thousand people a unhurried haste of machines. minute were being hurried homeward, the An extra, waiting to relieve any one despatcher and die lever-men were work- who might drop with the heat, dashed ing under a terrific strain. As the signal- water over their necks and shoulders from man rapidly called out nuniber after time to time or gave them drink. The number the men at the switch-levers chief signal-man kept his eyes on the sprang back and forfli. tracks, the cars, and the crowds, with the Three dropped in their tracks during intense concentration of a cornered chess- those two hours, but others were waiting player. to relieve them, and the work did not A thousand people a minute were com- slacken for an instant. Between eight ing in. The cars were going out half and nine o'clock there was a lull, and the empty. Two hours went by. The crowd despatcher ate a sandwich. He could not was still coming, but a few cautious ones have told you what he Was eating. His were beginning to start for home so as eyes never left the cars and the crowds to avoid the avalanche of humanity that waiting to fill them. would pack the cars later. By ten o'clock the multitude began gathering again, but it was not as densely The Rush for Home. packed or as fiercely obsessed as the one that had stormed the cars when the tem- Suddenly, above the mighty roar of pest broke. At midnight, when the boss carousel music, the strident cries of the of the " peak " trick went off duty, the barkers, the tooting of motor-horns, and rush had slackened noticeably. the endless shuffle of innumerable feet, People would keep on going home un- came a distant rumble across the water til dawn. Then a fresh army would from the southwest. It was so faint that commence hurrying to Coney Island once the men in the signal-tower glanced at more. The despatchers changed places each other questioningly. Five minutes with barely a word of greeting, and the later there was an unmistakable crash of work went on through the summer night. thunder. The man who had been handling near- An instant more, and the black-cloud ly two thousand people a minute for two curtain that had risen from the sea ob- hours, and without a single accident, was scured the sun, and, before all but the weary. The strain and the heat had been most nimble were under cover, the rain awful. He climbed laggingly aboard a came down in sheets. waiting train and dropped into a seat. A Almost before the first crash of thun- talkative passenger was loudly berating der had died away the signal-man had the railroad for its general inefficiency in called up the general office in Brooklyn handling crowds. and had given this brief message The despatcher asked the guard to " Bad storm coming. Rush cars Cul- wake him at his station, and fell asleep ver terminal." almost before the train started. He was No one knows how many people piled not aware that he had done anything re- into the elevated and trolley-cars during markable that afternoon and .^evening. the next two hours. The storm lasted, He only knew that it had been up to him perhaps, twenty minutes, but the skies to make good on an unusually tough job, were threatening for an hour afterward. and that he had not fallen down. It was The rush for home continued fiercely un- all in the day's work, anyhow. til past eight o'clock. Trolley-cars and trains went out in a A Susy Trick. continuous string, every one packed to the platforms. In those two hours more Under ordinary circumstances the than two hundred thousand people despatcher in the tower at the Culver tired, perspiring, cross—pushed through terminal handles more people a minute the gates, clashed down the loading plat- during rush-hours than any other signal- forms, and hurled themselves aboard the man in the world. When a crisis arises cars. The very momentum of their on- his achievements are among the most mar- set packed them closer together inside. velous things in railroading. —

HANDLING 1200 TRAINS A DAY. 363

No one can tell much in advance when few extra thousands on the island. As an emergency like this is likely to arise, a rule, these excursionists all have to but these sudden summer tempests are start on their homeward journey about looked for three or four times every sea- half past four o'clock in the afternoon, son. To make the mo^t trouble they and they do it with a rush. have to come about six in the afternoon, There are also a few tens of thousands after a sizzling hot Saturday or Sunday. of cautious people who decide to go home Every day the Coney Island railroad at the same time, in order to escape the people—and everybody else that has any- crowd. The trains coming down to the thing to do with that great resort—read island are still comfortably filled at that the day's weather forecast. The most hour with people intending to spend the that can begone to provide a little evening there, so the human income and against being swamped by the hundreds outgo about balance each other. of thousands of people who want to get The tide .neither rises nor falls per- home at once, is to fill the storage-tracks ceptibly. About nine in the evening the with " storm-trains," as they are called. avalanche begins to gather force for its But this supply is quickly exhausted, and homeward movement. From that time the only thing to do then is to keep the on until midnight, even when there has traffic moving as fast as safety will per- been no storm to set things askew, the mit. despatcher in the tower and the superintendents on the ground have no rest. Run Forty-Five Seconds Apart. The despatcher at the Culver terminal, on whom so much depends, has an army There are four other trolley and ele- of between eight and ten thousand men vated terminals at Coney Island, but the subject to his orders. With the exception Culver gets three times as many people of one surface line, all the trolley-cars coming and 'going—as all the rest com- and elevated railroads in Brooklyn are bined, because it is located the nearest to controlled and operated by the Brooklyn the biggest of the most spectacular Rapid Transit Company, whose train amusement enterprises of that great re- employees number about sixteen thousand sort. men. There are three sets of tracks — one When the-weather indications point to trolley and two elevated- sections—all on a clear day on Saturday or Sunday every the same ground level. Each section has wheel and every man possible is diverted but a single "track in and a single track ro the Coney Island traffic. The result out. On the elevated sections, six-car is that nearly ten thousand trainmen run trains, each holding one thousand two to the Culver terminal, and there become hundred passengers when packed, are directly subject to the orders of the sent out forty-five seconds apart—some- despatcher in the tower by the sea. times even a little closer when the emergency is great. On the trolley tracks the He Rules the Roost. cars are sent whizzing away at the rate of one every ten seconds. The trains and trolleys that center To some casual visitors to Coney Is- there start from a score of different points land it seems that the crowd stays late in Brooklyn. The majority of them ; to others, that it goes home early. Both leave from the New York end of Brook- of these impressions are correct. All the lyn Bridge, but there are many that get people who visit Coney Island do not their loads from the ferries that ply come from New York and Brooklyn and. across the East River and from the Sub- the near-by suburbs. There are tens of way stations in Brooklyn. thousands of excursionists every Satur- The despatcher is directly subordinate day and Sunday from as far away as Al- to the superintendents of elevated and bany and Philadelphia—from every- trolley traffic, but these never interfere where, in fact, within a radius of one with his work so long as everything runs hundred and fifty or two hundred miles. smoothly. These superintendents are to Several times a season excursions from be found rushing about the tracks, giving such distant points as Buffalo unload a directions to the men in charge of the —

364 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

loading platforms, and trying to be im- gets the " peak " of the load of traffic. mediately on the spot whenever bedlam The lever-men in the tower, who throw breaks loose—as it frequently does in such the switches which simultaneously set the vast, tired crowds. block-signals, also have an arduous task. They may get excited and hurried in They must unerringly follow the orders their work, but the man in the tower of the despatcher. Every number he must always be calm and cool, and never calls out means the pulling immediately lose his head. He must have a complete of one of the big levers. Sometimes two grasp of the situation, no matter what or three must be set almost simultaneous- happens. His one thought is the hun- ly to make a clear path for an incoming dred thousand people an hour whose lives or outgoing train. The physical tension he holds in his hands, and how to keep on these lever-men is so severe—especial- the loaded trains moving out swiftly and ly on hot days—that extras are always as close together as safety will permit. waiting to relieve, without a moment's de- Cars and trains are coming in as fast lay, those who may be overcome by the as others go out. He must see that a clear exhausting work and the heat.

path is made for each ; that each gets to They nominally work in eight-hour its proper platform and goes out again shifts also, but it is arranged so that one with the least possible delay. An in- fresh man comes on every hour. stant's hesitation, a single error in judg- The number of visitors to Coney Is- ment, would mix things up in the yard land mounts up higher and higher each so that it would take half an hour to year. Five years ago half a million peo- straighten out the tangle. ple in a day was considered the record. Any unusual delay in handling the Last year .seven hundred and fifty thou- jostling, excitable, peevish crowd would sand was high-water mark. almost bring on a riot. ' Yet so expert New terminal facilities are being added are all these men who handle the des- continually to keep pace with the ever- patcher's trick one after another through rising flood of traffic, but always the un- the day and night that there is rarely any erring brain of the calm, cool despatcher halt in the steady stream of trains rush- in the signal-tower by the sea is the key ing in and out. to the situation. Coney Island is the most These despatchers work eight hours spectacular summer amusement resort in each. The one who goes on duty at four the world, and the problems of train- hi the afternoon and works until micl^ despatching there— like everything else night has the hardest task, because he are unique and spectacular. PENNSY INSTRUCTION CARS.

TO increase the efficiency of the men a table upon which is to be placed under a operating its trains, the Pennsylvania glass cover a large track-chart of the rail- Railroad has adopted the use of signal in- road, which can be rolled back and forth by struction cars on all of its divisions. The means of rollers placed at each end. divisions on the main line, between Philadel- This chart shows all main running tracks, phia and Pittsburgh, have just been equipped. switches, cross-overs, all signals, track The company realizes that safety of troughs, stations and mile-posts. The men operation depends upon its employees hav- will be given an opportunity to study this ing a thorough knowledge of all signals, and chart prior to passing an examination on it. k has decided that personal instructions Each car is provided with a set of model shall be given frequently to enginemen, fire- signals which can be manipulated so as to men, conductors, and trainmen, which will show the signal indications the men receive include not only block and interlocking sig- out on the road. nals, but all other signals used in the move- The cars are in charge of examiners, who ment of trains. will have charge of all examinations, with The Pennsylvania's new signal instruction the exception of those on machinery and cars are sixty feet long, divided into two air-brakes. The cars may also be used for rompartments. One room will be" used for examination of employees on other subjects examinations, while the other will contain than signals—such as train rules. A HEART OF THE NORTH

BY GEORGE VAN SCHAICK.

A Long Journey Through the Forest, Guided by the Wounded but Ever-Patient Anne Marie.

SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS.

PIERRE, a young French-Canadian with Indian blood in his veins, while hunting and trapping in the Canadian woods rescues Anne Marie, a young Indian girl, and her old father, whose canoe has been upset and demolished by a moose. Father and daughter are badly injured. Pierre takes them to his tent, but the old Indian is so seriously hurt that he dies, and Pierre is left with the girl on his hands. A half-breed and an Indian appear. at the camp. This half-breed, Simon, who was the husband of Anne Marie's sister, but who, through his brutality, has killed his wife, is in love with the. girl, and tries to make Pierre give her up. This Pierre refuses to do, and the girl and he scheme to escape in the canoe. It seems impossible, and, finally, Anne Marie, whose injuries are very painful, endeavors to make Simon swear on the grave of her father that he will protect her and take her to the home of her cousin, Antoine. Simon promises, but refuses to swear. He insults Pierre, and a fight ensues, in which Pierre succeeds in felling the half-breed and, with the help of the girl, binds him. Anne Marie, after damaging Simon's canoe in such a way that it will take some hours to mend, helps Pierre and the Indian to pack their canoe, and she and Pierre start up the river, leaving the Indian to return and release Simon. Simon and the. Indian follow as quickly as possible, but again Pierre conquers the half-breed, in a desperate hand-to-hand fight, and he and his companion are made to take a solemn oath to cease the chase. Anne Marie develops a high fever which promises to delay the two in camp for some time. An inventory of supplies shows Pierre that they have enough to last them for about four weeks.

