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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DANGER SIGNALS
+REMARKABLE, EXCITING AND UNIQUE EXAMPLES OF THE BRAVERY, DARING AND
+STOICISM IN THE MIDST OF DANGER OF TRAIN DISPATCHERS AND RAILROAD
+ENGINEERS ***
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: "Quick as a flash the Kid had my arm."]
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+DANGER SIGNALS
+
+Remarkable, Exciting And Unique Examples Of The Bravery,
+Daring And Stoicism In The Midst Of Danger Of
+TRAIN DISPATCHERS AND RAILROAD ENGINEERS
+
+By
+
+JOHN A. HILL
+and
+JASPER EWING BRADY
+
+ABSORBING STORIES OF MEN WITH NERVES OF STEEL,
+INDOMITABLE COURAGE AND WONDERFUL ENDURANCE
+
+Fully Illustrated
+
+CHICAGO
+JAMIESON-HIGGINS CO.
+1902
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+Copyright 1898, 1899
+By S. S. McClure Co.
+
+Copyright 1899
+By Doubleday & McClure Co.
+
+Copyright 1900
+By Jamieson-Higgins Co.
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+PART I.                                                           PAGE
+
+Jim Wainright's Kid                                                  7
+
+An Engineer's Christmas Story                                       35
+
+The Clean Man and the Dirty Angels                                  57
+
+A Peg-legged Romance                                                75
+
+My Lady of the Eyes                                                 97
+
+Some Freaks of Fate                                                151
+
+Mormon Joe, the Robber                                             191
+
+A Midsummer Night's Trip                                           227
+
+The Polar Zone                                                     253
+
+
+PART II.
+
+CHAPTER
+
+    I. Learning the Business--My First Office                        1
+
+   II. An Encounter with Train Robbers                              11
+
+  III. In a Wreck                                                   12
+
+   IV. A Woman Operator Who Saved a Train                           25
+
+    V. A Night Office in Texas--A Stuttering Despatcher             33
+
+   VI. Blue Field, Arizona, and an Indian Scrimmage                 42
+
+  VII. Taking a Whirl at Commercial Work--My First
+       Attempt--The Galveston Fire                                  52
+
+ VIII. Sending a Message Perforce--Recognizing
+       an Old Friend by His Stuff                                   62
+
+   IX. Bill Bradley, Gambler and Gentleman                          68
+
+    X. The Death of Jim Cartwright--Chased off a Wire by a Woman    80
+
+   XI. Witnessing a Marriage by Wire--Beating a
+       Pool Room--Sparring at Long Range                            87
+
+  XII. How a Smart Operator was Squelched--The Galveston Flood      96
+
+ XIII. Sending My First Order                                      104
+
+  XIV. Running Trains by Telegraph--How It is Done                 111
+
+   XV. An Old Despatcher's Mistake--My First Trick                 125
+
+  XVI. A General Strike--A Locomotive Engineer for a Day           137
+
+ XVII. Chief Despatcher--An Inspection Tour--Big River Wreck       147
+
+XVIII. A Promotion by Favor and Its Results                        160
+
+  XIX. Jacking up a Negligent Operator--A Convict
+       Operator--Dick, the Plucky Call Boy                         168
+
+   XX. An Episode of Sentiment                                     185
+
+  XXI. The Military Operator--A Fake Report that
+       Nearly Caused Trouble                                       192
+
+ XXII. Private Dennis Hogan, Hero                                  203
+
+XXIII. The Commission Won--In a General Strike                     222
+
+ XXIV. Experiences as a Government Censor of Telegraph             237
+
+  XXV. More Censorship                                             246
+
+ XXVI. Censorship Concluded                                        257
+
+XXVII. Conclusion                                                  269
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+List of Illustrations
+
+PART I.
+
+"Quick as a flash the Kid had my arm."                    Frontispiece
+
+                                                               TO FACE
+"I noticed his long, slim hand on the top of the
+reverse-lever"                                                      22
+
+"It was a strange courting ... there on that engine"                70
+
+"We carried him into the depot"                                    100
+
+"He was the first man I ever killed"                               176
+
+"'Mexican,' said I"                                                236
+
+"What seemed to be a giant iceberg...."                            282
+
+"A white city ... was visible for an instant"                      292
+
+PART II.
+
+Facsimile of a completed train-despatcher's order                    1
+
+"Two of the men tied my hands in front of me"                       16
+
+"After many efforts I finally reached the lowest cross-arm"         30
+
+"One of them picked up the lantern, and swaggering over to
+where I sat all trembling...."                                      38
+
+"He looked at me ... then catching me by the collar...."           100
+
+"... Half lying on the table, face downward, dead by his own hand" 128
+
+"'See here, who is going to pull this train?'"                     144
+
+"Are you not doing it just because I am a woman?"                  190
+
+"... Dennis, lying under the telegraph line. His left hand
+still grasped the instrument"                                      219
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+
+
+DANGER SIGNALS.
+
+PART I.
+
+JIM WAINRIGHT'S KID
+
+
+As I put down my name and the number of the crack engine of America--as
+well as the imprint of a greasy thumb--on the register of our roundhouse
+last Saturday night, the foreman borrowed a chew of my fireman's
+fine-cut, and said to me:
+
+"John, that old feller that's putting on the new injectors wants to see
+you."
+
+"What does he want, Jack?" said I. "I don't remember to have seen him,
+and I'll tell you right now that the old squirts on the 411 are good
+enough for me--I ain't got time to monkey with new-fangled injectors on
+_that_ run."
+
+"Why, he says he knowed you out West fifteen years ago."
+
+"So! What kind o' looking chap is he?"
+
+"Youngish face, John; but hair and whiskers as white as snow.
+Sorry-looking rooster--seems like he's lost all his friends on earth,
+and wa'n't jest sure where to find 'em in the next world."
+
+"I can't imagine who it would be. Let's see--'Lige Clark, he's dead;
+Dick Bellinger, Hank Baldwin, Jim Karr, Dave Keller, Bill Parr--can't be
+none of them. What's his name?"
+
+"Winthrop--no, Wetherson--no, lemme see--why, no--no, Wainright; that's
+it, Wainright; J. E. Wainright."
+
+"Jim Wainright!" says I, "Jim Wainright! I haven't heard a word of him
+for years--thought he was dead; but he's a young fellow compared to me."
+
+"Well, he don't look it," said Jack.
+
+After supper I went up to the hotel and asked for J. E. Wainright.
+
+Maybe you think Jim and I didn't go over the history of the "front."
+"Out at the front" is the pioneer's ideal of railroad life. To a man who
+has put in a few years there the memory of it is like the memory of
+marches, skirmishes, and battles in the mind of the veteran soldier. I
+guess we started at the lowest numbered engine on the road, and
+gossiped about each and every crew. We had finished the list of
+engineers and had fairly started on the firemen when a thought struck
+me, and I said:
+
+"Oh, I forgot him, Jim--the 'Kid,' your cheery little cricket of a
+firesy, who thought Jim Wainright the only man on the road that could
+run an engine right. I remember he wouldn't take a job running
+switcher--said a man that didn't know that firing for Jim Wainright was
+a better job than running was crazy. What's become of him? Running, I
+suppose?"
+
+Jim Wainright put his hand up to his eyes for a minute, and his voice
+was a little husky as he said:
+
+"No, John, the Kid went away--"
+
+"Went away?"
+
+"Yes, across the Great Divide--dead."
+
+"That's tough," said I, for I saw Jim felt bad. "The Kid and you were
+like two brothers."
+
+"John, I loved the--"
+
+Then Jim broke down. He got his hat and coat, and said:
+
+"John, let's get out into the air--I feel all choked up here; and I'll
+tell you a strange, true story--the Kid's story."
+
+As we got out of the crowd and into Boston Common, Jim told his story,
+and here it is, just as I remember it--and I'm not bad at remembering.
+
+"I'll commence at the beginning, John, so that you will understand. It's
+a strange story, but when I get through you'll recall enough yourself to
+prove its truth.
+
+"Before I went beyond the Mississippi and under the shadows of the Rocky
+Mountains, I fired, and was promoted, on a prairie road in the Great
+Basin well known in the railway world. I was much like the rest of the
+boys until I commenced to try to get up a substitute for the link
+motion. I read an article in a scientific paper from the pen of a
+jackass who showed a Corliss engine card, and then blackguarded the
+railroad mechanics of America for being satisfied with the link because
+it was handy. I started in to design a motion to make a card,
+but--well, you know how good-for-nothing those things are to pull loads
+with.
+
+"After my first attempt, I put in many nights making a wooden model for
+the Patent Office. I was subsequently informed that the child of my
+brain interfered with about ten other motions. Then I commenced to
+think--which I ought to have done before. I went to studying _what had
+been done_, and soon came to the conclusion that I just knew a
+little--about enough to get along running. I gave up hope of being an
+inventor and a benefactor of mankind, but study had awakened in me the
+desire for improvement; and after considerable thought I came to the
+conclusion that the best thing I could do was to try to be the best
+runner on the road, just as a starter. In reality, in my inmost soul, my
+highest ideal was the master mechanic's position.
+
+"I was about twenty-five years old, and had been running between two or
+three years, with pretty good success, when one day the general master
+mechanic sent for me. In the office I was introduced to a gentleman,
+and the G. M. M. said to him in my presence:
+
+"'This is the engineer I spoke to you of. We have none better. I think
+he would suit you exactly, and, when you are through with him, send him
+back; we are only lending him, mind,' and he went out into the shop.
+
+"The meaning of it all was that the stranger represented a firm that had
+put up the money to build a locomotive with a patent boiler for burning
+a patent fuel--she had an improved valve motion, too--and they had asked
+our G. M. M. for a good engineer, to send East and break in and run the
+new machine and go with her around the country on ten-day trials on the
+different roads. He offered good pay, it was work I liked, and I went. I
+came right here to Boston and reported to the firm. They were a big
+concern in another line, and the head of the house was a relative of our
+G. M. M.--that's why he had a chance to send me.
+
+"After the usual introductions, the president said to me:
+
+"'Now, Mr. Wainright, this new engine of ours is hardly started yet.
+The drawings are done, and the builders' contract is ready to sign; but
+we want you to look over the drawings, to see if there are any practical
+suggestions you can make. Then stay in the shops, and see that the work
+is done right. The inventor is not a practical man; help him if you can,
+for experience tells us that ten things fail because of bad _design_
+where one does because of bad manipulation. Come up into the
+drawing-room, and I will introduce you to the inventor.'
+
+"Up under the skylight I met the designer of the new engine, a mild
+little fellow--but he don't figure in this story. In five minutes I was
+deep in the study of the drawings. Everything seemed to be worked out
+all right, except that they had the fire-door opening the wrong way and
+the brake-valve couldn't be reached--but many a good builder did that
+twenty years ago. I was impressed with the beauty of the drawings--they
+were like lithographs, and one, a perspective, was shaded and colored
+handsomely. I complimented him on them.
+
+"'They are beautiful, sir,' he said; 'they were made by a lady. I'll
+introduce you to her.'
+
+"A bright, plain-faced little woman with a shingled head looked up from
+her drawing-board as we approached, shook hands cordially when
+introduced, and at once entered into an intelligent discussion of the
+plans of the new record-beater.
+
+"Well, it was some months before the engine was ready for the road, and
+in that time I got pretty well acquainted with Miss Reynolds. She was
+mighty plain, but sharp as a buzz-saw. I don't think she was really
+homely, but she'd never have been arrested for her beauty. There was
+something 'fetching' about her appearance--you couldn't help liking her.
+She was intelligent, and it was such a novelty to find a woman who knew
+the smoke stack from the steam chest. I didn't fall in love with her at
+all, but I liked to talk to her over the work. She told me her story;
+not all at once, but here and there a piece, until I knew her history
+pretty well.
+
+"It seems that her father had been chief draughtsman of those works for
+years, but had lately died. She had a strong taste for mechanics, and
+her father, who believed in women learning trades, had taught her
+mechanical drawing, first at home and then in the shop. She had helped
+in busy times as an extra, but never went to work for regular wages
+until the death of her father made it necessary.
+
+"She seemed to like to hear stories of the road, and often asked me to
+tell her some thrilling experience the second time. Her eyes sparkled
+and her face kindled when I touched on a snow-bucking experience. She
+often said that if she was a man she'd go on the railroad, and after
+such a remark she would usually sigh and smile at the same time. One
+day, when the engine was pretty nearly ready, she said to me:
+
+"'Mr. Wainright, who is going to fire the Experiment?'
+
+"'I don't know. I had forgot about that; I'll have to see about it.'
+
+"'It wouldn't be of much use to get an experienced man, would it--the
+engine will burn a new fuel in a new way?'
+
+"'No,' said I, 'not much.'
+
+"'Now,' said she, coloring a little, 'let me ask a favor of you. I have
+a brother who is just crazy to go out firing. I don't want him to go
+unless it's with a man I can trust; he is young and inexperienced, you
+know. Won't you take him? Please do.'
+
+"'Why, I'll be glad to,' said I. 'I'll speak to the old man about it.'
+
+"'Don't tell him it's my brother.'
+
+"'Well, all right.'
+
+"The old man told me to hire whoever I liked, and I told Miss Reynolds
+to bring the boy in the morning.
+
+"'Won't you wait until Monday? It will be an accommodation to me.'
+
+"Of course I waited.
+
+"The next day Miss Reynolds did not come to the office, and I was busy
+at the shop. Monday came, but no Miss Reynolds. About nine o'clock,
+however, the foreman came down to the Experiment with a boy, apparently
+about eighteen years old, and said there was a lad with a note for me.
+
+"Before reading the note I shook hands with the boy, and told him I knew
+who he was, for he looked like his sister. He was small, but wiry, and
+had evidently come prepared for business, as he had some overclothes
+under his arm and a pair of buckskin gloves. He was bashful and quiet,
+as boys usually are during their first experience away from home. The
+note read:
+
+     "'DEAR MR. WAINRIGHT.--This will be handed you by brother George. I
+     hope you will be satisfied with him. I know he will try to please
+     you and do his duty; don't forget how green he is. I am obliged to
+     go into the country to settle up some of my father's affairs and
+     may not see you again before you go. I sincerely hope the
+     "Experiment," George, and his engineer will be successful. I shall
+     watch you all.
+
+     "'G. E. REYNOLDS.'
+
+"I felt kind of cut up, somehow, about going away without bidding Old
+Business--as the other draughtsman called Miss Reynolds--good-by; but I
+was busy with the engine.
+
+"The foreman came along half an hour after the arrival of young
+Reynolds, and seeing him at work cleaning the window glass, asked who he
+was.
+
+"'The fireman,' said I.
+
+"'What! that kid?'
+
+"And from that day I don't think I ever called young Reynolds by any
+other name half a dozen times. That was the 'Kid' you knew. When it came
+quitting time that night, I asked the Kid where they lived, and he said,
+Charlestown. I remarked that his voice was like his sister's; but he
+laughed, and said I'd see difference enough if they were together; and
+bidding me good-night, caught a passing car.
+
+"We broke the Experiment in for a few days, and then tackled half a
+train for Providence. She would keep her water just about hot enough to
+wash in with the pump on. It was a tough day; I was in the front end
+half the time at every stop. The Kid did exactly what I told him, and
+was in good spirits all the time. I was cross. Nothing will make a man
+crosser than a poor steamer.
+
+"We got to Providence in the evening tired; but after supper the Kid
+said he had an aunt and her family living there, and if I didn't mind,
+he'd try to find them. I left the door unlocked, and slept on one side
+of the bed, but the Kid didn't come back; he was at the engine when I
+got there the next morning.
+
+"The Kid was such a nice little fellow I liked to have him with me, and,
+somehow or other (I hardly noticed it at the time), he had a good
+influence on me. In them days I took a drink if I felt like it; but the
+Kid got me into the habit of taking lemonade, and wouldn't go into
+drinking places, and I soon quit it. He gave me many examples of
+controlling my temper, and soon got me into the habit of thinking before
+I spoke.
+
+"We played horse with that engine for four or five weeks, mostly around
+town, but I could see it was no go. The patent fuel was no good, and the
+patent fire-box little better, and I advised the firm to put a standard
+boiler on her and a pair of links, and sell her while the paint was
+fresh. They took my advice.
+
+"The Kid and I took the engine to Hinkley's, and left her there; we
+packed up our overclothes, and as we walked away, the Kid asked: 'What
+will you do now, Jim?'
+
+"'Oh, I've had a nice play, and I'll go back to the road. I wish you'd
+go along.'
+
+"'I wouldn't like anything better; will you take me?'
+
+"'Yes, but I ain't sure that I can get you a job right away.'
+
+"'Well, I could fire for you, couldn't I?'
+
+"'I'd like to have you, Kid; but you know I have a regular engine and a
+regular fireman. I'll ask for you, though.'
+
+"'I won't fire for anybody else!'
+
+"'You won't! What would you do if I should die?'
+
+"'Quit.'
+
+"Get out!'
+
+"'Honest; if I can't fire for you, I won't fire at all.'
+
+"I put in a few days around the 'Hub,' and as I had nothing to do, my
+mind kept turning to Miss Reynolds. I met the Kid daily, and on one of
+our rambles I asked him where his sister was.
+
+"'Out in the country.'
+
+"'Send word to her that I am going away and want to see her, will you,
+Kid?'
+
+"'Well, yes; but Sis is funny; she's too odd for any use. I don't think
+she'll come.'
+
+"'Well, I'll go and see her.'
+
+"'No, Sis would think you were crazy.'
+
+"'Why? Now look here Kid, I like that sister of yours, and I want to see
+her.'
+
+"But the Kid just stopped, leaned against the nearest building, and
+laughed--laughed until the tears ran down his cheeks. The next day he
+brought me word that his sister had gone to Chicago to make some
+sketches for the firm and hoped to come to see us after she was through.
+I started for Chicago the day following, the Kid with me.
+
+"I had little trouble in getting the Kid on with me, as my old fireman
+had been promoted. I had a nice room with another plug-puller, and in a
+few days I was in the old jog--except for the Kid. He refused to room
+with my partner's fireman; and when I talked to him about saving money
+that way, he said he wouldn't room with any one--not even me. Then he
+laughed, and said he kicked so that no one could room with him. The Kid
+was the butt of all the firemen on account of his size, but he kept the
+cleanest engine, and was never left nor late, and seemed more and more
+attached to me--and I to him.
+
+"Things were going along slick enough when Daddy Daniels had a row with
+his fireman, and our general master mechanic took the matter up.
+Daniels' fireman claimed the run with me, as he was the oldest man, and,
+as they had an 'oldest man' agreement, the master mechanic ordered
+Smutty Kelly and the Kid changed.
+
+"I was not in the roundhouse when the Kid was ordered to change, but he
+went direct to the office and kicked, but to no purpose. Then he came to
+me.
+
+"'Jim,' said he, with tears in his eyes, 'are you satisfied with me on
+the 12?'
+
+"'Why, yes, Kid. Who says I'm not?'
+
+"'They've ordered me to change to the 17 with that horrible old ruffian
+Daniels, and Smutty Kelly to go with you.'
+
+"'They have!' says I. 'That slouch can't go out with me the first time;
+I'll see the old man.'
+
+"But the old man was mad by the time I got to him.
+
+"'That baby-faced boy says he won't fire for anybody but you; what have
+you been putting into his head?'
+
+"'Nothing; I've treated him kindly, and he likes me and the 12--that's
+the cleanest engine on the--'
+
+"'Tut, tut, I don't care about that; I've ordered the firemen on the 12
+and 17 changed--and they are going to be changed.'
+
+"The Kid had followed me into the office, and at this point said, very
+respectfully:
+
+"'Excuse me, sir, but Mr. Wainright and I get along so nicely together.
+Daniels is a bad man; so is Kelly; and neither will get along with
+decent men. Why can't you--'
+
+"'There! stop right there, young man. Now, will you go on the 17 _as
+ordered_?'
+
+"'Yes, if Jim Wainright runs her.'
+
+"'No _ifs_ about it; will you go?'
+
+"'No, sir, I won't!'
+
+"'You are discharged, then.'
+
+"'That fires me, too,' said I.
+
+"'Not at all, not at all; this is a fireman row, Jim.'
+
+"I don't know what struck me then, but I said:
+
+"'No one but this boy shall put a scoop of coal in the 12 or any other
+engine for me; I'll take the poorest run you have, but the Kid goes with
+me.'
+
+"Talk was useless, and in the end the Kid and I quit and got our time.
+
+"That evening the Kid came to my room and begged me to take my job back
+and he would go home; but I wouldn't do it, and asked him if he was sick
+of me.
+
+"'No, Jim,' said he. 'I live in fear that something will happen to
+separate us, but I don't want to be a drag on you--I think more of you
+than anybody.'
+
+"They were buying engines by the hundred on the Rio Grande and Santa Fé
+and the A. & P. in those days, and the Kid and I struck out for the
+West, and inside of thirty days we were at work again.
+
+"We had been there three months, I guess, when I got orders to take a
+new engine out to the front and leave her, bringing back an old one. The
+last station on the road was in a box-car, thrown out beside the track
+on a couple of rails. There was one large, rough-board house, where they
+served rough-and-ready grub and let rooms. The latter were stalls, the
+partitions being only about seven feet high. It was cold and bleak, but
+right glad we were to get there and get a warm supper. Everything was
+rough, but the Kid seemed to enjoy the novelty. After supper I asked the
+landlord if he could fix us for the night.
+
+"'I can jest fix ye, and no more,' said he; 'I have just one room left.
+Ye's'll have to double up; but this is the kind o' weather for that;
+it'll be warmer.'
+
+"The Kid objected, but the landlord bluffed him--didn't have any other
+room--and he added: 'If I was your pardner there, I'd kick ye down to
+the foot, such a cold strip of bacon as ye must be.'
+
+"About nine o'clock the Kid slipped out, and not coming in for an hour,
+I went to look for him. As I went toward the engine, I met the watchman:
+
+"'Phy don't that fireman o' yourn sleep in the house or on the caboose
+floor such a night as this? He'll freeze up there in that cab wid no
+blankets at all; but when I tould him that, he politely informed meself
+that he'd knowed men to git rich mindin' their own biz. He's a sassy
+slip of a Yankee.'
+
+"I climbed up on the big consolidation, and, lighting my torch, looked
+over the boiler-head at the Kid. He was lying on a board on the seat,
+with his overcoat for a covering and an arm-rest for a pillow.
+
+"'What's the matter with you, Kid?' I asked. 'What are you doing
+freezing here when we can both be comfortable and warm in the house? Are
+you ashamed or afraid to sleep with me? I don't like this for a cent.'
+
+"'Hope you won't be mad with me, Jim, but I won't sleep with any one;
+there now!'
+
+"'You're either a fool or crazy,' said I. 'Why, you will half freeze
+here. I want some explanation of such a trick as this.'
+
+"The Kid sat up, looked at me soberly for a few seconds, reached up and
+unhooked his door, and said:
+
+"'Come over and sit down, Jim, and I'll tell you something.'
+
+"I blew out the torch and went over, half mad. As I hooked the door to
+keep out the sharp wind I thought I heard a sob, and I took the Kid's
+head in my hands and turned his face to the moonlight. There were big
+tears in the corner of each tightly closed eye.
+
+"'Don't feel bad, Kid,' said I. 'I'm sure there's some reason keeps you
+at such tricks as this; but tell me all your trouble--it's imaginary, I
+know.'
+
+"There was a tremor in the Kid's voice as he took my hand and said, 'We
+are friends, Jim; ain't we?'
+
+"'Why, of course,' said I.
+
+"'I have depended on your friendship and kindness and manhood, Jim. It
+has never failed me yet, and it won't now, I know. I have a secret, Jim,
+and it gnaws to be out one day, and hides itself the next. Many and many
+a time I have been on the point of confessing to you, but something held
+me back. I was afraid you would not let me stay with you, if you knew--'
+
+"'Why, you ain't killed any one, Kid?' I asked, for I thought he was
+exaggerating his trouble.
+
+"'No--yes, I did, too--I killed my sister.'
+
+"I recoiled, hurt, shocked. 'You--'
+
+"'Yes, Jim, there is no such person to be found as my sister,
+Georgiana--_for I am she_!'
+
+"'You! Why, Kid, you're crazy!'
+
+"'No, I'm not. Listen, Jim, and I will explain.'
+
+"'My father was always sorry I was not a boy. Taught me boyish tricks,
+and made me learn drawing. I longed for the life on a locomotive--I
+loved it, read about it, thought of it, and prayed to be transformed
+into _something_ that could go out on the road. My heart went out to
+you early in our acquaintance, and one day the thought to get started as
+a fireman with you shot into my brain and was acted upon at once. After
+the first move there was no going back, and I have acted my part well; I
+have even been a good fireman. I am strong, healthy, and happy when on
+the road with you. I love the life, hard as it is, and can't think of
+giving it up, and--and you, Jim.'
+
+"And then she broke down, and cried as only a woman can.
+
+"I took both her hands in mine and kissed her--think of kissing your
+fireman on the engine--and told her that we could be happy yet. Then I
+told her how I had tried to get a letter to the lost sister, and how
+they never came back, and were never answered--that I loved the sister
+and loved her. She reminded me that she herself got all the letters I
+had sent, and was pretty sure of her ground when she threw herself on my
+protection.
+
+"It was a strange courting, John, there on that engine at the front, the
+boundless plains on one side, the mountains on the other, the winds of
+the desert whirling sand and snow against our little house, and the moon
+looking coldly down at the spectacle of an engineer making love to his
+fireman.
+
+"That night the Kid slept in the bed in the house, and I stayed on the
+engine.
+
+"When we got back to headquarters the Kid laid off to go home, and I
+made a trip or two with another fireman, and then I had to go to
+Illinois to fix up some family business--Kid and I arranged that.
+
+"We met in St. Louis, the Kid hired a ball dress, and we were married as
+quiet as possible. I had promised the Kid that, for the present at
+least, she could stay on the road with me, and you know that the year
+you were there I done most of the heavy firing while the Kid did the
+running. We remained in the service for something like two years--a
+strange couple, but happy in each other's company and our work.
+
+"I often talked to my wife about leaving the road and starting in new,
+where we were not known, as man and wife, she to remain at home; but she
+wouldn't hear of it, asking if I wanted an Irishman for a side-partner.
+This came to be a joke with us--'When I get my Irishman I will do
+so-and-so.'
+
+"One day, as our 'hog' was drifting down the long hill, the Kid said to
+me, 'Jim, you can get your Irishman; I'm going to quit this trip.'
+
+"'Kind o' sudden, hey, Kid?'
+
+"'No, been hating to give up, but--' and then the Kid came over and
+whispered something to me.
+
+"John, we both quit and went South. I got a job in Texas, and the Kid
+was lost sight of, and Mrs. J. E. Wainright appeared on the scene in
+tea-gown, train, and flounces. We furnished a neat little den, and I was
+happy. I missed my kid fireman, and did indeed have an Irishman. Kid had
+a struggle to wear petticoats again, and did not take kindly to
+dish-washing, but we were happy just the same.
+
+"Our little fellow arrived one spring day, and then our skies were all
+sunshiny for three long, happy years, until one day Kid and I followed a
+little white hearse out beyond the cypress grove and saw the earth
+covered over our darling, over our hopes, over our sunshine, and over
+our hearts.
+
+"After that the house was like a tomb, so still, so solemn, and at every
+turn were reminders of the little one who had faded away like the
+morning mist, gone from everything but our memories--there his sweet
+little image was graven by the hand of love and seared by the
+branding-iron of sorrow.
+
+"Men and women of intelligence do not parade their sorrows in the
+market-place; they bear them as best they can, and try to appear as
+others, but once the specter of the grim destroyer has crossed the
+threshold, his shadow forever remains, a dark reminder, like a
+prison-bar across the daylight of a cell. This shadow is seen and
+recognized in the heart of a father, but it is larger and darker and
+more dreadful in the mother heart.
+
+"At every turn poor Kid was mutely reminded of her loss, and her heart
+was at the breaking point day by day, and she begged for her old life,
+to seek forgetfulness in toil and get away from herself. So we went
+back to the old road, as we went away--Jim Wainright and Kid
+Reynolds--and glad enough they were to get us again for the winter work.
+
+"Three years of indoor life had softened the wiry muscles of the Kid,
+and our engine was a hard steamer, so I did most of the work on the
+road. But the work, excitement, and outdoor life brought back the color
+to pale cheeks, and now and then a smile to sad lips--and I was glad.
+
+"One day the Kid was running while I broke up some big lumps of coal,
+and while busy in the tank I felt the air go on full and the reverse
+lever come back, while the wheels ground sand. I stepped quickly toward
+the cab to see what was the matter, when the Kid sprang into the gangway
+and cried 'Jump!'
+
+"I was in the left gangway in a second, but quick as a flash the Kid had
+my arm.
+
+"'The other side! Quick! The river!'
+
+"We were almost side by side as she swung me toward the other side of
+the engine, and jumped as we crashed into a landslide. I felt Kid's
+hand on my shoulder as I left the deck--just in time to save my life,
+but not the Kid's.
+
+"She was crushed between the tank and boiler in the very act of keeping
+me from jumping to certain death on the rocks in the river below.
+
+"When the crew came over they found me with the crushed clay of my poor,
+loved Kid in my arms, kissing her. They never knew who she was. I took
+her back to our Texas home and laid her beside the little one that had
+gone before. The Firemen's Brotherhood paid Kid's insurance to me and
+passed resolutions saying: 'It has pleased Almighty God to remove from
+our midst our beloved brother, George Reynolds,' etc., etc.
+
+"George Reynolds's grave cannot be found; but over a mound of
+forget-me-nots away in a Southern land, there stands a stone on which is
+cut: 'Georgiana, wife of J. E. Wainright, aged thirty-two years.'
+
+"But in my heart there is a golden pyramid of love to the memory of a
+fireman and a sweetheart known to you and all the world but me, as 'Jim
+Wainright's Kid.'"
+
+
+
+
+AN ENGINEER'S CHRISTMAS STORY
+
+
+In the summer, fall, and early winter of 1863, I was tossing chips into
+an old Hinkley insider up in New England, for an engineer by the name of
+James Dillon. Dillon was considered as good a man as there was on the
+road: careful, yet fearless, kindhearted, yet impulsive, a man whose
+friends would fight for him and whose enemies hated him right royally.
+
+Dillon took a great notion to me, and I loved him as a father; the fact
+of the matter is, he was more of a father to me than I had at home, for
+my father refused to be comforted when I took to railroading, and I
+could not see him more than two or three times a year at the most--so
+when I wanted advice I went to Jim.
+
+I was a young fellow then, and being without a home at either end of the
+run, was likely to drop into pitfalls. Dillon saw this long before I
+did. Before I had been with him three months, he told me one day, coming
+in, that it was against his principles to teach locomotive-running to a
+young man who was likely to turn out a drunkard or gambler and disgrace
+the profession, and he added that I had better pack up my duds and come
+up to his house and let "mother" take care of me--and I went.
+
+I was not a guest there: I paid my room-rent and board just as I should
+have done anywhere else, but I had all the comforts of a home, and
+enjoyed a thousand advantages that money could not buy. I told Mrs.
+Dillon all my troubles, and found kindly sympathy and advice; she
+encouraged me in all my ambitions, mended my shirts, and went with me
+when I bought my clothes. Inside of a month, I felt like one of the
+family, called Mrs. Dillon "mother," and blessed my lucky stars that I
+had found them.
+
+Dillon had run a good many years, and was heartily tired of it, and he
+seldom passed a nice farm that he did not call my attention to it,
+saying: "Jack, now there's comfort; you just wait a couple of
+years--I've got my eye on the slickest little place, just on the edge of
+M----, that I am saving up my pile to buy. I'll give you the 'Roger
+William' one of these days, Jack, say good evening to grief, and me and
+mother will take comfort. Think of sleeping till eight o'clock,--and no
+poor steamers, Jack, no poor steamers!" And he would reach over, and
+give my head a gentle duck as I tried to pitch a curve to a front corner
+with a knot: those Hinkleys were powerful on cold water.
+
+In Dillon's household there was a "system" of financial management. He
+always gave his wife just half of what he earned; kept ten dollars for
+his own expenses during the month, out of which he clothed himself; and
+put the remainder in the bank. It was before the days of high wages,
+however, and even with this frugal management, the bank account did not
+grow rapidly. They owned the house in which they lived, and out of her
+half "mother" had to pay all the household expenses and taxes, clothe
+herself and two children, and send the children to school. The oldest, a
+girl of some sixteen years, was away at normal school, and the boy,
+about thirteen or fourteen, was at home, going to the public school and
+wearing out more clothes than all the rest of the family.
+
+Dillon told me that they had agreed on the financial plan followed in
+the family before their marriage, and he used to say that for the life
+of him he did not see how "mother" got along so well on the allowance.
+When he drew a small month's pay he would say to me, as we walked home:
+"No cream in the coffee this month, Jack." If it was unusually large, he
+would say: "Plum duff and fried chicken for a Sunday dinner." He
+insisted that he could detect the rate of his pay in the food, but this
+was not true--it was his kind of fun. "Mother" and I were fast friends.
+She became my banker, and when I wanted an extra dollar, I had to ask
+her for it and tell what I wanted it for, and all that.
+
+Along late in November, Jim had to make an extra one night on another
+engine, which left me at home alone with "mother" and the boy--I had
+never seen the girl--and after swearing me to be both deaf, dumb, and
+blind, "mother" told me a secret. For ten years she had been saving
+money out of her allowance, until the amount now reached nearly $2,000.
+She knew of Jim's life ambition to own a farm, and she had the matter in
+hand, if I would help her. Of course I was head over heels into the
+scheme at once. She wanted to buy the farm near M----, and give Jim the
+deed for a Christmas present; and Jim mustn't even suspect.
+
+Jim never did.
+
+The next trip I had to buy some underclothes: would "mother" tell me how
+to pick out pure wool? Why, bless your heart, no, she wouldn't, but
+she'd just put on her things and go down with me. Jim smoked and read at
+home.
+
+We went straight to the bank where Jim kept his money, asked for the
+President, and let him into the whole plan. Would he take $2,100 out of
+Jim's money, unbeknown to Jim, and pay the balance of the price of the
+farm over what "mother" had?
+
+No, he would not; but he would advance the money for the purpose--have
+the deeds sent to him, and he would pay the price--that was fixed.
+
+Then I hatched up an excuse and changed off with the fireman on the
+M---- branch, and spent the best part of two lay-overs fixing up things
+with the owner of the farm and arranging to hold back the recording of
+the deeds until after Christmas. Every evening there was some part of
+the project to be talked over, and "mother" and I held many whispered
+conversations. Once Jim, smiling, observed that, if I had any hair on my
+face, he would be jealous.
+
+I remember that it was on the 14th day of December, 1863, that payday
+came. I banked my money with "mother," and Jim, as usual, counted out
+his half to that dear old financier.
+
+"Uncle Sam'd better put that 'un in the hospital," observed Jim, as he
+came to a ragged ten-dollar bill. "Goddess of Liberty pretty near got
+her throat cut there; guess some reb has had hold of her," he continued,
+as he held up the bill. Then laying it down, he took out his pocket-book
+and cut off a little three-cornered strip of pink court-plaster, and
+made repairs on the bill.
+
+"Mother" pocketed her money greedily, and before an hour I had that very
+bill in my pocket to pay the recording fees in the courthouse at M----.
+
+The next day Jim wanted to use more money than he had in his pocket, and
+asked me to lend him a dollar. As I opened my wallet to oblige him, that
+patched bill showed up. Jim put his finger on it, and then turning me
+around towards him, he said: "How came you by that?"
+
+I turned red--I know I did--but I said, cool enough, "'Mother' gave it
+to me in change."
+
+"That's a lie," he said, and turned away.
+
+The next day we were more than two-thirds of the way home before he
+spoke; then, as I straightened up after a fire, he said: "John
+Alexander, when we get in, you go to Aleck (the foreman) and get changed
+to some other engine."
+
+There was a queer look on his face; it was not anger, it was not
+sorrow--it was more like pain. I looked the man straight in the eye, and
+said: "All right, Jim; it shall be as you say--but, so help me God, I
+don't know what for. If you will tell me what I have done that is wrong,
+I will not make the same mistake with the next man I fire for."
+
+He looked away from me, reached over and started the pump, and said:
+"Don't you know?"
+
+"No, sir, I have not the slightest idea."
+
+"Then you stay, and I'll change," said he, with a determined look, and
+leaned out of the window, and said no more all the way in.
+
+I did not go home that day. I cleaned the "Roger William" from the top
+of that mountain of sheet-iron known as a wood-burner stack to the back
+casting on the tank, and tried to think what I had done wrong, or not
+done at all, to incur such displeasure from Dillon. He was in bed when
+I went to the house that evening, and I did not see him until breakfast.
+He was in his usual spirits there, but on the way to the station, and
+all day long, he did not speak to me. He noticed the extra cleaning, and
+carefully avoided tarnishing any of the cabfittings;--but that awful
+quiet! I could hardly bear it, and was half sick at the trouble, the
+cause of which I could not understand. I thought that, if the patched
+bill had anything to do with it, Christmas morning would clear it up.
+
+Our return trip was the night express, leaving the terminus at 9:30. As
+usual, that night I got the engine out, oiled, switched out the cars,
+and took the train to the station, trimmed my signals and headlight, and
+was all ready for Jim to pull out. Nine o'clock came, and no Jim; at
+9:10 I sent to his boarding-house. He had not been there. He did not
+come at leaving time--he did not come at all. At ten o'clock the
+conductor sent to the engine-house for another engineer, and at 10:45,
+instead of an engineer, a fireman came, with orders for John Alexander
+to run the "Roger William" until further orders,--I never fired a
+locomotive again.
+
+I went over that road the saddest-hearted man that ever made a maiden
+trip. I hoped there would be some tidings of Jim at home--there were
+none. I can never forget the blow it was to "mother;" how she braced up
+on account of her children--but oh, that sad face! Christmas came, and
+with it the daughter, and then there were two instead of one: the boy
+was frantic the first day, and playing marbles the next.
+
+Christmas day there came a letter. It was from Jim--brief and cold
+enough--but it was such a comfort to "mother." It was directed to Mary
+J. Dillon, and bore the New York post-mark. It read:
+
+     "Uncle Sam is in need of men, and those who lose with Venus may win
+     with Mars. Enclosed papers you will know best what to do with. Be a
+     mother to the children--you have _three_ of them.
+
+     "JAMES DILLON."
+
+He underscored the three--he was a mystery to me. Poor "mother!" She
+declared that no doubt "poor James's head was affected." The papers with
+the letter were a will, leaving her all, and a power of attorney,
+allowing her to dispose of or use the money in the bank. Not a line of
+endearment or love for that faithful heart that lived on love, asked
+only for love, and cared for little else.
+
+That Christmas was a day of fasting and prayer for us. Many letters did
+we send, many advertisements were printed, but we never got a word from
+James Dillon, and Uncle Sam's army was too big to hunt in. We were a
+changed family: quieter and more tender of one another's feelings, but
+changed.
+
+In the fall of 64 they changed the runs around, and I was booked to run
+in to M----. Ed, the boy, was firing for me. There was no reason why
+"mother" should stay in Boston, and we moved out to the little farm.
+That daughter, who was a second "mother" all over, used to come down to
+meet us at the station with the horse, and I talked "sweet" to her; yet
+at a certain point in the sweetness I became dumb.
+
+Along in May, '65, "mother" got a package from Washington. It contained
+a tin-type of herself; a card with a hole in it (made evidently by
+having been forced over a button), on which was her name and the old
+address in town; then there was a ring and a saber, and on the blade of
+the saber was etched, "Presented to Lieutenant Jas. Dillon, for bravery
+on the field of battle." At the bottom of the parcel was a note in a
+strange hand, saying simply, "Found on the body of Lieutenant Dillon
+after the battle of Five Forks."
+
+Poor "mother!" Her heart was wrung again, and again the scalding tears
+fell. She never told her suffering, and no one ever knew what she bore.
+Her face was a little sadder and sweeter, her hair a little whiter--that
+was all.
+
+I am not a bit superstitious--don't believe in signs or presentiments or
+prenothings--but when I went to get my pay on the 14th day of December,
+1866, it gave me a little start to find in it the bill bearing the
+chromo of the Goddess of Liberty with the little three-cornered piece of
+court-plaster that Dillon had put on her wind-pipe. I got rid of it at
+once, and said nothing to "mother" about it; but I kept thinking of it
+and seeing it all the next day and night.
+
+On the night of the 16th, I was oiling around my Black Maria to take out
+a local leaving our western terminus just after dark, when a tall, slim
+old gentleman stepped up to me and asked if I was the engineer. I don't
+suppose I looked like the president: I confessed, and held up my torch,
+so I could see his face--a pretty tough-looking face. The white mustache
+was one of that military kind, reinforced with whiskers on the right and
+left flank of the mustache proper. He wore glasses, and one of the
+lights was ground glass. The right cheek-bone was crushed in, and a red
+scar extended across the eye and cheek; the scar looked blue around the
+red line because of the cold.
+
+"I used to be an engineer before the war," said he. "Do you go to
+Boston!"
+
+"No, to M----."
+
+"M----! I thought that was on a branch."
+
+"It is, but is now an important manufacturing point, with regular trains
+from there to each end of the main line."
+
+"When can I get to Boston?"
+
+"Not till Monday now; we run no through Sunday trains. You can go to
+M---- with me to-night, and catch a local to Boston in the morning."
+
+He thought a minute, and then said, "Well, yes; guess I had better. How
+is it for a ride?"
+
+"Good; just tell the conductor that I told you to get on."
+
+"Thanks; that's clever. I used to know a soldier who used to run up in
+this country," said the stranger, musing. "Dillon; that's it, Dillon."
+
+"I knew him well," said I. "I want to hear about him."
+
+"Queer man," said he, and I noticed he was eying me pretty sharp.
+
+"A good engineer."
+
+"Perhaps," said he.
+
+[Illustration: "I noticed his long, slim hand on the top of the
+reverse-lever."]
+
+I coaxed the old veteran to ride on the engine--the first coal-burner I
+had had. He seemed more than glad to comply. Ed was as black as a negro,
+and swearing about coal-burners in general and this one in particular,
+and made so much noise with his fire-irons after we started, that the
+old man came over and sat behind me, so as to be able to talk.
+
+The first time I looked around after getting out of the yard, I noticed
+his long slim hand on the top of the reverse-lever. Did you ever notice
+how it seems to make an ex-engineer feel better and more satisfied to
+get his hand on the reverse-lever and feel the life-throbs of the great
+giant under him? Why, his hand goes there by instinct--just as an
+ambulance surgeon will feel for the heart of the boy with a broken leg.
+
+I asked the stranger to "give her a whirl," and noticed with what eager
+joy he took hold of her. I also observed with surprise that he seemed to
+know all about "four-mile hill," where most new men got stuck. He caught
+me looking at his face, and touching the scar, remarked: "A little love
+pat, with the compliments of Wade Hampton's men." We talked on a good
+many subjects, and got pretty well acquainted before we were over the
+division, but at last we seemed talked out.
+
+"Where does Dillon's folks live now?" asked the stranger, slowly, after
+a time.
+
+"M----," said I.
+
+He nearly jumped off the box. "M----? I thought it was Boston!"
+
+"Moved to M----."
+
+"What for?"
+
+"Own a farm there."
+
+"Oh, I see; married again?"
+
+"No."
+
+"No!"
+
+"Widow thought too much of Jim for that."
+
+"No!"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Er--what became of the young man that they--er--adopted?"
+
+"Lives with 'em yet."
+
+"So!"
+
+Just then we struck the suburbs of M----, and, as we passed the cemetery,
+I pointed to a high shaft, and said: "Dillon's monument."
+
+"Why, how's that?"
+
+"Killed at Five Forks. Widow put up monument."
+
+He shaded his eyes with his hand, and peered through the moonlight for a
+minute.
+
+"That's clever," was all he said.
+
+I insisted that he go home with me. Ed took the Black Maria to the
+house, and we took the street cars for it to the end of the line, and
+then walked. As we cleaned our feet at the door, I said: "Let me see, I
+did not hear your name?"
+
+"James," said he, "Mr. James."
+
+I opened the sitting-room door, and ushered the stranger in.
+
+"Well, boys," said "mother," slowly getting up from before the fire and
+hurriedly taking a few extra stitches in her knitting before laying it
+down to look up at us, "you're early."
+
+She looked up, not ten feet from the stranger, as he took off his
+slouched hat and brushed back the white hair. In another minute her
+arms were around his neck, and she was murmuring "James" in his ear, and
+I, like a dumb fool, wondered who told her his name.
+
+Well, to make a long story short, it was James Dillon himself, and the
+daughter came in, and Ed came, and between the three they nearly
+smothered the old fellow.
+
+You may think it funny he didn't know me, but don't forget that I had
+been running for three years--that takes the fresh off a fellow; then,
+when I had the typhoid, my hair laid off, and was never reinstated, and
+when I got well, the whiskers--that had always refused to grow--came on
+with a rush, and they were red. And again, I had tried to switch with an
+old hook-motion in the night and forgot to take out the starting-bar,
+and she threw it at me, knocking out some teeth; and taking it
+altogether, I was a changed man.
+
+"Where's John?" he said finally.
+
+"Here," said I.
+
+"No!"
+
+"Yes."
+
+He took my hand, and said, "John, I left all that was dear to me once,
+because I was jealous of you. I never knew how you came to have that
+money or why, and don't want to. Forgive me."
+
+"That is the first time I ever heard of that," said "mother."
+
+"I had it to buy this farm for you--a Christmas present--if you had
+waited," said I.
+
+"That is the first time I ever heard of that," said he.
+
+"And you might have been shot," said "mother," getting up close.
+
+"I tried my darndest to be. That's why I got promoted so fast."
+
+"Oh, James!" and her arms were around his neck again.
+
+"And I sent that saber home myself, never intending to come back."
+
+"Oh, James, how could you!"
+
+"Mother, how can you forgive me?"
+
+"Mother," was still for a minute, looking at the fire in the grate.
+"James, it is late in life to apply such tests, but love is like gold;
+ours will be better now--the dross has been burned away in the fire. I
+did what I did for love of you, and you did what you did for love of me;
+let us all commence to live again in the old way," and those arms of
+hers could not keep away from his neck.
+
+Ed went out with tears in his eyes, and I beckoned the daughter to
+follow me. We passed into the parlor, drew the curtain over the
+doorway--and there was nothing but that rag between us and heaven.
+
+
+
+
+THE CLEAN MAN AND THE DIRTY ANGELS
+
+
+When I first went firing, down in my native district, where Bean is
+King, there was a man on the road pulling a mixed train, by the name of
+Clark--'Lige Clark.
+
+Being only a fireman, and a new one at that, I did not come very much in
+contact with Clark, or any of the other engineers, excepting my
+own--James Dillon.
+
+'Lige Clark was a character on the road; everybody knew "old 'Lige;" he
+was liked and respected, but not loved; he was thought puritanical, or
+religious, or cranky, by some, yet no one hated him, or even had a
+strong dislike for him.
+
+His honesty and straightforwardness were proverbial. He was always in
+charge of the funds of every order he belonged to, as well as of the
+Sunday-school and church.
+
+He was truthful to a fault, but above all, just.
+
+"'Cause 'tain't right, that's why," was his way of refusing to do a
+thing, and his argument against others doing it.
+
+After I got to running, I saw and knew more of 'Lige, and I think,
+perhaps, I was as much of a friend as he ever had. We never were chums.
+I never went to his house, and he never went to mine; we were simply
+roundhouse acquaintances; used to talk engine a little, but usually
+talked about children--'Lige had four, and always spoke about "doing the
+right thing by them."
+
+'Lige had a very heavy full beard, that came clear up to his eyes, and a
+mass of wavy hair--all iron grey. His eyes were steel grey, and matched
+his hair, and he had a habit of looking straight at you when he spoke.
+
+On his engine he invariably ran with his head out of the side window,
+rain or shine, and always bareheaded. When he stepped upon the
+footboard, he put his hat away with his clothes, and there it stayed. He
+was never known to wear a cap, excepting in the coldest weather.
+
+Once in a while, when I was firing, I have seen him come in, in winter,
+with his beard white with frost and ice, and some smoke-shoveling wit
+dubbed him Santa Claus.
+
+'Lige had a way of looking straight ahead and thinking of his work, and,
+after he got to running express, would go through a town, where other
+trains were sidetracked for him, looking at the track ahead, and at the
+trains, but never seeming to care that they were there, never nodding or
+waving a hand. Once in a while he would blink his eyes,--that was all.
+The wind tossed his mane and hair and made him look for all the world
+like a lion, who looks at, but appears to care nothing for the crowds
+around his den. Someone noticed the comparison, and dubbed him "The
+Lion," and the name clung to him. He was spoken of as "Old 'Lige, the
+Lion." Just why he was called old, I don't know--he was little more than
+forty then.
+
+When the men on the road had any grievances, they always asked 'Lige to
+"go and see the old man." 'Lige always went to lodge and to meetings of
+the men, but was never known to speak. When the demands were drawn up
+and presented to him, he always got up and said: "Them air declarations
+ain't right, an' I wouldn't ask any railroad to grant 'em;" or, "The
+declarations are right. Of course I'll be glad to take 'em."
+
+When old 'Lige declined to bear a grievance it was modified or
+abandoned; and he never took a request to headquarters that was not
+granted--until the strike of '77.
+
+When the war broke out, 'Lige was asked to go, and the railroad boys
+wanted him to be captain of a company of them; but he declined, saying
+that slavery was wrong and should be crushed, but that he had a sickly
+wife and four small children depending on his daily toil for bread, and
+it wouldn't be right to leave 'em unprovided for. They drafted him
+later, but he still said it "wa'n't right" for him to go, and paid for a
+substitute. But three months later his father-in-law died, up in the
+country somewhere, and left his wife some three thousand dollars, and
+'Lige enlisted the next, day, saying "'Tain't right for any man to stay
+that can be spared; slavery ain't right; it must be stopped." He served
+as a private until it was stopped.
+
+Shortly after the war 'Lige was pulling the superintendent over the
+road, when he struck a wagon, killing the driver, who was a farmer, and
+hurting his wife. The woman afterward sued the road, and 'Lige was
+called as a witness for the company. He surprised everybody by stating
+that the accident was caused by mismanagement of the road, and explained
+as follows: "I pull the regular Atlantic express, and should have been
+at the crossing where the accident occurred, an hour later than I was;
+but Mr. Doe, our superintendent, wanted to come over the road with his
+special car, and took my engine to pull him, leaving a freight engine to
+bring in the express. Mr. Doe could have rode on the regular train, or
+could have had his car put into the train, instead of putting the
+company to the expense of hauling a special, and kept the patrons of
+the road from slow and poor service. We ran faster than there was any
+use of, and Mr. Doe went home when he got in, showing that there was no
+urgent call for his presence at this end of the line. If there had been
+no extra train on the road this farmer wouldn't have been killed:
+'twa'n't right."
+
+The widow got pretty heavy damages, and the superintendent tried to
+discharge 'Lige. But 'Lige said '"twa'n't right," and the men on the
+road, the patrons and even the president agreed with him, so the irate
+super gave the job up for the time being.
+
+A couple of weeks after this, I went to that super.'s office on some
+business, and had to wait in the outer pen until "His Grace" got through
+with someone else. The transom over the door to the "Holy of Holies" was
+open, and I heard the well-known voice of 'Lige "the Lion".
+
+"Now, there's another matter, Mr. Doe, that perhaps you'll say is none
+of my business, but 'tain't right, and I'm going to speak about it.
+You're hanging around the yards and standing in the shadows of cars and
+buildings half the night, watching employees. You've discharged several
+yardmen, and I want to tell you that a lot of the roughest of them are
+laying for you. My advice to you is to go home from the office. They'll
+hurt you yet. 'Tain't right for one man to know that another is in
+danger without warning him, so I've done it; 'twouldn't be right for
+them to hurt you. You're not particularly hunting them but me, but you
+won't catch me."
+
+Mr. Doe assured "the Lion" that he could take care of himself, and two
+nights later got sand-bagged, and had about half his ribs kicked loose,
+over back of the scale house.
+
+When the trouble commenced in '77, old 'Lige refused to take up a
+request for increase of pay, to headquarters; said the road could afford
+to keep us just where we were, which was more than some roads were
+doing, and "'twa'n't right" to ask for more. Two months later they cut
+us ten per cent., and offered to pay half script. Old 'Lige said
+'"twa'n't right," and he'd strike afore he'd stand it;--and, in the end,
+we all struck.
+
+The fourth day after the strike commenced I met 'Lige, and he asked me
+where I was going to hunt work. I told him I was going back when we won.
+He laughed, and said there wa'n't much danger of any of us going back;
+we were beat; mail trains all running, etc. '"Tain't right, Brother
+John, to loaf longer'n you can help. I'm goin' out West to-morrer"--and
+he went.
+
+Some weeks afterward Joe Johnson and I concluded that, contrary to all
+precedent, the road was going to run without us, and we also went West;
+but by that time the country was full of men just like us. When I did
+get a job, it was drying sand away out at the front on one of the new
+roads. The first engine that come up to the sand house had a familiar
+look, even with a boot-leg stack that was fearfully and wonderfully
+made. There was a shaggy head sticking out of the side window, and two
+cool grey eyes blinked at me, but didn't seem to see me; yet a cheery
+voice from under the beard said: "Hello, Brother John, you're late, but
+guess you'll catch on pretty quick. There's lots of 'em here that don't
+know nothin' about railroading, as far as I can see, and they're running
+engines, too. 'Tain't right."
+
+The little town was booming, and 'Lige invested in lots, and became
+interested in many schemes to benefit the place and make money. He had
+been a widower for some years, and with one exception his children were
+doing for themselves, and that one was with his sister, and well cared
+for. 'Lige had considerable means, and he brought it all West. He
+personally laid the corner-stone of the courthouse, subscribed more than
+any other working man to the first church, and was treasurer of half the
+institutions in the village. He ought to have quit the road, but he
+wouldn't; but did compromise on taking an easy run on a branch.
+
+'Lige was behind a benevolent scheme to build a hospital, to be under
+the auspices of the church society, and to it devoted not a little time
+and energy. When the constitution and by-laws were drawn up, the more
+liberal of the trustees struck a snag in old 'Lige. He was bound that
+the hospital should not harbor people under the influence of liquor, or
+fallen women. 'Lige was very bitter against prostitution. "It is the
+curse of civilization," he often said. "Prostitutes ruin ten men where
+whiskey ruins one. They stand in the path of every young man in the
+country, gilded tempters of virtue, honesty and manhood; 'tain't right
+that they should be allowed in the country." If you attributed their
+existence to man's passions, inhumanity or cruelty, or woman's weakness,
+he checked you at once.
+
+"Every woman that becomes a crooked woman does so from choice; she
+needn't to if she didn't want to. The way to stop prostitution is for
+every honest man and woman to refuse to have anything to do with them in
+any way, or with those who do recognize them. 'Tain't right."
+
+In this matter 'Lige Clark had no sympathy nor charity. "'Twa'n't
+right"--and that settled it as far as he was concerned.
+
+The ladies of the church sided with old 'Lige in his stand on the
+hospital board, but the other two men wanted the doors of the
+institution to be opened to all in need of medical attention or care,
+regardless of who they were or what caused their ailment. 'Lige gave in
+on the whiskey, but stood out resolutely against the soiled doves, and
+so matters stood until midwinter.
+
+Half the women in the town were outcasts from society--two dance-houses
+were in full blast--and 'Lige soon became known to them and their
+friends as the "Prophet Elijah, second edition."
+
+The mining town over the hills, at the end of 'Lige's branch, was
+booming, too, and wanted to be the county seat. It had its church,
+dance-halls, etc., and the discovery of coal within a few miles bid fair
+to make it a formidable rival.
+
+The boom called for more power and I went over there to pull freight,
+and 'Lige pulled passengers only. Then they put more coaches on his
+train and put my engine on to help him, thus saving a crew's wages.
+Passenger service increased steadily until a big snow-slide in one of
+the gulches shut up the road. I'll never forget that slide. It happened
+on the 26th of January. 'Lige and I were double-heading on nine coaches
+of passengers and when on a heavy grade in Alder Gulch, a slide of snow
+started from far up the mountain-side, swept over the track just ahead
+of us, carrying trees, telegraph poles and the track with it. We tried
+to stop, but 'Lige's engine got into it, and was carried sideways down
+some fifty or sixty feet. Mine contented herself with simply turning
+over, without hurting either myself or fireman--much to my satisfaction.
+
+'Lige fared worse. His reverse lever caught in his clothing and before
+he could get loose, the engine had stopped on her side, with 'Lige's
+feet and legs under her. He was not badly hurt except for the scalding
+water that poured upon him. As soon as we could see him, the fireman and
+I got hold of him and forcibly pulled him out of the wreck. His limbs
+were awfully burned--cooked would be nearer the word.
+
+[Illustration: "It was a strange courting ... there on that engine."]
+
+The passengers crowded around, but did little good. One look was enough
+for most of them. There were ten or twelve women in the cars. They came
+out slowly, and stood timidly away from the hissing boilers, with one
+exception. This one came at once to the injured man, sat down in the
+snow, took his head in her lap, and taking a flask of liquor from her
+ulster pocket, gave poor 'Lige some with a little snow.
+
+I got the oil can and poured some oil over the burned parts to keep the
+air from them; we needed bandages, and I asked the ladies if they had
+anything we could use for the purpose. One young girl offered a
+handkerchief and another a shawl, but before they were accepted the cool
+woman holding 'Lige's head got up quickly, laying his head down tenderly
+on the snow, and without a word or attempt to get out of sight, pulled
+up her dress, and in a second kicked out two white skirts, and sat down
+again to cool 'Lige's brow.
+
+That woman attended 'Lige like a guardian angel until we got back to
+town late that afternoon. The hospital was not yet in shape, so 'Lige
+was taken to the rather dreary and homeless quarters of the hotel.
+
+As quick as it was known that Elijah Clark was hurt, he had plenty of
+friends, male and female, who came to take care of him, but the woman
+who helped him live at the start came not; yet every day there were
+dainty viands, wine or books left at the house for him--but pains were
+taken to let no one know from whom they came.
+
+One day a month after the accident I sat beside 'Lige's bed when he told
+me that he was anticipating quite a discussion there that evening, as
+the hospital committee was going to meet to decide on the rules of the
+institution. "Wilcox and Gorman are set to open the house to those who
+have no part in our work and no sympathy with Christian institutions,
+and 'tain't right," said he. "Brother John, you can't do no good by
+prolonging the life of a brazen woman bent on vice."
+
+"Don't you think, 'Lige," said I, "that you are a little hard on an
+unfortunate class of humanity, who, in nine cases out of ten, are the
+victims of others' wrong-doing, and stay in the mire because no hand is
+extended to help them out? Think of the woman of Samaria. It's sinners,
+not saints, that need saving."
+
+"They are as a coiled serpent in the pathway of mankind, Brother John,
+fascinating, but poisonous. There can be no good in one of those
+creatures."
+
+"Oh yes there is, I'm sure," said I. "Why, 'Lige, don't you know who the
+woman was that gave you brandy, held your head, and used her skirts for
+bandages when you were hurt?"
+
+Old 'Lige raised up on his elbow, all eagerness. "No, John, I don't, but
+she wa'n't one of them. She was too thoughtful, too tender, too womanly.
+I've blessed her from that day to this, and though I don't know it, I
+think she has sent me all these wines and fruits. She saved my life. Who
+is she? Do you know?"
+
+"Yes. She is Molly May, who keeps the largest dance-house in Cascade
+City. She makes lots of money, but spends it all in charity; there has
+never been a human being buried by the town since she has been there.
+Molly May is a ministering angel to the poor and sick, but a bird of
+prey to those who wish to dissipate."
+
+The hospital was opened on Easter, and the first patient was a poor
+consumptive girl, but lately an inmate of the Red-Light dance-house.
+'Lige Clark did not run again; he became mayor of the little city, had
+faith in its future, invested his money in land and died rich some years
+ago.
+
+'Lige must have changed his mind as he grew older, or at least abandoned
+the idea that to crush out a wrong you should push it from all sides,
+and thus compress and intensify it at the heart, and come to the
+conclusion that the right way is to get inside and push out, thus
+separating and dissolving it. For before me lies the tenth annual
+prospectus of a now noted institution in one of the great cities of the
+continent, and on its title page, I read through the dimmed glasses of
+my spectacles: "Industrial Home and Refuge for Fallen Women. Founded by
+Elijah Clark. Mary E. May, Matron."
+
+
+
+
+A PEG-LEGGED ROMANCE
+
+
+Some men are born heroes, some become heroic, and some have heroism
+thrust upon them; but nothing of the kind ever happened to me.
+
+I don't know how it is; but, some way or other, I remember all the
+railroad incidents I see or hear, and get to the bottom of most of the
+stories of the road. I must study them over more than most men do, or
+else the other fellows enjoy the comedies and deplore the tragedies, and
+say nothing. Sometimes I am mean enough to think that the romance, the
+dramas, and the tragedies of the road don't impress them as being as
+interesting as those of the plains, the Indians, or the seas--people are
+so apt to see only the everyday side of life anyway, and to draw all
+their romance and heroics from books.
+
+I helped make a hero once--no, I didn't either; I helped make the
+golden setting after the rough diamond had shown its value.
+
+Miles Diston pulled freight on our road a few years ago. He was of
+medium stature, dark complexion, but no beauty. He was a manly-looking
+fellow, well-educated enough, sober, and a steady-going, reliable
+engineer; you would never pick him out for a hero. Miles was young
+yet--not thirty--but, somehow or other, he had escaped matrimony: I
+guess he had never had time. He stayed on the farm at home until he was
+of age, and then went firing, so that when I first knew him he had
+barely got to his goal--the throttle.
+
+A good many men, when they first get there, take great interest in their
+work for a few months--until experience gives them confidence; then they
+take it easier, look around, and take some interest in other things.
+Most of them never hope to get above running, and so sit down more or
+less contented, get married, buy real estate, gamble, or grow fat, each
+according to the dictates of his own conscience or the inclinations of
+his make-up. Miles figured a little on matrimony.
+
+I can't explain it; but when a railroad man is in trouble, he comes to
+me for advice, just as he would go to the company doctor for kidney
+complaint. I am a specialist in heart troubles. Miles came to me.
+
+Miles was like the rest of them. They don't come right down and say,
+"Something's the matter with me; what would you do for it?" No, sir!
+They hem and haw, and laugh off the symptoms, until you come right out
+and tell them just how they feel and explain the cause; then they will
+do anything you say. Miles hemmed and hawed a little, but soon came out
+and showed his symptoms--he asked me if I had ever noticed the
+"Frenchman's" girl.
+
+"The Frenchman," be it known, was our boss bridge carpenter. He lived at
+a small place half-way over my division--I was pulling express--and the
+freights stopped there, changing engines. I knew Venot, the bridge
+carpenter, very well; met him in lodge occasionally, and once in a
+while he rode on the engine with me to inspect bridges. His wife was a
+Canadian woman, and good-looking for her forty years and ten children.
+The daughter that was killing Miles Diston, Marie Venot, was the eldest,
+and had just graduated from some sisters' school. She was a very
+handsome girl, and you could read the romantic nature of her being
+through her big, round, gray eyes. She was vivacious, and loved to go;
+but she was a dutiful daughter, and at once took hold to help her mother
+in a way that made her all the more adorable in the eyes of practical
+men like Miles.
+
+Miles made the most of his opportunities.
+
+But, bless you, there were other eyes for good-looking girls besides
+those in poor Miles Diston's head, and he was far from having the field
+to himself; this he wanted badly, and came to get advice from me.
+
+I advised strongly against wasting energy to clear the field, and in
+favor of putting it all into making the best show and in getting ahead
+of all competitors. Under my advice, Miles disposed of some vacant
+lots, and bought a neat little house, put it in thorough order, and made
+the best of his opportunities with Marie.
+
+Marie came to our house regularly, and I had good opportunity to study
+her. She was a sensible little creature, and, to my mind, just the girl
+for Miles; as Miles was just the man for her. But she had confided to my
+wife the fact that she never, never could consent to marry and settle
+down in the regulation, humdrum way; she wanted to marry a hero, some
+one she could look up to--a king among men.
+
+My wife told her that kings and heroes were scarce just then, and that a
+lot of pretty good women managed to be comparatively happy with common
+railroad men. But Marie wanted a hero, and would hear of nothing less.
+
+It was during one of her visits to my house that Miles took Marie out
+for a ride and (accidentally, of course) dropped around by his new
+house, induced her to look at it, and told his story, asking her to
+make the home complete. It would have caught almost any girl; but when
+Miles delivered her at our door and drove off, I knew that there would
+be a "For Rent" card on that house in a few days and that Marie Venot
+was bound to have a hero or nothing.
+
+Miles took his repulse calmly, but it hurt. He told me that Marie was
+hunting for a different kind of man from him; said that he thought
+perhaps if he would enlist, and go out to fight Sitting Bull, and come
+home in a new, brass-bound uniform, with a poisoned arrow sticking out
+of his breast, she would fall at his feet and worship him. She told him
+she liked him better than any of the town boys; his calling was noble
+enough and hard enough; but she failed to see her ideal hero in a man
+with blue overclothes on and cinders in his ears. If any of Miles's
+competitors had rescued a drowning child, or killed a bear with a
+penknife, at this juncture, I'm afraid Marie would have taken him. But,
+as I have indicated, it was a dull season for heroes.
+
+About this time our road invested in some mogul passenger engines, and
+I drew one. I didn't like the boiler sticking back between me and Dennis
+Rafferty. I didn't like six wheels connected. I didn't like a
+knuckle-joint in the side rod. I didn't like eighteen-inch cylinders. I
+was opposed to solid-end rods. And I am afraid I belonged to a class of
+ignorant, short-sighted, bull-headed engineers who didn't believe that a
+railroad had any right to buy anything but fifteen by twenty-two
+eight-wheelers--the smaller they were the more men they would want. I
+got over that a long time ago; but, at the time I write of, I was cranky
+about it. The moguls were high and short and jerky, and they tossed a
+man around like a rat in a corn-popper. One day, as I was chasing time
+over our worst division, holding on to the arm-rest and watching to see
+if the main frame touched the driving-boxes as she rolled, Dennis
+Rafferty punched me in the small of the back, and said: "Jahn, for the
+love ave the Vargin, lave up on her a minit. Oi does be chasing that
+dure for the lasth twinty minits, and dang the wan'st has I hit it
+fair. She's the divil on th' dodge."
+
+Dennis had a pile of coal just inside and just outside of the door, the
+forward grates were bare, the steam was down, and I went in seven
+minutes late, too mad to eat--and that's pretty mad for me. I laid off,
+and Miles Diston took the high-roller out next trip.
+
+Miles didn't rant and write letters or poetry, or marry some one else to
+spite himself, or take the first steamer for Burraga, or Equatorial
+Africa, as rejected lovers in stories do. It hurt, and he didn't enjoy
+it, but he bore up all right, and went about his business, just as
+hundreds of other sensible men do every day. He gave up entirely,
+however, rented his house, and said he couldn't fill the bill--there
+wasn't a hero in his family as far back as he could remember.
+
+Miles had been making time with the Black Maria for about a week, when
+the big accident happened in our town. The boilers in a cotton mill blew
+up, and killed a score of girls and injured hundreds more. Miles was at
+the other end of the division, and they hurried him out to take a
+car-load of doctors down. They were given the right of the road, and
+Miles tested the speed of that mogul--proving that a pony truck would
+stay on the track at fifty miles an hour, which a lot of us "cranks" had
+disputed.
+
+A few miles out there is a coaling-station, and at that time they were
+building the chutes. One of the iron drop-aprons fell just before Miles
+with the mogul got to it; it smashed the headlight, dented the stack,
+ripped up the casing of the sand-box and dome, cut a slit in the jacket
+the length of the boiler, tore off the cab, struck the end of the first
+car, and then tore itself loose, and fell to the ground.
+
+The throttle was knocked wide open, and the mogul was flying. Miles was
+thrown down, his head cut open by a splinter, and his foot pretty badly
+hurt. He picked himself up instantly, and took a look back as he closed
+the throttle. Everything was "coming" all right, he remembered the
+emergency of the case, and opened the throttle again. A hasty
+inspection showed the engine in condition to run--she only looked
+crippled. Miles had to stand up. His foot felt numb and weak, so he
+rested his weight on the other foot. He was afraid he would fall off if
+he became faint, and he had Dennis take off the bell-cord and tie it
+around his waist, throwing a loop over the reverse lever, as a measure
+of safety. The right side of the cab and all the roof were gone, so that
+Miles was in plain sight. The cut in his scalp bled profusely, and in
+trying to wipe the blood from his eyes, he merely spread it all over
+himself, so that he looked as if he had been half murdered.
+
+It was this apparition of wreck, ruin, and concentrated energy that
+Marie Venot saw flash past her father's door, hastening to the relief of
+the victims of a worse disaster, forty miles away.
+
+Her father came home for his dinner in a few minutes from his little
+office in the depot. To his daughter's eager inquiry he said there had
+been some big accident in town and the "extra" was carrying doctors
+from up the road. But what was the matter with the engine, he didn't
+know; it was the 170; so it was old man Alexander, he said--and that's
+the nearest I ever came to being a hero.
+
+Marie knew who was running the 170 pretty well; so after dinner she went
+to the telegraph office for information, and there she learned that the
+special had struck the new coal chute at Coalton and that the engineer
+was hurt. It was time she ran down to see Mrs. Alexander, she said, and
+that afternoon's regular delivered her in town.
+
+Like all other railroaders not better employed, I dropped round to the
+depot at train time to talk with the boys and keep track of things in
+general. The regular was late, but Miles Diston was coming with a
+special, and came while we were talking about it. Miles didn't realize
+how badly he was hurt until he stopped the mogul in front of the general
+office. So long as the excitement of the run was on, so long as he saw
+the absolute necessity of doing his whole duty until the desired end was
+accomplished, so long as he had a reputation to protect, his will power
+subordinated all else. But when several of us engineers ran up to the
+engine, we found Miles hanging to the reverse lever by his safety cord,
+in a dead faint. We carried him into the depot, and one of the doctors
+administered some restorative. Then we got a hack and started him and
+the doctor for my house; but Miles came to himself, and insisted on
+going to his boarding-house and nowhere else.
+
+Mrs. Bailey, Miles's boarding-house keeper, had been a trained nurse,
+but had a few years before invested in a rather disappointing
+matrimonial venture. She was one of the best nurses and one of the
+"crankiest" women I ever knew. I believe she was actually glad to see
+Miles come home hurt, just to show how she could pull him through.
+
+The doctor found that Miles had an ankle out of joint; the little toe
+was badly crushed; there was a bad cut in the leg, that had bled
+profusely; there was a black bruise over the short ribs on the right
+side, and there was a button-hole in the scalp that needed about four
+stitches. The little toe was cut off without ceremony, the ankle
+replaced and hot bandages applied, and other repairs were made, which
+took up most of the afternoon.
+
+When the doctor got through, he called Mrs. Bailey and myself out into
+the parlor, and said that we must not let people crowd in to see the
+patient; that his wounds were not dangerous, but very painful; that
+Miles was weak from loss of blood, and that his constitution was not in
+particularly good condition. The doctor, in fact, thought that Miles
+would be in great luck if he got out of the scrape without a run of
+fever. Thereafter Mrs. Bailey referred all visitors to me. I talked with
+the doctor and the nurse, and we all agreed that it would stop most
+inquisitive people to simply say that the patient had suffered an
+amputation.
+
+That evening, when I went home, there were two anxious women-to receive
+me, and the younger of them looked suspiciously as if she had been
+crying. I told them something of the accident, how it all happened, and
+about Miles's injuries. Both of them wanted to go right down and help
+"do something," but I told them of the doctor's order and of his fears.
+
+By this time the reporters came; and I called them into the parlor, and
+then let them pump me. I detailed the accident in full, but declined to
+tell anything about Miles or his history. "The fact is," said I, "that
+you people won't give an engineer his just dues. Now, if Miles Diston
+had been a fireman and had climbed down a ladder with a child, you would
+have his picture in the paper and call him a hero and all that sort of
+thing; but here is a man crushed, bleeding, with broken bones, and a
+crippled engine, who stands on one foot, lashed to his reverse lever,
+for eighty miles, and making the fastest time ever made over the road,
+because he knew that others were suffering for the relief he brought."
+
+"That's nerve," said one of the young men.
+
+"Nerve!" said I, "nerve! Why, that man knows no more about fear than a
+lion; and think of the sand of the man! This afternoon he sat up and
+watched the doctor perform that amputation without a quiver; he wouldn't
+take chloroform; he wouldn't even lie down."
+
+[Illustration: "We carried him into the depot."]
+
+"Was the amputation above or below the knee?" asked the reporter.
+
+"Below" (I didn't state how far).
+
+"Which foot?"
+
+"Left."
+
+"He is in no great danger?"
+
+"Yes, the doctor says he will be a very sick man for some time--if he
+recovers at all. Boys," I added, "there's one thing you might
+mention--and I think you ought to--and that is that it is such heroes as
+this that give a road its reputation; people feel as though they were
+safe behind such men."
+
+If Miles Diston had read the papers the next morning he would have died
+of flattery; the reporters did themselves proud, and they made a whole
+column of the "iron will and nerves of steel" shown in that "amputation
+without ether."
+
+Marie Venot was full of sympathy for Miles; she wanted to see him, but
+Mrs. Bailey referred her to me, and she finally went home, still
+inquiring every day about him. I don't think she had much other feeling
+for him than pity. She was down again a week later, and I talked freely
+of going to pick out a wooden foot for Miles, who was improving right
+along.
+
+Meanwhile, the papers far and near copied the articles about the "Hero
+of the Throttle," and the item about the road's interest in heroes
+attracted the attention of our general passenger agent--he liked the
+free advertising and wanted more of it--so he called me in one day, and
+asked if I knew of a choice run they could give Miles as a reward of
+merit.
+
+I told him, if he wanted to make a show of gratitude from the road, and
+get a big free advertisement in the papers, to have Miles appointed
+superintendent of the Spring Creek branch, where a practical man was
+needed, and then give it out "cold" that Miles had been rewarded by
+being made superintendent of the road. This was afterwards done, with a
+great hurrah (in the papers).
+
+The second Sunday after Miles was hurt, Marie was down, and I thought
+I'd have a little fun with her, and see how she regarded Miles.
+
+"There's quite a romance connected with Diston's affair," said I at the
+dinner table, rather carelessly. "There is a young lady visiting here in
+town--I hear she is very wealthy--who saw Miles when we took him off
+his engine. She sends flowers every day, calls him her hero, and is just
+crazy for him to get well so she can see him."
+
+"Who is she, did you say?" asked my wife.
+
+"I forgot her name," said I, "but I am here to tell you that she will
+get Miles if there is any chance in the world. Her father is an army
+officer, but she says that Miles Diston is a greater hero than the army
+ever produced."
+
+"She's a hussy," said Marie.
+
+I don't know whether you would call that a bull or a bear movement on
+the Diston stock, but it went up--I could see that.
+
+A week later Miles was able to come down to our house for dinner, and my
+wife asked Marie to come also. I met her at the depot, and after she was
+safe in the buggy, I told her that Miles was up at the house. She nearly
+jumped out; but I quieted her, and told her she mustn't notice or say a
+word about Miles's game leg, as he was extremely sensitive about it.
+
+My wife was in the kitchen, and I went to the barn to put out the horse.
+Marie went to the sitting-room to avoid the parlor and Miles, but he was
+there, I guess, and Marie found her hero, for when they came out to
+dinner he had his arm around her. They were married a month later, and
+went to Washington, stopping to see us on the way back.
+
+As I came home that night with my patent dinner pail, and with two rows
+of wrinkles and a load of responsibility on my brow, Marie shook her
+fist in my face and called me "an old story-teller."
+
+"Story-teller," said I; "what story?"
+
+"Oh, what story? That _leg_ story, of course, you old cheat."
+
+"What leg story?"
+
+"Old innocence; that amputation below the knee--you know."
+
+"Wa'n't it below the knee?"
+
+"Yes, but it was only the little toe."
+
+"John," said Miles, "she cried when she looked for that wooden foot and
+only found a slightly flat wheel."
+
+"That's just like 'em," said I. "Here Marie only expected a part of a
+hero, and we give her a whole man, and she kicks--that's gratitude for
+you."
+
+"I got my hero all right, though," said Marie; "you told me a big fib
+just the same, but I could kiss you for it."
+
+"Don't you do that," said I; "but if the Lord should send you many
+blessings, and any of 'em are boys, you might name one after me."
+
+She said she'd do it--and she did.
+
+
+
+
+MY LADY OF THE EYES
+
+
+One morning, some years ago, I struck the general master mechanic of a
+Rocky Mountain road for a job as an engineer--I needed a job pretty
+badly.
+
+As quick as the M. M. found that I could handle air on two hundred foot
+grades, he was as tickled as I was; engineers were not plenty in the
+country then, so many deserted to go to the mines.
+
+"The 'III' will be out in a couple of days, and you can have her
+regular, unless Hopkins comes back," said he.
+
+I hustled around for a room and made my peace with the boarding-house
+people before I reported to break in the big consolidation that was to
+fall to my care.
+
+She was big and black and ugly and new, and her fresh fire made the
+asphalt paint on her fire-box and front-end stink in that peculiar and
+familiar way given to recently rebuilt engines; but it smelt better to
+me than all the perfumes of Arabia.
+
+A good-natured engineer came out on the ash-pit track to welcome me to
+the West and the road, and incidentally to remark that it was a great
+relief to the gang that I had come as I did.
+
+"Why," I asked, "are you so short-handed that you are doubling and
+trebling?" "No, but they are afraid that some of 'em will have to take
+out the 'III'--she is a holy terror."
+
+Hadn't she been burned the first trip? Didn't she kill Jim O'Neil with
+the reverse lever? Hadn't she lain down on the bed of the Arkansas river
+and wallowed on "Scar Face" Hopkins, and he not up yet? Hadn't she run
+away time and again without cause or provocation?
+
+But a fellow that has needed a job for six months will tackle almost
+anything, and I tackled the "holy terror."
+
+In fixing up the cab, I noticed an extra bracket beside the steam gage
+for a clock, and mentally noted that it would come in handy just as
+soon as I had a twenty dollar bill to spare for one of those jeweled,
+nickle-plated, side-winding clocks, that are the pride and comfort of
+those particular engineers who want nice things, with their names
+engraved on the case.
+
+Before I had got everything ready to take the "three aces" over the
+turn-table for her breaking-in trip, the foreman of the back-shop came
+out with a package done up in a pair of old overalls, and said that here
+was Hopkins's clock, which I might as well use until he got around
+again--'fraid someone would steal it if left in his office.
+
+Hopkins's clock was put on its old bracket.
+
+Hopkins must have been one of those particular engineers; his clock was
+a fine one; "S. H. Hopkins" was engraved on the case in German text. The
+lower half of the dial was black with white figures, the upper half
+white with black figures. But what struck me was part of a woman's face
+burned into the enamel. Just half of this face showed, that on the
+white part of the dial; the black half hid the rest.
+
+It was the face, or part of the face, of a handsome young woman with
+hair parted in the middle and waved back over the ears, a broad
+forehead, and such glorious eyes--eyes that looked straight into yours
+from every view point--honest eyes--reproving eyes--laughing
+eyes--loving eyes. I mentally named the picture "Her Eyes."
+
+Now, I was not and am not sentimental or superstitious. I'd been married
+and helped wean a baby or two even then, but those eyes bothered me.
+They hunted mine and looked at me and asked me questions and made me
+forget things, and made me think and dream and speculate; all of which
+are sheer suicide for a locomotive engineer.
+
+I got a switchman and started out to limber up the "III." I asked him to
+let me out on the main line, took a five-mile spin, and sidetracked for
+a freight train. While the man was unlocking the switch, I looked into
+the eyes and wondered what their owner was, or could be, or had been, to
+"Scar Faced" Hopkins, and--ran off the switch. Then I wondered if
+Hopkins was looking into those eyes when he and the "III" went into the
+Arkansas river that dark night.
+
+A few days after this the "III," Dennis Rafferty and I went into the
+regular freight service of the road.
+
+On the first trip, when half way up Greenhall grade, I glanced at the
+clock and was startled. The "Eyes" were looking at me; there was a
+scared, pained look, a you-must-do-something look in the eyes, or it
+seemed to me there was.
+
+"Damn that clock," said I to myself, "I'm getting superstitious or have
+softening of the brain," and I reached over to open the front door, so
+that the breeze could cool me off. In doing so my hand touched the water
+pipe to the injector--it was hot. The closed overflow injector was new
+to merit had "broke," and was blowing steam back to the tank that I
+thought was putting water into the boiler. I put it to work properly and
+"felt of the water:" there was just a flutter in the lower gage cock; in
+five minutes the crown sheet and my reputation would have been burned
+beyond recognition. Those eyes were good for something after all.
+
+I looked at them and they were calm. "It's all right now, but be
+careful," they said.
+
+Dennis Rafferty had troubles of his own. The liner came off the new fire
+door letting the door get red hot, but it wasn't half as hot as Dennis.
+He hammered it with the coal pick and burned his hands and swore, and
+Dennis was an artist in profanity. He stepped up into the cab wiping his
+face on his sleeve, and ripping the English and profane languages into
+tatters; but he stopped short in the middle of an oath and looked
+ashamed, glanced at me, crossed himself and went back to his work
+quietly. When he came back into the cab, I asked him what choked him so
+sudden.
+
+"Her," said he, nodding his head toward the clock. "Howly Mither, man,
+she looked hurted and sorry-like, same's me owld mither uster, whin I
+was noctious with the blasthfemry." So the "Eyes" were on Dennis, too.
+That took some of the conceit out of me, I was getting foolish about the
+eyes.
+
+We had a time order against a passenger train, it would be sharp work to
+make the next station, the train was heavy, the road and the engine new
+to me, and I hesitated. The conductor was dubious but said the "204" or
+Frosty Keeler could do it any day of the week. I looked at my watch and
+then at the clock. The eyes looked "Yes, go, you can do it easily; the
+'III' will do all you ask; trust her." I went, and as we pulled our
+caboose in to clear and before the express whistled for the junction,
+the eyes looked "Didn't I tell you; wasn't that splendid." Those eyes
+had been over the road more than I had, and knew the "III" better. I
+would trust the eyes.
+
+On the return trip, a night run, I had a big train and a bad rail, but
+the "III" did splendid work and made her time while "Her Eyes" approved
+every move I made, smiled at me and admired my handling of the engine.
+The conductor unbent enough to send over word that it was the best run
+he'd ever had from a new man, but the "Eyes" looked, "That's nothing,
+you can do it every time, I know you can."
+
+Half over the division, we took a siding for the "Cannon Ball." We
+cleared her ten minutes and I had time to oil around while Dennis
+cleaned his fire. I climbed up into the cab, wiping the long oiler and
+glanced at the clock. The "Eyes" were looking wild alarm--"do something
+quick." The "Eyes" had the look, or seemed to me to have the look, you
+might expect in those of a bound woman who sees a child at the stake
+just before the fire is lighted--immeasurable pain, pity, appeal. I
+tried the water, unconsciously; it was all right. I stepped into the
+gangway and glanced back. Our tail-lights were "in" and the white light
+of the switch flashed safely there, and we had backed in any way. I
+glanced ahead. The switch light was white, the target showed main line
+plainly, for my headlight shone on it full and clear. What could be the
+matter with "Her Eyes."
+
+As I turned to enter the cab the roar of the coming express came down
+the wind on the frosty air and my eyes fell on the rail ahead. My God,
+they were full to the siding! It was a stub-rail switch, and the stand
+had moved the target and the light, but not the rails--the bridle-rod
+was broken.
+
+I yelled like a mad man, but the brakeman had gone to the caboose for
+his lunch pail. I ran to the switch. It was useless. I fought it an
+instant and then turned to the rails. Putting my foot against the main
+line rail, I grasped the switch rail and throwing all my strength into
+the effort, jerked it-over to the main line, but would it stay until the
+train passed over? I felt sure it would not. I looked about for
+something to hold it. Part of a broken pin was the only thing in sight.
+The headlight of the express shone in my face, and something seemed to
+say, "This is your trial, do something quick." I threw myself prone on
+the ground, my head near the rails, and held the broken pin between the
+end of the siding rail and the main line. The switch rails could not be
+forced over without shearing off the pin. The corner of the pilot of
+the flying demon caught my right sleeve and tore it off, and the cloth
+threw the cylinder cocks open with a hiss, the wind and dust blinded and
+shook me, and the rails hammered and bruised and pinched my hand, but I
+held on. Twenty seconds later I sat watching the red lights of the tenth
+sleeper whip themselves out of sight. Then I went back to the cab, and
+"Her Eyes" glorified me. "God bless your dear eyes," said I, "where
+would we have all been now but for you?"
+
+But the "Eyes" deprecated my remarks, and looked me upon a pedestal, but
+the company doctor dressed my hand the next day, and the superintendent
+gave the whole crew ten days for backing into that siding.
+
+Another round trip, and I fear I watched "Her Eyes" more than the
+signals and the track ahead. "Her Eyes" decided for me, chose for me,
+approved and disapproved. I was running by "Her Eyes."
+
+In a telegraph office they asked me if I could do something in a certain
+time and I was dazed. I didn't give my usual quick decision, my
+judgment was wobbly and uncertain. I must look at my clock--and "Her
+Eyes." I went out to the "III" to consult them, lost my chance and was
+"put in the hole" all over the division by the disgusted dispatcher.
+
+Then I got to thinking and moralizing and sitting in judgment on my
+thraldom. Was I running the "III" or was "Her Eyes?" Did the company pay
+me for my knowledge, judgment, experience and skill in handling a
+locomotive, or for obeying orders from "Her Eyes." Any fool could obey
+orders.
+
+Then I declared for liberty, but I kept away from "Her Eyes." I declared
+for liberty in the roundhouse.
+
+I am a man of decision, and no sooner had I taken this oath than I got a
+screw driver, climbed into the cab of the "III," without looking at "Her
+Eyes," held my hand over the face of the clock and took it down. I
+wrapped it up and took it back to the foreman.
+
+"Why, yes," said he, "'Scar Face' was here for it this morning. He's
+round somewhere yet. Ain't goin' to railroad no more, goin' into the
+real estate business. He's got money, so's his wife--daffool he didn't
+quit long ago."
+
+"If 'Scar Face' Hopkins puts that clock over his desk and trusts 'Her
+Eyes,' he'll get rich," thought I. Perhaps, though, those eyes don't
+reach the soul of "Scar Face" Hopkins; perhaps he don't see them change
+as I did; men are conceited that way.
+
+During the next month I got acquainted with "Scar Face" Hopkins, who was
+a first-class fellow, with a hand-clasp like a polar bear, a heart like
+a steam pulsometer, and a face that looked as if it might have been used
+for the butting post at the end of the world.
+
+"Scar Face" Hopkins got all his scars in the battle of life. Men who
+command locomotives on the firing line often get hurt, but Hopkins had
+votes of thanks from officials and testimonials from men, and
+life-saver's medals from two governments to show that his scars were the
+brands of honorable degrees conferred by the Almighty on the field for
+brave and heroic deeds well done.
+
+"Scar Face" Hopkins was a fellow you'd like to get up close to of a
+night and talk with, and smoke with, and think with, until unlawful
+hours.
+
+One day I went into his office and the clock was there, and his old
+torch and a nickle-plated oiler, mementoes of the field. I looked at the
+clock, and "Her Eyes" smiled at me, or I thought they did, and said,
+just as plain as words, "Glad to see you, dear friend; sit down." But I
+turned my back to that clock; I can resist temptation when I know where
+it is coming from.
+
+One day, a few weeks later, I stopped before a store window in a crowd
+to examine some pictures, satisfied my curiosity, and in stepping back
+to go away, put the heel of my number ten on a lady's foot with that
+peculiar "craunch" that you know hurts. I turned to make an apology, and
+faced the original of the picture on the clock. A beautiful pair of
+eyes, the rest of the face was hidden by a peculiar arrangement of veil
+that crossed the bridge of the nose and went around the ears and neck.
+
+Those eyes, full of pain at first, changed instantly to frank
+forgiveness, and, bowing low, I repeated my plea for pardon for my
+clumsy carelessness, but was absolved so absolutely and completely, and
+dismissed so naturally, that I felt relieved.
+
+I sauntered up to Hopkins' office. "Hopkins," said I, "I just met your
+wife."
+
+"You did?"
+
+"Yes, and I stepped on her foot and hurt her badly, I know." Then I told
+him about it.
+
+"What did she say?" asked Hopkins, and I noticed a queer look. I thought
+it might be jealousy.
+
+"Why, well, why I don't know as I remember, but it was very kindly and
+ladylike."
+
+There was a queer expression on Hopkins' face.
+
+"Of course--"
+
+"Sure she spoke?" asked Hopkins. "How did you know it was my wife
+anyway?"
+
+"Because it was the same face that is pictured on your clock, and some
+one in the crowd said it was Mrs. Hopkins. You know Hop., I ran by that
+clock for a few weeks, and I noticed the eyes."
+
+"Anything queer about 'em?" This was a challenge.
+
+"Yes, I think there is. In the first place, I know you will understand
+me when I say they are handsome eyes, and I'm free to confess that they
+had a queer influence on me, I imagined they changed and expressed
+things and--"
+
+"Talked, eh."
+
+"Well, yes." Then I told Hopkins the influence the "Eyes" had on me.
+
+He listened intently, watching me; when I had finished, he came over,
+reached out his hand and said:
+
+"Shake, friend, you're a damned good fellow."
+
+I thought Hopkins had been drinking--or looking at "Her Eyes." He pulled
+up a chair and lit a cigar.
+
+"John," said he, "it isn't every man that can understand what my wife
+says. Only kindred spirits can read the language of the eyes. _She
+hasn't spoken an audible word in ten years_, but she talks with her
+eyes, even her picture talks. We, rather she, is a mystery here; people
+believe all kinds of things about her and us; but we don't care. I want
+you to come up to the house some evening and know her better. We'll be
+three chums, I know it, but don't ask questions; you will know things
+later on."
+
+Before I ever went to Hopkins' house, he had told her all about me, and
+when he introduced us, he said:
+
+"Madeline, this is the friend who says your picture talked to him."
+
+I bowed low to the lady and tried to put myself and her at ease.
+
+"Mrs. Hopkins, I'm afraid your husband is poking fun at me, and thinks
+my liver is out of order, but, really, I did imagine I saw changing
+expression in your eyes in that picture--in fact, I named you 'My Lady
+of the Eyes.'"
+
+She laughed--with her eyes--held out her hands and made me welcome.
+
+"That name is something like mine," said Hopkins, "I call her Talking
+Eyes.'"
+
+Then Hopkins brought in his little three-year-old daughter, who
+immediately climbed on my knee, captured my watch, and asked:
+
+"What oo name?"
+
+"John," said I.
+
+"Don, Don," she repeated; "my name Maddie."
+
+"That's Daddy's chum," put in Hopkins.
+
+"Tum," repeated Maddie.
+
+"Uncle Chummy," said Hopkins.
+
+"Untle Tummie."
+
+And I was "Untle Tummie" to little Madeline and "Chummy" to Hopkins and
+his wife from then on.
+
+Mrs. Hopkins wore her veil at home as well as abroad, but it was so
+neatly arranged and worn so naturally that I soon became entirely used
+to it, in fact, didn't notice it. Otherwise, she was a well-dressed,
+handsomely set up woman, a splendid musician and a capital companion.
+She sat at her work listening, while Hopkins and I "railroaded" and
+argued about politics, and religion and everything else under the sun.
+Mrs. Hopkins took sides freely; a glance at her eyes told where she
+stood on any question.
+
+Between "Scar Face" Hopkins and his handsome wife there appeared to be
+perfect sympathy and confidence. Sitting in silence, they glanced from
+one to the other now and again, smiled, nodded--and understood.
+
+I was barred from the house for a month during the winter because little
+Madeline had the scarlet fever, then epidemic, but it was reported a
+light case and I contented myself with sending her toys and candy.
+
+One day I dropped into Hopkins' office to make inquiry, when a clerk
+told me Hopkins had not been to the office for several days. Mrs.
+Hopkins was sick. I made another round trip and inquired again, and got
+the same answer; then I went up to the house.
+
+The officious quarantine guard was still walking up and down in front of
+the Hopkins residence. To a single inquiry, this voluble functionary
+volunteered the information that the baby was all right now, but the
+lady herself was very sick with scarlet fever. Hopkins was most crazy,
+no trained nurses could be had for love nor money, the doctor was coming
+three times a day, and did I know that Mrs. Hopkins was some kind of a
+foreign Dago, and the whole outfit "queer?"
+
+Hopkins was in trouble; I pushed open the gate and started up the walk.
+
+"Hey, young feller, where yer goin'," demanded the guard.
+
+"Into the house, of course."
+
+"D'ye know if you go in ye got to stay for the next two weeks?"
+
+"Perfectly."
+
+"Then go on, you darned fool."
+
+And I went on.
+
+Hopkins met me, hollow-eyed and haggard.
+
+"Chum," said he, "you've come to prison, but I'm glad. Help is out of
+reach. If you can take care of Maddie, the girl will do the cooking and
+I will--I will do my duty."
+
+And night and day he did do his duty, being alone with his wife except
+for the few moments of the doctor's calls.
+
+One evening, after my little charge had been put to sleep downstairs by
+complying with her invariable order to "tell me a 'tory 'bout when oo
+was a 'ittle teenty weenty boy," the doctor came down with a grave face.
+
+"Our patient has reached the worst stage--delirium. The turn will come
+to-night. Poor Hopkins is about worn out, and I'm afraid may need you.
+Please don't go to bed; be 'on call.'"
+
+One hour, two hours, I sat there without hearing a sound from upstairs.
+I was drowsy and remembering that I had missed my evening smoke I
+lighted my pipe, silently opened the front door and stepped out upon the
+porch to get a whiff of fresh air. It was a still dark night, and I
+tiptoed down to the end that overlooked the city and stood looking at
+the lights and listening to the music of the switch engines in the yards
+below the hill. The porch was in darkness except the broad beam of
+light from the hall gas jet through the open door.
+
+The lights below made me think of home and my wife and little ones
+sleeping safely, I hoped, close to the coastwise lights of the Old
+Colony.
+
+I thought I heard a stealthy footfall behind me, and turned around to
+face an apparition that made the cold chill creep up my back. If ever
+there was a ghost, this must be one, an object in white not six feet
+from me.
+
+I'm not at all afraid of ghosts when I reach my second wind, and I
+grabbed at this one. It moved backward silently and as I made a quick
+step toward it that specter let out the most blood-curdling yell I ever
+heard--the shriek of a maniac.
+
+I stepped quicker now, but it moved away until it stood in the flood of
+light from the doorway, and then I saw a sight that took all the
+strength out of me. The most awful and frightful face I ever beheld,
+and,--it was the face of Madeline Hopkins.
+
+The neck and jaw and mouth were drawn and seamed and scarred in a
+frightful and hideous manner, the teeth protruded and the mouth was
+drawn to one side in a frightful leer; above that was all the beauty of
+"My Lady of the Eyes."
+
+For a moment I was dumb and powerless, and in that moment Hopkins
+appeared with a bound, and between us we captured my poor friend's wife
+and struggled and fought with her up the long stairs and back to her
+bed.
+
+Sitting one on either side, we had all we could do to hold her hands.
+She would lift us both to our feet, she was struggling desperately, and
+the eyes were the eyes of a tigress.
+
+When this strain was at its worst and every nerve on edge, another
+scream from behind us cut our ears like a needle, the eyes of the
+tigress as well as ours sought the door, and there in her golden curls
+and white "nightie" stood little Madeline. The eyes of the tigress
+softened to tenderest love, and with a bound, the baby was on her
+mother's breast, her arms around her neck, and she was saying, "Poor
+Mama, what they doin' to poor Mama?"
+
+"My darling, my darling," said the mother in the sweetest of tones.
+
+I unconsciously released my hold upon the arm I held, and she drew the
+sheet up and covered her face as I was wont to see it, and held it
+there. With the other, she gently stroked the baby curls.
+
+I watched this transformation as if under a spell.
+
+Suddenly she turned her head toward Hopkins, her eyes full of tenderness
+and pity and love, reached out her hand and said:
+
+"Oh, Steadman, my voice has come back, God has taken off the curse."
+
+But poor Hopkins was on his knees beside the bed, his face buried in his
+arms, his strong shoulders heaving and pitiful sobs breaking from his
+very heart.
+
+A couple of months afterward I resigned to go back to God's country, the
+home of the east wind, and where I could know my own children and speak
+to my own wife without an introduction, and the Hopkins invited me to a
+farewell dinner.
+
+"My Lady of the Eyes" presided, looking handsomer and stronger than
+usual, but she didn't eat with us. But with eyes and voice she
+entertained us so royally and pleasantly that Hopkins and I did eating
+enough for all.
+
+After supper, Hop. and I lighted our cigars and "railroaded" for awhile,
+then "Her Eyes" went to the piano and sang a dozen songs as only a
+trained singer can. Her voice was wonderfully sweet and low. They were
+old songs, but they seemed the better for that, and while she sang
+Hopkins's cigar went out and he just gazed at her with pride and joy in
+every lineament of his scarred and furrowed face.
+
+Little Maddie was allowed to sit up in honor of "Untle Tummy," but after
+awhile the little head bobbed quietly and the little chin fell between
+the verses of her mother's song, and "My Lady of the Eyes" took her by
+the hand and brought her over to us.
+
+"Tell papa good-night and Uncle Chum my good-bye, dear, and we'll go to
+bed."
+
+Hopkins kissed the baby, and I got my hug, and another to take to my
+"ittle dirl," and Mrs. Hopkins held out both her hands to me.
+
+"Good-bye, dear Chum," said she, "my love to you and yours, now and
+always."
+
+Hopkins put his arm around his wife, kissed her forehead and said:
+
+"Sweetheart, I'm going to tell Chum a story."
+
+"And don't forget the hero," said she, and turning to me, "Don't believe
+all he says, and don't blame those that he blames, and remember that
+what is, is best, and seeming calamities are often blessings in
+disguise."
+
+Hopkins and I looked into each other's faces and smoked in silence for
+ten minutes, then he turned to his secretary and, opening a drawer, took
+out a couple of cases and opened them. They contained medals. Then he
+opened a package of letters and selected one or two. We lighted fresh
+cigars and Hopkins began his story.
+
+"My father was a pretty well-to-do business man and I his only child. My
+mother died when I was young. I managed to get through a grammar school
+and went to college. I wanted to go on the road from the time I could
+remember and had no ambition higher than to run a locomotive. That was
+my ideal of life.
+
+"My father opposed this very strenuously, and offered to let me go to
+work if I'd select something decent--that's the way he put it. He used
+to say, 'Try a brick-yard, you might own one some day, you'll never own
+a railroad.' I had my choice, college or something decent,' and I took
+the college, although I didn't like it.
+
+"The summer before I came of age my father died suddenly and my college
+life ended."
+
+Here Hopkins fumbled around in his papers and selected one.
+
+"Just to show you how odd my father was, here is the text of his will,
+leaving out the legal slush that lawyers always pack their papers in:
+
+"'To my son, Steadman Hudson Hopkins, I leave one thousand dollars to be
+paid immediately on my demise. All the residue of my estate consisting
+of etc., etc.'--six figures, Chum, a snug little wad--'shall be placed
+in the hands of three trustees'--naming the presidents of three
+banks--'to be invested by them in state, municipal or government bonds,
+principal and interest accruing to be paid by said trustees to my son
+hereinbefore mentioned when he has pursued one calling, with average
+success, for ten consecutive years, and not until then. All in the best
+judgment of the trustees aforenamed.
+
+"'To my son I also bequeath this fatherly advice, knowing the waste of
+money by heirs who have done nothing to produce it, and knowing that had
+I been given a fortune at the beginning of my career, it would have been
+lost for lack of business experience, and knowing too, the waste of time
+usually made by young men who drift from one employment or occupation to
+another'--having wasted fifteen years of my own life in this way--I
+make these provisions in this my last will and testament, believing that
+in the end, if not now, my son will see the wisdom of this provision,
+etc., etc.'
+
+"The governor had a long, clear head and he knew me and young men in
+general, but bless you, I thought he was a little mean at the time.
+
+"I turned to the trustees and asked what they would consider as
+fulfilling the requirements of the will.
+
+"'Any honorable employment,' answered the oldest man of the trio.
+
+"The next day, I went to see Andy Bridges, general superintendent of the
+old home road, who had been a friend of father's, and told him I wanted
+to go railroading. He offered to put me in his office, but I insisted on
+the footboard, and to make a long story short, was firing inside of
+three weeks and running inside of three years.
+
+"I was the proudest young prig that ever pulled a throttle. I always
+loved the work and--well, you know how the first five years of it
+absorbs you if you are cut out for it and like it and intend to stay at
+it.
+
+"I had been running about two years, and had paid about as much
+attention to young women as I had to the subject of astronomy, until
+Madelene Bridges came out of a Southern convent to make her home with
+her uncle, our 'old man.'
+
+"The first time I saw her I went clean, stark, raving, blind, drunken
+daft over her. I tried to argue and reason myself out of it, but it was
+no go. I didn't even know who she was then.
+
+"But I was in love and, being so, wasn't hardly safe on the road.
+
+"Then I spruced up and started in to see if I couldn't interest her in
+me half as much as I was interested in her.
+
+"I didn't have much trouble to get a start, for Andy Bridges had come up
+from the ranks and hadn't forgotten it--most of 'em do--and welcomed any
+decent young man in his house, even if he was a car hand. Madelene had a
+couple of marriageable cousins then and that may account for old Andy.
+
+"I got on pretty well at first, for I was first in the field. I got in a
+theatre or two before the other young fellows caught on. About this time
+there was a dance, and I lost my grip. I took Madelene but couldn't
+dance, and all the others could, especially Dandy Tamplin, one of the
+train despatchers.
+
+"I took private dancing lessons, however, and squared myself that way.
+
+"Singing was a favorite mode of passing the evenings with the young
+folks at the Bridges's home, and I cursed myself for being tuneless.
+
+"It finally settled down to a race between Tamplin and myself, and each
+of us was doing his level best. I was so dead in earnest and so truly in
+love that I was no fit company for man or beast, and I'm afraid I was
+twice as awkward and dull in Madelene's presence as in any other place.
+
+"Dandy Tamplin was a handsome young fellow, and a formidable rival, for
+he was always well-dressed, a good talker and more or less of a lady's
+man. Besides that, he was on the ground all the time and I had to be
+away two-thirds of the time on my runs.
+
+"I came in one trip determined to know my fate that very evening--had my
+little piece all committed to memory.
+
+"As I registered I heard one of the other despatchers, behind a
+partition, telling some one that he was going to work Dandy's trick
+until eleven o'clock, and then the two entered into a discussion of
+Dandy's quest of the 'old man's' niece, one of them remarking that all
+the opposition he had was Hopkins and that wasn't worth considering. I
+resolved to get to Bridges's ahead of Tamplin.
+
+"But man--railroad man, anyway--proposes and the superintendent
+disposes. I met Bridges at the door.
+
+"'Hopkins,' said he, 'I want you to do me a personal favor.'
+
+"'Yes, sir,'
+
+"'I want you to double out in half an hour on some perishable freight
+that's coming in from the West; there isn't one available engine in.
+Will you do it?'
+
+"'Yes,' I answered, slowly, showing my disappointment. 'But, Mr.
+Bridges, I was particularly anxious to go up to your house to-night; I
+intend to ask--'
+
+"'I know, I know,' said he kindly, taking my hand; 'It'll be all right I
+hope; there ain't another young chap I'd like to see go up _and stay_
+better than you, but my son, _she will keep_, and this freight wont. You
+go out, and I'll promise that no one shall get a chance to ask ahead of
+you.' This was a friend at court and a strong one.
+
+"'It means a lot to me,' said I
+
+"'I know it my boy, and I'm proud to have you say so right out in
+meeting, but--well, you get those fruit cars in by moonlight, and I'll
+have you back light, and you can have the front parlor for a week.'
+
+"On my return trip, I found a big Howe truss bridge on fire and didn't
+get in for two days. The road was blocked, everything out of gear and I
+had to double back again, whether or no.
+
+"I was 'chewing the rag' with a roundhouse foreman about it when Old
+Andy came along.
+
+"'Go on, Hopkins,' said he, 'and you can lay off when you get back. I'm
+going South with my car _and will take the girls with me_!'
+
+"That was hint enough, and I said yes.
+
+"It was in the evening, and while the fireman and I got our supper, the
+hostler turned my engine, coaled her up, took water and stood her on the
+north branch track, next the head end of her train, that had not yet
+been entirely made up.
+
+"This north branch came into the south and west divisions off a very
+heavy grade and on a curve, the view being cut off at this point by
+buildings close to the track. The engine herself stood close to the
+office building, and after oiling around, I backed on to the train,
+bringing my cab right opposite a window in the despatcher's office. Just
+before this open window and facing me sat Dandy Tamplin at his key. I
+hated Dandy Tamplin.
+
+"It was dark outside and in the cab, the conductor had given me my
+orders and said we'd go just as quick as the pony found a couple of
+cars more and put them on the hind end. Dennis had put in a big fire for
+the hill, and then gone skylarking around the station, and I was in the
+dark glaring at Dandy Tamplin in the light.
+
+"The blow-off cock on this engine was on the right side and opened from
+the cab. Ordinarily, you pulled the handle up, but the last time the
+boiler was washed out they had turned the plug cock half over and the
+handle stuck up through the deck among the oil cans ahead of the reverse
+lever, and opened by pushing it down. I remember thinking it was
+dangerous, as a man might accidentally open it. On the cock was a piece
+of pipe to carry the hot water away from the paint work, and this stuck
+straight out under the footboard, the cock leaked a little and the end
+of the pipe dripped hot water and steam.
+
+"While I glared at Tamplin, old man Bridges and the girls came into the
+room. Bridges went up to the narrow, shelf-like counter, looked at the
+register and asked Tamplin a question.
+
+"Tamplin went up to the group, his back to me, and spoke to one after
+the other. Madelene was the last in the row and, while the others were
+talking, laid her gloves, veil and some flowers on the counter. Tamplin
+spoke to her and I could see the color change in her face. Oh! if I only
+had hold of Dandy Tamplin.
+
+"Bridges hurried out into the hall behind the passage way, the girls
+following. Tamplin turned around and espied Madelene's belongings. He
+went up to them, smelled the flowers, then hurriedly took a note out of
+his pocket and slipped it into one of the gloves. The other glove he put
+in his breast pocket. It was well for Dandy Tamplin I didn't have a gun.
+
+"Remember, all this happened quickly. Before Tamplin was fairly in his
+seat and at work, Madelene came tripping back alone and made for her
+bundle, but Tamplin left his key open and went over to her. I couldn't
+hear what was said for by this time the safety valves of my engine were
+blowing and drowned all sound. She evidently asked him what time it was
+and leaned partly over the counter to hear his reply. He put his hand
+under her chin and turned her face toward the clock, this with such an
+air of assurance that my heart sank--but murder was in my soul. Then
+quickly putting his hand behind her neck, he pulled her toward him and
+kissed her. I was a demon in an instant.
+
+"She sprang away from him and ran into the hall and he came back to his
+chair with a smile of triumph on his thin lips.
+
+"Somehow or other, just at this moment, I noticed the steam at the end
+of that blow-off pipe, and all the devils in hell whispered at once 'One
+move of your hand and your revenge is complete.' I wasn't Steadman
+Hopkins then, I was a madman bent on murder, and I reached down for that
+handle, holding on by the throttle with my left hand. The cock had some
+mud in it and I opened it wide before it blew out and then with a roar
+and a shriek it burst--and the crime was done.
+
+"All the devils flew away at once and left me alone, naked with my
+conscience. Murderer, murderer!' resounded in my ears; hisses, roars and
+screams seemed to come to fill my brain and dance around my condemned
+soul; voices seemed shrieking and crash upon crash seemed to smite my
+ears. I thought I was dying, and I remember distinctly how glad I was. I
+didn't let go of that valve, I couldn't--I'd go to hell with it in my
+hand and let them do their worst.
+
+"Then remorse took possession of me. Wasn't it enough to maim and
+disfigure poor Tamplin, why cook him to death--I'd shut off that cock. I
+fought with it, but it wouldn't close, and I called Dennis to help me.
+
+"Some one stood behind me and put a cool hand on my brow, and a woman's
+voice said, 'Poor brave fellow, he's still thinking of his duty; all the
+heroes don't live in books.'
+
+"I opened my eyes, and looked around. I was in St. Mary's Hospital, and
+a nun was talking to herself.
+
+"Well, John, I'd been there for more than six weeks, and it took six
+more before I understood just what had happened and could hobble
+around, for I had legs and ribs and an arm broken.
+
+"It must have been at the moment I opened that blow-off cock that part
+of a runaway train came down the north grade, backward, like a whirlwind
+and buried my engine and myself, piling up an awful wreck that took
+fire. I was rescued at the last moment by the crowd of railroad men that
+collected and bodily tore the wreck apart to get at me. Every one
+thought I tried to close that blow-off cock and hold the throttle shut.
+I was a hero in the papers and to the men, and I couldn't get a chance
+to tell the truth if I dared, and I was afraid to ask about Dandy
+Tamplin.
+
+"No word came from Madelene. One day Bridges came to see me, and brought
+me this watch I wear now, a present from the company. I determined to
+tell Bridges--but he wouldn't believe me. Looked, too, as if he thought
+I was off in my head yet and I must have looked crazy, for most of these
+brands I got that night. To be sure I've added to the collection here
+and there, but I never was pretty after that roundup.
+
+"At last I mustered up courage and asked: 'How is Tamplin?' 'All right,
+working right along, but takes it hard,' said Bridges.
+
+"'Was he laid up long? Is he as badly disfigured as I am?'
+
+"'Why, man, he wasn't touched. He had gone to the other end of the room
+for a drink of water. I'm afraid, my boy, its Madelene he's worried
+about.'
+
+"'She has refused him then?'
+
+"'Well, I don't know that. She is still in bed, badly hurt. She has not
+seen a soul but her nurse, the doctor and my wife, and denies herself to
+all callers, even her best friends, even to me.'
+
+"Chum, I won't tell you what I said or suffered. Madelene had come into
+the room again for her belongings, and had faced the dagger of steam
+sent by the hand of a man who would give his immortal soul to make her
+well again.
+
+"I couldn't get around much, but I wrote her a brief note asking if I
+might call and sent it by a messenger.
+
+"She replied that she could not see me then. I waited. I hadn't the
+heart to write a confession I wanted to make in person, so after a week
+or two I went to the house.
+
+"Madelene sent down word that she couldn't see me then and could not
+tell when she would see me.
+
+"I thought the nurse, who acted as messenger, did not interpret either
+my message or hers as they were intended--I would write a note.
+
+"I stepped into the library on one side of the hall, made myself at home
+and wrote Madelene a note, a love letter, begging for just one
+interview. Taking blame for all that had happened and confessing my love
+and devotion to her.
+
+"It was a long letter and just as I finished it, I heard some one in the
+hall. I thought it was a servant and started for the doorway to ask her
+to carry my message. It was the nurse.
+
+"I was partly concealed by the portieres. She was facing the door, her
+finger on her lips, and before her stood Dandy Tamplin.
+
+"'It's all right' she whispered, 'be still,' and both of them tiptoed
+upstairs.
+
+"This, then was why I could not see Madelene. Dandy Tamplin was her
+accepted lover.
+
+"That night I left the old home for good to seek my fortunes and
+forgetfulness far away. I didn't care where, so long as it was a great
+way off.
+
+"At New York I found some engineers going out to run on the Meig's road
+in Peru. I signed a contract and in two days was on the Atlantic, bound
+for the Isthmus of Panama.
+
+"I ran an engine in Peru until the war broke out with Chili. I was sent
+to the front with a train of soldiers one day and got on the battle
+field. Our side was getting badly worsted, and I got excited and jumping
+off the engine, armed myself and lit into the fight. A little crowd
+gathered around me and I found myself the leader, no officer in sight.
+There was a charge and we didn't run--surprised the Chilians. I got
+some of these blue brands on my left cheek there and made a new
+reputation. Before I knew it, I had on a uniform and dangled a sword.
+They nicknamed me the 'Fighting Yankee.'
+
+"Peru had lots of trouble and I saw a good deal of it. When it was all
+over, I found myself in command of a gun boat, just a tug, but she was
+alive and had accounted for herself several times.
+
+"The president sent me on a special mission to Chili just after the
+close of the war, and, all togged out in a new uniform, I went on board
+of an American ship at Callao bound for Valparaiso. I thought I was some
+pumpkins then. I'd lived a rough and tumble life for about three years
+and was beginning to like it--and to forget.
+
+"I used to do the statuesque before the passengers, my scars attested my
+fighting propensities, and there were several Peruvian liars aboard that
+knew me by reputation, and enlarged on it.
+
+"We touched at Coquimbo and an American civil engineer and family came
+aboard, homeward bound.
+
+"That afternoon I was lolling in the smoking-room on deck, when I was
+attracted by the sound of ladies talking on the promenade just outside
+the open port where I sat. It was the engineer's wife and daughter.
+
+"'Mamma,' said the young lady. 'I must read you Madelene's letter. Poor,
+dear Madelene, it's just too sorrowful and romantic for anything.'
+
+"Madelene! I hadn't heard that name pronounced for three years. It was
+wrong, I knew it, but I listened.
+
+"'Poor dear, she was awfully hurt and disfigured in a railroad wreck.'
+
+"It was _my_ Madelene they were talking about. Wild horses could not
+have dragged me from the spot.
+
+"The girl read something like this. I know for I've read that letter a
+hundred times. It's in this pile here.
+
+"'Dear Lottie: Your ever welcome'--'no, not that.'
+
+"'Uncle Andrew is going'--'let me see, Oh! yes, here it is, now listen
+Mamma,' said the girl.
+
+"'Dear Schoolmate. I have never told a soul about my troubles or my
+trials, for long I could not bear to think of them myself. But lately I
+have seen it in its true light, and have come to the conclusion that I
+have no right to moan my life away. I'm past all that, there is nothing
+for me to live for in myself, but my life is spared for some purpose,
+and I propose to devote it to doing good to others'--'isn't she a sweet
+soul, mamma?'
+
+"'After I came to live with Uncle Andrew, I was very happy, it seemed
+like a release from prison. I saw much company, and in six months had
+two lovers--more than I deserved. One of these was a plain, honest manly
+man; he was one of Uncle Andrew's engineers. He wasn't handsome, but he
+was the kind of man that sensible women love. The other was a handsome,
+showy, witty man, also an employee of the railroad, considered 'the
+catch' among the girls. Really, Lottie, both of them tried to propose
+and I wouldn't let them, I didn't know which one of them I liked best.
+But if things had taken the usual course, I should have married the
+handsome one--and been sorry forever after.'
+
+"My heart stood still--she hadn't married Dandy Tamplin after all."
+
+"'The night of the wreck, I was going out on Uncle Andrew's private car.
+The handsome man was on duty in the office. The plain man on an engine
+that stood before the open window, I didn't know that then.
+
+"'A runaway train crashed into the engine and something exploded and a
+stream of boiling water came into the room and scalded me beyond
+recognition. You would not know me, Lottie, I am so disfigured.
+
+"'The handsome man did nothing but wring his hands; the plain one staid
+on the engine and tried to stop the steam from coming out, and was
+himself terribly injured.
+
+"'I was for weeks in bed and suffered mental agony much beyond the
+merely physical pain. I was so wicked I cursed my life and my Maker and
+prayed for death--yet I lived. I was so resentful, so heartbroken, so
+wicked, that I refused to speak for weeks, then, when I tried, I
+couldn't, God had put the curse of silence on my wickedness.'
+
+"Think of Madelene being wicked, Chum.
+
+"'When I was getting well enough and reconciled to my own fate, enough
+to think of others, I thought of my two lovers. Then I asked my nurse
+for a glass. One look, and I made up my mind never to see either of them
+again.
+
+"'Both of them were clamoring to see me, and I refused to see either.
+The plain man wrote me the only love letter I ever received. I have worn
+it out reading it. It was so manly, so unselfish! He blamed himself for
+the accident, and offered me his devotion and love, no matter in what
+condition the letter found me. This letter he wrote in Uncle Andrew's
+library, left it open on the desk and--disappeared.
+
+"'I have never heard from him from that day to this. I never could
+understand it. A man that could write that letter, couldn't run away.
+The last sentence in his letter proved that. It said: "Remember, dear
+Madelene, that somewhere, somehow, I am thinking of you always; that
+whether you see me or not, you will some day come to know that I love
+your soul, not your face; that your life is dear to me, and no calamity
+can make any difference."
+
+"'Those were brave words, and after I read them, I knew for the first
+time that this was the man I loved. They told me he was frightfully
+disfigured, too, but that made no difference to me, I loved him. But he
+was gone, no one knew where. Why did he go?
+
+"'The handsome man disappeared the same day, and he never came back, but
+he left no letter.
+
+"'Dear Lottie, I have only now solved the mystery. My sometime nurse has
+just confessed that the night the letter was written the other man came
+to the house, like a thief, he had bribed her to give me drugs to make
+me sleep and then she led him into my room and showed him my scars. If
+he ever loved me at all, he was in love with my face; the other man
+loved me. One went away because he saw me, the other one because he saw
+his rival apparently granted the interview refused to him. My true lover
+must have seen that man sneaking up to my room.'
+
+"John, every fibre of my being danced for joy. I didn't hear the rest,
+and she read several pages. I had heard enough.
+
+"I went right out on the deck, begged pardon to begin with, introduced
+myself, confessed to eavesdropping, told who I was, where I had been and
+asked for that letter.
+
+"I got it and Madelene's picture; the one you have seen on my clock.
+
+"I finished my task at Valparaiso while the vessel lay there, reported
+by mail, and came home on the same ship.
+
+"I took that letter and photograph to Andy Bridges's house and wrote
+across the envelope 'Madelene Bridges, I demand your immediate and
+unconditional surrender, signed, Steadman H. Hopkins.'
+
+"And I got it in five minutes. Chum, that is the only case on record
+where something worth having was ever surrendered to an officer of the
+Peruvian government.
+
+"In six months I was back on an engine in a new country, with my silent,
+loved and loving wife, in a new home. Three times before now someone has
+seen Madelene's face, twice I told this story, and then we moved away;
+once I told it and trusted, and it was not repeated. Madelene can stand
+being a mystery and wondered at, but she cannot stand pity and
+curiosity. As for you, old Chum, I haven't even asked you not to repeat
+what I have told you--I know you won't."
+
+After a long while, I turned to Hopkins and said: "And yet, Hopkins,
+fools say there is no romance in railroad life. This is a story worth
+reading, and some day I'd like to write it."
+
+"Not in Madelene's time, or in mine, Chum, but if ever a time comes,
+I'll send you a token."
+
+"Send me your picture, Hop."
+
+"No, I'll send you Madelene's. No, I'll send you the clock with the
+'talking eyes.'"
+
+And standing at Hopkins's gate, the scar-faced man with the romance and
+I parted, like ships that meet, hail and pass on, never to meet again.
+Hopkins and I moved away from one another, each on his own course,
+across the seven seas of life.
+
+And all this happened almost twenty years ago.
+
+The other day, my office boy brought me a card that read, "Mrs. Henry
+Adams, Washington, D. C." "Is she a book agent?" I asked.
+
+"Nope, don't look like one."
+
+"Show her in."
+
+A young woman came in, looked at me hard for a moment, laid a package on
+my desk and asked,
+
+"Is this the Mr. Alexander who used to be an engineer?"
+
+I confessed.
+
+"I don't suppose you remember me," she asked.
+
+I put on my glasses and looked at her. No, I never--then she put her
+handkerchief up to her lips covering the lower part of her face; it was
+the face of Madelene Hopkins.
+
+"Yes," said I, "I remember you perfectly, seventeen or eighteen years
+ago you used to sit on my knee and call me 'Untle Tummy.' and I called
+you Maddie."
+
+Then we laughed and shook hands.
+
+"Mr. Alexander," said she, "In looking over some of father's papers, we
+came across a request that under certain conditions you were to be sent
+an old keepsake of his, a clock with mother's picture on it. I have
+brought it to you."
+
+"And your father and mother, what of them, my friend?" I asked, for the
+promise of that clock "under certain conditions" was coming back to me.
+
+"Haven't you heard, sir, poor papa and mama were lost in that awful
+wreck at Castleton, two years ago."
+
+And as I write, from the dial of "Scar Faced" Hopkins's clock "My Lady
+of the Eyes" looks down at me from across the mystery of eternity. The
+eyes do not change as once they did, or has age dimmed my sight and
+imagination? Long I look into their peaceful depths thinking of their
+story, and ask, "Dear Eyes, is it well with thee?"--and they seem to
+answer, "It is well."
+
+
+
+
+SOME FREAKS OF FATE
+
+
+I am just back from a visit to old scenes, old chums and old memories of
+my interesting experience on the western fringe of Uncle Sam's great,
+gray blanket--the plains.
+
+If some of these fellows who know more about writing than about running
+engines would only go out there for a year and keep their eyes and ears
+and brains open, and mouths shut, they could come home and write us some
+true stories that would make fiction-grinders exceedingly weary.
+
+The frontier attracts strong characters, men with pioneer spirit, men
+who are willing to sacrifice something, in order to gain an end; men
+with loves and men with hates. Bad men are there, some of them hunted
+from Eastern communities, perhaps, but you will find no fools and mighty
+few weak faces--there's character in every feature you look at.
+
+Every one is there for a purpose; to accomplish something; to get ahead
+in the world; to make a new start; perhaps to live down something, or to
+get out of the rut cut by ancestors; some may only want to drink, and
+shout, and shoot, but even these do it with a vim--they mean it.
+
+Of the many men who ran engines at the front, with me in the old days, I
+recall few whose lives were purposeless; almost every one had a
+life-story.
+
+If there's anything that I enjoy, it's to sit down to a pipe and a
+life-story--told by the subject himself. How many have I listened to,
+out there, and every one of them worthy the pen of a Kipling!
+
+The population of the frontier is never all made up of men, and the
+women all have strong features, too--self-sacrifice, devotion,
+degradation, or _something_, is written on every face. There are no
+blanks in that lottery--there's little material there for homes of
+feeble-minded.
+
+It isn't strange, either, when you come to think of it; fools never go
+anywhere, they are just born and raised. If they move it's because they
+are "took"--you never heard of a pioneer fool.
+
+One of the strongest characters I ever knew was a runner out there by
+the name of Gunderson--Oscar Gunderson. He was of Swedish parentage,
+very light-complexioned, very large, and a splendid mechanic, as Swedes
+are apt to be when they try. Gunderson's name was, I suppose, properly
+entered on the company's time-book, but it never was in the nomenclature
+of the road. With the railroaders' gift for abbreviation and nickname,
+Gunderson soon came down to "Gun," his size, head, hand or heart
+furnished the prefix of "Big," and "Big Gun" he remains to-day. "Big
+Gun" among his friends, but simple "Gun" to me. I think I called him
+"Gun" from the start.
+
+Gun ran himself as he did his engine, exercised the same care of
+himself, and always talked engine about his own anatomy, clothes, food
+and drink.
+
+His hat was always referred to as his "dome-casing;" his Brotherhood pin
+was his "number-plate;" his coat was "the jacket;" his legs the
+"drivers;" his hands "the pins;" arms were "side-rods;" stomach
+"fire-box;" and his mouth "the pop."
+
+He invariably referred to a missing suspender-button as a broken
+"spring-hanger;" to a limp as a "flat-wheel;" he "fired up" when eating;
+he "took water," the same as the engine; and "oiled round," when he
+tasted whisky.
+
+Gun knew all the slang and shop-talk of the road, and used it--was even
+accused of inventing much of it--but his engine talk was unique and
+inimitable.
+
+We roomed together a whole winter; and often, after I had gone to bed,
+Gun would come in, and as he peeled off his clothes he would deliver
+himself something as follows:
+
+"Say, John, you don't know who I met on the up trip? Well, sir, Dock
+Taggert. I was sailin' along up the main line near Bob's, and who should
+I see but Dock backed in on the sidin'--seemed kinder dilapidated, like
+he was runnin' on one side. I jest slammed on the wind and went over and
+shook. Dock looks pretty tough, John--must have been out surfacing
+track, ain't been wiped in Lord knows when, oiled a good deal, but nary
+a wipe, jacket rusted and streaked, tire double flanged, valves blowin',
+packing down, don't seem to steam, maybe's had poor coal, or is all
+limed up. He's got to go through the back shop 'efore the old man'll
+ever let him into the roundhouse. I set his packin' out and put him in a
+stall at the Gray's corral; hope he'll brace up. Dock's a mighty good
+workin' scrap, if you could only get him to carryin' his water right; if
+he'd come down to three gauges he'd be a dandy, but this tryin' to run
+first section with a flutter in the stack all the time is no good--he
+must 'a flagged in."
+
+Which, being translated into English, would carry the information that
+Gun had seen one of the old ex-engineers at Bob Slattery's saloon, had
+stopped and greeted him. Dock looked as if he had tramped, had drank,
+was dirty, coat had holes, soles of his boots badly worn, wheezing,
+seemed hungry and lifeless, been eating poor food, and was in a general
+run-down condition. Gun had "set out his packing" by feeding him and put
+him in a bed at the Grand Central Hotel--nicknamed the "Grayback's
+Corral." Gun thought he would have to reform, before the M. M. put him
+into active service. He was a good engineer, but drank too much, and
+lastly, he was in so bad a condition he could not get himself into
+headquarters unless someone helped him by "flagging" for him.
+
+Gun was a bachelor; he came to us from the Pacific side, and told me
+once that he first went west on account of a woman, but--begging Mr.
+Kipling's pardon--that's another story.
+
+"I don't think I'd care to double-crew my mill," Gun would say when the
+conversation turned to matrimony. "I've been raised to keep your own
+engine and take care of it, and pull what you could. In double-heading
+there's always a row as to who ought to go ahead and enjoy the scenery
+or stay behind and eat cinders."
+
+I knew from the first that Gun had a story to tell, if he'd only give it
+up, and I fear I often led up to it, with the hope that he would tell it
+to me--but he never did.
+
+My big friend sent a sum of money away every month, I supposed to some
+relative, until one day I picked up from the floor a folded paper dirty
+from having been carried long in Gun's pocket, and found a receipt. It
+read:
+
+     "MISSION, SAN ANTONIO, Jan. 1, 1878.
+     "Received of O. Gunderson, for Mabel Rogers, $40.00.
+     "SISTER THERESA."
+
+Ah, a little girl in the story! I thought; it's a sad story, then.
+There's nothing so pure and beautiful and sweet and joyous as a little
+girl, yet when a little girl has a story it's almost always a sad story.
+
+I gave Gun the paper; he thanked me; said he must look out better for
+those receipts, and added that he was educating a bit of a girl out on
+the coast.
+
+"Yours, Gun?" I asked kindly.
+
+"No, John; she ain't; I'd give $5,000 if she was."
+
+He looked at me straight, with that clear, blue eye, and I knew he told
+me the truth.
+
+"How old is she?" I asked.
+
+"I don't know; 'bout five or six."
+
+"Ever seen her?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Where did you get her?"
+
+"Ain't had her."
+
+"Tell me about her?"
+
+"She was willed to me, John, kinder put in extra, but I can't tell you
+her story now, partly because I don't know it all myself, and partly
+because I won't--I won't even tell her."
+
+I did not again refer to Gun's little girl, and soon other experiences
+and other biographies crowded the story out of my mind.
+
+One evening in the spring, I sat by the open window, enjoying the cool
+night breeze from off the mountains, when I heard Gun's cheery voice on
+the porch below. He was lecturing his fireman, in his own, unique way.
+
+"Well, Jim, if I ain't ashamed of you! There ain't no one but you;
+coming into general headquarters with a flutter in the stack, so full
+that you can't whistle, air-pump a-squealing 'count of water, smeared
+from stack to man-hole, headlight smoked and glimmery, don't know your
+own rights, kind o' runnin' wildcat, without proper signals, imagining
+you're first section with a regardless order. You want to blow out, man,
+and trim up, get your packing set out and carry less juice. You're worse
+than one of them slippin', dancin', three-legged, no-good Grants. The
+next time I catch you at high-tide, I'll scrap you, that's what I'll do,
+fire you into the scrap-pile. Why can't you use some judgment in your
+runnin'? Why can't you say, 'Why, here's the town of Whisky, I'm going
+to stop here and oil around,' sail right into town, put the air on
+steady and fine, bring her right down to the proper gait, throw her into
+full release, so as to just stop right, shut off your squirt, drop a
+little oil on the worst points, ring your bell and sail on.
+
+"But you, you come into town forty miles an hour, jam on the emergency
+and while the passengers pick 'emselves out of the ends of the cars, you
+go into the supply house and leave the injector on, and then, when you
+do move, you're too full to go without opening your cylinder cocks and
+givin' yourself dead away.
+
+"Now, I'm goin' to Californ', next month, and if you get so as you can
+tell when you've got enough liquor without waiting for it to break your
+injectors, I'll ask the old man to let you finger the plug on Old Baldy
+whilst I'm gone. But I'm damned if I don't feel as if you was like that
+measly old 19--jest fit to be jacked up to saw wood with."
+
+While Gun was in California, I was taken home on a requisition from my
+wife, and Oscar Gunderson and his little girl became a memory--a page in
+a book that I had partly read and lost, but not entirely forgotten.
+
+One day last summer I took the westbound express at Topeka, and
+spreading my grip, hat, coat and umbrella, out on the seats, so as to
+resemble an experienced English tourist, I fished up a Wheeling stogie
+and a book and went into the smoking-pen of the sleeper, which I had all
+to myself for half-an-hour.
+
+The train stopped to give the thirsty tender a drink and a man came in
+to wash his hands. He had been riding on the engine.
+
+After washing, he stepped to the door of the "smokery," struck a match
+on the leg of his pants, held both hands around the end of his cigar
+while he lighted it, then waving the match to put it out, he threw it
+down and came in.
+
+While he was absorbed in all this, I took a glance at him.
+Six-foot-four, if an inch; high cheek bones; yellow beard; clear, blue
+eyes; white skin, and a hand about the size of a Cincinnati ham. I knew
+that face despite twelve years of turkey-tracks about the eyes.
+
+"Gunderson, old man, how are you?" I said, offering my fin.
+
+"Well, John Alexander, how in the name of thunder did you get away out
+here on the main stem, without orders?"
+
+"Inspection-car," said I; "how did you get here?"
+
+"Deadheading home; been out on special, a gilt-edged special, took her
+clean through to New York."
+
+"You did!" I exclaimed; "why, how was that?"
+
+"Went up special to a weddin', don't you see? Went up to see a new
+compound start off--prettiest sight I ever saw--working smooth as
+grease; but I'm kind of dubious about repairs and general running. I'm
+anxious to see how the performance sheet looks at the end of the year,
+John."
+
+"Who's been double-heading, Gun?"
+
+"Why--why, my little girl, trimmest, neatest, slickest little mill you
+ever saw. Lord! but she was painted red and white and gold-leaf, three
+brass bands on her stack, solid nickel trimming, all the latest
+improvements, corrugated fire-box, high pressure smoke consumer and
+sand-jet--jest made a purpose for specials, and pay-car. But if she
+ain't got herself coupled onto a long-fire-boxed ten-wheeler, with a big
+lap and a Joy gear, you can put me down for a clinker. Yes, sir; the
+baby is a heart-breaker on dress-parade, and the ten-wheeler is a whale
+on business, and if they don't jump the track, you watch out for some
+express speed that will make the canals sick, see if they don't."
+
+Without giving me time to say a word, he was off again.
+
+"You ought to seen 'em start out, nary a slip, cutting off square as a
+die, small one ahead speaking her little piece chipper and fast on
+account of her smaller wheels, and the ten-wheeler barking bass, steady
+as a clock, with a hundred-and-enough on the gauge, a full throttle, and
+half a pipe of sand. You couldn't tell to save you whether the little
+one was pulling the big one or the big one shoving the little--never saw
+a relief train start out in such shape in my life."
+
+Gunderson was evidently enthusiastic over the marriage of his little
+girl.
+
+We talked over old times and the changes, and followed each other up to
+date with a great deal of mutual enjoyment, until the porter demanded
+the "smokery" for his bunk.
+
+As we started for bed, Gun laid his hand on my shoulder and said:
+
+"John, a good many years ago, you asked me to tell you the story of my
+little girl. I refused then for her sake. I'll tell you in the morning."
+
+After a hearty breakfast and a good cigar, Gunderson squared himself for
+the story. He shut his eyes for a few minutes, as if to recall
+something, and then, speaking as if to himself, he said:
+
+"Well, sir, there wasn't a simmer anywhere, dampers all shut; you
+wouldn't'a suspected they was up to the popping point, but the minute
+they got their orders, and the con. put up his hand, so, up went--"
+
+"Say," I interrupted, "I thought I was to have the story. I believe you
+told me about the wedding, last night. The young couple started out
+well."
+
+"Oh, yes, old man, I forgot, the story; well, get on the next pit here,"
+motioning to a seat next to him, "and I'll give you the history of an
+old, hook-motion, name of Oscar Gunderson, and a trim, Class "G" made of
+solid silver, from pilot to draft-gear.
+
+"You think I'm a Swede; well, I ain't, I don't know what I am, but I
+guess I come nearer to being a Chinaman than anything else. My father
+was a sea-captain, and my mother found me on the China sea--but they
+were both Swedes just the same. I had two sisters older than myself, and
+in order to better our chances, father moved to New York when I was less
+than five years old.
+
+"He soon secured work as captain on a steamer in the Cuban trade, and
+died at sea, when I was ten.
+
+"I had a bent for machinery, and tried the old machine-shops of the
+Central road, but soon found myself firing.
+
+"I went to California, shortly after the war, on account of a
+woman--mostly my fault.
+
+"Well, after running around there for some years, I struck a job on the
+Virginia & Truckee, in '73.
+
+"Virginia City and Carson and all the Nevada towns were doing a
+fall-rush business, turning every wheel they had, with three crews to a
+mill. Why, if you'd go down street in any one of them towns at night,
+and see the crowds around the gamblers and molls, you'd think hell was
+a-coming forty-mile an hour, and that it wan't more than a car-length
+away.
+
+"Well, one morning, I came into Virginia about breakfast time, and with
+the rest of the crew, went up to the old California Chop-house for
+breakfast. This same chop-house was a building about good-enough for a
+stable, these days; but it had a reputation then for steaks. All the
+gamblers ate there; and it's a safe rule to eat where the gamblers do,
+in a frontier town, if you want the best there is, regardless of price.
+
+"It was early for the regular trade, and we had the dining-room mostly
+to ourselves, for a few minutes, then there were four women folks came
+in and sat down at a table bearing a card: 'Reserved for Ladies.'
+
+"Three of them were dressed loud, had signs out whereby any one could
+tell that they wouldn't be received into no Four Hundred; but one of
+them was a nice-looking, modestly-dressed woman, had on half-mourning,
+if I remember. She had one of them sweet, strong faces, John, like the
+nun when I had my arm broke and was scalded,--her sweet mouth kept
+mumblin' prayers, but her fingers held an artery shut that was trying
+its damndest to pump Gun Gunderson's old heart dry--strong character,
+you bet.
+
+"Well, that woman sat facing our table and kept looking at me; I
+couldn't see her without turning, but I knew she was looking. John, did
+you ever notice that you could _feel_ the presence of some people; you
+knew they were near you without seeing them? Well, when that happens,
+don't forget to give that fellow due credit; for whoever it is he or she
+has the strongest mind--the dominant one.
+
+"I _had_ to look around at that woman. I shall never forget how she
+looked; her hand was on the side of her face; her great, brown, tender
+eyes were staring right at me--she was reading my very soul. I let her
+read.
+
+"I had been jacking up a gilly of a gafter who had referred to his
+mother as "the old woman," and I didn't let the four females disturb me.
+I meant to hold up a looking-glass for that young whelp to look into. I
+hate a man that don't love his mother.
+
+"Why," says I, "you miserable example of Divine carelessness, do you
+know what that 'old woman' mother has done for you, you drivelin' idiot,
+a-thankin' God that you're alive and forgetting the very mother that
+bore you; if you could see the tears that she has shed, if you could
+count the sleepless nights that she has put in, the heartaches, the
+pain, the privation that she has humbly, silently, even thankfully borne
+that you might simply live, you'd squander your last cent and your last
+breath to make her life a joy, from this day until her light goes out. A
+man that don't respect his mother is lost to all decency; a man who will
+hear her name belittled is a Judas, and a man who will call his mother
+'old woman' is a no-good, low-down, misbehaven whelp. Why, damn it, I'd
+fight a buzz-saw, if it called my mother 'old woman'--and she's been
+dead a long time; gone to that special, exalted, gilt-edged and glorious
+heaven for mothers. No one but mothers have a right to expect to go to a
+heaven, and the only question that'll be asked is, 'Have you been a
+mother?'
+
+[Illustration: "He was the first man I ever killed."]
+
+"Well, sir, I had forgot about the women, but they clapped their hands
+and I looked around, and there were tears in the eyes of that one woman.
+
+"She got up; came to our table and laid a card by my plate, and said, 'I
+beg your pardon; but won't you call on me? Please do.'
+
+"I was completely knocked out, but told her I would, and she went out
+alone; the others finished their breakfast.
+
+"She had no sooner gone than Cy Nash, my conductor, commenced to
+giggle--'Made a mash on the flyest woman in town,' he tittered; 'ain't a
+blood in town but what would give his head for your boots, old man;
+that's Mabel Verne--owns the Odeon dance hall, and the Tontine, in
+Carson.'
+
+"I glanced at the card, and it did read, 'Mabel Verne, 21 Flood
+avenue.'
+
+"Well, Flood avenue is no slouch of a street, the best folks live
+there," I answered.
+
+"'Yes, that's her private residence, and if you go there and are let in,
+you'd be the first man ever seen around there. She's a curious critter,
+never rides or drives, or shows herself off at all; but you bet she sees
+that the rest of the stock show off. She's in it for money, I tell you.'
+
+"I don't know why, but it made me kind of heart-sick to think of the
+hell that woman must be in, for I knew by her looks that she had a heart
+and a brain, and that neither of them was in the Odeon or the Tontine
+dance-houses.
+
+"I thought the matter over,--and didn't go to see her. The next trip,
+she sent a carriage for me.
+
+"She met me at the door, and took my hat, and as I dropped into an easy
+chair, I opened the ball to the effect that 'this here was a strange
+proceeding for a lady.'
+
+"'Yes,' said she, sitting down square in front of me; 'it is; I felt as
+if I had found a true man, when I first saw you, and I have asked you
+here to tell you a story, my story, and ask your help and advice. I am
+so earnest, so anxious to do thoroughly what I have undertaken, that I
+fear to overdo it; I need counsel, restraint; I can trust you. Won't you
+help me?"
+
+"'If I can; what is it that you want me to do, madam?'
+
+"'First of all, keep a secret, and next, protect or help protect, an
+innocent child.'
+
+"'Suppose I help the child, and you don't tell me the secret?'
+
+"'No, it concerns the child, sir; she is my child; I want her to grow up
+without knowing what her mother has done, or how she has lived and
+suffered; you wouldn't tell her that, would you?'
+
+"'No; certainly not!'
+
+"'Nor anyone else?'
+
+"'No.'
+
+"'You would judge her alone, forgetting her mother?'
+
+"'Yes.'
+
+"'Then I will tell you the story.'
+
+"She got up and changed the window blinds, so that the light shone on
+my face; I guess she wanted to study the effect of her words.
+
+"'I was born at Sacramento,' she began; 'my father was a well-to-do
+mechanic, and I his only child; I grew up pretty fair-looking, and my
+parents spent about all they could make to complete my education,
+especially in music, of which I was fond. When I was eighteen years old,
+I fell in love with a young man, the son of one of the rich merchants of
+San Francisco, where we had removed. Like many another foolish girl, I
+trusted too implicitly, and believed too easily, and soon found myself
+in a humiliating position, but trusted to the honor of my lover to stand
+by me.
+
+"'When I explained matters to him he seemed pleased, said he could fix
+that easy enough; we would get married at once and claim a secret
+marriage for some months past.
+
+"'He arranged that I should meet him the next evening, and go to an old
+priest in an obscure parish, and be married.
+
+"'I stood long hours on a corner, half dead with fear, that night, for a
+lover that never came. He's dead now, got run over in Oakland yard, that
+very night, as he was running away from me, and as I waited and shivered
+under the stars and the fire of my own conscience.'
+
+"'Did he stand on one track, to get out of the way of another train, and
+get struck?' I asked.
+
+"'Yes,' looking at me close.
+
+"'Did he have on a false moustache, and a good deal of money and
+securities in a satchel, and everybody think at first he was a burglar?'
+
+"'Yes; but how did you know that?'
+
+"'Because, I killed him.'
+
+"'You?'
+
+"'Yes; I ran an engine over him, couldn't make him hear or see me. He
+was the first man I ever killed; strange he should be _this_ particular
+man.'
+
+"'It's fate,' said the woman, rocking slowly back and forth, 'it's fate,
+but it seems as though I like you better now that you were my avenger.
+That accident drove revenge out of my heart, caused me to let _him_ be
+forgotten, and to live for my child. I have lived for her. I live to-day
+for her and I will continue to live for her.'
+
+"'My disgrace killed my mother and ruined my father. I swore I would be
+an honest woman, and I sought employment to earn a living for my babe
+and myself, but every avenue was closed to me. I washed and scrubbed
+while I was able to teach music splendidly, but I could get no pupils. I
+made shirts for a pittance and daily refused, to me, fortunes for
+dishonor. I have gone hungry and almost naked to pay for my baby's
+board, but I was hunted down at last.
+
+"'One day, after many rebuffs in seeking employment, I went to the home
+of a sister of my child's father, and took the baby, told her who I was
+and asked her to help me to a chance to work. The good woman scarcely
+looked at me or the child; she said that had it not been for such as I,
+poor Charles would have been alive; his blood was on my head; I ought
+to ask God to wash my blood-stained hands.
+
+"'I went away from that house with my mind made up what to do. I would
+put my child in honest hands, and chain myself to the stake to suffer
+everlasting damnation for her sweet sake.
+
+"'She is in the Mission San Antonio now, between three and four, a
+perfect little princess, she looks like me, and grows, oh, so lovely! If
+you could see her, you'd love her.
+
+"'I can't go to see her any more; she is old enough to remember. The
+last time I was there, she demanded a papa!
+
+"'I am making a great deal of money. Many of the rich men, whose Puritan
+wives and daughters refused me honest work, are squandering lots of
+their wealth in my houses. I am saving money, too; and propose, as soon
+as I can get a neat fortune together to go away to the ends of the
+earth, and have my little girl with me. I will raise her to know herself
+and to know mankind.'
+
+"'And what do you want me to do, madam?'
+
+"'I want you to be that child's guardian; the honest man through whom
+she will reach the outside of San Antonio and the world. Who will go
+between her and me until a happier time.'
+
+"'I am only a rough engineer; the child will be raised to consider
+herself well off, perhaps rich.'
+
+"'Adopt her. I will stay in the background; make her expenditures and
+her education what you like. I will trust you.'
+
+"'I can't do that.'
+
+"'You are single; your life is hard; I have money enough for us all. Let
+us go to the Sandwich islands, anywhere, and commence life anew. The
+little one will know no other father, and all inquiry will be stopped.'
+
+"'I couldn't think of it, my dear madam; it's too easy; it's like
+pulling jerkwater passenger--I like through freight.'
+
+"Well, John, to make a long story short, the interview ended about here,
+and several more got to about the same place. There were a thousand
+things I could not help but admire in that woman, and I liked her better
+the more I knew her. But it wan't love; it was a sort of an admiration
+for her love of the child, and the nerve she displayed in its behalf.
+But I shrank from becoming her husband or companion, although I think
+she loved me, in the end, better than she ever did anybody.
+
+"However, I finally agreed to look after the little one, in case
+anything happened to the mother, and commenced then to send the money
+for her board and tuition, and the mother dropped out of all connection
+with the child or those having her in charge.
+
+"The mother made her pile and got out of the business, and at my
+suggestion went down near Los Angeles and bought a nice country place,
+to start respectable before she took the little one home. She left money
+in Carson, subject to my check, for the little girl, and things slid
+along for a year or so all smooth enough.
+
+"I was out on a snow-bucking expedition one time the next winter,
+sleeping in cars, shanties or on the engine, and I soon found myself all
+bunged up with the worst dose of rheumatiz' you ever see. I had to get
+down to a lower altitude, and made for Sacramento in the spring. I paid
+the Mission a year in advance, and with less than a hundred dollars of
+my own, struck out, hoping to dodge the twists that were in my bones.
+
+"A hundred blind gaskets don't go far when you're sick, and the first
+thing I knew I was dead broke; couldn't pay my board, couldn't buy
+medicine, couldn't walk--nothing but think and suffer. I finally had to
+go to a hospital. Not one of the old gang ever came to see me. Old Gun
+was a dandy, when he was making--and spending--a couple hundred a month;
+the rest of the time he was supposed to be dead.
+
+"I might have died in the hospital, if fate hadn't decreed to send me
+relief. It suddenly dawned upon me that I was getting far better
+treatment than usual, had a special nurse, the best of food, flowers,
+etc., all labeled 'From the Boys.'"
+
+"I found out, after I was well enough to take a sun bath on the porch,
+that a woman had sent all my luxuries, and that her purse had been
+opened for my relief. I knew who it was at once, and was anxious to get
+well and at work, so as not to live on one who was only too glad to do
+everything for me.
+
+"A six months' wrastle with the twisters leaves a fellow stiff-jointed
+and oldish, and lying in bed takes the strength out of him. I took the
+notion to get out and go to work, one day, and walked down to the
+shops--I was carried back, chuck full of 'em again.
+
+"The doctor said I must go to Ojo Caliente, away down south, if I was to
+get well. John, if the Santa Fé road had 'a been for sale for a cent
+then, I couldn't 'a bought a spike.
+
+"At about the height of my ill-luck, I got a letter from Mabel
+Verne--she had another name, but that don't matter--and she asked me
+again to come to her; to have a home, and care and devotion. It wasn't a
+love-sick letter, but it was one of them strong, tender, _fetching_
+letters. It was unselfish, it asked very little of me, and offered a
+good deal.
+
+"I thought over it all night, and decided at last to go. What better was
+I than this woman? Surely she was better educated, better bred. She had
+made one mistake, I had made many. She had no friends on earth; I didn't
+seem to have any, either. I hadn't had a letter from either of my
+married sisters for six or eight years, then. We could trust one
+another, and have an object in life in the education of the child. I'd
+be no worse off than I was, anyway.
+
+"The next morning I felt better. I got ready to leave, bid all my fellow
+flat-wheels good-by; and had a gig ordered to take me to the train--the
+doctor had given me two-hundred dollars a short time before--'from a
+lady friend.'
+
+"As I sat waiting for the hack, they brought me a letter from home--a
+big one, with a picture in it. It was from my youngest sister, and the
+picture was of her ten-year boy, named for me--such a happy, sunny
+little Swede face you never see. 'He always talks of Uncle Oscar as a
+great and good man,' wrote Carrie, 'and says every day that he's going
+to do just like you. He will do nothing that we tell him Uncle Oscar
+would not like, and anything that he would. If you are as good as he
+thinks you are, you are sure of heaven.'
+
+"And I was even then going off to live with a woman who made a fortune
+out of Virginia City dance-houses. I had a sort of a remorseful chill,
+and before I really knew just where I was, I had got to Arizona, and
+from there to the Santa Fé where you knew me.
+
+"I wrote my benefactress an honest letter, and told her why I had not
+come, and in a short time sent her the money she had put up for me; but
+it was returned again, and I sent it to the mission for my little girl.
+
+"Well, while I was with you there, I got a fare-thee-well letter, saying
+that when I got that Mabel Verne would be no more--same as dead--and
+that she had deposited forty thousand dollars in the Phoenix Bank for
+_your_ little girl--_yours_, mind ye--and asked me to adopt her legally
+and tell her that her mother was dead.
+
+"John, I ain't heard of that woman from then until now. I thought she
+had got tired of waiting on me and got married, but I believe she is
+dead.
+
+"I went to California and adopted the baby--a daisy too--and I've
+honestly tried to be a father to her.
+
+"I got to making money in outside speculations, and had plenty; so I let
+her money accumulate at the Phoenix and paid her way myself.
+
+"About four years ago, I left the road for good; bought me a nice place
+just outside of Oakland, and settled down to take a little comfort.
+
+"Mabel, my daughter Mabel, for she called me papa, went to Germany,
+nearly three years ago, in charge of her music teacher, Sister Florence,
+to finish herself off. Ah, John, you ort to see her claw ivory! Before
+she went, she called me into the mission parlor, one day, and almost got
+me into a snap; she wanted me to tell her all about her parents right
+then, and asked me if there wasn't some mystery about her birth, and the
+way she happened to be left in the mission all her life, her mother
+disappearing, and my adoption of her."
+
+"What did you tell her, Gun?" I asked.
+
+"Why, lied to her, of course, as any honorable man would have done. I
+told her that her father was an engineer and a friend of mine, and that
+he was killed in an accident before she was born--that was all plausible
+enough.
+
+"Then I told her that her mother was in poor health, and had died just
+before I had adopted her, and had left a will, giving her to me, and
+besides had left forty thousand dollars in the bank for her, when she
+married or became of age.
+
+"Well, John, cutting down short, she met a fellow over there, a New
+Yorker, that just seemed to think she was made a-purpose for him, and
+about a year ago he wrote and asked me for my daughter--just think of
+it! His petition was seconded by the baby herself, and recommended by
+Sister Florence.
+
+"They came home six months ago, and the baby got ready for dress-parade;
+and I went down to New York and seen 'em off; but here's where old Fate
+gets in his work again. That rascal of an O. B. Sanderson--I didn't
+notice the name before--was my own nephew, the very young cuss whose
+picture kept me from marryin' the baby's mother! I never tumbled till I
+ran across his mother, she was my sister Carrie.
+
+"John, I don't care a continental cuss how good he was, the baby was
+good enough for him--too good--I just said nothing--and watched the
+signals. You ort to a seen me a-givin' the bride away! Then, when it was
+all over, and I was childless, I give my little girl a check for
+forty-seven thousand and a fraction; kissed her, and lit out for
+home--and here I am.
+
+"But I ain't satisfied now, and just as quick as I get back, I'm a-going
+running again; then, when I've got so old I can't see more'n a car
+length, I'm going to ask for a steam-pump to run. I'm a-going to die
+railroading."
+
+"Have you ever made any inquiries about the mother, Gun?" I asked.
+
+"No; not much; it's so long now, it ain't no use; I guess that her
+light's gone out."
+
+"What would you do, if she was to turn up?"
+
+"Well, I don't know; I guess I'd keep still and see what she done."
+
+"Suppose, Gun, that she showed up now; loved you more than ever for what
+you have done, and renewed her old proposal? You know it's leap year."
+
+"Well, old man, if an angel flew down out of the sky and give me a
+second-hand pair of wings just rebuilt, and ordered me to put 'em on and
+follow her, I guess I wouldn't refuse to go out. Time was, though, when
+I'd a-held out for new, gold-mounted ones, or nothing; but that won't
+come, John; but you just ort to a been to the consolidation; it was just
+simply--well, pulling the president's special would be just like hauling
+a gravel-train to it!"
+
+The train stopped suddenly here, and "Gun" said he was going ahead to
+get acquainted with the water-boiler, and I took out my note-book and
+jotted down a few points.
+
+After the train got into motion again, I was reading over my notes,
+when, without looking, I thought Gunderson had come back, and I moved
+along in the seat to give him room, but a black dress sat down beside
+me.
+
+We had been sitting with our backs to a curtain between the first berth
+and a state-room. The lady came from the state-room.
+
+"Pardon me, sir," she said, "I want to finish that story. I have heard
+it all; I am Sister Florence, music teacher to Mr. Gunderson's daughter;
+he does not know that I am on this train.
+
+"Mr. Gunderson did not tell you that the Phoenix bank failed some months
+ago, and that the fortune of his adopted child was lost. He never told
+her and she does not know it to-day--"
+
+"He said he paid her the full amount--" I interrupted.
+
+"Very true. He did; but he paid it out of his own pocket. Sold his
+farm; put up all his securities, and borrowed seven hundred dollars to
+make the sum complete. That is the reason he is going to run an engine
+again. He does not know that I am aware of this, so don't mention it to
+him."
+
+"Gun is a man," said I; "a great, big-hearted, true man."
+
+"He is a nobleman!" said the nun, arising and going back into the
+state-room.
+
+Half an hour later, Gunderson came back, took a seat beside me and
+commenced to talk.
+
+"Say, John, that's the hardest-riding old pelter I ever see, about three
+inches of slack between engine and tank, pounding like a stamp-mill
+and--" looking over his shoulder and then at me, "John, I could a swore
+there was some one standing right there, I _felt_ 'em.
+
+"It seems to me they ort to keep up their engines here in pretty good
+shape. They've got bad water, and so much boiler work that they have to
+have new flues before the machinery gets worn much. But, Lord, they
+don't seem--" he looked over his shoulder again, quickly, then settled
+in his seat to resume, when a pair of hands covered Gun's eyes--the
+nun's hands.
+
+"Guess who it is, Gun," said I; and noticed that he was very pale.
+
+"It's Mabel," said he, putting up his hands and taking both of hers; "no
+one but her ever made me feel like that."
+
+
+
+
+MORMON JOE, THE ROBBER
+
+
+I'm on intimate terms with one of the biggest robbers in this country.
+He's an expert at the business, but has now retired from active work.
+The fact of the matter is, Joe didn't know he was robbing, at the time
+he did it, but he got there, just the same, and come mighty nigh doing
+time in the penitentiary for it, too.
+
+Maybe I'd better commence at the beginning and tell you that I first
+knew Joe Hogg in '79, out at the front, on the Santa Fé. Joe hailed from
+Salt Lake City, and had run on the Utah Central, which gave him the
+nickname of "Mormon Joe," a name he never resented being called, and to
+which he always answered. I never did really know whether he was a
+Mormon or not, and never cared; he was a good engineer, that's about all
+I cared for. Joe took good care of his engine, wore a clean shirt and
+behaved himself--which was doing more than the average engineer at the
+front did.
+
+I remember, one night, Jack McCabe--"Whisky Jack," we used to call
+him--made some mean remark about the Mormons in general and Joe in
+particular, and Joe replied: "I don't propose to defend the Mormon
+faith; it's as good as any, to my mind. I don't propose to judge or
+misjudge any man by his belief or absence of belief. All that I have got
+to say is, that the Mormon religion is a _practical_ religion. They
+don't give starving women a tract, or tramps jobs on the stone-pile. The
+women get bread, and the tramps work for _pay_. Their faith is based on
+the Christian Bible, with a book added--guess they have as big a right
+to add or take away as some of the old kings had--bigamy is upheld by
+the Bible, but has been dead in Utah, for some years. It can't live for
+the young people are against it. In Utah the woman has all the rights a
+man has, votes, and is a _person_. (Since cut out of new constitution.)
+Before the Gentiles came to Salt Lake, the Mormons had but _one_
+policeman, no jail, few saloons, no houses of prostitution--now the
+Gentile Christian has sway, and the town is full of them. I guess you
+could argue on the quality and quantity of rot-gut whisky a good
+engineer ought to drink, better than on theology, anyhow."
+
+I never heard any of the gang twit Joe about the Mormons again.
+
+I didn't take an awful sight of notice about Joe until I came in, one
+night, and the boys told me that Joe was arrested as an accomplice in
+the robbery of the Black Prince mine, in Constitution gulch.
+
+This Black Prince was a gold placer owned by two middle-aged Englishmen.
+They had a small stamp-mill, run by mule power; and a large number of
+sluice-boxes. They always worked alone, and said they were developing
+the mine. No one had any idea that they were taking out much dust, until
+the mill and sluice-boxes were burned one night, and the story came out
+that they had been robbed of more than thirty thousand dollars.
+
+Each partner accused the other of the theft. Both were arrested, and
+detectives commenced to follow every clue.
+
+Joe's arrest fell like a thunder-clap among us. The Brotherhood men took
+it up right away, and I went to see Joe, that very night. It was said
+that Joe had visited the Black Prince, the day before, and had been seen
+carrying away a large package, the night before the robbery.
+
+Joe absolutely refused to say a word for or against himself.
+
+"The detectives got this scheme up and know what they are doing," said
+he; "I don't. When they get all through, you'll know how it'll come
+out."
+
+To all questions as to his guilt or innocence, to every query about the
+crime or his arrest, he replied alike, to friend or foe:
+
+"Ask the sheriff; he's doing this."
+
+He was in jail a long time, but nothing was proven against him and he
+was finally released.
+
+Neither of the Englishmen could fasten the crime on his partner, and
+they sold out and drifted away, one going back to England and the other
+to Mexico.
+
+Joe ran awhile on the road again and then took a job as chief-engineer
+of a big stamp-mill in Arizona, and going there he was lost to myself
+and the men on the road, and finally the Black Prince robbery passed
+into history, and nothing remained but the tradition, a sort of a myth
+of the mountains, like Captain Kidd's treasures, the amount only being
+increased by time. I believe that the last time I heard the story, it
+was calmly stated that thirty million dollars was taken.
+
+When I was out West, last time, I got off the train at Santa Fé, and
+when gunning through the baggage for my _kiester_, I saw a trunk,
+bearing on its end this legend:
+
+    "MRS. JOS. HOGG."
+
+While I was "gopping" at it, as they say down East, and wondering if it
+could be my Joe Hogg, a very nice-looking lady came in, leading a little
+girl, glanced along the lines of trunks, put her hand on the one I was
+looking at, and said:
+
+"That's the one; yes; the little one. I want it checked to New York."
+
+Just then, a little fellow with whiskers on his chin and a twinkle in
+his eye came in and took charge of the trunk, the woman and the child,
+and with the little one's arms around his neck, bid them good-by, and
+got them into their seats in the sleeper.
+
+I watched this individual with a great deal of interest; he looked like
+my old friend, "Mormon Joe," only for the whiskers and the stockman
+clothes.
+
+Finally he jumped off the moving train, waved his hand and stood
+watching it out of sight, to catch the last glimpse of (to him) precious
+burden-bearer; he raised his hand to shade his eyes, and as he did so, I
+saw that it was minus one thumb, and I remembered that "Mormon Joe" left
+one of his under an engine up in Colorado--I was sure of him.
+
+There was a tear in his eye, as he turned to go away, so I stepped up to
+him and asked:
+
+"Any new wives wanted down your way, Elder?"
+
+He glanced up, half angry, looked me straight in the eye, and a smile
+started at the southeast corner of his phiz and ran around to his port
+ear.
+
+"Well, John, old man, I don't mind being _sealed_ to one about your
+size, right now. I've just sent away the best one in the wide world. Old
+man, you're looking plump; by the Holy Joe Smith, a sight of you is good
+for sore eyes!"
+
+Well, we started, and--but there ain't no use in telling you all about
+it--I went home with Joe, went up a creek with a jaw-breaking Spanish
+name, for miles, to a very good cattle ranch, that was the property of
+"Mormon Joe."
+
+Joe only quit running some three or four years ago, and the ranch and
+its neat little home represented the savings of Joe Hogg's life.
+
+His wife and only child had just started for a visit to England where
+she was born.
+
+The next day we rode the range to see Joe's cattle, and the next we
+started out for a little hunt. It was sitting by a jolly camp-fire, back
+in the hills of New Mexico, that "Mormon Joe" told me the true story of
+the robbery of the Black Prince mine and the romance of his life.
+
+Filling his cob pipe with cut-plug, Joe sat looking away over space
+toward our hobbled horses and then said:
+
+"Old man, I reckon you remember all about the Black Prince robbery. I
+don't forget you were the first man that came to the cooler to see me
+while I was doing time as a _suspect_. Well, coming right down to the
+point, _I had the dust all the time_! and the working out of the mystery
+would be rather interesting reading if it was written up, and, as you
+are such an accomplished liar, I wouldn't be surprised if you made it
+the base-line of one of them yarns of yourn--only, mind you, don't go
+too far with it, for it's as curious as a lie itself. I would not try to
+improve on it, if I was you. I'll tell it to you as it was.
+
+"About four days before the robbery, I was introduced to Rachel
+Rokesby, daughter of one of the partners in the Black Prince. I met her,
+in what seemed to be a casual way, at Mother Cameron's hash-foundry, but
+I found out, a long time afterward, that she had worked for two weeks to
+bring about the introduction.
+
+"I don't know as you remember seeing her, but she was a quiet, retiring,
+well-educated, rosy-cheeked English girl--impressed you right away as
+being the pure, unrefined article, about twenty-two karat. She "chinned"
+me about an hour, that evening, and just cut a cameo of her pretty face
+right on my old heart.
+
+"Well, course I saw her home, and tried my best to be interesting, but
+if a fellow ever in his natural life becomes a double-barreled jackass,
+it's just immediately after he falls in love. Why, he ain't as
+interesting as the unlettered side of an ore-sack.
+
+"But we got on amazing well; the girl did most of the talking and along
+toward the last, mentioned that she was in great trouble--of course I
+wa'n't interested in that at all. I liked to have broken my neck in
+getting her to tell me at once if I couldn't do something to help her,
+say, for instance, move Raton mountain up agin Pike's Peak.
+
+"I went home that night, promising to call on her the next trip, not to
+let any one know I was coming, not to tell anybody I had been there, not
+for _worlds_ to repeat or intimate what she told me, and she would tell
+me her trouble from start to finish, and then I could help her, if I
+wanted to. Well, I wanted to, _bad_.
+
+"I went up to the Rokesby's cabin, next trip in; it was dark, and as I
+went up the front walk, I heard the old gentleman going out the back,
+bound for the village 'diggin's.' I had it all to myself--the secret, I
+mean.
+
+"When I went in, I got about a forty-second squeeze of a neat little
+hand, and things did look so nice and clean and homelike that I had it
+on the end of my tongue to ask right then to camp in the place.
+
+"After a few commonplaces, she turned around and asked me if I still
+wanted to help her and would keep the secret, if I concluded in the end
+to keep out of her troubles. You bet your life, old man, she didn't have
+to wait long for assurance--why I wouldn't'a waited a minute to have
+contracted to turn the Mississippi into the Mammoth Cave, if she had
+asked it.
+
+"'Well," says she, finally, "it is not generally known, in fact, isn't
+known at all, that the Black Prince is a paying placer, and that papa
+and Mr. Sanson have been taking out lots of gold for some time. They
+have over fifty pounds of gold-dust and nuggets hidden under the floor
+of the old mill.'
+
+"'Well,' says I, 'that hadn't ought to worry you so.'
+
+"'But that isn't all the story,' she continued; 'we have discovered a
+plot on the part of Mr. Sanson to rob papa of the gold and burn the mill
+and sluice-boxes, to hide the crime. You will find that every tough in
+town is his friend, because he buys whisky for them, and they all
+dislike papa. If he carried out his plan, we would have no redress
+whatever; all the justices in town can be bribed. The plan is to take
+the gold, burn the mill, and then accuse papa of the crime. Now, can't
+you help me to fool that old villain of a Sanson, and put papa's half of
+the money in a safe place?'
+
+"I thought quite a while before I answered; it seemed strange to me that
+the case should be as she stated, and I half feared I might be made a
+cat's-paw and get into trouble, but the girl looked at me so trustingly
+with her blue eyes and added:
+
+"'I am afraid that I am the cause of all the trouble, too. Papa and
+Sanson got along well until I refused to marry him; after that, the row
+began--I hate him. He said I would _have_ to marry him before he was
+done with me--but I won't!'
+
+"'You bet you won't, darling,' says I, before I thought. 'Pardon me,
+Miss Rokesby, but if there is any marrying done around here, I want a
+hand in the game myself.'
+
+"She blushed deeply, looked at the toe of her shoe a minute, and said:
+
+"'I'm only eighteen, and am too young to think of marrying. Suppose we
+don't talk of that until we get out of the present difficulties.'
+
+"'Sensible idea,' says I. 'But when we are out, suppose you and I have a
+talk on that subject.'
+
+"She looked at the toe of her shoe for a minute again, turned red and
+white around the gills, looked up at me, shyly at first, then fully and
+fairly, stretched out her hand and said:
+
+"'Yes; if you care to.'
+
+"Course, I didn't _care_, or nothing--no more than a man cares for his
+head.
+
+"I guess that was about a half engagement, anyhow, it's the only one we
+ever had. She said it would be ruinous to our plans if I was seen with
+her then or afterward; and agreed to leave a note at the house for me by
+next trip, telling me her plan--which she should talk over with her
+father.
+
+"A couple of days later I got in from a round trip and made a dive for
+the boarding-house.
+
+"'Any mail for me, mother?' I asked old Mrs. Cameron.
+
+"'No, young man; I'm sorry to say there ain't'
+
+"'I was anxious to hear from home.'
+
+"'Too bad; but maybe it'll come to-morrow.'
+
+"I was up to fever heat, but could do nothing but wait. I went to bed
+late, and, raising up my pillow to put my watch under it, I found a
+note; it read:
+
+     "'Midnight, July 17.
+
+     "'DEAR JOE:
+
+     "'Just thought of that rule for changing counter-balance you
+     wanted. There has always been a miscalculation about the weight of
+     counter-balance; they are universally _too heavy_. The weights are
+     in pieces; take out two _pieces_; this treatment would even improve
+     a mule sweep. When once out, pieces should be changed or placed
+     where careless or malicious persons cannot get hold of them and
+     replace them. All is well; hope you are the same; will see you some
+     time soon.
+
+     "'JACK.'
+
+"Here was apparently a fool letter from one young railroader to another,
+but I knew well enough that it was from Rachel and meant something.
+
+"I noticed that it was dated the _next night_; then I commenced to see,
+and in a few minutes my instructions were plain. The old five-stamp mill
+was driven by a mule, who wandered aimlessly around a never-ending
+circle at the end of a long, wooden sweep; this pole extended past the
+post of the mill a few feet, and had on the short end a box of stones as
+a counter-weight. I would find two packages of gold there at midnight of
+July 17.
+
+"I was running one of those old Pittsburgh hogs then, and she had to
+have her throttle ground the next day, but it was more than likely that
+she would be ready to go out at 8:30 on her turn; but I arranged to have
+it happen that the stand-pipe yoke should be broken in putting it up, so
+that another engine would have to be fired up, and I would lay in.
+
+"I told stories in the roundhouse until nearly ten o'clock that fateful
+night, and then started for the hash-foundry, dodged into a lumber
+yard, got onto the rough ground back of town and made a wide detour
+toward Constitution Gulch, the Black Prince and the mule-sweep. I crept
+up to the washed ground through some brush and laid down in a path to
+wait for midnight. I felt a full-fledged sneak-thief, but I thought of
+Rachel and didn't care if I was one or not, so long as she was
+satisfied.
+
+"I looked often at my watch in the moonlight, and at twelve o'clock
+everything was as still as death. I could hear my own heart beat against
+my ribs as I sneaked up to that counter-balanced sweep. I got there
+without accident or incident, found two packages done up in canvas with
+tarred-string handles; they were heavy but small, and in ten minutes I
+had them alone with me among the stumps and stones on the little _mesa_
+back of town.
+
+"I'll never forget how I felt there in the dark with all that money that
+wasn't mine, and if some one had have said 'boo' from behind a stump, I
+should have probably dropped the boodle and taken to the brush.
+
+"As I approached the town, I realized that I could never get through it
+to the boarding-house or the roundhouse with those two bundles that
+_looked like country sausages_. I studied awhile on it and finally put
+them under an old scraper beside the road, and went without them to the
+shops. I got from my seat-box a clean pair of overalls and jacket and
+came back without being seen.
+
+"I wrapped one of the packages up in these and boldly stepped out into
+the glare of the electric lights--I remember I thought the town too
+darned enterprising.
+
+"One of the first men I met was the marshal, Jack Kelly. He was reported
+to be a Pinkerton man, and was mistrusted by some of the men, but tried
+to be friendly and 'stand in' with all of us. He slapped me on the back
+and nearly scared the wits out of me. He insisted on treating me, and I
+went into a saloon and 'took something' with him, in fear and trembling.
+The package was heavy, but I must carry it lightly under my arm, as if
+it were only overclothes.
+
+"I treated in return, and had it charged, because I dare not attempt to
+get my right hand into my pocket. Jack was disposed to talk, and I
+feared he was just playing with me like a cat does with a mouse, but I
+finally got off and deposited my precious burden in my seat-box, under
+lock and key--then I sneaked back for the second haul. I met Jack and a
+policeman, on my next trip, and he exclaimed:
+
+"'Why, ain't you gone out yet?' and started off, telling the roundsman
+to keep the bunkos off me up to the shop. _I thought then I was caught_,
+but I was not, and the bluecoat bid me a pleasant good-night, at the
+shop yard.
+
+"When I got near my engine, I was surprised to see Barney Murry, the
+night machinist, with his torch up on the cab--he was putting in the
+newly-ground throttle.
+
+"Just before I had decided to emerge from the shadow of the next engine,
+Barney commenced to yell for his helper, Dick, to come and help him on
+with the dome-cover.
+
+"Dick came with a sandwich in one hand and a can of coffee in the other.
+This reminded Barney of his lunch, and setting his torch down on the
+top of the cab, he scrambled down on the other side and hurried off to
+the sand-dryer, where the gang used to eat their dyspepsia insurance and
+swap lies.
+
+"After listening a moment, to be sure I was alone, I stepped lightly to
+the cab, and in a minute the two heavy and dangerous packages were side
+by side again.
+
+"But just here an inspiration struck me. I opened the front door of the
+cab, stepped out on the running-board, and a second later was holding
+Barney's smoking torch down in the dome.
+
+"The throttle occupied most of the space, but there was considerable
+room each side of it and a good two feet between the top of the boiler
+shell and the top row of flues. I took one of the bags of gold, held it
+down at arm's length, swung it backward and forward a time or two, and
+let go, so as to drop it well ahead on the flues: the second bag
+followed at once, and again I held down the light to see if the bags
+were out of sight; satisfied on this point, I got down, took my clothes
+under my arm, and jumped off the engine into the arms of the night
+foreman."
+
+"'What did you call me for? That engine is not ready to go out on the
+extra,' I demanded, off-hand.
+
+"'I ain't called you; you're dreaming.'
+
+"'May be I am,' said I, 'but I would 'a swore some one came and called
+under my window that I got out at 2:10, on a stock-train, extra.'
+
+"Just then, Barney and Dick came back, and I soon had the satisfaction
+of seeing the cover screwed down on my secret and a fire built under
+it--then I went home and slept.
+
+"I guess it was four round trips that I made with the old pelter, before
+Kelly put this and that together, and decided to put me where the dogs
+wouldn't bite me.
+
+"I appeared as calm as I could, and set the example since followed by
+politicians, that of 'dignified silence.' Kelly tried to work one of the
+'fellow convict' rackets on me, but I made no confessions. I soon became
+a martyr, in the eyes of the women of the town. You boys got to talking
+of backing up a suit for false imprisonment; election was coming on and
+the sheriff and county judge were getting uneasy, and the district
+attorney was awfully unhappy, so they let me out.
+
+"Nixon, the sheriff, pumped me slyly, to see what effect my imprisonment
+would have on future operations, and I told him I didn't propose to lose
+any time over it, and agreed to drop the matter for a little nest-egg
+equal to the highest pay received by any engineer on the road. Pat
+Dailey was the worst hog for overtime, and I selected his pay as the
+standard and took big money,--from the campaign funds. I wasn't afraid
+of re-arrest;--I had 'em for bribery.
+
+"Whilst I was in hock, I had cold chills every time I heard the 313's
+whistle, for fear they would wash her out and find the dust; but she
+gave up nothing.
+
+"When I reported for work, the old scrap was out on construction and
+they were disposed to put me on another mill, pulling varnished cars,
+but I told the old man I was under the weather and 'crummy,' and that
+put him in a good humor; and I was sent out to a desolate siding, and
+once again took charge, of the steam 'fence,' for the robber of the
+Black Prince mine.
+
+"On Sunday, by a little maneuvering, I managed to get the crew to go off
+on a trout-fishing expedition, and under pretext of grinding-in her
+chronically leaky throttle, I took off her dome-cover and looked in;
+there was nothing in sight.
+
+"I was afraid that the cooking of two months or more had destroyed the
+canvas bags; then again the heavy deposit of scale might have cemented
+the bags to the flues. In either case, rough handling would send the
+dust to the bottom of the boiler, making it difficult if not impossible
+to recover; and worse yet, manifest itself sometime and give me dead
+away.
+
+"I concluded to go at the matter right, and after two hours of hard
+work, managed to get the upright throttle-pipe out of the dome. I drew
+her water down below the flue-line, and though it was tolerably warm, I
+got in.
+
+"Both of my surmises were partially correct; the canvas was rotted, in a
+measure, and the bags were fastened to the flues. The dust had been put
+up in buckskin bags, first, and these had been put into shot-sacks; the
+buckskin was shrunken but intact. I took a good look around, before I
+dared take the treasure into the sunlight; but the coast was clear, and
+inside of an hour they were locked in my clothes-box, and the cover was
+on the kettle again and I was pumping her up by hand.
+
+"I was afraid something would happen to me or the engine, so I buried
+the packages in a bunch of willows near the track.
+
+"It must have been two weeks after this that a mover's wagon stopped
+near the creek within half a mile of the track, and hobbled horses soon
+began to 'rustle' grass, and the smoke of a camp-fire hunted the clouds.
+
+"We saw this sort of thing often, and I didn't any more than glance at
+it; but after supper I sauntered down by the engine, smoking and
+thinking of Rachel Rokesby, when I noticed a woman walking towards me,
+pail in hand.
+
+"She had on a sunbonnet that hid her face and she got within ten feet
+of me before she spoke--she asked for a pail of drinking-water from the
+tank--the creek was muddy from a recent rain.
+
+"Just as soon as she spoke, I knew it was Rachel, but I controlled
+myself, for others were within hearing. I walked with her to the engine
+and got the water; I purposely drew the pail full, which she promptly
+spilled, and I offered to carry it for her.
+
+"The crew watched us walk away and I heard some of them mention 'mash,'
+but I didn't care, I wanted a word with my girl.
+
+"When we were out of earshot, she asked without looking up:
+
+"'Well, old coolness, are you all right?'
+
+"'You bet! darling.'
+
+"'Papa has sold out his half and we are going away for good. I think if
+we get rid of the dust without trouble, we may go to England. Just as
+soon as all is safe, you shall hear from me; can't you trust me, Joe?'
+
+"'Yes, Rachel, darling; now and forever.'
+
+"'Where's the gold?'
+
+"'Within one hundred feet of you, in those willows; when it is dark, I
+will go and get it and put it on that stump by the big tree; go then and
+get it. But where will you put it?'
+
+"'I'm going to pack it in the bottom of a jar of butter.'
+
+"'Good idea, little girl! I think you'd make a good thief yourself.
+How's my friend, Sanson?'
+
+"'He's gone to Mexico; says yet that papa robbed him, but he knows as
+well as you or I that all his bluster was because he only found _half_
+that he expected; I pride myself on getting ahead of a wicked man once,
+thanks to our hero, by the name of Hogg.'
+
+"It was getting dusk and we were out of sight, so I sat down the pail
+and asked:
+
+"'Do I get a kiss, this evening?'
+
+"'If you want one.'
+
+"'There's only one thing I want worse.'
+
+"'What is that, Joe?'
+
+"My arm was around her waist now, and the sunbonnet was shoved back from
+the face. I took a couple of cream-puffs where they were ripe, and
+answered:
+
+"That message to come and have that talk about matrimony.'
+
+"Here a man's voice was heard calling: 'Rachel! Rachel!' and throwing
+her arms around my neck, she gave me one more kiss, snatched up her pail
+and answered:
+
+"'Yes; I'm coming.'
+
+"Then to me, hurriedly:
+
+"'Good-by, dear; wait patiently, you shall hear from me.'
+
+"I went back and put the dangerous dust on the stump and returned to the
+bunk-car. The next morning when I turned out, the outlines of the wagon
+were dimly discernible away on a hill in the road; it had been gone an
+hour.
+
+"I walked down past my stump--the gold was gone.
+
+"Well, John, I settled down to work and to wait for that precious letter
+that would summon me to the side of Rachel Rokesby, wherever she was;
+but it never came. Uncle Sam never delivered a line to me from her from
+that day to this."
+
+Joe kicked the burning sticks in our fire closer together, lit his pipe
+and then proceeded:
+
+"I was hopeful for a month or two; then got impatient, and finally got
+angry, but it ended in despair. A year passed away before I commenced to
+_hunt_, instead of waiting to be hunted; but after another year I gave
+it up, and came to the belief that Rachel was dead or married to
+another. But the very minute that such a treasonable thought flashed
+through my mind, my heart held up the image of her pure face and rebuked
+me.
+
+"I was discharged finally, for forgetting orders--I was thinking of
+something else--then I commenced to pull myself together and determined
+to control myself. I held the job in Arizona almost a year, but the mill
+company busted; then I drifted down on to the Mexican National, when it
+was building, and got a job. A few months later, it came to my ears that
+one of our engineers, Billy Gardiner, was in one of their damnable
+prisons, for running over a Greaser, and I organized a relief
+expedition. I called on Gardiner, and talked over his trouble fully; he
+was in a loathsome dobie hole, full of vermin, and dark. As I sat
+talking to him, I noticed an old man, chained to the wall in a little
+entry on the other side of the room. His beard was grizzly white, long
+and tangled. He was hollow-cheeked and wild-eyed, and looked at me in a
+strange, fascinated way.
+
+"'What's he in for,' I whispered to Gardiner.
+
+"'Murdered his partner in a mining camp. Got caught in the act. He don't
+know it yet, but he's condemned to be shot next Friday--to-morrow. Poor
+devil, he's half crazy, anyhow.'
+
+"As I got up to go, the old man made a sharp hiss, and as I turned to
+look at him, he beckoned with his finger. I took a step or two nearer,
+and he asked, in an audible whisper:
+
+"'Mr. Hogg, don't you know me?'
+
+"I looked at him long and critically, and then said:
+
+"'No; I never saw you before.'
+
+"'Yes; that's so,' said he; 'but I have seen you, many times. You
+remember the Black Prince robbery?'
+
+"'Yes, indeed; then you are Sanson?'
+
+"'No; Rokesby.'
+
+"'Rokesby! My God, man, where's Rachel?'
+
+"'I thought so,' he muttered. 'Well, she's in England, but I'm here.'
+
+"'What part of England?'
+
+"'Sit down on that box, Mr. Hogg, and I will tell you something.'
+
+"'Is she married?' I asked eagerly.
+
+"'No, lad, she ain't, and what's more, she won't be till she marries
+you, so be easy there.'
+
+"Just here a pompous Mexican official strode in, stepped up in front of
+the old man and read something in Spanish.
+
+"'What in hell did he say?' asked the prisoner of Gardiner.
+
+"'Something about sentence, pardner.'
+
+"'Well, it's time they was doing something; did he say when it was?'
+
+"'To-morrow.'
+
+"'Good enough; I'm dead sick o' this.'
+
+"'Can't I do anything for you, Mr. Rokesby--for Rachel's sake?'
+
+"'No--yes, you can, too, young man; you can grant me a pardon for a
+worse crime nor murder, if you will--for--for Rachel's sake."
+
+"'It's granted then.'
+
+"'Good! that gives me heart. Now, Mr. Hogg, to business, it was me that
+robbed the Black Prince mine. I took every last cent there was, and I
+used you and Rachel to do the work for me and take the blame if caught.
+Sanson was honest enough, I fired the mill myself.
+
+"'It was me that sent Rachel to you; I admired your face, as you rode by
+the claim every day on your engine. I knew you had nerve. If you and
+Rachel hadn't fallen in love with one another, I'd 'a lost though; but I
+won.
+
+"'Well, I took the money I got for the claim and sent Rachel back to her
+mother's sister, in England. You may not know, but she is not my
+daughter; she thinks she is, though. Her parents died when she was
+small, and I provided for her. I'm her half-uncle. I got avaricious in
+my old age, and went into a number of questionable schemes.
+
+"'After leaving New Mexico, I worked the dust off, a little at a time,
+an' wasted the money--but never mind that.
+
+"'It was just before she got aboard the ship that Rachel sent me a
+letter containing another to you, to be sent when all was right--I've
+carried it ever since--somehow or other I was afraid it would drop a
+clew to send it at first, and after it got a year old, I didn't think of
+it much.'
+
+"He fumbled around inside of his dirty flannel shirt for a minute, and
+soon fished up a letter almost as black as the shirt, and holding it up,
+said:
+
+"'That's it.'
+
+"'I had the envelope off in a second, and read:
+
+     "'DEAR JOSEPH:
+
+     "'I am going to my aunt, Mrs. Julia Bradshaw, 15 Harrow Lane,
+     Leicester, England. If you do not change your mind, I will be
+     happy to talk over our affairs whenever you are ready. I shall be
+     waiting.
+
+     "'RACHEL'.
+
+"I turned and bolted toward a door, when Gardiner yelled:
+
+"'Where are you going?'
+
+"'To England,' said I.
+
+"'This door, then, sir,' said a Mexican.
+
+"I came back to the old man.
+
+"'Rokesby,' said I, 'you have cut ten years off my life, but I forgive
+you; good-by.'
+
+"'One thing more, Mr. Hogg; don't tell 'em at home how I went--nothing
+about this last deal.'
+
+"'Well, all right; but I'll tell Rachel, if we marry and come to
+America.'
+
+"'I've got lots of honest relations, and my old mother still lives, in
+her eighties.'
+
+"'Well, not till after she goes, unless to save Rachel in some way.'
+
+"'Good-by, Mr. Hogg, God bless you! and--and, little Rachel.'
+
+"'Good-by, Mr. Rokesby.'
+
+"The next day I left Mexico for God's country, and inside of ten days
+was on a Cunarder, eastward bound. I reached England in proper time; I
+found the proper pen in the proper train, and was deposited in the
+proper town, directed to the proper house, and street, and number, and
+had pulled out about four yards of wire attached to the proper bell.
+
+"A kindly-faced old lady looked at me over her spectacles, and I asked:
+
+"'Does Mrs. Julia Bradshaw live here?'
+
+"'Yes, sir; that's me.'
+
+"'Have you a young lady here named Rachel R--'
+
+"The old lady didn't wait for me to finish the name, she just turned her
+head fifteen degrees, put her open hand up beside her mouth, and shouted
+upstairs:
+
+"'Rachel! Rachel! Come down here, quick! Here's your young man from
+America!'"
+
+
+
+
+A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S TRIP
+
+
+It is all of twenty years now since the little incident happened that I
+am going to tell you about. After the strike of '77, I went into exile
+in the wild and woolly West, mostly in "bleeding Kansas," but often in
+Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona--the Santa Fé goes almost everywhere
+in the Southwest.
+
+One night in August I was dropping an old Baldwin consolidator down a
+long Mexican grade, after having helped a stock train over the division
+by double-heading. It was close and hot on this sage-brush waste,
+something not unusual at night in high altitudes, and the heat and sheet
+lightning around the horizon warned me that there was to be one of those
+short, fierce storms that come but once or twice a year in these
+latitudes, and which are known as cloudbursts.
+
+The alkali plains, or deserts, as they are often erroneously called,
+are great stretches of adobe soil, known as "dobie" by the natives. This
+soil is a yellowish brown, or perhaps more of a gray color, and as fine
+as flour. Water plays sad havoc with it, if the soil lies so as to
+oppose the flow, and it moves like dust before a slight stream. On the
+flat, hard-baked plains, the water makes no impression, but on a
+railroad grade, be it ever so slight, the tendency is to dig pitfalls. I
+have seen a little stream of water, just enough to fill the ditches on
+each side of the track, take out all the dirt, and keep the ties and
+track afloat until the water was gone, then drop them into a hole eight
+or ten feet deep, or if the washout was short, leave them suspended,
+looking safe and sound, to lure some poor engineer and his mate to
+death.
+
+Another peculiarity of these storms is that they come quickly, rage
+furiously for a few minutes, and are gone, and their lines are sharply
+defined. It is not uncommon to find a lot of water, or a washout,
+within a mile of land so dry that it looks as if it had never seen a
+drop of water.
+
+All this land is fertile when it can be brought under irrigating ditches
+and watered, but here it lies out almost like a desert. It is sparsely
+inhabited along the little streams by a straggling off-shoot of the
+Mexican race; yet once in a while a fine place is to be seen, like an
+oasis in the Sahara, the home of some old Spanish Don, with thousands of
+cattle or sheep ranging on the plains, or perhaps the headquarters of
+some enterprising cattle company. But these places were few and far
+between at the time of which I write; the stations were mere passing
+places, long side-tracks, with perhaps a stock-yard and section house
+once in a while, but generally without buildings or even switch lights.
+
+Noting the approach of the storm, I let the heavy engine drop the
+faster, hoping to reach a certain sidetrack, over twenty miles away,
+where there was a telegraph operator, and learn from him the condition
+of the road. But the storm was faster than any consolidator that
+Baldwins ever built, and as the lightning suddenly ceased and the air
+became heavy, hot, and absolutely motionless, I realized that we would
+have the storm full upon us in a few moments. I had nothing to meet for
+more than thirty miles, and there was nothing behind me; so I stopped,
+turned the headlight up, and hung my white signal lamps down below the
+buffer-beams each side of the pilot--this to enable me to see the ends
+of the ties and the ditch.
+
+Billy Howell, my fireman, and a good one, hastily went over the
+boiler-jacket with signal oil, to prevent rust; we donned our gum coats;
+I dropped a little oil on the "Mary Ann's" gudgeon's, and we proceeded
+on our way without a word. On these big consolidators you cannot see
+well ahead, past the big boiler, from the cab, and I always ran with my
+head out of the side window. Both of us took this position now, standing
+up ready for anything; but we bowled safely along for one mile--two
+miles, through the awful hush. Then, as sudden as a flash of light,
+"boom!" went a peal of thunder as sharp and clear as a signal gun.
+There was a flash of light along the rails, the surface of the desert
+seemed to break out here and there with little fitful jets of
+greenish-blue flame, and from every side came the answering reports from
+the batteries of heaven, like sister gunboats answering a salute. The
+rain fell in torrents, yes, in sheets. I have never, before or since,
+seen such a grand and fantastic display of fireworks, nor heard such
+rivalry of cannonade. I stopped my engine, and looked with awe and
+interest at this angry fit of nature, watched the balls of fire play
+along the ground, and realized for the first time what a sight was an
+electric storm.
+
+As the storm commenced at the signal of a mighty peal of thunder, so it
+ended as suddenly at the same signal; the rain changed in an instant
+from a torrent to a gentle shower, the lightning went out, the batteries
+ceased their firing, the breeze commenced to blow gently, the air was
+purified. Again we heard the signal peal of thunder, but it seemed a
+great way off, as if the piece was hurrying away to a more urgent
+quarter. The gentle shower ceased, the black clouds were torn asunder
+overhead; invisible hands seemed to snatch a gray veil of fleecy clouds
+from the face of the harvest moon, and it shone out as clear and serene
+as before the storm. The ditches on each side of the track were half
+full of water, ties were floating along in them, but the track seemed
+safe and sound, and we proceeded cautiously on our way. Within two miles
+the road turned to the West, and here we found the water in the ditches
+running through dry soil, carrying dead grass and twigs of sage upon its
+surface; we passed the head of the flood, tumbling along through the dry
+ditches as dirty as it well could be, and fast soaking into the soil;
+and then we passed beyond the line of the storm entirely.
+
+Billy put up his seat and filled his pipe, and I sat down and absorbed a
+sandwich as I urged my engine ahead to make up for lost time; we took up
+our routine of work just where we had left it, and--life was the same
+old song. It was past midnight now, and as I never did a great deal of
+talking on an engine, I settled down to watching the rails ahead, and
+wondering if the knuckle-joints would pound the rods off the pins before
+we got to the end of the division.
+
+[Illustration: "'Mexican,' said I."]
+
+Billy, with his eyes on the track ahead, was smoking his second pipe and
+humming a tune, and the "Mary Ann" was making about forty miles an hour,
+but doing more rolling and pitching and jumping up and down than an
+eight-wheeler would at sixty. All at once I discerned something away
+down the track where the rails seemed to meet. The moon had gone behind
+a cloud, and the headlight gave a better view and penetrated further.
+Billy saw it, too, for he took his pipe out of his mouth, and with his
+eyes still upon it, said laconically, as was his wont: "Cow."
+
+"Yes," said I, closing the throttle and dropping the lever ahead.
+
+"Man," said Billy, as the shape seemed to assume a perpendicular
+position.
+
+"Yes," said I, reaching for the three-way cock, and applying the tender
+brake, without thinking what I did.
+
+"Woman," said Billy, as the shape was seen to wear skirts, or at least
+drapery.
+
+"Mexican," said I, as I noted the mantilla over the head. We were fast
+nearing the object.
+
+"No," said Billy, "too well built."
+
+I don't know what he judged by; we could not see the face, for it was
+turned away from us; but the form was plainly that of a comely woman.
+She stood between the rails with her arms stretched out like a cross,
+her white gown fitting her figure closely. A black, shawl-like mantilla
+was over the head, partly concealing her face; her right foot was upon
+the left-hand rail. She stood perfectly still. We were within fifty feet
+of her, and our speed was reduced to half, when Billy said sharply:
+"Hold her, John--for God's sake!"
+
+But I had the "Mary Ann" in the back motion before the words left his
+mouth, and was choking her on sand. Billy leaned upon the boiler-head
+and pulled the whistle-cord, but the white figure did not move. I shut
+my eyes as we passed the spot where she had stood. We got stopped a rod
+or two beyond. I took the white light in the tank and sprang to the
+ground. Billy lit the torch, and followed me with haste. The form still
+stood upon the track just where we had first seen it; but it faced us
+and the arms were folded. I confess to hurrying slowly until Billy
+caught up with the torch, which he held over his head.
+
+"Good evening, señors," said the apparition, in very sweet English, just
+tinged with the Castilian accent, but she spoke as if nearly exhausted.
+
+"Good gracious," said I, "whatever brought you away out here, and hadn't
+you just as lief shoot a man as scare him to death?"
+
+She laughed very sweetly, and said: "The washout brought me just here,
+and I fancy it was lucky for you--both of you."
+
+"Washout?" said I. "Where?"
+
+"At the dry bridge beyond."
+
+Well, to make a long story short, we took her on the engine--she was wet
+through--and went on to the dry bridge. This was a little wooden
+structure in a sag, about a mile away, and we found that the storm we
+had encountered farther back had done bad work at each end of the
+bridge. We did not cross that night, but after placing signals well
+behind us and ahead of the washout, we waited until morning, the three
+of us sitting in the cab of the "Mary Ann," chatting as if we were old
+acquaintances.
+
+This young girl, whose fortunes had been so strangely cast with ours,
+was the daughter of Señor Juan Arboles, a rich old Spanish Don who owned
+a fine place and immense herds of sheep over on the Rio Pecos, some ten
+miles west of the road. She was being educated in some Catholic school
+or convent at Trinidad, and had the evening before alighted at the big
+corrals, a few miles below, where she was met by one of her father's
+Mexican rancheros, who led her saddle broncho. They had started on their
+fifteen-mile ride in the cool of the evening, and following the road
+back for a few miles were just striking off toward the distant hedge of
+cotton woods that lined the little stream by her home when the storm
+came upon them.
+
+There was a lone pine tree hardly larger than a bush about a half-mile
+from the track, and riding to this, the girl, whose name was Josephine,
+had dismounted to seek its scant protection, while the herder tried to
+hold the frightened horses. As peal on peal of thunder resounded and the
+electric lights of nature played tag over the plain, the horses became
+more and more unmanageable and at last stampeded, with old Paz muttering
+Mexican curses and chasing after them wildly.
+
+After the storm passed, Josephine waited in vain for Paz and the
+bronchos, and then debated whether she should walk toward her home or
+back to the corrals. In either direction the distance was long, and the
+adobe soil is very tenacious when wet, and the wayfarer needs great
+strength to carry the load it imposes on the feet. As she stood there,
+thinking what it was best to do, a sound came to her ears from the
+direction of the timber and home, which she recognized in an instant,
+and without waiting to debate further, she turned and ran with all her
+strength, not toward her home, but away from it. Across the waste of
+stunted sage she sped, the cool breeze upon her face, every muscle
+strained to its utmost. Nearer and nearer came the sound; the deep,
+regular bay of the timber wolf. These animals are large and fierce; they
+do not go in packs, like the smaller and more cowardly breeds of wolves,
+but in pairs, or, at most, six together. A pair of them will attack a
+man even when he is mounted, and lucky is he if he is well armed and
+cool enough to despatch one before it fastens its fangs in his horse's
+throat or his own thigh.
+
+As the brave girl ran, she cast about for some means of escape or place
+of refuge. She decided to run to the railroad track and climb a
+telegraph pole--a feat which, owing to her free life on the ranch, she
+was perfectly capable of. Once up the pole, she could rest on the
+cross-tree, in perfect safety from the wolves, and she would be sure to
+be seen and rescued by the first train that came along after daybreak.
+
+She approached the track over perfectly dry ground. To reach the
+telegraph poles, she sprang nimbly into the ditch; and as she did so,
+she saw a stream of water coming rapidly toward her--it was the front of
+the flood. The ditch on the opposite side of the track, which she must
+also cross to reach the line of poles, she found already full-flooded.
+She decided to run up the track, between the walls of water. This would
+put a ten-foot stream between her and her pursuers, and change her
+course enough, she hoped, to throw them off the scent. In this design
+she was partly successful, for the bay of the wolves showed that they
+were going to the track as she had gone, instead of cutting straight
+across toward her. Thus she gained considerable time. She reached the
+little arroyo spanned by the dry bridge; it was like a mill-pond, and
+the track was afloat. She ran across the bridge; she scarcely slackened
+speed, although the ties rocked and moved on the spike-heads holding
+them to the rails.
+
+She hoped for a moment that the wolves would not venture to follow her
+over such a way; but their hideous voices were still in her ear and came
+nearer and nearer. Then there came to her, faintly, another, a strange,
+metallic sound. What was it? Where was it? She ran on tiptoe a few paces
+in order to hear it better; it was in the rails--the vibration of a
+train in motion. Then there came into view a light--a headlight; but it
+was so far away, so very far, and that awful baying so close! The "Mary
+Ann," however, was fleeter of foot than the wolves; the light grew big
+and bright and the sound of working machinery came to the girl on the
+breeze.
+
+Would they stop for her? Could she make them see her? Then she thought
+of the bridge. It was death for them as well as for her--they _must_ see
+her. She resolved to stay on the track until they whistled her off; but
+now the light seemed to come so slow. A splash at her side caused her to
+turn her head, and there, a dozen feet away, were her pursuers, their
+tongues out, their eyes shining like balls of fire. They were just
+entering the water to come across to her. They fascinated her by their
+very fierceness. Forgetting where she was for the instant, she stared
+dumbly at them until called to life and action by a scream from the
+locomotive's whistle. Then she sprang from the track just in the nick of
+time. She actually laughed as she saw two grayish-white wolf-tails bob
+here and there among the sage brush, as the wolves took flight at sight
+of the engine.
+
+This was the story she told as she dried her garments before the furnace
+door, and I confess to holding this cool, self-reliant girl in high
+admiration. She never once thought of fainting; but along toward morning
+she did say that she was scared then at thinking of it.
+
+Early in the morning a party of herders, with Josephine's father ahead,
+rode into sight. They were hunting for her. Josephine got up on the
+tender to attract their attention, and soon she was in her father's
+arms. Her frightened pony had gone home as fast as his legs would carry
+him, and a relief party swam their horses at the ford and rode forward
+at once.
+
+The old Don was profuse in his thanks, and would not leave us until
+Billy and I had agreed to visit his ranch and enjoy a hunt with him, and
+actually set a date when we should meet him at the big corral. I wanted
+a rest anyway, and it was perfectly plain that Billy was beyond his
+depth in love with the girl at first sight; so we were not hard to
+persuade when she added her voice to her father's.
+
+Early in September Billy and I dropped off No. 1 with our guns and
+"plunder," as baggage is called there, and a couple of the old Don's men
+met us with saddle and pack animals. I never spent a pleasanter two
+weeks in my life. The quiet, almost gloomy, old Don and I became fast
+friends, and the hunting was good. The Don was a Spaniard, but
+Josephine's mother had been a Mexican woman, and one noted for her
+beauty. She had been dead some years at the time of our visit. Billy
+devoted most of his time to the girl. They were a fine looking young
+couple, he being strong and broad-shouldered, with laughing blue eyes
+and light curly hair, she slender and perfect in outline, with a typical
+Southern complexion, black eyes--and such eyes they were--and hair and
+eyebrows like the raven's wing.
+
+A few days before Billy and I were booked to resume our duties on the
+deck of the "Mary Ann," Miss Josephine took my arm and walked me down
+the yard and pumped me quietly about "Mr. Howell," as she called Billy.
+She went into details a little, and I answered all questions as best I
+could. All I said was in the young man's favor--it could not, in truth,
+be otherwise. Josephine seemed satisfied and pleased.
+
+When we got back to headquarters, I was given the care of a cold-water
+Hinkley, with a row of varnished cars behind her, and Billy fell heir to
+the rudder of the "Mary Ann." We still roomed together. Billy put in
+most of his lay-over time writing long letters to somebody, and every
+Thursday, as regular as a clock, one came for him, with a censor's mark
+on it. Often after reading the letter, Billy would say: "That girl has
+more horse sense than the rest of the whole female race--she don't slop
+over worth a cent." He invariably spoke of her as "my Mexican girl," and
+often asked my opinion about white men intermarrying with that mongrel
+race. Sometimes he said that his mother would go crazy if he married a
+Mexican, his father would disown him, and his brother Henry--well, Billy
+did not like to think just what revenge Henry would take. Billy's father
+was manager of an Eastern road, and his brother was assistant to the
+first vice-president, and Billy looked up to the latter as a great man
+and a sage. He himself was in the West for practical experience in the
+machinery department, and to get rid of a slight tendency to asthma. He
+could have gone East any time and "been somebody" on the road under his
+father.
+
+Finally, Billy missed a week in writing. At once there was a cog gone
+from the answering wheel to match. Billy shortened his letters; the
+answers were shortened. Then he quit writing, and his Thursday letter
+ceased to come. He had thought the matter all over, and decided, no
+doubt, that he was doing what was best--both for himself and the girl;
+that his family's high ideas should not be outraged by a Mexican
+marriage. He had put a piece of flesh-colored court-plaster over his
+wound, not healed it.
+
+Early in the winter the old Don wrote, urging us to come down and hunt
+antelope, but Billy declined to go--said that the road needed him, and
+that Josephine might come home from school and this would make them both
+uncomfortable. But Henry, his older brother, was visiting him, and he
+suggested that I take Henry; he would enjoy the hunt, and it would help
+him drown his sorrow over the loss of his aristocratic young wife, who
+had died a year or two before. So Henry went with me, and we hunted
+antelope until we tired of the slaughter. Then the old Don planned a
+deer-hunting trip in the mountains, but I had to go back to work, and
+left Henry and the old Don to take the trip without me. While they were
+in the mountains, Josephine came home, and Henry Howell's stay
+lengthened out to a month. But I did not know until long afterward that
+the two had met.
+
+Billy was pretty quiet all winter, worked hard and went out but
+little--he was thinking about something. One day I came home and found
+him writing a letter. "What now, Billy?" I asked.
+
+"Writing to my Mexican girl," said he.
+
+"I thought you had got over that a long time ago?"
+
+"So did I, but I hadn't. I've been trying to please somebody else
+besides myself in this matter, and I'm done. I'm going to work for Bill
+now."
+
+"Take an old man's advice, Billy, and don't write that girl a line--go
+and see her."
+
+"Oh, I can fix it all right by letter, and then run down there and see
+her."
+
+"Don't do it."
+
+"I'll risk it."
+
+A week later Billy and I sat on the veranda of the company's
+hash-foundry, figuring up our time and smoking our cob meerschaums,
+when one of the boys who had been to the office, placed two letters in
+Billy's hands. One of them was directed in the handwriting that used to
+be on the old Thursday letters. Billy tore it open eagerly--and his own
+letter to Josephine dropped into his hand. Billy looked at the ground
+steadily for five minutes, and I pretended not to have seen. Finally he
+said, half to himself: "You were right, I ought to have gone myself--but
+I'll go now, go to-morrow." Then he opened the other letter.
+
+He read its single page with manifest interest, and when his eyes
+reached the last line they went straight on, and looked at the ground,
+and continued to do so for fully five minutes. Without looking up, he
+said: "John, I want you to do me two favors."
+
+"All right," said I.
+
+Still keeping his eyes on the ground, he said, slowly, as if measuring
+everything well: "I'm going up and draw my time, and will leave for Old
+Mexico on No. 4 to-night. I want you to write to both these parties and
+tell them that I have gone there and that you have forwarded both these
+letters. Don't tell 'em that I went after reading 'em."
+
+"And the other favor, Billy?"
+
+"Read this letter, and see me off to-night."
+
+The letter read:
+
+     "Philadelphia, May 1, 1879.
+
+     "DEAR BROTHER WILL: I want you and Mr. A. to go down to Don Juan
+     Arboles's by the first of June. I will be there then. You must be
+     my best man, as I stand up to marry the sweetest, dearest
+     wild-flower of a woman that ever bloomed in a land of beauty. Don't
+     fail me. Josephine will like you for my sake, and you will love her
+     for your brother.
+
+     HENRY."
+
+Most engineers' lives are busy ones and full of accident and incident,
+and having my full share of both, I had almost forgotten all these
+points about Billy Howell and his Mexican girl, when they were all
+recalled by a letter from Billy himself. With his letter was a
+photograph of a family group--a be-whiskered man of thirty-five, a
+good-looking woman of twenty, but undoubtedly a Mexican, and a
+curly-headed baby, perhaps a year old. The letter ran:
+
+     "City of Mexico, July 21, 1890.
+
+     "DEAR OLD JOHN: I had lost you, and thought that perhaps you had
+     gone over to the majority, until I saw your name and recognized
+     your quill in a story. Write to me; am doing well. I send you a
+     photograph of all there are of the Howell outfit. _No half-breeds
+     for your uncle this time._
+
+     "WM. HOWELL."
+
+
+
+
+THE POLAR ZONE
+
+
+Very few of my friends know me for a seafaring man, but I sailed the
+salt seas, man and boy, for nine months and eighteen days, and I know
+just as much about sailing the hereinbefore mentioned salt seas as I
+ever want to.
+
+Ever so long ago, when I was young and tender, I used to have fits of
+wanting to go into business for myself. Along about the front edge of
+the seventies, pay for "toting" people and truck over the eastern
+railroads of New England was not of sufficient plenitude to worry a man
+as to how he would invest his pay check--it was usually invested before
+he got it. One of my periodical fits of wanting to go into business for
+myself came on suddenly one day, when I got home and found another baby
+in the house. I was right in the very worst spasms of it when my
+brother Enoch, whom I hadn't seen for seventeen years, walked in on me.
+
+Enoch was fool enough to run away to sea when he was twelve years old--I
+suppose he was afraid he would get the chance to do something besides
+whaling. We were born down New Bedford way, where another boy and myself
+were the only two fellows in the district, for over forty years, who
+didn't go hunting whales, icebergs, foul smells, and scurvy, up in King
+Frost's bailiwick, just south of the Pole.
+
+Enoch had been captain and part owner of a Pacific whaler; she had
+recently burned at Honolulu, and he was back home now to buy a new ship.
+He had heard that I, his little brother John, was the best locomotive
+engineer in the whole world, and had come to see me--partly on account
+of relationship, but more to get my advice about buying a steam
+whaling-ship. Enoch knew more about whales and ships and such things
+than you could put down in a book, but he had no more idea _how_ steam
+propelled a ship than I had what a "skivvie tricer" was.
+
+Well, before the week was out, Enoch showed me that he was pretty well
+fixed in a financial way, and as he had no kin but me that he cared
+about, he offered me an interest in his new steam whaler, if I would go
+as chief engineer with her to the North Pacific.
+
+The terms were liberal and the chance a good one, so it seemed, and
+after a good many consultations, my wife agreed to let me go for _one_
+cruise. She asked about the stops to be made in going around the Horn,
+and figured mentally a little after each place was named--I believe now,
+she half expected that I would desert the ship and walk home from one of
+these spots, and was figuring on the time it would take me.
+
+When the robins were building their nests, the new steam whaler,
+"Champion," left New Bedford for parts unknown (_via_ the Horn), with
+the sea-sickest chief engineer that ever smelt fish oil. The steam plant
+wasn't very much--two boilers and a plain twenty-eight by thirty-six
+double engine, and any amount of hoisting rigs, blubber boilers, and
+other paraphernalia. We refitted in San Francisco, and on a clear summer
+morning turned the white-painted figurehead of the "Champion" toward the
+north and stood out for Behring sea. But, while we lay at the mouth of
+the Yukon river, up in Alaska, getting ready for a sally into the realm
+of water above the Straits, a whaler, bound for San Francisco and home,
+dropped anchor near us, the homesickness struck in on me, and--never
+mind the details now--your Uncle John came home without any whales, and
+was mighty glad to get on the extra list of the old road.
+
+The story I want to tell, however, is another man's story, and it was
+while lying in the Yukon that I heard it. I was deeply impressed with it
+at the time, and meant to give it to the world as soon as I got home,
+for I set it all down plain then, but I lost my diary, and half forgot
+the story--who wouldn't forget a story when he had to make two hundred
+and ten miles a day on a locomotive and had five children at home? But
+now, after twenty years, my wife turns up that old diary in the garret
+this spring while house-cleaning. Fred had it and an old Fourth-of-July
+cannon put away in an ancient valise, as a boy will treasure up useless
+things.
+
+Under the head of October 12th, I find this entry:
+
+"At anchor in Yukon river, weather fair, recent heavy rains; set out
+packing and filed main-rod brasses of both engines. Settled with Enoch
+to go home on first ship bound south. Demented white man brought on
+board by Indians, put in my cabin."
+
+In the next day's record there appears the following: "Watched beside
+sick man all night; in intervals of sanity he tells a strange story,
+which I will write down to-day."
+
+The 14th has the following:
+
+"Wrote out story of stranger. See the back of this book."
+
+And at the back of the book, written on paper cut from an old log of the
+"Champion," is the story that now, more than twenty-five years later, I
+tell you here:
+
+On the evening of the 12th, I went on deck to smoke and think of home,
+after a hard day's work getting the engines in shape for a siege. The
+ship was very quiet, half the crew being ashore, and some of the rest
+having gone in the boat with Captain Enoch to the "Enchantress,"
+homeward bound and lying about half a mile below us. I am glad to say
+that Enoch's principal business aboard the "Enchantress" is to get me
+passage to San Francisco. I despise this kind of dreariness--rather be
+in state prison near the folks.
+
+I sat on the rail, just abaft the stack, watching some natives handle
+their big canoes, when a smaller one came alongside. I noticed that one
+of the occupants lay at full length in the frail craft, but paid little
+attention until the canoe touched our side. Then the bundle of skins and
+Indian clothes bounded up, almost screamed, "At last!" made a spring at
+the stays, missed them, and fell with a loud splash into the water.
+
+The Indians rescued him at once, and in a few seconds he lay like one
+dead on the deck. I saw at a glance that the stranger in Indian clothes
+was a white man and an American.
+
+A pretty stiff dram of liquor brought him to slightly. He opened his
+eyes, looked up at the rigging, and closing his eyes, he murmured:
+"Thank God!--'Frisco--Polaria!"
+
+I had him undressed and put into my berth. He was shaking as with an
+ague, and when his clothes were off we plainly saw the reason--he was a
+skeleton, starving. I went on deck at once to make some inquiry of the
+Indians about our strange visitor, but their boat was just disappearing
+in the twilight.
+
+The man gained strength, as we gave him nourishment in small, frequent
+doses, and talked in a disjointed way of everything under the sun. I sat
+with him all night. Toward morning he seemed to sleep longer at a time,
+and in the afternoon of yesterday fell into a deep slumber, from which
+he did not waken for nearly twenty hours.
+
+When he did waken, he took nourishment in larger quantities, and then
+went off into another long sleep. The look of pain on his face lessened,
+a healthy glow appeared on his cheek, and he slept so soundly that I
+turned in--on the floor.
+
+I was awake along in the small hours of the morning, and heard my
+patient stirring, so I got up and drew the little curtain over the
+bulls-eye port--it was already daylight. I gave him a drink and a
+biscuit, and told him I would go to the cook's galley and get him some
+broth, but he begged to wait until breakfast time--said he felt
+refreshed, and would just nibble a sea biscuit. Then he ate a dozen in
+as many minutes.
+
+"Did you take care of my pack?" he said eagerly, throwing his legs out
+of the berth, and looking wildly at me.
+
+"Yes, it's all right; lie down and rest," said I; for I thought that to
+cross him would set him off his head again.
+
+"Do you know that dirty old pack contains more treasures than the mines
+of Africa?"
+
+"It don't look it," I answered, and laughed to get him in a pleasant
+frame of mind--for I hadn't seen nor heard of his pack.
+
+"Not for the little gold and other valuable things, but the proofs of a
+discovery as great as Columbus made, the discovery of a new continent,
+a new people, a new language, a new civilization, and riches beyond the
+dreams of a Solomon--"
+
+He shut his eyes for a minute, and then continued: "But beyond
+Purgatory, through Death, and the other side of Hell--"
+
+Just here Enoch came in to inquire after his health, and sat down for a
+minute's chat. Enoch is first, last, and all the time captain of a
+whaler; he knows about whales and whale-hunters just as an engineer on
+the road knows every speck of scenery along the line, every man, and
+every engine. Enoch couldn't talk ten minutes without being "reminded"
+of an incident in his whaling life; couldn't meet a whaleman without
+"yarning" about the whale business. He lit his pipe and asked: "Been
+whaling, or hunting the North Pole?"
+
+"Well, both."
+
+"What ship?"
+
+"The 'Duncan McDonald.'"
+
+"The--the 'McDonald!'--why, man, we counted her lost these five years;
+tell me about her, quick. Old Chuck Burrows was a particular friend of
+mine--where is he?"
+
+"Captain, Father Burrows and the 'Duncan McDonald' have both gone over
+the unknown ocean to the port of missing ships."
+
+"Sunk?"
+
+"Aye, and crushed to atoms in a frozen hell."
+
+Enoch looked out of the little window for a long time, forgot his pipe,
+and at last wiped a tear out of his eye, saying, as much to himself as
+to us: "George Burrows made me first mate of the first ship he ever
+sailed. She was named for his mother, and we left her in the ice away up
+about the seventy-third parallel. He was made of the salt of the
+earth--a sailor and a nobleman. But he was a dare-devil--didn't know
+fear--and was always venturing where none of the rest of us would dare
+go. He bought the 'McDonald,' remodeled and refitted her after he got
+back from the war--she was more than a whaler, and I had a feeling that
+she would carry Burrows and his crew away forever--"
+
+Eight bells rung just here, and Enoch left us, first ordering breakfast
+for the stranger, and saying he would come back to hear the rest after
+breakfast.
+
+As I was going out, a sailor came to the door with a flat package,
+perhaps six inches thick and twelve or fourteen square, covered with a
+dirty piece of skin made from the intestines of a whale, which is used
+by the natives of this clime because it is light and water-proof.
+
+"We found this in a coil of rope, sir; it must belong to him. It must be
+mostly lead."
+
+It was heavy, and I set it inside the door, remarking that here was his
+precious pack.
+
+"Precious! aye, aye, sir; precious don't describe it. Sacred, that's the
+word. That package will cause more excitement in the world than the
+discovery of gold in California. This is the first time it's been out of
+my sight or feeling for months and months; put it in the bunk here,
+please."
+
+I went away, leaving him with his arms around his "sacred" package.
+
+After breakfast, Enoch and I went to the little cabin to hear the
+stranger's story, and I, for one, confess to a great deal of curiosity.
+Our visitor was swallowing his last bowl of coffee as we went in. "So
+you knew Captain Burrows and the 'Duncan McDonald,'" said he. "Let me
+see, what is your name?"
+
+"Alexander, captain of the 'Champion,' at your service, sir."
+
+"Alexander; you're not the first mate, Enoch Alexander, who sat on a
+dead whale all night, holding on to a lance staff, after losing your
+boat and crew?"
+
+"The same."
+
+"Why, I've heard Captain Burrows speak of you a thousand times."
+
+"But you were going to tell us about the 'Duncan McDonald.' Tell us the
+whole cruise from stem to stern."
+
+"Let's see, where shall I begin?"
+
+"At the very beginning," I put in.
+
+"Well, perhaps you've noticed, and perhaps you have not, but I'm not a
+sailor by inclination or experience. I accidentally went out on the
+'Duncan McDonald.' How old would you take me to be?"
+
+"Fifty or fifty-five," said Enoch.
+
+"Thanks, captain, I know I must look all of that; but, let me see,
+forty-five, fifty-five, sixty-five, seventy--seventy--what year is
+this?"
+
+"Seventy-three."
+
+"Seventy-three. Well, I'm only twenty-eight now."
+
+"Impossible! Why, man, you're as gray as I am, and I'm twice that."
+
+"I was born in forty-five, just the same. My father was a sea captain in
+the old clipper days, and a long time after. He was in the West India
+trade when the war broke out, and as he had been educated in the navy,
+enlisted at once. It was on one of the gunboats before Vicksburg that he
+was killed. My mother came of a well-to-do family of merchants, the
+Clarks of Boston, and--to make a long story short--died in sixty-six,
+leaving me considerable money.
+
+"An itching to travel, plenty of money, my majority, and no ties at
+home, sent me away from college to roam, and so one spring morning in
+sixty-seven found me sitting lazily in the stern of a little pleasure
+boat off Fort Point in the Golden Gate, listlessly watching a steam
+whaler come in from the Pacific. My boatman called my attention to her,
+remarking that she was spick-and-span new, and the biggest one he ever
+saw, but I took very little notice of the ship until in tacking across
+her wake, I noticed her name in gold letters across the stern--'Duncan
+McDonald.' Now that is my own name, and was my father's; and try as I
+would, I could not account for this name as a coincidence, common as the
+name might be in the highlands of the home of my ancestors; and before
+the staunch little steamer had gotten a mile away, I ordered the boat to
+follow her. I intended to go aboard and learn, if possible, something of
+how her name originated.
+
+"As she swung at anchor, off Goat island, I ran my little boat alongside
+of her and asked for a rope. 'Rope?' inquired a Yankee sailor, sticking
+his nose and a clay pipe overboard; 'might you be wantin' to come
+aboard?'
+
+"'Yes, I want to see the captain.'
+
+"'Well, the cap'en's jest gone ashore; his dingy is yonder now, enemost
+to the landin'. You come out this evenin'. The cap'en's particular about
+strangers, but he's always to home of an evenin'.'
+
+"'Who's this boat named after?'
+
+"'The Lord knows, stranger; I don't. But I reckon the cap'en ken tell;
+he built her.'
+
+"I left word that I would call in the evening, and at eight o'clock was
+alongside again. This time I was assisted on board and shown to the door
+of the captain's cabin; the sailor knocked and went away. It was a full
+minute, I stood there before the knock was answered, and then from the
+inside, in a voice like the roar of a bull, came the call: 'Well, come
+in!'
+
+"I opened the door on a scene I shall never forget. A bright light swung
+from the beams above, and under it sat a giant of the sea--Captain
+Burrows. He had the index finger of his right hand resting near the
+North Pole of an immense globe; there were many books about, rolls of
+charts, firearms; instruments, clothing, and apparent disorder
+everywhere. The cabin was large, well-furnished, and had something
+striking about it. I looked around in wonder, without saying a word.
+Captain Burrows was the finest-looking man I ever saw--six feet three,
+straight, muscular, with a pleasant face; but the keenest, steadiest
+blue eye you ever saw. His hair was white, but his long flowing beard
+had much of the original yellow. He must have been sixty. But for all
+the pleasant face and kindly eye, you would notice through his beard the
+broad, square chin that proclaim the decision and staying qualities of
+the man."
+
+"That's George Burrows, stranger, to the queen's taste--just as good as
+a degerry-type," broke in Enoch.
+
+"Well," continued the stranger, "he let me look for a minute or two, and
+then said: 'Was it anything particular?'
+
+"I found my tongue then, and answered; 'I hope you'll excuse me, sir;
+but I must confess it is curiosity. I came on board out of curiosity
+to--'
+
+"'Reporter, hey?' asked the captain.
+
+"'No, sir; the fact is that your ship has an unusual name, one that
+interests me, and I wish to make so bold as to ask how she came to have
+it.'
+
+"'Any patent on the name?'
+
+"'Oh, no, but I--'
+
+"'Well, young man, this ship--by the way, the finest whaler that was
+ever stuck together--is named for a friend of mine; just such a man as
+she is a ship--the best of them all.'
+
+"'Was he a sailor?'
+
+"'Aye, aye, sir, and such a sailor. Fight! why, man, fighting was meat
+and drink to him--'
+
+"'Was he a whaler?'
+
+"'No, he wa'n't; but he was the best man I ever knew who wa'n't a
+whaler. He was a navy sailor, he was, and a whole ten-pound battery by
+hisself. Why, you jest ort to see him waltz his old tin-clad gun-boat up
+agin one of them reb forts--jest naturally skeered 'em half to death
+before he commenced shooting at all.'
+
+"'Wasn't he killed at the attack on Vicksburg?'
+
+"'Yes, yes; you knowed him didn't you? He was a--'
+
+"'He was my father.'
+
+"'What? Your father?' yelled Captain Burrows, jumping up and grasping
+both my hands. 'Of course he was; darn my lubberly wit that I couldn't
+see that before!' Then he hugged me as if I was a ten-year-old girl, and
+danced around me like a maniac.
+
+"'By all the gods at once, if this don't seem like Providence--yes, sir,
+old man Providence himself! What are you a-doin'? When did you come out
+here? Where be you goin', anyway?'
+
+"I found my breath, and told him briefly how I was situated. 'Old man
+Providence has got his hand on the tiller of this craft or I'm a
+grampus! Say! do you know I was wishin' and waitin' for you? Yes, sir;
+no more than yesterday, says I to myself, Chuck Burrows, says I, you are
+gettin' long too fur to the wind'ard o' sixty fur this here trip all to
+yourself. You ort to have young blood in this here enterprise; and then
+I just clubbed myself for being a lubber and not getting married young
+and havin' raised a son that I could trust. Yes, sir, jest nat'rally
+cussed myself from stem to stern, and never onct thought as mebbe my old
+messmate, Duncan McDonald, might 'a'done suthin' for his country afore
+that day at Vicks--say! I want to give you half this ship. Mabee I'll do
+the square thing and give you the whole of the tub yet. All I want is
+for you to go along with me on a voyage of discovery--be my helper,
+secretary, partner, friend--anything. What de ye say? Say!' he yelled
+again, before I could answer, 'tell ye what I'll do! Bless me if--if I
+don't adopt ye; that's what I'll do. Call me pop from this out, and I'll
+call you son. _Son!_' he shouted, bringing his fist down with a bang on
+the table. '_Son!_ that's the stuff! By the bald-headed Abraham, who
+says Chuck Burrows ain't got no kin? The "Duncan McDonald," Burrows &
+Son, owners, captain, chief cook, and blubber cooker. And who the hell
+says they ain't?'
+
+"And the old captain glared around as if he defied anybody and everybody
+to question the validity of the claims so excitedly made.
+
+"Well, gentlemen, of course there was much else said and done, but that
+announcement stood; and to the day of his death I always called the
+captain Father Burrows, and he called me 'son,' always addressing me so
+when alone, as well as when in the company of others. I went every day
+to the ship, or accompanied Father Burrows on some errand into the city,
+while the boat was being refitted and prepared for a three-years'
+cruise.
+
+"Every day the captain let me more and more into his plans, told me
+interesting things of the North, and explained his theory of the way to
+reach the Pole, and what could be found there; which fascinated me.
+Captain Burrows had spent years in the North, had noted that
+particularly open seasons occurred in what appeared cycles of a given
+number of years, and proposed to go above the eightieth parallel and
+wait for an open season. That, according to his figuring, would occur
+the following year.
+
+"I was young, vigorous, and of a venturesome spirit, and entered into
+every detail with a zest that captured the heart of the old sailor. My
+education helped him greatly, and new books and instruments were added
+to our store for use on the trip. The crew knew only that we were going
+on a three-years' cruise. They had no share in the profits, but were
+paid extra big wages in gold, and were expected to go to out-of-the-way
+places and further north than usual. Captain Burrows and myself only
+knew that there was a brand-new twenty-foot silk flag rolled up in
+oil-skin in the cabin, and that Father Burrows had declared: 'By the
+hoary-headed Nebblekenizer, I'll put them stars and stripes on new land,
+and mighty near to the Pole, or start a butt a-trying.'
+
+"In due course of time we were all ready, and the 'Duncan McDonald'
+passed out of the Golden Gate into the broad Pacific, drew her fires,
+and stopped her engines, reserving this force for a more urgent time.
+She spread her ample canvas, and stood away toward Alaska and the
+unknown and undiscovered beyond.
+
+"The days were not long for me, for they were full of study and
+anticipation. Long chats with the eccentric but masterful man whose
+friendship and love for my father had brought us together were the
+entertainment and stimulus of my existence--a man who knew nothing of
+science, except that he was master of it in his own way; who knew all
+about navigation, and to whom the northern seas were as familiar as the
+contour of Boston Common was to me; who had more stories of whaling than
+you could find in print, and better ones than can ever be printed.
+
+"I learned first to respect, then to admire, and finally to love this
+old salt. How many times he told me of my father's death, and how and
+when he had risked his life to save the life of Father Burrows or some
+of the rest of his men. As the days grew into weeks, and the weeks into
+months, Captain Burrows and myself became as one man.
+
+"I shall never forget the first Sunday at sea. Early in the morning I
+heard the captain order the boatswain to pipe all hands to prayers. I
+had noticed nothing of a religious nature in the man, and, full of
+curiosity, went on deck with the rest. Captain Burrows took off his hat
+at the foot of the mainmast, and said:
+
+"'My men, this is the first Sunday we have all met together; and as some
+of you are not familiar with the religious services on board the 'Duncan
+McDonald,' I will state that, as you may have noticed, I asked no man
+about his belief when I employed him--I hired you to simply work this
+ship, not to worship God--but on Sundays it is our custom to meet here
+in friendship, man to man, Protestant and Catholic, Mohammedan,
+Buddhist, Fire-worshiper, and pagan, and look into our own hearts,
+worshiping God as we know him, each in his own way. If any man has
+committed any offense against his God, let him make such reparation as
+he thinks will appease that God; but if any man has committed an
+offense against his fellow-man, let him settle with that man now and
+here, and not worry God with the details. Religion is goodness and
+justice and honesty; no man needs a sky-pilot to lay a course for him,
+for he alone knows where the channel, and the rocks, and the bar of his
+own heart are--look into your hearts.'
+
+"Captain Burrows stood with his hat in his hand, and bowed as if in
+prayer, and all the old tars bowed as reverently as if the most eloquent
+divine was exhorting an unseen power in their behalf. The new men
+followed the example of the old. It was just three minutes by the
+wheel-house clock before the captain straightened up and said 'Amen,'
+and the men turned away about their tasks.
+
+"'Beats mumblin' your words out of a book, like a Britisher,' said the
+captain to me; 'can't offend no man's religion, and helps every one on
+'em.'
+
+"Long months after, I attended a burial service conducted in the same
+way--in silence.
+
+"In due course of time we anchored in Norton Sound, and spent the rest
+of the winter there; and in the spring of sixty-eight, we worked our way
+north through the ice. We passed the seventy-fifth parallel of latitude
+on July 4th. During the summer we took a number of whales, storing away
+as much oil as the captain thought necessary, as he only wanted it for
+fuel and our needs, intending to take none home to sell unless we were
+unsuccessful in the line of discovery--in that event he intended to stay
+until he had a full cargo."
+
+Here our entertainer gave out, and had to rest; and while resting he
+went to sleep, so that he did not take up his story until the next day.
+
+In the morning our guest expressed a desire to be taken on deck; and,
+dressed in warm sailor clothes, he rested his hand on my shoulder, and
+slowly crawled on deck and to a sheltered corner beside the captain's
+cabin. Here he was bundled up; and again Enoch and I sat down to listen
+to the strange story of the wanderer.
+
+"I hope it won't annoy you, gentlemen," said he, "but I can't settle
+down without my pack; I find myself thinking of its safety. Would you
+mind sending down for it?"
+
+It was brought up, and set down beside him; he looked at it lovingly,
+slipped the rude strap-loop over his arm, and seemed ready to take up
+his story where he left off. He began:
+
+"I don't remember whether I told you or not, but one of the objects of
+Captain Burrows's trip was to settle something definite about the
+location of the magnetic pole, and other magnetic problems, and
+determine the cause of some of the well-known distortions of the
+magnetic needle. He had some odd, perhaps crude, instruments, of his own
+design, which he had caused to be constructed for this purpose, and we
+found them very efficient devices in the end. Late in July, we found
+much open water, and steamed steadily in a northwesterly course. We
+would find a great field of icebergs, then miles of floe, and then again
+open water. The aurora was seen every evening, but it seemed pale and
+white.
+
+"Captain Burrows brought the 'Duncan McDonald's' head around to the west
+in open water, one fine day in early August, and cruised slowly; taking
+a great many observations, and hunting, as he told me, for floating
+ice--he was hunting for a current. For several days we kept in the open
+water, but close to the ice, until one morning the captain ordered the
+ship to stand due north across the open sea.
+
+"He called me into his cabin, and with a large map of the polar regions
+on his table, to which he often referred, he said: 'Son, I've been
+hunting for a current; there's plenty of 'em in the Arctic ocean, but
+the one I want ain't loafing around here. You see, son, it's currents
+that carries these icebergs and floes south; I didn't tell you, but some
+days when we were in those floes, we lost as much as we gained. We
+worked our way north through the floe, but not on the surface of the
+globe; the floe was taking us south with it. Maybe you won't believe
+it, but there are currents going north in this sea; once or twice in a
+lifetime, a whaler or passage hunter returns with a story of being
+drifted _north_--now that's what I want, I am hunting for a northern
+current. We will go to the northern shore of this open water, be it one
+mile or one thousand, and there--well, hunt again.'
+
+"Well, it was in September when we at last got to what seemed the
+northern shore of this open sea. We had to proceed very slowly, as there
+were almost daily fogs and occasional snow-storms; but one morning the
+ship rounded to, almost under the shadow of what seemed to be a giant
+iceberg. Captain Burrows came on deck, rubbing his hands in glee.
+
+"'Son,' said he, 'that is no iceberg; that's ancient ice, perpetual ice,
+the great ice-ring--palæcrystic ice, you scientific fellows call it. I
+saw it once before, in thirty-seven, when a boy; that's it, and, son,
+beyond that there is something. Take notice that that is ice; clear,
+glary ice. You know a so-called iceberg is really a snowberg; it's
+three-fourths under water. Now, it may be possible that, that being ice
+which will float more than half out of water, the northern currents may
+go under it--but I don't believe it. Under or over, I am going to find
+one of 'em, if it takes till doomsday.'
+
+[Illustration: "What seemed to be a giant iceberg...."]
+
+"We sailed west, around close to this great wall of ice, for two weeks,
+without seeing any evidence of a current of any kind, until there came
+on a storm from the northwest that drove a great deal of ice around the
+great ring; but it seemed to keep rather clear of the great wall of ice
+and to go off in a tangent toward the south. The lead showed no bottom
+at one hundred fathoms, even within a quarter of a mile of the ice.
+
+"It was getting late in the season, the mercury often going down to
+fifteen below zero, and every night the aurora became brighter. We
+sailed slowly around the open water, and finally found a place where the
+sheer precipice of ice disappeared and the shore sloped down to
+something like a beach. Putting out a sea-anchor, the 'Duncan McDonald'
+kept within a half-a-mile of this icy shore. The captain had determined
+to land and survey the place, which far away back seemed to terminate in
+mountain peaks of ice.
+
+"That night the captain and I sat on the rail of our ship, talking over
+the plans for to-morrow's expedition, when the ship slowly but steadily
+swung around her stern to the mountain of ice--the engines had been
+moving slowly to keep her head to the wind. Captain Burrows jumped to
+his feet in joy. 'A current!' he shouted; 'a current, and toward the
+north, too--old man Providence again, son; he allus takes care of his
+own!'
+
+"Some staves were thrown overboard, and, sure enough, they floated
+toward the ice; but there was no evidence of an opening in the mighty
+ring, and I remarked to Captain Burrows that the current evidently went
+under the ice.
+
+"'It looks like it did, son; it looks like it did; but if it goes under,
+we will go over.'
+
+"After we had taken a few hours of sleep, the long-boat landed our
+little party of five men and seven dogs. We had food and drink for a two
+weeks' trip, were well armed, and carried some of our instruments. It
+appeared to be five or six miles to the top of the mountain, but it
+proved more than thirty. We were five days in getting there, and did so
+only after a dozen adventures that I will tell you at another time.
+
+"We soon began to find stones and dirt in the ice, and before we had
+gone ten miles, found the frozen carcass of an immense mastodon--its
+great tusks only showing above the level; but its huge, woolly body
+quite plainly visible in the ice. The ice was melting, and there were
+many streams running towards the open water. It was warmer as we
+proceeded. Dirt and rocks became the rule, instead of the exception, and
+we were often obliged to go around a great boulder of granite. While we
+were resting, on the third day, for a bite to eat, one of the men took a
+dish, scooped up some sand from the bottom of the icy stream, and
+'panned' it out. There was gold in it: gold enough to pay to work the
+ground. About noon of the fifth day, we reached the summit of the
+mountain, and from there looked down the other side--upon a sight the
+like of which no white men had ever seen before.
+
+"From the very summits of this icy-ring mountain the northern side was a
+sheer precipice of more than three thousand feet, and was composed of
+rocks, and rocks only, the foot of the mighty crags being washed by an
+open ocean; and this was lighted up by a peculiar crimson glow. Great
+white whales sported in the waters; huge sea-birds hung in circles high
+in the air; yet below us, and with our glasses, we could see, on the
+rocks at the foot of the crags, seals and some other animals that were
+strange to us. But follow the line of beetling crags and mountain peaks
+where you would, the northern side presented a solid blank wall of awful
+rocks, in many places the summit overhanging and the shore well under in
+the mighty shadow. Nothing that any of us had ever seen in nature before
+was so impressive, so awful. We started on our return, after a couple of
+hours of the awe-inspiring sight beyond the great ring, and for full two
+hours not a man spoke.
+
+"'Father Burrows,' said I, 'what do you think that is back there?'
+
+"'No man knows, my son, and it will devolve on you and me to name it;
+but we won't unless we get to it and can take back proofs.'
+
+"'Do you think we could get down the other side?'
+
+"'No, I don't think so, and we seem to have struck it in the lowest spot
+in sight. I'd give ten years of my life if the 'Duncan McDonald' was
+over there in that duck pond.'
+
+"'Captain,' said Eli Jeffries, the second mate, 'do you know what I've
+been thinkin'? I believe that 'ere water we seen is an open passage from
+the Behring side of the frozen ocean over agin' some of them 'ere
+Roosian straits. If we could get round to the end of it, we'd sail right
+through the great Northwest Passage.'
+
+"'You don't think there is land over there somewhere?'
+
+"'Nope.'
+
+"'Didn't take notice that the face of your "passage" was granite or
+quartz rocks, hey? Didn't notice all them animals and birds, hey?--'
+
+"'Look out!' yelled the man ahead with the dog-sledge.
+
+"A strange, whirring noise was heard in the foggy light, that sounded
+over our heads. We all dropped to the ground, and the noise increased,
+until a big flock of huge birds passed over us in rapid flight north.
+There must have been thousands of them. Captain Burrows brought his
+shot-gun to his shoulder and fired. There were some wild screams in the
+air, and a bird came down to the ice with a loud thud. It looked very
+large a hundred feet away, but sight is very deceiving in this white
+country in the semi-darkness. We found it a species of duck, rather
+large and with gorgeous plumage.
+
+"'Goin' north, to Eli's "passage" to lay her eggs on the ice,' said the
+captain, half sarcastically.
+
+"We reached the ship in safety, and the captain and I spent long hours
+in trying to form some plan for getting beyond the great ice-ring.
+
+"'If it's warm up there, and everything that we've seen says it is, all
+this cold water that's going north gets warm and goes out some place;
+and rest you, son, wherever it goes out, there's a hole in the ice.'
+
+"Here we were interrupted by the mate, who said that there were queer
+things going on overhead, and some of the sailors were ready to mutiny
+unless the return trip was commenced. Captain Burrows went on deck at
+once, and you may be sure I followed at his heels.
+
+"'What's wrong here?' demanded the captain, in his roaring tone,
+stepping into the midst of the crew.
+
+"'A judgment against this pryin' into God's secrets, sir,' said an
+English sailor, in an awe-struck voice. 'Look at the signs, sir,'
+pointing overhead.
+
+"Captain Burrows and I both looked over our heads, and there saw an
+impressive sight, indeed. A vast colored map of an unknown world hung in
+the clouds over us--a mirage from the aurora. It looked very near, and
+was so distinct that we could distinguish polar bears on the ice-crags.
+One man insisted that the mainmast almost touched one snowy peak, and
+most of them actually believed that it was an inverted part of some
+world, slowly coming down to crush us. Captain Burrows looked for
+several minutes before he spoke. Then he said: 'My men, this is the
+grandest proof of all that Providence is helping us. This thing that you
+see is only a picture; it's a mirage, the reflection of a portion of the
+earth on the sky. Just look, and you will see that it's in the shape of
+a crescent, and we are almost in the center of it; and, I tell you, it's
+a picture of the country just in front of us. See this peak? See that
+low place where we went up? There is the great wall we saw, the open sea
+beyond it, and, bless me, if it don't look like something green over in
+the middle of that ocean! See, here is the "Duncan McDonald," as plain
+as A, B, C, right overhead. Now, there's nothing to be afraid of in
+that; if it's a warning, it's a good one--and if any one wants to go
+home to his mother's, and is old enough, _he can walk_!'
+
+[Illustration: "A white city ... was visible for an instant."]
+
+"The captain looked around, but the sailors were as cool as he was--they
+were reassured by his honest explanation. Then he took me by the arm,
+and, pointing to the painting in the sky, said: 'Old man Providence
+again, son, sure as you are born; do you see that lane through the great
+ring? There's an open, fairly straight passage to the inner ocean,
+except that it's closed by about three miles of ice on our side; see it
+there, on the port side?'
+
+"Yes, I could see it, but I asked Captain Burrows how he could account
+for the open passages beyond and the wall of ice in front; it was cold
+water going in.
+
+"'It's strange,' he answered, shading his eye with his hand, and looking
+long at the picture of the clear passage, like a great canal between the
+beetling cliffs. All at once, he grasped my arm and said in excitement,
+pointing towards the outer end of the passage: 'Look!'
+
+"As I looked at the mirage again, the great mass of ice in front
+commenced to slowly turn over, outwardly.
+
+"'It's an iceberg, sir, only an iceberg!' said the captain, excitedly,
+'and she is just holding that passage because the current keeps her up
+against the hole; now, she will wear out some day, and then--in goes the
+"Duncan McDonald"!'
+
+"'But there are others to take its place,' and I pointed to three other
+bergs, apparently some twenty miles away, plainly shown in the sky;
+'they are the reinforcements to hold the passage.'
+
+"'Looks that way, son, but by the great American buzzard, we'll get in
+there somehow, if we have to blow that berg up.'
+
+"As we looked, the picture commenced to disappear, not fade, but to go
+off to one side, just as a picture leaves the screen of a magic lantern.
+Over the inner ocean there appeared dark clouds; but this part was
+visible last, and the clouds seemed to break at the last moment, and a
+white city, set in green fields and forests, was visible for an instant,
+a great golden dome in the center remaining in view after the rest of
+the city was invisible.
+
+"'A rainbow of promise, son,' said the captain.
+
+"I looked around. The others had grown tired of looking, and were gone.
+Captain Burrows and myself were the only ones that saw the city.
+
+"We got under way for an hour, and then stood by near the berg until
+eight bells the next morning; but you must remember it was half dark all
+the time up there then. While Captain Burrows and myself were at
+breakfast, he cudgeled his brains over ways and means for moving that
+ice, or preventing other bergs from taking its place. When we went on
+deck, our berg was some distance from the mouth of the passage, and
+steadily floating away. Captain Burrows steamed the ship cautiously up
+toward the passage; there was a steady current coming out.
+
+"'I reckon,' said Eli Jeffries, 'they must have a six-months' ebb and
+flow up in that ocean.'
+
+"'If that's the case, said Captain Burrows, 'the sooner we get in, the
+better;' and he ordered the 'Duncan McDonald' into the breach in the
+world of ice.
+
+"Gentlemen, suffice it to say that we found that passage perfectly
+clear, and wider as we proceeded. This we did slowly, keeping the lead
+going constantly. The first mate reported the needle of the compass
+working curiously, dipping down hard, and sparking--something he had
+never seen. Captain Burrows only said: 'Let her spark!'
+
+"As we approached the inner ocean, as we called it, the passage was
+narrow; it became very dark and the waters roared ahead. I feared a fall
+or rapid, but the 'Duncan McDonald' could not turn back. The noise was
+only the surf on the great crags within. As the ship passed out into the
+open sea beyond, the needle of the compass turned clear around and
+pointed back. 'Do you know, son,' said Captain Burrows, 'that I believe
+the so-called magnetic pole is a great ring around the true Pole, and
+that we just passed it there? The whole inside of this mountain looks
+to me like rusted iron instead of stone, anyhow.'"
+
+Here our story-teller rested and dozed for a few minutes; then rousing
+up, he said: "I'll tell you the rest to-morrow; yes, to-morrow; I'm tired
+now. To-morrow I'll tell you about a wonderful country; wonderful
+cities; wonderful people! I'll show you solar pictures such as you never
+saw, of scenes, places, and people you never dreamed of. I will show you
+implements that will prove that there's a country where gold is as
+common as tin at home--where they make knives and forks and stew-pans of
+it! I'll show you writing more ancient and more interesting than the
+most treasured relics in our Sanscrit libraries. I'll tell you of the
+two years I spent in another world. I'll tell you of the precious cargo
+that went to the bottom of the frozen ocean with the staunch little
+ship, 'Duncan McDonald;' of the bravest, noblest commander, and the
+sweetest angel of a woman that ever breathed and lived and loved. I'll
+tell you of my escape and the hell I've been through. To-morrow--"
+
+He dozed off for a few moments again.
+
+"But I've got enough in this pack to turn the world inside out with
+wonder--ah, what a sensation it will be, what an educational feature! It
+will send out a hundred harum-scarum expeditions to find Polaria--but
+there are few commanders like Captain Burrows; he could do it, the rest
+of 'em will die in the ice. But when I get to San Fran----. Say,
+captain, how long will it take to get there, and how long before you
+start?"
+
+Enoch and I exchanged glances, and Enoch answered: "We wa'n't goin' to
+"Frisco."
+
+"Around the Horn, then?" inquired the stranger, sitting up. "But you
+will land me in 'Frisco, won't you? I can't wait, I must--"
+
+"We're goin' _in_," said Enoch; "goin' north, for a three-years'
+cruise."
+
+"North!" shouted the stranger, wildly. "Three years in that hell of ice.
+Three years! My God! North! North!"
+
+He was dancing around the deck like a maniac, trying to put his
+pack-loop over his head. Enoch went toward him, to tell him how he
+could go on the "Enchantress," but he looked wildly at him, ran forward
+and sprang out on the bowsprit, and from there to the jib. Enoch saw he
+was out of his mind, and ordered two sailors to bring him in. As they
+sprang on to the bow, he stood up and screamed:
+
+"No! No! No! Three years! Three lives! Three hells! I never--"
+
+One of the men reached for him here, but he kicked at the sailor
+viciously, and turning sidewise, sprang into the water below.
+
+A boat, already in the water, was manned instantly; but the worn-out
+body of another North Pole explorer had gone to the sands of the bottom
+where so many others have gone before; evidently his heavy pack had held
+him down, there to guard the story it could tell--in death as he had in
+life.
+
+                                THE END
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+DANGER SIGNALS
+
+Remarkable, Exciting And Unique Examples Of The Bravery,
+Daring And Stoicism In The Midst Of Danger Of
+TRAIN DISPATCHERS AND RAILROAD ENGINEERS
+
+By
+
+JOHN A. HILL
+and
+JASPER EWING BRADY
+
+ABSORBING STORIES OF MEN WITH NERVES OF STEEL,
+INDOMITABLE COURAGE AND WONDERFUL ENDURANCE
+
+Fully Illustrated
+
+CHICAGO
+JAMIESON-HIGGINS CO.
+1902
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: Facsimile Of A Completed Order As Entered In The
+Despatcher's Order-Book]
+
+DANGER SIGNALS.
+
+PART II.
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+LEARNING THE BUSINESS--MY FIRST OFFICE
+
+
+Seated in sumptuously furnished palace cars, annihilating space at the
+rate of sixty miles an hour, but few passengers ever give a thought to
+the telegraph operators of the road stuck away in towers or in dingy
+little depots, in swamps, on the tops of mountains, or on the bald
+prairies and sandy deserts of the west; and yet, these selfsame
+telegraph operators are a very important adjunct to the successful
+operation of the road, and a single error on the part of one of them
+might result in the loss of many lives and thousands of dollars.
+
+The whole length of the railroad from starting point to terminus is
+literally under the eyes of the train despatcher. By means of reports
+sent in by hundreds of different operators, he knows the exact location
+of all trains at all times, the number of "loads" and "empties" in each
+train, the number of cars on each siding, the number of passing tracks
+and their capacity, the capabilities of the different engines, the
+gradients of the road, the condition of the roadbed, and, above all, he
+knows the personal characteristics of every conductor and engineer on
+the road. In fact if there is one man of more importance than another on
+a railroad it is the train despatcher. During his trick of eight hours
+he is the autocrat of the road, and his will in the running of trains is
+absolute. Therefore despatchers are chosen with very special regard for
+their fitness for the position. They must be expert telegraphers, quick
+at figures, and above all they must be as cool as ice, have nerves of
+steel, and must be capable of grasping a trying situation the minute an
+emergency arises. An old despatcher once said to me: "Sooner or later a
+despatcher, if he sticks to the business, will have his smash-up, and
+then down goes a reputation which possibly he has been years in building
+up, and his name is inscribed on the roll of 'has-beens.'"
+
+Before the despatcher comes the operator, and the old Biblical saying,
+"Many are called but few are chosen," is well illustrated by the small
+number of good despatchers that are found; it is easy enough to find
+excellent operators, but a first-class despatcher is a rarity among
+them.
+
+I learned telegraphy some fifteen or sixteen years ago at a school away
+out in western Kansas. After I had been there three or four months, I
+was the star of the class, and imagined that the spirit of Professor
+Morse had been reincarnated in me. No wire was too swift for me to work,
+no office too great for me to manage; in fact visions of a
+superintendency of telegraph flitted before my eyes. Such institutions
+as this school are very correctly named "ham factories."
+
+During my stay at the school I formed the acquaintance of the night
+operator at the depot and it was my wont to spend most of my nights
+there picking up odds and ends of information. For my own benefit I used
+to copy everything that came along; but the young man in charge never
+left me entirely alone. Night operators at all small stations have to
+take care of their own lamps and fires, sweep out, handle baggage, and,
+in short, be porter as well as operator, and for the privilege of being
+allowed to stay about I used to do this work for the night man at the
+office in question. His name was Harry Burgess and he was as good a man
+as ever sat in front of a key. Some few weeks after this he was
+transferred to a day office up the road and by his help I was made
+night operator in his stead. Need I say how proud I felt when I received
+a message from the Chief Despatcher telling me to report for duty that
+night? I think I was the proudest man, or boy rather, on this earth.
+Just think! Night operator, porter and baggageman, working from seven
+o'clock in the evening until seven o'clock in the morning, and receiving
+the magnificent sum of forty dollars per month! It was enough to make my
+bosom swell with pride and it's a wonder I didn't burst.
+
+Heretofore, I had had Burgess to fall back upon when I was copying
+messages or orders, but now I was alone and the responsibility was all
+mine. I managed to get through the first night very well, because all I
+had to do was to take a few "red" commercial messages, "O. S." the
+trains and load ten big sample trunks on No. 2. The trains were all on
+time and consequently there were no orders. I was proud of my success
+and went off duty at seven o'clock in the morning with a feeling that my
+services were well nigh indispensable to the road, and if anything were
+to happen to me, receivers would surely have to be appointed.
+
+The second night everything went smoothly until towards eleven o'clock,
+when the despatcher began to call "MN," and gave the signal "9." Now
+the signal "9" means "Train Orders," and takes precedence over
+everything else on the wire. The situation was anything but pleasant for
+me, because I had never yet, on my own responsibility, taken a train
+order, and I stood in a wholesome fear of the results that might accrue
+from any error of mine. So I didn't answer the despatcher at once as I
+should have done because I hoped he would get tired of calling me and
+would tackle "OG," and give him the order. But he didn't. He just kept
+on calling me, increasing his speed all the time. In sheer desperation,
+I went out on the platform for five minutes and stamped around to keep
+warm, hoping all the time he would stop when he found I did not answer.
+But when I returned instead of calling me on one wire, he had his
+operator calling me on the commercial line while he was pounding away on
+the railroad wire. At the rate those two sounders were going they
+sounded to me like the crack of doom and I was becoming powerfully warm.
+I finally mustered up courage and answered him.
+
+The first thing the despatcher said was:
+
+"Where in h--l have you been?"
+
+I didn't think that was a very nice thing for him to say, and he fired
+it at me so fast I could hardly read it, so I simply replied, "Out
+fixing my batteries."
+
+"Well," he said, "your batteries will need fixing when I get through
+with you. Now copy 3."
+
+"Copy 3," means to take three copies of the order that is to follow, so
+I grabbed my manifold order-book and stylus and prepared to copy. There
+is a rule printed in large bold type in all railroad time-cards which
+says, "Despatchers, in sending train orders to operators, will
+accommodate their speed to the abilities of the operators. In all cases
+_they will send plainly and distinctly_." If the despatcher had sent
+according to my ability just then he would have sent that order by train
+mail. But instead, from the very beginning, he fired it at me so fast,
+that before I had started to take it he was away down in the body of it.
+I had written down only the order number and date, when I broke and
+said, "G. A. To." That made him madder than ever and he went at me again
+with increased violence the sounder seeming like the roll of a drum. I
+think I broke him about ten times and finally he said, "For heaven's
+sake go wake up the day man. You're nothing but a ham." Strangely enough
+I could take all of his nasty remarks without any trouble while the
+order almost completely stumped me. However, I finally succeeded in
+putting it all down, repeated it back to him, and received his "O. K."
+
+When the train arrived the conductor and engineer came in the office and
+I gave them the order. The conductor glanced at it for a moment and then
+said with a broad grin, "Say, kid, which foot did you use in copying
+this?" My copy wasn't very clear, but finally he deciphered it, and they
+both signed their names, the despatcher gave me the "complete," and they
+left. As soon as the train, which was No. 22, a livestock express, had
+departed, I made my O. S. report, and then heaved a big sigh of relief.
+
+Scarcely had the tail-lights disappeared across the bridge and around
+the bend, when the despatcher called again and said, "For God's sake
+stop that train."
+
+I said, "I can't. She's gone."
+
+"Well," he snapped back, "there's a good chance for a fine smash-up this
+night."
+
+That scared me almost out of my wits, and I looked at my copy of the
+order. But it read all right, and yet I felt mighty creepy. About thirty
+minutes afterwards, I heard a heavy step on the platform and in a second
+the hind brakeman came tramping in, and cheerfully saluted me with,
+"Well, I reckon you've raised h--l to-night. 21 and 22 are up against
+each other hard about a mile and a half east of here. They met on a
+curve and engines, box-cars, livestock and freight are piled up in fine
+shape."
+
+"Any one killed?" I asked with a blanched face and sinking heart.
+
+"Naw, no one is exactly killed, but one engineer and a fireman are
+pretty badly scalded, and 'Shorty' Jones, our head man, has a broken leg
+caused by jumping. You'd better tell the despatcher."
+
+Visions of the penitentiary for criminal neglect danced before my
+disordered brain; all my knowledge of telegraphy fled; I was weak in the
+knees, sick at heart, and as near a complete wreck as a man could be.
+But something had to be done, so I finally told the despatcher that Nos.
+21 and 22 were in the ditch, and he snapped back, "D--n it, I've been
+expecting it, and have ordered the wrecking outfit out from Watsego. You
+turn your red-light and hold everything that comes along. In the
+meantime go wake up the day man. I want an operator there, and not a
+ham."
+
+When the day man came in, half dressed, he said, "Well, what the devil
+is the matter?"
+
+Speech had entirely left me by this time, so I simply pointed to the
+order, and the brakeman told him the rest. Never in all my life have I
+spent such a night as that. The day man regaled me with charming little
+incidents, about men he knew, who, for having been criminally negligent,
+had been shot by infuriated engineers or had been sent up for ten years.
+He seemed to take a fiendish delight in telling me these things and my
+discomfiture was great. I would have run away if I hadn't been too weak.
+About seven o'clock in the morning, after a night of misery, he
+patronizingly told me, that it wasn't my fault at all; the despatcher
+had given a "lap order," and that the blame was on him. Well! the
+reaction was as bad, almost, as the first feeling of horror. I went home
+and after a light breakfast, retired to bed, but not to sleep, for every
+time I would close my eyes, visions of wrecks, penitentiaries, dead men
+and ruined homes came crowding upon my disordered brain.
+
+About ten o'clock they sent for me to come to the office. I went over
+and Webster the agent said the superintendent wanted to see me. I had
+never seen the superintendent and he seemed to me to be about as far off
+as the President of the United States, but I screwed up my courage and
+went in. I saw a kindly-looking gentleman seated before Webster's desk,
+but I was too much frightened to speak and just stood there like a bump
+on a log. Presently, Mr. Brink, the superintendent, turned to Webster
+and said, "I wonder why that night man doesn't come?"
+
+I tremblingly replied, "I am the night man, sir." He looked at me for a
+moment and smilingly said, "Why, bless my soul, my lad! I thought you
+were a messenger boy." He then asked me for my story of the wreck. When
+I had given it he seemed satisfied, and gave me lots of good advice; but
+in the end he said I was too young to have the position, and I was
+discharged. But he kindly added, that in a few years he would be glad to
+have me come back on the road, after I had acquired more experience. The
+next day I returned to school.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+AN ENCOUNTER WITH TRAIN ROBBERS
+
+
+My first attempt at holding an office had proved such a flat and dismal
+failure that I thought I should never have the heart to apply for
+another. I worked faithfully in the school for about a month, and then
+the fever to try again took hold of me. I knew it would be of no use to
+apply to my former superintendent, Mr. Brink, so I wrote to Mr. R. B.
+Bunnell, Superintendent of Telegraph of the P. Q. & X. Railroad at
+Kansas City, Missouri, saying I was an expert operator and desired a
+position on his road. Mr. Bunnell must have been laboring under a
+hypnotic spell, for by return mail he wrote, enclosing me a pass to
+Alfreda, Kansas, and directing me to assume charge of the night office
+at that point at the magnificent salary of $37.50 per month. This was a
+slight decrease from my former salary, but I didn't care. I wanted a
+chance to redeem myself and I felt confident I could be more successful
+in my second attempt. So I packed my few belongings, bade good-bye to
+the school forever, and away I went.
+
+When I left "MN," I said nothing to any one about my destination, and I
+did not know a thing about Alfreda, except that it was near the border
+line between Kansas and Colorado. The brakeman on the train in talking
+to me told me it was a very pleasant place; but when he said so I
+fancied I could detect a sarcastic ring in his voice, and I was in no
+doubt about it when I arrived and saw what a desolate, dreary place
+Alfreda was. The only things in sight were a water-tank, a pump-house
+and the telegraph office; and I wish you could have seen that office. It
+was simply the bed of a box-car, taken off the trucks and set down with
+one end towards the track. A small platform, two windows, a door, and
+the signal board perched high on a pole completed the outfit.
+
+I arrived at six-thirty in the morning and there wasn't a living soul in
+sight. An hour later, a big broad shouldered Irishman who proved to be
+the pumper, came ambling along on a railroad velocipede. He looked at me
+for a minute, and after I had made myself known he grinned and said,
+"Well, I hopes as how ye will loike the place. Burke, the man who was
+here afore ye, got scared off by thramps, and I reckon he's not stopped
+runnin' yit." Fine introduction wasn't it?
+
+I found there was no day operator and the only house around was the
+section house, two miles up the track. The operator and pumper boarded
+there with the section boss; but the railroad company was magnanimous
+enough to furnish a velocipede for their use in going to and from the
+station. How I felt the first night, stuck away out there in that
+box-car, two miles from the nearest house and twelve miles from the
+nearest town, I must leave to the imagination. My heart sank and I had
+many misgivings, in fact, I was scared to death, but I set my teeth hard
+and determined to do my best, with the hope that I might be promoted to
+a better office. I did win that promotion but I wouldn't go through my
+experiences again for the whole road.
+
+One night after I had been working there about a month, I went to my
+office as usual at seven o'clock. It was a black night threatening a big
+storm. The pumper had not gone home as yet and he remarked, that it was
+"goin' to be a woild night," but he hoped "the whistlin' av the wind
+would be after kaping me company," and with that he jumped on the
+velocipede, and off he went.
+
+I didn't much relish the idea of the storm, for I knew the reputation of
+Kansas as a cyclone state, and my box-car office was not well adapted to
+stand a hurricane. However, I went inside, and after lighting my lamps,
+sat down and wrote letters and read, when I was not taking train orders.
+This office was kept up solely because it was a convenient place to
+deliver orders to freight trains at night when they stopped for water.
+
+About twelve-thirty in the morning my door opened suddenly, and a man
+stepped quickly in. I was startled because this was almost the only man
+except the pumper and the train crews that had been there since I came.
+Once in a while a stray tramp had gone through, but this man was not a
+tramp. He wore a long overcoat, buttoned to his chin, with the collar
+turned up. A slouch hat pulled well down over his eyes so far concealed
+his face that his features were scarcely visible. He came over to my
+desk and gruffly asked, "What time is there a passenger train east
+to-night?"
+
+I answered that one went through at half past one, the Overland Flyer,
+but it did not stop at Alfreda. Quick as a flash he pulled a revolver
+and poking it in my face, said, "Young man, you turn your red-light and
+stop that train or I'll make a vacancy in this office mighty d----d
+quick."
+
+[Illustration: "Two of the men tied my hands in front of me."]
+
+The longer I gazed down the barrel of that revolver the bigger it grew,
+and it looked to me as if it was loaded with buck-shot to the muzzle.
+When it had grown to about the size of a gatling gun (and it didn't take
+long to do it), I concluded that "discretion was the better part of
+valor," and reached up and turned my red-light. Meanwhile the door
+opened again, and three more men came in. They were masked and the
+minute I saw them I knew they were going to make an attempt to hold up
+the Overland Flyer. Often this train carried large amounts of bullion
+and currency east, and I supposed they had heard that there was a
+shipment to go through that night.
+
+I was standing with my back to the table, and just then I heard the
+despatcher say that the Flyer was thirty minutes late from the west. I
+put my hands quietly behind me and let the right rest on the key. I then
+carefully opened the key and had just begun to speak to the despatcher
+when one of the men suspected me and said to the leader, "Bill, watch
+that little cuss. He's monkeying with the instrument and may give them
+warning."
+
+I stopped, closed the key, and was trying to look unconcerned, when
+"Bill," said that "to stop all chances of further trouble," they would
+bind and gag me. Thereupon two of the men tied my hands in front of me,
+bound my legs securely, and thrust a villainously dirty gag in my mouth.
+When this was done, "Bill" said, "Throw him across those blamed
+instruments so they will keep quiet." They flung me upon the table,
+face downwards, so that the relay was just under my stomach, and of
+course my weight against the armature of the relay stopped the clicking
+of the sounder. As luck would have it, my left hand was in such a
+position that it just touched the key, and I found I could move the hand
+slightly. So I opened the key and pretended to be struggling quite a
+little. The leader came over and giving me a good stiff punch in the
+ribs, said with an oath, "You keep quiet or we'll find a way to make
+you." I became passive again, and then when the men were engaged in
+earnest conversation, I began to telegraph softly to the despatcher. The
+relay being shut off by my weight, there was no noise from the sounder,
+and I sent so slowly that the key was noiseless. Of course I did not
+know on whom I was breaking in, but I kept on. I told the exact state of
+affairs, and asked him to either tell the Flyer not to heed my red-light
+and go through, or, better still, to send an armed posse from Kingsbury,
+twelve miles up the road. I repeated the message twice, so that he would
+be sure to hear it, and then trusted to luck.
+
+The cords and gags were beginning to hurt, and my anxiety was very
+great. The minutes dragged slowly by, and I thought that hour would
+never end; but it did end at last, and all of a sudden I heard the long
+calliope whistle of the engine on the Flyer as she came down the grade.
+This was followed by two short blasts, that showed she had seen my
+red-light and was going to stop. "My God!" I thought. "Has she been
+warned?" So soon as the train whistled the men went out leaving me
+helpless on the table. I heard the whistle of the air brakes and knew
+the train must be slowing up. My anxiety was intense. Presently I heard
+her stop at the tank, and then, in about a second, I listened to the
+liveliest fusillade that I had ever heard in my life. It was sweet music
+to my ears I can tell you, for it indicated to me, what proved to be a
+fact, that a posse were on board and that the robbers were foiled. One
+of them was shot, and two were captured, but "Bill," the leader,
+escaped. They had their horses hitched to the telegraph poles, and as
+"Bill" went running by the office I heard him say, "I'll fix that d--d
+operator, anyhow." Then, BANG! crash, went the glass in the window, and
+a bullet buried itself in the table, not two inches from my head. I was
+not exactly killed, but I was frightened so badly, and the strain had
+been so great, that when the trainmen came in to release me, I at once
+lost consciousness. When I came to, I was surrounded by a sympathetic
+crowd of passengers and trainmen, and a doctor, who happened to be on
+the train, was pouring something down my throat that soon made me feel
+better.
+
+As soon as I had recovered myself sufficiently, I telegraphed the
+despatcher what had happened, and the chief, who in the meantime had
+been sent for, told me to close up my office, and come east on the
+flyer, to report for duty in the morning in his office as copy operator.
+
+That is how I won my promotion.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+IN A WRECK
+
+
+The change from Alfreda to the chief despatcher's office in Nicholson
+was, indeed, a pleasant one. The despatchers, especially the first trick
+man, seemed somewhat dubious as to my ability to do the work, but I was
+rapidly improving in telegraphy, and, in spite of my extreme youth I was
+allowed to remain. But the life of a railroad man is very uncertain, and
+one day we were much surprised to hear that the road had gone into the
+hands of receivers. There were charges of mismanagement made against a
+number of the higher officials of the road, and one of the first things
+the receivers did was to have a general "house-cleaning." The general
+manager, the general superintendent, and a number of the division
+superintendents resigned to save dismissal, and my friend the chief
+despatcher went with them. He was succeeded by Ted Donahue, the man who
+had been working the first trick. Ted didn't like me worth a cent, and,
+rather than give him an opportunity to dismiss me, I quit.
+
+I was at home idle for a few weeks, and then hearing that there might be
+an opening for operators on the C. Q. & R., a new road building up in
+Nebraska, I once more started out. It was an all night ride to the
+division headquarters, and thinking I might as well be luxurious for
+once, I took a sleeper. My berth was in the front end of the last car on
+the train. I retired about half past ten and soon dropped off into a
+sound sleep. I had been asleep for perhaps two hours, when I was
+awakened by the car giving a violent lurch, and then suddenly stopping.
+I was stunned and dazed for a moment, but I soon heard the cracking and
+breaking of timbers, and the hissing of steam painfully near to my
+section. I tried to move and rise up, but found that the confines of my
+narrow quarters would not permit it. I then realized that we were
+wrecked and that I was in a bad predicament. I felt that I had no bones
+broken, and my only fear was that the wreck would take fire. My fears
+were not groundless for I soon smelled smoke. I cried out as loudly as I
+could, but my berth had evidently become a "sound proof booth." Then I
+felt that my time had come, and had about given up all hope, and was
+trying to say a prayer, when I heard the train-crew and passengers
+working above me. Again I cried out and this time was heard, and soon
+was taken out. God! what a night it was--raining a perfect deluge and
+the wind blowing a hurricane.
+
+I learned that our train had stopped on account of a hot driving-box on
+the engine; the hind brakeman had been sent back to put out a flag, but,
+imagining there was nothing coming, he had neglected to do his full
+duty, and before he knew it, a fast freight came tearing around the
+bend, and a tail-end collision was the result. Seeing the awful effects
+of his gross neglect, the brakeman took out across the country and was
+never heard of again. I fancy if he could have been found that night by
+the passengers and train-crew his lot would have been anything but
+pleasant. Two people in the sleeper were killed outright, and three were
+injured, while the engineer and fireman of the freight were badly hurt
+by jumping. I didn't get a scratch.
+
+As I stood watching the wrecked cars burn, I heard the conductor say,
+"he wished to God he had an operator with him." I told him I was an
+operator and offered my services. He said there was a pocket instrument
+in the baggage car, and asked me if I would cut in on the wire and tell
+the despatcher of the wreck. I assented and went forward with him to the
+baggage car, where he gave me a pair of pliers, a pocket instrument and
+about eight feet of office wire. I asked for a pair of climbers and some
+more office wire, but neither was to be had. Here, therefore, was a
+pretty knotty problem. The telegraph poles were thirty feet high; how
+was I to make a connection with only eight feet of wire and no climbers?
+I thought for a while, and then I put the instrument in my pocket, and
+undertook to "shin up" the pole as I used to do when I was a schoolboy.
+After many efforts, in which I succeeded in tearing nearly all the
+clothes off of me, I finally reached the lowest cross-arm, and seated
+myself on it with my legs wrapped around the pole. There was only one
+wire on this arm, so I had, comparatively speaking, plenty of room. On
+each of the other two cross arms there were four wires, and there was
+also one strung along the tops of the poles. This made ten wires in all,
+and I had not the least idea which one was the despatcher's wire. The
+pole being wet from the rain, made the wires mighty hot to handle. I had
+the fireman hand me up a piece of old iron wire he happened to have on
+the engine, and with this I made a flying cut in the third wire of the
+second cross arm. I attached the little pocket instrument, and found
+that upon adjusting it, I was on a commercial wire. There I was,
+straddling a cross arm between heaven and earth, with the instrument
+held on my knee, and totally ignorant of any of the calls or the wire I
+was on. I yelled down to the conductor and asked him if he knew any of
+the calls. No; of course he didn't; and he was so excited he didn't have
+sense enough to look on his time-card, where the calls are always
+printed. Finally, after carefully adjusting the instrument, I opened my
+key, broke in on somebody, and said "Wreck." The answer came, "Sine." I
+said, "I haven't any sine. No. 2 on the C. K. & Q. has been wrecked out
+here, and I want the despatcher's office. Can you tell me if he is on
+this wire?"
+
+Now there is a vast deal of difference between sending with a Bunnell
+key on a polished table, and sending with a pocket instrument held on
+your knee, especially when you are perched on a thirty foot pole, with
+the rain pouring down in torrents, the wind blowing almost a gale, and
+expecting every minute to be blown off and have your precious neck
+broken. Consequently my sending was pretty "rocky," and some one came
+back at me with, "Oh! get out you big ham." But I hung to it and
+finally made them understand who I was and what I wanted. The main
+office in Ouray cut me in on the despatcher's wire and I told him of the
+wreck. He said he had suspected that No. 2. was in trouble, but he had
+no idea that it was as bad as I had reported. He said he would order out
+the wrecking outfit and would send doctors with it. Would I please stay
+close and do the telegraphing for them, he would see that I was properly
+rewarded. Then I told him about where I was, but promised to hold on as
+long as I could, but for him to be sure and send out some more wire and
+a pair of climbers on the wrecker. After waiting about an hour the
+wrecker arrived, and with it the doctors; so our anxiety was relieved,
+the wounded taken care of, and a decent wrecking office put in.
+
+The division superintendent came out with them, and for my services he
+offered me the day office at X----, which I accepted.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+A WOMAN OPERATOR WHO SAVED A TRAIN
+
+
+X---- was a pretty good sort of an office to have, barring a beastly
+climate wherein all four seasons would sometimes be ably and fully
+represented in one twenty-four hours. But eighty big round American
+dollars a month was not to be sneezed at--that was a heap of money to a
+young chap--and I hung on. In those days civilization had not advanced
+as far westward as it is to-day, and there was not much local business
+on the road, due to the sparsely settled country. The first office east
+of X---- was Dunraven, some twenty miles away. Between the two places were
+several blind sidings used as passing tracks. Dunraven was a cracking
+good little village and the day operator there was Miss Mary Marsh;
+there was no night office. Now I was just at the age where all a young
+man's susceptibility comes to the surface, and I was a pretty fair
+sample. I weighed one hundred and fifty pounds and every ounce of me was
+as susceptible as a barometer on a stormy day. Consequently it was not
+long until I knew Mary and liked her immensely. All my spare time was
+occupied in talking to her over the wire, except when the cussed
+despatcher would chase me off with, "Oh! get out you big spoon, you make
+every one tired." Then Mary would give me the merry, "Ha, ha, ha."
+
+One time I took a day off and ran down to Dunraven, and my impressions
+were fully confirmed. Mary was a little bit of a woman, with black hair,
+red lips, white teeth, and two eyes that looked like coals of fire, so
+bright were they. She was small, but when she took hold of the key, she
+was jerked lightning, and I have never seen but one woman since who was
+her equal in that line.
+
+Our road was one of the direct connections of the "Overland Route," west
+to San Francisco, and twice a day we had a train, that in those days was
+called a flyer. Now it would be in a class with the first class
+freights. The west bound train passed my station at eight in the
+morning, and the east bound at seven-thirty in the evening. After that I
+gave "DS" good night, and was free until seven the next morning. The
+east bound flyer passed Dunraven at eight-fifteen in the evening and
+then. Mary was through for the night. The town was a mile away from the
+depot and the poor girl had to trudge all that distance alone. But she
+was as plucky as they make them and was never molested. A mile west of
+Dunraven was Peach Creek, spanned by a wooden pile and stringer bridge.
+Ordinarily, you could step across Peach Creek, but sometimes, after a
+heavy rain it would be a raging torrent of dirty muddy water, and it
+seemed as if the underpinning must surely be washed out by the flood.
+
+One day after I had been at X---- a couple of months, we had a stem-winder
+of a storm. The rain came down in torrents unceasingly for twelve hours,
+and the country around X---- was almost a morass. The roadbed was good,
+however, and when the section men came in at six that night they
+reported the track firm and safe. But, my stars! how the rain was
+falling at seven-thirty as the flyer went smashing by. I made my "OS"
+report and then thought I'd sit around and wait until it had passed
+Dunraven and have a little chat with Mary, before going home for the
+night. At seven-forty-five I called her but no answer. Then I waited.
+Eight o'clock, eight-fifteen, eight-twenty, and still nothing from
+Dunraven. The despatcher then started to call "DU," but no answer.
+Finally, he said to me, "You call 'DU.' Maybe the wire is heavy and she
+can't adjust for me." I called steadily for five minutes, but still no
+reply. I was beginning to get scared. All sorts of ideas came into my
+head--robbers, tramps, fire and murder.
+
+"DS" said, "I'm afraid something has happened to the flyer. Turn your
+red-light and when No. 26 comes along, I'll give them an order to cut
+loose with the engine and go through and find the flyer."
+
+Five minutes later the wire opened and closed. Then the current became
+weak, but adjusting down, I heard, "DS, DS, WK." Ah! that meant a wreck.
+"DS" answered and I heard the following message:--
+
+     "W. D. C. "PEACH CREEK, 4 | 13, 18--
+
+     "DS.
+
+     "Peach Creek bridge washed out to-night, but I heard of it and
+     arrived here in time to flag the flyer. Send an operator on the
+     wrecking outfit to relieve me.
+
+     (signed) MARY MARSH, Operator."
+
+Two hours afterwards the wrecker came by X---- and, obedient to orders
+from the despatcher, I boarded it and went down to work the office. We
+reached there in about forty minutes and found that the torrent had
+washed out the underpinning of the bridge, and nothing was left but a
+few ties, the rails and the stringers. A half witted boy, who lived in
+Dunraven, had been fishing that day like "Simple Simon," and came
+tramping up to the office, telling Miss Marsh, in an idiotic way, that
+Peach Creek bridge had washed out. Just then she heard me "OS" the flyer
+and her office was the next one to mine. As the flyer did not stop at
+Dunraven, the baggageman and helper went home at six o'clock and she was
+absolutely alone save for this half witted boy. The section house was a
+mile and a half away to the east. A mile away, to the south were the
+twinkling lights of the village, while but one short mile to the west
+was Peach Creek, with the bridge gone out, and the flyer thundering
+along towards it with its precious load of human freight. How could it
+be warned. The boy hadn't sense enough to pound sand. She must do it.
+So, quick as a flash she picked up the red-light standing near, and
+started down the track. The rain was coming down in a perfect deluge,
+and the wind was sweeping across the Nebraska prairies like a hurricane.
+Lightning was flashing, casting a lurid glare over the soaked earth, and
+the thunder rolled peal after peal, resembling the artillery of great
+guns in a big battle. Truly, it was like the setting for a grand drama.
+Undaunted by it all, this brave little woman, bare headed, hair flying
+in the wind, and soaked to the skin, battled with the elements as she
+fought her way down the track. A mile, ordinarily, is a short distance,
+but now, to her, it seemed almost interminable; and all the time the
+flyer was coming nearer and nearer to the creek with the broken bridge.
+My God! would she make it! Presently, above the howling of the wind she
+heard the mad waters as they went boiling and tumbling down the
+channel.
+
+[Illustration: "After many efforts I finally reached the lowest
+cross-arm."]
+
+At last she was there, standing on the brink. But the train was not yet
+saved. Just across the creek the road made an abrupt curve around a
+small hill, and if she could not reach that curve her labors would be to
+no avail, and a frightful wreck would follow. All the bridge was gone
+save the rails, stringers and a few shaky ties. Only forty feet
+intervened between her and the opposite bank, and get across she must.
+There was only one way, so grasping the lantern between her teeth, she
+started across on her hands and knees. The stringers swayed back and
+forth in the wind, and her frail body, it seemed, would surely be caught
+up and blown into the mad maëlstrom of waters below. No! No! she could
+not fail now. Away up the road, borne to her anxious ears by the howling
+wind, she heard two long and two short blasts of the flyer's whistle as
+she signalled for a crossing. God! would she ever get there. Straining
+every nerve, at last success was hers, and tottering, she struggled up
+the other side. Flying up the track, looking for all the world like some
+eyrie witch, she reached the curve, swinging her red light like mad. Bob
+Burns, who was pulling the flyer that night, saw the signal, and
+immediately applied the emergency brakes. Then he looked again and the
+red-light was gone. But caution is a magic watchword with all railroad
+men, and he stopped. Climbing down out of the cab of the engine, he took
+his torch, and started out to investigate. He didn't have far to go,
+when he came upon the limp, inanimate form of Mary Marsh, the
+extinguished red-light tightly clasped in her cold little hand.
+
+"My God! Mike," he yelled to his fireman, "it's a woman. Why, hang me,
+if it isn't the little lady from Dunraven. Wonder what she is doing out
+here." He wasn't long in ignorance, because a brakeman sent out ahead
+saw that the bridge had gone.
+
+Rough, but kindly hands, bore her tenderly into the sleeper, and under
+the ministrations of her own sex, she soon came around. So soon as she
+had seen the flyer stopping she realized that she had succeeded and
+womanlike--she fainted. Her clothes were torn to tatters, and taken all
+in all this little heroine was a most woebegone specimen of humanity.
+
+A wrecking office was cut in by the baggageman, who happened to be an
+old lineman, and she sent the message to "DS," telling him of the wreck.
+I relieved her and she stayed in the sleeper all night, and the next day
+she returned to her work at Dunraven, but little worse for the
+experience. She had positively refused to accept a thing from the
+thankful passengers, saying she did but her duty.
+
+Two months afterwards she married the chief despatcher, and the
+profession lost the best woman operator in the business. I was
+dreadfully cut by the ending of affairs, but she had said, "Red headed
+operators were not in her class," and I reckon she was about right.
+
+Surely, she was a direct descendant from the Spartan mothers.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+A NIGHT OFFICE IN TEXAS--A STUTTERING DESPATCHER
+
+
+It was not long after Mary threw me over that I became tired of X---- and
+gave up my job and started south. I said it was on account of ill
+health, but the last thing that cussed first trick despatcher said to me
+was, "Never mind, you old spoon, you'll get over this attack in a very
+short while."
+
+I landed in St. Louis one bright morning and went up to the office of
+the chief despatcher of the Q. M. & S., and applied for an office on his
+division. He had none to give me but wired the chief despatcher at Big
+Rock, and in answer thereto I was sent the next morning to Healyville.
+And what a place I found! The town was down in the swamps of southeast
+Missouri, four miles north of the Arkansas line, and consisted of the
+depot and twenty or twenty-five houses, five of which were saloons.
+There was a branch road running from here to Honiton, quite a settlement
+on the Mississippi river, and that was the only possible excuse for an
+officer at this point. The atmosphere was so full of malaria, that you
+could almost cut it with an axe. I stayed there just three days, and
+then, fortunately, the chief despatcher ordered me to come to his
+office. He wanted me to take the office at Boling Cross, near the Texas
+line, but I had the traveling fever and wanted to go further south, and
+he sent me down on the I. & G. N., and the chief there sent me to
+Herron, Texas. There wasn't much sickness in the air around Herron, but
+there were just a million fleas to every square inch of sand in the
+place. Herron was one of the few towns in a very extensive cattle belt,
+and a few days after I had arrived I noticed the town had filled up with
+"cow punchers." They had just had their semi-annual round up, and were
+in town spending their money and having a whooping big time. You
+probably know what that means to a cow-boy. I was a tenderfoot of the
+worst kind, and every one at the boarding-house and depot seemed to take
+particular delight in telling me of the shooting scrapes and rackets of
+these cow-boys, and how they delighted in making it warm for a
+tenderfoot. Bob Wolfe, the day man at the depot, told me how at times
+they had come up and raised particular Cain at the station, especially
+when there was a new operator on hand. I didn't half believe all their
+stories, but I will confess that I had a few misgivings the first night
+when I went to work. One night passed safely enough, but the second was
+a hummer from the word go. The office was somewhat larger than the
+telegraph offices usually are in small towns. The table was in the
+recess of a big bay window, giving me a clear view of the I. & G. N.
+tracks, while along the front ran the usual long wide platform. The P. &
+T. C. road crossed at right angles at one end of the platform, and one
+operator did the work for the two roads. There were two lamps over my
+desk--one on each side of the bay window--and one was out in the
+waiting-room. I also kept a lantern lighted to carry when I went out to
+trains.
+
+All through the early part of the night, I heard sounds of revelry and
+carousing, accompanied by an occasional pistol shot, up in the town, but
+about half past eleven these sounds ceased, and I was congratulating
+myself that my night, would after all, be uneventful. About twelve
+o'clock, however, there arose just outside the office the greatest
+commotion I had ever heard in my life. I was eating my midnight lunch,
+and had a piece of pie in my hand, when I heard the tramp of many feet
+on the platform. It sounded like a regiment of infantry, and in a
+minute there came the report of a shot, and with a crash out went one of
+my lights, a shower of glass falling on the table. Before I could
+collect myself there came another shot and smash out went the other
+light. I dropped my pie and spasmodically grasped the table. The only
+lights left were the one in the waiting-room and my lantern, which made
+it in the office little better than total darkness. All the time the
+tramp, tramp on the platform was coming closer and closer, and my heart
+was gradually forcing its way up in my mouth. In a moment the
+waiting-room door was thrown open, and with a wild whoop and a big
+hurrah, the crowd came in. The door between the office and the
+waiting-room was closed, but that made no difference to my visitors;
+they smashed it open and swarmed into the office. One of them picked up
+the lantern, and swaggering over to where I sat all trembling with fear,
+and expecting that _my_ lights would go out next, raised it to my face.
+They all crowded around me and one of them gave me a good punch in the
+ribs. Then the one with the lantern said, "Well, fellows, the little
+cuss is game. He didn't get under the table like the last one did. Kid,
+for a tenderfoot, you're a hummer."
+
+Get under the table! I couldn't. I would have given half my interest in
+the hereafter to have been able to crawl under the table or to have run
+away. But fright held its sway, and locomotion was impossible.
+
+For about five minutes the despatcher had been calling me for orders,
+and in a trembling voice I asked them to let me answer and take the
+order. "Cert," said one of them, who appeared to be the leader, "go on
+and take the order, and then take a drink with us."
+
+By the dim light of only that lantern, with my order pad on a table
+covered with broken glass, and smattered with pie, I finally copied the
+order, but it was about the worst attempt I had ever made; and the
+conductor remarked when he signed it, that it would take a Philadelphia
+lawyer to read it. The cow-punchers, however, from that time on were
+very good friends of mine, and many a pleasant Sunday did I spend on
+their ranches. They afterwards told me that Bob Wolfe had put them up to
+their midnight visit in order to frighten me. They certainly succeeded.
+My service at Herron was not very profitable, the road being in the
+hands of receivers, and for four months none of us received a cent of
+wages. The road was called the "International & Great Northern," but we
+facetiously dubbed it the "Independent & Got Nothing."
+
+Some months after this I was transferred down to the southern division,
+and made night operator at Mankato. This was really about the best
+position I had yet struck: good hours, plenty of work and a fine office
+to do it in, and eighty dollars a month. The agent and day man were both
+fine fellows, and there was no chore work around the station--a baggage
+smasher did that. The despatchers up in "DS" office were pleasant to
+work with and as competent a lot of men as ever touched a key. I had
+never met any of them when I first took the office, though of course I
+soon knew their names, and the following incident will disclose how and
+under what unusual circumstances I formed the acquaintance of one of
+them, Fred De Armand, the second trick man.
+
+About four weeks after I took the Mankato office, engine 333, pulling a
+through livestock freight north, broke a parallel rod, and besides
+cutting the engineer into mince-meat, caused a great wreck. This took
+place about two miles and a half north of Mankato. The hind man came
+back and reported it, and being off duty, I caught up a pocket
+instrument and some wire, and jumping on a velocipede, was soon at the
+wreck. I cut in an office in short order, and "DS" soon knew exactly
+how matters stood. One passenger train south was tied up just beyond the
+wreck, and in about an hour and a half the wrecker appeared in charge of
+the trainmaster. I observed a young man twenty-eight or thirty years of
+age standing around looking on, and once when I was near him I noticed
+that he stammered very badly.
+
+I carefully avoided saying anything to that young man, because, I, too,
+at times, had a rather bad impediment in my speech. It asserted itself
+especially when I heard any one else stutter, or when the weather was
+going to change; the men who knew me well said they could always
+foretell a storm by my inability to talk. From my own experience,
+however, I knew that when a stammerer heard another man stammer, he
+imagined that he was being made fun of, and all the fight in him came at
+once to the surface; and as this young man was about twice my size, I
+did my best to keep away from him. But in a few moments he came over to
+where I was and said to me, "A-a-a-sk 'DS' t-t-t-t-o s-s-s-end out
+m-m-m-y r-r-ain c-c-c-c-oat on th-th-th-irteen." Every other word was
+followed by a whistle.
+
+My great help in stammering was to kick with my right foot. I knew what
+was coming, and tried my best to avert the trouble. I drew in a long
+breath and said: "Who sh-sh-sh-all I s-s-s-ay y-y-y-ou are?" and my
+right foot was doing great execution. True to its barometrical
+functions, my throat was predicting a storm. It came.
+
+He looked at me for a second, grew red in the face, then catching me by
+the collar, gave me a yank, that made me see forty stars, and said,
+"B-b-b-last you! wh-wh-at d-d-o y-y-ou m-mean b-b-y m-mocking me? I'll
+sm-sm-ash y-y-our b-b-b-lamed r-r-ed head.'"
+
+Speech left me entirely then, and I am afraid I would have been most
+beautifully thumped, had not Sanders, the trainmaster, come over and
+stopped him. He called him "De Armand," and I then knew he was the
+second trick despatcher. After many efforts De Armand told Sanders how I
+had mocked him. Sanders didn't know me and the war clouds began to
+gather again; but Johnson, the conductor of the wrecker, came over and
+said, "Hold on there, De Armand, that kid ain't mocking you; he stammers
+so bad at times that he kicks a hole in the floor. Why, I have seen him
+start to say something to my engineer pulling out of Mankato, and he
+would finish it just as the caboose went by, and we had some forty cars
+in the train at that."
+
+At this a smile broke over De Armand's face, and he grasped my hand and
+said, "Excuse m-m-m-e k-k-id; but y-y-you k-k-know how it is
+y-y-yourself." You may well believe that I did know.
+
+One night, shortly after this, I was repeating an order to De Armand,
+and in the middle of it I broke myself very badly. He opened his key,
+and said, "Kick, you devil, kick!" And I got the merry ha-ha from up and
+down the line. But in giving me a message a little while after he flew
+the track, and I instantly opened up and said, "Whistle, you tarrier,
+whistle!" Maybe he didn't get it back.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+BLUE FIELD, ARIZONA, AND AN INDIAN SCRIMMAGE
+
+
+The desire to travel was strong within me, and in the following June I
+left Mankato, went out to Arizona and secured a position on the A. & P.,
+at Blue Field, a small town almost in the centre of the desert. Alfreda,
+Kansas, was dreary and desolate enough, but there, I was at least in
+communication with civilization, because I had one wire running to
+Kansas City, while Blue Field was the crowning glory of utter
+desolation. The Bible says that the good Lord made heaven and earth in
+six days, and rested on the seventh. It needed but a single glance at
+Blue Field to thoroughly convince me that the Lord quit work at the end
+of the sixth day right there, and had never taken it up since. There was
+nothing but some scattering adobe shacks, with the usual complement of
+saloons, and as far almost as the eye could see in every
+direction,--sand--hot, glaring, burning sand. To the far northwards,
+could be dimly observed the outlines of the Mogollon range of
+mountains. The population consisted chiefly of about four hundred
+dare-devil spirits who had started to wander westwards in search of the
+El Dorado and had finally settled there, too tired, too disgusted to go
+any farther, and lacking money enough to return to their homes. It
+wasn't the most congenial crowd in the world. There was only one good
+thing in the place, and that was a deep well of pure sparkling water.
+The sun during the day was so scorching that the rails seemed to sizzle
+as they stretched out like two slender, interminable bands of silver
+over the hot sands, and at night no relief was apparent, and the office
+so stifling hot that my existence was well nigh unbearable. But the pay
+was ninety dollars per month and I hung on until I could save funds
+enough to get back to God's own country. To sleep in a house, in the day
+time, was almost killing, so I used to make up a sort of bunk on a truck
+and sleep in the shade of the freight shed. At seven-forty-three in the
+evening, the Trans-Continental flyer went smashing by at a fifty-five
+mile an hour clip and the dust it raised was enough to strangle a man.
+
+The Arizona climate is a well known specific for pulmonary troubles, and
+thousands of people come down there in all stages of consumption from
+the first premonitory cough to the living emaciated skeleton.
+
+The first station west of me was Clear Creek (so called on account of a
+good sized stream of water that came down from the Mogollons), and a few
+days after I arrived at Blue Field, I heard a message going over the
+wires saying that Fred Baird was coming down there to take charge. I had
+known him up in Kansas, and his looks and a hacking cough indicated only
+too truly, that the dreaded consumption had fastened itself on him;
+therefore when I heard of his assignment to Clear Creek, I knew it was
+his health that brought him down to that awful country. He had a wife
+(and a sweet little woman she was), and two beautiful children, aged two
+and four. A few evenings after this I had the pleasure of talking to
+them for several minutes as they went through on a slow passenger train,
+and I must say that my heart ached when I thought of the town to which
+that family was going. What a place to bring a woman? But then women
+have a faculty of hanging on to their liege lords under all
+circumstances and conditions. God bless 'em. Baird, himself, looked
+wretched, being a mere shadow of his former self, but like all
+consumptives he imagined he was going to get well.
+
+Just about this time, two Indian gentlemen, named Geronimo and Victoria,
+were raising particular mischief all through that section of the
+country, and the feeling that any moment they might come down on you and
+raise your scalp after puncturing you full of holes was anything but
+pleasant. It was decidedly creepy and many a time I wished myself back
+in the good old state of Texas. I had come for excitement and adventure
+and it was not long until I had both articles doled out to me in large
+chunks. Those Indians used to break out from their reservations, swoop
+down on some settlement, kill everything in sight and then loot and burn
+to their heart's content. There was no warning--just a few shots, then a
+shrill war-whoop, and a perfect horde of yelling and shooting red devils
+would be upon you. Precautions were taken and some of the larger
+settlements were able to stand them off until some of the small army
+could come and scatter them. Blue Field had pickets posted every night,
+chosen from among the four hundred toughs that lived there, and was
+pretty well protected.
+
+They gave us a wide berth for a while, but one night, I was sitting
+dozing in my chair about eleven-thirty, when I was awakened by the
+sharp crack of a rifle, followed in quick succession by others, until it
+was a regular fusillade. Then I heard the short shrill Apache war-whoop,
+and mentally I thought my time had come. I tried to breathe a prayer,
+but the high and unusual position of my heart effectually prevented any
+articulation. The window had been closed on account of a high wind
+blowing, or I fancy I should have gone out that way. However, I grabbed
+up a rifle, and then opening a trap door, dropped down into a little
+cubbyhole under the floor, where we used to keep our batteries. What I
+brought the rifle along for I can't say, unless it was to blow the top
+of my own head off. The place was like a bake-oven and all the air I
+received came through a small crack in the floor, and it was not long
+until I was soaked with perspiration.
+
+[Illustration: "One of them picked up the lantern, and swaggering over
+to where I sat all trembling...."]
+
+Overhead I could hear the crack of the rifles and the whoop of the
+Indians as the battle raged, back and forth. During a temporary lull I
+heard the despatcher calling me for dear life, but he could call for all
+I cared; I had other business just then--I was truly "25." All at once I
+heard a bigger commotion than ever, there was a sound as if caused by
+the scurrying of many feet, and then all was quiet. I sat there
+wondering what was coming next, and how much longer I had to live, when
+I smelled smoke, and in a second I knew the depot was on fire. I tried
+to raise the trap-door, but it had a snap lock and had been dropped so
+hard in my mad efforts to get away, that it was securely locked. Good
+God! was I to be burned like a rat in a trap? All was quiet save the
+crackling of the flames as they licked up the depot. Something must be
+done and quickly at that, or there would be one operator who would
+receive his congé in a manner that was anything but pleasant.
+Feverishly, I groped around, and all at once my hand came in contact
+with the Winchester rifle. I grasped it by the barrel, and using it as a
+battering ram I started to smash that door. The smoke by this time was
+stifling, suffocating, and already my senses were leaving
+me,--everything was swimming around before my eyes, but it was a case of
+life and death, and I hammered away with all my might. Finally, Crash!
+Ah! I had succeeded, the lock broke and in a moment I had pulled myself
+up in the office.
+
+The side towards the door was all ablaze and escape that way was
+impossible, so I picked up a chair and slammed it through the window
+over the table, and climbed out taking a loose set of instruments with
+me. The wires were still working, and above the crackle of the flames I
+heard "DS" still calling me. I reached in through the window and simply
+said,
+
+"Indians--depot on fire--have saved a set of instruments--will call you
+later when I can fix a wire," and signed my name, "Bates."
+
+My lungs were filled with smoke and felt like they had a million sharp
+needles sticking in them, but thanks to my lucky stars, I was not
+otherwise hurt. Everything appeared so quiet and still that I was dazed,
+but presently I heard a low mumbling of voices out to the westwards. I
+made my way thither and found the population (all that was left of it),
+assembled. When I staggered up to a group of the men, they turned on me
+like tigers, not knowing what kind of an animal I was. I recognized one
+of them who was commonly known as "Full-House Charley," and weakly said,
+
+"Don't shoot, Charley, it's Bates the night operator at the depot."
+
+"Well! where the devil have you been all the time? When the depot was
+burning some of us went over there, but you'd gone some place. We
+couldn't save anything so we let 'er burn. Your side partner, the day
+man, was killed and scalped."
+
+It appeared that just as the fight was the hottest, three troops of
+the --th U. S. Colored Cavalry, appeared on the scene, having been on
+the trail of this same band all day. They made short work of the red men
+who melted away to the fastnesses of the Mogollons, first setting fire
+to the depot, the troops in close pursuit. If there ever were faithful
+hard working fighters in that country, it was these same dusky
+brunettes.
+
+I told the gang where I had been, and in a few minutes several of them
+went over to the station to help me rig up a wire. I knew the
+despatcher's wire, and taking a pole's length out of another line, I
+soon made a connection to the instrument I had saved. It was no go--the
+wire was dead open. Then I rigged up a ground by running a wire to a
+pipe that ran down the well, and in testing I found the wire was open
+west. I called up "DS," who was east of-me, and told him what a nice hot
+old time we had been having out there.
+
+"Yes," he said, "I knew there was trouble. Just after you told me about
+the Indians and fire, Clear Creek said their place was attacked by
+another band and things were getting pretty hot with them. Then the wire
+went open, caused as I supposed by your fire, but now it seems as if
+Baird is probably up against it as well. A train load of troops will
+come through in a short while to try and get beyond the Indians and cut
+them off. If you are able, I wish you would flag them and go over to
+Clear Creek and report from there. Disconnect and take your instrument
+and leave the line cut through. A line man will be sent out from here in
+the morning. Everything is tied up on the road, and you can tell the C.
+& E. there's nothing ahead of them, but to run carefully, keeping a
+sharp lookout for torn up track and burned trestles."
+
+My experiences had been so exciting and the smoke in my lungs so
+painful, that I was ready to drop from fatigue; but then I thought of
+poor Fred Baird and his family, and I said I'd go. The troop train came
+in presently and I boarded her. It did my heart good to ride on that
+engine with "Daddy" Blake at the throttle, and think that four hundred
+big husky American regulars were trailing along behind, waiting for
+something to turn up and just aching for a crack at the red men.
+
+It was now about three o'clock, and just as the first rays of early dawn
+illumined the horizon, we came in sight of Clear Creek. There was a dull
+red glow against the sky, that told only too well what we should find.
+The place had not been as well protected as Blue Field, and the
+slaughter was something fearful. The depot was nothing but a smoldering
+mass of ruins, and but a short distance away we came upon the bodies of
+Baird, his wife and two children, shot to pieces, stripped, horribly
+mutilated and scalped. It was sickening, and shortly after, when the
+troop train pulled out for Chiquito, the sense of loneliness was
+oppressing. A few people had escaped by hiding in obscure places and
+when they came out they went to work and buried the dead. I finally
+succeeded in getting a wire through and then, despite the heat, I slept.
+
+The next day the troops corralled the Indians, gave them a good licking
+and sent them back to their old reservations. And yet in face of just
+such incidents as these, there are people who say that poor Lo can be
+civilized.
+
+A construction gang came out and started to re-build, and the company
+offered me a good day office if I would remain, but Nay! Nay! I had had
+all I wanted of Arizona, and I went back to Texas, thankful that I had a
+whole skin and a full shock of red hair.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+TAKING A WHIRL AT COMMERCIAL WORK--MY FIRST ATTEMPT--THE GALVESTON FIRE
+
+
+The memory of my exciting experience in Arizona lasted me a good long
+time, and I finally determined to leave the railroad service and try my
+hand at commercial work. The two classes are the same, and yet they are
+entirely different.
+
+It is a most interesting sight, to the uninitiated, to go into the
+operating room of a big commercial office and see the swarms of men and
+women bending over glass partitioned tables; nimble footed check boys
+running hither and thither like so many flies, carrying to each wire the
+proper messages, while the volume of sound that greets your ears is
+positively deafening. Every once in a while some operator will raise his
+head and yell "Pink," "C. N. D." or "Wire." "Pink" means a message that
+is to be rushed; "C. N. D." is a market quotation that is to be hurried
+over to the Bucket Shops or Stock Exchange, while "Wire," means a
+message that pertains to some wire that is in trouble and such messages
+must have precedence over all others. The check boys are trained to
+know the destination of each and every wire and work under the direction
+of the traffic chief.
+
+Far over on one side of a room is the switch board. To the untutored
+mind it looks like numberless long parallel strips of brass tacked on
+the side of the wall, and each strip perforated by a number of small
+holes, while stuck around, in what seems endless profusion, are many
+gutta-percha-topped brass pegs. Yet through all this seeming mass of
+confusion, everything is in apple pie order, and each one of those
+strips represents a wire and every plug a connection to some set of
+instruments. The wire chief and his assistants are in full charge of
+this work, and it must needs be a man of great ability to successfully
+fill such a place in a large office.
+
+The chief operator has entire supervision over the whole office, and his
+duties are hard, constant, and arduous. Like competent train
+despatchers, men able to be first-class chief operators are few and far
+between. Not only must he be an expert telegrapher, but he must
+thoroughly understand line, battery and switch board work, and his
+executive ability must be of the highest order.
+
+I had always supposed if a man were a first-class railroad operator he
+could do equally good work on a commercial wire; in fact the operator
+in a small town is always employed by the railroad company and does the
+little amount of commercial work in addition to his other duties.
+
+After leaving Blue Field I loafed a while, but that's tiresome work at
+best, so I journeyed down to Galveston, Texas, one bright fall morning,
+and after trying my luck at the railroad offices, I wandered into the
+commercial office on the Strand and asked George Clarke, the chief
+operator, for a job.
+
+"What kind of a man are you?" he said.
+
+"First-class in every respect, sir," I replied.
+
+"Sit down there on the polar side of that Houston quad and if you are
+any account, I'll give you a job at seventy dollars per month."
+
+Now a "Quad" is an instrument whereby four messages are going over the
+_same_ wire at the _same_ time. The mechanism of the machine is
+different in every respect from the old relay, key and sounder, used on
+the railroad wires. In a vague way I had heard of "quads," and imagined
+I could work them as well as an "O. S." wire, but when he said for me to
+sit down on the "Polar side," I was, for a minute, stumped. However,
+there were already three chaps sitting at that table, so the fourth
+place must be mine. I sat down and presently I heard the sounder say,
+"Who?" I answered "BY," and then "HO," said, "Hr. City," I grabbed a pen
+and made ready to copy, but by the time he had finished the address I
+was just putting down the number and check. "Break" I said, "G. A.
+from," B-r-r-r-r- how that sounder did jump. This interesting operation
+was repeated several times, but finally I succeeded in getting the
+message down, and then without giving me time to draw my breath, he
+said, "C. N. D." and started ahead with a jargon of figures and words
+that I had never heard of before. His sending was plain enough, in fact
+it was like a circus bill, but I wasn't on to the combination, and it
+was all Greek to me. Perspiration started from every pore, and in my
+agony I said, "Break, G. A. Ahr.," Holy Smoke! how he did fly off at
+that, and how those other three chaps did grin at my discomfiture.
+
+"Call your chief operator over here," and with that he refused to work
+with me any more. Clarke came over and that blasted chump at "HO" said,
+
+"For heaven's sake give us an operator to do the receiving on the polar'
+side of this quad. We are piled up with business and can't be delayed by
+teaching the ropes to a railroad ham. He's been ten minutes taking one
+message, and I haven't been able to pound into his head what a 'C. N.
+D,' is yet."
+
+Clarke quietly gave him "O. K." and then turned to me with,
+
+"I guess you are not used to this kind of work. Better go back to
+railroading, and learn something about commercial work before tackling a
+job like this again. Come back in six months and I'll give you another
+trial." I sneaked out of the office, followed by the broad smiles of
+every man in the place, and thus ended the first lesson.
+
+I took Clarke's advice and went back to work on a narrow-gauge road
+running northwards out of Houston, through the most God-forsaken country
+on the footstool. Sluggish bayous, foul rank growth of vegetation,
+alligators as long as a rail, that would come out and stop trains by
+being on the track, and air so malarious in quality that it was only a
+question of time until one had the fever. I stuck it out for two months
+and then succumbed to the inevitable and went to the hospital where I
+lay for three weeks. After I had fully recovered they put me to work in
+the Houston General Office, and some eight months after reaching there I
+received a message from my old friend Clarke, saying, "if I had improved
+any in my commercial work he would give me a job at seventy dollars per
+month." I hadn't improved much, but as this world is two-thirds bluff, I
+made mine, and said I'd come, trusting to luck to be able to hold on.
+
+I reached there one pleasant afternoon and the next morning went to
+work. I must have had my rabbit's foot with me, because I was assigned
+to a "Way Wire." I think if he had told me to tackle a "Quad," again, I
+should have fainted. A "Way Wire," is one that runs along a railroad,
+having offices cut in in all the small towns. There wasn't a town on the
+whole string that had more than ten or fifteen messages a day, but the
+aggregate of all the offices made up a very good day's work. Then again
+I didn't have to handle any of those confounded "C. N. D." messages.
+Clarke watched me closely and at the end of the first day he said my
+work showed a marked improvement. You may rest assured I watched my P's
+and Q's, and it wasn't long before I had the hang of the system and
+could take my trick on a "Quad" with the best of them. Rheostats,
+wheatstone bridges, polarized relays, pole changers, and ground switches
+became as familiar to me as the old relay key and sounder had been.
+
+Some of the rarest gems of the profession worked in "G" office at this
+time--George Clarke, "Cy" Clamphitt, "Jack" Graham, Will Church,
+John McNeill, Paul Finnegan alias the "Count," and a score or more of
+men, as good as ever touched a key or balanced a quad. A day's work was
+from eight A. M., until five P. M., and for all over time we were paid
+extra at the rate of forty cents per hour. This extra work was called
+"Scooping."
+
+One day in December, Clarke asked me if I wanted to "scoop" that night.
+I acquiesced and after eating a hasty supper I went back to the office
+and prepared for a long siege. I was put to sending press reports, which
+is just about as hard work as a man can do. I sent "30" (the end) at two
+o'clock in the morning, and went home worn to a frazzle. I was boarding
+on Avenue M. with ten other operators, in a house kept by a Mrs.
+Swanson, and roomed with her little son Jimmie, who was a hopeless
+cripple. I undressed, and after shoving little Jim over to his own side
+of the bed, tumbled in and was soon sleeping like a log. It seemed as if
+I had just closed my eyes when I felt some one pulling my hair. I
+knocked the hand away and prepared to take another snooze, when there
+was that awful pull on my red head again. I opened my eyes prepared to
+fight, when I felt an extra hard pull, and heard the wee sma' voice of
+my diminutive room mate say,
+
+"Get up, the house is on fire." "Rats," I said--Again,--the awful
+pull,--and,--"Mr. Bates, for God's sake get up; the house is on fire;
+the whole town is burning up."
+
+I sprang out of bed and the crackling of the timbers, the glow of the
+flames, and the stifling smoke, soon assured me it was time to move, and
+quickly at that. I grabbed up a few clothes in one arm, and grasping
+brave little Jimmie Swanson in the other, I started for the steps. On
+our side, the whole house was in flames, and the smoke rushing up the
+stair-way was something awful. I wrapped Jimmie's head in his night
+shirt, and throwing a coat over mine, I started down the stairs. Half
+way down my foot slipped, and we both pitched head first to the bottom.
+Poor little Jim, his right arm was broken by the fall, and when he tried
+to get up, he found that his one sound leg was badly strained. He said,
+
+"Never mind me, Mr. Bates, save yourself. I'll crawl out."
+
+Leave him to roast alive? Never! I grabbed him again and after a
+desperate effort succeeded in getting him out. All our supply of
+clothing had been lost in our mad efforts to escape, and as a bitter
+norther was blowing at the time, our position was anything but pleasant.
+I found a few clothes dropped by some one else and we made ourselves as
+warm as possible. Then I grabbed Jimmie up again and fled before the
+fiery blast. The awful catastrophe had started in a fisherman's shack
+over on the bay, twenty-seven squares from where we lived, and being
+borne by a high wind, had swept everything in its path. The houses were
+mostly of timber and were easy prey to the relentless flames. Although
+Galveston is entirely surrounded by water, the pipe-lines for fighting
+fire at this time extended only to Avenue H, ten blocks from the Strand.
+Beyond that, the fire department depended on the cisterns of private
+houses for the water to subdue the flames.
+
+With lightning-like rapidity the flames had spread and almost before
+they knew it the town seemed doomed. Arches of flame, myriads of falling
+sparks, hundreds of fleeing half-clad men, women and children, the
+hissing of the engines in their puny attempts to fight the monster, and
+ever and anon the dull roar of the falling walls, made a scene, as grand
+and weird as it was desolate and awful. In less than two hours time
+fifty-two squares had been laid waste, leaving a trail of smoldering
+black ashes. That the whole city did not go is due to a providential
+switch of the wind that blew the flames back on their own tracks.
+
+Of the fifteen operators in the day force, twelve had been burned out,
+and the next morning, at eight o'clock, when all had reported for duty,
+they were as sorry a looking lot of men as ever assembled.
+
+"Some in rags, some in jags, and one in velvet gown." "Count" Finnegan
+had on a frilled shirt, a pair of trousers three sizes too small for
+him, and his manly form was wrapped in a flowing robe of black velvet,
+picked up by him in his mad flight.
+
+It was many a day before the effects of this direful calamity were
+entirely obliterated.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+SENDING A MESSAGE PERFORCE--RECOGNIZING AN OLD FRIEND BY HIS STUFF
+
+
+Some time after this I was in Fort Worth copying night reports at eighty
+dollars per month. The night force consisted of two other men besides
+myself. The "split trick" man worked until ten o'clock, the other chap
+stayed around until twelve, or until he was clear, while I hung on until
+"30" on report which came anywhere from one-thirty until four A. M.
+After midnight I had to handle all the business that came along.
+
+When I had received "30" I would cut out the instruments and go home.
+
+One morning, about two-thirty I had said "G. N." to Galveston, cut out
+the instruments, put out the lights in the operating room, and started
+to go home through the receiving room and I was about to put out the
+last light there, when the outer door opened and in staggered a half
+drunken ranchman who said,
+
+"Hold on there, young fellow, I want to send a message to St. Louis."
+
+"I'm sorry, but it's too late to send it now. All the instruments are
+cut out and we wont have St. Louis until eight o'clock in the morning.
+Come around then and some of the day force will send it for you."
+
+"But," he said in a maudlin voice, "I've got nineteen cars of cattle out
+here that are going up there to-morrow and I want to notify my agents."
+
+I persisted in my refusal and was beginning to get hot under the collar,
+but my bucolic friend also had a temper and showed it.
+
+"D--n it," he said, "you send this message or there is going to be
+trouble."
+
+"Not much, I won't send your confounded old message. Get out of this
+office: I'm going home."
+
+Just then I heard an ominous click and in a second I was gazing down the
+barrel of a .45, and he said,
+
+"Now will you send it? You'd better or I'll send you to a home that will
+be a permanent one."
+
+A .45, especially when it is loaded, cocked and pointed at your head,
+with a half drunken galoot's finger on the trigger, is a powerful
+incentive to quick action.
+
+"Give me your blamed old message, and I'll send it for you."
+
+Now there wasn't a through wire to any place at the time, but I had
+thought of a scheme to stave him off. I took his telegram, went over and
+monkeyed around the switch board for a while, and then sat down to a
+local instrument and went through the form of sending a message. My
+whole salvation lay in the hope that he was not an operator and would
+fail to discover my ruse. I glanced at him furtively out of the corner
+of my eye, and there he stood, pistol in hand, grinning like a monkey
+and swaying to and fro like a reed in the wind. I didn't know what that
+grin portended for me, but after I had gone through the form of sending
+the telegram, I hung it up on the hook, and turned around with,
+
+"There, I hope you are satisfied now. Your blamed old message has been
+sent."
+
+"Satisfied! Why certainly I'm satisfied. I just wanted to show you that
+the Western Union Company wasn't the whole push. Come on over to the
+White Elephant with me and we'll have a drink together, just to show
+there's no hard feelings between us," and with that he put away his
+pistol and we went out. On the way over to the Elephant he said,
+
+"Say, kid, did you think I'd shoot if you hadn't sent the message?"
+
+"Well," I replied, "I wasn't taking any chances on the matter."
+
+Then he laughed loud enough to be heard a block away and said, "Why,
+that pistol hasn't been loaded for six months, I was just running a
+bluff on you, and you bit like a fish."
+
+Good joke, wasn't it? We had our drink, _and his message was sent by one
+of the day force, at eight-twelve A. M._
+
+The Morse telegraphic alphabet is exactly the same the world over, and
+yet each operator has a peculiarity to his sending, or "stuff," as it is
+called, that makes it easy to recognize an old friend, even though his
+name be changed.
+
+In the early part of my career, when I was working days at X----, in
+Nebraska, at Sweeping Water there was a chap called Ned Kingsbury
+holding down the night job, and as wild a youngster as ever hit the
+road. One night when I was sitting up a little late I heard the
+despatcher give Ned an order for a train that ordinarily would not stop
+there. Ned repeated it back all right enough, and then gave the signal,
+"6," which meant that he had turned his red-light to the track and would
+hold it there until the order was delivered and understood. So far, so
+good. But the reckless little devil had forgotten to turn his red-board
+and proceeded to write to some of his numerous girls, and the first
+thing he knew that freight train went smashing by at a thirty-five mile
+clip, and Mr. Ned knew he was up against it.
+
+In some states a railroader guilty of criminal negligence is sent up
+for a term of from one to ten years. The smash up that resulted from
+Ned's carelessness was a catastrophe of the fatal kind; one engineer was
+killed, and a fireman and brakeman or two laid up for months. He fully
+realized the magnitude of his offence and promptly skipped away from the
+wrath that was sure to follow, and nothing more was heard of him in that
+section of the country.
+
+This all happened a number of years before I went to work in Fort Worth,
+and one morning I was doing a little "scooping," by working days, and
+sat down to send on the "DA" quad. I worked hard for about two hours on
+the polar side, and was sending to some cracker jack, who signed "KY."
+Shortly after that I changed over to the receiving side and "KY" did the
+sending to me. I had been taking about ten messages and the conviction
+was growing on me momentarily that the sending was very familiar and
+that I must have known the sender. Where had I heard that peculiar jerky
+sending before? It was as plain as print, but there was an
+individuality about it that belonged only to one man. All at once that
+night in Nebraska flashed on my mind and I knew my sender was none other
+than Ned Kingsbury. I broke him and said,
+
+"Hello, Ned Kingsbury, where did you come from?"
+
+"You've got the wrong man this time, sonny, my name is Pillsbury," he
+replied.
+
+"Oh! come off. I'd know that combination of yours if I heard it in
+Halifax. Didn't you work at Sweeping Water, Nebraska, some time ago, and
+didn't you have some kind of a queer smash up there?"
+
+Then he 'fessed up and said he had recognized my stuff as soon as he
+heard it, but hadn't said anything in hopes I wouldn't twig him.
+
+"Don't give me away, old chap. I'm flying the flag now and have lost all
+my former brashness."
+
+I never did.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+BILL BRADLEY, GAMBLER AND GENTLEMAN
+
+
+Telegraphers are, as a rule, a very nomadic class, wandering hither and
+thither like a chip buffeted about on the ocean. Their pathway is not
+always one of roses, and many times their feet are torn by the jagged
+rocks of adversity. I was no different from any of the rest, neither
+better nor worse, and many a night I have slept with only the deep blue
+sky for a covering, and it may be added--sotto voce--it is not a very
+warm blanket on a cold night. 'Tis said, an operator of the first class
+can always procure work, but there are times when even the best of them
+are on their uppers. For instance, when winter's chill blasts sweep
+across the hills and dales of the north, like swarms of swallows,
+operators flit southwards to warmer climes, and for this reason the
+supply is often greater than the demand.
+
+I was a "flitter" of the first water, and after I had been in Fort Worth
+for a very short while I became possessed of a desire to see something
+of the far famed border towns along the Rio Grande frontier. So I went
+south to a town called Hallville, and found it a typical tough frontier
+town. I landed there all right enough and then proceeded to gently
+strand. Work was not to be had, money I had none, and my predicament can
+be imagined. Many of you have doubtless been on the frontier and know
+what these places are. There was the usual number of gambling dens,
+dance halls and saloons, and of course they had their variety theatre.
+Ever go into one of the latter places? The first thing that greets your
+eye is a big black and white sign "Buy a drink and see the show."
+Inside, at one end, is the long wooden bar, presided over by some thug
+of the highest order, with a big diamond stuck in the centre of a broad
+expanse of white shirt front. At the other end is the so-called stage,
+while scattered about indiscriminately are the tables and chairs. The
+air is filled--yea, reeking--with the fumes of bad whiskey, stale beer,
+and the odor of foul smelling cheap tobacco smoke, and through all this
+haze the would-be "show," goes on, and the applause is manifested by
+whistles, cat calls, the pounding of feet on the floor and glasses on
+the tables. Occasionally some artist (?) will appear who does not seem
+to strike the popular fancy and will be greeted by a beer glass or
+empty bottle being fired at his or her head.
+
+Now, at the time of which I speak, my prospects were very slim, and as
+nature had endowed me with a fair singing voice, I had just about made
+up my mind to go to the Palace Variety Theatre and ask for a position as
+a vocalist. I could, at least, sing as well as some of the theatrical
+bygones that graced the place. The price of admission in one of these
+places is simply the price of a drink. I felt in my pocket and found
+that I had one solitary lonely dime, and swinging aside the green baize
+door, I entered.
+
+"Gimme a beer," I said laying down my dime. A small glass, four-fifths
+froth and one-fifth beer, was skated at me by the bartender from the
+other end of the counter, and my dime was raked into the till.
+
+Then I stood around like a bump on a log, trying to screw my courage up
+to ask the blear eyed, red-nosed Apollo for a job. Some hack voiced old
+chromo was trying to warble "Do they miss me at home," and mentally I
+thought "if he had ever sung like that when he was at home they were
+probably glad he had left." The scene was sickening and disgusting to
+me, but empty stomachs stand not on ceremony, so I turned around and
+was just about to accost the proprietor, when Biff! I felt a stinging
+whack between my shoulders. Quickly I faced about, all the risibility of
+my red headed nature coming to the surface, and there I saw a big
+handsome chap standing in front of me. Six feet tall, broad-shouldered,
+straight, lithe limbs, denoting herculean strength, a massive head
+poised on a well shaped neck, two cold blue eyes, and a face covered by
+a bushy brown beard; dressed in well fitting clothes, trousers tucked in
+the tops of shiny black boots, long Prince Albert coat and a broad
+sombrero set rakishly on one side of his head. Such was the man who hit
+me in the back.
+
+"Hello, youngster, what's your name?"
+
+Rubbing my lame shoulder, I said, "Well it might be Jones and it might
+be Smith, but it ain't, and I don't know what affair it is of yours, any
+way."
+
+"Oh! come now, boy, don't get huffy. You've got an honest face and
+appear to be in trouble. What is it? Out with it. You're evidently a
+tenderfoot and this hell-hole of vice isn't a place for a boy of your
+years. What's your name? Come over here at this table and sit down and
+tell me."
+
+Something in his bluff hearty manner gave me hope and after sitting
+down, I said.
+
+"My name is Martin Bates. I'm a telegraph operator by profession and
+blew into this town this morning on my uppers. I can't get work and I
+haven't a red cent to my name. It is necessary for me to live, and as I
+can sing a little bit, I came in here to see if I could get a job
+warbling. I won't beg or steal, and there is no one here I can borrow
+from. There's my story. Not a very pleasant one is it?"
+
+"There may have been worse. How long since you've had anything to eat."
+
+"Nine o'clock this morning," I grimly replied.
+
+"Good Lord, that's twelve hours ago. Come on with me out of here and
+I'll fix you up."
+
+Meekly I followed my new found friend. I was sick at heart, weary and
+worn out in body and I didn't care a rap whether school kept or not;
+anything would be better than my present situation. He took me about
+three blocks up the main street and we went into a suite of beautifully
+furnished rooms. He rang a bell, a darkey came in, and it wasn't long
+before I had a lunch in front of me fit for the gods, and I may add it
+didn't take me many minutes to get outside of it. My friend watched me
+narrowly while I was eating, and when I had finished he said,
+
+"Now youngster, you're all tired out. You go to bed in the next room and
+get a good night's sleep. In the morning we'll see what we can do for
+you, but one thing is certain, you're not going into that vile hole of a
+Palace Theatre again. Somewhere in this world you have a father and
+mother who are praying for you this night. Don't make a slip in your
+pathway in life and break their hearts. Everything is safe and quiet
+here and no one will disturb you until I come in in the morning."
+
+There was a peculiar earnestness in his voice as he spoke that was very
+convincing, and as he rose to go out, I meekly said,
+
+"What's your name, mister?"
+
+"Bill Bradley," he answered with a queer smile. "Now don't you ask any
+more questions to-night," and with that he was gone.
+
+I went to bed almost sick from my exposure and lack of food, and just as
+the old sand man of childhood's happy days began to sprinkle his grains
+in my eyes, I heard, way off in the distance, a peculiar click and a
+drawling voice calling off some numbers. "Four." "Sixteen."
+"Thirty-three." "Seventy-eight." "Ten." "Twenty-six," and then, a great
+shout arose and some one called out "KENO." Ah! I was near a gambling
+house, but I was too tired to care, nature asserted herself, and I
+gently crossed the river into the land of Nod.
+
+The next morning I was really sick with a high fever, and when Bill came
+in I was well nigh loony.
+
+"Hello," he said, "this won't do. Tom, I say, you Tom, go and tell
+Doctor Bailey I want him here quick. D--n quick. Do you hear?" and black
+Tom answered, "Yas, suh."
+
+To be brief, I was three weeks on my back, and bluff old Bill Bradley
+nursed me like a loving mother would a sick child. Day and night he hung
+over me, never a thing did I need but what he procured for me, and one
+day after the fever had left me and I was sitting up by an open window,
+I said,
+
+"Mr. Bradley, what do you do for a living?"
+
+"Boy," he replied with a flushed face, "I am sorry you asked that
+question, but sooner or later you would have heard it and I'd a great
+deal rather tell you about it myself. I'm a gambler and these three
+rooms adjoin my place which is called the "Three Nines," and then he
+told me the story of his life. He was a son of a fine Connecticut
+family, a graduate of Harvard, and in his day had been a very able young
+lawyer with brilliant prospects, but one night, he went out with a crowd
+of roystering chaps, the lie was passed, and--it was the old story,--he
+came to Texas for a refuge. The great civil war was just over, the
+country in a chaotic state, and there he had remained ever since. Thrown
+with wild, uncouth men, and being reckless in the extreme, he opened a
+gambling house.
+
+"Why did you take this great interest in me?" I asked.
+
+"Look here, young chap, you are altogether too inquisitive. I've got an
+old father and mother way up in Ball Brooke, Connecticut, whose hearts
+have been broken by my actions, and when I saw you in that hellish den
+of vice you looked so out of place that I determined to save you. It was
+impulse, my boy, and then again, it may have been the remembrance of the
+one, at whose knee I used to lisp, 'Now I lay me down to sleep.'"
+
+My recovery was very rapid from that time on, and when I was able to
+work I secured a position in the commercial office in Hallville. One
+evening after being paid I strolled into the "Three Nines;" Bill was
+dealing faro, and I thought I might in a measure, show my gratitude
+towards him by risking a coin. There was a big crowd standing around
+the table, but I edged my way in and placed a dollar on the queen to
+win. Luck was with me and I won. Once, twice, thrice, did the cards come
+my way, and my stack of whites and reds was growing. This didn't seem to
+me much like gratitude to win a man's money, and I wished I hadn't
+started. Presently Bill looked up, and spying me, pointed to my stack of
+chips, and said, "Whose stack is that?" "Mine," I replied, and with one
+fell swoop he dashed the chips into the rack, and taking a ten-dollar
+bill from the drawer, he turned to his side partner and said, "Jim, take
+the deal," and then he got up, took me by the arm, saying, "You come
+with me."
+
+Feeling like a sneak I followed him, and when we had reached his
+sitting-room, he sat down and said,
+
+"Kid, how much were you in on that deal?"
+
+"Just one dollar," I replied.
+
+Then he looked at me, his eyes shone like coals of fire, and he said,
+
+"Look here boy, here's ten dollars. If you are ever hard up and want
+money come to me, and I'll give it to you willingly, but don't you ever
+let me see or hear of you staking a cent on a card again. I'm running a
+gambling house, and as gambling houses go, it's an honest one, but I'm
+not out plucking lambs like you. Your intentions were probably good but
+don't you ever do it again. If you really want to show your gratitude
+for what I have done for you, promise me honestly that you will never
+gamble."
+
+I felt very much humiliated, but took his words of advice, promised, and
+have never flipped a coin on a card since that night.
+
+Bill was a married man, and in addition to his suite of rooms spoken of,
+he had a very nice residence on Capitol Hill. His suite was a side
+issue, to be used when the games were running high. I had never met Mrs.
+Bradley, but during my illness I had evidence every day of her goodness
+in the shape of many delicacies that found their way to my bedside. I
+had asked Bill time and again to take me out to meet his wife, but he
+always put me off on one pretext or another.
+
+When I started to work, I had secured a room at the house of a Mrs.
+Slade. She had three daughters and one Sunday afternoon we were all out
+walking together, when one of them pointed to a very fine residence and
+said, "That's the residence of Bill Bradley, the big gambler."
+
+Just then Bill and his wife came driving by behind a spanking team of
+bays. Quick as a flash my hat came off, and I bowed low. Bill saw it
+and very cavalierly returned my salute. The elder Miss Slade turned on
+me like a tigress, and said,
+
+"Mr. Bates, do you know who that man is? Do you know what he is?"
+
+"Yes, I know him very well," I replied.
+
+"Then what do you mean by insulting us by speaking to such a man? I did
+not know that you associated with men of his ilk."
+
+In a plain unvarnished way I told them of Bill Bradley's kindness to me,
+but it was no go, and as I would not renounce my liking for the man who
+had been my benefactor, my room in their house became preferable to my
+society and I left.
+
+The next evening I saw Bill in his rooms, and he said,
+
+"Martin, yesterday, when Mrs. Bradley and I drove by you and the Slade
+girls, you spoke to me and lifted your hat to Mrs. Bradley. I could do
+naught but return the salute. Now my boy, there's no use of my mincing
+words with you; I befriended you, probably saved you from ruin, but
+young as you are, you know full well that our paths do not lie parallel
+with each other. I am a gambler, and although Mrs. Bradley is as good a
+woman as ever lived, (and I'd kill the first man that said she wasn't)
+we are not recognized by society; no, not even by the riff raff that
+live in Hallville. You have your way to carve in the world, don't ruin
+it right at the outset by letting people know you are friendly with
+gamblers. No matter how good your motives may be, this scoffing world
+will always misconstrue them and censure you."
+
+This made me hot and I told him so. No matter if he was a gambler, he
+was more of a gentleman than nine-tenths of the men of society, yes,
+men, who would come and gamble half the night away in his place, and
+then go forth the next day and pose as models of propriety.
+
+The upshot of the whole business was that I left Hallville soon after
+this and went to San Antonio to take day report, and one day I picked up
+a paper, and read an account of how Bill Bradley had been assassinated
+by a cowardly cur who had a grudge against him. He was stabbed in the
+back, and thus ended the career of Bill Bradley, gambler and gentleman.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+THE DEATH OF JIM CARTWRIGHT--CHASED OFF A WIRE BY A WOMAN
+
+
+I didn't stay at San Antonio very long after this but started
+northwards. You see it was getting to be warm weather. The first place I
+struck was a night job in a smashing good town up near the south line of
+the pan handle. I quit working at midnight, and to get to my boarding
+house had to walk a mile through a portion of the town called "Hell's
+half-acre."
+
+The most prominent place of any description in the city was a saloon and
+gambling house known as the "Blue Goose," owned by John Waring and Luke
+Ravel. Both men were as nervy as they make 'em and several nicks in the
+butts of their revolvers testified mutely as to their prowess. Their
+place was like all other dens, and consisted of the usual bar and lunch
+counter in one room, while in the adjoining one was the hall of gaming.
+Faro, roulette, hazard, monte, and the great national game, poker, held
+high carnival there nightly. Next to the "Goose" was a long narrow room
+used as a shooting gallery. The place was only a few doors around the
+corner from my office, and many a night on my way home I would stop at
+the lunch counter and have a sandwich and a cup of coffee. I remembered
+my promise to bluff old Bill Bradley, and was never tempted to go in the
+gambling hall. I generally used to rise about noon each day and go up
+town and loaf until four o'clock, when it was time to go to work. I
+picked up a speaking acquaintance with Luke Ravel, and sometimes we
+would go into the shooting gallery together and have a friendly bout
+with the Flobert rifles.
+
+At this time there was one of those tough characters in the town named
+Jim Cartwright. In days gone by he had been a deputy United States
+Marshal, and one time took advantage of his official position to provoke
+a quarrel with an enemy and killed him in cold blood. Public indignation
+ran high and Jim had to skip to Mexico. He stayed away two years and
+getting in trouble over there, came back to his old stamping grounds in
+hopes the people had forgotten his former scrape. They hadn't exactly
+forgotten it, but Jim was a pretty tough character and no one seemed to
+care to tackle him.
+
+One night Luke Ravel and Jim had some words over a game of cards, and
+bad blood was engendered between them. The next day my side partner
+Frank Noel, and I went into the shooting gallery to try our luck, and
+were standing there enjoying ourselves, when Luke came in and took a
+hand. He was dressed in the height of fashion, and while we three were
+standing there, Jim Cartwright, three sheets in the wind, appeared in
+the doorway pistol in hand. He looked at Luke and said, with an oath,
+
+"Look here, Luke Ravel, your time has come. I'm going to kill you."
+
+My hair arose, my heart seemed to stop beating, but there was no way
+out, so Noel and I edged our way over as far as possible, and held our
+breath. Luke never turned a hair, nor changed color. He was as cool as
+an iceberg, and squarely facing Cartwright said,
+
+"You wouldn't shoot an unarmed man would you, Jim?"
+
+"Ain't you got no gun?"
+
+"No," replied Luke, "I'm unarmed. See," and with that he threw up the
+tails of his long coat.
+
+Jim hesitated a minute, and then shoving his gun into his pocket he
+said,
+
+"No, by heavens, I won't kill an unarmed man. I'll give you a chance
+for your life, but I warn you to fix yourself, because the next time I
+see you I'm going to let daylight through your carcass," and with
+another oath he turned to walk away. Hardly had he taken two steps, when
+there was a blinding flash followed by a loud report, and Jim Cartwright
+lay dead, shot through the heart, while Luke Ravel stood over him; a
+smoking .38 pocket pistol in his hand. Where he pulled his gun from no
+one ever knew; it was all over in a flash. It seems a cowardly thing to
+shoot a man in the back, but it was a case of 'dog eat dog.'
+
+Luke was arrested next day, and Noel and I gave our testimony before the
+coroner's jury, and he was bound over for trial before the next term of
+the circuit court to sit six months hence. There is an old and very
+trite saying in Texas that, "a dead witness is better than a live one."
+This was gently whispered into our ears, and accordingly one night about
+a month after this, Noel and I "folded our tents, and like the Arabs,
+silently stole away."
+
+Luke was acquitted on the plea of self defence.
+
+Spring time having come, and with it the good hot weather, I continued
+to move northwards and finally brought up in a good office in Nebraska,
+where I was to copy the night report from Chicago. We had two wires
+running to Chicago, one a quad for the regular business, and the other a
+single string for "C. N. D." and report work. My stay in this office
+was, short, sharp, brilliant and decisive.
+
+The first night I sat down to work at six-thirty, and in a few minutes
+was receiving the worst pounding I had ever experienced, from some
+operator in "CH" office who signed "JL." There was no kick coming on the
+sending, it was as plain as a large sized poster, but it was so
+all-fired fast, that it made me hustle for all I was worth to get it
+down. There is no sense in a fellow sending so fast, because nothing is
+made by it and it tires every one completely out. Ordinarily, a thirty
+word a minute clip is a good stiff speed for report, but this night,
+thirty-five or forty was nearer the mark. In every operator there is a
+certain amount of professional pride inherent that makes him refrain
+from breaking on report unless it is absolutely necessary. The sender
+always keeps a record of the breaks of each receiver on the line, and if
+they become too frequent the offender is gently fired. On the night in
+question I didn't break, but there were several times when foreign
+dispatches were coming that I faked names in great shape. It was an ugly
+night out, and about nine o'clock our quad flew the track, and in a
+minute "JL" said to me,
+
+"Here's ten blacks (day messages) just handed me to send to you," and
+without waiting for me to get my manifold clip out of the way he
+started. I didn't get a chance to put the time or date down, and was
+swearing, fighting mad. After sending five of the ten messages, "JL"
+stopped a second and said,
+
+"How do I come?"
+
+"You come like the devil. For heaven's sake let up a bit," I replied.
+
+"Who do you think you are talking to?" came back at me.
+
+Seemingly, patience had ceased to be a virtue with me, so I replied,
+"Some d----d ambitious chump of a fool who's stuck on making a record
+for himself."
+
+"That settles you. Call your chief operator over here."
+
+Joe Saunders was the chief, and when he came over he said,
+
+"What's the trouble here, kid, this wire gone down?"
+
+"No," I answered, "the wire hasn't gone down, but that cuss up in 'CH'
+who signs 'JL' has been pounding the eternal life out of me and I've
+just given him a piece of my mind."
+
+"Say anything brash?" asked Joe.
+
+"No, not very. Just told him he was a d--d fool with a few light
+embellishments."
+
+Joe laughed very heartily and said, "I guess you are the fool in this
+case, because 'JL' is a woman, Miss Jennie Love, by name, and the
+swiftest lady operator in the business. If she makes this complaint
+official, you'll get it in the neck."
+
+I didn't wait for any official complaint, but put on my coat and walked
+out much chagrined, because I had always boasted that no woman could
+ever run me off a wire. I had the pleasure of meeting Miss Love
+afterwards and apologized for my conduct. She forgave me, but like Mary
+Marsh, she married another man.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+WITNESSING A MARRIAGE BY WIRE--BEATING A POOL ROOM--SPARRING AT LONG
+RANGE
+
+
+After my disastrous encounter with Miss Love, I went south and brought
+up in St. Louis, where old "Top," the chief operator, gave me a place
+working a New York quad. This was about the worst "roast" I had ever
+struck, and it was work from the word go from 5 P. M. until 1 A. M. Work
+on any wire from a big city leading to New York is always hot, and this
+particular wire was the worst of the bunch. While working in this office
+I had several little incidents come under my observation that may be of
+interest.
+
+The coy little god of love manifests itself in many ways, and the
+successful culmination of two hearts' happiness is as often queer as it
+is humorous.
+
+Miss Jane Grey was an operator on the G. C. & F. Railway at Wichita,
+Kansas, and Mr. Paul Dimmock worked for the Western Union in Louisville,
+Kentucky. Through the agency of a matrimonial journal, Jane and Paul
+became acquainted; letters and pictures were exchanged, and--it was the
+old, old story--they became engaged. They wanted to be wedded and the
+more sensational and notorious they could make it the better it would
+suit them both. Jane only earned forty dollars per month, while Paul's
+monthly stipend was the magnificent sum of sixty, with whatever extra
+time he could "scoop." Neither one of them wanted to quit work just
+then, they felt they could not afford it, but that marriage must come
+off, or they would both die of broken hearts. Paul wrote,--Jane
+wrote,--plans and compromises were made and refused; the situation was
+becoming desperate, and finally Jane's brilliant mind suggested a
+marriage by wire. Great head--fine scheme. _It takes a woman to
+circumvent unforeseen obstacles every time._ Chief operators were
+consulted in Kansas City and St. Louis and they agreed to have the wire
+cut through on the evening appointed. There were to be two witnesses in
+each office, and I was one of the honored two in St. Louis. The day
+finally arrived, and promptly at seven-thirty in the evening Louisville
+was cut through to Wichita, and after all the contracting parties and
+the witnesses had assembled, the ceremony began. There was a minister at
+each end, and as the various queries and responses were received by the
+witnesses, they would read them to the contracting party present, and
+finally Paul said,
+
+"With this ring, I thee wed, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow:
+in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Amen."
+
+The ring was placed on the bride's finger, _by proxy_, the benediction
+pronounced by the Wichita minister, and the deed was done. In due time
+the certificate was received and signed by all the witnesses, and the
+matter made of record in both places.
+
+How long did they live apart? Oh! not very long. I think it was the next
+night that I saw a message going through directed to Paul saying, "Will
+leave for Louisville to-night," and signed "Jane."
+
+I wonder if old S. F. B. Morse ever had any idea when he was perfecting
+the telegraph, that it would some day be used to assist in joining
+together,
+
+    "Two souls with but a single thought,
+    Two hearts that beat as one."
+
+Operators are as a rule as honest as the sun, yet, "where you find
+wheat, there also you find chaff," and once in a while a man will be
+found whose proper place is the penitentiary. One of the easiest ways
+for an operator, so inclined to make money, is to cut wires, steal the
+reports of races, market quotations, or C. N. D. reports, and beat them
+to their destinations. Wires are watched very closely so that it is hard
+for an outsider to do any monkeying. Many men understand telegraphy who
+do not work at the business, and it is for this reason that all the
+instruments in the bucket shops and stock exchanges are turned so low
+that no one outside of the operating room can hear a sound. When it is
+realized that transactions are made, and fortunes won or lost in a
+fractional part of a minute, it will be seen how very careful the great
+telegraph companies must be. The big horse races every year offer great
+temptations.
+
+While I was working in St. Louis, a case came under my observation that
+will readily illustrate the perversity of human nature. In a large
+office not so very far away, there was working a friend of mine, who did
+nothing but copy race reports and C. N. D.'s all day. On the day the
+great Kentucky Derby was to be run, the wire was cut through from the
+track in Louisville to a big pool room in this city.
+
+Now the chief operator in this place was a scaly sort of a cuss--in
+fact, it was said that he had done time in the past for some
+skullduggery--and when the horses went to the post, he stood by the
+switchboard and deliberately cut the pool room wire, so the report
+didn't go through. He copied the report himself, knew what horse had
+won, and then sent a message to a henchman of his, who was an operator
+and had an instrument secreted in his room near the pool room. This chap
+went quickly into the pool room and made wagers right and left. A rank
+outsider, a twenty to one shot, won the race, and after the confederate
+had signified that he was ready, the chief sent the report through as if
+it had come from the track. The whole transaction didn't take over two
+minutes and the "bookies" were hit for about $30,000, which Mr. Chief
+and his side pardner divided between them.
+
+A little while later the suspicions of the bookmakers became aroused,
+complaints were made, an investigation followed, and one fine day when
+matters were becoming pretty warm, the recalcitrant chief disappeared.
+His confederate confessed to the whole scheme and the jig was up. The
+chief was afterwards apprehended and sent up for seven years, but he
+held on to his boodle.
+
+For the first month of my stay in St. Louis, my life was as uneventful
+as a May day, but at the end of that time a man came on the New York end
+of our quad that was enough to make a man drink. The men working
+together on a wire like this should always be harmonious, because the
+business is so heavy there is no time for any war of words. However,
+operators are like all other men, and scraps are not uncommon. Generally
+they take place at long range, and no one is hurt thereby. Some men have
+an unhappy faculty of incurring the hatred of every person over a wire,
+while personally they may be princes of good fellows. The man referred
+to above, signed "SY," and he had about as much judgment as a two year
+old kid. It didn't make any difference to him whether the weather was
+clear or muggy, no matter whether the wire was weak or strong, he'd
+pound along like a cyclone. Remonstrance availed nothing, and one night
+when he was cutting up some of his monkeyshines, I became very warm
+under the collar and told him in language more expressive than elegant,
+just what I thought of him, threatening to have our wire chief have him
+fired off the wire. He answered:
+
+"Oh! you go to blazes, you big ham. You're too fresh anyway."
+
+The epithet "ham" is about as mean a one as can be applied to an
+operator, and I came back at him with:
+
+"Look here, you infernal idiot, I'll meet you some time and when I do
+I'm going to smash your face. Stop your monkeying and take these
+messages."
+
+"Hold your horses, sonny, what's the difference between you and a
+jackass?" he said.
+
+"Just nine hundred miles," I replied.
+
+Further words were useless and in a few minutes he was relieved, but
+just about the time he got up he said:
+
+"Say, 'BY,' don't forget you've got a contract to smash my face some of
+these days. I'll be expecting you. Ta Ta."
+
+That was the last of him on that wire and the incident passed from my
+mind. I pulled up and left St. Louis shortly after that and went to work
+for the old Baltimore and Ohio Commercial Company, at the corner of
+Broadway and Canal streets, in New York. I drew a prize in the shape of
+the common side of the first Boston quad. Sitting right alongside of me
+was a great, big, handsome Irish chap named Dick Stanley. He was as fine
+a fellow as ever lived, and that night took me over to his house on
+Long Island to board. We were sitting in his room about nine-thirty,
+having a farewell smoke before retiring and our conversation turned to
+"shop talk." We talked of the old timers we had both known, told
+reminiscences, spun yarns, and all at once Dick said:
+
+"Say, Bates, did you ever work in 'A' office in St. Louis?"
+
+"Oh! yes," I replied, "I put in three months there under 'Old Top.' In
+fact, I came from there to New York."
+
+"That so?" he answered. "I used to work on the polar side of the No. 2
+quad, from this end, over in the Western Union office on Broadway and
+Dey street. What did you sign there?"
+
+"BY," I answered. I thought he looked queer, but we continued our talk,
+and finally I told him of my wordy war with a man in New York, who
+signed "SY," and remarked that I was going over to 195 Broadway, and
+size him up some day. He knocked the ashes out of his pipe, got up from
+his chair, and, stretching his six feet two of anatomy to its full
+length said:
+
+"Well, old chap, I'm fagged. I'm going to bed. You'd better get a good
+sleep and be thoroughly rested in the morning, because you'll need all
+your strength. I'm the man that signed 'SY' in the New York office, and
+I'm ready to take that licking."
+
+[Illustration: "He looked at me ... then catching me by the collar...."]
+
+Did I lick him? Not much, I couldn't have licked one side of him, and we
+were the best of chums during my stay in the city.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+HOW A SMART OPERATOR WAS SQUELCHED--THE GALVESTON FLOOD
+
+
+A little while after this "Stub" Hanigan, another operator, invited Dick
+and me to go down to a chop house with him for lunch, and we accepted. I
+say chop house when in reality it was one of those numerous little
+hotels that abound all over New York where one can get a good meal for
+very little money. Hanigan was a rattling good operator, but he was very
+young and had a tendency to be too fresh on occasion.
+
+He ordered us a fine lunch and while we were sitting there discussing
+the good things, a big awkward looking chap came into the dining-room.
+He was accompanied by a sweet, pretty looking little woman. She was a
+regular beauty, and it needed but a glance to see that they were bride
+and groom, and from the country. They had all the ear marks so apparent
+in every bride and groom. They hesitated on the threshold a moment, and
+the groom said very audibly:
+
+"Dearest, this is the finest dining-room in the world," and "Dearest"
+beamed on her liege lord in a manner that was very trustful and sweet.
+Hanigan, idiot that he was, laughed outright. Dick and I both gave him a
+savage kick under the table, but it didn't have any effect.
+
+The head waiter brought the couple over and sat them down at our table,
+and, say--that woman was as pretty as any that ever came down the pike.
+Towards the end of the meal, Hanigan took his knife and fork and began
+to telegraph to Stanley and me, making all sorts of fun about the
+country pair. Now that is a pretty dangerous business, because there is
+no telling who may be an operator. Dick growled at him savagely under
+his breath and told him to shut up. Nay! Nay! Mr. Hanigan wouldn't shut
+up worth a cent. Finally he made some scurrilous remark, and then
+another knife and fork came into play. Mr. Bridegroom was doing the
+talking now, and this is what he said to Hanigan:
+
+"I happen to be an operator myself, and have heard and understood every
+word you said. As long as you confined yourself to innocent remarks
+about country brides and grooms, I haven't minded it a bit. In fact, I
+have rather enjoyed it. But now you've gone too far, and in about five
+seconds I'm going to have the pleasure of smashing your face."
+
+Then, before we had time to do a thing, biff; and Hanigan got it
+squarely on the jaw. We hustled him out of there as soon as we could,
+but Mr. Bridegroom had all his Irish up and followed him out. Eventually
+we succeeded in calming him down; "Stub" made a most abject apology, and
+I don't believe he ever used his knife and fork for any such a purpose
+again.
+
+The gawky chap was Mr. Dave Harrison, one of the finest operators in the
+profession.
+
+Just about this time fall weather was coming on, and there was a
+suggestion of an approaching winter in the chill morning air, and
+receiving a letter from my old friend Clarke in Galveston, telling me
+there was a good job waiting for me if I could come at once, I pulled up
+stakes in New York, and sailed away on the Mallory Line ship "Comal,"
+for my old stamping ground. I reached there the next week and was put to
+work on the New York Duplex, which, by the way, was the longest string
+in the United States. Mrs. Swanson had re-opened her boarding house on
+Avenue M, everything looked lovely and I anticipated a very pleasant
+winter. Up to September 18th, everything was as quiet and calm as a May
+day. The weather had been beautiful, the surf bathing and concerts in
+front of the Beach Hotel fine, and nothing was left to wish for.
+
+I quit working on Thursday, September 18th, at five P. M., and went out
+to the beach and had a plunge. The sky was clear, but there was a good
+stiff breeze blowing, and it was increasing all the time. The tide was
+flowing in, and the dashing of the waves and roar of the surf made a
+picture long to be remembered. After my swim I went home, and when
+supper was finished three of us again went out to the beach. The wind
+had increased to a perfect gale, and already the water was over the car
+tracks. The Pagoda and Surf bath houses were surrounded, while numerous
+small shacks along the shore had been washed away. Inch by inch, foot by
+foot, the water advanced until it began to look serious, but no one
+dreamed of the flood that was to follow.
+
+We went home at eight-thirty, and at ten I dropped into the realms of
+the sand man, lulled to sleep by the roar of the distant surf, and the
+whistling and moaning of the high wind.
+
+Jimmie Swanson was again my roommate and about five o'clock he woke me
+up and said:
+
+"Mr. Bates, if this wind keeps up the whole island will be under water
+in a very few hours more."
+
+"Nonsense, Jimmie," I replied, "there is no danger of that," and I
+turned over to have another snooze, when I heard a peculiar _swash_,
+_swash_, _swash_, against the side of the house.
+
+"Jimmie, what's the swash we hear?" I asked.
+
+He got out of bed, limped over to the window, opened the blinds, looked
+a minute and then yelled:
+
+"Good Lord! the whole town is under water, and we are floating."
+
+It needed but a glance to convince me that he spoke part truth. There we
+were surrounded on all sides by water, but the house was still on its
+foundation.
+
+    "Water, water, everywhere
+    Nor any drop to drink."