CHAPTER VII. she was ever so much better and would soon be able to travel. The Form by the Fire. His confidence was not assumed, for the brighter weather had dispelled the

rs the small hours of the night blues from which he had suffered the Sill] Pierre finally obtained some day before. He went about his prepara- lasted un- tions for [ sound sleep that breakfast with a vim, whistling snlj| til daylight. The rain had and singing, and occasionally interrupted ^*»^ stopped, and the weather his work to Jhrow a stick for Paddy to was cold, with a keen, frosty fetch. bite. Some water that he had left out- He boiled some pike, and decided to side the tent in one of his cooking- catch more if they would only bite. There pots was filmed over with ice. A brisk was a rocky place at the head of the little wind was blowing, and the tinted leaves bay where it might be possible to get some were flying over the river and floating dorc, and there he placed several set lines down upon the dark water. High over- baited with pieces of pike. head, from time to time, triangular Anne Marie consented to drink some tea flights of ducks were making their way to and eat a bit of bread, which she soaked the southward. in it. She was still very weak, but the suffering de- fever was nearly gone yet, whenever she Anne Marie seemed to be ; cidedly less, but her breathing was still moved, her respiration became very fast, much oppressed. She smiled when Pierre, and she was always glad to lie down again wIki felt more cheerful, assured her that and keep still. Began in the April Railroad Man's Magazine. Single Copies, 10 cents. 365 —

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' The dog, in his foraging about the But this man said that she w-as not well camp, raised a hare, of which Pierre enough— that it would make her suffer caught a glimpse before Paddy had fruit- and brought her food, and covered her lessly chased and lost him in an adjoining at night with blankets. These things - swamp. he did without appearing to think about Rabbits were not to be despised, and them, and this day he whistled and sang Pierre took, a roll of copper wire that was as if there were no hard riddles in the fastened to the small bundle of traps, and world for men to solve. made some snares. If he could catch a When he started across the, river to few, they would make a welcome diversion troll for pike, she followed him with her in their diet. eyes so long as she could, and was glad to The skins would also prove useful if see him again whenever he passed in her they were detained .long, for they were line of vision on his way up and down the ill-provided with clothing for a winter shore. journey. On his return with several fish, she was

The fish heads he had thrown away the happy ; and it seemed strange to her to day before had disappeared from the feel so pleased at a man's home-coming. bank, and tiny tracks revealed the identi- To her that sort of thing had so often ty of the thieves. He could probably meant the disgruntled return of the un- have caught one or two mink with dead- successful hunter, or. the arrival of a fam- falls, but he decided it was 'not worth ished one with skins to prepare, with while. clothing and moccasins to mend, for He went off with his snares, and whom food had to be made ready, who placed them in the little paths that ran first partook of it, and of the best thereof, through the raspberry - bushes and low often leaving scant pickings for the wom- shrubs near the shore. When he was en and .children. through with this, he went to inspect his It was good to see them when they set lines, and was glad to pull out a couple brought plenty of food and pelts, and it of fat wall-eyes with gold-edged scales; was evil when they were empty-handed i the other baits had been stolen, possibly but there was no deep pleasure in it, no by chubs. expectation, nothing that could be trans- Thus the morning passed away, and the lated into a desire for a mere presence. constantly recurring subject of food came Now that she felt that sensation, she up. for it was nearly midday. After did not understand it, and accepted it as lunch he idled away some time, speaking one of the phases of an existence in which to the girl now and then, receiving nods the unexpected ever occurs. She had seen for answers, as a rule, and attending to women that had borne children," and had her wants assiduously. noted how, nearly at once, the instinct had It seemed strange that he could do so awakened by which the mother and child little for her, and that she never seemed became inseparable things. to want anything unless he suggested it. All these thmgs were not clearly de- He had opened the tent-flaps widely, so fined in her mind. There had merely that she might look out, and, as he moved awakened in her a sense of possession such about, her eyes followed him, for she did as the child feels for its doll, for even In- not understand him yet. dian girl babies have dolls, and play with

Why did he take so much trouble about them ; and in them, as in others, the in- her? He had given up his voyage, and stinct of motherliness develops even be- now was quietly biding his time, waiting fore the capacity for love. This girl for her to get well. If he had ordered knew that one should be grateful for her to get in the canoe, and had paddled kindness, and her sentiment appeared to off. she would have thought it perfectly her as a manifestation of gratitude. She natural. had so much to be thankful for that it She would have followed, somehow, did not surprise her that this feeling over the portages. Wounded things had to should take a new form. drag themselves to places of safety or die, When Pierre returned, she was very and she would have done likewise, so long glad, though she scarcely showed it. Like as the breath of life Hung to her body. all Indians, she was afraid of being A HEART OF THE NORTH. 367

laughed at, and possessed a sentiment of were very faint, for the smokeless powder dignity that could only melt away after - made but little noise. In fact, an ear longer acquaintance. less well trained than hers would scarcely Her face was, therefore, nearly always have noticed it. impassive when he spoke to her. Then came upon her a feeling of some He had several fish, and showed her anxiety, for he must be very far away, one that weighed probably ten pounds. and the sun had set. He was only a mon- " It isn't so bad," he said. " But I'm sieur, and he might get lost in the woods disappointed. Either there are not many coming home. It would be dark before he of them or they are not biting well." could get back. " Plenty pike," she answered, " but on It was a constant subject of laughter the first of cold weather fish often bite among the guides, both Indians and hab- badly." itants, this amazing ignorance of the peo- He went off again to investigate his ple they took with them to fish and hunt. set lines, but found only a small dote and Some could not see a plain bear-track a big chub, which he kept for bait. After before them, and others could not fol- cleaning his fish, he went back to the low a blazed trail without getting lost, tent, intending to cut some more fire- while there were hardly any who could wood. The ax was very dull, and he be- light a fire in the woods if there was the' gan to sharpen it with a small file. slightest bit of rain or wind. He was seated near the girl, in the wide- They were strange people, with much ly opened tent, and suddenly she grasped money, most of whom could not speak his arm, and he saw that she was pointing French, and who went into raptures over at the opposite shore, perhaps half a mile a .ouananiche such as the boys at Pointe up. Looking keenly, he finally caught Bleue sometimes caught with a hand- sight of a large grayish animal, showing line in the early spring. very indistinctly in the bushes among But this man was not so stupid as all which it stood. The two watched it for that—he knew something of the woods. some time, until it moved back into the Perhaps, if he were lost, he would climb a woods and/lisappeared. tree to make out his bearings. She ought " " Caribou, wasn't it? to make a big fire, so that he might see " Yes. ateck," answered the girl. " Big it from a high tree or from the top" of one doe." of the hills. Pierre took the gun out of its cover, and Painfully she dragged herself out of felt in his pockets to see if he had a few the tent. She had not realized how weak cartridges to spare. she was. Every effort cost her pain, and " I'm going to look." he said. every breath she took stabbed her wounded She watched him go off pnce more. side, yet she gritted her teeth and went He left the dog with her. for Paddy was on her hands and knees to the place where of doubtful utility as a hunter of big the embers were still smoldering. game. The canoe went straight to the _ There was a good deal of wood ready- other shore, then gently up stream. The cut, and she gathered the burning ends girl saw Pierre land near the place where and fanned them with a piece of birch- they had seen the animal. He pulled the bark. Little by little she added other canoe up, and bent down, looking for bits and splinters and got a flame, upon tracks, and then waved his hand at her which she placed the cut logs until she and disappeared in the woods. had a great bright, fire. It was then within an hour and a half But she realized that all she had would of sundown, and she settled down to wait not last more than half an hour at this patiently. The time seemed long, as the rate, and took the ax. which Pierre had sun kept on going lower and lower, and left behind, and dragged herself to where she began to wonder that he did not re- he had felled some dead trees. turn. Here she had to rest for a long time Then, faintly, a long way off to the before getting up on her feet. She gave east, apparently among the distant hills a few good blows, and the chips flew in a

beyond the river, she heard the booming workmanlike manner, but presently she . of a shot, and then of a second one. Thev felt faint, the ax dropped out of her — —

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hands, a dimness came over her eyes,, the as he began to despair of finding her, world went around and around and she he saw his quarry lying upon one side fell unconscious upon the mossy soil of quite dead.

the forest. Hastily he bled it and gralloched it, Paddy came to her and sniffed at her, and removed a hind leg to take bacj^ with put his paw upon her, and whined a few him. But all this took some time, how- times. Then he sat by her and waited ever much he hurried. He took birch- patiently, but as she did not move he bark and split some sticks in which he in- repeated these maneuvers, and, as they serted pieces of the bark, and planted proved unsuccessful, uttered a long, dis- them around the carcass. also v mal howl. He placed a handkerchief over In the meanwhile, Pierre had followed the animal and fastened it with a stone, the tracks of a cow caribou. The animal to scare away the wild prowlers, and then was evidently making its way quietly to- began to consider the problem before ward the east. In wet and mossy places him. there was the quadruple mark of each The weather was good enough and he hoof that he knew so well. might have lighted a fire and remained It was already getting late and he won- there until morning, but he was rather dered whether he would be able to reach anxious about the girl. The idea sud-

her before sundown ; it was worth trying, denly arose in his mind that while he however. had left her the Carcajou, breaking his As venison, it was really better than oath, might have come down and cap- moose, and the back fat was desirable, as tured her. his supply of pork and butter for frying The notion of such a possibility made was pretty low. At any rate, he would inaction intolerable. He had taken the

follow on a little farther, cautiously, and gun ; she was left with no defense. But would then go back to camp and return even if this had not happened, sick peo- the following morning and make a day ple were never so well in the evening.

of it. She needed food, a fire, tea, perhaps In many of the wet places he noticed medicine. N that the water had not yet filled the Of course, she would not worry about tracks. She was probably quite near. By him. She was an Indian and accustomed it morning she might have traveled very to waiting ; but, after all, would not far. In some mossy places she had be right to leave her there all night, with stopped for a moment to crop the lichens. no care. Suddenly, from a distance, to his right, The great river was directly west of he heard the call of a stag, and so near him, and he could certainly fetch it with to him as to startle him came the hind's his compass, though it would be a tough answer. There was a little clump of job through the tangled woods and alders close to a brook, about sixty yards swamps. away, and from this emerged the cow, The caribou had led him through a sniffing in the direction of the stag's call. hard country, yet she had unerringly Something frightened her. or she deci- found good going, but now it was out of ded to make a dash toward the stag, for the question to follow the back track in she started with a great leap. the dark. At this moment the rifle rang out He started hurriedly, but in a short and she fell. But she was up again in time could no longer see his compass. Af- an instant, and Pierre shot once more as ter a while, he lit a match and looked at she disappeared among the trees. it. He had only about a dozen with him. Pierre then realized that the night was They would not last very long if he falling, and that he had hardly been looked at his compass often, and he must able to see his sights. Still, it was cer- keep a few to light a fire with, in case tain that the first shot had hit her hard, he could not get out of the woods that" probably somewhere about the right fore- night. shoulder. The second was very doubtful. He walked on more slowly, bending Tt was getting dark so fast that he every effort to keep his direction. He could hardly follow her track, but just could not see the north star, for the sky A HEART OF THE NORTH. 369

was cloudy, and after an interval he de- whether he was above or below the place cided to light another match. where he had left the canoe, but on Before doing this, however, he made looking up - stream he saw a flickering a torch of birch-bark and lighted it. It light upon the opposite shore. burned some time, during which he made He could see his way fairly well now, progress. but stopped suddenly, for in the direction He stopped often to consult the com- of the light, in the still cold air, arose pass," but he soon got up to his knees in a mournful howl, prolonged, increasing swamps and had to push through im- in intensity toward the finish. " " " penetrable thickets of alders and vines. It's Paddy ! he exclaimed. I hope His torch went out, but he had seen, there isn't anything wrong." just before, the tops of a high clump of He stumbled along the shore, through trees in the direction he wanted to fol- brambles and berry bushes, fighting his low. They were limned very black way through alder clumps, now and then against the fainter darkness, and for advancing over loose stones and along some time he. managed to keep them in rocky ledges, and when he arrived op- sight. posite the light he gave a long, loud call.