+
+On account of the sandy nature of the soil on Galveston Island, most of
+the houses were built up on piles, and the water was gently slopping all
+over the first floor of our habitation. The streets were flowing waist
+high, and filled with floating debris of all kinds;--beer kegs, boards,
+doors, and tables _ad lib_. The wind soon began to quiet down, and when
+our first fright was over we had a high old time swimming and splashing
+around in the water. It's a great city that will bring salt water
+bathing right up to the doors of its houses.
+
+After a very skimpy breakfast, four of us made a raft, and paddled and
+pushed it down to the office. Nary a wire was there in working order.
+You see, Galveston is on a very flat island scarcely one mile wide, and
+the only approach at this time was a low railroad bridge, three miles
+long. Our wires were strung along the side of that, and at five o'clock
+in the morning, every wire was under water, and the force on duty either
+swam home or slept on the floor.
+
+That day was about the easiest I ever spent in a telegraph office. There
+was a Mexican cable from Galveston to Vera Cruz, but the flood had
+washed away their terminals, and for that day, Galveston was entirely
+isolated from the world.
+
+Houston, fifty-five miles north, was the first big town adjacent, and as
+all our wires ran through there, it was apparent they were having a hot
+time doing the relaying all day. They had only a small force, and
+evidently the business was delayed. The storm had finally blown itself
+out, and at four o'clock Clarke called for volunteers to go to Houston
+to help out until our wires came in shape again. The G. H. & H. railroad
+people said they thought the water was low enough to permit an engine
+to cross the bridge, and in response to Clarke's call eight of us
+volunteered to attempt the trip. After reaching the mainland we would be
+all right, but there was that confounded three mile bridge to cross. We
+boarded engine 341, with Dad Duffy at the throttle, and at four-fifteen
+he pulled out. Water was still over the track and we proceeded at a
+snail-like pace. Just at the edge of the bridge we stopped; Dad looked
+over the situation and said:
+
+"The water is within two inches of the fire-box now, and it's doubtful
+if we can get across, but here goes and God save us all."
+
+The sensation when we first struck that bridge and realized that we were
+literally on a water support, was anything but pleasant, and I reckon
+most of us uttered the first prayer in many a day. Slowly we crept
+along, and just as we were in the middle of the structure the draw
+sagged a little, and _kersplash!_ out went the fire. A great cloud of
+steam arose and floated away on the evening air, and then, there stood
+that iron monster as helpless as a babe. Dad looked around at us eight
+birds perched up on the tender and said:
+
+"Well I reckon you fellers won't pound any brass in Houston to-night."
+
+Pleasant fix to be in, wasn't it? A mile and a half from land, perched
+up on a dead engine, surrounded on all sides by water, and no chance to
+get away. There was no absolute danger, because the underpinning was
+firm enough, but all the same, every man jack of us wished he hadn't
+come. Night, black and dreary, settled over the waters, and still no
+help. Finally, at eight o'clock, the water had receded so that the tops
+of the rails could be seen, and two of us volunteered to go back on foot
+to the yard office for help. That was just three miles away, but nothing
+venture, nothing have, so we dropped off the hind end of the tender and
+started on our tramp back over the water-covered ties. We had one
+lantern, and after we had gone about a half of a mile, my companion who
+was ahead, slipped and nearly fell. I caught him but good-bye to the
+lantern, and the rest of the trip was made in utter darkness. To be
+brief, after struggling for two hours and a half, we reached the yard
+office, and an engine was sent out to help us. At twelve o'clock the
+whole gang were back in the city, wet, weary and worn out.
+
+The next day the water had entirely subsided and work was resumed. We
+learned then of the horror of the flood. Sabine Pass had been
+completely submerged, and some hundred and fifty or two hundred people
+drowned. Indianola had been wiped out of existence, and the whole coast
+lined with the wreckage of ships. That there were no casualties in
+Galveston, was providential, and due, doubtless, to the fact that the
+whole country for fifty miles back of it is as flat as a pan-cake, and
+the water had room to spread.
+
+I worked there until spring and then a longing for my first love, the
+railroad, came over me and I gave up my place and bade good-bye to the
+commercial business forever. I had had my fling at it and was
+satisfied.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+SENDING MY FIRST ORDER
+
+
+I had now been knocking about the country for quite a few years, and
+working in all kinds of offices and places, and had acquired a great
+deal of experience and valuable information, so I reached the conclusion
+that it was about time for me to settle down and get something that
+would last me for a while. Commercial work I did not care for, nor did I
+want to go back on the road as a night operator on a small salary. I
+thought I had the making of a good despatcher in me, and determined to
+try for that place. I knew it had to be attained by starting first at
+the bottom, so I went up on the K. M. & O. and secured a position as
+night operator at Vining. The K. M. & O. was a main trunk line running
+out of Chaminade, and was the best road for business that I had as yet
+struck. Vining was midway on the division, and was such a good old town
+that I would have been content to have stayed there for some time, but
+one day an engine pulling a through livestock express broke a driving
+rod while running like lightning, and the result was a smash up of the
+first water--engine in the ditch, cars piled all over her, livestock
+mashed up, engineer killed, fireman badly hurt, and the road blocked for
+twenty-four hours. The wreck occurred on a curve going down a rather
+steep grade, so that it was impossible to build a temporary track around
+it. A wrecking train was sent out from El Monte, and as I happened to be
+off duty, I was picked up and taken along, to cut in the wrecking
+office. The division superintendent came out to hurry up things and he
+appeared so pleased at my work that, in a few weeks, he offered me a
+place as copy operator in the despatcher's office at El Monte. This
+appeared to be a great chance to satisfy my ambition to become a
+despatcher, so I gladly accepted, and in a few days was safely ensconced
+in my new position. The despatchers only work eight hours a day, while
+the copy operators work twelve, so they work with two despatchers every
+day. I had the day end of the job and worked from eight A. M. until eight
+P. M., with an hour off for dinner, so that I really was only on duty for
+eleven hours. The pay was good for me, seventy dollars per month, and I
+was thoroughly satisfied. Really all that is necessary to be a first
+class copy operator is to be an expert telegrapher. It is simply a work
+of sending and receiving messages all day. However I wanted to learn, so
+I kept my ears and eyes opened, and studied the time card, train sheet,
+and order book very assiduously.
+
+The first trick despatcher was honest old Patrick J. Borroughs, a man of
+twenty-five years' experience in the business and as good a man as ever
+sent an order or took an O. S. report. He was kindness and gentleness
+personified, and assisted me in every way possible, and all my future
+success was due to his help and teaching. The memory of the time I
+worked under him is the brightest spot in all the years I served in the
+business. After I had been there for about five months, he would allow
+me, under his supervision, to make simple meeting points for two trains,
+and one day he allowed me to give a right-of-track order to a through
+freight train over a delayed passenger. Then he would let me sit around
+in his chair, while he swallowed his lunch, and copy the O. S. reports.
+I was beginning to think that my education as a despatcher was complete,
+and was thinking of asking for the next vacancy, when a little incident
+occurred that entirely disabused my mind. The following occurrence will
+show how little I knew about the business.
+
+We had received notice one morning of a special train to be run over our
+division that afternoon, carrying a Congressional Railroad Committee,
+and of course that meant a special schedule, and you all know how
+anxious the roads are to please railroad committees, especially when
+they are on investigating tours (?) with reference to the extension of
+the Inter-State Commerce Act, as this one was. We were told to "whoop
+her through." The track on our division was the best on the whole road,
+and it was only 102 miles long; we had plenty of sidings and passing
+tracks, and besides old "Jimmie" Hayes, with engine 444 was in, so they
+could be assured of a run that was a hummer. Mr. Hebron, the division
+superintendent, came in the office and told Borroughs to tear things
+loose, in fact, as he said, "Make 'em all car sick."
+
+After he had gone out Pat tossed the notification over to me, and said,
+"Bates, here's a chance for you to show what kind of stuff you are made
+of. Make out a schedule for this special, giving her a clean sweep from
+end to end, with the exception of No. 21."
+
+Proud! That wasn't the proper name for it. I was fully determined that
+_this_ special should have a run for her money if she ran on my
+schedule. No Congressional Committee was going back to Washington with
+the idea that the K. M. & O. wasn't the swiftest road in the bunch, if I
+could help it, and I had a big idea that I could. Pat told me he would
+do the copying while I made the schedule, but as he said it I fancied I
+saw a merry twinkle in his honest blue eyes. I wasn't daunted though,
+and started to work.
+
+     "Order No. 34.
+     "To C&E, all trains:
+
+     "K. M. & O. RAILROAD (Eastern Division).
+     "DESPATCHER'S OFFICE, 'DS,' October 15, 18--
+
+     "Special east engine 444, will run from El Monte to Marsan having
+     right of track over all trains except No. 21, on the following
+     schedule:--
+
+     "Leave El Monte, 2:30 P. M."
+
+Thus far I proceeded without any trouble, and then I stuck. Here was
+where the figuring came in, along with the knowledge of the road, grades
+and so forth, but I was sadly lacking in that respect. I studied and
+figured and used up lots of gray matter, and even chewed up a pencil or
+two. I finally finished the schedule and submitted it to Pat. He read it
+carefully, knitted his brows for a moment, and then said, slowly:
+
+"For a beginner that schedule is about the best I ever saw. It's a
+hummer without a doubt. But to prevent the lives of the Congressional
+Committee from being placed in jeopardy, I think I shall have to make
+another." Then he laughed heartily, and continued,
+
+"All joking aside, Bates, my boy, you did pretty well, but you have only
+allowed seven minutes between Sumatra and Borneo, while the time card
+shows the distance to be fourteen miles. Jim Hayes and engine 444 are
+capable of great bursts of speed, but, by Jingo, they can't fly. Then
+again you have forgotten our through passenger train, No. 21, which is
+an hour late from the south to-day; what are you going to do with her?
+Pass them on one track, I suppose. But don't be discouraged, my boy,
+brace up and try it again. That's a much better schedule than the first
+one I ever made."
+
+He made another schedule and I resumed my copying. It wasn't long,
+however, before my confidence returned and I wanted a trick. I got it,
+but in such a manner that even now, fifteen years afterwards, I shudder
+to think of it.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+RUNNING TRAINS BY TELEGRAPH--HOW IT IS DONE
+
+
+The despatcher's office of a big railroad line is one of the most
+interesting places a man can get into, especially if he is interested in
+the workings of our great railway systems. It is located at the division
+headquarters, or any other point, such as will make the despatching of
+trains and attendant orders of easy accomplishment. In riding over a
+road, many people are prone to give the credit of a good swift run to
+the engineer and train crew. Pick up a paper any day that the President
+or some big functionary is out on a trip, and you will probably read
+how, at the end of the run, he stopped beside the panting engine, and
+reaching up to shake the hand of the faithful, grimy engineer, would
+say:
+
+"Thank you so much for giving us such a good run. I don't know when I
+have ridden so fast before," or words to that effect. He never thinks
+that the engineer and crew are but the mechanical agents, they are but
+small cogs in a huge machine. They do their part and do it well, but the
+brains of the machine are up in the little office and are all
+incorporated in the despatcher on duty. Flying over the country
+regardless of time or space, one is apt to forget where the real credit
+belongs. The swift run could not be made, and the train kept running
+without a stop, if it were not for the fact that the despatcher puts
+trains on the sidetrack so that the special need not be delayed, and he
+does it in such a manner that the regular business of the road shall not
+be interfered with.
+
+The interior of the despatcher's office is not, as a rule, very
+sumptuous. There is the big counter at one side of the room, on which
+are the train registers, car record books, message blanks, and forms for
+the various reports. Against the wall on one of the other sides is a big
+black board known as the "call board." On it is recorded the probable
+arrival and departure of trains, and the names of their crews, also the
+time certain crews are to be called. As soon as the train men have
+completed the work of turning their train over to the yard crew at the
+end of their run, they are registered in the despatcher's office, and
+are liable thereafter for duty in their turn. The rule "first in,
+first, out," is supposed to be strictly adhered to in the running of
+trains. About the middle of the room, or in the recess of the bay
+window, is the despatcher's table. On it in front of the man on duty, is
+the train sheet, containing information, exact and absolute in its
+nature, of each train on the division. On this sheet there is also a
+space set apart for the expected arrival of trains on his district from
+the other end, and one for delays. Loads, empties, everything, is there
+that is necessary for him to know to properly run the trains on time and
+with safety. At any minute the despatcher on duty can tell you the
+precise location of any train, what she is doing, how her engine is
+working, how much work she has to do along the road, and all about her
+engineer and conductor. Generally, there are two sets of instruments on
+the table, one for use of what is known as the despatcher's wire, over
+which his sway is absolute, and the other for a wire that is used for
+messages, reports, and the like, and in case of emergency, by the
+despatcher. Mounted on a roll in front of him is the current official
+time card of the division. From the information contained thereon, the
+despatcher makes all his calculations for time orders, meeting points,
+work trains, etc. Across the table from the despatcher sits the "copy
+operator," whose duty it is to copy everything that comes along, thus
+relieving the despatcher of anything that would tend to disturb him in
+his work. The copy operator is generally the man next for promotion to a
+despatcher's trick, and his relations with his chief must be entirely
+harmonious.
+
+The working force in a well regulated despatcher's office consists of
+the chief despatcher, three trick despatchers, and two copy operators,
+with the various call boys and messengers. The chief despatcher is next
+to the division superintendent, and has full charge of the office. He
+has the supervision of the yard and train reports, and the ordering out
+of the trains and crews. He has charge of all the operators on the
+division, their hiring and dismissal, and has general supervision of the
+telegraph service. In fact, he is a little tin god on wheels. His office
+hours? He hasn't any. Most of the chiefs are in their offices from early
+morn until late at night, and there is no harder worked man in the world
+than the chief despatcher.
+
+Each day is divided into three periods of eight hours each, known as
+"tricks," and a despatcher assigned to each. The first trick is from
+eight A. M. until four P. M.; the second from four P. M. until twelve
+midnight; and the third from twelve midnight until eight A. M.
+
+At eight o'clock in the morning, the first trick despatcher comes on
+duty, and his first work is to verify the train sheet and order book.
+The man going off duty checks off all orders issued by him that have
+been carried out, and his successor signs his initials to all orders yet
+to be obeyed. This signifies that he has read them over very carefully
+and thoroughly understands their purport. As soon as he has receipted
+for them he becomes as responsible as if he had first issued them. He
+glances carefully over his train sheet, assures himself that everything
+is correct and then assumes his duties for the day. Anything that is not
+clear to him must be thoroughly explained before his predecessor leaves,
+and he must signify that he understands everything. The value of that
+old time card rule, so familiar to all railroaders, "In case of doubt
+always take the safe side," is exemplified many times every day in the
+running of trains by telegraph, and the attendant orders. After a
+despatcher has assumed charge of the trick he is the master of the
+situation; he is responsible for everything, and his attentiveness,
+ability and judgment are the powers that keep the trains moving and on
+time.
+
+When all trains are running on time, and there are no extras or specials
+out, the despatcher's duty is easy, and consists largely in taking and
+recording "O. S. reports," and "Consists." The "O. S. report" is the
+report sent in by the various operators as the trains arrive and depart
+from the several stations. A "consist" is a message sent by the
+conductor of a train to the division superintendent, giving the exact
+composition and destination of every car in his train. When trains are
+late, however, or many extras are running or the track washed out, the
+despatcher's work becomes very arduous. Orders of all kinds have to be
+made, engines and crews kept working together and trains moving.
+
+Down the centre of the train sheet, which varies in size according to
+the length of the division, are printed the names of all the telegraph
+stations on the division and the distances between them. On either side
+of this main column are ruled smaller columns, each one of which
+represents a train. The number of each train is at the head of the
+appropriate column, and under it are the number of the engine, the names
+of the conductor and engineer, and the number of loads and empties in
+the train. All trains on the division are arranged in three classes, and
+each class has certain rights. Trains of the first class are always
+passengers; the through freight, and the combination freight and
+passenger trains compose the second class. All other trains, such as
+local freights, work trains and construction trains belong to the third
+class. It is an invariable rule on all railroads that trains running one
+way have _exclusive rights_ over trains of their own and of inferior
+classes running in the opposite direction.
+
+What is called the "double order system," is used almost exclusively on
+all single track roads, and if the rules and regulations governing it
+were strictly adhered to and carried out, accidents for which human
+agency is responsible, would be impossible. It consists simply in giving
+an order to all the trains concerned _at the same time_. That is to say,
+if the despatcher desires to make a meeting point for two trains, he
+will send the same order simultaneously to both of them. If a train is
+leaving his end of the division and he desires to make a meeting point
+with a train coming in, before giving his order to his conductor and
+engineer, he would telegraph it to a station at which the incoming train
+was soon to arrive, and from whence the operator would repeat it back
+word for word, and would give a signal signifying that his red board was
+turned. By this means both trains would receive the same order, and
+there would be no doubt about the point at which they were to meet.
+
+To illustrate this method, let us suppose a case of two sections of No.
+13 running east and one section of No. 14 running west. Both trains are
+of the second class, and as the east bound trains have the right of way,
+No. 14 _must_ keep out of the way of the two 13's. A certain point, call
+it Smithville, is, according to the time card, the meeting point for
+these two trains. But No. 14 finds out she has a lot of work to do at
+Jonesboro; or a hot driving box or a draw head pulling out delays her,
+and thus she cannot possibly reach Smithville for No. 13. She is at
+Jason, and unless she can get orders to run farther on No. 13's time,
+she will have to tie up there and be further delayed an hour. The
+conductor tells the operator at Jason to ask "DS" if he can help them
+out any. "DS" glances over his train sheet, and finds that he cannot let
+them run to Smithville, because No. 13 is nearly on time; but there is a
+siding at Burkes, between Jason and Smithville, and he concludes to let
+14 go there. So he tells the operator at Jason to "copy 3," and then he
+calls Smithville and tells him to "copy 5." Both the engineer and
+conductor get a copy of all orders pertaining to their trains, and the
+operators retain one for their records and for reference in case of
+accident. Both operators turn their red boards _the first thing_, and so
+long as the signal remains red, no train can pass the station, without
+first receiving an order or a clearance card. In the case supposed the
+order would be as follows:
+
+     "DS Despatcher's Office, 12, 8, '98
+
+     "Orders No. 31.
+
+     To C. & E. 1st and 2nd 13, SM.
+     To C. & E. No. 14, JN.
+
+     First and second sections No. 13, and No. 14 will meet at Burkes.
+
+     12. (Answer how you understand).
+
+     "H. G. C."
+
+The despatcher's operator, sitting opposite to him, copies every word of
+this order as the despatcher sends it, and when the operators at
+Smithville and Jason repeat it back, he underlines each word, great care
+being taken to correct any mistakes made by the operators. After an
+operator has repeated an order back he signs his name, and the
+despatcher then says:
+
+"Order No. 31, O. K.," giving the time and signing the division
+superintendent's initials thereto. The order is next handed to the
+conductor and engineer of each train when they come to the office; both
+read it carefully, and then signify that they understand it fully by
+signing their names. The operator then says to the despatcher, "Order
+31, sig. Jones and Smith," and the despatcher gives the "complete" and
+the exact time. Then a copy is given to the conductor and one to the
+engineer and they leave. On the majority of roads the conductor must
+read the order aloud to the engineer before leaving the office.
+
+Thus No. 14 having received her orders, pulls out, and when she reaches
+Burkes, she goes on the side track and waits there for both 13's,
+because 13, being an east bound train of the same class, has the
+right-of-track over her. The same _modus operandi_ is gone through with
+for No. 13, and when the trains have departed the operators pull in
+their red boards. When the meeting has been made and both trains are
+safely by Burkes, the despatcher draws a blue pencil or makes a check
+mark on his order book copy and signs his initials, which signifies that
+the provisions of the order have been carried out. Should its details
+not have been completed when the despatcher is relieved, his successor
+signs his initials thereto showing that he has received it. This is the
+method of sending train orders, exact and simple, on single track
+railroads. On double track lines the work is greatly simplified because
+trains running in each direction have separate tracks. Does it not seem
+simple? And how impossible are mistakes when its rules are adhered to.
+It really seems as if any one gifted with a reasonable amount of common
+sense, and having a knowledge of the rudiments of mathematics, could do
+the work, but underneath all the simplicity explained, there runs a deep
+current of complications that only long time and a cool head can master.
+I have worked in offices and been figuring on orders for a train soon to
+start out from my end of the division, when all of a sudden some train
+out on the road that has been running all night, will bob up with a hot
+box, or a broken draw head, and then all the calculations for the new
+train will be knocked into a cocked hat.
+
+The simple meeting order has been given above. The following examples
+will illustrate some of the other many forms of orders, and are
+self-explanatory.
+
+TIME ORDER
+
+No. 14 has a right to use ten minutes of the time of No. 13 between
+Jason and Jonesboro.
+
+SLOW ORDER
+
+All trains will run carefully over track from one-half mile east of
+Salt Water to Big River Bridge, track soft.
+
+EXTRA ORDER
+
+Engine 341 will run extra from DeLeon to Valdosta.
+
+ANNULMENT ORDER
+
+No. 15 of January 6th is annulled between Santiago and Rio.
+
+WORK ORDER
+
+Engine 228 will work between Posey and Patterson, keeping out of the way
+of all regular trains. Clear track for extra west, engine 327 at 10:30
+A. M.
+
+When an operator has once turned his red board to the track for an
+order, under no circumstances must he pull it in until he has delivered
+the order for the train for which it is intended. In the meantime should
+another train come in for which he has no orders, he will give it a
+clearance card as follows:
+
+     To C. & E., No. 27
+     There are no orders for you, signal is set for No. 18.
+     H. G. CLARKE, Operator.
+
+At stated times during the day, the despatchers on duty on each division
+send full reports of all their trains to the divisions adjoining them
+on either side. This train report is very complete, giving the
+composition of each and every train on the road, and the destination of
+every car. A form of the message will readily illustrate this:
+
+     SAN ANGELO, 5 | 16, 18--.
+     W. H. C. DS
+
+     No 17 will arrive at DS, at 10:20 A. M., with the following:
+
+       1 HH goods           Chgo.
+       2 Livestock          Kansas City.
+       3 Mdse                   "
+       1 Emgt. outfit       St. Louis.
+       6 Coal               Houston.
+       6 Wheat              Chgo.
+       7 Empty sys. flats   Flat Rock.
+      --
+      Total 26
+
+     H. G. B.
+
+All work is done over the initials of the division superintendent and in
+his name. These reports keep the despatchers fully informed as to what
+may be expected, and arrangements can be made to keep the trains moving
+without delay. Of course the report illustrated above is for but one
+train, necessarily it must be much longer when many trains are running.
+
+At some regular time during the day all the agents on the division send
+in a car report. This is copied by the despatcher's operator and shows
+how many and what kind of cars are on the side tracks; the number of
+loads ready to go out; the number and kind of cars wanted during the
+ensuing twenty-four hours; and if the station is a water station, how
+many feet of water are in the tank; or if a coaling station, how many
+cars of coal there are on hand; and lastly, what is the character of the
+weather. On some roads weather reports are sent in every hour.
+
+In view of all this, I think it is not too much to say, that the eyes of
+the despatcher see everything on the road. There are a thousand and one
+small details, in addition to the momentous matters of which he has
+charge, and the man who can keep his division clear, with all trains
+moving smoothly and on time, must indeed possess both excellent method
+and application, and must have the ability and nerve to master numerous
+unexpected situations the moment they arise. He is not an artisan or a
+mechanic, _he is a genius_.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+AN OLD DESPATCHER'S MISTAKE--MY FIRST TRICK
+
+
+I had become thoroughly proficient and more frequently than ever
+Borroughs would let me "spell" for him for a while each day. Be it said
+to his credit, however, he was always within hearing, when I was doing
+any of his work. He was carefulness personified, and the following
+incident only serves to show what unaccountable errors will be made by
+even the best of men.
+
+One cold morning in January, I started to the office as usual. The air
+was so still, crisp and biting that the air-pumps of the engines had
+that peculiar sharp, snappy sound heard only in a panting engine in cold
+weather. They seemed almost imbued with life. As I went into the office
+at eight o'clock to go to work, the night man remarked that I must be
+feeling pretty brash; my spirits seemed so high. And in fact, that was
+no joke; I was feeling fine as silk and showed it all over. But as I
+said good morning to Borroughs, I noticed that he seemed rather glum,
+and I asked: "What's the matter, Dad? Feeling bad this morning?"
+
+He snapped back in a manner entirely foreign to him, "No, but I don't
+feel much like chaffing this day. I feel as if something was going to
+happen, and I don't like the feeling."
+
+I answered, "Oh! bosh, Dad. You'll feel all right in a few minutes; I
+reckon you've got a good old attack of dyspepsia; brace up."
+
+Just then the wires started up, and he gruffly told me to sit down and
+go to work and our conversation ceased. That was the first time he had
+ever used anything but a gentle tone to me, and I felt hurt. The first
+trick is always the busiest, and under the stress of work the incident
+soon passed from my mind. Pat remarked once, that the general
+superintendent was going to leave Chaminade in a special at 10:30 A. M.,
+on a tour of inspection over the road. That was about all the talking he
+did that morning. His work was as good as ever, and in fact, he made
+some of the prettiest meets that morning I had ever seen.
+
+[Illustration: "... Half lying on the table, face downward, dead by
+his own hand"]
+
+About 10:35, I asked Borroughs to allow me to go over to the hotel to
+get a cigar. I would be gone only a few minutes. He assented, and I
+slipped on my overcoat and went out. I wasn't gone over ten minutes, and
+as I stepped into the doorway to come upstairs on my return, I heard
+what sounded like a shot in the office. I flew upstairs two steps at a
+time, and never to my dying day will I forget the sight that met my
+gaze. Borroughs, whom I had left but a few moments before full of life
+and energy, was half lying on the table, face downwards, dead by his own
+hand. The blood was oozing from a jagged wound in his temple, and on the
+floor was the smoking pistol he had used. Fred Bennett, the chief
+despatcher, as pale as a ghost, was bending over him, while the two call
+boys were standing near paralyzed with fright. It was an intensely
+dramatic setting for a powerful stage picture, and my heart stood still
+for a minute as I contemplated the awful scene. Mr. Hebron, the division
+superintendent, came in from the outer office, and was transfixed with
+horror and amazement when he saw the terrible picture.
+
+Bennett turned to me and said, "Bates, come here and help me lift poor
+Borroughs out of this chair."
+
+Gently and carefully we laid him down on the floor and sent one of the
+badly frightened boys for a surgeon. Medical skill was powerless,
+however, and the spirit of honest Pat Borroughs had crossed the dark
+river to its final reckoning.
+
+Work in the office was at a standstill on account of the tragic
+occurrence, but all of a sudden I heard Monte Carlo calling "DS" and
+using the signal "WK," which means "wreck." Bennett told me to sit down
+and take the trick until the second trick man could be called. I went
+over and sat down in the chair, still warm from the body of my late
+friend, and wiping his blood off the train sheet with my handkerchief, I
+answered.
+
+It would be impossible to describe the state of my feelings as I first
+touched the key; I had completely lost track of trains, orders and
+everything else. However, I gradually pulled myself together, and got
+the hang of the road again, and then I learned how the wreck had
+occurred. About a minute after I went out, Borroughs had given a
+right-of-track order to an express freight from Monte Carlo to
+Johnsonville, and had told them to hurry up. Johnsonville is on the
+outskirts of Chaminade, and Borroughs had completely forgotten that the
+general superintendent's special had left there just five minutes before
+with a clean sweep order. That he had known of it was evident from the
+fact that it was recorded on the train sheet. Two minutes after the
+freight had left Monte Carlo, poor Pat realized he had at last made his
+mistake. He said not a word to any person, but quietly ordered out the
+wrecking outfit, and then reaching in the drawer he took out a revolver
+and--snuffed out his candle. He fell forward on the train sheet, as if
+to cover up with his lifeless body, the terrible blunder he had just
+made. Many other despatchers had made serious errors, and in a measure
+outlived them; but here was a man who had grown gray in the service of
+railroads, with never a bad mark against him. Day and night, in season
+and out, he had given the best of his brain and life to the service, and
+finally by one slip of the memory he had, as he thought, ruined himself;
+and, too proud to bear the disgrace, he killed himself. He was
+absolutely alone in the world and left none to mourn his loss save a
+large number of operators he had helped over the rough places of the
+profession.
+
+The wreck was an awful one. The superintendent's son was riding on the
+engine, and he and the engineer and the fireman were mashed and crushed
+almost beyond recognition. The superintendent, his wife and daughter,
+and a friend, were badly bruised, but none of them seriously injured.
+The second trick man was not to be found immediately, so I worked until
+four o'clock, and the impression of that awful day will never leave me.
+Pat's personality was constantly before me in the shape of the blood
+stain on the train sheet. It was a long time before I recovered my
+equanimity.
+
+The next afternoon we buried poor Pat under the snow, and the earth
+closed over him forever; and thus passed from life a man whose character
+was the purest, whose nature was the gentlest: honest and upright, I
+have never seen his equal in the profession or out. I often think if I
+had not gone over to the hotel that morning, the accident might have
+been averted, because, perhaps, I would have noticed the mistake in time
+to have prevented the collision. But, on the other hand, it is probable
+I would not have noticed it, because operators, not having the
+responsibility of the despatchers, rarely concentrate their minds
+intensely on what they are taking. A man will sit and copy by the hour
+with the greatest accuracy, and at the same time be utterly oblivious of
+the purport of what he has been taking. There can be no explanation as
+to why Pat forgot the special. It is one of those things that happen;
+that's all.
+
+The rule of seniority was followed in the office, and in the natural
+sequence of events the night man got my job, I was promoted to the third
+trick--from twelve midnight until eight A. M.--and a new copy operator
+was brought in from Vining.
+
+If any trick is easier than another it is the third, but none of them
+are by any means sinecures. When I was a copy operator I used to imagine
+it was an easy thing to sit over on the other side of the table and give
+orders, "jack up" operators, conductors and engineers, and incidentally
+haul some men over the coals every time I had to call them a few
+minutes; but when I reached the summit of an operator's ambition, and
+was assigned to a trick I found things very different. Copying with no
+responsibility was dead easy; but despatching trains I found about the
+stiffest job I had ever undertaken. I had to be on the alert with every
+faculty and every minute during the eight hours I was on duty. While the
+first and second trick men, have perhaps more train order work attached
+to them, the third is about on a par with them as far as actual labor is
+concerned, because, in addition to the regular train order work, a new
+train sheet has to be opened every night at twelve o'clock, which
+necessitates keeping two sheets until all the trains on the old one have
+completed their runs. There is also a consolidated train report to be
+made at this time, which is a re-capitulation of the movements of all
+trains for the preceding twenty-four hours, giving delays, causes
+thereof, accidents, cars hauled, etc. This is submitted to the division
+superintendent in the morning, and after he has perused and digested its
+contents he sends a condensed copy to the general superintendent. Many a
+man loses his job by a report against him on that train sheet.
+
+To show the strain on a man's mind when he is despatching trains, let me
+tell a little incident that happened to me just in the beginning of my
+career as a despatcher. Every morning about five o'clock, the third
+trick man begins to figure on his work train orders for the day and when
+he has completed them he sends them out to the different crews. Work
+train orders, it may not be amiss to explain, are orders given to the
+different construction crews, such as the bridge gang, the grading gang,
+the track gang, etc., to work between certain points at certain times.
+They must be very full and explicit in detail as to all trains that are
+to run during the continuance of the order. For regular trains running
+on time, no notification need be given, because the time card rules
+would apply; but for all extras, specials, and delayed trains, warnings
+must be given, so that the work trains can get out of the way for them,
+otherwise the results might be very serious, and business be greatly
+delayed. Work orders are the bane of a new despatcher's existence, and
+the manner in which he handles them is a sure indication as to whether
+he will be successful or not. Many a man gets to a trick only to fall
+down on these work orders.
+
+I stumbled along fairly well the first night as a despatcher, and had no
+mishaps to speak of, although I delayed a through passenger some ten
+minutes, by hanging it up on a siding for a fast freight train, and I
+put a through freight on a siding for a train of an inferior class. For
+these little errors of judgment I was "cussed out" by all the conductors
+and engineers on the division when they came in; and the division
+superintendent, on looking over the train sheet the next morning,
+remarked, that delaying a passenger train would never do--in such a tone
+of voice that I could plainly see my finish should I ever so offend
+again.
+
+The second night passed all right enough, and by 5:30 A. M., I had
+completed my work orders and sent them out. From that time on until
+eight o'clock when the first trick man relieved me I was kept busy. He
+read over my outstanding orders, verified the sheet, and signed the
+transfer on the order book, and after a few moments' chat I went home.
+I went to bed about nine o'clock, and was on the point of dropping off
+to sleep, when all at once I remembered that an extra fast freight was
+due to leave at 9:45 A. M., and that there was a train working in a cut
+four miles out. I wondered if I had notified her to get out of the way
+of the extra. That extra would go down through that cut like a streak of
+greased lightning, because Horace Daniels, on engine 341, was going to
+pull her, and Horace was known as a runner from away back. I reviewed in
+my mind, as carefully as I could all the orders I had given to the work
+train, and was rather sure I had notified them, but still I was not
+absolutely certain, and began to feel very uncomfortable. Poor Borroughs
+had just had his smash up, and I didn't want "poor Bates," to have his
+right away. Maybe it was the spirit of this same old man Borroughs, who
+was sleeping so peacefully under the ground that made me feel and act
+carefully. I looked at my watch and found it was 9:20. The extra would
+leave in twenty-five minutes and I lived nearly a mile from the office.
+The strain was beginning to be too much, so I slipped on my clothes and
+without putting on a collar or a cravat, I caught up my hat and ran with
+all my might for the depot. As I approached I saw Daniels giving 341
+the last touch of oil before he pulled out. Thank God, they hadn't gone.
+I shouted to him, "Don't pull out for a minute, Daniels; I think there
+is a mistake in your orders."
+
+Daniels was a gruff sort of a fellow, and he snapped back at me, "What's
+the matter with you? I hain't got no orders yet. Come here until I oil
+those wheels in your head."
+
+I went up in the office and Daniels followed me. Bennett, the chief, was
+standing by the counter as I went in, and after a glance at me he said,
+"What's up, kid? Seen a ghost? You look almost pale enough to be one
+yourself."
+
+I said, "No, I haven't seen any ghosts, but I am afraid I forgot to
+notify that gang working just east of here about this extra."
+
+The conductor and engineer were both there and they smiled very audibly
+at my discomfiture; in fact, it was so audible you could hear it for a
+block. Bennett went over to the table, glanced at the order book and
+train sheet for a minute and then said, "Oh, bosh! of course you
+notified them. Here it is as big as life, 'Look out for extra east,
+engine 341, leaving El Monte at 9:45 A. M.' What do you want to get such
+a case of the rattles and scare us all that way for?"
+
+I was about to depart for home to resume my sleep, and was
+congratulating myself on my escape, when Bennett called me over to one
+side of the room, and in a low, but very firm voice, metaphorically ran
+up and down my spinal column with a rake. He asked me if I didn't know
+there were other despatchers in that office besides myself; men who knew
+more in a minute about the business than I did in a month; and didn't I
+suppose that the order book would be verified, and the train sheet
+consulted before sending out the extra? He hoped I would never show such
+a case of the rattles again. That was all. Good morning. All the same I
+was glad I went back to the office that morning, because I had satisfied
+myself that I had not committed an unpardonable error at the outset of
+my career.
+
+_In case of doubt always take the safe side._
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+A GENERAL STRIKE--A LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEER FOR A DAY
+
+
+During the ensuing spring, one of those spasmodic waves of strikes
+passed over the country. Some northern road that wasn't earning enough
+money to pay the interest on its bonds, cut down the salaries of some of
+its employees, and they went out. Then the "sympathy" idea was worked to
+the full limit, and gradually other roads were tied up. We had hopes it
+would escape us, but one fine day we awoke to find our road tied up good
+and hard. The conductors and brakemen went first, and a few days later
+they were followed by the engineers and firemen. That completed the
+business and we were up against it tighter than a brick. Our men hadn't
+the shadow of a grievance against the company, and were not in full
+sympathy with the strike, but their obligation to their unions was too
+strong for them to resist.
+
+It placed us in a pretty bad fix because just at this time we had a yard
+full of freight, a good deal of it perishable, and it was imperative
+that it should be moved at once or the company would be out a good many
+dollars. The roundhouse men and a few hostlers were still working, so it
+was an easy thing to get a yard engine out. Bennett, myself, Burns, the
+second trick man, and Mr. Hebron, the division superintendent, went down
+in the yard to do the switching. There were twenty-three cars of Texas
+livestock and California fruit waiting for a train out, and the drovers
+were becoming impatient, because they wanted to get up to Chicago to
+take advantage of a big bulge in the market.
+
+I soon found that standing up in the bay window of an office, watching
+the switchmen do the yard work and doing it yourself, were two entirely
+different propositions. When I first went in between two cars to make a
+coupling, I thought my time had come for sure. I fixed the link and pin
+in one car, and then ran down to the next and fixed the pin there. The
+engine was backing slowly, but when I turned around, it looked as if it
+had the speed of an overland "flyer." I watched carefully, raised and
+guided the link in the opposite draw head, and then dropped the pin.
+Those two cars came together like the crack of doom, and I shut my eyes
+and jumped back, imagining that I had been crushed to death, in fact, I
+could feel that my right hand was mashed to a pulp. But it was a false
+alarm; it wasn't. I had made the coupling without a scratch to myself,
+and it wasn't long before I became bolder, and jumped on and off of the
+foot-boards and brake-beams like any other lunatic. That all four of us
+were not killed is nothing short of miracle.
+
+By a dint of hard work we succeeded in getting a train made up for
+Chaminade, and all that was now needed was an engine and crew. There was
+a large and very interested crowd of men standing around watching us,
+and many a merry ha-ha we received from them for our crude efforts.
+Engine 341 was hooked on, and we were all ready for the start. Burns was
+going to play conductor, Bennett was to be the hind man, while I was to
+ride ahead. But where were the engineer and fireman? Mr. Hebron had
+counted on a non-union engineer to pull the train, and a wiper to do the
+firing, but just as we expected them to appear, we found that some of
+the strikers had succeeded in talking them over to their side. To make
+matters worse the roundhouse men and the hostlers caught the fever, and
+out they went. Mr. Hebron was in a great pickle, but he didn't want to
+acknowledge that he was beaten so he stood around hanging on in hopes
+something would turn up to relieve the strain.
+
+Now, it had occurred to me that I could run that engine. When I was
+young and fresh in the railroad business, I had spent much of my spare
+time riding around on switch engines, and once in a while I had taken a
+run out over the road with an engineer who had a friendly interest in
+me. One man, old Tom Robinson, who pulled a fast freight, had been
+particularly kind to me, and on one occasion I had taken a few days' lay
+off, and gone out and back one whole trip with him. Being of an
+inquisitive turn of mind, I asked him a great many questions about
+gauges, valves, oil cups, eccentrics, injectors, etc., and whenever he
+would go down under his engine, I always paid the closest attention to
+what he did. I used to ride on the right hand side of the cab with him,
+and occasionally he would allow me to feel the throttle for a few
+minutes. Thus, when I was a little older, I could run an engine quite
+well. I knew the oil cups, could work the injector, knew enough to open
+and close the cylinder cocks, could toot the whistle and ring the bell
+like an old timer, and had a pretty fair idea, generally speaking, of
+the machine. Having all these things in mind, I approached Mr. Hebron,
+as he stood cogitating upon his ill-luck, and said, "Mr. Hebron, I'll
+run this train into Chaminade if you will only get some one to keep the
+engine hot."
+
+"You," said Hebron, "you are a despatcher; what the devil do you know
+about running a locomotive?"
+
+I told him I might not know much, but if he would say the word I would
+get those twenty-three cars into Chaminade, or know the reason why. He
+looked at me for a minute, asked me a few questions about what I knew of
+an engine and then said,
+
+"By George! I'll risk it. Get on that engine, my boy; take this one
+wiper left for a fireman, and pull out. But first go over to the office
+for your orders. You won't need many, because everything is tied up
+between here and Johnsonville, and you will have a clear track. Now fly,
+and let me see what kind of stuff you are made of."
+
+Strangely enough, after he had consented I was not half so eager to
+undertake it; but I had said I would and now I must stick to my word, or
+acknowledge that I was a big bluffer. I went up to the office and Fred
+Bennett gave me the orders. But as he did so he said: "Bates, that's a
+foolhardy thing for you to do, and I reckon the old man must be crazy to
+allow you to try it, but rather than give in to that mob out there I'll
+see you through with it. Now don't you forget for one minute, that you
+have twenty-three cars and a caboose trailing along behind you; that I
+am on the hind end, and that I have a wife and family to support, with a
+mighty small insurance on my life."
+
+He went out, and Bennett told the cattle men to get aboard as we were
+about to start. All this had been done unbeknown to any of the strikers;
+but when they saw me coming down that yard with a piece of yellow tissue
+paper in my hand they knew something was up, for every man of them knew
+that was a train order. But where was the engineer?
+
+I went down and climbed up in the cab of old 341, and removing my coat,
+put on a jumper I had brought from the office. Engine 341, as I have
+said, was run by Horace Daniels, one of the best men that ever pulled a
+throttle, and his pride in her was like that of a mother in a child. She
+was a big ten-wheeled Baldwin, and I have heard Daniels talk to her as
+if she was a human being; in fact, he said she was the only sweetheart
+he ever had. He was standing in the crowd and when he saw me put on the
+jumper he came over and said:
+
+"See here, Mr. Hebron, who is going to pull this train out?"
+
+Mr. Hebron who was standing by the step, said, "Bates is."
+
+Daniels grew red with rage, and said:
+
+"Bates? Why good heavens, Mr. Hebron, Bates can't run an engine; he's
+nothing but an old brass pounder, and, judging from some of the meets he
+has made for me on this division, he must be a very poor one at that.
+This here old girl don't know no one but me nohow; for God's sake don't
+let her disgrace herself by going out with that sandy-haired chump at
+the throttle."
+
+Mr. Hebron smiled and said, "Well then, you pull her out, Daniels."
+
+Daniels shook his head and replied, "You know I can't do that, Mr.
+Hebron. It's true I'm not in sympathy with this strike one jot, but the
+boys are out, and I've got to stand by them. But when this strike is
+over I want old 341 back. Why, Mr. Hebron, I'd rather see a scab run her
+than that old lightning jerker."
+
+But Mr. Hebron was firm and Daniels walked slowly and sadly away. By
+this time we had a good head of steam on, and Bennett gave me the signal
+to pull out. I shoved the reverse lever from the centre clear over
+forward, and grasping the throttle, tremblingly gave it a pull.
+
+Longfellow says, in "The Building of the Ship:" "She starts, she moves,
+she seems to feel a thrill of life along her keel." I can fancy exactly
+how that ship felt, because just as the first hiss of steam greeted my
+ears and I felt that engine move, I felt a peculiar thrill run along my
+keel, and my heart was in my mouth. She did not start quite fast enough
+for me, so I gave the throttle another jerk, and whew! how those big
+drivers did fly around! I shut her off quickly, gave her a little sand,
+and started again. This time she took the rail beautifully, walking away
+like a thoroughbred.
+
+There is a little divide just outside of the El Monte yard, and then for
+a stretch of about five miles, it is down grade. After this the road
+winds around the river banks, with level tracks to Johnsonville, where
+the double track commences. All I had to do was to get the train to the
+double track, and from there a belt line engine was to take it in. Thus
+my run was only thirty-five miles.
+
+Our start was very auspicious, and when we were going along at a pretty
+good gait, I pulled the reverse lever back to within one point of the
+centre, and opened her up a little more. She stood up to her work just
+as if she had an old hand at the throttle instead of a novice. I wish I
+were able to describe my sensations as the engine swayed to and fro in
+her flight. The fireman was rather an intelligent chap, and had no
+trouble in keeping her hot, and twenty-three cars wasn't much of a train
+for old 341. We went up the grade a-flying. When we got over the divide,
+I let her get a good start before I shut her off for the down grade. And
+how she did go! I thought at times she would jump the track but she held
+on all right. At the foot of this grade is a very abrupt curve and when
+she struck it, I thought she bounded ten feet in the air. My hat was
+gone, my hair was flying in the wind, and all the first fright was lost
+in the feeling of exhilaration over the fact that _I_ was the one who
+was controlling that great iron monster as she tore along the track.
+I--I was doing it all by myself. It was like the elixir of life to an
+invalid. My fireman came ever to me at one time and said in my ear that
+I'd better call for brakes or the first thing we knew we would land in
+the river. Brakes! Not on your life. I didn't want any brakes, because
+if she ever stopped I wasn't sure that I could get her started again. We
+made the run of thirty-five miles in less than an hour, and when we
+reached Johnsonville I received a message from Mr. Hebron,
+congratulating me on my success. But Bennett--well, the rating he gave
+me was worth going miles to hear. He said that never in his life had he
+taken such a ride, nor would he ever volunteer to ride behind a crazy
+engineer again. But I didn't care; I had pulled the train in as I said I
+would, and the engine was in good shape, barring a hot driving box. I
+may add, however, that I don't care to make any such trip again myself.
+
+We went back on a mail train that night, that was run by a non-union
+engineer, and in a day or two the strike was declared off, the men
+returned to work, and peace once more reigned supreme. Daniels got his
+"old girl" in as good shape as ever, and once when he was up in my
+office he told me he had hoped that old 341 would get on the rampage
+that day I took her out and "kick the stuffin'" out of that train and
+every one on it. Poor old Daniels, he stuck to his "old girl" to the
+last, but one day he struck a washout, and as a result received a "right
+of track order," on the road that leads to the paradise of all
+railroaders.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+CHIEF DESPATCHER--AN INSPECTION TOUR--BIG RIVER WRECK
+
+
+I had always supposed that the higher up you ascended in any business,
+the easier would be your position and the happier your lot. What a
+fallacy, especially in the railroad service, where your
+responsibilities, work, care, and worries increase in direct proportion
+as you rise! The operator's responsibility is limited to the correct
+reception, transmission, delivery and repetition of his orders and
+messages; the despatcher's to the correct conception of the orders and
+their transmission at the proper time to the right train; but the chief
+despatcher's responsibilities combine not only these but many more. A
+despatcher's work is cut out for him, just as the tailor would cut his
+cloth for a journeyman workman, and when his eight hour trick is done,
+his work for the day is finished and his time is his own. Not so the
+chief. His work is never done; he works early and late, and even at
+night when he goes home utterly tired out from his long day, he is
+liable to be called up to go out on a wrecking outfit, or to perform
+some special duty. As soon as anything goes wrong on a division the
+first cry is, "Send for the chief despatcher." Almost everybody on the
+division is under his jurisdiction except the division superintendent,
+and sometimes I have seen that mighty dignitary take a back seat for his
+chief despatcher.
+
+It was some ten years after I had begun to pound brass, that I awoke one
+fine morning to find myself offered the position of chief despatcher on
+the central division of the C. N. & Q. Railway, with headquarters at
+Selbyville. I was very well satisfied at El Monte, had been promoted to
+the first trick and had many friends whom I did not like to leave, but
+then, I was as high as I could get in a good many years, because Fred
+Bennett, the chief, was a stayer from away back, and there wouldn't be a
+vacancy there for a long time to come. The district of which I was to
+take charge was about three hundred miles long, and consisted of three
+freight divisions of one hundred miles each. That meant a whole lot of
+hard confining work, but who wouldn't accept a promotion; so after
+carefully considering the matter, I gratefully accepted, and was duly
+installed in my new position. As I did not know anything about the road
+or the operators thereon, one of my first acts was to take a trip of
+inspection over the road. I rode on freight trains or anything that came
+along, and dropped off as I wanted to, in order that I might become
+thoroughly acquainted with the road and the men.
+
+One of the time card rules was that no person was to be allowed to enter
+any of the telegraph offices except those on duty there; even the train
+men were supposed to receive their orders and transact their business at
+the window or counter. Generally, however, this rule was not enforced
+very rigidly. When I was a night operator I never paid any attention to
+it at all. I dropped off No. 6 at eleven-thirty one night at
+Bakersville. A night office was kept there because it was a good order
+point and had a water tank. I had never met the night man and knew
+nothing of him, except that he was a fiery-tempered Irishman named
+Barry, and a most excellent operator. It had been told me that the
+despatchers had, on more than one occasion, complained of his impudence,
+but his ability was so marked and he was so prompt in answering and
+transacting business, that he was allowed to remain. As No. 6 pulled out
+he went into the office, closed the door and then shut the window. He
+had apparently not seen me, or if he had he paid no attention to me, so
+I went into the waiting-room and rapped on the ticket window. He shoved
+it up, stared at me and gruffly said, "Well! what's wanted?"
+
+I answered pretty sharply, that I desired to come into his office.
+
+"Well then you can take it out in wanting, because you don't get in
+here, see!"
+
+I started to reason with him, when he slammed the window in my face.
+That made me madder than a March hare, and I told him if he didn't let
+me in that office mighty quick, I'd smash that window into smithereens
+and come in anyhow.
+
+Biff! Up went that window, and Mr. Barry's face looking like a boiled
+beet appeared, "Smash that window will you? You just try it and I'll
+smash your blamed old red head with this poker. Get out of that
+waiting-room. Tramps are not allowed."
+
+Just then it occurred to me that he did not know me from the sight of
+sole leather; so I said: "Hold on there, young man; I'm Mr. Bates, the
+newly appointed chief despatcher of this division, and I'm out on a tour
+of inspection. Now stop your monkeying and open up."
+
+"Bates thunder! Bates would never come sneaking out over the road in
+this manner. You pack up and get. It will take more than your word to
+make me believe you are Bates."
+
+I saw that remonstrance with him was useless, and, besides I had an idea
+that he might carry out his threat to smash my head with the poker, so I
+went over to a mean little hotel and stayed all night, vowing to have
+vengeance on his head in the morning. When daylight came, I went back to
+the station, and Dayton, the day man, knew me at once, having worked
+with me on the K. M. & O. Barry had told him of the trouble, and he was
+having a great laugh at my expense. Barry, himself, showed up in a
+little while, but he didn't seem the least bit disturbed, when he found
+out who I really was. He said there was a time card rule, that forbade
+him allowing any unauthorized person in his office; he thought I was
+some semi-respectable "hobo," who wanted a place to stay all night; how
+in the world was he to know? Suppose some one else had come out and said
+he was the chief despatcher, was he going to let them in the office
+without some proof? I saw that this was mighty good reasoning and that
+he was right. Did I fire him? Not much. Men on railroads who so
+implicitly obey orders are too valuable to lose; and before I left the
+road he was working the third trick.
+
+Things ran along very smoothly for a while and I was having a good time.
+The winter passed and with the advent of spring came the heavy rains for
+which that part of the country was justly noted. Then the work
+commenced.
+
+One Friday evening after four or five days of the steadiest and hardest
+kind of rain, I received a message from the section foreman at Truxton,
+saying that Big River was beginning to come up pretty high, and that the
+constant rains were making the track quite soft. I immediately sent him
+an order to put out a track walker at once, and told the despatcher on
+duty to make a "slow order" for five miles this side of the Big River;
+the track on the other, or south side, was all right, being on high
+ground.
+
+Our fast mail came in just then, and after the engines were changed, the
+engineer and conductor came into my office for their orders. I told them
+about the soft track, and in a spirit of pure fun, remarked to Ben
+Roberts, the engineer, that he had better look out or he would be taking
+a bath in Big River that night. He facetiously replied: "Well, I don't
+much mind. I'm generally so dirty when I get that far out that a bath
+would do me good."
+
+They received their orders, and as Roberts went out the door, he
+laughingly said, "I reckon, Bates, you'd better send the wrecker out
+right after us to fish me out of Big River to-night."
+
+I stepped over to the window, saw him climb up on engine 232, a
+beautiful McQueen, and pull out, and just as he started, he turned and
+waved his hand to me as if in token of farewell.
+
+Truxton, five miles from the river, was not a stop for the mail, but I
+had them flagged there, to give them another special warning about
+approaching Big River with caution. Just then the track walker came into
+Truxton, and reported that he had come from the river on a velocipede,
+and that while the track was soft it was not unsafe and the bridge
+appeared to be all right. Presently, I heard, "OS, OS, XN, No. 21, a
+7:45, d 7:51" and I knew the mail had gone on.
+
+The next station south was Burton, three miles beyond the bridge, and I
+thought I would wait until I had the "OS" report from there before going
+home for the night. Thirty minutes passed and no sign of her. This did
+not worry me much, because I knew Roberts would be extremely careful and
+run slow until he passed the bridge. In a minute Truxton opened up and
+said, "Raining like blazes now." I asked him where the track walker
+was, and he said he had gone out towards the bridge just after the mail
+had left.
+
+Fifty minutes of the most intense anxiety passed, and all of a sudden
+every instrument in the office ceased clicking. As soon as a wire opens,
+all the operators are instructed to try their ground wires, and in that
+way the break is soon located. Bentonville, Bakersville, Muncy, Ashton,
+all in quick succession tried their grounds, and reported "All wires
+open south." Presently the despatchers' wire closed again, and "DS, DS,
+XN." There! that was Truxton calling us now. I answered and he said,
+"Wires all open south. Heavy rain now falling; violent wind storm has
+just passed over us; lots of lightning; looks like the storm would last
+all night."
+
+I told him to hustle out and get the section foreman, and gave him an
+order to take his gang and car and go to the bridge and back at once and
+make a full report.
+
+But where was 21 all this time? Stuck in the mud, I hoped, but all the
+same I was beginning to have a great many misgivings. Mr. Antwerp, the
+division superintendent, came in just then, and I reported all the facts
+of the case to him. He was very much worried, but said he hoped it would
+turn out all right. Getting nothing from Burton, on the south, I told
+Truxton to keep on his ground until the section gang or track walker
+came back with a report. Twenty minutes later he began to call "DS" with
+all his might. I answered and this is what the despatcher's copy
+operator took:
+
+     Truxton, 5 | 21, 188--.
+
+     "M. N. B. "DS.
+
+     "No. 21 went through Big River bridge to-night; track was soft all
+     the way over from Truxton; engine, mail, baggage and one coach on
+     the bridge when it gave way; three Pullmans stayed on the track.
+     Roberts, engineer; Carter, fireman, and Sampson, conductor, all
+     missing. Need doctors.
+
+     "O'HARA,
+     "Brakeman."
+
+My God! wasn't it awful! I sent one caller to get out the wrecking crew
+and another for a doctor. I then instructed Burke to prepare orders for
+the wrecker, pulling everything off and giving her a clean sweep; told
+Truxton to keep on his ground wire and stay close; and pulling on my
+rain coat, I bounded down the steps and up to the roundhouse to hurry up
+the engine. Engine 122, with Ed Stokes at the throttle, was just backing
+down as I came out, so I ran back, signed the orders, and as soon as
+the doctors arrived, Mr. Antwerp told me to pull out and take charge,
+saying he would come out if necessary on a special.
+
+It was scarcely five minutes from the time I received the first message
+until we pulled out and started on our wild ride of rescue. Forty miles
+in forty minutes, with one slow down was our time. The old derrick and
+wreck outfit swayed to and fro like reeds in the wind, as we went down
+the track like a thunderbolt, but fortunately we held to the rails.
+There was scarcely a word spoken in the caboose, every one being intent
+upon holding on and thinking of the horrible scene we were soon to view.
+When we reached Truxton we found the track walker there, and after
+hearing his story in brief, we pulled out for the bridge. Our ride from
+Truxton over to the wreck was frightful. It was still raining torrents,
+the wind was coming up again, lightning flashed, thunder rolled and the
+track was so soft in some places that it seemed as if we would topple
+over; but we finally reached there--and then what a scene to behold!
+
+The bridge, a long wooden trestle, was completely gone, nothing being
+left but twisted iron and a few broken stringers hanging in the air.
+Four mail clerks, the express messenger, and the baggage man were
+drowned like rats in a trap. Poor Ben Roberts had hung to his post like
+the hero, that he was, and was lost. Sampson, the conductor, and Carter,
+the fireman, were both missing, and in the forward coach, which was not
+entirely submerged, having fallen on one end of the baggage car, were
+many passengers, a number of whom were killed, and the rest all more or
+less injured.
+
+The river was not very wide, and I had the headlight taken off of our
+engine and placed on the bank; and presently a wrecker came up from the
+south, and her headlight was similarly placed, casting a ghastly weird,
+white light over the scene of suffering and desolation. I cut in a
+wrecking office, Truxton took off his ground, I put on mine, and Mr.
+Antwerp was soon in possession of all the facts. A little later I was
+standing up to my knees in mud and water, and I heard a weak voice say:
+"Mr. Bates, for God's sake let me speak to you a minute."
+
+I looked around and beheld the most woebegone, bedraggled specimen of
+humanity I had ever seen in my life. "Well, who under the sun are you?"
+I asked.
+
+"I'm Carter, the fireman of No. 21. When I felt the bridge going I
+jumped. I was half stunned, but managed to keep afloat, being carried
+rapidly down the stream. I struck the bank about a mile and a half below
+here, and I've had one almighty big struggle to get back. For the love
+of the Virgin give me a drink; I'm half dead;" and with that the poor
+fellow fell over senseless.
+
+I called one of the doctors and had him taken to the caboose of the
+wrecker, and when I had time I went in and heard the rest of his story.
+The poor chap was badly hurt, having one ankle broken, besides being
+bruised up generally. He said when No. 21 left Truxton, Roberts
+proceeded at a snail-like pace, keeping a sharp lookout for a wash out.
+He slowed almost to a standstill before going on the bridge, but
+everything appearing all safe and sound he started again, remarking to
+Carter, "Here's where I get the bath that Bates spoke about."
+
+[Illustration: "See here, who is going to pull this train?"]
+
+The engine was half way over when there came a deafening roar; the train
+quivered, and--then Carter jumped. That was all he knew. It was enough,
+and we sent him back with the rest of the wounded the next morning. He
+is pulling a passenger train there to-day. The engine was lost in the
+quicksands, and was never recovered, and Ben Roberts stayed with her to
+the last. He had more than his bath in Big River that night; he had his
+funeral; the river was his grave, and the engine his shroud.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+A PROMOTION BY FAVOR AND ITS RESULTS
+
+
+I had been on the C. N. & Q. for about eight months, when my second
+trick man took sick, and being advised to seek a healthier climate,
+resigned and went south. Generally speaking the chief despatcher's
+recommendation is enough to place a man in his office; and as I had
+always believed in the rule of seniority, I wanted to appoint the third
+trick man to the second trick, make the day copy operator third trick
+man, and call in a new copy operator to replace the night man who would
+be promoted to the day job. In fact, I had started the ball rolling
+toward the accomplishment of this end, when Mr. Antwerp, the division
+superintendent, defeated all my plans by peremptorily asserting his
+prerogative and appointing his nephew, John Krantzer, who had been night
+copy operator to the third trick. I protested with all my might, in fact
+was once on the point of resigning my position but the old man wouldn't
+hear of either proposition, and Krantzer secured the place. Now while
+Krantzer was an excellent copy operator, he was very young, and lacked
+that persistence and reliability so essential in a successful
+despatcher. After I had protested until I was black in the face, I asked
+Mr. Antwerp at least to put the young man on the second trick, so that
+in a measure I could have him under my eye. But no, nothing but the
+third trick would satisfy him, so on the third trick the rattle-brained
+chap went the next night.
+
+He struggled through the first night without actually killing anybody,
+but his train sheet the next morning resembled a man with a very bad
+case of measles; there were delays on everything on the road, with very
+few satisfactory explanations. There was the fast mail twenty-five
+minutes in going six miles. Cause? None was given. But a perusal of the
+order book showed that Krantzer had made a meet for her with a freight
+train, and had hung her up on a blind siding for fifteen minutes.
+Freights that had been out all night were still out, tied up in all
+kinds of shapes. Meets had been made for two long trains at a point
+where the passing track was not large enough to accommodate either one
+of them, and the result was thirty minutes lost by both of them in "raw
+hiding" by. Many other discrepancies were noticeable, but these
+sufficed to show that Krantzer's abilities as a despatcher were of a
+very low order. However, I reflected, that it was his first night, and I
+remembered my own similar experience not many years ago, so I simply
+submitted the sheet to Mr. Antwerp without comment. He wiped his
+glasses, carefully adjusted them on his aristocratic nose, and after
+glancing at the sheet for a few moments, said, "Ah! humph! Well! Well!
+Well! Not a very auspicious start, to be sure; but the boy will pick up.
+Just jack him up in pretty good shape, Bates; it will do him good." I
+jacked him up all right to the queen's taste but it was like pouring
+water on a duck's back.
+
+The second night was not much of an improvement, and I made a big kick
+to Mr. Antwerp the following morning, but it did no good. The third
+night was a hummer. I was kept at the office pretty late, in fact until
+after eleven o'clock, and before going home I wrote Krantzer a note
+telling him to be very careful as there were many trains on the road.
+Our through business at this time was very heavy, and compelled us to
+run many extras and specials. I was particular to inform him of two
+extras north, that would leave Bradford, the lower end of the division,
+some time after 12:30 A. M., and directed him to run them as special
+freights having the right of track over all trains except the
+passengers. Each train was made up of twenty-five cars of California
+fruit bound for New York, and they were the first of their kind to be
+run by us. We had a strong competitor for this class of business in the
+Valley Route, a line twenty miles away, and were making a big bid for
+the trade. The general manager had sent a message that a special effort
+was to be made to put the two trains through a-whooping, and I had
+ordered engines 228 and 443, two of the best on the road, to pull them.
+Burke, the second trick man had everything running smoothly at the time
+I wrote the note, and I told Krantzer that, as it looked then, all he
+would have to do would be to keep them coming. No. 13, a fast freight
+south, had an engine that wasn't steaming very well, and I suggested to
+him to put her on the siding at Manitou. It would delay 13 about fifteen
+minutes but her freight was all dead stuff, so that would not make much
+difference. I did everything but write the order, and that I could not
+do, because I couldn't tell just what the conditions would be when the
+extras reached Bradford, where they would receive the order.
+
+Krantzer succeeded in getting them started in fair shape; but not
+content to let well enough alone, he thought he would run No. 13 on to
+Burnsides instead of putting her on the siding at Manitou as I had
+suggested, and gave orders to that effect. After he had given the
+"complete" he told the operator to tell them to "fly." If he had given
+this same order for the meeting at Burnsides to the two extras, _at the
+same time_, all would have been well, except that the extras would have
+been delayed some fifteen minutes, but this he was unable to do.
+Burnsides itself is only a day office, so he could not communicate with
+them there, and they had already passed Gloriana, the first night office
+south of Burnsides. The operator at Gloriana heard the order to 13 and
+told Krantzer it was a risky thing to do; but he told him "to mind his
+own business, as he (Krantzer) could run that division without any
+help."
+
+No. 13 was pulled by engine 67, with Jim Bush at the throttle, and he
+was such a runner that he had earned the sobriquet of "Lightning
+Jimmie." While he had reported early in the evening that his engine was
+not steaming very well, he had succeeded in getting her to working good
+by this time. Burnsides is at the foot of a long grade from the north,
+and about a mile up there is a very abrupt curve as the track winds
+around the side of the hill. The two extras were bowling along merrily
+when they struck this grade; and although there is a time card rule that
+says that trains will be kept ten minutes apart, they were right
+together, helping each other over the grade. In fact, it was one train
+with two engines, somewhat of a double header with the second engine in
+the middle. They were going on for all they were worth, expecting to
+meet No. 13 at Manitou, as originally ordered.
+
+In the meantime, Bush pulling No. 13, had passed Manitou, and with
+thirty-eight heavy cars behind him, was working her for all she was
+worth on the down grade, so as to get on the siding for the extras at
+Burnsides. He was carrying out Krantzer's order to "fly," with a
+vengeance. And just as he turned the curve, he saw, not fifty yards
+ahead of him, the headlight of the first extra. To stop was out of the
+question. He whistled once for brakes, reversed his engine, pulled her
+wide open and then jumped! He landed safely enough, and beyond a broken
+right arm, and a badly bruised leg, was unhurt. His poor fireman,
+though, jumped on the other side and was dashed to pieces on the rocks;
+and the head man and engineer of the first extra were also killed. I had
+known many times of two trains being put in the hole; but this was the
+first time I had ever seen three of them so placed.
+
+Krantzer had sense enough to order out the wrecker, and send for me. I
+knew just as soon as I heard the caller's rap on my door that he had
+done something so I lost no time in getting over to the office and there
+sat Krantzer as cool as if he had not just killed three men by his gross
+carelessness and cost the company thousands of dollars. I had the old
+man called and when he came and learned what had occurred, his
+discomfiture was so great that I felt fully repaid for all my annoyance
+on his nephew's account. He directed me to go out to the wreck and
+report to him upon arrival. I had Forbush, the first trick man, called
+and placed him in charge of the office during my absence. Incidentally,
+I told Krantzer he had better be scarce when I sent the remains of those
+crews in, because I fancied they were in a fit mood to kill him. When I
+returned I found that he had gone. It appeared that Jim Bush went up
+into the office, and although he had one arm broken, he was prepared to
+beat the life out of that crazy young despatcher. Forbush saw him coming
+and gave Krantzer a tip, and as Bush came in one door, Krantzer went out
+the other.
+
+The effects of this wreck were far beyond calculation to the company
+because they lost the business they were striving to win, and the way
+the general manager went for old man Antwerp was enough to make us all
+grin with delight. It is needless to say I was allowed to place my own
+men thereafter.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+JACKING UP A NEGLIGENT OPERATOR--A CONVICT OPERATOR--DICK, THE PLUCKY
+CALL BOY
+
+
+One of the most unpleasant duties I had to perform was that of "jacking
+up" operators, and punishing them for their short-comings. Generally, if
+the case was not a very bad one, and the man had a good reputation, I
+would try and smooth it over with only a reprimand; but there are times
+"when patience ceases to be a virtue," and punishment must be inflicted.
+The train sheet is always the first indication that some operator is to
+be "hauled up on the carpet." One morning I found the following entry on
+the sheet:--
+
+"No. 16 delayed forty-five minutes at Bentonville, account not being
+able to raise the operator at Sicklen in that time. Called for
+explanation and operator said 'he was over at hotel getting some
+lunch.'"
+
+That excuse "over at hotel getting some lunch," is as familiar to a
+railroad operator as the creed is to a good churchman. A young man
+named Charles Ferral was the night man at Sicklen, and his ability as
+an operator was only exceeded by his inability to tell the truth when he
+was in a tight place. I was too old an operator to be fooled by any such
+a yarn as this; and besides, the conductor of No. 17 reported to me that
+he had found Ferral stretched out on the table asleep, when he stopped
+there for water. But he was a first-rate man and I didn't want to lose
+him, so I wrote him a sharp letter and told him that a repetition of his
+offense would cause him to receive his time instantly. He was as
+penitent as the prodigal son, and promised never to so offend again; and
+he kept his word--for just about ten days.
+
+One morning he asked my permission to come up to "DS" on No. 2 and go
+back on No. 3 in the afternoon. I gave it, but warned him to not lose
+too much sleep. There are some men in the business that the sound of
+their office call on a telegraph instrument will cause to awaken at once
+no matter how soundly they may be sleeping, but Ferral was not one of
+these. The night following his return to his station, I was kept at the
+office until late, and about eleven o'clock No. 22 appeared at
+Bakersville, and wanted to run to Ashton for No. 17. They were both
+running a little late, and as 17 had a heavy train of coal and system
+empties, I told Burke to let them go. But the only station at which we
+could then get an order to 17 was Sicklen, Ferral's station. Burke began
+to call, but Sicklen made no answer. He called for forty-five minutes at
+a stretch, 22 all the time waiting at Bakersville. He stopped for five
+minutes and then went at it again. In ten minutes Sicklen answered.
+Burke started to give the order, but Ferral broke and gave the "OS"
+report that 17 had just gone by.
+
+That settled it; No. 22 was hung up another hour all on account of
+Ferral's failure to attend to his duty. I opened up on him and said,
+"Where have you been for the last fifteen minutes?" The same old excuse,
+"Lunch," came back at me.
+
+"Well, where were you for ten minutes before that?"
+
+Then that dear old stereotyped expression, "Fixing my batteries,"
+followed. But I was only too sure that he had been asleep, and No. 17
+going by had awakened him. So I gently remarked that "I was not born
+yesterday, and said that he would probably have ample time to fix his
+batteries after this; that, in fact, I thought it would be a good thing
+for him to take a long course in battery work, and I would assist him
+all I could--I would provide him with the time for the work."
+
+The next morning I laid the matter before Mr. Antwerp, and he wanted the
+man discharged forthwith. But during the night my anger had cooled
+somewhat and now I felt inclined to give him another chance; so I simply
+urged that he be laid off for a while.
+
+"All right, Bates, but make it a good stiff lay-off--not less than
+fifteen days," said Mr. Antwerp.
+
+I wrote Ferral accordingly; but I had scarcely finished when a letter
+came from him to me, begging off, and promising anything if I would not
+discharge him; but, instead would lay him off for _forty-five days_. I
+took him at his word and gave him the forty-five days he asked for,
+instead of the fifteen I had intended to give him. But, about two weeks
+later he came up to "DS," and looked so woebegone, and pleaded so hard
+to be taken back, that I remitted the remainder of his punishment. He
+was greatly chagrined when he learned that he had trebled his own
+sentence. He was never remiss again. Go over to the despatcher's office
+any night and you will see him, bright and alert, sitting opposite the
+despatcher doing the copying. He is in the direct line of promotion, and
+some day will be a despatcher himself. I never regretted my leniency.
+
+In addition to the main line, I had a branch of thirty-eight miles,
+running from Bentonville up to Sandia. The despatching for this branch
+was done from my office, and when we wanted anyone there Bentonville
+would cut us through. This was seldom necessary, however, because there
+were only two trains daily, a combination freight and passenger each
+way. The last station this side of Sandia was Alexis. The state
+penitentiary was located there, and the telegraphing was done by a
+convict "trusty"--a man who, having been appointed cashier of a big
+freight office in the western part of the state, couldn't stand
+prosperity, and, in consequence, had been sent up for six years. His
+conduct had been so good that, after he had served four years inside of
+the walls, he was made a "trusty." His ability as an operator was
+extraordinary. He had a smooth easy way of sending that made his sending
+as plain as a circus bill.
+
+The two branch trains on the branch were known as 61 and 62, and one day
+62, running north in the morning, had jumped the track laying herself
+out about ten hours. When she left Sandia as 61 on her return trip
+south, she again went off the track and the result was sixteen hours'
+more delay. We wouldn't send a wrecker up from the main line, and they
+had to work out their own salvation. When they finally appeared at
+Alexis they were running on the time of 62. That would never do, and the
+conductor asked the operator at Alexis to get him orders to run to
+Bentonville regardless of No. 62. Burke, my second trick man, was on
+duty at the time, and it so chanced that he did not know the Alexis man
+was a convict. He was about to give the order asked for when something
+on the main line diverted him for a moment. When he was ready again,
+Alexis broke him and said, "Wait a minute."
+
+To tell a despatcher to wait a minute when he is sending a train order
+is to court sudden death, and Burke said, "Wait for what?"
+
+"For whatever you blame please, I'm going out to weigh this coal."
+
+Burke's Irish blood was all up in his head by this time, and he said:
+"What do you mean by talking that way to me? No. 61 is waiting for this
+'9'; now you copy and I'll get your time sent you in the morning."
+
+"Oh! will you? I guess my time is all fixed so you can't touch it. I
+only wish you could; I'd like mighty well to be fired from this job; I
+wouldn't even wait for my pay."
+
+I had been sitting at my desk taking it all in, and was just about
+ready to expire with laughter, when Burke called over to me: "Did you
+hear that young fellow's impudence?"
+
+"Yes, I heard."
+
+"Well, what are you going to do about it? I've never had an operator
+talk to me like that before. I must certainly insist that you dismiss
+him at once. He and I can't work on the same road."
+
+"Unfortunately, Burke," said I, "the State has a claim on his services
+for two years yet, and I am afraid they won't waive it."
+
+At this it dawned upon Burke, who and what the man really was; but I
+cannot say that his humor was improved at once by the discovery.
+
+One morning shortly after this I was sitting in my office making up an
+annual train report, and was cussing out anything and everybody, because
+this train report is one of the worst things in the whole business. It
+was figures till you couldn't rest, and I had already been working at it
+for three days, and my head was in a perfect whirl. That morning one of
+our call boys had turned up missing and that fact also irritated me. It
+would seem that a call boy was a pretty insignificant chap in a big
+railroad, but such is not the case. In a perfect system every employee
+is like a cog in a big wheel, and as soon as one cog is broken there is
+a jar in the otherwise smooth symmetrical movement of the machine. The
+call boy is quite an important personage, because, upon him depends the
+prompt calling of the various crews in time to take out their trains. He
+must keep a keen watch on the call board for the marking up of trains;
+he must know who is the first to go out, and he must know the dwelling
+place of every engineer, fireman, conductor and brakeman in the city. On
+a big division like ours, this, in itself, was not a small job. On some
+roads men are employed for this work, but I had always been partial to
+the boys, and kept four of them, two on days and two on nights. When my
+day boy left, I promoted a night boy to the second day job, and was
+cudgeling my brain for a good chap to go on nights. In a little while I
+heard a sharp rap on the office door, and in response to my "come in,"
+uttered in a tone that was anything but pleasant, a sturdy looking
+little chap about fourteen years old stood before me. He had a shock of
+jet black hair, tumbled all over his head, a pair of bright eyes, round
+full face, not over clean, strong limbs and a well knit body. His
+clothes hung on him like gunny sacks, and the crudity of the many
+various patches indicated that they had not been put on by woman's deft
+fingers. He didn't wait for me to speak, but blurted out:
+
+"Say, mister, I have just heard tell as how you wants a call boy. Do
+you?"
+
+He took my breath away by his bluntness; he looked so honest and
+sincere, so I simply replied, "Yes," and waited.
+
+"Well then, I wants the job. See!"
+
+"What's your name, youngster, and where is your home?"
+
+"My name's Dick Durstine; I hain't got no home, no father, no mother, no
+nothin', just me, and I wants to learn the tick tick business. It looks
+dead easy."
+
+This was really funny, but I liked his impudence, and, while I had no
+intention of hiring him, I determined to draw him out, so I said:
+
+"Where were you born, when did you come here, and do you know where any
+of the crews live?"
+
+"I was born in St. Louis; mother died when I was a kid, and Dad was such
+a drunken worthless old cuss and beat me so much, that I brought up in a
+foundling asylum. I come in here riding on the trucks of your mail train
+about three weeks ago, and the fellers up in the roundhouse have been
+lettin' me feed and snooze there. I know where all the crews live
+exceptin' some of your kid glove engineers wot pulls the fast trains,
+but I can soon find them out. Please give me the job, mister; I'm honest
+and I'll work hard."
+
+Something in his blunt straightforward way appealed to me and I
+determined to try him. Handled right I imagined he would be a good man;
+handled wrong, he would probably become a bright and shining light of
+the _genus_ hobo. So I hired him, telling him his salary would be forty
+dollars per month.
+
+"Hully gee!" he exclaimed, "forty plunks a month! Well say! I won't do a
+ting wid all dat mun; I'll just buy a road. Thank you mister, I'll work
+so hard for you that you'll not be sorry you gave me the job. But don't
+you forget that I wants to learn the tick tick business."
+
+That night at seven o'clock he went to work, and it didn't take long to
+see that he was as bright as a new dollar. He knew everything about the
+division, knew all the crews and where they lived. Days went by and
+still he held up his end and was a great favorite with all the force.
+There was a local instrument in the office, and one of the operators
+wrote the Morse alphabet for him, and ever after that he kept pegging
+away at the key. He practiced writing and it wasn't many weeks before
+he was getting to be something of an operator. I went out to the main
+line battery room one evening to give some instructions to the man in
+charge and there I discovered Master Dick with a battery syringe in one
+hand and a brush in the other deeply engrossed in monkeying with the
+jars.
+
+"Look here, you young rascal," I said sharply, "what are you doing in
+here? First thing you know you will short circuit some of these
+batteries and then there'll be the de'il to pay: Don't you ever let me
+catch you out here again, or I'll fire you bodily."
+
+"I hain't been doing nothin', Mister Bates, I just wanted to see what
+made the old thing go tick tick. Wot's all them glass jars for wid the
+green water and the tin in?"
+
+I explained to him as well as I could the construction of the gravity
+battery. He had been forbidden to monkey with any of the instruments or
+the switch board in the main office, but his infernal inquisitiveness
+soon ran away with his sense, and it wasn't long before he was in
+trouble. He pulled a plug out of the switch board one evening, and Burke
+threatened to kill him. Another evening, he went into my office and
+monkeyed with an instrument that I kept there connected to the
+despatcher's wire, and left it open. There was no report from any of the
+offices on either side, and investigation soon revealed the culprit. The
+wire was open for ten minutes and Burke was as mad as a March hare, when
+he reported it to me the next morning. I sent for Master Dick and
+informed him that another such a report against him would cause his
+instant dismissal. He seemed penitent enough, but two nights afterwards
+he short circuited all the main line batteries by his foolishness, and
+raised Cain in the office for a while. The next morning his time was
+presented to him and he was told to get out. He pleaded hard but his
+offenses had been too numerous, and I had to let him go. I must confess,
+however, that we all missed him greatly, because, in spite of his
+troublesome nature, he was a prime favorite with all the force.
+
+Our road ran through some wild unsettled country, and a few years
+previous, a Mr. Bob Forney and some distinguished gentlemen of the road,
+had paid us a visit, with the result that the express company lost about
+forty thousand dollars and their messenger his life. The country became
+too warm for them and they fled.
+
+Our flyer left two nights after this, having on board about a hundred
+thousand dollars of government money, and I remarked to Bob Stanton,
+the conductor, that it was a fine chance for a hold up, but he laughed
+it off and said that civilization was too far advanced for that kind of
+work just now.
+
+About nine o'clock I was sitting in the despatcher's office smoking a
+cigar before going home for the night, when all at once the despatcher's
+wire and the railroad line opened. Sicklen reported south of him and
+then took off his ground. Pretty soon the sounder began to open and
+close in a peculiar shaky manner, and then I heard the following:
+
+"To 'DS,' gang of robbers goin' to hold up the flyer in Ashley's cut
+to-night. They will place rails and ties on the track to wreck train if
+they don't heed signal. Warn train to watch out and bring gang out from
+Sicklen. This is Dick Durstine."
+
+All was quiet for a minute and then he started again, but soon he
+stopped short and we heard no more. The line remained open.
+
+We raised Sicklen on a commercial wire and told him to turn his
+red-light and hold everything. I was in somewhat of a quandary; the
+sending had been miserable, sounding unlike any stuff Dick had ever
+sent, and then the stopping of the whole business made it seem rather
+suspicious. Still Ashley's cut was an ideal place for a hold up, and the
+weather was dark and stormy. Everything was propitious for just such a
+job.
+
+In the meantime, Ashton, the first office south of Sicklen, had reported
+on the commercial line that the despatcher's wire was open north of him.
+That would place it near the cut in all probability. Anyway I didn't
+intend to take any chance, so I sent a message to Sicklen telling him to
+notify the sheriff of all the facts and ask him to send out a posse on
+the flyer, and, also, for him to get the day man to go out and patch the
+lines up until a line man could get there in the morning. About twenty
+minutes afterwards the flyer left Sicklen nicely fixed with a strong
+posse, and an order to approach the cut with caution. It was only three
+miles from Sicklen to the cut, and I knew it would be but a matter of a
+short while until something was heard. Sure enough, forty minutes later
+the despatcher's wire closed and this message came:
+
+     "To Bates, DS:
+
+     "Attempt to hold up No. 21 in Ashley's cut was frustrated by the
+     sheriff's posse. Outlaws had placed ties on the track in case we
+     did not heed the signal to stop. Two of them killed, three captured
+     and one escaped. Dick Durstine is here, badly shot through the
+     right lung. Will have him sent in from Sicklen on 22 in the
+     morning.
+
+     "Stanton, Conductor."
+
+The next morning when 22 pulled in I went down and there, laid out on a
+litter in the baggage car, was Dick Durstine, my former call boy, weak,
+pale, and just living. He was conscious, and when I leaned over him his
+eyes glistened for a minute, he smiled and feebly said:
+
+"Say, Mister Bates, didn't I do them fellers up in good shape? When I
+gets well again will you gimme back my job so I can learn some more
+about the tick tick? I'll never monkey any more, honest to God, I
+won't."
+
+A queer lump came in my throat and there was a suspicion of moisture in
+my eyes as I contemplated this brave little hero, and I said:
+
+"God bless your brave little heart, Dick, you can have anything on this
+division."
+
+Mr. Antwerp had appeared and was visibly affected. We had Dick removed
+to the company hospital, and then for some days he lay hovering between
+life and death, but youth, and a strong constitution finally won out and
+he began to mend.
+
+When he was able to sit up I heard his story. It appeared that when I
+dismissed him he laid around the place for a day, and then jumping a
+freight, started south. At Sicklen he had been put off by a heartless
+brakeman and had started to walk to Ashton. It was evening and he became
+tired. After walking as far as the north end of the cut he laid down and
+went to sleep behind a pile of old ties. He was awakened by the sound of
+voices near by, and listening intently, he learned that the men were
+outlaws and intended to hold up the flyer that night. They intended to
+flag her down as she entered the cut and do the business in the usual
+smooth manner. In case she wouldn't stop, they would have a pile of ties
+on the track that would soon put a quietus on her flight. Poor little
+Dick was horrified and stealing quietly away some distance he stopped
+and cogitated. Time was becoming precious. How was he to send a warning?
+Oh! if he could only get into a telegraph office! Suddenly an idea
+struck him. He went a little farther up the track, and shinning up a
+pole he took his heavy jack-knife, and after a hard effort, succeeded in
+cutting two wires. Another pole was climbed and only one wire cut from
+it. With this strand he made a joint so that the two ends of the
+despatcher's wire could be brought in easy contact. Then by knocking the
+two ends together he sent the warning. His cutting of the wire had made
+a peculiar loud twang and one of the outlaws heard it. Becoming
+suspicious, he and his partner started up the track to investigate. They
+came upon Dick, kneeling on one knee, engrossed in his work, and without
+one word of warning shot him in the back. They left him for dead, but
+thank God he did not die, and to-day he is on a road that before many
+years will land him on top of the heap.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+AN EPISODE OF SENTIMENT
+
+
+The night man down at Bentonville quit rather suddenly one fall morning,
+and as I had no immediate relief in prospect, I wired the chief
+despatcher of the division south of me to send me a man if he had any to
+spare. That afternoon I received a message from him saying he had sent
+Miss Ellen Ross to take the place. I still had a very distinct
+recollection of my encounter with Miss Love, and I wasn't overfond of
+women operators anyway, so Miss Ross's welcome to my division was not a
+hearty one. She was the first woman I had ever had under my
+jurisdiction. I was at the office quite late a night or two after this,
+and heard some of her work; there was no use denying that she was a very
+smooth operator as well as a very prompt one. Burke said he had no
+complaint to offer; she was always on time, and I must confess I felt
+much chagrined. I wanted a chance to discharge her, but it didn't appear
+to materialize. But I was a patient waiter and one morning about three
+weeks later I came into the office and on looking over the delay sheet I
+saw the following entry in the delay column:
+
+"No. 18 delayed fifty minutes, account not being able to raise the
+operator at Bentonville in that time; as an explanation, operator says
+she was over at the hotel getting her lunch."
+
+Evidently Miss Ross had little ingenuity in the line of excuses or she
+would never have offered such a threadbare one as that. I wanted the
+chance to annihilate her and here it was. I called up Bentonville and
+asked if Miss Ross was there. She was, and I said, "Isn't it possible
+for you to invent a better excuse than 'lunch' for your failure to
+answer last night, or this morning rather?"
+
+She drummed on the key for a moment and then said if I didn't like that
+excuse I knew what I could do. I caught my breath at her audacity and
+then "_did_." I sent her time to her on No. 21, and a man to take her
+place. I then dismissed the matter from my mind and supposed that I had
+heard the last of Miss Ross. I never was very well acquainted with the
+female sex or I would not have dismissed the matter with such
+complacency.
+
+A day or two after this I was sitting in the division superintendent's
+office, he being out on the road, and I heard a voice say:
+
+"Is this Mr. Bates?" I had not heard anyone come in and I glanced up and
+answered, "Yes." I saw before me a young woman of an air and appearance
+that fairly took my breath away. I immediately arose to my feet and with
+all possible deference invited her to take a seat. I supposed she was
+the wife of some of the officials and wanted a pass. In response to my
+inquiry as to what could I do for her she said, timidly:
+
+"I am Miss Ross, lately night operator at Bentonville."
+
+Her answer put me more off my ease than ever, but the discipline of the
+road had to be maintained at any-cost; so as soon as I could, I put on
+my severest look and sternly said, "Well!" She smiled slightly in a way
+that made me doubt if she were much impressed by my display of rigor;
+and answered, "I came to see if you wouldn't take me back. I am sure I
+didn't mean to offend the other night. I have been an operator for
+nearly four years and I have never had the least bit of trouble before.
+You have no fault to find with my work I am sure; and I promise to be
+very careful to never offend again. Won't you please take me back?"
+
+Gee! but she did look pretty and her big black eyes were shining like
+bright stars. If she had only known it I was ready by this time to have
+given her the best job on the whole division, even my own, but I wasn't
+going to give up without a show of resistance and I said:
+
+"Humph! Well let's see!" Then I rang my bell and told the boy to get me
+the train sheet of the sixteenth. I looked very stern and very wise as I
+read the delay report to her.
+
+"That, Miss Ross, is a very serious offense. A delay of fifty minutes to
+any train is bad enough, but when it happens to a through freight it is
+the worst possible. Then you say you were at the hotel for lunch. The
+order book shows that the despatcher called you from two A. M. until
+two-fifty A. M. Isn't that rather an unearthly hour to be going out to
+lunch? My recollection of the Bentonville station is that it is a mile
+from the excuse of a hotel in the place. Really, I am very sorry but I
+don't see how anything can be done."
+
+Discipline was being maintained, you see, in great shape, but all the
+time I was delivering my little speech I was feeling like a big
+red-headed hypocrite. Miss Ross looked up at me with those beautiful
+eyes; then two big tears made their appearance on the scene, and she
+sobbed out:
+
+"Well, I know I told a fib when I made that excuse, but the despatcher
+was so sharp and I was so scared when he said he had been calling me for
+fifty minutes, that I told him the first thing that came into my mind.
+Then, the next day I was angry at you, because I thought you were
+chaffing me, as I was the only woman on the line, and I suppose I was
+rather impudent. But do you think it is fair to discharge me for the
+same thing that you only gave Mr. Ferral fifteen days for? Are you not
+doing it simply because I am a woman?"
+
+I never could stand a woman's tears, especially a pretty one, and when
+she cited the case of Ferral, I realized that I had lost my game. I let
+myself down as easily as I could and that night Miss Ross went back to
+work at Bentonville, and the man there was put on the waiting list.
+
+It was very funny after this how many times I had to run down to
+Bentonville. That Sandia branch line had to be inspected; the switch
+board had to be replaced by a new one in "BN" office; wires had to be
+changed, a new ground put in, and many other things done, and always I
+had to go myself to see that the work was done properly. The agent at
+Bentonville came, before very long, to smile in a very knowing way
+whenever I jumped off the train; Mr. Antwerp had a peculiarly wise look
+in his eye when I mentioned anything about Bentonville, but I didn't
+mind it. I was in love with the sweet little girl, and was walking on
+the clouds. If I hadn't been I would have seen that my cake was all
+dough in that quarter. I might have noticed that big Dan Forbush had an
+amused look in his eye when I went off on one of these trips. If I had
+watched the mail I might have seen numerous little billets coming daily
+from Bentonville, addressed in a neat round hand to "Mr. Dan Forbush."
+But I didn't, I kept right on in my mad career, and one day when my
+courage was high I offered my hand and my heart to Miss Ross. She
+refused and told me that while she was honored by my proposal, she had
+been engaged to Mr. Forbush for two years, having known him down on the
+"Sunset" before he came to our road. I took my defeat as philosophically
+as I could and the next spring she left Bentonville for good, and Dan
+took a three weeks' leave. When he came back he brought sweet Ellen as
+his bride. One evening not long after that I was calling there, when
+Mrs. Forbush looked up at me very naively and said:
+
+"Mr. Bates, did I pay you back for discharging me?"
+
+[Illustration: "Are you not doing it just because I am a woman?"]
+
+There's no doubt about it, she did, and I felt it. She was the third
+girl to throw me over, and I determined to give up the business and go
+for a soldier. I stuck it out there till fall and then resigned for all
+time.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+
+THE MILITARY OPERATOR--A FAKE REPORT THAT NEARLY CAUSED TROUBLE
+
+
+The railroad and commercial telegraphers are well known to the general
+public, because they are thrown daily in contact with them, but there is
+still another class in the profession, which, while not being so well
+known are, in their way, just as important in their acts and deeds. I
+refer to the military telegrapher. His work does not often carry him
+within the environments of civilization; his instruments are not of the
+beautiful Bunnell pattern, placed on polished glass partitioned tables;
+his task is a very hard one and yet he does it without a grumble. His
+sphere of duty is out at the extreme edge of advancing civilization. You
+will find him along the Rio Grande frontier; out on the sun-baked
+deserts of New Mexico and Arizona; up in the Bad Lands of Montana, and
+the snow-capped mountains of the Rockies. A few of them you will find in
+nice offices at some department headquarters or in the war office in
+Washington, but such places are generally given to men who have grown
+old and gray in the service. His office? Any old place he can plant his
+instruments, many times a tent with a cracker box for a table; a chair
+would be an unheard-of luxury. His pay? Thirteen big round American
+dollars per month. His rank and title? Hold your breath while I tell
+you. Private, United States Army. Great, isn't it? Many times a detail
+to one of the frontier points means farewell to your friends as long as
+the tour lasts.
+
+When I left the railroad business I journeyed out westward to Fort
+Hayes, Kansas, and held up my right hand and swore all manner of oaths
+to support the Constitution of the United States; obey the orders of the
+President of the United States and all superior officers; to accept the
+pay and allowances as made by a generous (God save the word) Congress
+for the period of five years. Thus did I become a soldier and a "dough
+boy" because I went to the infantry arm of the service. I've stuck to
+the business ever since.
+
+I supposed when I went into the army that my connection with wires and
+telegraph instruments was entirely finished. I had worked at the
+business long and faithfully and was in a state of mind that I thought I
+had had enough. That's very good in theory, but powerful poor in
+practice, because I hadn't been soldiering a month before a feeling of
+homesickness for my old love came over me; in fact to this day I never
+see a railroad but what I want to go up in the despatcher's office and
+sit down and take a "trick." But there were commissions to be had from
+the ranks of the army and I wanted one, so I hung on and did my duty as
+best I could.
+
+The stay at Fort Hayes was a very peaceful and serene one; I did no
+telegraphing there for a year, and then we were ordered to Fort Clark,
+Texas. When I quit the commercial business I had almost taken an oath
+never to go back to Texas, but I couldn't help it in this case.
+
+Fort Clark is one hundred and thirty miles due west of dear old San
+Antonio, and situated nine miles from the railroad. When my company
+arrived, there was no telegraphic communication with the outside world
+and all telegrams had to be sent by courier to Spofford Junction, for
+transmission. After having been stationed there for about eight months I
+was sent for by the commanding officer and told to take charge of a
+party and build a telegraph line over to the railroad. The poles had
+been set by a detachment of the 3rd Cavalry and in five days' time I had
+strung the wire. Being the only operator in the post I was placed in
+charge of the office and relieved from all duty. It was a perfect snap;
+no drills, no guards, no parades, nothing but just work the wire and
+plenty of time to devote to my studies.
+
+In December, 1890, the Sioux Indians again broke loose from their
+reservations at Pine Ridge and all of the available men of the pitifully
+small, but gallant, United States army were hurriedly rushed northwards
+to give them a smash that would be lasting and convincing. There was the
+7th Cavalry, Custer's old command, the 6th and 9th Cavalry, the 10th,
+2nd, and 17th Infantry, the late lamented and gallant Capron's flying
+battery of artillery, besides others--General Miles personally assumed
+command, and the campaign was short, sharp, brilliant and decisive. The
+Indians were lambasted into a semblance of order, and that
+personification of deviltry, Sitting Bull, given his transportation to
+the happy hunting grounds, but not before a score or more of brave
+officers and men had passes to their long reckoning. Captain George
+Wallace, of the 7th Cavalry; Lieutenant Mann, of the same regiment, and
+Lieutenant Ned Casey, of the 22nd Infantry, left places in the ranks of
+the officers that were hard to fill.
+
+My regiment, the 18th Infantry, was too far away to go, and besides,
+the Rio Grande frontier, with Señor Garza and his band of cutthroats
+prowling around loose, could not be left unprotected. There would be too
+big a howl from the Texans if that occurred.
+
+During all these trying times my telegraph office was naturally the
+center of interest, and I had made an arrangement with the chief
+operator at San Antonio to send me bulletins of any important news. I
+always made two copies, posting one on the bulletin board in front of my
+office, and delivering the other to the colonel in person.
+
+Soldiers are very loquacious as a rule and give them a thread upon which
+to hang an argument, and in a minute a free silver, demo-popocrat
+convention would sound tame in comparison. Go into a squad-room at any
+time the men are off duty, and you can have a discussion on almost any
+old subject from the result of the coming prize fight to the deepest
+question of the bible and theology. Many times the argument will become
+so warm between Privates "Hicky" Flynn and "Pie Faced" Sullivan that
+theology will be settled _a la_ Queensbury out behind the wash-house.
+Among soldiers this argumentative spirit is called "chewing the rag."
+
+One morning shortly after Wounded Knee with its direful results had
+been fought, I thought it would be a great joke to post a startling
+bulletin, just to start the men's tongues a-wagging.
+
+So I wrote the following:
+
+     "Bulletin
+
+     "San Antonio, Texas, 12 | 26, 1890.
+
+     "Reported that the 6th and 9th Cavalry were ambuscaded yesterday by
+     Sioux Indians under Crazy Horse, and completely wiped out of
+     existence. Custer's Little Big Horn massacre outdone. Not a man
+     escaped."
+
+I chuckled with fiendish glee as I posted this on the bulletin board and
+then started for breakfast. I thought some soldier would read it, tell
+it to the men of his company, and in that way the fun would commence. My
+scheme worked to perfection, because some of the men of G Company, (mine
+was D) had seen me stick it up and had come post haste to read. I
+started the ball rolling in my own company and in about a minute there
+were fifty men around me all jabbering like magpies as to the result of
+this awful massacre. Of course, the regiment would be hurried north
+forthwith--no other regiment could do the work of annihilation so well
+as the 18th. Oh! no. Of course not!
+
+Said my erstwhile friend and bunkie "Hickey" Flynn: "Av coorse, Moiles
+will be after sendin' a message to Lazelle to bring the Ateenth fut up
+at once, and thin the smashin' we will be after givin' them rid divils
+will make a wake look sick."
+
+"Aw cum off, Hickey," said Sullivan, "phat the divil does yez know av
+foightin' injuns? Phat were ye over in the auld sod? Nathin' but a turf
+digger. Phat were ye here before ye 'listed? Dom ye, I think ye belong
+to the Clan na Gael and helped to murther poor Doc Cronin, bad cess to
+ye."
+
+A display of authority on the part of the top sergeant prevented a clash
+and the jaw-breaking contest proceeded. By this time the news had spread
+and the entire garrison were talking. Just as I was about to tell them
+that it was a fake pure and simple, I happened to glance towards my
+office, and Holy Smoke! there was my captain standing on his tiptoes (he
+was only five feet four) reading that confounded bulletin. I hadn't
+counted on any of the officers reading it. Generally they didn't get up
+until eight o'clock and by that time I would have destroyed the fake
+report.
+
+The officers' club was in the same building as my office and the captain
+had come down early, evidently to get a--to read the morning paper
+(_which came at 4 P. M._) and his eye lighted on my bulletin. I saw him
+read it carefully, and then reaching up he tore it from the board and as
+quick as his little legs would carry him, he made a bee line for the
+commanding officer's quarters. I knew full well how the colonel would
+regard that bulletin when he found out it was a fake. I was able to
+discern a summary court-martial in my mind's eye, and that would knock
+my chances for a commission sky-highwards--because a man's military
+record must be absolutely spotless when he appears for examination. What
+was I to do? Just then I saw the captain go up the colonel's steps, ring
+the bell, and in a moment he was admitted. I felt that my corpse was
+laid out right then and there and the wake was about to begin.
+
+A few moments later the commanding officer's orderly came in, and
+looking around for a minute, caught sight of me and said:
+
+"Corporal, the commanding officer wants to see you at his quarters at
+once," and out he went. "Start the band to playing the 'Dead March in
+Saul,'" thought I, "because this is the beginning of a funeral
+procession in which I am to play the leading part." I walked as slowly
+as I could and not appear lagging, but I arrived at my crematory all too
+soon. I rapped on the door and in tones that made me shiver was bidden
+by the old man to come in. The colonel was standing in the middle of
+his parlor, wrapped in a gaudy dressing gown, and in his hand he held my
+mangled bulletin. Right at that minute I wished I had never heard a
+telegraph instrument click.
+
+"Corporal," said the colonel, "what time did you receive this bulletin?"
+
+"About six-fifteen, sir, immediately after reveille," I replied with a
+face as expressionless as a mummy's.
+
+"Why did you not bring it to me direct as you have heretofore done?"
+
+"Well, sir, I didn't think you were awake yet, and I did not want to
+disturb you."
+
+"Have you any later news, corporal?"
+
+"No sir, none, but I haven't been back to the office since, sir." Gee!
+but that room was becoming warm!
+
+"Are you certain as to the truth of this awful report?"
+
+"It is probably as authentic as a great many stories that are started
+during times like these--that is all I know of it, sir." (Lord forgive
+me.)
+
+"It seems almost too horrible to be true, and yet, one cannot tell about
+those Sioux. They're a bad lot--a devilish bad lot"--this to my
+captain--and then to me: "You go back to your office, corporal, and
+remain very close until you have a denial or a confirmation of this
+story and bring any news you may receive to me instanter. That's all
+corporal."
+
+The "corporal" needed no second dismissal, and saluting I quickly got
+out of an atmosphere that was far from chilly to me.
+
+Now, by my cussed propensity for joking, I had involved myself in this
+mess, and there was but one way out of it, and that was to brazen it out
+for a while longer and then post a denial of the supposed awful rumor.
+_But the denial must come over the wire_, so when I reached my office I
+called up Spofford and told old man Livingston what I had done and what
+I wanted him to do for me, and in about half an hour he sent me a
+"bulletin" saying that the previous report had happily proved unfounded
+and the 6th and 9th Cavalry were all right. This message I took at once
+to the colonel and as he read it he heaved a big sigh of relief, but he
+dismissed me with a very peculiar look in his eye.
+
+The next evening as I was passing the colonel's quarters on my way to
+deliver a message to the hospital, I heard him remark to another
+officer, "Major, don't you think it is strange that the papers received
+to-day make no mention of that frightful report received-here yesterday
+morning relative to the supposed massacre of the 6th and 9th Cavalry?"
+
+No, the major didn't think it a bit strange. Maybe he knew that
+newspaper stories should be taken _cum grano salis_, and then maybe he
+knew me.
+
+There were no more "fake reports" from that office.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII
+
+PRIVATE DENNIS HOGAN, HERO
+
+
+It was while I was sitting around a barrack-room fire that I picked up
+the following story. There were a number of old soldiers in my
+company--men who had served twenty-five years in the army--and their
+fund of anecdote and excitement was of the largest size.
+
+On Thanksgiving Day, 187--, Private Dennis Hogan, Company B, 29th United
+States Infantry, the telegraph operator at Fort Flint, Montana, sat in
+his dingy little "two by four" office in the headquarter building,
+communing with himself and cussing any force of circumstances that made
+him a soldier. The instruments were quiet, a good Thanksgiving dinner
+had been enjoyed and now the smoke from his old "T. D." pipe curled in
+graceful rings around his red head.
+
+Denny was a smashing good operator and some eighteen months before he
+had landed in St. Louis dead broke. All the offices and railroads were
+full and nary a place did he get. While walking up Pine street one
+morning his eye fell foul of a sign:--
+
+"Wanted, able-bodied, unmarried men, between the ages of twenty-one and
+thirty-five, for service in the United States Army."
+
+In his mind's eye he sized himself up and came to the conclusion that he
+would fill all the requirements. Now, he hadn't any great hankering for
+soldiering, but he didn't have a copper to his name and as empty
+stomachs stand not on ceremony, in he went and after being catechized by
+the recruiting sergeant, he was pounded for thirty minutes by the
+examining surgeon, pronounced as sound as a dollar, and then sworn in
+"to serve Uncle Sam honestly and faithfully for five years. So help me
+God." The space of time necessary to transform a man from a civilian to
+a soldier is of a very short duration, and almost before he knew it he
+was dressed in the plain blue of the soldier of the Republic. He was
+assigned to B company of the 28th United States Infantry stationed at
+Fort Flint, Montana. The experience was new and novel to him, and the
+three months recruit training well nigh wore him out, but he stuck to
+it, and some two months after he had been returned to duty, he was
+detailed as telegraph operator vice Adams of G Company, discharged.
+There he had remained since.
+
+At four o'clock on the afternoon in question Denny was aroused from his
+reverie by the sounder opening up and calling "FN" like blue blazes. He
+answered and this is what he took:
+
+    "DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS ST. PAUL, MINN.
+    "November 26th, 187-
+
+    "COMMANDING OFFICER,
+    "Fort Flint, Montana.
+
+    "Sioux Indians out. Prepare your command
+    for instant field service. Thirty days' rations;
+    two hundred rounds ammunition per man. Wire
+    when ready.
+
+    "By command of Major General Wherry.
+
+    (Signed) SMITH,
+    "Assistant Adjutant-General."
+
+Denny was the messenger boy as well as operator and without waiting to
+make an impression copy, he grabbed his hat and flew down the line to
+the colonel's quarters. That worthy was entertaining a party at dinner,
+and was about to give Hogan fits for bringing the message to him instead
+of to the post adjutant; but a glance at the contents changed things and
+in a moment all was bustle and confusion.
+
+For weeks the premonitory signs of this outbreak had been plainly
+visible, but true to the red-tape conditions, the army could not move
+until some overt act had been committed. The generous interior
+department had supplied the Indians with arms and ammunition and then
+Mr. Red Devil under that prince of fiends incarnate, Sitting Bull,
+started on his campaign of plunder and pillage.
+
+At eight o'clock that night Colonel Clarke wired his chief that his
+command was ready, and at midnight he received orders to proceed the
+next morning at daylight, by forced marches up to the junction of the
+forks of the Red Bud, and take position there to intercept the Indians
+should they attempt to cross. Two regiments from the more northern posts
+were due to reach there at the same time, and the combined strength of
+the three commands was supposed to be sufficient to drive back any body
+of Indians. There was little sleep in Fort Flint that night.
+
+Now, Hogan wasn't much of a success as a garrison soldier, but when a
+chance for a genuine fight presented itself, all the Irish blood in his
+nature came to the surface, and after much pleading and begging, the
+adjutant allowed him to join his company, detailing Jones of D Company
+as operator in his stead. Jones wasn't as good an operator by far as
+Denny, but in a pinch he could do the work, and besides, he had just
+come out of the hospital and was unable to stand the rigors attendant
+upon a winter campaign in Montana.
+
+Denny went to the company quarters in high glee and soon had his kit all
+packed. Some weeks before he had been out repairing the line and when he
+returned to the post he had left a small pocket instrument and a few
+feet of office wire in his haversack. He saw these things and was about
+to remove them, when something impelled him to take them along. What
+this was no one ever knew. Perhaps premonition.
+
+The next morning just as the first dim shadows of early dawn stole over
+the snow-clad earth, the gallant old 29th, five hundred strong, swung
+out of Fort Flint, on its long tramp. From out of half-closed blinds on
+the officer's line gazed many a tear-stained face, and up on "Soapsuds
+Row" many an honest-hearted laundress was bemoaning the fates that
+parted her from her "ould mon."
+
+The weather turned bitter cold and after seven days of the hardest kind
+of marching they reached and crossed the Red Bud just below the junction
+of the two forks. A strong position was taken and every disposition made
+to prevent surprise. The expected re-enforcement would surely come soon
+and then all would be safe.
+
+The next day dawned and passed, but not a sign of that re-enforcement.
+That night queer looking red glows were seen at stated intervals on the
+horizon--North, West and East on the north side of the river, and to the
+South on the other bank did they gleam and glow. Colonel Clarke was old
+and tried in Indian warfare and well did he know what those fires
+meant--Indians--and lots of them all around his command. His hope now
+was that the two northern regiments would strike them in the rear while
+he smashed them in front.
+
+The next morning, first one, two, three, four, an hundred, a thousand
+figures mounted on fleet footed ponies appeared silhouetted against the
+clear sky, and it wasn't long before that little command of sturdy
+bluecoats was surrounded by a superior force of the wildest red devils
+that ever strode a horse or fired a Winchester rifle. Slowly they drew
+their lines closer about the troops like the clinging tentacles of some
+monster devilfish, and about eleven o'clock, _Bang!_ and the battle was
+on.
+
+"Husband your fire, men. Don't shoot until you have taken deliberate
+aim, and can see the object aimed at," was the word passed along the
+line by Colonel Clarke.
+
+Behind hastily constructed shelter trenches the soldiers fought off that
+encircling band of Indians, with a desperation and valor born of an
+almost hopeless situation. Ever and anon, from across the river came the
+ping of a Winchester bullet, proving that retreat was cut off that way.
+The Indians had completely marched around them.
+
+Where was the re-enforcement? Why didn't it come? Was this to be another
+Little Big Horn, and were these brave men to be massacred like the
+gallant 7th Cavalry under Custer? As long as his ammunition held out
+Colonel Clarke knew he could stand them off, but after three days of
+hard fighting, resulting in the loss of many brave men, the situation
+was becoming desperate. Fires could not be lighted and more than one
+brave fellow went to kingdom come in filling the canteens at the river's
+bank. Most of the animals had been shot, many of them being used for
+breastworks.
+
+Colonel Clarke was inspecting his lines on the early evening of the
+third day, and had about made up his mind to ask for a volunteer to try
+and get beyond the Indian lines and carry the news to Fort Scott, sixty
+miles away, to call for re-enforcements. Six troops of the 11th Cavalry
+were stationed there under his old friend and classmate, Colonel
+Foster. He knew the character of the regular army chaps well enough to
+be certain they would come to his assistance, if it were a possible
+thing. If all went well with his courier in three days' time they would
+be there.
+
+The word was passed along the line and in a few seconds he had any
+number of officers and men who were willing and ready to take the ride.
+Just as the colonel had decided to send 1st Lieutenant Jarvis on this
+perilous trip, Hogan appeared before him, saluting with military
+precision, and said with a broad Irish brogue:--
+
+"Axin' yer pardin' kurnel, but Oi think Oi kin tell ye a betther way.
+The telegraph loine from Scott to Kearney runs just twenty-foive moiles
+beyant here to the southards. Up at the end of our loines on the other
+side of the river is a deep ravine. If Oi kin get across with a good
+horse and slip through the Indian loines on the other soide, I can, by
+hard roidin' reach this loine in two or three hours. I have a pocket
+instrument wid me and can cut in and ask for re-enforcements from Fort
+Scott. If the loine is down I can continue on to the post, and make as
+quick time as any of the officers; if it is up it will be a matther of a
+short toime before we are pulled out of this hole. Plaze let me thry it
+kurnel. Lieutenant Jarvis has a wife and two children, and his loss
+would be greatly felt, whoile I--I--well I haven't any wan, sir, and
+besoides, I'm an Irishman, and you know, kurnel, an Irishman is a fool
+for luck." This last was said with a broad grin.
+
+Colonel Clarke was somewhat amazed at this speech, but he studied
+reflectively, with knitted brows for a moment, and then said, "All
+right, Hogan, I'll let you try it. Take my horse and start at three
+o'clock in the morning. Do your best, my man, do your best; the lives of
+the remainder of this command depend on your efforts. God be with you."
+
+"If I fail kurnel, it will be because I'm dead, sir."
+
+Shortly before three o'clock in the morning, Denny made ready for his
+perilous ride. The horse's hoofs were carefully padded, ammunition and
+revolver looked after, the pocket instrument fastened around his neck by
+the wire, so if any accident happened to the horse he would not be
+unnecessarily delayed, and all was ready. He gave his old bunkie a
+farewell silent clasp of the hand and then started on his ride that
+meant life or death to his comrades. The horse was a magnificent
+Kentuckian and seemed to know what was required of him. Carefully and
+slowly Hogan pushed his way to the place opposite the ravine, and then
+giving his mount a light touch with the spurs, he took to the cold
+water. The stream was filled with floating ice but was only about fifty
+yards wide and in a few minutes he was safely over, and climbing up the
+other bank through the ravine. Finally, the end was reached and he was
+on high ground. Resting a minute to see if all was well, he started. So
+far, so good, he was beyond the Indian lines. He was congratulating
+himself on the promised success of his mission when all at once,
+directly in front of him he saw the dim shadowy outlines of a mounted
+Indian. Quick as a flash Denny pulled his revolver and another Indian
+was soon in the happy hunting ground. This caused a general alarm and
+Hogan knew he was in for it. Putting his spurs deep in his horse's
+flanks away he went with the speed of the wind. A perfect swarm of
+Indians came after him, yelling like fiends and shooting like demons.
+On! on! he sped, seemingly bearing a charmed life because bullets
+whizzed by him like hail. He was not idle, and when the opportunity
+presented itself his revolver spoke and more than one Indian pony was
+made riderless thereby.
+
+Suddenly he felt a sharp stinging pain in his right shoulder, and but
+for a convulsive grasp of the pommel with his bridle hand he would have
+pitched headlong to the earth.
+
+No, by God! he couldn't fail now. He must succeed, the lives of his
+comrades depended on his efforts. He had told Colonel Clarke he would
+get through or die, and he was a long way from dead yet. Only an hour
+and a half more and he would have sent the message and then all the
+Indians in the country could go to the demnition bow wows for all he
+cared.
+
+Hearing no more shots Denny drew rein for a moment and listened. Not a
+sound could be heard, the snow had started to softly fall and the first
+faint rays of light on the eastern horizon heralded the approach of a
+new-born day. Ah! he had outridden his pursuers. Gently patting his
+faithful horse's neck, he once more started swiftly on, and when he was
+within a few miles of the line he chanced to glance back and saw that
+one lone Indian was following him.
+
+Now it was a case of man against man. In his first flight and running
+fight he had fired away all his ammunition save one cartridge. This he
+determined to use to settle his pursuer, but not until it was absolutely
+necessary; and putting spurs to his already tired horse, he galloped
+on.
+
+The Indian was slowly gaining on him and he saw the time for decisive
+action was at hand. Ahead of him but one short half mile was that line,
+already in the early morning light he could see the poles, and if the
+god of battles would only speed his one remaining bullet in the right
+direction, his message could be sent in safety and his comrades rescued.
+His wounded right arm was numb from pain and his left was not the
+steadiest in the world, but nothing venture, nothing have, and just
+then--_Bang!_ and a bullet whizzed by his head. "Not this toime, ye red
+devil," Denny defiantly shouted. A second bullet and he dropped off his
+horse. Quickly wheeling about, he dropped on his stomach, and taking a
+careful aim over his wounded right arm, he fired. The shot was
+apparently a true one and the Indian pitched off head first and lay
+still.
+
+With an exultant shout Hogan jumped up and started for the line. Nothing
+could stop him now. Loss of blood and the intense cold had weakened him
+so that his legs were shaky, the earth seemed to be going around at a
+great rate, dark spots were dancing before his eyes; but with a
+superhuman effort he recovered himself and was soon at the line.
+
+The wire was strung on light lances, and if Denny were in full
+possession of his strength he could easily pull one down. He threw his
+weight against one with all of his remaining force--but to no avail.
+What was he to do? But sixteen feet intervened between him and that
+precious wire.
+
+The faithful, tired horse, when Denny jumped off, had only run a little
+way and stopped, only too glad of the chance to rest. He was now
+standing near Hogan, as if intent on being of some further use to him.
+Suddenly Denny's anxious eyes lighted on the horsehair lariat attached
+to the saddle. Here was the means at hand. Quickly as he could he undid
+it, and with great difficulty tied one end to the pommel and the other
+to the lance. Then he gave the horse a sharp blow, and, _Crash!_ down
+went the lance.
+
+Making the connections to the pocket instrument as best he could with
+one cold hand, he placed the wire across a sharp rock and a few blows
+with the butt of his revolver soon cut it. The deed was done.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Private Dunn, the operator at Fort Scott, opened up his office bright
+and early one cold morning and marveled to find the wire working clear
+to Kearney. After having a chat with the man at Kearney about the
+Indian trouble, he was sitting around like Mr. Micawber when he heard
+the sounder weakly calling "FS." Quickly adjusting down he answered and
+this is what he took.
+
+    "COMMANDING OFFICER,
+    "Fort Scott, Montana.
+
+    "29th Infantry surrounded by large body hostile Sioux just north
+    of junction of the forks of the Red Bud. Colonel Clarke asks for
+    immediate re-enforcements; ammunition almost gone; situation
+    desperate. I left the command at three o'clock this morning.
+
+    (Signed.) DENNIS HO----."
+
+Then blank, the sounder was still and the line remained open. The
+sending had been weak and shaky, just as if the sender had been out all
+night, but there was no mistaking the purport of the message.
+
+Dunn didn't wait to pick up his hat but fairly flew down the line to the
+commanding officer's quarters. The colonel was not up yet, but the sound
+of animated voices in the hallway caused him to appear at the head of
+the stairs in his dressing gown.
+
+"What is it, Dunn," he asked.
+
+"A message from the 29th Infantry, sir, saying they are surrounded by
+the Sioux Indians and want help."
+
+Colonel Foster read the message, and exclaimed,
+
+"My God! Charlie Clarke stuck out there and wants help! Dunn, have the
+trumpeter sound 'Boots and Saddles.' Present my compliments to the
+adjutant and tell him I desire him to report to me at once.
+Kraus,"--this to his Dutch striker who was standing around in
+open-mouthed wonderment--"saddle my horse and get my field kit ready at
+once. Be quick about it."
+
+A few men had seen Dunn's mad rush to the colonel's quarters and
+suspected that something was up, so they were not surprised a few
+minutes later to hear "Boots and Saddles" ring out on the clear morning
+air. The command had been in readiness for field service for some days,
+and but a few moments elapsed until six sturdy troops were standing in
+line on the snow-covered parade. A hurried inspection was made by the
+troop commanders and then Colonel Foster commanded "Fours right, trot,
+march," and away they went on their sixty-mile ride of rescue. A few
+halts were made during the day to tighten girths, and at six o'clock a
+short rest was made for coffee.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The sound of the firing across the river shortly after Hogan left the
+29th was plainly heard by his comrades and many a man was heard to
+exclaim, "It's all up with poor Denny." But the firing grew more distant
+and Colonel Clarke had hopes that Hogan had successfully eluded his
+pursuers and determined to hold on as best he could. He knew full well
+that the Indians would be extraordinarily careful and that it would be
+folly for him to attempt to get another courier through that night. That
+day was indeed a hard one; it was trying to the extreme. Tenaciously did
+those Indians watch their prey. Well did they know by the rising of the
+morrow's sun the ammunition of the soldiers would be exhausted and then
+would come their feast of murder and scalps; Little Big Horn would be
+repeated.
+
+About two o'clock, Colonel Clarke, utterly regardless of personal
+danger, exposed himself for a moment and Chug! down he went, shot
+through the thigh by a Winchester bullet. Brave old chap, never for one
+minute did he give up, and after having his wound dressed as best it
+could be done, he insisted on remaining near the fighting line.
+Lieutenant Jarvis was shot through the arm, Captain Belknap of E Company
+was lying dead near his company, and scores of other brave men had gone
+to their last reckoning. Hanigan, Hogan's bunkie, was badly wounded, and
+out of his head. Every once in a while he would mumble, "Never you mind,
+fellers, we will be all right yet, just stand 'em off a little while
+longer and Denny will be here with the 11th Cavalry. He said he'd do it
+and by God! he won't fail."
+
+As the shades of the cold winter evening crept silently over the earth,
+the firing died away, and the command settled down to another night of
+the tensest anxiety and watching. Oh! why didn't those northern
+regiments come? Did Hogan succeed in his perilous mission? Depressed
+indeed were the spirits of the officers and men.
+
+About nine o'clock Lieutenant Tracy, the adjutant, was sitting beside
+his chief, who was apparently asleep. Suddenly, Colonel Clarke sat up
+and grabbing Tracy by the arm said, "Hark! what's that noise I hear?"
+
+"Nothing sir, nothing," replied Tracy; "lie down Colonel and try to
+rest, you need it sir"--and then aside--"poor old chap, his mind's
+wandering."
+
+"No, no, Tracy. Listen man, don't you hear it? It sounds like the beat
+of many horses' hoofs, re-enforcements are coming, thank God. Hogan got
+through."
+
+Just then, Crash! Bang! and a clear voice rang out, "Right front into
+line, gallop, March! _Charge!_" and those sturdy chaps of the 11th
+Cavalry true to their regimental hatred for the Indians, charged down
+among the red men scattering them like so much chaff. Then to the
+northwards was heard another ringing cheer, and the two long-delayed
+regiments came down among the Indians like a thunderbolt of vengeance.
+Truly, "It never rains but it pours." The 29th, all that was left of it,
+was saved, and when Colonel Foster leaned over the prostrate form of his
+old friend and comrade, Colonel Clarke feebly asked, "Where is that
+brave little chap, Hogan?"
+
+"Hogan? Who is Hogan?" asked Foster.
+
+"Why, my God, man, Hogan was the man that got beyond the Indian lines to
+make the ride to inform you of our plight. Didn't you see him?"
+
+"No, I didn't see him," and then Colonel Foster related how the
+information had reached him.
+
+A rescuing party was started out and in the pale moonlight they came
+upon the body of poor Denny lying stark and stiff under the telegraph
+line, his left hand grasping the instrument and the key open. A bullet
+hole in his head mutely told how he had met his death. Beside him lay
+the Indian, dead, one hand grasping Hogan's scalp lock, the other
+clasping a murderous-looking knife. Death had mercifully prevented the
+accomplishment of his hellish purpose.
+
+Hogan's shot had mortally wounded the Indian in the left breast, but
+with all the vengeful nature of his race, he had crawled forward on his
+hands and knees, and while Hogan was intent on sending his precious
+message, he shot him through the head, but not until the warning had
+been given to Fort Scott. Denny's faithful horse was standing near, as
+if keeping watch over the inanimate form of his late friend.
+
+They buried him where he lay, and a traveler passing over that trail,
+will observe a solitary grave. On the tombstone at the head is
+inscribed:
+
+    "DENNIS HOGAN,
+    "Private, Company B,
+    "29th U. S. Infantry.
+    "He died that others might live."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII
+
+THE COMMISSION WON--IN A GENERAL STRIKE
+
+
+The time spent as a soldier in the ranks passed by all too swiftly. The
+service was pleasant, the duty easy, and the regiment one of the best in
+the entire army. I don't know any two and a half years of my life that
+have been as happy and peaceful as those spent in the ranks of the
+American Army. When the proper time came my recommendations were all in
+good shape and I was duly ordered to appear before an august lot of
+officers and gentlemen at Fortress Monroe, Virginia, to determine my
+fitness to trot along behind a company, sign the sick-book, and witness
+an occasional issue of clothing. One warm June afternoon I bade good-bye
+to the men who had so long been my comrades, and journeyed to the
+eastwards. I was successful in the examinations, and on a Sunday morning
+early in August, myself, in company with twelve other young chaps,
+received the precious little parchment in which the President of the
+United States sends greetings and proclaims to all the world:--
+
+"That reposing especial confidence and trust in the valor, patriotism,
+and fidelity of one John Smith, I have made him a second lieutenant in
+the regular army. Look out for him because he hasn't much sense but I
+have strong hopes as how he will learn after a while."
+
+[Illustration: "... Dennis, lying under the telegraph line, his left
+hand still grasped the instrument"]
+
+The apprenticeship was finished and the chevrons gave way to the
+shoulder straps.
+
+This time I thought surely I had heard the last of the telegraph, never
+again was I going to touch a key. I had been at my first station just
+about two months when one morning I appeared before the Signal Officer
+of the post and plaintively asked him to let me have a set of telegraph
+instruments. He did, and it wasn't long before I had a ticker going in
+my quarters. There was no one to practice with me, so I just pounded
+away by myself for an hour or so each day, to keep my hand in. I have
+yet to see a man who has worked at the business for any length of time
+who could give it up entirely. It's like the opium habit--powerful hard
+to break off. I have never since tried to lose sight of it.
+
+In 189- one of those spasmodic upheavals known as a sympathetic strike
+spread over the country like wild fire, and it wasn't long before the
+continuance of law and order was entirely out of the hands of the state
+authorities in about ten states, and once more the faithful little army
+was called out to put its strong hand on the throat of destruction and
+pillage. Troops were hurriedly despatched from all posts to the worst
+points and the inefficient state militia in several states relegated to
+its proper sphere--that of holding prize drills and barbecues.
+
+Owing to the fact that the army cannot be used until a state executive
+acknowledges his inability to preserve law and order, and owing also to
+the fact that the executives in one or two of the states were pandering
+to the socialistic element, saying they could enforce the laws without
+the assistance of the army, this strike had spread until the entire
+country except the extreme east and southeast was in its strong grasp,
+and the work cut out for the army was doled out to it in great big
+chunks. Men seemed to lose all their senses and the emissaries of the
+union succeeded in getting many converts, each one of which paid the sum
+of one dollar to the so-called head of the union. Snap for the aforesaid
+"head," wasn't it? It was positively refreshing to the army at this time
+to have at its head a man who did not know what it was to pander to the
+socialists, and one who would enforce his solemn oath, "To enforce the
+laws of the United States," at all hazards. United States mail trains
+were being interfered with; the Inter-State Commerce law was being
+violated with impunity, and various other acts of vandalism and pillage
+were being committed all over the land--and the municipal and state
+authorities "winked the other eye."
+
+Way out in one of the far western posts was a certain Lieutenant Jack
+Brainerd, 31st U. S. Infantry, serving with his company. Jack was a big,
+whole-souled, impulsive chap, and before his entrance to the military
+academy, had been a pretty fair operator. In fact, being the son of a
+general superintendent of one of the big trunk lines, he was quite
+familiar with a railroad, and could do almost anything from driving a
+spike, or throwing a switch to running an engine. The first three years
+succeeding his graduation had been those of enervating peace; all of
+which palled on the soul of Lieutenant Jack to a large degree. The
+martial spirit beat high within his breast, and he wanted a scrap--he
+wanted one badly.
+
+The preliminary mutterings of this great strike had been heard for days,
+but no one dreamed that anarchy was about to break loose with the
+strength of all the fires of hell; and yet such was the case. On the
+evening of July 4th, a message came to the commanding officer at Fort
+Blank, to send his command of six companies of infantry to C---- at once
+to assist in quelling the riots. The chance for a scrap so longed for by
+Lieutenant Brainerd was coming swift and sure. The next morning the
+command pulled out. The trip was uneventful during the day, but at night
+a warning was received by Major Sharp, the grizzled battalion commander,
+who had fought everything from manly, brave confederates to skulking
+Indians, to watch out for trouble as he approached the storm centre.
+There were rumors of dynamited bridges, broken rails, etc. The major
+didn't believe much in these yarns, but--"_Verbum Sap_."--and the
+precautions were taken. The next morning at five the train pulled into
+Hartshorne, eleven miles out from C----. This was the beginning of the
+great railroad yards and evidences of the presence of the enemy were
+becoming very apparent. A large crowd had gathered to watch the
+bluecoats and it was plain to be seen that they were in full sympathy
+with the strikers. "Scab" and a few other choice epithets were hurled at
+the train crew, and when they were ready to pull out the train didn't
+go. The conductor went forward and found that the engineer had refused
+to handle his engine because Hartshorne was his home and the crowd had
+threatened to kill him if he hauled that load of "slaves of Pullman" any
+further. When Major Sharp heard of it his little grey eyes snapped and
+he growled out:--
+
+"Won't pull this train, eh! Well, damn him, we'll make him pull it.
+Here, Mr. Brainerd, you take some men and go forward and make that
+engineer take us through these yards. If he refuses you know what to do
+with him."
+
+Do? Well, I reckon Jack knew what to do all right enough. He took
+Sergeant Fealy, a veteran, and three men and went forward. The engineer,
+a little snub-nosed Irishman, was at his post with his fireman, a good
+head of steam was on, but nary an inch did that train budge. A big crowd
+of men and women stood around jeering and laughing at the plight of the
+bluecoats. Pushing his way through the crowd, Jack climbed up into the
+cab closely followed by his little escort.
+
+"Sergeant Fealy," he said in a voice loud enough to be heard a block,
+"get up on that tender, have your men load their rifles, and shoot the
+first d----d man that raises a hand or throws a missile. And you," this
+to the engineer, "shove that reverse lever over and pull out."
+
+"But, my God, lieutenant," expostulated the engineer, "this is my home
+and if I pull you fellers out of here they'll kill me on sight--besides
+look at the track ahead. I'd run over and kill a lot of those people."
+
+"There's no 'buts' about it. This train is going in or I'll lose my
+commission in the army; besides if these people haven't sense enough to
+get out of the way let 'em die."
+
+Mr. Engineer started to expostulate farther but the ominous click of a
+.38 Colt's was incentive enough to make him stop and then he shoved her
+over and gave her a little steam--just a coaxer.
+
+"Here, you blasted chump, that won't do," and with that Brainerd reached
+over and yanked the throttle so that she bounded away like a hare; at
+the same time he gave her sand. It's a great wonder every draw head in
+the train didn't pull out, but fortunately they held on. The crowd on
+the track melted away like the mists before the summer's sun, and beyond
+a few taunting jeers no overt act was committed. The engineer didn't
+relish the idea of a soldier running his engine and became somewhat
+obstreperous. Brainerd grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and landed
+him all in a heap in the coal. Then he climbed up on the right-hand side
+of the cab and took charge of things himself. There were myriads of
+tracks stretching out before him like the long arms of some giant
+octopus, but all traffic was suspended on account of the strike and the
+main line was clear. The train flew down the line like a scared rabbit
+and in thirty minutes reached the camp at Blake Park. I had arrived
+there that morning from the south for special service and when I saw
+Brainerd climb down off of that engine his face was smutty, but his eyes
+twinkled and he came towards me with a broad grin and said,
+
+"Hello, Bates, where in thunder did you spring from?"
+
+There wasn't much time for talking because the great city was groaning
+beneath the grasp of anarchy, and until that power was broken, there
+would be no rest for the weary.
+
+The situation that existed at this time is too well known to require any
+explanation here. The state and city authorities were powerless; the
+militia inefficient and many a citizen bowed his head and thanked God on
+that warm July morning for the arrival of the regulars. Only twenty-one
+hundred of them all told, mind you, against so many thousands of the
+rioters, and yet, they were disciplined men and led by officers who
+simply enforced orders as they received them. No matter where or what
+the sympathies of the men of a company might be, when the captain said
+"Fire," look out, because the bullets would generally fly breast high.
+The situation resembled the Paris Commune, and but for the timely
+arrival of the small body of bluecoats, another cow might have kicked
+over another lamp, and the frightful conflagration of 1871 have been
+more than duplicated. But the "cow" was slaughtered and the "lamp"
+extinguished.
+
+The morning after Brainerd arrived he was detailed on special service
+and ordered to report to me, and together we worked until the trouble
+was over. Just what this service was need not be recorded, but one thing
+sure, railroads and the telegraph figured in it quite largely. In fact
+the general superintendent of the Western Union Telegraph Company placed
+the entire resources of the company at my disposal. A wire was run
+direct to Washington, lines run to all the camps, and Jack and I each
+carried a little pocket instrument on our person.
+
+Although the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers did not go out in a
+body, there was quite a number of them who would not pull trains for
+fear of personal violence from the strikers. One old chap, Bob Redway,
+by name, had known Major McKenney of our battalion, in days gone by,
+when he was pulling a train on the N. P., and the major was stationed at
+Missoula. Bob wandered into camp one afternoon to see his old friend and
+just at that time a company was ordered to the southern part of the city
+to stop a crowd that was looting and burning P. H. Railway property. As
+usual the engineer backed out at the last moment. The major turned to
+Redway, and said, "See here, Bob, you're not in sympathy with these
+cutthroats, suppose you pull this train out."
+
+"All right, major, I'll pull you through if the old girl will only hold
+up. She's a stranger to me, but I reckon she'll last."
+
+Brainerd and I were to go along and do some special work around the
+stock-yards, and soon we were shooting down the track like a flyer. At
+62nd street we passed a sullen looking crowd and when we reached 130th
+street, we were flagged by the operator in the tower, and informed that
+the mob in our rear was starting to block the track by overturning a
+standard sleeper. They were going to cut us off. We cut the engine
+loose, put fourteen men up on the tender, and Brainerd and I started
+back with them. The engine was going head on, having backed out from the
+city, and Bob let her put for all she was worth. Just at 62nd street
+there is a long sweeping curve and we were coming around it like a
+streak of blue lightning, when all at once we saw the crowd just in the
+act of pulling the sleeper over on our track. There was no time to lose
+and the command "Fire" was sharply given. "Bang," rang out the
+Springfields, one or two of the mob dropped to the ground, the rest let
+go of the ropes and ran like scared cats, and the car tottered back in
+its original place. Redway had shut off steam and was slowing down under
+ordinary air, when all at once there was a dull deafening roar, and then
+for me--oblivion. I was only stunned and when I regained consciousness
+looked around and saw the men slowly regaining their feet. Redway was
+not killed, but the shock and concussion of the detonation of the
+dynamite made him lose his speech and he was bleeding profusely at the
+nose and ears. The cowcatcher, headlight and forward trucks of the
+engine were blown to smithereens, but fortunately the boiler did not
+burst and there she stood like some powerful monster wounded to the
+death. The mob, imagining that their fiendish work had been complete,
+became emboldened and rapidly gathered around the little body of
+bluecoats. It began to look rocky, and Brainerd came limping over to me
+and said, "Bates, I'm pretty badly bruised about the legs, and can't
+climb, but if you're able, for God's sake climb that telegraph pole and
+cut in and ask department headquarters to send us down some help. I'll
+form the men around the bottom of the pole and shoot the first damned
+man or woman that throws a missile. We're in a devilish bad box."
+
+I took the little instrument, nippers and wire and up I went. There were
+side steps on the pole so the ascent was easy. What a scene below! Five
+or six thousand angry faces, besotted, coarse and ill-bred looking
+brutes, gazing up at me with the wrath of vengeance in their hearts; and
+held at bay by a band of fourteen battered and bruised bluecoats, a
+wounded engineer and fireman, commanded by an almost beardless boy. Well
+did that mob know that if those rifles ever spoke there would be a
+number of vacant chairs at the various family boards that night. The
+wire was soon cut, the main office gave me department headquarters and
+in thirty minutes' time that mob was scattering like so much chaff
+before the wind, and with a ringing cheer, two companies of the --th
+Infantry came down among them like a thunderbolt. We were saved and took
+Redway back to camp with us. That evening the major came over to see
+him. Poor chap! he couldn't speak but he motioned for a pencil and
+paper and this is what he wrote:--
+
+"Don't worry, major, I'm all right. My speaking machine seems to have
+had a head end collision with a cyclone, but if you want me to pull any
+more trains out my right arm is still in pretty good shape." Bob hung to
+us all through the trying weeks that followed and in the end some of us
+succeeded in getting him a good position in one of the departments in
+Washington.
+
+Far up in the Northwest things were in a very bad shape. Everything was
+tied up tight; mail trains could not run because there were no men to
+run them; "Debsism" had a firm grasp; and even though many of the
+trainmen were willing to run, intimidation by the strikers caused them
+to go slow.
+
+At one place, call it Bridgeton, there was an overland mail waiting to
+go out, but no engineer. Here's where the versatility of the American
+soldier came in. Major Clarke of the --th Infantry, had four companies
+of his regiment guarding public property at Bridgeton and he sent word
+by his orderly that he wanted a locomotive engineer and a fireman. Quick
+as a flash he had six engineers and any number of men who could fire. He
+chose two good men and then detailed Captain Stilling's company to go
+along as an escort. Orders were procured at the telegraph office for the
+train to run to Pokeville, where further orders would be sent them. When
+the crowd of loiterers and strikers saw the preparations they jeered in
+derision. They had the engineer and fireman corralled, but their laugh
+turned to sorrow when they saw a strapping infantry sergeant climb into
+the cab and after placing his loaded rifle in front of him, he grasped
+the throttle and away they went--much to the disgust of Mr. Rioter. They
+didn't like it worth a cent, but as one striker put it, "What's the use
+of monkeyin' with them reg'lars? When they gets an order to shoot,
+they're just damned fools enough to shoot right into the crowd. Milish'
+fire in the air, because as a rule they have friends in the crowd and
+don't care to hurt 'em."
+
+Pokeville was one hundred and two miles from Bridgeton and the run was
+carefully made and without incident. When the volunteer engineer and
+Captain Stillings, who was playing conductor, went to the office for
+orders, they found the place deserted. A sullen-looking crowd was
+looking on and appeared to enjoy the discomfiture of the soldiers. They
+had put the operator _away_ for a while. Pressing up near the sides of
+the train they became somewhat ugly and Captain Stillings brought out
+his company, and lining them up alongside of the track he turned to his
+1st lieutenant and said:
+
+"Mr. Mitchell, I'm going into this telegraph office. If this crowd gets
+ugly I want you to shoot the first damned man that moves a finger to
+harm anybody."
+
+But without an operator orders could not be procured, and without orders
+the train could not go. Captain Stillings was in a quandary, but all at
+once he stepped out in front of his company and said in a loud tone, "I
+want an operator."
+
+"I'm one, sir," said Private O'Brien, quickly stepping forward and
+saluting.
+
+"Go in that office and get orders for this train."
+
+"Yes, sir," replied O'Brien, and in a minute another bluecoat was
+helping the train on its way. If Captain Stillings had wanted a Chinese
+interpreter he could have gotten one--any old thing. The train had no
+further mishaps, because everything necessary to run a railroad was
+right here in one company of sixty-two men belonging to the regular
+army.
+
+July slipped away and it was well into August before we returned to our
+posts and the old grind of "Fours right," and "Fours left."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV
+
+EXPERIENCES AS A GOVERNMENT CENSOR OF TELEGRAPH
+
+
+The few years succeeding the great strike were ones of calm, peaceful
+tranquility. Each recurring November 1st, brought the initiation of Post
+Lyceums at all garrisons, in which the officers were gathered together
+twice a week, and war in all its phases was studied. We didn't exactly
+know where the war was coming from, but, still we boned it out. Old
+campaigns were fought over; the mistakes made by the world's greatest
+commanders, from Alexander the Great to Grant and Lee were pointed out;
+Kriegspiel was played; essays written and discussed, recommendations
+made as to ammunition and food supply; use of artillery in attack and
+defense; the proper method of employing the telegraph in the war; and a
+thousand and one things relative to the machine militaire were gone
+over. All this time we were slumbering over a smoldering volcano, and on
+February 16, 1898, the eruption broke loose; the good ship _Maine_ was
+destroyed in Havana harbor, and the feelings of the people, already
+drawn to the breaking point by the inhuman cruelties of Spain towards
+her colonies near our own shores, burst with a vehemence that portended,
+in unmistakable language, the rending asunder of the once proud kingdom
+of Spain. The army wanted a war; the navy wanted it, the whole
+population wanted it and here it was within our grasp. It was the
+dawning of a new day for the United States; a new empire was being born
+in the Western hemisphere. The feverish preparations attendant upon the
+new conditions are of too recent date to need any sketching here.
+
+When it was finally determined that the time had arrived for the
+assembling of the small but efficient regular army, I was stationed with
+my regiment at Fort Wayne, Michigan. Like all other troops, we were at
+the post ready for the start. The pistol cracked on the 15th of April,
+and on the 19th we started. Mobile, Alabama, was our objective where we
+arrived on the 22nd of the month. Here began the ceaseless preparation
+for the part the regiment was to play in the grand drama of war that was
+to follow, all this camp life and concentration being but the prologue.
+
+The camp was a most beautiful one, the weather pleasant, and it was
+indeed a most inspiring sight to see the long unbroken lines of blue go
+swinging by, keeping absolute time and perfect alignment to the
+inspiring strains of some air like "Hot time in the old town to-night,"
+or "The stars and stripes forever."
+
+I had started in with my regiment and expected to remain on duty with it
+until the end of the war, sharing all its perils and hardships, doing my
+part in the fighting, and partaking of any of the renown it might
+achieve should the Dons ever be met. But "Man proposes and God
+disposes," and on the afternoon of May 21st, I was sitting in my tent
+correcting some manuscript when a very bright-eyed colored newsboy came
+along and said:
+
+"Buy a paper, cap'n."
+
+That was the day that a wild rumor had been in circulation that Sampson
+had met Cervera in the Bahama Channel and completely smashed him, so I
+laid down my manuscript and said:
+
+"Anything in there about Sampson licking Cervera?"
+
+"Naw, sir, dat were a fake, cap'n, but dere is lots of oder news fur
+you."
+
+"No, kid, I don't want a paper to-night, and besides I'm not a captain,
+I'm only a lieutenant."
+
+"But yer may be one some day. Please buy one cap'n," and with this he
+laid a paper down on my table (a cracker box). I was about to shove it
+aside and sharply tell him to skip out when my eye fell upon:
+
+"Nominations by the President."
+
+"To be captains in the Signal Corps," then followed my name. I bought a
+paper, yes, all he had.
+
+On May 27th, I was ordered to proceed at once to Tampa, Florida,
+reporting upon arrival by telegraph to the chief signal officer of the
+army for instructions. Tuesday morning, the 29th of May, I reported my
+arrival and spent the rest of the morning in looking around the camps,
+renewing old acquaintances. I supposed of course that I was to be
+assigned to the command of one of the new signal companies then forming
+to take part in the Santiago campaign and was filled with delight at the
+prospect, but about eleven o'clock I received an order from General
+Greely directing me to assume charge of the telegraphic censorship at
+Tampa. Three civilians, Heston at Jacksonville, Munn at Miami, and
+Fellers at Tampa, were sworn in as civilian assistants and directed to
+report to me, thereafter acting wholly under my orders. Mr. B. F.
+Dillon, superintendent of the Western Union Telegraph Company, was in
+Tampa, and I had a long conference with him. He assured me of his
+confidence and cordial support, and placed the entire resources of his
+company at my disposal. Operators all over the state were instructed
+that anything I ordered was to be obeyed and then the work began.
+
+The idea of a telegraphic censorship was a new and irksome one to the
+great American people and just what it meant was hard to determine. Much
+has been written about "Press Censorship." That term was a misnomer.
+There never _was_ an attempt to _censor_ the _great American press_. The
+newspapers were just as free to print as they were before the war
+started. _All the censorship that existed was over the telegraph lines
+militarily occupied._ A government officer was placed in charge and his
+word was absolute; he could only be overruled by General Greely, the
+Secretary of War or the President. It was his duty to watch telegrams,
+regulate the kind that were allowed to pass, and to see that no news was
+sent whereby the interests of the government or the safety of the army
+might suffer.
+
+The instructions I received were general in their nature and in all
+specific cases arising, my judgment was to determine, and I want to
+remark right here, the rapidity with which those specific cases would
+arise was enough to make a man faint. The first rule made was that
+cipher messages or those written in a foreign tongue were prohibited
+unless sent by a government official on public business. There were a
+few exceptions to this rule. For instance; many large business houses
+have telegraphic cipher codes for the transaction of business, and it
+was not the policy of the government to interfere in any manner with the
+commercial affairs of the country, so these messages were allowed to
+pass when the code book was presented to the censor and a sworn
+translation made in his presence. Spanish messages were transmitted only
+after being most carefully scanned and upon proof of the loyalty of the
+sender or receiver and a sworn translation. Not a single private message
+could be sent by any one, that in any way hinted at the time of the
+departure or destination of any ship or body of troops. Even officers
+about to sail away were not allowed to telegraph their wives and
+families. If they had a pre-arranged code, whereby a message could be
+written in plain English, there was no way to stop their transmission.
+Foreign messages were watched with eagle eyes and many and many a one
+was gently consigned to the pigeon hole, when the contents and meaning
+were not plain.
+
+From Key West (which was shortly afterwards placed in my charge) there
+ran the cable to Havana, and this line was the subject of an
+extraordinarily strict espionage; not a message being allowed to pass
+over it that was not perfectly plain in its meaning. Mr. J. W. Atkins
+was sworn in as my assistant at Key West, and thus I had the whole state
+of Florida under my control. All the lines from the southern part of the
+state converge to Jacksonville, and not a message could go from a point
+within the state to one out of it without first passing under the
+scrutiny of either myself or one of my sworn assistants.
+
+My office was in H. B. Plant's Tampa Bay hotel, and there, every day,
+from seven A. M. until twelve midnight, and sometimes one and two in the
+morning, I did my work. My own long experience as a practical
+telegrapher stood me in good stead and when any direct work was to be
+done with the White House in Washington, or any especially important
+messages were to be sent, I personally did the telegraphing. At the
+Executive Mansion was Colonel B. F. Montgomery, signal corps, in charge
+of the telegraph office, so when anything special passed, no one knew
+it but the colonel and myself.
+
+The Tampa Bay hotel was at this time the scene of the most dazzling and
+brilliant gaiety. Shafter's 5th Corps was preparing for its Santiago
+campaign and each night many officers and their wives would meet in the
+hotel and pass the time away listening to the music of some regimental
+band or in pleasant conversation. Men who had not seen each other since
+the close of the great civil war renewed old acquaintances and spun
+reminiscences by the yard. Military attaches from all the countries of
+the world were daily arriving, and their gaudy uniforms added a dash of
+color to the already brilliant panorama. The bright gold of Captain
+Paget, the English naval attache, the deep blue of Colonel Yermeloff,
+who represented Russia, contrasted vividly with the blue and yellow of
+Japanese Major Shiska, and the scarlet and black of Count Goetzen of
+Germany. But prominent among all this moving panorama of color was the
+plain blue of the volunteer, and the brown khaki of the regular. My view
+of the scene was limited to fleeting glimpses from my office where I was
+nightly scanning messages, doing telegraphing or overlooking 30,000 or
+40,000 words of correspondents' copy. Preparations for the embarkation
+were going on with feverish haste, and orders were daily expected for
+the army to move.
+
+There were at this time nearly two hundred newspaper correspondents
+scattered around through the hotel and in the various camps. They
+represented papers from all over the world, and were typical
+representatives of the brain and sinew of the newspaper profession, and
+were there to accompany the army when it moved. Such men as Richard
+Harding Davis, Stephen Bonsai, Frederick Remington, Caspar Whitney,
+Grover Flint, Edward Marshall, Maurice Low, John Taylor, John Klein,
+Louis Seibold, George Farman and Mr. Akers of the London papers, and
+scores of others. They were quick and active, intensely patriotic, alert
+for all the news, a "scoop" for them was the blood of life, and the
+censorship came like a wet blanket. In a small way I had been
+corresponding for a paper since the beginning of the war, but when the
+detail as censor came I gave it up as the two were incompatible.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV
+
+MORE CENSORSHIP
+
+
+I must confess that I stood in awe of these newspaper chaps, because I
+knew my orders would incense them and if they took it into their heads
+to roast me my life would be made miserable for a good many days to
+come. But then in the army orders are made to be obeyed and I determined
+not to show partiality to any of them. It was to be "a fair field and no
+favor," so I sent word and asked them to meet me in the reading-room of
+the hotel at two o'clock that afternoon. They came garbed in all sorts
+of field uniform and I made a little speech telling what they might send
+and what was interdicted; I remarked that the work was as irksome to me
+as it was to them, but orders were orders and if they would live up to
+the few _simple_ rules they would make my task much easier and save
+themselves lots of trouble. Nothing absolutely was to be sent, that
+would convey in any way an idea of the number of troops in Tampa, the
+time of arrival or departure of any number of troops or ships, and
+above all, not a word was to be sent out as to when the 5th Army Corps
+was to sail. When I had finished one of the correspondents shook his
+head in a deprecatory way and said:
+
+"Well, captain, we thought Lieutenant Miley (my predecessor) was bad
+enough but you can give him cards and spades and beat him out. You're
+certainly a hummer from the word go, and I reckon we'd better go home."
+
+He had my sympathy but that was all. Every correspondent had a war
+department pass; these I examined and registered each man.
+
+That night my fun commenced. At six P. M. they began to file stuff, and
+armed with a big blue pencil I started to slash and when I finished,
+some of their sheets looked like a miniature football field, while their
+faces betokened blank amazement and intense disgust. Boiled down, the
+first night's batch of copy consisted of a glowing description of the
+new censor; this fiend whose weapon was a blue pencil--his glowing red
+whiskers--his goggle eyes, and his Titian-colored hair. One of them
+said:
+
+"This afternoon the new censor stuck his head out of the window and the
+glow was so great from his red whiskers and auburn locks that the fire
+department was turned out. The latest report is that the censor was
+unquenched," and so on. They couldn't send any news so they sent me.
+Most of them were space writers and everything went. In many ways they
+tried to evade the rules; by insinuations, hints upon which a bright
+telegraph editor could raise an edifice with a semblance of truth, but
+the blue pencil generally got in its work before the dispatch reached
+the operator. I had two stamps made; one "O. K. for transmission," and
+the other, "REJECTED, file, do not return." Number one went on all
+messages for transmission and number two on all others. As I gaze at
+these relics now I see that number two has been used much more than its
+companion.
+
+I had made it a rule that each paper maintaining a correspondent in
+Tampa was to furnish me with a copy of every edition of the paper. As a
+result, in a few days I had a mail that was stupendous. A clerk was on
+hand who read these papers, marking all things bearing a Tampa date
+line. Then I would read them and woe betide the correspondent whose
+paper contained contraband news from Tampa. Off went his head and his
+permit was recalled for a certain time as a punishment.
+
+There never has been a line of sentinels so strong but that some one
+could break through, and there was undoubtedly some leakage from Tampa,
+but to see news of actual importance from there was like hunting for a
+needle in a haystack. The mails carried out some, but even then the
+correspondents suffered. Two incidents may not be amiss.
+
+One young chap whose keenness ran away with his judgment, brought me a
+stack of copy one night, almost every word of which was contraband. The
+blue pencil got in its work in great shape and then the "rejected" stamp
+put its seal of disapproval on the message and it was filed away with
+many others, that "were not dead, but sleeping." Mr. Correspondent
+muttered something about "a cussed red-headed censor who wasn't the pope
+and could be beaten" and walked away. I thought no more of the matter
+until about seven days thereafter when my clerk gave me a marked copy of
+the correspondent's paper, and there, big as life, under a Tampa date
+line was the rejected dispatch. He had left my office and mailed his
+story to a friend living up in Georgia, and it was telegraphed by him
+from there. You see, Georgia was beyond my jurisdiction. He had surely
+made a "scoop;" he had sown the wind and that night he reaped the
+whirlwind, because I promptly suspended him from correspondents'
+privileges, and forbade him the use of the wires. General Greely upheld
+me in this as in all other cases and for ten days I allowed him to
+ruminate over his offence, while his paper was cussing him out for
+failing to send in stuff. Then I restored him to his former status,
+first making him sign a pledge on honor that he would abide forever
+thereafter by the censorship rules.
+
+Another young man who represented a Cincinnati daily, walked into the
+express office in Tampa one evening and gave the agent a package saying:
+
+"Say, old chap, have your messenger running north to-night give this to
+the first operator after crossing the Georgia line and tell him to send
+it to my paper. It's a big scoop and I want to get it through."
+
+Of course, the "old chap" was built just that way. He took the message
+and in five minutes it was reposing gently in my desk. I then quickly
+sent out a telegram to all my censors taking away the correspondent's
+privileges until further orders.
+
+That night full of innocence--and beer--he walked into the Tampa city
+office and handed Censor Fellers a message for his paper, just as a
+sort of a bluff. Fellers grinned at him quietly said:
+
+"Sorry, Mr. J--, but Captain B--has just suspended you from use of the
+telegraph until further orders."
+
+In a very few minutes Mr. J--appeared at my office, blustering like a
+Kansas cyclone, and demanded to know why I had dared to treat him thus?
+I simply picked up his copy and showed it to him, saying:
+
+"This is your handwriting, I believe, Mr. J--."
+
+The props dropped out from under him and he said:
+
+"Well, by thunder, you censor mail, telegraph and express; I reckon if I
+attempted to send anything by carrier pigeon you'd catch it and put that
+d--d old 'rejected' stamp on it."
+
+"No," I replied, "but I might possibly use it on a mule."
+
+In spite of his pleadings and promises he was hung up for ten days.
+
+It must be said, however, that such men as these were rarities: most of
+the men, especially those representing the great dailies, were only too
+willing to abide by orders. They kicked hard--naturally and
+rightfully--because news that they were forbidden to send from Tampa was
+sent broadcast from Washington as coming from the war department. Oh!
+yes they kicked so much that it seemed as if my auburn locks would turn
+gray, but the protest was against the censorship in general and not
+against me. I was enough of a newspaper man to fully appreciate their
+position, and more than one message went from me to General Greely
+asking if Washington could not be censored as well as Tampa. No! Army
+officers had no power to stop the mouths of the high civil officials of
+the government, and so the dance went on.
+
+And the managing editors would flood their correspondents with telegrams
+of inquiry as to why they did not send the news that daily came from
+Washington as having originated in Tampa; and the correspondents would
+come to me and I would endeavor to calm them down as best I could. Then,
+incidentally, the managing editors would take a fling at me personally,
+and I would receive a polite telegram of protest but to no avail.
+
+Finally, one night the trouble culminated, and conjointly the
+correspondents sent a long telegram to General Greely asking if he could
+not right the seeming injustice. They did not mind being beaten in a
+fair field, but they did hate to be "scooped" by Washington
+correspondents who were having an easy time. Almost every man signed
+the protest and then it was brought to me, and I quickly O. K'd. it.
+Shortly afterwards a number of them came to my office and assured me
+that it was not against me personally they were kicking, and Louis
+Seibold, of the New York World, sent General Greely a message saying:
+
+"I don't like your blooming censor business one bit, but if you have to
+have it, you've got the best man for it in the army right here in
+Tampa," or words to that effect. Many others sent similar messages, but
+not quite so outspoken. General Greely appreciated their position and
+said so, but was unable to change the condition of affairs and so
+matters continued.
+
+All this time feverish preparations were being made to rush off
+Shafter's expedition. June 7th was a very hard and trying day, and at
+six o'clock in the evening I had just seated myself for a hasty bite of
+dinner when a messenger came to me from the telegraph office saying that
+the White House wanted me at once. I went to the key and was informed
+that the President wanted to talk to Generals Miles and Shafter and that
+the greatest secrecy must be maintained. After sending word to the
+generals, I sent all the operators out of the office, closed the windows
+and turned down the sounder so that it could not be heard _three feet
+away_. When General Shafter came in he had an officer stationed in the
+hall so that no one could approach in that direction. General Miles came
+in shortly afterwards and the door was closed. We all sat in front of
+the table, General Miles on my right, and General Shafter on the left.
+Lieutenant Miley of General Shafter's staff stood behind his chief. It
+was a scene long to be remembered. General Shafter was dressed in the
+plain blue army fatigue uniform, its strict sombreness being relieved
+only by the two gleaming silver stars on his shoulder straps. General
+Miles, the commanding general, was in conventional tuxedo dress, and
+looked every inch the gallant soldier and gentleman that he is. From the
+little telegraph instrument on the table ran a single strand of copper
+wire, out in the dark night, over the pine tops of Florida and Georgia,
+over the mountains of the Carolinas, and hills and vales of Virginia,
+into the Executive Mansion at Washington. In the office of the White
+House were the President, the Secretary of War, and Adjutant-General
+Corbin. The key there was worked by Colonel Montgomery, so if there ever
+was an official wire this was one.
+
+When all was ready I told the White House to go ahead.
+
+The first message was from the Secretary of War to General Shafter
+directing him to sail at once, as he was needed at the destination which
+was known at this time only to about five officers in Tampa. General
+Shafter replied that he would be ready to sail the next morning at
+daylight. Then, by the President's direction, a message was repeated
+that had been received from Admiral Sampson, saying he had that day
+bombarded the outer defenses of Santiago, and if ten thousand men were
+there the city and fleet would fall within forty-eight hours. The
+President further directed that General Shafter should sail as indicated
+by him with not less than ten thousand men. Then followed an interchange
+of messages, more or less personal in their nature, between the generals
+and the Washington contingent. Finally all was over and the line was cut
+off. The whole conversation lasted about fifty minutes, but the
+beginning of new history was started in that time and the curtain was
+going up on the grand drama of war. All the time this was going on I
+could hear faintly his strains of '_Auf Wiedersehn_,' together with the
+merry jest of the officers and the light laughter of the women. Brave
+men, braver women--soon their laughter was turned to tears and many of
+the officers who went out of the Tampa Bay hotel on that warm June night
+are now sleeping their last sleep, having given up their lives that
+their country's honor might live. The train carrying the headquarters to
+Port Tampa left at five o'clock in the morning. There was very little
+sleep that night and the next morning the big hotel was well nigh
+deserted. And all this time the destination of the fleet was unknown to
+all but those high in rank and myself.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI
+
+CENSORSHIP CONCLUDED
+
+
+My own sleep on that night was limited to about two hours snatched
+between work, and the following morning was a very busy one. About once
+every hour I would report to the White House how things were progressing
+at the port. As the big transports received their load of living
+freight, one by one they would pull out in the stream and anchor,
+waiting until the time should come when all would be ready, and then
+like a big swarm they would pull out together. They did not sail at
+daylight; unexpected delays occurred, and eight, nine, ten, eleven and
+twelve o'clock passed and still they had not sailed, although the twelve
+o'clock report said they would be gone by twelve-thirty.
+
+At one o'clock a messenger came hurriedly to me and said the White House
+wanted me at the key at once. When I answered, Colonel Montgomery said,
+"_The President wants to know if you can stop that fleet?_" Now the wire
+to Port Tampa was on a table right back of me and calling him with my
+left hand I said:
+
+"Can you get General Miles or General Shafter?" and with my right hand I
+said to the President, "I'll try, wait a minute."
+
+Then said the White House, "_It is imperative that the fleet be stopped
+at once._"
+
+From Port Tampa, "No sir, I can't find General Miles or General
+Shafter."
+
+I replied, "Have all the transports pulled out of the slip?"
+
+"Yes sir, so far as I can see they are all gone."
+
+From Washington, "Have you stopped the fleet?"
+
+"Wait a minute--will let you know later, am trying now."
+
+To Port Tampa, "Go out and find a tug and get this message to either
+General Miles or General Shafter, 'The President directs that you stop
+the sailing of Shafter's army until further orders.' Now fly."
+
+Just then Port Tampa said, "Here comes General Miles now," and in a
+minute more the message was delivered and the fleet stopped. I then
+reported to the President:
+
+"I have delivered your message to General Miles and the fleet will not
+sail until further orders."
+
+They came back wondering what had stopped them and that evening we
+learned of the appearance of the "Phantom" Spanish fleet in the Nicholas
+Channel _heading westward_. "Cervera wasn't bottled up in Santiago,"
+said some, "and before morning he will be here and blow us out of the
+water." Great was the consternation and as a precaution all the ships
+were ordered back into the slip. It must be said, however, that General
+Miles _never had any idea that the Spanish fleet was approaching our
+shores_.
+
+The transport fleet was tied up and then followed six days of weary
+waiting, and the duties of the censor became more arduous than ever, and
+the utmost vigilance was exercised. Private messages were almost all
+hung up, in fact, very little else than government business was allowed
+to pass over the wires. And yet, every day for a week, copies of the
+daily papers that reached me had, under flaming headlines, the startling
+news that Shafter's fleet had sailed--destination--Havana, San Juan,
+Matanzas,--yes--even the Spanish coast. All this was announced from
+Washington, and made the correspondents snort; they made every excuse to
+let their papers know they were still there. They wanted money, they
+wanted to send messages to their families, in fact, they wanted
+everything under the sun, but to no avail. Finally, on the 14th of June
+the army sailed away, filled with hope and courage, on their mission
+that resulted in victory for the American arms; but that was a foregone
+conclusion, while we less fortunate ones were left behind to pray for
+the success that we knew would be theirs.
+
+The correspondents were all on the transport "Olivette," and just before
+they pulled out I sent them a message saying I would release the news
+that night about the _sailing of the fleet only_, and they might file
+their messages. They did in large numbers and here is where the joke
+came in. When the messages reached the papers they thought it was all a
+bluff to mislead the public, and many of them refused to publish the
+news, but the fleet had gone this time for certain. As late as two days
+afterwards I received messages from the managing editors of two of the
+greatest papers in the country, asking me if the fleet had really
+sailed. I assured them it had. One thing is certain, the destination of
+that fleet was a well-kept secret. Mr. Richard Harding Davis in his
+admirable book on the Cuban and Porto Rican Campaigns, says that credit
+is due the censor because it was so well kept. I am afraid that this is
+about the only good word the censor ever received from the said Mr.
+Davis.
+
+The "Olivette," on which the correspondents sailed, was the last boat to
+leave Port Tampa. She left about six-thirty P. M. in the glory of the
+setting sun of a tropical evening. About five-thirty P. M. Mr. Edward
+Marshall, that prince of good fellows, who represented the New York
+Journal, came into my office to write a message for his paper, to be
+left with me and sent when the story was released. Marshall was a
+typical newspaper man and a thorough American, and had just returned
+from New York where he had been in attendance upon the sick-bed of his
+wife. He was very anxious to get his story written before he sailed. I
+knew the "Olivette" was about to pull out, and if he expected to go on
+her it was high time he was moving. As Port Tampa was nine miles away, I
+told him to fly and cut his story short or send it from Port Tampa. He
+thanked me and reached Port Tampa just in time to save being left. It
+was this same Edward Marshall who so daringly pushed to the front during
+the Guasimas fight of the Rough Riders, and was seriously wounded by a
+Mauser bullet near his spine. He was supposed to be dying, but true to
+his newspaper training and full of loyalty to his paper, he dictated a
+message to his journal between the puffs of a cigarette, when it was
+supposed each breath would be his last. But thank God he did not die,
+and now gives promise of many years of useful life. I have often thought
+if I had not warned him in time to go he would not have been shot; but
+then all war is uncertain, and in warning him I was only, "Doing unto
+others as I would be done by."
+
+During all these stirring times just described there were two women
+correspondents, poor souls, who were indeed sad and lonely. They were
+very ambitious and wanted to go to Cuba with the army, but the War
+Department wisely forbade any such a move and then my trouble began. At
+all hours of the day or night I was pestered by these same women. One of
+them represented a Canadian paper and was most anxious to go. She tried
+every expedient and tackled every man or woman of influence that came
+along. Even dear old Clara Barton did not escape her importunities. She
+wanted to go as a Red Cross nurse, but didn't know anything about
+nursing. However, I reckon she was as good as some of the women who did
+go. She was an Irish girl with rich red hair, and as mine was of an
+auburn tinge we didn't get along worth a cent. She didn't do much
+telegraphing but sent all of her stuff by mail. However, it was her
+intention to send _one telegram_ to her paper and "scoop" all the other
+chaps in so doing. She wrote a letter to her managing editor in Toronto
+and told him there was a censor down there who thought he could bottle
+up Florida as regards news, but she intended to outwit him. Particular
+attention was being paid so as to preserve the secrecy of the sailing
+day of Shafter's army. Cipher and code messages bearing on this
+occurrence were to be strictly interdicted. But that didn't make any
+difference to her; she could beat that game. So on the day the fleet
+actually sailed she would send a message to her paper saying, "_Send me
+six more jubilee books._" This would indicate that the fleet had really
+gone. Brilliant scheme from the brain of a very bright woman, but she
+lost sight of the fact that Messrs. Carranza and Polo y Bernabe were at
+that time in Canada spying on the United States, and that all the
+Canadian mail was most carefully watched. Such, however, was the case,
+and in a short time the contents of her letter were known to General
+Greely, and by him communicated to me. One evening Miss Correspondent
+was standing in the lobby of the Tampa Bay hotel surrounded by a group
+of her friends, when I approached and said:
+
+"Excuse me, Miss J--, but I should like to speak to you for a moment."
+
+"Well, what is it, pray? Surely you haven't anything to say but what my
+friends can hear, have you?" Sassy, wasn't she?
+
+"Oh! well if that is the case?" I replied, "I am sorry to inform you
+that you are suspended from correspondent's privileges and from the use
+of the telegraph until further orders."
+
+"And what for pray?"
+
+"I don't just exactly know," I answered, "but I think it has something
+to do with sending you 'six more jubilee books' from Canada."
+
+Well! she turned all the colors of the rainbow, and snapped out,
+"Goodness gracious! how did you--where did you hear that?"
+
+I smiled politely and walked away. The next morning, shortly after I
+reached my office, a timid knock was heard at the door.
+
+"Come in," I yelled, thinking it was a messenger boy. In walked Miss
+J----, woebegone, crestfallen and disheartened, with a letter of apology
+and explanation. I forwarded this to General Greely and kept her
+suspended for seven days. She never offended again, and the last I
+heard of her she was in Key West gazing with longing eyes towards the
+Pearl of the Antilles. She never reached there.
+
+The other woman correspondent was different. She was an American widow,
+bright, dashing and vivacious. She had heard of the ogre of a censor;
+she would conquer him through his susceptibility. I'll admit that the
+censor in question was susceptible of some things--but not in business
+matters. One day she filed an innocent little telegram to her paper,
+saying, "For ice cream read typhoid." The operator glanced at it and
+said, "You'll have to get Captain B----'s O. K. on that message before I
+can send it."
+
+She talked sweetly to him, but that didn't happen to be one of his
+"susceptible" days. Then she came to me, and as my "susceptibility" had
+run to a pretty low ebb I refused to permit the message to go on, on
+account of its hidden meaning.
+
+"Oh, pshaw! Captain, I wrote a story for my paper and in it described
+the death of a man from the effects of eating too much ice cream, and
+now I learn that he died of typhoid fever."
+
+I was pretty hard-headed that morning and couldn't assist the lady and
+she left the office vowing vengeance. The next edition of her paper
+contained the most charmingly sarcastic article about the red-headed,
+white-shoed censor I have ever seen, but I had become case-hardened by
+this time and did not mind it in the least.
+
+It might be supposed that as soon as the army had sailed and the
+correspondents had gone, that the censorship duties would be lighter.
+They were, officially, but otherwise they became harder than ever. The
+army had gone, but the women had been left behind. The husbands were
+away--fighting--dying--while the wives were waiting with dry eyes and
+aching hearts for the news that would mean life or death to them. There
+were some forty wives, daughters, and sweethearts remaining in the Tampa
+Bay hotel, and to them the censor became a most interesting party. They
+knew that any news that came to Tampa would come through him, and they
+wanted it whether his orders would allow him to divulge it or not.
+Before, I had to contend with the importunities of zealous
+correspondents, now it was the longing eyes of sweet women whose hearts
+were breaking with suspense, whose lives had stood still since the 14th
+day of June when the fleet sailed away. Of the two, I would rather
+contend with the former.
+
+The long and trying days dragged slowly by and still no news. Finally,
+on the 22nd of June, it was known that the army was landing; June 24th,
+the Guasimas fight of the cavalry division took place, and from that
+time on life was made miserable for me by importunate women. Many
+telegrams--yes, hundreds of them--came to me every day, and each time
+one of those cursed little yellow envelopes was put in my hands, if I
+happened to be in the lobby of the hotel, I could feel forty or fifty
+pairs of anxious eyes concentrated on me, as if to read from the
+expression of my face whether the news was good or bad. Colonel Michler
+of General Miles's staff was there, and if we should happen to be
+together talking, the women would surmise that the news was bad; and
+many times their surmises were just about right. One sweet little
+black-eyed woman always said she could tell from my face whether I was
+bluffing or not. July 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, were very gloomy days for we
+poor chaps who had been left behind--and for the women. We--they--knew
+the fight was on, that men were heroically dying, and _we_ also knew
+that the army was in a hard way. Strive as we might, no gleam of hope
+could be culled from the news of those three days. Cervera's fleet was
+still in the harbor of Santiago, and the army not only had the Spanish
+troops to fight but the navy as well. Flesh and blood might stand the
+rain of Mauser bullets, but they could not stand rapid-fire guns and
+eight-inch shells. The third of July dragged by, and at eleven o'clock
+Colonel Michler retired for the night not feeling in a very pleasant
+frame of mind. The lobby was well nigh deserted, but Colonels Smith and
+Powell and a few more officers sat by one of the big open doors having a
+farewell smoke and chat before going to bed. At eleven-thirty I was
+standing by the desk talking to the clerk, when the night operator came
+charging out of the office and gave me a little piece of yellow paper. I
+quickly opened it and read, "Sampson entirely destroyed Cervera's fleet
+this morning." News like that, if true, was too good to keep, so I went
+into the telegraph office and had a wire cut through to the New York
+office and asked for a confirmation or denial of the report. They
+confirmed it and gave me the text of the official report. I bounded out
+in the hall and shouted out the glorious news at the top of my voice.
+Gloom was dispelled instanter, and joy reigned supreme. At just twelve
+o'clock midnight, we drank a toast to the army and navy, and to our
+country.
+
+Santiago surrendered and the army went to Porto Rico only to be stopped
+in the midst of a most brilliant campaign by the signing of the
+protocol. The censorship was ended and willingly did I lay down the blue
+pencil and take up my sword.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII
+
+CONCLUSION
+
+
+I cannot refrain from concluding this little volume by a tribute to the
+telegraphers of the country.
+
+It is but fifty-five years since Professor S. F. B. Morse electrified
+the civilized world by the completion of his electro-magnetic telegraph.
+Since that time great improvements have been made until now it is
+difficult to recognize in the delicate mechanisms of the relay, key,
+sounder, duplex, quad, and multiplex, the principle first promulgated in
+the old Morse register. Its influence was at once felt in all walks of
+life; it was an art to be an expert telegrapher. Keeping pace with the
+strides of advancing civilization, the telegraph has spread its slender
+wires, until now almost the entire world is connected by its magnetism.
+Away back in the early fifties when railroads and comforts were few,
+while danger and trials were plenty, these faithful knights of the key
+carried on their work under the most adverse circumstances. Since its
+first appearance it has manifestly been the possessor of millions of
+secrets, public and private. In times of joy you flash your
+congratulations to distant relatives or friends; in minutes of sorrow
+and tribulation, your message of sympathy is quickly carried as a balm
+to aching hearts; in the worries of business its use is of the most
+vital importance; and while you are peacefully slumbering on some
+swiftly moving railroad train the telegraph is one of the principal
+means of insuring a safe and speedy trip. Pick up your favorite daily
+paper--the one that is always reliable--read the market or press reports
+accurately printed, and then think that the telegraph does it all. Read
+news from foreign countries--from out-of-the-way places--and think of
+the miles of mountains, deserts, plains and valleys passed over; think
+of the slender cable down deep in the throbbing bosom of the ocean and
+of the little spark that brings the news to your door; and then reflect
+on the men whose abilities accomplish these results. Think of his work
+in the countries where it is so hot that it seems as if the land beyond
+the River Styx is at his elbow; in lands where it is always cold and the
+days and nights are long. In season and out; in times of death,
+pestilence and famine, with never a murmur, these sturdy, loyal men, and
+true-hearted women do their work. All these are incidents of peace. Now
+think, when war, grim-visaged and terrible, spreads its mighty power
+over the earth. What is responsible for the news of victory? What brings
+you the list you so anxiously scan of the dead and wounded? What means
+are employed by the subdivisions of the army in the field to keep in
+constant communication, so that they may act as the integral parts of an
+harmonious whole? In the late Spanish-American war what first brought
+news, authentic in character, to the Navy Department that Cervera with
+his doomed fleet was in Santiago harbor? And during the dark and trying
+days from June 22nd until July 14th, the telegraphers of the army--the
+signal corps men--were ceaseless and tireless in their efforts, and as a
+result within five minutes of its being sent, a message would be in
+Washington. While the army slept they worked, without any regard to self
+or comfort. And to-day in the far-off Philippine islands they are still
+striving with the best results. The telegraphers are honest, loyal,
+patriotic men--a little Bohemian, perhaps, in their tastes--and deserve
+a better recognition for the good work they do.
+
+                                    "30"
+                             "Filed, 2:35 A. M."
+                            "Received, 2:43 A. M."
+
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DANGER SIGNALS
+REMARKABLE, EXCITING AND UNIQUE EXAMPLES OF THE BRAVERY, DARING AND
+STOICISM IN THE MIDST OF DANGER OF TRAIN DISPATCHERS AND RAILROAD
+ENGINEERS ***
\ No newline at end of file
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+
+<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
+  <head>
+    <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" />
+    <title>
+      The Project Gutenberg eBook of Danger Signals, by John A. Hill and Jasper Ewing Brady
+    </title>
+    <style type="text/css">
+    p                 {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em;}
+    h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 {text-align: center; clear: both;}
+    table             {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;}
+    body              {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;}
+    .pagenum          {display: inline;	font-size: x-small; text-align: right;
+                       position: absolute; right: 2%; border:1px solid white;
+                       padding: 1px 3px; font-style: normal;
+                       font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; text-decoration: none;
+                       color: #444; background-color: #EEE;}
+    .blockquot        {margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;}
+    .center           {text-align: center;}
+    .smcap            {font-variant: small-caps;}
+    hr.full           {width:100%; margin-top:2em; margin-bottom: 2em;}
+    hr.major          {width:75%; margin-top:2em; margin-bottom: 2em;}
+    hr.minor          {width:30%; margin-top:0.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; }
+    .figcenter        {margin: auto; text-align: center;}
+    .caption          {font-style: italic;}
+    </style>
+  </head>
+<body>
+<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DANGER SIGNALS
+REMARKABLE, EXCITING AND UNIQUE EXAMPLES OF THE BRAVERY, DARING AND STOICISM IN THE MIDST OF DANGER OF TRAIN DISPATCHERS AND RAILROAD ENGINEERS ***</div>
+
+<div class='figcenter' style='width: 397px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="illus-001" id="illus-001"></a>
+<img src='images/p1-fpc.jpg' alt='"Quick as a flash the Kid had my arm."' title='' width = '397' height = '493'/><br />
+<span class='caption'>"Quick as a flash the Kid had my arm."</span>
+</div>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+
+<table width="550" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="" border="1">
+  <col style="width:100%;" />
+  <tr>
+    <td align="center">
+    <span style="font-size: 250%;"><br /><br />DANGER SIGNALS</span><br /><br /><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;">REMARKABLE, EXCITING AND UNIQUE</span><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;">EXAMPLES OF THE BRAVERY, DAR-</span><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;">ING AND STOICISM IN THE</span><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;">MIDST OF DANGER OF</span><br /><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 180%;">Train Dispatchers And Railroad Engineers</span><br /><br /><br />
+    <span style="font-size:  80%;">BY</span><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;"><i>JOHN A. HILL</i></span><br />
+    <span style="font-size:  80%;"><i>and</i></span><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;"><i>JASPER EWING BRADY</i></span><br /><br /><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;" class="smcap">Absorbing Stories of Men with Nerves of Steel,</span><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;" class="smcap">Indomitable Courage and</span><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;" class="smcap">Wonderful Endurance</span><br /><br /><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 120%;">FULLY ILLUSTRATED</span><br /><br /><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;">CHICAGO</span><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 120%;">JAMIESON-HIGGINS CO.</span><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;">1902</span><br /><br /><br />
+    </td>
+  </tr>
+</table>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+
+<p class='center'>Copyright 1898, 1899<br />
+By S. S. McClure Co.<br />
+<br />
+Copyright 1899<br />
+By Doubleday &amp; McClure Co.<br />
+<br />
+Copyright 1900<br />
+By Jamieson-Higgins Co.<br />
+</p>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+
+<h2><a name="Contents" id="Contents"></a>Contents</h2>
+
+<h3>Part I</h3>
+
+<table border="0" width="600" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents">
+<col style="width:10%;" />
+<col style="width:80%;" />
+<col style="width:10%;" />
+<tr><td align="left">&nbsp;</td><td align="left">Jim Wainright's Kid</td><td align="right"><a href="#A">7</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">&nbsp;</td><td align="left">An Engineer's Christmas Story</td><td align="right"><a href="#B">37</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">&nbsp;</td><td align="left">The Clean Man And The Dirty Angels</td><td align="right"><a href="#C">59</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">&nbsp;</td><td align="left">A Peg-Legged Romance</td><td align="right"><a href="#D">77</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">&nbsp;</td><td align="left">My Lady Of The Eyes</td><td align="right"><a href="#E">99</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">&nbsp;</td><td align="left">Some Freaks Of Fate</td><td align="right"><a href="#F">152</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">&nbsp;</td><td align="left">Mormon Joe, The Robber</td><td align="right"><a href="#G">193</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">&nbsp;</td><td align="left">A Midsummer Night's Trip</td><td align="right"><a href="#H">229</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">&nbsp;</td><td align="left">The Polar Zone</td><td align="right"><a href="#J">255</a></td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<h3>Part II</h3>
+
+<table border="0" width="600" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents">
+<col style="width:10%;" />
+<col style="width:80%;" />
+<col style="width:10%;" />
+<tr><td align="right">I&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">Learning The Business&mdash;My First Office</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">1</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">II&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">An Encounter With Train Robbers</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">11</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">III&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">In A Wreck</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">19</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">IV&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">A Woman Operator Who Saved A Train</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">25</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">V&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">A Night Office In Texas&mdash;A Stuttering Despatcher</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">33</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">VI&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">Blue Field, Arizona, And An Indian Scrimmage</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">42</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">VII&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">Taking A Whirl At Commercial Work&mdash;My First Attempt&mdash;The Galveston Fire</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">52</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">VIII&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">Sending A Message Perforce&mdash;Recognizing An Old Friend By His Stuff</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">62</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">IX&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">Bill Bradley, Gambler And Gentleman</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">68</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">X&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">The Death Of Jim Cartwright&mdash;Chased Off A Wire By A Woman</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">80</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XI&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">Witnessing A Marriage By Wire&mdash;Beating A Pool Room&mdash;Sparring At Range</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">87</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XII&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">How A Smart Operator Was Squelched&mdash;The Galveston Flood</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">96</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XIII&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">Sending My First Order</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">105</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XIV&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">Running Trains By Telegraph&mdash;How It Is Done</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">111</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XV&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">An Old Despatcher's Mistake&mdash;My First Trick</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">125</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XVI&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">A General Strike&mdash;A Locomotive Engineer For A Day</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">137</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XVII&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">Chief Despatcher&mdash;An Inspection Tour&mdash;Big River Wreck</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">147</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XVIII&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">A Promotion By Favor And Its Results</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">160</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XIX&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">Jacking Up A Negligent Operator&mdash;A Convict Operator&mdash;Dick, The Plucky Call Boy</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">168</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XX&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">An Episode Of Sentiment</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">185</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XXI&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">The Military Operator&mdash;A Fake Report That Nearly Caused Trouble</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">192</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XXII&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">Private Dennis Hogan, Hero</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">203</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XXIII&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">The Commission Won&mdash;In A General Strike</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">222</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XXIV&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">Experiences As A Government Censor Of Telegraph</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">237</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XXV&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">More Censorship</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">246</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XXVI&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">Censorship Concluded</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">257</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XXVII&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">Conclusion</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">270</a></td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+
+<h2>Illustrations</h2>
+
+<h3>Part I</h3>
+
+<table border="0"  width="600" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Illustrations">
+<col style="width:90%;" />
+<col style="width:10%;" />
+<tr><td align="left">"Quick as a flash the Kid had my arm."</td><td align="right"><a href="#illus-001">Frontispiece</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">"I noticed his long, slim hand on the top of the reverse-lever."</td><td align="right"><a href="#illus-018">50</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">"It was a strange courting ... there on that engine."</td><td align="right"><a href="#illus-002">70</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">"We carried him into the depot."</td><td align="right"><a href="#illus-003">90</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">"He was the first man I ever killed."</td><td align="right"><a href="#illus-004">170</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">"'Mexican,' said I."</td><td align="right"><a href="#illus-005">234</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">"What seemed to be a giant iceberg...."</td><td align="right"><a href="#illus-006">282</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">"A white city ... was visible for an instant."</td><td align="right"><a href="#illus-007">290</a></td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<h3>Part II</h3>
+
+<table border="0"  width="600" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Illustrations">
+<col style="width:90%;" />
+<col style="width:10%;" />
+<tr><td align="left">Facsimile Of A Completed Order As Entered In The Despatcher's Order-Book</td><td align="right"><a href="#illus-008">1</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">"Two of the men tied my hands in front of me."</td><td align="right"><a href="#illus-009">14</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">"After many efforts I finally reached the lowest cross-arm."</td><td align="right"><a href="#illus-010">30</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">"One of them picked up the lantern, and swaggering over to where I sat all trembling...."</td><td align="right"><a href="#illus-011">46</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">"He looked at me ... then catching me by the collar...."</td><td align="right"><a href="#illus-012">95</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">"... Half lying on the table, face downward, dead by his own hand"</td><td align="right"><a href="#illus-013">128</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">"See here, who is going to pull this train?"</td><td align="right"><a href="#illus-014">158</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">"Are you not doing it just because I am a woman?"</td><td align="right"><a href="#illus-015">190</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">"... Dennis, lying under the telegraph line, his left hand still grasped the instrument"</td><td align="right"><a href="#illus-016">222</a></td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+
+<h1>DANGER SIGNALS.</h1>
+<h2><span class="smcap">Part</span> I.</h2>
+
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="A" id="A"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">7</a></span>
+<h2>JIM WAINRIGHT'S KID</h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>As I put down my name and the number of the crack engine of America&mdash;as
+well as the imprint of a greasy thumb&mdash;on the register of our roundhouse
+last Saturday night, the foreman borrowed a chew of my fireman's
+fine-cut, and said to me:</p>
+
+<p>"John, that old feller that's putting on the new injectors wants to see
+you."</p>
+
+<p>"What does he want, Jack?" said I. "I don't remember to have seen him,
+and I'll tell you right now that the old squirts on the 411 are good
+enough for me&mdash;I ain't got time to monkey with new-fangled injectors on
+<i>that</i> run."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, he says he knowed you out West fifteen years ago."</p>
+
+<p>"So! What kind o' looking chap is he?"</p>
+
+<p>"Youngish face, John; but hair and whiskers as white as snow.
+Sorry-looking<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">8</a></span> rooster&mdash;seems like he's lost all his friends on earth,
+and wa'n't jest sure where to find 'em in the next world."</p>
+
+<p>"I can't imagine who it would be. Let's see&mdash;'Lige Clark, he's dead;
+Dick Bellinger, Hank Baldwin, Jim Karr, Dave Keller, Bill Parr&mdash;can't be
+none of them. What's his name?"</p>
+
+<p>"Winthrop&mdash;no, Wetherson&mdash;no, lemme see&mdash;why, no&mdash;no, Wainright; that's
+it, Wainright; J. E. Wainright."</p>
+
+<p>"Jim Wainright!" says I, "Jim Wainright! I haven't heard a word of him
+for years&mdash;thought he was dead; but he's a young fellow compared to me."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, he don't look it," said Jack.</p>
+
+<p>After supper I went up to the hotel and asked for J. E. Wainright.</p>
+
+<p>Maybe you think Jim and I didn't go over the history of the "front."
+"Out at the front" is the pioneer's ideal of railroad life. To a man who
+has put in a few years there the memory of it is like the memory of
+marches, skirmishes, and battles in the mind of the veteran soldier. I
+guess we started<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">9</a></span> at the lowest numbered engine on the road, and
+gossiped about each and every crew. We had finished the list of
+engineers and had fairly started on the firemen when a thought struck
+me, and I said:</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I forgot him, Jim&mdash;the 'Kid,' your cheery little cricket of a
+firesy, who thought Jim Wainright the only man on the road that could
+run an engine right. I remember he wouldn't take a job running
+switcher&mdash;said a man that didn't know that firing for Jim Wainright was
+a better job than running was crazy. What's become of him? Running, I
+suppose?"</p>
+
+<p>Jim Wainright put his hand up to his eyes for a minute, and his voice
+was a little husky as he said:</p>
+
+<p>"No, John, the Kid went away&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Went away?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, across the Great Divide&mdash;dead."</p>
+
+<p>"That's tough," said I, for I saw Jim felt bad. "The Kid and you were
+like two brothers."</p>
+
+<p>"John, I loved the&mdash;"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">10</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Then Jim broke down. He got his hat and coat, and said:</p>
+
+<p>"John, let's get out into the air&mdash;I feel all choked up here; and I'll
+tell you a strange, true story&mdash;the Kid's story."</p>
+
+<p>As we got out of the crowd and into Boston Common, Jim told his story,
+and here it is, just as I remember it&mdash;and I'm not bad at remembering.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll commence at the beginning, John, so that you will understand. It's
+a strange story, but when I get through you'll recall enough yourself to
+prove its truth.</p>
+
+<p>"Before I went beyond the Mississippi and under the shadows of the Rocky
+Mountains, I fired, and was promoted, on a prairie road in the Great
+Basin well known in the railway world. I was much like the rest of the
+boys until I commenced to try to get up a substitute for the link
+motion. I read an article in a scientific paper from the pen of a
+jackass who showed a Corliss engine card, and then blackguarded the
+railroad mechanics of America for being satisfied with the link because
+it was handy. I started in to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">11</a></span> design a motion to make a card,
+but&mdash;well, you know how good-for-nothing those things are to pull loads
+with.</p>
+
+<p>"After my first attempt, I put in many nights making a wooden model for
+the Patent Office. I was subsequently informed that the child of my
+brain interfered with about ten other motions. Then I commenced to
+think&mdash;which I ought to have done before. I went to studying <i>what had
+been done</i>, and soon came to the conclusion that I just knew a
+little&mdash;about enough to get along running. I gave up hope of being an
+inventor and a benefactor of mankind, but study had awakened in me the
+desire for improvement; and after considerable thought I came to the
+conclusion that the best thing I could do was to try to be the best
+runner on the road, just as a starter. In reality, in my inmost soul, my
+highest ideal was the master mechanic's position.</p>
+
+<p>"I was about twenty-five years old, and had been running between two or
+three years, with pretty good success, when one day the general master
+mechanic sent for me.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">12</a></span> In the office I was introduced to a gentleman,
+and the G. M. M. said to him in my presence:</p>
+
+<p>"'This is the engineer I spoke to you of. We have none better. I think
+he would suit you exactly, and, when you are through with him, send him
+back; we are only lending him, mind,' and he went out into the shop.</p>
+
+<p>"The meaning of it all was that the stranger represented a firm that had
+put up the money to build a locomotive with a patent boiler for burning
+a patent fuel&mdash;she had an improved valve motion, too&mdash;and they had asked
+our G. M. M. for a good engineer, to send East and break in and run the
+new machine and go with her around the country on ten-day trials on the
+different roads. He offered good pay, it was work I liked, and I went. I
+came right here to Boston and reported to the firm. They were a big
+concern in another line, and the head of the house was a relative of our
+G. M. M.&mdash;that's why he had a chance to send me.</p>
+
+<p>"After the usual introductions, the president said to me:</p>
+
+<p>"'Now, Mr. Wainright, this new engine<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">13</a></span> of ours is hardly started yet.
+The drawings are done, and the builders' contract is ready to sign; but
+we want you to look over the drawings, to see if there are any practical
+suggestions you can make. Then stay in the shops, and see that the work
+is done right. The inventor is not a practical man; help him if you can,
+for experience tells us that ten things fail because of bad <i>design</i>
+where one does because of bad manipulation. Come up into the
+drawing-room, and I will introduce you to the inventor.'</p>
+
+<p>"Up under the skylight I met the designer of the new engine, a mild
+little fellow&mdash;but he don't figure in this story. In five minutes I was
+deep in the study of the drawings. Everything seemed to be worked out
+all right, except that they had the fire-door opening the wrong way and
+the brake-valve couldn't be reached&mdash;but many a good builder did that
+twenty years ago. I was impressed with the beauty of the drawings&mdash;they
+were like lithographs, and one, a perspective, was shaded and colored
+handsomely. I complimented him on them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">14</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"'They are beautiful, sir,' he said; 'they were made by a lady. I'll
+introduce you to her.'</p>
+
+<p>"A bright, plain-faced little woman with a shingled head looked up from
+her drawing-board as we approached, shook hands cordially when
+introduced, and at once entered into an intelligent discussion of the
+plans of the new record-beater.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, it was some months before the engine was ready for the road, and
+in that time I got pretty well acquainted with Miss Reynolds. She was
+mighty plain, but sharp as a buzz-saw. I don't think she was really
+homely, but she'd never have been arrested for her beauty. There was
+something 'fetching' about her appearance&mdash;you couldn't help liking her.
+She was intelligent, and it was such a novelty to find a woman who knew
+the smoke stack from the steam chest. I didn't fall in love with her at
+all, but I liked to talk to her over the work. She told me her story;
+not all at once, but here and there a piece, until I knew her history
+pretty well.</p>
+
+<p>"It seems that her father had been chief<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">15</a></span> draughtsman of those works for
+years, but had lately died. She had a strong taste for mechanics, and
+her father, who believed in women learning trades, had taught her
+mechanical drawing, first at home and then in the shop. She had helped
+in busy times as an extra, but never went to work for regular wages
+until the death of her father made it necessary.</p>
+
+<p>"She seemed to like to hear stories of the road, and often asked me to
+tell her some thrilling experience the second time. Her eyes sparkled
+and her face kindled when I touched on a snow-bucking experience. She
+often said that if she was a man she'd go on the railroad, and after
+such a remark she would usually sigh and smile at the same time. One
+day, when the engine was pretty nearly ready, she said to me:</p>
+
+<p>"'Mr. Wainright, who is going to fire the Experiment?'</p>
+
+<p>"'I don't know. I had forgot about that; I'll have to see about it.'</p>
+
+<p>"'It wouldn't be of much use to get an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">16</a></span> experienced man, would it&mdash;the
+engine will burn a new fuel in a new way?'</p>
+
+<p>"'No,' said I, 'not much.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Now,' said she, coloring a little, 'let me ask a favor of you. I have
+a brother who is just crazy to go out firing. I don't want him to go
+unless it's with a man I can trust; he is young and inexperienced, you
+know. Won't you take him? Please do.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Why, I'll be glad to,' said I. 'I'll speak to the old man about it.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Don't tell him it's my brother.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, all right.'</p>
+
+<p>"The old man told me to hire whoever I liked, and I told Miss Reynolds
+to bring the boy in the morning.</p>
+
+<p>"'Won't you wait until Monday? It will be an accommodation to me.'</p>
+
+<p>"Of course I waited.</p>
+
+<p>"The next day Miss Reynolds did not come to the office, and I was busy
+at the shop. Monday came, but no Miss Reynolds. About nine o'clock,
+however, the foreman came down to the Experiment with a boy,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">17</a></span> apparently
+about eighteen years old, and said there was a lad with a note for me.</p>
+
+<p>"Before reading the note I shook hands with the boy, and told him I knew
+who he was, for he looked like his sister. He was small, but wiry, and
+had evidently come prepared for business, as he had some overclothes
+under his arm and a pair of buckskin gloves. He was bashful and quiet,
+as boys usually are during their first experience away from home. The
+note read:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"'<span class="smcap">Dear Mr. Wainright.</span>&mdash;This will be handed you by brother George. I
+hope you will be satisfied with him. I know he will try to please
+you and do his duty; don't forget how green he is. I am obliged to
+go into the country to settle up some of my father's affairs and
+may not see you again before you go. I sincerely hope the
+"Experiment," George, and his engineer will be successful. I shall
+watch you all.</p>
+
+<p>"'<span class="smcap">G. E. Reynolds.</span>'</p></div>
+
+<p>"I felt kind of cut up, somehow, about going away without bidding Old
+Business&mdash;as the other draughtsman called Miss Reynolds&mdash;good-by;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">18</a></span> but I
+was busy with the engine.</p>
+
+<p>"The foreman came along half an hour after the arrival of young
+Reynolds, and seeing him at work cleaning the window glass, asked who he
+was.</p>
+
+<p>"'The fireman,' said I.</p>
+
+<p>"'What! that kid?'</p>
+
+<p>"And from that day I don't think I ever called young Reynolds by any
+other name half a dozen times. That was the 'Kid' you knew. When it came
+quitting time that night, I asked the Kid where they lived, and he said,
+Charlestown. I remarked that his voice was like his sister's; but he
+laughed, and said I'd see difference enough if they were together; and
+bidding me good-night, caught a passing car.</p>
+
+<p>"We broke the Experiment in for a few days, and then tackled half a
+train for Providence. She would keep her water just about hot enough to
+wash in with the pump on. It was a tough day; I was in the front end
+half the time at every stop. The Kid did exactly what I told him, and
+was in good spirits<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">19</a></span> all the time. I was cross. Nothing will make a man
+crosser than a poor steamer.</p>
+
+<p>"We got to Providence in the evening tired; but after supper the Kid
+said he had an aunt and her family living there, and if I didn't mind,
+he'd try to find them. I left the door unlocked, and slept on one side
+of the bed, but the Kid didn't come back; he was at the engine when I
+got there the next morning.</p>
+
+<p>"The Kid was such a nice little fellow I liked to have him with me, and,
+somehow or other (I hardly noticed it at the time), he had a good
+influence on me. In them days I took a drink if I felt like it; but the
+Kid got me into the habit of taking lemonade, and wouldn't go into
+drinking places, and I soon quit it. He gave me many examples of
+controlling my temper, and soon got me into the habit of thinking before
+I spoke.</p>
+
+<p>"We played horse with that engine for four or five weeks, mostly around
+town, but I could see it was no go. The patent fuel was no good, and the
+patent fire-box little better, and I advised the firm to put a standard<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">20</a></span>
+boiler on her and a pair of links, and sell her while the paint was
+fresh. They took my advice.</p>
+
+<p>"The Kid and I took the engine to Hinkley's, and left her there; we
+packed up our overclothes, and as we walked away, the Kid asked: 'What
+will you do now, Jim?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Oh, I've had a nice play, and I'll go back to the road. I wish you'd
+go along.'</p>
+
+<p>"'I wouldn't like anything better; will you take me?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Yes, but I ain't sure that I can get you a job right away.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, I could fire for you, couldn't I?'</p>
+
+<p>"'I'd like to have you, Kid; but you know I have a regular engine and a
+regular fireman. I'll ask for you, though.'</p>
+
+<p>"'I won't fire for anybody else!'</p>
+
+<p>"'You won't! What would you do if I should die?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Quit.'</p>
+
+<p>"Get out!'</p>
+
+<p>"'Honest; if I can't fire for you, I won't fire at all.'</p>
+
+<p>"I put in a few days around the 'Hub,'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">21</a></span> and as I had nothing to do, my
+mind kept turning to Miss Reynolds. I met the Kid daily, and on one of
+our rambles I asked him where his sister was.</p>
+
+<p>"'Out in the country.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Send word to her that I am going away and want to see her, will you,
+Kid?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, yes; but Sis is funny; she's too odd for any use. I don't think
+she'll come.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, I'll go and see her.'</p>
+
+<p>"'No, Sis would think you were crazy.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Why? Now look here Kid, I like that sister of yours, and I want to see
+her.'</p>
+
+<p>"But the Kid just stopped, leaned against the nearest building, and
+laughed&mdash;laughed until the tears ran down his cheeks. The next day he
+brought me word that his sister had gone to Chicago to make some
+sketches for the firm and hoped to come to see us after she was through.
+I started for Chicago the day following, the Kid with me.</p>
+
+<p>"I had little trouble in getting the Kid on with me, as my old fireman
+had been promoted. I had a nice room with another plug-puller, and in a
+few days I was in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">22</a></span> old jog&mdash;except for the Kid. He refused to room
+with my partner's fireman; and when I talked to him about saving money
+that way, he said he wouldn't room with any one&mdash;not even me. Then he
+laughed, and said he kicked so that no one could room with him. The Kid
+was the butt of all the firemen on account of his size, but he kept the
+cleanest engine, and was never left nor late, and seemed more and more
+attached to me&mdash;and I to him.</p>
+
+<p>"Things were going along slick enough when Daddy Daniels had a row with
+his fireman, and our general master mechanic took the matter up.
+Daniels' fireman claimed the run with me, as he was the oldest man, and,
+as they had an 'oldest man' agreement, the master mechanic ordered
+Smutty Kelly and the Kid changed.</p>
+
+<p>"I was not in the roundhouse when the Kid was ordered to change, but he
+went direct to the office and kicked, but to no purpose. Then he came to
+me.</p>
+
+<p>"'Jim,' said he, with tears in his eyes, 'are you satisfied with me on
+the 12?'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">23</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"'Why, yes, Kid. Who says I'm not?'</p>
+
+<p>"'They've ordered me to change to the 17 with that horrible old ruffian
+Daniels, and Smutty Kelly to go with you.'</p>
+
+<p>"'They have!' says I. 'That slouch can't go out with me the first time;
+I'll see the old man.'</p>
+
+<p>"But the old man was mad by the time I got to him.</p>
+
+<p>"'That baby-faced boy says he won't fire for anybody but you; what have
+you been putting into his head?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Nothing; I've treated him kindly, and he likes me and the 12&mdash;that's
+the cleanest engine on the&mdash;'</p>
+
+<p>"'Tut, tut, I don't care about that; I've ordered the firemen on the 12
+and 17 changed&mdash;and they are going to be changed.'</p>
+
+<p>"The Kid had followed me into the office, and at this point said, very
+respectfully:</p>
+
+<p>"'Excuse me, sir, but Mr. Wainright and I get along so nicely together.
+Daniels is a bad man; so is Kelly; and neither will get along with
+decent men. Why can't you&mdash;'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">24</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"'There! stop right there, young man. Now, will you go on the 17 <i>as
+ordered</i>?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Yes, if Jim Wainright runs her.'</p>
+
+<p>"'No <i>ifs</i> about it; will you go?'</p>
+
+<p>"'No, sir, I won't!'</p>
+
+<p>"'You are discharged, then.'</p>
+
+<p>"'That fires me, too,' said I.</p>
+
+<p>"'Not at all, not at all; this is a fireman row, Jim.'</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know what struck me then, but I said:</p>
+
+<p>"'No one but this boy shall put a scoop of coal in the 12 or any other
+engine for me; I'll take the poorest run you have, but the Kid goes with
+me.'</p>
+
+<p>"Talk was useless, and in the end the Kid and I quit and got our time.</p>
+
+<p>"That evening the Kid came to my room and begged me to take my job back
+and he would go home; but I wouldn't do it, and asked him if he was sick
+of me.</p>
+
+<p>"'No, Jim,' said he. 'I live in fear that something will happen to
+separate us, but I don't want to be a drag on you&mdash;I think more of you
+than anybody.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">25</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"They were buying engines by the hundred on the Rio Grande and Santa F&eacute;
+and the A. &amp; P. in those days, and the Kid and I struck out for the
+West, and inside of thirty days we were at work again.</p>
+
+<p>"We had been there three months, I guess, when I got orders to take a
+new engine out to the front and leave her, bringing back an old one. The
+last station on the road was in a box-car, thrown out beside the track
+on a couple of rails. There was one large, rough-board house, where they
+served rough-and-ready grub and let rooms. The latter were stalls, the
+partitions being only about seven feet high. It was cold and bleak, but
+right glad we were to get there and get a warm supper. Everything was
+rough, but the Kid seemed to enjoy the novelty. After supper I asked the
+landlord if he could fix us for the night.</p>
+
+<p>"'I can jest fix ye, and no more,' said he; 'I have just one room left.
+Ye's'll have to double up; but this is the kind o' weather for that;
+it'll be warmer.'</p>
+
+<p>"The Kid objected, but the landlord<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">26</a></span> bluffed him&mdash;didn't have any other
+room&mdash;and he added: 'If I was your pardner there, I'd kick ye down to
+the foot, such a cold strip of bacon as ye must be.'</p>
+
+<p>"About nine o'clock the Kid slipped out, and not coming in for an hour,
+I went to look for him. As I went toward the engine, I met the watchman:</p>
+
+<p>"'Phy don't that fireman o' yourn sleep in the house or on the caboose
+floor such a night as this? He'll freeze up there in that cab wid no
+blankets at all; but when I tould him that, he politely informed meself
+that he'd knowed men to git rich mindin' their own biz. He's a sassy
+slip of a Yankee.'</p>
+
+<p>"I climbed up on the big consolidation, and, lighting my torch, looked
+over the boiler-head at the Kid. He was lying on a board on the seat,
+with his overcoat for a covering and an arm-rest for a pillow.</p>
+
+<p>"'What's the matter with you, Kid?' I asked. 'What are you doing
+freezing here when we can both be comfortable and warm in the house? Are
+you ashamed or afraid to sleep with me? I don't like this for a cent.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">27</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"'Hope you won't be mad with me, Jim, but I won't sleep with any one;
+there now!'</p>
+
+<p>"'You're either a fool or crazy,' said I. 'Why, you will half freeze
+here. I want some explanation of such a trick as this.'</p>
+
+<p>"The Kid sat up, looked at me soberly for a few seconds, reached up and
+unhooked his door, and said:</p>
+
+<p>"'Come over and sit down, Jim, and I'll tell you something.'</p>
+
+<p>"I blew out the torch and went over, half mad. As I hooked the door to
+keep out the sharp wind I thought I heard a sob, and I took the Kid's
+head in my hands and turned his face to the moonlight. There were big
+tears in the corner of each tightly closed eye.</p>
+
+<p>"'Don't feel bad, Kid,' said I. 'I'm sure there's some reason keeps you
+at such tricks as this; but tell me all your trouble&mdash;it's imaginary, I
+know.'</p>
+
+<p>"There was a tremor in the Kid's voice as he took my hand and said, 'We
+are friends, Jim; ain't we?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Why, of course,' said I.</p>
+
+<p>"'I have depended on your friendship and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">28</a></span> kindness and manhood, Jim. It
+has never failed me yet, and it won't now, I know. I have a secret, Jim,
+and it gnaws to be out one day, and hides itself the next. Many and many
+a time I have been on the point of confessing to you, but something held
+me back. I was afraid you would not let me stay with you, if you knew&mdash;'</p>
+
+<p>"'Why, you ain't killed any one, Kid?' I asked, for I thought he was
+exaggerating his trouble.</p>
+
+<p>"'No&mdash;yes, I did, too&mdash;I killed my sister.'</p>
+
+<p>"I recoiled, hurt, shocked. 'You&mdash;'</p>
+
+<p>"'Yes, Jim, there is no such person to be found as my sister,
+Georgiana&mdash;<i>for I am she</i>!'</p>
+
+<p>"'You! Why, Kid, you're crazy!'</p>
+
+<p>"'No, I'm not. Listen, Jim, and I will explain.'</p>
+
+<p>"'My father was always sorry I was not a boy. Taught me boyish tricks,
+and made me learn drawing. I longed for the life on a locomotive&mdash;I
+loved it, read about it, thought of it, and prayed to be transformed
+into <i>something</i> that could go out on the road.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">29</a></span> My heart went out to
+you early in our acquaintance, and one day the thought to get started as
+a fireman with you shot into my brain and was acted upon at once. After
+the first move there was no going back, and I have acted my part well; I
+have even been a good fireman. I am strong, healthy, and happy when on
+the road with you. I love the life, hard as it is, and can't think of
+giving it up, and&mdash;and you, Jim.'</p>
+
+<p>"And then she broke down, and cried as only a woman can.</p>
+
+<p>"I took both her hands in mine and kissed her&mdash;think of kissing your
+fireman on the engine&mdash;and told her that we could be happy yet. Then I
+told her how I had tried to get a letter to the lost sister, and how
+they never came back, and were never answered&mdash;that I loved the sister
+and loved her. She reminded me that she herself got all the letters I
+had sent, and was pretty sure of her ground when she threw herself on my
+protection.</p>
+
+<p>"It was a strange courting, John, there on that engine at the front, the
+boundless plains on one side, the mountains on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">30</a></span> other, the winds of
+the desert whirling sand and snow against our little house, and the moon
+looking coldly down at the spectacle of an engineer making love to his
+fireman.</p>
+
+<p>"That night the Kid slept in the bed in the house, and I stayed on the
+engine.</p>
+
+<p>"When we got back to headquarters the Kid laid off to go home, and I
+made a trip or two with another fireman, and then I had to go to
+Illinois to fix up some family business&mdash;Kid and I arranged that.</p>
+
+<p>"We met in St. Louis, the Kid hired a ball dress, and we were married as
+quiet as possible. I had promised the Kid that, for the present at
+least, she could stay on the road with me, and you know that the year
+you were there I done most of the heavy firing while the Kid did the
+running. We remained in the service for something like two years&mdash;a
+strange couple, but happy in each other's company and our work.</p>
+
+<p>"I often talked to my wife about leaving the road and starting in new,
+where we were not known, as man and wife, she to remain at home; but she
+wouldn't hear of it, asking<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">31</a></span> if I wanted an Irishman for a side-partner.
+This came to be a joke with us&mdash;'When I get my Irishman I will do
+so-and-so.'</p>
+
+<p>"One day, as our 'hog' was drifting down the long hill, the Kid said to
+me, 'Jim, you can get your Irishman; I'm going to quit this trip.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Kind o' sudden, hey, Kid?'</p>
+
+<p>"'No, been hating to give up, but&mdash;' and then the Kid came over and
+whispered something to me.</p>
+
+<p>"John, we both quit and went South. I got a job in Texas, and the Kid
+was lost sight of, and Mrs. J. E. Wainright appeared on the scene in
+tea-gown, train, and flounces. We furnished a neat little den, and I was
+happy. I missed my kid fireman, and did indeed have an Irishman. Kid had
+a struggle to wear petticoats again, and did not take kindly to
+dish-washing, but we were happy just the same.</p>
+
+<p>"Our little fellow arrived one spring day, and then our skies were all
+sunshiny for three long, happy years, until one day Kid and I followed a
+little white hearse out beyond<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">32</a></span> the cypress grove and saw the earth
+covered over our darling, over our hopes, over our sunshine, and over
+our hearts.</p>
+
+<p>"After that the house was like a tomb, so still, so solemn, and at every
+turn were reminders of the little one who had faded away like the
+morning mist, gone from everything but our memories&mdash;there his sweet
+little image was graven by the hand of love and seared by the
+branding-iron of sorrow.</p>
+
+<p>"Men and women of intelligence do not parade their sorrows in the
+market-place; they bear them as best they can, and try to appear as
+others, but once the specter of the grim destroyer has crossed the
+threshold, his shadow forever remains, a dark reminder, like a
+prison-bar across the daylight of a cell. This shadow is seen and
+recognized in the heart of a father, but it is larger and darker and
+more dreadful in the mother heart.</p>
+
+<p>"At every turn poor Kid was mutely reminded of her loss, and her heart
+was at the breaking point day by day, and she begged for her old life,
+to seek forgetfulness in toil and get away from herself. So we went<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">33</a></span>
+back to the old road, as we went away&mdash;Jim Wainright and Kid
+Reynolds&mdash;and glad enough they were to get us again for the winter work.</p>
+
+<p>"Three years of indoor life had softened the wiry muscles of the Kid,
+and our engine was a hard steamer, so I did most of the work on the
+road. But the work, excitement, and outdoor life brought back the color
+to pale cheeks, and now and then a smile to sad lips&mdash;and I was glad.</p>
+
+<p>"One day the Kid was running while I broke up some big lumps of coal,
+and while busy in the tank I felt the air go on full and the reverse
+lever come back, while the wheels ground sand. I stepped quickly toward
+the cab to see what was the matter, when the Kid sprang into the gangway
+and cried 'Jump!'</p>
+
+<p>"I was in the left gangway in a second, but quick as a flash the Kid had
+my arm.</p>
+
+<p>"'The other side! Quick! The river!'</p>
+
+<p>"We were almost side by side as she swung me toward the other side of
+the engine, and jumped as we crashed into a landslide.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">34</a></span> I felt Kid's
+hand on my shoulder as I left the deck&mdash;just in time to save my life,
+but not the Kid's.</p>
+
+<p>"She was crushed between the tank and boiler in the very act of keeping
+me from jumping to certain death on the rocks in the river below.</p>
+
+<p>"When the crew came over they found me with the crushed clay of my poor,
+loved Kid in my arms, kissing her. They never knew who she was. I took
+her back to our Texas home and laid her beside the little one that had
+gone before. The Firemen's Brotherhood paid Kid's insurance to me and
+passed resolutions saying: 'It has pleased Almighty God to remove from
+our midst our beloved brother, George Reynolds,' etc., etc.</p>
+
+<p>"George Reynolds's grave cannot be found; but over a mound of
+forget-me-nots away in a Southern land, there stands a stone on which is
+cut: 'Georgiana, wife of J. E. Wainright, aged thirty-two years.'</p>
+
+<p>"But in my heart there is a golden pyramid of love to the memory of a
+fireman and a sweetheart known to you and all the world but me, as 'Jim
+Wainright's Kid.'"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">35</a></span></p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="B" id="B"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">37</a></span>
+<h2>AN ENGINEER'S CHRISTMAS STORY</h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>In the summer, fall, and early winter of 1863, I was tossing chips into
+an old Hinkley insider up in New England, for an engineer by the name of
+James Dillon. Dillon was considered as good a man as there was on the
+road: careful, yet fearless, kindhearted, yet impulsive, a man whose
+friends would fight for him and whose enemies hated him right royally.</p>
+
+<p>Dillon took a great notion to me, and I loved him as a father; the fact
+of the matter is, he was more of a father to me than I had at home, for
+my father refused to be comforted when I took to railroading, and I
+could not see him more than two or three times a year at the most&mdash;so
+when I wanted advice I went to Jim.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">38</a></span></p>
+
+<p>I was a young fellow then, and being without a home at either end of the
+run, was likely to drop into pitfalls. Dillon saw this long before I
+did. Before I had been with him three months, he told me one day, coming
+in, that it was against his principles to teach locomotive-running to a
+young man who was likely to turn out a drunkard or gambler and disgrace
+the profession, and he added that I had better pack up my duds and come
+up to his house and let "mother" take care of me&mdash;and I went.</p>
+
+<p>I was not a guest there: I paid my room-rent and board just as I should
+have done anywhere else, but I had all the comforts of a home, and
+enjoyed a thousand advantages that money could not buy. I told Mrs.
+Dillon all my troubles, and found kindly sympathy and advice; she
+encouraged me in all my ambitions, mended my shirts, and went with me
+when I bought my clothes. Inside of a month, I felt like one of the
+family, called Mrs. Dillon "mother," and blessed my lucky stars that I
+had found them.</p>
+
+<p>Dillon had run a good many years, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">39</a></span> was heartily tired of it, and he
+seldom passed a nice farm that he did not call my attention to it,
+saying: "Jack, now there's comfort; you just wait a couple of
+years&mdash;I've got my eye on the slickest little place, just on the edge of
+M&mdash;&mdash;, that I am saving up my pile to buy. I'll give you the 'Roger
+William' one of these days, Jack, say good evening to grief, and me and
+mother will take comfort. Think of sleeping till eight o'clock,&mdash;and no
+poor steamers, Jack, no poor steamers!" And he would reach over, and
+give my head a gentle duck as I tried to pitch a curve to a front corner
+with a knot: those Hinkleys were powerful on cold water.</p>
+
+<p>In Dillon's household there was a "system" of financial management. He
+always gave his wife just half of what he earned; kept ten dollars for
+his own expenses during the month, out of which he clothed himself; and
+put the remainder in the bank. It was before the days of high wages,
+however, and even with this frugal management, the bank account did not
+grow rapidly. They owned the house in which they lived, and out of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">40</a></span> her
+half "mother" had to pay all the household expenses and taxes, clothe
+herself and two children, and send the children to school. The oldest, a
+girl of some sixteen years, was away at normal school, and the boy,
+about thirteen or fourteen, was at home, going to the public school and
+wearing out more clothes than all the rest of the family.</p>
+
+<p>Dillon told me that they had agreed on the financial plan followed in
+the family before their marriage, and he used to say that for the life
+of him he did not see how "mother" got along so well on the allowance.
+When he drew a small month's pay he would say to me, as we walked home:
+"No cream in the coffee this month, Jack." If it was unusually large, he
+would say: "Plum duff and fried chicken for a Sunday dinner." He
+insisted that he could detect the rate of his pay in the food, but this
+was not true&mdash;it was his kind of fun. "Mother" and I were fast friends.
+She became my banker, and when I wanted an extra dollar, I had to ask
+her for it and tell what I wanted it for, and all that.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">41</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Along late in November, Jim had to make an extra one night on another
+engine, which left me at home alone with "mother" and the boy&mdash;I had
+never seen the girl&mdash;and after swearing me to be both deaf, dumb, and
+blind, "mother" told me a secret. For ten years she had been saving
+money out of her allowance, until the amount now reached nearly $2,000.
+She knew of Jim's life ambition to own a farm, and she had the matter in
+hand, if I would help her. Of course I was head over heels into the
+scheme at once. She wanted to buy the farm near M&mdash;&mdash;, and give Jim the
+deed for a Christmas present; and Jim mustn't even suspect.</p>
+
+<p>Jim never did.</p>
+
+<p>The next trip I had to buy some underclothes: would "mother" tell me how
+to pick out pure wool? Why, bless your heart, no, she wouldn't, but
+she'd just put on her things and go down with me. Jim smoked and read at
+home.</p>
+
+<p>We went straight to the bank where Jim kept his money, asked for the
+President, and let him into the whole plan. Would he take<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">42</a></span> $2,100 out of
+Jim's money, unbeknown to Jim, and pay the balance of the price of the
+farm over what "mother" had?</p>
+
+<p>No, he would not; but he would advance the money for the purpose&mdash;have
+the deeds sent to him, and he would pay the price&mdash;that was fixed.</p>
+
+<p>Then I hatched up an excuse and changed off with the fireman on the
+M&mdash;&mdash; branch, and spent the best part of two lay-overs fixing up things
+with the owner of the farm and arranging to hold back the recording of
+the deeds until after Christmas. Every evening there was some part of
+the project to be talked over, and "mother" and I held many whispered
+conversations. Once Jim, smiling, observed that, if I had any hair on my
+face, he would be jealous.</p>
+
+<p>I remember that it was on the 14th day of December, 1863, that payday
+came. I banked my money with "mother," and Jim, as usual, counted out
+his half to that dear old financier.</p>
+
+<p>"Uncle Sam'd better put that 'un in the hospital," observed Jim, as he
+came to a ragged<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">43</a></span> ten-dollar bill. "Goddess of Liberty pretty near got
+her throat cut there; guess some reb has had hold of her," he continued,
+as he held up the bill. Then laying it down, he took out his pocket-book
+and cut off a little three-cornered strip of pink court-plaster, and
+made repairs on the bill.</p>
+
+<p>"Mother" pocketed her money greedily, and before an hour I had that very
+bill in my pocket to pay the recording fees in the courthouse at M&mdash;&mdash;.</p>
+
+<p>The next day Jim wanted to use more money than he had in his pocket, and
+asked me to lend him a dollar. As I opened my wallet to oblige him, that
+patched bill showed up. Jim put his finger on it, and then turning me
+around towards him, he said: "How came you by that?"</p>
+
+<p>I turned red&mdash;I know I did&mdash;but I said, cool enough, "'Mother' gave it
+to me in change."</p>
+
+<p>"That's a lie," he said, and turned away.</p>
+
+<p>The next day we were more than two-thirds of the way home before he
+spoke; then, as I straightened up after a fire, he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">44</a></span> said: "John
+Alexander, when we get in, you go to Aleck (the foreman) and get changed
+to some other engine."</p>
+
+<p>There was a queer look on his face; it was not anger, it was not
+sorrow&mdash;it was more like pain. I looked the man straight in the eye, and
+said: "All right, Jim; it shall be as you say&mdash;but, so help me God, I
+don't know what for. If you will tell me what I have done that is wrong,
+I will not make the same mistake with the next man I fire for."</p>
+
+<p>He looked away from me, reached over and started the pump, and said:
+"Don't you know?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, sir, I have not the slightest idea."</p>
+
+<p>"Then you stay, and I'll change," said he, with a determined look, and
+leaned out of the window, and said no more all the way in.</p>
+
+<p>I did not go home that day. I cleaned the "Roger William" from the top
+of that mountain of sheet-iron known as a wood-burner stack to the back
+casting on the tank, and tried to think what I had done wrong, or not
+done at all, to incur such displeasure<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">45</a></span> from Dillon. He was in bed when
+I went to the house that evening, and I did not see him until breakfast.
+He was in his usual spirits there, but on the way to the station, and
+all day long, he did not speak to me. He noticed the extra cleaning, and
+carefully avoided tarnishing any of the cabfittings;&mdash;but that awful
+quiet! I could hardly bear it, and was half sick at the trouble, the
+cause of which I could not understand. I thought that, if the patched
+bill had anything to do with it, Christmas morning would clear it up.</p>
+
+<p>Our return trip was the night express, leaving the terminus at 9:30. As
+usual, that night I got the engine out, oiled, switched out the cars,
+and took the train to the station, trimmed my signals and headlight, and
+was all ready for Jim to pull out. Nine o'clock came, and no Jim; at
+9:10 I sent to his boarding-house. He had not been there. He did not
+come at leaving time&mdash;he did not come at all. At ten o'clock the
+conductor sent to the engine-house for another engineer, and at 10:45,
+instead of an engineer,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">46</a></span> a fireman came, with orders for John Alexander
+to run the "Roger William" until further orders,&mdash;I never fired a
+locomotive again.</p>
+
+<p>I went over that road the saddest-hearted man that ever made a maiden
+trip. I hoped there would be some tidings of Jim at home&mdash;there were
+none. I can never forget the blow it was to "mother;" how she braced up
+on account of her children&mdash;but oh, that sad face! Christmas came, and
+with it the daughter, and then there were two instead of one: the boy
+was frantic the first day, and playing marbles the next.</p>
+
+<p>Christmas day there came a letter. It was from Jim&mdash;brief and cold
+enough&mdash;but it was such a comfort to "mother." It was directed to Mary
+J. Dillon, and bore the New York post-mark. It read:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"Uncle Sam is in need of men, and those who lose with Venus may win
+with Mars. Enclosed papers you will know best what to do with. Be a
+mother to the children&mdash;you have <i>three</i> of them.</p>
+
+<p>"<span class="smcap">James Dillon</span>."</p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">47</a></span></p>
+
+<p>He underscored the three&mdash;he was a mystery to me. Poor "mother!" She
+declared that no doubt "poor James's head was affected." The papers with
+the letter were a will, leaving her all, and a power of attorney,
+allowing her to dispose of or use the money in the bank. Not a line of
+endearment or love for that faithful heart that lived on love, asked
+only for love, and cared for little else.</p>
+
+<p>That Christmas was a day of fasting and prayer for us. Many letters did
+we send, many advertisements were printed, but we never got a word from
+James Dillon, and Uncle Sam's army was too big to hunt in. We were a
+changed family: quieter and more tender of one another's feelings, but
+changed.</p>
+
+<p>In the fall of 64 they changed the runs around, and I was booked to run
+in to M&mdash;&mdash;. Ed, the boy, was firing for me. There was no reason why
+"mother" should stay in Boston, and we moved out to the little farm.
+That daughter, who was a second "mother" all over, used to come down to
+meet us at the station with the horse, and I talked "sweet"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">48</a></span> to her; yet
+at a certain point in the sweetness I became dumb.</p>
+
+<p>Along in May, '65, "mother" got a package from Washington. It contained
+a tin-type of herself; a card with a hole in it (made evidently by
+having been forced over a button), on which was her name and the old
+address in town; then there was a ring and a saber, and on the blade of
+the saber was etched, "Presented to Lieutenant Jas. Dillon, for bravery
+on the field of battle." At the bottom of the parcel was a note in a
+strange hand, saying simply, "Found on the body of Lieutenant Dillon
+after the battle of Five Forks."</p>
+
+<p>Poor "mother!" Her heart was wrung again, and again the scalding tears
+fell. She never told her suffering, and no one ever knew what she bore.
+Her face was a little sadder and sweeter, her hair a little whiter&mdash;that
+was all.</p>
+
+<p>I am not a bit superstitious&mdash;don't believe in signs or presentiments or
+prenothings&mdash;but when I went to get my pay on the 14th day of December,
+1866, it gave me a little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">49</a></span> start to find in it the bill bearing the
+chromo of the Goddess of Liberty with the little three-cornered piece of
+court-plaster that Dillon had put on her wind-pipe. I got rid of it at
+once, and said nothing to "mother" about it; but I kept thinking of it
+and seeing it all the next day and night.</p>
+
+<p>On the night of the 16th, I was oiling around my Black Maria to take out
+a local leaving our western terminus just after dark, when a tall, slim
+old gentleman stepped up to me and asked if I was the engineer. I don't
+suppose I looked like the president: I confessed, and held up my torch,
+so I could see his face&mdash;a pretty tough-looking face. The white mustache
+was one of that military kind, reinforced with whiskers on the right and
+left flank of the mustache proper. He wore glasses, and one of the
+lights was ground glass. The right cheek-bone was crushed in, and a red
+scar extended across the eye and cheek; the scar looked blue around the
+red line because of the cold.</p>
+
+<p>"I used to be an engineer before the war," said he. "Do you go to
+Boston!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">50</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"No, to M&mdash;&mdash;."</p>
+
+<p>"M&mdash;&mdash;! I thought that was on a branch."</p>
+
+<p>"It is, but is now an important manufacturing point, with regular trains
+from there to each end of the main line."</p>
+
+<p>"When can I get to Boston?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not till Monday now; we run no through Sunday trains. You can go to
+M&mdash;&mdash; with me to-night, and catch a local to Boston in the morning."</p>
+
+<p>He thought a minute, and then said, "Well, yes; guess I had better. How
+is it for a ride?"</p>
+
+<p>"Good; just tell the conductor that I told you to get on."</p>
+
+<p>"Thanks; that's clever. I used to know a soldier who used to run up in
+this country," said the stranger, musing. "Dillon; that's it, Dillon."</p>
+
+<p>"I knew him well," said I. "I want to hear about him."</p>
+
+<p>"Queer man," said he, and I noticed he was eying me pretty sharp.</p>
+
+<p>"A good engineer."</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps," said he.</p>
+
+<div class='figcenter' style='width: 458px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="illus-008" id="illus-008"></a>
+<img src='images/p1-022.jpg' alt='"I noticed his long, slim hand on the top of the reverse-lever."' title='' width = '401' height = '507'/><br />
+<span class='caption'>"I noticed his long, slim hand on the top of the reverse-lever."</span>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">51</a></span></p>
+
+<p>I coaxed the old veteran to ride on the engine&mdash;the first coal-burner I
+had had. He seemed more than glad to comply. Ed was as black as a negro,
+and swearing about coal-burners in general and this one in particular,
+and made so much noise with his fire-irons after we started, that the
+old man came over and sat behind me, so as to be able to talk.</p>
+
+<p>The first time I looked around after getting out of the yard, I noticed
+his long slim hand on the top of the reverse-lever. Did you ever notice
+how it seems to make an ex-engineer feel better and more satisfied to
+get his hand on the reverse-lever and feel the life-throbs of the great
+giant under him? Why, his hand goes there by instinct&mdash;just as an
+ambulance surgeon will feel for the heart of the boy with a broken leg.</p>
+
+<p>I asked the stranger to "give her a whirl," and noticed with what eager
+joy he took hold of her. I also observed with surprise that he seemed to
+know all about "four-mile hill," where most new men got stuck. He caught
+me looking at his face, and touching the scar, remarked: "A little love
+pat, with the compliments<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">52</a></span> of Wade Hampton's men." We talked on a good
+many subjects, and got pretty well acquainted before we were over the
+division, but at last we seemed talked out.</p>
+
+<p>"Where does Dillon's folks live now?" asked the stranger, slowly, after
+a time.</p>
+
+<p>"M&mdash;&mdash;," said I.</p>
+
+<p>He nearly jumped off the box. "M&mdash;&mdash;? I thought it was Boston!"</p>
+
+<p>"Moved to M&mdash;&mdash;."</p>
+
+<p>"What for?"</p>
+
+<p>"Own a farm there."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I see; married again?"</p>
+
+<p>"No."</p>
+
+<p>"No!"</p>
+
+<p>"Widow thought too much of Jim for that."</p>
+
+<p>"No!"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>"Er&mdash;what became of the young man that they&mdash;er&mdash;adopted?"</p>
+
+<p>"Lives with 'em yet."</p>
+
+<p>"So!"</p>
+
+<p>Just then we struck the suburbs of M&mdash;&mdash;, and, as we passed the cemetery,
+I pointed to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">53</a></span> a high shaft, and said: "Dillon's monument."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, how's that?"</p>
+
+<p>"Killed at Five Forks. Widow put up monument."</p>
+
+<p>He shaded his eyes with his hand, and peered through the moonlight for a
+minute.</p>
+
+<p>"That's clever," was all he said.</p>
+
+<p>I insisted that he go home with me. Ed took the Black Maria to the
+house, and we took the street cars for it to the end of the line, and
+then walked. As we cleaned our feet at the door, I said: "Let me see, I
+did not hear your name?"</p>
+
+<p>"James," said he, "Mr. James."</p>
+
+<p>I opened the sitting-room door, and ushered the stranger in.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, boys," said "mother," slowly getting up from before the fire and
+hurriedly taking a few extra stitches in her knitting before laying it
+down to look up at us, "you're early."</p>
+
+<p>She looked up, not ten feet from the stranger, as he took off his
+slouched hat and brushed back the white hair. In another<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">54</a></span> minute her
+arms were around his neck, and she was murmuring "James" in his ear, and
+I, like a dumb fool, wondered who told her his name.</p>
+
+<p>Well, to make a long story short, it was James Dillon himself, and the
+daughter came in, and Ed came, and between the three they nearly
+smothered the old fellow.</p>
+
+<p>You may think it funny he didn't know me, but don't forget that I had
+been running for three years&mdash;that takes the fresh off a fellow; then,
+when I had the typhoid, my hair laid off, and was never reinstated, and
+when I got well, the whiskers&mdash;that had always refused to grow&mdash;came on
+with a rush, and they were red. And again, I had tried to switch with an
+old hook-motion in the night and forgot to take out the starting-bar,
+and she threw it at me, knocking out some teeth; and taking it
+altogether, I was a changed man.</p>
+
+<p>"Where's John?" he said finally.</p>
+
+<p>"Here," said I.</p>
+
+<p>"No!"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">55</a></span></p>
+
+<p>He took my hand, and said, "John, I left all that was dear to me once,
+because I was jealous of you. I never knew how you came to have that
+money or why, and don't want to. Forgive me."</p>
+
+<p>"That is the first time I ever heard of that," said "mother."</p>
+
+<p>"I had it to buy this farm for you&mdash;a Christmas present&mdash;if you had
+waited," said I.</p>
+
+<p>"That is the first time I ever heard of that," said he.</p>
+
+<p>"And you might have been shot," said "mother," getting up close.</p>
+
+<p>"I tried my darndest to be. That's why I got promoted so fast."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, James!" and her arms were around his neck again.</p>
+
+<p>"And I sent that saber home myself, never intending to come back."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, James, how could you!"</p>
+
+<p>"Mother, how can you forgive me?"</p>
+
+<p>"Mother," was still for a minute, looking at the fire in the grate.
+"James, it is late in life to apply such tests, but love is like gold;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">56</a></span>
+ours will be better now&mdash;the dross has been burned away in the fire. I
+did what I did for love of you, and you did what you did for love of me;
+let us all commence to live again in the old way," and those arms of
+hers could not keep away from his neck.</p>
+
+<p>Ed went out with tears in his eyes, and I beckoned the daughter to
+follow me. We passed into the parlor, drew the curtain over the
+doorway&mdash;and there was nothing but that rag between us and heaven.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">57</a></span></p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="C" id="C"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">59</a></span>
+<h2>THE CLEAN MAN AND THE DIRTY ANGELS</h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>When I first went firing, down in my native district, where Bean is
+King, there was a man on the road pulling a mixed train, by the name of
+Clark&mdash;'Lige Clark.</p>
+
+<p>Being only a fireman, and a new one at that, I did not come very much in
+contact with Clark, or any of the other engineers, excepting my
+own&mdash;James Dillon.</p>
+
+<p>'Lige Clark was a character on the road; everybody knew "old 'Lige;" he
+was liked and respected, but not loved; he was thought puritanical, or
+religious, or cranky, by some, yet no one hated him, or even had a
+strong dislike for him.</p>
+
+<p>His honesty and straightforwardness were proverbial. He was always in
+charge of the funds of every order he belonged to, as well as of the
+Sunday-school and church.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">60</a></span></p>
+
+<p>He was truthful to a fault, but above all, just.</p>
+
+<p>"'Cause 'tain't right, that's why," was his way of refusing to do a
+thing, and his argument against others doing it.</p>
+
+<p>After I got to running, I saw and knew more of 'Lige, and I think,
+perhaps, I was as much of a friend as he ever had. We never were chums.
+I never went to his house, and he never went to mine; we were simply
+roundhouse acquaintances; used to talk engine a little, but usually
+talked about children&mdash;'Lige had four, and always spoke about "doing the
+right thing by them."</p>
+
+<p>'Lige had a very heavy full beard, that came clear up to his eyes, and a
+mass of wavy hair&mdash;all iron grey. His eyes were steel grey, and matched
+his hair, and he had a habit of looking straight at you when he spoke.</p>
+
+<p>On his engine he invariably ran with his head out of the side window,
+rain or shine, and always bareheaded. When he stepped upon the
+footboard, he put his hat away with his clothes, and there it stayed. He
+was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">61</a></span> never known to wear a cap, excepting in the coldest weather.</p>
+
+<p>Once in a while, when I was firing, I have seen him come in, in winter,
+with his beard white with frost and ice, and some smoke-shoveling wit
+dubbed him Santa Claus.</p>
+
+<p>'Lige had a way of looking straight ahead and thinking of his work, and,
+after he got to running express, would go through a town, where other
+trains were sidetracked for him, looking at the track ahead, and at the
+trains, but never seeming to care that they were there, never nodding or
+waving a hand. Once in a while he would blink his eyes,&mdash;that was all.
+The wind tossed his mane and hair and made him look for all the world
+like a lion, who looks at, but appears to care nothing for the crowds
+around his den. Someone noticed the comparison, and dubbed him "The
+Lion," and the name clung to him. He was spoken of as "Old 'Lige, the
+Lion." Just why he was called old, I don't know&mdash;he was little more than
+forty then.</p>
+
+<p>When the men on the road had any grievances,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">62</a></span> they always asked 'Lige to
+"go and see the old man." 'Lige always went to lodge and to meetings of
+the men, but was never known to speak. When the demands were drawn up
+and presented to him, he always got up and said: "Them air declarations
+ain't right, an' I wouldn't ask any railroad to grant 'em;" or, "The
+declarations are right. Of course I'll be glad to take 'em."</p>
+
+<p>When old 'Lige declined to bear a grievance it was modified or
+abandoned; and he never took a request to headquarters that was not
+granted&mdash;until the strike of '77.</p>
+
+<p>When the war broke out, 'Lige was asked to go, and the railroad boys
+wanted him to be captain of a company of them; but he declined, saying
+that slavery was wrong and should be crushed, but that he had a sickly
+wife and four small children depending on his daily toil for bread, and
+it wouldn't be right to leave 'em unprovided for. They drafted him
+later, but he still said it "wa'n't right" for him to go, and paid for a
+substitute. But three months later his father-in-law died, up in the
+country somewhere, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">63</a></span> left his wife some three thousand dollars, and
+'Lige enlisted the next, day, saying "'Tain't right for any man to stay
+that can be spared; slavery ain't right; it must be stopped." He served
+as a private until it was stopped.</p>
+
+<p>Shortly after the war 'Lige was pulling the superintendent over the
+road, when he struck a wagon, killing the driver, who was a farmer, and
+hurting his wife. The woman afterward sued the road, and 'Lige was
+called as a witness for the company. He surprised everybody by stating
+that the accident was caused by mismanagement of the road, and explained
+as follows: "I pull the regular Atlantic express, and should have been
+at the crossing where the accident occurred, an hour later than I was;
+but Mr. Doe, our superintendent, wanted to come over the road with his
+special car, and took my engine to pull him, leaving a freight engine to
+bring in the express. Mr. Doe could have rode on the regular train, or
+could have had his car put into the train, instead of putting the
+company to the expense of hauling a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">64</a></span> special, and kept the patrons of
+the road from slow and poor service. We ran faster than there was any
+use of, and Mr. Doe went home when he got in, showing that there was no
+urgent call for his presence at this end of the line. If there had been
+no extra train on the road this farmer wouldn't have been killed:
+'twa'n't right."</p>
+
+<p>The widow got pretty heavy damages, and the superintendent tried to
+discharge 'Lige. But 'Lige said '"twa'n't right," and the men on the
+road, the patrons and even the president agreed with him, so the irate
+super gave the job up for the time being.</p>
+
+<p>A couple of weeks after this, I went to that super.'s office on some
+business, and had to wait in the outer pen until "His Grace" got through
+with someone else. The transom over the door to the "Holy of Holies" was
+open, and I heard the well-known voice of 'Lige "the Lion".</p>
+
+<p>"Now, there's another matter, Mr. Doe, that perhaps you'll say is none
+of my business, but 'tain't right, and I'm going to speak about it.
+You're hanging around the yards<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">65</a></span> and standing in the shadows of cars and
+buildings half the night, watching employees. You've discharged several
+yardmen, and I want to tell you that a lot of the roughest of them are
+laying for you. My advice to you is to go home from the office. They'll
+hurt you yet. 'Tain't right for one man to know that another is in
+danger without warning him, so I've done it; 'twouldn't be right for
+them to hurt you. You're not particularly hunting them but me, but you
+won't catch me."</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Doe assured "the Lion" that he could take care of himself, and two
+nights later got sand-bagged, and had about half his ribs kicked loose,
+over back of the scale house.</p>
+
+<p>When the trouble commenced in '77, old 'Lige refused to take up a
+request for increase of pay, to headquarters; said the road could afford
+to keep us just where we were, which was more than some roads were
+doing, and "'twa'n't right" to ask for more. Two months later they cut
+us ten per cent., and offered to pay half script. Old 'Lige<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">66</a></span> said
+'"twa'n't right," and he'd strike afore he'd stand it;&mdash;and, in the end,
+we all struck.</p>
+
+<p>The fourth day after the strike commenced I met 'Lige, and he asked me
+where I was going to hunt work. I told him I was going back when we won.
+He laughed, and said there wa'n't much danger of any of us going back;
+we were beat; mail trains all running, etc. '"Tain't right, Brother
+John, to loaf longer'n you can help. I'm goin' out West to-morrer"&mdash;and
+he went.</p>
+
+<p>Some weeks afterward Joe Johnson and I concluded that, contrary to all
+precedent, the road was going to run without us, and we also went West;
+but by that time the country was full of men just like us. When I did
+get a job, it was drying sand away out at the front on one of the new
+roads. The first engine that come up to the sand house had a familiar
+look, even with a boot-leg stack that was fearfully and wonderfully
+made. There was a shaggy head sticking out of the side window, and two
+cool grey eyes blinked at me, but didn't seem to see me; yet a cheery
+voice from under the beard<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">67</a></span> said: "Hello, Brother John, you're late, but
+guess you'll catch on pretty quick. There's lots of 'em here that don't
+know nothin' about railroading, as far as I can see, and they're running
+engines, too. 'Tain't right."</p>
+
+<p>The little town was booming, and 'Lige invested in lots, and became
+interested in many schemes to benefit the place and make money. He had
+been a widower for some years, and with one exception his children were
+doing for themselves, and that one was with his sister, and well cared
+for. 'Lige had considerable means, and he brought it all West. He
+personally laid the corner-stone of the courthouse, subscribed more than
+any other working man to the first church, and was treasurer of half the
+institutions in the village. He ought to have quit the road, but he
+wouldn't; but did compromise on taking an easy run on a branch.</p>
+
+<p>'Lige was behind a benevolent scheme to build a hospital, to be under
+the auspices of the church society, and to it devoted not a little time
+and energy. When the constitution and by-laws were drawn up, the more<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">68</a></span>
+liberal of the trustees struck a snag in old 'Lige. He was bound that
+the hospital should not harbor people under the influence of liquor, or
+fallen women. 'Lige was very bitter against prostitution. "It is the
+curse of civilization," he often said. "Prostitutes ruin ten men where
+whiskey ruins one. They stand in the path of every young man in the
+country, gilded tempters of virtue, honesty and manhood; 'tain't right
+that they should be allowed in the country." If you attributed their
+existence to man's passions, inhumanity or cruelty, or woman's weakness,
+he checked you at once.</p>
+
+<p>"Every woman that becomes a crooked woman does so from choice; she
+needn't to if she didn't want to. The way to stop prostitution is for
+every honest man and woman to refuse to have anything to do with them in
+any way, or with those who do recognize them. 'Tain't right."</p>
+
+<p>In this matter 'Lige Clark had no sympathy nor charity. "'Twa'n't
+right"&mdash;and that settled it as far as he was concerned.</p>
+
+<p>The ladies of the church sided with old<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">69</a></span> 'Lige in his stand on the
+hospital board, but the other two men wanted the doors of the
+institution to be opened to all in need of medical attention or care,
+regardless of who they were or what caused their ailment. 'Lige gave in
+on the whiskey, but stood out resolutely against the soiled doves, and
+so matters stood until midwinter.</p>
+
+<p>Half the women in the town were outcasts from society&mdash;two dance-houses
+were in full blast&mdash;and 'Lige soon became known to them and their
+friends as the "Prophet Elijah, second edition."</p>
+
+<p>The mining town over the hills, at the end of 'Lige's branch, was
+booming, too, and wanted to be the county seat. It had its church,
+dance-halls, etc., and the discovery of coal within a few miles bid fair
+to make it a formidable rival.</p>
+
+<p>The boom called for more power and I went over there to pull freight,
+and 'Lige pulled passengers only. Then they put more coaches on his
+train and put my engine on to help him, thus saving a crew's wages.
+Passenger service increased steadily<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">70</a></span> until a big snow-slide in one of
+the gulches shut up the road. I'll never forget that slide. It happened
+on the 26th of January. 'Lige and I were double-heading on nine coaches
+of passengers and when on a heavy grade in Alder Gulch, a slide of snow
+started from far up the mountain-side, swept over the track just ahead
+of us, carrying trees, telegraph poles and the track with it. We tried
+to stop, but 'Lige's engine got into it, and was carried sideways down
+some fifty or sixty feet. Mine contented herself with simply turning
+over, without hurting either myself or fireman&mdash;much to my satisfaction.</p>
+
+<p>'Lige fared worse. His reverse lever caught in his clothing and before
+he could get loose, the engine had stopped on her side, with 'Lige's
+feet and legs under her. He was not badly hurt except for the scalding
+water that poured upon him. As soon as we could see him, the fireman and
+I got hold of him and forcibly pulled him out of the wreck. His limbs
+were awfully burned&mdash;cooked would be nearer the word.</p>
+
+<div class='figcenter' style='width: 458px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="illus-002" id="illus-002"></a>
+<img src='images/p1-070.jpg' alt='"It was a strange courting ... there on that engine."' title='' width = '458' height = '307'/><br />
+<span class='caption'>"It was a strange courting ... there on that engine."</span>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">71</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The passengers crowded around, but did little good. One look was enough
+for most of them. There were ten or twelve women in the cars. They came
+out slowly, and stood timidly away from the hissing boilers, with one
+exception. This one came at once to the injured man, sat down in the
+snow, took his head in her lap, and taking a flask of liquor from her
+ulster pocket, gave poor 'Lige some with a little snow.</p>
+
+<p>I got the oil can and poured some oil over the burned parts to keep the
+air from them; we needed bandages, and I asked the ladies if they had
+anything we could use for the purpose. One young girl offered a
+handkerchief and another a shawl, but before they were accepted the cool
+woman holding 'Lige's head got up quickly, laying his head down tenderly
+on the snow, and without a word or attempt to get out of sight, pulled
+up her dress, and in a second kicked out two white skirts, and sat down
+again to cool 'Lige's brow.</p>
+
+<p>That woman attended 'Lige like a guardian angel until we got back to
+town late that afternoon. The hospital was not yet<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">72</a></span> in shape, so 'Lige
+was taken to the rather dreary and homeless quarters of the hotel.</p>
+
+<p>As quick as it was known that Elijah Clark was hurt, he had plenty of
+friends, male and female, who came to take care of him, but the woman
+who helped him live at the start came not; yet every day there were
+dainty viands, wine or books left at the house for him&mdash;but pains were
+taken to let no one know from whom they came.</p>
+
+<p>One day a month after the accident I sat beside 'Lige's bed when he told
+me that he was anticipating quite a discussion there that evening, as
+the hospital committee was going to meet to decide on the rules of the
+institution. "Wilcox and Gorman are set to open the house to those who
+have no part in our work and no sympathy with Christian institutions,
+and 'tain't right," said he. "Brother John, you can't do no good by
+prolonging the life of a brazen woman bent on vice."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you think, 'Lige," said I, "that you are a little hard on an
+unfortunate class of humanity, who, in nine cases out of ten, are the
+victims of others' wrong-doing, and stay<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">73</a></span> in the mire because no hand is
+extended to help them out? Think of the woman of Samaria. It's sinners,
+not saints, that need saving."</p>
+
+<p>"They are as a coiled serpent in the pathway of mankind, Brother John,
+fascinating, but poisonous. There can be no good in one of those
+creatures."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh yes there is, I'm sure," said I. "Why, 'Lige, don't you know who the
+woman was that gave you brandy, held your head, and used her skirts for
+bandages when you were hurt?"</p>
+
+<p>Old 'Lige raised up on his elbow, all eagerness. "No, John, I don't, but
+she wa'n't one of them. She was too thoughtful, too tender, too womanly.
+I've blessed her from that day to this, and though I don't know it, I
+think she has sent me all these wines and fruits. She saved my life. Who
+is she? Do you know?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes. She is Molly May, who keeps the largest dance-house in Cascade
+City. She makes lots of money, but spends it all in charity; there has
+never been a human being<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">74</a></span> buried by the town since she has been there.
+Molly May is a ministering angel to the poor and sick, but a bird of
+prey to those who wish to dissipate."</p>
+
+<p>The hospital was opened on Easter, and the first patient was a poor
+consumptive girl, but lately an inmate of the Red-Light dance-house.
+'Lige Clark did not run again; he became mayor of the little city, had
+faith in its future, invested his money in land and died rich some years
+ago.</p>
+
+<p>'Lige must have changed his mind as he grew older, or at least abandoned
+the idea that to crush out a wrong you should push it from all sides,
+and thus compress and intensify it at the heart, and come to the
+conclusion that the right way is to get inside and push out, thus
+separating and dissolving it. For before me lies the tenth annual
+prospectus of a now noted institution in one of the great cities of the
+continent, and on its title page, I read through the dimmed glasses of
+my spectacles: "Industrial Home and Refuge for Fallen Women. Founded by
+Elijah Clark. Mary E. May, Matron."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">75</a></span></p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="D" id="D"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">77</a></span>
+<h2>A PEG-LEGGED ROMANCE</h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>Some men are born heroes, some become heroic, and some have heroism
+thrust upon them; but nothing of the kind ever happened to me.</p>
+
+<p>I don't know how it is; but, some way or other, I remember all the
+railroad incidents I see or hear, and get to the bottom of most of the
+stories of the road. I must study them over more than most men do, or
+else the other fellows enjoy the comedies and deplore the tragedies, and
+say nothing. Sometimes I am mean enough to think that the romance, the
+dramas, and the tragedies of the road don't impress them as being as
+interesting as those of the plains, the Indians, or the seas&mdash;people are
+so apt to see only the everyday side of life anyway, and to draw all
+their romance and heroics from books.</p>
+
+<p>I helped make a hero once&mdash;no, I didn't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">78</a></span> either; I helped make the
+golden setting after the rough diamond had shown its value.</p>
+
+<p>Miles Diston pulled freight on our road a few years ago. He was of
+medium stature, dark complexion, but no beauty. He was a manly-looking
+fellow, well-educated enough, sober, and a steady-going, reliable
+engineer; you would never pick him out for a hero. Miles was young
+yet&mdash;not thirty&mdash;but, somehow or other, he had escaped matrimony: I
+guess he had never had time. He stayed on the farm at home until he was
+of age, and then went firing, so that when I first knew him he had
+barely got to his goal&mdash;the throttle.</p>
+
+<p>A good many men, when they first get there, take great interest in their
+work for a few months&mdash;until experience gives them confidence; then they
+take it easier, look around, and take some interest in other things.
+Most of them never hope to get above running, and so sit down more or
+less contented, get married, buy real estate, gamble, or grow fat, each
+according to the dictates<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">79</a></span> of his own conscience or the inclinations of
+his make-up. Miles figured a little on matrimony.</p>
+
+<p>I can't explain it; but when a railroad man is in trouble, he comes to
+me for advice, just as he would go to the company doctor for kidney
+complaint. I am a specialist in heart troubles. Miles came to me.</p>
+
+<p>Miles was like the rest of them. They don't come right down and say,
+"Something's the matter with me; what would you do for it?" No, sir!
+They hem and haw, and laugh off the symptoms, until you come right out
+and tell them just how they feel and explain the cause; then they will
+do anything you say. Miles hemmed and hawed a little, but soon came out
+and showed his symptoms&mdash;he asked me if I had ever noticed the
+"Frenchman's" girl.</p>
+
+<p>"The Frenchman," be it known, was our boss bridge carpenter. He lived at
+a small place half-way over my division&mdash;I was pulling express&mdash;and the
+freights stopped there, changing engines. I knew Venot, the bridge
+carpenter, very well; met him in lodge occasionally,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">80</a></span> and once in a
+while he rode on the engine with me to inspect bridges. His wife was a
+Canadian woman, and good-looking for her forty years and ten children.
+The daughter that was killing Miles Diston, Marie Venot, was the eldest,
+and had just graduated from some sisters' school. She was a very
+handsome girl, and you could read the romantic nature of her being
+through her big, round, gray eyes. She was vivacious, and loved to go;
+but she was a dutiful daughter, and at once took hold to help her mother
+in a way that made her all the more adorable in the eyes of practical
+men like Miles.</p>
+
+<p>Miles made the most of his opportunities.</p>
+
+<p>But, bless you, there were other eyes for good-looking girls besides
+those in poor Miles Diston's head, and he was far from having the field
+to himself; this he wanted badly, and came to get advice from me.</p>
+
+<p>I advised strongly against wasting energy to clear the field, and in
+favor of putting it all into making the best show and in getting ahead
+of all competitors. Under my advice,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">81</a></span> Miles disposed of some vacant
+lots, and bought a neat little house, put it in thorough order, and made
+the best of his opportunities with Marie.</p>
+
+<p>Marie came to our house regularly, and I had good opportunity to study
+her. She was a sensible little creature, and, to my mind, just the girl
+for Miles; as Miles was just the man for her. But she had confided to my
+wife the fact that she never, never could consent to marry and settle
+down in the regulation, humdrum way; she wanted to marry a hero, some
+one she could look up to&mdash;a king among men.</p>
+
+<p>My wife told her that kings and heroes were scarce just then, and that a
+lot of pretty good women managed to be comparatively happy with common
+railroad men. But Marie wanted a hero, and would hear of nothing less.</p>
+
+<p>It was during one of her visits to my house that Miles took Marie out
+for a ride and (accidentally, of course) dropped around by his new
+house, induced her to look at it, and told his story, asking her to
+make<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">82</a></span> the home complete. It would have caught almost any girl; but when
+Miles delivered her at our door and drove off, I knew that there would
+be a "For Rent" card on that house in a few days and that Marie Venot
+was bound to have a hero or nothing.</p>
+
+<p>Miles took his repulse calmly, but it hurt. He told me that Marie was
+hunting for a different kind of man from him; said that he thought
+perhaps if he would enlist, and go out to fight Sitting Bull, and come
+home in a new, brass-bound uniform, with a poisoned arrow sticking out
+of his breast, she would fall at his feet and worship him. She told him
+she liked him better than any of the town boys; his calling was noble
+enough and hard enough; but she failed to see her ideal hero in a man
+with blue overclothes on and cinders in his ears. If any of Miles's
+competitors had rescued a drowning child, or killed a bear with a
+penknife, at this juncture, I'm afraid Marie would have taken him. But,
+as I have indicated, it was a dull season for heroes.</p>
+
+<p>About this time our road invested in some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">83</a></span> mogul passenger engines, and
+I drew one. I didn't like the boiler sticking back between me and Dennis
+Rafferty. I didn't like six wheels connected. I didn't like a
+knuckle-joint in the side rod. I didn't like eighteen-inch cylinders. I
+was opposed to solid-end rods. And I am afraid I belonged to a class of
+ignorant, short-sighted, bull-headed engineers who didn't believe that a
+railroad had any right to buy anything but fifteen by twenty-two
+eight-wheelers&mdash;the smaller they were the more men they would want. I
+got over that a long time ago; but, at the time I write of, I was cranky
+about it. The moguls were high and short and jerky, and they tossed a
+man around like a rat in a corn-popper. One day, as I was chasing time
+over our worst division, holding on to the arm-rest and watching to see
+if the main frame touched the driving-boxes as she rolled, Dennis
+Rafferty punched me in the small of the back, and said: "Jahn, for the
+love ave the Vargin, lave up on her a minit. Oi does be chasing that
+dure for the lasth<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">84</a></span> twinty minits, and dang the wan'st has I hit it
+fair. She's the divil on th' dodge."</p>
+
+<p>Dennis had a pile of coal just inside and just outside of the door, the
+forward grates were bare, the steam was down, and I went in seven
+minutes late, too mad to eat&mdash;and that's pretty mad for me. I laid off,
+and Miles Diston took the high-roller out next trip.</p>
+
+<p>Miles didn't rant and write letters or poetry, or marry some one else to
+spite himself, or take the first steamer for Burraga, or Equatorial
+Africa, as rejected lovers in stories do. It hurt, and he didn't enjoy
+it, but he bore up all right, and went about his business, just as
+hundreds of other sensible men do every day. He gave up entirely,
+however, rented his house, and said he couldn't fill the bill&mdash;there
+wasn't a hero in his family as far back as he could remember.</p>
+
+<p>Miles had been making time with the Black Maria for about a week, when
+the big accident happened in our town. The boilers in a cotton mill blew
+up, and killed a score of girls and injured hundreds more. Miles was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">85</a></span> at
+the other end of the division, and they hurried him out to take a
+car-load of doctors down. They were given the right of the road, and
+Miles tested the speed of that mogul&mdash;proving that a pony truck would
+stay on the track at fifty miles an hour, which a lot of us "cranks" had
+disputed.</p>
+
+<p>A few miles out there is a coaling-station, and at that time they were
+building the chutes. One of the iron drop-aprons fell just before Miles
+with the mogul got to it; it smashed the headlight, dented the stack,
+ripped up the casing of the sand-box and dome, cut a slit in the jacket
+the length of the boiler, tore off the cab, struck the end of the first
+car, and then tore itself loose, and fell to the ground.</p>
+
+<p>The throttle was knocked wide open, and the mogul was flying. Miles was
+thrown down, his head cut open by a splinter, and his foot pretty badly
+hurt. He picked himself up instantly, and took a look back as he closed
+the throttle. Everything was "coming" all right, he remembered the
+emergency of the case, and opened the throttle<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">86</a></span> again. A hasty
+inspection showed the engine in condition to run&mdash;she only looked
+crippled. Miles had to stand up. His foot felt numb and weak, so he
+rested his weight on the other foot. He was afraid he would fall off if
+he became faint, and he had Dennis take off the bell-cord and tie it
+around his waist, throwing a loop over the reverse lever, as a measure
+of safety. The right side of the cab and all the roof were gone, so that
+Miles was in plain sight. The cut in his scalp bled profusely, and in
+trying to wipe the blood from his eyes, he merely spread it all over
+himself, so that he looked as if he had been half murdered.</p>
+
+<p>It was this apparition of wreck, ruin, and concentrated energy that
+Marie Venot saw flash past her father's door, hastening to the relief of
+the victims of a worse disaster, forty miles away.</p>
+
+<p>Her father came home for his dinner in a few minutes from his little
+office in the depot. To his daughter's eager inquiry he said there had
+been some big accident in town and the "extra" was carrying doctors
+from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">87</a></span> up the road. But what was the matter with the engine, he didn't
+know; it was the 170; so it was old man Alexander, he said&mdash;and that's
+the nearest I ever came to being a hero.</p>
+
+<p>Marie knew who was running the 170 pretty well; so after dinner she went
+to the telegraph office for information, and there she learned that the
+special had struck the new coal chute at Coalton and that the engineer
+was hurt. It was time she ran down to see Mrs. Alexander, she said, and
+that afternoon's regular delivered her in town.</p>
+
+<p>Like all other railroaders not better employed, I dropped round to the
+depot at train time to talk with the boys and keep track of things in
+general. The regular was late, but Miles Diston was coming with a
+special, and came while we were talking about it. Miles didn't realize
+how badly he was hurt until he stopped the mogul in front of the general
+office. So long as the excitement of the run was on, so long as he saw
+the absolute necessity of doing his whole duty until the desired end was
+accomplished, so long as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">88</a></span> he had a reputation to protect, his will power
+subordinated all else. But when several of us engineers ran up to the
+engine, we found Miles hanging to the reverse lever by his safety cord,
+in a dead faint. We carried him into the depot, and one of the doctors
+administered some restorative. Then we got a hack and started him and
+the doctor for my house; but Miles came to himself, and insisted on
+going to his boarding-house and nowhere else.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Bailey, Miles's boarding-house keeper, had been a trained nurse,
+but had a few years before invested in a rather disappointing
+matrimonial venture. She was one of the best nurses and one of the
+"crankiest" women I ever knew. I believe she was actually glad to see
+Miles come home hurt, just to show how she could pull him through.</p>
+
+<p>The doctor found that Miles had an ankle out of joint; the little toe
+was badly crushed; there was a bad cut in the leg, that had bled
+profusely; there was a black bruise over the short ribs on the right
+side, and there was a button-hole in the scalp that needed about<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">89</a></span> four
+stitches. The little toe was cut off without ceremony, the ankle
+replaced and hot bandages applied, and other repairs were made, which
+took up most of the afternoon.</p>
+
+<p>When the doctor got through, he called Mrs. Bailey and myself out into
+the parlor, and said that we must not let people crowd in to see the
+patient; that his wounds were not dangerous, but very painful; that
+Miles was weak from loss of blood, and that his constitution was not in
+particularly good condition. The doctor, in fact, thought that Miles
+would be in great luck if he got out of the scrape without a run of
+fever. Thereafter Mrs. Bailey referred all visitors to me. I talked with
+the doctor and the nurse, and we all agreed that it would stop most
+inquisitive people to simply say that the patient had suffered an
+amputation.</p>
+
+<p>That evening, when I went home, there were two anxious women-to receive
+me, and the younger of them looked suspiciously as if she had been
+crying. I told them something of the accident, how it all happened, and
+about Miles's injuries. Both of them<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">90</a></span> wanted to go right down and help
+"do something," but I told them of the doctor's order and of his fears.</p>
+
+<p>By this time the reporters came; and I called them into the parlor, and
+then let them pump me. I detailed the accident in full, but declined to
+tell anything about Miles or his history. "The fact is," said I, "that
+you people won't give an engineer his just dues. Now, if Miles Diston
+had been a fireman and had climbed down a ladder with a child, you would
+have his picture in the paper and call him a hero and all that sort of
+thing; but here is a man crushed, bleeding, with broken bones, and a
+crippled engine, who stands on one foot, lashed to his reverse lever,
+for eighty miles, and making the fastest time ever made over the road,
+because he knew that others were suffering for the relief he brought."</p>
+
+<p>"That's nerve," said one of the young men.</p>
+
+<p>"Nerve!" said I, "nerve! Why, that man knows no more about fear than a
+lion; and think of the sand of the man! This afternoon he sat up and
+watched the doctor perform that amputation without a quiver; he wouldn't
+take chloroform; he wouldn't even lie down."</p>
+
+<div class='figcenter' style='width: 489px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="illus-003" id="illus-003"></a>
+<img src='images/p1-100.jpg' alt='"We carried him into the depot."' title='' width = '489' height = '337'/><br />
+<span class='caption'>"We carried him into the depot."</span>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">91</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Was the amputation above or below the knee?" asked the reporter.</p>
+
+<p>"Below" (I didn't state how far).</p>
+
+<p>"Which foot?"</p>
+
+<p>"Left."</p>
+
+<p>"He is in no great danger?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, the doctor says he will be a very sick man for some time&mdash;if he
+recovers at all. Boys," I added, "there's one thing you might
+mention&mdash;and I think you ought to&mdash;and that is that it is such heroes as
+this that give a road its reputation; people feel as though they were
+safe behind such men."</p>
+
+<p>If Miles Diston had read the papers the next morning he would have died
+of flattery; the reporters did themselves proud, and they made a whole
+column of the "iron will and nerves of steel" shown in that "amputation
+without ether."</p>
+
+<p>Marie Venot was full of sympathy for Miles; she wanted to see him, but
+Mrs. Bailey<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">92</a></span> referred her to me, and she finally went home, still
+inquiring every day about him. I don't think she had much other feeling
+for him than pity. She was down again a week later, and I talked freely
+of going to pick out a wooden foot for Miles, who was improving right
+along.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, the papers far and near copied the articles about the "Hero
+of the Throttle," and the item about the road's interest in heroes
+attracted the attention of our general passenger agent&mdash;he liked the
+free advertising and wanted more of it&mdash;so he called me in one day, and
+asked if I knew of a choice run they could give Miles as a reward of
+merit.</p>
+
+<p>I told him, if he wanted to make a show of gratitude from the road, and
+get a big free advertisement in the papers, to have Miles appointed
+superintendent of the Spring Creek branch, where a practical man was
+needed, and then give it out "cold" that Miles had been rewarded by
+being made superintendent of the road. This was afterwards<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">93</a></span> done, with a
+great hurrah (in the papers).</p>
+
+<p>The second Sunday after Miles was hurt, Marie was down, and I thought
+I'd have a little fun with her, and see how she regarded Miles.</p>
+
+<p>"There's quite a romance connected with Diston's affair," said I at the
+dinner table, rather carelessly. "There is a young lady visiting here in
+town&mdash;I hear she is very wealthy&mdash;who saw Miles when we took him off
+his engine. She sends flowers every day, calls him her hero, and is just
+crazy for him to get well so she can see him."</p>
+
+<p>"Who is she, did you say?" asked my wife.</p>
+
+<p>"I forgot her name," said I, "but I am here to tell you that she will
+get Miles if there is any chance in the world. Her father is an army
+officer, but she says that Miles Diston is a greater hero than the army
+ever produced."</p>
+
+<p>"She's a hussy," said Marie.</p>
+
+<p>I don't know whether you would call that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">94</a></span> a bull or a bear movement on
+the Diston stock, but it went up&mdash;I could see that.</p>
+
+<p>A week later Miles was able to come down to our house for dinner, and my
+wife asked Marie to come also. I met her at the depot, and after she was
+safe in the buggy, I told her that Miles was up at the house. She nearly
+jumped out; but I quieted her, and told her she mustn't notice or say a
+word about Miles's game leg, as he was extremely sensitive about it.</p>
+
+<p>My wife was in the kitchen, and I went to the barn to put out the horse.
+Marie went to the sitting-room to avoid the parlor and Miles, but he was
+there, I guess, and Marie found her hero, for when they came out to
+dinner he had his arm around her. They were married a month later, and
+went to Washington, stopping to see us on the way back.</p>
+
+<p>As I came home that night with my patent dinner pail, and with two rows
+of wrinkles and a load of responsibility on my brow, Marie shook her
+fist in my face and called me "an old story-teller."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">95</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Story-teller," said I; "what story?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, what story? That <i>leg</i> story, of course, you old cheat."</p>
+
+<p>"What leg story?"</p>
+
+<p>"Old innocence; that amputation below the knee&mdash;you know."</p>
+
+<p>"Wa'n't it below the knee?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, but it was only the little toe."</p>
+
+<p>"John," said Miles, "she cried when she looked for that wooden foot and
+only found a slightly flat wheel."</p>
+
+<p>"That's just like 'em," said I. "Here Marie only expected a part of a
+hero, and we give her a whole man, and she kicks&mdash;that's gratitude for
+you."</p>
+
+<p>"I got my hero all right, though," said Marie; "you told me a big fib
+just the same, but I could kiss you for it."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you do that," said I; "but if the Lord should send you many
+blessings, and any of 'em are boys, you might name one after me."</p>
+
+<p>She said she'd do it&mdash;and she did.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">96</a></span></p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="E" id="E"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">99</a></span>
+<h2>MY LADY OF THE EYES</h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>One morning, some years ago, I struck the general master mechanic of a
+Rocky Mountain road for a job as an engineer&mdash;I needed a job pretty
+badly.</p>
+
+<p>As quick as the M. M. found that I could handle air on two hundred foot
+grades, he was as tickled as I was; engineers were not plenty in the
+country then, so many deserted to go to the mines.</p>
+
+<p>"The 'III' will be out in a couple of days, and you can have her
+regular, unless Hopkins comes back," said he.</p>
+
+<p>I hustled around for a room and made my peace with the boarding-house
+people before I reported to break in the big consolidation that was to
+fall to my care.</p>
+
+<p>She was big and black and ugly and new, and her fresh fire made the
+asphalt paint on her fire-box and front-end stink in that peculiar<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">100</a></span> and
+familiar way given to recently rebuilt engines; but it smelt better to
+me than all the perfumes of Arabia.</p>
+
+<p>A good-natured engineer came out on the ash-pit track to welcome me to
+the West and the road, and incidentally to remark that it was a great
+relief to the gang that I had come as I did.</p>
+
+<p>"Why," I asked, "are you so short-handed that you are doubling and
+trebling?" "No, but they are afraid that some of 'em will have to take
+out the 'III'&mdash;she is a holy terror."</p>
+
+<p>Hadn't she been burned the first trip? Didn't she kill Jim O'Neil with
+the reverse lever? Hadn't she lain down on the bed of the Arkansas river
+and wallowed on "Scar Face" Hopkins, and he not up yet? Hadn't she run
+away time and again without cause or provocation?</p>
+
+<p>But a fellow that has needed a job for six months will tackle almost
+anything, and I tackled the "holy terror."</p>
+
+<p>In fixing up the cab, I noticed an extra bracket beside the steam gage
+for a clock,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">101</a></span> and mentally noted that it would come in handy just as
+soon as I had a twenty dollar bill to spare for one of those jeweled,
+nickle-plated, side-winding clocks, that are the pride and comfort of
+those particular engineers who want nice things, with their names
+engraved on the case.</p>
+
+<p>Before I had got everything ready to take the "three aces" over the
+turn-table for her breaking-in trip, the foreman of the back-shop came
+out with a package done up in a pair of old overalls, and said that here
+was Hopkins's clock, which I might as well use until he got around
+again&mdash;'fraid someone would steal it if left in his office.</p>
+
+<p>Hopkins's clock was put on its old bracket.</p>
+
+<p>Hopkins must have been one of those particular engineers; his clock was
+a fine one; "S. H. Hopkins" was engraved on the case in German text. The
+lower half of the dial was black with white figures, the upper half
+white with black figures. But what struck me was part of a woman's face
+burned into the enamel. Just half of this face showed,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">102</a></span> that on the
+white part of the dial; the black half hid the rest.</p>
+
+<p>It was the face, or part of the face, of a handsome young woman with
+hair parted in the middle and waved back over the ears, a broad
+forehead, and such glorious eyes&mdash;eyes that looked straight into yours
+from every view point&mdash;honest eyes&mdash;reproving eyes&mdash;laughing
+eyes&mdash;loving eyes. I mentally named the picture "Her Eyes."</p>
+
+<p>Now, I was not and am not sentimental or superstitious. I'd been married
+and helped wean a baby or two even then, but those eyes bothered me.
+They hunted mine and looked at me and asked me questions and made me
+forget things, and made me think and dream and speculate; all of which
+are sheer suicide for a locomotive engineer.</p>
+
+<p>I got a switchman and started out to limber up the "III." I asked him to
+let me out on the main line, took a five-mile spin, and sidetracked for
+a freight train. While the man was unlocking the switch, I looked into
+the eyes and wondered what their owner was, or could be, or had been, to
+"Scar Faced"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">103</a></span> Hopkins, and&mdash;ran off the switch. Then I wondered if
+Hopkins was looking into those eyes when he and the "III" went into the
+Arkansas river that dark night.</p>
+
+<p>A few days after this the "III," Dennis Rafferty and I went into the
+regular freight service of the road.</p>
+
+<p>On the first trip, when half way up Greenhall grade, I glanced at the
+clock and was startled. The "Eyes" were looking at me; there was a
+scared, pained look, a you-must-do-something look in the eyes, or it
+seemed to me there was.</p>
+
+<p>"Damn that clock," said I to myself, "I'm getting superstitious or have
+softening of the brain," and I reached over to open the front door, so
+that the breeze could cool me off. In doing so my hand touched the water
+pipe to the injector&mdash;it was hot. The closed overflow injector was new
+to merit had "broke," and was blowing steam back to the tank that I
+thought was putting water into the boiler. I put it to work properly and
+"felt of the water:" there was just a flutter in the lower gage cock; in
+five minutes the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">104</a></span> crown sheet and my reputation would have been burned
+beyond recognition. Those eyes were good for something after all.</p>
+
+<p>I looked at them and they were calm. "It's all right now, but be
+careful," they said.</p>
+
+<p>Dennis Rafferty had troubles of his own. The liner came off the new fire
+door letting the door get red hot, but it wasn't half as hot as Dennis.
+He hammered it with the coal pick and burned his hands and swore, and
+Dennis was an artist in profanity. He stepped up into the cab wiping his
+face on his sleeve, and ripping the English and profane languages into
+tatters; but he stopped short in the middle of an oath and looked
+ashamed, glanced at me, crossed himself and went back to his work
+quietly. When he came back into the cab, I asked him what choked him so
+sudden.</p>
+
+<p>"Her," said he, nodding his head toward the clock. "Howly Mither, man,
+she looked hurted and sorry-like, same's me owld mither uster, whin I
+was noctious with the blasthfemry." So the "Eyes" were on Dennis,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">105</a></span> too.
+That took some of the conceit out of me, I was getting foolish about the
+eyes.</p>
+
+<p>We had a time order against a passenger train, it would be sharp work to
+make the next station, the train was heavy, the road and the engine new
+to me, and I hesitated. The conductor was dubious but said the "204" or
+Frosty Keeler could do it any day of the week. I looked at my watch and
+then at the clock. The eyes looked "Yes, go, you can do it easily; the
+'III' will do all you ask; trust her." I went, and as we pulled our
+caboose in to clear and before the express whistled for the junction,
+the eyes looked "Didn't I tell you; wasn't that splendid." Those eyes
+had been over the road more than I had, and knew the "III" better. I
+would trust the eyes.</p>
+
+<p>On the return trip, a night run, I had a big train and a bad rail, but
+the "III" did splendid work and made her time while "Her Eyes" approved
+every move I made, smiled at me and admired my handling of the engine.
+The conductor unbent enough to send over word that it was the best run<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">106</a></span>
+he'd ever had from a new man, but the "Eyes" looked, "That's nothing,
+you can do it every time, I know you can."</p>
+
+<p>Half over the division, we took a siding for the "Cannon Ball." We
+cleared her ten minutes and I had time to oil around while Dennis
+cleaned his fire. I climbed up into the cab, wiping the long oiler and
+glanced at the clock. The "Eyes" were looking wild alarm&mdash;"do something
+quick." The "Eyes" had the look, or seemed to me to have the look, you
+might expect in those of a bound woman who sees a child at the stake
+just before the fire is lighted&mdash;immeasurable pain, pity, appeal. I
+tried the water, unconsciously; it was all right. I stepped into the
+gangway and glanced back. Our tail-lights were "in" and the white light
+of the switch flashed safely there, and we had backed in any way. I
+glanced ahead. The switch light was white, the target showed main line
+plainly, for my headlight shone on it full and clear. What could be the
+matter with "Her Eyes."</p>
+
+<p>As I turned to enter the cab the roar of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">107</a></span> the coming express came down
+the wind on the frosty air and my eyes fell on the rail ahead. My God,
+they were full to the siding! It was a stub-rail switch, and the stand
+had moved the target and the light, but not the rails&mdash;the bridle-rod
+was broken.</p>
+
+<p>I yelled like a mad man, but the brakeman had gone to the caboose for
+his lunch pail. I ran to the switch. It was useless. I fought it an
+instant and then turned to the rails. Putting my foot against the main
+line rail, I grasped the switch rail and throwing all my strength into
+the effort, jerked it-over to the main line, but would it stay until the
+train passed over? I felt sure it would not. I looked about for
+something to hold it. Part of a broken pin was the only thing in sight.
+The headlight of the express shone in my face, and something seemed to
+say, "This is your trial, do something quick." I threw myself prone on
+the ground, my head near the rails, and held the broken pin between the
+end of the siding rail and the main line. The switch rails could not be
+forced over without shearing off the pin. The corner of the pilot<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">108</a></span> of
+the flying demon caught my right sleeve and tore it off, and the cloth
+threw the cylinder cocks open with a hiss, the wind and dust blinded and
+shook me, and the rails hammered and bruised and pinched my hand, but I
+held on. Twenty seconds later I sat watching the red lights of the tenth
+sleeper whip themselves out of sight. Then I went back to the cab, and
+"Her Eyes" glorified me. "God bless your dear eyes," said I, "where
+would we have all been now but for you?"</p>
+
+<p>But the "Eyes" deprecated my remarks, and looked me upon a pedestal, but
+the company doctor dressed my hand the next day, and the superintendent
+gave the whole crew ten days for backing into that siding.</p>
+
+<p>Another round trip, and I fear I watched "Her Eyes" more than the
+signals and the track ahead. "Her Eyes" decided for me, chose for me,
+approved and disapproved. I was running by "Her Eyes."</p>
+
+<p>In a telegraph office they asked me if I could do something in a certain
+time and I was dazed. I didn't give my usual quick decision,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">109</a></span> my
+judgment was wobbly and uncertain. I must look at my clock&mdash;and "Her
+Eyes." I went out to the "III" to consult them, lost my chance and was
+"put in the hole" all over the division by the disgusted dispatcher.</p>
+
+<p>Then I got to thinking and moralizing and sitting in judgment on my
+thraldom. Was I running the "III" or was "Her Eyes?" Did the company pay
+me for my knowledge, judgment, experience and skill in handling a
+locomotive, or for obeying orders from "Her Eyes." Any fool could obey
+orders.</p>
+
+<p>Then I declared for liberty, but I kept away from "Her Eyes." I declared
+for liberty in the roundhouse.</p>
+
+<p>I am a man of decision, and no sooner had I taken this oath than I got a
+screw driver, climbed into the cab of the "III," without looking at "Her
+Eyes," held my hand over the face of the clock and took it down. I
+wrapped it up and took it back to the foreman.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, yes," said he, "'Scar Face' was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">110</a></span> here for it this morning. He's
+round somewhere yet. Ain't goin' to railroad no more, goin' into the
+real estate business. He's got money, so's his wife&mdash;daffool he didn't
+quit long ago."</p>
+
+<p>"If 'Scar Face' Hopkins puts that clock over his desk and trusts 'Her
+Eyes,' he'll get rich," thought I. Perhaps, though, those eyes don't
+reach the soul of "Scar Face" Hopkins; perhaps he don't see them change
+as I did; men are conceited that way.</p>
+
+<p>During the next month I got acquainted with "Scar Face" Hopkins, who was
+a first-class fellow, with a hand-clasp like a polar bear, a heart like
+a steam pulsometer, and a face that looked as if it might have been used
+for the butting post at the end of the world.</p>
+
+<p>"Scar Face" Hopkins got all his scars in the battle of life. Men who
+command locomotives on the firing line often get hurt, but Hopkins had
+votes of thanks from officials and testimonials from men, and
+life-saver's medals from two governments to show that his scars were the
+brands of honorable degrees conferred by the Almighty on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">111</a></span> the field for
+brave and heroic deeds well done.</p>
+
+<p>"Scar Face" Hopkins was a fellow you'd like to get up close to of a
+night and talk with, and smoke with, and think with, until unlawful
+hours.</p>
+
+<p>One day I went into his office and the clock was there, and his old
+torch and a nickle-plated oiler, mementoes of the field. I looked at the
+clock, and "Her Eyes" smiled at me, or I thought they did, and said,
+just as plain as words, "Glad to see you, dear friend; sit down." But I
+turned my back to that clock; I can resist temptation when I know where
+it is coming from.</p>
+
+<p>One day, a few weeks later, I stopped before a store window in a crowd
+to examine some pictures, satisfied my curiosity, and in stepping back
+to go away, put the heel of my number ten on a lady's foot with that
+peculiar "craunch" that you know hurts. I turned to make an apology, and
+faced the original of the picture on the clock. A beautiful pair of
+eyes, the rest of the face was hidden by a peculiar arrangement of veil
+that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">112</a></span> crossed the bridge of the nose and went around the ears and neck.</p>
+
+<p>Those eyes, full of pain at first, changed instantly to frank
+forgiveness, and, bowing low, I repeated my plea for pardon for my
+clumsy carelessness, but was absolved so absolutely and completely, and
+dismissed so naturally, that I felt relieved.</p>
+
+<p>I sauntered up to Hopkins' office. "Hopkins," said I, "I just met your
+wife."</p>
+
+<p>"You did?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, and I stepped on her foot and hurt her badly, I know." Then I told
+him about it.</p>
+
+<p>"What did she say?" asked Hopkins, and I noticed a queer look. I thought
+it might be jealousy.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, well, why I don't know as I remember, but it was very kindly and
+ladylike."</p>
+
+<p>There was a queer expression on Hopkins' face.</p>
+
+<p>"Of course&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Sure she spoke?" asked Hopkins. "How did you know it was my wife
+anyway?"</p>
+
+<p>"Because it was the same face that is pictured<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">113</a></span> on your clock, and some
+one in the crowd said it was Mrs. Hopkins. You know Hop., I ran by that
+clock for a few weeks, and I noticed the eyes."</p>
+
+<p>"Anything queer about 'em?" This was a challenge.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I think there is. In the first place, I know you will understand
+me when I say they are handsome eyes, and I'm free to confess that they
+had a queer influence on me, I imagined they changed and expressed
+things and&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Talked, eh."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, yes." Then I told Hopkins the influence the "Eyes" had on me.</p>
+
+<p>He listened intently, watching me; when I had finished, he came over,
+reached out his hand and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Shake, friend, you're a damned good fellow."</p>
+
+<p>I thought Hopkins had been drinking&mdash;or looking at "Her Eyes." He pulled
+up a chair and lit a cigar.</p>
+
+<p>"John," said he, "it isn't every man that can understand what my wife
+says. Only<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">114</a></span> kindred spirits can read the language of the eyes. <i>She
+hasn't spoken an audible word in ten years</i>, but she talks with her
+eyes, even her picture talks. We, rather she, is a mystery here; people
+believe all kinds of things about her and us; but we don't care. I want
+you to come up to the house some evening and know her better. We'll be
+three chums, I know it, but don't ask questions; you will know things
+later on."</p>
+
+<p>Before I ever went to Hopkins' house, he had told her all about me, and
+when he introduced us, he said:</p>
+
+<p>"Madeline, this is the friend who says your picture talked to him."</p>
+
+<p>I bowed low to the lady and tried to put myself and her at ease.</p>
+
+<p>"Mrs. Hopkins, I'm afraid your husband is poking fun at me, and thinks
+my liver is out of order, but, really, I did imagine I saw changing
+expression in your eyes in that picture&mdash;in fact, I named you 'My Lady
+of the Eyes.'"</p>
+
+<p>She laughed&mdash;with her eyes&mdash;held out her hands and made me welcome.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">115</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"That name is something like mine," said Hopkins, "I call her Talking
+Eyes.'"</p>
+
+<p>Then Hopkins brought in his little three-year-old daughter, who
+immediately climbed on my knee, captured my watch, and asked:</p>
+
+<p>"What oo name?"</p>
+
+<p>"John," said I.</p>
+
+<p>"Don, Don," she repeated; "my name Maddie."</p>
+
+<p>"That's Daddy's chum," put in Hopkins.</p>
+
+<p>"Tum," repeated Maddie.</p>
+
+<p>"Uncle Chummy," said Hopkins.</p>
+
+<p>"Untle Tummie."</p>
+
+<p>And I was "Untle Tummie" to little Madeline and "Chummy" to Hopkins and
+his wife from then on.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Hopkins wore her veil at home as well as abroad, but it was so
+neatly arranged and worn so naturally that I soon became entirely used
+to it, in fact, didn't notice it. Otherwise, she was a well-dressed,
+handsomely set up woman, a splendid musician and a capital companion.
+She sat at her work listening, while Hopkins and I "railroaded" and
+argued about politics, and religion<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">116</a></span> and everything else under the sun.
+Mrs. Hopkins took sides freely; a glance at her eyes told where she
+stood on any question.</p>
+
+<p>Between "Scar Face" Hopkins and his handsome wife there appeared to be
+perfect sympathy and confidence. Sitting in silence, they glanced from
+one to the other now and again, smiled, nodded&mdash;and understood.</p>
+
+<p>I was barred from the house for a month during the winter because little
+Madeline had the scarlet fever, then epidemic, but it was reported a
+light case and I contented myself with sending her toys and candy.</p>
+
+<p>One day I dropped into Hopkins' office to make inquiry, when a clerk
+told me Hopkins had not been to the office for several days. Mrs.
+Hopkins was sick. I made another round trip and inquired again, and got
+the same answer; then I went up to the house.</p>
+
+<p>The officious quarantine guard was still walking up and down in front of
+the Hopkins residence. To a single inquiry, this voluble functionary
+volunteered the information<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">117</a></span> that the baby was all right now, but the
+lady herself was very sick with scarlet fever. Hopkins was most crazy,
+no trained nurses could be had for love nor money, the doctor was coming
+three times a day, and did I know that Mrs. Hopkins was some kind of a
+foreign Dago, and the whole outfit "queer?"</p>
+
+<p>Hopkins was in trouble; I pushed open the gate and started up the walk.</p>
+
+<p>"Hey, young feller, where yer goin'," demanded the guard.</p>
+
+<p>"Into the house, of course."</p>
+
+<p>"D'ye know if you go in ye got to stay for the next two weeks?"</p>
+
+<p>"Perfectly."</p>
+
+<p>"Then go on, you darned fool."</p>
+
+<p>And I went on.</p>
+
+<p>Hopkins met me, hollow-eyed and haggard.</p>
+
+<p>"Chum," said he, "you've come to prison, but I'm glad. Help is out of
+reach. If you can take care of Maddie, the girl will do the cooking and
+I will&mdash;I will do my duty."</p>
+
+<p>And night and day he did do his duty,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">118</a></span> being alone with his wife except
+for the few moments of the doctor's calls.</p>
+
+<p>One evening, after my little charge had been put to sleep downstairs by
+complying with her invariable order to "tell me a 'tory 'bout when oo
+was a 'ittle teenty weenty boy," the doctor came down with a grave face.</p>
+
+<p>"Our patient has reached the worst stage&mdash;delirium. The turn will come
+to-night. Poor Hopkins is about worn out, and I'm afraid may need you.
+Please don't go to bed; be 'on call.'"</p>
+
+<p>One hour, two hours, I sat there without hearing a sound from upstairs.
+I was drowsy and remembering that I had missed my evening smoke I
+lighted my pipe, silently opened the front door and stepped out upon the
+porch to get a whiff of fresh air. It was a still dark night, and I
+tiptoed down to the end that overlooked the city and stood looking at
+the lights and listening to the music of the switch engines in the yards
+below the hill. The porch was in darkness except the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">119</a></span> broad beam of
+light from the hall gas jet through the open door.</p>
+
+<p>The lights below made me think of home and my wife and little ones
+sleeping safely, I hoped, close to the coastwise lights of the Old
+Colony.</p>
+
+<p>I thought I heard a stealthy footfall behind me, and turned around to
+face an apparition that made the cold chill creep up my back. If ever
+there was a ghost, this must be one, an object in white not six feet
+from me.</p>
+
+<p>I'm not at all afraid of ghosts when I reach my second wind, and I
+grabbed at this one. It moved backward silently and as I made a quick
+step toward it that specter let out the most blood-curdling yell I ever
+heard&mdash;the shriek of a maniac.</p>
+
+<p>I stepped quicker now, but it moved away until it stood in the flood of
+light from the doorway, and then I saw a sight that took all the
+strength out of me. The most awful and frightful face I ever beheld,
+and,&mdash;it was the face of Madeline Hopkins.</p>
+
+<p>The neck and jaw and mouth were drawn<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">120</a></span> and seamed and scarred in a
+frightful and hideous manner, the teeth protruded and the mouth was
+drawn to one side in a frightful leer; above that was all the beauty of
+"My Lady of the Eyes."</p>
+
+<p>For a moment I was dumb and powerless, and in that moment Hopkins
+appeared with a bound, and between us we captured my poor friend's wife
+and struggled and fought with her up the long stairs and back to her
+bed.</p>
+
+<p>Sitting one on either side, we had all we could do to hold her hands.
+She would lift us both to our feet, she was struggling desperately, and
+the eyes were the eyes of a tigress.</p>
+
+<p>When this strain was at its worst and every nerve on edge, another
+scream from behind us cut our ears like a needle, the eyes of the
+tigress as well as ours sought the door, and there in her golden curls
+and white "nightie" stood little Madeline. The eyes of the tigress
+softened to tenderest love, and with a bound, the baby was on her
+mother's breast, her arms around her neck, and she was saying,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">121</a></span> "Poor
+Mama, what they doin' to poor Mama?"</p>
+
+<p>"My darling, my darling," said the mother in the sweetest of tones.</p>
+
+<p>I unconsciously released my hold upon the arm I held, and she drew the
+sheet up and covered her face as I was wont to see it, and held it
+there. With the other, she gently stroked the baby curls.</p>
+
+<p>I watched this transformation as if under a spell.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly she turned her head toward Hopkins, her eyes full of tenderness
+and pity and love, reached out her hand and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Steadman, my voice has come back, God has taken off the curse."</p>
+
+<p>But poor Hopkins was on his knees beside the bed, his face buried in his
+arms, his strong shoulders heaving and pitiful sobs breaking from his
+very heart.</p>
+
+<p>A couple of months afterward I resigned to go back to God's country, the
+home of the east wind, and where I could know my own children and speak
+to my own wife without<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">122</a></span> an introduction, and the Hopkins invited me to a
+farewell dinner.</p>
+
+<p>"My Lady of the Eyes" presided, looking handsomer and stronger than
+usual, but she didn't eat with us. But with eyes and voice she
+entertained us so royally and pleasantly that Hopkins and I did eating
+enough for all.</p>
+
+<p>After supper, Hop. and I lighted our cigars and "railroaded" for awhile,
+then "Her Eyes" went to the piano and sang a dozen songs as only a
+trained singer can. Her voice was wonderfully sweet and low. They were
+old songs, but they seemed the better for that, and while she sang
+Hopkins's cigar went out and he just gazed at her with pride and joy in
+every lineament of his scarred and furrowed face.</p>
+
+<p>Little Maddie was allowed to sit up in honor of "Untle Tummy," but after
+awhile the little head bobbed quietly and the little chin fell between
+the verses of her mother's song, and "My Lady of the Eyes" took her by
+the hand and brought her over to us.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">123</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Tell papa good-night and Uncle Chum my good-bye, dear, and we'll go to
+bed."</p>
+
+<p>Hopkins kissed the baby, and I got my hug, and another to take to my
+"ittle dirl," and Mrs. Hopkins held out both her hands to me.</p>
+
+<p>"Good-bye, dear Chum," said she, "my love to you and yours, now and
+always."</p>
+
+<p>Hopkins put his arm around his wife, kissed her forehead and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Sweetheart, I'm going to tell Chum a story."</p>
+
+<p>"And don't forget the hero," said she, and turning to me, "Don't believe
+all he says, and don't blame those that he blames, and remember that
+what is, is best, and seeming calamities are often blessings in
+disguise."</p>
+
+<p>Hopkins and I looked into each other's faces and smoked in silence for
+ten minutes, then he turned to his secretary and, opening a drawer, took
+out a couple of cases and opened them. They contained medals. Then he
+opened a package of letters and selected one or two. We lighted fresh
+cigars and Hopkins began his story.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">124</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"My father was a pretty well-to-do business man and I his only child. My
+mother died when I was young. I managed to get through a grammar school
+and went to college. I wanted to go on the road from the time I could
+remember and had no ambition higher than to run a locomotive. That was
+my ideal of life.</p>
+
+<p>"My father opposed this very strenuously, and offered to let me go to
+work if I'd select something decent&mdash;that's the way he put it. He used
+to say, 'Try a brick-yard, you might own one some day, you'll never own
+a railroad.' I had my choice, college or something decent,' and I took
+the college, although I didn't like it.</p>
+
+<p>"The summer before I came of age my father died suddenly and my college
+life ended."</p>
+
+<p>Here Hopkins fumbled around in his papers and selected one.</p>
+
+<p>"Just to show you how odd my father was, here is the text of his will,
+leaving out the legal slush that lawyers always pack their papers in:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">125</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"'To my son, Steadman Hudson Hopkins, I leave one thousand dollars to be
+paid immediately on my demise. All the residue of my estate consisting
+of etc., etc.'&mdash;six figures, Chum, a snug little wad&mdash;'shall be placed
+in the hands of three trustees'&mdash;naming the presidents of three
+banks&mdash;'to be invested by them in state, municipal or government bonds,
+principal and interest accruing to be paid by said trustees to my son
+hereinbefore mentioned when he has pursued one calling, with average
+success, for ten consecutive years, and not until then. All in the best
+judgment of the trustees aforenamed.</p>
+
+<p>"'To my son I also bequeath this fatherly advice, knowing the waste of
+money by heirs who have done nothing to produce it, and knowing that had
+I been given a fortune at the beginning of my career, it would have been
+lost for lack of business experience, and knowing too, the waste of time
+usually made by young men who drift from one employment or occupation to
+another'&mdash;having wasted fifteen years of my own life in this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">126</a></span> way&mdash;I
+make these provisions in this my last will and testament, believing that
+in the end, if not now, my son will see the wisdom of this provision,
+etc., etc.'</p>
+
+<p>"The governor had a long, clear head and he knew me and young men in
+general, but bless you, I thought he was a little mean at the time.</p>
+
+<p>"I turned to the trustees and asked what they would consider as
+fulfilling the requirements of the will.</p>
+
+<p>"'Any honorable employment,' answered the oldest man of the trio.</p>
+
+<p>"The next day, I went to see Andy Bridges, general superintendent of the
+old home road, who had been a friend of father's, and told him I wanted
+to go railroading. He offered to put me in his office, but I insisted on
+the footboard, and to make a long story short, was firing inside of
+three weeks and running inside of three years.</p>
+
+<p>"I was the proudest young prig that ever pulled a throttle. I always
+loved the work and&mdash;well, you know how the first five years<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">127</a></span> of it
+absorbs you if you are cut out for it and like it and intend to stay at
+it.</p>
+
+<p>"I had been running about two years, and had paid about as much
+attention to young women as I had to the subject of astronomy, until
+Madelene Bridges came out of a Southern convent to make her home with
+her uncle, our 'old man.'</p>
+
+<p>"The first time I saw her I went clean, stark, raving, blind, drunken
+daft over her. I tried to argue and reason myself out of it, but it was
+no go. I didn't even know who she was then.</p>
+
+<p>"But I was in love and, being so, wasn't hardly safe on the road.</p>
+
+<p>"Then I spruced up and started in to see if I couldn't interest her in
+me half as much as I was interested in her.</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't have much trouble to get a start, for Andy Bridges had come up
+from the ranks and hadn't forgotten it&mdash;most of 'em do&mdash;and welcomed any
+decent young man in his house, even if he was a car hand. Madelene had a
+couple of marriageable cousins then and that may account for old Andy.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">128</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I got on pretty well at first, for I was first in the field. I got in a
+theatre or two before the other young fellows caught on. About this time
+there was a dance, and I lost my grip. I took Madelene but couldn't
+dance, and all the others could, especially Dandy Tamplin, one of the
+train despatchers.</p>
+
+<p>"I took private dancing lessons, however, and squared myself that way.</p>
+
+<p>"Singing was a favorite mode of passing the evenings with the young
+folks at the Bridges's home, and I cursed myself for being tuneless.</p>
+
+<p>"It finally settled down to a race between Tamplin and myself, and each
+of us was doing his level best. I was so dead in earnest and so truly in
+love that I was no fit company for man or beast, and I'm afraid I was
+twice as awkward and dull in Madelene's presence as in any other place.</p>
+
+<p>"Dandy Tamplin was a handsome young fellow, and a formidable rival, for
+he was always well-dressed, a good talker and more or less of a lady's
+man. Besides that, he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">129</a></span> was on the ground all the time and I had to be
+away two-thirds of the time on my runs.</p>
+
+<p>"I came in one trip determined to know my fate that very evening&mdash;had my
+little piece all committed to memory.</p>
+
+<p>"As I registered I heard one of the other despatchers, behind a
+partition, telling some one that he was going to work Dandy's trick
+until eleven o'clock, and then the two entered into a discussion of
+Dandy's quest of the 'old man's' niece, one of them remarking that all
+the opposition he had was Hopkins and that wasn't worth considering. I
+resolved to get to Bridges's ahead of Tamplin.</p>
+
+<p>"But man&mdash;railroad man, anyway&mdash;proposes and the superintendent
+disposes. I met Bridges at the door.</p>
+
+<p>"'Hopkins,' said he, 'I want you to do me a personal favor.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Yes, sir,'</p>
+
+<p>"'I want you to double out in half an hour on some perishable freight
+that's coming in from the West; there isn't one available engine in.
+Will you do it?'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">130</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"'Yes,' I answered, slowly, showing my disappointment. 'But, Mr.
+Bridges, I was particularly anxious to go up to your house to-night; I
+intend to ask&mdash;'</p>
+
+<p>"'I know, I know,' said he kindly, taking my hand; 'It'll be all right I
+hope; there ain't another young chap I'd like to see go up <i>and stay</i>
+better than you, but my son, <i>she will keep</i>, and this freight wont. You
+go out, and I'll promise that no one shall get a chance to ask ahead of
+you.' This was a friend at court and a strong one.</p>
+
+<p>"'It means a lot to me,' said I</p>
+
+<p>"'I know it my boy, and I'm proud to have you say so right out in
+meeting, but&mdash;well, you get those fruit cars in by moonlight, and I'll
+have you back light, and you can have the front parlor for a week.'</p>
+
+<p>"On my return trip, I found a big Howe truss bridge on fire and didn't
+get in for two days. The road was blocked, everything out of gear and I
+had to double back again, whether or no.</p>
+
+<p>"I was 'chewing the rag' with a roundhouse<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">131</a></span> foreman about it when Old
+Andy came along.</p>
+
+<p>"'Go on, Hopkins,' said he, 'and you can lay off when you get back. I'm
+going South with my car <i>and will take the girls with me</i>!'</p>
+
+<p>"That was hint enough, and I said yes.</p>
+
+<p>"It was in the evening, and while the fireman and I got our supper, the
+hostler turned my engine, coaled her up, took water and stood her on the
+north branch track, next the head end of her train, that had not yet
+been entirely made up.</p>
+
+<p>"This north branch came into the south and west divisions off a very
+heavy grade and on a curve, the view being cut off at this point by
+buildings close to the track. The engine herself stood close to the
+office building, and after oiling around, I backed on to the train,
+bringing my cab right opposite a window in the despatcher's office. Just
+before this open window and facing me sat Dandy Tamplin at his key. I
+hated Dandy Tamplin.</p>
+
+<p>"It was dark outside and in the cab, the conductor had given me my
+orders and said<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">132</a></span> we'd go just as quick as the pony found a couple of
+cars more and put them on the hind end. Dennis had put in a big fire for
+the hill, and then gone skylarking around the station, and I was in the
+dark glaring at Dandy Tamplin in the light.</p>
+
+<p>"The blow-off cock on this engine was on the right side and opened from
+the cab. Ordinarily, you pulled the handle up, but the last time the
+boiler was washed out they had turned the plug cock half over and the
+handle stuck up through the deck among the oil cans ahead of the reverse
+lever, and opened by pushing it down. I remember thinking it was
+dangerous, as a man might accidentally open it. On the cock was a piece
+of pipe to carry the hot water away from the paint work, and this stuck
+straight out under the footboard, the cock leaked a little and the end
+of the pipe dripped hot water and steam.</p>
+
+<p>"While I glared at Tamplin, old man Bridges and the girls came into the
+room. Bridges went up to the narrow, shelf-like counter, looked at the
+register and asked Tamplin a question.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">133</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Tamplin went up to the group, his back to me, and spoke to one after
+the other. Madelene was the last in the row and, while the others were
+talking, laid her gloves, veil and some flowers on the counter. Tamplin
+spoke to her and I could see the color change in her face. Oh! if I only
+had hold of Dandy Tamplin.</p>
+
+<p>"Bridges hurried out into the hall behind the passage way, the girls
+following. Tamplin turned around and espied Madelene's belongings. He
+went up to them, smelled the flowers, then hurriedly took a note out of
+his pocket and slipped it into one of the gloves. The other glove he put
+in his breast pocket. It was well for Dandy Tamplin I didn't have a gun.</p>
+
+<p>"Remember, all this happened quickly. Before Tamplin was fairly in his
+seat and at work, Madelene came tripping back alone and made for her
+bundle, but Tamplin left his key open and went over to her. I couldn't
+hear what was said for by this time the safety valves of my engine were
+blowing and drowned all sound. She evidently asked<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">134</a></span> him what time it was
+and leaned partly over the counter to hear his reply. He put his hand
+under her chin and turned her face toward the clock, this with such an
+air of assurance that my heart sank&mdash;but murder was in my soul. Then
+quickly putting his hand behind her neck, he pulled her toward him and
+kissed her. I was a demon in an instant.</p>
+
+<p>"She sprang away from him and ran into the hall and he came back to his
+chair with a smile of triumph on his thin lips.</p>
+
+<p>"Somehow or other, just at this moment, I noticed the steam at the end
+of that blow-off pipe, and all the devils in hell whispered at once 'One
+move of your hand and your revenge is complete.' I wasn't Steadman
+Hopkins then, I was a madman bent on murder, and I reached down for that
+handle, holding on by the throttle with my left hand. The cock had some
+mud in it and I opened it wide before it blew out and then with a roar
+and a shriek it burst&mdash;and the crime was done.</p>
+
+<p>"All the devils flew away at once and left<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">135</a></span> me alone, naked with my
+conscience. Murderer, murderer!' resounded in my ears; hisses, roars and
+screams seemed to come to fill my brain and dance around my condemned
+soul; voices seemed shrieking and crash upon crash seemed to smite my
+ears. I thought I was dying, and I remember distinctly how glad I was. I
+didn't let go of that valve, I couldn't&mdash;I'd go to hell with it in my
+hand and let them do their worst.</p>
+
+<p>"Then remorse took possession of me. Wasn't it enough to maim and
+disfigure poor Tamplin, why cook him to death&mdash;I'd shut off that cock. I
+fought with it, but it wouldn't close, and I called Dennis to help me.</p>
+
+<p>"Some one stood behind me and put a cool hand on my brow, and a woman's
+voice said, 'Poor brave fellow, he's still thinking of his duty; all the
+heroes don't live in books.'</p>
+
+<p>"I opened my eyes, and looked around. I was in St. Mary's Hospital, and
+a nun was talking to herself.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, John, I'd been there for more than six weeks, and it took six
+more before I understood<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">136</a></span> just what had happened and could hobble
+around, for I had legs and ribs and an arm broken.</p>
+
+<p>"It must have been at the moment I opened that blow-off cock that part
+of a runaway train came down the north grade, backward, like a whirlwind
+and buried my engine and myself, piling up an awful wreck that took
+fire. I was rescued at the last moment by the crowd of railroad men that
+collected and bodily tore the wreck apart to get at me. Every one
+thought I tried to close that blow-off cock and hold the throttle shut.
+I was a hero in the papers and to the men, and I couldn't get a chance
+to tell the truth if I dared, and I was afraid to ask about Dandy
+Tamplin.</p>
+
+<p>"No word came from Madelene. One day Bridges came to see me, and brought
+me this watch I wear now, a present from the company. I determined to
+tell Bridges&mdash;but he wouldn't believe me. Looked, too, as if he thought
+I was off in my head yet and I must have looked crazy, for most of these
+brands I got that night. To be sure I've added to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">137</a></span> the collection here
+and there, but I never was pretty after that roundup.</p>
+
+<p>"At last I mustered up courage and asked: 'How is Tamplin?' 'All right,
+working right along, but takes it hard,' said Bridges.</p>
+
+<p>"'Was he laid up long? Is he as badly disfigured as I am?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Why, man, he wasn't touched. He had gone to the other end of the room
+for a drink of water. I'm afraid, my boy, its Madelene he's worried
+about.'</p>
+
+<p>"'She has refused him then?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, I don't know that. She is still in bed, badly hurt. She has not
+seen a soul but her nurse, the doctor and my wife, and denies herself to
+all callers, even her best friends, even to me.'</p>
+
+<p>"Chum, I won't tell you what I said or suffered. Madelene had come into
+the room again for her belongings, and had faced the dagger of steam
+sent by the hand of a man who would give his immortal soul to make her
+well again.</p>
+
+<p>"I couldn't get around much, but I wrote<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">138</a></span> her a brief note asking if I
+might call and sent it by a messenger.</p>
+
+<p>"She replied that she could not see me then. I waited. I hadn't the
+heart to write a confession I wanted to make in person, so after a week
+or two I went to the house.</p>
+
+<p>"Madelene sent down word that she couldn't see me then and could not
+tell when she would see me.</p>
+
+<p>"I thought the nurse, who acted as messenger, did not interpret either
+my message or hers as they were intended&mdash;I would write a note.</p>
+
+<p>"I stepped into the library on one side of the hall, made myself at home
+and wrote Madelene a note, a love letter, begging for just one
+interview. Taking blame for all that had happened and confessing my love
+and devotion to her.</p>
+
+<p>"It was a long letter and just as I finished it, I heard some one in the
+hall. I thought it was a servant and started for the doorway to ask her
+to carry my message. It was the nurse.</p>
+
+<p>"I was partly concealed by the portieres.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">139</a></span> She was facing the door, her
+finger on her lips, and before her stood Dandy Tamplin.</p>
+
+<p>"'It's all right' she whispered, 'be still,' and both of them tiptoed
+upstairs.</p>
+
+<p>"This, then was why I could not see Madelene. Dandy Tamplin was her
+accepted lover.</p>
+
+<p>"That night I left the old home for good to seek my fortunes and
+forgetfulness far away. I didn't care where, so long as it was a great
+way off.</p>
+
+<p>"At New York I found some engineers going out to run on the Meig's road
+in Peru. I signed a contract and in two days was on the Atlantic, bound
+for the Isthmus of Panama.</p>
+
+<p>"I ran an engine in Peru until the war broke out with Chili. I was sent
+to the front with a train of soldiers one day and got on the battle
+field. Our side was getting badly worsted, and I got excited and jumping
+off the engine, armed myself and lit into the fight. A little crowd
+gathered around me and I found myself the leader, no officer in sight.
+There was a charge and we didn't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">140</a></span> run&mdash;surprised the Chilians. I got
+some of these blue brands on my left cheek there and made a new
+reputation. Before I knew it, I had on a uniform and dangled a sword.
+They nicknamed me the 'Fighting Yankee.'</p>
+
+<p>"Peru had lots of trouble and I saw a good deal of it. When it was all
+over, I found myself in command of a gun boat, just a tug, but she was
+alive and had accounted for herself several times.</p>
+
+<p>"The president sent me on a special mission to Chili just after the
+close of the war, and, all togged out in a new uniform, I went on board
+of an American ship at Callao bound for Valparaiso. I thought I was some
+pumpkins then. I'd lived a rough and tumble life for about three years
+and was beginning to like it&mdash;and to forget.</p>
+
+<p>"I used to do the statuesque before the passengers, my scars attested my
+fighting propensities, and there were several Peruvian liars aboard that
+knew me by reputation, and enlarged on it.</p>
+
+<p>"We touched at Coquimbo and an American<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">141</a></span> civil engineer and family came
+aboard, homeward bound.</p>
+
+<p>"That afternoon I was lolling in the smoking-room on deck, when I was
+attracted by the sound of ladies talking on the promenade just outside
+the open port where I sat. It was the engineer's wife and daughter.</p>
+
+<p>"'Mamma,' said the young lady. 'I must read you Madelene's letter. Poor,
+dear Madelene, it's just too sorrowful and romantic for anything.'</p>
+
+<p>"Madelene! I hadn't heard that name pronounced for three years. It was
+wrong, I knew it, but I listened.</p>
+
+<p>"'Poor dear, she was awfully hurt and disfigured in a railroad wreck.'</p>
+
+<p>"It was <i>my</i> Madelene they were talking about. Wild horses could not
+have dragged me from the spot.</p>
+
+<p>"The girl read something like this. I know for I've read that letter a
+hundred times. It's in this pile here.</p>
+
+<p>"'Dear Lottie: Your ever welcome'&mdash;'no, not that.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Uncle Andrew is going'&mdash;'let me see,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">142</a></span> Oh! yes, here it is, now listen
+Mamma,' said the girl.</p>
+
+<p>"'Dear Schoolmate. I have never told a soul about my troubles or my
+trials, for long I could not bear to think of them myself. But lately I
+have seen it in its true light, and have come to the conclusion that I
+have no right to moan my life away. I'm past all that, there is nothing
+for me to live for in myself, but my life is spared for some purpose,
+and I propose to devote it to doing good to others'&mdash;'isn't she a sweet
+soul, mamma?'</p>
+
+<p>"'After I came to live with Uncle Andrew, I was very happy, it seemed
+like a release from prison. I saw much company, and in six months had
+two lovers&mdash;more than I deserved. One of these was a plain, honest manly
+man; he was one of Uncle Andrew's engineers. He wasn't handsome, but he
+was the kind of man that sensible women love. The other was a handsome,
+showy, witty man, also an employee of the railroad, considered 'the
+catch' among the girls. Really, Lottie, both of them tried to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">143</a></span> propose
+and I wouldn't let them, I didn't know which one of them I liked best.
+But if things had taken the usual course, I should have married the
+handsome one&mdash;and been sorry forever after.'</p>
+
+<p>"My heart stood still&mdash;she hadn't married Dandy Tamplin after all."</p>
+
+<p>"'The night of the wreck, I was going out on Uncle Andrew's private car.
+The handsome man was on duty in the office. The plain man on an engine
+that stood before the open window, I didn't know that then.</p>
+
+<p>"'A runaway train crashed into the engine and something exploded and a
+stream of boiling water came into the room and scalded me beyond
+recognition. You would not know me, Lottie, I am so disfigured.</p>
+
+<p>"'The handsome man did nothing but wring his hands; the plain one staid
+on the engine and tried to stop the steam from coming out, and was
+himself terribly injured.</p>
+
+<p>"'I was for weeks in bed and suffered mental agony much beyond the
+merely physical pain. I was so wicked I cursed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">144</a></span> my life and my Maker and
+prayed for death&mdash;yet I lived. I was so resentful, so heartbroken, so
+wicked, that I refused to speak for weeks, then, when I tried, I
+couldn't, God had put the curse of silence on my wickedness.'</p>
+
+<p>"Think of Madelene being wicked, Chum.</p>
+
+<p>"'When I was getting well enough and reconciled to my own fate, enough
+to think of others, I thought of my two lovers. Then I asked my nurse
+for a glass. One look, and I made up my mind never to see either of them
+again.</p>
+
+<p>"'Both of them were clamoring to see me, and I refused to see either.
+The plain man wrote me the only love letter I ever received. I have worn
+it out reading it. It was so manly, so unselfish! He blamed himself for
+the accident, and offered me his devotion and love, no matter in what
+condition the letter found me. This letter he wrote in Uncle Andrew's
+library, left it open on the desk and&mdash;disappeared.</p>
+
+<p>"'I have never heard from him from that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">145</a></span> day to this. I never could
+understand it. A man that could write that letter, couldn't run away.
+The last sentence in his letter proved that. It said: "Remember, dear
+Madelene, that somewhere, somehow, I am thinking of you always; that
+whether you see me or not, you will some day come to know that I love
+your soul, not your face; that your life is dear to me, and no calamity
+can make any difference."</p>
+
+<p>"'Those were brave words, and after I read them, I knew for the first
+time that this was the man I loved. They told me he was frightfully
+disfigured, too, but that made no difference to me, I loved him. But he
+was gone, no one knew where. Why did he go?</p>
+
+<p>"'The handsome man disappeared the same day, and he never came back, but
+he left no letter.</p>
+
+<p>"'Dear Lottie, I have only now solved the mystery. My sometime nurse has
+just confessed that the night the letter was written the other man came
+to the house, like a thief, he had bribed her to give me drugs to make
+me sleep and then she led him into my room<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">146</a></span> and showed him my scars. If
+he ever loved me at all, he was in love with my face; the other man
+loved me. One went away because he saw me, the other one because he saw
+his rival apparently granted the interview refused to him. My true lover
+must have seen that man sneaking up to my room.'</p>
+
+<p>"John, every fibre of my being danced for joy. I didn't hear the rest,
+and she read several pages. I had heard enough.</p>
+
+<p>"I went right out on the deck, begged pardon to begin with, introduced
+myself, confessed to eavesdropping, told who I was, where I had been and
+asked for that letter.</p>
+
+<p>"I got it and Madelene's picture; the one you have seen on my clock.</p>
+
+<p>"I finished my task at Valparaiso while the vessel lay there, reported
+by mail, and came home on the same ship.</p>
+
+<p>"I took that letter and photograph to Andy Bridges's house and wrote
+across the envelope 'Madelene Bridges, I demand your immediate and
+unconditional surrender, signed, Steadman H. Hopkins.'</p>
+
+<p>"And I got it in five minutes. Chum, that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">147</a></span> is the only case on record
+where something worth having was ever surrendered to an officer of the
+Peruvian government.</p>
+
+<p>"In six months I was back on an engine in a new country, with my silent,
+loved and loving wife, in a new home. Three times before now someone has
+seen Madelene's face, twice I told this story, and then we moved away;
+once I told it and trusted, and it was not repeated. Madelene can stand
+being a mystery and wondered at, but she cannot stand pity and
+curiosity. As for you, old Chum, I haven't even asked you not to repeat
+what I have told you&mdash;I know you won't."</p>
+
+<p>After a long while, I turned to Hopkins and said: "And yet, Hopkins,
+fools say there is no romance in railroad life. This is a story worth
+reading, and some day I'd like to write it."</p>
+
+<p>"Not in Madelene's time, or in mine, Chum, but if ever a time comes,
+I'll send you a token."</p>
+
+<p>"Send me your picture, Hop."</p>
+
+<p>"No, I'll send you Madelene's. No, I'll<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">148</a></span> send you the clock with the
+'talking eyes.'"</p>
+
+<p>And standing at Hopkins's gate, the scar-faced man with the romance and
+I parted, like ships that meet, hail and pass on, never to meet again.
+Hopkins and I moved away from one another, each on his own course,
+across the seven seas of life.</p>
+
+<p>And all this happened almost twenty years ago.</p>
+
+<p>The other day, my office boy brought me a card that read, "Mrs. Henry
+Adams, Washington, D. C." "Is she a book agent?" I asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Nope, don't look like one."</p>
+
+<p>"Show her in."</p>
+
+<p>A young woman came in, looked at me hard for a moment, laid a package on
+my desk and asked,</p>
+
+<p>"Is this the Mr. Alexander who used to be an engineer?"</p>
+
+<p>I confessed.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't suppose you remember me," she asked.</p>
+
+<p>I put on my glasses and looked at her. No, I never&mdash;then she put her
+handkerchief<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">149</a></span> up to her lips covering the lower part of her face; it was
+the face of Madelene Hopkins.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said I, "I remember you perfectly, seventeen or eighteen years
+ago you used to sit on my knee and call me 'Untle Tummy.' and I called
+you Maddie."</p>
+
+<p>Then we laughed and shook hands.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Alexander," said she, "In looking over some of father's papers, we
+came across a request that under certain conditions you were to be sent
+an old keepsake of his, a clock with mother's picture on it. I have
+brought it to you."</p>
+
+<p>"And your father and mother, what of them, my friend?" I asked, for the
+promise of that clock "under certain conditions" was coming back to me.</p>
+
+<p>"Haven't you heard, sir, poor papa and mama were lost in that awful
+wreck at Castleton, two years ago."</p>
+
+<p>And as I write, from the dial of "Scar Faced" Hopkins's clock "My Lady
+of the Eyes" looks down at me from across the mystery of eternity. The
+eyes do not change as once they did, or has age dimmed my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">150</a></span> sight and
+imagination? Long I look into their peaceful depths thinking of their
+story, and ask, "Dear Eyes, is it well with thee?"&mdash;and they seem to
+answer, "It is well."</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="F" id="F"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">152</a></span>
+<h2>SOME FREAKS OF FATE</h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>I am just back from a visit to old scenes, old chums and old memories of
+my interesting experience on the western fringe of Uncle Sam's great,
+gray blanket&mdash;the plains.</p>
+
+<p>If some of these fellows who know more about writing than about running
+engines would only go out there for a year and keep their eyes and ears
+and brains open, and mouths shut, they could come home and write us some
+true stories that would make fiction-grinders exceedingly weary.</p>
+
+<p>The frontier attracts strong characters, men with pioneer spirit, men
+who are willing to sacrifice something, in order to gain an end; men
+with loves and men with hates. Bad men are there, some of them hunted
+from Eastern communities, perhaps, but you will find no fools and mighty
+few weak faces&mdash;there's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">154</a></span> character in every feature you look at.</p>
+
+<p>Every one is there for a purpose; to accomplish something; to get ahead
+in the world; to make a new start; perhaps to live down something, or to
+get out of the rut cut by ancestors; some may only want to drink, and
+shout, and shoot, but even these do it with a vim&mdash;they mean it.</p>
+
+<p>Of the many men who ran engines at the front, with me in the old days, I
+recall few whose lives were purposeless; almost every one had a
+life-story.</p>
+
+<p>If there's anything that I enjoy, it's to sit down to a pipe and a
+life-story&mdash;told by the subject himself. How many have I listened to,
+out there, and every one of them worthy the pen of a Kipling!</p>
+
+<p>The population of the frontier is never all made up of men, and the
+women all have strong features, too&mdash;self-sacrifice, devotion,
+degradation, or <i>something</i>, is written on every face. There are no
+blanks in that lottery&mdash;there's little material there for homes of
+feeble-minded.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">155</a></span></p>
+
+<p>It isn't strange, either, when you come to think of it; fools never go
+anywhere, they are just born and raised. If they move it's because they
+are "took"&mdash;you never heard of a pioneer fool.</p>
+
+<p>One of the strongest characters I ever knew was a runner out there by
+the name of Gunderson&mdash;Oscar Gunderson. He was of Swedish parentage,
+very light-complexioned, very large, and a splendid mechanic, as Swedes
+are apt to be when they try. Gunderson's name was, I suppose, properly
+entered on the company's time-book, but it never was in the nomenclature
+of the road. With the railroaders' gift for abbreviation and nickname,
+Gunderson soon came down to "Gun," his size, head, hand or heart
+furnished the prefix of "Big," and "Big Gun" he remains to-day. "Big
+Gun" among his friends, but simple "Gun" to me. I think I called him
+"Gun" from the start.</p>
+
+<p>Gun ran himself as he did his engine, exercised the same care of
+himself, and always talked engine about his own anatomy, clothes, food
+and drink.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">156</a></span></p>
+
+<p>His hat was always referred to as his "dome-casing;" his Brotherhood pin
+was his "number-plate;" his coat was "the jacket;" his legs the
+"drivers;" his hands "the pins;" arms were "side-rods;" stomach
+"fire-box;" and his mouth "the pop."</p>
+
+<p>He invariably referred to a missing suspender-button as a broken
+"spring-hanger;" to a limp as a "flat-wheel;" he "fired up" when eating;
+he "took water," the same as the engine; and "oiled round," when he
+tasted whisky.</p>
+
+<p>Gun knew all the slang and shop-talk of the road, and used it&mdash;was even
+accused of inventing much of it&mdash;but his engine talk was unique and
+inimitable.</p>
+
+<p>We roomed together a whole winter; and often, after I had gone to bed,
+Gun would come in, and as he peeled off his clothes he would deliver
+himself something as follows:</p>
+
+<p>"Say, John, you don't know who I met on the up trip? Well, sir, Dock
+Taggert. I was sailin' along up the main line near Bob's, and who should
+I see but Dock backed in on the sidin'&mdash;seemed kinder dilapidated, like<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">157</a></span>
+he was runnin' on one side. I jest slammed on the wind and went over and
+shook. Dock looks pretty tough, John&mdash;must have been out surfacing
+track, ain't been wiped in Lord knows when, oiled a good deal, but nary
+a wipe, jacket rusted and streaked, tire double flanged, valves blowin',
+packing down, don't seem to steam, maybe's had poor coal, or is all
+limed up. He's got to go through the back shop 'efore the old man'll
+ever let him into the roundhouse. I set his packin' out and put him in a
+stall at the Gray's corral; hope he'll brace up. Dock's a mighty good
+workin' scrap, if you could only get him to carryin' his water right; if
+he'd come down to three gauges he'd be a dandy, but this tryin' to run
+first section with a flutter in the stack all the time is no good&mdash;he
+must 'a flagged in."</p>
+
+<p>Which, being translated into English, would carry the information that
+Gun had seen one of the old ex-engineers at Bob Slattery's saloon, had
+stopped and greeted him. Dock looked as if he had tramped, had drank,
+was dirty, coat had holes, soles of his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">158</a></span> boots badly worn, wheezing,
+seemed hungry and lifeless, been eating poor food, and was in a general
+run-down condition. Gun had "set out his packing" by feeding him and put
+him in a bed at the Grand Central Hotel&mdash;nicknamed the "Grayback's
+Corral." Gun thought he would have to reform, before the M. M. put him
+into active service. He was a good engineer, but drank too much, and
+lastly, he was in so bad a condition he could not get himself into
+headquarters unless someone helped him by "flagging" for him.</p>
+
+<p>Gun was a bachelor; he came to us from the Pacific side, and told me
+once that he first went west on account of a woman, but&mdash;begging Mr.
+Kipling's pardon&mdash;that's another story.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't think I'd care to double-crew my mill," Gun would say when the
+conversation turned to matrimony. "I've been raised to keep your own
+engine and take care of it, and pull what you could. In double-heading
+there's always a row as to who ought to go ahead and enjoy the scenery
+or stay behind and eat cinders."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">159</a></span></p>
+
+<p>I knew from the first that Gun had a story to tell, if he'd only give it
+up, and I fear I often led up to it, with the hope that he would tell it
+to me&mdash;but he never did.</p>
+
+<p>My big friend sent a sum of money away every month, I supposed to some
+relative, until one day I picked up from the floor a folded paper dirty
+from having been carried long in Gun's pocket, and found a receipt. It
+read:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"<span class="smcap">Mission, San Antonio</span>, <i>Jan. 1, 1878.</i></p>
+
+<p>"Received of O. Gunderson, for Mabel Rogers, $40.00.</p>
+
+<p>"<span class="smcap">Sister Theresa</span>."</p></div>
+
+<p>Ah, a little girl in the story! I thought; it's a sad story, then.
+There's nothing so pure and beautiful and sweet and joyous as a little
+girl, yet when a little girl has a story it's almost always a sad story.</p>
+
+<p>I gave Gun the paper; he thanked me; said he must look out better for
+those receipts, and added that he was educating a bit of a girl out on
+the coast.</p>
+
+<p>"Yours, Gun?" I asked kindly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">160</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"No, John; she ain't; I'd give $5,000 if she was."</p>
+
+<p>He looked at me straight, with that clear, blue eye, and I knew he told
+me the truth.</p>
+
+<p>"How old is she?" I asked.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know; 'bout five or six."</p>
+
+<p>"Ever seen her?"</p>
+
+<p>"No."</p>
+
+<p>"Where did you get her?"</p>
+
+<p>"Ain't had her."</p>
+
+<p>"Tell me about her?"</p>
+
+<p>"She was willed to me, John, kinder put in extra, but I can't tell you
+her story now, partly because I don't know it all myself, and partly
+because I won't&mdash;I won't even tell her."</p>
+
+<p>I did not again refer to Gun's little girl, and soon other experiences
+and other biographies crowded the story out of my mind.</p>
+
+<p>One evening in the spring, I sat by the open window, enjoying the cool
+night breeze from off the mountains, when I heard Gun's cheery voice on
+the porch below. He was lecturing his fireman, in his own, unique way.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">161</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Well, Jim, if I ain't ashamed of you! There ain't no one but you;
+coming into general headquarters with a flutter in the stack, so full
+that you can't whistle, air-pump a-squealing 'count of water, smeared
+from stack to man-hole, headlight smoked and glimmery, don't know your
+own rights, kind o' runnin' wildcat, without proper signals, imagining
+you're first section with a regardless order. You want to blow out, man,
+and trim up, get your packing set out and carry less juice. You're worse
+than one of them slippin', dancin', three-legged, no-good Grants. The
+next time I catch you at high-tide, I'll scrap you, that's what I'll do,
+fire you into the scrap-pile. Why can't you use some judgment in your
+runnin'? Why can't you say, 'Why, here's the town of Whisky, I'm going
+to stop here and oil around,' sail right into town, put the air on
+steady and fine, bring her right down to the proper gait, throw her into
+full release, so as to just stop right, shut off your squirt, drop a
+little oil on the worst points, ring your bell and sail on.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">162</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"But you, you come into town forty miles an hour, jam on the emergency
+and while the passengers pick 'emselves out of the ends of the cars, you
+go into the supply house and leave the injector on, and then, when you
+do move, you're too full to go without opening your cylinder cocks and
+givin' yourself dead away.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, I'm goin' to Californ', next month, and if you get so as you can
+tell when you've got enough liquor without waiting for it to break your
+injectors, I'll ask the old man to let you finger the plug on Old Baldy
+whilst I'm gone. But I'm damned if I don't feel as if you was like that
+measly old 19&mdash;jest fit to be jacked up to saw wood with."</p>
+
+<p>While Gun was in California, I was taken home on a requisition from my
+wife, and Oscar Gunderson and his little girl became a memory&mdash;a page in
+a book that I had partly read and lost, but not entirely forgotten.</p>
+
+<p>One day last summer I took the westbound express at Topeka, and
+spreading my grip, hat, coat and umbrella, out on the seats,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">163</a></span> so as to
+resemble an experienced English tourist, I fished up a Wheeling stogie
+and a book and went into the smoking-pen of the sleeper, which I had all
+to myself for half-an-hour.</p>
+
+<p>The train stopped to give the thirsty tender a drink and a man came in
+to wash his hands. He had been riding on the engine.</p>
+
+<p>After washing, he stepped to the door of the "smokery," struck a match
+on the leg of his pants, held both hands around the end of his cigar
+while he lighted it, then waving the match to put it out, he threw it
+down and came in.</p>
+
+<p>While he was absorbed in all this, I took a glance at him.
+Six-foot-four, if an inch; high cheek bones; yellow beard; clear, blue
+eyes; white skin, and a hand about the size of a Cincinnati ham. I knew
+that face despite twelve years of turkey-tracks about the eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"Gunderson, old man, how are you?" I said, offering my fin.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, John Alexander, how in the name of thunder did you get away out
+here on the main stem, without orders?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">164</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Inspection-car," said I; "how did you get here?"</p>
+
+<p>"Deadheading home; been out on special, a gilt-edged special, took her
+clean through to New York."</p>
+
+<p>"You did!" I exclaimed; "why, how was that?"</p>
+
+<p>"Went up special to a weddin', don't you see? Went up to see a new
+compound start off&mdash;prettiest sight I ever saw&mdash;working smooth as
+grease; but I'm kind of dubious about repairs and general running. I'm
+anxious to see how the performance sheet looks at the end of the year,
+John."</p>
+
+<p>"Who's been double-heading, Gun?"</p>
+
+<p>"Why&mdash;why, my little girl, trimmest, neatest, slickest little mill you
+ever saw. Lord! but she was painted red and white and gold-leaf, three
+brass bands on her stack, solid nickel trimming, all the latest
+improvements, corrugated fire-box, high pressure smoke consumer and
+sand-jet&mdash;jest made a purpose for specials, and pay-car. But if she
+ain't got herself coupled onto a long-fire-boxed ten-wheeler, with a big
+lap and a Joy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">165</a></span> gear, you can put me down for a clinker. Yes, sir; the
+baby is a heart-breaker on dress-parade, and the ten-wheeler is a whale
+on business, and if they don't jump the track, you watch out for some
+express speed that will make the canals sick, see if they don't."</p>
+
+<p>Without giving me time to say a word, he was off again.</p>
+
+<p>"You ought to seen 'em start out, nary a slip, cutting off square as a
+die, small one ahead speaking her little piece chipper and fast on
+account of her smaller wheels, and the ten-wheeler barking bass, steady
+as a clock, with a hundred-and-enough on the gauge, a full throttle, and
+half a pipe of sand. You couldn't tell to save you whether the little
+one was pulling the big one or the big one shoving the little&mdash;never saw
+a relief train start out in such shape in my life."</p>
+
+<p>Gunderson was evidently enthusiastic over the marriage of his little
+girl.</p>
+
+<p>We talked over old times and the changes, and followed each other up to
+date with a great deal of mutual enjoyment, until the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">166</a></span> porter demanded
+the "smokery" for his bunk.</p>
+
+<p>As we started for bed, Gun laid his hand on my shoulder and said:</p>
+
+<p>"John, a good many years ago, you asked me to tell you the story of my
+little girl. I refused then for her sake. I'll tell you in the morning."</p>
+
+<p>After a hearty breakfast and a good cigar, Gunderson squared himself for
+the story. He shut his eyes for a few minutes, as if to recall
+something, and then, speaking as if to himself, he said:</p>
+
+<p>"Well, sir, there wasn't a simmer anywhere, dampers all shut; you
+wouldn't'a suspected they was up to the popping point, but the minute
+they got their orders, and the con. put up his hand, so, up went&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Say," I interrupted, "I thought I was to have the story. I believe you
+told me about the wedding, last night. The young couple started out
+well."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes, old man, I forgot, the story; well, get on the next pit here,"
+motioning to a seat next to him, "and I'll give you the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">167</a></span> history of an
+old, hook-motion, name of Oscar Gunderson, and a trim, Class "G" made of
+solid silver, from pilot to draft-gear.</p>
+
+<p>"You think I'm a Swede; well, I ain't, I don't know what I am, but I
+guess I come nearer to being a Chinaman than anything else. My father
+was a sea-captain, and my mother found me on the China sea&mdash;but they
+were both Swedes just the same. I had two sisters older than myself, and
+in order to better our chances, father moved to New York when I was less
+than five years old.</p>
+
+<p>"He soon secured work as captain on a steamer in the Cuban trade, and
+died at sea, when I was ten.</p>
+
+<p>"I had a bent for machinery, and tried the old machine-shops of the
+Central road, but soon found myself firing.</p>
+
+<p>"I went to California, shortly after the war, on account of a
+woman&mdash;mostly my fault.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, after running around there for some years, I struck a job on the
+Virginia &amp; Truckee, in '73.</p>
+
+<p>"Virginia City and Carson and all the Nevada<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">168</a></span> towns were doing a
+fall-rush business, turning every wheel they had, with three crews to a
+mill. Why, if you'd go down street in any one of them towns at night,
+and see the crowds around the gamblers and molls, you'd think hell was
+a-coming forty-mile an hour, and that it wan't more than a car-length
+away.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, one morning, I came into Virginia about breakfast time, and with
+the rest of the crew, went up to the old California Chop-house for
+breakfast. This same chop-house was a building about good-enough for a
+stable, these days; but it had a reputation then for steaks. All the
+gamblers ate there; and it's a safe rule to eat where the gamblers do,
+in a frontier town, if you want the best there is, regardless of price.</p>
+
+<p>"It was early for the regular trade, and we had the dining-room mostly
+to ourselves, for a few minutes, then there were four women folks came
+in and sat down at a table bearing a card: 'Reserved for Ladies.'</p>
+
+<p>"Three of them were dressed loud, had signs out whereby any one could
+tell that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">169</a></span> they wouldn't be received into no Four Hundred; but one of
+them was a nice-looking, modestly-dressed woman, had on half-mourning,
+if I remember. She had one of them sweet, strong faces, John, like the
+nun when I had my arm broke and was scalded,&mdash;her sweet mouth kept
+mumblin' prayers, but her fingers held an artery shut that was trying
+its damndest to pump Gun Gunderson's old heart dry&mdash;strong character,
+you bet.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, that woman sat facing our table and kept looking at me; I
+couldn't see her without turning, but I knew she was looking. John, did
+you ever notice that you could <i>feel</i> the presence of some people; you
+knew they were near you without seeing them? Well, when that happens,
+don't forget to give that fellow due credit; for whoever it is he or she
+has the strongest mind&mdash;the dominant one.</p>
+
+<p>"I <i>had</i> to look around at that woman. I shall never forget how she
+looked; her hand was on the side of her face; her great, brown, tender
+eyes were staring right at me&mdash;she was reading my very soul. I let her
+read.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">170</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I had been jacking up a gilly of a gafter who had referred to his
+mother as "the old woman," and I didn't let the four females disturb me.
+I meant to hold up a looking-glass for that young whelp to look into. I
+hate a man that don't love his mother.</p>
+
+<p>"Why," says I, "you miserable example of Divine carelessness, do you
+know what that 'old woman' mother has done for you, you drivelin' idiot,
+a-thankin' God that you're alive and forgetting the very mother that
+bore you; if you could see the tears that she has shed, if you could
+count the sleepless nights that she has put in, the heartaches, the
+pain, the privation that she has humbly, silently, even thankfully borne
+that you might simply live, you'd squander your last cent and your last
+breath to make her life a joy, from this day until her light goes out. A
+man that don't respect his mother is lost to all decency; a man who will
+hear her name belittled is a Judas, and a man who will call his mother
+'old woman' is a no-good, low-down, misbehaven whelp. Why, damn it, I'd
+fight a buzz-saw, if it called my mother 'old woman'&mdash;and she's been
+dead a long time; gone to that special, exalted, gilt-edged and glorious
+heaven for mothers. No one but mothers have a right to expect to go to a
+heaven, and the only question that'll be asked is, 'Have you been a
+mother?'</p>
+
+<div class='figcenter' style='width: 415px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="illus-004" id="illus-004"></a>
+<img src='images/p1-176.jpg' alt='"He was the first man I ever killed."' title='' width = '415' height = '526'/><br />
+<span class='caption'>"He was the first man I ever killed."</span>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">171</a></span></p>
+<p>"Well, sir, I had forgot about the women, but they clapped their hands
+and I looked around, and there were tears in the eyes of that one woman.</p>
+
+<p>"She got up; came to our table and laid a card by my plate, and said, 'I
+beg your pardon; but won't you call on me? Please do.'</p>
+
+<p>"I was completely knocked out, but told her I would, and she went out
+alone; the others finished their breakfast.</p>
+
+<p>"She had no sooner gone than Cy Nash, my conductor, commenced to
+giggle&mdash;'Made a mash on the flyest woman in town,' he tittered; 'ain't a
+blood in town but what would give his head for your boots, old man;
+that's Mabel Verne&mdash;owns the Odeon dance hall, and the Tontine, in
+Carson.'</p>
+
+<p>"I glanced at the card, and it did read, 'Mabel Verne, 21 Flood
+avenue.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">172</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Well, Flood avenue is no slouch of a street, the best folks live
+there," I answered.</p>
+
+<p>"'Yes, that's her private residence, and if you go there and are let in,
+you'd be the first man ever seen around there. She's a curious critter,
+never rides or drives, or shows herself off at all; but you bet she sees
+that the rest of the stock show off. She's in it for money, I tell you.'</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know why, but it made me kind of heart-sick to think of the
+hell that woman must be in, for I knew by her looks that she had a heart
+and a brain, and that neither of them was in the Odeon or the Tontine
+dance-houses.</p>
+
+<p>"I thought the matter over,&mdash;and didn't go to see her. The next trip,
+she sent a carriage for me.</p>
+
+<p>"She met me at the door, and took my hat, and as I dropped into an easy
+chair, I opened the ball to the effect that 'this here was a strange
+proceeding for a lady.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Yes,' said she, sitting down square in front of me; 'it is; I felt as
+if I had found a true man, when I first saw you, and I have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">173</a></span> asked you
+here to tell you a story, my story, and ask your help and advice. I am
+so earnest, so anxious to do thoroughly what I have undertaken, that I
+fear to overdo it; I need counsel, restraint; I can trust you. Won't you
+help me?"</p>
+
+<p>"'If I can; what is it that you want me to do, madam?'</p>
+
+<p>"'First of all, keep a secret, and next, protect or help protect, an
+innocent child.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Suppose I help the child, and you don't tell me the secret?'</p>
+
+<p>"'No, it concerns the child, sir; she is my child; I want her to grow up
+without knowing what her mother has done, or how she has lived and
+suffered; you wouldn't tell her that, would you?'</p>
+
+<p>"'No; certainly not!'</p>
+
+<p>"'Nor anyone else?'</p>
+
+<p>"'No.'</p>
+
+<p>"'You would judge her alone, forgetting her mother?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Yes.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Then I will tell you the story.'</p>
+
+<p>"She got up and changed the window<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">174</a></span> blinds, so that the light shone on
+my face; I guess she wanted to study the effect of her words.</p>
+
+<p>"'I was born at Sacramento,' she began; 'my father was a well-to-do
+mechanic, and I his only child; I grew up pretty fair-looking, and my
+parents spent about all they could make to complete my education,
+especially in music, of which I was fond. When I was eighteen years old,
+I fell in love with a young man, the son of one of the rich merchants of
+San Francisco, where we had removed. Like many another foolish girl, I
+trusted too implicitly, and believed too easily, and soon found myself
+in a humiliating position, but trusted to the honor of my lover to stand
+by me.</p>
+
+<p>"'When I explained matters to him he seemed pleased, said he could fix
+that easy enough; we would get married at once and claim a secret
+marriage for some months past.</p>
+
+<p>"'He arranged that I should meet him the next evening, and go to an old
+priest in an obscure parish, and be married.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">175</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"'I stood long hours on a corner, half dead with fear, that night, for a
+lover that never came. He's dead now, got run over in Oakland yard, that
+very night, as he was running away from me, and as I waited and shivered
+under the stars and the fire of my own conscience.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Did he stand on one track, to get out of the way of another train, and
+get struck?' I asked.</p>
+
+<p>"'Yes,' looking at me close.</p>
+
+<p>"'Did he have on a false moustache, and a good deal of money and
+securities in a satchel, and everybody think at first he was a burglar?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Yes; but how did you know that?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Because, I killed him.'</p>
+
+<p>"'You?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Yes; I ran an engine over him, couldn't make him hear or see me. He
+was the first man I ever killed; strange he should be <i>this</i> particular
+man.'</p>
+
+<p>"'It's fate,' said the woman, rocking slowly back and forth, 'it's fate,
+but it seems as though I like you better now that you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">176</a></span> were my avenger.
+That accident drove revenge out of my heart, caused me to let <i>him</i> be
+forgotten, and to live for my child. I have lived for her. I live to-day
+for her and I will continue to live for her.'</p>
+
+<p>"'My disgrace killed my mother and ruined my father. I swore I would be
+an honest woman, and I sought employment to earn a living for my babe
+and myself, but every avenue was closed to me. I washed and scrubbed
+while I was able to teach music splendidly, but I could get no pupils. I
+made shirts for a pittance and daily refused, to me, fortunes for
+dishonor. I have gone hungry and almost naked to pay for my baby's
+board, but I was hunted down at last.</p>
+
+<p>"'One day, after many rebuffs in seeking employment, I went to the home
+of a sister of my child's father, and took the baby, told her who I was
+and asked her to help me to a chance to work. The good woman scarcely
+looked at me or the child; she said that had it not been for such as I,
+poor Charles would have been alive; his blood<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">177</a></span> was on my head; I ought
+to ask God to wash my blood-stained hands.</p>
+
+<p>"'I went away from that house with my mind made up what to do. I would
+put my child in honest hands, and chain myself to the stake to suffer
+everlasting damnation for her sweet sake.</p>
+
+<p>"'She is in the Mission San Antonio now, between three and four, a
+perfect little princess, she looks like me, and grows, oh, so lovely! If
+you could see her, you'd love her.</p>
+
+<p>"'I can't go to see her any more; she is old enough to remember. The
+last time I was there, she demanded a papa!</p>
+
+<p>"'I am making a great deal of money. Many of the rich men, whose Puritan
+wives and daughters refused me honest work, are squandering lots of
+their wealth in my houses. I am saving money, too; and propose, as soon
+as I can get a neat fortune together to go away to the ends of the
+earth, and have my little girl with me. I will raise her to know herself
+and to know mankind.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">178</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"'And what do you want me to do, madam?'</p>
+
+<p>"'I want you to be that child's guardian; the honest man through whom
+she will reach the outside of San Antonio and the world. Who will go
+between her and me until a happier time.'</p>
+
+<p>"'I am only a rough engineer; the child will be raised to consider
+herself well off, perhaps rich.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Adopt her. I will stay in the background; make her expenditures and
+her education what you like. I will trust you.'</p>
+
+<p>"'I can't do that.'</p>
+
+<p>"'You are single; your life is hard; I have money enough for us all. Let
+us go to the Sandwich islands, anywhere, and commence life anew. The
+little one will know no other father, and all inquiry will be stopped.'</p>
+
+<p>"'I couldn't think of it, my dear madam; it's too easy; it's like
+pulling jerkwater passenger&mdash;I like through freight.'</p>
+
+<p>"Well, John, to make a long story short, the interview ended about here,
+and several<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">179</a></span> more got to about the same place. There were a thousand
+things I could not help but admire in that woman, and I liked her better
+the more I knew her. But it wan't love; it was a sort of an admiration
+for her love of the child, and the nerve she displayed in its behalf.
+But I shrank from becoming her husband or companion, although I think
+she loved me, in the end, better than she ever did anybody.</p>
+
+<p>"However, I finally agreed to look after the little one, in case
+anything happened to the mother, and commenced then to send the money
+for her board and tuition, and the mother dropped out of all connection
+with the child or those having her in charge.</p>
+
+<p>"The mother made her pile and got out of the business, and at my
+suggestion went down near Los Angeles and bought a nice country place,
+to start respectable before she took the little one home. She left money
+in Carson, subject to my check, for the little girl, and things slid
+along for a year or so all smooth enough.</p>
+
+<p>"I was out on a snow-bucking expedition<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">180</a></span> one time the next winter,
+sleeping in cars, shanties or on the engine, and I soon found myself all
+bunged up with the worst dose of rheumatiz' you ever see. I had to get
+down to a lower altitude, and made for Sacramento in the spring. I paid
+the Mission a year in advance, and with less than a hundred dollars of
+my own, struck out, hoping to dodge the twists that were in my bones.</p>
+
+<p>"A hundred blind gaskets don't go far when you're sick, and the first
+thing I knew I was dead broke; couldn't pay my board, couldn't buy
+medicine, couldn't walk&mdash;nothing but think and suffer. I finally had to
+go to a hospital. Not one of the old gang ever came to see me. Old Gun
+was a dandy, when he was making&mdash;and spending&mdash;a couple hundred a month;
+the rest of the time he was supposed to be dead.</p>
+
+<p>"I might have died in the hospital, if fate hadn't decreed to send me
+relief. It suddenly dawned upon me that I was getting far better
+treatment than usual, had a special nurse, the best of food, flowers,
+etc., all labeled 'From the Boys.'"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">181</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I found out, after I was well enough to take a sun bath on the porch,
+that a woman had sent all my luxuries, and that her purse had been
+opened for my relief. I knew who it was at once, and was anxious to get
+well and at work, so as not to live on one who was only too glad to do
+everything for me.</p>
+
+<p>"A six months' wrastle with the twisters leaves a fellow stiff-jointed
+and oldish, and lying in bed takes the strength out of him. I took the
+notion to get out and go to work, one day, and walked down to the
+shops&mdash;I was carried back, chuck full of 'em again.</p>
+
+<p>"The doctor said I must go to Ojo Caliente, away down south, if I was to
+get well. John, if the Santa F&eacute; road had 'a been for sale for a cent
+then, I couldn't 'a bought a spike.</p>
+
+<p>"At about the height of my ill-luck, I got a letter from Mabel
+Verne&mdash;she had another name, but that don't matter&mdash;and she asked me
+again to come to her; to have a home, and care and devotion. It wasn't a
+love-sick letter, but it was one of them strong, tender, <i>fetching</i>
+letters. It was unselfish, it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">182</a></span> asked very little of me, and offered a
+good deal.</p>
+
+<p>"I thought over it all night, and decided at last to go. What better was
+I than this woman? Surely she was better educated, better bred. She had
+made one mistake, I had made many. She had no friends on earth; I didn't
+seem to have any, either. I hadn't had a letter from either of my
+married sisters for six or eight years, then. We could trust one
+another, and have an object in life in the education of the child. I'd
+be no worse off than I was, anyway.</p>
+
+<p>"The next morning I felt better. I got ready to leave, bid all my fellow
+flat-wheels good-by; and had a gig ordered to take me to the train&mdash;the
+doctor had given me two-hundred dollars a short time before&mdash;'from a
+lady friend.'</p>
+
+<p>"As I sat waiting for the hack, they brought me a letter from home&mdash;a
+big one, with a picture in it. It was from my youngest sister, and the
+picture was of her ten-year boy, named for me&mdash;such a happy, sunny
+little Swede face you never see. 'He always<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">183</a></span> talks of Uncle Oscar as a
+great and good man,' wrote Carrie, 'and says every day that he's going
+to do just like you. He will do nothing that we tell him Uncle Oscar
+would not like, and anything that he would. If you are as good as he
+thinks you are, you are sure of heaven.'</p>
+
+<p>"And I was even then going off to live with a woman who made a fortune
+out of Virginia City dance-houses. I had a sort of a remorseful chill,
+and before I really knew just where I was, I had got to Arizona, and
+from there to the Santa F&eacute; where you knew me.</p>
+
+<p>"I wrote my benefactress an honest letter, and told her why I had not
+come, and in a short time sent her the money she had put up for me; but
+it was returned again, and I sent it to the mission for my little girl.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, while I was with you there, I got a fare-thee-well letter, saying
+that when I got that Mabel Verne would be no more&mdash;same as dead&mdash;and
+that she had deposited forty thousand dollars in the Phoenix Bank for
+<i>your</i> little girl&mdash;<i>yours</i>, mind ye&mdash;and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">184</a></span> asked me to adopt her legally
+and tell her that her mother was dead.</p>
+
+<p>"John, I ain't heard of that woman from then until now. I thought she
+had got tired of waiting on me and got married, but I believe she is
+dead.</p>
+
+<p>"I went to California and adopted the baby&mdash;a daisy too&mdash;and I've
+honestly tried to be a father to her.</p>
+
+<p>"I got to making money in outside speculations, and had plenty; so I let
+her money accumulate at the Phoenix and paid her way myself.</p>
+
+<p>"About four years ago, I left the road for good; bought me a nice place
+just outside of Oakland, and settled down to take a little comfort.</p>
+
+<p>"Mabel, my daughter Mabel, for she called me papa, went to Germany,
+nearly three years ago, in charge of her music teacher, Sister Florence,
+to finish herself off. Ah, John, you ort to see her claw ivory! Before
+she went, she called me into the mission parlor, one day, and almost got
+me into a snap; she wanted me to tell her all about<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">185</a></span> her parents right
+then, and asked me if there wasn't some mystery about her birth, and the
+way she happened to be left in the mission all her life, her mother
+disappearing, and my adoption of her."</p>
+
+<p>"What did you tell her, Gun?" I asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, lied to her, of course, as any honorable man would have done. I
+told her that her father was an engineer and a friend of mine, and that
+he was killed in an accident before she was born&mdash;that was all plausible
+enough.</p>
+
+<p>"Then I told her that her mother was in poor health, and had died just
+before I had adopted her, and had left a will, giving her to me, and
+besides had left forty thousand dollars in the bank for her, when she
+married or became of age.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, John, cutting down short, she met a fellow over there, a New
+Yorker, that just seemed to think she was made a-purpose for him, and
+about a year ago he wrote and asked me for my daughter&mdash;just think of
+it! His petition was seconded by the baby herself, and recommended by
+Sister Florence.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">186</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"They came home six months ago, and the baby got ready for dress-parade;
+and I went down to New York and seen 'em off; but here's where old Fate
+gets in his work again. That rascal of an O. B. Sanderson&mdash;I didn't
+notice the name before&mdash;was my own nephew, the very young cuss whose
+picture kept me from marryin' the baby's mother! I never tumbled till I
+ran across his mother, she was my sister Carrie.</p>
+
+<p>"John, I don't care a continental cuss how good he was, the baby was
+good enough for him&mdash;too good&mdash;I just said nothing&mdash;and watched the
+signals. You ort to a seen me a-givin' the bride away! Then, when it was
+all over, and I was childless, I give my little girl a check for
+forty-seven thousand and a fraction; kissed her, and lit out for
+home&mdash;and here I am.</p>
+
+<p>"But I ain't satisfied now, and just as quick as I get back, I'm a-going
+running again; then, when I've got so old I can't see more'n a car
+length, I'm going to ask for a steam-pump to run. I'm a-going to die
+railroading."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">187</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Have you ever made any inquiries about the mother, Gun?" I asked.</p>
+
+<p>"No; not much; it's so long now, it ain't no use; I guess that her
+light's gone out."</p>
+
+<p>"What would you do, if she was to turn up?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I don't know; I guess I'd keep still and see what she done."</p>
+
+<p>"Suppose, Gun, that she showed up now; loved you more than ever for what
+you have done, and renewed her old proposal? You know it's leap year."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, old man, if an angel flew down out of the sky and give me a
+second-hand pair of wings just rebuilt, and ordered me to put 'em on and
+follow her, I guess I wouldn't refuse to go out. Time was, though, when
+I'd a-held out for new, gold-mounted ones, or nothing; but that won't
+come, John; but you just ort to a been to the consolidation; it was just
+simply&mdash;well, pulling the president's special would be just like hauling
+a gravel-train to it!"</p>
+
+<p>The train stopped suddenly here, and "Gun" said he was going ahead to
+get acquainted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">188</a></span> with the water-boiler, and I took out my note-book and
+jotted down a few points.</p>
+
+<p>After the train got into motion again, I was reading over my notes,
+when, without looking, I thought Gunderson had come back, and I moved
+along in the seat to give him room, but a black dress sat down beside
+me.</p>
+
+<p>We had been sitting with our backs to a curtain between the first berth
+and a state-room. The lady came from the state-room.</p>
+
+<p>"Pardon me, sir," she said, "I want to finish that story. I have heard
+it all; I am Sister Florence, music teacher to Mr. Gunderson's daughter;
+he does not know that I am on this train.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Gunderson did not tell you that the Phoenix bank failed some months
+ago, and that the fortune of his adopted child was lost. He never told
+her and she does not know it to-day&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"He said he paid her the full amount&mdash;" I interrupted.</p>
+
+<p>"Very true. He did; but he paid it out of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">189</a></span> his own pocket. Sold his
+farm; put up all his securities, and borrowed seven hundred dollars to
+make the sum complete. That is the reason he is going to run an engine
+again. He does not know that I am aware of this, so don't mention it to
+him."</p>
+
+<p>"Gun is a man," said I; "a great, big-hearted, true man."</p>
+
+<p>"He is a nobleman!" said the nun, arising and going back into the
+state-room.</p>
+
+<p>Half an hour later, Gunderson came back, took a seat beside me and
+commenced to talk.</p>
+
+<p>"Say, John, that's the hardest-riding old pelter I ever see, about three
+inches of slack between engine and tank, pounding like a stamp-mill
+and&mdash;" looking over his shoulder and then at me, "John, I could a swore
+there was some one standing right there, I <i>felt</i> 'em.</p>
+
+<p>"It seems to me they ort to keep up their engines here in pretty good
+shape. They've got bad water, and so much boiler work that they have to
+have new flues before the machinery gets worn much. But, Lord, they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">190</a></span>
+don't seem&mdash;" he looked over his shoulder again, quickly, then settled
+in his seat to resume, when a pair of hands covered Gun's eyes&mdash;the
+nun's hands.</p>
+
+<p>"Guess who it is, Gun," said I; and noticed that he was very pale.</p>
+
+<p>"It's Mabel," said he, putting up his hands and taking both of hers; "no
+one but her ever made me feel like that."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">191</a></span></p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="G" id="G"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">193</a></span>
+<h2>MORMON JOE, THE ROBBER</h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>I'm on intimate terms with one of the biggest robbers in this country.