Several times he fell, and once sank . But there was no other answer than up to his shoulders in the black ooze of another howl, this time followed by loud the swamp, but succeeded in pulling him- barking. self out. The chill of the night struck He finally reached the canoe and pad- him and his teeth began to chatter. dled back to camp, to be met on the shore Finally, a small crescent of light ap- by the excited Paddy, who would not peared in a rift of the clouds and he stop barking and whining.'' decided to climb a tree to see if he could He hurried to the tent, and groped in get a glimpse of the river. A tall spruce the darkness, calling Anne Marie, but was ascended with much difficulty, and she was gone. once at the top he could see nothing, but Paddy acted strangely, coming to him as he rested for a moment before begin- and running off. Following him, Pierre, ning his downward journey, he discerned, a few yards away, nearly stumbled over probably less than a mile away, a small the girl's body. flickering light. He kept on peering in He lifted her in his arms and carried that direction and the light shone her back to the tent, where he lighted the steadily. precious candle. " It must be the camp," he s^id to "What is the matter, Anne Marie?" himself. he exclaimed. The moon was showing more brightly. She was looking at him, and smiling It would soon be quite high and it would faintly. The touch of this strange man help him to continue in the right direc- seemed to have brought life back to her. tion. She did not know how long she had lain Coming down from the tree he picked senseless. up the gun and the meat, and soon found " I went to cut wood for the fire," she somewhat better going. Lighting an- said. other torch, he found that he still had " That was a stupid thing to do," he five matches. The air was still and cold answered, somewhat angrily. " Now and he shivered as he went on. Once he you've made yourself worse again." stopped, thinking that he had heard a " Yes, stupid thing," she answered strange sound, but decided that it must patiently, with some sadness in her voice. " have been the hooting of an owl. I killed the caribou cow," he in- By this time, he must be getting pret- formed her. ty near the river and new courage came " Ah. good." to him. Falling over dead trees and " I had a hard time coming back, but stumbling over rocks, tearing through I saw the light." tangles of alders and vines, he suddenly " Yes. I made a big fire," she answered. came out upon the shore of the longed- And Pierre's conscience smote him, for for river. at that moment he realized that she had He stopped, delighted, and wondered suffered much to give him help. 12 RR 370 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

" I'm sorry I said that just now," he scanty return for his pains. He cleaned said meekly, picking up her hand and them quickly and stretched the skins to pressing it at the same time. dry. Then he placed near the girl every- " I am very glad you have returned thing she might need during his absence, safely," she answered. " It is good to and cautioned her to remain quiet. see you." Taking his tump-line and rifle, he said He went to work to put on dry clo- that he was going back to get the rest thing and to brew some hot tea. while the of the meat. girl gazed at his face lighted by the fire's Anne Marie assented in silence, and glowing. A deep contentment in her getting in the canoe he paddled over the heart, a feeling of peace and happiness river to the place whence he had started that was a very new element in her life, on his hunt. made this evening seem a very radiant As often happened to him in the one to her. woods, he began to think of the contrast Pierre, in some manner that he was there was between the life of the wilder- hardly conscious of, felt attracted by ness and that which pulsates in great this little savage girl's evident devotion. cities. It was a pleasant thing. Her gratitude On their outskirts there always seemed and admiration were plain enough. Taci- to be a kind of leprosy ; tumble-down turn and quiet though she might be. there shanties, anemic vegetation, sordid ways •was now often in her eyes a light that of making a living, all showing like an shed a brightness over him,'that -requited exfoliation due to decay within. Going him for. the little he was doing for her, into the huddle of people, .one found that gave him that wonderful and charm- poverty, crime, disease, and, greater than ing sensation that one is becoming neces- all these, hunger in places adjoining sary to some one's comfort and happiness. plenty of food, cold where fuel was It was within his inner self a mere abundant, tears next to laughter. slight feeling, one as yet shapeless and Out here, a hungry Indian would unformed, the realization of which would nearly starve before disturbing a cache, have given him great surprise. he was as well provided as any that had He basked in the contentment that was food, for they would share with hira. wholly due to his successful hunt, to the Out here, the filth of the civilized reaching of camp after weary toil, to world was far away, the air had been the hot food before him. to the welcome unbreathed of man, the water unpolluted, of the dog and the girl, and did not know the land free, the fuel belonged to all. that, either because pity is akin to love the fishes and the beasts to whoever could or merely because her little heart was capture them. going out to him, his own was being What did it matter that it was a land drawn toward her. as it had long been of cold and hunger? It was also a land drawn toward the glory of her land, and of freedom, full of riches for generations the beauty of her lakes and mountains to come, and the people that dwelt in it and the freedom of her life. were strong and self-reliant. They could f_ have laughter and good appetite and sound sleep. They could live long, they CHAPTER VIII. could have affections, they might know love. The Journey Is Resumed. His thoughts went back to the camp, T^TEXT morning Anne Marie was still where he had left Ou-memeou. Had he ^ very weak, and breathed with dif- been unrestrained by his ties to another ficulty ; but the pain had left her side, world, who knows but that he would and she felt pretty well as long as she have sought her for a mate. She was remained still. very beautiful, but he thought most ot- Pierre attended to her needs as usual, her courage, of the wild spirits she and after breakfast, for which he fried showed, of her instinctive modesty, of a good slice of caribou meat, he went to the deference she paid him as a superior look at his rabbit snares. being. He had only caught two. a rather Yet was she inferior? What leaven —

A HEART OF THE NORTH. 371 was there in him that had raised him his wishes. He was incomprehensible. It above her? It was but a matter of ab- was not the Indian way for a man to surd conventionality, and this was but a give the best pieces to the women. fetter, a thong that bound him, his right He ate a mighty lunch, and Paddy to his own life. fed so well that he slept all the remainder Aye, Ou-memeou could be a fitting of the afternoon, during which his mas- mate to a real man, a mother of strong ter worked away at his meat, cutting it children. into strips and smoking it, puffing away But he shook off these thoughts, smi- at his pipe in the meanwhile in great con- ling vaguely at himself, and began to tentment. He had hunted, made a good pay attention to the job before him. shot, worked hard and he was busy. All He had to proceed slowly, following this was enough to make a man mightily his own tracks and those of fhe caribou, happy. but there were many places where nei- " We won't go hungry now, Anne ther seemed very distinct, and he had Marie," he said, " even if we are kept to look very carefully. here some time. But we'll be able to Finally, he reached the spot,, and near start soon, and I suppose in the end we'll it observed some bear tracks. The ani- throw a lot of the stuff away." mal had not touched the carcass, how- She nodded with a smile, and somehow ever, evidently fearing the indications he caught himself wishing that she were of man's presence Pierre had left be- not so silent. He would have enjoyed hind him. jests and an animated talk ; but then he Pierre went to work to cut up the realized that she was ill, that she be- venison. He took the other hind leg af- longed to a race that is taciturn before ter divesting it of the bone, and all the strangers, that she was a wild thing that meat from the saddle and a good deal was not yet tamed, and he felt a desire from the foreshoulders. With some fat, to talk to her, to teach her something j the liver and- the tongue, he wrapped it he knew not what—in order to attune her all up in the hide, tied it up into a to his own feelings. pack and slung it over his forehead. On the next day, during a period of It was a big load, but he returned idleness, he wondered why the girl con- quickly, having blazed some of the trees. tinued to breathe so fast while apparently

He deposited it in the canoe and cov- seeming to have no pain, and it was only ered it thickly with boughs against the then -that he remembered that people with attacks of meat flies. Another trip pleurisy sometimes got a lot of fluid in yielded about half a load more. It was their chests, and that it interfered with noon before he was through and he was respiration at times, and that it often greatly pleased with himself. had to be taken out. He sat smoking his pipe while rest- When this idea came in his head, he ing a moment. He became conscious began to feel much concern. Why had that Paddy, on the other bank, had de- he studied medicine such a short time tected his presence and was barking at only? In a few moments he had thought him, running up and down the shore. over the matter carefully and recollected A good shove sent the canoe into the that the chest full of water would sound stream, and it seemed to him as if his differently, when struck with the fingers, arms had grown stronger as he wielded than a healthy lung. It is just like a the paddle, as if his stature had indifference between hitting a full or an creased, as if there was something in him empty barrel. that made him a bit more of a man. " Look here, Anne Marie," he said, " I He landed, petted the dog, spoke want to examine your chest to see how you cheerily to the girl, and took a huge de- are getting on." light in cooking a good lunch. He boiled She instinctively drew .the blanket the caribou tongue and insisted upon the more closely around her, and he felt pro- girl eating it. It was a tidbit, just the voked. thing for an invalid. " Don't be a fool, girl," he said. She looked surprised and refused it at His tone was not as gruff as his words, first, but as he insisted she complied with though, and as he drew the blanket down 372 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

she closed her lips tightly and allowed We'll soon travel on. At first you will him to have his way. not be able to paddle, but after a few She was still wearing his spare coat, days you can help. I'll have to work and this he removed, as gently as possible, going over the carries' with all that stuff and divesting her of a few more things to pack across, but it's a good thing to partly bared her chest. He felt some have plenty." surprise when he noticed how white the Unconsciously, just as he would have skin was compared with her face and petted the dog, he stroked the girl's head, hands. He had not paid attention to it but never saw the wonderful light that before. began to burn in her great dark eyes. The few adhesive straps he had placed Then he amused himself for some time on her chest were rather wrinkled up and by teaching her some English words. loose, and appeared capable of doing She knew a few already, and, a docile little good, so he pulled them off. pupil, she repeated various sentences She first time he tapped with his after him. " Good morning. Are you fingers she gave evidence of pain and he ongry. I ope you ave slept veil. De eluded himself for a fool. He ought to dog as e-ten de mit." have known better than to do that just " No, not mit—meat—Anne Marie." over the place where the ribs were She hung upon his lips, so anxious was broken. A little farther back, however, she to please, and repeated the difficult his striking produced a dull sound. At word until her teacher expressed himself a corresponding place on- the other side as thoroughly satisfied. of the chest the result he obtained was This was really quite interesting. She entirely different. was intelligent. It was like teaching " That's it," he decided. Here was Paddy new tricks. She was quick to the deuce to pay. As far as he knew, learn, and moreover, she did not forget. those cases, perhaps, never got well un- In the loneliness of the great woods she less that fluid was removed, and of course was becoming a companion. he had nothing to do it with, and did not She was no longer the poor child he know very well how it was done. But had merely wished to help because she after all, in some instances, they must was a living, suffering thing. Gradually surely get well without that. It could she Avas losing her reticence, and from hardly be necessary in all, at least he her he learned the legend of men fishes hoped it was not. that inhabited the great waters, and of After he was through he replaced her whom the last had been shot within the clothing and sat there beside her, deeply memory of the older Indians, it seemed. cogitating, until he noticed that her eyes She told him why the skulls of animals were persistently fixed upon him ques- were hung upon peeled saplings near the tioningly. camping places—to propitiate the spirits " the You want to know, Anne Marie. of trapped fur bearers ; and told him Well, you'll be well soon—then we'll tales of the folk-lore of Montagnais and start away," he declared. Algonquins. He had to stop her because He was assuming a confidence he was it seemed to tire her a good deal to talk. far from possessing, but she seemed " Thank you very much, Anne Marie," pleased. he said. " It is all very interesting, and " The poor little thing takes every- you must tell me more about these things thing I say as gospel truth," he com- another time, when you are stronger." mented to himself. Somehow it made Unconsciously again he patted her" him feel very kindly toward her. He hand, smiling, and rose to make supper experienced a sensation somewhat similar ready. He brought her food, as usual, to the one he recollected having felt and was very attentive to all her needs, when Paddy was a pup, and had begun and the Indian girl, having found a new to "follow him about in preference to life, was lulled and rocked in it, experi- other men. encing a strange, quiet happiness she He remained seated by her, idly cut- could not understand, but accepted with ting up some plug tobacco. a gratitude ever growing greater and " Yes, it's all right, Anne Marie. more intense. A HEART OF THE NORTH. 373

Pierre worked- hard at his caribou We'll travel on easily. Get that much meat. There was plenty of time and nearer to Lake St. John." he cut his strips very thin and smoked He reflected for a moment and thought them with great care. They, were hang- that it was a wise idea. If she could sit ing all about the camp over many sticks in a canoe it would do her no harm. At resting in the crotches of upright poles. any rate, they could go on to the head There was no room in his packs for all of the next portage and camp there. If this extra food, arid he made ingenious she was not strong enough to walk "across, bundles with birch-bark. they could stay there for a day or two. " With these preparations and the fish- Do you think we could start to- ing, which daily grew poorer, besides the day?" he asked eagerly. capture of occasional rabbits in his " Yes, we'll make ready now." snares, which he had set on the other With a joyful feeling he went to side of the river in a swampy place where work, whistling and singing. His energy they were fairly numerous, about ten days seemed to propagate itself to Paddy, who went by. barked and scampered with delight when He had scraped the caribou hide care- he saw the tent being pulled down. fully and rubbed it with brains and wood Everything was ready in less than two ashes, hoping it might be of some service. hours, including the time he took to go The weather grew colder day by day. across the river to collect his snares, The middle of October was approaching, which he would not leave behind. He and on two mornings there had been found four rabbits, which he brought sharp frosts. back in triumph. He was really very The deciduous trees were nearly bare tired of rabbit, but Anne Marie enjoyed and the winds blew keenly. Nature them, and so did Paddy. There were seemed to be preparing for the coming of enough skins to make' a rough blanket. an early winter. The little stove had been The canoe was rather heavily loaded rigged up within the tent, and in the when the time came to start. He care- evening, before going to sleep, its heat fully led Anne Marie down to the shore. was grateful. In the morning he made ^She was very weak, and at first it seemed it roar, just for the pleasure of it, and as if her legs could only carry her a did most of his cooking upon it. very short way.

Annie Marie was getting better. Her She seemed surprised to realize it, and breathing was becoming quite easy, and, he assured her that this would soon wear on sunny days, during the afternoon, away. He, got her comfortably ensconced she sat under a tree, where she spent in the bow of the canoe, and with a last hours gazing at the placid stretch of look at the place they pushed off. river, and following with her eyes the * The journey was on again. It was a fine tall young man who, with his pipe ever- frosty morning ; the air was clear and lastingly going, was fussing with some of bright and a fair wind blew down the the preparations for the trip. river. Pierre paddled strongly and with One morning, as he awoke rather late, each sweep of the paddle the little craft, he was surprised to find her up. She carried along by the current, went a good had lighted the fire in the little stove and distance.

was sitting by it. With a wonderfully Again they were watching the shores coarse needle and some thread she was that went by, and noted the indications mending a hole in one of his heavy of life along the river. There were ducks, woolen socks. at times, rising before them a long way " Why, Anne Marie," he exclaimed, ahead. But most of the birds, never very "what are you doing?" numerous in that region, had already She turned to him with a smile. departed. A couple of loons were swim- " I could not lie down any more," ming about in one broad lakelike expanse " she replied. I am better now. Time of the river, and farther on a lone gull to get ready for a start." gave a rasping cry and sailed away from " Bui you are not strong enough yet," the top of a great rock. Then the river he objected. narrowed down again and became quite "I can sit "in the canoe. No work. rapid. 374 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

" You remember this portage?" asked Slowly and carefully he made his way Anne Marie. dovvn. The sand was loose and gave an " " I suppose so—why? insecure footing, and whenever he slipped " The water is very rapid just before a few inches his pack would thump down reaching the landing-place. It takes two hard and give his neck a wrench. He to fetch it safely. It would be easy to finally reached the bottom and placed his be carried over the falls. There is a load upon a flat rock, and rested a moment place higher up where they land, at high before going back. Two more journeys water. We must stop there." consumed nearly an hour, leaving nothing " Just as you say, Anne Marie." more to carry but the blankets and tent, It was nearly noon when they landed, with the rifle and a small bag of pro- and Pierre helped the girl out of the visions. canoe. She was pleased to find that she "What do you think, Anne Marie? " was a little more steady on her feet than Do you want to tr-yj.t? when they had started. Yet she was very She arose briskly, and he took the glad to lie down with her back propped remaining bundles. Placing one arm with the bundle of blankets, while Pierre around her waist he started slowly. They started a fire and began the never-ending progressed steadily while they were on boiling of the kettle. fairly level ground, and Pierre saw that He made a strong stew of caribou it gave her pleasure to feel that she was meat, with a little rice. With bread and getting on so well. After reaching the tea, this made a fine meal, and Anne hill, however, she began to breathe hard, Marie ate with better appetite than she and soon stopped. had manifested for a long time. "It's too much for you, is it?" he " Let me see, how long is this port- asked. age?" he inquired between mouthfuls. With scanty breath she replied that It was ever a surprise to her to find she would be better in a minute, and they that he never remembered exactly the sat down for a moment. - She then rose places over which he had already passed. again, her teeth tightly clenched, but He recognized everything, but was always soon her mouth was open wide in an a bit hazy until he reached them. He was effort to breathe. — deficient in the training which to her was " I'll carry you," he said. second nature, and she could hardly un- He bent down and with his right arm derstand that this wonderful man should encircled her knees. be lacking in any faculty. But then he " Bend down," he directed her, " and was something out of the common, that put your arms around my neck." could not be judged by the standards He did this so quickly that she had no applicable to her people. time to protest. She did as she was bid- " It far," replied. " Few den and he lifted easily, like is not she her a child ; hundred paces. But there is a hard hill she clinging with her left arm to his neck. to get down. Don't try to carry too There were some vines and saplings much." along the upward path, and with his left But he lit his pipe, and, in the pride hand he grasped them during his climb, of his strength, piled up packs on his putting down each foot carefully. back until he carried about a hundred Before he reached the top he was and fifty pounds. He followed the path blowing hard. The last few steps were which generations of Indians had worn tough, but he reached the summit and over the portage and soon came to a steep put her down carefully. climb that made him stop for a rest. " You stay here and rest," he told her, Then again he went on and reached a " until I bring up the rest of the things." place where the way led down a steep " You are tired," she said. and crumbling side hill, covered with " It's nothing," he replied cheerfully. scanty herbage everywhere but in the " I-had a good deal harder time carrying path, where the bare sand showed. He the canoe." remembered that he had puffed hard on This was not strictly true, but the girl his upward journey when coming up smiled and he went after the remaining that place. possessions and was back in a few minutes. A HEART OF THE NORTH. 375

She asserted her readiness to go on. many hundred miles with his sick wife There was a fairly level place on top of to reach a doctor and consult him about the hill for about fifty yards, and she the old woman, whom he had carried made it easily, but when they came to the over every portage in a rough chair sus- steep descent Pierre felt uncertain. pended from his tump-line. But she was " I'm afraid I'd better not try to carry a cripple, and it was the only way. you down there," he said, fearing a slip. In her case, things were different. If He went before her, she leaning upon the young man had allowed her to, she his broad shoulders. They had to stop would have managed it somehow. But several times. Once when her feet slipped he had not permitted it. He had bent in the loose sand an expression of pain down and lifted her like a child, master- came over her face, but he did .not see it. fully, in a way that could not be resisted, They finally reached the bottom. The and it had been a strange' and pleasant girl was looking pale, but was elated at sensation. her success. And now, to the child of the forests, " Perhaps we have done enough for to- the river was beginning to sing a more day," he suggested. beautiful song, the spirits of living things " No, bad place to camp here," she and of dead ones were smiling upon her, replied. " Only five miles to the next the foam and the roar of the great water- portage." # falls spoke with an eloquence she had

He looked at his watch ; it was only never conceived possible. She had been three o'clock, and the next carry could as a child in those strong arms, and their easily be made. possessor assumed, in her eyes, some of "Is it a good camping place?" he the attributes of the great things that asked. were to be worshiped — the Manedo of " Yes, good at both ends." her fathers, the God of the present He loaded the canoe again, but in order generation. to bring the girl down he had to lift her Whenever Pierre chanced to look at to the shelf of rock upon which he stood. her he found that her eyes were fastened Paddy jumped in and they started. upon him, and each time the long lashes Pie turned his head back, as the swift fell and concealed them. She had never water was carrying them away, the better before spoken to a monsieur—one of the to see the beautiful falls amid the spray breed of strange people who came from and spume of which they had started. the hotel to visit the reservation at Pointe The brown water roared down full fifty Bleue, who looked upon the Indians as feet in one grand leap, in a furious mass, curious beings and then disappeared to between jagged rocky cliffs, the tops of make room for others. which bore a few stunted, twisted, wild- They were surely not like this one, looking trees. who was singing, at this' very moment, The girl could, like all her people, "A la Claire Fontaine," with a voice appreciate the beauty of nature, but be- that was as the music in the church. fore his' worship of it this feeling was There could not be any others like awakened in her to greater depths. him. They always took guides, and she " It is beautiful," she murmured. could not understand wly he had gone This time he was the one to answer into the woods all alone. She did not with a nod, for it was too grand for seek to fathom the mystery of how le words, but he felt glad that she shared bon Dieu had led him in her path, when his admiration. she was drowning, and ' had kept him The falls disappeared behind them, as there, making her present life so happy, the river pursued its sinuous course, and notwithstanding the sorrows that had Pierre, who was getting slightly tired, gone before. paddled easily. There was plenty of At times her lips formulated a prayer time in which to reach the next portage that she hoped would reach high up in and make camp before dark. the heavens, for the welfare of the young Anne Marie was thinking. She had man who was singing blithely as they known an old Indian who had traveled approached the portage, (To be c ntinued.) :

The Railroad Man's Brain Teasers.

Puzzling Problems that Promote Patience and Propagate a Propensity for Practical Proportion.

MR. O. M'H. SHUMAN, writing from Mohall, North Dakota, sends the following teaser: Place a pair of truck-wheels on the rails, fasten and wind one end of a cable around the center of the axle, with loose end drawing from the under side of the axle. Couple a locomotive to the cable and give the engineer the signal to go ahead. Now. which way will the truck-wheels revolve—toward the engine, away from the engine, or will they skid on the rails?

From T. J. Scanlin, Boone, Iowa, we have received the second teaser of this month's supply. Here it is Three towns, A, B, and C, are situated along a double railway line. A freight-train leaves A and stops 7 minutes at B. Two minutes after leaving -B, it meets an express-train which left C when it was 28 miles on the other side of B. The express travels twice as fast as the freight, and runs from C to B in 1V2 hours. The express also runs from B to A, and, returning, arrives at C 3 minutes after the freight-train. What is the distance between A and B, and B and C? What is their rates?

ANSWERS TO JUNE PUZZLES.

" " " " Mr. Niles Searls's puzzle : Let a equal the length of train and x the distance that the brakeman traveled to the rear before he met the rear end of train. Then " a—x " will equal the distance the train was traveling while brakeman traveled distance " x." As all speeds are constant, we have the proportion as follows: The distance " x " traveled by the brakeman to the rear, is to the distance " a—x " traveled by the train in the same time, as the total distance traveled by the brakeman, 2X plus a, is to the total distance traveled by the train, a.

By proportion this gives: x : a—x : : 2 x plus a : a. From this we can get the value of " x " and find it to be .7071a. Substituting one mile for the "a," and the value of "x," as determined in the expression 2 x plus a, we have a total of 2 miles and 2,186.9 feet.

Mr. H. R. Middlebrook's puzzle: Six inches.

376 —: — : —

The Sunny Side of the Track.

What the Busy Joke-Smiths of Our Esteemed Contemporaries Have Turned Out Lately in the Hope of Making Us Laugh.

NEEDED A FEW MORE. out of his cab. the engineer saw the new brakeman and said, with a sigh of relief " I tell you what, we had a job to get up CBENJ. CONDON, general agent of the " there, didn't we? • Hawley lines, and J. R. Holcomb, gen- " certainly did," said brake- eral agent of the Kansas City, Mexico and We the new " man, and if I hadn't put the brake the Orient, recently journeyed to Oroville in on we'd have slipped back." Washington Star. an effort to wrest from the Western Pacific large freight contracts. Adjoining the office of the hotel is a fire-house—a place where IT liquids can be procured—and after the long MAKING CLEAR. and tedious journey from this city they ad- journed to the fire-house. "T BEG your pardon, waiter," said a travel- Holcomb wandered around the spacious A er In a railway restaurant, " did you room ami let his eyes wander to the walls, say that I had twenty minutes to wait or that " where 'he spied the notice : it was twenty minutes to eight ? " We will pay $5 for 1909 Lincoln pennies." " I said naythur," answered the attendant. "Did vou see this, Higgins?" he asked. " I said yez had twenty minutes to ate, an' " " " " No. What ? that's all yez had. Yer train's gone now ! " Cast your eyes at the sign on the wall." louv Times. Higgins did so, and then hurriedly opened his suit-case and, throwing his wardrobe about the room, soiling the evening dress STREET CAR AMENITIBS. shirts, dug deep into the portmanteau. "What are you looking for?" asked C.

378 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

ring the bell, fire a revolver, and send up "How soon does this train go?" he in- three bombs at regular intervals of five quired. minutes. " In fifteen minutes." replied the agent. " In case a train comes up behind a pedes- The man hurried away. Soon he was back trian he shall affect deafness until the en- with three silver dollars, with which he gineer calls him a hard name. bought a ticket. "All members of the police force shall " Pardon my curiosity," said the ticket- give up Sunday to chasing trains. seller, "but how did you get that money? " When a train approaches a crossing It isn't a loan, for I see you have disposed of where the tracks are dusty, the engineer the two-dollar bill." , V must slow down to one mile an hour and lay "That's all right," said the man. "No, I the dust with a hand-sprinkler." Exchange. didn't borrow. I went to a pawnshop and soaked the bill for a dollar and a half. Then as I started back here I met an old acquaint- AN OLD ONE BUT STILL GOOD. ance, to whom I sold the pawn ticket for a dollar and a half. I then had three dollars and he has the pawn ticket for which the two- WOMAN on the train entering Grand A dollar bill stands as security." Kansas City Rapids asked the conductor how long J uurnal. the cars stopped at the Union Station. He replied: "Madam, we stop just four minutes, from two to two, to two two." COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. The woman turned to her companion and " said: I wonder if he thinks he's the whistle GENTLEMEN of the jury," erupted the on the engine?" Exchange. attorney for the plaintiff, addressing the twelve Arkansas peers who were sitting J* in judgment and on their respective shoulder- A DELICATE HINT. blades, in a damage suit against a grasping corporation for killing a cow. " If the train had been running as slow TWO very cadaverous tramps looked in as it should have been ran, if the bell had been at the window of a railway station rung as it ort to have been rang, or the where an operator sat at his key. whistle had been blown as it should have " Say, pardner," one of them said in a been blew, none of which was did, the cow very husky voice, " report a couple of empties would not have been injured when she was goin' East." Harper's Weekly. killed!" Santa Fc Employees' Magazine. JX J* KEEPING THEM NEAT. A LONG EXAMINATION.