+He's an expert at the business, but has now retired from active work.
+The fact of the matter is, Joe didn't know he was robbing, at the time
+he did it, but he got there, just the same, and come mighty nigh doing
+time in the penitentiary for it, too.</p>
+
+<p>Maybe I'd better commence at the beginning and tell you that I first
+knew Joe Hogg in '79, out at the front, on the Santa F&eacute;. Joe hailed from
+Salt Lake City, and had run on the Utah Central, which gave him the
+nickname of "Mormon Joe," a name he never resented being called, and to
+which he always answered. I never did really know whether he was a
+Mormon or not, and never cared; he was a good engineer, that's about all
+I cared for. Joe took good care of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">194</a></span> his engine, wore a clean shirt and
+behaved himself&mdash;which was doing more than the average engineer at the
+front did.</p>
+
+<p>I remember, one night, Jack McCabe&mdash;"Whisky Jack," we used to call
+him&mdash;made some mean remark about the Mormons in general and Joe in
+particular, and Joe replied: "I don't propose to defend the Mormon
+faith; it's as good as any, to my mind. I don't propose to judge or
+misjudge any man by his belief or absence of belief. All that I have got
+to say is, that the Mormon religion is a <i>practical</i> religion. They
+don't give starving women a tract, or tramps jobs on the stone-pile. The
+women get bread, and the tramps work for <i>pay</i>. Their faith is based on
+the Christian Bible, with a book added&mdash;guess they have as big a right
+to add or take away as some of the old kings had&mdash;bigamy is upheld by
+the Bible, but has been dead in Utah, for some years. It can't live for
+the young people are against it. In Utah the woman has all the rights a
+man has, votes, and is a <i>person</i>. (Since cut out of new constitution.)
+Before the Gentiles came<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">195</a></span> to Salt Lake, the Mormons had but <i>one</i>
+policeman, no jail, few saloons, no houses of prostitution&mdash;now the
+Gentile Christian has sway, and the town is full of them. I guess you
+could argue on the quality and quantity of rot-gut whisky a good
+engineer ought to drink, better than on theology, anyhow."</p>
+
+<p>I never heard any of the gang twit Joe about the Mormons again.</p>
+
+<p>I didn't take an awful sight of notice about Joe until I came in, one
+night, and the boys told me that Joe was arrested as an accomplice in
+the robbery of the Black Prince mine, in Constitution gulch.</p>
+
+<p>This Black Prince was a gold placer owned by two middle-aged Englishmen.
+They had a small stamp-mill, run by mule power; and a large number of
+sluice-boxes. They always worked alone, and said they were developing
+the mine. No one had any idea that they were taking out much dust, until
+the mill and sluice-boxes were burned one night, and the story came out
+that they had been robbed of more than thirty thousand dollars.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">196</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Each partner accused the other of the theft. Both were arrested, and
+detectives commenced to follow every clue.</p>
+
+<p>Joe's arrest fell like a thunder-clap among us. The Brotherhood men took
+it up right away, and I went to see Joe, that very night. It was said
+that Joe had visited the Black Prince, the day before, and had been seen
+carrying away a large package, the night before the robbery.</p>
+
+<p>Joe absolutely refused to say a word for or against himself.</p>
+
+<p>"The detectives got this scheme up and know what they are doing," said
+he; "I don't. When they get all through, you'll know how it'll come
+out."</p>
+
+<p>To all questions as to his guilt or innocence, to every query about the
+crime or his arrest, he replied alike, to friend or foe:</p>
+
+<p>"Ask the sheriff; he's doing this."</p>
+
+<p>He was in jail a long time, but nothing was proven against him and he
+was finally released.</p>
+
+<p>Neither of the Englishmen could fasten the crime on his partner, and
+they sold out<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">197</a></span> and drifted away, one going back to England and the other
+to Mexico.</p>
+
+<p>Joe ran awhile on the road again and then took a job as chief-engineer
+of a big stamp-mill in Arizona, and going there he was lost to myself
+and the men on the road, and finally the Black Prince robbery passed
+into history, and nothing remained but the tradition, a sort of a myth
+of the mountains, like Captain Kidd's treasures, the amount only being
+increased by time. I believe that the last time I heard the story, it
+was calmly stated that thirty million dollars was taken.</p>
+
+<p>When I was out West, last time, I got off the train at Santa F&eacute;, and
+when gunning through the baggage for my <i>kiester</i>, I saw a trunk,
+bearing on its end this legend:</p>
+
+<p>
+"MRS. JOS. HOGG."<br />
+</p>
+
+<p>While I was "gopping" at it, as they say down East, and wondering if it
+could be my Joe Hogg, a very nice-looking lady came in, leading a little
+girl, glanced along the lines<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">198</a></span> of trunks, put her hand on the one I was
+looking at, and said:</p>
+
+<p>"That's the one; yes; the little one. I want it checked to New York."</p>
+
+<p>Just then, a little fellow with whiskers on his chin and a twinkle in
+his eye came in and took charge of the trunk, the woman and the child,
+and with the little one's arms around his neck, bid them good-by, and
+got them into their seats in the sleeper.</p>
+
+<p>I watched this individual with a great deal of interest; he looked like
+my old friend, "Mormon Joe," only for the whiskers and the stockman
+clothes.</p>
+
+<p>Finally he jumped off the moving train, waved his hand and stood
+watching it out of sight, to catch the last glimpse of (to him) precious
+burden-bearer; he raised his hand to shade his eyes, and as he did so, I
+saw that it was minus one thumb, and I remembered that "Mormon Joe" left
+one of his under an engine up in Colorado&mdash;I was sure of him.</p>
+
+<p>There was a tear in his eye, as he turned to go away, so I stepped up to
+him and asked:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">199</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Any new wives wanted down your way, Elder?"</p>
+
+<p>He glanced up, half angry, looked me straight in the eye, and a smile
+started at the southeast corner of his phiz and ran around to his port
+ear.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, John, old man, I don't mind being <i>sealed</i> to one about your
+size, right now. I've just sent away the best one in the wide world. Old
+man, you're looking plump; by the Holy Joe Smith, a sight of you is good
+for sore eyes!"</p>
+
+<p>Well, we started, and&mdash;but there ain't no use in telling you all about
+it&mdash;I went home with Joe, went up a creek with a jaw-breaking Spanish
+name, for miles, to a very good cattle ranch, that was the property of
+"Mormon Joe."</p>
+
+<p>Joe only quit running some three or four years ago, and the ranch and
+its neat little home represented the savings of Joe Hogg's life.</p>
+
+<p>His wife and only child had just started for a visit to England where
+she was born.</p>
+
+<p>The next day we rode the range to see<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">200</a></span> Joe's cattle, and the next we
+started out for a little hunt. It was sitting by a jolly camp-fire, back
+in the hills of New Mexico, that "Mormon Joe" told me the true story of
+the robbery of the Black Prince mine and the romance of his life.</p>
+
+<p>Filling his cob pipe with cut-plug, Joe sat looking away over space
+toward our hobbled horses and then said:</p>
+
+<p>"Old man, I reckon you remember all about the Black Prince robbery. I
+don't forget you were the first man that came to the cooler to see me
+while I was doing time as a <i>suspect</i>. Well, coming right down to the
+point, <i>I had the dust all the time</i>! and the working out of the mystery
+would be rather interesting reading if it was written up, and, as you
+are such an accomplished liar, I wouldn't be surprised if you made it
+the base-line of one of them yarns of yourn&mdash;only, mind you, don't go
+too far with it, for it's as curious as a lie itself. I would not try to
+improve on it, if I was you. I'll tell it to you as it was.</p>
+
+<p>"About four days before the robbery, I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">201</a></span> was introduced to Rachel
+Rokesby, daughter of one of the partners in the Black Prince. I met her,
+in what seemed to be a casual way, at Mother Cameron's hash-foundry, but
+I found out, a long time afterward, that she had worked for two weeks to
+bring about the introduction.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know as you remember seeing her, but she was a quiet, retiring,
+well-educated, rosy-cheeked English girl&mdash;impressed you right away as
+being the pure, unrefined article, about twenty-two karat. She "chinned"
+me about an hour, that evening, and just cut a cameo of her pretty face
+right on my old heart.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, course I saw her home, and tried my best to be interesting, but
+if a fellow ever in his natural life becomes a double-barreled jackass,
+it's just immediately after he falls in love. Why, he ain't as
+interesting as the unlettered side of an ore-sack.</p>
+
+<p>"But we got on amazing well; the girl did most of the talking and along
+toward the last, mentioned that she was in great trouble&mdash;of course I
+wa'n't interested in that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">202</a></span> at all. I liked to have broken my neck in
+getting her to tell me at once if I couldn't do something to help her,
+say, for instance, move Raton mountain up agin Pike's Peak.</p>
+
+<p>"I went home that night, promising to call on her the next trip, not to
+let any one know I was coming, not to tell anybody I had been there, not
+for <i>worlds</i> to repeat or intimate what she told me, and she would tell
+me her trouble from start to finish, and then I could help her, if I
+wanted to. Well, I wanted to, <i>bad</i>.</p>
+
+<p>"I went up to the Rokesby's cabin, next trip in; it was dark, and as I
+went up the front walk, I heard the old gentleman going out the back,
+bound for the village 'diggin's.' I had it all to myself&mdash;the secret, I
+mean.</p>
+
+<p>"When I went in, I got about a forty-second squeeze of a neat little
+hand, and things did look so nice and clean and homelike that I had it
+on the end of my tongue to ask right then to camp in the place.</p>
+
+<p>"After a few commonplaces, she turned around and asked me if I still
+wanted to help her and would keep the secret, if I concluded<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">203</a></span> in the end
+to keep out of her troubles. You bet your life, old man, she didn't have
+to wait long for assurance&mdash;why I wouldn't'a waited a minute to have
+contracted to turn the Mississippi into the Mammoth Cave, if she had
+asked it.</p>
+
+<p>"'Well," says she, finally, "it is not generally known, in fact, isn't
+known at all, that the Black Prince is a paying placer, and that papa
+and Mr. Sanson have been taking out lots of gold for some time. They
+have over fifty pounds of gold-dust and nuggets hidden under the floor
+of the old mill.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Well,' says I, 'that hadn't ought to worry you so.'</p>
+
+<p>"'But that isn't all the story,' she continued; 'we have discovered a
+plot on the part of Mr. Sanson to rob papa of the gold and burn the mill
+and sluice-boxes, to hide the crime. You will find that every tough in
+town is his friend, because he buys whisky for them, and they all
+dislike papa. If he carried out his plan, we would have no redress
+whatever; all the justices in town can be bribed. The plan is to take
+the gold,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">204</a></span> burn the mill, and then accuse papa of the crime. Now, can't
+you help me to fool that old villain of a Sanson, and put papa's half of
+the money in a safe place?'</p>
+
+<p>"I thought quite a while before I answered; it seemed strange to me that
+the case should be as she stated, and I half feared I might be made a
+cat's-paw and get into trouble, but the girl looked at me so trustingly
+with her blue eyes and added:</p>
+
+<p>"'I am afraid that I am the cause of all the trouble, too. Papa and
+Sanson got along well until I refused to marry him; after that, the row
+began&mdash;I hate him. He said I would <i>have</i> to marry him before he was
+done with me&mdash;but I won't!'</p>
+
+<p>"'You bet you won't, darling,' says I, before I thought. 'Pardon me,
+Miss Rokesby, but if there is any marrying done around here, I want a
+hand in the game myself.'</p>
+
+<p>"She blushed deeply, looked at the toe of her shoe a minute, and said:</p>
+
+<p>"'I'm only eighteen, and am too young to think of marrying. Suppose we
+don't talk<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">205</a></span> of that until we get out of the present difficulties.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Sensible idea,' says I. 'But when we are out, suppose you and I have a
+talk on that subject.'</p>
+
+<p>"She looked at the toe of her shoe for a minute again, turned red and
+white around the gills, looked up at me, shyly at first, then fully and
+fairly, stretched out her hand and said:</p>
+
+<p>"'Yes; if you care to.'</p>
+
+<p>"Course, I didn't <i>care</i>, or nothing&mdash;no more than a man cares for his
+head.</p>
+
+<p>"I guess that was about a half engagement, anyhow, it's the only one we
+ever had. She said it would be ruinous to our plans if I was seen with
+her then or afterward; and agreed to leave a note at the house for me by
+next trip, telling me her plan&mdash;which she should talk over with her
+father.</p>
+
+<p>"A couple of days later I got in from a round trip and made a dive for
+the boarding-house.</p>
+
+<p>"'Any mail for me, mother?' I asked old Mrs. Cameron.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">206</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"'No, young man; I'm sorry to say there ain't'</p>
+
+<p>"'I was anxious to hear from home.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Too bad; but maybe it'll come to-morrow.'</p>
+
+<p>"I was up to fever heat, but could do nothing but wait. I went to bed
+late, and, raising up my pillow to put my watch under it, I found a
+note; it read:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"'Midnight, July 17.</p>
+
+<p>"<span class="smcap">'Dear Joe</span>:</p>
+
+<p>"'Just thought of that rule for changing counter-balance you
+wanted. There has always been a miscalculation about the weight of
+counter-balance; they are universally <i>too heavy</i>. The weights are
+in pieces; take out two <i>pieces</i>; this treatment would even improve
+a mule sweep. When once out, pieces should be changed or placed
+where careless or malicious persons cannot get hold of them and
+replace them. All is well; hope you are the same; will see you some
+time soon.</p>
+
+<p>"'<span class="smcap">Jack.</span>'</p></div>
+
+<p>"Here was apparently a fool letter from one young railroader to another,
+but I knew<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">207</a></span> well enough that it was from Rachel and meant something.</p>
+
+<p>"I noticed that it was dated the <i>next night</i>; then I commenced to see,
+and in a few minutes my instructions were plain. The old five-stamp mill
+was driven by a mule, who wandered aimlessly around a never-ending
+circle at the end of a long, wooden sweep; this pole extended past the
+post of the mill a few feet, and had on the short end a box of stones as
+a counter-weight. I would find two packages of gold there at midnight of
+July 17.</p>
+
+<p>"I was running one of those old Pittsburgh hogs then, and she had to
+have her throttle ground the next day, but it was more than likely that
+she would be ready to go out at 8:30 on her turn; but I arranged to have
+it happen that the stand-pipe yoke should be broken in putting it up, so
+that another engine would have to be fired up, and I would lay in.</p>
+
+<p>"I told stories in the roundhouse until nearly ten o'clock that fateful
+night, and then started for the hash-foundry, dodged into a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">208</a></span> lumber
+yard, got onto the rough ground back of town and made a wide detour
+toward Constitution Gulch, the Black Prince and the mule-sweep. I crept
+up to the washed ground through some brush and laid down in a path to
+wait for midnight. I felt a full-fledged sneak-thief, but I thought of
+Rachel and didn't care if I was one or not, so long as she was
+satisfied.</p>
+
+<p>"I looked often at my watch in the moonlight, and at twelve o'clock
+everything was as still as death. I could hear my own heart beat against
+my ribs as I sneaked up to that counter-balanced sweep. I got there
+without accident or incident, found two packages done up in canvas with
+tarred-string handles; they were heavy but small, and in ten minutes I
+had them alone with me among the stumps and stones on the little <i>mesa</i>
+back of town.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll never forget how I felt there in the dark with all that money that
+wasn't mine, and if some one had have said 'boo' from behind a stump, I
+should have probably dropped the boodle and taken to the brush.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">209</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"As I approached the town, I realized that I could never get through it
+to the boarding-house or the roundhouse with those two bundles that
+<i>looked like country sausages</i>. I studied awhile on it and finally put
+them under an old scraper beside the road, and went without them to the
+shops. I got from my seat-box a clean pair of overalls and jacket and
+came back without being seen.</p>
+
+<p>"I wrapped one of the packages up in these and boldly stepped out into
+the glare of the electric lights&mdash;I remember I thought the town too
+darned enterprising.</p>
+
+<p>"One of the first men I met was the marshal, Jack Kelly. He was reported
+to be a Pinkerton man, and was mistrusted by some of the men, but tried
+to be friendly and 'stand in' with all of us. He slapped me on the back
+and nearly scared the wits out of me. He insisted on treating me, and I
+went into a saloon and 'took something' with him, in fear and trembling.
+The package was heavy, but I must carry it lightly under my arm, as if
+it were only overclothes.</p>
+
+<p>"I treated in return, and had it charged,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">210</a></span> because I dare not attempt to
+get my right hand into my pocket. Jack was disposed to talk, and I
+feared he was just playing with me like a cat does with a mouse, but I
+finally got off and deposited my precious burden in my seat-box, under
+lock and key&mdash;then I sneaked back for the second haul. I met Jack and a
+policeman, on my next trip, and he exclaimed:</p>
+
+<p>"'Why, ain't you gone out yet?' and started off, telling the roundsman
+to keep the bunkos off me up to the shop. <i>I thought then I was caught</i>,
+but I was not, and the bluecoat bid me a pleasant good-night, at the
+shop yard.</p>
+
+<p>"When I got near my engine, I was surprised to see Barney Murry, the
+night machinist, with his torch up on the cab&mdash;he was putting in the
+newly-ground throttle.</p>
+
+<p>"Just before I had decided to emerge from the shadow of the next engine,
+Barney commenced to yell for his helper, Dick, to come and help him on
+with the dome-cover.</p>
+
+<p>"Dick came with a sandwich in one hand and a can of coffee in the other.
+This reminded<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">211</a></span> Barney of his lunch, and setting his torch down on the
+top of the cab, he scrambled down on the other side and hurried off to
+the sand-dryer, where the gang used to eat their dyspepsia insurance and
+swap lies.</p>
+
+<p>"After listening a moment, to be sure I was alone, I stepped lightly to
+the cab, and in a minute the two heavy and dangerous packages were side
+by side again.</p>
+
+<p>"But just here an inspiration struck me. I opened the front door of the
+cab, stepped out on the running-board, and a second later was holding
+Barney's smoking torch down in the dome.</p>
+
+<p>"The throttle occupied most of the space, but there was considerable
+room each side of it and a good two feet between the top of the boiler
+shell and the top row of flues. I took one of the bags of gold, held it
+down at arm's length, swung it backward and forward a time or two, and
+let go, so as to drop it well ahead on the flues: the second bag
+followed at once, and again I held down the light to see if the bags
+were out of sight; satisfied on this point, I got down, took my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">212</a></span> clothes
+under my arm, and jumped off the engine into the arms of the night
+foreman."</p>
+
+<p>"'What did you call me for? That engine is not ready to go out on the
+extra,' I demanded, off-hand.</p>
+
+<p>"'I ain't called you; you're dreaming.'</p>
+
+<p>"'May be I am,' said I, 'but I would 'a swore some one came and called
+under my window that I got out at 2:10, on a stock-train, extra.'</p>
+
+<p>"Just then, Barney and Dick came back, and I soon had the satisfaction
+of seeing the cover screwed down on my secret and a fire built under
+it&mdash;then I went home and slept.</p>
+
+<p>"I guess it was four round trips that I made with the old pelter, before
+Kelly put this and that together, and decided to put me where the dogs
+wouldn't bite me.</p>
+
+<p>"I appeared as calm as I could, and set the example since followed by
+politicians, that of 'dignified silence.' Kelly tried to work one of the
+'fellow convict' rackets on me, but I made no confessions. I soon became
+a martyr, in the eyes of the women of the town. You boys got to talking
+of backing up a suit<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">213</a></span> for false imprisonment; election was coming on and
+the sheriff and county judge were getting uneasy, and the district
+attorney was awfully unhappy, so they let me out.</p>
+
+<p>"Nixon, the sheriff, pumped me slyly, to see what effect my imprisonment
+would have on future operations, and I told him I didn't propose to lose
+any time over it, and agreed to drop the matter for a little nest-egg
+equal to the highest pay received by any engineer on the road. Pat
+Dailey was the worst hog for overtime, and I selected his pay as the
+standard and took big money,&mdash;from the campaign funds. I wasn't afraid
+of re-arrest;&mdash;I had 'em for bribery.</p>
+
+<p>"Whilst I was in hock, I had cold chills every time I heard the 313's
+whistle, for fear they would wash her out and find the dust; but she
+gave up nothing.</p>
+
+<p>"When I reported for work, the old scrap was out on construction and
+they were disposed to put me on another mill, pulling varnished cars,
+but I told the old man I was under the weather and 'crummy,' and that
+put him in a good humor; and I was sent out to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">214</a></span> a desolate siding, and
+once again took charge, of the steam 'fence,' for the robber of the
+Black Prince mine.</p>
+
+<p>"On Sunday, by a little maneuvering, I managed to get the crew to go off
+on a trout-fishing expedition, and under pretext of grinding-in her
+chronically leaky throttle, I took off her dome-cover and looked in;
+there was nothing in sight.</p>
+
+<p>"I was afraid that the cooking of two months or more had destroyed the
+canvas bags; then again the heavy deposit of scale might have cemented
+the bags to the flues. In either case, rough handling would send the
+dust to the bottom of the boiler, making it difficult if not impossible
+to recover; and worse yet, manifest itself sometime and give me dead
+away.</p>
+
+<p>"I concluded to go at the matter right, and after two hours of hard
+work, managed to get the upright throttle-pipe out of the dome. I drew
+her water down below the flue-line, and though it was tolerably warm, I
+got in.</p>
+
+<p>"Both of my surmises were partially correct; the canvas was rotted, in a
+measure,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">215</a></span> and the bags were fastened to the flues. The dust had been put
+up in buckskin bags, first, and these had been put into shot-sacks; the
+buckskin was shrunken but intact. I took a good look around, before I
+dared take the treasure into the sunlight; but the coast was clear, and
+inside of an hour they were locked in my clothes-box, and the cover was
+on the kettle again and I was pumping her up by hand.</p>
+
+<p>"I was afraid something would happen to me or the engine, so I buried
+the packages in a bunch of willows near the track.</p>
+
+<p>"It must have been two weeks after this that a mover's wagon stopped
+near the creek within half a mile of the track, and hobbled horses soon
+began to 'rustle' grass, and the smoke of a camp-fire hunted the clouds.</p>
+
+<p>"We saw this sort of thing often, and I didn't any more than glance at
+it; but after supper I sauntered down by the engine, smoking and
+thinking of Rachel Rokesby, when I noticed a woman walking towards me,
+pail in hand.</p>
+
+<p>"She had on a sunbonnet that hid her face<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">216</a></span> and she got within ten feet
+of me before she spoke&mdash;she asked for a pail of drinking-water from the
+tank&mdash;the creek was muddy from a recent rain.</p>
+
+<p>"Just as soon as she spoke, I knew it was Rachel, but I controlled
+myself, for others were within hearing. I walked with her to the engine
+and got the water; I purposely drew the pail full, which she promptly
+spilled, and I offered to carry it for her.</p>
+
+<p>"The crew watched us walk away and I heard some of them mention 'mash,'
+but I didn't care, I wanted a word with my girl.</p>
+
+<p>"When we were out of earshot, she asked without looking up:</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, old coolness, are you all right?'</p>
+
+<p>"'You bet! darling.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Papa has sold out his half and we are going away for good. I think if
+we get rid of the dust without trouble, we may go to England. Just as
+soon as all is safe, you shall hear from me; can't you trust me, Joe?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Yes, Rachel, darling; now and forever.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Where's the gold?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Within one hundred feet of you, in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">217</a></span> those willows; when it is dark, I
+will go and get it and put it on that stump by the big tree; go then and
+get it. But where will you put it?'</p>
+
+<p>"'I'm going to pack it in the bottom of a jar of butter.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Good idea, little girl! I think you'd make a good thief yourself.
+How's my friend, Sanson?'</p>
+
+<p>"'He's gone to Mexico; says yet that papa robbed him, but he knows as
+well as you or I that all his bluster was because he only found <i>half</i>
+that he expected; I pride myself on getting ahead of a wicked man once,
+thanks to our hero, by the name of Hogg.'</p>
+
+<p>"It was getting dusk and we were out of sight, so I sat down the pail
+and asked:</p>
+
+<p>"'Do I get a kiss, this evening?'</p>
+
+<p>"'If you want one.'</p>
+
+<p>"'There's only one thing I want worse.'</p>
+
+<p>"'What is that, Joe?'</p>
+
+<p>"My arm was around her waist now, and the sunbonnet was shoved back from
+the face. I took a couple of cream-puffs where they were ripe, and
+answered:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">218</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"That message to come and have that talk about matrimony.'</p>
+
+<p>"Here a man's voice was heard calling: 'Rachel! Rachel!' and throwing
+her arms around my neck, she gave me one more kiss, snatched up her pail
+and answered:</p>
+
+<p>"'Yes; I'm coming.'</p>
+
+<p>"Then to me, hurriedly:</p>
+
+<p>"'Good-by, dear; wait patiently, you shall hear from me.'</p>
+
+<p>"I went back and put the dangerous dust on the stump and returned to the
+bunk-car. The next morning when I turned out, the outlines of the wagon
+were dimly discernible away on a hill in the road; it had been gone an
+hour.</p>
+
+<p>"I walked down past my stump&mdash;the gold was gone.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, John, I settled down to work and to wait for that precious letter
+that would summon me to the side of Rachel Rokesby, wherever she was;
+but it never came. Uncle Sam never delivered a line to me from her from
+that day to this."</p>
+
+<p>Joe kicked the burning sticks in our fire<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">219</a></span> closer together, lit his pipe
+and then proceeded:</p>
+
+<p>"I was hopeful for a month or two; then got impatient, and finally got
+angry, but it ended in despair. A year passed away before I commenced to
+<i>hunt</i>, instead of waiting to be hunted; but after another year I gave
+it up, and came to the belief that Rachel was dead or married to
+another. But the very minute that such a treasonable thought flashed
+through my mind, my heart held up the image of her pure face and rebuked
+me.</p>
+
+<p>"I was discharged finally, for forgetting orders&mdash;I was thinking of
+something else&mdash;then I commenced to pull myself together and determined
+to control myself. I held the job in Arizona almost a year, but the mill
+company busted; then I drifted down on to the Mexican National, when it
+was building, and got a job. A few months later, it came to my ears that
+one of our engineers, Billy Gardiner, was in one of their damnable
+prisons, for running over a Greaser, and I organized a relief
+expedition. I called on Gardiner, and talked over his trouble fully;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">220</a></span> he
+was in a loathsome dobie hole, full of vermin, and dark. As I sat
+talking to him, I noticed an old man, chained to the wall in a little
+entry on the other side of the room. His beard was grizzly white, long
+and tangled. He was hollow-cheeked and wild-eyed, and looked at me in a
+strange, fascinated way.</p>
+
+<p>"'What's he in for,' I whispered to Gardiner.</p>
+
+<p>"'Murdered his partner in a mining camp. Got caught in the act. He don't
+know it yet, but he's condemned to be shot next Friday&mdash;to-morrow. Poor
+devil, he's half crazy, anyhow.'</p>
+
+<p>"As I got up to go, the old man made a sharp hiss, and as I turned to
+look at him, he beckoned with his finger. I took a step or two nearer,
+and he asked, in an audible whisper:</p>
+
+<p>"'Mr. Hogg, don't you know me?'</p>
+
+<p>"I looked at him long and critically, and then said:</p>
+
+<p>"'No; I never saw you before.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Yes; that's so,' said he; 'but I have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">221</a></span> seen you, many times. You
+remember the Black Prince robbery?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Yes, indeed; then you are Sanson?'</p>
+
+<p>"'No; Rokesby.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Rokesby! My God, man, where's Rachel?'</p>
+
+<p>"'I thought so,' he muttered. 'Well, she's in England, but I'm here.'</p>
+
+<p>"'What part of England?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Sit down on that box, Mr. Hogg, and I will tell you something.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Is she married?' I asked eagerly.</p>
+
+<p>"'No, lad, she ain't, and what's more, she won't be till she marries
+you, so be easy there.'</p>
+
+<p>"Just here a pompous Mexican official strode in, stepped up in front of
+the old man and read something in Spanish.</p>
+
+<p>"'What in hell did he say?' asked the prisoner of Gardiner.</p>
+
+<p>"'Something about sentence, pardner.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, it's time they was doing something; did he say when it was?'</p>
+
+<p>"'To-morrow.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Good enough; I'm dead sick o' this.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">222</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"'Can't I do anything for you, Mr. Rokesby&mdash;for Rachel's sake?'</p>
+
+<p>"'No&mdash;yes, you can, too, young man; you can grant me a pardon for a
+worse crime nor murder, if you will&mdash;for&mdash;for Rachel's sake."</p>
+
+<p>"'It's granted then.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Good! that gives me heart. Now, Mr. Hogg, to business, it was me that
+robbed the Black Prince mine. I took every last cent there was, and I
+used you and Rachel to do the work for me and take the blame if caught.
+Sanson was honest enough, I fired the mill myself.</p>
+
+<p>"'It was me that sent Rachel to you; I admired your face, as you rode by
+the claim every day on your engine. I knew you had nerve. If you and
+Rachel hadn't fallen in love with one another, I'd 'a lost though; but I
+won.</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, I took the money I got for the claim and sent Rachel back to her
+mother's sister, in England. You may not know, but she is not my
+daughter; she thinks she is, though. Her parents died when she was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">223</a></span>
+small, and I provided for her. I'm her half-uncle. I got avaricious in
+my old age, and went into a number of questionable schemes.</p>
+
+<p>"'After leaving New Mexico, I worked the dust off, a little at a time,
+an' wasted the money&mdash;but never mind that.</p>
+
+<p>"'It was just before she got aboard the ship that Rachel sent me a
+letter containing another to you, to be sent when all was right&mdash;I've
+carried it ever since&mdash;somehow or other I was afraid it would drop a
+clew to send it at first, and after it got a year old, I didn't think of
+it much.'</p>
+
+<p>"He fumbled around inside of his dirty flannel shirt for a minute, and
+soon fished up a letter almost as black as the shirt, and holding it up,
+said:</p>
+
+<p>"'That's it.'</p>
+
+<p>"'I had the envelope off in a second, and read:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"<span class="smcap">'Dear Joseph</span>:</p>
+
+<p>"'I am going to my aunt, Mrs. Julia Bradshaw, 15 Harrow Lane,
+Leicester, England. If you do not change your mind, I will be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">224</a></span>
+happy to talk over our affairs whenever you are ready. I shall be
+waiting.</p>
+
+<p>"<span class="smcap">'Rachel'</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p>"I turned and bolted toward a door, when Gardiner yelled:</p>
+
+<p>"'Where are you going?'</p>
+
+<p>"'To England,' said I.</p>
+
+<p>"'This door, then, sir,' said a Mexican.</p>
+
+<p>"I came back to the old man.</p>
+
+<p>"'Rokesby,' said I, 'you have cut ten years off my life, but I forgive
+you; good-by.'</p>
+
+<p>"'One thing more, Mr. Hogg; don't tell 'em at home how I went&mdash;nothing
+about this last deal.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, all right; but I'll tell Rachel, if we marry and come to
+America.'</p>
+
+<p>"'I've got lots of honest relations, and my old mother still lives, in
+her eighties.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, not till after she goes, unless to save Rachel in some way.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Good-by, Mr. Hogg, God bless you! and&mdash;and, little Rachel.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Good-by, Mr. Rokesby.'</p>
+
+<p>"The next day I left Mexico for God's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">225</a></span> country, and inside of ten days
+was on a Cunarder, eastward bound. I reached England in proper time; I
+found the proper pen in the proper train, and was deposited in the
+proper town, directed to the proper house, and street, and number, and
+had pulled out about four yards of wire attached to the proper bell.</p>
+
+<p>"A kindly-faced old lady looked at me over her spectacles, and I asked:</p>
+
+<p>"'Does Mrs. Julia Bradshaw live here?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Yes, sir; that's me.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Have you a young lady here named Rachel R&mdash;'</p>
+
+<p>"The old lady didn't wait for me to finish the name, she just turned her
+head fifteen degrees, put her open hand up beside her mouth, and shouted
+upstairs:</p>
+
+<p>"'Rachel! Rachel! Come down here, quick! Here's your young man from
+America!'"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">226</a></span></p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="H" id="H"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">229</a></span>
+<h2>A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S TRIP</h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>It is all of twenty years now since the little incident happened that I
+am going to tell you about. After the strike of '77, I went into exile
+in the wild and woolly West, mostly in "bleeding Kansas," but often in
+Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona&mdash;the Santa F&eacute; goes almost everywhere
+in the Southwest.</p>
+
+<p>One night in August I was dropping an old Baldwin consolidator down a
+long Mexican grade, after having helped a stock train over the division
+by double-heading. It was close and hot on this sage-brush waste,
+something not unusual at night in high altitudes, and the heat and sheet
+lightning around the horizon warned me that there was to be one of those
+short, fierce storms that come but once or twice a year in these
+latitudes, and which are known as cloudbursts.</p>
+
+<p>The alkali plains, or deserts, as they are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">230</a></span> often erroneously called,
+are great stretches of adobe soil, known as "dobie" by the natives. This
+soil is a yellowish brown, or perhaps more of a gray color, and as fine
+as flour. Water plays sad havoc with it, if the soil lies so as to
+oppose the flow, and it moves like dust before a slight stream. On the
+flat, hard-baked plains, the water makes no impression, but on a
+railroad grade, be it ever so slight, the tendency is to dig pitfalls. I
+have seen a little stream of water, just enough to fill the ditches on
+each side of the track, take out all the dirt, and keep the ties and
+track afloat until the water was gone, then drop them into a hole eight
+or ten feet deep, or if the washout was short, leave them suspended,
+looking safe and sound, to lure some poor engineer and his mate to
+death.</p>
+
+<p>Another peculiarity of these storms is that they come quickly, rage
+furiously for a few minutes, and are gone, and their lines are sharply
+defined. It is not uncommon to find a lot of water, or a washout,
+within a mile<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">231</a></span> of land so dry that it looks as if it had never seen a
+drop of water.</p>
+
+<p>All this land is fertile when it can be brought under irrigating ditches
+and watered, but here it lies out almost like a desert. It is sparsely
+inhabited along the little streams by a straggling off-shoot of the
+Mexican race; yet once in a while a fine place is to be seen, like an
+oasis in the Sahara, the home of some old Spanish Don, with thousands of
+cattle or sheep ranging on the plains, or perhaps the headquarters of
+some enterprising cattle company. But these places were few and far
+between at the time of which I write; the stations were mere passing
+places, long side-tracks, with perhaps a stock-yard and section house
+once in a while, but generally without buildings or even switch lights.</p>
+
+<p>Noting the approach of the storm, I let the heavy engine drop the
+faster, hoping to reach a certain sidetrack, over twenty miles away,
+where there was a telegraph operator, and learn from him the condition
+of the road. But the storm was faster than any consolidator<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">232</a></span> that
+Baldwins ever built, and as the lightning suddenly ceased and the air
+became heavy, hot, and absolutely motionless, I realized that we would
+have the storm full upon us in a few moments. I had nothing to meet for
+more than thirty miles, and there was nothing behind me; so I stopped,
+turned the headlight up, and hung my white signal lamps down below the
+buffer-beams each side of the pilot&mdash;this to enable me to see the ends
+of the ties and the ditch.</p>
+
+<p>Billy Howell, my fireman, and a good one, hastily went over the
+boiler-jacket with signal oil, to prevent rust; we donned our gum coats;
+I dropped a little oil on the "Mary Ann's" gudgeon's, and we proceeded
+on our way without a word. On these big consolidators you cannot see
+well ahead, past the big boiler, from the cab, and I always ran with my
+head out of the side window. Both of us took this position now, standing
+up ready for anything; but we bowled safely along for one mile&mdash;two
+miles, through the awful hush. Then, as sudden as a flash of light,
+"boom!" went a peal of thunder as sharp<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">233</a></span> and clear as a signal gun.
+There was a flash of light along the rails, the surface of the desert
+seemed to break out here and there with little fitful jets of
+greenish-blue flame, and from every side came the answering reports from
+the batteries of heaven, like sister gunboats answering a salute. The
+rain fell in torrents, yes, in sheets. I have never, before or since,
+seen such a grand and fantastic display of fireworks, nor heard such
+rivalry of cannonade. I stopped my engine, and looked with awe and
+interest at this angry fit of nature, watched the balls of fire play
+along the ground, and realized for the first time what a sight was an
+electric storm.</p>
+
+<p>As the storm commenced at the signal of a mighty peal of thunder, so it
+ended as suddenly at the same signal; the rain changed in an instant
+from a torrent to a gentle shower, the lightning went out, the batteries
+ceased their firing, the breeze commenced to blow gently, the air was
+purified. Again we heard the signal peal of thunder, but it seemed a
+great way off, as if the piece was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">234</a></span> hurrying away to a more urgent
+quarter. The gentle shower ceased, the black clouds were torn asunder
+overhead; invisible hands seemed to snatch a gray veil of fleecy clouds
+from the face of the harvest moon, and it shone out as clear and serene
+as before the storm. The ditches on each side of the track were half
+full of water, ties were floating along in them, but the track seemed
+safe and sound, and we proceeded cautiously on our way. Within two miles
+the road turned to the West, and here we found the water in the ditches
+running through dry soil, carrying dead grass and twigs of sage upon its
+surface; we passed the head of the flood, tumbling along through the dry
+ditches as dirty as it well could be, and fast soaking into the soil;
+and then we passed beyond the line of the storm entirely.</p>
+
+<p>Billy put up his seat and filled his pipe, and I sat down and absorbed a
+sandwich as I urged my engine ahead to make up for lost time; we took up
+our routine of work just where we had left it, and&mdash;life was the same
+old song. It was past midnight now, and as I never did a great deal of
+talking on an engine, I settled down to watching the rails ahead, and
+wondering if the knuckle-joints would pound the rods off the pins before
+we got to the end of the division.</p>
+
+<div class='figcenter' style='width: 236px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="illus-005" id="illus-005"></a>
+<img src='images/p1-236.jpg' alt='"&#39;Mexican,&#39; said I."' title='' width = '236' height = '539'/><br />
+<span class='caption'>"'Mexican,' said I."</span>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">235</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Billy, with his eyes on the track ahead, was smoking his second pipe and
+humming a tune, and the "Mary Ann" was making about forty miles an hour,
+but doing more rolling and pitching and jumping up and down than an
+eight-wheeler would at sixty. All at once I discerned something away
+down the track where the rails seemed to meet. The moon had gone behind
+a cloud, and the headlight gave a better view and penetrated further.
+Billy saw it, too, for he took his pipe out of his mouth, and with his
+eyes still upon it, said laconically, as was his wont: "Cow."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said I, closing the throttle and dropping the lever ahead.</p>
+
+<p>"Man," said Billy, as the shape seemed to assume a perpendicular
+position.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said I, reaching for the three-way cock, and applying the tender
+brake, without thinking what I did.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">236</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Woman," said Billy, as the shape was seen to wear skirts, or at least
+drapery.</p>
+
+<p>"Mexican," said I, as I noted the mantilla over the head. We were fast
+nearing the object.</p>
+
+<p>"No," said Billy, "too well built."</p>
+
+<p>I don't know what he judged by; we could not see the face, for it was
+turned away from us; but the form was plainly that of a comely woman.
+She stood between the rails with her arms stretched out like a cross,
+her white gown fitting her figure closely. A black, shawl-like mantilla
+was over the head, partly concealing her face; her right foot was upon
+the left-hand rail. She stood perfectly still. We were within fifty feet
+of her, and our speed was reduced to half, when Billy said sharply:
+"Hold her, John&mdash;for God's sake!"</p>
+
+<p>But I had the "Mary Ann" in the back motion before the words left his
+mouth, and was choking her on sand. Billy leaned upon the boiler-head
+and pulled the whistle-cord, but the white figure did not move. I shut
+my eyes as we passed the spot where she had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">237</a></span> stood. We got stopped a rod
+or two beyond. I took the white light in the tank and sprang to the
+ground. Billy lit the torch, and followed me with haste. The form still
+stood upon the track just where we had first seen it; but it faced us
+and the arms were folded. I confess to hurrying slowly until Billy
+caught up with the torch, which he held over his head.</p>
+
+<p>"Good evening, se&ntilde;ors," said the apparition, in very sweet English, just
+tinged with the Castilian accent, but she spoke as if nearly exhausted.</p>
+
+<p>"Good gracious," said I, "whatever brought you away out here, and hadn't
+you just as lief shoot a man as scare him to death?"</p>
+
+<p>She laughed very sweetly, and said: "The washout brought me just here,
+and I fancy it was lucky for you&mdash;both of you."</p>
+
+<p>"Washout?" said I. "Where?"</p>
+
+<p>"At the dry bridge beyond."</p>
+
+<p>Well, to make a long story short, we took her on the engine&mdash;she was wet
+through&mdash;and went on to the dry bridge. This was a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">238</a></span> little wooden
+structure in a sag, about a mile away, and we found that the storm we
+had encountered farther back had done bad work at each end of the
+bridge. We did not cross that night, but after placing signals well
+behind us and ahead of the washout, we waited until morning, the three
+of us sitting in the cab of the "Mary Ann," chatting as if we were old
+acquaintances.</p>
+
+<p>This young girl, whose fortunes had been so strangely cast with ours,
+was the daughter of Se&ntilde;or Juan Arboles, a rich old Spanish Don who owned
+a fine place and immense herds of sheep over on the Rio Pecos, some ten
+miles west of the road. She was being educated in some Catholic school
+or convent at Trinidad, and had the evening before alighted at the big
+corrals, a few miles below, where she was met by one of her father's
+Mexican rancheros, who led her saddle broncho. They had started on their
+fifteen-mile ride in the cool of the evening, and following the road
+back for a few miles were just striking off toward the distant hedge of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">239</a></span>
+cotton woods that lined the little stream by her home when the storm
+came upon them.</p>
+
+<p>There was a lone pine tree hardly larger than a bush about a half-mile
+from the track, and riding to this, the girl, whose name was Josephine,
+had dismounted to seek its scant protection, while the herder tried to
+hold the frightened horses. As peal on peal of thunder resounded and the
+electric lights of nature played tag over the plain, the horses became
+more and more unmanageable and at last stampeded, with old Paz muttering
+Mexican curses and chasing after them wildly.</p>
+
+<p>After the storm passed, Josephine waited in vain for Paz and the
+bronchos, and then debated whether she should walk toward her home or
+back to the corrals. In either direction the distance was long, and the
+adobe soil is very tenacious when wet, and the wayfarer needs great
+strength to carry the load it imposes on the feet. As she stood there,
+thinking what it was best to do, a sound came to her ears from the
+direction of the timber and home, which she recognized in an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">240</a></span> instant,
+and without waiting to debate further, she turned and ran with all her
+strength, not toward her home, but away from it. Across the waste of
+stunted sage she sped, the cool breeze upon her face, every muscle
+strained to its utmost. Nearer and nearer came the sound; the deep,
+regular bay of the timber wolf. These animals are large and fierce; they
+do not go in packs, like the smaller and more cowardly breeds of wolves,
+but in pairs, or, at most, six together. A pair of them will attack a
+man even when he is mounted, and lucky is he if he is well armed and
+cool enough to despatch one before it fastens its fangs in his horse's
+throat or his own thigh.</p>
+
+<p>As the brave girl ran, she cast about for some means of escape or place
+of refuge. She decided to run to the railroad track and climb a
+telegraph pole&mdash;a feat which, owing to her free life on the ranch, she
+was perfectly capable of. Once up the pole, she could rest on the
+cross-tree, in perfect safety from the wolves, and she would be sure to
+be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">241</a></span> seen and rescued by the first train that came along after daybreak.</p>
+
+<p>She approached the track over perfectly dry ground. To reach the
+telegraph poles, she sprang nimbly into the ditch; and as she did so,
+she saw a stream of water coming rapidly toward her&mdash;it was the front of
+the flood. The ditch on the opposite side of the track, which she must
+also cross to reach the line of poles, she found already full-flooded.
+She decided to run up the track, between the walls of water. This would
+put a ten-foot stream between her and her pursuers, and change her
+course enough, she hoped, to throw them off the scent. In this design
+she was partly successful, for the bay of the wolves showed that they
+were going to the track as she had gone, instead of cutting straight
+across toward her. Thus she gained considerable time. She reached the
+little arroyo spanned by the dry bridge; it was like a mill-pond, and
+the track was afloat. She ran across the bridge; she scarcely slackened
+speed, although the ties rocked and moved on the spike-heads holding
+them to the rails.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">242</a></span></p>
+
+<p>She hoped for a moment that the wolves would not venture to follow her
+over such a way; but their hideous voices were still in her ear and came
+nearer and nearer. Then there came to her, faintly, another, a strange,
+metallic sound. What was it? Where was it? She ran on tiptoe a few paces
+in order to hear it better; it was in the rails&mdash;the vibration of a
+train in motion. Then there came into view a light&mdash;a headlight; but it
+was so far away, so very far, and that awful baying so close! The "Mary
+Ann," however, was fleeter of foot than the wolves; the light grew big
+and bright and the sound of working machinery came to the girl on the
+breeze.</p>
+
+<p>Would they stop for her? Could she make them see her? Then she thought
+of the bridge. It was death for them as well as for her&mdash;they <i>must</i> see
+her. She resolved to stay on the track until they whistled her off; but
+now the light seemed to come so slow. A splash at her side caused her to
+turn her head, and there, a dozen feet away, were her pursuers, their
+tongues out, their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">243</a></span> eyes shining like balls of fire. They were just
+entering the water to come across to her. They fascinated her by their
+very fierceness. Forgetting where she was for the instant, she stared
+dumbly at them until called to life and action by a scream from the
+locomotive's whistle. Then she sprang from the track just in the nick of
+time. She actually laughed as she saw two grayish-white wolf-tails bob
+here and there among the sage brush, as the wolves took flight at sight
+of the engine.</p>
+
+<p>This was the story she told as she dried her garments before the furnace
+door, and I confess to holding this cool, self-reliant girl in high
+admiration. She never once thought of fainting; but along toward morning
+she did say that she was scared then at thinking of it.</p>
+
+<p>Early in the morning a party of herders, with Josephine's father ahead,
+rode into sight. They were hunting for her. Josephine got up on the
+tender to attract their attention, and soon she was in her father's
+arms. Her frightened pony had gone home<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">244</a></span> as fast as his legs would carry
+him, and a relief party swam their horses at the ford and rode forward
+at once.</p>
+
+<p>The old Don was profuse in his thanks, and would not leave us until
+Billy and I had agreed to visit his ranch and enjoy a hunt with him, and
+actually set a date when we should meet him at the big corral. I wanted
+a rest anyway, and it was perfectly plain that Billy was beyond his
+depth in love with the girl at first sight; so we were not hard to
+persuade when she added her voice to her father's.</p>
+
+<p>Early in September Billy and I dropped off No. 1 with our guns and
+"plunder," as baggage is called there, and a couple of the old Don's men
+met us with saddle and pack animals. I never spent a pleasanter two
+weeks in my life. The quiet, almost gloomy, old Don and I became fast
+friends, and the hunting was good. The Don was a Spaniard, but
+Josephine's mother had been a Mexican woman, and one noted for her
+beauty. She had been dead some years at the time of our visit. Billy
+devoted most of his time to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">245</a></span> girl. They were a fine looking young
+couple, he being strong and broad-shouldered, with laughing blue eyes
+and light curly hair, she slender and perfect in outline, with a typical
+Southern complexion, black eyes&mdash;and such eyes they were&mdash;and hair and
+eyebrows like the raven's wing.</p>
+
+<p>A few days before Billy and I were booked to resume our duties on the
+deck of the "Mary Ann," Miss Josephine took my arm and walked me down
+the yard and pumped me quietly about "Mr. Howell," as she called Billy.
+She went into details a little, and I answered all questions as best I
+could. All I said was in the young man's favor&mdash;it could not, in truth,
+be otherwise. Josephine seemed satisfied and pleased.</p>
+
+<p>When we got back to headquarters, I was given the care of a cold-water
+Hinkley, with a row of varnished cars behind her, and Billy fell heir to
+the rudder of the "Mary Ann." We still roomed together. Billy put in
+most of his lay-over time writing long letters to somebody, and every
+Thursday, as regular as a clock, one came for him, with a censor's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">246</a></span> mark
+on it. Often after reading the letter, Billy would say: "That girl has
+more horse sense than the rest of the whole female race&mdash;she don't slop
+over worth a cent." He invariably spoke of her as "my Mexican girl," and
+often asked my opinion about white men intermarrying with that mongrel
+race. Sometimes he said that his mother would go crazy if he married a
+Mexican, his father would disown him, and his brother Henry&mdash;well, Billy
+did not like to think just what revenge Henry would take. Billy's father
+was manager of an Eastern road, and his brother was assistant to the
+first vice-president, and Billy looked up to the latter as a great man
+and a sage. He himself was in the West for practical experience in the
+machinery department, and to get rid of a slight tendency to asthma. He
+could have gone East any time and "been somebody" on the road under his
+father.</p>
+
+<p>Finally, Billy missed a week in writing. At once there was a cog gone
+from the answering wheel to match. Billy shortened his letters; the
+answers were shortened.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">247</a></span> Then he quit writing, and his Thursday letter
+ceased to come. He had thought the matter all over, and decided, no
+doubt, that he was doing what was best&mdash;both for himself and the girl;
+that his family's high ideas should not be outraged by a Mexican
+marriage. He had put a piece of flesh-colored court-plaster over his
+wound, not healed it.</p>
+
+<p>Early in the winter the old Don wrote, urging us to come down and hunt
+antelope, but Billy declined to go&mdash;said that the road needed him, and
+that Josephine might come home from school and this would make them both
+uncomfortable. But Henry, his older brother, was visiting him, and he
+suggested that I take Henry; he would enjoy the hunt, and it would help
+him drown his sorrow over the loss of his aristocratic young wife, who
+had died a year or two before. So Henry went with me, and we hunted
+antelope until we tired of the slaughter. Then the old Don planned a
+deer-hunting trip in the mountains, but I had to go back to work, and
+left Henry and the old Don to take the trip without me. While they were
+in the mountains,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">248</a></span> Josephine came home, and Henry Howell's stay
+lengthened out to a month. But I did not know until long afterward that
+the two had met.</p>
+
+<p>Billy was pretty quiet all winter, worked hard and went out but
+little&mdash;he was thinking about something. One day I came home and found
+him writing a letter. "What now, Billy?" I asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Writing to my Mexican girl," said he.</p>
+
+<p>"I thought you had got over that a long time ago?"</p>
+
+<p>"So did I, but I hadn't. I've been trying to please somebody else
+besides myself in this matter, and I'm done. I'm going to work for Bill
+now."</p>
+
+<p>"Take an old man's advice, Billy, and don't write that girl a line&mdash;go
+and see her."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I can fix it all right by letter, and then run down there and see
+her."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't do it."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll risk it."</p>
+
+<p>A week later Billy and I sat on the veranda of the company's
+hash-foundry, figuring up our time and smoking our cob meerschaums,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">249</a></span>
+when one of the boys who had been to the office, placed two letters in
+Billy's hands. One of them was directed in the handwriting that used to
+be on the old Thursday letters. Billy tore it open eagerly&mdash;and his own
+letter to Josephine dropped into his hand. Billy looked at the ground
+steadily for five minutes, and I pretended not to have seen. Finally he
+said, half to himself: "You were right, I ought to have gone myself&mdash;but
+I'll go now, go to-morrow." Then he opened the other letter.</p>
+
+<p>He read its single page with manifest interest, and when his eyes
+reached the last line they went straight on, and looked at the ground,
+and continued to do so for fully five minutes. Without looking up, he
+said: "John, I want you to do me two favors."</p>
+
+<p>"All right," said I.</p>
+
+<p>Still keeping his eyes on the ground, he said, slowly, as if measuring
+everything well: "I'm going up and draw my time, and will leave for Old
+Mexico on No. 4 to-night. I want you to write to both these parties and
+tell them that I have gone there and that you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">250</a></span> have forwarded both these
+letters. Don't tell 'em that I went after reading 'em."</p>
+
+<p>"And the other favor, Billy?"</p>
+
+<p>"Read this letter, and see me off to-night."</p>
+
+<p>The letter read:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"Philadelphia, May 1, 1879.</p>
+
+<p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Brother Will</span>: I want you and Mr. A. to go down to Don Juan
+Arboles's by the first of June. I will be there then. You must be
+my best man, as I stand up to marry the sweetest, dearest
+wild-flower of a woman that ever bloomed in a land of beauty. Don't
+fail me. Josephine will like you for my sake, and you will love her
+for your brother.</p>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Henry</span>."</p></div>
+
+<p>Most engineers' lives are busy ones and full of accident and incident,
+and having my full share of both, I had almost forgotten all these
+points about Billy Howell and his Mexican girl, when they were all
+recalled by a letter from Billy himself. With his letter was a
+photograph of a family group&mdash;a be-whiskered man of thirty-five, a
+good-looking woman of twenty, but undoubtedly a Mexican,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">251</a></span> and a
+curly-headed baby, perhaps a year old. The letter ran:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"City of Mexico, July 21, 1890.</p>
+
+<p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Old John</span>: I had lost you, and thought that perhaps you had
+gone over to the majority, until I saw your name and recognized
+your quill in a story. Write to me; am doing well. I send you a
+photograph of all there are of the Howell outfit. <i>No half-breeds
+for your uncle this time.</i></p>
+</div>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="J" id="J"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">255</a></span>
+<h2>THE POLAR ZONE</h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>Very few of my friends know me for a seafaring man, but I sailed the
+salt seas, man and boy, for nine months and eighteen days, and I know
+just as much about sailing the hereinbefore mentioned salt seas as I
+ever want to.</p>
+
+<p>Ever so long ago, when I was young and tender, I used to have fits of
+wanting to go into business for myself. Along about the front edge of
+the seventies, pay for "toting" people and truck over the eastern
+railroads of New England was not of sufficient plenitude to worry a man
+as to how he would invest his pay check&mdash;it was usually invested before
+he got it. One of my periodical fits of wanting to go into business for
+myself came on suddenly one day, when I got home and found another baby
+in the house. I was right in the very worst spasms of it when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">256</a></span> my
+brother Enoch, whom I hadn't seen for seventeen years, walked in on me.</p>
+
+<p>Enoch was fool enough to run away to sea when he was twelve years old&mdash;I
+suppose he was afraid he would get the chance to do something besides
+whaling. We were born down New Bedford way, where another boy and myself
+were the only two fellows in the district, for over forty years, who
+didn't go hunting whales, icebergs, foul smells, and scurvy, up in King
+Frost's bailiwick, just south of the Pole.</p>
+
+<p>Enoch had been captain and part owner of a Pacific whaler; she had
+recently burned at Honolulu, and he was back home now to buy a new ship.
+He had heard that I, his little brother John, was the best locomotive
+engineer in the whole world, and had come to see me&mdash;partly on account
+of relationship, but more to get my advice about buying a steam
+whaling-ship. Enoch knew more about whales and ships and such things
+than you could put down in a book, but he had no more idea <i>how</i> steam
+propelled a ship than I had what a "skivvie tricer" was.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">257</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Well, before the week was out, Enoch showed me that he was pretty well
+fixed in a financial way, and as he had no kin but me that he cared
+about, he offered me an interest in his new steam whaler, if I would go
+as chief engineer with her to the North Pacific.</p>
+
+<p>The terms were liberal and the chance a good one, so it seemed, and
+after a good many consultations, my wife agreed to let me go for <i>one</i>
+cruise. She asked about the stops to be made in going around the Horn,
+and figured mentally a little after each place was named&mdash;I believe now,
+she half expected that I would desert the ship and walk home from one of
+these spots, and was figuring on the time it would take me.</p>
+
+<p>When the robins were building their nests, the new steam whaler,
+"Champion," left New Bedford for parts unknown (<i>via</i> the Horn), with
+the sea-sickest chief engineer that ever smelt fish oil. The steam plant
+wasn't very much&mdash;two boilers and a plain twenty-eight by thirty-six
+double engine, and any amount of hoisting rigs, blubber<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">258</a></span> boilers, and
+other paraphernalia. We refitted in San Francisco, and on a clear summer
+morning turned the white-painted figurehead of the "Champion" toward the
+north and stood out for Behring sea. But, while we lay at the mouth of
+the Yukon river, up in Alaska, getting ready for a sally into the realm
+of water above the Straits, a whaler, bound for San Francisco and home,
+dropped anchor near us, the homesickness struck in on me, and&mdash;never
+mind the details now&mdash;your Uncle John came home without any whales, and
+was mighty glad to get on the extra list of the old road.</p>
+
+<p>The story I want to tell, however, is another man's story, and it was
+while lying in the Yukon that I heard it. I was deeply impressed with it
+at the time, and meant to give it to the world as soon as I got home,
+for I set it all down plain then, but I lost my diary, and half forgot
+the story&mdash;who wouldn't forget a story when he had to make two hundred
+and ten miles a day on a locomotive and had five children at home? But
+now, after twenty years, my wife turns up<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">259</a></span> that old diary in the garret
+this spring while house-cleaning. Fred had it and an old Fourth-of-July
+cannon put away in an ancient valise, as a boy will treasure up useless
+things.</p>
+
+<p>Under the head of October 12th, I find this entry:</p>
+
+<p>"At anchor in Yukon river, weather fair, recent heavy rains; set out
+packing and filed main-rod brasses of both engines. Settled with Enoch
+to go home on first ship bound south. Demented white man brought on
+board by Indians, put in my cabin."</p>
+
+<p>In the next day's record there appears the following: "Watched beside
+sick man all night; in intervals of sanity he tells a strange story,
+which I will write down to-day."</p>
+
+<p>The 14th has the following:</p>
+
+<p>"Wrote out story of stranger. See the back of this book."</p>
+
+<p>And at the back of the book, written on paper cut from an old log of the
+"Champion," is the story that now, more than twenty-five years later, I
+tell you here:</p>
+
+<p>On the evening of the 12th, I went on deck<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">260</a></span> to smoke and think of home,
+after a hard day's work getting the engines in shape for a siege. The
+ship was very quiet, half the crew being ashore, and some of the rest
+having gone in the boat with Captain Enoch to the "Enchantress,"
+homeward bound and lying about half a mile below us. I am glad to say
+that Enoch's principal business aboard the "Enchantress" is to get me
+passage to San Francisco. I despise this kind of dreariness&mdash;rather be
+in state prison near the folks.</p>
+
+<p>I sat on the rail, just abaft the stack, watching some natives handle
+their big canoes, when a smaller one came alongside. I noticed that one
+of the occupants lay at full length in the frail craft, but paid little
+attention until the canoe touched our side. Then the bundle of skins and
+Indian clothes bounded up, almost screamed, "At last!" made a spring at
+the stays, missed them, and fell with a loud splash into the water.</p>
+
+<p>The Indians rescued him at once, and in a few seconds he lay like one
+dead on the deck. I saw at a glance that the stranger in Indian clothes
+was a white man and an American.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">261</a></span></p>
+
+<p>A pretty stiff dram of liquor brought him to slightly. He opened his
+eyes, looked up at the rigging, and closing his eyes, he murmured:
+"Thank God!&mdash;'Frisco&mdash;Polaria!"</p>
+
+<p>I had him undressed and put into my berth. He was shaking as with an
+ague, and when his clothes were off we plainly saw the reason&mdash;he was a
+skeleton, starving. I went on deck at once to make some inquiry of the
+Indians about our strange visitor, but their boat was just disappearing
+in the twilight.</p>
+
+<p>The man gained strength, as we gave him nourishment in small, frequent
+doses, and talked in a disjointed way of everything under the sun. I sat
+with him all night. Toward morning he seemed to sleep longer at a time,
+and in the afternoon of yesterday fell into a deep slumber, from which
+he did not waken for nearly twenty hours.</p>
+
+<p>When he did waken, he took nourishment in larger quantities, and then
+went off into another long sleep. The look of pain on his face lessened,
+a healthy glow appeared on his cheek, and he slept so soundly that I
+turned in&mdash;on the floor.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">262</a></span></p>
+
+<p>I was awake along in the small hours of the morning, and heard my
+patient stirring, so I got up and drew the little curtain over the
+bulls-eye port&mdash;it was already daylight. I gave him a drink and a
+biscuit, and told him I would go to the cook's galley and get him some
+broth, but he begged to wait until breakfast time&mdash;said he felt
+refreshed, and would just nibble a sea biscuit. Then he ate a dozen in
+as many minutes.</p>
+
+<p>"Did you take care of my pack?" he said eagerly, throwing his legs out
+of the berth, and looking wildly at me.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, it's all right; lie down and rest," said I; for I thought that to
+cross him would set him off his head again.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you know that dirty old pack contains more treasures than the mines
+of Africa?"</p>
+
+<p>"It don't look it," I answered, and laughed to get him in a pleasant
+frame of mind&mdash;for I hadn't seen nor heard of his pack.</p>
+
+<p>"Not for the little gold and other valuable things, but the proofs of a
+discovery as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">263</a></span> great as Columbus made, the discovery of a new continent,
+a new people, a new language, a new civilization, and riches beyond the
+dreams of a Solomon&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>He shut his eyes for a minute, and then continued: "But beyond
+Purgatory, through Death, and the other side of Hell&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>Just here Enoch came in to inquire after his health, and sat down for a
+minute's chat. Enoch is first, last, and all the time captain of a
+whaler; he knows about whales and whale-hunters just as an engineer on
+the road knows every speck of scenery along the line, every man, and
+every engine. Enoch couldn't talk ten minutes without being "reminded"
+of an incident in his whaling life; couldn't meet a whaleman without
+"yarning" about the whale business. He lit his pipe and asked: "Been
+whaling, or hunting the North Pole?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, both."</p>
+
+<p>"What ship?"</p>
+
+<p>"The 'Duncan McDonald.'"</p>
+
+<p>"The&mdash;the 'McDonald!'&mdash;why, man, we counted her lost these five years;
+tell me<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">264</a></span> about her, quick. Old Chuck Burrows was a particular friend of
+mine&mdash;where is he?"</p>
+
+<p>"Captain, Father Burrows and the 'Duncan McDonald' have both gone over
+the unknown ocean to the port of missing ships."</p>
+
+<p>"Sunk?"</p>
+
+<p>"Aye, and crushed to atoms in a frozen hell."</p>
+
+<p>Enoch looked out of the little window for a long time, forgot his pipe,
+and at last wiped a tear out of his eye, saying, as much to himself as
+to us: "George Burrows made me first mate of the first ship he ever
+sailed. She was named for his mother, and we left her in the ice away up
+about the seventy-third parallel. He was made of the salt of the
+earth&mdash;a sailor and a nobleman. But he was a dare-devil&mdash;didn't know
+fear&mdash;and was always venturing where none of the rest of us would dare
+go. He bought the 'McDonald,' remodeled and refitted her after he got
+back from the war&mdash;she was more than a whaler, and I had a feeling that
+she would carry Burrows and his crew away forever&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>Eight bells rung just here, and Enoch left<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">265</a></span> us, first ordering breakfast
+for the stranger, and saying he would come back to hear the rest after
+breakfast.</p>
+
+<p>As I was going out, a sailor came to the door with a flat package,
+perhaps six inches thick and twelve or fourteen square, covered with a
+dirty piece of skin made from the intestines of a whale, which is used
+by the natives of this clime because it is light and water-proof.</p>
+
+<p>"We found this in a coil of rope, sir; it must belong to him. It must be
+mostly lead."</p>
+
+<p>It was heavy, and I set it inside the door, remarking that here was his
+precious pack.</p>
+
+<p>"Precious! aye, aye, sir; precious don't describe it. Sacred, that's the
+word. That package will cause more excitement in the world than the
+discovery of gold in California. This is the first time it's been out of
+my sight or feeling for months and months; put it in the bunk here,
+please."</p>
+
+<p>I went away, leaving him with his arms around his "sacred" package.</p>
+
+<p>After breakfast, Enoch and I went to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">266</a></span> little cabin to hear the
+stranger's story, and I, for one, confess to a great deal of curiosity.
+Our visitor was swallowing his last bowl of coffee as we went in. "So
+you knew Captain Burrows and the 'Duncan McDonald,'" said he. "Let me
+see, what is your name?"</p>
+
+<p>"Alexander, captain of the 'Champion,' at your service, sir."</p>
+
+<p>"Alexander; you're not the first mate, Enoch Alexander, who sat on a
+dead whale all night, holding on to a lance staff, after losing your
+boat and crew?"</p>
+
+<p>"The same."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, I've heard Captain Burrows speak of you a thousand times."</p>
+
+<p>"But you were going to tell us about the 'Duncan McDonald.' Tell us the
+whole cruise from stem to stern."</p>
+
+<p>"Let's see, where shall I begin?"</p>
+
+<p>"At the very beginning," I put in.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, perhaps you've noticed, and perhaps you have not, but I'm not a
+sailor by inclination or experience. I accidentally went<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">267</a></span> out on the
+'Duncan McDonald.' How old would you take me to be?"</p>
+
+<p>"Fifty or fifty-five," said Enoch.</p>
+
+<p>"Thanks, captain, I know I must look all of that; but, let me see,
+forty-five, fifty-five, sixty-five, seventy&mdash;seventy&mdash;what year is
+this?"</p>
+
+<p>"Seventy-three."</p>
+
+<p>"Seventy-three. Well, I'm only twenty-eight now."</p>
+
+<p>"Impossible! Why, man, you're as gray as I am, and I'm twice that."</p>
+
+<p>"I was born in forty-five, just the same. My father was a sea captain in
+the old clipper days, and a long time after. He was in the West India
+trade when the war broke out, and as he had been educated in the navy,
+enlisted at once. It was on one of the gunboats before Vicksburg that he
+was killed. My mother came of a well-to-do family of merchants, the
+Clarks of Boston, and&mdash;to make a long story short&mdash;died in sixty-six,
+leaving me considerable money.</p>
+
+<p>"An itching to travel, plenty of money, my majority, and no ties at
+home, sent me<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">268</a></span> away from college to roam, and so one spring morning in
+sixty-seven found me sitting lazily in the stern of a little pleasure
+boat off Fort Point in the Golden Gate, listlessly watching a steam
+whaler come in from the Pacific. My boatman called my attention to her,
+remarking that she was spick-and-span new, and the biggest one he ever
+saw, but I took very little notice of the ship until in tacking across
+her wake, I noticed her name in gold letters across the stern&mdash;'Duncan
+McDonald.' Now that is my own name, and was my father's; and try as I
+would, I could not account for this name as a coincidence, common as the
+name might be in the highlands of the home of my ancestors; and before
+the staunch little steamer had gotten a mile away, I ordered the boat to
+follow her. I intended to go aboard and learn, if possible, something of
+how her name originated.</p>
+
+<p>"As she swung at anchor, off Goat island, I ran my little boat alongside
+of her and asked for a rope. 'Rope?' inquired a Yankee sailor, sticking
+his nose and a clay pipe<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">269</a></span> overboard; 'might you be wantin' to come
+aboard?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Yes, I want to see the captain.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, the cap'en's jest gone ashore; his dingy is yonder now, enemost
+to the landin'. You come out this evenin'. The cap'en's particular about
+strangers, but he's always to home of an evenin'.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Who's this boat named after?'</p>
+
+<p>"'The Lord knows, stranger; I don't. But I reckon the cap'en ken tell;
+he built her.'</p>
+
+<p>"I left word that I would call in the evening, and at eight o'clock was
+alongside again. This time I was assisted on board and shown to the door
+of the captain's cabin; the sailor knocked and went away. It was a full
+minute, I stood there before the knock was answered, and then from the
+inside, in a voice like the roar of a bull, came the call: 'Well, come
+in!'</p>
+
+<p>"I opened the door on a scene I shall never forget. A bright light swung
+from the beams above, and under it sat a giant of the sea&mdash;Captain
+Burrows. He had the index finger of his right hand resting near the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">270</a></span>
+North Pole of an immense globe; there were many books about, rolls of
+charts, firearms; instruments, clothing, and apparent disorder
+everywhere. The cabin was large, well-furnished, and had something
+striking about it. I looked around in wonder, without saying a word.
+Captain Burrows was the finest-looking man I ever saw&mdash;six feet three,
+straight, muscular, with a pleasant face; but the keenest, steadiest
+blue eye you ever saw. His hair was white, but his long flowing beard
+had much of the original yellow. He must have been sixty. But for all
+the pleasant face and kindly eye, you would notice through his beard the
+broad, square chin that proclaim the decision and staying qualities of
+the man."</p>
+
+<p>"That's George Burrows, stranger, to the queen's taste&mdash;just as good as
+a degerry-type," broke in Enoch.</p>
+
+<p>"Well," continued the stranger, "he let me look for a minute or two, and
+then said: 'Was it anything particular?'</p>
+
+<p>"I found my tongue then, and answered; 'I hope you'll excuse me, sir;
+but I must confess<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">271</a></span> it is curiosity. I came on board out of curiosity
+to&mdash;'</p>
+
+<p>"'Reporter, hey?' asked the captain.</p>
+
+<p>"'No, sir; the fact is that your ship has an unusual name, one that
+interests me, and I wish to make so bold as to ask how she came to have
+it.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Any patent on the name?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Oh, no, but I&mdash;'</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, young man, this ship&mdash;by the way, the finest whaler that was
+ever stuck together&mdash;is named for a friend of mine; just such a man as
+she is a ship&mdash;the best of them all.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Was he a sailor?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Aye, aye, sir, and such a sailor. Fight! why, man, fighting was meat
+and drink to him&mdash;'</p>
+
+<p>"'Was he a whaler?'</p>
+
+<p>"'No, he wa'n't; but he was the best man I ever knew who wa'n't a
+whaler. He was a navy sailor, he was, and a whole ten-pound battery by
+hisself. Why, you jest ort to see him waltz his old tin-clad gun-boat up
+agin one of them reb forts&mdash;jest naturally skeered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">272</a></span> 'em half to death
+before he commenced shooting at all.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Wasn't he killed at the attack on Vicksburg?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Yes, yes; you knowed him didn't you? He was a&mdash;'</p>
+
+<p>"'He was my father.'</p>
+
+<p>"'What? Your father?' yelled Captain Burrows, jumping up and grasping
+both my hands. 'Of course he was; darn my lubberly wit that I couldn't
+see that before!' Then he hugged me as if I was a ten-year-old girl, and
+danced around me like a maniac.</p>
+
+<p>"'By all the gods at once, if this don't seem like Providence&mdash;yes, sir,
+old man Providence himself! What are you a-doin'? When did you come out
+here? Where be you goin', anyway?'</p>
+
+<p>"I found my breath, and told him briefly how I was situated. 'Old man
+Providence has got his hand on the tiller of this craft or I'm a
+grampus! Say! do you know I was wishin' and waitin' for you? Yes, sir;
+no more than yesterday, says I to myself, Chuck Burrows, says I, you are
+gettin' long too fur<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">273</a></span> to the wind'ard o' sixty fur this here trip all to
+yourself. You ort to have young blood in this here enterprise; and then
+I just clubbed myself for being a lubber and not getting married young
+and havin' raised a son that I could trust. Yes, sir, jest nat'rally
+cussed myself from stem to stern, and never onct thought as mebbe my old
+messmate, Duncan McDonald, might 'a'done suthin' for his country afore
+that day at Vicks&mdash;say! I want to give you half this ship. Mabee I'll do
+the square thing and give you the whole of the tub yet. All I want is
+for you to go along with me on a voyage of discovery&mdash;be my helper,
+secretary, partner, friend&mdash;anything. What de ye say? Say!' he yelled
+again, before I could answer, 'tell ye what I'll do! Bless me if&mdash;if I
+don't adopt ye; that's what I'll do. Call me pop from this out, and I'll
+call you son. <i>Son!</i>' he shouted, bringing his fist down with a bang on
+the table. '<i>Son!</i> that's the stuff! By the bald-headed Abraham, who
+says Chuck Burrows ain't got no kin? The "Duncan McDonald," Burrows &amp;
+Son, owners,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">274</a></span> captain, chief cook, and blubber cooker. And who the hell
+says they ain't?'</p>
+
+<p>"And the old captain glared around as if he defied anybody and everybody
+to question the validity of the claims so excitedly made.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, gentlemen, of course there was much else said and done, but that
+announcement stood; and to the day of his death I always called the
+captain Father Burrows, and he called me 'son,' always addressing me so
+when alone, as well as when in the company of others. I went every day
+to the ship, or accompanied Father Burrows on some errand into the city,
+while the boat was being refitted and prepared for a three-years'
+cruise.</p>
+
+<p>"Every day the captain let me more and more into his plans, told me
+interesting things of the North, and explained his theory of the way to
+reach the Pole, and what could be found there; which fascinated me.
+Captain Burrows had spent years in the North, had noted that
+particularly open seasons occurred in what appeared cycles of a given
+number of years, and proposed to go<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">275</a></span> above the eightieth parallel and
+wait for an open season. That, according to his figuring, would occur
+the following year.</p>
+
+<p>"I was young, vigorous, and of a venturesome spirit, and entered into
+every detail with a zest that captured the heart of the old sailor. My
+education helped him greatly, and new books and instruments were added
+to our store for use on the trip. The crew knew only that we were going
+on a three-years' cruise. They had no share in the profits, but were
+paid extra big wages in gold, and were expected to go to out-of-the-way
+places and further north than usual. Captain Burrows and myself only
+knew that there was a brand-new twenty-foot silk flag rolled up in
+oil-skin in the cabin, and that Father Burrows had declared: 'By the
+hoary-headed Nebblekenizer, I'll put them stars and stripes on new land,
+and mighty near to the Pole, or start a butt a-trying.'</p>
+
+<p>"In due course of time we were all ready, and the 'Duncan McDonald'
+passed out of the Golden Gate into the broad Pacific, drew her fires,
+and stopped her engines, reserving<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">276</a></span> this force for a more urgent time.
+She spread her ample canvas, and stood away toward Alaska and the
+unknown and undiscovered beyond.</p>
+
+<p>"The days were not long for me, for they were full of study and
+anticipation. Long chats with the eccentric but masterful man whose
+friendship and love for my father had brought us together were the
+entertainment and stimulus of my existence&mdash;a man who knew nothing of
+science, except that he was master of it in his own way; who knew all
+about navigation, and to whom the northern seas were as familiar as the
+contour of Boston Common was to me; who had more stories of whaling than
+you could find in print, and better ones than can ever be printed.</p>
+
+<p>"I learned first to respect, then to admire, and finally to love this
+old salt. How many times he told me of my father's death, and how and
+when he had risked his life to save the life of Father Burrows or some
+of the rest of his men. As the days grew into weeks, and the weeks into
+months, Captain Burrows and myself became as one man.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">277</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I shall never forget the first Sunday at sea. Early in the morning I
+heard the captain order the boatswain to pipe all hands to prayers. I
+had noticed nothing of a religious nature in the man, and, full of
+curiosity, went on deck with the rest. Captain Burrows took off his hat
+at the foot of the mainmast, and said:</p>
+
+<p>"'My men, this is the first Sunday we have all met together; and as some
+of you are not familiar with the religious services on board the 'Duncan
+McDonald,' I will state that, as you may have noticed, I asked no man
+about his belief when I employed him&mdash;I hired you to simply work this
+ship, not to worship God&mdash;but on Sundays it is our custom to meet here
+in friendship, man to man, Protestant and Catholic, Mohammedan,
+Buddhist, Fire-worshiper, and pagan, and look into our own hearts,
+worshiping God as we know him, each in his own way. If any man has
+committed any offense against his God, let him make such reparation as
+he thinks will appease that God; but if any man has committed an
+offense<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">278</a></span> against his fellow-man, let him settle with that man now and
+here, and not worry God with the details. Religion is goodness and
+justice and honesty; no man needs a sky-pilot to lay a course for him,
+for he alone knows where the channel, and the rocks, and the bar of his
+own heart are&mdash;look into your hearts.'</p>
+
+<p>"Captain Burrows stood with his hat in his hand, and bowed as if in
+prayer, and all the old tars bowed as reverently as if the most eloquent
+divine was exhorting an unseen power in their behalf. The new men
+followed the example of the old. It was just three minutes by the
+wheel-house clock before the captain straightened up and said 'Amen,'
+and the men turned away about their tasks.</p>
+
+<p>"'Beats mumblin' your words out of a book, like a Britisher,' said the
+captain to me; 'can't offend no man's religion, and helps every one on
+'em.'</p>
+
+<p>"Long months after, I attended a burial service conducted in the same
+way&mdash;in silence.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">279</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"In due course of time we anchored in Norton Sound, and spent the rest
+of the winter there; and in the spring of sixty-eight, we worked our way
+north through the ice. We passed the seventy-fifth parallel of latitude
+on July 4th. During the summer we took a number of whales, storing away
+as much oil as the captain thought necessary, as he only wanted it for
+fuel and our needs, intending to take none home to sell unless we were
+unsuccessful in the line of discovery&mdash;in that event he intended to stay
+until he had a full cargo."</p>
+
+<p>Here our entertainer gave out, and had to rest; and while resting he
+went to sleep, so that he did not take up his story until the next day.</p>
+
+<p>In the morning our guest expressed a desire to be taken on deck; and,
+dressed in warm sailor clothes, he rested his hand on my shoulder, and
+slowly crawled on deck and to a sheltered corner beside the captain's
+cabin. Here he was bundled up; and again Enoch and I sat down to listen
+to the strange story of the wanderer.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">280</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I hope it won't annoy you, gentlemen," said he, "but I can't settle
+down without my pack; I find myself thinking of its safety. Would you
+mind sending down for it?"</p>
+
+<p>It was brought up, and set down beside him; he looked at it lovingly,
+slipped the rude strap-loop over his arm, and seemed ready to take up
+his story where he left off. He began:</p>
+
+<p>"I don't remember whether I told you or not, but one of the objects of
+Captain Burrows's trip was to settle something definite about the
+location of the magnetic pole, and other magnetic problems, and
+determine the cause of some of the well-known distortions of the
+magnetic needle. He had some odd, perhaps crude, instruments, of his own
+design, which he had caused to be constructed for this purpose, and we
+found them very efficient devices in the end. Late in July, we found
+much open water, and steamed steadily in a northwesterly course. We
+would find a great field of icebergs, then miles of floe, and then again
+open water.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">281</a></span> The aurora was seen every evening, but it seemed pale and
+white.</p>
+
+<p>"Captain Burrows brought the 'Duncan McDonald's' head around to the west
+in open water, one fine day in early August, and cruised slowly; taking
+a great many observations, and hunting, as he told me, for floating
+ice&mdash;he was hunting for a current. For several days we kept in the open
+water, but close to the ice, until one morning the captain ordered the
+ship to stand due north across the open sea.</p>
+
+<p>"He called me into his cabin, and with a large map of the polar regions
+on his table, to which he often referred, he said: 'Son, I've been
+hunting for a current; there's plenty of 'em in the Arctic ocean, but
+the one I want ain't loafing around here. You see, son, it's currents
+that carries these icebergs and floes south; I didn't tell you, but some
+days when we were in those floes, we lost as much as we gained. We
+worked our way north through the floe, but not on the surface of the
+globe; the floe was taking us south with it. Maybe you won't believe
+it,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">282</a></span> but there are currents going north in this sea; once or twice in a
+lifetime, a whaler or passage hunter returns with a story of being
+drifted <i>north</i>&mdash;now that's what I want, I am hunting for a northern
+current. We will go to the northern shore of this open water, be it one
+mile or one thousand, and there&mdash;well, hunt again.'</p>
+
+<p>"Well, it was in September when we at last got to what seemed the
+northern shore of this open sea. We had to proceed very slowly, as there
+were almost daily fogs and occasional snow-storms; but one morning the
+ship rounded to, almost under the shadow of what seemed to be a giant
+iceberg. Captain Burrows came on deck, rubbing his hands in glee.</p>
+
+<p>"'Son,' said he, 'that is no iceberg; that's ancient ice, perpetual ice,
+the great ice-ring&mdash;pal&aelig;crystic ice, you scientific fellows call it. I
+saw it once before, in thirty-seven, when a boy; that's it, and, son,
+beyond that there is something. Take notice that that is ice; clear,
+glary ice. You know a so-called iceberg is really a snowberg; it's
+three-fourths under water. Now, it may be possible that, that being ice
+which will float more than half out of water, the northern currents may
+go under it&mdash;but I don't believe it. Under or over, I am going to find
+one of 'em, if it takes till doomsday.'</p>
+
+<div class='figcenter' style='width: 278px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="illus-006" id="illus-006"></a>
+<img src='images/p1-282.jpg' alt='"What seemed to be a giant iceberg...."' title='' width = '278' height = '591'/><br />
+<span class='caption'>"What seemed to be a giant iceberg...."</span>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">283</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"We sailed west, around close to this great wall of ice, for two weeks,
+without seeing any evidence of a current of any kind, until there came
+on a storm from the northwest that drove a great deal of ice around the
+great ring; but it seemed to keep rather clear of the great wall of ice
+and to go off in a tangent toward the south. The lead showed no bottom
+at one hundred fathoms, even within a quarter of a mile of the ice.</p>
+
+<p>"It was getting late in the season, the mercury often going down to
+fifteen below zero, and every night the aurora became brighter. We
+sailed slowly around the open water, and finally found a place where the
+sheer precipice of ice disappeared and the shore sloped down to
+something like a beach. Putting out a sea-anchor, the 'Duncan McDonald'
+kept within a half-a-mile of this icy shore.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">284</a></span> The captain had determined
+to land and survey the place, which far away back seemed to terminate in
+mountain peaks of ice.</p>
+
+<p>"That night the captain and I sat on the rail of our ship, talking over
+the plans for to-morrow's expedition, when the ship slowly but steadily
+swung around her stern to the mountain of ice&mdash;the engines had been
+moving slowly to keep her head to the wind. Captain Burrows jumped to
+his feet in joy. 'A current!' he shouted; 'a current, and toward the
+north, too&mdash;old man Providence again, son; he allus takes care of his
+own!'</p>
+
+<p>"Some staves were thrown overboard, and, sure enough, they floated
+toward the ice; but there was no evidence of an opening in the mighty
+ring, and I remarked to Captain Burrows that the current evidently went
+under the ice.</p>
+
+<p>"'It looks like it did, son; it looks like it did; but if it goes under,
+we will go over.'</p>
+
+<p>"After we had taken a few hours of sleep, the long-boat landed our
+little party of five men and seven dogs. We had food and drink for a two
+weeks' trip, were well armed,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">285</a></span> and carried some of our instruments. It
+appeared to be five or six miles to the top of the mountain, but it
+proved more than thirty. We were five days in getting there, and did so
+only after a dozen adventures that I will tell you at another time.</p>
+
+<p>"We soon began to find stones and dirt in the ice, and before we had
+gone ten miles, found the frozen carcass of an immense mastodon&mdash;its
+great tusks only showing above the level; but its huge, woolly body
+quite plainly visible in the ice. The ice was melting, and there were
+many streams running towards the open water. It was warmer as we
+proceeded. Dirt and rocks became the rule, instead of the exception, and
+we were often obliged to go around a great boulder of granite. While we
+were resting, on the third day, for a bite to eat, one of the men took a
+dish, scooped up some sand from the bottom of the icy stream, and
+'panned' it out. There was gold in it: gold enough to pay to work the
+ground. About noon of the fifth day, we reached the summit of the
+mountain, and from there looked down the other side&mdash;upon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">286</a></span> a sight the
+like of which no white men had ever seen before.</p>
+
+<p>"From the very summits of this icy-ring mountain the northern side was a
+sheer precipice of more than three thousand feet, and was composed of
+rocks, and rocks only, the foot of the mighty crags being washed by an
+open ocean; and this was lighted up by a peculiar crimson glow. Great
+white whales sported in the waters; huge sea-birds hung in circles high
+in the air; yet below us, and with our glasses, we could see, on the
+rocks at the foot of the crags, seals and some other animals that were
+strange to us. But follow the line of beetling crags and mountain peaks
+where you would, the northern side presented a solid blank wall of awful
+rocks, in many places the summit overhanging and the shore well under in
+the mighty shadow. Nothing that any of us had ever seen in nature before
+was so impressive, so awful. We started on our return, after a couple of
+hours of the awe-inspiring sight beyond the great ring, and for full two
+hours not a man spoke.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">287</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"'Father Burrows,' said I, 'what do you think that is back there?'</p>
+
+<p>"'No man knows, my son, and it will devolve on you and me to name it;
+but we won't unless we get to it and can take back proofs.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Do you think we could get down the other side?'</p>
+
+<p>"'No, I don't think so, and we seem to have struck it in the lowest spot
+in sight. I'd give ten years of my life if the 'Duncan McDonald' was
+over there in that duck pond.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Captain,' said Eli Jeffries, the second mate, 'do you know what I've
+been thinkin'? I believe that 'ere water we seen is an open passage from
+the Behring side of the frozen ocean over agin' some of them 'ere
+Roosian straits. If we could get round to the end of it, we'd sail right
+through the great Northwest Passage.'</p>
+
+<p>"'You don't think there is land over there somewhere?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Nope.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Didn't take notice that the face of your<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">288</a></span> "passage" was granite or
+quartz rocks, hey? Didn't notice all them animals and birds, hey?&mdash;'</p>
+
+<p>"'Look out!' yelled the man ahead with the dog-sledge.</p>
+
+<p>"A strange, whirring noise was heard in the foggy light, that sounded
+over our heads. We all dropped to the ground, and the noise increased,
+until a big flock of huge birds passed over us in rapid flight north.
+There must have been thousands of them. Captain Burrows brought his
+shot-gun to his shoulder and fired. There were some wild screams in the
+air, and a bird came down to the ice with a loud thud. It looked very
+large a hundred feet away, but sight is very deceiving in this white
+country in the semi-darkness. We found it a species of duck, rather
+large and with gorgeous plumage.</p>
+
+<p>"'Goin' north, to Eli's "passage" to lay her eggs on the ice,' said the
+captain, half sarcastically.</p>
+
+<p>"We reached the ship in safety, and the captain and I spent long hours
+in trying to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">289</a></span> form some plan for getting beyond the great ice-ring.</p>
+
+<p>"'If it's warm up there, and everything that we've seen says it is, all
+this cold water that's going north gets warm and goes out some place;
+and rest you, son, wherever it goes out, there's a hole in the ice.'</p>
+
+<p>"Here we were interrupted by the mate, who said that there were queer
+things going on overhead, and some of the sailors were ready to mutiny
+unless the return trip was commenced. Captain Burrows went on deck at
+once, and you may be sure I followed at his heels.</p>
+
+<p>"'What's wrong here?' demanded the captain, in his roaring tone,
+stepping into the midst of the crew.</p>
+
+<p>"'A judgment against this pryin' into God's secrets, sir,' said an
+English sailor, in an awe-struck voice. 'Look at the signs, sir,'
+pointing overhead.</p>
+
+<p>"Captain Burrows and I both looked over our heads, and there saw an
+impressive sight, indeed. A vast colored map of an unknown world hung in
+the clouds over us&mdash;a mirage<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">290</a></span> from the aurora. It looked very near, and
+was so distinct that we could distinguish polar bears on the ice-crags.
+One man insisted that the mainmast almost touched one snowy peak, and
+most of them actually believed that it was an inverted part of some
+world, slowly coming down to crush us. Captain Burrows looked for
+several minutes before he spoke. Then he said: 'My men, this is the
+grandest proof of all that Providence is helping us. This thing that you
+see is only a picture; it's a mirage, the reflection of a portion of the
+earth on the sky. Just look, and you will see that it's in the shape of
+a crescent, and we are almost in the center of it; and, I tell you, it's
+a picture of the country just in front of us. See this peak? See that
+low place where we went up? There is the great wall we saw, the open sea
+beyond it, and, bless me, if it don't look like something green over in
+the middle of that ocean! See, here is the "Duncan McDonald," as plain
+as A, B, C, right overhead. Now, there's nothing to be afraid of in
+that; if it's a warning, it's a good one&mdash;and if any one wants to go
+home to his mother's, and is old enough, <i>he can walk</i>!'</p>
+
+<div class='figcenter' style='width: 452px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="illus-007" id="illus-007"></a>
+<img src='images/p1-292.jpg' alt='"A white city ... was visible for an instant."' title='' width = '452' height = '350'/><br />
+<span class='caption'>"A white city ... was visible for an instant."</span>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">291</a></span>"The captain looked around, but the sailors were as cool as he was&mdash;they
+were reassured by his honest explanation. Then he took me by the arm,
+and, pointing to the painting in the sky, said: 'Old man Providence
+again, son, sure as you are born; do you see that lane through the great
+ring? There's an open, fairly straight passage to the inner ocean,
+except that it's closed by about three miles of ice on our side; see it
+there, on the port side?'</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I could see it, but I asked Captain Burrows how he could account
+for the open passages beyond and the wall of ice in front; it was cold
+water going in.</p>
+
+<p>"'It's strange,' he answered, shading his eye with his hand, and looking
+long at the picture of the clear passage, like a great canal between the
+beetling cliffs. All at once, he grasped my arm and said in excitement,
+pointing towards the outer end of the passage: 'Look!'</p>
+
+<p>"As I looked at the mirage again, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">292</a></span> great mass of ice in front
+commenced to slowly turn over, outwardly.</p>
+
+<p>"'It's an iceberg, sir, only an iceberg!' said the captain, excitedly,
+'and she is just holding that passage because the current keeps her up
+against the hole; now, she will wear out some day, and then&mdash;in goes the
+"Duncan McDonald"!'</p>
+
+<p>"'But there are others to take its place,' and I pointed to three other
+bergs, apparently some twenty miles away, plainly shown in the sky;
+'they are the reinforcements to hold the passage.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Looks that way, son, but by the great American buzzard, we'll get in
+there somehow, if we have to blow that berg up.'</p>
+
+<p>"As we looked, the picture commenced to disappear, not fade, but to go
+off to one side, just as a picture leaves the screen of a magic lantern.
+Over the inner ocean there appeared dark clouds; but this part was
+visible last, and the clouds seemed to break at the last moment, and a
+white city, set in green fields and forests, was visible for an instant,
+a great golden dome in the center remaining<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">293</a></span> in view after the rest of
+the city was invisible.</p>
+
+<p>"'A rainbow of promise, son,' said the captain.</p>
+
+<p>"I looked around. The others had grown tired of looking, and were gone.
+Captain Burrows and myself were the only ones that saw the city.</p>
+
+<p>"We got under way for an hour, and then stood by near the berg until
+eight bells the next morning; but you must remember it was half dark all
+the time up there then. While Captain Burrows and myself were at
+breakfast, he cudgeled his brains over ways and means for moving that
+ice, or preventing other bergs from taking its place. When we went on
+deck, our berg was some distance from the mouth of the passage, and
+steadily floating away. Captain Burrows steamed the ship cautiously up
+toward the passage; there was a steady current coming out.</p>
+
+<p>"'I reckon,' said Eli Jeffries, 'they must have a six-months' ebb and
+flow up in that ocean.'</p>
+
+<p>"'If that's the case, said Captain Burrows,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">294</a></span> 'the sooner we get in, the
+better;' and he ordered the 'Duncan McDonald' into the breach in the
+world of ice.</p>
+
+<p>"Gentlemen, suffice it to say that we found that passage perfectly
+clear, and wider as we proceeded. This we did slowly, keeping the lead
+going constantly. The first mate reported the needle of the compass
+working curiously, dipping down hard, and sparking&mdash;something he had
+never seen. Captain Burrows only said: 'Let her spark!'</p>
+
+<p>"As we approached the inner ocean, as we called it, the passage was
+narrow; it became very dark and the waters roared ahead. I feared a fall
+or rapid, but the 'Duncan McDonald' could not turn back. The noise was
+only the surf on the great crags within. As the ship passed out into the
+open sea beyond, the needle of the compass turned clear around and
+pointed back. 'Do you know, son,' said Captain Burrows, 'that I believe
+the so-called magnetic pole is a great ring around the true Pole, and
+that we just passed it there? The whole inside of this mountain<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">295</a></span> looks
+to me like rusted iron instead of stone, anyhow.'"</p>
+
+<p>Here our story-teller rested and dozed for a few minutes; then rousing
+up, he said: "I'll tell you the rest to-morrow; yes, to-morrow; I'm tired
+now. To-morrow I'll tell you about a wonderful country; wonderful
+cities; wonderful people! I'll show you solar pictures such as you never
+saw, of scenes, places, and people you never dreamed of. I will show you
+implements that will prove that there's a country where gold is as
+common as tin at home&mdash;where they make knives and forks and stew-pans of
+it! I'll show you writing more ancient and more interesting than the
+most treasured relics in our Sanscrit libraries. I'll tell you of the
+two years I spent in another world. I'll tell you of the precious cargo
+that went to the bottom of the frozen ocean with the staunch little
+ship, 'Duncan McDonald;' of the bravest, noblest commander, and the
+sweetest angel of a woman that ever breathed and lived and loved. I'll
+tell you of my escape and the hell I've been through. To-morrow&mdash;"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">296</a></span></p>
+
+<p>He dozed off for a few moments again.</p>
+
+<p>"But I've got enough in this pack to turn the world inside out with
+wonder&mdash;ah, what a sensation it will be, what an educational feature! It
+will send out a hundred harum-scarum expeditions to find Polaria&mdash;but
+there are few commanders like Captain Burrows; he could do it, the rest
+of 'em will die in the ice. But when I get to San Fran&mdash;&mdash;. Say,
+captain, how long will it take to get there, and how long before you
+start?"</p>
+
+<p>Enoch and I exchanged glances, and Enoch answered: "We wa'n't goin' to
+"Frisco."</p>
+
+<p>"Around the Horn, then?" inquired the stranger, sitting up. "But you
+will land me in 'Frisco, won't you? I can't wait, I must&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"We're goin' <i>in</i>," said Enoch; "goin' north, for a three-years'
+cruise."</p>
+
+<p>"North!" shouted the stranger, wildly. "Three years in that hell of ice.
+Three years! My God! North! North!"</p>
+
+<p>He was dancing around the deck like a maniac, trying to put his
+pack-loop over his head. Enoch went toward him, to tell him how he
+could go on the "Enchantress," but he looked wildly at him, ran forward
+and sprang out on the bowsprit, and from there to the jib. Enoch saw he
+was out of his mind, and ordered two sailors to bring him in. As they
+sprang on to the bow, he stood up and screamed:</p>
+
+<p>"No! No! No! Three years! Three lives! Three hells! I never&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>One of the men reached for him here, but he kicked at the sailor
+viciously, and turning sidewise, sprang into the water below.</p>
+
+<p>A boat, already in the water, was manned instantly; but the worn-out
+body of another North Pole explorer had gone to the sands of the bottom
+where so many others have gone before; evidently his heavy pack had held
+him down, there to guard the story it could tell&mdash;in death as he had in
+life.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>THE END</p>
+
+<hr class='full' />
+
+<table width="550" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="" border="1">
+  <col style="width:100%;" />
+  <tr>
+    <td align="center">
+    <span style="font-size: 250%;"><br /><br />DANGER SIGNALS</span><br /><br /><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;">REMARKABLE, EXCITING AND UNIQUE</span><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;">EXAMPLES OF THE BRAVERY, DAR-</span><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;">ING AND STOICISM IN THE</span><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;">MIDST OF DANGER OF</span><br /><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 180%;">Train Dispatchers And Railroad Engineers</span><br /><br /><br />
+    <span style="font-size:  80%;">BY</span><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;"><i>JOHN A. HILL</i></span><br />
+    <span style="font-size:  80%;"><i>and</i></span><br />
+    <span style="font-size:  100%;"><i>JASPER EWING BRADY</i></span><br /><br /><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;" class="smcap">Absorbing Stories of Men with Nerves of Steel,</span><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;" class="smcap">Indomitable Courage and</span><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;" class="smcap">Wonderful Endurance</span><br /><br /><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 120%;">FULLY ILLUSTRATED</span><br /><br /><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;">CHICAGO</span><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 120%;">JAMIESON-HIGGINS CO.</span><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;">1902</span><br /><br /><br />
+    </td>
+  </tr>
+</table>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+
+<div class='figcenter' style='width: 352px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="illus-018" id="illus-018"></a>
+<img src='images/p2-001.jpg' alt='Facsimile Of A Completed Order As Entered In The Despatcher@#39;s Order-Book' title='' width = '352' height = '282'/><br />
+<span class='caption'>Facsimile Of A Completed Order As Entered In The Despatcher's Order-Book</span>
+</div>
+
+<hr class='minor' />
+
+<h1>DANGER SIGNALS.</h1>
+<h2><span class="smcap">Part</span> II.</h2>
+
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9001" id="Page_9001">1</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER I</h2><h3>LEARNING THE BUSINESS&mdash;MY FIRST OFFICE</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Seated in sumptuously furnished palace cars, annihilating space at the
+rate of sixty miles an hour, but few passengers ever give a thought to
+the telegraph operators of the road stuck away in towers or in dingy
+little depots, in swamps, on the tops of mountains, or on the bald
+prairies and sandy deserts of the west; and yet, these selfsame
+telegraph operators are a very important adjunct to the successful
+operation of the road, and a single error on the part of one of them
+might result in the loss of many lives and thousands of dollars.</p>
+
+<p>The whole length of the railroad from starting point to terminus is
+literally under the eyes of the train despatcher. By means of reports
+sent in by hundreds of different operators, he knows the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9002" id="Page_9002">2</a></span> exact location
+of all trains at all times, the number of "loads" and "empties" in each
+train, the number of cars on each siding, the number of passing tracks
+and their capacity, the capabilities of the different engines, the
+gradients of the road, the condition of the roadbed, and, above all, he
+knows the personal characteristics of every conductor and engineer on
+the road. In fact if there is one man of more importance than another on
+a railroad it is the train despatcher. During his trick of eight hours
+he is the autocrat of the road, and his will in the running of trains is
+absolute. Therefore despatchers are chosen with very special regard for
+their fitness for the position. They must be expert telegraphers, quick
+at figures, and above all they must be as cool as ice, have nerves of
+steel, and must be capable of grasping a trying situation the minute an
+emergency arises. An old despatcher once said to me: "Sooner or later a
+despatcher, if he sticks to the business, will have his smash-up, and
+then down goes a reputation which possibly he has been years in building
+up, and his name is inscribed on the roll of 'has-beens.'"</p>
+
+<p>Before the despatcher comes the operator, and the old Biblical saying,
+"Many are called but few are chosen," is well illustrated by the small
+number of good despatchers that are found; it is easy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9003" id="Page_9003">3</a></span> enough to find
+excellent operators, but a first-class despatcher is a rarity among
+them.</p>
+
+<p>I learned telegraphy some fifteen or sixteen years ago at a school away
+out in western Kansas. After I had been there three or four months, I
+was the star of the class, and imagined that the spirit of Professor
+Morse had been reincarnated in me. No wire was too swift for me to work,
+no office too great for me to manage; in fact visions of a
+superintendency of telegraph flitted before my eyes. Such institutions
+as this school are very correctly named "ham factories."</p>
+
+<p>During my stay at the school I formed the acquaintance of the night
+operator at the depot and it was my wont to spend most of my nights
+there picking up odds and ends of information. For my own benefit I used
+to copy everything that came along; but the young man in charge never
+left me entirely alone. Night operators at all small stations have to
+take care of their own lamps and fires, sweep out, handle baggage, and,
+in short, be porter as well as operator, and for the privilege of being
+allowed to stay about I used to do this work for the night man at the
+office in question. His name was Harry Burgess and he was as good a man
+as ever sat in front of a key. Some few weeks after this he was
+transferred to a day office<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9004" id="Page_9004">4</a></span> up the road and by his help I was made
+night operator in his stead. Need I say how proud I felt when I received
+a message from the Chief Despatcher telling me to report for duty that
+night? I think I was the proudest man, or boy rather, on this earth.
+Just think! Night operator, porter and baggageman, working from seven
+o'clock in the evening until seven o'clock in the morning, and receiving
+the magnificent sum of forty dollars per month! It was enough to make my
+bosom swell with pride and it's a wonder I didn't burst.</p>
+
+<p>Heretofore, I had had Burgess to fall back upon when I was copying
+messages or orders, but now I was alone and the responsibility was all
+mine. I managed to get through the first night very well, because all I
+had to do was to take a few "red" commercial messages, "O. S." the
+trains and load ten big sample trunks on No. 2. The trains were all on
+time and consequently there were no orders. I was proud of my success
+and went off duty at seven o'clock in the morning with a feeling that my
+services were well nigh indispensable to the road, and if anything were
+to happen to me, receivers would surely have to be appointed.</p>
+
+<p>The second night everything went smoothly until towards eleven o'clock,
+when the despatcher<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9005" id="Page_9005">5</a></span> began to call "MN," and gave the signal "9." Now
+the signal "9" means "Train Orders," and takes precedence over
+everything else on the wire. The situation was anything but pleasant for
+me, because I had never yet, on my own responsibility, taken a train
+order, and I stood in a wholesome fear of the results that might accrue
+from any error of mine. So I didn't answer the despatcher at once as I
+should have done because I hoped he would get tired of calling me and
+would tackle "OG," and give him the order. But he didn't. He just kept
+on calling me, increasing his speed all the time. In sheer desperation,
+I went out on the platform for five minutes and stamped around to keep
+warm, hoping all the time he would stop when he found I did not answer.
+But when I returned instead of calling me on one wire, he had his
+operator calling me on the commercial line while he was pounding away on
+the railroad wire. At the rate those two sounders were going they
+sounded to me like the crack of doom and I was becoming powerfully warm.
+I finally mustered up courage and answered him.</p>
+
+<p>The first thing the despatcher said was:</p>
+
+<p>"Where in h&mdash;l have you been?"</p>
+
+<p>I didn't think that was a very nice thing for him to say, and he fired
+it at me so fast I could hardly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9006" id="Page_9006">6</a></span> read it, so I simply replied, "Out
+fixing my batteries."</p>
+
+<p>"Well," he said, "your batteries will need fixing when I get through
+with you. Now copy 3."</p>
+
+<p>"Copy 3," means to take three copies of the order that is to follow, so
+I grabbed my manifold order-book and stylus and prepared to copy. There
+is a rule printed in large bold type in all railroad time-cards which
+says, "Despatchers, in sending train orders to operators, will
+accommodate their speed to the abilities of the operators. In all cases
+<i>they will send plainly and distinctly</i>." If the despatcher had sent
+according to my ability just then he would have sent that order by train
+mail. But instead, from the very beginning, he fired it at me so fast,
+that before I had started to take it he was away down in the body of it.
+I had written down only the order number and date, when I broke and
+said, "G. A. To." That made him madder than ever and he went at me again
+with increased violence the sounder seeming like the roll of a drum. I
+think I broke him about ten times and finally he said, "For heaven's
+sake go wake up the day man. You're nothing but a ham." Strangely enough
+I could take all of his nasty remarks without any trouble while the
+order almost completely stumped me. However, I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9007" id="Page_9007">7</a></span> finally succeeded in
+putting it all down, repeated it back to him, and received his "O. K."</p>
+
+<p>When the train arrived the conductor and engineer came in the office and
+I gave them the order. The conductor glanced at it for a moment and then
+said with a broad grin, "Say, kid, which foot did you use in copying
+this?" My copy wasn't very clear, but finally he deciphered it, and they
+both signed their names, the despatcher gave me the "complete," and they
+left. As soon as the train, which was No. 22, a livestock express, had
+departed, I made my O. S. report, and then heaved a big sigh of relief.</p>
+
+<p>Scarcely had the tail-lights disappeared across the bridge and around
+the bend, when the despatcher called again and said, "For God's sake
+stop that train."</p>
+
+<p>I said, "I can't. She's gone."</p>
+
+<p>"Well," he snapped back, "there's a good chance for a fine smash-up this
+night."</p>
+
+<p>That scared me almost out of my wits, and I looked at my copy of the
+order. But it read all right, and yet I felt mighty creepy. About thirty
+minutes afterwards, I heard a heavy step on the platform and in a second
+the hind brakeman came tramping in, and cheerfully saluted me with,
+"Well, I reckon you've raised h&mdash;l to-night. 21<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9008" id="Page_9008">8</a></span> and 22 are up against
+each other hard about a mile and a half east of here. They met on a
+curve and engines, box-cars, livestock and freight are piled up in fine
+shape."</p>
+
+<p>"Any one killed?" I asked with a blanched face and sinking heart.</p>
+
+<p>"Naw, no one is exactly killed, but one engineer and a fireman are
+pretty badly scalded, and 'Shorty' Jones, our head man, has a broken leg
+caused by jumping. You'd better tell the despatcher."</p>
+
+<p>Visions of the penitentiary for criminal neglect danced before my
+disordered brain; all my knowledge of telegraphy fled; I was weak in the
+knees, sick at heart, and as near a complete wreck as a man could be.
+But something had to be done, so I finally told the despatcher that Nos.
+21 and 22 were in the ditch, and he snapped back, "D&mdash;n it, I've been
+expecting it, and have ordered the wrecking outfit out from Watsego. You
+turn your red-light and hold everything that comes along. In the
+meantime go wake up the day man. I want an operator there, and not a
+ham."</p>
+
+<p>When the day man came in, half dressed, he said, "Well, what the devil
+is the matter?"</p>
+
+<p>Speech had entirely left me by this time, so I simply pointed to the
+order, and the brakeman<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9009" id="Page_9009">9</a></span> told him the rest. Never in all my life have I
+spent such a night as that. The day man regaled me with charming little
+incidents, about men he knew, who, for having been criminally negligent,
+had been shot by infuriated engineers or had been sent up for ten years.
+He seemed to take a fiendish delight in telling me these things and my
+discomfiture was great. I would have run away if I hadn't been too weak.
+About seven o'clock in the morning, after a night of misery, he
+patronizingly told me, that it wasn't my fault at all; the despatcher
+had given a "lap order," and that the blame was on him. Well! the
+reaction was as bad, almost, as the first feeling of horror. I went home
+and after a light breakfast, retired to bed, but not to sleep, for every
+time I would close my eyes, visions of wrecks, penitentiaries, dead men
+and ruined homes came crowding upon my disordered brain.</p>
+
+<p>About ten o'clock they sent for me to come to the office. I went over
+and Webster the agent said the superintendent wanted to see me. I had
+never seen the superintendent and he seemed to me to be about as far off
+as the President of the United States, but I screwed up my courage and
+went in. I saw a kindly-looking gentleman seated before Webster's desk,
+but I was too much<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9010" id="Page_9010">10</a></span> frightened to speak and just stood there like a bump
+on a log. Presently, Mr. Brink, the superintendent, turned to Webster
+and said, "I wonder why that night man doesn't come?"</p>
+
+<p>I tremblingly replied, "I am the night man, sir." He looked at me for a
+moment and smilingly said, "Why, bless my soul, my lad! I thought you
+were a messenger boy." He then asked me for my story of the wreck. When
+I had given it he seemed satisfied, and gave me lots of good advice; but
+in the end he said I was too young to have the position, and I was
+discharged. But he kindly added, that in a few years he would be glad to
+have me come back on the road, after I had acquired more experience. The
+next day I returned to school.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9011" id="Page_9011">11</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER II</h2><h3>AN ENCOUNTER WITH TRAIN ROBBERS</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>My first attempt at holding an office had proved such a flat and dismal
+failure that I thought I should never have the heart to apply for
+another. I worked faithfully in the school for about a month, and then
+the fever to try again took hold of me. I knew it would be of no use to
+apply to my former superintendent, Mr. Brink, so I wrote to Mr. R. B.
+Bunnell, Superintendent of Telegraph of the P. Q. &amp; X. Railroad at
+Kansas City, Missouri, saying I was an expert operator and desired a
+position on his road. Mr. Bunnell must have been laboring under a
+hypnotic spell, for by return mail he wrote, enclosing me a pass to
+Alfreda, Kansas, and directing me to assume charge of the night office
+at that point at the magnificent salary of $37.50 per month. This was a
+slight decrease from my former salary, but I didn't care. I wanted a
+chance to redeem myself and I felt confident I could be more successful
+in my second attempt. So I packed my few belongings, bade good-bye to
+the school forever, and away I went.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9012" id="Page_9012">12</a></span></p>
+
+<p>When I left "MN," I said nothing to any one about my destination, and I
+did not know a thing about Alfreda, except that it was near the border
+line between Kansas and Colorado. The brakeman on the train in talking
+to me told me it was a very pleasant place; but when he said so I
+fancied I could detect a sarcastic ring in his voice, and I was in no
+doubt about it when I arrived and saw what a desolate, dreary place
+Alfreda was. The only things in sight were a water-tank, a pump-house
+and the telegraph office; and I wish you could have seen that office. It
+was simply the bed of a box-car, taken off the trucks and set down with
+one end towards the track. A small platform, two windows, a door, and
+the signal board perched high on a pole completed the outfit.</p>
+
+<p>I arrived at six-thirty in the morning and there wasn't a living soul in
+sight. An hour later, a big broad shouldered Irishman who proved to be
+the pumper, came ambling along on a railroad velocipede. He looked at me
+for a minute, and after I had made myself known he grinned and said,
+"Well, I hopes as how ye will loike the place. Burke, the man who was
+here afore ye, got scared off by thramps, and I reckon he's not stopped
+runnin' yit." Fine introduction wasn't it?</p>
+
+<p>I found there was no day operator and the only<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9013" id="Page_9013">13</a></span> house around was the
+section house, two miles up the track. The operator and pumper boarded
+there with the section boss; but the railroad company was magnanimous
+enough to furnish a velocipede for their use in going to and from the
+station. How I felt the first night, stuck away out there in that
+box-car, two miles from the nearest house and twelve miles from the
+nearest town, I must leave to the imagination. My heart sank and I had
+many misgivings, in fact, I was scared to death, but I set my teeth hard
+and determined to do my best, with the hope that I might be promoted to
+a better office. I did win that promotion but I wouldn't go through my
+experiences again for the whole road.</p>
+
+<p>One night after I had been working there about a month, I went to my
+office as usual at seven o'clock. It was a black night threatening a big
+storm. The pumper had not gone home as yet and he remarked, that it was
+"goin' to be a woild night," but he hoped "the whistlin' av the wind
+would be after kaping me company," and with that he jumped on the
+velocipede, and off he went.</p>
+
+<p>I didn't much relish the idea of the storm, for I knew the reputation of
+Kansas as a cyclone state, and my box-car office was not well adapted to
+stand a hurricane. However, I went inside, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9014" id="Page_9014">14</a></span> after lighting my lamps,
+sat down and wrote letters and read, when I was not taking train orders.
+This office was kept up solely because it was a convenient place to
+deliver orders to freight trains at night when they stopped for water.</p>
+
+<p>About twelve-thirty in the morning my door opened suddenly, and a man
+stepped quickly in. I was startled because this was almost the only man
+except the pumper and the train crews that had been there since I came.
+Once in a while a stray tramp had gone through, but this man was not a
+tramp. He wore a long overcoat, buttoned to his chin, with the collar
+turned up. A slouch hat pulled well down over his eyes so far concealed
+his face that his features were scarcely visible. He came over to my
+desk and gruffly asked, "What time is there a passenger train east
+to-night?"</p>
+
+<p>I answered that one went through at half past one, the Overland Flyer,
+but it did not stop at Alfreda. Quick as a flash he pulled a revolver
+and poking it in my face, said, "Young man, you turn your red-light and
+stop that train or I'll make a vacancy in this office mighty d&mdash;&mdash;d
+quick."</p>
+
+<div class='figcenter' style='width: 367px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="illus-009" id="illus-009"></a>
+<img src='images/p2-016.jpg' alt='"Two of the men tied my hands in front of me."' title='' width = '367' height = '571'/><br />
+<span class='caption'>"Two of the men tied my hands in front of me."</span>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9015" id="Page_9015">15</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The longer I gazed down the barrel of that revolver the bigger it grew,
+and it looked to me as if it was loaded with buck-shot to the muzzle.
+When it had grown to about the size of a gatling gun (and it didn't take
+long to do it), I concluded that "discretion was the better part of
+valor," and reached up and turned my red-light. Meanwhile the door
+opened again, and three more men came in. They were masked and the
+minute I saw them I knew they were going to make an attempt to hold up
+the Overland Flyer. Often this train carried large amounts of bullion
+and currency east, and I supposed they had heard that there was a
+shipment to go through that night.</p>
+
+<p>I was standing with my back to the table, and just then I heard the
+despatcher say that the Flyer was thirty minutes late from the west. I
+put my hands quietly behind me and let the right rest on the key. I then
+carefully opened the key and had just begun to speak to the despatcher
+when one of the men suspected me and said to the leader, "Bill, watch
+that little cuss. He's monkeying with the instrument and may give them
+warning."</p>
+
+<p>I stopped, closed the key, and was trying to look unconcerned, when
+"Bill," said that "to stop all chances of further trouble," they would
+bind and gag me. Thereupon two of the men tied my hands in front of me,
+bound my legs securely, and thrust a villainously dirty gag in my mouth.
+When this was done, "Bill" said, "Throw him across those blamed
+instruments so they will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9016" id="Page_9016">16</a></span> keep quiet." They flung me upon the table,
+face downwards, so that the relay was just under my stomach, and of
+course my weight against the armature of the relay stopped the clicking
+of the sounder. As luck would have it, my left hand was in such a
+position that it just touched the key, and I found I could move the hand
+slightly. So I opened the key and pretended to be struggling quite a
+little. The leader came over and giving me a good stiff punch in the
+ribs, said with an oath, "You keep quiet or we'll find a way to make
+you." I became passive again, and then when the men were engaged in
+earnest conversation, I began to telegraph softly to the despatcher. The
+relay being shut off by my weight, there was no noise from the sounder,
+and I sent so slowly that the key was noiseless. Of course I did not
+know on whom I was breaking in, but I kept on. I told the exact state of
+affairs, and asked him to either tell the Flyer not to heed my red-light
+and go through, or, better still, to send an armed posse from Kingsbury,
+twelve miles up the road. I repeated the message twice, so that he would
+be sure to hear it, and then trusted to luck.</p>
+
+<p>The cords and gags were beginning to hurt, and my anxiety was very
+great. The minutes dragged slowly by, and I thought that hour would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9017" id="Page_9017">17</a></span>
+never end; but it did end at last, and all of a sudden I heard the long
+calliope whistle of the engine on the Flyer as she came down the grade.
+This was followed by two short blasts, that showed she had seen my
+red-light and was going to stop. "My God!" I thought. "Has she been
+warned?" So soon as the train whistled the men went out leaving me
+helpless on the table. I heard the whistle of the air brakes and knew
+the train must be slowing up. My anxiety was intense. Presently I heard
+her stop at the tank, and then, in about a second, I listened to the
+liveliest fusillade that I had ever heard in my life. It was sweet music
+to my ears I can tell you, for it indicated to me, what proved to be a
+fact, that a posse were on board and that the robbers were foiled. One
+of them was shot, and two were captured, but "Bill," the leader,
+escaped. They had their horses hitched to the telegraph poles, and as
+"Bill" went running by the office I heard him say, "I'll fix that d&mdash;d
+operator, anyhow." Then, BANG! crash, went the glass in the window, and
+a bullet buried itself in the table, not two inches from my head. I was
+not exactly killed, but I was frightened so badly, and the strain had
+been so great, that when the trainmen came in to release me, I at once
+lost consciousness. When I came to, I was surrounded<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9018" id="Page_9018">18</a></span> by a sympathetic
+crowd of passengers and trainmen, and a doctor, who happened to be on
+the train, was pouring something down my throat that soon made me feel
+better.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as I had recovered myself sufficiently, I telegraphed the
+despatcher what had happened, and the chief, who in the meantime had
+been sent for, told me to close up my office, and come east on the
+flyer, to report for duty in the morning in his office as copy operator.</p>
+
+<p>That is how I won my promotion.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9019" id="Page_9019">19</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER III</h2><h3>IN A WRECK</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The change from Alfreda to the chief despatcher's office in Nicholson
+was, indeed, a pleasant one. The despatchers, especially the first trick
+man, seemed somewhat dubious as to my ability to do the work, but I was
+rapidly improving in telegraphy, and, in spite of my extreme youth I was
+allowed to remain. But the life of a railroad man is very uncertain, and
+one day we were much surprised to hear that the road had gone into the
+hands of receivers. There were charges of mismanagement made against a
+number of the higher officials of the road, and one of the first things
+the receivers did was to have a general "house-cleaning." The general
+manager, the general superintendent, and a number of the division
+superintendents resigned to save dismissal, and my friend the chief
+despatcher went with them. He was succeeded by Ted Donahue, the man who
+had been working the first trick. Ted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9020" id="Page_9020">20</a></span> didn't like me worth a cent, and,
+rather than give him an opportunity to dismiss me, I quit.</p>
+
+<p>I was at home idle for a few weeks, and then hearing that there might be
+an opening for operators on the C. Q. &amp; R., a new road building up in
+Nebraska, I once more started out. It was an all night ride to the
+division headquarters, and thinking I might as well be luxurious for
+once, I took a sleeper. My berth was in the front end of the last car on
+the train. I retired about half past ten and soon dropped off into a
+sound sleep. I had been asleep for perhaps two hours, when I was
+awakened by the car giving a violent lurch, and then suddenly stopping.
+I was stunned and dazed for a moment, but I soon heard the cracking and
+breaking of timbers, and the hissing of steam painfully near to my
+section. I tried to move and rise up, but found that the confines of my
+narrow quarters would not permit it. I then realized that we were
+wrecked and that I was in a bad predicament. I felt that I had no bones
+broken, and my only fear was that the wreck would take fire. My fears
+were not groundless for I soon smelled smoke. I cried out as loudly as I
+could, but my berth had evidently become a "sound proof booth." Then I
+felt that my time had come, and had about given<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9021" id="Page_9021">21</a></span> up all hope, and was
+trying to say a prayer, when I heard the train-crew and passengers
+working above me. Again I cried out and this time was heard, and soon
+was taken out. God! what a night it was&mdash;raining a perfect deluge and
+the wind blowing a hurricane.</p>
+
+<p>I learned that our train had stopped on account of a hot driving-box on
+the engine; the hind brakeman had been sent back to put out a flag, but,
+imagining there was nothing coming, he had neglected to do his full
+duty, and before he knew it, a fast freight came tearing around the
+bend, and a tail-end collision was the result. Seeing the awful effects
+of his gross neglect, the brakeman took out across the country and was
+never heard of again. I fancy if he could have been found that night by
+the passengers and train-crew his lot would have been anything but
+pleasant. Two people in the sleeper were killed outright, and three were
+injured, while the engineer and fireman of the freight were badly hurt
+by jumping. I didn't get a scratch.</p>
+
+<p>As I stood watching the wrecked cars burn, I heard the conductor say,
+"he wished to God he had an operator with him." I told him I was an
+operator and offered my services. He said there was a pocket instrument
+in the baggage car, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9022" id="Page_9022">22</a></span> asked me if I would cut in on the wire and tell
+the despatcher of the wreck. I assented and went forward with him to the
+baggage car, where he gave me a pair of pliers, a pocket instrument and
+about eight feet of office wire. I asked for a pair of climbers and some
+more office wire, but neither was to be had. Here, therefore, was a
+pretty knotty problem. The telegraph poles were thirty feet high; how
+was I to make a connection with only eight feet of wire and no climbers?
+I thought for a while, and then I put the instrument in my pocket, and
+undertook to "shin up" the pole as I used to do when I was a schoolboy.
+After many efforts, in which I succeeded in tearing nearly all the
+clothes off of me, I finally reached the lowest cross-arm, and seated
+myself on it with my legs wrapped around the pole. There was only one
+wire on this arm, so I had, comparatively speaking, plenty of room. On
+each of the other two cross arms there were four wires, and there was
+also one strung along the tops of the poles. This made ten wires in all,
+and I had not the least idea which one was the despatcher's wire. The
+pole being wet from the rain, made the wires mighty hot to handle. I had
+the fireman hand me up a piece of old iron wire he happened to have on
+the engine, and with this I made a flying<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9023" id="Page_9023">23</a></span> cut in the third wire of the
+second cross arm. I attached the little pocket instrument, and found
+that upon adjusting it, I was on a commercial wire. There I was,
+straddling a cross arm between heaven and earth, with the instrument
+held on my knee, and totally ignorant of any of the calls or the wire I
+was on. I yelled down to the conductor and asked him if he knew any of
+the calls. No; of course he didn't; and he was so excited he didn't have
+sense enough to look on his time-card, where the calls are always
+printed. Finally, after carefully adjusting the instrument, I opened my
+key, broke in on somebody, and said "Wreck." The answer came, "Sine." I
+said, "I haven't any sine. No. 2 on the C. K. &amp; Q. has been wrecked out
+here, and I want the despatcher's office. Can you tell me if he is on
+this wire?"</p>
+
+<p>Now there is a vast deal of difference between sending with a Bunnell
+key on a polished table, and sending with a pocket instrument held on
+your knee, especially when you are perched on a thirty foot pole, with
+the rain pouring down in torrents, the wind blowing almost a gale, and
+expecting every minute to be blown off and have your precious neck
+broken. Consequently my sending was pretty "rocky," and some one came
+back at me with, "Oh! get out you big ham."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9024" id="Page_9024">24</a></span> But I hung to it and
+finally made them understand who I was and what I wanted. The main
+office in Ouray cut me in on the despatcher's wire and I told him of the
+wreck. He said he had suspected that No. 2. was in trouble, but he had
+no idea that it was as bad as I had reported. He said he would order out
+the wrecking outfit and would send doctors with it. Would I please stay
+close and do the telegraphing for them, he would see that I was properly
+rewarded. Then I told him about where I was, but promised to hold on as
+long as I could, but for him to be sure and send out some more wire and
+a pair of climbers on the wrecker. After waiting about an hour the
+wrecker arrived, and with it the doctors; so our anxiety was relieved,
+the wounded taken care of, and a decent wrecking office put in.</p>
+
+<p>The division superintendent came out with them, and for my services he
+offered me the day office at X&mdash;&mdash;, which I accepted.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9025" id="Page_9025">25</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2><h3>A WOMAN OPERATOR WHO SAVED A TRAIN</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>X&mdash;&mdash; was a pretty good sort of an office to have, barring a beastly
+climate wherein all four seasons would sometimes be ably and fully
+represented in one twenty-four hours. But eighty big round American
+dollars a month was not to be sneezed at&mdash;that was a heap of money to a
+young chap&mdash;and I hung on. In those days civilization had not advanced
+as far westward as it is to-day, and there was not much local business
+on the road, due to the sparsely settled country. The first office east
+of X&mdash;&mdash; was Dunraven, some twenty miles away. Between the two places were
+several blind sidings used as passing tracks. Dunraven was a cracking
+good little village and the day operator there was Miss Mary Marsh;
+there was no night office. Now I was just at the age where all a young
+man's susceptibility comes to the surface, and I was a pretty fair
+sample. I weighed one hundred and fifty pounds and every ounce of me was
+as susceptible as a barometer on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9026" id="Page_9026">26</a></span> a stormy day. Consequently it was not
+long until I knew Mary and liked her immensely. All my spare time was
+occupied in talking to her over the wire, except when the cussed
+despatcher would chase me off with, "Oh! get out you big spoon, you make
+every one tired." Then Mary would give me the merry, "Ha, ha, ha."</p>
+
+<p>One time I took a day off and ran down to Dunraven, and my impressions
+were fully confirmed. Mary was a little bit of a woman, with black hair,
+red lips, white teeth, and two eyes that looked like coals of fire, so
+bright were they. She was small, but when she took hold of the key, she
+was jerked lightning, and I have never seen but one woman since who was
+her equal in that line.</p>
+
+<p>Our road was one of the direct connections of the "Overland Route," west
+to San Francisco, and twice a day we had a train, that in those days was
+called a flyer. Now it would be in a class with the first class
+freights. The west bound train passed my station at eight in the
+morning, and the east bound at seven-thirty in the evening. After that I
+gave "DS" good night, and was free until seven the next morning. The
+east bound flyer passed Dunraven at eight-fifteen in the evening and
+then. Mary was through for the night. The town was a mile away from the
+depot and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9027" id="Page_9027">27</a></span> poor girl had to trudge all that distance alone. But she
+was as plucky as they make them and was never molested. A mile west of
+Dunraven was Peach Creek, spanned by a wooden pile and stringer bridge.
+Ordinarily, you could step across Peach Creek, but sometimes, after a
+heavy rain it would be a raging torrent of dirty muddy water, and it
+seemed as if the underpinning must surely be washed out by the flood.</p>
+
+<p>One day after I had been at X&mdash;&mdash; a couple of months, we had a stem-winder
+of a storm. The rain came down in torrents unceasingly for twelve hours,
+and the country around X&mdash;&mdash; was almost a morass. The roadbed was good,
+however, and when the section men came in at six that night they
+reported the track firm and safe. But, my stars! how the rain was
+falling at seven-thirty as the flyer went smashing by. I made my "OS"
+report and then thought I'd sit around and wait until it had passed
+Dunraven and have a little chat with Mary, before going home for the
+night. At seven-forty-five I called her but no answer. Then I waited.
+Eight o'clock, eight-fifteen, eight-twenty, and still nothing from
+Dunraven. The despatcher then started to call "DU," but no answer.
+Finally, he said to me, "You call 'DU.' Maybe the wire is heavy and she
+can't adjust for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9028" id="Page_9028">28</a></span> me." I called steadily for five minutes, but still no
+reply. I was beginning to get scared. All sorts of ideas came into my
+head&mdash;robbers, tramps, fire and murder.</p>
+
+<p>"DS" said, "I'm afraid something has happened to the flyer. Turn your
+red-light and when No. 26 comes along, I'll give them an order to cut
+loose with the engine and go through and find the flyer."</p>
+
+<p>Five minutes later the wire opened and closed. Then the current became
+weak, but adjusting down, I heard, "DS, DS, WK." Ah! that meant a wreck.
+"DS" answered and I heard the following message:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"W. D. C. <span class="smcap">"Peach Creek</span>, 4 | 13, 18&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"DS.</p>
+
+<p>"Peach Creek bridge washed out to-night, but I heard of it and
+arrived here in time to flag the flyer. Send an operator on the
+wrecking outfit to relieve me.</p>
+
+<p>(signed) <span class="smcap">Mary Marsh</span>, Operator."</p></div>
+
+<p>Two hours afterwards the wrecker came by X&mdash;&mdash; and, obedient to orders from
+the despatcher, I boarded it and went down to work the office. We
+reached there in about forty minutes and found that the torrent had
+washed out the underpinning of the bridge, and nothing was left but a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9029" id="Page_9029">29</a></span>
+few ties, the rails and the stringers. A half witted boy, who lived in
+Dunraven, had been fishing that day like "Simple Simon," and came
+tramping up to the office, telling Miss Marsh, in an idiotic way, that
+Peach Creek bridge had washed out. Just then she heard me "OS" the flyer
+and her office was the next one to mine. As the flyer did not stop at
+Dunraven, the baggageman and helper went home at six o'clock and she was
+absolutely alone save for this half witted boy. The section house was a
+mile and a half away to the east. A mile away, to the south were the
+twinkling lights of the village, while but one short mile to the west
+was Peach Creek, with the bridge gone out, and the flyer thundering
+along towards it with its precious load of human freight. How could it
+be warned. The boy hadn't sense enough to pound sand. She must do it.
+So, quick as a flash she picked up the red-light standing near, and
+started down the track. The rain was coming down in a perfect deluge,
+and the wind was sweeping across the Nebraska prairies like a hurricane.
+Lightning was flashing, casting a lurid glare over the soaked earth, and
+the thunder rolled peal after peal, resembling the artillery of great
+guns in a big battle. Truly, it was like the setting for a grand drama.
+Undaunted by it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9030" id="Page_9030">30</a></span> all, this brave little woman, bare headed, hair flying
+in the wind, and soaked to the skin, battled with the elements as she
+fought her way down the track. A mile, ordinarily, is a short distance,
+but now, to her, it seemed almost interminable; and all the time the
+flyer was coming nearer and nearer to the creek with the broken bridge.
+My God! would she make it! Presently, above the howling of the wind she
+heard the mad waters as they went boiling and tumbling down the
+channel.</p>
+
+<div class='figcenter' style='width: 295px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="illus-010" id="illus-010"></a>
+<img src='images/p2-030.jpg' alt='"After many efforts I finally reached the lowest cross-arm."' title='' width = '295' height = '589'/><br />
+<span class='caption'>"After many efforts I finally reached the lowest cross-arm."</span>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9031" id="Page_9031">31</a></span></p>
+
+<p>At last she was there, standing on the brink. But the train was not yet
+saved. Just across the creek the road made an abrupt curve around a
+small hill, and if she could not reach that curve her labors would be to
+no avail, and a frightful wreck would follow. All the bridge was gone
+save the rails, stringers and a few shaky ties. Only forty feet
+intervened between her and the opposite bank, and get across she must.
+There was only one way, so grasping the lantern between her teeth, she
+started across on her hands and knees. The stringers swayed back and
+forth in the wind, and her frail body, it seemed, would surely be caught
+up and blown into the mad ma&euml;lstrom of waters below. No! No! she could
+not fail now. Away up the road, borne to her anxious ears by the howling
+wind, she heard two long and two short blasts of the flyer's whistle as
+she signalled for a crossing. God! would she ever get there. Straining
+every nerve, at last success was hers, and tottering, she struggled up
+the other side. Flying up the track, looking for all the world like some
+eyrie witch, she reached the curve, swinging her red light like mad. Bob
+Burns, who was pulling the flyer that night, saw the signal, and
+immediately applied the emergency brakes. Then he looked again and the
+red-light was gone. But caution is a magic watchword with all railroad
+men, and he stopped. Climbing down out of the cab of the engine, he took
+his torch, and started out to investigate. He didn't have far to go,
+when he came upon the limp, inanimate form of Mary Marsh, the
+extinguished red-light tightly clasped in her cold little hand.</p>
+
+<p>"My God! Mike," he yelled to his fireman, "it's a woman. Why, hang me,
+if it isn't the little lady from Dunraven. Wonder what she is doing out
+here." He wasn't long in ignorance, because a brakeman sent out ahead
+saw that the bridge had gone.</p>
+
+<p>Rough, but kindly hands, bore her tenderly into the sleeper, and under
+the ministrations of her own sex, she soon came around. So soon as she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9032" id="Page_9032">32</a></span>
+had seen the flyer stopping she realized that she had succeeded and
+womanlike&mdash;she fainted. Her clothes were torn to tatters, and taken all
+in all this little heroine was a most woebegone specimen of humanity.</p>
+
+<p>A wrecking office was cut in by the baggageman, who happened to be an
+old lineman, and she sent the message to "DS," telling him of the wreck.
+I relieved her and she stayed in the sleeper all night, and the next day
+she returned to her work at Dunraven, but little worse for the
+experience. She had positively refused to accept a thing from the
+thankful passengers, saying she did but her duty.</p>
+
+<p>Two months afterwards she married the chief despatcher, and the
+profession lost the best woman operator in the business. I was
+dreadfully cut by the ending of affairs, but she had said, "Red headed
+operators were not in her class," and I reckon she was about right.</p>
+
+<p>Surely, she was a direct descendant from the Spartan mothers.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9033" id="Page_9033">33</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER V</h2><h3>A NIGHT OFFICE IN TEXAS&mdash;A STUTTERING DESPATCHER</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>It was not long after Mary threw me over that I became tired of X&mdash;&mdash; and
+gave up my job and started south. I said it was on account of ill
+health, but the last thing that cussed first trick despatcher said to me
+was, "Never mind, you old spoon, you'll get over this attack in a very
+short while."</p>
+
+<p>I landed in St. Louis one bright morning and went up to the office of
+the chief despatcher of the Q. M. &amp; S., and applied for an office on his
+division. He had none to give me but wired the chief despatcher at Big
+Rock, and in answer thereto I was sent the next morning to Healyville.
+And what a place I found! The town was down in the swamps of southeast
+Missouri, four miles north of the Arkansas line, and consisted of the
+depot and twenty or twenty-five houses, five of which were saloons.
+There was a branch road running from here to Honiton, quite a settlement
+on the Mississippi river, and that was the only<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9034" id="Page_9034">34</a></span> possible excuse for an
+officer at this point. The atmosphere was so full of malaria, that you
+could almost cut it with an axe. I stayed there just three days, and
+then, fortunately, the chief despatcher ordered me to come to his
+office. He wanted me to take the office at Boling Cross, near the Texas
+line, but I had the traveling fever and wanted to go further south, and
+he sent me down on the I. &amp; G. N., and the chief there sent me to
+Herron, Texas. There wasn't much sickness in the air around Herron, but
+there were just a million fleas to every square inch of sand in the
+place. Herron was one of the few towns in a very extensive cattle belt,
+and a few days after I had arrived I noticed the town had filled up with
+"cow punchers." They had just had their semi-annual round up, and were
+in town spending their money and having a whooping big time. You
+probably know what that means to a cow-boy. I was a tenderfoot of the
+worst kind, and every one at the boarding-house and depot seemed to take
+particular delight in telling me of the shooting scrapes and rackets of
+these cow-boys, and how they delighted in making it warm for a
+tenderfoot. Bob Wolfe, the day man at the depot, told me how at times
+they had come up and raised particular Cain at the station, especially
+when there was a new<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9035" id="Page_9035">35</a></span> operator on hand. I didn't half believe all their
+stories, but I will confess that I had a few misgivings the first night
+when I went to work. One night passed safely enough, but the second was
+a hummer from the word go. The office was somewhat larger than the
+telegraph offices usually are in small towns. The table was in the
+recess of a big bay window, giving me a clear view of the I. &amp; G. N.
+tracks, while along the front ran the usual long wide platform. The P. &amp;
+T. C. road crossed at right angles at one end of the platform, and one
+operator did the work for the two roads. There were two lamps over my
+desk&mdash;one on each side of the bay window&mdash;and one was out in the
+waiting-room. I also kept a lantern lighted to carry when I went out to
+trains.</p>
+
+<p>All through the early part of the night, I heard sounds of revelry and
+carousing, accompanied by an occasional pistol shot, up in the town, but
+about half past eleven these sounds ceased, and I was congratulating
+myself that my night, would after all, be uneventful. About twelve
+o'clock, however, there arose just outside the office the greatest
+commotion I had ever heard in my life. I was eating my midnight lunch,
+and had a piece of pie in my hand, when I heard the tramp of many feet
+on the platform. It sounded like a regiment<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9036" id="Page_9036">36</a></span> of infantry, and in a
+minute there came the report of a shot, and with a crash out went one of
+my lights, a shower of glass falling on the table. Before I could
+collect myself there came another shot and smash out went the other
+light. I dropped my pie and spasmodically grasped the table. The only
+lights left were the one in the waiting-room and my lantern, which made
+it in the office little better than total darkness. All the time the
+tramp, tramp on the platform was coming closer and closer, and my heart
+was gradually forcing its way up in my mouth. In a moment the
+waiting-room door was thrown open, and with a wild whoop and a big
+hurrah, the crowd came in. The door between the office and the
+waiting-room was closed, but that made no difference to my visitors;
+they smashed it open and swarmed into the office. One of them picked up
+the lantern, and swaggering over to where I sat all trembling with fear,
+and expecting that <i>my</i> lights would go out next, raised it to my face.
+They all crowded around me and one of them gave me a good punch in the
+ribs. Then the one with the lantern said, "Well, fellows, the little
+cuss is game. He didn't get under the table like the last one did. Kid,
+for a tenderfoot, you're a hummer."</p>
+
+<p>Get under the table! I couldn't. I would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9037" id="Page_9037">37</a></span> have given half my interest in
+the hereafter to have been able to crawl under the table or to have run
+away. But fright held its sway, and locomotion was impossible.</p>
+
+<p>For about five minutes the despatcher had been calling me for orders,
+and in a trembling voice I asked them to let me answer and take the
+order. "Cert," said one of them, who appeared to be the leader, "go on
+and take the order, and then take a drink with us."</p>
+
+<p>By the dim light of only that lantern, with my order pad on a table
+covered with broken glass, and smattered with pie, I finally copied the
+order, but it was about the worst attempt I had ever made; and the
+conductor remarked when he signed it, that it would take a Philadelphia
+lawyer to read it. The cow-punchers, however, from that time on were
+very good friends of mine, and many a pleasant Sunday did I spend on
+their ranches. They afterwards told me that Bob Wolfe had put them up to
+their midnight visit in order to frighten me. They certainly succeeded.
+My service at Herron was not very profitable, the road being in the
+hands of receivers, and for four months none of us received a cent of
+wages. The road was called the "International &amp; Great Northern,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9038" id="Page_9038">38</a></span> but we
+facetiously dubbed it the "Independent &amp; Got Nothing."</p>
+
+<p>Some months after this I was transferred down to the southern division,
+and made night operator at Mankato. This was really about the best
+position I had yet struck: good hours, plenty of work and a fine office
+to do it in, and eighty dollars a month. The agent and day man were both
+fine fellows, and there was no chore work around the station&mdash;a baggage
+smasher did that. The despatchers up in "DS" office were pleasant to
+work with and as competent a lot of men as ever touched a key. I had
+never met any of them when I first took the office, though of course I
+soon knew their names, and the following incident will disclose how and
+under what unusual circumstances I formed the acquaintance of one of
+them, Fred De Armand, the second trick man.</p>
+
+<p>About four weeks after I took the Mankato office, engine 333, pulling a
+through livestock freight north, broke a parallel rod, and besides
+cutting the engineer into mince-meat, caused a great wreck. This took
+place about two miles and a half north of Mankato. The hind man came
+back and reported it, and being off duty, I caught up a pocket
+instrument and some wire, and jumping on a velocipede, was soon at the
+wreck.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9039" id="Page_9039">39</a></span> I cut in an office in short order, and "DS" soon knew exactly
+how matters stood. One passenger train south was tied up just beyond the
+wreck, and in about an hour and a half the wrecker appeared in charge of
+the trainmaster. I observed a young man twenty-eight or thirty years of
+age standing around looking on, and once when I was near him I noticed
+that he stammered very badly.</p>
+
+<p>I carefully avoided saying anything to that young man, because, I, too,
+at times, had a rather bad impediment in my speech. It asserted itself
+especially when I heard any one else stutter, or when the weather was
+going to change; the men who knew me well said they could always
+foretell a storm by my inability to talk. From my own experience,
+however, I knew that when a stammerer heard another man stammer, he
+imagined that he was being made fun of, and all the fight in him came at
+once to the surface; and as this young man was about twice my size, I
+did my best to keep away from him. But in a few moments he came over to
+where I was and said to me, "A-a-a-sk 'DS' t-t-t-t-o s-s-s-end out
+m-m-m-y r-r-ain c-c-c-c-oat on th-th-th-irteen." Every other word was
+followed by a whistle.</p>
+
+<p>My great help in stammering was to kick with my right foot. I knew what
+was coming, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9040" id="Page_9040">40</a></span> tried my best to avert the trouble. I drew in a long
+breath and said: "Who sh-sh-sh-all I s-s-s-ay y-y-y-ou are?" and my
+right foot was doing great execution. True to its barometrical
+functions, my throat was predicting a storm. It came.</p>
+
+<p>He looked at me for a second, grew red in the face, then catching me by
+the collar, gave me a yank, that made me see forty stars, and said,
+"B-b-b-last you! wh-wh-at d-d-o y-y-ou m-mean b-b-y m-mocking me? I'll
+sm-sm-ash y-y-our b-b-b-lamed r-r-ed head.'"</p>
+
+<p>Speech left me entirely then, and I am afraid I would have been most
+beautifully thumped, had not Sanders, the trainmaster, come over and
+stopped him. He called him "De Armand," and I then knew he was the
+second trick despatcher. After many efforts De Armand told Sanders how I
+had mocked him. Sanders didn't know me and the war clouds began to
+gather again; but Johnson, the conductor of the wrecker, came over and
+said, "Hold on there, De Armand, that kid ain't mocking you; he stammers
+so bad at times that he kicks a hole in the floor. Why, I have seen him
+start to say something to my engineer pulling out of Mankato, and he
+would finish it just as the caboose went by, and we had some forty cars
+in the train at that."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9041" id="Page_9041">41</a></span></p>
+
+<p>At this a smile broke over De Armand's face, and he grasped my hand and
+said, "Excuse m-m-m-e k-k-id; but y-y-you k-k-know how it is
+y-y-yourself." You may well believe that I did know.</p>
+
+<p>One night, shortly after this, I was repeating an order to De Armand,
+and in the middle of it I broke myself very badly. He opened his key,
+and said, "Kick, you devil, kick!" And I got the merry ha-ha from up and
+down the line. But in giving me a message a little while after he flew
+the track, and I instantly opened up and said, "Whistle, you tarrier,
+whistle!" Maybe he didn't get it back.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9042" id="Page_9042">42</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2><h3>BLUE FIELD, ARIZONA, AND AN INDIAN SCRIMMAGE</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The desire to travel was strong within me, and in the following June I
+left Mankato, went out to Arizona and secured a position on the A. &amp; P.,
+at Blue Field, a small town almost in the centre of the desert. Alfreda,
+Kansas, was dreary and desolate enough, but there, I was at least in
+communication with civilization, because I had one wire running to
+Kansas City, while Blue Field was the crowning glory of utter
+desolation. The Bible says that the good Lord made heaven and earth in
+six days, and rested on the seventh. It needed but a single glance at
+Blue Field to thoroughly convince me that the Lord quit work at the end
+of the sixth day right there, and had never taken it up since. There was
+nothing but some scattering adobe shacks, with the usual complement of
+saloons, and as far almost as the eye could see in every
+direction,&mdash;sand&mdash;hot, glaring, burning sand. To the far northwards,
+could be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9043" id="Page_9043">43</a></span> dimly observed the outlines of the Mogollon range of
+mountains. The population consisted chiefly of about four hundred
+dare-devil spirits who had started to wander westwards in search of the
+El Dorado and had finally settled there, too tired, too disgusted to go
+any farther, and lacking money enough to return to their homes. It
+wasn't the most congenial crowd in the world. There was only one good
+thing in the place, and that was a deep well of pure sparkling water.
+The sun during the day was so scorching that the rails seemed to sizzle
+as they stretched out like two slender, interminable bands of silver
+over the hot sands, and at night no relief was apparent, and the office
+so stifling hot that my existence was well nigh unbearable. But the pay
+was ninety dollars per month and I hung on until I could save funds
+enough to get back to God's own country. To sleep in a house, in the day
+time, was almost killing, so I used to make up a sort of bunk on a truck
+and sleep in the shade of the freight shed. At seven-forty-three in the
+evening, the Trans-Continental flyer went smashing by at a fifty-five
+mile an hour clip and the dust it raised was enough to strangle a man.</p>
+
+<p>The Arizona climate is a well known specific for pulmonary troubles, and
+thousands of people<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9044" id="Page_9044">44</a></span> come down there in all stages of consumption from
+the first premonitory cough to the living emaciated skeleton.</p>
+
+<p>The first station west of me was Clear Creek (so called on account of a
+good sized stream of water that came down from the Mogollons), and a few
+days after I arrived at Blue Field, I heard a message going over the
+wires saying that Fred Baird was coming down there to take charge. I had
+known him up in Kansas, and his looks and a hacking cough indicated only
+too truly, that the dreaded consumption had fastened itself on him;
+therefore when I heard of his assignment to Clear Creek, I knew it was
+his health that brought him down to that awful country. He had a wife
+(and a sweet little woman she was), and two beautiful children, aged two
+and four. A few evenings after this I had the pleasure of talking to
+them for several minutes as they went through on a slow passenger train,
+and I must say that my heart ached when I thought of the town to which
+that family was going. What a place to bring a woman? But then women
+have a faculty of hanging on to their liege lords under all
+circumstances and conditions. God bless 'em. Baird, himself, looked
+wretched, being a mere shadow of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9045" id="Page_9045">45</a></span> his former self, but like all
+consumptives he imagined he was going to get well.</p>
+
+<p>Just about this time, two Indian gentlemen, named Geronimo and Victoria,
+were raising particular mischief all through that section of the
+country, and the feeling that any moment they might come down on you and
+raise your scalp after puncturing you full of holes was anything but
+pleasant. It was decidedly creepy and many a time I wished myself back
+in the good old state of Texas. I had come for excitement and adventure
+and it was not long until I had both articles doled out to me in large
+chunks. Those Indians used to break out from their reservations, swoop
+down on some settlement, kill everything in sight and then loot and burn
+to their heart's content. There was no warning&mdash;just a few shots, then a
+shrill war-whoop, and a perfect horde of yelling and shooting red devils
+would be upon you. Precautions were taken and some of the larger
+settlements were able to stand them off until some of the small army
+could come and scatter them. Blue Field had pickets posted every night,
+chosen from among the four hundred toughs that lived there, and was
+pretty well protected.</p>
+
+<p>They gave us a wide berth for a while, but one night, I was sitting
+dozing in my chair about<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9046" id="Page_9046">46</a></span> eleven-thirty, when I was awakened by the
+sharp crack of a rifle, followed in quick succession by others, until it
+was a regular fusillade. Then I heard the short shrill Apache war-whoop,
+and mentally I thought my time had come. I tried to breathe a prayer,
+but the high and unusual position of my heart effectually prevented any
+articulation. The window had been closed on account of a high wind
+blowing, or I fancy I should have gone out that way. However, I grabbed
+up a rifle, and then opening a trap door, dropped down into a little
+cubbyhole under the floor, where we used to keep our batteries. What I
+brought the rifle along for I can't say, unless it was to blow the top
+of my own head off. The place was like a bake-oven and all the air I
+received came through a small crack in the floor, and it was not long
+until I was soaked with perspiration.</p>
+
+<div class='figcenter' style='width: 421px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="illus-011" id="illus-011"></a>
+<img src='images/p2-038.jpg' alt='"One of them picked up the lantern, and swaggering over to where I sat all trembling...."' title='' width = '421' height = '498'/><br />
+<span class='caption'>"One of them picked up the lantern, and swaggering over to where I sat all trembling...."</span>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9047" id="Page_9047">47</a></span>
+Overhead I could hear the crack of the rifles and the whoop of the
+Indians as the battle raged, back and forth. During a temporary lull I
+heard the despatcher calling me for dear life, but he could call for all
+I cared; I had other business just then&mdash;I was truly "25." All at once I
+heard a bigger commotion than ever, there was a sound as if caused by
+the scurrying of many feet, and then all was quiet. I sat there
+wondering what was coming next, and how much longer I had to live, when
+I smelled smoke, and in a second I knew the depot was on fire. I tried
+to raise the trap-door, but it had a snap lock and had been dropped so
+hard in my mad efforts to get away, that it was securely locked. Good
+God! was I to be burned like a rat in a trap? All was quiet save the
+crackling of the flames as they licked up the depot. Something must be
+done and quickly at that, or there would be one operator who would
+receive his cong&eacute; in a manner that was anything but pleasant.
+Feverishly, I groped around, and all at once my hand came in contact
+with the Winchester rifle. I grasped it by the barrel, and using it as a
+battering ram I started to smash that door. The smoke by this time was
+stifling, suffocating, and already my senses were leaving
+me,&mdash;everything was swimming around before my eyes, but it was a case of
+life and death, and I hammered away with all my might. Finally, Crash!
+Ah! I had succeeded, the lock broke and in a moment I had pulled myself
+up in the office.</p>
+
+<p>The side towards the door was all ablaze and escape that way was
+impossible, so I picked up a chair and slammed it through the window
+over the table, and climbed out taking a loose set of instruments with
+me. The wires were still working,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9048" id="Page_9048">48</a></span> and above the crackle of the flames I
+heard "DS" still calling me. I reached in through the window and simply
+said,</p>
+
+<p>"Indians&mdash;depot on fire&mdash;have saved a set of instruments&mdash;will call you
+later when I can fix a wire," and signed my name, "Bates."</p>
+
+<p>My lungs were filled with smoke and felt like they had a million sharp
+needles sticking in them, but thanks to my lucky stars, I was not
+otherwise hurt. Everything appeared so quiet and still that I was dazed,
+but presently I heard a low mumbling of voices out to the westwards. I
+made my way thither and found the population (all that was left of it),
+assembled. When I staggered up to a group of the men, they turned on me
+like tigers, not knowing what kind of an animal I was. I recognized one
+of them who was commonly known as "Full-House Charley," and weakly said,</p>
+
+<p>"Don't shoot, Charley, it's Bates the night operator at the depot."</p>
+
+<p>"Well! where the devil have you been all the time? When the depot was
+burning some of us went over there, but you'd gone some place. We
+couldn't save anything so we let 'er burn. Your side partner, the day
+man, was killed and scalped."</p>
+
+<p>It appeared that just as the fight was the hottest, three troops of
+the &mdash;th U. S. Colored Cavalry,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9049" id="Page_9049">49</a></span> appeared on the scene, having been on
+the trail of this same band all day. They made short work of the red men
+who melted away to the fastnesses of the Mogollons, first setting fire
+to the depot, the troops in close pursuit. If there ever were faithful
+hard working fighters in that country, it was these same dusky
+brunettes.</p>
+
+<p>I told the gang where I had been, and in a few minutes several of them
+went over to the station to help me rig up a wire. I knew the
+despatcher's wire, and taking a pole's length out of another line, I
+soon made a connection to the instrument I had saved. It was no go&mdash;the
+wire was dead open. Then I rigged up a ground by running a wire to a
+pipe that ran down the well, and in testing I found the wire was open
+west. I called up "DS," who was east of-me, and told him what a nice hot
+old time we had been having out there.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," he said, "I knew there was trouble. Just after you told me about
+the Indians and fire, Clear Creek said their place was attacked by
+another band and things were getting pretty hot with them. Then the wire
+went open, caused as I supposed by your fire, but now it seems as if
+Baird is probably up against it as well. A train load of troops will
+come through in a short while to try and get beyond the Indians and cut
+them<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9050" id="Page_9050">50</a></span> off. If you are able, I wish you would flag them and go over to
+Clear Creek and report from there. Disconnect and take your instrument
+and leave the line cut through. A line man will be sent out from here in
+the morning. Everything is tied up on the road, and you can tell the C.
+&amp; E. there's nothing ahead of them, but to run carefully, keeping a
+sharp lookout for torn up track and burned trestles."</p>
+
+<p>My experiences had been so exciting and the smoke in my lungs so
+painful, that I was ready to drop from fatigue; but then I thought of
+poor Fred Baird and his family, and I said I'd go. The troop train came
+in presently and I boarded her. It did my heart good to ride on that
+engine with "Daddy" Blake at the throttle, and think that four hundred
+big husky American regulars were trailing along behind, waiting for
+something to turn up and just aching for a crack at the red men.</p>
+
+<p>It was now about three o'clock, and just as the first rays of early dawn
+illumined the horizon, we came in sight of Clear Creek. There was a dull
+red glow against the sky, that told only too well what we should find.
+The place had not been as well protected as Blue Field, and the
+slaughter was something fearful. The depot was nothing but a smoldering
+mass of ruins, and but a short<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9051" id="Page_9051">51</a></span> distance away we came upon the bodies of
+Baird, his wife and two children, shot to pieces, stripped, horribly
+mutilated and scalped. It was sickening, and shortly after, when the
+troop train pulled out for Chiquito, the sense of loneliness was
+oppressing. A few people had escaped by hiding in obscure places and
+when they came out they went to work and buried the dead. I finally
+succeeded in getting a wire through and then, despite the heat, I slept.</p>
+
+<p>The next day the troops corralled the Indians, gave them a good licking
+and sent them back to their old reservations. And yet in face of just
+such incidents as these, there are people who say that poor Lo can be
+civilized.</p>
+
+<p>A construction gang came out and started to re-build, and the company
+offered me a good day office if I would remain, but Nay! Nay! I had had
+all I wanted of Arizona, and I went back to Texas, thankful that I had a
+whole skin and a full shock of red hair.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9052" id="Page_9052">52</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2><h3>TAKING A WHIRL AT COMMERCIAL WORK&mdash;MY FIRST ATTEMPT&mdash;THE GALVESTON FIRE</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The memory of my exciting experience in Arizona lasted me a good long
+time, and I finally determined to leave the railroad service and try my
+hand at commercial work. The two classes are the same, and yet they are
+entirely different.</p>
+
+<p>It is a most interesting sight, to the uninitiated, to go into the
+operating room of a big commercial office and see the swarms of men and
+women bending over glass partitioned tables; nimble footed check boys
+running hither and thither like so many flies, carrying to each wire the
+proper messages, while the volume of sound that greets your ears is
+positively deafening. Every once in a while some operator will raise his
+head and yell "Pink," "C. N. D." or "Wire." "Pink" means a message that
+is to be rushed; "C. N. D." is a market quotation that is to be hurried
+over to the Bucket Shops or Stock Exchange, while "Wire," means a
+message that pertains to some wire that is in trouble and such messages
+must have precedence<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9053" id="Page_9053">53</a></span> over all others. The check boys are trained to
+know the destination of each and every wire and work under the direction
+of the traffic chief.</p>
+
+<p>Far over on one side of a room is the switch board. To the untutored
+mind it looks like numberless long parallel strips of brass tacked on
+the side of the wall, and each strip perforated by a number of small
+holes, while stuck around, in what seems endless profusion, are many
+gutta-percha-topped brass pegs. Yet through all this seeming mass of
+confusion, everything is in apple pie order, and each one of those
+strips represents a wire and every plug a connection to some set of
+instruments. The wire chief and his assistants are in full charge of
+this work, and it must needs be a man of great ability to successfully
+fill such a place in a large office.</p>
+
+<p>The chief operator has entire supervision over the whole office, and his
+duties are hard, constant, and arduous. Like competent train
+despatchers, men able to be first-class chief operators are few and far
+between. Not only must he be an expert telegrapher, but he must
+thoroughly understand line, battery and switch board work, and his
+executive ability must be of the highest order.</p>
+
+<p>I had always supposed if a man were a first-class railroad operator he
+could do equally<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9054" id="Page_9054">54</a></span> good work on a commercial wire; in fact the operator
+in a small town is always employed by the railroad company and does the
+little amount of commercial work in addition to his other duties.</p>
+
+<p>After leaving Blue Field I loafed a while, but that's tiresome work at
+best, so I journeyed down to Galveston, Texas, one bright fall morning,
+and after trying my luck at the railroad offices, I wandered into the
+commercial office on the Strand and asked George Clarke, the chief
+operator, for a job.</p>
+
+<p>"What kind of a man are you?" he said.</p>
+
+<p>"First-class in every respect, sir," I replied.</p>
+
+<p>"Sit down there on the polar side of that Houston quad and if you are
+any account, I'll give you a job at seventy dollars per month."</p>
+
+<p>Now a "Quad" is an instrument whereby four messages are going over the
+<i>same</i> wire at the <i>same</i> time. The mechanism of the machine is
+different in every respect from the old relay, key and sounder, used on
+the railroad wires. In a vague way I had heard of "quads," and imagined
+I could work them as well as an "O. S." wire, but when he said for me to
+sit down on the "Polar side," I was, for a minute, stumped. However,
+there were already three chaps sitting at that table, so the fourth
+place must be mine. I sat down and presently<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9055" id="Page_9055">55</a></span> I heard the sounder say,
+"Who?" I answered "BY," and then "HO," said, "Hr. City," I grabbed a pen
+and made ready to copy, but by the time he had finished the address I
+was just putting down the number and check. "Break" I said, "G. A.
+from," B-r-r-r-r- how that sounder did jump. This interesting operation
+was repeated several times, but finally I succeeded in getting the
+message down, and then without giving me time to draw my breath, he
+said, "C. N. D." and started ahead with a jargon of figures and words
+that I had never heard of before. His sending was plain enough, in fact
+it was like a circus bill, but I wasn't on to the combination, and it
+was all Greek to me. Perspiration started from every pore, and in my
+agony I said, "Break, G. A. Ahr.," Holy Smoke! how he did fly off at
+that, and how those other three chaps did grin at my discomfiture.</p>
+
+<p>"Call your chief operator over here," and with that he refused to work
+with me any more. Clarke came over and that blasted chump at "HO" said,</p>
+
+<p>"For heaven's sake give us an operator to do the receiving on the polar'
+side of this quad. We are piled up with business and can't be delayed by
+teaching the ropes to a railroad ham. He's been ten minutes taking one
+message, and I haven't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9056" id="Page_9056">56</a></span> been able to pound into his head what a 'C. N.
+D,' is yet."</p>
+
+<p>Clarke quietly gave him "O. K." and then turned to me with,</p>
+
+<p>"I guess you are not used to this kind of work. Better go back to
+railroading, and learn something about commercial work before tackling a
+job like this again. Come back in six months and I'll give you another
+trial." I sneaked out of the office, followed by the broad smiles of
+every man in the place, and thus ended the first lesson.</p>
+
+<p>I took Clarke's advice and went back to work on a narrow-gauge road
+running northwards out of Houston, through the most God-forsaken country
+on the footstool. Sluggish bayous, foul rank growth of vegetation,
+alligators as long as a rail, that would come out and stop trains by
+being on the track, and air so malarious in quality that it was only a
+question of time until one had the fever. I stuck it out for two months
+and then succumbed to the inevitable and went to the hospital where I
+lay for three weeks. After I had fully recovered they put me to work in
+the Houston General Office, and some eight months after reaching there I
+received a message from my old friend Clarke, saying, "if I had improved
+any in my commercial work he would give me a job at seventy dollars per<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9057" id="Page_9057">57</a></span>
+month." I hadn't improved much, but as this world is two-thirds bluff, I
+made mine, and said I'd come, trusting to luck to be able to hold on.</p>
+
+<p>I reached there one pleasant afternoon and the next morning went to
+work. I must have had my rabbit's foot with me, because I was assigned
+to a "Way Wire." I think if he had told me to tackle a "Quad," again, I
+should have fainted. A "Way Wire," is one that runs along a railroad,
+having offices cut in in all the small towns. There wasn't a town on the
+whole string that had more than ten or fifteen messages a day, but the
+aggregate of all the offices made up a very good day's work. Then again
+I didn't have to handle any of those confounded "C. N. D." messages.
+Clarke watched me closely and at the end of the first day he said my
+work showed a marked improvement. You may rest assured I watched my P's
+and Q's, and it wasn't long before I had the hang of the system and
+could take my trick on a "Quad" with the best of them. Rheostats,
+wheatstone bridges, polarized relays, pole changers, and ground switches
+became as familiar to me as the old relay key and sounder had been.</p>
+
+<p>Some of the rarest gems of the profession worked in "G" office at this
+time&mdash;George Clarke, "Cy" Clamphitt, "Jack" Graham, Will Church,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9058" id="Page_9058">58</a></span>
+John McNeill, Paul Finnegan alias the "Count," and a score or more of
+men, as good as ever touched a key or balanced a quad. A day's work was
+from eight A. M., until five P. M., and for all over time we were paid
+extra at the rate of forty cents per hour. This extra work was called
+"Scooping."</p>
+
+<p>One day in December, Clarke asked me if I wanted to "scoop" that night.
+I acquiesced and after eating a hasty supper I went back to the office
+and prepared for a long siege. I was put to sending press reports, which
+is just about as hard work as a man can do. I sent "30" (the end) at two
+o'clock in the morning, and went home worn to a frazzle. I was boarding
+on Avenue M. with ten other operators, in a house kept by a Mrs.
+Swanson, and roomed with her little son Jimmie, who was a hopeless
+cripple. I undressed, and after shoving little Jim over to his own side
+of the bed, tumbled in and was soon sleeping like a log. It seemed as if
+I had just closed my eyes when I felt some one pulling my hair. I
+knocked the hand away and prepared to take another snooze, when there
+was that awful pull on my red head again. I opened my eyes prepared to
+fight, when I felt an extra hard pull, and heard the wee sma' voice of
+my diminutive room mate say,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9059" id="Page_9059">59</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Get up, the house is on fire." "Rats," I said&mdash;Again,&mdash;the awful
+pull,&mdash;and,&mdash;"Mr. Bates, for God's sake get up; the house is on fire;
+the whole town is burning up."</p>
+
+<p>I sprang out of bed and the crackling of the timbers, the glow of the
+flames, and the stifling smoke, soon assured me it was time to move, and
+quickly at that. I grabbed up a few clothes in one arm, and grasping
+brave little Jimmie Swanson in the other, I started for the steps. On
+our side, the whole house was in flames, and the smoke rushing up the
+stair-way was something awful. I wrapped Jimmie's head in his night
+shirt, and throwing a coat over mine, I started down the stairs. Half
+way down my foot slipped, and we both pitched head first to the bottom.
+Poor little Jim, his right arm was broken by the fall, and when he tried
+to get up, he found that his one sound leg was badly strained. He said,</p>
+
+<p>"Never mind me, Mr. Bates, save yourself. I'll crawl out."</p>
+
+<p>Leave him to roast alive? Never! I grabbed him again and after a
+desperate effort succeeded in getting him out. All our supply of
+clothing had been lost in our mad efforts to escape, and as a bitter
+norther was blowing at the time, our position was anything but pleasant.
+I found a few clothes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9060" id="Page_9060">60</a></span> dropped by some one else and we made ourselves as
+warm as possible. Then I grabbed Jimmie up again and fled before the
+fiery blast. The awful catastrophe had started in a fisherman's shack
+over on the bay, twenty-seven squares from where we lived, and being
+borne by a high wind, had swept everything in its path. The houses were
+mostly of timber and were easy prey to the relentless flames. Although
+Galveston is entirely surrounded by water, the pipe-lines for fighting
+fire at this time extended only to Avenue H, ten blocks from the Strand.
+Beyond that, the fire department depended on the cisterns of private
+houses for the water to subdue the flames.</p>
+
+<p>With lightning-like rapidity the flames had spread and almost before
+they knew it the town seemed doomed. Arches of flame, myriads of falling
+sparks, hundreds of fleeing half-clad men, women and children, the
+hissing of the engines in their puny attempts to fight the monster, and
+ever and anon the dull roar of the falling walls, made a scene, as grand
+and weird as it was desolate and awful. In less than two hours time
+fifty-two squares had been laid waste, leaving a trail of smoldering
+black ashes. That the whole city did not go is due to a providential
+switch of the wind that blew the flames back on their own tracks.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9061" id="Page_9061">61</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Of the fifteen operators in the day force, twelve had been burned out,
+and the next morning, at eight o'clock, when all had reported for duty,
+they were as sorry a looking lot of men as ever assembled.</p>
+
+<p>"Some in rags, some in jags, and one in velvet gown." "Count" Finnegan
+had on a frilled shirt, a pair of trousers three sizes too small for
+him, and his manly form was wrapped in a flowing robe of black velvet,
+picked up by him in his mad flight.</p>
+
+<p>It was many a day before the effects of this direful calamity were
+entirely obliterated.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9062" id="Page_9062">62</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2><h3>SENDING A MESSAGE PERFORCE&mdash;RECOGNIZING AN OLD FRIEND BY HIS STUFF</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Some time after this I was in Fort Worth copying night reports at eighty
+dollars per month. The night force consisted of two other men besides
+myself. The "split trick" man worked until ten o'clock, the other chap
+stayed around until twelve, or until he was clear, while I hung on until
+"30" on report which came anywhere from one-thirty until four A. M.
+After midnight I had to handle all the business that came along.</p>
+
+<p>When I had received "30" I would cut out the instruments and go home.</p>
+
+<p>One morning, about two-thirty I had said "G. N." to Galveston, cut out
+the instruments, put out the lights in the operating room, and started
+to go home through the receiving room and I was about to put out the
+last light there, when the outer door opened and in staggered a half
+drunken ranchman who said,</p>
+
+<p>"Hold on there, young fellow, I want to send a message to St. Louis."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9063" id="Page_9063">63</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I'm sorry, but it's too late to send it now. All the instruments are
+cut out and we wont have St. Louis until eight o'clock in the morning.
+Come around then and some of the day force will send it for you."</p>
+
+<p>"But," he said in a maudlin voice, "I've got nineteen cars of cattle out
+here that are going up there to-morrow and I want to notify my agents."</p>
+
+<p>I persisted in my refusal and was beginning to get hot under the collar,
+but my bucolic friend also had a temper and showed it.</p>
+
+<p>"D&mdash;n it," he said, "you send this message or there is going to be
+trouble."</p>
+
+<p>"Not much, I won't send your confounded old message. Get out of this
+office: I'm going home."</p>
+
+<p>Just then I heard an ominous click and in a second I was gazing down the
+barrel of a .45, and he said,</p>
+
+<p>"Now will you send it? You'd better or I'll send you to a home that will
+be a permanent one."</p>
+
+<p>A .45, especially when it is loaded, cocked and pointed at your head,
+with a half drunken galoot's finger on the trigger, is a powerful
+incentive to quick action.</p>
+
+<p>"Give me your blamed old message, and I'll send it for you."</p>
+
+<p>Now there wasn't a through wire to any place<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9064" id="Page_9064">64</a></span> at the time, but I had
+thought of a scheme to stave him off. I took his telegram, went over and
+monkeyed around the switch board for a while, and then sat down to a
+local instrument and went through the form of sending a message. My
+whole salvation lay in the hope that he was not an operator and would
+fail to discover my ruse. I glanced at him furtively out of the corner
+of my eye, and there he stood, pistol in hand, grinning like a monkey
+and swaying to and fro like a reed in the wind. I didn't know what that
+grin portended for me, but after I had gone through the form of sending
+the telegram, I hung it up on the hook, and turned around with,</p>
+
+<p>"There, I hope you are satisfied now. Your blamed old message has been
+sent."</p>
+
+<p>"Satisfied! Why certainly I'm satisfied. I just wanted to show you that
+the Western Union Company wasn't the whole push. Come on over to the
+White Elephant with me and we'll have a drink together, just to show
+there's no hard feelings between us," and with that he put away his
+pistol and we went out. On the way over to the Elephant he said,</p>
+
+<p>"Say, kid, did you think I'd shoot if you hadn't sent the message?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9065" id="Page_9065">65</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Well," I replied, "I wasn't taking any chances on the matter."</p>
+
+<p>Then he laughed loud enough to be heard a block away and said, "Why,
+that pistol hasn't been loaded for six months, I was just running a
+bluff on you, and you bit like a fish."</p>
+
+<p>Good joke, wasn't it? We had our drink, <i>and his message was sent by one
+of the day force, at eight-twelve A. M.</i></p>
+
+<p>The Morse telegraphic alphabet is exactly the same the world over, and
+yet each operator has a peculiarity to his sending, or "stuff," as it is
+called, that makes it easy to recognize an old friend, even though his
+name be changed.</p>
+
+<p>In the early part of my career, when I was working days at X&mdash;&mdash;, in
+Nebraska, at Sweeping Water there was a chap called Ned Kingsbury
+holding down the night job, and as wild a youngster as ever hit the
+road. One night when I was sitting up a little late I heard the
+despatcher give Ned an order for a train that ordinarily would not stop
+there. Ned repeated it back all right enough, and then gave the signal,
+"6," which meant that he had turned his red-light to the track and would
+hold it there until the order was delivered and understood. So far, so
+good. But the reckless little devil had forgotten to turn his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9066" id="Page_9066">66</a></span> red-board
+and proceeded to write to some of his numerous girls, and the first
+thing he knew that freight train went smashing by at a thirty-five mile
+clip, and Mr. Ned knew he was up against it.</p>
+
+<p>In some states a railroader guilty of criminal negligence is sent up
+for a term of from one to ten years. The smash up that resulted from
+Ned's carelessness was a catastrophe of the fatal kind; one engineer was
+killed, and a fireman and brakeman or two laid up for months. He fully
+realized the magnitude of his offence and promptly skipped away from the
+wrath that was sure to follow, and nothing more was heard of him in that
+section of the country.</p>
+
+<p>This all happened a number of years before I went to work in Fort Worth,
+and one morning I was doing a little "scooping," by working days, and
+sat down to send on the "DA" quad. I worked hard for about two hours on
+the polar side, and was sending to some cracker jack, who signed "KY."