""V7"OU know. Katie," said the proprietor RAILROAD doctor is telling a tale on X of the railroad-station restaurant, A one of his colleagues. There had been " there is a great deal in having your pump- a hand-car accident, and three men were hurt. kin-pies look attractive." By the time Doc Alberts had two of them " " Yes, sir, I know it," replied the girl, I fixed up, he was tired, especially as he had have done everything I could. I have dusted been on " emergency work " for fourteen off these pumpkin-pies every morning for the hours, and the weather^was hot. Statesman. last eight days." Yonkcrs He began on Dennis Twohy. Dennis seemed just bruised, and sore all over; his chest hurt him, and the doctor listened care- FRENZIED FINANCE. fully to his respiration. It seemed all right. " Breathe deeply. Dennis, and count just MAN approached the window and one—two—three—and so on," ordered the A Den- asked for a ticket to Kansas City in- weary doctor. The next he heard was " quiring the price. nis still faithfully counting, sivin thousan' " Two twenty-five." said the agent. an' wan, sivin thousan' an' two, sivin thou- The man dug down into a well-worn san'—" " pocketbook and fished out a bill. It was a Dr. Alberts said blandly, Very good, very bank-note for two dollars. It was also all good, indeed. That will do."—Santo Fe Em- the^money he had. ployees' Magazine. — !

379

ON THE EDITORIAL CARPET.

Here We Listen to the Hog Head, the Fireman, the Con., the Shack, the Nite Opr., and AH the Other Boys.

main OUR line has been straightened big hit is by Arno Dosch, describing how curves have been cut off and grades a modern locomotive plant is run. It would lowered and we are going to run the — August seem to be an impossible • feat for any train on a thirty-miles-an-hour faster sched- plant to turn out an order of say, ninety loco- ule. Perhaps 3-011 belong the old to order of motives to be delivered in sixty days, espe- venerable, conservative, capable railroad and cially when one considers the widely "different men who have a well-founded prejudice specifications to which various roads demand against such fast going, but we have so much that their engines be built. But this is a feat steam bubbling in our domes and popping which often has to be accomplished—or at out of our safety-valves in the num- least August the equal of it. and in this article by Mr. ber that are going try for we to a record. Dosch you will learn how it is done. At any rate, we have got such a fine batch Besides these there will be our usual of new equipment that we cannot possibly friends, the observant J. E. Smith, who will help breaking every speed record that we tell more of the experiences of Schwartz in set so laboriously in the past four have up his efforts to purchase land from the farm- years. ers for the right-of-way of his company, and In the matter of fiction, we are running a Robert H. Rogers, explaining to men who regular by hummer our old friend, Emmet aspire to the manifold duties of the superin- F. Harte. in which he swings us over the tendent of motive power. Valhalla division with our pals old Honk We shall also have a story of the Pinker- and Horace, with the high-keyed laughter tons, and an incident in the run of the first whistle tied down and shrieking. Black Diamond Express that will make a mo- Robert Fulkerson Hoffman will be aboard ving picture of speed look like a broken-down with one of the most powerfully dramatic freight-car on the rip track. And, as usual, stories he has ever written. is Mr. Hoffman there are lots of things that we are not going the keenest student of human nature as ex- to tell you about because we like to have a hibited in the railroad that have ever " man we little on you " boys in the way of eager known, and in this story he brings all his anticipation. technical knowledge, both of the railroad Board's down for August and of story writing, into play. J* Another old and tried friend. J. R. Staf- ford, will be among this galaxy of star engi- MASTER MECHANICS MEET. neers, and altogether we expect our fiction to haul the biggest party of readers that ever 'T'HE annual convention of the American bought a ten-cent ticket on our line. A Railway Master Mechanics' Associa- As a running n^ate for this crack fiction tion will be held June 15 to 22 at Atlantic flier, we have got together a string of the City, New Jersey. In this connection it is best special articles we have ever coupled recalled that this influential body is now close onto. There will be a story of Congressmen to the half-century mark in a career of use- who have risen from the ranks of railroad fulness practically incalculable. Starting in men, that every ambitious railroad man 1S68, with six members, it has now nearly one ought to read for encouragement. There will thousand representatives from every railroad be the first article of an entirely new series in the United States. Canada, and many for- by Walter Gardner Seaver. Our old readers eign countries. will need no introduction to Mr. Seaver. It is impossible to review in detail the work Some time ago he gave us some of the best which has been accomplished in the history yarns of actual railroad life that we could of this body. Unique in its devotion to the couple onto. He is a railroad man of tremen- locomotive and its problems alone, it has in- dous experience, and the tales he tells bear vestigated every conceivable subject con- all the shopmarks of skilled, veteran labor. nected with its design, maintenance, and- Another story that we expect to make a operation. developing, criticising, and dis- 379 — ; ;

380 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

citssing it as it progressed from the diminu- Casey Jones was the rounder's name, tive sixteen-inch eight-wheel engine of i860 On a^six, eight-wheeler, boys, he won his to the magnificent articulated compounds of fame. the present. The caller called Casey at half past four- Kissed his wife at the That this 'great development has been station door. Mounted to the cabin with his orders singularly immune widespread mis- in his from hand. takes is due largely to these annual conven- And he took his farewell trip to that promised tions and to the personnel of the association. land. Its membership is limited to those who have attained to the grade of master mechanic CHORUS. men logically qualified to discuss the important papers which are read during the session, Casey Jones mounted to the cabin, and this free interchange of ideas has re- Casey Jones with his orders in his hand, sulted in securing the very best in design and Casey Jones mounted to the cabin, shop practises. And he took his farewell trip to that It has effectually safeguarded against the promised land. repetition of costly mistakes, and this feature alone has no doubt saved millions which Put in your water, and shovel in your coal, would have been fruitlessly expended. Put your head out the window, watch them That the value of the conventions is fully drivers roll. appreciated by railroad management every- I'll run her till she leaves the rail, where is evinced by the encouragement which 'Cause I'm eight hours late with that West^- they extend to their master mechanics to at- ern mail. He looked at his watch, tend them. It is a judicious investment be- and Ms watch was slow, cause these master mechanics manage the He looked at the water and the water was largest collection of factories in the world low devoted to one substantially uniform product He turned to the fireman, and he said: " —the repairing of locomotives. We're going to reach Frisco, but we'll all Although it may challenge belief, this par- be dead." ticular item alone costs the railroads over eighty million dollars every year. To keep CHORUS. this tremendous expenditure down is one of the great problems which the convention Casey Jones going to reach Frisco, must solve for the general good. Casey Jones, but we'll all be dead. Many of the master mechanics will present Casey Jones going to reach Frisco; their own views in the discussions, while We're going to reach 'Frisco, but we'll all others will be content to follow without be dead. comment, but whether speakers or listeners, they will return home with the renewed Casey pulled up that Reno hill, energy and interest in their work which al- He tooted for the crossing with an awful ways results from communication with other shrill workers in the same field, and with their The switchmen knew by the engine's moans. opinions modified, new ideas conceived, and That the man at the throttle was Casey Jones. He pulled up within their experience broadened. two miles of the place. Number Four staring him right in the face. He turned to the fireman, said, " Boy, you'd "CASEY JONES." better jump, 'Cause there's two locomotives that's a going to bump." WE are able to give you the words of the " song Casey Jones," this month, in CHORUS. response to your many requests for this song. We wish it were in our power to Casey Jones, two locomotives, furnish the music also, but the editor will Casey Jones, that's a going to bump. gladly sing it to any railroad man who will Casey Jones, two locomotives. this during the editor's idle call at office hours There's two locomotives that's a going to —between 1 and 8.30 a.m. bump. CASEY JONES.

Case}' Jones said just before he died : * BY T. LAWRENCE SE1BEKT. " There's two more roads that I'd like to (Copyrighted, 1909. by Nezvton and Seibert, ride.'; " " Los Anyelcs California.) Fireman said, What could that be ? " The Southern Pacific and the Santa Fe." Come all you rounders if you want to hear Mrs. Jones sat on her bed a sighing. A story about a brave engineer. Just received a message that Casey was dying, : :

ON THE EDITORIAL CARPET. 381

" Said, Go to bed, children, and hush your suburban service, as it is provided nowadays crying, with steam locomotives, one cannot help be- " 'Cause you got another papa on the Salt ing impressed with the general second-hand- Lake Line." edness of the equipment that is assigned to this department of CHORUS. the work. Both cars and engines are too often of a type that was common in through traffic as Casey Jones ! got another papa, much as twenty or thirty years ago, Mrs. Casey Jones on that Salt Lake Line. and where a distinctive type of suburban Mrs. Casey Jones got another papa. engine is used at all, it, too, is one that has long And you've got another papa on that Salt since become Lake Line antiquated. The ability to stop and start quickly is one of the most important features of this service, and why we are not THE STEAM ENGINE. getting the advantage of that feature is very evident. As a type, the suburban locomotive has have had a great deal to say in re- WE been practically neglected during the past fif- cent issues practise about locomotive teen years, and that it is subject to improve- as it is commonly known, and we will ments that would make it proportionately as have a good deal more to say on the subject valuable to the service as are other improved in the future. In August we will publish types of locomotives in their respective an article on filling large locomotive orders, classes of work, goes without saying. In England there has been in use for some by Arno Dosch, and in September we will time a type of four-cylinder compound publish " Has the Locomotive Come to wherein the intercepting valve is controlled Stay ? Robert Rogers. pa- by H. Other automatically by the movement of the re- pers of equal importance and interest will verse lever—this principle should prove valu- follow. able in providing a three or four cylinder Many of our readers have written us ask- compound suburban engine with the ability to ing if we have not laid too much stress on the accelerate rapidity with the least attention possibility of the locomotive holding its place from the engineer. With engines this feature in American railways. There seems to be a embodying and light-weight cars, preferably vestibuled and general opinion that electricity is destined to without bulkheads, similar to those used in supersede the steam-engine. are sin- We Subway and Elevated service, improved con- cerely of the belief it that is a long way from ditions as regards suburban traffic on steam becoming the dominant railroad power, and lines would surely result. we cannot be led to believe that it will ever wholly take the place of the steam engine any more than the monorail will replace the "THE FAST FREIGHT ON THE SOO." double-rail track. Our attention is attracted by an editorial IN our April issue, we asked for the words on this particular subject in a recent issue of of " The Fast Freight on the Soo," which The Railzvay and Engineering Review. We is sometimes known as " An Ox Team Is give it herewith Faster than a Freight on the Soo." Here she is, boys. Thank James H. Packard, operator Not more than five or six years ago, the and signalman C, St. P., M. and O. Ry. and average layman felt reasonably certain that Soo Line, at Cameron, Wisconsin, for the continued development of the steam locomo- words tive would be both impracticable and un- profitable, and that electrification as a sub- FAST FREIGHT ON THE SOO. stitute motive-power in all classes of service was imminent. BY S. E. FARNHAM. Electrification has been found justifiable under a considerable number of conditions, We leave Minneapolis in the morning at but one at least, which had come to be re- seven, garded as its particular field, has in a very Get over to the shops ; do well to leave there great measure been preempted almost before at eleven. the electric locomotive was given a trial, that We are ordered to haul all the loads in the is, that branch of the service in which the yard, Mallet compound locomotive is finding its If the wheeling is good—all the same if it's greatest usefulness. hard. The opinion is almost universal at the present time, that present-day terminal and sub- We stall up at Wilson, and double the hill, urban service can be efficient and up-to-date Go back for the balance with a merry good only as it employs electricity as the propell- will, ing agent, and this idea, at least as it regards Hoping once over the hill we can make up suburban traffic, the writer believes is about some time, on a par with the notion held some few years But find orders at Marine. " haul every load ago, as above referred to. In contemplating you can find." — ; —

382 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

A preference load at Osceola, with orders Prosperity, we hope, to the Soo may befall; to go. 'Twill be done when they go with what they We double to Godfrey in a blizzard of snow. can hauL Our sand is all out, and as hungry as can be. And four loads for the East at Spur Number Every one is disgusted, down-hearted, or Three. mad, And the talk that I hear sure makes me feel What to do we don't know, only to double sad again. But I know they are facts, I acknowledge We must haul all the loads if there's a mile them, too, in our train. An ox-team is faster than time freight on Run to Amery for water is the next thing the Soo. to do. <£ Go back for the balance, " fast freight on the Soo." NEW NOVEL BY A RAILROAD MAN.

" Says the shack to the con, Where you going A POWERFUL story of the struggles of to chew? a man who mistrusts his own courage I'm nearly played out, look weary, and you is " The Taming of Red Butte Western," too!" by Francis . Lynde, a former railroad The con says faintly, " What's the matter man. It tells how with you? a young engineer, made superintendent for that At Sha liner's, in Amery. the best place on purpose, knocked the Soo." into shape a disorganized railroad, manned by untrained semi-outlaws. We arrived just in time to hear the dinner- It is filled with critical, yet practical, prob- bell ring, lems in railroading; it tells of the obstacle* Went in, found a supper that was fit for a that may arise before a superintendent from king; the pulls of inefficient men with the direc- Mine host, fat and clever, the right man in tors, and from pressure brought to bear by his place strong and unscrupulous An ex-con himself, with a merry, round face. mining [interests, from the distaste for discipline of a body of rebellious hands. It Our supper revived us, and again we will try is full of adventure. To get over the road, we hardly know why, It moves forward with the rush and roar of But are firmly in hopes soon to get through, a fast express. Doubling high grades with fast freight The author, Francis Lynde, is a railroad man Number Two. of wide experience. In the early eighties, he held a position in the Denver office of the Our coal is all out, another tank we must Union Pacific, worked his way up quickly to take. the place of head clerk, and then became Drag our train up the hill, razoo Turtle Lake. passenger-agent. Then, for a time, he served Three hours' hard switching to get the hind load, in St. Paul, but later, moving to St. Joseph, That had laid there a week from the Omaha he became passenger-agent for a Missouri road. road. In these 3'ears he wrote considerable fic- The agent at Barron is a hustler, too, tion, and gradually gave up his railroad work We find him on duty at three thirty-two; for writing. If you want a bully good rail- the poor The way-freight we unload makes road novel, get this one. man so blue, He goes in, writes friends, " never come to the Soo." AN OLD-TIME POEM.

We pass Brother Burton just about five, KIND friend sends us the following •He has hustled for the Soo till he's more A " dead than alive; poem, The Fireman's Story," from an So we let him off easy, has been up all night, old copy of the Wavcrly Magazine and Liter- And give them a whirl for all that's in sight. ary Repository. It is an old-timer, indeed, but it is full of the stuff that thrills—and that pound them along, about six miles an We never dies. We gladly add it to the great hour, galaxy of railroad classics that have graced At Spur Number Ten we lose all our power. the columns of The Carpet: Then double them over, to make the next town, THE FIREMAN'S STORY. And breakfast at eight with old Mother Brown. "A frightful face?" Wal, yes, yer correct- That man on the engine thar' The shippers are kicking, and so is each crew, Don't pack the handsomest countenance Who run on the trains, or ship by the Soo. Every inch of it sportin' a scar; ; — —! ——— —; —;

ON THE EDITORIAL CARPET. 383

But I tell you, pard, thar' ain't money enough As soon as I stopped I backed up the train Piled up in the national banks To the spot whar the poor fellow lay To buy that face —nor a single scar An' thar set the gal with his head in her lap, (No, I never iudulges. Thanks.) An' a wipin' the warm blood away. The tears rolled in torrents right down from her eyes. Yes. Jim is an old-time engineer, While An' a better one never war knowed she sobbed like her heart war all Bin a runnin' yar since the fust machine broke War put on the Quincy road I tell you, my friend, sich a sight as that 'ar An' thar' ain't a galoot that pulls a plug Would move -the tough heart of an oak. From Maine to the jumpin'-off place, That knows more about the big iron hoss We put Jim aboard an' run back to town. Than him with the battered-up face. Whar for week arter week the boy lay A hoyerin' right in the shadder o' death. An' that gal by his bed every day. "Git hurt in a mash-up?" No, 'twas done But nursin' an' doctorin' " brought him In a sort o' legitimate way: around got it a tryin' to save a gal He Kinder snatched him right outen the grave yar on the road last May. Up His face ain't so han'som' as 'twar, but his I haven't much time fur to spin you the yarn. heart pull twenty-live Fur we out at two Remains jist as noble an' brave. Jist wait till I climb up an' toss in some coal So to keep the old " go " alive. Of course thar's a sequel—as story books say Jim war pullin' the Burlin'ton passenger then. He fell dead in love, did this Jim; Left Quincy half an hour late. But he hadn't the heart to ax her to have An' war skinnin' along purty lively so's not Sich a battered up rooster as him. To lay out number twenty-one freight. She knowed how he felt, an' last New Year's The " 90 " war more than a 'hopin' 'em up. Day An' a quiverin' in every nerve! War the fust day o' leap year, you know. " When all at once Jim yelled Merciful So she jist cornered Jim an' proposed on the " God ! spot As she shoved her sharp nose round a An' you bet he didn't say no. curve. He's buildin' a house up thar on the hill, An' has laid up a snug pile o' cash, I jumped to his side o' the cab, an' ahead The 'Bout two hundred paces or so, weddin's to be on the first o' next May Jist a year the Stood a gal on the track, her hands raised from day o' the mash aloft, The gal says he risked his dear life to save hers, An' her face jist as white as the snow. An' she'll jist turn It seems she war so paralyzed with fright the tables about That she couldn't move for'ard or back. An' give him the. life that he saved—thar's An' when Jim pulled the whistle she fainted the bell: sir, pull an' fell Good day, we're goin' to out. Right down in a heap on the track. J* IT IS "GERRIT" FORT. I'll never forgit till the day o' my death The look that come over Jim's face: our May issue, we published short He throwed the old lever cl'ar back like a IN a arti- shot, cle telling of the remarkable rise of Mr. So's to slacken the " 90's " wild pace. Gerrit Fort, G. P. A. of the New York Cen- Then he let on the air-brakes as quick as a tral lines. In an unguarded moment—we flash, might as well blame it to Halley's comet as An' out through the window he fled,_ anything else—w.e. spelled Mr. Fort's name An' skinned 'long the runnin'-board cl'ar out " Jerrit." Whether his first name begins in front, " " " with a Or a G," are sure it r-akes An' lay down on the pilot ahead. J we no difference in his keen ability to manage the big department of the big railroad which Then, just as we reached whar the poor crea- is so fortunate as to have his services. tur' lay, —He grabbed a tight hold of her arm. History is full of personalities whose first An' raised her right up so's to throw her one names are quite unimportant. What, for inside stance, was the handle to .Esop's name (not Out o' reach of all danger an' harm. that Mr. Fort is addicted to spreading But, somehow, he slipped an' •fell in with his fables)? "Has any one here seen Kelly?" head Which Kelly? What did Chopin's mother On the rail, as he throwed the young lass, call him when he was home from his one- An' the pilot, in strikin' him. ground up his face night stands? The late William Shake- In a frightful an' horrible mass! speare, a writing-man of no mean propor- — —

384 THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE.

Hons, asked the question. " What's in a ing you I admire it, whether it runs hot or name? " There has even been a query as to not. 1 can hardly wait from one month to the next for its arrival. J. R. H., Altoona, what has become of " Mr. Sweeney of the — Pennsylvania. end book? " there is doubt about Fort of the But no I do not know whether you will want a let- he New York Central. We know where ter from me or not, but I think every one stands, and so does the traveling public who has read The Railroad Man's Maga- and we are for him. zine sure has a " put in." and should give the magazine a boost. I have been reading it ever since it has first started, and I think that KICKS. BOUQUETS AND it is the best magazine on the market. The stories are the best that I have read in any AMONG our bouquets this month we have book.—G. H. M., Honolulu, H. T. . another kick. One of our readers tells I us that there is something that he does not have been a constant reader of The Railroad Man's Magazine for some time. like about The Railroad Man's Magazine. I can hardly wait till the time comes to get in spite of the fact that he starts off by say- it. I am hard to please in reading matter, that he thinks it's one of the best maga- ing but The Railroad Man's Magazine cer- sad to say, although zines published. And, tainly pleases me. I sometimes sit up till the things we would like very much to make roosters crow in the morning, reading it. right in this particular case, we are at pres- P. Mcl., Detroit, Michigan. ent unable to remedy the difficulty. This particular kicker says that instead of I am not a railroad man. but am a watch- maker, and like to see the wheels round. pulling out onto the main line once a go For the past two years The Railroad Man's month, we ought to double upon our sched- Magazine has helped wonderfully to oil the put on another train. Honestly, ule and bearings of the wheels of time for me. I pretty we'd like to. but the right-of-way is never miss an issue, and have taken quite an orders for a badly crowded and we can't get interest in its problems.—L. C. M., Golden- clear track any oftener to save our lives. dale, Washington. Besides, we're working a pretty full head I take eight magazines besides The of steam as it is, and are so busy making up Rail- road Man's Magazine, but I find it the best our electric-lighted, solid-vestibuled. that if of them all.—C. R. D., Alford, Pennsylvania. . we tried to get out a special in between we time that the limited might lose so much I have been reading The Railroad Man's would not get out on time. Magazine since copy number one, and have al- However, kicks of this sort please us not failed to get every copy since it was first most as much as the bouquets we receive, printed. I am greatly interested in the stories and we're too proud of both to keep them and poems.—B. C. M„ Garfield, Kansas. tucked away in our locker, so here are a I have never seen any letter of praise or a few on exhibition to show that we've got kick from this part of the world, so will some friends left and that they're not afraid send in my bouquet. I have been taking The for us: to stand up Railroad Man's Magazine for over a year. Once a person starts to read the magazine, it Railroad Man's I have been reading The becomes a habit that one won't quit. My long time, and I think Magazine now for a copies are read by three families. Then, if the best magazines published. it is one of there is anything left of the book, I hand it about the maga- The only feature I don't like over to the telegrapher at Reed's Spring. enough. zine is that it don't come around soon Give us a few more *' Tragic Train Orders,"' It should be published twice a month at some more of Horace Herr's and Emmet Lan- least. I especially like the Light of the Harte's pen pictures, and some more slang tern.—T. J. M., Havre, Montana. stories like " The Excitement Special." The serials are all good. The magazine is an I a regular reader of your magazine, am education to any one who will read its arti- and that you may know how much I appre- cles.—L. E., Garber, Missouri. ciate it, I must tell you that it is a common occurrence for me to be warned by the engi- & neer that the steam is down, when I am reading mv little red-covered Railroad Man's AMONG THE MISSING. Magazine. If it came out twice a month. steam. I guess he would never have any the Central HEDGER. a railroad man formerly There is a saving on our road, FE. Railroad of New Jersey, that if it is not in • employed by the Illinois Central Rail- The Railroad Man's Magazine, it's no road, is reported among the missing. Infor- Jersey. good.—W. Z. B., Springfield, New mation regarding his whereabouts is re- quested by N. A. Hedger, White Cloud, I have been a reader of your magazine for Michigan. the last few years, and take pleasure in tell- —

THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE—ADVERTISING SECTION.

What Position Do YOU Want? Is there some position " higher up " that you have your eyes on, but which requires special training to secure and hold? Is there some line of work that appeals to you more strongly than the one in which you are now engaged, but which calls for expert knowledge?

Summed up—is lack of training keeping you back ? If so, the International Correspond- ence Schools have a way by which you can advance—a way that is within your means that doesn 't rob you of your working time—that doesn 't necessitate your leaving home- that doesn't mean giving up the little pleasures of life.

Mark the attached coupon and learn how the I. C. S. can advance you. Marking it costs you nothing and yet brings you information and advice that will help you shape your career —information and advice that you cannot get elsewhere at any price. A Better Position For YOU Mark the coupon and learn how the Better Positiori'Coupon 1. C. S. can change you from a dissatisfied to INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOLS, a satisfied man—how it can fit you for your Box 1O03, 8ORANTON, I* A. chosen occupation—raise your salary—make Please explain, without further obligation on my part, how I cau qnalify for the position before which I have you successful. marked X. General Foreman Electrlcul Engineer The I. C. S. can do all this. This is proved It- R. .Shop foreman Machine Designer R. R. Traveling Eng. Electrician by the 300 letters received every month from K. R. Trav'g Fireman Mining Engineer Locomotive Engineer Mine Foreman students who VOLUNTARILY report better Air- Brake Instructor Foreman Machinist Air- Brake Inspector Chemist salaries and positions as the direct result of Air- IE rake Repairman Asaaycr Mechanical Engineer Architect I. C. S. help. During April the number Mei'li nnlcal Draftsman Book keeper R- R. Construction Eng. Stenographer was 338. Surveyor Ad Writer Civil Engineer Automobile Operator Engineer Your advancement rests with YOU. The first I!an king Concrete step forward is the marking of the coupon. Name The I. S. method is adapted meet your I C. to Employed by _B. B. particular needs and means. ^ Employed as

I Street and No._ City State. 1

In anaxecrino this advertisement it is desirable that you mention The Railiioad Man's Magazine. THE RAILROAD MAX'S MAGAZIN E—ADVERTISING SECTION.