+Shortly after that I changed over to the receiving side and "KY" did the
+sending to me. I had been taking about ten messages and the conviction
+was growing on me momentarily that the sending was very familiar and
+that I must have known the sender. Where had I heard that peculiar jerky
+sending before? It was as plain as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9067" id="Page_9067">67</a></span> print, but there was an
+individuality about it that belonged only to one man. All at once that
+night in Nebraska flashed on my mind and I knew my sender was none other
+than Ned Kingsbury. I broke him and said,</p>
+
+<p>"Hello, Ned Kingsbury, where did you come from?"</p>
+
+<p>"You've got the wrong man this time, sonny, my name is Pillsbury," he
+replied.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! come off. I'd know that combination of yours if I heard it in
+Halifax. Didn't you work at Sweeping Water, Nebraska, some time ago, and
+didn't you have some kind of a queer smash up there?"</p>
+
+<p>Then he 'fessed up and said he had recognized my stuff as soon as he
+heard it, but hadn't said anything in hopes I wouldn't twig him.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't give me away, old chap. I'm flying the flag now and have lost all
+my former brashness."</p>
+
+<p>I never did.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9068" id="Page_9068">68</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2><h3>BILL BRADLEY, GAMBLER AND GENTLEMAN</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Telegraphers are, as a rule, a very nomadic class, wandering hither and
+thither like a chip buffeted about on the ocean. Their pathway is not
+always one of roses, and many times their feet are torn by the jagged
+rocks of adversity. I was no different from any of the rest, neither
+better nor worse, and many a night I have slept with only the deep blue
+sky for a covering, and it may be added&mdash;sotto voce&mdash;it is not a very
+warm blanket on a cold night. 'Tis said, an operator of the first class
+can always procure work, but there are times when even the best of them
+are on their uppers. For instance, when winter's chill blasts sweep
+across the hills and dales of the north, like swarms of swallows,
+operators flit southwards to warmer climes, and for this reason the
+supply is often greater than the demand.</p>
+
+<p>I was a "flitter" of the first water, and after I had been in Fort Worth
+for a very short while I became possessed of a desire to see something
+of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9069" id="Page_9069">69</a></span> the far famed border towns along the Rio Grande frontier. So I went
+south to a town called Hallville, and found it a typical tough frontier
+town. I landed there all right enough and then proceeded to gently
+strand. Work was not to be had, money I had none, and my predicament can
+be imagined. Many of you have doubtless been on the frontier and know
+what these places are. There was the usual number of gambling dens,
+dance halls and saloons, and of course they had their variety theatre.
+Ever go into one of the latter places? The first thing that greets your
+eye is a big black and white sign "Buy a drink and see the show."
+Inside, at one end, is the long wooden bar, presided over by some thug
+of the highest order, with a big diamond stuck in the centre of a broad
+expanse of white shirt front. At the other end is the so-called stage,
+while scattered about indiscriminately are the tables and chairs. The
+air is filled&mdash;yea, reeking&mdash;with the fumes of bad whiskey, stale beer,
+and the odor of foul smelling cheap tobacco smoke, and through all this
+haze the would-be "show," goes on, and the applause is manifested by
+whistles, cat calls, the pounding of feet on the floor and glasses on
+the tables. Occasionally some artist (?) will appear who does not seem
+to strike the popular fancy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9070" id="Page_9070">70</a></span> and will be greeted by a beer glass or
+empty bottle being fired at his or her head.</p>
+
+<p>Now, at the time of which I speak, my prospects were very slim, and as
+nature had endowed me with a fair singing voice, I had just about made
+up my mind to go to the Palace Variety Theatre and ask for a position as
+a vocalist. I could, at least, sing as well as some of the theatrical
+bygones that graced the place. The price of admission in one of these
+places is simply the price of a drink. I felt in my pocket and found
+that I had one solitary lonely dime, and swinging aside the green baize
+door, I entered.</p>
+
+<p>"Gimme a beer," I said laying down my dime. A small glass, four-fifths
+froth and one-fifth beer, was skated at me by the bartender from the
+other end of the counter, and my dime was raked into the till.</p>
+
+<p>Then I stood around like a bump on a log, trying to screw my courage up
+to ask the blear eyed, red-nosed Apollo for a job. Some hack voiced old
+chromo was trying to warble "Do they miss me at home," and mentally I
+thought "if he had ever sung like that when he was at home they were
+probably glad he had left." The scene was sickening and disgusting to
+me, but empty stomachs stand not on ceremony, so I turned around and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9071" id="Page_9071">71</a></span>
+was just about to accost the proprietor, when Biff! I felt a stinging
+whack between my shoulders. Quickly I faced about, all the risibility of
+my red headed nature coming to the surface, and there I saw a big
+handsome chap standing in front of me. Six feet tall, broad-shouldered,
+straight, lithe limbs, denoting herculean strength, a massive head
+poised on a well shaped neck, two cold blue eyes, and a face covered by
+a bushy brown beard; dressed in well fitting clothes, trousers tucked in
+the tops of shiny black boots, long Prince Albert coat and a broad
+sombrero set rakishly on one side of his head. Such was the man who hit
+me in the back.</p>
+
+<p>"Hello, youngster, what's your name?"</p>
+
+<p>Rubbing my lame shoulder, I said, "Well it might be Jones and it might
+be Smith, but it ain't, and I don't know what affair it is of yours, any
+way."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! come now, boy, don't get huffy. You've got an honest face and
+appear to be in trouble. What is it? Out with it. You're evidently a
+tenderfoot and this hell-hole of vice isn't a place for a boy of your
+years. What's your name? Come over here at this table and sit down and
+tell me."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9072" id="Page_9072">72</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Something in his bluff hearty manner gave me hope and after sitting
+down, I said.</p>
+
+<p>"My name is Martin Bates. I'm a telegraph operator by profession and
+blew into this town this morning on my uppers. I can't get work and I
+haven't a red cent to my name. It is necessary for me to live, and as I
+can sing a little bit, I came in here to see if I could get a job
+warbling. I won't beg or steal, and there is no one here I can borrow
+from. There's my story. Not a very pleasant one is it?"</p>
+
+<p>"There may have been worse. How long since you've had anything to eat."</p>
+
+<p>"Nine o'clock this morning," I grimly replied.</p>
+
+<p>"Good Lord, that's twelve hours ago. Come on with me out of here and
+I'll fix you up."</p>
+
+<p>Meekly I followed my new found friend. I was sick at heart, weary and
+worn out in body and I didn't care a rap whether school kept or not;
+anything would be better than my present situation. He took me about
+three blocks up the main street and we went into a suite of beautifully
+furnished rooms. He rang a bell, a darkey came in, and it wasn't long
+before I had a lunch in front of me fit for the gods, and I may add it
+didn't take me many minutes to get outside of it. My friend<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9073" id="Page_9073">73</a></span> watched me
+narrowly while I was eating, and when I had finished he said,</p>
+
+<p>"Now youngster, you're all tired out. You go to bed in the next room and
+get a good night's sleep. In the morning we'll see what we can do for
+you, but one thing is certain, you're not going into that vile hole of a
+Palace Theatre again. Somewhere in this world you have a father and
+mother who are praying for you this night. Don't make a slip in your
+pathway in life and break their hearts. Everything is safe and quiet
+here and no one will disturb you until I come in in the morning."</p>
+
+<p>There was a peculiar earnestness in his voice as he spoke that was very
+convincing, and as he rose to go out, I meekly said,</p>
+
+<p>"What's your name, mister?"</p>
+
+<p>"Bill Bradley," he answered with a queer smile. "Now don't you ask any
+more questions to-night," and with that he was gone.</p>
+
+<p>I went to bed almost sick from my exposure and lack of food, and just as
+the old sand man of childhood's happy days began to sprinkle his grains
+in my eyes, I heard, way off in the distance, a peculiar click and a
+drawling voice calling off some numbers. "Four." "Sixteen."
+"Thirty-three." "Seventy-eight." "Ten." "Twenty-six,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9074" id="Page_9074">74</a></span> and then, a great
+shout arose and some one called out "KENO." Ah! I was near a gambling
+house, but I was too tired to care, nature asserted herself, and I
+gently crossed the river into the land of Nod.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning I was really sick with a high fever, and when Bill came
+in I was well nigh loony.</p>
+
+<p>"Hello," he said, "this won't do. Tom, I say, you Tom, go and tell
+Doctor Bailey I want him here quick. D&mdash;n quick. Do you hear?" and black
+Tom answered, "Yas, suh."</p>
+
+<p>To be brief, I was three weeks on my back, and bluff old Bill Bradley
+nursed me like a loving mother would a sick child. Day and night he hung
+over me, never a thing did I need but what he procured for me, and one
+day after the fever had left me and I was sitting up by an open window,
+I said,</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Bradley, what do you do for a living?"</p>
+
+<p>"Boy," he replied with a flushed face, "I am sorry you asked that
+question, but sooner or later you would have heard it and I'd a great
+deal rather tell you about it myself. I'm a gambler and these three
+rooms adjoin my place which is called the "Three Nines," and then he
+told me the story of his life. He was a son of a fine Connecticut<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9075" id="Page_9075">75</a></span>
+family, a graduate of Harvard, and in his day had been a very able young
+lawyer with brilliant prospects, but one night, he went out with a crowd
+of roystering chaps, the lie was passed, and&mdash;it was the old story,&mdash;he
+came to Texas for a refuge. The great civil war was just over, the
+country in a chaotic state, and there he had remained ever since. Thrown
+with wild, uncouth men, and being reckless in the extreme, he opened a
+gambling house.</p>
+
+<p>"Why did you take this great interest in me?" I asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Look here, young chap, you are altogether too inquisitive. I've got an
+old father and mother way up in Ball Brooke, Connecticut, whose hearts
+have been broken by my actions, and when I saw you in that hellish den
+of vice you looked so out of place that I determined to save you. It was
+impulse, my boy, and then again, it may have been the remembrance of the
+one, at whose knee I used to lisp, 'Now I lay me down to sleep.'"</p>
+
+<p>My recovery was very rapid from that time on, and when I was able to
+work I secured a position in the commercial office in Hallville. One
+evening after being paid I strolled into the "Three Nines;" Bill was
+dealing faro, and I thought I might in a measure, show my gratitude
+towards him by risking<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9076" id="Page_9076">76</a></span> a coin. There was a big crowd standing around
+the table, but I edged my way in and placed a dollar on the queen to
+win. Luck was with me and I won. Once, twice, thrice, did the cards come
+my way, and my stack of whites and reds was growing. This didn't seem to
+me much like gratitude to win a man's money, and I wished I hadn't
+started. Presently Bill looked up, and spying me, pointed to my stack of
+chips, and said, "Whose stack is that?" "Mine," I replied, and with one
+fell swoop he dashed the chips into the rack, and taking a ten-dollar
+bill from the drawer, he turned to his side partner and said, "Jim, take
+the deal," and then he got up, took me by the arm, saying, "You come
+with me."</p>
+
+<p>Feeling like a sneak I followed him, and when we had reached his
+sitting-room, he sat down and said,</p>
+
+<p>"Kid, how much were you in on that deal?"</p>
+
+<p>"Just one dollar," I replied.</p>
+
+<p>Then he looked at me, his eyes shone like coals of fire, and he said,</p>
+
+<p>"Look here boy, here's ten dollars. If you are ever hard up and want
+money come to me, and I'll give it to you willingly, but don't you ever
+let me see or hear of you staking a cent on a card again. I'm running a
+gambling house, and as gambling<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9077" id="Page_9077">77</a></span> houses go, it's an honest one, but I'm
+not out plucking lambs like you. Your intentions were probably good but
+don't you ever do it again. If you really want to show your gratitude
+for what I have done for you, promise me honestly that you will never
+gamble."</p>
+
+<p>I felt very much humiliated, but took his words of advice, promised, and
+have never flipped a coin on a card since that night.</p>
+
+<p>Bill was a married man, and in addition to his suite of rooms spoken of,
+he had a very nice residence on Capitol Hill. His suite was a side
+issue, to be used when the games were running high. I had never met Mrs.
+Bradley, but during my illness I had evidence every day of her goodness
+in the shape of many delicacies that found their way to my bedside. I
+had asked Bill time and again to take me out to meet his wife, but he
+always put me off on one pretext or another.</p>
+
+<p>When I started to work, I had secured a room at the house of a Mrs.
+Slade. She had three daughters and one Sunday afternoon we were all out
+walking together, when one of them pointed to a very fine residence and
+said, "That's the residence of Bill Bradley, the big gambler."</p>
+
+<p>Just then Bill and his wife came driving by behind a spanking team of
+bays. Quick as a flash<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9078" id="Page_9078">78</a></span> my hat came off, and I bowed low. Bill saw it
+and very cavalierly returned my salute. The elder Miss Slade turned on
+me like a tigress, and said,</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Bates, do you know who that man is? Do you know what he is?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I know him very well," I replied.</p>
+
+<p>"Then what do you mean by insulting us by speaking to such a man? I did
+not know that you associated with men of his ilk."</p>
+
+<p>In a plain unvarnished way I told them of Bill Bradley's kindness to me,
+but it was no go, and as I would not renounce my liking for the man who
+had been my benefactor, my room in their house became preferable to my
+society and I left.</p>
+
+<p>The next evening I saw Bill in his rooms, and he said,</p>
+
+<p>"Martin, yesterday, when Mrs. Bradley and I drove by you and the Slade
+girls, you spoke to me and lifted your hat to Mrs. Bradley. I could do
+naught but return the salute. Now my boy, there's no use of my mincing
+words with you; I befriended you, probably saved you from ruin, but
+young as you are, you know full well that our paths do not lie parallel
+with each other. I am a gambler, and although Mrs. Bradley is as good a
+woman as ever lived, (and I'd kill the first man that said she wasn't)
+we are not recognized by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9079" id="Page_9079">79</a></span> society; no, not even by the riff raff that
+live in Hallville. You have your way to carve in the world, don't ruin
+it right at the outset by letting people know you are friendly with
+gamblers. No matter how good your motives may be, this scoffing world
+will always misconstrue them and censure you."</p>
+
+<p>This made me hot and I told him so. No matter if he was a gambler, he
+was more of a gentleman than nine-tenths of the men of society, yes,
+men, who would come and gamble half the night away in his place, and
+then go forth the next day and pose as models of propriety.</p>
+
+<p>The upshot of the whole business was that I left Hallville soon after
+this and went to San Antonio to take day report, and one day I picked up
+a paper, and read an account of how Bill Bradley had been assassinated
+by a cowardly cur who had a grudge against him. He was stabbed in the
+back, and thus ended the career of Bill Bradley, gambler and gentleman.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9080" id="Page_9080">80</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER X</h2><h3>THE DEATH OF JIM CARTWRIGHT&mdash;CHASED OFF A WIRE BY A WOMAN</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>I didn't stay at San Antonio very long after this but started
+northwards. You see it was getting to be warm weather. The first place I
+struck was a night job in a smashing good town up near the south line of
+the pan handle. I quit working at midnight, and to get to my boarding
+house had to walk a mile through a portion of the town called "Hell's
+half-acre."</p>
+
+<p>The most prominent place of any description in the city was a saloon and
+gambling house known as the "Blue Goose," owned by John Waring and Luke
+Ravel. Both men were as nervy as they make 'em and several nicks in the
+butts of their revolvers testified mutely as to their prowess. Their
+place was like all other dens, and consisted of the usual bar and lunch
+counter in one room, while in the adjoining one was the hall of gaming.
+Faro, roulette, hazard, monte, and the great national game, poker, held
+high carnival there<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9081" id="Page_9081">81</a></span> nightly. Next to the "Goose" was a long narrow room
+used as a shooting gallery. The place was only a few doors around the
+corner from my office, and many a night on my way home I would stop at
+the lunch counter and have a sandwich and a cup of coffee. I remembered
+my promise to bluff old Bill Bradley, and was never tempted to go in the
+gambling hall. I generally used to rise about noon each day and go up
+town and loaf until four o'clock, when it was time to go to work. I
+picked up a speaking acquaintance with Luke Ravel, and sometimes we
+would go into the shooting gallery together and have a friendly bout
+with the Flobert rifles.</p>
+
+<p>At this time there was one of those tough characters in the town named
+Jim Cartwright. In days gone by he had been a deputy United States
+Marshal, and one time took advantage of his official position to provoke
+a quarrel with an enemy and killed him in cold blood. Public indignation
+ran high and Jim had to skip to Mexico. He stayed away two years and
+getting in trouble over there, came back to his old stamping grounds in
+hopes the people had forgotten his former scrape. They hadn't exactly
+forgotten it, but Jim was a pretty tough character and no one seemed to
+care to tackle him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9082" id="Page_9082">82</a></span></p>
+
+<p>One night Luke Ravel and Jim had some words over a game of cards, and
+bad blood was engendered between them. The next day my side partner
+Frank Noel, and I went into the shooting gallery to try our luck, and
+were standing there enjoying ourselves, when Luke came in and took a
+hand. He was dressed in the height of fashion, and while we three were
+standing there, Jim Cartwright, three sheets in the wind, appeared in
+the doorway pistol in hand. He looked at Luke and said, with an oath,</p>
+
+<p>"Look here, Luke Ravel, your time has come. I'm going to kill you."</p>
+
+<p>My hair arose, my heart seemed to stop beating, but there was no way
+out, so Noel and I edged our way over as far as possible, and held our
+breath. Luke never turned a hair, nor changed color. He was as cool as
+an iceberg, and squarely facing Cartwright said,</p>
+
+<p>"You wouldn't shoot an unarmed man would you, Jim?"</p>
+
+<p>"Ain't you got no gun?"</p>
+
+<p>"No," replied Luke, "I'm unarmed. See," and with that he threw up the
+tails of his long coat.</p>
+
+<p>Jim hesitated a minute, and then shoving his gun into his pocket he
+said,</p>
+
+<p>"No, by heavens, I won't kill an unarmed man.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9083" id="Page_9083">83</a></span> I'll give you a chance
+for your life, but I warn you to fix yourself, because the next time I
+see you I'm going to let daylight through your carcass," and with
+another oath he turned to walk away. Hardly had he taken two steps, when
+there was a blinding flash followed by a loud report, and Jim Cartwright
+lay dead, shot through the heart, while Luke Ravel stood over him; a
+smoking .38 pocket pistol in his hand. Where he pulled his gun from no
+one ever knew; it was all over in a flash. It seems a cowardly thing to
+shoot a man in the back, but it was a case of 'dog eat dog.'</p>
+
+<p>Luke was arrested next day, and Noel and I gave our testimony before the
+coroner's jury, and he was bound over for trial before the next term of
+the circuit court to sit six months hence. There is an old and very
+trite saying in Texas that, "a dead witness is better than a live one."
+This was gently whispered into our ears, and accordingly one night about
+a month after this, Noel and I "folded our tents, and like the Arabs,
+silently stole away."</p>
+
+<p>Luke was acquitted on the plea of self defence.</p>
+
+<p>Spring time having come, and with it the good hot weather, I continued
+to move northwards and finally brought up in a good office in Nebraska,
+where I was to copy the night report from Chicago.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9084" id="Page_9084">84</a></span> We had two wires
+running to Chicago, one a quad for the regular business, and the other a
+single string for "C. N. D." and report work. My stay in this office
+was, short, sharp, brilliant and decisive.</p>
+
+<p>The first night I sat down to work at six-thirty, and in a few minutes
+was receiving the worst pounding I had ever experienced, from some
+operator in "CH" office who signed "JL." There was no kick coming on the
+sending, it was as plain as a large sized poster, but it was so
+all-fired fast, that it made me hustle for all I was worth to get it
+down. There is no sense in a fellow sending so fast, because nothing is
+made by it and it tires every one completely out. Ordinarily, a thirty
+word a minute clip is a good stiff speed for report, but this night,
+thirty-five or forty was nearer the mark. In every operator there is a
+certain amount of professional pride inherent that makes him refrain
+from breaking on report unless it is absolutely necessary. The sender
+always keeps a record of the breaks of each receiver on the line, and if
+they become too frequent the offender is gently fired. On the night in
+question I didn't break, but there were several times when foreign
+dispatches were coming that I faked names in great shape. It was an ugly
+night out, and about<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9085" id="Page_9085">85</a></span> nine o'clock our quad flew the track, and in a
+minute "JL" said to me,</p>
+
+<p>"Here's ten blacks (day messages) just handed me to send to you," and
+without waiting for me to get my manifold clip out of the way he
+started. I didn't get a chance to put the time or date down, and was
+swearing, fighting mad. After sending five of the ten messages, "JL"
+stopped a second and said,</p>
+
+<p>"How do I come?"</p>
+
+<p>"You come like the devil. For heaven's sake let up a bit," I replied.</p>
+
+<p>"Who do you think you are talking to?" came back at me.</p>
+
+<p>Seemingly, patience had ceased to be a virtue with me, so I replied,
+"Some d&mdash;&mdash;d ambitious chump of a fool who's stuck on making a record
+for himself."</p>
+
+<p>"That settles you. Call your chief operator over here."</p>
+
+<p>Joe Saunders was the chief, and when he came over he said,</p>
+
+<p>"What's the trouble here, kid, this wire gone down?"</p>
+
+<p>"No," I answered, "the wire hasn't gone down, but that cuss up in 'CH'
+who signs 'JL' has been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9086" id="Page_9086">86</a></span> pounding the eternal life out of me and I've
+just given him a piece of my mind."</p>
+
+<p>"Say anything brash?" asked Joe.</p>
+
+<p>"No, not very. Just told him he was a d&mdash;d fool with a few light
+embellishments."</p>
+
+<p>Joe laughed very heartily and said, "I guess you are the fool in this
+case, because 'JL' is a woman, Miss Jennie Love, by name, and the
+swiftest lady operator in the business. If she makes this complaint
+official, you'll get it in the neck."</p>
+
+<p>I didn't wait for any official complaint, but put on my coat and walked
+out much chagrined, because I had always boasted that no woman could
+ever run me off a wire. I had the pleasure of meeting Miss Love
+afterwards and apologized for my conduct. She forgave me, but like Mary
+Marsh, she married another man.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9087" id="Page_9087">87</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2><h3>WITNESSING A MARRIAGE BY WIRE&mdash;BEATING A POOL ROOM&mdash;SPARRING AT RANGE</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>After my disastrous encounter with Miss Love, I went south and brought
+up in St. Louis, where old "Top," the chief operator, gave me a place
+working a New York quad. This was about the worst "roast" I had ever
+struck, and it was work from the word go from 5 <span class="smcap">p. m.</span> until 1 <span class="smcap">a. m.</span> Work
+on any wire from a big city leading to New York is always hot, and this
+particular wire was the worst of the bunch. While working in this office
+I had several little incidents come under my observation that may be of
+interest.</p>
+
+<p>The coy little god of love manifests itself in many ways, and the
+successful culmination of two hearts' happiness is as often queer as it
+is humorous.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Jane Grey was an operator on the G. C. &amp; F. Railway at Wichita,
+Kansas, and Mr. Paul Dimmock worked for the Western Union in Louisville,
+Kentucky. Through the agency of a matrimonial journal, Jane and Paul
+became acquainted;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9088" id="Page_9088">88</a></span> letters and pictures were exchanged, and&mdash;it was the
+old, old story&mdash;they became engaged. They wanted to be wedded and the
+more sensational and notorious they could make it the better it would
+suit them both. Jane only earned forty dollars per month, while Paul's
+monthly stipend was the magnificent sum of sixty, with whatever extra
+time he could "scoop." Neither one of them wanted to quit work just
+then, they felt they could not afford it, but that marriage must come
+off, or they would both die of broken hearts. Paul wrote,&mdash;Jane
+wrote,&mdash;plans and compromises were made and refused; the situation was
+becoming desperate, and finally Jane's brilliant mind suggested a
+marriage by wire. Great head&mdash;fine scheme. <i>It takes a woman to
+circumvent unforeseen obstacles every time.</i> Chief operators were
+consulted in Kansas City and St. Louis and they agreed to have the wire
+cut through on the evening appointed. There were to be two witnesses in
+each office, and I was one of the honored two in St. Louis. The day
+finally arrived, and promptly at seven-thirty in the evening Louisville
+was cut through to Wichita, and after all the contracting parties and
+the witnesses had assembled, the ceremony began. There was a minister at
+each end, and as the various<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9089" id="Page_9089">89</a></span> queries and responses were received by the
+witnesses, they would read them to the contracting party present, and
+finally Paul said,</p>
+
+<p>"With this ring, I thee wed, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow:
+in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Amen."</p>
+
+<p>The ring was placed on the bride's finger, <i>by proxy</i>, the benediction
+pronounced by the Wichita minister, and the deed was done. In due time
+the certificate was received and signed by all the witnesses, and the
+matter made of record in both places.</p>
+
+<p>How long did they live apart? Oh! not very long. I think it was the next
+night that I saw a message going through directed to Paul saying, "Will
+leave for Louisville to-night," and signed "Jane."</p>
+
+<p>I wonder if old S. F. B. Morse ever had any idea when he was perfecting
+the telegraph, that it would some day be used to assist in joining
+together,</p>
+
+<p class='blockquot'>
+"Two souls with but a single thought,<br />
+Two hearts that beat as one."<br />
+</p>
+
+<p>Operators are as a rule as honest as the sun, yet, "where you find
+wheat, there also you find chaff," and once in a while a man will be
+found<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9090" id="Page_9090">90</a></span> whose proper place is the penitentiary. One of the easiest ways
+for an operator, so inclined to make money, is to cut wires, steal the
+reports of races, market quotations, or C. N. D. reports, and beat them
+to their destinations. Wires are watched very closely so that it is hard
+for an outsider to do any monkeying. Many men understand telegraphy who
+do not work at the business, and it is for this reason that all the
+instruments in the bucket shops and stock exchanges are turned so low
+that no one outside of the operating room can hear a sound. When it is
+realized that transactions are made, and fortunes won or lost in a
+fractional part of a minute, it will be seen how very careful the great
+telegraph companies must be. The big horse races every year offer great
+temptations.</p>
+
+<p>While I was working in St. Louis, a case came under my observation that
+will readily illustrate the perversity of human nature. In a large
+office not so very far away, there was working a friend of mine, who did
+nothing but copy race reports and C. N. D.'s all day. On the day the
+great Kentucky Derby was to be run, the wire was cut through from the
+track in Louisville to a big pool room in this city.</p>
+
+<p>Now the chief operator in this place was a scaly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9091" id="Page_9091">91</a></span> sort of a cuss&mdash;in
+fact, it was said that he had done time in the past for some
+skullduggery&mdash;and when the horses went to the post, he stood by the
+switchboard and deliberately cut the pool room wire, so the report
+didn't go through. He copied the report himself, knew what horse had
+won, and then sent a message to a henchman of his, who was an operator
+and had an instrument secreted in his room near the pool room. This chap
+went quickly into the pool room and made wagers right and left. A rank
+outsider, a twenty to one shot, won the race, and after the confederate
+had signified that he was ready, the chief sent the report through as if
+it had come from the track. The whole transaction didn't take over two
+minutes and the "bookies" were hit for about $30,000, which Mr. Chief
+and his side pardner divided between them.</p>
+
+<p>A little while later the suspicions of the bookmakers became aroused,
+complaints were made, an investigation followed, and one fine day when
+matters were becoming pretty warm, the recalcitrant chief disappeared.
+His confederate confessed to the whole scheme and the jig was up. The
+chief was afterwards apprehended and sent up for seven years, but he
+held on to his boodle.</p>
+
+<p>For the first month of my stay in St. Louis, my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9092" id="Page_9092">92</a></span> life was as uneventful
+as a May day, but at the end of that time a man came on the New York end
+of our quad that was enough to make a man drink. The men working
+together on a wire like this should always be harmonious, because the
+business is so heavy there is no time for any war of words. However,
+operators are like all other men, and scraps are not uncommon. Generally
+they take place at long range, and no one is hurt thereby. Some men have
+an unhappy faculty of incurring the hatred of every person over a wire,
+while personally they may be princes of good fellows. The man referred
+to above, signed "SY," and he had about as much judgment as a two year
+old kid. It didn't make any difference to him whether the weather was
+clear or muggy, no matter whether the wire was weak or strong, he'd
+pound along like a cyclone. Remonstrance availed nothing, and one night
+when he was cutting up some of his monkeyshines, I became very warm
+under the collar and told him in language more expressive than elegant,
+just what I thought of him, threatening to have our wire chief have him
+fired off the wire. He answered:</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! you go to blazes, you big ham. You're too fresh anyway."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9093" id="Page_9093">93</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The epithet "ham" is about as mean a one as can be applied to an
+operator, and I came back at him with:</p>
+
+<p>"Look here, you infernal idiot, I'll meet you some time and when I do
+I'm going to smash your face. Stop your monkeying and take these
+messages."</p>
+
+<p>"Hold your horses, sonny, what's the difference between you and a
+jackass?" he said.</p>
+
+<p>"Just nine hundred miles," I replied.</p>
+
+<p>Further words were useless and in a few minutes he was relieved, but
+just about the time he got up he said:</p>
+
+<p>"Say, 'BY,' don't forget you've got a contract to smash my face some of
+these days. I'll be expecting you. Ta Ta."</p>
+
+<p>That was the last of him on that wire and the incident passed from my
+mind. I pulled up and left St. Louis shortly after that and went to work
+for the old Baltimore and Ohio Commercial Company, at the corner of
+Broadway and Canal streets, in New York. I drew a prize in the shape of
+the common side of the first Boston quad. Sitting right alongside of me
+was a great, big, handsome Irish chap named Dick Stanley. He was as fine
+a fellow as ever lived, and that night took me<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9094" id="Page_9094">94</a></span> over to his house on
+Long Island to board. We were sitting in his room about nine-thirty,
+having a farewell smoke before retiring and our conversation turned to
+"shop talk." We talked of the old timers we had both known, told
+reminiscences, spun yarns, and all at once Dick said:</p>
+
+<p>"Say, Bates, did you ever work in 'A' office in St. Louis?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! yes," I replied, "I put in three months there under 'Old Top.' In
+fact, I came from there to New York."</p>
+
+<p>"That so?" he answered. "I used to work on the polar side of the No. 2
+quad, from this end, over in the Western Union office on Broadway and
+Dey street. What did you sign there?"</p>
+
+<p>"BY," I answered. I thought he looked queer, but we continued our talk,
+and finally I told him of my wordy war with a man in New York, who
+signed "SY," and remarked that I was going over to 195 Broadway, and
+size him up some day. He knocked the ashes out of his pipe, got up from
+his chair, and, stretching his six feet two of anatomy to its full
+length said:</p>
+
+<p>"Well, old chap, I'm fagged. I'm going to bed. You'd better get a good
+sleep and be thoroughly rested in the morning, because you'll need all
+your strength. I'm the man that signed 'SY' in the New York office, and
+I'm ready to take that licking."</p>
+
+<div class='figcenter' style='width: 326px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="illus-012" id="illus-012"></a>
+<img src='images/p2-100.jpg' alt='"He looked at me ... then catching me by the collar...."' title='' width = '326' height = '526'/><br />
+<span class='caption'>"He looked at me ... then catching me by the collar...."</span>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9095" id="Page_9095">95</a></span>
+Did I lick him? Not much, I couldn't have licked one side of him, and we
+were the best of chums during my stay in the city.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9096" id="Page_9096">96</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2><h3>HOW A SMART OPERATOR WAS SQUELCHED&mdash;THE GALVESTON FLOOD</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>A little while after this "Stub" Hanigan, another operator, invited Dick
+and me to go down to a chop house with him for lunch, and we accepted. I
+say chop house when in reality it was one of those numerous little
+hotels that abound all over New York where one can get a good meal for
+very little money. Hanigan was a rattling good operator, but he was very
+young and had a tendency to be too fresh on occasion.</p>
+
+<p>He ordered us a fine lunch and while we were sitting there discussing
+the good things, a big awkward looking chap came into the dining-room.
+He was accompanied by a sweet, pretty looking little woman. She was a
+regular beauty, and it needed but a glance to see that they were bride
+and groom, and from the country. They had all the ear marks so apparent
+in every bride and groom. They hesitated on the threshold a moment, and
+the groom said very audibly:</p>
+
+<p>"Dearest, this is the finest dining-room in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9097" id="Page_9097">97</a></span> world," and "Dearest"
+beamed on her liege lord in a manner that was very trustful and sweet.
+Hanigan, idiot that he was, laughed outright. Dick and I both gave him a
+savage kick under the table, but it didn't have any effect.</p>
+
+<p>The head waiter brought the couple over and sat them down at our table,
+and, say&mdash;that woman was as pretty as any that ever came down the pike.
+Towards the end of the meal, Hanigan took his knife and fork and began
+to telegraph to Stanley and me, making all sorts of fun about the
+country pair. Now that is a pretty dangerous business, because there is
+no telling who may be an operator. Dick growled at him savagely under
+his breath and told him to shut up. Nay! Nay! Mr. Hanigan wouldn't shut
+up worth a cent. Finally he made some scurrilous remark, and then
+another knife and fork came into play. Mr. Bridegroom was doing the
+talking now, and this is what he said to Hanigan:</p>
+
+<p>"I happen to be an operator myself, and have heard and understood every
+word you said. As long as you confined yourself to innocent remarks
+about country brides and grooms, I haven't minded it a bit. In fact, I
+have rather enjoyed it. But now you've gone too far, and in about five<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9098" id="Page_9098">98</a></span>
+seconds I'm going to have the pleasure of smashing your face."</p>
+
+<p>Then, before we had time to do a thing, biff; and Hanigan got it
+squarely on the jaw. We hustled him out of there as soon as we could,
+but Mr. Bridegroom had all his Irish up and followed him out. Eventually
+we succeeded in calming him down; "Stub" made a most abject apology, and
+I don't believe he ever used his knife and fork for any such a purpose
+again.</p>
+
+<p>The gawky chap was Mr. Dave Harrison, one of the finest operators in the
+profession.</p>
+
+<p>Just about this time fall weather was coming on, and there was a
+suggestion of an approaching winter in the chill morning air, and
+receiving a letter from my old friend Clarke in Galveston, telling me
+there was a good job waiting for me if I could come at once, I pulled up
+stakes in New York, and sailed away on the Mallory Line ship "Comal,"
+for my old stamping ground. I reached there the next week and was put to
+work on the New York Duplex, which, by the way, was the longest string
+in the United States. Mrs. Swanson had re-opened her boarding house on
+Avenue M, everything looked lovely and I anticipated a very pleasant
+winter. Up to September 18th, everything was as quiet and calm as a May
+day.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9099" id="Page_9099">99</a></span> The weather had been beautiful, the surf bathing and concerts in
+front of the Beach Hotel fine, and nothing was left to wish for.</p>
+
+<p>I quit working on Thursday, September 18th, at five <span class="smcap">p. m.</span>, and went out
+to the beach and had a plunge. The sky was clear, but there was a good
+stiff breeze blowing, and it was increasing all the time. The tide was
+flowing in, and the dashing of the waves and roar of the surf made a
+picture long to be remembered. After my swim I went home, and when
+supper was finished three of us again went out to the beach. The wind
+had increased to a perfect gale, and already the water was over the car
+tracks. The Pagoda and Surf bath houses were surrounded, while numerous
+small shacks along the shore had been washed away. Inch by inch, foot by
+foot, the water advanced until it began to look serious, but no one
+dreamed of the flood that was to follow.</p>
+
+<p>We went home at eight-thirty, and at ten I dropped into the realms of
+the sand man, lulled to sleep by the roar of the distant surf, and the
+whistling and moaning of the high wind.</p>
+
+<p>Jimmie Swanson was again my roommate and about five o'clock he woke me
+up and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Bates, if this wind keeps up the whole island<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9100" id="Page_9100">100</a></span> will be under water
+in a very few hours more."</p>
+
+<p>"Nonsense, Jimmie," I replied, "there is no danger of that," and I
+turned over to have another snooze, when I heard a peculiar <i>swash</i>,
+<i>swash</i>, <i>swash</i>, against the side of the house.</p>
+
+<p>"Jimmie, what's the swash we hear?" I asked.</p>
+
+<p>He got out of bed, limped over to the window, opened the blinds, looked
+a minute and then yelled:</p>
+
+<p>"Good Lord! the whole town is under water, and we are floating."</p>
+
+<p>It needed but a glance to convince me that he spoke part truth. There we
+were surrounded on all sides by water, but the house was still on its
+foundation.</p>
+
+<p class='blockquot'>
+"Water, water, everywhere<br />
+Nor any drop to drink."<br />
+</p>
+
+<p>On account of the sandy nature of the soil on Galveston Island, most of
+the houses were built up on piles, and the water was gently slopping all
+over the first floor of our habitation. The streets were flowing waist
+high, and filled with floating debris of all kinds;&mdash;beer kegs, boards,
+doors, and tables <i>ad lib</i>. The wind soon began to quiet down, and when
+our first fright was over we had a high old time swimming and splashing
+around<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9101" id="Page_9101">101</a></span> in the water. It's a great city that will bring salt water
+bathing right up to the doors of its houses.</p>
+
+<p>After a very skimpy breakfast, four of us made a raft, and paddled and
+pushed it down to the office. Nary a wire was there in working order.
+You see, Galveston is on a very flat island scarcely one mile wide, and
+the only approach at this time was a low railroad bridge, three miles
+long. Our wires were strung along the side of that, and at five o'clock
+in the morning, every wire was under water, and the force on duty either
+swam home or slept on the floor.</p>
+
+<p>That day was about the easiest I ever spent in a telegraph office. There
+was a Mexican cable from Galveston to Vera Cruz, but the flood had
+washed away their terminals, and for that day, Galveston was entirely
+isolated from the world.</p>
+
+<p>Houston, fifty-five miles north, was the first big town adjacent, and as
+all our wires ran through there, it was apparent they were having a hot
+time doing the relaying all day. They had only a small force, and
+evidently the business was delayed. The storm had finally blown itself
+out, and at four o'clock Clarke called for volunteers to go to Houston
+to help out until our wires came in shape again. The G. H. &amp; H. railroad
+people<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9102" id="Page_9102">102</a></span> said they thought the water was low enough to permit an engine
+to cross the bridge, and in response to Clarke's call eight of us
+volunteered to attempt the trip. After reaching the mainland we would be
+all right, but there was that confounded three mile bridge to cross. We
+boarded engine 341, with Dad Duffy at the throttle, and at four-fifteen
+he pulled out. Water was still over the track and we proceeded at a
+snail-like pace. Just at the edge of the bridge we stopped; Dad looked
+over the situation and said:</p>
+
+<p>"The water is within two inches of the fire-box now, and it's doubtful
+if we can get across, but here goes and God save us all."</p>
+
+<p>The sensation when we first struck that bridge and realized that we were
+literally on a water support, was anything but pleasant, and I reckon
+most of us uttered the first prayer in many a day. Slowly we crept
+along, and just as we were in the middle of the structure the draw
+sagged a little, and <i>kersplash!</i> out went the fire. A great cloud of
+steam arose and floated away on the evening air, and then, there stood
+that iron monster as helpless as a babe. Dad looked around at us eight
+birds perched up on the tender and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Well I reckon you fellers won't pound any brass in Houston to-night."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9103" id="Page_9103">103</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Pleasant fix to be in, wasn't it? A mile and a half from land, perched
+up on a dead engine, surrounded on all sides by water, and no chance to
+get away. There was no absolute danger, because the underpinning was
+firm enough, but all the same, every man jack of us wished he hadn't
+come. Night, black and dreary, settled over the waters, and still no
+help. Finally, at eight o'clock, the water had receded so that the tops
+of the rails could be seen, and two of us volunteered to go back on foot
+to the yard office for help. That was just three miles away, but nothing
+venture, nothing have, so we dropped off the hind end of the tender and
+started on our tramp back over the water-covered ties. We had one
+lantern, and after we had gone about a half of a mile, my companion who
+was ahead, slipped and nearly fell. I caught him but good-bye to the
+lantern, and the rest of the trip was made in utter darkness. To be
+brief, after struggling for two hours and a half, we reached the yard
+office, and an engine was sent out to help us. At twelve o'clock the
+whole gang were back in the city, wet, weary and worn out.</p>
+
+<p>The next day the water had entirely subsided and work was resumed. We
+learned then of the horror of the flood. Sabine Pass had been
+completely<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9104" id="Page_9104">104</a></span> submerged, and some hundred and fifty or two hundred people
+drowned. Indianola had been wiped out of existence, and the whole coast
+lined with the wreckage of ships. That there were no casualties in
+Galveston, was providential, and due, doubtless, to the fact that the
+whole country for fifty miles back of it is as flat as a pan-cake, and
+the water had room to spread.</p>
+
+<p>I worked there until spring and then a longing for my first love, the
+railroad, came over me and I gave up my place and bade good-bye to the
+commercial business forever. I had had my fling at it and was
+satisfied.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9105" id="Page_9105">105</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2><h3>SENDING MY FIRST ORDER</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>I had now been knocking about the country for quite a few years, and
+working in all kinds of offices and places, and had acquired a great
+deal of experience and valuable information, so I reached the conclusion
+that it was about time for me to settle down and get something that
+would last me for a while. Commercial work I did not care for, nor did I
+want to go back on the road as a night operator on a small salary. I
+thought I had the making of a good despatcher in me, and determined to
+try for that place. I knew it had to be attained by starting first at
+the bottom, so I went up on the K. M. &amp; O. and secured a position as
+night operator at Vining. The K. M. &amp; O. was a main trunk line running
+out of Chaminade, and was the best road for business that I had as yet
+struck. Vining was midway on the division, and was such a good old town
+that I would have been content to have stayed there for some time, but
+one day an engine pulling a through livestock express<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9106" id="Page_9106">106</a></span> broke a driving
+rod while running like lightning, and the result was a smash up of the
+first water&mdash;engine in the ditch, cars piled all over her, livestock
+mashed up, engineer killed, fireman badly hurt, and the road blocked for
+twenty-four hours. The wreck occurred on a curve going down a rather
+steep grade, so that it was impossible to build a temporary track around
+it. A wrecking train was sent out from El Monte, and as I happened to be
+off duty, I was picked up and taken along, to cut in the wrecking
+office. The division superintendent came out to hurry up things and he
+appeared so pleased at my work that, in a few weeks, he offered me a
+place as copy operator in the despatcher's office at El Monte. This
+appeared to be a great chance to satisfy my ambition to become a
+despatcher, so I gladly accepted, and in a few days was safely ensconced
+in my new position. The despatchers only work eight hours a day, while
+the copy operators work twelve, so they work with two despatchers every
+day. I had the day end of the job and worked from eight <span class="smcap">a. m.</span> until eight
+<span class="smcap">p. m.</span>, with an hour off for dinner, so that I really was only on duty for
+eleven hours. The pay was good for me, seventy dollars per month, and I
+was thoroughly satisfied. Really all that is necessary to be a first
+class copy operator<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9107" id="Page_9107">107</a></span> is to be an expert telegrapher. It is simply a work
+of sending and receiving messages all day. However I wanted to learn, so
+I kept my ears and eyes opened, and studied the time card, train sheet,
+and order book very assiduously.</p>
+
+<p>The first trick despatcher was honest old Patrick J. Borroughs, a man of
+twenty-five years' experience in the business and as good a man as ever
+sent an order or took an O. S. report. He was kindness and gentleness
+personified, and assisted me in every way possible, and all my future
+success was due to his help and teaching. The memory of the time I
+worked under him is the brightest spot in all the years I served in the
+business. After I had been there for about five months, he would allow
+me, under his supervision, to make simple meeting points for two trains,
+and one day he allowed me to give a right-of-track order to a through
+freight train over a delayed passenger. Then he would let me sit around
+in his chair, while he swallowed his lunch, and copy the O. S. reports.
+I was beginning to think that my education as a despatcher was complete,
+and was thinking of asking for the next vacancy, when a little incident
+occurred that entirely disabused my mind. The following occurrence will
+show how little I knew about the business.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9108" id="Page_9108">108</a></span></p>
+
+<p>We had received notice one morning of a special train to be run over our
+division that afternoon, carrying a Congressional Railroad Committee,
+and of course that meant a special schedule, and you all know how
+anxious the roads are to please railroad committees, especially when
+they are on investigating tours (?) with reference to the extension of
+the Inter-State Commerce Act, as this one was. We were told to "whoop
+her through." The track on our division was the best on the whole road,
+and it was only 102 miles long; we had plenty of sidings and passing
+tracks, and besides old "Jimmie" Hayes, with engine 444 was in, so they
+could be assured of a run that was a hummer. Mr. Hebron, the division
+superintendent, came in the office and told Borroughs to tear things
+loose, in fact, as he said, "Make 'em all car sick."</p>
+
+<p>After he had gone out Pat tossed the notification over to me, and said,
+"Bates, here's a chance for you to show what kind of stuff you are made
+of. Make out a schedule for this special, giving her a clean sweep from
+end to end, with the exception of No. 21."</p>
+
+<p>Proud! That wasn't the proper name for it. I was fully determined that
+<i>this</i> special should have a run for her money if she ran on my
+schedule.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9109" id="Page_9109">109</a></span> No Congressional Committee was going back to Washington with
+the idea that the K. M. &amp; O. wasn't the swiftest road in the bunch, if I
+could help it, and I had a big idea that I could. Pat told me he would
+do the copying while I made the schedule, but as he said it I fancied I
+saw a merry twinkle in his honest blue eyes. I wasn't daunted though,
+and started to work.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"Order No. 34. "To C&amp;E, all trains:</p>
+
+<p>"K. M. &amp; O. <span class="smcap">Railroad</span> (Eastern Division). "<span class="smcap">Despatcher's Office</span>,
+'DS,' <i>October</i> 15, 18&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Special east engine 444, will run from El Monte to Marsan having
+right of track over all trains except No. 21, on the following
+schedule:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Leave El Monte, 2:30 <span class="smcap">p. m.</span>"</p></div>
+
+<p>Thus far I proceeded without any trouble, and then I stuck. Here was
+where the figuring came in, along with the knowledge of the road, grades
+and so forth, but I was sadly lacking in that respect. I studied and
+figured and used up lots of gray matter, and even chewed up a pencil or
+two. I finally finished the schedule and submitted it to Pat. He read it
+carefully, knitted his brows for a moment, and then said, slowly:</p>
+
+<p>"For a beginner that schedule is about the best I ever saw. It's a
+hummer without a doubt. But<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9110" id="Page_9110">110</a></span> to prevent the lives of the Congressional
+Committee from being placed in jeopardy, I think I shall have to make
+another." Then he laughed heartily, and continued,</p>
+
+<p>"All joking aside, Bates, my boy, you did pretty well, but you have only
+allowed seven minutes between Sumatra and Borneo, while the time card
+shows the distance to be fourteen miles. Jim Hayes and engine 444 are
+capable of great bursts of speed, but, by Jingo, they can't fly. Then
+again you have forgotten our through passenger train, No. 21, which is
+an hour late from the south to-day; what are you going to do with her?
+Pass them on one track, I suppose. But don't be discouraged, my boy,
+brace up and try it again. That's a much better schedule than the first
+one I ever made."</p>
+
+<p>He made another schedule and I resumed my copying. It wasn't long,
+however, before my confidence returned and I wanted a trick. I got it,
+but in such a manner that even now, fifteen years afterwards, I shudder
+to think of it.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9111" id="Page_9111">111</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2><h3>RUNNING TRAINS BY TELEGRAPH&mdash;HOW IT IS DONE</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The despatcher's office of a big railroad line is one of the most
+interesting places a man can get into, especially if he is interested in
+the workings of our great railway systems. It is located at the division
+headquarters, or any other point, such as will make the despatching of
+trains and attendant orders of easy accomplishment. In riding over a
+road, many people are prone to give the credit of a good swift run to
+the engineer and train crew. Pick up a paper any day that the President
+or some big functionary is out on a trip, and you will probably read
+how, at the end of the run, he stopped beside the panting engine, and
+reaching up to shake the hand of the faithful, grimy engineer, would
+say:</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you so much for giving us such a good run. I don't know when I
+have ridden so fast before," or words to that effect. He never thinks
+that the engineer and crew are but the mechanical<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9112" id="Page_9112">112</a></span> agents, they are but
+small cogs in a huge machine. They do their part and do it well, but the
+brains of the machine are up in the little office and are all
+incorporated in the despatcher on duty. Flying over the country
+regardless of time or space, one is apt to forget where the real credit
+belongs. The swift run could not be made, and the train kept running
+without a stop, if it were not for the fact that the despatcher puts
+trains on the sidetrack so that the special need not be delayed, and he
+does it in such a manner that the regular business of the road shall not
+be interfered with.</p>
+
+<p>The interior of the despatcher's office is not, as a rule, very
+sumptuous. There is the big counter at one side of the room, on which
+are the train registers, car record books, message blanks, and forms for
+the various reports. Against the wall on one of the other sides is a big
+black board known as the "call board." On it is recorded the probable
+arrival and departure of trains, and the names of their crews, also the
+time certain crews are to be called. As soon as the train men have
+completed the work of turning their train over to the yard crew at the
+end of their run, they are registered in the despatcher's office, and
+are liable thereafter for duty in their turn. The rule "first<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9113" id="Page_9113">113</a></span> in,
+first, out," is supposed to be strictly adhered to in the running of
+trains. About the middle of the room, or in the recess of the bay
+window, is the despatcher's table. On it in front of the man on duty, is
+the train sheet, containing information, exact and absolute in its
+nature, of each train on the division. On this sheet there is also a
+space set apart for the expected arrival of trains on his district from
+the other end, and one for delays. Loads, empties, everything, is there
+that is necessary for him to know to properly run the trains on time and
+with safety. At any minute the despatcher on duty can tell you the
+precise location of any train, what she is doing, how her engine is
+working, how much work she has to do along the road, and all about her
+engineer and conductor. Generally, there are two sets of instruments on
+the table, one for use of what is known as the despatcher's wire, over
+which his sway is absolute, and the other for a wire that is used for
+messages, reports, and the like, and in case of emergency, by the
+despatcher. Mounted on a roll in front of him is the current official
+time card of the division. From the information contained thereon, the
+despatcher makes all his calculations for time orders, meeting points,
+work trains, etc. Across the table from the despatcher sits the "copy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9114" id="Page_9114">114</a></span>
+operator," whose duty it is to copy everything that comes along, thus
+relieving the despatcher of anything that would tend to disturb him in
+his work. The copy operator is generally the man next for promotion to a
+despatcher's trick, and his relations with his chief must be entirely
+harmonious.</p>
+
+<p>The working force in a well regulated despatcher's office consists of
+the chief despatcher, three trick despatchers, and two copy operators,
+with the various call boys and messengers. The chief despatcher is next
+to the division superintendent, and has full charge of the office. He
+has the supervision of the yard and train reports, and the ordering out
+of the trains and crews. He has charge of all the operators on the
+division, their hiring and dismissal, and has general supervision of the
+telegraph service. In fact, he is a little tin god on wheels. His office
+hours? He hasn't any. Most of the chiefs are in their offices from early
+morn until late at night, and there is no harder worked man in the world
+than the chief despatcher.</p>
+
+<p>Each day is divided into three periods of eight hours each, known as
+"tricks," and a despatcher assigned to each. The first trick is from
+eight <span class="smcap">a. m.</span> until four <span class="smcap">p. m.</span>; the second from four <span class="smcap">p. m.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9115" id="Page_9115">115</a></span></span> until twelve
+midnight; and the third from twelve midnight until eight <span class="smcap">a. m.</span></p>
+
+<p>At eight o'clock in the morning, the first trick despatcher comes on
+duty, and his first work is to verify the train sheet and order book.
+The man going off duty checks off all orders issued by him that have
+been carried out, and his successor signs his initials to all orders yet
+to be obeyed. This signifies that he has read them over very carefully
+and thoroughly understands their purport. As soon as he has receipted
+for them he becomes as responsible as if he had first issued them. He
+glances carefully over his train sheet, assures himself that everything
+is correct and then assumes his duties for the day. Anything that is not
+clear to him must be thoroughly explained before his predecessor leaves,
+and he must signify that he understands everything. The value of that
+old time card rule, so familiar to all railroaders, "In case of doubt
+always take the safe side," is exemplified many times every day in the
+running of trains by telegraph, and the attendant orders. After a
+despatcher has assumed charge of the trick he is the master of the
+situation; he is responsible for everything, and his attentiveness,
+ability and judgment are the powers that keep the trains moving and on
+time.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9116" id="Page_9116">116</a></span></p>
+
+<p>When all trains are running on time, and there are no extras or specials
+out, the despatcher's duty is easy, and consists largely in taking and
+recording "O. S. reports," and "Consists." The "O. S. report" is the
+report sent in by the various operators as the trains arrive and depart
+from the several stations. A "consist" is a message sent by the
+conductor of a train to the division superintendent, giving the exact
+composition and destination of every car in his train. When trains are
+late, however, or many extras are running or the track washed out, the
+despatcher's work becomes very arduous. Orders of all kinds have to be
+made, engines and crews kept working together and trains moving.</p>
+
+<p>Down the centre of the train sheet, which varies in size according to
+the length of the division, are printed the names of all the telegraph
+stations on the division and the distances between them. On either side
+of this main column are ruled smaller columns, each one of which
+represents a train. The number of each train is at the head of the
+appropriate column, and under it are the number of the engine, the names
+of the conductor and engineer, and the number of loads and empties in
+the train. All trains on the division are arranged in three classes, and
+each class has certain rights.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9117" id="Page_9117">117</a></span> Trains of the first class are always
+passengers; the through freight, and the combination freight and
+passenger trains compose the second class. All other trains, such as
+local freights, work trains and construction trains belong to the third
+class. It is an invariable rule on all railroads that trains running one
+way have <i>exclusive rights</i> over trains of their own and of inferior
+classes running in the opposite direction.</p>
+
+<p>What is called the "double order system," is used almost exclusively on
+all single track roads, and if the rules and regulations governing it
+were strictly adhered to and carried out, accidents for which human
+agency is responsible, would be impossible. It consists simply in giving
+an order to all the trains concerned <i>at the same time</i>. That is to say,
+if the despatcher desires to make a meeting point for two trains, he
+will send the same order simultaneously to both of them. If a train is
+leaving his end of the division and he desires to make a meeting point
+with a train coming in, before giving his order to his conductor and
+engineer, he would telegraph it to a station at which the incoming train
+was soon to arrive, and from whence the operator would repeat it back
+word for word, and would give a signal signifying that his red board was
+turned. By this means both trains<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9118" id="Page_9118">118</a></span> would receive the same order, and
+there would be no doubt about the point at which they were to meet.</p>
+
+<p>To illustrate this method, let us suppose a case of two sections of No.
+13 running east and one section of No. 14 running west. Both trains are
+of the second class, and as the east bound trains have the right of way,
+No. 14 <i>must</i> keep out of the way of the two 13's. A certain point, call
+it Smithville, is, according to the time card, the meeting point for
+these two trains. But No. 14 finds out she has a lot of work to do at
+Jonesboro; or a hot driving box or a draw head pulling out delays her,
+and thus she cannot possibly reach Smithville for No. 13. She is at
+Jason, and unless she can get orders to run farther on No. 13's time,
+she will have to tie up there and be further delayed an hour. The
+conductor tells the operator at Jason to ask "DS" if he can help them
+out any. "DS" glances over his train sheet, and finds that he cannot let
+them run to Smithville, because No. 13 is nearly on time; but there is a
+siding at Burkes, between Jason and Smithville, and he concludes to let
+14 go there. So he tells the operator at Jason to "copy 3," and then he
+calls Smithville and tells him to "copy 5." Both the engineer and
+conductor get a copy of all orders pertaining to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9119" id="Page_9119">119</a></span> their trains, and the
+operators retain one for their records and for reference in case of
+accident. Both operators turn their red boards <i>the first thing</i>, and so
+long as the signal remains red, no train can pass the station, without
+first receiving an order or a clearance card. In the case supposed the
+order would be as follows:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"DS <span class="smcap">Despatcher's Office</span>, 12, 8, '98</p>
+
+<p>"Orders No. 31.</p>
+
+<p>
+To C. &amp; E. 1st and 2nd 13, SM.<br />
+To C. &amp; E. No. 14, JN.<br />
+</p>
+
+<p>First and second sections No. 13, and No. 14 will meet at Burkes.</p>
+
+<p>12. (Answer how you understand).</p>
+
+<p>"H. G. C."</p></div>
+
+<p>The despatcher's operator, sitting opposite to him, copies every word of
+this order as the despatcher sends it, and when the operators at
+Smithville and Jason repeat it back, he underlines each word, great care
+being taken to correct any mistakes made by the operators. After an
+operator has repeated an order back he signs his name, and the
+despatcher then says:</p>
+
+<p>"Order No. 31, O. K.," giving the time and signing the division
+superintendent's initials thereto. The order is next handed to the
+conductor and engineer of each train when they come to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9120" id="Page_9120">120</a></span> the office; both
+read it carefully, and then signify that they understand it fully by
+signing their names. The operator then says to the despatcher, "Order
+31, sig. Jones and Smith," and the despatcher gives the "complete" and
+the exact time. Then a copy is given to the conductor and one to the
+engineer and they leave. On the majority of roads the conductor must
+read the order aloud to the engineer before leaving the office.</p>
+
+<p>Thus No. 14 having received her orders, pulls out, and when she reaches
+Burkes, she goes on the side track and waits there for both 13's,
+because 13, being an east bound train of the same class, has the
+right-of-track over her. The same <i>modus operandi</i> is gone through with
+for No. 13, and when the trains have departed the operators pull in
+their red boards. When the meeting has been made and both trains are
+safely by Burkes, the despatcher draws a blue pencil or makes a check
+mark on his order book copy and signs his initials, which signifies that
+the provisions of the order have been carried out. Should its details
+not have been completed when the despatcher is relieved, his successor
+signs his initials thereto showing that he has received it. This is the
+method of sending train orders, exact and simple, on single track
+railroads. On double track lines<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9121" id="Page_9121">121</a></span> the work is greatly simplified because
+trains running in each direction have separate tracks. Does it not seem
+simple? And how impossible are mistakes when its rules are adhered to.
+It really seems as if any one gifted with a reasonable amount of common
+sense, and having a knowledge of the rudiments of mathematics, could do
+the work, but underneath all the simplicity explained, there runs a deep
+current of complications that only long time and a cool head can master.
+I have worked in offices and been figuring on orders for a train soon to
+start out from my end of the division, when all of a sudden some train
+out on the road that has been running all night, will bob up with a hot
+box, or a broken draw head, and then all the calculations for the new
+train will be knocked into a cocked hat.</p>
+
+<p>The simple meeting order has been given above. The following examples
+will illustrate some of the other many forms of orders, and are
+self-explanatory.</p>
+
+<p class='center'><span class="smcap">Time Order</span></p>
+
+<p>No. 14 has a right to use ten minutes of the time of No. 13 between
+Jason and Jonesboro.</p>
+
+<p class='center'><span class="smcap">Slow Order</span></p>
+
+<p>All trains will run carefully over track from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9122" id="Page_9122">122</a></span> one-half mile east of
+Salt Water to Big River Bridge, track soft.</p>
+
+<p class='center'><span class="smcap">Extra Order</span></p>
+
+<p>Engine 341 will run extra from DeLeon to Valdosta.</p>
+
+<p class='center'><span class="smcap">Annulment Order</span></p>
+
+<p>No. 15 of January 6th is annulled between Santiago and Rio.</p>
+
+<p class='center'><span class="smcap">Work Order</span></p>
+
+<p>Engine 228 will work between Posey and Patterson, keeping out of the way
+of all regular trains. Clear track for extra west, engine 327 at 10:30
+<span class="smcap">a. m.</span></p>
+
+<p>When an operator has once turned his red board to the track for an
+order, under no circumstances must he pull it in until he has delivered
+the order for the train for which it is intended. In the meantime should
+another train come in for which he has no orders, he will give it a
+clearance card as follows:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>To C. &amp; E., No. 27</p>
+
+<p>There are no orders for you, signal is set for No. 18.</p>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">H. G. Clarke</span>, <i>Operator</i>.</p></div>
+
+<p>At stated times during the day, the despatchers on duty on each division
+send full reports of all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9123" id="Page_9123">123</a></span> their trains to the divisions adjoining them
+on either side. This train report is very complete, giving the
+composition of each and every train on the road, and the destination of
+every car. A form of the message will readily illustrate this:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">San Angelo</span>, 5 | 16, 18&mdash;.</p>
+
+<p>W. H. C. DS</p>
+
+<p>No 17 will arrive at DS, at 10:20 <span class="smcap">a. m.</span>, with the following:</p>
+
+<table summary='order'>
+<tr><td>1 HH goods</td><td>Chgo.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>2 Livestock</td><td>Kansas City.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>3 Mdse</td><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"</td></tr>
+<tr><td>1 Emgt. outfit</td><td>St. Louis.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>6 Coal</td><td>Houston.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>6 Wheat</td><td>Chgo.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>7 Empty sys. flats&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>Flat Rock.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>&mdash;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Total 26</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<p>H. G. B.</p></div>
+
+<p>All work is done over the initials of the division superintendent and in
+his name. These reports keep the despatchers fully informed as to what
+may be expected, and arrangements can be made to keep the trains moving
+without delay. Of course the report illustrated above is for but one
+train, necessarily it must be much longer when many trains are running.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9124" id="Page_9124">124</a></span></p>
+
+<p>At some regular time during the day all the agents on the division send
+in a car report. This is copied by the despatcher's operator and shows
+how many and what kind of cars are on the side tracks; the number of
+loads ready to go out; the number and kind of cars wanted during the
+ensuing twenty-four hours; and if the station is a water station, how
+many feet of water are in the tank; or if a coaling station, how many
+cars of coal there are on hand; and lastly, what is the character of the
+weather. On some roads weather reports are sent in every hour.</p>
+
+<p>In view of all this, I think it is not too much to say, that the eyes of
+the despatcher see everything on the road. There are a thousand and one
+small details, in addition to the momentous matters of which he has
+charge, and the man who can keep his division clear, with all trains
+moving smoothly and on time, must indeed possess both excellent method
+and application, and must have the ability and nerve to master numerous
+unexpected situations the moment they arise. He is not an artisan or a
+mechanic, <i>he is a genius</i>.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9125" id="Page_9125">125</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2><h3>AN OLD DESPATCHER'S MISTAKE&mdash;MY FIRST TRICK</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>I had become thoroughly proficient and more frequently than ever
+Borroughs would let me "spell" for him for a while each day. Be it said
+to his credit, however, he was always within hearing, when I was doing
+any of his work. He was carefulness personified, and the following
+incident only serves to show what unaccountable errors will be made by
+even the best of men.</p>
+
+<p>One cold morning in January, I started to the office as usual. The air
+was so still, crisp and biting that the air-pumps of the engines had
+that peculiar sharp, snappy sound heard only in a panting engine in cold
+weather. They seemed almost imbued with life. As I went into the office
+at eight o'clock to go to work, the night man remarked that I must be
+feeling pretty brash; my spirits seemed so high. And in fact, that was
+no joke; I was feeling fine as silk and showed it all over. But as I
+said good morning to Borroughs, I noticed that he seemed rather glum,
+and I asked:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9126" id="Page_9126">126</a></span> "What's the matter, Dad? Feeling bad this morning?"</p>
+
+<p>He snapped back in a manner entirely foreign to him, "No, but I don't
+feel much like chaffing this day. I feel as if something was going to
+happen, and I don't like the feeling."</p>
+
+<p>I answered, "Oh! bosh, Dad. You'll feel all right in a few minutes; I
+reckon you've got a good old attack of dyspepsia; brace up."</p>
+
+<p>Just then the wires started up, and he gruffly told me to sit down and
+go to work and our conversation ceased. That was the first time he had
+ever used anything but a gentle tone to me, and I felt hurt. The first
+trick is always the busiest, and under the stress of work the incident
+soon passed from my mind. Pat remarked once, that the general
+superintendent was going to leave Chaminade in a special at 10:30 <span class="smcap">A. M.</span>,
+on a tour of inspection over the road. That was about all the talking he
+did that morning. His work was as good as ever, and in fact, he made
+some of the prettiest meets that morning I had ever seen.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9127" id="Page_9127">127</a></span></p>
+
+<div class='figcenter' style='width: 350px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="illus-013" id="illus-013"></a>
+<img src='images/p2-128.jpg' alt='"... Half lying on the table, face downward, dead by his own hand"' title='' width = '350' height = '524'/><br />
+<span class='caption'>"... Half lying on the table, face downward, dead by his own hand"</span>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9129" id="Page_9129">129</a></span>About
+10:35, I asked Borroughs to allow me to go over to the hotel to
+get a cigar. I would be gone only a few minutes. He assented, and I
+slipped on my overcoat and went out. I wasn't gone over ten minutes, and
+as I stepped into the doorway to come upstairs on my return, I heard
+what sounded like a shot in the office. I flew upstairs two steps at a
+time, and never to my dying day will I forget the sight that met my
+gaze. Borroughs, whom I had left but a few moments before full of life
+and energy, was half lying on the table, face downwards, dead by his own
+hand. The blood was oozing from a jagged wound in his temple, and on the
+floor was the smoking pistol he had used. Fred Bennett, the chief
+despatcher, as pale as a ghost, was bending over him, while the two call
+boys were standing near paralyzed with fright. It was an intensely
+dramatic setting for a powerful stage picture, and my heart stood still
+for a minute as I contemplated the awful scene. Mr. Hebron, the division
+superintendent, came in from the outer office, and was transfixed with
+horror and amazement when he saw the terrible picture.</p>
+
+<p>Bennett turned to me and said, "Bates, come here and help me lift poor
+Borroughs out of this chair."</p>
+
+<p>Gently and carefully we laid him down on the floor and sent one of the
+badly frightened boys for a surgeon. Medical skill was powerless,
+however, and the spirit of honest Pat Borroughs had crossed the dark
+river to its final reckoning.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9130" id="Page_9130">130</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Work in the office was at a standstill on account of the tragic
+occurrence, but all of a sudden I heard Monte Carlo calling "DS" and
+using the signal "WK," which means "wreck." Bennett told me to sit down
+and take the trick until the second trick man could be called. I went
+over and sat down in the chair, still warm from the body of my late
+friend, and wiping his blood off the train sheet with my handkerchief, I
+answered.</p>
+
+<p>It would be impossible to describe the state of my feelings as I first
+touched the key; I had completely lost track of trains, orders and
+everything else. However, I gradually pulled myself together, and got
+the hang of the road again, and then I learned how the wreck had
+occurred. About a minute after I went out, Borroughs had given a
+right-of-track order to an express freight from Monte Carlo to
+Johnsonville, and had told them to hurry up. Johnsonville is on the
+outskirts of Chaminade, and Borroughs had completely forgotten that the
+general superintendent's special had left there just five minutes before
+with a clean sweep order. That he had known of it was evident from the
+fact that it was recorded on the train sheet. Two minutes after the
+freight had left Monte Carlo, poor Pat realized he had at last<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9131" id="Page_9131">131</a></span> made his
+mistake. He said not a word to any person, but quietly ordered out the
+wrecking outfit, and then reaching in the drawer he took out a revolver
+and&mdash;snuffed out his candle. He fell forward on the train sheet, as if
+to cover up with his lifeless body, the terrible blunder he had just
+made. Many other despatchers had made serious errors, and in a measure
+outlived them; but here was a man who had grown gray in the service of
+railroads, with never a bad mark against him. Day and night, in season
+and out, he had given the best of his brain and life to the service, and
+finally by one slip of the memory he had, as he thought, ruined himself;
+and, too proud to bear the disgrace, he killed himself. He was
+absolutely alone in the world and left none to mourn his loss save a
+large number of operators he had helped over the rough places of the
+profession.</p>
+
+<p>The wreck was an awful one. The superintendent's son was riding on the
+engine, and he and the engineer and the fireman were mashed and crushed
+almost beyond recognition. The superintendent, his wife and daughter,
+and a friend, were badly bruised, but none of them seriously injured.
+The second trick man was not to be found immediately, so I worked until
+four o'clock, and the impression of that awful day will never<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9132" id="Page_9132">132</a></span> leave me.
+Pat's personality was constantly before me in the shape of the blood
+stain on the train sheet. It was a long time before I recovered my
+equanimity.</p>
+
+<p>The next afternoon we buried poor Pat under the snow, and the earth
+closed over him forever; and thus passed from life a man whose character
+was the purest, whose nature was the gentlest: honest and upright, I
+have never seen his equal in the profession or out. I often think if I
+had not gone over to the hotel that morning, the accident might have
+been averted, because, perhaps, I would have noticed the mistake in time
+to have prevented the collision. But, on the other hand, it is probable
+I would not have noticed it, because operators, not having the
+responsibility of the despatchers, rarely concentrate their minds
+intensely on what they are taking. A man will sit and copy by the hour
+with the greatest accuracy, and at the same time be utterly oblivious of
+the purport of what he has been taking. There can be no explanation as
+to why Pat forgot the special. It is one of those things that happen;
+that's all.</p>
+
+<p>The rule of seniority was followed in the office, and in the natural
+sequence of events the night man got my job, I was promoted to the third
+trick&mdash;from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9133" id="Page_9133">133</a></span> twelve midnight until eight <span class="smcap">A. M.</span>&mdash;and a new copy operator
+was brought in from Vining.</p>
+
+<p>If any trick is easier than another it is the third, but none of them
+are by any means sinecures. When I was a copy operator I used to imagine
+it was an easy thing to sit over on the other side of the table and give
+orders, "jack up" operators, conductors and engineers, and incidentally
+haul some men over the coals every time I had to call them a few
+minutes; but when I reached the summit of an operator's ambition, and
+was assigned to a trick I found things very different. Copying with no
+responsibility was dead easy; but despatching trains I found about the
+stiffest job I had ever undertaken. I had to be on the alert with every
+faculty and every minute during the eight hours I was on duty. While the
+first and second trick men, have perhaps more train order work attached
+to them, the third is about on a par with them as far as actual labor is
+concerned, because, in addition to the regular train order work, a new
+train sheet has to be opened every night at twelve o'clock, which
+necessitates keeping two sheets until all the trains on the old one have
+completed their runs. There is also a consolidated train report to be
+made at this time, which is a re-capitulation of the movements of all
+trains for the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9134" id="Page_9134">134</a></span> preceding twenty-four hours, giving delays, causes
+thereof, accidents, cars hauled, etc. This is submitted to the division
+superintendent in the morning, and after he has perused and digested its
+contents he sends a condensed copy to the general superintendent. Many a
+man loses his job by a report against him on that train sheet.</p>
+
+<p>To show the strain on a man's mind when he is despatching trains, let me
+tell a little incident that happened to me just in the beginning of my
+career as a despatcher. Every morning about five o'clock, the third
+trick man begins to figure on his work train orders for the day and when
+he has completed them he sends them out to the different crews. Work
+train orders, it may not be amiss to explain, are orders given to the
+different construction crews, such as the bridge gang, the grading gang,
+the track gang, etc., to work between certain points at certain times.
+They must be very full and explicit in detail as to all trains that are
+to run during the continuance of the order. For regular trains running
+on time, no notification need be given, because the time card rules
+would apply; but for all extras, specials, and delayed trains, warnings
+must be given, so that the work trains can get out of the way for them,
+otherwise the results might be very serious, and business<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9135" id="Page_9135">135</a></span> be greatly
+delayed. Work orders are the bane of a new despatcher's existence, and
+the manner in which he handles them is a sure indication as to whether
+he will be successful or not. Many a man gets to a trick only to fall
+down on these work orders.</p>
+
+<p>I stumbled along fairly well the first night as a despatcher, and had no
+mishaps to speak of, although I delayed a through passenger some ten
+minutes, by hanging it up on a siding for a fast freight train, and I
+put a through freight on a siding for a train of an inferior class. For
+these little errors of judgment I was "cussed out" by all the conductors
+and engineers on the division when they came in; and the division
+superintendent, on looking over the train sheet the next morning,
+remarked, that delaying a passenger train would never do&mdash;in such a tone
+of voice that I could plainly see my finish should I ever so offend
+again.</p>
+
+<p>The second night passed all right enough, and by 5:30 <span class="smcap">A. M.</span>, I had
+completed my work orders and sent them out. From that time on until
+eight o'clock when the first trick man relieved me I was kept busy. He
+read over my outstanding orders, verified the sheet, and signed the
+transfer on the order book, and after a few moments' chat I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9136" id="Page_9136">136</a></span> went home.
+I went to bed about nine o'clock, and was on the point of dropping off
+to sleep, when all at once I remembered that an extra fast freight was
+due to leave at 9:45 <span class="smcap">A. M.</span>, and that there was a train working in a cut
+four miles out. I wondered if I had notified her to get out of the way
+of the extra. That extra would go down through that cut like a streak of
+greased lightning, because Horace Daniels, on engine 341, was going to
+pull her, and Horace was known as a runner from away back. I reviewed in
+my mind, as carefully as I could all the orders I had given to the work
+train, and was rather sure I had notified them, but still I was not
+absolutely certain, and began to feel very uncomfortable. Poor Borroughs
+had just had his smash up, and I didn't want "poor Bates," to have his
+right away. Maybe it was the spirit of this same old man Borroughs, who
+was sleeping so peacefully under the ground that made me feel and act
+carefully. I looked at my watch and found it was 9:20. The extra would
+leave in twenty-five minutes and I lived nearly a mile from the office.
+The strain was beginning to be too much, so I slipped on my clothes and
+without putting on a collar or a cravat, I caught up my hat and ran with
+all my might for the depot. As I approached I saw Daniels giving 341
+the last touch of oil before he pulled out. Thank God, they hadn't gone.
+I shouted to him, "Don't pull out for a minute, Daniels; I think there
+is a mistake in your orders."</p>
+
+<p>Daniels was a gruff sort of a fellow, and he snapped back at me, "What's
+the matter with you? I hain't got no orders yet. Come here until I oil
+those wheels in your head."</p>
+
+<p>I went up in the office and Daniels followed me. Bennett, the chief, was
+standing by the counter as I went in, and after a glance at me he said,
+"What's up, kid? Seen a ghost? You look almost pale enough to be one
+yourself."</p>
+
+<p>I said, "No, I haven't seen any ghosts, but I am afraid I forgot to
+notify that gang working just east of here about this extra."</p>
+
+<p>The conductor and engineer were both there and they smiled very audibly
+at my discomfiture; in fact, it was so audible you could hear it for a
+block. Bennett went over to the table, glanced at the order book and
+train sheet for a minute and then said, "Oh, bosh! of course you
+notified them. Here it is as big as life, 'Look out for extra east,
+engine 341, leaving El Monte at 9:45 <span class="smcap">A. M.</span>' What do you want to get such
+a case of the rattles and scare us all that way for?"</p>
+
+<p>I was about to depart for home to resume my sleep, and was
+congratulating myself on my escape, when Bennett called me over to one
+side of the room, and in a low, but very firm voice, metaphorically ran
+up and down my spinal column with a rake. He asked me if I didn't know
+there were other despatchers in that office besides myself; men who knew
+more in a minute about the business than I did in a month; and didn't I
+suppose that the order book would be verified, and the train sheet
+consulted before sending out the extra? He hoped I would never show such
+a case of the rattles again. That was all. Good morning. All the same I
+was glad I went back to the office that morning, because I had satisfied
+myself that I had not committed an unpardonable error at the outset of
+my career.</p>
+
+<p><i>In case of doubt always take the safe side.</i></p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9137" id="Page_9137">137</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2><h3>A GENERAL STRIKE&mdash;A LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEER FOR A DAY</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>During the ensuing spring, one of those spasmodic waves of strikes
+passed over the country. Some northern road that wasn't earning enough
+money to pay the interest on its bonds, cut down the salaries of some of
+its employees, and they went out. Then the "sympathy" idea was worked to
+the full limit, and gradually other roads were tied up. We had hopes it
+would escape us, but one fine day we awoke to find our road tied up good
+and hard. The conductors and brakemen went first, and a few days later
+they were followed by the engineers and firemen. That completed the
+business and we were up against it tighter than a brick. Our men hadn't
+the shadow of a grievance against the company, and were not in full
+sympathy with the strike, but their obligation to their unions was too
+strong for them to resist.</p>
+
+<p>It placed us in a pretty bad fix because just at this time we had a yard
+full of freight, a good deal<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9138" id="Page_9138">138</a></span> of it perishable, and it was imperative
+that it should be moved at once or the company would be out a good many
+dollars. The roundhouse men and a few hostlers were still working, so it
+was an easy thing to get a yard engine out. Bennett, myself, Burns, the
+second trick man, and Mr. Hebron, the division superintendent, went down
+in the yard to do the switching. There were twenty-three cars of Texas
+livestock and California fruit waiting for a train out, and the drovers
+were becoming impatient, because they wanted to get up to Chicago to
+take advantage of a big bulge in the market.</p>
+
+<p>I soon found that standing up in the bay window of an office, watching
+the switchmen do the yard work and doing it yourself, were two entirely
+different propositions. When I first went in between two cars to make a
+coupling, I thought my time had come for sure. I fixed the link and pin
+in one car, and then ran down to the next and fixed the pin there. The
+engine was backing slowly, but when I turned around, it looked as if it
+had the speed of an overland "flyer." I watched carefully, raised and
+guided the link in the opposite draw head, and then dropped the pin.
+Those two cars came together like the crack of doom, and I shut my eyes
+and jumped back, imagining that I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9139" id="Page_9139">139</a></span> had been crushed to death, in fact, I
+could feel that my right hand was mashed to a pulp. But it was a false
+alarm; it wasn't. I had made the coupling without a scratch to myself,
+and it wasn't long before I became bolder, and jumped on and off of the
+foot-boards and brake-beams like any other lunatic. That all four of us
+were not killed is nothing short of miracle.</p>
+
+<p>By a dint of hard work we succeeded in getting a train made up for
+Chaminade, and all that was now needed was an engine and crew. There was
+a large and very interested crowd of men standing around watching us,
+and many a merry ha-ha we received from them for our crude efforts.
+Engine 341 was hooked on, and we were all ready for the start. Burns was
+going to play conductor, Bennett was to be the hind man, while I was to
+ride ahead. But where were the engineer and fireman? Mr. Hebron had
+counted on a non-union engineer to pull the train, and a wiper to do the
+firing, but just as we expected them to appear, we found that some of
+the strikers had succeeded in talking them over to their side. To make
+matters worse the roundhouse men and the hostlers caught the fever, and
+out they went. Mr. Hebron was in a great pickle, but he didn't want to
+acknowledge that he was beaten so he stood around<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9140" id="Page_9140">140</a></span> hanging on in hopes
+something would turn up to relieve the strain.</p>
+
+<p>Now, it had occurred to me that I could run that engine. When I was
+young and fresh in the railroad business, I had spent much of my spare
+time riding around on switch engines, and once in a while I had taken a
+run out over the road with an engineer who had a friendly interest in
+me. One man, old Tom Robinson, who pulled a fast freight, had been
+particularly kind to me, and on one occasion I had taken a few days' lay
+off, and gone out and back one whole trip with him. Being of an
+inquisitive turn of mind, I asked him a great many questions about
+gauges, valves, oil cups, eccentrics, injectors, etc., and whenever he
+would go down under his engine, I always paid the closest attention to
+what he did. I used to ride on the right hand side of the cab with him,
+and occasionally he would allow me to feel the throttle for a few
+minutes. Thus, when I was a little older, I could run an engine quite
+well. I knew the oil cups, could work the injector, knew enough to open
+and close the cylinder cocks, could toot the whistle and ring the bell
+like an old timer, and had a pretty fair idea, generally speaking, of
+the machine. Having all these things in mind, I approached Mr. Hebron,
+as he stood cogitating<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9141" id="Page_9141">141</a></span> upon his ill-luck, and said, "Mr. Hebron, I'll
+run this train into Chaminade if you will only get some one to keep the
+engine hot."</p>
+
+<p>"You," said Hebron, "you are a despatcher; what the devil do you know
+about running a locomotive?"</p>
+
+<p>I told him I might not know much, but if he would say the word I would
+get those twenty-three cars into Chaminade, or know the reason why. He
+looked at me for a minute, asked me a few questions about what I knew of
+an engine and then said,</p>
+
+<p>"By George! I'll risk it. Get on that engine, my boy; take this one
+wiper left for a fireman, and pull out. But first go over to the office
+for your orders. You won't need many, because everything is tied up
+between here and Johnsonville, and you will have a clear track. Now fly,
+and let me see what kind of stuff you are made of."</p>
+
+<p>Strangely enough, after he had consented I was not half so eager to
+undertake it; but I had said I would and now I must stick to my word, or
+acknowledge that I was a big bluffer. I went up to the office and Fred
+Bennett gave me the orders. But as he did so he said: "Bates, that's a
+foolhardy thing for you to do, and I reckon the old man must be crazy to
+allow you to try it, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9142" id="Page_9142">142</a></span> rather than give in to that mob out there I'll
+see you through with it. Now don't you forget for one minute, that you
+have twenty-three cars and a caboose trailing along behind you; that I
+am on the hind end, and that I have a wife and family to support, with a
+mighty small insurance on my life."</p>
+
+<p>He went out, and Bennett told the cattle men to get aboard as we were
+about to start. All this had been done unbeknown to any of the strikers;
+but when they saw me coming down that yard with a piece of yellow tissue
+paper in my hand they knew something was up, for every man of them knew
+that was a train order. But where was the engineer?</p>
+
+<p>I went down and climbed up in the cab of old 341, and removing my coat,
+put on a jumper I had brought from the office. Engine 341, as I have
+said, was run by Horace Daniels, one of the best men that ever pulled a
+throttle, and his pride in her was like that of a mother in a child. She
+was a big ten-wheeled Baldwin, and I have heard Daniels talk to her as
+if she was a human being; in fact, he said she was the only sweetheart
+he ever had. He was standing in the crowd and when he saw me put on the
+jumper he came over and said:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9143" id="Page_9143">143</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"See here, Mr. Hebron, who is going to pull this train out?"</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Hebron who was standing by the step, said, "Bates is."</p>
+
+<p>Daniels grew red with rage, and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Bates? Why good heavens, Mr. Hebron, Bates can't run an engine; he's
+nothing but an old brass pounder, and, judging from some of the meets he
+has made for me on this division, he must be a very poor one at that.
+This here old girl don't know no one but me nohow; for God's sake don't
+let her disgrace herself by going out with that sandy-haired chump at
+the throttle."</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Hebron smiled and said, "Well then, you pull her out, Daniels."</p>
+
+<p>Daniels shook his head and replied, "You know I can't do that, Mr.
+Hebron. It's true I'm not in sympathy with this strike one jot, but the
+boys are out, and I've got to stand by them. But when this strike is
+over I want old 341 back. Why, Mr. Hebron, I'd rather see a scab run her
+than that old lightning jerker."</p>
+
+<p>But Mr. Hebron was firm and Daniels walked slowly and sadly away. By
+this time we had a good head of steam on, and Bennett gave me the signal
+to pull out. I shoved the reverse lever from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9144" id="Page_9144">144</a></span> the centre clear over
+forward, and grasping the throttle, tremblingly gave it a pull.</p>
+
+<p>Longfellow says, in "The Building of the Ship:" "She starts, she moves,
+she seems to feel a thrill of life along her keel." I can fancy exactly
+how that ship felt, because just as the first hiss of steam greeted my
+ears and I felt that engine move, I felt a peculiar thrill run along my
+keel, and my heart was in my mouth. She did not start quite fast enough
+for me, so I gave the throttle another jerk, and whew! how those big
+drivers did fly around! I shut her off quickly, gave her a little sand,
+and started again. This time she took the rail beautifully, walking away
+like a thoroughbred.</p>
+
+<p>There is a little divide just outside of the El Monte yard, and then for
+a stretch of about five miles, it is down grade. After this the road
+winds around the river banks, with level tracks to Johnsonville, where
+the double track commences. All I had to do was to get the train to the
+double track, and from there a belt line engine was to take it in. Thus
+my run was only thirty-five miles.</p>
+
+<p>Our start was very auspicious, and when we were going along at a pretty
+good gait, I pulled the reverse lever back to within one point of the
+centre, and opened her up a little more. She stood<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9145" id="Page_9145">145</a></span> up to her work just
+as if she had an old hand at the throttle instead of a novice. I wish I
+were able to describe my sensations as the engine swayed to and fro in
+her flight. The fireman was rather an intelligent chap, and had no
+trouble in keeping her hot, and twenty-three cars wasn't much of a train
+for old 341. We went up the grade a-flying. When we got over the divide,
+I let her get a good start before I shut her off for the down grade. And
+how she did go! I thought at times she would jump the track but she held
+on all right. At the foot of this grade is a very abrupt curve and when
+she struck it, I thought she bounded ten feet in the air. My hat was
+gone, my hair was flying in the wind, and all the first fright was lost
+in the feeling of exhilaration over the fact that <i>I</i> was the one who
+was controlling that great iron monster as she tore along the track.
+I&mdash;I was doing it all by myself. It was like the elixir of life to an
+invalid. My fireman came ever to me at one time and said in my ear that
+I'd better call for brakes or the first thing we knew we would land in
+the river. Brakes! Not on your life. I didn't want any brakes, because
+if she ever stopped I wasn't sure that I could get her started again. We
+made the run of thirty-five miles in less than an hour, and when we
+reached Johnsonville I received a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9146" id="Page_9146">146</a></span> message from Mr. Hebron,
+congratulating me on my success. But Bennett&mdash;well, the rating he gave
+me was worth going miles to hear. He said that never in his life had he
+taken such a ride, nor would he ever volunteer to ride behind a crazy
+engineer again. But I didn't care; I had pulled the train in as I said I
+would, and the engine was in good shape, barring a hot driving box. I
+may add, however, that I don't care to make any such trip again myself.</p>
+
+<p>We went back on a mail train that night, that was run by a non-union
+engineer, and in a day or two the strike was declared off, the men
+returned to work, and peace once more reigned supreme. Daniels got his
+"old girl" in as good shape as ever, and once when he was up in my
+office he told me he had hoped that old 341 would get on the rampage
+that day I took her out and "kick the stuffin'" out of that train and
+every one on it. Poor old Daniels, he stuck to his "old girl" to the
+last, but one day he struck a washout, and as a result received a "right
+of track order," on the road that leads to the paradise of all
+railroaders.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9147" id="Page_9147">147</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2><h3>CHIEF DESPATCHER&mdash;AN INSPECTION TOUR&mdash;BIG RIVER WRECK</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>I had always supposed that the higher up you ascended in any business,
+the easier would be your position and the happier your lot. What a
+fallacy, especially in the railroad service, where your
+responsibilities, work, care, and worries increase in direct proportion
+as you rise! The operator's responsibility is limited to the correct
+reception, transmission, delivery and repetition of his orders and
+messages; the despatcher's to the correct conception of the orders and
+their transmission at the proper time to the right train; but the chief
+despatcher's responsibilities combine not only these but many more. A
+despatcher's work is cut out for him, just as the tailor would cut his
+cloth for a journeyman workman, and when his eight hour trick is done,
+his work for the day is finished and his time is his own. Not so the
+chief. His work is never done; he works early and late, and even at
+night when he goes home utterly tired out<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9148" id="Page_9148">148</a></span> from his long day, he is
+liable to be called up to go out on a wrecking outfit, or to perform
+some special duty. As soon as anything goes wrong on a division the
+first cry is, "Send for the chief despatcher." Almost everybody on the
+division is under his jurisdiction except the division superintendent,
+and sometimes I have seen that mighty dignitary take a back seat for his
+chief despatcher.</p>
+
+<p>It was some ten years after I had begun to pound brass, that I awoke one
+fine morning to find myself offered the position of chief despatcher on
+the central division of the C. N. &amp; Q. Railway, with headquarters at
+Selbyville. I was very well satisfied at El Monte, had been promoted to
+the first trick and had many friends whom I did not like to leave, but
+then, I was as high as I could get in a good many years, because Fred
+Bennett, the chief, was a stayer from away back, and there wouldn't be a
+vacancy there for a long time to come. The district of which I was to
+take charge was about three hundred miles long, and consisted of three
+freight divisions of one hundred miles each. That meant a whole lot of
+hard confining work, but who wouldn't accept a promotion; so after
+carefully considering the matter, I gratefully accepted, and was duly
+installed in my new position. As I did not know anything about the road<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9149" id="Page_9149">149</a></span>
+or the operators thereon, one of my first acts was to take a trip of
+inspection over the road. I rode on freight trains or anything that came
+along, and dropped off as I wanted to, in order that I might become
+thoroughly acquainted with the road and the men.</p>
+
+<p>One of the time card rules was that no person was to be allowed to enter
+any of the telegraph offices except those on duty there; even the train
+men were supposed to receive their orders and transact their business at
+the window or counter. Generally, however, this rule was not enforced
+very rigidly. When I was a night operator I never paid any attention to
+it at all. I dropped off No. 6 at eleven-thirty one night at
+Bakersville. A night office was kept there because it was a good order
+point and had a water tank. I had never met the night man and knew
+nothing of him, except that he was a fiery-tempered Irishman named
+Barry, and a most excellent operator. It had been told me that the
+despatchers had, on more than one occasion, complained of his impudence,
+but his ability was so marked and he was so prompt in answering and
+transacting business, that he was allowed to remain. As No. 6 pulled out
+he went into the office, closed the door and then shut the window. He
+had apparently not seen me, or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9150" id="Page_9150">150</a></span> if he had he paid no attention to me, so
+I went into the waiting-room and rapped on the ticket window. He shoved
+it up, stared at me and gruffly said, "Well! what's wanted?"</p>
+
+<p>I answered pretty sharply, that I desired to come into his office.</p>
+
+<p>"Well then you can take it out in wanting, because you don't get in
+here, see!"</p>
+
+<p>I started to reason with him, when he slammed the window in my face.
+That made me madder than a March hare, and I told him if he didn't let
+me in that office mighty quick, I'd smash that window into smithereens
+and come in anyhow.</p>
+
+<p>Biff! Up went that window, and Mr. Barry's face looking like a boiled
+beet appeared, "Smash that window will you? You just try it and I'll
+smash your blamed old red head with this poker. Get out of that
+waiting-room. Tramps are not allowed."</p>
+
+<p>Just then it occurred to me that he did not know me from the sight of
+sole leather; so I said: "Hold on there, young man; I'm Mr. Bates, the
+newly appointed chief despatcher of this division, and I'm out on a tour
+of inspection. Now stop your monkeying and open up."</p>
+
+<p>"Bates thunder! Bates would never come sneaking out over the road in
+this manner. You<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9151" id="Page_9151">151</a></span> pack up and get. It will take more than your word to
+make me believe you are Bates."</p>
+
+<p>I saw that remonstrance with him was useless, and, besides I had an idea
+that he might carry out his threat to smash my head with the poker, so I
+went over to a mean little hotel and stayed all night, vowing to have
+vengeance on his head in the morning. When daylight came, I went back to
+the station, and Dayton, the day man, knew me at once, having worked
+with me on the K. M. &amp; O. Barry had told him of the trouble, and he was
+having a great laugh at my expense. Barry, himself, showed up in a
+little while, but he didn't seem the least bit disturbed, when he found
+out who I really was. He said there was a time card rule, that forbade
+him allowing any unauthorized person in his office; he thought I was
+some semi-respectable "hobo," who wanted a place to stay all night; how
+in the world was he to know? Suppose some one else had come out and said
+he was the chief despatcher, was he going to let them in the office
+without some proof? I saw that this was mighty good reasoning and that
+he was right. Did I fire him? Not much. Men on railroads who so
+implicitly obey orders are too valuable to lose; and before I left the
+road he was working the third trick.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9152" id="Page_9152">152</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Things ran along very smoothly for a while and I was having a good time.
+The winter passed and with the advent of spring came the heavy rains for
+which that part of the country was justly noted. Then the work
+commenced.</p>
+
+<p>One Friday evening after four or five days of the steadiest and hardest
+kind of rain, I received a message from the section foreman at Truxton,
+saying that Big River was beginning to come up pretty high, and that the
+constant rains were making the track quite soft. I immediately sent him
+an order to put out a track walker at once, and told the despatcher on
+duty to make a "slow order" for five miles this side of the Big River;
+the track on the other, or south side, was all right, being on high
+ground.</p>
+
+<p>Our fast mail came in just then, and after the engines were changed, the
+engineer and conductor came into my office for their orders. I told them
+about the soft track, and in a spirit of pure fun, remarked to Ben
+Roberts, the engineer, that he had better look out or he would be taking
+a bath in Big River that night. He facetiously replied: "Well, I don't
+much mind. I'm generally so dirty when I get that far out that a bath
+would do me good."</p>
+
+<p>They received their orders, and as Roberts went<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9153" id="Page_9153">153</a></span> out the door, he
+laughingly said, "I reckon, Bates, you'd better send the wrecker out
+right after us to fish me out of Big River to-night."</p>
+
+<p>I stepped over to the window, saw him climb up on engine 232, a
+beautiful McQueen, and pull out, and just as he started, he turned and
+waved his hand to me as if in token of farewell.</p>
+
+<p>Truxton, five miles from the river, was not a stop for the mail, but I
+had them flagged there, to give them another special warning about
+approaching Big River with caution. Just then the track walker came into
+Truxton, and reported that he had come from the river on a velocipede,
+and that while the track was soft it was not unsafe and the bridge
+appeared to be all right. Presently, I heard, "OS, OS, XN, No. 21, a
+7:45, d 7:51" and I knew the mail had gone on.</p>
+
+<p>The next station south was Burton, three miles beyond the bridge, and I
+thought I would wait until I had the "OS" report from there before going
+home for the night. Thirty minutes passed and no sign of her. This did
+not worry me much, because I knew Roberts would be extremely careful and
+run slow until he passed the bridge. In a minute Truxton opened up and
+said, "Raining like blazes now." I asked him where the track<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9154" id="Page_9154">154</a></span> walker
+was, and he said he had gone out towards the bridge just after the mail
+had left.</p>
+
+<p>Fifty minutes of the most intense anxiety passed, and all of a sudden
+every instrument in the office ceased clicking. As soon as a wire opens,
+all the operators are instructed to try their ground wires, and in that
+way the break is soon located. Bentonville, Bakersville, Muncy, Ashton,
+all in quick succession tried their grounds, and reported "All wires
+open south." Presently the despatchers' wire closed again, and "DS, DS,
+XN." There! that was Truxton calling us now. I answered and he said,
+"Wires all open south. Heavy rain now falling; violent wind storm has
+just passed over us; lots of lightning; looks like the storm would last
+all night."</p>
+
+<p>I told him to hustle out and get the section foreman, and gave him an
+order to take his gang and car and go to the bridge and back at once and
+make a full report.</p>
+
+<p>But where was 21 all this time? Stuck in the mud, I hoped, but all the
+same I was beginning to have a great many misgivings. Mr. Antwerp, the
+division superintendent, came in just then, and I reported all the facts
+of the case to him. He was very much worried, but said he hoped it would
+turn out all right. Getting nothing from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9155" id="Page_9155">155</a></span> Burton, on the south, I told
+Truxton to keep on his ground until the section gang or track walker
+came back with a report. Twenty minutes later he began to call "DS" with
+all his might. I answered and this is what the despatcher's copy
+operator took:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Truxton, 5 | 21, 188&mdash;.</p>
+
+<p>"M. N. B. "DS.</p>
+
+<p>"No. 21 went through Big River bridge to-night; track was soft all
+the way over from Truxton; engine, mail, baggage and one coach on
+the bridge when it gave way; three Pullmans stayed on the track.
+Roberts, engineer; Carter, fireman, and Sampson, conductor, all
+missing. Need doctors.</p>
+
+<p>"<span class="smcap">O'Hara</span>,<br />
+"Brakeman."<br />
+</p></div>
+
+<p>My God! wasn't it awful! I sent one caller to get out the wrecking crew
+and another for a doctor. I then instructed Burke to prepare orders for
+the wrecker, pulling everything off and giving her a clean sweep; told
+Truxton to keep on his ground wire and stay close; and pulling on my
+rain coat, I bounded down the steps and up to the roundhouse to hurry up
+the engine. Engine 122, with Ed Stokes at the throttle, was just backing
+down as I came out, so I ran back, signed the orders,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9156" id="Page_9156">156</a></span> and as soon as
+the doctors arrived, Mr. Antwerp told me to pull out and take charge,
+saying he would come out if necessary on a special.</p>
+
+<p>It was scarcely five minutes from the time I received the first message
+until we pulled out and started on our wild ride of rescue. Forty miles
+in forty minutes, with one slow down was our time. The old derrick and
+wreck outfit swayed to and fro like reeds in the wind, as we went down
+the track like a thunderbolt, but fortunately we held to the rails.
+There was scarcely a word spoken in the caboose, every one being intent
+upon holding on and thinking of the horrible scene we were soon to view.
+When we reached Truxton we found the track walker there, and after
+hearing his story in brief, we pulled out for the bridge. Our ride from
+Truxton over to the wreck was frightful. It was still raining torrents,
+the wind was coming up again, lightning flashed, thunder rolled and the
+track was so soft in some places that it seemed as if we would topple
+over; but we finally reached there&mdash;and then what a scene to behold!</p>
+
+<p>The bridge, a long wooden trestle, was completely gone, nothing being
+left but twisted iron and a few broken stringers hanging in the air.
+Four mail clerks, the express messenger, and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9157" id="Page_9157">157</a></span> baggage man were
+drowned like rats in a trap. Poor Ben Roberts had hung to his post like
+the hero, that he was, and was lost. Sampson, the conductor, and Carter,
+the fireman, were both missing, and in the forward coach, which was not
+entirely submerged, having fallen on one end of the baggage car, were
+many passengers, a number of whom were killed, and the rest all more or
+less injured.</p>
+
+<p>The river was not very wide, and I had the headlight taken off of our
+engine and placed on the bank; and presently a wrecker came up from the
+south, and her headlight was similarly placed, casting a ghastly weird,
+white light over the scene of suffering and desolation. I cut in a
+wrecking office, Truxton took off his ground, I put on mine, and Mr.
+Antwerp was soon in possession of all the facts. A little later I was
+standing up to my knees in mud and water, and I heard a weak voice say:
+"Mr. Bates, for God's sake let me speak to you a minute."</p>
+
+<p>I looked around and beheld the most woebegone, bedraggled specimen of
+humanity I had ever seen in my life. "Well, who under the sun are you?"
+I asked.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm Carter, the fireman of No. 21. When I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9158" id="Page_9158">158</a></span> felt the bridge going I
+jumped. I was half stunned, but managed to keep afloat, being carried
+rapidly down the stream. I struck the bank about a mile and a half below
+here, and I've had one almighty big struggle to get back. For the love
+of the Virgin give me a drink; I'm half dead;" and with that the poor
+fellow fell over senseless.</p>
+
+<p>I called one of the doctors and had him taken to the caboose of the
+wrecker, and when I had time I went in and heard the rest of his story.
+The poor chap was badly hurt, having one ankle broken, besides being
+bruised up generally. He said when No. 21 left Truxton, Roberts
+proceeded at a snail-like pace, keeping a sharp lookout for a wash out.
+He slowed almost to a standstill before going on the bridge, but
+everything appearing all safe and sound he started again, remarking to
+Carter, "Here's where I get the bath that Bates spoke about."</p>
+
+<div class='figcenter' style='width: 411px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="illus-014" id="illus-014"></a>
+<img src='images/p2-144.jpg' alt='"See here, who is going to pull this train?"' title='' width = '411' height = '600'/><br />
+<span class='caption'>"See here, who is going to pull this train?"</span>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9159" id="Page_9159">159</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The engine was half way over when there came a deafening roar; the train
+quivered, and&mdash;then Carter jumped. That was all he knew. It was enough,
+and we sent him back with the rest of the wounded the next morning. He
+is pulling a passenger train there to-day. The engine was lost in the
+quicksands, and was never recovered, and Ben Roberts stayed with her to
+the last. He had more than his bath in Big River that night; he had his
+funeral; the river was his grave, and the engine his shroud.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9160" id="Page_9160">160</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2><h3>A PROMOTION BY FAVOR AND ITS RESULTS</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>I had been on the C. N. &amp; Q. for about eight months, when my second
+trick man took sick, and being advised to seek a healthier climate,
+resigned and went south. Generally speaking the chief despatcher's
+recommendation is enough to place a man in his office; and as I had
+always believed in the rule of seniority, I wanted to appoint the third
+trick man to the second trick, make the day copy operator third trick
+man, and call in a new copy operator to replace the night man who would
+be promoted to the day job. In fact, I had started the ball rolling
+toward the accomplishment of this end, when Mr. Antwerp, the division
+superintendent, defeated all my plans by peremptorily asserting his
+prerogative and appointing his nephew, John Krantzer, who had been night
+copy operator to the third trick. I protested with all my might, in fact
+was once on the point of resigning my position but the old man wouldn't
+hear of either proposition, and Krantzer secured the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9161" id="Page_9161">161</a></span> place. Now while
+Krantzer was an excellent copy operator, he was very young, and lacked
+that persistence and reliability so essential in a successful
+despatcher. After I had protested until I was black in the face, I asked
+Mr. Antwerp at least to put the young man on the second trick, so that
+in a measure I could have him under my eye. But no, nothing but the
+third trick would satisfy him, so on the third trick the rattle-brained
+chap went the next night.</p>
+
+<p>He struggled through the first night without actually killing anybody,
+but his train sheet the next morning resembled a man with a very bad
+case of measles; there were delays on everything on the road, with very
+few satisfactory explanations. There was the fast mail twenty-five
+minutes in going six miles. Cause? None was given. But a perusal of the
+order book showed that Krantzer had made a meet for her with a freight
+train, and had hung her up on a blind siding for fifteen minutes.
+Freights that had been out all night were still out, tied up in all
+kinds of shapes. Meets had been made for two long trains at a point
+where the passing track was not large enough to accommodate either one
+of them, and the result was thirty minutes lost by both of them in "raw
+hiding" by. Many other discrepancies<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9162" id="Page_9162">162</a></span> were noticeable, but these
+sufficed to show that Krantzer's abilities as a despatcher were of a
+very low order. However, I reflected, that it was his first night, and I
+remembered my own similar experience not many years ago, so I simply
+submitted the sheet to Mr. Antwerp without comment. He wiped his
+glasses, carefully adjusted them on his aristocratic nose, and after
+glancing at the sheet for a few moments, said, "Ah! humph! Well! Well!
+Well! Not a very auspicious start, to be sure; but the boy will pick up.
+Just jack him up in pretty good shape, Bates; it will do him good." I
+jacked him up all right to the queen's taste but it was like pouring
+water on a duck's back.</p>
+
+<p>The second night was not much of an improvement, and I made a big kick
+to Mr. Antwerp the following morning, but it did no good. The third
+night was a hummer. I was kept at the office pretty late, in fact until
+after eleven o'clock, and before going home I wrote Krantzer a note
+telling him to be very careful as there were many trains on the road.
+Our through business at this time was very heavy, and compelled us to
+run many extras and specials. I was particular to inform him of two
+extras north, that would leave Bradford, the lower end of the division,
+some time<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9163" id="Page_9163">163</a></span> after 12:30 <span class="smcap">A. M.</span>, and directed him to run them as special
+freights having the right of track over all trains except the
+passengers. Each train was made up of twenty-five cars of California
+fruit bound for New York, and they were the first of their kind to be
+run by us. We had a strong competitor for this class of business in the
+Valley Route, a line twenty miles away, and were making a big bid for
+the trade. The general manager had sent a message that a special effort
+was to be made to put the two trains through a-whooping, and I had
+ordered engines 228 and 443, two of the best on the road, to pull them.
+Burke, the second trick man had everything running smoothly at the time
+I wrote the note, and I told Krantzer that, as it looked then, all he
+would have to do would be to keep them coming. No. 13, a fast freight
+south, had an engine that wasn't steaming very well, and I suggested to
+him to put her on the siding at Manitou. It would delay 13 about fifteen
+minutes but her freight was all dead stuff, so that would not make much
+difference. I did everything but write the order, and that I could not
+do, because I couldn't tell just what the conditions would be when the
+extras reached Bradford, where they would receive the order.</p>
+
+<p>Krantzer succeeded in getting them started in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9164" id="Page_9164">164</a></span> fair shape; but not
+content to let well enough alone, he thought he would run No. 13 on to
+Burnsides instead of putting her on the siding at Manitou as I had
+suggested, and gave orders to that effect. After he had given the
+"complete" he told the operator to tell them to "fly." If he had given
+this same order for the meeting at Burnsides to the two extras, <i>at the
+same time</i>, all would have been well, except that the extras would have
+been delayed some fifteen minutes, but this he was unable to do.
+Burnsides itself is only a day office, so he could not communicate with
+them there, and they had already passed Gloriana, the first night office
+south of Burnsides. The operator at Gloriana heard the order to 13 and
+told Krantzer it was a risky thing to do; but he told him "to mind his
+own business, as he (Krantzer) could run that division without any
+help."</p>
+
+<p>No. 13 was pulled by engine 67, with Jim Bush at the throttle, and he
+was such a runner that he had earned the sobriquet of "Lightning
+Jimmie." While he had reported early in the evening that his engine was
+not steaming very well, he had succeeded in getting her to working good
+by this time. Burnsides is at the foot of a long grade from the north,
+and about a mile up there is a very abrupt curve as the track winds
+around the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9165" id="Page_9165">165</a></span> side of the hill. The two extras were bowling along merrily
+when they struck this grade; and although there is a time card rule that
+says that trains will be kept ten minutes apart, they were right
+together, helping each other over the grade. In fact, it was one train
+with two engines, somewhat of a double header with the second engine in
+the middle. They were going on for all they were worth, expecting to
+meet No. 13 at Manitou, as originally ordered.</p>
+
+<p>In the meantime, Bush pulling No. 13, had passed Manitou, and with
+thirty-eight heavy cars behind him, was working her for all she was
+worth on the down grade, so as to get on the siding for the extras at
+Burnsides. He was carrying out Krantzer's order to "fly," with a
+vengeance. And just as he turned the curve, he saw, not fifty yards
+ahead of him, the headlight of the first extra. To stop was out of the
+question. He whistled once for brakes, reversed his engine, pulled her
+wide open and then jumped! He landed safely enough, and beyond a broken
+right arm, and a badly bruised leg, was unhurt. His poor fireman,
+though, jumped on the other side and was dashed to pieces on the rocks;
+and the head man and engineer of the first extra were also killed. I had
+known many times of two trains being put in the hole;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9166" id="Page_9166">166</a></span> but this was the
+first time I had ever seen three of them so placed.</p>
+
+<p>Krantzer had sense enough to order out the wrecker, and send for me. I
+knew just as soon as I heard the caller's rap on my door that he had
+done something so I lost no time in getting over to the office and there
+sat Krantzer as cool as if he had not just killed three men by his gross
+carelessness and cost the company thousands of dollars. I had the old
+man called and when he came and learned what had occurred, his
+discomfiture was so great that I felt fully repaid for all my annoyance
+on his nephew's account. He directed me to go out to the wreck and
+report to him upon arrival. I had Forbush, the first trick man, called
+and placed him in charge of the office during my absence. Incidentally,
+I told Krantzer he had better be scarce when I sent the remains of those
+crews in, because I fancied they were in a fit mood to kill him. When I
+returned I found that he had gone. It appeared that Jim Bush went up
+into the office, and although he had one arm broken, he was prepared to
+beat the life out of that crazy young despatcher. Forbush saw him coming
+and gave Krantzer a tip, and as Bush came in one door, Krantzer went out
+the other.</p>
+
+<p>The effects of this wreck were far beyond calculation<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9167" id="Page_9167">167</a></span> to the company
+because they lost the business they were striving to win, and the way
+the general manager went for old man Antwerp was enough to make us all
+grin with delight. It is needless to say I was allowed to place my own
+men thereafter.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9168" id="Page_9168">168</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2><h3>JACKING UP A NEGLIGENT OPERATOR&mdash;A CONVICT OPERATOR&mdash;DICK, THE PLUCKY CALL BOY</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>One of the most unpleasant duties I had to perform was that of "jacking
+up" operators, and punishing them for their short-comings. Generally, if
+the case was not a very bad one, and the man had a good reputation, I
+would try and smooth it over with only a reprimand; but there are times
+"when patience ceases to be a virtue," and punishment must be inflicted.
+The train sheet is always the first indication that some operator is to
+be "hauled up on the carpet." One morning I found the following entry on
+the sheet:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"No. 16 delayed forty-five minutes at Bentonville, account not being
+able to raise the operator at Sicklen in that time. Called for
+explanation and operator said 'he was over at hotel getting some
+lunch.'"</p>
+
+<p>That excuse "over at hotel getting some lunch," is as familiar to a
+railroad operator as the creed is to a good churchman. A young man
+named<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9169" id="Page_9169">169</a></span> Charles Ferral was the night man at Sicklen, and his ability as
+an operator was only exceeded by his inability to tell the truth when he
+was in a tight place. I was too old an operator to be fooled by any such
+a yarn as this; and besides, the conductor of No. 17 reported to me that
+he had found Ferral stretched out on the table asleep, when he stopped
+there for water. But he was a first-rate man and I didn't want to lose
+him, so I wrote him a sharp letter and told him that a repetition of his
+offense would cause him to receive his time instantly. He was as
+penitent as the prodigal son, and promised never to so offend again; and
+he kept his word&mdash;for just about ten days.</p>
+
+<p>One morning he asked my permission to come up to "DS" on No. 2 and go
+back on No. 3 in the afternoon. I gave it, but warned him to not lose
+too much sleep. There are some men in the business that the sound of
+their office call on a telegraph instrument will cause to awaken at once
+no matter how soundly they may be sleeping, but Ferral was not one of
+these. The night following his return to his station, I was kept at the
+office until late, and about eleven o'clock No. 22 appeared at
+Bakersville, and wanted to run to Ashton for No. 17. They were both
+running a little late, and as 17 had a heavy train of coal and syste<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9170" id="Page_9170">170</a></span>m
+empties, I told Burke to let them go. But the only station at which we
+could then get an order to 17 was Sicklen, Ferral's station. Burke began
+to call, but Sicklen made no answer. He called for forty-five minutes at
+a stretch, 22 all the time waiting at Bakersville. He stopped for five
+minutes and then went at it again. In ten minutes Sicklen answered.
+Burke started to give the order, but Ferral broke and gave the "OS"
+report that 17 had just gone by.</p>
+
+<p>That settled it; No. 22 was hung up another hour all on account of
+Ferral's failure to attend to his duty. I opened up on him and said,
+"Where have you been for the last fifteen minutes?" The same old excuse,
+"Lunch," came back at me.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, where were you for ten minutes before that?"</p>
+
+<p>Then that dear old stereotyped expression, "Fixing my batteries,"
+followed. But I was only too sure that he had been asleep, and No. 17
+going by had awakened him. So I gently remarked that "I was not born
+yesterday, and said that he would probably have ample time to fix his
+batteries after this; that, in fact, I thought it would be a good thing
+for him to take a long course in battery work, and I would assist him
+all I could&mdash;I would provide him with the time for the work."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9171" id="Page_9171">171</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The next morning I laid the matter before Mr. Antwerp, and he wanted the
+man discharged forthwith. But during the night my anger had cooled
+somewhat and now I felt inclined to give him another chance; so I simply
+urged that he be laid off for a while.</p>
+
+<p>"All right, Bates, but make it a good stiff lay-off&mdash;not less than
+fifteen days," said Mr. Antwerp.</p>
+
+<p>I wrote Ferral accordingly; but I had scarcely finished when a letter
+came from him to me, begging off, and promising anything if I would not
+discharge him; but, instead would lay him off for <i>forty-five days</i>. I
+took him at his word and gave him the forty-five days he asked for,
+instead of the fifteen I had intended to give him. But, about two weeks
+later he came up to "DS," and looked so woebegone, and pleaded so hard
+to be taken back, that I remitted the remainder of his punishment. He
+was greatly chagrined when he learned that he had trebled his own
+sentence. He was never remiss again. Go over to the despatcher's office
+any night and you will see him, bright and alert, sitting opposite the
+despatcher doing the copying. He is in the direct line of promotion, and
+some day will be a despatcher himself. I never regretted my leniency.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9172" id="Page_9172">172</a></span></p>
+
+<p>In addition to the main line, I had a branch of thirty-eight miles,
+running from Bentonville up to Sandia. The despatching for this branch
+was done from my office, and when we wanted anyone there Bentonville
+would cut us through. This was seldom necessary, however, because there
+were only two trains daily, a combination freight and passenger each
+way. The last station this side of Sandia was Alexis. The state
+penitentiary was located there, and the telegraphing was done by a
+convict "trusty"&mdash;a man who, having been appointed cashier of a big
+freight office in the western part of the state, couldn't stand
+prosperity, and, in consequence, had been sent up for six years. His
+conduct had been so good that, after he had served four years inside of
+the walls, he was made a "trusty." His ability as an operator was
+extraordinary. He had a smooth easy way of sending that made his sending
+as plain as a circus bill.</p>
+
+<p>The two branch trains on the branch were known as 61 and 62, and one day
+62, running north in the morning, had jumped the track laying herself
+out about ten hours. When she left Sandia as 61 on her return trip
+south, she again went off the track and the result was sixteen hours'
+more delay. We wouldn't send a wrecker up from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9173" id="Page_9173">173</a></span> the main line, and they
+had to work out their own salvation. When they finally appeared at
+Alexis they were running on the time of 62. That would never do, and the
+conductor asked the operator at Alexis to get him orders to run to
+Bentonville regardless of No. 62. Burke, my second trick man, was on
+duty at the time, and it so chanced that he did not know the Alexis man
+was a convict. He was about to give the order asked for when something
+on the main line diverted him for a moment. When he was ready again,
+Alexis broke him and said, "Wait a minute."</p>
+
+<p>To tell a despatcher to wait a minute when he is sending a train order
+is to court sudden death, and Burke said, "Wait for what?"</p>
+
+<p>"For whatever you blame please, I'm going out to weigh this coal."</p>
+
+<p>Burke's Irish blood was all up in his head by this time, and he said:
+"What do you mean by talking that way to me? No. 61 is waiting for this
+'9'; now you copy and I'll get your time sent you in the morning."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! will you? I guess my time is all fixed so you can't touch it. I
+only wish you could; I'd like mighty well to be fired from this job; I
+wouldn't even wait for my pay."</p>
+
+<p>I had been sitting at my desk taking it all in,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9174" id="Page_9174">174</a></span> and was just about
+ready to expire with laughter, when Burke called over to me: "Did you
+hear that young fellow's impudence?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I heard."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, what are you going to do about it? I've never had an operator
+talk to me like that before. I must certainly insist that you dismiss
+him at once. He and I can't work on the same road."</p>
+
+<p>"Unfortunately, Burke," said I, "the State has a claim on his services
+for two years yet, and I am afraid they won't waive it."</p>
+
+<p>At this it dawned upon Burke, who and what the man really was; but I
+cannot say that his humor was improved at once by the discovery.</p>
+
+<p>One morning shortly after this I was sitting in my office making up an
+annual train report, and was cussing out anything and everybody, because
+this train report is one of the worst things in the whole business. It
+was figures till you couldn't rest, and I had already been working at it
+for three days, and my head was in a perfect whirl. That morning one of
+our call boys had turned up missing and that fact also irritated me. It
+would seem that a call boy was a pretty insignificant chap in a big
+railroad, but such is not the case. In a perfect system every employee
+is like a cog in a big wheel, and as soon as one cog is broken<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9175" id="Page_9175">175</a></span> there is
+a jar in the otherwise smooth symmetrical movement of the machine. The
+call boy is quite an important personage, because, upon him depends the
+prompt calling of the various crews in time to take out their trains. He
+must keep a keen watch on the call board for the marking up of trains;
+he must know who is the first to go out, and he must know the dwelling
+place of every engineer, fireman, conductor and brakeman in the city. On
+a big division like ours, this, in itself, was not a small job. On some
+roads men are employed for this work, but I had always been partial to
+the boys, and kept four of them, two on days and two on nights. When my
+day boy left, I promoted a night boy to the second day job, and was
+cudgeling my brain for a good chap to go on nights. In a little while I
+heard a sharp rap on the office door, and in response to my "come in,"
+uttered in a tone that was anything but pleasant, a sturdy looking
+little chap about fourteen years old stood before me. He had a shock of
+jet black hair, tumbled all over his head, a pair of bright eyes, round
+full face, not over clean, strong limbs and a well knit body. His
+clothes hung on him like gunny sacks, and the crudity of the many
+various patches indicated that they had not been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9176" id="Page_9176">176</a></span> put on by woman's deft
+fingers. He didn't wait for me to speak, but blurted out:</p>
+
+<p>"Say, mister, I have just heard tell as how you wants a call boy. Do
+you?"</p>
+
+<p>He took my breath away by his bluntness; he looked so honest and
+sincere, so I simply replied, "Yes," and waited.</p>
+
+<p>"Well then, I wants the job. See!"</p>
+
+<p>"What's your name, youngster, and where is your home?"</p>
+
+<p>"My name's Dick Durstine; I hain't got no home, no father, no mother, no
+nothin', just me, and I wants to learn the tick tick business. It looks
+dead easy."</p>
+
+<p>This was really funny, but I liked his impudence, and, while I had no
+intention of hiring him, I determined to draw him out, so I said:</p>
+
+<p>"Where were you born, when did you come here, and do you know where any
+of the crews live?"</p>
+
+<p>"I was born in St. Louis; mother died when I was a kid, and Dad was such
+a drunken worthless old cuss and beat me so much, that I brought up in a
+foundling asylum. I come in here riding on the trucks of your mail train
+about three weeks ago, and the fellers up in the roundhouse have been
+lettin' me feed and snooze there. I know<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9177" id="Page_9177">177</a></span> where all the crews live
+exceptin' some of your kid glove engineers wot pulls the fast trains,
+but I can soon find them out. Please give me the job, mister; I'm honest
+and I'll work hard."</p>
+
+<p>Something in his blunt straightforward way appealed to me and I
+determined to try him. Handled right I imagined he would be a good man;
+handled wrong, he would probably become a bright and shining light of
+the <i>genus</i> hobo. So I hired him, telling him his salary would be forty
+dollars per month.</p>
+
+<p>"Hully gee!" he exclaimed, "forty plunks a month! Well say! I won't do a
+ting wid all dat mun; I'll just buy a road. Thank you mister, I'll work
+so hard for you that you'll not be sorry you gave me the job. But don't
+you forget that I wants to learn the tick tick business."</p>
+
+<p>That night at seven o'clock he went to work, and it didn't take long to
+see that he was as bright as a new dollar. He knew everything about the
+division, knew all the crews and where they lived. Days went by and
+still he held up his end and was a great favorite with all the force.
+There was a local instrument in the office, and one of the operators
+wrote the Morse alphabet for him, and ever after that he kept pegging
+away at the key. He practiced writing and it wasn't many weeks<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9178" id="Page_9178">178</a></span> before
+he was getting to be something of an operator. I went out to the main
+line battery room one evening to give some instructions to the man in
+charge and there I discovered Master Dick with a battery syringe in one
+hand and a brush in the other deeply engrossed in monkeying with the
+jars.</p>
+
+<p>"Look here, you young rascal," I said sharply, "what are you doing in
+here? First thing you know you will short circuit some of these
+batteries and then there'll be the de'il to pay: Don't you ever let me
+catch you out here again, or I'll fire you bodily."</p>
+
+<p>"I hain't been doing nothin', Mister Bates, I just wanted to see what
+made the old thing go tick tick. Wot's all them glass jars for wid the
+green water and the tin in?"</p>
+
+<p>I explained to him as well as I could the construction of the gravity
+battery. He had been forbidden to monkey with any of the instruments or
+the switch board in the main office, but his infernal inquisitiveness
+soon ran away with his sense, and it wasn't long before he was in
+trouble. He pulled a plug out of the switch board one evening, and Burke
+threatened to kill him. Another evening, he went into my office and
+monkeyed with an instrument that I kept there connected to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9179" id="Page_9179">179</a></span>
+despatcher's wire, and left it open. There was no report from any of the
+offices on either side, and investigation soon revealed the culprit. The
+wire was open for ten minutes and Burke was as mad as a March hare, when
+he reported it to me the next morning. I sent for Master Dick and
+informed him that another such a report against him would cause his
+instant dismissal. He seemed penitent enough, but two nights afterwards
+he short circuited all the main line batteries by his foolishness, and
+raised Cain in the office for a while. The next morning his time was
+presented to him and he was told to get out. He pleaded hard but his
+offenses had been too numerous, and I had to let him go. I must confess,
+however, that we all missed him greatly, because, in spite of his
+troublesome nature, he was a prime favorite with all the force.</p>
+
+<p>Our road ran through some wild unsettled country, and a few years
+previous, a Mr. Bob Forney and some distinguished gentlemen of the road,
+had paid us a visit, with the result that the express company lost about
+forty thousand dollars and their messenger his life. The country became
+too warm for them and they fled.</p>
+
+<p>Our flyer left two nights after this, having on board about a hundred
+thousand dollars of government<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9180" id="Page_9180">180</a></span> money, and I remarked to Bob Stanton,
+the conductor, that it was a fine chance for a hold up, but he laughed
+it off and said that civilization was too far advanced for that kind of
+work just now.</p>
+
+<p>About nine o'clock I was sitting in the despatcher's office smoking a
+cigar before going home for the night, when all at once the despatcher's
+wire and the railroad line opened. Sicklen reported south of him and
+then took off his ground. Pretty soon the sounder began to open and
+close in a peculiar shaky manner, and then I heard the following:</p>
+
+<p>"To 'DS,' gang of robbers goin' to hold up the flyer in Ashley's cut
+to-night. They will place rails and ties on the track to wreck train if
+they don't heed signal. Warn train to watch out and bring gang out from
+Sicklen. This is Dick Durstine."</p>
+
+<p>All was quiet for a minute and then he started again, but soon he
+stopped short and we heard no more. The line remained open.</p>
+
+<p>We raised Sicklen on a commercial wire and told him to turn his
+red-light and hold everything. I was in somewhat of a quandary; the
+sending had been miserable, sounding unlike any stuff Dick had ever
+sent, and then the stopping of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9181" id="Page_9181">181</a></span> whole business made it seem rather
+suspicious. Still Ashley's cut was an ideal place for a hold up, and the
+weather was dark and stormy. Everything was propitious for just such a
+job.</p>
+
+<p>In the meantime, Ashton, the first office south of Sicklen, had reported
+on the commercial line that the despatcher's wire was open north of him.
+That would place it near the cut in all probability. Anyway I didn't
+intend to take any chance, so I sent a message to Sicklen telling him to
+notify the sheriff of all the facts and ask him to send out a posse on
+the flyer, and, also, for him to get the day man to go out and patch the
+lines up until a line man could get there in the morning. About twenty
+minutes afterwards the flyer left Sicklen nicely fixed with a strong
+posse, and an order to approach the cut with caution. It was only three
+miles from Sicklen to the cut, and I knew it would be but a matter of a
+short while until something was heard. Sure enough, forty minutes later
+the despatcher's wire closed and this message came:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"To Bates, DS:</p>
+
+<p>"Attempt to hold up No. 21 in Ashley's cut was frustrated by the
+sheriff's posse. Outlaws had placed ties on the track in case we
+did not heed the signal to stop. Two of them killed, three captured
+and one escaped. Dick Durstine is here,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9182" id="Page_9182">182</a></span> badly shot through the
+right lung. Will have him sent in from Sicklen on 22 in the
+morning.</p>
+
+<p>"Stanton, Conductor."</p></div>
+
+<p>The next morning when 22 pulled in I went down and there, laid out on a
+litter in the baggage car, was Dick Durstine, my former call boy, weak,
+pale, and just living. He was conscious, and when I leaned over him his
+eyes glistened for a minute, he smiled and feebly said:</p>
+
+<p>"Say, Mister Bates, didn't I do them fellers up in good shape? When I
+gets well again will you gimme back my job so I can learn some more
+about the tick tick? I'll never monkey any more, honest to God, I
+won't."</p>
+
+<p>A queer lump came in my throat and there was a suspicion of moisture in
+my eyes as I contemplated this brave little hero, and I said:</p>
+
+<p>"God bless your brave little heart, Dick, you can have anything on this
+division."</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Antwerp had appeared and was visibly affected. We had Dick removed
+to the company hospital, and then for some days he lay hovering between
+life and death, but youth, and a strong constitution finally won out and
+he began to mend.</p>
+
+<p>When he was able to sit up I heard his story. It appeared that when I
+dismissed him he laid around the place for a day, and then jumping a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9183" id="Page_9183">183</a></span>
+freight, started south. At Sicklen he had been put off by a heartless
+brakeman and had started to walk to Ashton. It was evening and he became
+tired. After walking as far as the north end of the cut he laid down and
+went to sleep behind a pile of old ties. He was awakened by the sound of
+voices near by, and listening intently, he learned that the men were
+outlaws and intended to hold up the flyer that night. They intended to
+flag her down as she entered the cut and do the business in the usual
+smooth manner. In case she wouldn't stop, they would have a pile of ties
+on the track that would soon put a quietus on her flight. Poor little
+Dick was horrified and stealing quietly away some distance he stopped
+and cogitated. Time was becoming precious. How was he to send a warning?
+Oh! if he could only get into a telegraph office! Suddenly an idea
+struck him. He went a little farther up the track, and shinning up a
+pole he took his heavy jack-knife, and after a hard effort, succeeded in
+cutting two wires. Another pole was climbed and only one wire cut from
+it. With this strand he made a joint so that the two ends of the
+despatcher's wire could be brought in easy contact. Then by knocking the
+two ends together he sent the warning. His cutting of the wire had made
+a peculiar loud twang and one of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9184" id="Page_9184">184</a></span> the outlaws heard it. Becoming
+suspicious, he and his partner started up the track to investigate. They
+came upon Dick, kneeling on one knee, engrossed in his work, and without
+one word of warning shot him in the back. They left him for dead, but
+thank God he did not die, and to-day he is on a road that before many
+years will land him on top of the heap.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9185" id="Page_9185">185</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XX</h2><h3>AN EPISODE OF SENTIMENT</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The night man down at Bentonville quit rather suddenly one fall morning,
+and as I had no immediate relief in prospect, I wired the chief
+despatcher of the division south of me to send me a man if he had any to
+spare. That afternoon I received a message from him saying he had sent
+Miss Ellen Ross to take the place. I still had a very distinct
+recollection of my encounter with Miss Love, and I wasn't overfond of
+women operators anyway, so Miss Ross's welcome to my division was not a
+hearty one. She was the first woman I had ever had under my
+jurisdiction. I was at the office quite late a night or two after this,
+and heard some of her work; there was no use denying that she was a very
+smooth operator as well as a very prompt one. Burke said he had no
+complaint to offer; she was always on time, and I must confess I felt
+much chagrined. I wanted a chance to discharge her, but it didn't appear
+to materialize. But I was a patient waiter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9186" id="Page_9186">186</a></span> and one morning about three
+weeks later I came into the office and on looking over the delay sheet I
+saw the following entry in the delay column:</p>
+
+<p>"No. 18 delayed fifty minutes, account not being able to raise the
+operator at Bentonville in that time; as an explanation, operator says
+she was over at the hotel getting her lunch."</p>
+
+<p>Evidently Miss Ross had little ingenuity in the line of excuses or she
+would never have offered such a threadbare one as that. I wanted the
+chance to annihilate her and here it was. I called up Bentonville and
+asked if Miss Ross was there. She was, and I said, "Isn't it possible
+for you to invent a better excuse than 'lunch' for your failure to
+answer last night, or this morning rather?"</p>
+
+<p>She drummed on the key for a moment and then said if I didn't like that
+excuse I knew what I could do. I caught my breath at her audacity and
+then "<i>did</i>." I sent her time to her on No. 21, and a man to take her
+place. I then dismissed the matter from my mind and supposed that I had
+heard the last of Miss Ross. I never was very well acquainted with the
+female sex or I would not have dismissed the matter with such
+complacency.</p>
+
+<p>A day or two after this I was sitting in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9187" id="Page_9187">187</a></span> division superintendent's
+office, he being out on the road, and I heard a voice say:</p>
+
+<p>"Is this Mr. Bates?" I had not heard anyone come in and I glanced up and
+answered, "Yes." I saw before me a young woman of an air and appearance
+that fairly took my breath away. I immediately arose to my feet and with
+all possible deference invited her to take a seat. I supposed she was
+the wife of some of the officials and wanted a pass. In response to my
+inquiry as to what could I do for her she said, timidly:</p>
+
+<p>"I am Miss Ross, lately night operator at Bentonville."</p>
+
+<p>Her answer put me more off my ease than ever, but the discipline of the
+road had to be maintained at any-cost; so as soon as I could, I put on
+my severest look and sternly said, "Well!" She smiled slightly in a way
+that made me doubt if she were much impressed by my display of rigor;
+and answered, "I came to see if you wouldn't take me back. I am sure I
+didn't mean to offend the other night. I have been an operator for
+nearly four years and I have never had the least bit of trouble before.
+You have no fault to find with my work I am sure; and I promise to be
+very careful to never offend again. Won't you please take me back?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9188" id="Page_9188">188</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Gee! but she did look pretty and her big black eyes were shining like
+bright stars. If she had only known it I was ready by this time to have
+given her the best job on the whole division, even my own, but I wasn't
+going to give up without a show of resistance and I said:</p>
+
+<p>"Humph! Well let's see!" Then I rang my bell and told the boy to get me
+the train sheet of the sixteenth. I looked very stern and very wise as I
+read the delay report to her.</p>
+
+<p>"That, Miss Ross, is a very serious offense. A delay of fifty minutes to
+any train is bad enough, but when it happens to a through freight it is
+the worst possible. Then you say you were at the hotel for lunch. The
+order book shows that the despatcher called you from two <span class="smcap">a. m.</span> until
+two-fifty <span class="smcap">a. m.</span> Isn't that rather an unearthly hour to be going out to
+lunch? My recollection of the Bentonville station is that it is a mile
+from the excuse of a hotel in the place. Really, I am very sorry but I
+don't see how anything can be done."</p>
+
+<p>Discipline was being maintained, you see, in great shape, but all the
+time I was delivering my little speech I was feeling like a big
+red-headed hypocrite. Miss Ross looked up at me with those beautiful
+eyes; then two big tears made their appearance on the scene, and she
+sobbed out:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9189" id="Page_9189">189</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Well, I know I told a fib when I made that excuse, but the despatcher
+was so sharp and I was so scared when he said he had been calling me for
+fifty minutes, that I told him the first thing that came into my mind.
+Then, the next day I was angry at you, because I thought you were
+chaffing me, as I was the only woman on the line, and I suppose I was
+rather impudent. But do you think it is fair to discharge me for the
+same thing that you only gave Mr. Ferral fifteen days for? Are you not
+doing it simply because I am a woman?"</p>
+
+<p>I never could stand a woman's tears, especially a pretty one, and when
+she cited the case of Ferral, I realized that I had lost my game. I let
+myself down as easily as I could and that night Miss Ross went back to
+work at Bentonville, and the man there was put on the waiting list.</p>
+
+<p>It was very funny after this how many times I had to run down to
+Bentonville. That Sandia branch line had to be inspected; the switch
+board had to be replaced by a new one in "BN" office; wires had to be
+changed, a new ground put in, and many other things done, and always I
+had to go myself to see that the work was done properly. The agent at
+Bentonville came, before very long, to smile in a very knowing way
+whenever I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9190" id="Page_9190">190</a></span> jumped off the train; Mr. Antwerp had a peculiarly wise look
+in his eye when I mentioned anything about Bentonville, but I didn't
+mind it. I was in love with the sweet little girl, and was walking on
+the clouds. If I hadn't been I would have seen that my cake was all
+dough in that quarter. I might have noticed that big Dan Forbush had an
+amused look in his eye when I went off on one of these trips. If I had
+watched the mail I might have seen numerous little billets coming daily
+from Bentonville, addressed in a neat round hand to "Mr. Dan Forbush."
+But I didn't, I kept right on in my mad career, and one day when my
+courage was high I offered my hand and my heart to Miss Ross. She
+refused and told me that while she was honored by my proposal, she had
+been engaged to Mr. Forbush for two years, having known him down on the
+"Sunset" before he came to our road. I took my defeat as philosophically
+as I could and the next spring she left Bentonville for good, and Dan
+took a three weeks' leave. When he came back he brought sweet Ellen as
+his bride. One evening not long after that I was calling there, when
+Mrs. Forbush looked up at me very naively and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Bates, did I pay you back for discharging me?"</p>
+
+<div class='figcenter' style='width: 334px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="illus-015" id="illus-015"></a>
+<img src='images/p2-190.jpg' alt='"Are you not doing it just because I am a woman?"' title='' width = '334' height = '466'/><br />
+<span class='caption'>"Are you not doing it just because I am a woman?"</span>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9191" id="Page_9191">191</a></span></p>
+
+<p>There's no doubt about it, she did, and I felt it. She was the third
+girl to throw me over, and I determined to give up the business and go
+for a soldier. I stuck it out there till fall and then resigned for all
+time.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9192" id="Page_9192">192</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXI</h2><h3>THE MILITARY OPERATOR&mdash;A FAKE REPORT THAT NEARLY CAUSED TROUBLE</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The railroad and commercial telegraphers are well known to the general
+public, because they are thrown daily in contact with them, but there is
+still another class in the profession, which, while not being so well
+known are, in their way, just as important in their acts and deeds. I
+refer to the military telegrapher. His work does not often carry him
+within the environments of civilization; his instruments are not of the
+beautiful Bunnell pattern, placed on polished glass partitioned tables;
+his task is a very hard one and yet he does it without a grumble. His
+sphere of duty is out at the extreme edge of advancing civilization. You
+will find him along the Rio Grande frontier; out on the sun-baked
+deserts of New Mexico and Arizona; up in the Bad Lands of Montana, and
+the snow-capped mountains of the Rockies. A few of them you will find in
+nice offices at some department headquarters or in the war office in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9193" id="Page_9193">193</a></span>
+Washington, but such places are generally given to men who have grown
+old and gray in the service. His office? Any old place he can plant his
+instruments, many times a tent with a cracker box for a table; a chair
+would be an unheard-of luxury. His pay? Thirteen big round American
+dollars per month. His rank and title? Hold your breath while I tell
+you. Private, United States Army. Great, isn't it? Many times a detail
+to one of the frontier points means farewell to your friends as long as
+the tour lasts.</p>
+
+<p>When I left the railroad business I journeyed out westward to Fort
+Hayes, Kansas, and held up my right hand and swore all manner of oaths
+to support the Constitution of the United States; obey the orders of the
+President of the United States and all superior officers; to accept the
+pay and allowances as made by a generous (God save the word) Congress
+for the period of five years. Thus did I become a soldier and a "dough
+boy" because I went to the infantry arm of the service. I've stuck to
+the business ever since.</p>
+
+<p>I supposed when I went into the army that my connection with wires and
+telegraph instruments was entirely finished. I had worked at the
+business long and faithfully and was in a state of mind that I thought I
+had had enough. That's very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9194" id="Page_9194">194</a></span> good in theory, but powerful poor in
+practice, because I hadn't been soldiering a month before a feeling of
+homesickness for my old love came over me; in fact to this day I never
+see a railroad but what I want to go up in the despatcher's office and
+sit down and take a "trick." But there were commissions to be had from
+the ranks of the army and I wanted one, so I hung on and did my duty as
+best I could.</p>
+
+<p>The stay at Fort Hayes was a very peaceful and serene one; I did no
+telegraphing there for a year, and then we were ordered to Fort Clark,
+Texas. When I quit the commercial business I had almost taken an oath
+never to go back to Texas, but I couldn't help it in this case.</p>
+
+<p>Fort Clark is one hundred and thirty miles due west of dear old San
+Antonio, and situated nine miles from the railroad. When my company
+arrived, there was no telegraphic communication with the outside world
+and all telegrams had to be sent by courier to Spofford Junction, for
+transmission. After having been stationed there for about eight months I
+was sent for by the commanding officer and told to take charge of a
+party and build a telegraph line over to the railroad. The poles had
+been set by a detachment of the 3rd Cavalry and in five days' time I had
+strung<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9195" id="Page_9195">195</a></span> the wire. Being the only operator in the post I was placed in
+charge of the office and relieved from all duty. It was a perfect snap;
+no drills, no guards, no parades, nothing but just work the wire and
+plenty of time to devote to my studies.</p>
+
+<p>In December, 1890, the Sioux Indians again broke loose from their
+reservations at Pine Ridge and all of the available men of the pitifully
+small, but gallant, United States army were hurriedly rushed northwards
+to give them a smash that would be lasting and convincing. There was the
+7th Cavalry, Custer's old command, the 6th and 9th Cavalry, the 10th,
+2nd, and 17th Infantry, the late lamented and gallant Capron's flying
+battery of artillery, besides others&mdash;General Miles personally assumed
+command, and the campaign was short, sharp, brilliant and decisive. The
+Indians were lambasted into a semblance of order, and that
+personification of deviltry, Sitting Bull, given his transportation to
+the happy hunting grounds, but not before a score or more of brave
+officers and men had passes to their long reckoning. Captain George
+Wallace, of the 7th Cavalry; Lieutenant Mann, of the same regiment, and
+Lieutenant Ned Casey, of the 22nd Infantry, left places in the ranks of
+the officers that were hard to fill.</p>
+
+<p>My regiment, the 18th Infantry, was too far<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9196" id="Page_9196">196</a></span> away to go, and besides,
+the Rio Grande frontier, with Se&ntilde;or Garza and his band of cutthroats
+prowling around loose, could not be left unprotected. There would be too
+big a howl from the Texans if that occurred.</p>
+
+<p>During all these trying times my telegraph office was naturally the
+center of interest, and I had made an arrangement with the chief
+operator at San Antonio to send me bulletins of any important news. I
+always made two copies, posting one on the bulletin board in front of my
+office, and delivering the other to the colonel in person.</p>
+
+<p>Soldiers are very loquacious as a rule and give them a thread upon which
+to hang an argument, and in a minute a free silver, demo-popocrat
+convention would sound tame in comparison. Go into a squad-room at any
+time the men are off duty, and you can have a discussion on almost any
+old subject from the result of the coming prize fight to the deepest
+question of the bible and theology. Many times the argument will become
+so warm between Privates "Hicky" Flynn and "Pie Faced" Sullivan that
+theology will be settled <i>a la</i> Queensbury out behind the wash-house.
+Among soldiers this argumentative spirit is called "chewing the rag."</p>
+
+<p>One morning shortly after Wounded Knee with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9197" id="Page_9197">197</a></span> its direful results had
+been fought, I thought it would be a great joke to post a startling
+bulletin, just to start the men's tongues a-wagging.</p>
+
+<p>So I wrote the following:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"Bulletin</p>
+
+<p>"San Antonio, Texas, 12 | 26, 1890.</p>
+
+<p>"Reported that the 6th and 9th Cavalry were ambuscaded yesterday by
+Sioux Indians under Crazy Horse, and completely wiped out of
+existence. Custer's Little Big Horn massacre outdone. Not a man
+escaped."</p></div>
+
+<p>I chuckled with fiendish glee as I posted this on the bulletin board and
+then started for breakfast. I thought some soldier would read it, tell
+it to the men of his company, and in that way the fun would commence. My
+scheme worked to perfection, because some of the men of G Company, (mine
+was D) had seen me stick it up and had come post haste to read. I
+started the ball rolling in my own company and in about a minute there
+were fifty men around me all jabbering like magpies as to the result of
+this awful massacre. Of course, the regiment would be hurried north
+forthwith&mdash;no other regiment could do the work of annihilation so well
+as the 18th. Oh! no. Of course not!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9198" id="Page_9198">198</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Said my erstwhile friend and bunkie "Hickey" Flynn: "Av coorse, Moiles
+will be after sendin' a message to Lazelle to bring the Ateenth fut up
+at once, and thin the smashin' we will be after givin' them rid divils
+will make a wake look sick."</p>
+
+<p>"Aw cum off, Hickey," said Sullivan, "phat the divil does yez know av
+foightin' injuns? Phat were ye over in the auld sod? Nathin' but a turf
+digger. Phat were ye here before ye 'listed? Dom ye, I think ye belong
+to the Clan na Gael and helped to murther poor Doc Cronin, bad cess to
+ye."</p>
+
+<p>A display of authority on the part of the top sergeant prevented a clash
+and the jaw-breaking contest proceeded. By this time the news had spread
+and the entire garrison were talking. Just as I was about to tell them
+that it was a fake pure and simple, I happened to glance towards my
+office, and Holy Smoke! there was my captain standing on his tiptoes (he
+was only five feet four) reading that confounded bulletin. I hadn't
+counted on any of the officers reading it. Generally they didn't get up
+until eight o'clock and by that time I would have destroyed the fake
+report.</p>
+
+<p>The officers' club was in the same building as my office and the captain
+had come down early, evidently to get a&mdash;to read the morning paper
+(<i>which came at</i> 4 <span class="smcap">P. M.</span>) and his eye lighted on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9199" id="Page_9199">199</a></span> my bulletin. I saw him
+read it carefully, and then reaching up he tore it from the board and as
+quick as his little legs would carry him, he made a bee line for the
+commanding officer's quarters. I knew full well how the colonel would
+regard that bulletin when he found out it was a fake. I was able to
+discern a summary court-martial in my mind's eye, and that would knock
+my chances for a commission sky-highwards&mdash;because a man's military
+record must be absolutely spotless when he appears for examination. What
+was I to do? Just then I saw the captain go up the colonel's steps, ring
+the bell, and in a moment he was admitted. I felt that my corpse was
+laid out right then and there and the wake was about to begin.</p>
+
+<p>A few moments later the commanding officer's orderly came in, and
+looking around for a minute, caught sight of me and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Corporal, the commanding officer wants to see you at his quarters at
+once," and out he went. "Start the band to playing the 'Dead March in
+Saul,'" thought I, "because this is the beginning of a funeral
+procession in which I am to play the leading part." I walked as slowly
+as I could and not appear lagging, but I arrived at my crematory all too
+soon. I rapped on the door and in tones that made me shiver was bidden
+by the old man to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9200" id="Page_9200">200</a></span> come in. The colonel was standing in the middle of
+his parlor, wrapped in a gaudy dressing gown, and in his hand he held my
+mangled bulletin. Right at that minute I wished I had never heard a
+telegraph instrument click.</p>
+
+<p>"Corporal," said the colonel, "what time did you receive this bulletin?"</p>
+
+<p>"About six-fifteen, sir, immediately after reveille," I replied with a
+face as expressionless as a mummy's.</p>
+
+<p>"Why did you not bring it to me direct as you have heretofore done?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, sir, I didn't think you were awake yet, and I did not want to
+disturb you."</p>
+
+<p>"Have you any later news, corporal?"</p>
+
+<p>"No sir, none, but I haven't been back to the office since, sir." Gee!
+but that room was becoming warm!</p>
+
+<p>"Are you certain as to the truth of this awful report?"</p>
+
+<p>"It is probably as authentic as a great many stories that are started
+during times like these&mdash;that is all I know of it, sir." (Lord forgive
+me.)</p>
+
+<p>"It seems almost too horrible to be true, and yet, one cannot tell about
+those Sioux. They're a bad lot&mdash;a devilish bad lot"&mdash;this to my
+captain&mdash;and then to me: "You go back to your office, corporal,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9201" id="Page_9201">201</a></span> and
+remain very close until you have a denial or a confirmation of this
+story and bring any news you may receive to me instanter. That's all
+corporal."</p>
+
+<p>The "corporal" needed no second dismissal, and saluting I quickly got
+out of an atmosphere that was far from chilly to me.</p>
+
+<p>Now, by my cussed propensity for joking, I had involved myself in this
+mess, and there was but one way out of it, and that was to brazen it out
+for a while longer and then post a denial of the supposed awful rumor.
+<i>But the denial must come over the wire</i>, so when I reached my office I
+called up Spofford and told old man Livingston what I had done and what
+I wanted him to do for me, and in about half an hour he sent me a
+"bulletin" saying that the previous report had happily proved unfounded
+and the 6th and 9th Cavalry were all right. This message I took at once
+to the colonel and as he read it he heaved a big sigh of relief, but he
+dismissed me with a very peculiar look in his eye.</p>
+
+<p>The next evening as I was passing the colonel's quarters on my way to
+deliver a message to the hospital, I heard him remark to another
+officer, "Major, don't you think it is strange that the papers received
+to-day make no mention of that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9202" id="Page_9202">202</a></span> frightful report received-here yesterday
+morning relative to the supposed massacre of the 6th and 9th Cavalry?"</p>
+
+<p>No, the major didn't think it a bit strange. Maybe he knew that
+newspaper stories should be taken <i>cum grano salis</i>, and then maybe he
+knew me.</p>
+
+<p>There were no more "fake reports" from that office.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9203" id="Page_9203">203</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXII</h2><h3>PRIVATE DENNIS HOGAN, HERO</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>It was while I was sitting around a barrack-room fire that I picked up
+the following story. There were a number of old soldiers in my
+company&mdash;men who had served twenty-five years in the army&mdash;and their
+fund of anecdote and excitement was of the largest size.</p>
+
+<p>On Thanksgiving Day, 187&mdash;, Private Dennis Hogan, Company B, 29th United
+States Infantry, the telegraph operator at Fort Flint, Montana, sat in
+his dingy little "two by four" office in the headquarter building,
+communing with himself and cussing any force of circumstances that made
+him a soldier. The instruments were quiet, a good Thanksgiving dinner
+had been enjoyed and now the smoke from his old "T. D." pipe curled in
+graceful rings around his red head.</p>
+
+<p>Denny was a smashing good operator and some eighteen months before he
+had landed in St. Louis dead broke. All the offices and railroads were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9204" id="Page_9204">204</a></span>
+full and nary a place did he get. While walking up Pine street one
+morning his eye fell foul of a sign:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Wanted, able-bodied, unmarried men, between the ages of twenty-one and
+thirty-five, for service in the United States Army."</p>
+
+<p>In his mind's eye he sized himself up and came to the conclusion that he
+would fill all the requirements. Now, he hadn't any great hankering for
+soldiering, but he didn't have a copper to his name and as empty
+stomachs stand not on ceremony, in he went and after being catechized by
+the recruiting sergeant, he was pounded for thirty minutes by the
+examining surgeon, pronounced as sound as a dollar, and then sworn in
+"to serve Uncle Sam honestly and faithfully for five years. So help me
+God." The space of time necessary to transform a man from a civilian to
+a soldier is of a very short duration, and almost before he knew it he
+was dressed in the plain blue of the soldier of the Republic. He was
+assigned to B company of the 28th United States Infantry stationed at
+Fort Flint, Montana. The experience was new and novel to him, and the
+three months recruit training well nigh wore him out, but he stuck to
+it, and some two months after he had been returned to duty, he was
+detailed as telegraph operator vice<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9205" id="Page_9205">205</a></span> Adams of G Company, discharged.
+There he had remained since.</p>
+
+<p>At four o'clock on the afternoon in question Denny was aroused from his
+reverie by the sounder opening up and calling "FN" like blue blazes. He
+answered and this is what he took:</p>
+
+<p class='blockquot'>
+<span class="smcap">"Department Headquarters St. Paul, Minn</span>.<br />
+<br />
+"<i>November 26th, 187&mdash;</i><br />
+<br />
+<span class="smcap">"Commanding Officer</span>,<br />
+<br />
+"Fort Flint, Montana.<br />
+<br />
+"Sioux Indians out. Prepare your command<br />
+for instant field service. Thirty days' rations;<br />
+two hundred rounds ammunition per man. Wire<br />
+when ready.<br />
+<br />
+"By command of Major General Wherry.<br />
+<br />
+(Signed) <span class="smcap">Smith</span>,<br />
+<br />
+"Assistant Adjutant-General."<br />
+</p>
+
+<p>Denny was the messenger boy as well as operator and without waiting to
+make an impression copy, he grabbed his hat and flew down the line to
+the colonel's quarters. That worthy was entertaining a party at dinner,
+and was about to give Hogan fits for bringing the message to him instead
+of to the post adjutant; but a glance at the contents changed things and
+in a moment all was bustle and confusion.</p>
+
+<p>For weeks the premonitory signs of this outbreak<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9206" id="Page_9206">206</a></span> had been plainly
+visible, but true to the red-tape conditions, the army could not move
+until some overt act had been committed. The generous interior
+department had supplied the Indians with arms and ammunition and then
+Mr. Red Devil under that prince of fiends incarnate, Sitting Bull,
+started on his campaign of plunder and pillage.</p>
+
+<p>At eight o'clock that night Colonel Clarke wired his chief that his
+command was ready, and at midnight he received orders to proceed the
+next morning at daylight, by forced marches up to the junction of the
+forks of the Red Bud, and take position there to intercept the Indians
+should they attempt to cross. Two regiments from the more northern posts
+were due to reach there at the same time, and the combined strength of
+the three commands was supposed to be sufficient to drive back any body
+of Indians. There was little sleep in Fort Flint that night.</p>
+
+<p>Now, Hogan wasn't much of a success as a garrison soldier, but when a
+chance for a genuine fight presented itself, all the Irish blood in his
+nature came to the surface, and after much pleading and begging, the
+adjutant allowed him to join his company, detailing Jones of D Company
+as operator in his stead. Jones wasn't as good an operator<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9207" id="Page_9207">207</a></span> by far as
+Denny, but in a pinch he could do the work, and besides, he had just
+come out of the hospital and was unable to stand the rigors attendant
+upon a winter campaign in Montana.</p>
+
+<p>Denny went to the company quarters in high glee and soon had his kit all
+packed. Some weeks before he had been out repairing the line and when he
+returned to the post he had left a small pocket instrument and a few
+feet of office wire in his haversack. He saw these things and was about
+to remove them, when something impelled him to take them along. What
+this was no one ever knew. Perhaps premonition.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning just as the first dim shadows of early dawn stole over
+the snow-clad earth, the gallant old 29th, five hundred strong, swung
+out of Fort Flint, on its long tramp. From out of half-closed blinds on
+the officer's line gazed many a tear-stained face, and up on "Soapsuds
+Row" many an honest-hearted laundress was bemoaning the fates that
+parted her from her "ould mon."</p>
+
+<p>The weather turned bitter cold and after seven days of the hardest kind
+of marching they reached and crossed the Red Bud just below the junction
+of the two forks. A strong position was taken and every disposition made
+to prevent surprise.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9208" id="Page_9208">208</a></span> The expected re-enforcement would surely come soon
+and then all would be safe.</p>
+
+<p>The next day dawned and passed, but not a sign of that re-enforcement.
+That night queer looking red glows were seen at stated intervals on the
+horizon&mdash;North, West and East on the north side of the river, and to the
+South on the other bank did they gleam and glow. Colonel Clarke was old
+and tried in Indian warfare and well did he know what those fires
+meant&mdash;Indians&mdash;and lots of them all around his command. His hope now
+was that the two northern regiments would strike them in the rear while
+he smashed them in front.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning, first one, two, three, four, an hundred, a thousand
+figures mounted on fleet footed ponies appeared silhouetted against the
+clear sky, and it wasn't long before that little command of sturdy
+bluecoats was surrounded by a superior force of the wildest red devils
+that ever strode a horse or fired a Winchester rifle. Slowly they drew
+their lines closer about the troops like the clinging tentacles of some
+monster devilfish, and about eleven o'clock, <i>Bang!</i> and the battle was
+on.</p>
+
+<p>"Husband your fire, men. Don't shoot until you have taken deliberate
+aim, and can see the object<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9209" id="Page_9209">209</a></span> aimed at," was the word passed along the
+line by Colonel Clarke.</p>
+
+<p>Behind hastily constructed shelter trenches the soldiers fought off that
+encircling band of Indians, with a desperation and valor born of an
+almost hopeless situation. Ever and anon, from across the river came the
+ping of a Winchester bullet, proving that retreat was cut off that way.
+The Indians had completely marched around them.</p>
+
+<p>Where was the re-enforcement? Why didn't it come? Was this to be another
+Little Big Horn, and were these brave men to be massacred like the
+gallant 7th Cavalry under Custer? As long as his ammunition held out
+Colonel Clarke knew he could stand them off, but after three days of
+hard fighting, resulting in the loss of many brave men, the situation
+was becoming desperate. Fires could not be lighted and more than one
+brave fellow went to kingdom come in filling the canteens at the river's
+bank. Most of the animals had been shot, many of them being used for
+breastworks.</p>
+
+<p>Colonel Clarke was inspecting his lines on the early evening of the
+third day, and had about made up his mind to ask for a volunteer to try
+and get beyond the Indian lines and carry the news to Fort Scott, sixty
+miles away, to call for re-enforcements. Six troops of the 11th Cavalry
+were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9210" id="Page_9210">210</a></span> stationed there under his old friend and classmate, Colonel
+Foster. He knew the character of the regular army chaps well enough to
+be certain they would come to his assistance, if it were a possible
+thing. If all went well with his courier in three days' time they would
+be there.</p>
+
+<p>The word was passed along the line and in a few seconds he had any
+number of officers and men who were willing and ready to take the ride.
+Just as the colonel had decided to send 1st Lieutenant Jarvis on this
+perilous trip, Hogan appeared before him, saluting with military
+precision, and said with a broad Irish brogue:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Axin' yer pardin' kurnel, but Oi think Oi kin tell ye a betther way.
+The telegraph loine from Scott to Kearney runs just twenty-foive moiles
+beyant here to the southards. Up at the end of our loines on the other
+side of the river is a deep ravine. If Oi kin get across with a good
+horse and slip through the Indian loines on the other soide, I can, by
+hard roidin' reach this loine in two or three hours. I have a pocket
+instrument wid me and can cut in and ask for re-enforcements from Fort
+Scott. If the loine is down I can continue on to the post, and make as
+quick time as any of the officers; if it is up it will be a matther of a
+short toime before we are pulled out of this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9211" id="Page_9211">211</a></span> hole. Plaze let me thry it
+kurnel. Lieutenant Jarvis has a wife and two children, and his loss
+would be greatly felt, whoile I&mdash;I&mdash;well I haven't any wan, sir, and
+besoides, I'm an Irishman, and you know, kurnel, an Irishman is a fool
+for luck." This last was said with a broad grin.</p>
+
+<p>Colonel Clarke was somewhat amazed at this speech, but he studied
+reflectively, with knitted brows for a moment, and then said, "All
+right, Hogan, I'll let you try it. Take my horse and start at three
+o'clock in the morning. Do your best, my man, do your best; the lives of
+the remainder of this command depend on your efforts. God be with you."</p>
+
+<p>"If I fail kurnel, it will be because I'm dead, sir."</p>
+
+<p>Shortly before three o'clock in the morning, Denny made ready for his
+perilous ride. The horse's hoofs were carefully padded, ammunition and
+revolver looked after, the pocket instrument fastened around his neck by
+the wire, so if any accident happened to the horse he would not be
+unnecessarily delayed, and all was ready. He gave his old bunkie a
+farewell silent clasp of the hand and then started on his ride that
+meant life or death to his comrades. The horse was a magnificent
+Kentuckian and seemed to know what was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9212" id="Page_9212">212</a></span> required of him. Carefully and
+slowly Hogan pushed his way to the place opposite the ravine, and then
+giving his mount a light touch with the spurs, he took to the cold
+water. The stream was filled with floating ice but was only about fifty
+yards wide and in a few minutes he was safely over, and climbing up the
+other bank through the ravine. Finally, the end was reached and he was
+on high ground. Resting a minute to see if all was well, he started. So
+far, so good, he was beyond the Indian lines. He was congratulating
+himself on the promised success of his mission when all at once,
+directly in front of him he saw the dim shadowy outlines of a mounted
+Indian. Quick as a flash Denny pulled his revolver and another Indian
+was soon in the happy hunting ground. This caused a general alarm and
+Hogan knew he was in for it. Putting his spurs deep in his horse's
+flanks away he went with the speed of the wind. A perfect swarm of
+Indians came after him, yelling like fiends and shooting like demons.
+On! on! he sped, seemingly bearing a charmed life because bullets
+whizzed by him like hail. He was not idle, and when the opportunity
+presented itself his revolver spoke and more than one Indian pony was
+made riderless thereby.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly he felt a sharp stinging pain in his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9213" id="Page_9213">213</a></span> right shoulder, and but
+for a convulsive grasp of the pommel with his bridle hand he would have
+pitched headlong to the earth.</p>
+
+<p>No, by God! he couldn't fail now. He must succeed, the lives of his
+comrades depended on his efforts. He had told Colonel Clarke he would
+get through or die, and he was a long way from dead yet. Only an hour
+and a half more and he would have sent the message and then all the
+Indians in the country could go to the demnition bow wows for all he
+cared.</p>
+
+<p>Hearing no more shots Denny drew rein for a moment and listened. Not a
+sound could be heard, the snow had started to softly fall and the first
+faint rays of light on the eastern horizon heralded the approach of a
+new-born day. Ah! he had outridden his pursuers. Gently patting his
+faithful horse's neck, he once more started swiftly on, and when he was
+within a few miles of the line he chanced to glance back and saw that
+one lone Indian was following him.</p>
+
+<p>Now it was a case of man against man. In his first flight and running
+fight he had fired away all his ammunition save one cartridge. This he
+determined to use to settle his pursuer, but not until it was absolutely
+necessary; and putting spurs to his already tired horse, he galloped
+on.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9214" id="Page_9214">214</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The Indian was slowly gaining on him and he saw the time for decisive
+action was at hand. Ahead of him but one short half mile was that line,
+already in the early morning light he could see the poles, and if the
+god of battles would only speed his one remaining bullet in the right
+direction, his message could be sent in safety and his comrades rescued.
+His wounded right arm was numb from pain and his left was not the
+steadiest in the world, but nothing venture, nothing have, and just
+then&mdash;<i>Bang!</i> and a bullet whizzed by his head. "Not this toime, ye red
+devil," Denny defiantly shouted. A second bullet and he dropped off his
+horse. Quickly wheeling about, he dropped on his stomach, and taking a
+careful aim over his wounded right arm, he fired. The shot was
+apparently a true one and the Indian pitched off head first and lay
+still.</p>
+
+<p>With an exultant shout Hogan jumped up and started for the line. Nothing
+could stop him now. Loss of blood and the intense cold had weakened him
+so that his legs were shaky, the earth seemed to be going around at a
+great rate, dark spots were dancing before his eyes; but with a
+superhuman effort he recovered himself and was soon at the line.</p>
+
+<p>The wire was strung on light lances, and if<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9215" id="Page_9215">215</a></span> Denny were in full
+possession of his strength he could easily pull one down. He threw his
+weight against one with all of his remaining force&mdash;but to no avail.
+What was he to do? But sixteen feet intervened between him and that
+precious wire.</p>
+
+<p>The faithful, tired horse, when Denny jumped off, had only run a little
+way and stopped, only too glad of the chance to rest. He was now
+standing near Hogan, as if intent on being of some further use to him.
+Suddenly Denny's anxious eyes lighted on the horsehair lariat attached
+to the saddle. Here was the means at hand. Quickly as he could he undid
+it, and with great difficulty tied one end to the pommel and the other
+to the lance. Then he gave the horse a sharp blow, and, <i>Crash!</i> down
+went the lance.</p>
+
+<p>Making the connections to the pocket instrument as best he could with
+one cold hand, he placed the wire across a sharp rock and a few blows
+with the butt of his revolver soon cut it. The deed was done.</p>
+
+<hr class='minor' />
+
+<p>Private Dunn, the operator at Fort Scott, opened up his office bright
+and early one cold morning and marveled to find the wire working clear
+to Kearney. After having a chat with the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9216" id="Page_9216">216</a></span> man at Kearney about the
+Indian trouble, he was sitting around like Mr. Micawber when he heard
+the sounder weakly calling "FS." Quickly adjusting down he answered and
+this is what he took.</p>
+
+<p class='blockquot'>
+"<span class="smcap">Commanding Officer</span>,<br />
+<br />
+"Fort Scott, Montana.<br />
+<br />
+"29th Infantry surrounded by large body<br />
+hostile Sioux just north of junction of the forks<br />
+of the Red Bud. Colonel Clarke asks for immediate<br />
+re-enforcements; ammunition almost gone;<br />
+situation desperate. I left the command at three<br />
+o'clock this morning.<br />
+<br />
+(Signed.)   <span class="smcap">Dennis Ho&mdash;</span>."<br />
+</p>
+
+<p>Then blank, the sounder was still and the line remained open. The
+sending had been weak and shaky, just as if the sender had been out all
+night, but there was no mistaking the purport of the message.</p>
+
+<p>Dunn didn't wait to pick up his hat but fairly flew down the line to the
+commanding officer's quarters. The colonel was not up yet, but the sound
+of animated voices in the hallway caused him to appear at the head of
+the stairs in his dressing gown.</p>
+
+<p>"What is it, Dunn," he asked.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9217" id="Page_9217">217</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"A message from the 29th Infantry, sir, saying they are surrounded by
+the Sioux Indians and want help."</p>
+
+<p>Colonel Foster read the message, and exclaimed,</p>
+
+<p>"My God! Charlie Clarke stuck out there and wants help! Dunn, have the
+trumpeter sound 'Boots and Saddles.' Present my compliments to the
+adjutant and tell him I desire him to report to me at once.
+Kraus,"&mdash;this to his Dutch striker who was standing around in
+open-mouthed wonderment&mdash;"saddle my horse and get my field kit ready at
+once. Be quick about it."</p>
+
+<p>A few men had seen Dunn's mad rush to the colonel's quarters and
+suspected that something was up, so they were not surprised a few
+minutes later to hear "Boots and Saddles" ring out on the clear morning
+air. The command had been in readiness for field service for some days,
+and but a few moments elapsed until six sturdy troops were standing in
+line on the snow-covered parade. A hurried inspection was made by the
+troop commanders and then Colonel Foster commanded "Fours right, trot,
+march," and away they went on their sixty-mile ride of rescue. A few
+halts were made during the day to tighten girths, and at six o'clock a
+short rest was made for coffee.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9218" id="Page_9218">218</a></span></p>
+
+<hr class='minor' />
+
+<p>The sound of the firing across the river shortly after Hogan left the
+29th was plainly heard by his comrades and many a man was heard to
+exclaim, "It's all up with poor Denny." But the firing grew more distant
+and Colonel Clarke had hopes that Hogan had successfully eluded his
+pursuers and determined to hold on as best he could. He knew full well
+that the Indians would be extraordinarily careful and that it would be
+folly for him to attempt to get another courier through that night. That
+day was indeed a hard one; it was trying to the extreme. Tenaciously did
+those Indians watch their prey. Well did they know by the rising of the
+morrow's sun the ammunition of the soldiers would be exhausted and then
+would come their feast of murder and scalps; Little Big Horn would be
+repeated.</p>
+
+<p>About two o'clock, Colonel Clarke, utterly regardless of personal
+danger, exposed himself for a moment and Chug! down he went, shot
+through the thigh by a Winchester bullet. Brave old chap, never for one
+minute did he give up, and after having his wound dressed as best it
+could be done, he insisted on remaining near the fighting line.
+Lieutenant Jarvis was shot through the arm, Captain Belknap of E Company
+was lying dead near<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9219" id="Page_9219">219</a></span> his company, and scores of other brave men had gone
+to their last reckoning. Hanigan, Hogan's bunkie, was badly wounded, and
+out of his head. Every once in a while he would mumble, "Never you mind,
+fellers, we will be all right yet, just stand 'em off a little while
+longer and Denny will be here with the 11th Cavalry. He said he'd do it
+and by God! he won't fail."</p>
+
+<p>As the shades of the cold winter evening crept silently over the earth,
+the firing died away, and the command settled down to another night of
+the tensest anxiety and watching. Oh! why didn't those northern
+regiments come? Did Hogan succeed in his perilous mission? Depressed
+indeed were the spirits of the officers and men.</p>
+
+<p>About nine o'clock Lieutenant Tracy, the adjutant, was sitting beside
+his chief, who was apparently asleep. Suddenly, Colonel Clarke sat up
+and grabbing Tracy by the arm said, "Hark! what's that noise I hear?"</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing sir, nothing," replied Tracy; "lie down Colonel and try to
+rest, you need it sir"&mdash;and then aside&mdash;"poor old chap, his mind's
+wandering."</p>
+
+<p>"No, no, Tracy. Listen man, don't you hear it? It sounds like the beat
+of many horses' hoofs,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9220" id="Page_9220">220</a></span> re-enforcements are coming, thank God. Hogan got
+through."</p>
+
+<p>Just then, Crash! Bang! and a clear voice rang out, "Right front into
+line, gallop, March! <i>Charge!</i>" and those sturdy chaps of the 11th
+Cavalry true to their regimental hatred for the Indians, charged down
+among the red men scattering them like so much chaff. Then to the
+northwards was heard another ringing cheer, and the two long-delayed
+regiments came down among the Indians like a thunderbolt of vengeance.
+Truly, "It never rains but it pours." The 29th, all that was left of it,
+was saved, and when Colonel Foster leaned over the prostrate form of his
+old friend and comrade, Colonel Clarke feebly asked, "Where is that
+brave little chap, Hogan?"</p>
+
+<p>"Hogan? Who is Hogan?" asked Foster.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, my God, man, Hogan was the man that got beyond the Indian lines to
+make the ride to inform you of our plight. Didn't you see him?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, I didn't see him," and then Colonel Foster related how the
+information had reached him.</p>
+
+<p>A rescuing party was started out and in the pale moonlight they came
+upon the body of poor Denny lying stark and stiff under the telegraph
+line, his left hand grasping the instrument and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9221" id="Page_9221">221</a></span> key open. A bullet
+hole in his head mutely told how he had met his death. Beside him lay
+the Indian, dead, one hand grasping Hogan's scalp lock, the other
+clasping a murderous-looking knife. Death had mercifully prevented the
+accomplishment of his hellish purpose.</p>
+
+<p>Hogan's shot had mortally wounded the Indian in the left breast, but
+with all the vengeful nature of his race, he had crawled forward on his
+hands and knees, and while Hogan was intent on sending his precious
+message, he shot him through the head, but not until the warning had
+been given to Fort Scott. Denny's faithful horse was standing near, as
+if keeping watch over the inanimate form of his late friend.</p>
+
+<p>They buried him where he lay, and a traveler passing over that trail,
+will observe a solitary grave. On the tombstone at the head is
+inscribed:</p>
+
+<p class='center'>
+"DENNIS HOGAN,<br />
+"Private, Company B,<br />
+"29th U. S. Infantry.<br />
+"He died that others might live."<br />
+</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9222" id="Page_9222">222</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXIII</h2><h3>THE COMMISSION WON&mdash;IN A GENERAL STRIKE</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The time spent as a soldier in the ranks passed by all too swiftly. The
+service was pleasant, the duty easy, and the regiment one of the best in
+the entire army. I don't know any two and a half years of my life that
+have been as happy and peaceful as those spent in the ranks of the
+American Army. When the proper time came my recommendations were all in
+good shape and I was duly ordered to appear before an august lot of
+officers and gentlemen at Fortress Monroe, Virginia, to determine my
+fitness to trot along behind a company, sign the sick-book, and witness
+an occasional issue of clothing. One warm June afternoon I bade good-bye
+to the men who had so long been my comrades, and journeyed to the
+eastwards. I was successful in the examinations, and on a Sunday morning
+early in August, myself, in company with twelve other young chaps,
+received the precious little parchment in which the President of the
+United States sends greetings and proclaims to all the world:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"That reposing especial confidence and trust in the valor, patriotism,
+and fidelity of one John Smith, I have made him a second lieutenant in
+the regular army. Look out for him because he hasn't much sense but I
+have strong hopes as how he will learn after a while."</p>
+
+<div class='figcenter' style='width: 321px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="illus-016" id="illus-016"></a>
+<img src='images/p2-219.jpg' alt='"... Dennis, lying under the telegraph line, his left hand still grasped the instrument"' title='' width = '321' height = '513'/><br />
+<span class='caption'>"... Dennis, lying under the telegraph line, his left hand still grasped the instrument"</span>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9223" id="Page_9223">223</a></span>
+The apprenticeship was finished and the chevrons gave way to the
+shoulder straps.</p>
+
+<p>This time I thought surely I had heard the last of the telegraph, never
+again was I going to touch a key. I had been at my first station just
+about two months when one morning I appeared before the Signal Officer
+of the post and plaintively asked him to let me have a set of telegraph
+instruments. He did, and it wasn't long before I had a ticker going in
+my quarters. There was no one to practice with me, so I just pounded
+away by myself for an hour or so each day, to keep my hand in. I have
+yet to see a man who has worked at the business for any length of time
+who could give it up entirely. It's like the opium habit&mdash;powerful hard
+to break off. I have never since tried to lose sight of it.</p>
+
+<p>In 189- one of those spasmodic upheavals known as a sympathetic strike
+spread over the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9224" id="Page_9224">224</a></span> country like wild fire, and it wasn't long before the
+continuance of law and order was entirely out of the hands of the state
+authorities in about ten states, and once more the faithful little army
+was called out to put its strong hand on the throat of destruction and
+pillage. Troops were hurriedly despatched from all posts to the worst
+points and the inefficient state militia in several states relegated to
+its proper sphere&mdash;that of holding prize drills and barbecues.</p>
+
+<p>Owing to the fact that the army cannot be used until a state executive
+acknowledges his inability to preserve law and order, and owing also to
+the fact that the executives in one or two of the states were pandering
+to the socialistic element, saying they could enforce the laws without
+the assistance of the army, this strike had spread until the entire
+country except the extreme east and southeast was in its strong grasp,
+and the work cut out for the army was doled out to it in great big
+chunks. Men seemed to lose all their senses and the emissaries of the
+union succeeded in getting many converts, each one of which paid the sum
+of one dollar to the so-called head of the union. Snap for the aforesaid
+"head," wasn't it? It was positively refreshing to the army at this time
+to have at its head a man who did not know what it was to pander<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9225" id="Page_9225">225</a></span> to the
+socialists, and one who would enforce his solemn oath, "To enforce the
+laws of the United States," at all hazards. United States mail trains
+were being interfered with; the Inter-State Commerce law was being
+violated with impunity, and various other acts of vandalism and pillage
+were being committed all over the land&mdash;and the municipal and state
+authorities "winked the other eye."</p>
+
+<p>Way out in one of the far western posts was a certain Lieutenant Jack
+Brainerd, 31st U. S. Infantry, serving with his company. Jack was a big,
+whole-souled, impulsive chap, and before his entrance to the military
+academy, had been a pretty fair operator. In fact, being the son of a
+general superintendent of one of the big trunk lines, he was quite
+familiar with a railroad, and could do almost anything from driving a
+spike, or throwing a switch to running an engine. The first three years
+succeeding his graduation had been those of enervating peace; all of
+which palled on the soul of Lieutenant Jack to a large degree. The
+martial spirit beat high within his breast, and he wanted a scrap&mdash;he
+wanted one badly.</p>
+
+<p>The preliminary mutterings of this great strike had been heard for days,
+but no one dreamed that anarchy was about to break loose with the
+strength<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9226" id="Page_9226">226</a></span> of all the fires of hell; and yet such was the case. On the
+evening of July 4th, a message came to the commanding officer at Fort
+Blank, to send his command of six companies of infantry to C&mdash;&mdash; at once
+to assist in quelling the riots. The chance for a scrap so longed for by
+Lieutenant Brainerd was coming swift and sure. The next morning the
+command pulled out. The trip was uneventful during the day, but at night
+a warning was received by Major Sharp, the grizzled battalion commander,
+who had fought everything from manly, brave confederates to skulking
+Indians, to watch out for trouble as he approached the storm centre.