UNDERWEAR wmm r T ET Summer breezes fan 3 our body —* through the myriad pores of Kccpkool Underwear. Enjoy the grateful silky teel of the sheer, but strong, Kccpkool fabric —the sense J freedom and comfort given by the springy texture of Kccpkool.

KEEPKOOL is the only Elastic Ribbed, Porous Underwear

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In answering any advertisement on this page it is desirable that you mention The Uaii-koad Man's Magazine. THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE—ADVERTISING SECTION. ON CREDIT tf\.YSTEM GIFTS FOR THE JUNE BRIDE AND GRADUATION GIFTS A Diamond Brooch. Locket, La Valllero Of Diamond-Set Watch Gold, polished, raised star; Genuine OUT GrCtitSpCCidl—LsJiCS' Wiitch Solid iry brilliancy; choice of Elgin or Walthnm movement. Extraordinary value at $'25. Easy payments. $2.50 per month. Guaranteed to keep accurate timo. 00 bCtt ifu p.amoud* Write for Our Handsome Free Catalog ™nta nine 1 ;" •>« a Watches. ,! andfl*LArtistic? Jewelry.I Selecti S&^^SSany article you would like to own or present as a gift to a loved one; it will l>o sent on approval to your hi-nro. place of business, or express office without any obligation whatever on your part. If satisfactory in every way. pay ono-fifth down and keep it, balance in eight equal monthly amounts. If not satisfactory, return it. Wo pay all charges and take all risks. Our prices are the lowest. Our terms are the easiest. An AcCOlint With US '* a confidential matter Our'customers uso their charge accounts with us year - after year, finding them a great convenience at su h times as anniversar THE OLD RELIABLE ORIGINAL DIAMOND weddings, birthdays, grad tions.etc. Any honest p* AND WATCH CREDIT HOUSE may open a> chargo account. IOFTIS DepbOMl 92 1o 08 Stale St., Diamonds incrcaso in value IS to 20 per cent each year. Pend_ BBB1BRQS.& GO* Branches: Pittsburg. Pa.) and' St. Loads, Mo. for free copy of the LOFTIS MAUA£inE. MEXICAN DIAMONDS LOOK AS WELL WEAR AS WELL COST 80% LESS ROASTS Than Genuine Diamonds No other seasoning can equal Exports can seldom distinguish between that delicate the two. Mexican touch given all Diamonds stand acid tests, are beau- roasts by adding tifully cut and polished, and guaranteed permanently brilliant. To provi- our claims, we will send for FREE ex- Lea & Perrins amination, by express, C. O. D.. at SAUCE Special Inrrodnc- tory Prices, No. 2500, THE ORIGINAL WORCESTERSHIRE Ladies' KiiiR. Tiffanv Setting, '..-earal Mexican Dia- mond, $4 93. No. 230i;same, but f-carat, $7.7(1. No. 8580, It brings out the best flavor Gents' Round Belcher Ring, ifl-carat, SB.04. No. 2351; same, but 1-carat, $11.3(1 All rings solid gold. State size of Soups, Fish, Steaks, Veal, and we will forward ring immediately wilh guarantee. 10 per cent, discount if cash accompanies order. Stews, Chops and Salads. If not satisfactory, return in 8 days for refund. Write today for Free Illustrated Catalogue— it will "It is a perfect seasoning." interest you. MEXICAN DIAMOND IMPORTING CO. Beware of Imitations. Dept. ER 7, Las Cruces, New Mex. John Duncan's Som, Agents, New York. Exclusive Controllers of the Mexican Diamond.

IN EACH TOWN and district to ride and WANTED— RIDER AGENTS exhibit a sample 1910 Model "Ranger" bicycle furnished by us. Our agents everywhere are making money fast. Write at onceforfullparticulars and special offer, NO MONKV RE(>UIKKD until you receive and approve of your bicycle. We ship to anyone, anywhere in the U. S. zvithoul a cent deposit in advance, prepay freight, and allow TEN DAYS* FREE TRIAL during which time you may ride the bicycle and put it to any test you wish. If you are then not perfectly satisfied or do not wish to keep the bicycle you may ship it back to us at our expense aud_vo« will not be out one cent. We furaish the highest grade bicycles it is possible to make at one small profit t flW FAPTflRY PRIPF^ kUfl I MWIUIM rillULU above the actual factory cost. You save £10 to £25 middlemen's .profits by buying direct of us and have the manufacturer's guarantee behind your bicycle. DO NOT BUY a bicycle or a pair of tires from anyone at any price until you receive our catalogues and learn our unheard of

factory prices and remarkable special offer. 1 you receive beautiful catalogue and stu.lv our superb models »i Vnil lA/l I I DC ACTfllllC II Cn when I UU ii ILL DC HO I UI1 1 Oni. II the 'jjondtrfut tow prices we can make you. We sell the highest grade bicycles at lower prices than any other factory. We are satisfied with $1.00 profit above factory cost. BICYCLE DliA I.ERS, you can sell our bicycles under vour own name plate it double put prices. OHcrs filled the day received. SECOND HAND BICYCLES—a limited number taken in trade by our Chicago retail stores will be closed out at once, at #3 to $8 each. Descriptive bargain list mailed free. TIDCC DDI VC rear wheels, inner tubes, lamps, cyclometers, pin-., t'-riirs and everything in the PRACTCD for I III CO 9 VUHO I Cll UnMIVC bicycle line at half UBiml prices. DO NOT WAIT—but write today our Large Catalogue beautifully illustrated and containing a great fund ot interesting matter and useful information. It only costs a postal to get everything. Write It now. MEAD CYCLE CO. Dept. P31, CHICAGO, ILL.

In answering any advertisement on this page it is desirable that you mention The Railhoad Man's Magazine. .

THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE—ADVERTISING SECTION.

A Handsome Hand-Engraved 1 5- Jew- eled Watch on Ten Days' Free Trial

""THIS WATCH is sold in retail stores everywhere for 1 50c. $38.50. The price of $24.50 which we make is the wholesale factory price, and it is only a limited number of a week these matchless timepieces that we are able to offer at this price. Then, to make the ownership of this watch an easier

matter still, we will accept 50 cents a week in payment or $1.00 every two weeks.

e <*on '' wanl ou 1° take a chance on this watch. Send |<£ Ollt ! ^ y us your name and address and we will send it to you on

trial. Wear it ten days, and if it is not just as represented return it at our expense. A 16 size, hand-engraved, heavy gold-filled hunting case, warranted to wear for 20 years,

ur choice of a high grade Waltham or Elgin, 1 5 jeweled movement. Stem wind and stem set.

National Manufacturing Company, Dept. R, 104 W. 17th Street, New York

[ere's a Good JOB Complefi N _ * - S This is our great in- troductory offer: For $1.50 we will send prepaid Shirt (fluffs attached), 1 Collar (any

style you choose), 1 Hand- some Necktie, pair Cuff Links, 1 pair Collar Buttons. Ml these are liral-clasH merclianill*?, taken from our regular Mock. Tin? Bhlrt and tie are

of latest fashion ; the link* anil ruff tiuttnufl gold filled. Q'o M any other retail store In the country .m

1 become thoroughly efficient. Our course of Your pniary check Un Saturday evening might ell ' • vera. tit.-**- more than li is now. instruction by mail is simple, practical, anil If you will letiil 113 out* hour of your spare tints each day for admit very interesting. Besides, we assist you to twelve weeks, we can prepare you an mi automobile salesman, demon- strator or chauffeur. We an«Ut our sraduale* to position* with secure a good position wealthy owner* ami inanufnciurers, — people who want hl^h-clas-'. First I.PSHOH Scut Tpr«M>— Write Xow competent men ami are able to pay well for them, W«* teach you In your own home mid allow you lo pay pail -

B,tablMed 1843 . J. M. LYON & CO., n 73 N„„u s , New York V 2162

> . . ,_^"'2IIO

215 8 $30. e7 $25.

In uus\rtnny any advertisement on this paye it is desirable that you mention The IiAU.iiu.u. Man's Magazine. THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE—ADVERTISING SECTION.

THE 1 SMOOTHEST *l a a Week ( TOBACCO For the Splendid

Thousands are smoking \ , Velvet. Thousands like MEISTER it. And justly, too. They like it because it's mild and tasty. Because it PIANO does not burn the tongue Price $]7JS or dry the throat. Guaranteed for 10 Yean M W K^M It is made of fine Bur- ley. Only selected leaves are used. Care-

fully m e 1 1 o w e d and cured, they make an extremely pleasant smoke. One that you will enjoy.

Full Flavored and Mild. For Pipe and Cigarette 30 Days Free Trial At all Dealers in Your Own Home lO Cents No Cash Payments Down. In a neat metal case that keeps it in TJo Interest. No Extras. the best of condition. We Pay the Freight SPAULDING & MERRICK. This Parlor Grand Meister is remarkable for its full rich tone and the beautiful style Chicago, 111. of its case which is of genuine mahogany, double veneered throughout. Modern improved construction and finest of materials used. Try it a month without a penny of cost and get your own ideas of its mellow tone and artistic appearance. If it isn't the best piano you ever saw or heard at the price, we will send for it and pay the return freight. Send for the Meister Piano Catalog which contains colored illustrations and details of construction. Send today. Rothschild & Company 185 C State Street. Chicago, 111.

In answering any advertisement on this page it is desirable that you mention Tin: Railroad Man's Magazine. —

A DEPARTMENT maintained tor the small advertiser and for the convenience of the reader in quickly locating a wide variety of necessities for the home, the office, the farm, and In the Munsey Magazines for the man or woman who seeks busi- Line Kate Munscy's Magazine $2.50 ness opportunities. There is virtually Tbe Scrap Lionk Special Tbe Argosy fl.50 no want that may arise which cannot The All-Story Magazine 1.00 Combination The Railroad Man's Magazine .75 Rate be supplied in these classified adver- The Cavalier .50 $5.50 tising pageS. Se.i.t Tor lutcrntlHE booklet Aug. Railroad Man's Mag- £6-25 on ClasMUml Advertising. asine Forms Close June 18th. AGENTS & SALESMEN WANTED BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES WE START YOU IN A PERMANENT BUSINESS with In 1IAMM.K I IIl-.i UM iKh K(MtsK\Kl.l h n\\ .\ hmuk, us and furnish everything. We have new easy-selling '•African Game Trails." is the chance of a life-time. This i- plans and seasonable leaders In tbe .Mail Order line to the "iily account of his adventures in Africa written by him- keep our factories busy. No canvassing. Small capital. self, All agents should beware of fake bouks. We waul a You pay us out of the business. Large profits. Spare time wide-awake man in every community'. He Can moke large only required. Personal assistance. Write today for plans, coniinisslons. We will back biin up with the strongest sort positive- proof and sworn statements. Pease Mfg. Co., of co-operation. Write at tun-.- for circplurs and territory. USO Pease Building. Buffalo. N. Y. CHARI.EB Si mux Kit's Suss. 152 l'iftb Ave., New York. .\SK US HOW to start Legitimate Mull Order business on small capital. We have no "schemes" or "outfits" to LIVE AGENTS WANTED— Hustlers to handle our at- sell, and will tell you tbe unvarnished truth. Mail Oeoeu tractive combination package of snap and toilet articles Libbajiy, 309 Filth Avenue. New York. $1.2."> premium witli every rule sale. Out- Texas agent sold on in protit I boxes one and a ball' days— $35«00. Write today for illustrated catalogue and profit-sharing plan. BUSINESS & CORRESPONDENCE Davis Soap i'ojii'axy. -It; Union Turk Ct., Chicago. SCHOOLS

WANTED— Wile-awake general agents to organize sales LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE WANTED — Splendid force for new and winning bath invention. Combines Shower, income assured right man to act as our representative Shainpou and Massage. Transforms any bathroom. Supplies after learning our business thoroughly by mail. Former modern bathing facilities for country homes. Extensively experience unnecessary. All we require is honesty, advertised. Irresistible selling proposition. Everybody wants ability, ambition and willingness to learn a lucrative one. Agents selling nine out of ten people. Alfred Keno. business. No soliciting or traveling. This is an excep- Miss., writes: "Samples arrived this uiomiug, sold $25.00 tional opportunity for a man in your section to get into worth this afternoon." No competition, we protect territory. a big-paying business without capital and become inde- Sales-compelling samples furnished. Write today for selling pendent tor life. Write at once for full particulars. 1 V ,1,1 I." I> M'lnl.iu 1 . i Tut* Vitiuvh |'n. plan. The PnooitEss Company. 230 Monroe St.. Chicago, III. Operativb Real Estate Go., Suite 550 Mardeu Building. Washington, It. <'.