+There were rumors of dynamited bridges, broken rails, etc. The major
+didn't believe much in these yarns, but&mdash;"<i>Verbum Sap</i>."&mdash;and the
+precautions were taken. The next morning at five the train pulled into
+Hartshorne, eleven miles out from C&mdash;&mdash;. This was the beginning of the
+great railroad yards and evidences of the presence of the enemy were
+becoming very apparent. A large crowd had gathered to watch the
+bluecoats and it was plain to be seen that they were in full sympathy
+with the strikers. "Scab" and a few other choice epithets were hurled at
+the train crew, and when they were ready to pull out the train didn't
+go. The conductor went forward and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9227" id="Page_9227">227</a></span> found that the engineer had refused
+to handle his engine because Hartshorne was his home and the crowd had
+threatened to kill him if he hauled that load of "slaves of Pullman" any
+further. When Major Sharp heard of it his little grey eyes snapped and
+he growled out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Won't pull this train, eh! Well, damn him, we'll make him pull it.
+Here, Mr. Brainerd, you take some men and go forward and make that
+engineer take us through these yards. If he refuses you know what to do
+with him."</p>
+
+<p>Do? Well, I reckon Jack knew what to do all right enough. He took
+Sergeant Fealy, a veteran, and three men and went forward. The engineer,
+a little snub-nosed Irishman, was at his post with his fireman, a good
+head of steam was on, but nary an inch did that train budge. A big crowd
+of men and women stood around jeering and laughing at the plight of the
+bluecoats. Pushing his way through the crowd, Jack climbed up into the
+cab closely followed by his little escort.</p>
+
+<p>"Sergeant Fealy," he said in a voice loud enough to be heard a block,
+"get up on that tender, have your men load their rifles, and shoot the
+first d&mdash;&mdash;d man that raises a hand or throws a missile. And you," this
+to the engineer, "shove that reverse lever over and pull out."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9228" id="Page_9228">228</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"But, my God, lieutenant," expostulated the engineer, "this is my home
+and if I pull you fellers out of here they'll kill me on sight&mdash;besides
+look at the track ahead. I'd run over and kill a lot of those people."</p>
+
+<p>"There's no 'buts' about it. This train is going in or I'll lose my
+commission in the army; besides if these people haven't sense enough to
+get out of the way let 'em die."</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Engineer started to expostulate farther but the ominous click of a
+.38 Colt's was incentive enough to make him stop and then he shoved her
+over and gave her a little steam&mdash;just a coaxer.</p>
+
+<p>"Here, you blasted chump, that won't do," and with that Brainerd reached
+over and yanked the throttle so that she bounded away like a hare; at
+the same time he gave her sand. It's a great wonder every draw head in
+the train didn't pull out, but fortunately they held on. The crowd on
+the track melted away like the mists before the summer's sun, and beyond
+a few taunting jeers no overt act was committed. The engineer didn't
+relish the idea of a soldier running his engine and became somewhat
+obstreperous. Brainerd grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and landed
+him all in a heap in the coal. Then he climbed up on the right-hand side
+of the cab and took charge of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9229" id="Page_9229">229</a></span> things himself. There were myriads of
+tracks stretching out before him like the long arms of some giant
+octopus, but all traffic was suspended on account of the strike and the
+main line was clear. The train flew down the line like a scared rabbit
+and in thirty minutes reached the camp at Blake Park. I had arrived
+there that morning from the south for special service and when I saw
+Brainerd climb down off of that engine his face was smutty, but his eyes
+twinkled and he came towards me with a broad grin and said,</p>
+
+<p>"Hello, Bates, where in thunder did you spring from?"</p>
+
+<p>There wasn't much time for talking because the great city was groaning
+beneath the grasp of anarchy, and until that power was broken, there
+would be no rest for the weary.</p>
+
+<p>The situation that existed at this time is too well known to require any
+explanation here. The state and city authorities were powerless; the
+militia inefficient and many a citizen bowed his head and thanked God on
+that warm July morning for the arrival of the regulars. Only twenty-one
+hundred of them all told, mind you, against so many thousands of the
+rioters, and yet, they were disciplined men and led by officers who
+simply enforced orders as they received them. No matter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9230" id="Page_9230">230</a></span> where or what
+the sympathies of the men of a company might be, when the captain said
+"Fire," look out, because the bullets would generally fly breast high.
+The situation resembled the Paris Commune, and but for the timely
+arrival of the small body of bluecoats, another cow might have kicked
+over another lamp, and the frightful conflagration of 1871 have been
+more than duplicated. But the "cow" was slaughtered and the "lamp"
+extinguished.</p>
+
+<p>The morning after Brainerd arrived he was detailed on special service
+and ordered to report to me, and together we worked until the trouble
+was over. Just what this service was need not be recorded, but one thing
+sure, railroads and the telegraph figured in it quite largely. In fact
+the general superintendent of the Western Union Telegraph Company placed
+the entire resources of the company at my disposal. A wire was run
+direct to Washington, lines run to all the camps, and Jack and I each
+carried a little pocket instrument on our person.</p>
+
+<p>Although the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers did not go out in a
+body, there was quite a number of them who would not pull trains for
+fear of personal violence from the strikers. One old chap, Bob Redway,
+by name, had known Major<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9231" id="Page_9231">231</a></span> McKenney of our battalion, in days gone by,
+when he was pulling a train on the N. P., and the major was stationed at
+Missoula. Bob wandered into camp one afternoon to see his old friend and
+just at that time a company was ordered to the southern part of the city
+to stop a crowd that was looting and burning P. H. Railway property. As
+usual the engineer backed out at the last moment. The major turned to
+Redway, and said, "See here, Bob, you're not in sympathy with these
+cutthroats, suppose you pull this train out."</p>
+
+<p>"All right, major, I'll pull you through if the old girl will only hold
+up. She's a stranger to me, but I reckon she'll last."</p>
+
+<p>Brainerd and I were to go along and do some special work around the
+stock-yards, and soon we were shooting down the track like a flyer. At
+62nd street we passed a sullen looking crowd and when we reached 130th
+street, we were flagged by the operator in the tower, and informed that
+the mob in our rear was starting to block the track by overturning a
+standard sleeper. They were going to cut us off. We cut the engine
+loose, put fourteen men up on the tender, and Brainerd and I started
+back with them. The engine was going head on, having backed out from the
+city, and Bob let her put for all she was worth. Just at 62nd<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9232" id="Page_9232">232</a></span> street
+there is a long sweeping curve and we were coming around it like a
+streak of blue lightning, when all at once we saw the crowd just in the
+act of pulling the sleeper over on our track. There was no time to lose
+and the command "Fire" was sharply given. "Bang," rang out the
+Springfields, one or two of the mob dropped to the ground, the rest let
+go of the ropes and ran like scared cats, and the car tottered back in
+its original place. Redway had shut off steam and was slowing down under
+ordinary air, when all at once there was a dull deafening roar, and then
+for me&mdash;oblivion. I was only stunned and when I regained consciousness
+looked around and saw the men slowly regaining their feet. Redway was
+not killed, but the shock and concussion of the detonation of the
+dynamite made him lose his speech and he was bleeding profusely at the
+nose and ears. The cowcatcher, headlight and forward trucks of the
+engine were blown to smithereens, but fortunately the boiler did not
+burst and there she stood like some powerful monster wounded to the
+death. The mob, imagining that their fiendish work had been complete,
+became emboldened and rapidly gathered around the little body of
+bluecoats. It began to look rocky, and Brainerd came limping over to me
+and said, "Bates, I'm pretty badly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9233" id="Page_9233">233</a></span> bruised about the legs, and can't
+climb, but if you're able, for God's sake climb that telegraph pole and
+cut in and ask department headquarters to send us down some help. I'll
+form the men around the bottom of the pole and shoot the first damned
+man or woman that throws a missile. We're in a devilish bad box."</p>
+
+<p>I took the little instrument, nippers and wire and up I went. There were
+side steps on the pole so the ascent was easy. What a scene below! Five
+or six thousand angry faces, besotted, coarse and ill-bred looking
+brutes, gazing up at me with the wrath of vengeance in their hearts; and
+held at bay by a band of fourteen battered and bruised bluecoats, a
+wounded engineer and fireman, commanded by an almost beardless boy. Well
+did that mob know that if those rifles ever spoke there would be a
+number of vacant chairs at the various family boards that night. The
+wire was soon cut, the main office gave me department headquarters and
+in thirty minutes' time that mob was scattering like so much chaff
+before the wind, and with a ringing cheer, two companies of the &mdash;th
+Infantry came down among them like a thunderbolt. We were saved and took
+Redway back to camp with us. That evening the major came over to see
+him. Poor chap! he couldn't speak but he motioned<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9234" id="Page_9234">234</a></span> for a pencil and
+paper and this is what he wrote:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Don't worry, major, I'm all right. My speaking machine seems to have
+had a head end collision with a cyclone, but if you want me to pull any
+more trains out my right arm is still in pretty good shape." Bob hung to
+us all through the trying weeks that followed and in the end some of us
+succeeded in getting him a good position in one of the departments in
+Washington.</p>
+
+<p>Far up in the Northwest things were in a very bad shape. Everything was
+tied up tight; mail trains could not run because there were no men to
+run them; "Debsism" had a firm grasp; and even though many of the
+trainmen were willing to run, intimidation by the strikers caused them
+to go slow.</p>
+
+<p>At one place, call it Bridgeton, there was an overland mail waiting to
+go out, but no engineer. Here's where the versatility of the American
+soldier came in. Major Clarke of the &mdash;th Infantry, had four companies
+of his regiment guarding public property at Bridgeton and he sent word
+by his orderly that he wanted a locomotive engineer and a fireman. Quick
+as a flash he had six engineers and any number of men who could fire. He
+chose two good men and then detailed Captain Stilling's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9235" id="Page_9235">235</a></span> company to go
+along as an escort. Orders were procured at the telegraph office for the
+train to run to Pokeville, where further orders would be sent them. When
+the crowd of loiterers and strikers saw the preparations they jeered in
+derision. They had the engineer and fireman corralled, but their laugh
+turned to sorrow when they saw a strapping infantry sergeant climb into
+the cab and after placing his loaded rifle in front of him, he grasped
+the throttle and away they went&mdash;much to the disgust of Mr. Rioter. They
+didn't like it worth a cent, but as one striker put it, "What's the use
+of monkeyin' with them reg'lars? When they gets an order to shoot,
+they're just damned fools enough to shoot right into the crowd. Milish'
+fire in the air, because as a rule they have friends in the crowd and
+don't care to hurt 'em."</p>
+
+<p>Pokeville was one hundred and two miles from Bridgeton and the run was
+carefully made and without incident. When the volunteer engineer and
+Captain Stillings, who was playing conductor, went to the office for
+orders, they found the place deserted. A sullen-looking crowd was
+looking on and appeared to enjoy the discomfiture of the soldiers. They
+had put the operator <i>away</i> for a while. Pressing up near the sides of
+the train they became somewhat ugly and Captain Stillings<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9236" id="Page_9236">236</a></span> brought out
+his company, and lining them up alongside of the track he turned to his
+1st lieutenant and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Mitchell, I'm going into this telegraph office. If this crowd gets
+ugly I want you to shoot the first damned man that moves a finger to
+harm anybody."</p>
+
+<p>But without an operator orders could not be procured, and without orders
+the train could not go. Captain Stillings was in a quandary, but all at
+once he stepped out in front of his company and said in a loud tone, "I
+want an operator."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm one, sir," said Private O'Brien, quickly stepping forward and
+saluting.</p>
+
+<p>"Go in that office and get orders for this train."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, sir," replied O'Brien, and in a minute another bluecoat was
+helping the train on its way. If Captain Stillings had wanted a Chinese
+interpreter he could have gotten one&mdash;any old thing. The train had no
+further mishaps, because everything necessary to run a railroad was
+right here in one company of sixty-two men belonging to the regular
+army.</p>
+
+<p>July slipped away and it was well into August before we returned to our
+posts and the old grind of "Fours right," and "Fours left."</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9237" id="Page_9237">237</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXIV</h2><h3>EXPERIENCES AS A GOVERNMENT CENSOR OF TELEGRAPH</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The few years succeeding the great strike were ones of calm, peaceful
+tranquility. Each recurring November 1st, brought the initiation of Post
+Lyceums at all garrisons, in which the officers were gathered together
+twice a week, and war in all its phases was studied. We didn't exactly
+know where the war was coming from, but, still we boned it out. Old
+campaigns were fought over; the mistakes made by the world's greatest
+commanders, from Alexander the Great to Grant and Lee were pointed out;
+Kriegspiel was played; essays written and discussed, recommendations
+made as to ammunition and food supply; use of artillery in attack and
+defense; the proper method of employing the telegraph in the war; and a
+thousand and one things relative to the machine militaire were gone
+over. All this time we were slumbering over a smoldering volcano, and on
+February 16, 1898, the eruption broke loose; the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9238" id="Page_9238">238</a></span> good ship <i>Maine</i> was
+destroyed in Havana harbor, and the feelings of the people, already
+drawn to the breaking point by the inhuman cruelties of Spain towards
+her colonies near our own shores, burst with a vehemence that portended,
+in unmistakable language, the rending asunder of the once proud kingdom
+of Spain. The army wanted a war; the navy wanted it, the whole
+population wanted it and here it was within our grasp. It was the
+dawning of a new day for the United States; a new empire was being born
+in the Western hemisphere. The feverish preparations attendant upon the
+new conditions are of too recent date to need any sketching here.</p>
+
+<p>When it was finally determined that the time had arrived for the
+assembling of the small but efficient regular army, I was stationed with
+my regiment at Fort Wayne, Michigan. Like all other troops, we were at
+the post ready for the start. The pistol cracked on the 15th of April,
+and on the 19th we started. Mobile, Alabama, was our objective where we
+arrived on the 22nd of the month. Here began the ceaseless preparation
+for the part the regiment was to play in the grand drama of war that was
+to follow, all this camp life and concentration being but the prologue.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9239" id="Page_9239">239</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The camp was a most beautiful one, the weather pleasant, and it was
+indeed a most inspiring sight to see the long unbroken lines of blue go
+swinging by, keeping absolute time and perfect alignment to the
+inspiring strains of some air like "Hot time in the old town to-night,"
+or "The stars and stripes forever."</p>
+
+<p>I had started in with my regiment and expected to remain on duty with it
+until the end of the war, sharing all its perils and hardships, doing my
+part in the fighting, and partaking of any of the renown it might
+achieve should the Dons ever be met. But "Man proposes and God
+disposes," and on the afternoon of May 21st, I was sitting in my tent
+correcting some manuscript when a very bright-eyed colored newsboy came
+along and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Buy a paper, cap'n."</p>
+
+<p>That was the day that a wild rumor had been in circulation that Sampson
+had met Cervera in the Bahama Channel and completely smashed him, so I
+laid down my manuscript and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Anything in there about Sampson licking Cervera?"</p>
+
+<p>"Naw, sir, dat were a fake, cap'n, but dere is lots of oder news fur
+you."</p>
+
+<p>"No, kid, I don't want a paper to-night, and besides I'm not a captain,
+I'm only a lieutenant."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9240" id="Page_9240">240</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"But yer may be one some day. Please buy one cap'n," and with this he
+laid a paper down on my table (a cracker box). I was about to shove it
+aside and sharply tell him to skip out when my eye fell upon:</p>
+
+<p>"Nominations by the President."</p>
+
+<p>"To be captains in the Signal Corps," then followed my name. I bought a
+paper, yes, all he had.</p>
+
+<p>On May 27th, I was ordered to proceed at once to Tampa, Florida,
+reporting upon arrival by telegraph to the chief signal officer of the
+army for instructions. Tuesday morning, the 29th of May, I reported my
+arrival and spent the rest of the morning in looking around the camps,
+renewing old acquaintances. I supposed of course that I was to be
+assigned to the command of one of the new signal companies then forming
+to take part in the Santiago campaign and was filled with delight at the
+prospect, but about eleven o'clock I received an order from General
+Greely directing me to assume charge of the telegraphic censorship at
+Tampa. Three civilians, Heston at Jacksonville, Munn at Miami, and
+Fellers at Tampa, were sworn in as civilian assistants and directed to
+report to me, thereafter acting wholly under my orders. Mr. B. F.
+Dillon, superintendent of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9241" id="Page_9241">241</a></span> Western Union Telegraph Company, was in
+Tampa, and I had a long conference with him. He assured me of his
+confidence and cordial support, and placed the entire resources of his
+company at my disposal. Operators all over the state were instructed
+that anything I ordered was to be obeyed and then the work began.</p>
+
+<p>The idea of a telegraphic censorship was a new and irksome one to the
+great American people and just what it meant was hard to determine. Much
+has been written about "Press Censorship." That term was a misnomer.
+There never <i>was</i> an attempt to <i>censor</i> the <i>great American press</i>. The
+newspapers were just as free to print as they were before the war
+started. <i>All the censorship that existed was over the telegraph lines
+militarily occupied.</i> A government officer was placed in charge and his
+word was absolute; he could only be overruled by General Greely, the
+Secretary of War or the President. It was his duty to watch telegrams,
+regulate the kind that were allowed to pass, and to see that no news was
+sent whereby the interests of the government or the safety of the army
+might suffer.</p>
+
+<p>The instructions I received were general in their nature and in all
+specific cases arising, my judgment was to determine, and I want to
+remark<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9242" id="Page_9242">242</a></span> right here, the rapidity with which those specific cases would
+arise was enough to make a man faint. The first rule made was that
+cipher messages or those written in a foreign tongue were prohibited
+unless sent by a government official on public business. There were a
+few exceptions to this rule. For instance; many large business houses
+have telegraphic cipher codes for the transaction of business, and it
+was not the policy of the government to interfere in any manner with the
+commercial affairs of the country, so these messages were allowed to
+pass when the code book was presented to the censor and a sworn
+translation made in his presence. Spanish messages were transmitted only
+after being most carefully scanned and upon proof of the loyalty of the
+sender or receiver and a sworn translation. Not a single private message
+could be sent by any one, that in any way hinted at the time of the
+departure or destination of any ship or body of troops. Even officers
+about to sail away were not allowed to telegraph their wives and
+families. If they had a pre-arranged code, whereby a message could be
+written in plain English, there was no way to stop their transmission.
+Foreign messages were watched with eagle eyes and many and many a one
+was gently consigned<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9243" id="Page_9243">243</a></span> to the pigeon hole, when the contents and meaning
+were not plain.</p>
+
+<p>From Key West (which was shortly afterwards placed in my charge) there
+ran the cable to Havana, and this line was the subject of an
+extraordinarily strict espionage; not a message being allowed to pass
+over it that was not perfectly plain in its meaning. Mr. J. W. Atkins
+was sworn in as my assistant at Key West, and thus I had the whole state
+of Florida under my control. All the lines from the southern part of the
+state converge to Jacksonville, and not a message could go from a point
+within the state to one out of it without first passing under the
+scrutiny of either myself or one of my sworn assistants.</p>
+
+<p>My office was in H. B. Plant's Tampa Bay hotel, and there, every day,
+from seven <span class="smcap">a. m.</span> until twelve midnight, and sometimes one and two in the
+morning, I did my work. My own long experience as a practical
+telegrapher stood me in good stead and when any direct work was to be
+done with the White House in Washington, or any especially important
+messages were to be sent, I personally did the telegraphing. At the
+Executive Mansion was Colonel B. F. Montgomery, signal corps, in charge
+of the telegraph office, so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9244" id="Page_9244">244</a></span> when anything special passed, no one knew
+it but the colonel and myself.</p>
+
+<p>The Tampa Bay hotel was at this time the scene of the most dazzling and
+brilliant gaiety. Shafter's 5th Corps was preparing for its Santiago
+campaign and each night many officers and their wives would meet in the
+hotel and pass the time away listening to the music of some regimental
+band or in pleasant conversation. Men who had not seen each other since
+the close of the great civil war renewed old acquaintances and spun
+reminiscences by the yard. Military attaches from all the countries of
+the world were daily arriving, and their gaudy uniforms added a dash of
+color to the already brilliant panorama. The bright gold of Captain
+Paget, the English naval attache, the deep blue of Colonel Yermeloff,
+who represented Russia, contrasted vividly with the blue and yellow of
+Japanese Major Shiska, and the scarlet and black of Count Goetzen of
+Germany. But prominent among all this moving panorama of color was the
+plain blue of the volunteer, and the brown khaki of the regular. My view
+of the scene was limited to fleeting glimpses from my office where I was
+nightly scanning messages, doing telegraphing or overlooking 30,000 or
+40,000 words of correspondents' copy. Preparations for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9245" id="Page_9245">245</a></span> the embarkation
+were going on with feverish haste, and orders were daily expected for
+the army to move.</p>
+
+<p>There were at this time nearly two hundred newspaper correspondents
+scattered around through the hotel and in the various camps. They
+represented papers from all over the world, and were typical
+representatives of the brain and sinew of the newspaper profession, and
+were there to accompany the army when it moved. Such men as Richard
+Harding Davis, Stephen Bonsai, Frederick Remington, Caspar Whitney,
+Grover Flint, Edward Marshall, Maurice Low, John Taylor, John Klein,
+Louis Seibold, George Farman and Mr. Akers of the London papers, and
+scores of others. They were quick and active, intensely patriotic, alert
+for all the news, a "scoop" for them was the blood of life, and the
+censorship came like a wet blanket. In a small way I had been
+corresponding for a paper since the beginning of the war, but when the
+detail as censor came I gave it up as the two were incompatible.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9246" id="Page_9246">246</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXV</h2><h3>MORE CENSORSHIP</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>I must confess that I stood in awe of these newspaper chaps, because I
+knew my orders would incense them and if they took it into their heads
+to roast me my life would be made miserable for a good many days to
+come. But then in the army orders are made to be obeyed and I determined
+not to show partiality to any of them. It was to be "a fair field and no
+favor," so I sent word and asked them to meet me in the reading-room of
+the hotel at two o'clock that afternoon. They came garbed in all sorts
+of field uniform and I made a little speech telling what they might send
+and what was interdicted; I remarked that the work was as irksome to me
+as it was to them, but orders were orders and if they would live up to
+the few <i>simple</i> rules they would make my task much easier and save
+themselves lots of trouble. Nothing absolutely was to be sent, that
+would convey in any way an idea of the number of troops in Tampa, the
+time of arrival or departure of any number of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9247" id="Page_9247">247</a></span> troops or ships, and
+above all, not a word was to be sent out as to when the 5th Army Corps
+was to sail. When I had finished one of the correspondents shook his
+head in a deprecatory way and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Well, captain, we thought Lieutenant Miley (my predecessor) was bad
+enough but you can give him cards and spades and beat him out. You're
+certainly a hummer from the word go, and I reckon we'd better go home."</p>
+
+<p>He had my sympathy but that was all. Every correspondent had a war
+department pass; these I examined and registered each man.</p>
+
+<p>That night my fun commenced. At six <span class="smcap">P. M.</span> they began to file stuff, and
+armed with a big blue pencil I started to slash and when I finished,
+some of their sheets looked like a miniature football field, while their
+faces betokened blank amazement and intense disgust. Boiled down, the
+first night's batch of copy consisted of a glowing description of the
+new censor; this fiend whose weapon was a blue pencil&mdash;his glowing red
+whiskers&mdash;his goggle eyes, and his Titian-colored hair. One of them
+said:</p>
+
+<p>"This afternoon the new censor stuck his head out of the window and the
+glow was so great from his red whiskers and auburn locks that the fire<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9248" id="Page_9248">248</a></span>
+department was turned out. The latest report is that the censor was
+unquenched," and so on. They couldn't send any news so they sent me.
+Most of them were space writers and everything went. In many ways they
+tried to evade the rules; by insinuations, hints upon which a bright
+telegraph editor could raise an edifice with a semblance of truth, but
+the blue pencil generally got in its work before the dispatch reached
+the operator. I had two stamps made; one "O. K. for transmission," and
+the other, "REJECTED, file, do not return." Number one went on all
+messages for transmission and number two on all others. As I gaze at
+these relics now I see that number two has been used much more than its
+companion.</p>
+
+<p>I had made it a rule that each paper maintaining a correspondent in
+Tampa was to furnish me with a copy of every edition of the paper. As a
+result, in a few days I had a mail that was stupendous. A clerk was on
+hand who read these papers, marking all things bearing a Tampa date
+line. Then I would read them and woe betide the correspondent whose
+paper contained contraband news from Tampa. Off went his head and his
+permit was recalled for a certain time as a punishment.</p>
+
+<p>There never has been a line of sentinels so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9249" id="Page_9249">249</a></span> strong but that some one
+could break through, and there was undoubtedly some leakage from Tampa,
+but to see news of actual importance from there was like hunting for a
+needle in a haystack. The mails carried out some, but even then the
+correspondents suffered. Two incidents may not be amiss.</p>
+
+<p>One young chap whose keenness ran away with his judgment, brought me a
+stack of copy one night, almost every word of which was contraband. The
+blue pencil got in its work in great shape and then the "rejected" stamp
+put its seal of disapproval on the message and it was filed away with
+many others, that "were not dead, but sleeping." Mr. Correspondent
+muttered something about "a cussed red-headed censor who wasn't the pope
+and could be beaten" and walked away. I thought no more of the matter
+until about seven days thereafter when my clerk gave me a marked copy of
+the correspondent's paper, and there, big as life, under a Tampa date
+line was the rejected dispatch. He had left my office and mailed his
+story to a friend living up in Georgia, and it was telegraphed by him
+from there. You see, Georgia was beyond my jurisdiction. He had surely
+made a "scoop;" he had sown the wind and that night he reaped the
+whirlwind, because I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9250" id="Page_9250">250</a></span> promptly suspended him from correspondents'
+privileges, and forbade him the use of the wires. General Greely upheld
+me in this as in all other cases and for ten days I allowed him to
+ruminate over his offence, while his paper was cussing him out for
+failing to send in stuff. Then I restored him to his former status,
+first making him sign a pledge on honor that he would abide forever
+thereafter by the censorship rules.</p>
+
+<p>Another young man who represented a Cincinnati daily, walked into the
+express office in Tampa one evening and gave the agent a package saying:</p>
+
+<p>"Say, old chap, have your messenger running north to-night give this to
+the first operator after crossing the Georgia line and tell him to send
+it to my paper. It's a big scoop and I want to get it through."</p>
+
+<p>Of course, the "old chap" was built just that way. He took the message
+and in five minutes it was reposing gently in my desk. I then quickly
+sent out a telegram to all my censors taking away the correspondent's
+privileges until further orders.</p>
+
+<p>That night full of innocence&mdash;and beer&mdash;he walked into the Tampa city
+office and handed Censor Fellers a message for his paper, just as a
+sort<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9251" id="Page_9251">251</a></span> of a bluff. Fellers grinned at him quietly said:</p>
+
+<p>"Sorry, Mr. J&mdash;, but Captain B&mdash;has just suspended you from use of the
+telegraph until further orders."</p>
+
+<p>In a very few minutes Mr. J&mdash;appeared at my office, blustering like a
+Kansas cyclone, and demanded to know why I had dared to treat him thus?
+I simply picked up his copy and showed it to him, saying:</p>
+
+<p>"This is your handwriting, I believe, Mr. J&mdash;."</p>
+
+<p>The props dropped out from under him and he said:</p>
+
+<p>"Well, by thunder, you censor mail, telegraph and express; I reckon if I
+attempted to send anything by carrier pigeon you'd catch it and put that
+d&mdash;d old 'rejected' stamp on it."</p>
+
+<p>"No," I replied, "but I might possibly use it on a mule."</p>
+
+<p>In spite of his pleadings and promises he was hung up for ten days.</p>
+
+<p>It must be said, however, that such men as these were rarities: most of
+the men, especially those representing the great dailies, were only too
+willing to abide by orders. They kicked hard&mdash;naturally and
+rightfully&mdash;because news that they were forbidden to send from Tampa was
+sent broadcast<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9252" id="Page_9252">252</a></span> from Washington as coming from the war department. Oh!
+yes they kicked so much that it seemed as if my auburn locks would turn
+gray, but the protest was against the censorship in general and not
+against me. I was enough of a newspaper man to fully appreciate their
+position, and more than one message went from me to General Greely
+asking if Washington could not be censored as well as Tampa. No! Army
+officers had no power to stop the mouths of the high civil officials of
+the government, and so the dance went on.</p>
+
+<p>And the managing editors would flood their correspondents with telegrams
+of inquiry as to why they did not send the news that daily came from
+Washington as having originated in Tampa; and the correspondents would
+come to me and I would endeavor to calm them down as best I could. Then,
+incidentally, the managing editors would take a fling at me personally,
+and I would receive a polite telegram of protest but to no avail.</p>
+
+<p>Finally, one night the trouble culminated, and conjointly the
+correspondents sent a long telegram to General Greely asking if he could
+not right the seeming injustice. They did not mind being beaten in a
+fair field, but they did hate to be "scooped" by Washington
+correspondents who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9253" id="Page_9253">253</a></span> were having an easy time. Almost every man signed
+the protest and then it was brought to me, and I quickly O. K'd. it.
+Shortly afterwards a number of them came to my office and assured me
+that it was not against me personally they were kicking, and Louis
+Seibold, of the New York World, sent General Greely a message saying:</p>
+
+<p>"I don't like your blooming censor business one bit, but if you have to
+have it, you've got the best man for it in the army right here in
+Tampa," or words to that effect. Many others sent similar messages, but
+not quite so outspoken. General Greely appreciated their position and
+said so, but was unable to change the condition of affairs and so
+matters continued.</p>
+
+<p>All this time feverish preparations were being made to rush off
+Shafter's expedition. June 7th was a very hard and trying day, and at
+six o'clock in the evening I had just seated myself for a hasty bite of
+dinner when a messenger came to me from the telegraph office saying that
+the White House wanted me at once. I went to the key and was informed
+that the President wanted to talk to Generals Miles and Shafter and that
+the greatest secrecy must be maintained. After sending word to the
+generals, I sent all the operators out of the office, closed the windows
+and turned down the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9254" id="Page_9254">254</a></span> sounder so that it could not be heard <i>three feet
+away</i>. When General Shafter came in he had an officer stationed in the
+hall so that no one could approach in that direction. General Miles came
+in shortly afterwards and the door was closed. We all sat in front of
+the table, General Miles on my right, and General Shafter on the left.
+Lieutenant Miley of General Shafter's staff stood behind his chief. It
+was a scene long to be remembered. General Shafter was dressed in the
+plain blue army fatigue uniform, its strict sombreness being relieved
+only by the two gleaming silver stars on his shoulder straps. General
+Miles, the commanding general, was in conventional tuxedo dress, and
+looked every inch the gallant soldier and gentleman that he is. From the
+little telegraph instrument on the table ran a single strand of copper
+wire, out in the dark night, over the pine tops of Florida and Georgia,
+over the mountains of the Carolinas, and hills and vales of Virginia,
+into the Executive Mansion at Washington. In the office of the White
+House were the President, the Secretary of War, and Adjutant-General
+Corbin. The key there was worked by Colonel Montgomery, so if there ever
+was an official wire this was one.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9255" id="Page_9255">255</a></span></p>
+
+<p>When all was ready I told the White House to go ahead.</p>
+
+<p>The first message was from the Secretary of War to General Shafter
+directing him to sail at once, as he was needed at the destination which
+was known at this time only to about five officers in Tampa. General
+Shafter replied that he would be ready to sail the next morning at
+daylight. Then, by the President's direction, a message was repeated
+that had been received from Admiral Sampson, saying he had that day
+bombarded the outer defenses of Santiago, and if ten thousand men were
+there the city and fleet would fall within forty-eight hours. The
+President further directed that General Shafter should sail as indicated
+by him with not less than ten thousand men. Then followed an interchange
+of messages, more or less personal in their nature, between the generals
+and the Washington contingent. Finally all was over and the line was cut
+off. The whole conversation lasted about fifty minutes, but the
+beginning of new history was started in that time and the curtain was
+going up on the grand drama of war. All the time this was going on I
+could hear faintly his strains of '<i>Auf Wiedersehn</i>,' together with the
+merry jest of the officers and the light laughter of the women. Brave
+men, braver women&mdash;soon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9256" id="Page_9256">256</a></span> their laughter was turned to tears and many of
+the officers who went out of the Tampa Bay hotel on that warm June night
+are now sleeping their last sleep, having given up their lives that
+their country's honor might live. The train carrying the headquarters to
+Port Tampa left at five o'clock in the morning. There was very little
+sleep that night and the next morning the big hotel was well nigh
+deserted. And all this time the destination of the fleet was unknown to
+all but those high in rank and myself.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9257" id="Page_9257">257</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXVI</h2><h3>CENSORSHIP CONCLUDED</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>My own sleep on that night was limited to about two hours snatched
+between work, and the following morning was a very busy one. About once
+every hour I would report to the White House how things were progressing
+at the port. As the big transports received their load of living
+freight, one by one they would pull out in the stream and anchor,
+waiting until the time should come when all would be ready, and then
+like a big swarm they would pull out together. They did not sail at
+daylight; unexpected delays occurred, and eight, nine, ten, eleven and
+twelve o'clock passed and still they had not sailed, although the twelve
+o'clock report said they would be gone by twelve-thirty.</p>
+
+<p>At one o'clock a messenger came hurriedly to me and said the White House
+wanted me at the key at once. When I answered, Colonel Montgomery said,
+"<i>The President wants to know if you can stop that fleet?</i>" Now the wire
+to Port Tampa<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9258" id="Page_9258">258</a></span> was on a table right back of me and calling him with my
+left hand I said:</p>
+
+<p>"Can you get General Miles or General Shafter?" and with my right hand I
+said to the President, "I'll try, wait a minute."</p>
+
+<p>Then said the White House, "<i>It is imperative that the fleet be stopped
+at once.</i>"</p>
+
+<p>From Port Tampa, "No sir, I can't find General Miles or General
+Shafter."</p>
+
+<p>I replied, "Have all the transports pulled out of the slip?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes sir, so far as I can see they are all gone."</p>
+
+<p>From Washington, "Have you stopped the fleet?"</p>
+
+<p>"Wait a minute&mdash;will let you know later, am trying now."</p>
+
+<p>To Port Tampa, "Go out and find a tug and get this message to either
+General Miles or General Shafter, 'The President directs that you stop
+the sailing of Shafter's army until further orders.' Now fly."</p>
+
+<p>Just then Port Tampa said, "Here comes General Miles now," and in a
+minute more the message was delivered and the fleet stopped. I then
+reported to the President:</p>
+
+<p>"I have delivered your message to General<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9259" id="Page_9259">259</a></span> Miles and the fleet will not
+sail until further orders."</p>
+
+<p>They came back wondering what had stopped them and that evening we
+learned of the appearance of the "Phantom" Spanish fleet in the Nicholas
+Channel <i>heading westward</i>. "Cervera wasn't bottled up in Santiago,"
+said some, "and before morning he will be here and blow us out of the
+water." Great was the consternation and as a precaution all the ships
+were ordered back into the slip. It must be said, however, that General
+Miles <i>never had any idea that the Spanish fleet was approaching our
+shores</i>.</p>
+
+<p>The transport fleet was tied up and then followed six days of weary
+waiting, and the duties of the censor became more arduous than ever, and
+the utmost vigilance was exercised. Private messages were almost all
+hung up, in fact, very little else than government business was allowed
+to pass over the wires. And yet, every day for a week, copies of the
+daily papers that reached me had, under flaming headlines, the startling
+news that Shafter's fleet had sailed&mdash;destination&mdash;Havana, San Juan,
+Matanzas,&mdash;yes&mdash;even the Spanish coast. All this was announced from
+Washington, and made the correspondents snort; they made every excuse to
+let their papers know they were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9260" id="Page_9260">260</a></span> still there. They wanted money, they
+wanted to send messages to their families, in fact, they wanted
+everything under the sun, but to no avail. Finally, on the 14th of June
+the army sailed away, filled with hope and courage, on their mission
+that resulted in victory for the American arms; but that was a foregone
+conclusion, while we less fortunate ones were left behind to pray for
+the success that we knew would be theirs.</p>
+
+<p>The correspondents were all on the transport "Olivette," and just before
+they pulled out I sent them a message saying I would release the news
+that night about the <i>sailing of the fleet only</i>, and they might file
+their messages. They did in large numbers and here is where the joke
+came in. When the messages reached the papers they thought it was all a
+bluff to mislead the public, and many of them refused to publish the
+news, but the fleet had gone this time for certain. As late as two days
+afterwards I received messages from the managing editors of two of the
+greatest papers in the country, asking me if the fleet had really
+sailed. I assured them it had. One thing is certain, the destination of
+that fleet was a well-kept secret. Mr. Richard Harding Davis in his
+admirable book on the Cuban and Porto Rican Campaigns, says that credit
+is due the censor because<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9261" id="Page_9261">261</a></span> it was so well kept. I am afraid that this is
+about the only good word the censor ever received from the said Mr.
+Davis.</p>
+
+<p>The "Olivette," on which the correspondents sailed, was the last boat to
+leave Port Tampa. She left about six-thirty <span class="smcap">P. M.</span> in the glory of the
+setting sun of a tropical evening. About five-thirty <span class="smcap">p. m.</span> Mr. Edward
+Marshall, that prince of good fellows, who represented the New York
+Journal, came into my office to write a message for his paper, to be
+left with me and sent when the story was released. Marshall was a
+typical newspaper man and a thorough American, and had just returned
+from New York where he had been in attendance upon the sick-bed of his
+wife. He was very anxious to get his story written before he sailed. I
+knew the "Olivette" was about to pull out, and if he expected to go on
+her it was high time he was moving. As Port Tampa was nine miles away, I
+told him to fly and cut his story short or send it from Port Tampa. He
+thanked me and reached Port Tampa just in time to save being left. It
+was this same Edward Marshall who so daringly pushed to the front during
+the Guasimas fight of the Rough Riders, and was seriously wounded by a
+Mauser bullet near his spine. He was supposed to be dying, but true to
+his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9262" id="Page_9262">262</a></span> newspaper training and full of loyalty to his paper, he dictated a
+message to his journal between the puffs of a cigarette, when it was
+supposed each breath would be his last. But thank God he did not die,
+and now gives promise of many years of useful life. I have often thought
+if I had not warned him in time to go he would not have been shot; but
+then all war is uncertain, and in warning him I was only, "Doing unto
+others as I would be done by."</p>
+
+<p>During all these stirring times just described there were two women
+correspondents, poor souls, who were indeed sad and lonely. They were
+very ambitious and wanted to go to Cuba with the army, but the War
+Department wisely forbade any such a move and then my trouble began. At
+all hours of the day or night I was pestered by these same women. One of
+them represented a Canadian paper and was most anxious to go. She tried
+every expedient and tackled every man or woman of influence that came
+along. Even dear old Clara Barton did not escape her importunities. She
+wanted to go as a Red Cross nurse, but didn't know anything about
+nursing. However, I reckon she was as good as some of the women who did
+go. She was an Irish girl with rich red hair, and as mine was of an
+auburn tinge we didn't get<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9263" id="Page_9263">263</a></span> along worth a cent. She didn't do much
+telegraphing but sent all of her stuff by mail. However, it was her
+intention to send <i>one telegram</i> to her paper and "scoop" all the other
+chaps in so doing. She wrote a letter to her managing editor in Toronto
+and told him there was a censor down there who thought he could bottle
+up Florida as regards news, but she intended to outwit him. Particular
+attention was being paid so as to preserve the secrecy of the sailing
+day of Shafter's army. Cipher and code messages bearing on this
+occurrence were to be strictly interdicted. But that didn't make any
+difference to her; she could beat that game. So on the day the fleet
+actually sailed she would send a message to her paper saying, "<i>Send me
+six more jubilee books.</i>" This would indicate that the fleet had really
+gone. Brilliant scheme from the brain of a very bright woman, but she
+lost sight of the fact that Messrs. Carranza and Polo y Bernabe were at
+that time in Canada spying on the United States, and that all the
+Canadian mail was most carefully watched. Such, however, was the case,
+and in a short time the contents of her letter were known to General
+Greely, and by him communicated to me. One evening Miss Correspondent
+was standing in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9264" id="Page_9264">264</a></span> lobby of the Tampa Bay hotel surrounded by a group
+of her friends, when I approached and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Excuse me, Miss J&mdash;, but I should like to speak to you for a moment."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, what is it, pray? Surely you haven't anything to say but what my
+friends can hear, have you?" Sassy, wasn't she?</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! well if that is the case?" I replied, "I am sorry to inform you
+that you are suspended from correspondent's privileges and from the use
+of the telegraph until further orders."</p>
+
+<p>"And what for pray?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't just exactly know," I answered, "but I think it has something
+to do with sending you 'six more jubilee books' from Canada."</p>
+
+<p>Well! she turned all the colors of the rainbow, and snapped out,
+"Goodness gracious! how did you&mdash;where did you hear that?"</p>
+
+<p>I smiled politely and walked away. The next morning, shortly after I
+reached my office, a timid knock was heard at the door.</p>
+
+<p>"Come in," I yelled, thinking it was a messenger boy. In walked Miss
+J&mdash;&mdash;, woebegone, crestfallen and disheartened, with a letter of apology
+and explanation. I forwarded this to General Greely and kept her
+suspended for seven days.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9265" id="Page_9265">265</a></span> She never offended again, and the last I
+heard of her she was in Key West gazing with longing eyes towards the
+Pearl of the Antilles. She never reached there.</p>
+
+<p>The other woman correspondent was different. She was an American widow,
+bright, dashing and vivacious. She had heard of the ogre of a censor;
+she would conquer him through his susceptibility. I'll admit that the
+censor in question was susceptible of some things&mdash;but not in business
+matters. One day she filed an innocent little telegram to her paper,
+saying, "For ice cream read typhoid." The operator glanced at it and
+said, "You'll have to get Captain B&mdash;&mdash;'s O. K. on that message before I
+can send it."</p>
+
+<p>She talked sweetly to him, but that didn't happen to be one of his
+"susceptible" days. Then she came to me, and as my "susceptibility" had
+run to a pretty low ebb I refused to permit the message to go on, on
+account of its hidden meaning.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, pshaw! Captain, I wrote a story for my paper and in it described
+the death of a man from the effects of eating too much ice cream, and
+now I learn that he died of typhoid fever."</p>
+
+<p>I was pretty hard-headed that morning and couldn't assist the lady and
+she left the office vowing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9266" id="Page_9266">266</a></span> vengeance. The next edition of her paper
+contained the most charmingly sarcastic article about the red-headed,
+white-shoed censor I have ever seen, but I had become case-hardened by
+this time and did not mind it in the least.</p>
+
+<p>It might be supposed that as soon as the army had sailed and the
+correspondents had gone, that the censorship duties would be lighter.
+They were, officially, but otherwise they became harder than ever. The
+army had gone, but the women had been left behind. The husbands were
+away&mdash;fighting&mdash;dying&mdash;while the wives were waiting with dry eyes and
+aching hearts for the news that would mean life or death to them. There
+were some forty wives, daughters, and sweethearts remaining in the Tampa
+Bay hotel, and to them the censor became a most interesting party. They
+knew that any news that came to Tampa would come through him, and they
+wanted it whether his orders would allow him to divulge it or not.
+Before, I had to contend with the importunities of zealous
+correspondents, now it was the longing eyes of sweet women whose hearts
+were breaking with suspense, whose lives had stood still since the 14th
+day of June when the fleet sailed away. Of the two, I would rather
+contend with the former.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9267" id="Page_9267">267</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The long and trying days dragged slowly by and still no news. Finally,
+on the 22nd of June, it was known that the army was landing; June 24th,
+the Guasimas fight of the cavalry division took place, and from that
+time on life was made miserable for me by importunate women. Many
+telegrams&mdash;yes, hundreds of them&mdash;came to me every day, and each time
+one of those cursed little yellow envelopes was put in my hands, if I
+happened to be in the lobby of the hotel, I could feel forty or fifty
+pairs of anxious eyes concentrated on me, as if to read from the
+expression of my face whether the news was good or bad. Colonel Michler
+of General Miles's staff was there, and if we should happen to be
+together talking, the women would surmise that the news was bad; and
+many times their surmises were just about right. One sweet little
+black-eyed woman always said she could tell from my face whether I was
+bluffing or not. July 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, were very gloomy days for we
+poor chaps who had been left behind&mdash;and for the women. We&mdash;they&mdash;knew
+the fight was on, that men were heroically dying, and <i>we</i> also knew
+that the army was in a hard way. Strive as we might, no gleam of hope
+could be culled from the news of those three days. Cervera's fleet was
+still in the harbor of Santiago, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9268" id="Page_9268">268</a></span> the army not only had the Spanish
+troops to fight but the navy as well. Flesh and blood might stand the
+rain of Mauser bullets, but they could not stand rapid-fire guns and
+eight-inch shells. The third of July dragged by, and at eleven o'clock
+Colonel Michler retired for the night not feeling in a very pleasant
+frame of mind. The lobby was well nigh deserted, but Colonels Smith and
+Powell and a few more officers sat by one of the big open doors having a
+farewell smoke and chat before going to bed. At eleven-thirty I was
+standing by the desk talking to the clerk, when the night operator came
+charging out of the office and gave me a little piece of yellow paper. I
+quickly opened it and read, "Sampson entirely destroyed Cervera's fleet
+this morning." News like that, if true, was too good to keep, so I went
+into the telegraph office and had a wire cut through to the New York
+office and asked for a confirmation or denial of the report. They
+confirmed it and gave me the text of the official report. I bounded out
+in the hall and shouted out the glorious news at the top of my voice.
+Gloom was dispelled instanter, and joy reigned supreme. At just twelve
+o'clock midnight, we drank a toast to the army and navy, and to our
+country.</p>
+
+<p>Santiago surrendered and the army went to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9269" id="Page_9269">269</a></span> Porto Rico only to be stopped
+in the midst of a most brilliant campaign by the signing of the
+protocol. The censorship was ended and willingly did I lay down the blue
+pencil and take up my sword.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9270" id="Page_9270">270</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXVII</h2><h3>CONCLUSION</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>I cannot refrain from concluding this little volume by a tribute to the
+telegraphers of the country.</p>
+
+<p>It is but fifty-five years since Professor S. F. B. Morse electrified
+the civilized world by the completion of his electro-magnetic telegraph.
+Since that time great improvements have been made until now it is
+difficult to recognize in the delicate mechanisms of the relay, key,
+sounder, duplex, quad, and multiplex, the principle first promulgated in
+the old Morse register. Its influence was at once felt in all walks of
+life; it was an art to be an expert telegrapher. Keeping pace with the
+strides of advancing civilization, the telegraph has spread its slender
+wires, until now almost the entire world is connected by its magnetism.
+Away back in the early fifties when railroads and comforts were few,
+while danger and trials were plenty, these faithful knights of the key
+carried on their work under the most adverse circumstances. Since its
+first appearance it has manifestly been the possessor of millions of
+secrets,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9271" id="Page_9271">271</a></span> public and private. In times of joy you flash your
+congratulations to distant relatives or friends; in minutes of sorrow
+and tribulation, your message of sympathy is quickly carried as a balm
+to aching hearts; in the worries of business its use is of the most
+vital importance; and while you are peacefully slumbering on some
+swiftly moving railroad train the telegraph is one of the principal
+means of insuring a safe and speedy trip. Pick up your favorite daily
+paper&mdash;the one that is always reliable&mdash;read the market or press reports
+accurately printed, and then think that the telegraph does it all. Read
+news from foreign countries&mdash;from out-of-the-way places&mdash;and think of
+the miles of mountains, deserts, plains and valleys passed over; think
+of the slender cable down deep in the throbbing bosom of the ocean and
+of the little spark that brings the news to your door; and then reflect
+on the men whose abilities accomplish these results. Think of his work
+in the countries where it is so hot that it seems as if the land beyond
+the River Styx is at his elbow; in lands where it is always cold and the
+days and nights are long. In season and out; in times of death,
+pestilence and famine, with never a murmur, these sturdy, loyal men, and
+true-hearted women do their work. All these are incidents of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9272" id="Page_9272">272</a></span> peace. Now
+think, when war, grim-visaged and terrible, spreads its mighty power
+over the earth. What is responsible for the news of victory? What brings
+you the list you so anxiously scan of the dead and wounded? What means
+are employed by the subdivisions of the army in the field to keep in
+constant communication, so that they may act as the integral parts of an
+harmonious whole? In the late Spanish-American war what first brought
+news, authentic in character, to the Navy Department that Cervera with
+his doomed fleet was in Santiago harbor? And during the dark and trying
+days from June 22nd until July 14th, the telegraphers of the army&mdash;the
+signal corps men&mdash;were ceaseless and tireless in their efforts, and as a
+result within five minutes of its being sent, a message would be in
+Washington. While the army slept they worked, without any regard to self
+or comfort. And to-day in the far-off Philippine islands they are still
+striving with the best results. The telegraphers are honest, loyal,
+patriotic men&mdash;a little Bohemian, perhaps, in their tastes&mdash;and deserve
+a better recognition for the good work they do.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>"30"<br />
+"Filed, 2:35 <span class="smcap">a. m.</span>"<br />
+"Received, 2:43 <span class="smcap">a. m.</span>"</p>
+
+<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DANGER SIGNALS
+REMARKABLE, EXCITING AND UNIQUE EXAMPLES OF THE BRAVERY, DARING AND STOICISM IN THE MIDST OF DANGER OF TRAIN DISPATCHERS AND RAILROAD ENGINEERS ***</div>
+</body>
+</html>
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+This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements,
+metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be
+in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES.
+
+Procedures for determining public domain status are described in
+the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org.
+
+No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in
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+status under the laws that apply to them.
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+Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for
+eBook #19007 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/19007)
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+Project Gutenberg's Danger Signals, by John A. Hill and Jasper Ewing Brady
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Danger Signals
+       Remarkable, Exciting and Unique Examples of the Bravery,
+       Daring and Stoicism in the Midst of Danger of Train
+       Dispatchers and Railroad Engineers
+
+Author: John A. Hill and Jasper Ewing Brady
+
+Release Date: August 8, 2006 [EBook #19007]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DANGER SIGNALS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: "Quick as a flash the Kid had my arm."]
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+DANGER SIGNALS
+
+Remarkable, Exciting And Unique Examples Of The Bravery,
+Daring And Stoicism In The Midst Of Danger Of
+TRAIN DISPATCHERS AND RAILROAD ENGINEERS
+
+By
+
+JOHN A. HILL
+and
+JASPER EWING BRADY
+
+ABSORBING STORIES OF MEN WITH NERVES OF STEEL,
+INDOMITABLE COURAGE AND WONDERFUL ENDURANCE
+
+Fully Illustrated
+
+CHICAGO
+JAMIESON-HIGGINS CO.
+1902
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+Copyright 1898, 1899
+By S. S. McClure Co.
+
+Copyright 1899
+By Doubleday & McClure Co.
+
+Copyright 1900
+By Jamieson-Higgins Co.
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+PART I.                                                           PAGE
+
+Jim Wainright's Kid                                                 7
+
+An Engineer's Christmas Story                                       35
+
+The Clean Man and the Dirty Angels                                  57
+
+A Peg-legged Romance                                                75
+
+My Lady of the Eyes                                                 97
+
+Some Freaks of Fate                                                151
+
+Mormon Joe, the Robber                                             191
+
+A Midsummer Night's Trip                                           227
+
+The Polar Zone                                                     253
+
+
+PART II.
+
+CHAPTER
+
+    I. Learning the Business--My First Office                        1
+
+   II. An Encounter with Train Robbers                              11
+
+  III. In a Wreck                                                   12
+
+   IV. A Woman Operator Who Saved a Train                           25
+
+    V. A Night Office in Texas--A Stuttering Despatcher             33
+
+   VI. Blue Field, Arizona, and an Indian Scrimmage                 42
+
+  VII. Taking a Whirl at Commercial Work--My First
+       Attempt--The Galveston Fire                                  52
+
+ VIII. Sending a Message Perforce--Recognizing
+       an Old Friend by His Stuff                                   62
+
+   IX. Bill Bradley, Gambler and Gentleman                          68
+
+    X. The Death of Jim Cartwright--Chased off a Wire by a Woman    80
+
+   XI. Witnessing a Marriage by Wire--Beating a
+       Pool Room--Sparring at Long Range                            87
+
+  XII. How a Smart Operator was Squelched--The Galveston Flood      96
+
+ XIII. Sending My First Order                                      104
+
+  XIV. Running Trains by Telegraph--How It is Done                 111
+
+   XV. An Old Despatcher's Mistake--My First Trick                 125
+
+  XVI. A General Strike--A Locomotive Engineer for a Day           137
+
+ XVII. Chief Despatcher--An Inspection Tour--Big River Wreck       147
+
+XVIII. A Promotion by Favor and Its Results                        160
+
+  XIX. Jacking up a Negligent Operator--A Convict
+       Operator--Dick, the Plucky Call Boy                         168
+
+   XX. An Episode of Sentiment                                     185
+
+  XXI. The Military Operator--A Fake Report that
+       Nearly Caused Trouble                                       192
+
+ XXII. Private Dennis Hogan, Hero                                  203
+
+XXIII. The Commission Won--In a General Strike                     222
+
+ XXIV. Experiences as a Government Censor of Telegraph             237
+
+  XXV. More Censorship                                             246
+
+ XXVI. Censorship Concluded                                        257
+
+XXVII. Conclusion                                                  269
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+List of Illustrations
+
+PART I.
+
+"Quick as a flash the Kid had my arm."                    Frontispiece
+
+                                                               TO FACE
+"I noticed his long, slim hand on the top of the
+reverse-lever"                                                      22
+
+"It was a strange courting ... there on that engine"                70
+
+"We carried him into the depot"                                    100
+
+"He was the first man I ever killed"                               176
+
+"'Mexican,' said I"                                                236
+
+"What seemed to be a giant iceberg...."                            282
+
+"A white city ... was visible for an instant"                      292
+
+PART II.
+
+Facsimile of a completed train-despatcher's order                    1
+
+"Two of the men tied my hands in front of me"                       16
+
+"After many efforts I finally reached the lowest cross-arm"         30
+
+"One of them picked up the lantern, and swaggering over to
+where I sat all trembling...."                                      38
+
+"He looked at me ... then catching me by the collar...."           100
+
+"... Half lying on the table, face downward, dead by his own hand" 128
+
+"'See here, who is going to pull this train?'"                     144
+
+"Are you not doing it just because I am a woman?"                  190
+
+"... Dennis, lying under the telegraph line. His left hand
+still grasped the instrument"                                      219
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+
+
+DANGER SIGNALS.
+
+PART I.
+
+JIM WAINRIGHT'S KID
+
+
+As I put down my name and the number of the crack engine of America--as
+well as the imprint of a greasy thumb--on the register of our roundhouse
+last Saturday night, the foreman borrowed a chew of my fireman's
+fine-cut, and said to me:
+
+"John, that old feller that's putting on the new injectors wants to see
+you."
+
+"What does he want, Jack?" said I. "I don't remember to have seen him,
+and I'll tell you right now that the old squirts on the 411 are good
+enough for me--I ain't got time to monkey with new-fangled injectors on
+_that_ run."
+
+"Why, he says he knowed you out West fifteen years ago."
+
+"So! What kind o' looking chap is he?"
+
+"Youngish face, John; but hair and whiskers as white as snow.
+Sorry-looking rooster--seems like he's lost all his friends on earth,
+and wa'n't jest sure where to find 'em in the next world."
+
+"I can't imagine who it would be. Let's see--'Lige Clark, he's dead;
+Dick Bellinger, Hank Baldwin, Jim Karr, Dave Keller, Bill Parr--can't be
+none of them. What's his name?"
+
+"Winthrop--no, Wetherson--no, lemme see--why, no--no, Wainright; that's
+it, Wainright; J. E. Wainright."
+
+"Jim Wainright!" says I, "Jim Wainright! I haven't heard a word of him
+for years--thought he was dead; but he's a young fellow compared to me."
+
+"Well, he don't look it," said Jack.
+
+After supper I went up to the hotel and asked for J. E. Wainright.
+
+Maybe you think Jim and I didn't go over the history of the "front."
+"Out at the front" is the pioneer's ideal of railroad life. To a man who
+has put in a few years there the memory of it is like the memory of
+marches, skirmishes, and battles in the mind of the veteran soldier. I
+guess we started at the lowest numbered engine on the road, and
+gossiped about each and every crew. We had finished the list of
+engineers and had fairly started on the firemen when a thought struck
+me, and I said:
+
+"Oh, I forgot him, Jim--the 'Kid,' your cheery little cricket of a
+firesy, who thought Jim Wainright the only man on the road that could
+run an engine right. I remember he wouldn't take a job running
+switcher--said a man that didn't know that firing for Jim Wainright was
+a better job than running was crazy. What's become of him? Running, I
+suppose?"
+
+Jim Wainright put his hand up to his eyes for a minute, and his voice
+was a little husky as he said:
+
+"No, John, the Kid went away--"
+
+"Went away?"
+
+"Yes, across the Great Divide--dead."
+
+"That's tough," said I, for I saw Jim felt bad. "The Kid and you were
+like two brothers."
+
+"John, I loved the--"
+
+Then Jim broke down. He got his hat and coat, and said:
+
+"John, let's get out into the air--I feel all choked up here; and I'll
+tell you a strange, true story--the Kid's story."
+
+As we got out of the crowd and into Boston Common, Jim told his story,
+and here it is, just as I remember it--and I'm not bad at remembering.
+
+"I'll commence at the beginning, John, so that you will understand. It's
+a strange story, but when I get through you'll recall enough yourself to
+prove its truth.
+
+"Before I went beyond the Mississippi and under the shadows of the Rocky
+Mountains, I fired, and was promoted, on a prairie road in the Great
+Basin well known in the railway world. I was much like the rest of the
+boys until I commenced to try to get up a substitute for the link
+motion. I read an article in a scientific paper from the pen of a
+jackass who showed a Corliss engine card, and then blackguarded the
+railroad mechanics of America for being satisfied with the link because
+it was handy. I started in to design a motion to make a card,
+but--well, you know how good-for-nothing those things are to pull loads
+with.
+
+"After my first attempt, I put in many nights making a wooden model for
+the Patent Office. I was subsequently informed that the child of my
+brain interfered with about ten other motions. Then I commenced to
+think--which I ought to have done before. I went to studying _what had
+been done_, and soon came to the conclusion that I just knew a
+little--about enough to get along running. I gave up hope of being an
+inventor and a benefactor of mankind, but study had awakened in me the
+desire for improvement; and after considerable thought I came to the
+conclusion that the best thing I could do was to try to be the best
+runner on the road, just as a starter. In reality, in my inmost soul, my
+highest ideal was the master mechanic's position.
+
+"I was about twenty-five years old, and had been running between two or
+three years, with pretty good success, when one day the general master
+mechanic sent for me. In the office I was introduced to a gentleman,
+and the G. M. M. said to him in my presence:
+
+"'This is the engineer I spoke to you of. We have none better. I think
+he would suit you exactly, and, when you are through with him, send him
+back; we are only lending him, mind,' and he went out into the shop.
+
+"The meaning of it all was that the stranger represented a firm that had
+put up the money to build a locomotive with a patent boiler for burning
+a patent fuel--she had an improved valve motion, too--and they had asked
+our G. M. M. for a good engineer, to send East and break in and run the
+new machine and go with her around the country on ten-day trials on the
+different roads. He offered good pay, it was work I liked, and I went. I
+came right here to Boston and reported to the firm. They were a big
+concern in another line, and the head of the house was a relative of our
+G. M. M.--that's why he had a chance to send me.
+
+"After the usual introductions, the president said to me:
+
+"'Now, Mr. Wainright, this new engine of ours is hardly started yet.
+The drawings are done, and the builders' contract is ready to sign; but
+we want you to look over the drawings, to see if there are any practical
+suggestions you can make. Then stay in the shops, and see that the work
+is done right. The inventor is not a practical man; help him if you can,
+for experience tells us that ten things fail because of bad _design_
+where one does because of bad manipulation. Come up into the
+drawing-room, and I will introduce you to the inventor.'
+
+"Up under the skylight I met the designer of the new engine, a mild
+little fellow--but he don't figure in this story. In five minutes I was
+deep in the study of the drawings. Everything seemed to be worked out
+all right, except that they had the fire-door opening the wrong way and
+the brake-valve couldn't be reached--but many a good builder did that
+twenty years ago. I was impressed with the beauty of the drawings--they
+were like lithographs, and one, a perspective, was shaded and colored
+handsomely. I complimented him on them.
+
+"'They are beautiful, sir,' he said; 'they were made by a lady. I'll
+introduce you to her.'
+
+"A bright, plain-faced little woman with a shingled head looked up from
+her drawing-board as we approached, shook hands cordially when
+introduced, and at once entered into an intelligent discussion of the
+plans of the new record-beater.
+
+"Well, it was some months before the engine was ready for the road, and
+in that time I got pretty well acquainted with Miss Reynolds. She was
+mighty plain, but sharp as a buzz-saw. I don't think she was really
+homely, but she'd never have been arrested for her beauty. There was
+something 'fetching' about her appearance--you couldn't help liking her.
+She was intelligent, and it was such a novelty to find a woman who knew
+the smoke stack from the steam chest. I didn't fall in love with her at
+all, but I liked to talk to her over the work. She told me her story;
+not all at once, but here and there a piece, until I knew her history
+pretty well.
+
+"It seems that her father had been chief draughtsman of those works for
+years, but had lately died. She had a strong taste for mechanics, and
+her father, who believed in women learning trades, had taught her
+mechanical drawing, first at home and then in the shop. She had helped
+in busy times as an extra, but never went to work for regular wages
+until the death of her father made it necessary.
+
+"She seemed to like to hear stories of the road, and often asked me to
+tell her some thrilling experience the second time. Her eyes sparkled
+and her face kindled when I touched on a snow-bucking experience. She
+often said that if she was a man she'd go on the railroad, and after
+such a remark she would usually sigh and smile at the same time. One
+day, when the engine was pretty nearly ready, she said to me:
+
+"'Mr. Wainright, who is going to fire the Experiment?'
+
+"'I don't know. I had forgot about that; I'll have to see about it.'
+
+"'It wouldn't be of much use to get an experienced man, would it--the
+engine will burn a new fuel in a new way?'
+
+"'No,' said I, 'not much.'
+
+"'Now,' said she, coloring a little, 'let me ask a favor of you. I have
+a brother who is just crazy to go out firing. I don't want him to go
+unless it's with a man I can trust; he is young and inexperienced, you
+know. Won't you take him? Please do.'
+
+"'Why, I'll be glad to,' said I. 'I'll speak to the old man about it.'
+
+"'Don't tell him it's my brother.'
+
+"'Well, all right.'
+
+"The old man told me to hire whoever I liked, and I told Miss Reynolds
+to bring the boy in the morning.
+
+"'Won't you wait until Monday? It will be an accommodation to me.'
+
+"Of course I waited.
+
+"The next day Miss Reynolds did not come to the office, and I was busy
+at the shop. Monday came, but no Miss Reynolds. About nine o'clock,
+however, the foreman came down to the Experiment with a boy, apparently
+about eighteen years old, and said there was a lad with a note for me.
+
+"Before reading the note I shook hands with the boy, and told him I knew
+who he was, for he looked like his sister. He was small, but wiry, and
+had evidently come prepared for business, as he had some overclothes
+under his arm and a pair of buckskin gloves. He was bashful and quiet,
+as boys usually are during their first experience away from home. The
+note read:
+
+     "'DEAR MR. WAINRIGHT.--This will be handed you by brother George. I
+     hope you will be satisfied with him. I know he will try to please
+     you and do his duty; don't forget how green he is. I am obliged to
+     go into the country to settle up some of my father's affairs and
+     may not see you again before you go. I sincerely hope the
+     "Experiment," George, and his engineer will be successful. I shall
+     watch you all.
+
+     "'G. E. REYNOLDS.'
+
+"I felt kind of cut up, somehow, about going away without bidding Old
+Business--as the other draughtsman called Miss Reynolds--good-by; but I
+was busy with the engine.
+
+"The foreman came along half an hour after the arrival of young
+Reynolds, and seeing him at work cleaning the window glass, asked who he
+was.
+
+"'The fireman,' said I.
+
+"'What! that kid?'
+
+"And from that day I don't think I ever called young Reynolds by any
+other name half a dozen times. That was the 'Kid' you knew. When it came
+quitting time that night, I asked the Kid where they lived, and he said,
+Charlestown. I remarked that his voice was like his sister's; but he
+laughed, and said I'd see difference enough if they were together; and
+bidding me good-night, caught a passing car.
+
+"We broke the Experiment in for a few days, and then tackled half a
+train for Providence. She would keep her water just about hot enough to
+wash in with the pump on. It was a tough day; I was in the front end
+half the time at every stop. The Kid did exactly what I told him, and
+was in good spirits all the time. I was cross. Nothing will make a man
+crosser than a poor steamer.
+
+"We got to Providence in the evening tired; but after supper the Kid
+said he had an aunt and her family living there, and if I didn't mind,
+he'd try to find them. I left the door unlocked, and slept on one side
+of the bed, but the Kid didn't come back; he was at the engine when I
+got there the next morning.
+
+"The Kid was such a nice little fellow I liked to have him with me, and,
+somehow or other (I hardly noticed it at the time), he had a good
+influence on me. In them days I took a drink if I felt like it; but the
+Kid got me into the habit of taking lemonade, and wouldn't go into
+drinking places, and I soon quit it. He gave me many examples of
+controlling my temper, and soon got me into the habit of thinking before
+I spoke.
+
+"We played horse with that engine for four or five weeks, mostly around
+town, but I could see it was no go. The patent fuel was no good, and the
+patent fire-box little better, and I advised the firm to put a standard
+boiler on her and a pair of links, and sell her while the paint was
+fresh. They took my advice.
+
+"The Kid and I took the engine to Hinkley's, and left her there; we
+packed up our overclothes, and as we walked away, the Kid asked: 'What
+will you do now, Jim?'
+
+"'Oh, I've had a nice play, and I'll go back to the road. I wish you'd
+go along.'
+
+"'I wouldn't like anything better; will you take me?'
+
+"'Yes, but I ain't sure that I can get you a job right away.'
+
+"'Well, I could fire for you, couldn't I?'
+
+"'I'd like to have you, Kid; but you know I have a regular engine and a
+regular fireman. I'll ask for you, though.'
+
+"'I won't fire for anybody else!'
+
+"'You won't! What would you do if I should die?'
+
+"'Quit.'
+
+"Get out!'
+
+"'Honest; if I can't fire for you, I won't fire at all.'
+
+"I put in a few days around the 'Hub,' and as I had nothing to do, my
+mind kept turning to Miss Reynolds. I met the Kid daily, and on one of
+our rambles I asked him where his sister was.
+
+"'Out in the country.'
+
+"'Send word to her that I am going away and want to see her, will you,
+Kid?'
+
+"'Well, yes; but Sis is funny; she's too odd for any use. I don't think
+she'll come.'
+
+"'Well, I'll go and see her.'
+
+"'No, Sis would think you were crazy.'
+
+"'Why? Now look here Kid, I like that sister of yours, and I want to see
+her.'
+
+"But the Kid just stopped, leaned against the nearest building, and
+laughed--laughed until the tears ran down his cheeks. The next day he
+brought me word that his sister had gone to Chicago to make some
+sketches for the firm and hoped to come to see us after she was through.
+I started for Chicago the day following, the Kid with me.
+
+"I had little trouble in getting the Kid on with me, as my old fireman
+had been promoted. I had a nice room with another plug-puller, and in a
+few days I was in the old jog--except for the Kid. He refused to room
+with my partner's fireman; and when I talked to him about saving money
+that way, he said he wouldn't room with any one--not even me. Then he
+laughed, and said he kicked so that no one could room with him. The Kid
+was the butt of all the firemen on account of his size, but he kept the
+cleanest engine, and was never left nor late, and seemed more and more
+attached to me--and I to him.
+
+"Things were going along slick enough when Daddy Daniels had a row with
+his fireman, and our general master mechanic took the matter up.
+Daniels' fireman claimed the run with me, as he was the oldest man, and,
+as they had an 'oldest man' agreement, the master mechanic ordered
+Smutty Kelly and the Kid changed.
+
+"I was not in the roundhouse when the Kid was ordered to change, but he
+went direct to the office and kicked, but to no purpose. Then he came to
+me.
+
+"'Jim,' said he, with tears in his eyes, 'are you satisfied with me on
+the 12?'
+
+"'Why, yes, Kid. Who says I'm not?'
+
+"'They've ordered me to change to the 17 with that horrible old ruffian
+Daniels, and Smutty Kelly to go with you.'
+
+"'They have!' says I. 'That slouch can't go out with me the first time;
+I'll see the old man.'
+
+"But the old man was mad by the time I got to him.
+
+"'That baby-faced boy says he won't fire for anybody but you; what have
+you been putting into his head?'
+
+"'Nothing; I've treated him kindly, and he likes me and the 12--that's
+the cleanest engine on the--'
+
+"'Tut, tut, I don't care about that; I've ordered the firemen on the 12
+and 17 changed--and they are going to be changed.'
+
+"The Kid had followed me into the office, and at this point said, very
+respectfully:
+
+"'Excuse me, sir, but Mr. Wainright and I get along so nicely together.
+Daniels is a bad man; so is Kelly; and neither will get along with
+decent men. Why can't you--'
+
+"'There! stop right there, young man. Now, will you go on the 17 _as
+ordered_?'
+
+"'Yes, if Jim Wainright runs her.'
+
+"'No _ifs_ about it; will you go?'
+
+"'No, sir, I won't!'
+
+"'You are discharged, then.'
+
+"'That fires me, too,' said I.
+
+"'Not at all, not at all; this is a fireman row, Jim.'
+
+"I don't know what struck me then, but I said:
+
+"'No one but this boy shall put a scoop of coal in the 12 or any other
+engine for me; I'll take the poorest run you have, but the Kid goes with
+me.'
+
+"Talk was useless, and in the end the Kid and I quit and got our time.
+
+"That evening the Kid came to my room and begged me to take my job back
+and he would go home; but I wouldn't do it, and asked him if he was sick
+of me.
+
+"'No, Jim,' said he. 'I live in fear that something will happen to
+separate us, but I don't want to be a drag on you--I think more of you
+than anybody.'
+
+"They were buying engines by the hundred on the Rio Grande and Santa Fé
+and the A. & P. in those days, and the Kid and I struck out for the
+West, and inside of thirty days we were at work again.
+
+"We had been there three months, I guess, when I got orders to take a
+new engine out to the front and leave her, bringing back an old one. The
+last station on the road was in a box-car, thrown out beside the track
+on a couple of rails. There was one large, rough-board house, where they
+served rough-and-ready grub and let rooms. The latter were stalls, the
+partitions being only about seven feet high. It was cold and bleak, but
+right glad we were to get there and get a warm supper. Everything was
+rough, but the Kid seemed to enjoy the novelty. After supper I asked the
+landlord if he could fix us for the night.
+
+"'I can jest fix ye, and no more,' said he; 'I have just one room left.
+Ye's'll have to double up; but this is the kind o' weather for that;
+it'll be warmer.'
+
+"The Kid objected, but the landlord bluffed him--didn't have any other
+room--and he added: 'If I was your pardner there, I'd kick ye down to
+the foot, such a cold strip of bacon as ye must be.'
+
+"About nine o'clock the Kid slipped out, and not coming in for an hour,
+I went to look for him. As I went toward the engine, I met the watchman:
+
+"'Phy don't that fireman o' yourn sleep in the house or on the caboose
+floor such a night as this? He'll freeze up there in that cab wid no
+blankets at all; but when I tould him that, he politely informed meself
+that he'd knowed men to git rich mindin' their own biz. He's a sassy
+slip of a Yankee.'
+
+"I climbed up on the big consolidation, and, lighting my torch, looked
+over the boiler-head at the Kid. He was lying on a board on the seat,
+with his overcoat for a covering and an arm-rest for a pillow.
+
+"'What's the matter with you, Kid?' I asked. 'What are you doing
+freezing here when we can both be comfortable and warm in the house? Are
+you ashamed or afraid to sleep with me? I don't like this for a cent.'
+
+"'Hope you won't be mad with me, Jim, but I won't sleep with any one;
+there now!'
+
+"'You're either a fool or crazy,' said I. 'Why, you will half freeze
+here. I want some explanation of such a trick as this.'
+
+"The Kid sat up, looked at me soberly for a few seconds, reached up and
+unhooked his door, and said:
+
+"'Come over and sit down, Jim, and I'll tell you something.'
+
+"I blew out the torch and went over, half mad. As I hooked the door to
+keep out the sharp wind I thought I heard a sob, and I took the Kid's
+head in my hands and turned his face to the moonlight. There were big
+tears in the corner of each tightly closed eye.
+
+"'Don't feel bad, Kid,' said I. 'I'm sure there's some reason keeps you
+at such tricks as this; but tell me all your trouble--it's imaginary, I
+know.'
+
+"There was a tremor in the Kid's voice as he took my hand and said, 'We
+are friends, Jim; ain't we?'
+
+"'Why, of course,' said I.
+
+"'I have depended on your friendship and kindness and manhood, Jim. It
+has never failed me yet, and it won't now, I know. I have a secret, Jim,
+and it gnaws to be out one day, and hides itself the next. Many and many
+a time I have been on the point of confessing to you, but something held
+me back. I was afraid you would not let me stay with you, if you knew--'
+
+"'Why, you ain't killed any one, Kid?' I asked, for I thought he was
+exaggerating his trouble.
+
+"'No--yes, I did, too--I killed my sister.'
+
+"I recoiled, hurt, shocked. 'You--'
+
+"'Yes, Jim, there is no such person to be found as my sister,
+Georgiana--_for I am she_!''
+
+"'You! Why, Kid, you're crazy!'
+
+"'No, I'm not. Listen, Jim, and I will explain.'
+
+"'My father was always sorry I was not a boy. Taught me boyish tricks,
+and made me learn drawing. I longed for the life on a locomotive--I
+loved it, read about it, thought of it, and prayed to be transformed
+into _something_ that could go out on the road. My heart went out to
+you early in our acquaintance, and one day the thought to get started as
+a fireman with you shot into my brain and was acted upon at once. After
+the first move there was no going back, and I have acted my part well; I
+have even been a good fireman. I am strong, healthy, and happy when on
+the road with you. I love the life, hard as it is, and can't think of
+giving it up, and--and you, Jim.'
+
+"And then she broke down, and cried as only a woman can.
+
+"I took both her hands in mine and kissed her--think of kissing your
+fireman on the engine--and told her that we could be happy yet. Then I
+told her how I had tried to get a letter to the lost sister, and how
+they never came back, and were never answered--that I loved the sister
+and loved her. She reminded me that she herself got all the letters I
+had sent, and was pretty sure of her ground when she threw herself on my
+protection.
+
+"It was a strange courting, John, there on that engine at the front, the
+boundless plains on one side, the mountains on the other, the winds of
+the desert whirling sand and snow against our little house, and the moon
+looking coldly down at the spectacle of an engineer making love to his
+fireman.
+
+"That night the Kid slept in the bed in the house, and I stayed on the
+engine.
+
+"When we got back to headquarters the Kid laid off to go home, and I
+made a trip or two with another fireman, and then I had to go to
+Illinois to fix up some family business--Kid and I arranged that.
+
+"We met in St. Louis, the Kid hired a ball dress, and we were married as
+quiet as possible. I had promised the Kid that, for the present at
+least, she could stay on the road with me, and you know that the year
+you were there I done most of the heavy firing while the Kid did the
+running. We remained in the service for something like two years--a
+strange couple, but happy in each other's company and our work.
+
+"I often talked to my wife about leaving the road and starting in new,
+where we were not known, as man and wife, she to remain at home; but she
+wouldn't hear of it, asking if I wanted an Irishman for a side-partner.
+This came to be a joke with us--'When I get my Irishman I will do
+so-and-so.'
+
+"One day, as our 'hog' was drifting down the long hill, the Kid said to
+me, 'Jim, you can get your Irishman; I'm going to quit this trip.'
+
+"'Kind o' sudden, hey, Kid?'
+
+"'No, been hating to give up, but--' and then the Kid came over and
+whispered something to me.
+
+"John, we both quit and went South. I got a job in Texas, and the Kid
+was lost sight of, and Mrs. J. E. Wainright appeared on the scene in
+tea-gown, train, and flounces. We furnished a neat little den, and I was
+happy. I missed my kid fireman, and did indeed have an Irishman. Kid had
+a struggle to wear petticoats again, and did not take kindly to
+dish-washing, but we were happy just the same.
+
+"Our little fellow arrived one spring day, and then our skies were all
+sunshiny for three long, happy years, until one day Kid and I followed a
+little white hearse out beyond the cypress grove and saw the earth
+covered over our darling, over our hopes, over our sunshine, and over
+our hearts.
+
+"After that the house was like a tomb, so still, so solemn, and at every
+turn were reminders of the little one who had faded away like the
+morning mist, gone from everything but our memories--there his sweet
+little image was graven by the hand of love and seared by the
+branding-iron of sorrow.
+
+"Men and women of intelligence do not parade their sorrows in the
+market-place; they bear them as best they can, and try to appear as
+others, but once the specter of the grim destroyer has crossed the
+threshold, his shadow forever remains, a dark reminder, like a
+prison-bar across the daylight of a cell. This shadow is seen and
+recognized in the heart of a father, but it is larger and darker and
+more dreadful in the mother heart.
+
+"At every turn poor Kid was mutely reminded of her loss, and her heart
+was at the breaking point day by day, and she begged for her old life,
+to seek forgetfulness in toil and get away from herself. So we went
+back to the old road, as we went away--Jim Wainright and Kid
+Reynolds--and glad enough they were to get us again for the winter work.
+
+"Three years of indoor life had softened the wiry muscles of the Kid,
+and our engine was a hard steamer, so I did most of the work on the
+road. But the work, excitement, and outdoor life brought back the color
+to pale cheeks, and now and then a smile to sad lips--and I was glad.
+
+"One day the Kid was running while I broke up some big lumps of coal,
+and while busy in the tank I felt the air go on full and the reverse
+lever come back, while the wheels ground sand. I stepped quickly toward
+the cab to see what was the matter, when the Kid sprang into the gangway
+and cried 'Jump!'
+
+"I was in the left gangway in a second, but quick as a flash the Kid had
+my arm.
+
+"'The other side! Quick! The river!'
+
+"We were almost side by side as she swung me toward the other side of
+the engine, and jumped as we crashed into a landslide. I felt Kid's
+hand on my shoulder as I left the deck--just in time to save my life,
+but not the Kid's.
+
+"She was crushed between the tank and boiler in the very act of keeping
+me from jumping to certain death on the rocks in the river below.
+
+"When the crew came over they found me with the crushed clay of my poor,
+loved Kid in my arms, kissing her. They never knew who she was. I took
+her back to our Texas home and laid her beside the little one that had
+gone before. The Firemen's Brotherhood paid Kid's insurance to me and
+passed resolutions saying: 'It has pleased Almighty God to remove from
+our midst our beloved brother, George Reynolds,' etc., etc.
+
+"George Reynolds's grave cannot be found; but over a mound of
+forget-me-nots away in a Southern land, there stands a stone on which is
+cut: 'Georgiana, wife of J. E. Wainright, aged thirty-two years.'
+
+"But in my heart there is a golden pyramid of love to the memory of a
+fireman and a sweetheart known to you and all the world but me, as 'Jim
+Wainright's Kid.'"
+
+
+
+
+AN ENGINEER'S CHRISTMAS STORY
+
+
+In the summer, fall, and early winter of 1863, I was tossing chips into
+an old Hinkley insider up in New England, for an engineer by the name of
+James Dillon. Dillon was considered as good a man as there was on the
+road: careful, yet fearless, kindhearted, yet impulsive, a man whose
+friends would fight for him and whose enemies hated him right royally.
+
+Dillon took a great notion to me, and I loved him as a father; the fact
+of the matter is, he was more of a father to me than I had at home, for
+my father refused to be comforted when I took to railroading, and I
+could not see him more than two or three times a year at the most--so
+when I wanted advice I went to Jim.
+
+I was a young fellow then, and being without a home at either end of the
+run, was likely to drop into pitfalls. Dillon saw this long before I
+did. Before I had been with him three months, he told me one day, coming
+in, that it was against his principles to teach locomotive-running to a
+young man who was likely to turn out a drunkard or gambler and disgrace
+the profession, and he added that I had better pack up my duds and come
+up to his house and let "mother" take care of me--and I went.
+
+I was not a guest there: I paid my room-rent and board just as I should
+have done anywhere else, but I had all the comforts of a home, and
+enjoyed a thousand advantages that money could not buy. I told Mrs.
+Dillon all my troubles, and found kindly sympathy and advice; she
+encouraged me in all my ambitions, mended my shirts, and went with me
+when I bought my clothes. Inside of a month, I felt like one of the
+family, called Mrs. Dillon "mother," and blessed my lucky stars that I
+had found them.
+
+Dillon had run a good many years, and was heartily tired of it, and he
+seldom passed a nice farm that he did not call my attention to it,
+saying: "Jack, now there's comfort; you just wait a couple of
+years--I've got my eye on the slickest little place, just on the edge of
+M----, that I am saving up my pile to buy. I'll give you the 'Roger
+William' one of these days, Jack, say good evening to grief, and me and
+mother will take comfort. Think of sleeping till eight o'clock,--and no
+poor steamers, Jack, no poor steamers!" And he would reach over, and
+give my head a gentle duck as I tried to pitch a curve to a front corner
+with a knot: those Hinkleys were powerful on cold water.
+
+In Dillon's household there was a "system" of financial management. He
+always gave his wife just half of what he earned; kept ten dollars for
+his own expenses during the month, out of which he clothed himself; and
+put the remainder in the bank. It was before the days of high wages,
+however, and even with this frugal management, the bank account did not
+grow rapidly. They owned the house in which they lived, and out of her
+half "mother" had to pay all the household expenses and taxes, clothe
+herself and two children, and send the children to school. The oldest, a
+girl of some sixteen years, was away at normal school, and the boy,
+about thirteen or fourteen, was at home, going to the public school and
+wearing out more clothes than all the rest of the family.
+
+Dillon told me that they had agreed on the financial plan followed in
+the family before their marriage, and he used to say that for the life
+of him he did not see how "mother" got along so well on the allowance.
+When he drew a small month's pay he would say to me, as we walked home:
+"No cream in the coffee this month, Jack." If it was unusually large, he
+would say: "Plum duff and fried chicken for a Sunday dinner." He
+insisted that he could detect the rate of his pay in the food, but this
+was not true--it was his kind of fun. "Mother" and I were fast friends.
+She became my banker, and when I wanted an extra dollar, I had to ask
+her for it and tell what I wanted it for, and all that.
+
+Along late in November, Jim had to make an extra one night on another
+engine, which left me at home alone with "mother" and the boy--I had
+never seen the girl--and after swearing me to be both deaf, dumb, and
+blind, "mother" told me a secret. For ten years she had been saving
+money out of her allowance, until the amount now reached nearly $2,000.
+She knew of Jim's life ambition to own a farm, and she had the matter in
+hand, if I would help her. Of course I was head over heels into the
+scheme at once. She wanted to buy the farm near M----, and give Jim the
+deed for a Christmas present; and Jim mustn't even suspect.
+
+Jim never did.
+
+The next trip I had to buy some underclothes: would "mother" tell me how
+to pick out pure wool? Why, bless your heart, no, she wouldn't, but
+she'd just put on her things and go down with me. Jim smoked and read at
+home.
+
+We went straight to the bank where Jim kept his money, asked for the
+President, and let him into the whole plan. Would he take $2,100 out of
+Jim's money, unbeknown to Jim, and pay the balance of the price of the
+farm over what "mother" had?
+
+No, he would not; but he would advance the money for the purpose--have
+the deeds sent to him, and he would pay the price--that was fixed.
+
+Then I hatched up an excuse and changed off with the fireman on the
+M---- branch, and spent the best part of two lay-overs fixing up things
+with the owner of the farm and arranging to hold back the recording of
+the deeds until after Christmas. Every evening there was some part of
+the project to be talked over, and "mother" and I held many whispered
+conversations. Once Jim, smiling, observed that, if I had any hair on my
+face, he would be jealous.
+
+I remember that it was on the 14th day of December, 1863, that payday
+came. I banked my money with "mother," and Jim, as usual, counted out
+his half to that dear old financier.
+
+"Uncle Sam'd better put that 'un in the hospital," observed Jim, as he
+came to a ragged ten-dollar bill. "Goddess of Liberty pretty near got
+her throat cut there; guess some reb has had hold of her," he continued,
+as he held up the bill. Then laying it down, he took out his pocket-book
+and cut off a little three-cornered strip of pink court-plaster, and
+made repairs on the bill.
+
+"Mother" pocketed her money greedily, and before an hour I had that very
+bill in my pocket to pay the recording fees in the courthouse at M----.
+
+The next day Jim wanted to use more money than he had in his pocket, and
+asked me to lend him a dollar. As I opened my wallet to oblige him, that
+patched bill showed up. Jim put his finger on it, and then turning me
+around towards him, he said: "How came you by that?"
+
+I turned red--I know I did--but I said, cool enough, "'Mother' gave it
+to me in change."
+
+"That's a lie," he said, and turned away.
+
+The next day we were more than two-thirds of the way home before he
+spoke; then, as I straightened up after a fire, he said: "John
+Alexander, when we get in, you go to Aleck (the foreman) and get changed
+to some other engine."
+
+There was a queer look on his face; it was not anger, it was not
+sorrow--it was more like pain. I looked the man straight in the eye, and
+said: "All right, Jim; it shall be as you say--but, so help me God, I
+don't know what for. If you will tell me what I have done that is wrong,
+I will not make the same mistake with the next man I fire for."
+
+He looked away from me, reached over and started the pump, and said:
+"Don't you know?"
+
+"No, sir, I have not the slightest idea."
+
+"Then you stay, and I'll change," said he, with a determined look, and
+leaned out of the window, and said no more all the way in.
+
+I did not go home that day. I cleaned the "Roger William" from the top
+of that mountain of sheet-iron known as a wood-burner stack to the back
+casting on the tank, and tried to think what I had done wrong, or not
+done at all, to incur such displeasure from Dillon. He was in bed when
+I went to the house that evening, and I did not see him until breakfast.
+He was in his usual spirits there, but on the way to the station, and
+all day long, he did not speak to me. He noticed the extra cleaning, and
+carefully avoided tarnishing any of the cabfittings;--but that awful
+quiet! I could hardly bear it, and was half sick at the trouble, the
+cause of which I could not understand. I thought that, if the patched
+bill had anything to do with it, Christmas morning would clear it up.
+
+Our return trip was the night express, leaving the terminus at 9:30. As
+usual, that night I got the engine out, oiled, switched out the cars,
+and took the train to the station, trimmed my signals and headlight, and
+was all ready for Jim to pull out. Nine o'clock came, and no Jim; at
+9:10 I sent to his boarding-house. He had not been there. He did not
+come at leaving time--he did not come at all. At ten o'clock the
+conductor sent to the engine-house for another engineer, and at 10:45,
+instead of an engineer, a fireman came, with orders for John Alexander
+to run the "Roger William" until further orders,--I never fired a
+locomotive again.
+
+I went over that road the saddest-hearted man that ever made a maiden
+trip. I hoped there would be some tidings of Jim at home--there were
+none. I can never forget the blow it was to "mother;" how she braced up
+on account of her children--but oh, that sad face! Christmas came, and
+with it the daughter, and then there were two instead of one: the boy
+was frantic the first day, and playing marbles the next.
+
+Christmas day there came a letter. It was from Jim--brief and cold
+enough--but it was such a comfort to "mother." It was directed to Mary
+J. Dillon, and bore the New York post-mark. It read:
+
+     "Uncle Sam is in need of men, and those who lose with Venus may win
+     with Mars. Enclosed papers you will know best what to do with. Be a
+     mother to the children--you have _three_ of them.
+
+     "JAMES DILLON."
+
+He underscored the three--he was a mystery to me. Poor "mother!" She
+declared that no doubt "poor James's head was affected." The papers with
+the letter were a will, leaving her all, and a power of attorney,
+allowing her to dispose of or use the money in the bank. Not a line of
+endearment or love for that faithful heart that lived on love, asked
+only for love, and cared for little else.
+
+That Christmas was a day of fasting and prayer for us. Many letters did
+we send, many advertisements were printed, but we never got a word from
+James Dillon, and Uncle Sam's army was too big to hunt in. We were a
+changed family: quieter and more tender of one another's feelings, but
+changed.
+
+In the fall of 64 they changed the runs around, and I was booked to run
+in to M----. Ed, the boy, was firing for me. There was no reason why
+"mother" should stay in Boston, and we moved out to the little farm.
+That daughter, who was a second "mother" all over, used to come down to
+meet us at the station with the horse, and I talked "sweet" to her; yet
+at a certain point in the sweetness I became dumb.
+
+Along in May, '65, "mother" got a package from Washington. It contained
+a tin-type of herself; a card with a hole in it (made evidently by
+having been forced over a button), on which was her name and the old
+address in town; then there was a ring and a saber, and on the blade of
+the saber was etched, "Presented to Lieutenant Jas. Dillon, for bravery
+on the field of battle." At the bottom of the parcel was a note in a
+strange hand, saying simply, "Found on the body of Lieutenant Dillon
+after the battle of Five Forks."
+
+Poor "mother!" Her heart was wrung again, and again the scalding tears
+fell. She never told her suffering, and no one ever knew what she bore.
+Her face was a little sadder and sweeter, her hair a little whiter--that
+was all.
+
+I am not a bit superstitious--don't believe in signs or presentiments or
+prenothings--but when I went to get my pay on the 14th day of December,
+1866, it gave me a little start to find in it the bill bearing the
+chromo of the Goddess of Liberty with the little three-cornered piece of
+court-plaster that Dillon had put on her wind-pipe. I got rid of it at
+once, and said nothing to "mother" about it; but I kept thinking of it
+and seeing it all the next day and night.
+
+On the night of the 16th, I was oiling around my Black Maria to take out
+a local leaving our western terminus just after dark, when a tall, slim
+old gentleman stepped up to me and asked if I was the engineer. I don't
+suppose I looked like the president: I confessed, and held up my torch,
+so I could see his face--a pretty tough-looking face. The white mustache
+was one of that military kind, reinforced with whiskers on the right and
+left flank of the mustache proper. He wore glasses, and one of the
+lights was ground glass. The right cheek-bone was crushed in, and a red
+scar extended across the eye and cheek; the scar looked blue around the
+red line because of the cold.
+
+"I used to be an engineer before the war," said he. "Do you go to
+Boston!"
+
+"No, to M----."
+
+"M----! I thought that was on a branch."
+
+"It is, but is now an important manufacturing point, with regular trains
+from there to each end of the main line."
+
+"When can I get to Boston?"
+
+"Not till Monday now; we run no through Sunday trains. You can go to
+M---- with me to-night, and catch a local to Boston in the morning."
+
+He thought a minute, and then said, "Well, yes; guess I had better. How
+is it for a ride?"
+
+"Good; just tell the conductor that I told you to get on."
+
+"Thanks; that's clever. I used to know a soldier who used to run up in
+this country," said the stranger, musing. "Dillon; that's it, Dillon."
+
+"I knew him well," said I. "I want to hear about him."
+
+"Queer man," said he, and I noticed he was eying me pretty sharp.
+
+"A good engineer."
+
+"Perhaps," said he.
+
+[Illustration: "I noticed his long, slim hand on the top of the
+reverse-lever."]
+
+I coaxed the old veteran to ride on the engine--the first coal-burner I
+had had. He seemed more than glad to comply. Ed was as black as a negro,
+and swearing about coal-burners in general and this one in particular,
+and made so much noise with his fire-irons after we started, that the
+old man came over and sat behind me, so as to be able to talk.
+
+The first time I looked around after getting out of the yard, I noticed
+his long slim hand on the top of the reverse-lever. Did you ever notice
+how it seems to make an ex-engineer feel better and more satisfied to
+get his hand on the reverse-lever and feel the life-throbs of the great
+giant under him? Why, his hand goes there by instinct--just as an
+ambulance surgeon will feel for the heart of the boy with a broken leg.
+
+I asked the stranger to "give her a whirl," and noticed with what eager
+joy he took hold of her. I also observed with surprise that he seemed to
+know all about "four-mile hill," where most new men got stuck. He caught
+me looking at his face, and touching the scar, remarked: "A little love
+pat, with the compliments of Wade Hampton's men." We talked on a good
+many subjects, and got pretty well acquainted before we were over the
+division, but at last we seemed talked out.
+
+"Where does Dillon's folks live now?" asked the stranger, slowly, after
+a time.
+
+"M----," said I.
+
+He nearly jumped off the box. "M----? I thought it was Boston!"
+
+"Moved to M----."
+
+"What for?"
+
+"Own a farm there."
+
+"Oh, I see; married again?"
+
+"No."
+
+"No!"
+
+"Widow thought too much of Jim for that."
+
+"No!"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Er--what became of the young man that they--er--adopted?"
+
+"Lives with 'em yet."
+
+"So!"
+
+Just then we struck the suburbs of M----, and, as we passed the cemetery,
+I pointed to a high shaft, and said: "Dillon's monument."
+
+"Why, how's that?"
+
+"Killed at Five Forks. Widow put up monument."
+
+He shaded his eyes with his hand, and peered through the moonlight for a
+minute.
+
+"That's clever," was all he said.
+
+I insisted that he go home with me. Ed took the Black Maria to the
+house, and we took the street cars for it to the end of the line, and
+then walked. As we cleaned our feet at the door, I said: "Let me see, I
+did not hear your name?"
+
+"James," said he, "Mr. James."
+
+I opened the sitting-room door, and ushered the stranger in.
+
+"Well, boys," said "mother," slowly getting up from before the fire and
+hurriedly taking a few extra stitches in her knitting before laying it
+down to look up at us, "you're early."
+
+She looked up, not ten feet from the stranger, as he took off his
+slouched hat and brushed back the white hair. In another minute her
+arms were around his neck, and she was murmuring "James" in his ear, and
+I, like a dumb fool, wondered who told her his name.
+
+Well, to make a long story short, it was James Dillon himself, and the
+daughter came in, and Ed came, and between the three they nearly
+smothered the old fellow.
+
+You may think it funny he didn't know me, but don't forget that I had
+been running for three years--that takes the fresh off a fellow; then,
+when I had the typhoid, my hair laid off, and was never reinstated, and
+when I got well, the whiskers--that had always refused to grow--came on
+with a rush, and they were red. And again, I had tried to switch with an
+old hook-motion in the night and forgot to take out the starting-bar,
+and she threw it at me, knocking out some teeth; and taking it
+altogether, I was a changed man.
+
+"Where's John?" he said finally.
+
+"Here," said I.
+
+"No!"
+
+"Yes."
+
+He took my hand, and said, "John, I left all that was dear to me once,
+because I was jealous of you. I never knew how you came to have that
+money or why, and don't want to. Forgive me."
+
+"That is the first time I ever heard of that," said "mother."
+
+"I had it to buy this farm for you--a Christmas present--if you had
+waited," said I.
+
+"That is the first time I ever heard of that," said he.
+
+"And you might have been shot," said "mother," getting up close.
+
+"I tried my darndest to be. That's why I got promoted so fast."
+
+"Oh, James!" and her arms were around his neck again.
+
+"And I sent that saber home myself, never intending to come back."
+
+"Oh, James, how could you!"
+
+"Mother, how can you forgive me?"
+
+"Mother," was still for a minute, looking at the fire in the grate.
+"James, it is late in life to apply such tests, but love is like gold;
+ours will be better now--the dross has been burned away in the fire. I
+did what I did for love of you, and you did what you did for love of me;
+let us all commence to live again in the old way," and those arms of
+hers could not keep away from his neck.
+
+Ed went out with tears in his eyes, and I beckoned the daughter to
+follow me. We passed into the parlor, drew the curtain over the
+doorway--and there was nothing but that rag between us and heaven.
+
+
+
+
+THE CLEAN MAN AND THE DIRTY ANGELS
+
+
+When I first went firing, down in my native district, where Bean is
+King, there was a man on the road pulling a mixed train, by the name of
+Clark--'Lige Clark.
+
+Being only a fireman, and a new one at that, I did not come very much in
+contact with Clark, or any of the other engineers, excepting my
+own--James Dillon.
+
+'Lige Clark was a character on the road; everybody knew "old 'Lige;" he
+was liked and respected, but not loved; he was thought puritanical, or
+religious, or cranky, by some, yet no one hated him, or even had a
+strong dislike for him.
+
+His honesty and straightforwardness were proverbial. He was always in
+charge of the funds of every order he belonged to, as well as of the
+Sunday-school and church.
+
+He was truthful to a fault, but above all, just.
+
+"'Cause 'tain't right, that's why," was his way of refusing to do a
+thing, and his argument against others doing it.
+
+After I got to running, I saw and knew more of 'Lige, and I think,
+perhaps, I was as much of a friend as he ever had. We never were chums.
+I never went to his house, and he never went to mine; we were simply
+roundhouse acquaintances; used to talk engine a little, but usually
+talked about children--'Lige had four, and always spoke about "doing the
+right thing by them."
+
+'Lige had a very heavy full beard, that came clear up to his eyes, and a
+mass of wavy hair--all iron grey. His eyes were steel grey, and matched
+his hair, and he had a habit of looking straight at you when he spoke.
+
+On his engine he invariably ran with his head out of the side window,
+rain or shine, and always bareheaded. When he stepped upon the
+footboard, he put his hat away with his clothes, and there it stayed. He
+was never known to wear a cap, excepting in the coldest weather.
+
+Once in a while, when I was firing, I have seen him come in, in winter,
+with his beard white with frost and ice, and some smoke-shoveling wit
+dubbed him Santa Claus.
+
+'Lige had a way of looking straight ahead and thinking of his work, and,
+after he got to running express, would go through a town, where other
+trains were sidetracked for him, looking at the track ahead, and at the
+trains, but never seeming to care that they were there, never nodding or
+waving a hand. Once in a while he would blink his eyes,--that was all.
+The wind tossed his mane and hair and made him look for all the world
+like a lion, who looks at, but appears to care nothing for the crowds
+around his den. Someone noticed the comparison, and dubbed him "The
+Lion," and the name clung to him. He was spoken of as "Old 'Lige, the
+Lion." Just why he was called old, I don't know--he was little more than
+forty then.
+
+When the men on the road had any grievances, they always asked 'Lige to
+"go and see the old man." 'Lige always went to lodge and to meetings of
+the men, but was never known to speak. When the demands were drawn up
+and presented to him, he always got up and said: "Them air declarations
+ain't right, an' I wouldn't ask any railroad to grant 'em;" or, "The
+declarations are right. Of course I'll be glad to take 'em."
+
+When old 'Lige declined to bear a grievance it was modified or
+abandoned; and he never took a request to headquarters that was not
+granted--until the strike of '77.
+
+When the war broke out, 'Lige was asked to go, and the railroad boys
+wanted him to be captain of a company of them; but he declined, saying
+that slavery was wrong and should be crushed, but that he had a sickly
+wife and four small children depending on his daily toil for bread, and
+it wouldn't be right to leave 'em unprovided for. They drafted him
+later, but he still said it "wa'n't right" for him to go, and paid for a
+substitute. But three months later his father-in-law died, up in the
+country somewhere, and left his wife some three thousand dollars, and
+'Lige enlisted the next, day, saying "'Tain't right for any man to stay
+that can be spared; slavery ain't right; it must be stopped." He served
+as a private until it was stopped.
+
+Shortly after the war 'Lige was pulling the superintendent over the
+road, when he struck a wagon, killing the driver, who was a farmer, and
+hurting his wife. The woman afterward sued the road, and 'Lige was
+called as a witness for the company. He surprised everybody by stating
+that the accident was caused by mismanagement of the road, and explained
+as follows: "I pull the regular Atlantic express, and should have been
+at the crossing where the accident occurred, an hour later than I was;
+but Mr. Doe, our superintendent, wanted to come over the road with his
+special car, and took my engine to pull him, leaving a freight engine to
+bring in the express. Mr. Doe could have rode on the regular train, or
+could have had his car put into the train, instead of putting the
+company to the expense of hauling a special, and kept the patrons of
+the road from slow and poor service. We ran faster than there was any
+use of, and Mr. Doe went home when he got in, showing that there was no
+urgent call for his presence at this end of the line. If there had been
+no extra train on the road this farmer wouldn't have been killed:
+'twa'n't right."
+
+The widow got pretty heavy damages, and the superintendent tried to
+discharge 'Lige. But 'Lige said '"twa'n't right," and the men on the
+road, the patrons and even the president agreed with him, so the irate
+super gave the job up for the time being.
+
+A couple of weeks after this, I went to that super.'s office on some
+business, and had to wait in the outer pen until "His Grace" got through
+with someone else. The transom over the door to the "Holy of Holies" was
+open, and I heard the well-known voice of 'Lige "the Lion".
+
+"Now, there's another matter, Mr. Doe, that perhaps you'll say is none
+of my business, but 'tain't right, and I'm going to speak about it.
+You're hanging around the yards and standing in the shadows of cars and
+buildings half the night, watching employees. You've discharged several
+yardmen, and I want to tell you that a lot of the roughest of them are
+laying for you. My advice to you is to go home from the office. They'll
+hurt you yet. 'Tain't right for one man to know that another is in
+danger without warning him, so I've done it; 'twouldn't be right for
+them to hurt you. You're not particularly hunting them but me, but you
+won't catch me."
+
+Mr. Doe assured "the Lion" that he could take care of himself, and two
+nights later got sand-bagged, and had about half his ribs kicked loose,
+over back of the scale house.
+
+When the trouble commenced in '77, old 'Lige refused to take up a
+request for increase of pay, to headquarters; said the road could afford
+to keep us just where we were, which was more than some roads were
+doing, and "'twa'n't right" to ask for more. Two months later they cut
+us ten per cent., and offered to pay half script. Old 'Lige said
+'"twa'n't right," and he'd strike afore he'd stand it;--and, in the end,
+we all struck.
+
+The fourth day after the strike commenced I met 'Lige, and he asked me
+where I was going to hunt work. I told him I was going back when we won.
+He laughed, and said there wa'n't much danger of any of us going back;
+we were beat; mail trains all running, etc. '"Tain't right, Brother
+John, to loaf longer'n you can help. I'm goin' out West to-morrer"--and
+he went.
+
+Some weeks afterward Joe Johnson and I concluded that, contrary to all
+precedent, the road was going to run without us, and we also went West;
+but by that time the country was full of men just like us. When I did
+get a job, it was drying sand away out at the front on one of the new
+roads. The first engine that come up to the sand house had a familiar
+look, even with a boot-leg stack that was fearfully and wonderfully
+made. There was a shaggy head sticking out of the side window, and two
+cool grey eyes blinked at me, but didn't seem to see me; yet a cheery
+voice from under the beard said: "Hello, Brother John, you're late, but
+guess you'll catch on pretty quick. There's lots of 'em here that don't
+know nothin' about railroading, as far as I can see, and they're running
+engines, too. 'Tain't right."
+
+The little town was booming, and 'Lige invested in lots, and became
+interested in many schemes to benefit the place and make money. He had
+been a widower for some years, and with one exception his children were
+doing for themselves, and that one was with his sister, and well cared
+for. 'Lige had considerable means, and he brought it all West. He
+personally laid the corner-stone of the courthouse, subscribed more than
+any other working man to the first church, and was treasurer of half the
+institutions in the village. He ought to have quit the road, but he
+wouldn't; but did compromise on taking an easy run on a branch.
+
+'Lige was behind a benevolent scheme to build a hospital, to be under
+the auspices of the church society, and to it devoted not a little time
+and energy. When the constitution and by-laws were drawn up, the more
+liberal of the trustees struck a snag in old 'Lige. He was bound that
+the hospital should not harbor people under the influence of liquor, or
+fallen women. 'Lige was very bitter against prostitution. "It is the
+curse of civilization," he often said. "Prostitutes ruin ten men where
+whiskey ruins one. They stand in the path of every young man in the
+country, gilded tempters of virtue, honesty and manhood; 'tain't right
+that they should be allowed in the country." If you attributed their
+existence to man's passions, inhumanity or cruelty, or woman's weakness,
+he checked you at once.
+
+"Every woman that becomes a crooked woman does so from choice; she
+needn't to if she didn't want to. The way to stop prostitution is for
+every honest man and woman to refuse to have anything to do with them in
+any way, or with those who do recognize them. 'Tain't right."
+
+In this matter 'Lige Clark had no sympathy nor charity. "'Twa'n't
+right"--and that settled it as far as he was concerned.
+
+The ladies of the church sided with old 'Lige in his stand on the
+hospital board, but the other two men wanted the doors of the
+institution to be opened to all in need of medical attention or care,
+regardless of who they were or what caused their ailment. 'Lige gave in
+on the whiskey, but stood out resolutely against the soiled doves, and
+so matters stood until midwinter.
+
+Half the women in the town were outcasts from society--two dance-houses
+were in full blast--and 'Lige soon became known to them and their
+friends as the "Prophet Elijah, second edition."
+
+The mining town over the hills, at the end of 'Lige's branch, was
+booming, too, and wanted to be the county seat. It had its church,
+dance-halls, etc., and the discovery of coal within a few miles bid fair
+to make it a formidable rival.
+
+The boom called for more power and I went over there to pull freight,
+and 'Lige pulled passengers only. Then they put more coaches on his
+train and put my engine on to help him, thus saving a crew's wages.
+Passenger service increased steadily until a big snow-slide in one of
+the gulches shut up the road. I'll never forget that slide. It happened
+on the 26th of January. 'Lige and I were double-heading on nine coaches
+of passengers and when on a heavy grade in Alder Gulch, a slide of snow
+started from far up the mountain-side, swept over the track just ahead
+of us, carrying trees, telegraph poles and the track with it. We tried
+to stop, but 'Lige's engine got into it, and was carried sideways down
+some fifty or sixty feet. Mine contented herself with simply turning
+over, without hurting either myself or fireman--much to my satisfaction.
+
+'Lige fared worse. His reverse lever caught in his clothing and before
+he could get loose, the engine had stopped on her side, with 'Lige's
+feet and legs under her. He was not badly hurt except for the scalding
+water that poured upon him. As soon as we could see him, the fireman and
+I got hold of him and forcibly pulled him out of the wreck. His limbs
+were awfully burned--cooked would be nearer the word.
+
+[Illustration: "It was a strange courting ... there on that engine."]
+
+The passengers crowded around, but did little good. One look was enough
+for most of them. There were ten or twelve women in the cars. They came
+out slowly, and stood timidly away from the hissing boilers, with one
+exception. This one came at once to the injured man, sat down in the
+snow, took his head in her lap, and taking a flask of liquor from her
+ulster pocket, gave poor 'Lige some with a little snow.
+
+I got the oil can and poured some oil over the burned parts to keep the
+air from them; we needed bandages, and I asked the ladies if they had
+anything we could use for the purpose. One young girl offered a
+handkerchief and another a shawl, but before they were accepted the cool
+woman holding 'Lige's head got up quickly, laying his head down tenderly
+on the snow, and without a word or attempt to get out of sight, pulled
+up her dress, and in a second kicked out two white skirts, and sat down
+again to cool 'Lige's brow.
+
+That woman attended 'Lige like a guardian angel until we got back to
+town late that afternoon. The hospital was not yet in shape, so 'Lige
+was taken to the rather dreary and homeless quarters of the hotel.
+
+As quick as it was known that Elijah Clark was hurt, he had plenty of
+friends, male and female, who came to take care of him, but the woman
+who helped him live at the start came not; yet every day there were
+dainty viands, wine or books left at the house for him--but pains were
+taken to let no one know from whom they came.
+
+One day a month after the accident I sat beside 'Lige's bed when he told
+me that he was anticipating quite a discussion there that evening, as
+the hospital committee was going to meet to decide on the rules of the
+institution. "Wilcox and Gorman are set to open the house to those who
+have no part in our work and no sympathy with Christian institutions,
+and 'tain't right," said he. "Brother John, you can't do no good by
+prolonging the life of a brazen woman bent on vice."
+
+"Don't you think, 'Lige," said I, "that you are a little hard on an
+unfortunate class of humanity, who, in nine cases out of ten, are the
+victims of others' wrong-doing, and stay in the mire because no hand is
+extended to help them out? Think of the woman of Samaria. It's sinners,
+not saints, that need saving."
+
+"They are as a coiled serpent in the pathway of mankind, Brother John,
+fascinating, but poisonous. There can be no good in one of those
+creatures."
+
+"Oh yes there is, I'm sure," said I. "Why, 'Lige, don't you know who the
+woman was that gave you brandy, held your head, and used her skirts for
+bandages when you were hurt?"
+
+Old 'Lige raised up on his elbow, all eagerness. "No, John, I don't, but
+she wa'n't one of them. She was too thoughtful, too tender, too womanly.
+I've blessed her from that day to this, and though I don't know it, I
+think she has sent me all these wines and fruits. She saved my life. Who
+is she? Do you know?"
+
+"Yes. She is Molly May, who keeps the largest dance-house in Cascade
+City. She makes lots of money, but spends it all in charity; there has
+never been a human being buried by the town since she has been there.
+Molly May is a ministering angel to the poor and sick, but a bird of
+prey to those who wish to dissipate."
+
+The hospital was opened on Easter, and the first patient was a poor
+consumptive girl, but lately an inmate of the Red-Light dance-house.
+'Lige Clark did not run again; he became mayor of the little city, had
+faith in its future, invested his money in land and died rich some years
+ago.
+
+'Lige must have changed his mind as he grew older, or at least abandoned
+the idea that to crush out a wrong you should push it from all sides,
+and thus compress and intensify it at the heart, and come to the
+conclusion that the right way is to get inside and push out, thus
+separating and dissolving it. For before me lies the tenth annual
+prospectus of a now noted institution in one of the great cities of the
+continent, and on its title page, I read through the dimmed glasses of
+my spectacles: "Industrial Home and Refuge for Fallen Women. Founded by
+Elijah Clark. Mary E. May, Matron."
+
+
+
+
+A PEG-LEGGED ROMANCE
+
+
+Some men are born heroes, some become heroic, and some have heroism
+thrust upon them; but nothing of the kind ever happened to me.
+
+I don't know how it is; but, some way or other, I remember all the
+railroad incidents I see or hear, and get to the bottom of most of the
+stories of the road. I must study them over more than most men do, or
+else the other fellows enjoy the comedies and deplore the tragedies, and
+say nothing. Sometimes I am mean enough to think that the romance, the
+dramas, and the tragedies of the road don't impress them as being as
+interesting as those of the plains, the Indians, or the seas--people are
+so apt to see only the everyday side of life anyway, and to draw all
+their romance and heroics from books.
+
+I helped make a hero once--no, I didn't either; I helped make the
+golden setting after the rough diamond had shown its value.
+
+Miles Diston pulled freight on our road a few years ago. He was of
+medium stature, dark complexion, but no beauty. He was a manly-looking
+fellow, well-educated enough, sober, and a steady-going, reliable
+engineer; you would never pick him out for a hero. Miles was young
+yet--not thirty--but, somehow or other, he had escaped matrimony: I
+guess he had never had time. He stayed on the farm at home until he was
+of age, and then went firing, so that when I first knew him he had
+barely got to his goal--the throttle.
+
+A good many men, when they first get there, take great interest in their
+work for a few months--until experience gives them confidence; then they
+take it easier, look around, and take some interest in other things.
+Most of them never hope to get above running, and so sit down more or
+less contented, get married, buy real estate, gamble, or grow fat, each
+according to the dictates of his own conscience or the inclinations of
+his make-up. Miles figured a little on matrimony.
+
+I can't explain it; but when a railroad man is in trouble, he comes to
+me for advice, just as he would go to the company doctor for kidney
+complaint. I am a specialist in heart troubles. Miles came to me.
+
+Miles was like the rest of them. They don't come right down and say,
+"Something's the matter with me; what would you do for it?" No, sir!
+They hem and haw, and laugh off the symptoms, until you come right out
+and tell them just how they feel and explain the cause; then they will
+do anything you say. Miles hemmed and hawed a little, but soon came out
+and showed his symptoms--he asked me if I had ever noticed the
+"Frenchman's" girl.
+
+"The Frenchman," be it known, was our boss bridge carpenter. He lived at
+a small place half-way over my division--I was pulling express--and the
+freights stopped there, changing engines. I knew Venot, the bridge
+carpenter, very well; met him in lodge occasionally, and once in a
+while he rode on the engine with me to inspect bridges. His wife was a
+Canadian woman, and good-looking for her forty years and ten children.
+The daughter that was killing Miles Diston, Marie Venot, was the eldest,
+and had just graduated from some sisters' school. She was a very
+handsome girl, and you could read the romantic nature of her being
+through her big, round, gray eyes. She was vivacious, and loved to go;
+but she was a dutiful daughter, and at once took hold to help her mother
+in a way that made her all the more adorable in the eyes of practical
+men like Miles.
+
+Miles made the most of his opportunities.
+
+But, bless you, there were other eyes for good-looking girls besides
+those in poor Miles Diston's head, and he was far from having the field
+to himself; this he wanted badly, and came to get advice from me.
+
+I advised strongly against wasting energy to clear the field, and in
+favor of putting it all into making the best show and in getting ahead
+of all competitors. Under my advice, Miles disposed of some vacant
+lots, and bought a neat little house, put it in thorough order, and made
+the best of his opportunities with Marie.
+
+Marie came to our house regularly, and I had good opportunity to study
+her. She was a sensible little creature, and, to my mind, just the girl
+for Miles; as Miles was just the man for her. But she had confided to my
+wife the fact that she never, never could consent to marry and settle
+down in the regulation, humdrum way; she wanted to marry a hero, some
+one she could look up to--a king among men.
+
+My wife told her that kings and heroes were scarce just then, and that a
+lot of pretty good women managed to be comparatively happy with common
+railroad men. But Marie wanted a hero, and would hear of nothing less.
+
+It was during one of her visits to my house that Miles took Marie out
+for a ride and (accidentally, of course) dropped around by his new
+house, induced her to look at it, and told his story, asking her to
+make the home complete. It would have caught almost any girl; but when
+Miles delivered her at our door and drove off, I knew that there would
+be a "For Rent" card on that house in a few days and that Marie Venot
+was bound to have a hero or nothing.
+
+Miles took his repulse calmly, but it hurt. He told me that Marie was
+hunting for a different kind of man from him; said that he thought
+perhaps if he would enlist, and go out to fight Sitting Bull, and come
+home in a new, brass-bound uniform, with a poisoned arrow sticking out
+of his breast, she would fall at his feet and worship him. She told him
+she liked him better than any of the town boys; his calling was noble
+enough and hard enough; but she failed to see her ideal hero in a man
+with blue overclothes on and cinders in his ears. If any of Miles's
+competitors had rescued a drowning child, or killed a bear with a
+penknife, at this juncture, I'm afraid Marie would have taken him. But,
+as I have indicated, it was a dull season for heroes.
+
+About this time our road invested in some mogul passenger engines, and
+I drew one. I didn't like the boiler sticking back between me and Dennis
+Rafferty. I didn't like six wheels connected. I didn't like a
+knuckle-joint in the side rod. I didn't like eighteen-inch cylinders. I
+was opposed to solid-end rods. And I am afraid I belonged to a class of
+ignorant, short-sighted, bull-headed engineers who didn't believe that a
+railroad had any right to buy anything but fifteen by twenty-two
+eight-wheelers--the smaller they were the more men they would want. I
+got over that a long time ago; but, at the time I write of, I was cranky
+about it. The moguls were high and short and jerky, and they tossed a
+man around like a rat in a corn-popper. One day, as I was chasing time
+over our worst division, holding on to the arm-rest and watching to see
+if the main frame touched the driving-boxes as she rolled, Dennis
+Rafferty punched me in the small of the back, and said: "Jahn, for the
+love ave the Vargin, lave up on her a minit. Oi does be chasing that
+dure for the lasth twinty minits, and dang the wan'st has I hit it
+fair. She's the divil on th' dodge."
+
+Dennis had a pile of coal just inside and just outside of the door, the
+forward grates were bare, the steam was down, and I went in seven
+minutes late, too mad to eat--and that's pretty mad for me. I laid off,
+and Miles Diston took the high-roller out next trip.
+
+Miles didn't rant and write letters or poetry, or marry some one else to
+spite himself, or take the first steamer for Burraga, or Equatorial
+Africa, as rejected lovers in stories do. It hurt, and he didn't enjoy
+it, but he bore up all right, and went about his business, just as
+hundreds of other sensible men do every day. He gave up entirely,
+however, rented his house, and said he couldn't fill the bill--there
+wasn't a hero in his family as far back as he could remember.
+
+Miles had been making time with the Black Maria for about a week, when
+the big accident happened in our town. The boilers in a cotton mill blew
+up, and killed a score of girls and injured hundreds more. Miles was at
+the other end of the division, and they hurried him out to take a
+car-load of doctors down. They were given the right of the road, and
+Miles tested the speed of that mogul--proving that a pony truck would
+stay on the track at fifty miles an hour, which a lot of us "cranks" had
+disputed.
+
+A few miles out there is a coaling-station, and at that time they were
+building the chutes. One of the iron drop-aprons fell just before Miles
+with the mogul got to it; it smashed the headlight, dented the stack,
+ripped up the casing of the sand-box and dome, cut a slit in the jacket
+the length of the boiler, tore off the cab, struck the end of the first
+car, and then tore itself loose, and fell to the ground.
+
+The throttle was knocked wide open, and the mogul was flying. Miles was
+thrown down, his head cut open by a splinter, and his foot pretty badly
+hurt. He picked himself up instantly, and took a look back as he closed
+the throttle. Everything was "coming" all right, he remembered the
+emergency of the case, and opened the throttle again. A hasty
+inspection showed the engine in condition to run--she only looked
+crippled. Miles had to stand up. His foot felt numb and weak, so he
+rested his weight on the other foot. He was afraid he would fall off if
+he became faint, and he had Dennis take off the bell-cord and tie it
+around his waist, throwing a loop over the reverse lever, as a measure
+of safety. The right side of the cab and all the roof were gone, so that
+Miles was in plain sight. The cut in his scalp bled profusely, and in
+trying to wipe the blood from his eyes, he merely spread it all over
+himself, so that he looked as if he had been half murdered.
+
+It was this apparition of wreck, ruin, and concentrated energy that
+Marie Venot saw flash past her father's door, hastening to the relief of
+the victims of a worse disaster, forty miles away.
+
+Her father came home for his dinner in a few minutes from his little
+office in the depot. To his daughter's eager inquiry he said there had
+been some big accident in town and the "extra" was carrying doctors
+from up the road. But what was the matter with the engine, he didn't
+know; it was the 170; so it was old man Alexander, he said--and that's
+the nearest I ever came to being a hero.
+
+Marie knew who was running the 170 pretty well; so after dinner she went
+to the telegraph office for information, and there she learned that the
+special had struck the new coal chute at Coalton and that the engineer
+was hurt. It was time she ran down to see Mrs. Alexander, she said, and
+that afternoon's regular delivered her in town.
+
+Like all other railroaders not better employed, I dropped round to the
+depot at train time to talk with the boys and keep track of things in
+general. The regular was late, but Miles Diston was coming with a
+special, and came while we were talking about it. Miles didn't realize
+how badly he was hurt until he stopped the mogul in front of the general
+office. So long as the excitement of the run was on, so long as he saw
+the absolute necessity of doing his whole duty until the desired end was
+accomplished, so long as he had a reputation to protect, his will power
+subordinated all else. But when several of us engineers ran up to the
+engine, we found Miles hanging to the reverse lever by his safety cord,
+in a dead faint. We carried him into the depot, and one of the doctors
+administered some restorative. Then we got a hack and started him and
+the doctor for my house; but Miles came to himself, and insisted on
+going to his boarding-house and nowhere else.
+
+Mrs. Bailey, Miles's boarding-house keeper, had been a trained nurse,
+but had a few years before invested in a rather disappointing
+matrimonial venture. She was one of the best nurses and one of the
+"crankiest" women I ever knew. I believe she was actually glad to see
+Miles come home hurt, just to show how she could pull him through.
+
+The doctor found that Miles had an ankle out of joint; the little toe
+was badly crushed; there was a bad cut in the leg, that had bled
+profusely; there was a black bruise over the short ribs on the right
+side, and there was a button-hole in the scalp that needed about four
+stitches. The little toe was cut off without ceremony, the ankle
+replaced and hot bandages applied, and other repairs were made, which
+took up most of the afternoon.
+
+When the doctor got through, he called Mrs. Bailey and myself out into
+the parlor, and said that we must not let people crowd in to see the
+patient; that his wounds were not dangerous, but very painful; that
+Miles was weak from loss of blood, and that his constitution was not in
+particularly good condition. The doctor, in fact, thought that Miles
+would be in great luck if he got out of the scrape without a run of
+fever. Thereafter Mrs. Bailey referred all visitors to me. I talked with
+the doctor and the nurse, and we all agreed that it would stop most
+inquisitive people to simply say that the patient had suffered an
+amputation.
+
+That evening, when I went home, there were two anxious women-to receive
+me, and the younger of them looked suspiciously as if she had been
+crying. I told them something of the accident, how it all happened, and
+about Miles's injuries. Both of them wanted to go right down and help
+"do something," but I told them of the doctor's order and of his fears.
+
+By this time the reporters came; and I called them into the parlor, and
+then let them pump me. I detailed the accident in full, but declined to
+tell anything about Miles or his history. "The fact is," said I, "that
+you people won't give an engineer his just dues. Now, if Miles Diston
+had been a fireman and had climbed down a ladder with a child, you would
+have his picture in the paper and call him a hero and all that sort of
+thing; but here is a man crushed, bleeding, with broken bones, and a
+crippled engine, who stands on one foot, lashed to his reverse lever,
+for eighty miles, and making the fastest time ever made over the road,
+because he knew that others were suffering for the relief he brought."
+
+"That's nerve," said one of the young men.
+
+"Nerve!" said I, "nerve! Why, that man knows no more about fear than a
+lion; and think of the sand of the man! This afternoon he sat up and
+watched the doctor perform that amputation without a quiver; he wouldn't
+take chloroform; he wouldn't even lie down."
+
+[Illustration: "We carried him into the depot."]
+
+"Was the amputation above or below the knee?" asked the reporter.
+
+"Below" (I didn't state how far).
+
+"Which foot?"
+
+"Left."
+
+"He is in no great danger?"
+
+"Yes, the doctor says he will be a very sick man for some time--if he
+recovers at all. Boys," I added, "there's one thing you might
+mention--and I think you ought to--and that is that it is such heroes as
+this that give a road its reputation; people feel as though they were
+safe behind such men."
+
+If Miles Diston had read the papers the next morning he would have died
+of flattery; the reporters did themselves proud, and they made a whole
+column of the "iron will and nerves of steel" shown in that "amputation
+without ether."
+
+Marie Venot was full of sympathy for Miles; she wanted to see him, but
+Mrs. Bailey referred her to me, and she finally went home, still
+inquiring every day about him. I don't think she had much other feeling
+for him than pity. She was down again a week later, and I talked freely
+of going to pick out a wooden foot for Miles, who was improving right
+along.
+
+Meanwhile, the papers far and near copied the articles about the "Hero
+of the Throttle," and the item about the road's interest in heroes
+attracted the attention of our general passenger agent--he liked the
+free advertising and wanted more of it--so he called me in one day, and
+asked if I knew of a choice run they could give Miles as a reward of
+merit.
+
+I told him, if he wanted to make a show of gratitude from the road, and
+get a big free advertisement in the papers, to have Miles appointed
+superintendent of the Spring Creek branch, where a practical man was
+needed, and then give it out "cold" that Miles had been rewarded by
+being made superintendent of the road. This was afterwards done, with a
+great hurrah (in the papers).
+
+The second Sunday after Miles was hurt, Marie was down, and I thought
+I'd have a little fun with her, and see how she regarded Miles.
+
+"There's quite a romance connected with Diston's affair," said I at the
+dinner table, rather carelessly. "There is a young lady visiting here in
+town--I hear she is very wealthy--who saw Miles when we took him off
+his engine. She sends flowers every day, calls him her hero, and is just
+crazy for him to get well so she can see him."
+
+"Who is she, did you say?" asked my wife.
+
+"I forgot her name," said I, "but I am here to tell you that she will
+get Miles if there is any chance in the world. Her father is an army
+officer, but she says that Miles Diston is a greater hero than the army
+ever produced."
+
+"She's a hussy," said Marie.
+
+I don't know whether you would call that a bull or a bear movement on
+the Diston stock, but it went up--I could see that.
+
+A week later Miles was able to come down to our house for dinner, and my
+wife asked Marie to come also. I met her at the depot, and after she was
+safe in the buggy, I told her that Miles was up at the house. She nearly
+jumped out; but I quieted her, and told her she mustn't notice or say a
+word about Miles's game leg, as he was extremely sensitive about it.
+
+My wife was in the kitchen, and I went to the barn to put out the horse.
+Marie went to the sitting-room to avoid the parlor and Miles, but he was
+there, I guess, and Marie found her hero, for when they came out to
+dinner he had his arm around her. They were married a month later, and
+went to Washington, stopping to see us on the way back.
+
+As I came home that night with my patent dinner pail, and with two rows
+of wrinkles and a load of responsibility on my brow, Marie shook her
+fist in my face and called me "an old story-teller."
+
+"Story-teller," said I; "what story?"
+
+"Oh, what story? That _leg_ story, of course, you old cheat."
+
+"What leg story?"
+
+"Old innocence; that amputation below the knee--you know."
+
+"Wa'n't it below the knee?"
+
+"Yes, but it was only the little toe."
+
+"John," said Miles, "she cried when she looked for that wooden foot and
+only found a slightly flat wheel."
+
+"That's just like 'em," said I. "Here Marie only expected a part of a
+hero, and we give her a whole man, and she kicks--that's gratitude for
+you."
+
+"I got my hero all right, though," said Marie; "you told me a big fib
+just the same, but I could kiss you for it."
+
+"Don't you do that," said I; "but if the Lord should send you many
+blessings, and any of 'em are boys, you might name one after me."
+
+She said she'd do it--and she did.
+
+
+
+
+MY LADY OF THE EYES
+
+
+One morning, some years ago, I struck the general master mechanic of a
+Rocky Mountain road for a job as an engineer--I needed a job pretty
+badly.
+
+As quick as the M. M. found that I could handle air on two hundred foot
+grades, he was as tickled as I was; engineers were not plenty in the
+country then, so many deserted to go to the mines.
+
+"The 'III' will be out in a couple of days, and you can have her
+regular, unless Hopkins comes back," said he.
+
+I hustled around for a room and made my peace with the boarding-house
+people before I reported to break in the big consolidation that was to
+fall to my care.
+
+She was big and black and ugly and new, and her fresh fire made the
+asphalt paint on her fire-box and front-end stink in that peculiar and
+familiar way given to recently rebuilt engines; but it smelt better to
+me than all the perfumes of Arabia.
+
+A good-natured engineer came out on the ash-pit track to welcome me to
+the West and the road, and incidentally to remark that it was a great
+relief to the gang that I had come as I did.
+
+"Why," I asked, "are you so short-handed that you are doubling and
+trebling?" "No, but they are afraid that some of 'em will have to take
+out the 'III'--she is a holy terror."
+
+Hadn't she been burned the first trip? Didn't she kill Jim O'Neil with
+the reverse lever? Hadn't she lain down on the bed of the Arkansas river
+and wallowed on "Scar Face" Hopkins, and he not up yet? Hadn't she run
+away time and again without cause or provocation?
+
+But a fellow that has needed a job for six months will tackle almost
+anything, and I tackled the "holy terror."
+
+In fixing up the cab, I noticed an extra bracket beside the steam gage
+for a clock, and mentally noted that it would come in handy just as
+soon as I had a twenty dollar bill to spare for one of those jeweled,
+nickle-plated, side-winding clocks, that are the pride and comfort of
+those particular engineers who want nice things, with their names
+engraved on the case.
+
+Before I had got everything ready to take the "three aces" over the
+turn-table for her breaking-in trip, the foreman of the back-shop came
+out with a package done up in a pair of old overalls, and said that here
+was Hopkins's clock, which I might as well use until he got around
+again--'fraid someone would steal it if left in his office.
+
+Hopkins's clock was put on its old bracket.
+
+Hopkins must have been one of those particular engineers; his clock was
+a fine one; "S. H. Hopkins" was engraved on the case in German text. The
+lower half of the dial was black with white figures, the upper half
+white with black figures. But what struck me was part of a woman's face
+burned into the enamel. Just half of this face showed, that on the
+white part of the dial; the black half hid the rest.
+
+It was the face, or part of the face, of a handsome young woman with
+hair parted in the middle and waved back over the ears, a broad
+forehead, and such glorious eyes--eyes that looked straight into yours
+from every view point--honest eyes--reproving eyes--laughing
+eyes--loving eyes. I mentally named the picture "Her Eyes."
+
+Now, I was not and am not sentimental or superstitious. I'd been married
+and helped wean a baby or two even then, but those eyes bothered me.
+They hunted mine and looked at me and asked me questions and made me
+forget things, and made me think and dream and speculate; all of which
+are sheer suicide for a locomotive engineer.
+
+I got a switchman and started out to limber up the "III." I asked him to
+let me out on the main line, took a five-mile spin, and sidetracked for
+a freight train. While the man was unlocking the switch, I looked into
+the eyes and wondered what their owner was, or could be, or had been, to
+"Scar Faced" Hopkins, and--ran off the switch. Then I wondered if
+Hopkins was looking into those eyes when he and the "III" went into the
+Arkansas river that dark night.
+
+A few days after this the "III," Dennis Rafferty and I went into the
+regular freight service of the road.
+
+On the first trip, when half way up Greenhall grade, I glanced at the
+clock and was startled. The "Eyes" were looking at me; there was a
+scared, pained look, a you-must-do-something look in the eyes, or it
+seemed to me there was.
+
+"Damn that clock," said I to myself, "I'm getting superstitious or have
+softening of the brain," and I reached over to open the front door, so
+that the breeze could cool me off. In doing so my hand touched the water
+pipe to the injector--it was hot. The closed overflow injector was new
+to merit had "broke," and was blowing steam back to the tank that I
+thought was putting water into the boiler. I put it to work properly and
+"felt of the water:" there was just a flutter in the lower gage cock; in
+five minutes the crown sheet and my reputation would have been burned
+beyond recognition. Those eyes were good for something after all.
+
+I looked at them and they were calm. "It's all right now, but be
+careful," they said.
+
+Dennis Rafferty had troubles of his own. The liner came off the new fire
+door letting the door get red hot, but it wasn't half as hot as Dennis.
+He hammered it with the coal pick and burned his hands and swore, and
+Dennis was an artist in profanity. He stepped up into the cab wiping his
+face on his sleeve, and ripping the English and profane languages into
+tatters; but he stopped short in the middle of an oath and looked
+ashamed, glanced at me, crossed himself and went back to his work
+quietly. When he came back into the cab, I asked him what choked him so
+sudden.
+
+"Her," said he, nodding his head toward the clock. "Howly Mither, man,
+she looked hurted and sorry-like, same's me owld mither uster, whin I
+was noctious with the blasthfemry." So the "Eyes" were on Dennis, too.
+That took some of the conceit out of me, I was getting foolish about the
+eyes.
+
+We had a time order against a passenger train, it would be sharp work to
+make the next station, the train was heavy, the road and the engine new
+to me, and I hesitated. The conductor was dubious but said the "204" or
+Frosty Keeler could do it any day of the week. I looked at my watch and
+then at the clock. The eyes looked "Yes, go, you can do it easily; the
+'III' will do all you ask; trust her." I went, and as we pulled our
+caboose in to clear and before the express whistled for the junction,
+the eyes looked "Didn't I tell you; wasn't that splendid." Those eyes
+had been over the road more than I had, and knew the "III" better. I
+would trust the eyes.
+
+On the return trip, a night run, I had a big train and a bad rail, but
+the "III" did splendid work and made her time while "Her Eyes" approved
+every move I made, smiled at me and admired my handling of the engine.
+The conductor unbent enough to send over word that it was the best run
+he'd ever had from a new man, but the "Eyes" looked, "That's nothing,
+you can do it every time, I know you can."
+
+Half over the division, we took a siding for the "Cannon Ball." We
+cleared her ten minutes and I had time to oil around while Dennis
+cleaned his fire. I climbed up into the cab, wiping the long oiler and
+glanced at the clock. The "Eyes" were looking wild alarm--"do something
+quick." The "Eyes" had the look, or seemed to me to have the look, you
+might expect in those of a bound woman who sees a child at the stake
+just before the fire is lighted--immeasurable pain, pity, appeal. I
+tried the water, unconsciously; it was all right. I stepped into the
+gangway and glanced back. Our tail-lights were "in" and the white light
+of the switch flashed safely there, and we had backed in any way. I
+glanced ahead. The switch light was white, the target showed main line
+plainly, for my headlight shone on it full and clear. What could be the
+matter with "Her Eyes."
+
+As I turned to enter the cab the roar of the coming express came down
+the wind on the frosty air and my eyes fell on the rail ahead. My God,
+they were full to the siding! It was a stub-rail switch, and the stand
+had moved the target and the light, but not the rails--the bridle-rod
+was broken.
+
+I yelled like a mad man, but the brakeman had gone to the caboose for
+his lunch pail. I ran to the switch. It was useless. I fought it an
+instant and then turned to the rails. Putting my foot against the main
+line rail, I grasped the switch rail and throwing all my strength into
+the effort, jerked it-over to the main line, but would it stay until the
+train passed over? I felt sure it would not. I looked about for
+something to hold it. Part of a broken pin was the only thing in sight.
+The headlight of the express shone in my face, and something seemed to
+say, "This is your trial, do something quick." I threw myself prone on
+the ground, my head near the rails, and held the broken pin between the
+end of the siding rail and the main line. The switch rails could not be
+forced over without shearing off the pin. The corner of the pilot of
+the flying demon caught my right sleeve and tore it off, and the cloth
+threw the cylinder cocks open with a hiss, the wind and dust blinded and
+shook me, and the rails hammered and bruised and pinched my hand, but I
+held on. Twenty seconds later I sat watching the red lights of the tenth
+sleeper whip themselves out of sight. Then I went back to the cab, and
+"Her Eyes" glorified me. "God bless your dear eyes," said I, "where
+would we have all been now but for you?"
+
+But the "Eyes" deprecated my remarks, and looked me upon a pedestal, but
+the company doctor dressed my hand the next day, and the superintendent
+gave the whole crew ten days for backing into that siding.
+
+Another round trip, and I fear I watched "Her Eyes" more than the
+signals and the track ahead. "Her Eyes" decided for me, chose for me,
+approved and disapproved. I was running by "Her Eyes."
+
+In a telegraph office they asked me if I could do something in a certain
+time and I was dazed. I didn't give my usual quick decision, my
+judgment was wobbly and uncertain. I must look at my clock--and "Her
+Eyes." I went out to the "III" to consult them, lost my chance and was
+"put in the hole" all over the division by the disgusted dispatcher.
+
+Then I got to thinking and moralizing and sitting in judgment on my
+thraldom. Was I running the "III" or was "Her Eyes?" Did the company pay
+me for my knowledge, judgment, experience and skill in handling a
+locomotive, or for obeying orders from "Her Eyes." Any fool could obey
+orders.
+
+Then I declared for liberty, but I kept away from "Her Eyes." I declared
+for liberty in the roundhouse.
+
+I am a man of decision, and no sooner had I taken this oath than I got a
+screw driver, climbed into the cab of the "III," without looking at "Her
+Eyes," held my hand over the face of the clock and took it down. I
+wrapped it up and took it back to the foreman.
+
+"Why, yes," said he, "'Scar Face' was here for it this morning. He's
+round somewhere yet. Ain't goin' to railroad no more, goin' into the
+real estate business. He's got money, so's his wife--daffool he didn't
+quit long ago."
+
+"If 'Scar Face' Hopkins puts that clock over his desk and trusts 'Her
+Eyes,' he'll get rich," thought I. Perhaps, though, those eyes don't
+reach the soul of "Scar Face" Hopkins; perhaps he don't see them change
+as I did; men are conceited that way.
+
+During the next month I got acquainted with "Scar Face" Hopkins, who was
+a first-class fellow, with a hand-clasp like a polar bear, a heart like
+a steam pulsometer, and a face that looked as if it might have been used
+for the butting post at the end of the world.
+
+"Scar Face" Hopkins got all his scars in the battle of life. Men who
+command locomotives on the firing line often get hurt, but Hopkins had
+votes of thanks from officials and testimonials from men, and
+life-saver's medals from two governments to show that his scars were the
+brands of honorable degrees conferred by the Almighty on the field for
+brave and heroic deeds well done.
+
+"Scar Face" Hopkins was a fellow you'd like to get up close to of a
+night and talk with, and smoke with, and think with, until unlawful
+hours.
+
+One day I went into his office and the clock was there, and his old
+torch and a nickle-plated oiler, mementoes of the field. I looked at the
+clock, and "Her Eyes" smiled at me, or I thought they did, and said,
+just as plain as words, "Glad to see you, dear friend; sit down." But I
+turned my back to that clock; I can resist temptation when I know where
+it is coming from.
+
+One day, a few weeks later, I stopped before a store window in a crowd
+to examine some pictures, satisfied my curiosity, and in stepping back
+to go away, put the heel of my number ten on a lady's foot with that
+peculiar "craunch" that you know hurts. I turned to make an apology, and
+faced the original of the picture on the clock. A beautiful pair of
+eyes, the rest of the face was hidden by a peculiar arrangement of veil
+that crossed the bridge of the nose and went around the ears and neck.
+
+Those eyes, full of pain at first, changed instantly to frank
+forgiveness, and, bowing low, I repeated my plea for pardon for my
+clumsy carelessness, but was absolved so absolutely and completely, and
+dismissed so naturally, that I felt relieved.
+
+I sauntered up to Hopkins' office. "Hopkins," said I, "I just met your
+wife."
+
+"You did?"
+
+"Yes, and I stepped on her foot and hurt her badly, I know." Then I told
+him about it.
+
+"What did she say?" asked Hopkins, and I noticed a queer look. I thought
+it might be jealousy.
+
+"Why, well, why I don't know as I remember, but it was very kindly and
+ladylike."
+
+There was a queer expression on Hopkins' face.
+
+"Of course--"
+
+"Sure she spoke?" asked Hopkins. "How did you know it was my wife
+anyway?"
+
+"Because it was the same face that is pictured on your clock, and some
+one in the crowd said it was Mrs. Hopkins. You know Hop., I ran by that
+clock for a few weeks, and I noticed the eyes."
+
+"Anything queer about 'em?" This was a challenge.
+
+"Yes, I think there is. In the first place, I know you will understand
+me when I say they are handsome eyes, and I'm free to confess that they
+had a queer influence on me, I imagined they changed and expressed
+things and--"
+
+"Talked, eh."
+
+"Well, yes." Then I told Hopkins the influence the "Eyes" had on me.
+
+He listened intently, watching me; when I had finished, he came over,
+reached out his hand and said:
+
+"Shake, friend, you're a damned good fellow."
+
+I thought Hopkins had been drinking--or looking at "Her Eyes." He pulled
+up a chair and lit a cigar.
+
+"John," said he, "it isn't every man that can understand what my wife
+says. Only kindred spirits can read the language of the eyes. _She
+hasn't spoken an audible word in ten years_, but she talks with her
+eyes, even her picture talks. We, rather she, is a mystery here; people
+believe all kinds of things about her and us; but we don't care. I want
+you to come up to the house some evening and know her better. We'll be
+three chums, I know it, but don't ask questions; you will know things
+later on."
+
+Before I ever went to Hopkins' house, he had told her all about me, and
+when he introduced us, he said:
+
+"Madeline, this is the friend who says your picture talked to him."
+
+I bowed low to the lady and tried to put myself and her at ease.
+
+"Mrs. Hopkins, I'm afraid your husband is poking fun at me, and thinks
+my liver is out of order, but, really, I did imagine I saw changing
+expression in your eyes in that picture--in fact, I named you 'My Lady
+of the Eyes.'"
+
+She laughed--with her eyes--held out her hands and made me welcome.
+
+"That name is something like mine," said Hopkins, "I call her Talking
+Eyes.'"
+
+Then Hopkins brought in his little three-year-old daughter, who
+immediately climbed on my knee, captured my watch, and asked:
+
+"What oo name?"
+
+"John," said I.
+
+"Don, Don," she repeated; "my name Maddie."
+
+"That's Daddy's chum," put in Hopkins.
+
+"Tum," repeated Maddie.
+
+"Uncle Chummy," said Hopkins.
+
+"Untle Tummie."
+
+And I was "Untle Tummie" to little Madeline and "Chummy" to Hopkins and
+his wife from then on.
+
+Mrs. Hopkins wore her veil at home as well as abroad, but it was so
+neatly arranged and worn so naturally that I soon became entirely used
+to it, in fact, didn't notice it. Otherwise, she was a well-dressed,
+handsomely set up woman, a splendid musician and a capital companion.
+She sat at her work listening, while Hopkins and I "railroaded" and
+argued about politics, and religion and everything else under the sun.
+Mrs. Hopkins took sides freely; a glance at her eyes told where she
+stood on any question.
+
+Between "Scar Face" Hopkins and his handsome wife there appeared to be
+perfect sympathy and confidence. Sitting in silence, they glanced from
+one to the other now and again, smiled, nodded--and understood.
+
+I was barred from the house for a month during the winter because little
+Madeline had the scarlet fever, then epidemic, but it was reported a
+light case and I contented myself with sending her toys and candy.
+
+One day I dropped into Hopkins' office to make inquiry, when a clerk
+told me Hopkins had not been to the office for several days. Mrs.
+Hopkins was sick. I made another round trip and inquired again, and got
+the same answer; then I went up to the house.
+
+The officious quarantine guard was still walking up and down in front of
+the Hopkins residence. To a single inquiry, this voluble functionary
+volunteered the information that the baby was all right now, but the
+lady herself was very sick with scarlet fever. Hopkins was most crazy,
+no trained nurses could be had for love nor money, the doctor was coming
+three times a day, and did I know that Mrs. Hopkins was some kind of a
+foreign Dago, and the whole outfit "queer?"
+
+Hopkins was in trouble; I pushed open the gate and started up the walk.
+
+"Hey, young feller, where yer goin'," demanded the guard.
+
+"Into the house, of course."
+
+"D'ye know if you go in ye got to stay for the next two weeks?"
+
+"Perfectly."
+
+"Then go on, you darned fool."
+
+And I went on.
+
+Hopkins met me, hollow-eyed and haggard.
+
+"Chum," said he, "you've come to prison, but I'm glad. Help is out of
+reach. If you can take care of Maddie, the girl will do the cooking and
+I will--I will do my duty."
+
+And night and day he did do his duty, being alone with his wife except
+for the few moments of the doctor's calls.
+
+One evening, after my little charge had been put to sleep downstairs by
+complying with her invariable order to "tell me a 'tory 'bout when oo
+was a 'ittle teenty weenty boy," the doctor came down with a grave face.
+
+"Our patient has reached the worst stage--delirium. The turn will come
+to-night. Poor Hopkins is about worn out, and I'm afraid may need you.
+Please don't go to bed; be 'on call.'"
+
+One hour, two hours, I sat there without hearing a sound from upstairs.
+I was drowsy and remembering that I had missed my evening smoke I
+lighted my pipe, silently opened the front door and stepped out upon the
+porch to get a whiff of fresh air. It was a still dark night, and I
+tiptoed down to the end that overlooked the city and stood looking at
+the lights and listening to the music of the switch engines in the yards
+below the hill. The porch was in darkness except the broad beam of
+light from the hall gas jet through the open door.
+
+The lights below made me think of home and my wife and little ones
+sleeping safely, I hoped, close to the coastwise lights of the Old
+Colony.
+
+I thought I heard a stealthy footfall behind me, and turned around to
+face an apparition that made the cold chill creep up my back. If ever
+there was a ghost, this must be one, an object in white not six feet
+from me.
+
+I'm not at all afraid of ghosts when I reach my second wind, and I
+grabbed at this one. It moved backward silently and as I made a quick
+step toward it that specter let out the most blood-curdling yell I ever
+heard--the shriek of a maniac.
+
+I stepped quicker now, but it moved away until it stood in the flood of
+light from the doorway, and then I saw a sight that took all the
+strength out of me. The most awful and frightful face I ever beheld,
+and,--it was the face of Madeline Hopkins.
+
+The neck and jaw and mouth were drawn and seamed and scarred in a
+frightful and hideous manner, the teeth protruded and the mouth was
+drawn to one side in a frightful leer; above that was all the beauty of
+"My Lady of the Eyes."
+
+For a moment I was dumb and powerless, and in that moment Hopkins
+appeared with a bound, and between us we captured my poor friend's wife
+and struggled and fought with her up the long stairs and back to her
+bed.
+
+Sitting one on either side, we had all we could do to hold her hands.
+She would lift us both to our feet, she was struggling desperately, and
+the eyes were the eyes of a tigress.
+
+When this strain was at its worst and every nerve on edge, another
+scream from behind us cut our ears like a needle, the eyes of the
+tigress as well as ours sought the door, and there in her golden curls
+and white "nightie" stood little Madeline. The eyes of the tigress
+softened to tenderest love, and with a bound, the baby was on her
+mother's breast, her arms around her neck, and she was saying, "Poor
+Mama, what they doin' to poor Mama?"
+
+"My darling, my darling," said the mother in the sweetest of tones.
+
+I unconsciously released my hold upon the arm I held, and she drew the
+sheet up and covered her face as I was wont to see it, and held it
+there. With the other, she gently stroked the baby curls.
+
+I watched this transformation as if under a spell.
+
+Suddenly she turned her head toward Hopkins, her eyes full of tenderness
+and pity and love, reached out her hand and said:
+
+"Oh, Steadman, my voice has come back, God has taken off the curse."
+
+But poor Hopkins was on his knees beside the bed, his face buried in his
+arms, his strong shoulders heaving and pitiful sobs breaking from his
+very heart.
+
+A couple of months afterward I resigned to go back to God's country, the
+home of the east wind, and where I could know my own children and speak
+to my own wife without an introduction, and the Hopkins invited me to a
+farewell dinner.
+
+"My Lady of the Eyes" presided, looking handsomer and stronger than
+usual, but she didn't eat with us. But with eyes and voice she
+entertained us so royally and pleasantly that Hopkins and I did eating
+enough for all.
+
+After supper, Hop. and I lighted our cigars and "railroaded" for awhile,
+then "Her Eyes" went to the piano and sang a dozen songs as only a
+trained singer can. Her voice was wonderfully sweet and low. They were
+old songs, but they seemed the better for that, and while she sang
+Hopkins's cigar went out and he just gazed at her with pride and joy in
+every lineament of his scarred and furrowed face.
+
+Little Maddie was allowed to sit up in honor of "Untle Tummy," but after
+awhile the little head bobbed quietly and the little chin fell between
+the verses of her mother's song, and "My Lady of the Eyes" took her by
+the hand and brought her over to us.
+
+"Tell papa good-night and Uncle Chum my good-bye, dear, and we'll go to
+bed."
+
+Hopkins kissed the baby, and I got my hug, and another to take to my
+"ittle dirl," and Mrs. Hopkins held out both her hands to me.
+
+"Good-bye, dear Chum," said she, "my love to you and yours, now and
+always."
+
+Hopkins put his arm around his wife, kissed her forehead and said:
+
+"Sweetheart, I'm going to tell Chum a story."
+
+"And don't forget the hero," said she, and turning to me, "Don't believe
+all he says, and don't blame those that he blames, and remember that
+what is, is best, and seeming calamities are often blessings in
+disguise."
+
+Hopkins and I looked into each other's faces and smoked in silence for
+ten minutes, then he turned to his secretary and, opening a drawer, took
+out a couple of cases and opened them. They contained medals. Then he
+opened a package of letters and selected one or two. We lighted fresh
+cigars and Hopkins began his story.
+
+"My father was a pretty well-to-do business man and I his only child. My
+mother died when I was young. I managed to get through a grammar school
+and went to college. I wanted to go on the road from the time I could
+remember and had no ambition higher than to run a locomotive. That was
+my ideal of life.
+
+"My father opposed this very strenuously, and offered to let me go to
+work if I'd select something decent--that's the way he put it. He used
+to say, 'Try a brick-yard, you might own one some day, you'll never own
+a railroad.' I had my choice, college or something decent,' and I took
+the college, although I didn't like it.
+
+"The summer before I came of age my father died suddenly and my college
+life ended."
+
+Here Hopkins fumbled around in his papers and selected one.
+
+"Just to show you how odd my father was, here is the text of his will,
+leaving out the legal slush that lawyers always pack their papers in:
+
+"'To my son, Steadman Hudson Hopkins, I leave one thousand dollars to be
+paid immediately on my demise. All the residue of my estate consisting
+of etc., etc.'--six figures, Chum, a snug little wad--'shall be placed
+in the hands of three trustees'--naming the presidents of three
+banks--'to be invested by them in state, municipal or government bonds,
+principal and interest accruing to be paid by said trustees to my son
+hereinbefore mentioned when he has pursued one calling, with average
+success, for ten consecutive years, and not until then. All in the best
+judgment of the trustees aforenamed.
+
+"'To my son I also bequeath this fatherly advice, knowing the waste of
+money by heirs who have done nothing to produce it, and knowing that had
+I been given a fortune at the beginning of my career, it would have been
+lost for lack of business experience, and knowing too, the waste of time
+usually made by young men who drift from one employment or occupation to
+another'--having wasted fifteen years of my own life in this way--I
+make these provisions in this my last will and testament, believing that
+in the end, if not now, my son will see the wisdom of this provision,
+etc., etc.'
+
+"The governor had a long, clear head and he knew me and young men in
+general, but bless you, I thought he was a little mean at the time.
+
+"I turned to the trustees and asked what they would consider as
+fulfilling the requirements of the will.
+
+"'Any honorable employment,' answered the oldest man of the trio.
+
+"The next day, I went to see Andy Bridges, general superintendent of the
+old home road, who had been a friend of father's, and told him I wanted
+to go railroading. He offered to put me in his office, but I insisted on
+the footboard, and to make a long story short, was firing inside of
+three weeks and running inside of three years.
+
+"I was the proudest young prig that ever pulled a throttle. I always
+loved the work and--well, you know how the first five years of it
+absorbs you if you are cut out for it and like it and intend to stay at
+it.
+
+"I had been running about two years, and had paid about as much
+attention to young women as I had to the subject of astronomy, until
+Madelene Bridges came out of a Southern convent to make her home with
+her uncle, our 'old man.'
+
+"The first time I saw her I went clean, stark, raving, blind, drunken
+daft over her. I tried to argue and reason myself out of it, but it was
+no go. I didn't even know who she was then.
+
+"But I was in love and, being so, wasn't hardly safe on the road.
+
+"Then I spruced up and started in to see if I couldn't interest her in
+me half as much as I was interested in her.
+
+"I didn't have much trouble to get a start, for Andy Bridges had come up
+from the ranks and hadn't forgotten it--most of 'em do--and welcomed any
+decent young man in his house, even if he was a car hand. Madelene had a
+couple of marriageable cousins then and that may account for old Andy.
+
+"I got on pretty well at first, for I was first in the field. I got in a
+theatre or two before the other young fellows caught on. About this time
+there was a dance, and I lost my grip. I took Madelene but couldn't
+dance, and all the others could, especially Dandy Tamplin, one of the
+train despatchers.
+
+"I took private dancing lessons, however, and squared myself that way.
+
+"Singing was a favorite mode of passing the evenings with the young
+folks at the Bridges's home, and I cursed myself for being tuneless.
+
+"It finally settled down to a race between Tamplin and myself, and each
+of us was doing his level best. I was so dead in earnest and so truly in
+love that I was no fit company for man or beast, and I'm afraid I was
+twice as awkward and dull in Madelene's presence as in any other place.
+
+"Dandy Tamplin was a handsome young fellow, and a formidable rival, for
+he was always well-dressed, a good talker and more or less of a lady's
+man. Besides that, he was on the ground all the time and I had to be
+away two-thirds of the time on my runs.
+
+"I came in one trip determined to know my fate that very evening--had my
+little piece all committed to memory.
+
+"As I registered I heard one of the other despatchers, behind a
+partition, telling some one that he was going to work Dandy's trick
+until eleven o'clock, and then the two entered into a discussion of
+Dandy's quest of the 'old man's' niece, one of them remarking that all
+the opposition he had was Hopkins and that wasn't worth considering. I
+resolved to get to Bridges's ahead of Tamplin.
+
+"But man--railroad man, anyway--proposes and the superintendent
+disposes. I met Bridges at the door.
+
+"'Hopkins,' said he, 'I want you to do me a personal favor.'
+
+"'Yes, sir,'
+
+"'I want you to double out in half an hour on some perishable freight
+that's coming in from the West; there isn't one available engine in.
+Will you do it?'
+
+"'Yes,' I answered, slowly, showing my disappointment. 'But, Mr.
+Bridges, I was particularly anxious to go up to your house to-night; I
+intend to ask--'
+
+"'I know, I know,' said he kindly, taking my hand; 'It'll be all right I
+hope; there ain't another young chap I'd like to see go up _and stay_
+better than you, but my son, _she will keep_, and this freight wont. You
+go out, and I'll promise that no one shall get a chance to ask ahead of
+you.' This was a friend at court and a strong one.
+
+"'It means a lot to me,' said I
+
+"'I know it my boy, and I'm proud to have you say so right out in
+meeting, but--well, you get those fruit cars in by moonlight, and I'll
+have you back light, and you can have the front parlor for a week.'
+
+"On my return trip, I found a big Howe truss bridge on fire and didn't
+get in for two days. The road was blocked, everything out of gear and I
+had to double back again, whether or no.
+
+"I was 'chewing the rag' with a roundhouse foreman about it when Old
+Andy came along.
+
+"'Go on, Hopkins,' said he, 'and you can lay off when you get back. I'm
+going South with my car _and will take the girls with me_!'
+
+"That was hint enough, and I said yes.
+
+"It was in the evening, and while the fireman and I got our supper, the
+hostler turned my engine, coaled her up, took water and stood her on the
+north branch track, next the head end of her train, that had not yet
+been entirely made up.
+
+"This north branch came into the south and west divisions off a very
+heavy grade and on a curve, the view being cut off at this point by
+buildings close to the track. The engine herself stood close to the
+office building, and after oiling around, I backed on to the train,
+bringing my cab right opposite a window in the despatcher's office. Just
+before this open window and facing me sat Dandy Tamplin at his key. I
+hated Dandy Tamplin.
+
+"It was dark outside and in the cab, the conductor had given me my
+orders and said we'd go just as quick as the pony found a couple of
+cars more and put them on the hind end. Dennis had put in a big fire for
+the hill, and then gone skylarking around the station, and I was in the
+dark glaring at Dandy Tamplin in the light.
+
+"The blow-off cock on this engine was on the right side and opened from
+the cab. Ordinarily, you pulled the handle up, but the last time the
+boiler was washed out they had turned the plug cock half over and the
+handle stuck up through the deck among the oil cans ahead of the reverse
+lever, and opened by pushing it down. I remember thinking it was
+dangerous, as a man might accidentally open it. On the cock was a piece
+of pipe to carry the hot water away from the paint work, and this stuck
+straight out under the footboard, the cock leaked a little and the end
+of the pipe dripped hot water and steam.
+
+"While I glared at Tamplin, old man Bridges and the girls came into the
+room. Bridges went up to the narrow, shelf-like counter, looked at the
+register and asked Tamplin a question.
+
+"Tamplin went up to the group, his back to me, and spoke to one after
+the other. Madelene was the last in the row and, while the others were
+talking, laid her gloves, veil and some flowers on the counter. Tamplin
+spoke to her and I could see the color change in her face. Oh! if I only
+had hold of Dandy Tamplin.
+
+"Bridges hurried out into the hall behind the passage way, the girls
+following. Tamplin turned around and espied Madelene's belongings. He
+went up to them, smelled the flowers, then hurriedly took a note out of
+his pocket and slipped it into one of the gloves. The other glove he put
+in his breast pocket. It was well for Dandy Tamplin I didn't have a gun.
+
+"Remember, all this happened quickly. Before Tamplin was fairly in his
+seat and at work, Madelene came tripping back alone and made for her
+bundle, but Tamplin left his key open and went over to her. I couldn't
+hear what was said for by this time the safety valves of my engine were
+blowing and drowned all sound. She evidently asked him what time it was
+and leaned partly over the counter to hear his reply. He put his hand
+under her chin and turned her face toward the clock, this with such an
+air of assurance that my heart sank--but murder was in my soul. Then
+quickly putting his hand behind her neck, he pulled her toward him and
+kissed her. I was a demon in an instant.
+
+"She sprang away from him and ran into the hall and he came back to his
+chair with a smile of triumph on his thin lips.
+
+"Somehow or other, just at this moment, I noticed the steam at the end
+of that blow-off pipe, and all the devils in hell whispered at once 'One
+move of your hand and your revenge is complete.' I wasn't Steadman
+Hopkins then, I was a madman bent on murder, and I reached down for that
+handle, holding on by the throttle with my left hand. The cock had some
+mud in it and I opened it wide before it blew out and then with a roar
+and a shriek it burst--and the crime was done.
+
+"All the devils flew away at once and left me alone, naked with my
+conscience. Murderer, murderer!' resounded in my ears; hisses, roars and
+screams seemed to come to fill my brain and dance around my condemned
+soul; voices seemed shrieking and crash upon crash seemed to smite my
+ears. I thought I was dying, and I remember distinctly how glad I was. I
+didn't let go of that valve, I couldn't--I'd go to hell with it in my
+hand and let them do their worst.
+
+"Then remorse took possession of me. Wasn't it enough to maim and
+disfigure poor Tamplin, why cook him to death--I'd shut off that cock. I
+fought with it, but it wouldn't close, and I called Dennis to help me.
+
+"Some one stood behind me and put a cool hand on my brow, and a woman's
+voice said, 'Poor brave fellow, he's still thinking of his duty; all the
+heroes don't live in books.'
+
+"I opened my eyes, and looked around. I was in St. Mary's Hospital, and
+a nun was talking to herself.
+
+"Well, John, I'd been there for more than six weeks, and it took six
+more before I understood just what had happened and could hobble
+around, for I had legs and ribs and an arm broken.
+
+"It must have been at the moment I opened that blow-off cock that part
+of a runaway train came down the north grade, backward, like a whirlwind
+and buried my engine and myself, piling up an awful wreck that took
+fire. I was rescued at the last moment by the crowd of railroad men that
+collected and bodily tore the wreck apart to get at me. Every one
+thought I tried to close that blow-off cock and hold the throttle shut.
+I was a hero in the papers and to the men, and I couldn't get a chance
+to tell the truth if I dared, and I was afraid to ask about Dandy
+Tamplin.
+
+"No word came from Madelene. One day Bridges came to see me, and brought
+me this watch I wear now, a present from the company. I determined to
+tell Bridges--but he wouldn't believe me. Looked, too, as if he thought
+I was off in my head yet and I must have looked crazy, for most of these
+brands I got that night. To be sure I've added to the collection here
+and there, but I never was pretty after that roundup.
+
+"At last I mustered up courage and asked: 'How is Tamplin?' 'All right,
+working right along, but takes it hard,' said Bridges.
+
+"'Was he laid up long? Is he as badly disfigured as I am?'
+
+"'Why, man, he wasn't touched. He had gone to the other end of the room
+for a drink of water. I'm afraid, my boy, its Madelene he's worried
+about.'
+
+"'She has refused him then?'
+
+"'Well, I don't know that. She is still in bed, badly hurt. She has not
+seen a soul but her nurse, the doctor and my wife, and denies herself to
+all callers, even her best friends, even to me.'
+
+"Chum, I won't tell you what I said or suffered. Madelene had come into
+the room again for her belongings, and had faced the dagger of steam
+sent by the hand of a man who would give his immortal soul to make her
+well again.
+
+"I couldn't get around much, but I wrote her a brief note asking if I
+might call and sent it by a messenger.
+
+"She replied that she could not see me then. I waited. I hadn't the
+heart to write a confession I wanted to make in person, so after a week
+or two I went to the house.
+
+"Madelene sent down word that she couldn't see me then and could not
+tell when she would see me.
+
+"I thought the nurse, who acted as messenger, did not interpret either
+my message or hers as they were intended--I would write a note.
+
+"I stepped into the library on one side of the hall, made myself at home
+and wrote Madelene a note, a love letter, begging for just one
+interview. Taking blame for all that had happened and confessing my love
+and devotion to her.
+
+"It was a long letter and just as I finished it, I heard some one in the
+hall. I thought it was a servant and started for the doorway to ask her
+to carry my message. It was the nurse.
+
+"I was partly concealed by the portieres. She was facing the door, her
+finger on her lips, and before her stood Dandy Tamplin.
+
+"'It's all right' she whispered, 'be still,' and both of them tiptoed
+upstairs.
+
+"This, then was why I could not see Madelene. Dandy Tamplin was her
+accepted lover.
+
+"That night I left the old home for good to seek my fortunes and
+forgetfulness far away. I didn't care where, so long as it was a great
+way off.
+
+"At New York I found some engineers going out to run on the Meig's road
+in Peru. I signed a contract and in two days was on the Atlantic, bound
+for the Isthmus of Panama.
+
+"I ran an engine in Peru until the war broke out with Chili. I was sent
+to the front with a train of soldiers one day and got on the battle
+field. Our side was getting badly worsted, and I got excited and jumping
+off the engine, armed myself and lit into the fight. A little crowd
+gathered around me and I found myself the leader, no officer in sight.
+There was a charge and we didn't run--surprised the Chilians. I got
+some of these blue brands on my left cheek there and made a new
+reputation. Before I knew it, I had on a uniform and dangled a sword.
+They nicknamed me the 'Fighting Yankee.'
+
+"Peru had lots of trouble and I saw a good deal of it. When it was all
+over, I found myself in command of a gun boat, just a tug, but she was
+alive and had accounted for herself several times.
+
+"The president sent me on a special mission to Chili just after the
+close of the war, and, all togged out in a new uniform, I went on board
+of an American ship at Callao bound for Valparaiso. I thought I was some
+pumpkins then. I'd lived a rough and tumble life for about three years
+and was beginning to like it--and to forget.
+
+"I used to do the statuesque before the passengers, my scars attested my
+fighting propensities, and there were several Peruvian liars aboard that
+knew me by reputation, and enlarged on it.
+
+"We touched at Coquimbo and an American civil engineer and family came
+aboard, homeward bound.
+
+"That afternoon I was lolling in the smoking-room on deck, when I was
+attracted by the sound of ladies talking on the promenade just outside
+the open port where I sat. It was the engineer's wife and daughter.
+
+"'Mamma,' said the young lady. 'I must read you Madelene's letter. Poor,
+dear Madelene, it's just too sorrowful and romantic for anything.'
+
+"Madelene! I hadn't heard that name pronounced for three years. It was
+wrong, I knew it, but I listened.
+
+"'Poor dear, she was awfully hurt and disfigured in a railroad wreck.'
+
+"It was _my_ Madelene they were talking about. Wild horses could not
+have dragged me from the spot.
+
+"The girl read something like this. I know for I've read that letter a
+hundred times. It's in this pile here.
+
+"'Dear Lottie: Your ever welcome'--'no, not that.'
+
+"'Uncle Andrew is going'--'let me see, Oh! yes, here it is, now listen
+Mamma,' said the girl.
+
+"'Dear Schoolmate. I have never told a soul about my troubles or my
+trials, for long I could not bear to think of them myself. But lately I
+have seen it in its true light, and have come to the conclusion that I
+have no right to moan my life away. I'm past all that, there is nothing
+for me to live for in myself, but my life is spared for some purpose,
+and I propose to devote it to doing good to others'--'isn't she a sweet
+soul, mamma?'
+
+"'After I came to live with Uncle Andrew, I was very happy, it seemed
+like a release from prison. I saw much company, and in six months had
+two lovers--more than I deserved. One of these was a plain, honest manly
+man; he was one of Uncle Andrew's engineers. He wasn't handsome, but he
+was the kind of man that sensible women love. The other was a handsome,
+showy, witty man, also an employee of the railroad, considered 'the
+catch' among the girls. Really, Lottie, both of them tried to propose
+and I wouldn't let them, I didn't know which one of them I liked best.
+But if things had taken the usual course, I should have married the
+handsome one--and been sorry forever after.'
+
+"My heart stood still--she hadn't married Dandy Tamplin after all."
+
+"'The night of the wreck, I was going out on Uncle Andrew's private car.
+The handsome man was on duty in the office. The plain man on an engine
+that stood before the open window, I didn't know that then.
+
+"'A runaway train crashed into the engine and something exploded and a
+stream of boiling water came into the room and scalded me beyond
+recognition. You would not know me, Lottie, I am so disfigured.
+
+"'The handsome man did nothing but wring his hands; the plain one staid
+on the engine and tried to stop the steam from coming out, and was
+himself terribly injured.
+
+"'I was for weeks in bed and suffered mental agony much beyond the
+merely physical pain. I was so wicked I cursed my life and my Maker and
+prayed for death--yet I lived. I was so resentful, so heartbroken, so
+wicked, that I refused to speak for weeks, then, when I tried, I
+couldn't, God had put the curse of silence on my wickedness.'
+
+"Think of Madelene being wicked, Chum.
+
+"'When I was getting well enough and reconciled to my own fate, enough
+to think of others, I thought of my two lovers. Then I asked my nurse
+for a glass. One look, and I made up my mind never to see either of them
+again.
+
+"'Both of them were clamoring to see me, and I refused to see either.
+The plain man wrote me the only love letter I ever received. I have worn
+it out reading it. It was so manly, so unselfish! He blamed himself for
+the accident, and offered me his devotion and love, no matter in what
+condition the letter found me. This letter he wrote in Uncle Andrew's
+library, left it open on the desk and--disappeared.
+
+"'I have never heard from him from that day to this. I never could
+understand it. A man that could write that letter, couldn't run away.
+The last sentence in his letter proved that. It said: "Remember, dear
+Madelene, that somewhere, somehow, I am thinking of you always; that
+whether you see me or not, you will some day come to know that I love
+your soul, not your face; that your life is dear to me, and no calamity
+can make any difference."
+
+"'Those were brave words, and after I read them, I knew for the first
+time that this was the man I loved. They told me he was frightfully
+disfigured, too, but that made no difference to me, I loved him. But he
+was gone, no one knew where. Why did he go?
+
+"'The handsome man disappeared the same day, and he never came back, but
+he left no letter.
+
+"'Dear Lottie, I have only now solved the mystery. My sometime nurse has
+just confessed that the night the letter was written the other man came
+to the house, like a thief, he had bribed her to give me drugs to make
+me sleep and then she led him into my room and showed him my scars. If
+he ever loved me at all, he was in love with my face; the other man
+loved me. One went away because he saw me, the other one because he saw
+his rival apparently granted the interview refused to him. My true lover
+must have seen that man sneaking up to my room.'
+
+"John, every fibre of my being danced for joy. I didn't hear the rest,
+and she read several pages. I had heard enough.
+
+"I went right out on the deck, begged pardon to begin with, introduced
+myself, confessed to eavesdropping, told who I was, where I had been and
+asked for that letter.
+
+"I got it and Madelene's picture; the one you have seen on my clock.
+
+"I finished my task at Valparaiso while the vessel lay there, reported
+by mail, and came home on the same ship.
+
+"I took that letter and photograph to Andy Bridges's house and wrote
+across the envelope 'Madelene Bridges, I demand your immediate and
+unconditional surrender, signed, Steadman H. Hopkins.'
+
+"And I got it in five minutes. Chum, that is the only case on record
+where something worth having was ever surrendered to an officer of the
+Peruvian government.
+
+"In six months I was back on an engine in a new country, with my silent,
+loved and loving wife, in a new home. Three times before now someone has
+seen Madelene's face, twice I told this story, and then we moved away;
+once I told it and trusted, and it was not repeated. Madelene can stand
+being a mystery and wondered at, but she cannot stand pity and
+curiosity. As for you, old Chum, I haven't even asked you not to repeat
+what I have told you--I know you won't."