¥23 WEEKLY AND EXPENSES to melt and women to collect names, distribute samples and advertise. Steady km-iv. work. C. H. Emekv. CIS. Chicago. III. DO YOr LIKE TO DRAW? That's nil We want to Now; we iff// not give you any yrutul prist —or :i lot of Nor claim ii» make Agents, male and female, can make $1" lo $lo idling frc< xtufT if you answer ibis ad. do we . "•/' */ ivt ik\ deveb>p your my Imported French lawn waist patterns and Bonnaz Em- you ill But if you ire anxious to broidered Princess patterns. Prices and particulars mailed talent with a successful enrtnunist. so you can make mom //. on request. J. Gi-ri-K. B21 K'way. New York. send G CCiitit in stamps for /tort/olio of CcrtO&iis and sample h.s.vr, ,1 plate, and let us explain. THE W. L. Evans SCHOOL AGENTS make big money selling our new gold letters for ok Cartooning. 294 Kingmoore Kldg., Cleveland, Ohio. office windows, store fronts, and glass signs. Any one can put them on. Write today lor free sample and full particulars. Metallic Sign Lettee-Co.. 413 N. Clark St. .Chicago. MKN WANTED^ To try . . mi ml- Railway Mail, Internal AUTOMATIC POTATO PEELER. Peels 24 potatoes per- — Revenue and Postofflee Examinations, $50.00 t.> $125.00 fectly iu one minute. Milwaukee Fruit Jar Holder and Cover monthly. Annual vacations. Short hours. Rapid advance- Wrench. The great fruit canning tools. 50,0 other red hot ment. Xo "lay offs." Common education sufficient. Country sellers. Beautiful sample case with 40 samples of best sell- and City residents stand equal chances, political Influence ers sent frit. Big profits. Geo. C. Edgren Co.. Milwaukee, Wis. unio'cissary. Over 1 5. (too appointments to be made this AGENTS—NOTICE! $30.00 weekly: 00 Big Money- year. Write Immediately for Schedule showing dates Of Makers. Easy selling plans. Everybody buys. Anybody can cominu examinat inns in your neighborhood. Don't Postpone. sell. Biggest profits. Samples free to our agents. Send for Candidates prepared free. Kiianki.ix Institute, Dept. 12, catalogue. It. C. Millek Co.. Box 133. Muskegon. Mich. Rochester. X. Y. AGENTS earn big m< y weekly selling our new styles embroidered waist patterns, princes- dresses, petti ts. art linens, drawn work, silk shawls and scarfs, etc. Catalogue PATENT ATTORNEYS free. National Importing Co.. Desk 21. 099 B'way. N. Y. HAVE YOU AN IDEA? Write for our books, "100 Me-

chanical .Movements." "IVrpotnal Motions" : 50 illustra- BECOME A MERCHANT—Without investment of a ''' '' tions. l,v • DliSTEWeD Lawyers, penny we help you to a highly profitable business by Mulled & CO., Patent Washington. D. C. handling our Handy Dandy tailoring outfit. Hundreds of our agents are prospei a merchants. Outfit sent absolutely PATENTS THAT PROTECT AND PAY. Advlee and without cost to you. Write to-day. No experience reciuired. books free. Rates reasonable. Highest references. Best Whitney TAii.olti.Vii Co., 21G E. Van Bureu St., Chicago. results. Watson E. Coleman, Pateut Lawyer, 012 F St. N. W.. Washington. D. C. HO0 MONTHLY AND EXPENSES to trustworthy men PATENT SECURED or fee returned. Send sketch for free and women to travel mid distribute samples; big manufac- report as to patentability. Ouidi Book and What to hicnit. turer. Steady work. S. Sciiei'I'EII, Treas.. F3. Chicago. with valuable list of Inventions Wanted, sent free. One Mil- lion Dollars offered toi e invention; $16,000 tor others.

Patents secured by us advertised free in World's Progress : AGENTS WANTED EVERYWHERE to sell all kinds of sample free. Victor J. Evans & Co.. Washington. D. <.'. Printing, Hubbir In nigs, etc. Large facilities. (! I money for good men. Write for catalog and information. I.owextiiai. Wolf Company, Baltimore, Md. MISCELLANEOUS AGENTS CAN MAKE 500% PROFIT handling our Gold Tobacco habit cured or no cost. Great discovery. Vegeta- Window Letters, Novelty Sinus, and soo Changeable Signs, ble.safe.sure.pleasnnt. Permanent homo treatment. Cures 9S . varieties, Unlimited Demand. Catalogue Free. Sullivan Co., of patients without effort. Removes effect of tobacco on all 1232 Van Bureu St., Chicago, III. vital organs. Let me show you. King Ni-Ko 10, Wichita. Kan.

fn answering any advertisement on this page it is desirable that you mention The Railroad Man's Magazine. THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAOAZI NE—ADVERTISING SECTION. FOR THE TEETH

YOUK LOOSE TEETH can be made solid again, the re- cession of tlif gum checked, "Usiucrjii l-'orhan's* 1 is a Specialist's Cure for soft, bleeding, suppurating or pus UNCLE SAM discharging gums. Mailed for $2. on. can b,. pureliiised only through us. This is what is used in Dr. K. J. Forhan's practice for the cure of llii.s disease, for which his minimum fee is ¥1110.(111. Us-MER-Ji CHEMICAL Company. iius Wills t X.-w York Suite BI.1l.-.. 2515 r> li Ave, City. warns YOU LITERARY PROPERTY

Wt* arc the only publishing bouse in the country combining the publiyhin.^ and dnimatizntion of 1 Its. Among

*' i. ii LAYOFFS " ., nf Airlke-, tlnniicUl (lumen or tin- wlilm* of sonic petty linsn. PHOTOGRAPHY THK POSITION IS YOURS FOR |,[FK. Country aikI city reftldfliila kIhiuI tin* Mine elm nee for limiifllnte KODAKS—Graflex, Century, Premos and Hawk-Eye pppliitnient. A always COMMON SKNSK KDCCATION SCFFICIKNT. Cameras. complete assortment to select frM of the Compound, Koilos and Multi-Speed Shutters* We will ex- next i-xominnlions In jour bflchboril I. change your old Cameras for a more modem equipment. De- Don't ilelny. Kvery -\ny ynn lone nomin Ihe loan of Just 5" nitirti veloping— Printing—Enlarging. All work dune on premises. coachliii; before the rapidly apprOAchlng examination*. Sxlu Royal Sepia Knlar^cuicuts Double Flexible Mounted, We are preparinjj eundldntes alisoliitcly free m* eharge. 50c, Herbert & Huesgen, Dept. A. 311 Madison Ave.,2s".Y.C. FREE COACHING COUPON "Pollard" Buisbuig develops wonderfully clear, sharp detail in your negatives. Pirsl exposures; developed Qlm.ti fro*; FRANKLIN INSTITUTE, Depl. T 122, Rochester, N. Y. td new customers With individual advice. Sample prim, prices, Thlf it • ii'-tl filled out, rntlilM th« nerxlfr to n fm «M|tr at fliir vhIubMb -<-, booklet "Film Faults" free for C, II. Pollard, Lynn,Mass. book. " HOVKKNMENTl'i>>lTIONf*AMI HOW T'l OBTAIN THKM," mil torn- Mention for FREE COACHING for tho Civil BflrHM Elimination here chockft.

. . .Railway - f*o«ltlt>rn Mail Clctk to »H«f> , Coitotni f|0"«t to llMO" I-Joo . .Po«tiifBe« Clerk [!•;<"' to J . . Internal Korrnu* (STu^i to ll- mil Ave., New i'ork. WHITE PLAINLY. SAVE ONE-HALF OX ALL YOUR POPULAR MUSIC. A postal will bring you our long lisi of nil the popular and latest hits. SbMple Music Co., 74 West Ate., Nor- walk. Connecticut. REAL ESTATE This is what hundreds of FLORIDA our operators are now earning. Why not you? 1'LOItIDA— 10 Acre b'arms. Slo down, SI') a mouth: oranges, grape fruit, etc; Near St. Petersburg. Representa- tions guaranteed by Florida Association. Movickab, Gail- The Wonder I.AHI) Ukaltv Co.. 4S1I Filth Ave., Now York City. Cannon Camera

STAMPS AND RARE COINS is the biggest money- making device on the mar $7.75 Palil For Rare Date 1S53 Quarters; $20 for a .f'.i. ket, for carnivals, picnics, Keep nil money iI.-ii.mI before isso. and send 10c :ii once for fairs ami street parades, on Xo\v Illustrated Coin Value Book, !x". li may mean your street corners, and in fact everywhere people gather. fortune. C'labkk & Co., Coin Dealers, Lc Hoy. X. Y. The Cannon Camera makes 8 finished photo COINS paid lip t" WE BUY & STAMPS. Premiums buttons in one minute, ready to wear. 5000%. Send lor free booklet A. -May In- worth many dollars to you. RoYAL MoNKY & Stamp Co., 150 Nassau Street. X.-w York. Positively No Experience Required Complete Instructions go with every outfit and are simple TRICKS, JOKERS, PUZZLES enough to enable you to learn the business in 30 minutes. 4tO t% needed to start this big, pleasant, proflt- \_filiyOnlw

Don't Delay ! Write Today For Our TYPEWRITERS FREE CATALOG GENUINE TYPEWRITER BARGAINS, No matter Chicago Ferrotype Co. what make, will quote you lower prices and easiest terms. Dept. 126 Chicago, III. Write for biir bargain list ami illustrated catalogue. L, J. I'eaiiuoY. (',:! Minot Blili;.. Boston. Mass.

In answering any advertisement on this page it is desirable that you mention The RiiLBOin Man's Magazijvs. THE RAILROAD MAN'S MAGAZINE—ADVERTISING SECTION.

Dr. Jekyll anct Mr. Hyde At the Telephone

Courteous and considerate co-operation is is entitled to the same consideration that is as essential at the telephone as in the office naturally given to their regular employees. or home. Perfect service depends upon the perfect

In every use of the telephone system, three co-ordinate action of all three factors—any human factors are brought into action—one at one failing, the service suffers. This should each end, one or both anxious and probably never be forgotten. impatient, another at the central office, an All attempts to entirely eliminate the personal expert, at least as intelligent and reliable as factor at the central office, to make it a machine, the best stenographers or bookkeepers. have been unsuccessful. There are times For the time being, this central office factor when no mechanism, however ingenious, can is the personal servant of the other two and take the place of human intelligence.

The marvelous growth of the Bell System has made the use of the telephone universal and the misuse a matter of public concern. Discourtesy on the part of telephone users is only possible when they fail to realize the efficiency of the service. It will cease when they talk over the telephone as they would talk face to face. American Telephone and Telegraph Company And Associated Companies

One Policy, One System, Universal Service,

In anxtcertwj this advert ieement It is desirable that yon mention Tun Uaii.roah Man's Magazine. Fairy Soap

has no impurities or adulterations to hide. That's why it is white — un- dyed. It is made from edible products, and has a clean, delicate, refreshing smell; many other soaps have a strong, greasy, soapy, and oft-times rancid odor. Fairy Soap —the handy, floating, oval cake, is the best soap you can buy— yet its price | is but 5c.

THE N. K. FAIRBANK COMPANY CHICAGO.

l | ill

1 ' Mill!:: III!!!

||HIIM|lll|)||j

jil'oiiimiintl 4 11 Mother , QttesfXoy' Have to o^eriKe otner Package

TOASTED CORN FLAKES 1 The Kind with the Flavor — TOASTED Made of the Best White Corn Eh rtCORN*) p THE GENUINE ALWAYS HAS THIS SIGNATURE flakes) W0 11 r .

KDIOW TOASTED CORN riAU CO 1 BATTLE CREEK. MICa •

KELLOGG TOASTED CORN FLAKE CO. Battle CreekHich.

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