+
+After a long while, I turned to Hopkins and said: "And yet, Hopkins,
+fools say there is no romance in railroad life. This is a story worth
+reading, and some day I'd like to write it."
+
+"Not in Madelene's time, or in mine, Chum, but if ever a time comes,
+I'll send you a token."
+
+"Send me your picture, Hop."
+
+"No, I'll send you Madelene's. No, I'll send you the clock with the
+'talking eyes.'"
+
+And standing at Hopkins's gate, the scar-faced man with the romance and
+I parted, like ships that meet, hail and pass on, never to meet again.
+Hopkins and I moved away from one another, each on his own course,
+across the seven seas of life.
+
+And all this happened almost twenty years ago.
+
+The other day, my office boy brought me a card that read, "Mrs. Henry
+Adams, Washington, D. C." "Is she a book agent?" I asked.
+
+"Nope, don't look like one."
+
+"Show her in."
+
+A young woman came in, looked at me hard for a moment, laid a package on
+my desk and asked,
+
+"Is this the Mr. Alexander who used to be an engineer?"
+
+I confessed.
+
+"I don't suppose you remember me," she asked.
+
+I put on my glasses and looked at her. No, I never--then she put her
+handkerchief up to her lips covering the lower part of her face; it was
+the face of Madelene Hopkins.
+
+"Yes," said I, "I remember you perfectly, seventeen or eighteen years
+ago you used to sit on my knee and call me 'Untle Tummy.' and I called
+you Maddie."
+
+Then we laughed and shook hands.
+
+"Mr. Alexander," said she, "In looking over some of father's papers, we
+came across a request that under certain conditions you were to be sent
+an old keepsake of his, a clock with mother's picture on it. I have
+brought it to you."
+
+"And your father and mother, what of them, my friend?" I asked, for the
+promise of that clock "under certain conditions" was coming back to me.
+
+"Haven't you heard, sir, poor papa and mama were lost in that awful
+wreck at Castleton, two years ago."
+
+And as I write, from the dial of "Scar Faced" Hopkins's clock "My Lady
+of the Eyes" looks down at me from across the mystery of eternity. The
+eyes do not change as once they did, or has age dimmed my sight and
+imagination? Long I look into their peaceful depths thinking of their
+story, and ask, "Dear Eyes, is it well with thee?"--and they seem to
+answer, "It is well."
+
+
+
+
+SOME FREAKS OF FATE
+
+
+I am just back from a visit to old scenes, old chums and old memories of
+my interesting experience on the western fringe of Uncle Sam's great,
+gray blanket--the plains.
+
+If some of these fellows who know more about writing than about running
+engines would only go out there for a year and keep their eyes and ears
+and brains open, and mouths shut, they could come home and write us some
+true stories that would make fiction-grinders exceedingly weary.
+
+The frontier attracts strong characters, men with pioneer spirit, men
+who are willing to sacrifice something, in order to gain an end; men
+with loves and men with hates. Bad men are there, some of them hunted
+from Eastern communities, perhaps, but you will find no fools and mighty
+few weak faces--there's character in every feature you look at.
+
+Every one is there for a purpose; to accomplish something; to get ahead
+in the world; to make a new start; perhaps to live down something, or to
+get out of the rut cut by ancestors; some may only want to drink, and
+shout, and shoot, but even these do it with a vim--they mean it.
+
+Of the many men who ran engines at the front, with me in the old days, I
+recall few whose lives were purposeless; almost every one had a
+life-story.
+
+If there's anything that I enjoy, it's to sit down to a pipe and a
+life-story--told by the subject himself. How many have I listened to,
+out there, and every one of them worthy the pen of a Kipling!
+
+The population of the frontier is never all made up of men, and the
+women all have strong features, too--self-sacrifice, devotion,
+degradation, or _something_, is written on every face. There are no
+blanks in that lottery--there's little material there for homes of
+feeble-minded.
+
+It isn't strange, either, when you come to think of it; fools never go
+anywhere, they are just born and raised. If they move it's because they
+are "took"--you never heard of a pioneer fool.
+
+One of the strongest characters I ever knew was a runner out there by
+the name of Gunderson--Oscar Gunderson. He was of Swedish parentage,
+very light-complexioned, very large, and a splendid mechanic, as Swedes
+are apt to be when they try. Gunderson's name was, I suppose, properly
+entered on the company's time-book, but it never was in the nomenclature
+of the road. With the railroaders' gift for abbreviation and nickname,
+Gunderson soon came down to "Gun," his size, head, hand or heart
+furnished the prefix of "Big," and "Big Gun" he remains to-day. "Big
+Gun" among his friends, but simple "Gun" to me. I think I called him
+"Gun" from the start.
+
+Gun ran himself as he did his engine, exercised the same care of
+himself, and always talked engine about his own anatomy, clothes, food
+and drink.
+
+His hat was always referred to as his "dome-casing;" his Brotherhood pin
+was his "number-plate;" his coat was "the jacket;" his legs the
+"drivers;" his hands "the pins;" arms were "side-rods;" stomach
+"fire-box;" and his mouth "the pop."
+
+He invariably referred to a missing suspender-button as a broken
+"spring-hanger;" to a limp as a "flat-wheel;" he "fired up" when eating;
+he "took water," the same as the engine; and "oiled round," when he
+tasted whisky.
+
+Gun knew all the slang and shop-talk of the road, and used it--was even
+accused of inventing much of it--but his engine talk was unique and
+inimitable.
+
+We roomed together a whole winter; and often, after I had gone to bed,
+Gun would come in, and as he peeled off his clothes he would deliver
+himself something as follows:
+
+"Say, John, you don't know who I met on the up trip? Well, sir, Dock
+Taggert. I was sailin' along up the main line near Bob's, and who should
+I see but Dock backed in on the sidin'--seemed kinder dilapidated, like
+he was runnin' on one side. I jest slammed on the wind and went over and
+shook. Dock looks pretty tough, John--must have been out surfacing
+track, ain't been wiped in Lord knows when, oiled a good deal, but nary
+a wipe, jacket rusted and streaked, tire double flanged, valves blowin',
+packing down, don't seem to steam, maybe's had poor coal, or is all
+limed up. He's got to go through the back shop 'efore the old man'll
+ever let him into the roundhouse. I set his packin' out and put him in a
+stall at the Gray's corral; hope he'll brace up. Dock's a mighty good
+workin' scrap, if you could only get him to carryin' his water right; if
+he'd come down to three gauges he'd be a dandy, but this tryin' to run
+first section with a flutter in the stack all the time is no good--he
+must 'a flagged in."
+
+Which, being translated into English, would carry the information that
+Gun had seen one of the old ex-engineers at Bob Slattery's saloon, had
+stopped and greeted him. Dock looked as if he had tramped, had drank,
+was dirty, coat had holes, soles of his boots badly worn, wheezing,
+seemed hungry and lifeless, been eating poor food, and was in a general
+run-down condition. Gun had "set out his packing" by feeding him and put
+him in a bed at the Grand Central Hotel--nicknamed the "Grayback's
+Corral." Gun thought he would have to reform, before the M. M. put him
+into active service. He was a good engineer, but drank too much, and
+lastly, he was in so bad a condition he could not get himself into
+headquarters unless someone helped him by "flagging" for him.
+
+Gun was a bachelor; he came to us from the Pacific side, and told me
+once that he first went west on account of a woman, but--begging Mr.
+Kipling's pardon--that's another story.
+
+"I don't think I'd care to double-crew my mill," Gun would say when the
+conversation turned to matrimony. "I've been raised to keep your own
+engine and take care of it, and pull what you could. In double-heading
+there's always a row as to who ought to go ahead and enjoy the scenery
+or stay behind and eat cinders."
+
+I knew from the first that Gun had a story to tell, if he'd only give it
+up, and I fear I often led up to it, with the hope that he would tell it
+to me--but he never did.
+
+My big friend sent a sum of money away every month, I supposed to some
+relative, until one day I picked up from the floor a folded paper dirty
+from having been carried long in Gun's pocket, and found a receipt. It
+read:
+
+     "MISSION, SAN ANTONIO, Jan. 1, 1878.
+     "Received of O. Gunderson, for Mabel Rogers, $40.00.
+     "SISTER THERESA."
+
+Ah, a little girl in the story! I thought; it's a sad story, then.
+There's nothing so pure and beautiful and sweet and joyous as a little
+girl, yet when a little girl has a story it's almost always a sad story.
+
+I gave Gun the paper; he thanked me; said he must look out better for
+those receipts, and added that he was educating a bit of a girl out on
+the coast.
+
+"Yours, Gun?" I asked kindly.
+
+"No, John; she ain't; I'd give $5,000 if she was."
+
+He looked at me straight, with that clear, blue eye, and I knew he told
+me the truth.
+
+"How old is she?" I asked.
+
+"I don't know; 'bout five or six."
+
+"Ever seen her?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Where did you get her?"
+
+"Ain't had her."
+
+"Tell me about her?"
+
+"She was willed to me, John, kinder put in extra, but I can't tell you
+her story now, partly because I don't know it all myself, and partly
+because I won't--I won't even tell her."
+
+I did not again refer to Gun's little girl, and soon other experiences
+and other biographies crowded the story out of my mind.
+
+One evening in the spring, I sat by the open window, enjoying the cool
+night breeze from off the mountains, when I heard Gun's cheery voice on
+the porch below. He was lecturing his fireman, in his own, unique way.
+
+"Well, Jim, if I ain't ashamed of you! There ain't no one but you;
+coming into general headquarters with a flutter in the stack, so full
+that you can't whistle, air-pump a-squealing 'count of water, smeared
+from stack to man-hole, headlight smoked and glimmery, don't know your
+own rights, kind o' runnin' wildcat, without proper signals, imagining
+you're first section with a regardless order. You want to blow out, man,
+and trim up, get your packing set out and carry less juice. You're worse
+than one of them slippin', dancin', three-legged, no-good Grants. The
+next time I catch you at high-tide, I'll scrap you, that's what I'll do,
+fire you into the scrap-pile. Why can't you use some judgment in your
+runnin'? Why can't you say, 'Why, here's the town of Whisky, I'm going
+to stop here and oil around,' sail right into town, put the air on
+steady and fine, bring her right down to the proper gait, throw her into
+full release, so as to just stop right, shut off your squirt, drop a
+little oil on the worst points, ring your bell and sail on.
+
+"But you, you come into town forty miles an hour, jam on the emergency
+and while the passengers pick 'emselves out of the ends of the cars, you
+go into the supply house and leave the injector on, and then, when you
+do move, you're too full to go without opening your cylinder cocks and
+givin' yourself dead away.
+
+"Now, I'm goin' to Californ', next month, and if you get so as you can
+tell when you've got enough liquor without waiting for it to break your
+injectors, I'll ask the old man to let you finger the plug on Old Baldy
+whilst I'm gone. But I'm damned if I don't feel as if you was like that
+measly old 19--jest fit to be jacked up to saw wood with."
+
+While Gun was in California, I was taken home on a requisition from my
+wife, and Oscar Gunderson and his little girl became a memory--a page in
+a book that I had partly read and lost, but not entirely forgotten.
+
+One day last summer I took the westbound express at Topeka, and
+spreading my grip, hat, coat and umbrella, out on the seats, so as to
+resemble an experienced English tourist, I fished up a Wheeling stogie
+and a book and went into the smoking-pen of the sleeper, which I had all
+to myself for half-an-hour.
+
+The train stopped to give the thirsty tender a drink and a man came in
+to wash his hands. He had been riding on the engine.
+
+After washing, he stepped to the door of the "smokery," struck a match
+on the leg of his pants, held both hands around the end of his cigar
+while he lighted it, then waving the match to put it out, he threw it
+down and came in.
+
+While he was absorbed in all this, I took a glance at him.
+Six-foot-four, if an inch; high cheek bones; yellow beard; clear, blue
+eyes; white skin, and a hand about the size of a Cincinnati ham. I knew
+that face despite twelve years of turkey-tracks about the eyes.
+
+"Gunderson, old man, how are you?" I said, offering my fin.
+
+"Well, John Alexander, how in the name of thunder did you get away out
+here on the main stem, without orders?"
+
+"Inspection-car," said I; "how did you get here?"
+
+"Deadheading home; been out on special, a gilt-edged special, took her
+clean through to New York."
+
+"You did!" I exclaimed; "why, how was that?"
+
+"Went up special to a weddin', don't you see? Went up to see a new
+compound start off--prettiest sight I ever saw--working smooth as
+grease; but I'm kind of dubious about repairs and general running. I'm
+anxious to see how the performance sheet looks at the end of the year,
+John."
+
+"Who's been double-heading, Gun?"
+
+"Why--why, my little girl, trimmest, neatest, slickest little mill you
+ever saw. Lord! but she was painted red and white and gold-leaf, three
+brass bands on her stack, solid nickel trimming, all the latest
+improvements, corrugated fire-box, high pressure smoke consumer and
+sand-jet--jest made a purpose for specials, and pay-car. But if she
+ain't got herself coupled onto a long-fire-boxed ten-wheeler, with a big
+lap and a Joy gear, you can put me down for a clinker. Yes, sir; the
+baby is a heart-breaker on dress-parade, and the ten-wheeler is a whale
+on business, and if they don't jump the track, you watch out for some
+express speed that will make the canals sick, see if they don't."
+
+Without giving me time to say a word, he was off again.
+
+"You ought to seen 'em start out, nary a slip, cutting off square as a
+die, small one ahead speaking her little piece chipper and fast on
+account of her smaller wheels, and the ten-wheeler barking bass, steady
+as a clock, with a hundred-and-enough on the gauge, a full throttle, and
+half a pipe of sand. You couldn't tell to save you whether the little
+one was pulling the big one or the big one shoving the little--never saw
+a relief train start out in such shape in my life."
+
+Gunderson was evidently enthusiastic over the marriage of his little
+girl.
+
+We talked over old times and the changes, and followed each other up to
+date with a great deal of mutual enjoyment, until the porter demanded
+the "smokery" for his bunk.
+
+As we started for bed, Gun laid his hand on my shoulder and said:
+
+"John, a good many years ago, you asked me to tell you the story of my
+little girl. I refused then for her sake. I'll tell you in the morning."
+
+After a hearty breakfast and a good cigar, Gunderson squared himself for
+the story. He shut his eyes for a few minutes, as if to recall
+something, and then, speaking as if to himself, he said:
+
+"Well, sir, there wasn't a simmer anywhere, dampers all shut; you
+wouldn't'a suspected they was up to the popping point, but the minute
+they got their orders, and the con. put up his hand, so, up went--"
+
+"Say," I interrupted, "I thought I was to have the story. I believe you
+told me about the wedding, last night. The young couple started out
+well."
+
+"Oh, yes, old man, I forgot, the story; well, get on the next pit here,"
+motioning to a seat next to him, "and I'll give you the history of an
+old, hook-motion, name of Oscar Gunderson, and a trim, Class "G" made of
+solid silver, from pilot to draft-gear.
+
+"You think I'm a Swede; well, I ain't, I don't know what I am, but I
+guess I come nearer to being a Chinaman than anything else. My father
+was a sea-captain, and my mother found me on the China sea--but they
+were both Swedes just the same. I had two sisters older than myself, and
+in order to better our chances, father moved to New York when I was less
+than five years old.
+
+"He soon secured work as captain on a steamer in the Cuban trade, and
+died at sea, when I was ten.
+
+"I had a bent for machinery, and tried the old machine-shops of the
+Central road, but soon found myself firing.
+
+"I went to California, shortly after the war, on account of a
+woman--mostly my fault.
+
+"Well, after running around there for some years, I struck a job on the
+Virginia & Truckee, in '73.
+
+"Virginia City and Carson and all the Nevada towns were doing a
+fall-rush business, turning every wheel they had, with three crews to a
+mill. Why, if you'd go down street in any one of them towns at night,
+and see the crowds around the gamblers and molls, you'd think hell was
+a-coming forty-mile an hour, and that it wan't more than a car-length
+away.
+
+"Well, one morning, I came into Virginia about breakfast time, and with
+the rest of the crew, went up to the old California Chop-house for
+breakfast. This same chop-house was a building about good-enough for a
+stable, these days; but it had a reputation then for steaks. All the
+gamblers ate there; and it's a safe rule to eat where the gamblers do,
+in a frontier town, if you want the best there is, regardless of price.
+
+"It was early for the regular trade, and we had the dining-room mostly
+to ourselves, for a few minutes, then there were four women folks came
+in and sat down at a table bearing a card: 'Reserved for Ladies.'
+
+"Three of them were dressed loud, had signs out whereby any one could
+tell that they wouldn't be received into no Four Hundred; but one of
+them was a nice-looking, modestly-dressed woman, had on half-mourning,
+if I remember. She had one of them sweet, strong faces, John, like the
+nun when I had my arm broke and was scalded,--her sweet mouth kept
+mumblin' prayers, but her fingers held an artery shut that was trying
+its damndest to pump Gun Gunderson's old heart dry--strong character,
+you bet.
+
+"Well, that woman sat facing our table and kept looking at me; I
+couldn't see her without turning, but I knew she was looking. John, did
+you ever notice that you could _feel_ the presence of some people; you
+knew they were near you without seeing them? Well, when that happens,
+don't forget to give that fellow due credit; for whoever it is he or she
+has the strongest mind--the dominant one.
+
+"I _had_ to look around at that woman. I shall never forget how she
+looked; her hand was on the side of her face; her great, brown, tender
+eyes were staring right at me--she was reading my very soul. I let her
+read.
+
+"I had been jacking up a gilly of a gafter who had referred to his
+mother as "the old woman," and I didn't let the four females disturb me.
+I meant to hold up a looking-glass for that young whelp to look into. I
+hate a man that don't love his mother.
+
+"Why," says I, "you miserable example of Divine carelessness, do you
+know what that 'old woman' mother has done for you, you drivelin' idiot,
+a-thankin' God that you're alive and forgetting the very mother that
+bore you; if you could see the tears that she has shed, if you could
+count the sleepless nights that she has put in, the heartaches, the
+pain, the privation that she has humbly, silently, even thankfully borne
+that you might simply live, you'd squander your last cent and your last
+breath to make her life a joy, from this day until her light goes out. A
+man that don't respect his mother is lost to all decency; a man who will
+hear her name belittled is a Judas, and a man who will call his mother
+'old woman' is a no-good, low-down, misbehaven whelp. Why, damn it, I'd
+fight a buzz-saw, if it called my mother 'old woman'--and she's been
+dead a long time; gone to that special, exalted, gilt-edged and glorious
+heaven for mothers. No one but mothers have a right to expect to go to a
+heaven, and the only question that'll be asked is, 'Have you been a
+mother?'
+
+[Illustration: "He was the first man I ever killed."]
+
+"Well, sir, I had forgot about the women, but they clapped their hands
+and I looked around, and there were tears in the eyes of that one woman.
+
+"She got up; came to our table and laid a card by my plate, and said, 'I
+beg your pardon; but won't you call on me? Please do.'
+
+"I was completely knocked out, but told her I would, and she went out
+alone; the others finished their breakfast.
+
+"She had no sooner gone than Cy Nash, my conductor, commenced to
+giggle--'Made a mash on the flyest woman in town,' he tittered; 'ain't a
+blood in town but what would give his head for your boots, old man;
+that's Mabel Verne--owns the Odeon dance hall, and the Tontine, in
+Carson.'
+
+"I glanced at the card, and it did read, 'Mabel Verne, 21 Flood
+avenue.'
+
+"Well, Flood avenue is no slouch of a street, the best folks live
+there," I answered.
+
+"'Yes, that's her private residence, and if you go there and are let in,
+you'd be the first man ever seen around there. She's a curious critter,
+never rides or drives, or shows herself off at all; but you bet she sees
+that the rest of the stock show off. She's in it for money, I tell you.'
+
+"I don't know why, but it made me kind of heart-sick to think of the
+hell that woman must be in, for I knew by her looks that she had a heart
+and a brain, and that neither of them was in the Odeon or the Tontine
+dance-houses.
+
+"I thought the matter over,--and didn't go to see her. The next trip,
+she sent a carriage for me.
+
+"She met me at the door, and took my hat, and as I dropped into an easy
+chair, I opened the ball to the effect that 'this here was a strange
+proceeding for a lady.'
+
+"'Yes,' said she, sitting down square in front of me; 'it is; I felt as
+if I had found a true man, when I first saw you, and I have asked you
+here to tell you a story, my story, and ask your help and advice. I am
+so earnest, so anxious to do thoroughly what I have undertaken, that I
+fear to overdo it; I need counsel, restraint; I can trust you. Won't you
+help me?"
+
+"'If I can; what is it that you want me to do, madam?'
+
+"'First of all, keep a secret, and next, protect or help protect, an
+innocent child.'
+
+"'Suppose I help the child, and you don't tell me the secret?'
+
+"'No, it concerns the child, sir; she is my child; I want her to grow up
+without knowing what her mother has done, or how she has lived and
+suffered; you wouldn't tell her that, would you?'
+
+"'No; certainly not!'
+
+"'Nor anyone else?'
+
+"'No.'
+
+"'You would judge her alone, forgetting her mother?'
+
+"'Yes.'
+
+"'Then I will tell you the story.'
+
+"She got up and changed the window blinds, so that the light shone on
+my face; I guess she wanted to study the effect of her words.
+
+"'I was born at Sacramento,' she began; 'my father was a well-to-do
+mechanic, and I his only child; I grew up pretty fair-looking, and my
+parents spent about all they could make to complete my education,
+especially in music, of which I was fond. When I was eighteen years old,
+I fell in love with a young man, the son of one of the rich merchants of
+San Francisco, where we had removed. Like many another foolish girl, I
+trusted too implicitly, and believed too easily, and soon found myself
+in a humiliating position, but trusted to the honor of my lover to stand
+by me.
+
+"'When I explained matters to him he seemed pleased, said he could fix
+that easy enough; we would get married at once and claim a secret
+marriage for some months past.
+
+"'He arranged that I should meet him the next evening, and go to an old
+priest in an obscure parish, and be married.
+
+"'I stood long hours on a corner, half dead with fear, that night, for a
+lover that never came. He's dead now, got run over in Oakland yard, that
+very night, as he was running away from me, and as I waited and shivered
+under the stars and the fire of my own conscience.'
+
+"'Did he stand on one track, to get out of the way of another train, and
+get struck?' I asked.
+
+"'Yes,' looking at me close.
+
+"'Did he have on a false moustache, and a good deal of money and
+securities in a satchel, and everybody think at first he was a burglar?'
+
+"'Yes; but how did you know that?'
+
+"'Because, I killed him.'
+
+"'You?'
+
+"'Yes; I ran an engine over him, couldn't make him hear or see me. He
+was the first man I ever killed; strange he should be _this_ particular
+man.'
+
+"'It's fate,' said the woman, rocking slowly back and forth, 'it's fate,
+but it seems as though I like you better now that you were my avenger.
+That accident drove revenge out of my heart, caused me to let _him_ be
+forgotten, and to live for my child. I have lived for her. I live to-day
+for her and I will continue to live for her.'
+
+"'My disgrace killed my mother and ruined my father. I swore I would be
+an honest woman, and I sought employment to earn a living for my babe
+and myself, but every avenue was closed to me. I washed and scrubbed
+while I was able to teach music splendidly, but I could get no pupils. I
+made shirts for a pittance and daily refused, to me, fortunes for
+dishonor. I have gone hungry and almost naked to pay for my baby's
+board, but I was hunted down at last.
+
+"'One day, after many rebuffs in seeking employment, I went to the home
+of a sister of my child's father, and took the baby, told her who I was
+and asked her to help me to a chance to work. The good woman scarcely
+looked at me or the child; she said that had it not been for such as I,
+poor Charles would have been alive; his blood was on my head; I ought
+to ask God to wash my blood-stained hands.
+
+"'I went away from that house with my mind made up what to do. I would
+put my child in honest hands, and chain myself to the stake to suffer
+everlasting damnation for her sweet sake.
+
+"'She is in the Mission San Antonio now, between three and four, a
+perfect little princess, she looks like me, and grows, oh, so lovely! If
+you could see her, you'd love her.
+
+"'I can't go to see her any more; she is old enough to remember. The
+last time I was there, she demanded a papa!
+
+"'I am making a great deal of money. Many of the rich men, whose Puritan
+wives and daughters refused me honest work, are squandering lots of
+their wealth in my houses. I am saving money, too; and propose, as soon
+as I can get a neat fortune together to go away to the ends of the
+earth, and have my little girl with me. I will raise her to know herself
+and to know mankind.'
+
+"'And what do you want me to do, madam?'
+
+"'I want you to be that child's guardian; the honest man through whom
+she will reach the outside of San Antonio and the world. Who will go
+between her and me until a happier time.'
+
+"'I am only a rough engineer; the child will be raised to consider
+herself well off, perhaps rich.'
+
+"'Adopt her. I will stay in the background; make her expenditures and
+her education what you like. I will trust you.'
+
+"'I can't do that.'
+
+"'You are single; your life is hard; I have money enough for us all. Let
+us go to the Sandwich islands, anywhere, and commence life anew. The
+little one will know no other father, and all inquiry will be stopped.'
+
+"'I couldn't think of it, my dear madam; it's too easy; it's like
+pulling jerkwater passenger--I like through freight.'
+
+"Well, John, to make a long story short, the interview ended about here,
+and several more got to about the same place. There were a thousand
+things I could not help but admire in that woman, and I liked her better
+the more I knew her. But it wan't love; it was a sort of an admiration
+for her love of the child, and the nerve she displayed in its behalf.
+But I shrank from becoming her husband or companion, although I think
+she loved me, in the end, better than she ever did anybody.
+
+"However, I finally agreed to look after the little one, in case
+anything happened to the mother, and commenced then to send the money
+for her board and tuition, and the mother dropped out of all connection
+with the child or those having her in charge.
+
+"The mother made her pile and got out of the business, and at my
+suggestion went down near Los Angeles and bought a nice country place,
+to start respectable before she took the little one home. She left money
+in Carson, subject to my check, for the little girl, and things slid
+along for a year or so all smooth enough.
+
+"I was out on a snow-bucking expedition one time the next winter,
+sleeping in cars, shanties or on the engine, and I soon found myself all
+bunged up with the worst dose of rheumatiz' you ever see. I had to get
+down to a lower altitude, and made for Sacramento in the spring. I paid
+the Mission a year in advance, and with less than a hundred dollars of
+my own, struck out, hoping to dodge the twists that were in my bones.
+
+"A hundred blind gaskets don't go far when you're sick, and the first
+thing I knew I was dead broke; couldn't pay my board, couldn't buy
+medicine, couldn't walk--nothing but think and suffer. I finally had to
+go to a hospital. Not one of the old gang ever came to see me. Old Gun
+was a dandy, when he was making--and spending--a couple hundred a month;
+the rest of the time he was supposed to be dead.
+
+"I might have died in the hospital, if fate hadn't decreed to send me
+relief. It suddenly dawned upon me that I was getting far better
+treatment than usual, had a special nurse, the best of food, flowers,
+etc., all labeled 'From the Boys.'"
+
+"I found out, after I was well enough to take a sun bath on the porch,
+that a woman had sent all my luxuries, and that her purse had been
+opened for my relief. I knew who it was at once, and was anxious to get
+well and at work, so as not to live on one who was only too glad to do
+everything for me.
+
+"A six months' wrastle with the twisters leaves a fellow stiff-jointed
+and oldish, and lying in bed takes the strength out of him. I took the
+notion to get out and go to work, one day, and walked down to the
+shops--I was carried back, chuck full of 'em again.
+
+"The doctor said I must go to Ojo Caliente, away down south, if I was to
+get well. John, if the Santa Fé road had 'a been for sale for a cent
+then, I couldn't 'a bought a spike.
+
+"At about the height of my ill-luck, I got a letter from Mabel
+Verne--she had another name, but that don't matter--and she asked me
+again to come to her; to have a home, and care and devotion. It wasn't a
+love-sick letter, but it was one of them strong, tender, _fetching_
+letters. It was unselfish, it asked very little of me, and offered a
+good deal.
+
+"I thought over it all night, and decided at last to go. What better was
+I than this woman? Surely she was better educated, better bred. She had
+made one mistake, I had made many. She had no friends on earth; I didn't
+seem to have any, either. I hadn't had a letter from either of my
+married sisters for six or eight years, then. We could trust one
+another, and have an object in life in the education of the child. I'd
+be no worse off than I was, anyway.
+
+"The next morning I felt better. I got ready to leave, bid all my fellow
+flat-wheels good-by; and had a gig ordered to take me to the train--the
+doctor had given me two-hundred dollars a short time before--'from a
+lady friend.'
+
+"As I sat waiting for the hack, they brought me a letter from home--a
+big one, with a picture in it. It was from my youngest sister, and the
+picture was of her ten-year boy, named for me--such a happy, sunny
+little Swede face you never see. 'He always talks of Uncle Oscar as a
+great and good man,' wrote Carrie, 'and says every day that he's going
+to do just like you. He will do nothing that we tell him Uncle Oscar
+would not like, and anything that he would. If you are as good as he
+thinks you are, you are sure of heaven.'
+
+"And I was even then going off to live with a woman who made a fortune
+out of Virginia City dance-houses. I had a sort of a remorseful chill,
+and before I really knew just where I was, I had got to Arizona, and
+from there to the Santa Fé where you knew me.
+
+"I wrote my benefactress an honest letter, and told her why I had not
+come, and in a short time sent her the money she had put up for me; but
+it was returned again, and I sent it to the mission for my little girl.
+
+"Well, while I was with you there, I got a fare-thee-well letter, saying
+that when I got that Mabel Verne would be no more--same as dead--and
+that she had deposited forty thousand dollars in the Phoenix Bank for
+_your_ little girl--_yours_, mind ye--and asked me to adopt her legally
+and tell her that her mother was dead.
+
+"John, I ain't heard of that woman from then until now. I thought she
+had got tired of waiting on me and got married, but I believe she is
+dead.
+
+"I went to California and adopted the baby--a daisy too--and I've
+honestly tried to be a father to her.
+
+"I got to making money in outside speculations, and had plenty; so I let
+her money accumulate at the Phoenix and paid her way myself.
+
+"About four years ago, I left the road for good; bought me a nice place
+just outside of Oakland, and settled down to take a little comfort.
+
+"Mabel, my daughter Mabel, for she called me papa, went to Germany,
+nearly three years ago, in charge of her music teacher, Sister Florence,
+to finish herself off. Ah, John, you ort to see her claw ivory! Before
+she went, she called me into the mission parlor, one day, and almost got
+me into a snap; she wanted me to tell her all about her parents right
+then, and asked me if there wasn't some mystery about her birth, and the
+way she happened to be left in the mission all her life, her mother
+disappearing, and my adoption of her."
+
+"What did you tell her, Gun?" I asked.
+
+"Why, lied to her, of course, as any honorable man would have done. I
+told her that her father was an engineer and a friend of mine, and that
+he was killed in an accident before she was born--that was all plausible
+enough.
+
+"Then I told her that her mother was in poor health, and had died just
+before I had adopted her, and had left a will, giving her to me, and
+besides had left forty thousand dollars in the bank for her, when she
+married or became of age.
+
+"Well, John, cutting down short, she met a fellow over there, a New
+Yorker, that just seemed to think she was made a-purpose for him, and
+about a year ago he wrote and asked me for my daughter--just think of
+it! His petition was seconded by the baby herself, and recommended by
+Sister Florence.
+
+"They came home six months ago, and the baby got ready for dress-parade;
+and I went down to New York and seen 'em off; but here's where old Fate
+gets in his work again. That rascal of an O. B. Sanderson--I didn't
+notice the name before--was my own nephew, the very young cuss whose
+picture kept me from marryin' the baby's mother! I never tumbled till I
+ran across his mother, she was my sister Carrie.
+
+"John, I don't care a continental cuss how good he was, the baby was
+good enough for him--too good--I just said nothing--and watched the
+signals. You ort to a seen me a-givin' the bride away! Then, when it was
+all over, and I was childless, I give my little girl a check for
+forty-seven thousand and a fraction; kissed her, and lit out for
+home--and here I am.
+
+"But I ain't satisfied now, and just as quick as I get back, I'm a-going
+running again; then, when I've got so old I can't see more'n a car
+length, I'm going to ask for a steam-pump to run. I'm a-going to die
+railroading."
+
+"Have you ever made any inquiries about the mother, Gun?" I asked.
+
+"No; not much; it's so long now, it ain't no use; I guess that her
+light's gone out."
+
+"What would you do, if she was to turn up?"
+
+"Well, I don't know; I guess I'd keep still and see what she done."
+
+"Suppose, Gun, that she showed up now; loved you more than ever for what
+you have done, and renewed her old proposal? You know it's leap year."
+
+"Well, old man, if an angel flew down out of the sky and give me a
+second-hand pair of wings just rebuilt, and ordered me to put 'em on and
+follow her, I guess I wouldn't refuse to go out. Time was, though, when
+I'd a-held out for new, gold-mounted ones, or nothing; but that won't
+come, John; but you just ort to a been to the consolidation; it was just
+simply--well, pulling the president's special would be just like hauling
+a gravel-train to it!"
+
+The train stopped suddenly here, and "Gun" said he was going ahead to
+get acquainted with the water-boiler, and I took out my note-book and
+jotted down a few points.
+
+After the train got into motion again, I was reading over my notes,
+when, without looking, I thought Gunderson had come back, and I moved
+along in the seat to give him room, but a black dress sat down beside
+me.
+
+We had been sitting with our backs to a curtain between the first berth
+and a state-room. The lady came from the state-room.
+
+"Pardon me, sir," she said, "I want to finish that story. I have heard
+it all; I am Sister Florence, music teacher to Mr. Gunderson's daughter;
+he does not know that I am on this train.
+
+"Mr. Gunderson did not tell you that the Phoenix bank failed some months
+ago, and that the fortune of his adopted child was lost. He never told
+her and she does not know it to-day--"
+
+"He said he paid her the full amount--" I interrupted.
+
+"Very true. He did; but he paid it out of his own pocket. Sold his
+farm; put up all his securities, and borrowed seven hundred dollars to
+make the sum complete. That is the reason he is going to run an engine
+again. He does not know that I am aware of this, so don't mention it to
+him."
+
+"Gun is a man," said I; "a great, big-hearted, true man."
+
+"He is a nobleman!" said the nun, arising and going back into the
+state-room.
+
+Half an hour later, Gunderson came back, took a seat beside me and
+commenced to talk.
+
+"Say, John, that's the hardest-riding old pelter I ever see, about three
+inches of slack between engine and tank, pounding like a stamp-mill
+and--" looking over his shoulder and then at me, "John, I could a swore
+there was some one standing right there, I _felt_ 'em.
+
+"It seems to me they ort to keep up their engines here in pretty good
+shape. They've got bad water, and so much boiler work that they have to
+have new flues before the machinery gets worn much. But, Lord, they
+don't seem--" he looked over his shoulder again, quickly, then settled
+in his seat to resume, when a pair of hands covered Gun's eyes--the
+nun's hands.
+
+"Guess who it is, Gun," said I; and noticed that he was very pale.
+
+"It's Mabel," said he, putting up his hands and taking both of hers; "no
+one but her ever made me feel like that."
+
+
+
+
+MORMON JOE, THE ROBBER
+
+
+I'm on intimate terms with one of the biggest robbers in this country.
+He's an expert at the business, but has now retired from active work.
+The fact of the matter is, Joe didn't know he was robbing, at the time
+he did it, but he got there, just the same, and come mighty nigh doing
+time in the penitentiary for it, too.
+
+Maybe I'd better commence at the beginning and tell you that I first
+knew Joe Hogg in '79, out at the front, on the Santa Fé. Joe hailed from
+Salt Lake City, and had run on the Utah Central, which gave him the
+nickname of "Mormon Joe," a name he never resented being called, and to
+which he always answered. I never did really know whether he was a
+Mormon or not, and never cared; he was a good engineer, that's about all
+I cared for. Joe took good care of his engine, wore a clean shirt and
+behaved himself--which was doing more than the average engineer at the
+front did.
+
+I remember, one night, Jack McCabe--"Whisky Jack," we used to call
+him--made some mean remark about the Mormons in general and Joe in
+particular, and Joe replied: "I don't propose to defend the Mormon
+faith; it's as good as any, to my mind. I don't propose to judge or
+misjudge any man by his belief or absence of belief. All that I have got
+to say is, that the Mormon religion is a _practical_ religion. They
+don't give starving women a tract, or tramps jobs on the stone-pile. The
+women get bread, and the tramps work for _pay_. Their faith is based on
+the Christian Bible, with a book added--guess they have as big a right
+to add or take away as some of the old kings had--bigamy is upheld by
+the Bible, but has been dead in Utah, for some years. It can't live for
+the young people are against it. In Utah the woman has all the rights a
+man has, votes, and is a _person_. (Since cut out of new constitution.)
+Before the Gentiles came to Salt Lake, the Mormons had but _one_
+policeman, no jail, few saloons, no houses of prostitution--now the
+Gentile Christian has sway, and the town is full of them. I guess you
+could argue on the quality and quantity of rot-gut whisky a good
+engineer ought to drink, better than on theology, anyhow."
+
+I never heard any of the gang twit Joe about the Mormons again.
+
+I didn't take an awful sight of notice about Joe until I came in, one
+night, and the boys told me that Joe was arrested as an accomplice in
+the robbery of the Black Prince mine, in Constitution gulch.
+
+This Black Prince was a gold placer owned by two middle-aged Englishmen.
+They had a small stamp-mill, run by mule power; and a large number of
+sluice-boxes. They always worked alone, and said they were developing
+the mine. No one had any idea that they were taking out much dust, until
+the mill and sluice-boxes were burned one night, and the story came out
+that they had been robbed of more than thirty thousand dollars.
+
+Each partner accused the other of the theft. Both were arrested, and
+detectives commenced to follow every clue.
+
+Joe's arrest fell like a thunder-clap among us. The Brotherhood men took
+it up right away, and I went to see Joe, that very night. It was said
+that Joe had visited the Black Prince, the day before, and had been seen
+carrying away a large package, the night before the robbery.
+
+Joe absolutely refused to say a word for or against himself.
+
+"The detectives got this scheme up and know what they are doing," said
+he; "I don't. When they get all through, you'll know how it'll come
+out."
+
+To all questions as to his guilt or innocence, to every query about the
+crime or his arrest, he replied alike, to friend or foe:
+
+"Ask the sheriff; he's doing this."
+
+He was in jail a long time, but nothing was proven against him and he
+was finally released.
+
+Neither of the Englishmen could fasten the crime on his partner, and
+they sold out and drifted away, one going back to England and the other
+to Mexico.
+
+Joe ran awhile on the road again and then took a job as chief-engineer
+of a big stamp-mill in Arizona, and going there he was lost to myself
+and the men on the road, and finally the Black Prince robbery passed
+into history, and nothing remained but the tradition, a sort of a myth
+of the mountains, like Captain Kidd's treasures, the amount only being
+increased by time. I believe that the last time I heard the story, it
+was calmly stated that thirty million dollars was taken.
+
+When I was out West, last time, I got off the train at Santa Fé, and
+when gunning through the baggage for my _kiester_, I saw a trunk,
+bearing on its end this legend:
+
+    "MRS. JOS. HOGG."
+
+While I was "gopping" at it, as they say down East, and wondering if it
+could be my Joe Hogg, a very nice-looking lady came in, leading a little
+girl, glanced along the lines of trunks, put her hand on the one I was
+looking at, and said:
+
+"That's the one; yes; the little one. I want it checked to New York."
+
+Just then, a little fellow with whiskers on his chin and a twinkle in
+his eye came in and took charge of the trunk, the woman and the child,
+and with the little one's arms around his neck, bid them good-by, and
+got them into their seats in the sleeper.
+
+I watched this individual with a great deal of interest; he looked like
+my old friend, "Mormon Joe," only for the whiskers and the stockman
+clothes.
+
+Finally he jumped off the moving train, waved his hand and stood
+watching it out of sight, to catch the last glimpse of (to him) precious
+burden-bearer; he raised his hand to shade his eyes, and as he did so, I
+saw that it was minus one thumb, and I remembered that "Mormon Joe" left
+one of his under an engine up in Colorado--I was sure of him.
+
+There was a tear in his eye, as he turned to go away, so I stepped up to
+him and asked:
+
+"Any new wives wanted down your way, Elder?"
+
+He glanced up, half angry, looked me straight in the eye, and a smile
+started at the southeast corner of his phiz and ran around to his port
+ear.
+
+"Well, John, old man, I don't mind being _sealed_ to one about your
+size, right now. I've just sent away the best one in the wide world. Old
+man, you're looking plump; by the Holy Joe Smith, a sight of you is good
+for sore eyes!"
+
+Well, we started, and--but there ain't no use in telling you all about
+it--I went home with Joe, went up a creek with a jaw-breaking Spanish
+name, for miles, to a very good cattle ranch, that was the property of
+"Mormon Joe."
+
+Joe only quit running some three or four years ago, and the ranch and
+its neat little home represented the savings of Joe Hogg's life.
+
+His wife and only child had just started for a visit to England where
+she was born.
+
+The next day we rode the range to see Joe's cattle, and the next we
+started out for a little hunt. It was sitting by a jolly camp-fire, back
+in the hills of New Mexico, that "Mormon Joe" told me the true story of
+the robbery of the Black Prince mine and the romance of his life.
+
+Filling his cob pipe with cut-plug, Joe sat looking away over space
+toward our hobbled horses and then said:
+
+"Old man, I reckon you remember all about the Black Prince robbery. I
+don't forget you were the first man that came to the cooler to see me
+while I was doing time as a _suspect_. Well, coming right down to the
+point, _I had the dust all the time_! and the working out of the mystery
+would be rather interesting reading if it was written up, and, as you
+are such an accomplished liar, I wouldn't be surprised if you made it
+the base-line of one of them yarns of yourn--only, mind you, don't go
+too far with it, for it's as curious as a lie itself. I would not try to
+improve on it, if I was you. I'll tell it to you as it was.
+
+"About four days before the robbery, I was introduced to Rachel
+Rokesby, daughter of one of the partners in the Black Prince. I met her,
+in what seemed to be a casual way, at Mother Cameron's hash-foundry, but
+I found out, a long time afterward, that she had worked for two weeks to
+bring about the introduction.
+
+"I don't know as you remember seeing her, but she was a quiet, retiring,
+well-educated, rosy-cheeked English girl--impressed you right away as
+being the pure, unrefined article, about twenty-two karat. She "chinned"
+me about an hour, that evening, and just cut a cameo of her pretty face
+right on my old heart.
+
+"Well, course I saw her home, and tried my best to be interesting, but
+if a fellow ever in his natural life becomes a double-barreled jackass,
+it's just immediately after he falls in love. Why, he ain't as
+interesting as the unlettered side of an ore-sack.
+
+"But we got on amazing well; the girl did most of the talking and along
+toward the last, mentioned that she was in great trouble--of course I
+wa'n't interested in that at all. I liked to have broken my neck in
+getting her to tell me at once if I couldn't do something to help her,
+say, for instance, move Raton mountain up agin Pike's Peak.
+
+"I went home that night, promising to call on her the next trip, not to
+let any one know I was coming, not to tell anybody I had been there, not
+for _worlds_ to repeat or intimate what she told me, and she would tell
+me her trouble from start to finish, and then I could help her, if I
+wanted to. Well, I wanted to, _bad_.
+
+"I went up to the Rokesby's cabin, next trip in; it was dark, and as I
+went up the front walk, I heard the old gentleman going out the back,
+bound for the village 'diggin's.' I had it all to myself--the secret, I
+mean.
+
+"When I went in, I got about a forty-second squeeze of a neat little
+hand, and things did look so nice and clean and homelike that I had it
+on the end of my tongue to ask right then to camp in the place.
+
+"After a few commonplaces, she turned around and asked me if I still
+wanted to help her and would keep the secret, if I concluded in the end
+to keep out of her troubles. You bet your life, old man, she didn't have
+to wait long for assurance--why I wouldn't'a waited a minute to have
+contracted to turn the Mississippi into the Mammoth Cave, if she had
+asked it.
+
+"'Well," says she, finally, "it is not generally known, in fact, isn't
+known at all, that the Black Prince is a paying placer, and that papa
+and Mr. Sanson have been taking out lots of gold for some time. They
+have over fifty pounds of gold-dust and nuggets hidden under the floor
+of the old mill.'
+
+"'Well,' says I, 'that hadn't ought to worry you so.'
+
+"'But that isn't all the story,' she continued; 'we have discovered a
+plot on the part of Mr. Sanson to rob papa of the gold and burn the mill
+and sluice-boxes, to hide the crime. You will find that every tough in
+town is his friend, because he buys whisky for them, and they all
+dislike papa. If he carried out his plan, we would have no redress
+whatever; all the justices in town can be bribed. The plan is to take
+the gold, burn the mill, and then accuse papa of the crime. Now, can't
+you help me to fool that old villain of a Sanson, and put papa's half of
+the money in a safe place?'
+
+"I thought quite a while before I answered; it seemed strange to me that
+the case should be as she stated, and I half feared I might be made a
+cat's-paw and get into trouble, but the girl looked at me so trustingly
+with her blue eyes and added:
+
+"'I am afraid that I am the cause of all the trouble, too. Papa and
+Sanson got along well until I refused to marry him; after that, the row
+began--I hate him. He said I would _have_ to marry him before he was
+done with me--but I won't!'
+
+"'You bet you won't, darling,' says I, before I thought. 'Pardon me,
+Miss Rokesby, but if there is any marrying done around here, I want a
+hand in the game myself.'
+
+"She blushed deeply, looked at the toe of her shoe a minute, and said:
+
+"'I'm only eighteen, and am too young to think of marrying. Suppose we
+don't talk of that until we get out of the present difficulties.'
+
+"'Sensible idea,' says I. 'But when we are out, suppose you and I have a
+talk on that subject.'
+
+"She looked at the toe of her shoe for a minute again, turned red and
+white around the gills, looked up at me, shyly at first, then fully and
+fairly, stretched out her hand and said:
+
+"'Yes; if you care to.'
+
+"Course, I didn't _care_, or nothing--no more than a man cares for his
+head.
+
+"I guess that was about a half engagement, anyhow, it's the only one we
+ever had. She said it would be ruinous to our plans if I was seen with
+her then or afterward; and agreed to leave a note at the house for me by
+next trip, telling me her plan--which she should talk over with her
+father.
+
+"A couple of days later I got in from a round trip and made a dive for
+the boarding-house.
+
+"'Any mail for me, mother?' I asked old Mrs. Cameron.
+
+"'No, young man; I'm sorry to say there ain't'
+
+"'I was anxious to hear from home.'
+
+"'Too bad; but maybe it'll come to-morrow.'
+
+"I was up to fever heat, but could do nothing but wait. I went to bed
+late, and, raising up my pillow to put my watch under it, I found a
+note; it read:
+
+     "'Midnight, July 17.
+
+     "'DEAR JOE:
+
+     "'Just thought of that rule for changing counter-balance you
+     wanted. There has always been a miscalculation about the weight of
+     counter-balance; they are universally _too heavy_. The weights are
+     in pieces; take out two _pieces_; this treatment would even improve
+     a mule sweep. When once out, pieces should be changed or placed
+     where careless or malicious persons cannot get hold of them and
+     replace them. All is well; hope you are the same; will see you some
+     time soon.
+
+     "'JACK.'
+
+"Here was apparently a fool letter from one young railroader to another,
+but I knew well enough that it was from Rachel and meant something.
+
+"I noticed that it was dated the _next night_; then I commenced to see,
+and in a few minutes my instructions were plain. The old five-stamp mill
+was driven by a mule, who wandered aimlessly around a never-ending
+circle at the end of a long, wooden sweep; this pole extended past the
+post of the mill a few feet, and had on the short end a box of stones as
+a counter-weight. I would find two packages of gold there at midnight of
+July 17.
+
+"I was running one of those old Pittsburgh hogs then, and she had to
+have her throttle ground the next day, but it was more than likely that
+she would be ready to go out at 8:30 on her turn; but I arranged to have
+it happen that the stand-pipe yoke should be broken in putting it up, so
+that another engine would have to be fired up, and I would lay in.
+
+"I told stories in the roundhouse until nearly ten o'clock that fateful
+night, and then started for the hash-foundry, dodged into a lumber
+yard, got onto the rough ground back of town and made a wide detour
+toward Constitution Gulch, the Black Prince and the mule-sweep. I crept
+up to the washed ground through some brush and laid down in a path to
+wait for midnight. I felt a full-fledged sneak-thief, but I thought of
+Rachel and didn't care if I was one or not, so long as she was
+satisfied.
+
+"I looked often at my watch in the moonlight, and at twelve o'clock
+everything was as still as death. I could hear my own heart beat against
+my ribs as I sneaked up to that counter-balanced sweep. I got there
+without accident or incident, found two packages done up in canvas with
+tarred-string handles; they were heavy but small, and in ten minutes I
+had them alone with me among the stumps and stones on the little _mesa_
+back of town.
+
+"I'll never forget how I felt there in the dark with all that money that
+wasn't mine, and if some one had have said 'boo' from behind a stump, I
+should have probably dropped the boodle and taken to the brush.
+
+"As I approached the town, I realized that I could never get through it
+to the boarding-house or the roundhouse with those two bundles that
+_looked like country sausages_. I studied awhile on it and finally put
+them under an old scraper beside the road, and went without them to the
+shops. I got from my seat-box a clean pair of overalls and jacket and
+came back without being seen.
+
+"I wrapped one of the packages up in these and boldly stepped out into
+the glare of the electric lights--I remember I thought the town too
+darned enterprising.
+
+"One of the first men I met was the marshal, Jack Kelly. He was reported
+to be a Pinkerton man, and was mistrusted by some of the men, but tried
+to be friendly and 'stand in' with all of us. He slapped me on the back
+and nearly scared the wits out of me. He insisted on treating me, and I
+went into a saloon and 'took something' with him, in fear and trembling.
+The package was heavy, but I must carry it lightly under my arm, as if
+it were only overclothes.
+
+"I treated in return, and had it charged, because I dare not attempt to
+get my right hand into my pocket. Jack was disposed to talk, and I
+feared he was just playing with me like a cat does with a mouse, but I
+finally got off and deposited my precious burden in my seat-box, under
+lock and key--then I sneaked back for the second haul. I met Jack and a
+policeman, on my next trip, and he exclaimed:
+
+"'Why, ain't you gone out yet?' and started off, telling the roundsman
+to keep the bunkos off me up to the shop. _I thought then I was caught_,
+but I was not, and the bluecoat bid me a pleasant good-night, at the
+shop yard.
+
+"When I got near my engine, I was surprised to see Barney Murry, the
+night machinist, with his torch up on the cab--he was putting in the
+newly-ground throttle.
+
+"Just before I had decided to emerge from the shadow of the next engine,
+Barney commenced to yell for his helper, Dick, to come and help him on
+with the dome-cover.
+
+"Dick came with a sandwich in one hand and a can of coffee in the other.
+This reminded Barney of his lunch, and setting his torch down on the
+top of the cab, he scrambled down on the other side and hurried off to
+the sand-dryer, where the gang used to eat their dyspepsia insurance and
+swap lies.
+
+"After listening a moment, to be sure I was alone, I stepped lightly to
+the cab, and in a minute the two heavy and dangerous packages were side
+by side again.
+
+"But just here an inspiration struck me. I opened the front door of the
+cab, stepped out on the running-board, and a second later was holding
+Barney's smoking torch down in the dome.
+
+"The throttle occupied most of the space, but there was considerable
+room each side of it and a good two feet between the top of the boiler
+shell and the top row of flues. I took one of the bags of gold, held it
+down at arm's length, swung it backward and forward a time or two, and
+let go, so as to drop it well ahead on the flues: the second bag
+followed at once, and again I held down the light to see if the bags
+were out of sight; satisfied on this point, I got down, took my clothes
+under my arm, and jumped off the engine into the arms of the night
+foreman."
+
+"'What did you call me for? That engine is not ready to go out on the
+extra,' I demanded, off-hand.
+
+"'I ain't called you; you're dreaming.'
+
+"'May be I am,' said I, 'but I would 'a swore some one came and called
+under my window that I got out at 2:10, on a stock-train, extra.'
+
+"Just then, Barney and Dick came back, and I soon had the satisfaction
+of seeing the cover screwed down on my secret and a fire built under
+it--then I went home and slept.
+
+"I guess it was four round trips that I made with the old pelter, before
+Kelly put this and that together, and decided to put me where the dogs
+wouldn't bite me.
+
+"I appeared as calm as I could, and set the example since followed by
+politicians, that of 'dignified silence.' Kelly tried to work one of the
+'fellow convict' rackets on me, but I made no confessions. I soon became
+a martyr, in the eyes of the women of the town. You boys got to talking
+of backing up a suit for false imprisonment; election was coming on and
+the sheriff and county judge were getting uneasy, and the district
+attorney was awfully unhappy, so they let me out.
+
+"Nixon, the sheriff, pumped me slyly, to see what effect my imprisonment
+would have on future operations, and I told him I didn't propose to lose
+any time over it, and agreed to drop the matter for a little nest-egg
+equal to the highest pay received by any engineer on the road. Pat
+Dailey was the worst hog for overtime, and I selected his pay as the
+standard and took big money,--from the campaign funds. I wasn't afraid
+of re-arrest;--I had 'em for bribery.
+
+"Whilst I was in hock, I had cold chills every time I heard the 313's
+whistle, for fear they would wash her out and find the dust; but she
+gave up nothing.
+
+"When I reported for work, the old scrap was out on construction and
+they were disposed to put me on another mill, pulling varnished cars,
+but I told the old man I was under the weather and 'crummy,' and that
+put him in a good humor; and I was sent out to a desolate siding, and
+once again took charge, of the steam 'fence,' for the robber of the
+Black Prince mine.
+
+"On Sunday, by a little maneuvering, I managed to get the crew to go off
+on a trout-fishing expedition, and under pretext of grinding-in her
+chronically leaky throttle, I took off her dome-cover and looked in;
+there was nothing in sight.
+
+"I was afraid that the cooking of two months or more had destroyed the
+canvas bags; then again the heavy deposit of scale might have cemented
+the bags to the flues. In either case, rough handling would send the
+dust to the bottom of the boiler, making it difficult if not impossible
+to recover; and worse yet, manifest itself sometime and give me dead
+away.
+
+"I concluded to go at the matter right, and after two hours of hard
+work, managed to get the upright throttle-pipe out of the dome. I drew
+her water down below the flue-line, and though it was tolerably warm, I
+got in.
+
+"Both of my surmises were partially correct; the canvas was rotted, in a
+measure, and the bags were fastened to the flues. The dust had been put
+up in buckskin bags, first, and these had been put into shot-sacks; the
+buckskin was shrunken but intact. I took a good look around, before I
+dared take the treasure into the sunlight; but the coast was clear, and
+inside of an hour they were locked in my clothes-box, and the cover was
+on the kettle again and I was pumping her up by hand.
+
+"I was afraid something would happen to me or the engine, so I buried
+the packages in a bunch of willows near the track.
+
+"It must have been two weeks after this that a mover's wagon stopped
+near the creek within half a mile of the track, and hobbled horses soon
+began to 'rustle' grass, and the smoke of a camp-fire hunted the clouds.
+
+"We saw this sort of thing often, and I didn't any more than glance at
+it; but after supper I sauntered down by the engine, smoking and
+thinking of Rachel Rokesby, when I noticed a woman walking towards me,
+pail in hand.
+
+"She had on a sunbonnet that hid her face and she got within ten feet
+of me before she spoke--she asked for a pail of drinking-water from the
+tank--the creek was muddy from a recent rain.
+
+"Just as soon as she spoke, I knew it was Rachel, but I controlled
+myself, for others were within hearing. I walked with her to the engine
+and got the water; I purposely drew the pail full, which she promptly
+spilled, and I offered to carry it for her.
+
+"The crew watched us walk away and I heard some of them mention 'mash,'
+but I didn't care, I wanted a word with my girl.
+
+"When we were out of earshot, she asked without looking up:
+
+"'Well, old coolness, are you all right?'
+
+"'You bet! darling.'
+
+"'Papa has sold out his half and we are going away for good. I think if
+we get rid of the dust without trouble, we may go to England. Just as
+soon as all is safe, you shall hear from me; can't you trust me, Joe?'
+
+"'Yes, Rachel, darling; now and forever.'
+
+"'Where's the gold?'
+
+"'Within one hundred feet of you, in those willows; when it is dark, I
+will go and get it and put it on that stump by the big tree; go then and
+get it. But where will you put it?'
+
+"'I'm going to pack it in the bottom of a jar of butter.'
+
+"'Good idea, little girl! I think you'd make a good thief yourself.
+How's my friend, Sanson?'
+
+"'He's gone to Mexico; says yet that papa robbed him, but he knows as
+well as you or I that all his bluster was because he only found _half_
+that he expected; I pride myself on getting ahead of a wicked man once,
+thanks to our hero, by the name of Hogg.'
+
+"It was getting dusk and we were out of sight, so I sat down the pail
+and asked:
+
+"'Do I get a kiss, this evening?'
+
+"'If you want one.'
+
+"'There's only one thing I want worse.'
+
+"'What is that, Joe?'
+
+"My arm was around her waist now, and the sunbonnet was shoved back from
+the face. I took a couple of cream-puffs where they were ripe, and
+answered:
+
+"That message to come and have that talk about matrimony.'
+
+"Here a man's voice was heard calling: 'Rachel! Rachel!' and throwing
+her arms around my neck, she gave me one more kiss, snatched up her pail
+and answered:
+
+"'Yes; I'm coming.'
+
+"Then to me, hurriedly:
+
+"'Good-by, dear; wait patiently, you shall hear from me.'
+
+"I went back and put the dangerous dust on the stump and returned to the
+bunk-car. The next morning when I turned out, the outlines of the wagon
+were dimly discernible away on a hill in the road; it had been gone an
+hour.
+
+"I walked down past my stump--the gold was gone.
+
+"Well, John, I settled down to work and to wait for that precious letter
+that would summon me to the side of Rachel Rokesby, wherever she was;
+but it never came. Uncle Sam never delivered a line to me from her from
+that day to this."
+
+Joe kicked the burning sticks in our fire closer together, lit his pipe
+and then proceeded:
+
+"I was hopeful for a month or two; then got impatient, and finally got
+angry, but it ended in despair. A year passed away before I commenced to
+_hunt_, instead of waiting to be hunted; but after another year I gave
+it up, and came to the belief that Rachel was dead or married to
+another. But the very minute that such a treasonable thought flashed
+through my mind, my heart held up the image of her pure face and rebuked
+me.
+
+"I was discharged finally, for forgetting orders--I was thinking of
+something else--then I commenced to pull myself together and determined
+to control myself. I held the job in Arizona almost a year, but the mill
+company busted; then I drifted down on to the Mexican National, when it
+was building, and got a job. A few months later, it came to my ears that
+one of our engineers, Billy Gardiner, was in one of their damnable
+prisons, for running over a Greaser, and I organized a relief
+expedition. I called on Gardiner, and talked over his trouble fully; he
+was in a loathsome dobie hole, full of vermin, and dark. As I sat
+talking to him, I noticed an old man, chained to the wall in a little
+entry on the other side of the room. His beard was grizzly white, long
+and tangled. He was hollow-cheeked and wild-eyed, and looked at me in a
+strange, fascinated way.
+
+"'What's he in for,' I whispered to Gardiner.
+
+"'Murdered his partner in a mining camp. Got caught in the act. He don't
+know it yet, but he's condemned to be shot next Friday--to-morrow. Poor
+devil, he's half crazy, anyhow.'
+
+"As I got up to go, the old man made a sharp hiss, and as I turned to
+look at him, he beckoned with his finger. I took a step or two nearer,
+and he asked, in an audible whisper:
+
+"'Mr. Hogg, don't you know me?'
+
+"I looked at him long and critically, and then said:
+
+"'No; I never saw you before.'
+
+"'Yes; that's so,' said he; 'but I have seen you, many times. You
+remember the Black Prince robbery?'
+
+"'Yes, indeed; then you are Sanson?'
+
+"'No; Rokesby.'
+
+"'Rokesby! My God, man, where's Rachel?'
+
+"'I thought so,' he muttered. 'Well, she's in England, but I'm here.'
+
+"'What part of England?'
+
+"'Sit down on that box, Mr. Hogg, and I will tell you something.'
+
+"'Is she married?' I asked eagerly.
+
+"'No, lad, she ain't, and what's more, she won't be till she marries
+you, so be easy there.'
+
+"Just here a pompous Mexican official strode in, stepped up in front of
+the old man and read something in Spanish.
+
+"'What in hell did he say?' asked the prisoner of Gardiner.
+
+"'Something about sentence, pardner.'
+
+"'Well, it's time they was doing something; did he say when it was?'
+
+"'To-morrow.'
+
+"'Good enough; I'm dead sick o' this.'
+
+"'Can't I do anything for you, Mr. Rokesby--for Rachel's sake?'
+
+"'No--yes, you can, too, young man; you can grant me a pardon for a
+worse crime nor murder, if you will--for--for Rachel's sake."
+
+"'It's granted then.'
+
+"'Good! that gives me heart. Now, Mr. Hogg, to business, it was me that
+robbed the Black Prince mine. I took every last cent there was, and I
+used you and Rachel to do the work for me and take the blame if caught.
+Sanson was honest enough, I fired the mill myself.
+
+"'It was me that sent Rachel to you; I admired your face, as you rode by
+the claim every day on your engine. I knew you had nerve. If you and
+Rachel hadn't fallen in love with one another, I'd 'a lost though; but I
+won.
+
+"'Well, I took the money I got for the claim and sent Rachel back to her
+mother's sister, in England. You may not know, but she is not my
+daughter; she thinks she is, though. Her parents died when she was
+small, and I provided for her. I'm her half-uncle. I got avaricious in
+my old age, and went into a number of questionable schemes.
+
+"'After leaving New Mexico, I worked the dust off, a little at a time,
+an' wasted the money--but never mind that.
+
+"'It was just before she got aboard the ship that Rachel sent me a
+letter containing another to you, to be sent when all was right--I've
+carried it ever since--somehow or other I was afraid it would drop a
+clew to send it at first, and after it got a year old, I didn't think of
+it much.'
+
+"He fumbled around inside of his dirty flannel shirt for a minute, and
+soon fished up a letter almost as black as the shirt, and holding it up,
+said:
+
+"'That's it.'
+
+"'I had the envelope off in a second, and read:
+
+     "'DEAR JOSEPH:
+
+     "'I am going to my aunt, Mrs. Julia Bradshaw, 15 Harrow Lane,
+     Leicester, England. If you do not change your mind, I will be
+     happy to talk over our affairs whenever you are ready. I shall be
+     waiting.
+
+     "'RACHEL'.
+
+"I turned and bolted toward a door, when Gardiner yelled:
+
+"'Where are you going?'
+
+"'To England,' said I.
+
+"'This door, then, sir,' said a Mexican.
+
+"I came back to the old man.
+
+"'Rokesby,' said I, 'you have cut ten years off my life, but I forgive
+you; good-by.'
+
+"'One thing more, Mr. Hogg; don't tell 'em at home how I went--nothing
+about this last deal.'
+
+"'Well, all right; but I'll tell Rachel, if we marry and come to
+America.'
+
+"'I've got lots of honest relations, and my old mother still lives, in
+her eighties.'
+
+"'Well, not till after she goes, unless to save Rachel in some way.'
+
+"'Good-by, Mr. Hogg, God bless you! and--and, little Rachel.'
+
+"'Good-by, Mr. Rokesby.'
+
+"The next day I left Mexico for God's country, and inside of ten days
+was on a Cunarder, eastward bound. I reached England in proper time; I
+found the proper pen in the proper train, and was deposited in the
+proper town, directed to the proper house, and street, and number, and
+had pulled out about four yards of wire attached to the proper bell.
+
+"A kindly-faced old lady looked at me over her spectacles, and I asked:
+
+"'Does Mrs. Julia Bradshaw live here?'
+
+"'Yes, sir; that's me.'
+
+"'Have you a young lady here named Rachel R--'
+
+"The old lady didn't wait for me to finish the name, she just turned her
+head fifteen degrees, put her open hand up beside her mouth, and shouted
+upstairs:
+
+"'Rachel! Rachel! Come down here, quick! Here's your young man from
+America!'"
+
+
+
+
+A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S TRIP
+
+
+It is all of twenty years now since the little incident happened that I
+am going to tell you about. After the strike of '77, I went into exile
+in the wild and woolly West, mostly in "bleeding Kansas," but often in
+Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona--the Santa Fé goes almost everywhere
+in the Southwest.
+
+One night in August I was dropping an old Baldwin consolidator down a
+long Mexican grade, after having helped a stock train over the division
+by double-heading. It was close and hot on this sage-brush waste,
+something not unusual at night in high altitudes, and the heat and sheet
+lightning around the horizon warned me that there was to be one of those
+short, fierce storms that come but once or twice a year in these
+latitudes, and which are known as cloudbursts.
+
+The alkali plains, or deserts, as they are often erroneously called,
+are great stretches of adobe soil, known as "dobie" by the natives. This
+soil is a yellowish brown, or perhaps more of a gray color, and as fine
+as flour. Water plays sad havoc with it, if the soil lies so as to
+oppose the flow, and it moves like dust before a slight stream. On the
+flat, hard-baked plains, the water makes no impression, but on a
+railroad grade, be it ever so slight, the tendency is to dig pitfalls. I
+have seen a little stream of water, just enough to fill the ditches on
+each side of the track, take out all the dirt, and keep the ties and
+track afloat until the water was gone, then drop them into a hole eight
+or ten feet deep, or if the washout was short, leave them suspended,
+looking safe and sound, to lure some poor engineer and his mate to
+death.
+
+Another peculiarity of these storms is that they come quickly, rage
+furiously for a few minutes, and are gone, and their lines are sharply
+defined. It is not uncommon to find a lot of water, or a washout,
+within a mile of land so dry that it looks as if it had never seen a
+drop of water.
+
+All this land is fertile when it can be brought under irrigating ditches
+and watered, but here it lies out almost like a desert. It is sparsely
+inhabited along the little streams by a straggling off-shoot of the
+Mexican race; yet once in a while a fine place is to be seen, like an
+oasis in the Sahara, the home of some old Spanish Don, with thousands of
+cattle or sheep ranging on the plains, or perhaps the headquarters of
+some enterprising cattle company. But these places were few and far
+between at the time of which I write; the stations were mere passing
+places, long side-tracks, with perhaps a stock-yard and section house
+once in a while, but generally without buildings or even switch lights.
+
+Noting the approach of the storm, I let the heavy engine drop the
+faster, hoping to reach a certain sidetrack, over twenty miles away,
+where there was a telegraph operator, and learn from him the condition
+of the road. But the storm was faster than any consolidator that
+Baldwins ever built, and as the lightning suddenly ceased and the air
+became heavy, hot, and absolutely motionless, I realized that we would
+have the storm full upon us in a few moments. I had nothing to meet for
+more than thirty miles, and there was nothing behind me; so I stopped,
+turned the headlight up, and hung my white signal lamps down below the
+buffer-beams each side of the pilot--this to enable me to see the ends
+of the ties and the ditch.
+
+Billy Howell, my fireman, and a good one, hastily went over the
+boiler-jacket with signal oil, to prevent rust; we donned our gum coats;
+I dropped a little oil on the "Mary Ann's" gudgeon's, and we proceeded
+on our way without a word. On these big consolidators you cannot see
+well ahead, past the big boiler, from the cab, and I always ran with my
+head out of the side window. Both of us took this position now, standing
+up ready for anything; but we bowled safely along for one mile--two
+miles, through the awful hush. Then, as sudden as a flash of light,
+"boom!" went a peal of thunder as sharp and clear as a signal gun.
+There was a flash of light along the rails, the surface of the desert
+seemed to break out here and there with little fitful jets of
+greenish-blue flame, and from every side came the answering reports from
+the batteries of heaven, like sister gunboats answering a salute. The
+rain fell in torrents, yes, in sheets. I have never, before or since,
+seen such a grand and fantastic display of fireworks, nor heard such
+rivalry of cannonade. I stopped my engine, and looked with awe and
+interest at this angry fit of nature, watched the balls of fire play
+along the ground, and realized for the first time what a sight was an
+electric storm.
+
+As the storm commenced at the signal of a mighty peal of thunder, so it
+ended as suddenly at the same signal; the rain changed in an instant
+from a torrent to a gentle shower, the lightning went out, the batteries
+ceased their firing, the breeze commenced to blow gently, the air was
+purified. Again we heard the signal peal of thunder, but it seemed a
+great way off, as if the piece was hurrying away to a more urgent
+quarter. The gentle shower ceased, the black clouds were torn asunder
+overhead; invisible hands seemed to snatch a gray veil of fleecy clouds
+from the face of the harvest moon, and it shone out as clear and serene
+as before the storm. The ditches on each side of the track were half
+full of water, ties were floating along in them, but the track seemed
+safe and sound, and we proceeded cautiously on our way. Within two miles
+the road turned to the West, and here we found the water in the ditches
+running through dry soil, carrying dead grass and twigs of sage upon its
+surface; we passed the head of the flood, tumbling along through the dry
+ditches as dirty as it well could be, and fast soaking into the soil;
+and then we passed beyond the line of the storm entirely.
+
+Billy put up his seat and filled his pipe, and I sat down and absorbed a
+sandwich as I urged my engine ahead to make up for lost time; we took up
+our routine of work just where we had left it, and--life was the same
+old song. It was past midnight now, and as I never did a great deal of
+talking on an engine, I settled down to watching the rails ahead, and
+wondering if the knuckle-joints would pound the rods off the pins before
+we got to the end of the division.
+
+[Illustration: "'Mexican,' said I."]
+
+Billy, with his eyes on the track ahead, was smoking his second pipe and
+humming a tune, and the "Mary Ann" was making about forty miles an hour,
+but doing more rolling and pitching and jumping up and down than an
+eight-wheeler would at sixty. All at once I discerned something away
+down the track where the rails seemed to meet. The moon had gone behind
+a cloud, and the headlight gave a better view and penetrated further.
+Billy saw it, too, for he took his pipe out of his mouth, and with his
+eyes still upon it, said laconically, as was his wont: "Cow."
+
+"Yes," said I, closing the throttle and dropping the lever ahead.
+
+"Man," said Billy, as the shape seemed to assume a perpendicular
+position.
+
+"Yes," said I, reaching for the three-way cock, and applying the tender
+brake, without thinking what I did.
+
+"Woman," said Billy, as the shape was seen to wear skirts, or at least
+drapery.
+
+"Mexican," said I, as I noted the mantilla over the head. We were fast
+nearing the object.
+
+"No," said Billy, "too well built."
+
+I don't know what he judged by; we could not see the face, for it was
+turned away from us; but the form was plainly that of a comely woman.
+She stood between the rails with her arms stretched out like a cross,
+her white gown fitting her figure closely. A black, shawl-like mantilla
+was over the head, partly concealing her face; her right foot was upon
+the left-hand rail. She stood perfectly still. We were within fifty feet
+of her, and our speed was reduced to half, when Billy said sharply:
+"Hold her, John--for God's sake!"
+
+But I had the "Mary Ann" in the back motion before the words left his
+mouth, and was choking her on sand. Billy leaned upon the boiler-head
+and pulled the whistle-cord, but the white figure did not move. I shut
+my eyes as we passed the spot where she had stood. We got stopped a rod
+or two beyond. I took the white light in the tank and sprang to the
+ground. Billy lit the torch, and followed me with haste. The form still
+stood upon the track just where we had first seen it; but it faced us
+and the arms were folded. I confess to hurrying slowly until Billy
+caught up with the torch, which he held over his head.
+
+"Good evening, señors," said the apparition, in very sweet English, just
+tinged with the Castilian accent, but she spoke as if nearly exhausted.
+
+"Good gracious," said I, "whatever brought you away out here, and hadn't
+you just as lief shoot a man as scare him to death?"
+
+She laughed very sweetly, and said: "The washout brought me just here,
+and I fancy it was lucky for you--both of you."
+
+"Washout?" said I. "Where?"
+
+"At the dry bridge beyond."
+
+Well, to make a long story short, we took her on the engine--she was wet
+through--and went on to the dry bridge. This was a little wooden
+structure in a sag, about a mile away, and we found that the storm we
+had encountered farther back had done bad work at each end of the
+bridge. We did not cross that night, but after placing signals well
+behind us and ahead of the washout, we waited until morning, the three
+of us sitting in the cab of the "Mary Ann," chatting as if we were old
+acquaintances.
+
+This young girl, whose fortunes had been so strangely cast with ours,
+was the daughter of Señor Juan Arboles, a rich old Spanish Don who owned
+a fine place and immense herds of sheep over on the Rio Pecos, some ten
+miles west of the road. She was being educated in some Catholic school
+or convent at Trinidad, and had the evening before alighted at the big
+corrals, a few miles below, where she was met by one of her father's
+Mexican rancheros, who led her saddle broncho. They had started on their
+fifteen-mile ride in the cool of the evening, and following the road
+back for a few miles were just striking off toward the distant hedge of
+cotton woods that lined the little stream by her home when the storm
+came upon them.
+
+There was a lone pine tree hardly larger than a bush about a half-mile
+from the track, and riding to this, the girl, whose name was Josephine,
+had dismounted to seek its scant protection, while the herder tried to
+hold the frightened horses. As peal on peal of thunder resounded and the
+electric lights of nature played tag over the plain, the horses became
+more and more unmanageable and at last stampeded, with old Paz muttering
+Mexican curses and chasing after them wildly.
+
+After the storm passed, Josephine waited in vain for Paz and the
+bronchos, and then debated whether she should walk toward her home or
+back to the corrals. In either direction the distance was long, and the
+adobe soil is very tenacious when wet, and the wayfarer needs great
+strength to carry the load it imposes on the feet. As she stood there,
+thinking what it was best to do, a sound came to her ears from the
+direction of the timber and home, which she recognized in an instant,
+and without waiting to debate further, she turned and ran with all her
+strength, not toward her home, but away from it. Across the waste of
+stunted sage she sped, the cool breeze upon her face, every muscle
+strained to its utmost. Nearer and nearer came the sound; the deep,
+regular bay of the timber wolf. These animals are large and fierce; they
+do not go in packs, like the smaller and more cowardly breeds of wolves,
+but in pairs, or, at most, six together. A pair of them will attack a
+man even when he is mounted, and lucky is he if he is well armed and
+cool enough to despatch one before it fastens its fangs in his horse's
+throat or his own thigh.
+
+As the brave girl ran, she cast about for some means of escape or place
+of refuge. She decided to run to the railroad track and climb a
+telegraph pole--a feat which, owing to her free life on the ranch, she
+was perfectly capable of. Once up the pole, she could rest on the
+cross-tree, in perfect safety from the wolves, and she would be sure to
+be seen and rescued by the first train that came along after daybreak.
+
+She approached the track over perfectly dry ground. To reach the
+telegraph poles, she sprang nimbly into the ditch; and as she did so,
+she saw a stream of water coming rapidly toward her--it was the front of
+the flood. The ditch on the opposite side of the track, which she must
+also cross to reach the line of poles, she found already full-flooded.
+She decided to run up the track, between the walls of water. This would
+put a ten-foot stream between her and her pursuers, and change her
+course enough, she hoped, to throw them off the scent. In this design
+she was partly successful, for the bay of the wolves showed that they
+were going to the track as she had gone, instead of cutting straight
+across toward her. Thus she gained considerable time. She reached the
+little arroyo spanned by the dry bridge; it was like a mill-pond, and
+the track was afloat. She ran across the bridge; she scarcely slackened
+speed, although the ties rocked and moved on the spike-heads holding
+them to the rails.
+
+She hoped for a moment that the wolves would not venture to follow her
+over such a way; but their hideous voices were still in her ear and came
+nearer and nearer. Then there came to her, faintly, another, a strange,
+metallic sound. What was it? Where was it? She ran on tiptoe a few paces
+in order to hear it better; it was in the rails--the vibration of a
+train in motion. Then there came into view a light--a headlight; but it
+was so far away, so very far, and that awful baying so close! The "Mary
+Ann," however, was fleeter of foot than the wolves; the light grew big
+and bright and the sound of working machinery came to the girl on the
+breeze.
+
+Would they stop for her? Could she make them see her? Then she thought
+of the bridge. It was death for them as well as for her--they _must_ see
+her. She resolved to stay on the track until they whistled her off; but
+now the light seemed to come so slow. A splash at her side caused her to
+turn her head, and there, a dozen feet away, were her pursuers, their
+tongues out, their eyes shining like balls of fire. They were just
+entering the water to come across to her. They fascinated her by their
+very fierceness. Forgetting where she was for the instant, she stared
+dumbly at them until called to life and action by a scream from the
+locomotive's whistle. Then she sprang from the track just in the nick of
+time. She actually laughed as she saw two grayish-white wolf-tails bob
+here and there among the sage brush, as the wolves took flight at sight
+of the engine.
+
+This was the story she told as she dried her garments before the furnace
+door, and I confess to holding this cool, self-reliant girl in high
+admiration. She never once thought of fainting; but along toward morning
+she did say that she was scared then at thinking of it.
+
+Early in the morning a party of herders, with Josephine's father ahead,
+rode into sight. They were hunting for her. Josephine got up on the
+tender to attract their attention, and soon she was in her father's
+arms. Her frightened pony had gone home as fast as his legs would carry
+him, and a relief party swam their horses at the ford and rode forward
+at once.
+
+The old Don was profuse in his thanks, and would not leave us until
+Billy and I had agreed to visit his ranch and enjoy a hunt with him, and
+actually set a date when we should meet him at the big corral. I wanted
+a rest anyway, and it was perfectly plain that Billy was beyond his
+depth in love with the girl at first sight; so we were not hard to
+persuade when she added her voice to her father's.
+
+Early in September Billy and I dropped off No. 1 with our guns and
+"plunder," as baggage is called there, and a couple of the old Don's men
+met us with saddle and pack animals. I never spent a pleasanter two
+weeks in my life. The quiet, almost gloomy, old Don and I became fast
+friends, and the hunting was good. The Don was a Spaniard, but
+Josephine's mother had been a Mexican woman, and one noted for her
+beauty. She had been dead some years at the time of our visit. Billy
+devoted most of his time to the girl. They were a fine looking young
+couple, he being strong and broad-shouldered, with laughing blue eyes
+and light curly hair, she slender and perfect in outline, with a typical
+Southern complexion, black eyes--and such eyes they were--and hair and
+eyebrows like the raven's wing.
+
+A few days before Billy and I were booked to resume our duties on the
+deck of the "Mary Ann," Miss Josephine took my arm and walked me down
+the yard and pumped me quietly about "Mr. Howell," as she called Billy.
+She went into details a little, and I answered all questions as best I
+could. All I said was in the young man's favor--it could not, in truth,
+be otherwise. Josephine seemed satisfied and pleased.
+
+When we got back to headquarters, I was given the care of a cold-water
+Hinkley, with a row of varnished cars behind her, and Billy fell heir to
+the rudder of the "Mary Ann." We still roomed together. Billy put in
+most of his lay-over time writing long letters to somebody, and every
+Thursday, as regular as a clock, one came for him, with a censor's mark
+on it. Often after reading the letter, Billy would say: "That girl has
+more horse sense than the rest of the whole female race--she don't slop
+over worth a cent." He invariably spoke of her as "my Mexican girl," and
+often asked my opinion about white men intermarrying with that mongrel
+race. Sometimes he said that his mother would go crazy if he married a
+Mexican, his father would disown him, and his brother Henry--well, Billy
+did not like to think just what revenge Henry would take. Billy's father
+was manager of an Eastern road, and his brother was assistant to the
+first vice-president, and Billy looked up to the latter as a great man
+and a sage. He himself was in the West for practical experience in the
+machinery department, and to get rid of a slight tendency to asthma. He
+could have gone East any time and "been somebody" on the road under his
+father.
+
+Finally, Billy missed a week in writing. At once there was a cog gone
+from the answering wheel to match. Billy shortened his letters; the
+answers were shortened. Then he quit writing, and his Thursday letter
+ceased to come. He had thought the matter all over, and decided, no
+doubt, that he was doing what was best--both for himself and the girl;
+that his family's high ideas should not be outraged by a Mexican
+marriage. He had put a piece of flesh-colored court-plaster over his
+wound, not healed it.
+
+Early in the winter the old Don wrote, urging us to come down and hunt
+antelope, but Billy declined to go--said that the road needed him, and
+that Josephine might come home from school and this would make them both
+uncomfortable. But Henry, his older brother, was visiting him, and he
+suggested that I take Henry; he would enjoy the hunt, and it would help
+him drown his sorrow over the loss of his aristocratic young wife, who
+had died a year or two before. So Henry went with me, and we hunted
+antelope until we tired of the slaughter. Then the old Don planned a
+deer-hunting trip in the mountains, but I had to go back to work, and
+left Henry and the old Don to take the trip without me. While they were
+in the mountains, Josephine came home, and Henry Howell's stay
+lengthened out to a month. But I did not know until long afterward that
+the two had met.
+
+Billy was pretty quiet all winter, worked hard and went out but
+little--he was thinking about something. One day I came home and found
+him writing a letter. "What now, Billy?" I asked.
+
+"Writing to my Mexican girl," said he.
+
+"I thought you had got over that a long time ago?"
+
+"So did I, but I hadn't. I've been trying to please somebody else
+besides myself in this matter, and I'm done. I'm going to work for Bill
+now."
+
+"Take an old man's advice, Billy, and don't write that girl a line--go
+and see her."
+
+"Oh, I can fix it all right by letter, and then run down there and see
+her."
+
+"Don't do it."
+
+"I'll risk it."
+
+A week later Billy and I sat on the veranda of the company's
+hash-foundry, figuring up our time and smoking our cob meerschaums,
+when one of the boys who had been to the office, placed two letters in
+Billy's hands. One of them was directed in the handwriting that used to
+be on the old Thursday letters. Billy tore it open eagerly--and his own
+letter to Josephine dropped into his hand. Billy looked at the ground
+steadily for five minutes, and I pretended not to have seen. Finally he
+said, half to himself: "You were right, I ought to have gone myself--but
+I'll go now, go to-morrow." Then he opened the other letter.
+
+He read its single page with manifest interest, and when his eyes
+reached the last line they went straight on, and looked at the ground,
+and continued to do so for fully five minutes. Without looking up, he
+said: "John, I want you to do me two favors."
+
+"All right," said I.
+
+Still keeping his eyes on the ground, he said, slowly, as if measuring
+everything well: "I'm going up and draw my time, and will leave for Old
+Mexico on No. 4 to-night. I want you to write to both these parties and
+tell them that I have gone there and that you have forwarded both these
+letters. Don't tell 'em that I went after reading 'em."
+
+"And the other favor, Billy?"
+
+"Read this letter, and see me off to-night."
+
+The letter read:
+
+     "Philadelphia, May 1, 1879.
+
+     "DEAR BROTHER WILL: I want you and Mr. A. to go down to Don Juan
+     Arboles's by the first of June. I will be there then. You must be
+     my best man, as I stand up to marry the sweetest, dearest
+     wild-flower of a woman that ever bloomed in a land of beauty. Don't
+     fail me. Josephine will like you for my sake, and you will love her
+     for your brother.
+
+     HENRY."
+
+Most engineers' lives are busy ones and full of accident and incident,
+and having my full share of both, I had almost forgotten all these
+points about Billy Howell and his Mexican girl, when they were all
+recalled by a letter from Billy himself. With his letter was a
+photograph of a family group--a be-whiskered man of thirty-five, a
+good-looking woman of twenty, but undoubtedly a Mexican, and a
+curly-headed baby, perhaps a year old. The letter ran:
+
+     "City of Mexico, July 21, 1890.
+
+     "DEAR OLD JOHN: I had lost you, and thought that perhaps you had
+     gone over to the majority, until I saw your name and recognized
+     your quill in a story. Write to me; am doing well. I send you a
+     photograph of all there are of the Howell outfit. _No half-breeds
+     for your uncle this time._
+
+     "WM. HOWELL."
+
+
+
+
+THE POLAR ZONE
+
+
+Very few of my friends know me for a seafaring man, but I sailed the
+salt seas, man and boy, for nine months and eighteen days, and I know
+just as much about sailing the hereinbefore mentioned salt seas as I
+ever want to.
+
+Ever so long ago, when I was young and tender, I used to have fits of
+wanting to go into business for myself. Along about the front edge of
+the seventies, pay for "toting" people and truck over the eastern
+railroads of New England was not of sufficient plenitude to worry a man
+as to how he would invest his pay check--it was usually invested before
+he got it. One of my periodical fits of wanting to go into business for
+myself came on suddenly one day, when I got home and found another baby
+in the house. I was right in the very worst spasms of it when my
+brother Enoch, whom I hadn't seen for seventeen years, walked in on me.
+
+Enoch was fool enough to run away to sea when he was twelve years old--I
+suppose he was afraid he would get the chance to do something besides
+whaling. We were born down New Bedford way, where another boy and myself
+were the only two fellows in the district, for over forty years, who
+didn't go hunting whales, icebergs, foul smells, and scurvy, up in King
+Frost's bailiwick, just south of the Pole.
+
+Enoch had been captain and part owner of a Pacific whaler; she had
+recently burned at Honolulu, and he was back home now to buy a new ship.
+He had heard that I, his little brother John, was the best locomotive
+engineer in the whole world, and had come to see me--partly on account
+of relationship, but more to get my advice about buying a steam
+whaling-ship. Enoch knew more about whales and ships and such things
+than you could put down in a book, but he had no more idea _how_ steam
+propelled a ship than I had what a "skivvie tricer" was.
+
+Well, before the week was out, Enoch showed me that he was pretty well
+fixed in a financial way, and as he had no kin but me that he cared
+about, he offered me an interest in his new steam whaler, if I would go
+as chief engineer with her to the North Pacific.
+
+The terms were liberal and the chance a good one, so it seemed, and
+after a good many consultations, my wife agreed to let me go for _one_
+cruise. She asked about the stops to be made in going around the Horn,
+and figured mentally a little after each place was named--I believe now,
+she half expected that I would desert the ship and walk home from one of
+these spots, and was figuring on the time it would take me.
+
+When the robins were building their nests, the new steam whaler,
+"Champion," left New Bedford for parts unknown (_via_ the Horn), with
+the sea-sickest chief engineer that ever smelt fish oil. The steam plant
+wasn't very much--two boilers and a plain twenty-eight by thirty-six
+double engine, and any amount of hoisting rigs, blubber boilers, and
+other paraphernalia. We refitted in San Francisco, and on a clear summer
+morning turned the white-painted figurehead of the "Champion" toward the
+north and stood out for Behring sea. But, while we lay at the mouth of
+the Yukon river, up in Alaska, getting ready for a sally into the realm
+of water above the Straits, a whaler, bound for San Francisco and home,
+dropped anchor near us, the homesickness struck in on me, and--never
+mind the details now--your Uncle John came home without any whales, and
+was mighty glad to get on the extra list of the old road.
+
+The story I want to tell, however, is another man's story, and it was
+while lying in the Yukon that I heard it. I was deeply impressed with it
+at the time, and meant to give it to the world as soon as I got home,
+for I set it all down plain then, but I lost my diary, and half forgot
+the story--who wouldn't forget a story when he had to make two hundred
+and ten miles a day on a locomotive and had five children at home? But
+now, after twenty years, my wife turns up that old diary in the garret
+this spring while house-cleaning. Fred had it and an old Fourth-of-July
+cannon put away in an ancient valise, as a boy will treasure up useless
+things.
+
+Under the head of October 12th, I find this entry:
+
+"At anchor in Yukon river, weather fair, recent heavy rains; set out
+packing and filed main-rod brasses of both engines. Settled with Enoch
+to go home on first ship bound south. Demented white man brought on
+board by Indians, put in my cabin."
+
+In the next day's record there appears the following: "Watched beside
+sick man all night; in intervals of sanity he tells a strange story,
+which I will write down to-day."
+
+The 14th has the following:
+
+"Wrote out story of stranger. See the back of this book."
+
+And at the back of the book, written on paper cut from an old log of the
+"Champion," is the story that now, more than twenty-five years later, I
+tell you here:
+
+On the evening of the 12th, I went on deck to smoke and think of home,
+after a hard day's work getting the engines in shape for a siege. The
+ship was very quiet, half the crew being ashore, and some of the rest
+having gone in the boat with Captain Enoch to the "Enchantress,"
+homeward bound and lying about half a mile below us. I am glad to say
+that Enoch's principal business aboard the "Enchantress" is to get me
+passage to San Francisco. I despise this kind of dreariness--rather be
+in state prison near the folks.
+
+I sat on the rail, just abaft the stack, watching some natives handle
+their big canoes, when a smaller one came alongside. I noticed that one
+of the occupants lay at full length in the frail craft, but paid little
+attention until the canoe touched our side. Then the bundle of skins and
+Indian clothes bounded up, almost screamed, "At last!" made a spring at
+the stays, missed them, and fell with a loud splash into the water.
+
+The Indians rescued him at once, and in a few seconds he lay like one
+dead on the deck. I saw at a glance that the stranger in Indian clothes
+was a white man and an American.
+
+A pretty stiff dram of liquor brought him to slightly. He opened his
+eyes, looked up at the rigging, and closing his eyes, he murmured:
+"Thank God!--'Frisco--Polaria!"
+
+I had him undressed and put into my berth. He was shaking as with an
+ague, and when his clothes were off we plainly saw the reason--he was a
+skeleton, starving. I went on deck at once to make some inquiry of the
+Indians about our strange visitor, but their boat was just disappearing
+in the twilight.
+
+The man gained strength, as we gave him nourishment in small, frequent
+doses, and talked in a disjointed way of everything under the sun. I sat
+with him all night. Toward morning he seemed to sleep longer at a time,
+and in the afternoon of yesterday fell into a deep slumber, from which
+he did not waken for nearly twenty hours.
+
+When he did waken, he took nourishment in larger quantities, and then
+went off into another long sleep. The look of pain on his face lessened,
+a healthy glow appeared on his cheek, and he slept so soundly that I
+turned in--on the floor.
+
+I was awake along in the small hours of the morning, and heard my
+patient stirring, so I got up and drew the little curtain over the
+bulls-eye port--it was already daylight. I gave him a drink and a
+biscuit, and told him I would go to the cook's galley and get him some
+broth, but he begged to wait until breakfast time--said he felt
+refreshed, and would just nibble a sea biscuit. Then he ate a dozen in
+as many minutes.
+
+"Did you take care of my pack?" he said eagerly, throwing his legs out
+of the berth, and looking wildly at me.
+
+"Yes, it's all right; lie down and rest," said I; for I thought that to
+cross him would set him off his head again.
+
+"Do you know that dirty old pack contains more treasures than the mines
+of Africa?"
+
+"It don't look it," I answered, and laughed to get him in a pleasant
+frame of mind--for I hadn't seen nor heard of his pack.
+
+"Not for the little gold and other valuable things, but the proofs of a
+discovery as great as Columbus made, the discovery of a new continent,
+a new people, a new language, a new civilization, and riches beyond the
+dreams of a Solomon--"
+
+He shut his eyes for a minute, and then continued: "But beyond
+Purgatory, through Death, and the other side of Hell--"
+
+Just here Enoch came in to inquire after his health, and sat down for a
+minute's chat. Enoch is first, last, and all the time captain of a
+whaler; he knows about whales and whale-hunters just as an engineer on
+the road knows every speck of scenery along the line, every man, and
+every engine. Enoch couldn't talk ten minutes without being "reminded"
+of an incident in his whaling life; couldn't meet a whaleman without
+"yarning" about the whale business. He lit his pipe and asked: "Been
+whaling, or hunting the North Pole?"
+
+"Well, both."
+
+"What ship?"
+
+"The 'Duncan McDonald.'"
+
+"The--the 'McDonald!'--why, man, we counted her lost these five years;
+tell me about her, quick. Old Chuck Burrows was a particular friend of
+mine--where is he?"
+
+"Captain, Father Burrows and the 'Duncan McDonald' have both gone over
+the unknown ocean to the port of missing ships."
+
+"Sunk?"
+
+"Aye, and crushed to atoms in a frozen hell."
+
+Enoch looked out of the little window for a long time, forgot his pipe,
+and at last wiped a tear out of his eye, saying, as much to himself as
+to us: "George Burrows made me first mate of the first ship he ever
+sailed. She was named for his mother, and we left her in the ice away up
+about the seventy-third parallel. He was made of the salt of the
+earth--a sailor and a nobleman. But he was a dare-devil--didn't know
+fear--and was always venturing where none of the rest of us would dare
+go. He bought the 'McDonald,' remodeled and refitted her after he got
+back from the war--she was more than a whaler, and I had a feeling that
+she would carry Burrows and his crew away forever--"
+
+Eight bells rung just here, and Enoch left us, first ordering breakfast
+for the stranger, and saying he would come back to hear the rest after
+breakfast.
+
+As I was going out, a sailor came to the door with a flat package,
+perhaps six inches thick and twelve or fourteen square, covered with a
+dirty piece of skin made from the intestines of a whale, which is used
+by the natives of this clime because it is light and water-proof.
+
+"We found this in a coil of rope, sir; it must belong to him. It must be
+mostly lead."
+
+It was heavy, and I set it inside the door, remarking that here was his
+precious pack.
+
+"Precious! aye, aye, sir; precious don't describe it. Sacred, that's the
+word. That package will cause more excitement in the world than the
+discovery of gold in California. This is the first time it's been out of
+my sight or feeling for months and months; put it in the bunk here,
+please."
+
+I went away, leaving him with his arms around his "sacred" package.
+
+After breakfast, Enoch and I went to the little cabin to hear the
+stranger's story, and I, for one, confess to a great deal of curiosity.
+Our visitor was swallowing his last bowl of coffee as we went in. "So
+you knew Captain Burrows and the 'Duncan McDonald,'" said he. "Let me
+see, what is your name?"
+
+"Alexander, captain of the 'Champion,' at your service, sir."
+
+"Alexander; you're not the first mate, Enoch Alexander, who sat on a
+dead whale all night, holding on to a lance staff, after losing your
+boat and crew?"
+
+"The same."
+
+"Why, I've heard Captain Burrows speak of you a thousand times."
+
+"But you were going to tell us about the 'Duncan McDonald.' Tell us the
+whole cruise from stem to stern."
+
+"Let's see, where shall I begin?"
+
+"At the very beginning," I put in.
+
+"Well, perhaps you've noticed, and perhaps you have not, but I'm not a
+sailor by inclination or experience. I accidentally went out on the
+'Duncan McDonald.' How old would you take me to be?"
+
+"Fifty or fifty-five," said Enoch.
+
+"Thanks, captain, I know I must look all of that; but, let me see,
+forty-five, fifty-five, sixty-five, seventy--seventy--what year is
+this?"
+
+"Seventy-three."
+
+"Seventy-three. Well, I'm only twenty-eight now."
+
+"Impossible! Why, man, you're as gray as I am, and I'm twice that."
+
+"I was born in forty-five, just the same. My father was a sea captain in
+the old clipper days, and a long time after. He was in the West India
+trade when the war broke out, and as he had been educated in the navy,
+enlisted at once. It was on one of the gunboats before Vicksburg that he
+was killed. My mother came of a well-to-do family of merchants, the
+Clarks of Boston, and--to make a long story short--died in sixty-six,
+leaving me considerable money.
+
+"An itching to travel, plenty of money, my majority, and no ties at
+home, sent me away from college to roam, and so one spring morning in
+sixty-seven found me sitting lazily in the stern of a little pleasure
+boat off Fort Point in the Golden Gate, listlessly watching a steam
+whaler come in from the Pacific. My boatman called my attention to her,
+remarking that she was spick-and-span new, and the biggest one he ever
+saw, but I took very little notice of the ship until in tacking across
+her wake, I noticed her name in gold letters across the stern--'Duncan
+McDonald.' Now that is my own name, and was my father's; and try as I
+would, I could not account for this name as a coincidence, common as the
+name might be in the highlands of the home of my ancestors; and before
+the staunch little steamer had gotten a mile away, I ordered the boat to
+follow her. I intended to go aboard and learn, if possible, something of
+how her name originated.
+
+"As she swung at anchor, off Goat island, I ran my little boat alongside
+of her and asked for a rope. 'Rope?' inquired a Yankee sailor, sticking
+his nose and a clay pipe overboard; 'might you be wantin' to come
+aboard?'
+
+"'Yes, I want to see the captain.'
+
+"'Well, the cap'en's jest gone ashore; his dingy is yonder now, enemost
+to the landin'. You come out this evenin'. The cap'en's particular about
+strangers, but he's always to home of an evenin'.'
+
+"'Who's this boat named after?'
+
+"'The Lord knows, stranger; I don't. But I reckon the cap'en ken tell;
+he built her.'
+
+"I left word that I would call in the evening, and at eight o'clock was
+alongside again. This time I was assisted on board and shown to the door
+of the captain's cabin; the sailor knocked and went away. It was a full
+minute, I stood there before the knock was answered, and then from the
+inside, in a voice like the roar of a bull, came the call: 'Well, come
+in!'
+
+"I opened the door on a scene I shall never forget. A bright light swung
+from the beams above, and under it sat a giant of the sea--Captain
+Burrows. He had the index finger of his right hand resting near the
+North Pole of an immense globe; there were many books about, rolls of
+charts, firearms; instruments, clothing, and apparent disorder
+everywhere. The cabin was large, well-furnished, and had something
+striking about it. I looked around in wonder, without saying a word.
+Captain Burrows was the finest-looking man I ever saw--six feet three,
+straight, muscular, with a pleasant face; but the keenest, steadiest
+blue eye you ever saw. His hair was white, but his long flowing beard
+had much of the original yellow. He must have been sixty. But for all
+the pleasant face and kindly eye, you would notice through his beard the
+broad, square chin that proclaim the decision and staying qualities of
+the man."
+
+"That's George Burrows, stranger, to the queen's taste--just as good as
+a degerry-type," broke in Enoch.
+
+"Well," continued the stranger, "he let me look for a minute or two, and
+then said: 'Was it anything particular?'
+
+"I found my tongue then, and answered; 'I hope you'll excuse me, sir;
+but I must confess it is curiosity. I came on board out of curiosity
+to--'
+
+"'Reporter, hey?' asked the captain.
+
+"'No, sir; the fact is that your ship has an unusual name, one that
+interests me, and I wish to make so bold as to ask how she came to have
+it.'
+
+"'Any patent on the name?'
+
+"'Oh, no, but I--'
+
+"'Well, young man, this ship--by the way, the finest whaler that was
+ever stuck together--is named for a friend of mine; just such a man as
+she is a ship--the best of them all.'
+
+"'Was he a sailor?'
+
+"'Aye, aye, sir, and such a sailor. Fight! why, man, fighting was meat
+and drink to him--'
+
+"'Was he a whaler?'
+
+"'No, he wa'n't; but he was the best man I ever knew who wa'n't a
+whaler. He was a navy sailor, he was, and a whole ten-pound battery by
+hisself. Why, you jest ort to see him waltz his old tin-clad gun-boat up
+agin one of them reb forts--jest naturally skeered 'em half to death
+before he commenced shooting at all.'
+
+"'Wasn't he killed at the attack on Vicksburg?'
+
+"'Yes, yes; you knowed him didn't you? He was a--'
+
+"'He was my father.'
+
+"'What? Your father?' yelled Captain Burrows, jumping up and grasping
+both my hands. 'Of course he was; darn my lubberly wit that I couldn't
+see that before!' Then he hugged me as if I was a ten-year-old girl, and
+danced around me like a maniac.
+
+"'By all the gods at once, if this don't seem like Providence--yes, sir,
+old man Providence himself! What are you a-doin'? When did you come out
+here? Where be you goin', anyway?'
+
+"I found my breath, and told him briefly how I was situated. 'Old man
+Providence has got his hand on the tiller of this craft or I'm a
+grampus! Say! do you know I was wishin' and waitin' for you? Yes, sir;
+no more than yesterday, says I to myself, Chuck Burrows, says I, you are
+gettin' long too fur to the wind'ard o' sixty fur this here trip all to
+yourself. You ort to have young blood in this here enterprise; and then
+I just clubbed myself for being a lubber and not getting married young
+and havin' raised a son that I could trust. Yes, sir, jest nat'rally
+cussed myself from stem to stern, and never onct thought as mebbe my old
+messmate, Duncan McDonald, might 'a'done suthin' for his country afore
+that day at Vicks--say! I want to give you half this ship. Mabee I'll do
+the square thing and give you the whole of the tub yet. All I want is
+for you to go along with me on a voyage of discovery--be my helper,
+secretary, partner, friend--anything. What de ye say? Say!' he yelled
+again, before I could answer, 'tell ye what I'll do! Bless me if--if I
+don't adopt ye; that's what I'll do. Call me pop from this out, and I'll
+call you son. _Son!_' he shouted, bringing his fist down with a bang on
+the table. '_Son!_ that's the stuff! By the bald-headed Abraham, who
+says Chuck Burrows ain't got no kin? The "Duncan McDonald," Burrows &
+Son, owners, captain, chief cook, and blubber cooker. And who the hell
+says they ain't?'
+
+"And the old captain glared around as if he defied anybody and everybody
+to question the validity of the claims so excitedly made.
+
+"Well, gentlemen, of course there was much else said and done, but that
+announcement stood; and to the day of his death I always called the
+captain Father Burrows, and he called me 'son,' always addressing me so
+when alone, as well as when in the company of others. I went every day
+to the ship, or accompanied Father Burrows on some errand into the city,
+while the boat was being refitted and prepared for a three-years'
+cruise.
+
+"Every day the captain let me more and more into his plans, told me
+interesting things of the North, and explained his theory of the way to
+reach the Pole, and what could be found there; which fascinated me.
+Captain Burrows had spent years in the North, had noted that
+particularly open seasons occurred in what appeared cycles of a given
+number of years, and proposed to go above the eightieth parallel and
+wait for an open season. That, according to his figuring, would occur
+the following year.
+
+"I was young, vigorous, and of a venturesome spirit, and entered into
+every detail with a zest that captured the heart of the old sailor. My
+education helped him greatly, and new books and instruments were added
+to our store for use on the trip. The crew knew only that we were going
+on a three-years' cruise. They had no share in the profits, but were
+paid extra big wages in gold, and were expected to go to out-of-the-way
+places and further north than usual. Captain Burrows and myself only
+knew that there was a brand-new twenty-foot silk flag rolled up in
+oil-skin in the cabin, and that Father Burrows had declared: 'By the
+hoary-headed Nebblekenizer, I'll put them stars and stripes on new land,
+and mighty near to the Pole, or start a butt a-trying.'
+
+"In due course of time we were all ready, and the 'Duncan McDonald'
+passed out of the Golden Gate into the broad Pacific, drew her fires,
+and stopped her engines, reserving this force for a more urgent time.
+She spread her ample canvas, and stood away toward Alaska and the
+unknown and undiscovered beyond.
+
+"The days were not long for me, for they were full of study and
+anticipation. Long chats with the eccentric but masterful man whose
+friendship and love for my father had brought us together were the
+entertainment and stimulus of my existence--a man who knew nothing of
+science, except that he was master of it in his own way; who knew all
+about navigation, and to whom the northern seas were as familiar as the
+contour of Boston Common was to me; who had more stories of whaling than
+you could find in print, and better ones than can ever be printed.
+
+"I learned first to respect, then to admire, and finally to love this
+old salt. How many times he told me of my father's death, and how and
+when he had risked his life to save the life of Father Burrows or some
+of the rest of his men. As the days grew into weeks, and the weeks into
+months, Captain Burrows and myself became as one man.
+
+"I shall never forget the first Sunday at sea. Early in the morning I
+heard the captain order the boatswain to pipe all hands to prayers. I
+had noticed nothing of a religious nature in the man, and, full of
+curiosity, went on deck with the rest. Captain Burrows took off his hat
+at the foot of the mainmast, and said:
+
+"'My men, this is the first Sunday we have all met together; and as some
+of you are not familiar with the religious services on board the 'Duncan
+McDonald,' I will state that, as you may have noticed, I asked no man
+about his belief when I employed him--I hired you to simply work this
+ship, not to worship God--but on Sundays it is our custom to meet here
+in friendship, man to man, Protestant and Catholic, Mohammedan,
+Buddhist, Fire-worshiper, and pagan, and look into our own hearts,
+worshiping God as we know him, each in his own way. If any man has
+committed any offense against his God, let him make such reparation as
+he thinks will appease that God; but if any man has committed an
+offense against his fellow-man, let him settle with that man now and
+here, and not worry God with the details. Religion is goodness and
+justice and honesty; no man needs a sky-pilot to lay a course for him,
+for he alone knows where the channel, and the rocks, and the bar of his
+own heart are--look into your hearts.'
+
+"Captain Burrows stood with his hat in his hand, and bowed as if in
+prayer, and all the old tars bowed as reverently as if the most eloquent
+divine was exhorting an unseen power in their behalf. The new men
+followed the example of the old. It was just three minutes by the
+wheel-house clock before the captain straightened up and said 'Amen,'
+and the men turned away about their tasks.
+
+"'Beats mumblin' your words out of a book, like a Britisher,' said the
+captain to me; 'can't offend no man's religion, and helps every one on
+'em.'
+
+"Long months after, I attended a burial service conducted in the same
+way--in silence.
+
+"In due course of time we anchored in Norton Sound, and spent the rest
+of the winter there; and in the spring of sixty-eight, we worked our way
+north through the ice. We passed the seventy-fifth parallel of latitude
+on July 4th. During the summer we took a number of whales, storing away
+as much oil as the captain thought necessary, as he only wanted it for
+fuel and our needs, intending to take none home to sell unless we were
+unsuccessful in the line of discovery--in that event he intended to stay
+until he had a full cargo."
+
+Here our entertainer gave out, and had to rest; and while resting he
+went to sleep, so that he did not take up his story until the next day.
+
+In the morning our guest expressed a desire to be taken on deck; and,
+dressed in warm sailor clothes, he rested his hand on my shoulder, and
+slowly crawled on deck and to a sheltered corner beside the captain's
+cabin. Here he was bundled up; and again Enoch and I sat down to listen
+to the strange story of the wanderer.
+
+"I hope it won't annoy you, gentlemen," said he, "but I can't settle
+down without my pack; I find myself thinking of its safety. Would you
+mind sending down for it?"
+
+It was brought up, and set down beside him; he looked at it lovingly,
+slipped the rude strap-loop over his arm, and seemed ready to take up
+his story where he left off. He began:
+
+"I don't remember whether I told you or not, but one of the objects of
+Captain Burrows's trip was to settle something definite about the
+location of the magnetic pole, and other magnetic problems, and
+determine the cause of some of the well-known distortions of the
+magnetic needle. He had some odd, perhaps crude, instruments, of his own
+design, which he had caused to be constructed for this purpose, and we
+found them very efficient devices in the end. Late in July, we found
+much open water, and steamed steadily in a northwesterly course. We
+would find a great field of icebergs, then miles of floe, and then again
+open water. The aurora was seen every evening, but it seemed pale and
+white.
+
+"Captain Burrows brought the 'Duncan McDonald's' head around to the west
+in open water, one fine day in early August, and cruised slowly; taking
+a great many observations, and hunting, as he told me, for floating
+ice--he was hunting for a current. For several days we kept in the open
+water, but close to the ice, until one morning the captain ordered the
+ship to stand due north across the open sea.
+
+"He called me into his cabin, and with a large map of the polar regions
+on his table, to which he often referred, he said: 'Son, I've been
+hunting for a current; there's plenty of 'em in the Arctic ocean, but
+the one I want ain't loafing around here. You see, son, it's currents
+that carries these icebergs and floes south; I didn't tell you, but some
+days when we were in those floes, we lost as much as we gained. We
+worked our way north through the floe, but not on the surface of the
+globe; the floe was taking us south with it. Maybe you won't believe
+it, but there are currents going north in this sea; once or twice in a
+lifetime, a whaler or passage hunter returns with a story of being
+drifted _north_--now that's what I want, I am hunting for a northern
+current. We will go to the northern shore of this open water, be it one
+mile or one thousand, and there--well, hunt again.'
+
+"Well, it was in September when we at last got to what seemed the
+northern shore of this open sea. We had to proceed very slowly, as there
+were almost daily fogs and occasional snow-storms; but one morning the
+ship rounded to, almost under the shadow of what seemed to be a giant
+iceberg. Captain Burrows came on deck, rubbing his hands in glee.
+
+"'Son,' said he, 'that is no iceberg; that's ancient ice, perpetual ice,
+the great ice-ring--palæcrystic ice, you scientific fellows call it. I
+saw it once before, in thirty-seven, when a boy; that's it, and, son,
+beyond that there is something. Take notice that that is ice; clear,
+glary ice. You know a so-called iceberg is really a snowberg; it's
+three-fourths under water. Now, it may be possible that, that being ice
+which will float more than half out of water, the northern currents may
+go under it--but I don't believe it. Under or over, I am going to find
+one of 'em, if it takes till doomsday.'
+
+[Illustration: "What seemed to be a giant iceberg...."]
+
+"We sailed west, around close to this great wall of ice, for two weeks,
+without seeing any evidence of a current of any kind, until there came
+on a storm from the northwest that drove a great deal of ice around the
+great ring; but it seemed to keep rather clear of the great wall of ice
+and to go off in a tangent toward the south. The lead showed no bottom
+at one hundred fathoms, even within a quarter of a mile of the ice.
+
+"It was getting late in the season, the mercury often going down to
+fifteen below zero, and every night the aurora became brighter. We
+sailed slowly around the open water, and finally found a place where the
+sheer precipice of ice disappeared and the shore sloped down to
+something like a beach. Putting out a sea-anchor, the 'Duncan McDonald'
+kept within a half-a-mile of this icy shore. The captain had determined
+to land and survey the place, which far away back seemed to terminate in
+mountain peaks of ice.
+
+"That night the captain and I sat on the rail of our ship, talking over
+the plans for to-morrow's expedition, when the ship slowly but steadily
+swung around her stern to the mountain of ice--the engines had been
+moving slowly to keep her head to the wind. Captain Burrows jumped to
+his feet in joy. 'A current!' he shouted; 'a current, and toward the
+north, too--old man Providence again, son; he allus takes care of his
+own!'
+
+"Some staves were thrown overboard, and, sure enough, they floated
+toward the ice; but there was no evidence of an opening in the mighty
+ring, and I remarked to Captain Burrows that the current evidently went
+under the ice.
+
+"'It looks like it did, son; it looks like it did; but if it goes under,
+we will go over.'
+
+"After we had taken a few hours of sleep, the long-boat landed our
+little party of five men and seven dogs. We had food and drink for a two
+weeks' trip, were well armed, and carried some of our instruments. It
+appeared to be five or six miles to the top of the mountain, but it
+proved more than thirty. We were five days in getting there, and did so
+only after a dozen adventures that I will tell you at another time.
+
+"We soon began to find stones and dirt in the ice, and before we had
+gone ten miles, found the frozen carcass of an immense mastodon--its
+great tusks only showing above the level; but its huge, woolly body
+quite plainly visible in the ice. The ice was melting, and there were
+many streams running towards the open water. It was warmer as we
+proceeded. Dirt and rocks became the rule, instead of the exception, and
+we were often obliged to go around a great boulder of granite. While we
+were resting, on the third day, for a bite to eat, one of the men took a
+dish, scooped up some sand from the bottom of the icy stream, and
+'panned' it out. There was gold in it: gold enough to pay to work the
+ground. About noon of the fifth day, we reached the summit of the
+mountain, and from there looked down the other side--upon a sight the
+like of which no white men had ever seen before.
+
+"From the very summits of this icy-ring mountain the northern side was a
+sheer precipice of more than three thousand feet, and was composed of
+rocks, and rocks only, the foot of the mighty crags being washed by an
+open ocean; and this was lighted up by a peculiar crimson glow. Great
+white whales sported in the waters; huge sea-birds hung in circles high
+in the air; yet below us, and with our glasses, we could see, on the
+rocks at the foot of the crags, seals and some other animals that were
+strange to us. But follow the line of beetling crags and mountain peaks
+where you would, the northern side presented a solid blank wall of awful
+rocks, in many places the summit overhanging and the shore well under in
+the mighty shadow. Nothing that any of us had ever seen in nature before
+was so impressive, so awful. We started on our return, after a couple of
+hours of the awe-inspiring sight beyond the great ring, and for full two
+hours not a man spoke.
+
+"'Father Burrows,' said I, 'what do you think that is back there?'
+
+"'No man knows, my son, and it will devolve on you and me to name it;
+but we won't unless we get to it and can take back proofs.'
+
+"'Do you think we could get down the other side?'
+
+"'No, I don't think so, and we seem to have struck it in the lowest spot
+in sight. I'd give ten years of my life if the 'Duncan McDonald' was
+over there in that duck pond.'
+
+"'Captain,' said Eli Jeffries, the second mate, 'do you know what I've
+been thinkin'? I believe that 'ere water we seen is an open passage from
+the Behring side of the frozen ocean over agin' some of them 'ere
+Roosian straits. If we could get round to the end of it, we'd sail right
+through the great Northwest Passage.'
+
+"'You don't think there is land over there somewhere?'
+
+"'Nope.'
+
+"'Didn't take notice that the face of your "passage" was granite or
+quartz rocks, hey? Didn't notice all them animals and birds, hey?--'
+
+"'Look out!' yelled the man ahead with the dog-sledge.
+
+"A strange, whirring noise was heard in the foggy light, that sounded
+over our heads. We all dropped to the ground, and the noise increased,
+until a big flock of huge birds passed over us in rapid flight north.
+There must have been thousands of them. Captain Burrows brought his
+shot-gun to his shoulder and fired. There were some wild screams in the
+air, and a bird came down to the ice with a loud thud. It looked very
+large a hundred feet away, but sight is very deceiving in this white
+country in the semi-darkness. We found it a species of duck, rather
+large and with gorgeous plumage.
+
+"'Goin' north, to Eli's "passage" to lay her eggs on the ice,' said the
+captain, half sarcastically.
+
+"We reached the ship in safety, and the captain and I spent long hours
+in trying to form some plan for getting beyond the great ice-ring.
+
+"'If it's warm up there, and everything that we've seen says it is, all
+this cold water that's going north gets warm and goes out some place;
+and rest you, son, wherever it goes out, there's a hole in the ice.'
+
+"Here we were interrupted by the mate, who said that there were queer
+things going on overhead, and some of the sailors were ready to mutiny
+unless the return trip was commenced. Captain Burrows went on deck at
+once, and you may be sure I followed at his heels.
+
+"'What's wrong here?' demanded the captain, in his roaring tone,
+stepping into the midst of the crew.
+
+"'A judgment against this pryin' into God's secrets, sir,' said an
+English sailor, in an awe-struck voice. 'Look at the signs, sir,'
+pointing overhead.
+
+"Captain Burrows and I both looked over our heads, and there saw an
+impressive sight, indeed. A vast colored map of an unknown world hung in
+the clouds over us--a mirage from the aurora. It looked very near, and
+was so distinct that we could distinguish polar bears on the ice-crags.
+One man insisted that the mainmast almost touched one snowy peak, and
+most of them actually believed that it was an inverted part of some
+world, slowly coming down to crush us. Captain Burrows looked for
+several minutes before he spoke. Then he said: 'My men, this is the
+grandest proof of all that Providence is helping us. This thing that you
+see is only a picture; it's a mirage, the reflection of a portion of the
+earth on the sky. Just look, and you will see that it's in the shape of
+a crescent, and we are almost in the center of it; and, I tell you, it's
+a picture of the country just in front of us. See this peak? See that
+low place where we went up? There is the great wall we saw, the open sea
+beyond it, and, bless me, if it don't look like something green over in
+the middle of that ocean! See, here is the "Duncan McDonald," as plain
+as A, B, C, right overhead. Now, there's nothing to be afraid of in
+that; if it's a warning, it's a good one--and if any one wants to go
+home to his mother's, and is old enough, _he can walk_!'
+
+[Illustration: "A white city ... was visible for an instant."]
+
+"The captain looked around, but the sailors were as cool as he was--they
+were reassured by his honest explanation. Then he took me by the arm,
+and, pointing to the painting in the sky, said: 'Old man Providence
+again, son, sure as you are born; do you see that lane through the great
+ring? There's an open, fairly straight passage to the inner ocean,
+except that it's closed by about three miles of ice on our side; see it
+there, on the port side?'
+
+"Yes, I could see it, but I asked Captain Burrows how he could account
+for the open passages beyond and the wall of ice in front; it was cold
+water going in.
+
+"'It's strange,' he answered, shading his eye with his hand, and looking
+long at the picture of the clear passage, like a great canal between the
+beetling cliffs. All at once, he grasped my arm and said in excitement,
+pointing towards the outer end of the passage: 'Look!'
+
+"As I looked at the mirage again, the great mass of ice in front
+commenced to slowly turn over, outwardly.
+
+"'It's an iceberg, sir, only an iceberg!' said the captain, excitedly,
+'and she is just holding that passage because the current keeps her up
+against the hole; now, she will wear out some day, and then--in goes the
+"Duncan McDonald"!'
+
+"'But there are others to take its place,' and I pointed to three other
+bergs, apparently some twenty miles away, plainly shown in the sky;
+'they are the reinforcements to hold the passage.'
+
+"'Looks that way, son, but by the great American buzzard, we'll get in
+there somehow, if we have to blow that berg up.'
+
+"As we looked, the picture commenced to disappear, not fade, but to go
+off to one side, just as a picture leaves the screen of a magic lantern.
+Over the inner ocean there appeared dark clouds; but this part was
+visible last, and the clouds seemed to break at the last moment, and a
+white city, set in green fields and forests, was visible for an instant,
+a great golden dome in the center remaining in view after the rest of
+the city was invisible.
+
+"'A rainbow of promise, son,' said the captain.
+
+"I looked around. The others had grown tired of looking, and were gone.
+Captain Burrows and myself were the only ones that saw the city.
+
+"We got under way for an hour, and then stood by near the berg until
+eight bells the next morning; but you must remember it was half dark all
+the time up there then. While Captain Burrows and myself were at
+breakfast, he cudgeled his brains over ways and means for moving that
+ice, or preventing other bergs from taking its place. When we went on
+deck, our berg was some distance from the mouth of the passage, and
+steadily floating away. Captain Burrows steamed the ship cautiously up
+toward the passage; there was a steady current coming out.
+
+"'I reckon,' said Eli Jeffries, 'they must have a six-months' ebb and
+flow up in that ocean.'
+
+"'If that's the case, said Captain Burrows, 'the sooner we get in, the
+better;' and he ordered the 'Duncan McDonald' into the breach in the
+world of ice.
+
+"Gentlemen, suffice it to say that we found that passage perfectly
+clear, and wider as we proceeded. This we did slowly, keeping the lead
+going constantly. The first mate reported the needle of the compass
+working curiously, dipping down hard, and sparking--something he had
+never seen. Captain Burrows only said: 'Let her spark!'
+
+"As we approached the inner ocean, as we called it, the passage was
+narrow; it became very dark and the waters roared ahead. I feared a fall
+or rapid, but the 'Duncan McDonald' could not turn back. The noise was
+only the surf on the great crags within. As the ship passed out into the
+open sea beyond, the needle of the compass turned clear around and
+pointed back. 'Do you know, son,' said Captain Burrows, 'that I believe
+the so-called magnetic pole is a great ring around the true Pole, and
+that we just passed it there? The whole inside of this mountain looks
+to me like rusted iron instead of stone, anyhow.'"
+
+Here our story-teller rested and dozed for a few minutes; then rousing
+up, he said: "I'll tell you the rest to-morrow; yes, to-morrow; I'm tired
+now. To-morrow I'll tell you about a wonderful country; wonderful
+cities; wonderful people! I'll show you solar pictures such as you never
+saw, of scenes, places, and people you never dreamed of. I will show you
+implements that will prove that there's a country where gold is as
+common as tin at home--where they make knives and forks and stew-pans of
+it! I'll show you writing more ancient and more interesting than the
+most treasured relics in our Sanscrit libraries. I'll tell you of the
+two years I spent in another world. I'll tell you of the precious cargo
+that went to the bottom of the frozen ocean with the staunch little
+ship, 'Duncan McDonald;' of the bravest, noblest commander, and the
+sweetest angel of a woman that ever breathed and lived and loved. I'll
+tell you of my escape and the hell I've been through. To-morrow--"
+
+He dozed off for a few moments again.
+
+"But I've got enough in this pack to turn the world inside out with
+wonder--ah, what a sensation it will be, what an educational feature! It
+will send out a hundred harum-scarum expeditions to find Polaria--but
+there are few commanders like Captain Burrows; he could do it, the rest
+of 'em will die in the ice. But when I get to San Fran----. Say,
+captain, how long will it take to get there, and how long before you
+start?"
+
+Enoch and I exchanged glances, and Enoch answered: "We wa'n't goin' to
+"Frisco."
+
+"Around the Horn, then?" inquired the stranger, sitting up. "But you
+will land me in 'Frisco, won't you? I can't wait, I must--"
+
+"We're goin' _in_," said Enoch; "goin' north, for a three-years'
+cruise."
+
+"North!" shouted the stranger, wildly. "Three years in that hell of ice.
+Three years! My God! North! North!"
+
+He was dancing around the deck like a maniac, trying to put his
+pack-loop over his head. Enoch went toward him, to tell him how he
+could go on the "Enchantress," but he looked wildly at him, ran forward
+and sprang out on the bowsprit, and from there to the jib. Enoch saw he
+was out of his mind, and ordered two sailors to bring him in. As they
+sprang on to the bow, he stood up and screamed:
+
+"No! No! No! Three years! Three lives! Three hells! I never--"
+
+One of the men reached for him here, but he kicked at the sailor
+viciously, and turning sidewise, sprang into the water below.
+
+A boat, already in the water, was manned instantly; but the worn-out
+body of another North Pole explorer had gone to the sands of the bottom
+where so many others have gone before; evidently his heavy pack had held
+him down, there to guard the story it could tell--in death as he had in
+life.
+
+                                THE END
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+DANGER SIGNALS
+
+Remarkable, Exciting And Unique Examples Of The Bravery,
+Daring And Stoicism In The Midst Of Danger Of
+TRAIN DISPATCHERS AND RAILROAD ENGINEERS
+
+By
+
+JOHN A. HILL
+and
+JASPER EWING BRADY
+
+ABSORBING STORIES OF MEN WITH NERVES OF STEEL,
+INDOMITABLE COURAGE AND WONDERFUL ENDURANCE
+
+Fully Illustrated
+
+CHICAGO
+JAMIESON-HIGGINS CO.
+1902
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: Facsimile Of A Completed Order As Entered In The
+Despatcher's Order-Book]
+
+DANGER SIGNALS.
+
+PART II.
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+LEARNING THE BUSINESS--MY FIRST OFFICE
+
+
+Seated in sumptuously furnished palace cars, annihilating space at the
+rate of sixty miles an hour, but few passengers ever give a thought to
+the telegraph operators of the road stuck away in towers or in dingy
+little depots, in swamps, on the tops of mountains, or on the bald
+prairies and sandy deserts of the west; and yet, these selfsame
+telegraph operators are a very important adjunct to the successful
+operation of the road, and a single error on the part of one of them
+might result in the loss of many lives and thousands of dollars.
+
+The whole length of the railroad from starting point to terminus is
+literally under the eyes of the train despatcher. By means of reports
+sent in by hundreds of different operators, he knows the exact location
+of all trains at all times, the number of "loads" and "empties" in each
+train, the number of cars on each siding, the number of passing tracks
+and their capacity, the capabilities of the different engines, the
+gradients of the road, the condition of the roadbed, and, above all, he
+knows the personal characteristics of every conductor and engineer on
+the road. In fact if there is one man of more importance than another on
+a railroad it is the train despatcher. During his trick of eight hours
+he is the autocrat of the road, and his will in the running of trains is
+absolute. Therefore despatchers are chosen with very special regard for
+their fitness for the position. They must be expert telegraphers, quick
+at figures, and above all they must be as cool as ice, have nerves of
+steel, and must be capable of grasping a trying situation the minute an
+emergency arises. An old despatcher once said to me: "Sooner or later a
+despatcher, if he sticks to the business, will have his smash-up, and
+then down goes a reputation which possibly he has been years in building
+up, and his name is inscribed on the roll of 'has-beens.'"
+
+Before the despatcher comes the operator, and the old Biblical saying,
+"Many are called but few are chosen," is well illustrated by the small
+number of good despatchers that are found; it is easy enough to find
+excellent operators, but a first-class despatcher is a rarity among
+them.
+
+I learned telegraphy some fifteen or sixteen years ago at a school away
+out in western Kansas. After I had been there three or four months, I
+was the star of the class, and imagined that the spirit of Professor
+Morse had been reincarnated in me. No wire was too swift for me to work,
+no office too great for me to manage; in fact visions of a
+superintendency of telegraph flitted before my eyes. Such institutions
+as this school are very correctly named "ham factories."
+
+During my stay at the school I formed the acquaintance of the night
+operator at the depot and it was my wont to spend most of my nights
+there picking up odds and ends of information. For my own benefit I used
+to copy everything that came along; but the young man in charge never
+left me entirely alone. Night operators at all small stations have to
+take care of their own lamps and fires, sweep out, handle baggage, and,
+in short, be porter as well as operator, and for the privilege of being
+allowed to stay about I used to do this work for the night man at the
+office in question. His name was Harry Burgess and he was as good a man
+as ever sat in front of a key. Some few weeks after this he was
+transferred to a day office up the road and by his help I was made
+night operator in his stead. Need I say how proud I felt when I received
+a message from the Chief Despatcher telling me to report for duty that
+night? I think I was the proudest man, or boy rather, on this earth.
+Just think! Night operator, porter and baggageman, working from seven
+o'clock in the evening until seven o'clock in the morning, and receiving
+the magnificent sum of forty dollars per month! It was enough to make my
+bosom swell with pride and it's a wonder I didn't burst.
+
+Heretofore, I had had Burgess to fall back upon when I was copying
+messages or orders, but now I was alone and the responsibility was all
+mine. I managed to get through the first night very well, because all I
+had to do was to take a few "red" commercial messages, "O. S." the
+trains and load ten big sample trunks on No. 2. The trains were all on
+time and consequently there were no orders. I was proud of my success
+and went off duty at seven o'clock in the morning with a feeling that my
+services were well nigh indispensable to the road, and if anything were
+to happen to me, receivers would surely have to be appointed.
+
+The second night everything went smoothly until towards eleven o'clock,
+when the despatcher began to call "MN," and gave the signal "9." Now
+the signal "9" means "Train Orders," and takes precedence over
+everything else on the wire. The situation was anything but pleasant for
+me, because I had never yet, on my own responsibility, taken a train
+order, and I stood in a wholesome fear of the results that might accrue
+from any error of mine. So I didn't answer the despatcher at once as I
+should have done because I hoped he would get tired of calling me and
+would tackle "OG," and give him the order. But he didn't. He just kept
+on calling me, increasing his speed all the time. In sheer desperation,
+I went out on the platform for five minutes and stamped around to keep
+warm, hoping all the time he would stop when he found I did not answer.
+But when I returned instead of calling me on one wire, he had his
+operator calling me on the commercial line while he was pounding away on
+the railroad wire. At the rate those two sounders were going they
+sounded to me like the crack of doom and I was becoming powerfully warm.
+I finally mustered up courage and answered him.
+
+The first thing the despatcher said was:
+
+"Where in h--l have you been?"
+
+I didn't think that was a very nice thing for him to say, and he fired
+it at me so fast I could hardly read it, so I simply replied, "Out
+fixing my batteries."
+
+"Well," he said, "your batteries will need fixing when I get through
+with you. Now copy 3."
+
+"Copy 3," means to take three copies of the order that is to follow, so
+I grabbed my manifold order-book and stylus and prepared to copy. There
+is a rule printed in large bold type in all railroad time-cards which
+says, "Despatchers, in sending train orders to operators, will
+accommodate their speed to the abilities of the operators. In all cases
+_they will send plainly and distinctly_." If the despatcher had sent
+according to my ability just then he would have sent that order by train
+mail. But instead, from the very beginning, he fired it at me so fast,
+that before I had started to take it he was away down in the body of it.
+I had written down only the order number and date, when I broke and
+said, "G. A. To." That made him madder than ever and he went at me again
+with increased violence the sounder seeming like the roll of a drum. I
+think I broke him about ten times and finally he said, "For heaven's
+sake go wake up the day man. You're nothing but a ham." Strangely enough
+I could take all of his nasty remarks without any trouble while the
+order almost completely stumped me. However, I finally succeeded in
+putting it all down, repeated it back to him, and received his "O. K."
+
+When the train arrived the conductor and engineer came in the office and
+I gave them the order. The conductor glanced at it for a moment and then
+said with a broad grin, "Say, kid, which foot did you use in copying
+this?" My copy wasn't very clear, but finally he deciphered it, and they
+both signed their names, the despatcher gave me the "complete," and they
+left. As soon as the train, which was No. 22, a livestock express, had
+departed, I made my O. S. report, and then heaved a big sigh of relief.
+
+Scarcely had the tail-lights disappeared across the bridge and around
+the bend, when the despatcher called again and said, "For God's sake
+stop that train."
+
+I said, "I can't. She's gone."
+
+"Well," he snapped back, "there's a good chance for a fine smash-up this
+night."
+
+That scared me almost out of my wits, and I looked at my copy of the
+order. But it read all right, and yet I felt mighty creepy. About thirty
+minutes afterwards, I heard a heavy step on the platform and in a second
+the hind brakeman came tramping in, and cheerfully saluted me with,
+"Well, I reckon you've raised h--l to-night. 21 and 22 are up against
+each other hard about a mile and a half east of here. They met on a
+curve and engines, box-cars, livestock and freight are piled up in fine
+shape."
+
+"Any one killed?" I asked with a blanched face and sinking heart.
+
+"Naw, no one is exactly killed, but one engineer and a fireman are
+pretty badly scalded, and 'Shorty' Jones, our head man, has a broken leg
+caused by jumping. You'd better tell the despatcher."
+
+Visions of the penitentiary for criminal neglect danced before my
+disordered brain; all my knowledge of telegraphy fled; I was weak in the
+knees, sick at heart, and as near a complete wreck as a man could be.
+But something had to be done, so I finally told the despatcher that Nos.
+21 and 22 were in the ditch, and he snapped back, "D--n it, I've been
+expecting it, and have ordered the wrecking outfit out from Watsego. You
+turn your red-light and hold everything that comes along. In the
+meantime go wake up the day man. I want an operator there, and not a
+ham."
+
+When the day man came in, half dressed, he said, "Well, what the devil
+is the matter?"
+
+Speech had entirely left me by this time, so I simply pointed to the
+order, and the brakeman told him the rest. Never in all my life have I
+spent such a night as that. The day man regaled me with charming little
+incidents, about men he knew, who, for having been criminally negligent,
+had been shot by infuriated engineers or had been sent up for ten years.
+He seemed to take a fiendish delight in telling me these things and my
+discomfiture was great. I would have run away if I hadn't been too weak.
+About seven o'clock in the morning, after a night of misery, he
+patronizingly told me, that it wasn't my fault at all; the despatcher
+had given a "lap order," and that the blame was on him. Well! the
+reaction was as bad, almost, as the first feeling of horror. I went home
+and after a light breakfast, retired to bed, but not to sleep, for every
+time I would close my eyes, visions of wrecks, penitentiaries, dead men
+and ruined homes came crowding upon my disordered brain.
+
+About ten o'clock they sent for me to come to the office. I went over
+and Webster the agent said the superintendent wanted to see me. I had
+never seen the superintendent and he seemed to me to be about as far off
+as the President of the United States, but I screwed up my courage and
+went in. I saw a kindly-looking gentleman seated before Webster's desk,
+but I was too much frightened to speak and just stood there like a bump
+on a log. Presently, Mr. Brink, the superintendent, turned to Webster
+and said, "I wonder why that night man doesn't come?"
+
+I tremblingly replied, "I am the night man, sir." He looked at me for a
+moment and smilingly said, "Why, bless my soul, my lad! I thought you
+were a messenger boy." He then asked me for my story of the wreck. When
+I had given it he seemed satisfied, and gave me lots of good advice; but
+in the end he said I was too young to have the position, and I was
+discharged. But he kindly added, that in a few years he would be glad to
+have me come back on the road, after I had acquired more experience. The
+next day I returned to school.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+AN ENCOUNTER WITH TRAIN ROBBERS
+
+
+My first attempt at holding an office had proved such a flat and dismal
+failure that I thought I should never have the heart to apply for
+another. I worked faithfully in the school for about a month, and then
+the fever to try again took hold of me. I knew it would be of no use to
+apply to my former superintendent, Mr. Brink, so I wrote to Mr. R. B.
+Bunnell, Superintendent of Telegraph of the P. Q. & X. Railroad at
+Kansas City, Missouri, saying I was an expert operator and desired a
+position on his road. Mr. Bunnell must have been laboring under a
+hypnotic spell, for by return mail he wrote, enclosing me a pass to
+Alfreda, Kansas, and directing me to assume charge of the night office
+at that point at the magnificent salary of $37.50 per month. This was a
+slight decrease from my former salary, but I didn't care. I wanted a
+chance to redeem myself and I felt confident I could be more successful
+in my second attempt. So I packed my few belongings, bade good-bye to
+the school forever, and away I went.
+
+When I left "MN," I said nothing to any one about my destination, and I
+did not know a thing about Alfreda, except that it was near the border
+line between Kansas and Colorado. The brakeman on the train in talking
+to me told me it was a very pleasant place; but when he said so I
+fancied I could detect a sarcastic ring in his voice, and I was in no
+doubt about it when I arrived and saw what a desolate, dreary place
+Alfreda was. The only things in sight were a water-tank, a pump-house
+and the telegraph office; and I wish you could have seen that office. It
+was simply the bed of a box-car, taken off the trucks and set down with
+one end towards the track. A small platform, two windows, a door, and
+the signal board perched high on a pole completed the outfit.
+
+I arrived at six-thirty in the morning and there wasn't a living soul in
+sight. An hour later, a big broad shouldered Irishman who proved to be
+the pumper, came ambling along on a railroad velocipede. He looked at me
+for a minute, and after I had made myself known he grinned and said,
+"Well, I hopes as how ye will loike the place. Burke, the man who was
+here afore ye, got scared off by thramps, and I reckon he's not stopped
+runnin' yit." Fine introduction wasn't it?
+
+I found there was no day operator and the only house around was the
+section house, two miles up the track. The operator and pumper boarded
+there with the section boss; but the railroad company was magnanimous
+enough to furnish a velocipede for their use in going to and from the
+station. How I felt the first night, stuck away out there in that
+box-car, two miles from the nearest house and twelve miles from the
+nearest town, I must leave to the imagination. My heart sank and I had
+many misgivings, in fact, I was scared to death, but I set my teeth hard
+and determined to do my best, with the hope that I might be promoted to
+a better office. I did win that promotion but I wouldn't go through my
+experiences again for the whole road.
+
+One night after I had been working there about a month, I went to my
+office as usual at seven o'clock. It was a black night threatening a big
+storm. The pumper had not gone home as yet and he remarked, that it was
+"goin' to be a woild night," but he hoped "the whistlin' av the wind
+would be after kaping me company," and with that he jumped on the
+velocipede, and off he went.
+
+I didn't much relish the idea of the storm, for I knew the reputation of
+Kansas as a cyclone state, and my box-car office was not well adapted to
+stand a hurricane. However, I went inside, and after lighting my lamps,
+sat down and wrote letters and read, when I was not taking train orders.
+This office was kept up solely because it was a convenient place to
+deliver orders to freight trains at night when they stopped for water.
+
+About twelve-thirty in the morning my door opened suddenly, and a man
+stepped quickly in. I was startled because this was almost the only man
+except the pumper and the train crews that had been there since I came.
+Once in a while a stray tramp had gone through, but this man was not a
+tramp. He wore a long overcoat, buttoned to his chin, with the collar
+turned up. A slouch hat pulled well down over his eyes so far concealed
+his face that his features were scarcely visible. He came over to my
+desk and gruffly asked, "What time is there a passenger train east
+to-night?"
+
+I answered that one went through at half past one, the Overland Flyer,
+but it did not stop at Alfreda. Quick as a flash he pulled a revolver
+and poking it in my face, said, "Young man, you turn your red-light and
+stop that train or I'll make a vacancy in this office mighty d----d
+quick."
+
+[Illustration: "Two of the men tied my hands in front of me."]
+
+The longer I gazed down the barrel of that revolver the bigger it grew,
+and it looked to me as if it was loaded with buck-shot to the muzzle.
+When it had grown to about the size of a gatling gun (and it didn't take
+long to do it), I concluded that "discretion was the better part of
+valor," and reached up and turned my red-light. Meanwhile the door
+opened again, and three more men came in. They were masked and the
+minute I saw them I knew they were going to make an attempt to hold up
+the Overland Flyer. Often this train carried large amounts of bullion
+and currency east, and I supposed they had heard that there was a
+shipment to go through that night.
+
+I was standing with my back to the table, and just then I heard the
+despatcher say that the Flyer was thirty minutes late from the west. I
+put my hands quietly behind me and let the right rest on the key. I then
+carefully opened the key and had just begun to speak to the despatcher
+when one of the men suspected me and said to the leader, "Bill, watch
+that little cuss. He's monkeying with the instrument and may give them
+warning."
+
+I stopped, closed the key, and was trying to look unconcerned, when
+"Bill," said that "to stop all chances of further trouble," they would
+bind and gag me. Thereupon two of the men tied my hands in front of me,
+bound my legs securely, and thrust a villainously dirty gag in my mouth.
+When this was done, "Bill" said, "Throw him across those blamed
+instruments so they will keep quiet." They flung me upon the table,
+face downwards, so that the relay was just under my stomach, and of
+course my weight against the armature of the relay stopped the clicking
+of the sounder. As luck would have it, my left hand was in such a
+position that it just touched the key, and I found I could move the hand
+slightly. So I opened the key and pretended to be struggling quite a
+little. The leader came over and giving me a good stiff punch in the
+ribs, said with an oath, "You keep quiet or we'll find a way to make
+you." I became passive again, and then when the men were engaged in
+earnest conversation, I began to telegraph softly to the despatcher. The
+relay being shut off by my weight, there was no noise from the sounder,
+and I sent so slowly that the key was noiseless. Of course I did not
+know on whom I was breaking in, but I kept on. I told the exact state of
+affairs, and asked him to either tell the Flyer not to heed my red-light
+and go through, or, better still, to send an armed posse from Kingsbury,
+twelve miles up the road. I repeated the message twice, so that he would
+be sure to hear it, and then trusted to luck.
+
+The cords and gags were beginning to hurt, and my anxiety was very
+great. The minutes dragged slowly by, and I thought that hour would
+never end; but it did end at last, and all of a sudden I heard the long
+calliope whistle of the engine on the Flyer as she came down the grade.
+This was followed by two short blasts, that showed she had seen my
+red-light and was going to stop. "My God!" I thought. "Has she been
+warned?" So soon as the train whistled the men went out leaving me
+helpless on the table. I heard the whistle of the air brakes and knew
+the train must be slowing up. My anxiety was intense. Presently I heard
+her stop at the tank, and then, in about a second, I listened to the
+liveliest fusillade that I had ever heard in my life. It was sweet music
+to my ears I can tell you, for it indicated to me, what proved to be a
+fact, that a posse were on board and that the robbers were foiled. One
+of them was shot, and two were captured, but "Bill," the leader,
+escaped. They had their horses hitched to the telegraph poles, and as
+"Bill" went running by the office I heard him say, "I'll fix that d--d
+operator, anyhow." Then, BANG! crash, went the glass in the window, and
+a bullet buried itself in the table, not two inches from my head. I was
+not exactly killed, but I was frightened so badly, and the strain had
+been so great, that when the trainmen came in to release me, I at once
+lost consciousness. When I came to, I was surrounded by a sympathetic
+crowd of passengers and trainmen, and a doctor, who happened to be on
+the train, was pouring something down my throat that soon made me feel
+better.
+
+As soon as I had recovered myself sufficiently, I telegraphed the
+despatcher what had happened, and the chief, who in the meantime had
+been sent for, told me to close up my office, and come east on the
+flyer, to report for duty in the morning in his office as copy operator.
+
+That is how I won my promotion.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+IN A WRECK
+
+
+The change from Alfreda to the chief despatcher's office in Nicholson
+was, indeed, a pleasant one. The despatchers, especially the first trick
+man, seemed somewhat dubious as to my ability to do the work, but I was
+rapidly improving in telegraphy, and, in spite of my extreme youth I was
+allowed to remain. But the life of a railroad man is very uncertain, and
+one day we were much surprised to hear that the road had gone into the
+hands of receivers. There were charges of mismanagement made against a
+number of the higher officials of the road, and one of the first things
+the receivers did was to have a general "house-cleaning." The general
+manager, the general superintendent, and a number of the division
+superintendents resigned to save dismissal, and my friend the chief
+despatcher went with them. He was succeeded by Ted Donahue, the man who
+had been working the first trick. Ted didn't like me worth a cent, and,
+rather than give him an opportunity to dismiss me, I quit.
+
+I was at home idle for a few weeks, and then hearing that there might be
+an opening for operators on the C. Q. & R., a new road building up in
+Nebraska, I once more started out. It was an all night ride to the
+division headquarters, and thinking I might as well be luxurious for
+once, I took a sleeper. My berth was in the front end of the last car on
+the train. I retired about half past ten and soon dropped off into a
+sound sleep. I had been asleep for perhaps two hours, when I was
+awakened by the car giving a violent lurch, and then suddenly stopping.
+I was stunned and dazed for a moment, but I soon heard the cracking and
+breaking of timbers, and the hissing of steam painfully near to my
+section. I tried to move and rise up, but found that the confines of my
+narrow quarters would not permit it. I then realized that we were
+wrecked and that I was in a bad predicament. I felt that I had no bones
+broken, and my only fear was that the wreck would take fire. My fears
+were not groundless for I soon smelled smoke. I cried out as loudly as I
+could, but my berth had evidently become a "sound proof booth." Then I
+felt that my time had come, and had about given up all hope, and was
+trying to say a prayer, when I heard the train-crew and passengers
+working above me. Again I cried out and this time was heard, and soon
+was taken out. God! what a night it was--raining a perfect deluge and
+the wind blowing a hurricane.
+
+I learned that our train had stopped on account of a hot driving-box on
+the engine; the hind brakeman had been sent back to put out a flag, but,
+imagining there was nothing coming, he had neglected to do his full
+duty, and before he knew it, a fast freight came tearing around the
+bend, and a tail-end collision was the result. Seeing the awful effects
+of his gross neglect, the brakeman took out across the country and was
+never heard of again. I fancy if he could have been found that night by
+the passengers and train-crew his lot would have been anything but
+pleasant. Two people in the sleeper were killed outright, and three were
+injured, while the engineer and fireman of the freight were badly hurt
+by jumping. I didn't get a scratch.
+
+As I stood watching the wrecked cars burn, I heard the conductor say,
+"he wished to God he had an operator with him." I told him I was an
+operator and offered my services. He said there was a pocket instrument
+in the baggage car, and asked me if I would cut in on the wire and tell
+the despatcher of the wreck. I assented and went forward with him to the
+baggage car, where he gave me a pair of pliers, a pocket instrument and
+about eight feet of office wire. I asked for a pair of climbers and some
+more office wire, but neither was to be had. Here, therefore, was a
+pretty knotty problem. The telegraph poles were thirty feet high; how
+was I to make a connection with only eight feet of wire and no climbers?
+I thought for a while, and then I put the instrument in my pocket, and
+undertook to "shin up" the pole as I used to do when I was a schoolboy.
+After many efforts, in which I succeeded in tearing nearly all the
+clothes off of me, I finally reached the lowest cross-arm, and seated
+myself on it with my legs wrapped around the pole. There was only one
+wire on this arm, so I had, comparatively speaking, plenty of room. On
+each of the other two cross arms there were four wires, and there was
+also one strung along the tops of the poles. This made ten wires in all,
+and I had not the least idea which one was the despatcher's wire. The
+pole being wet from the rain, made the wires mighty hot to handle. I had
+the fireman hand me up a piece of old iron wire he happened to have on
+the engine, and with this I made a flying cut in the third wire of the
+second cross arm. I attached the little pocket instrument, and found
+that upon adjusting it, I was on a commercial wire. There I was,
+straddling a cross arm between heaven and earth, with the instrument
+held on my knee, and totally ignorant of any of the calls or the wire I
+was on. I yelled down to the conductor and asked him if he knew any of
+the calls. No; of course he didn't; and he was so excited he didn't have
+sense enough to look on his time-card, where the calls are always
+printed. Finally, after carefully adjusting the instrument, I opened my
+key, broke in on somebody, and said "Wreck." The answer came, "Sine." I
+said, "I haven't any sine. No. 2 on the C. K. & Q. has been wrecked out
+here, and I want the despatcher's office. Can you tell me if he is on
+this wire?"
+
+Now there is a vast deal of difference between sending with a Bunnell
+key on a polished table, and sending with a pocket instrument held on
+your knee, especially when you are perched on a thirty foot pole, with
+the rain pouring down in torrents, the wind blowing almost a gale, and
+expecting every minute to be blown off and have your precious neck
+broken. Consequently my sending was pretty "rocky," and some one came
+back at me with, "Oh! get out you big ham." But I hung to it and
+finally made them understand who I was and what I wanted. The main
+office in Ouray cut me in on the despatcher's wire and I told him of the
+wreck. He said he had suspected that No. 2. was in trouble, but he had
+no idea that it was as bad as I had reported. He said he would order out
+the wrecking outfit and would send doctors with it. Would I please stay
+close and do the telegraphing for them, he would see that I was properly
+rewarded. Then I told him about where I was, but promised to hold on as
+long as I could, but for him to be sure and send out some more wire and
+a pair of climbers on the wrecker. After waiting about an hour the
+wrecker arrived, and with it the doctors; so our anxiety was relieved,
+the wounded taken care of, and a decent wrecking office put in.
+
+The division superintendent came out with them, and for my services he
+offered me the day office at X----, which I accepted.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+A WOMAN OPERATOR WHO SAVED A TRAIN
+
+
+X---- was a pretty good sort of an office to have, barring a beastly
+climate wherein all four seasons would sometimes be ably and fully
+represented in one twenty-four hours. But eighty big round American
+dollars a month was not to be sneezed at--that was a heap of money to a
+young chap--and I hung on. In those days civilization had not advanced
+as far westward as it is to-day, and there was not much local business
+on the road, due to the sparsely settled country. The first office east
+of X---- was Dunraven, some twenty miles away. Between the two places were
+several blind sidings used as passing tracks. Dunraven was a cracking
+good little village and the day operator there was Miss Mary Marsh;
+there was no night office. Now I was just at the age where all a young
+man's susceptibility comes to the surface, and I was a pretty fair
+sample. I weighed one hundred and fifty pounds and every ounce of me was
+as susceptible as a barometer on a stormy day. Consequently it was not
+long until I knew Mary and liked her immensely. All my spare time was
+occupied in talking to her over the wire, except when the cussed
+despatcher would chase me off with, "Oh! get out you big spoon, you make
+every one tired." Then Mary would give me the merry, "Ha, ha, ha."
+
+One time I took a day off and ran down to Dunraven, and my impressions
+were fully confirmed. Mary was a little bit of a woman, with black hair,
+red lips, white teeth, and two eyes that looked like coals of fire, so
+bright were they. She was small, but when she took hold of the key, she
+was jerked lightning, and I have never seen but one woman since who was
+her equal in that line.
+
+Our road was one of the direct connections of the "Overland Route," west
+to San Francisco, and twice a day we had a train, that in those days was
+called a flyer. Now it would be in a class with the first class
+freights. The west bound train passed my station at eight in the
+morning, and the east bound at seven-thirty in the evening. After that I
+gave "DS" good night, and was free until seven the next morning. The
+east bound flyer passed Dunraven at eight-fifteen in the evening and
+then. Mary was through for the night. The town was a mile away from the
+depot and the poor girl had to trudge all that distance alone. But she
+was as plucky as they make them and was never molested. A mile west of
+Dunraven was Peach Creek, spanned by a wooden pile and stringer bridge.
+Ordinarily, you could step across Peach Creek, but sometimes, after a
+heavy rain it would be a raging torrent of dirty muddy water, and it
+seemed as if the underpinning must surely be washed out by the flood.
+
+One day after I had been at X---- a couple of months, we had a stem-winder
+of a storm. The rain came down in torrents unceasingly for twelve hours,
+and the country around X---- was almost a morass. The roadbed was good,
+however, and when the section men came in at six that night they
+reported the track firm and safe. But, my stars! how the rain was
+falling at seven-thirty as the flyer went smashing by. I made my "OS"
+report and then thought I'd sit around and wait until it had passed
+Dunraven and have a little chat with Mary, before going home for the
+night. At seven-forty-five I called her but no answer. Then I waited.
+Eight o'clock, eight-fifteen, eight-twenty, and still nothing from
+Dunraven. The despatcher then started to call "DU," but no answer.
+Finally, he said to me, "You call 'DU.' Maybe the wire is heavy and she
+can't adjust for me." I called steadily for five minutes, but still no
+reply. I was beginning to get scared. All sorts of ideas came into my
+head--robbers, tramps, fire and murder.
+
+"DS" said, "I'm afraid something has happened to the flyer. Turn your
+red-light and when No. 26 comes along, I'll give them an order to cut
+loose with the engine and go through and find the flyer."
+
+Five minutes later the wire opened and closed. Then the current became
+weak, but adjusting down, I heard, "DS, DS, WK." Ah! that meant a wreck.
+"DS" answered and I heard the following message:--
+
+     "W. D. C. "PEACH CREEK, 4 | 13, 18--
+
+     "DS.
+
+     "Peach Creek bridge washed out to-night, but I heard of it and
+     arrived here in time to flag the flyer. Send an operator on the
+     wrecking outfit to relieve me.
+
+     (signed) MARY MARSH, Operator."
+
+Two hours afterwards the wrecker came by X---- and, obedient to orders
+from the despatcher, I boarded it and went down to work the office. We
+reached there in about forty minutes and found that the torrent had
+washed out the underpinning of the bridge, and nothing was left but a
+few ties, the rails and the stringers. A half witted boy, who lived in
+Dunraven, had been fishing that day like "Simple Simon," and came
+tramping up to the office, telling Miss Marsh, in an idiotic way, that
+Peach Creek bridge had washed out. Just then she heard me "OS" the flyer
+and her office was the next one to mine. As the flyer did not stop at
+Dunraven, the baggageman and helper went home at six o'clock and she was
+absolutely alone save for this half witted boy. The section house was a
+mile and a half away to the east. A mile away, to the south were the
+twinkling lights of the village, while but one short mile to the west
+was Peach Creek, with the bridge gone out, and the flyer thundering
+along towards it with its precious load of human freight. How could it
+be warned. The boy hadn't sense enough to pound sand. She must do it.
+So, quick as a flash she picked up the red-light standing near, and
+started down the track. The rain was coming down in a perfect deluge,
+and the wind was sweeping across the Nebraska prairies like a hurricane.
+Lightning was flashing, casting a lurid glare over the soaked earth, and
+the thunder rolled peal after peal, resembling the artillery of great
+guns in a big battle. Truly, it was like the setting for a grand drama.
+Undaunted by it all, this brave little woman, bare headed, hair flying
+in the wind, and soaked to the skin, battled with the elements as she
+fought her way down the track. A mile, ordinarily, is a short distance,
+but now, to her, it seemed almost interminable; and all the time the
+flyer was coming nearer and nearer to the creek with the broken bridge.
+My God! would she make it! Presently, above the howling of the wind she
+heard the mad waters as they went boiling and tumbling down the
+channel.
+
+[Illustration: "After many efforts I finally reached the lowest
+cross-arm."]
+
+At last she was there, standing on the brink. But the train was not yet
+saved. Just across the creek the road made an abrupt curve around a
+small hill, and if she could not reach that curve her labors would be to
+no avail, and a frightful wreck would follow. All the bridge was gone
+save the rails, stringers and a few shaky ties. Only forty feet
+intervened between her and the opposite bank, and get across she must.
+There was only one way, so grasping the lantern between her teeth, she
+started across on her hands and knees. The stringers swayed back and
+forth in the wind, and her frail body, it seemed, would surely be caught
+up and blown into the mad maëlstrom of waters below. No! No! she could
+not fail now. Away up the road, borne to her anxious ears by the howling
+wind, she heard two long and two short blasts of the flyer's whistle as
+she signalled for a crossing. God! would she ever get there. Straining
+every nerve, at last success was hers, and tottering, she struggled up
+the other side. Flying up the track, looking for all the world like some
+eyrie witch, she reached the curve, swinging her red light like mad. Bob
+Burns, who was pulling the flyer that night, saw the signal, and
+immediately applied the emergency brakes. Then he looked again and the
+red-light was gone. But caution is a magic watchword with all railroad
+men, and he stopped. Climbing down out of the cab of the engine, he took
+his torch, and started out to investigate. He didn't have far to go,
+when he came upon the limp, inanimate form of Mary Marsh, the
+extinguished red-light tightly clasped in her cold little hand.
+
+"My God! Mike," he yelled to his fireman, "it's a woman. Why, hang me,
+if it isn't the little lady from Dunraven. Wonder what she is doing out
+here." He wasn't long in ignorance, because a brakeman sent out ahead
+saw that the bridge had gone.
+
+Rough, but kindly hands, bore her tenderly into the sleeper, and under
+the ministrations of her own sex, she soon came around. So soon as she
+had seen the flyer stopping she realized that she had succeeded and
+womanlike--she fainted. Her clothes were torn to tatters, and taken all
+in all this little heroine was a most woebegone specimen of humanity.
+
+A wrecking office was cut in by the baggageman, who happened to be an
+old lineman, and she sent the message to "DS," telling him of the wreck.
+I relieved her and she stayed in the sleeper all night, and the next day
+she returned to her work at Dunraven, but little worse for the
+experience. She had positively refused to accept a thing from the
+thankful passengers, saying she did but her duty.
+
+Two months afterwards she married the chief despatcher, and the
+profession lost the best woman operator in the business. I was
+dreadfully cut by the ending of affairs, but she had said, "Red headed
+operators were not in her class," and I reckon she was about right.
+
+Surely, she was a direct descendant from the Spartan mothers.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+A NIGHT OFFICE IN TEXAS--A STUTTERING DESPATCHER
+
+
+It was not long after Mary threw me over that I became tired of X---- and
+gave up my job and started south. I said it was on account of ill
+health, but the last thing that cussed first trick despatcher said to me
+was, "Never mind, you old spoon, you'll get over this attack in a very
+short while."
+
+I landed in St. Louis one bright morning and went up to the office of
+the chief despatcher of the Q. M. & S., and applied for an office on his
+division. He had none to give me but wired the chief despatcher at Big
+Rock, and in answer thereto I was sent the next morning to Healyville.
+And what a place I found! The town was down in the swamps of southeast
+Missouri, four miles north of the Arkansas line, and consisted of the
+depot and twenty or twenty-five houses, five of which were saloons.
+There was a branch road running from here to Honiton, quite a settlement
+on the Mississippi river, and that was the only possible excuse for an
+officer at this point. The atmosphere was so full of malaria, that you
+could almost cut it with an axe. I stayed there just three days, and
+then, fortunately, the chief despatcher ordered me to come to his
+office. He wanted me to take the office at Boling Cross, near the Texas
+line, but I had the traveling fever and wanted to go further south, and
+he sent me down on the I. & G. N., and the chief there sent me to
+Herron, Texas. There wasn't much sickness in the air around Herron, but
+there were just a million fleas to every square inch of sand in the
+place. Herron was one of the few towns in a very extensive cattle belt,
+and a few days after I had arrived I noticed the town had filled up with
+"cow punchers." They had just had their semi-annual round up, and were
+in town spending their money and having a whooping big time. You
+probably know what that means to a cow-boy. I was a tenderfoot of the
+worst kind, and every one at the boarding-house and depot seemed to take
+particular delight in telling me of the shooting scrapes and rackets of
+these cow-boys, and how they delighted in making it warm for a
+tenderfoot. Bob Wolfe, the day man at the depot, told me how at times
+they had come up and raised particular Cain at the station, especially
+when there was a new operator on hand. I didn't half believe all their
+stories, but I will confess that I had a few misgivings the first night
+when I went to work. One night passed safely enough, but the second was
+a hummer from the word go. The office was somewhat larger than the
+telegraph offices usually are in small towns. The table was in the
+recess of a big bay window, giving me a clear view of the I. & G. N.
+tracks, while along the front ran the usual long wide platform. The P. &
+T. C. road crossed at right angles at one end of the platform, and one
+operator did the work for the two roads. There were two lamps over my
+desk--one on each side of the bay window--and one was out in the
+waiting-room. I also kept a lantern lighted to carry when I went out to
+trains.
+
+All through the early part of the night, I heard sounds of revelry and
+carousing, accompanied by an occasional pistol shot, up in the town, but
+about half past eleven these sounds ceased, and I was congratulating
+myself that my night, would after all, be uneventful. About twelve
+o'clock, however, there arose just outside the office the greatest
+commotion I had ever heard in my life. I was eating my midnight lunch,
+and had a piece of pie in my hand, when I heard the tramp of many feet
+on the platform. It sounded like a regiment of infantry, and in a
+minute there came the report of a shot, and with a crash out went one of
+my lights, a shower of glass falling on the table. Before I could
+collect myself there came another shot and smash out went the other
+light. I dropped my pie and spasmodically grasped the table. The only
+lights left were the one in the waiting-room and my lantern, which made
+it in the office little better than total darkness. All the time the
+tramp, tramp on the platform was coming closer and closer, and my heart
+was gradually forcing its way up in my mouth. In a moment the
+waiting-room door was thrown open, and with a wild whoop and a big
+hurrah, the crowd came in. The door between the office and the
+waiting-room was closed, but that made no difference to my visitors;
+they smashed it open and swarmed into the office. One of them picked up
+the lantern, and swaggering over to where I sat all trembling with fear,
+and expecting that _my_ lights would go out next, raised it to my face.
+They all crowded around me and one of them gave me a good punch in the
+ribs. Then the one with the lantern said, "Well, fellows, the little
+cuss is game. He didn't get under the table like the last one did. Kid,
+for a tenderfoot, you're a hummer."
+
+Get under the table! I couldn't. I would have given half my interest in
+the hereafter to have been able to crawl under the table or to have run
+away. But fright held its sway, and locomotion was impossible.
+
+For about five minutes the despatcher had been calling me for orders,
+and in a trembling voice I asked them to let me answer and take the
+order. "Cert," said one of them, who appeared to be the leader, "go on
+and take the order, and then take a drink with us."
+
+By the dim light of only that lantern, with my order pad on a table
+covered with broken glass, and smattered with pie, I finally copied the
+order, but it was about the worst attempt I had ever made; and the
+conductor remarked when he signed it, that it would take a Philadelphia
+lawyer to read it. The cow-punchers, however, from that time on were
+very good friends of mine, and many a pleasant Sunday did I spend on
+their ranches. They afterwards told me that Bob Wolfe had put them up to
+their midnight visit in order to frighten me. They certainly succeeded.
+My service at Herron was not very profitable, the road being in the
+hands of receivers, and for four months none of us received a cent of
+wages. The road was called the "International & Great Northern," but we
+facetiously dubbed it the "Independent & Got Nothing."
+
+Some months after this I was transferred down to the southern division,
+and made night operator at Mankato. This was really about the best
+position I had yet struck: good hours, plenty of work and a fine office
+to do it in, and eighty dollars a month. The agent and day man were both
+fine fellows, and there was no chore work around the station--a baggage
+smasher did that. The despatchers up in "DS" office were pleasant to
+work with and as competent a lot of men as ever touched a key. I had
+never met any of them when I first took the office, though of course I
+soon knew their names, and the following incident will disclose how and
+under what unusual circumstances I formed the acquaintance of one of
+them, Fred De Armand, the second trick man.
+
+About four weeks after I took the Mankato office, engine 333, pulling a
+through livestock freight north, broke a parallel rod, and besides
+cutting the engineer into mince-meat, caused a great wreck. This took
+place about two miles and a half north of Mankato. The hind man came
+back and reported it, and being off duty, I caught up a pocket
+instrument and some wire, and jumping on a velocipede, was soon at the
+wreck. I cut in an office in short order, and "DS" soon knew exactly
+how matters stood. One passenger train south was tied up just beyond the
+wreck, and in about an hour and a half the wrecker appeared in charge of
+the trainmaster. I observed a young man twenty-eight or thirty years of
+age standing around looking on, and once when I was near him I noticed
+that he stammered very badly.
+
+I carefully avoided saying anything to that young man, because, I, too,
+at times, had a rather bad impediment in my speech. It asserted itself
+especially when I heard any one else stutter, or when the weather was
+going to change; the men who knew me well said they could always
+foretell a storm by my inability to talk. From my own experience,
+however, I knew that when a stammerer heard another man stammer, he
+imagined that he was being made fun of, and all the fight in him came at
+once to the surface; and as this young man was about twice my size, I
+did my best to keep away from him. But in a few moments he came over to
+where I was and said to me, "A-a-a-sk 'DS' t-t-t-t-o s-s-s-end out
+m-m-m-y r-r-ain c-c-c-c-oat on th-th-th-irteen." Every other word was
+followed by a whistle.
+
+My great help in stammering was to kick with my right foot. I knew what
+was coming, and tried my best to avert the trouble. I drew in a long
+breath and said: "Who sh-sh-sh-all I s-s-s-ay y-y-y-ou are?" and my
+right foot was doing great execution. True to its barometrical
+functions, my throat was predicting a storm. It came.
+
+He looked at me for a second, grew red in the face, then catching me by
+the collar, gave me a yank, that made me see forty stars, and said,
+"B-b-b-last you! wh-wh-at d-d-o y-y-ou m-mean b-b-y m-mocking me? I'll
+sm-sm-ash y-y-our b-b-b-lamed r-r-ed head.'"
+
+Speech left me entirely then, and I am afraid I would have been most
+beautifully thumped, had not Sanders, the trainmaster, come over and
+stopped him. He called him "De Armand," and I then knew he was the
+second trick despatcher. After many efforts De Armand told Sanders how I
+had mocked him. Sanders didn't know me and the war clouds began to
+gather again; but Johnson, the conductor of the wrecker, came over and
+said, "Hold on there, De Armand, that kid ain't mocking you; he stammers
+so bad at times that he kicks a hole in the floor. Why, I have seen him
+start to say something to my engineer pulling out of Mankato, and he
+would finish it just as the caboose went by, and we had some forty cars
+in the train at that."
+
+At this a smile broke over De Armand's face, and he grasped my hand and
+said, "Excuse m-m-m-e k-k-id; but y-y-you k-k-know how it is
+y-y-yourself." You may well believe that I did know.
+
+One night, shortly after this, I was repeating an order to De Armand,
+and in the middle of it I broke myself very badly. He opened his key,
+and said, "Kick, you devil, kick!" And I got the merry ha-ha from up and
+down the line. But in giving me a message a little while after he flew
+the track, and I instantly opened up and said, "Whistle, you tarrier,
+whistle!" Maybe he didn't get it back.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+BLUE FIELD, ARIZONA, AND AN INDIAN SCRIMMAGE
+
+
+The desire to travel was strong within me, and in the following June I
+left Mankato, went out to Arizona and secured a position on the A. & P.,
+at Blue Field, a small town almost in the centre of the desert. Alfreda,
+Kansas, was dreary and desolate enough, but there, I was at least in
+communication with civilization, because I had one wire running to
+Kansas City, while Blue Field was the crowning glory of utter
+desolation. The Bible says that the good Lord made heaven and earth in
+six days, and rested on the seventh. It needed but a single glance at
+Blue Field to thoroughly convince me that the Lord quit work at the end
+of the sixth day right there, and had never taken it up since. There was
+nothing but some scattering adobe shacks, with the usual complement of
+saloons, and as far almost as the eye could see in every
+direction,--sand--hot, glaring, burning sand. To the far northwards,
+could be dimly observed the outlines of the Mogollon range of
+mountains. The population consisted chiefly of about four hundred
+dare-devil spirits who had started to wander westwards in search of the
+El Dorado and had finally settled there, too tired, too disgusted to go
+any farther, and lacking money enough to return to their homes. It
+wasn't the most congenial crowd in the world. There was only one good
+thing in the place, and that was a deep well of pure sparkling water.
+The sun during the day was so scorching that the rails seemed to sizzle
+as they stretched out like two slender, interminable bands of silver
+over the hot sands, and at night no relief was apparent, and the office
+so stifling hot that my existence was well nigh unbearable. But the pay
+was ninety dollars per month and I hung on until I could save funds
+enough to get back to God's own country. To sleep in a house, in the day
+time, was almost killing, so I used to make up a sort of bunk on a truck
+and sleep in the shade of the freight shed. At seven-forty-three in the
+evening, the Trans-Continental flyer went smashing by at a fifty-five
+mile an hour clip and the dust it raised was enough to strangle a man.
+
+The Arizona climate is a well known specific for pulmonary troubles, and
+thousands of people come down there in all stages of consumption from
+the first premonitory cough to the living emaciated skeleton.
+
+The first station west of me was Clear Creek (so called on account of a
+good sized stream of water that came down from the Mogollons), and a few
+days after I arrived at Blue Field, I heard a message going over the
+wires saying that Fred Baird was coming down there to take charge. I had
+known him up in Kansas, and his looks and a hacking cough indicated only
+too truly, that the dreaded consumption had fastened itself on him;
+therefore when I heard of his assignment to Clear Creek, I knew it was
+his health that brought him down to that awful country. He had a wife
+(and a sweet little woman she was), and two beautiful children, aged two
+and four. A few evenings after this I had the pleasure of talking to
+them for several minutes as they went through on a slow passenger train,
+and I must say that my heart ached when I thought of the town to which
+that family was going. What a place to bring a woman? But then women
+have a faculty of hanging on to their liege lords under all
+circumstances and conditions. God bless 'em. Baird, himself, looked
+wretched, being a mere shadow of his former self, but like all
+consumptives he imagined he was going to get well.
+
+Just about this time, two Indian gentlemen, named Geronimo and Victoria,
+were raising particular mischief all through that section of the
+country, and the feeling that any moment they might come down on you and
+raise your scalp after puncturing you full of holes was anything but
+pleasant. It was decidedly creepy and many a time I wished myself back
+in the good old state of Texas. I had come for excitement and adventure
+and it was not long until I had both articles doled out to me in large
+chunks. Those Indians used to break out from their reservations, swoop
+down on some settlement, kill everything in sight and then loot and burn
+to their heart's content. There was no warning--just a few shots, then a
+shrill war-whoop, and a perfect horde of yelling and shooting red devils
+would be upon you. Precautions were taken and some of the larger
+settlements were able to stand them off until some of the small army
+could come and scatter them. Blue Field had pickets posted every night,
+chosen from among the four hundred toughs that lived there, and was
+pretty well protected.
+
+They gave us a wide berth for a while, but one night, I was sitting
+dozing in my chair about eleven-thirty, when I was awakened by the
+sharp crack of a rifle, followed in quick succession by others, until it
+was a regular fusillade. Then I heard the short shrill Apache war-whoop,
+and mentally I thought my time had come. I tried to breathe a prayer,
+but the high and unusual position of my heart effectually prevented any
+articulation. The window had been closed on account of a high wind
+blowing, or I fancy I should have gone out that way. However, I grabbed
+up a rifle, and then opening a trap door, dropped down into a little
+cubbyhole under the floor, where we used to keep our batteries. What I
+brought the rifle along for I can't say, unless it was to blow the top
+of my own head off. The place was like a bake-oven and all the air I
+received came through a small crack in the floor, and it was not long
+until I was soaked with perspiration.
+
+[Illustration: "One of them picked up the lantern, and swaggering over
+to where I sat all trembling...."]
+
+Overhead I could hear the crack of the rifles and the whoop of the
+Indians as the battle raged, back and forth. During a temporary lull I
+heard the despatcher calling me for dear life, but he could call for all
+I cared; I had other business just then--I was truly "25." All at once I
+heard a bigger commotion than ever, there was a sound as if caused by
+the scurrying of many feet, and then all was quiet. I sat there
+wondering what was coming next, and how much longer I had to live, when
+I smelled smoke, and in a second I knew the depot was on fire. I tried
+to raise the trap-door, but it had a snap lock and had been dropped so
+hard in my mad efforts to get away, that it was securely locked. Good
+God! was I to be burned like a rat in a trap? All was quiet save the
+crackling of the flames as they licked up the depot. Something must be
+done and quickly at that, or there would be one operator who would
+receive his congé in a manner that was anything but pleasant.
+Feverishly, I groped around, and all at once my hand came in contact
+with the Winchester rifle. I grasped it by the barrel, and using it as a
+battering ram I started to smash that door. The smoke by this time was
+stifling, suffocating, and already my senses were leaving
+me,--everything was swimming around before my eyes, but it was a case of
+life and death, and I hammered away with all my might. Finally, Crash!
+Ah! I had succeeded, the lock broke and in a moment I had pulled myself
+up in the office.
+
+The side towards the door was all ablaze and escape that way was
+impossible, so I picked up a chair and slammed it through the window
+over the table, and climbed out taking a loose set of instruments with
+me. The wires were still working, and above the crackle of the flames I
+heard "DS" still calling me. I reached in through the window and simply
+said,
+
+"Indians--depot on fire--have saved a set of instruments--will call you
+later when I can fix a wire," and signed my name, "Bates."
+
+My lungs were filled with smoke and felt like they had a million sharp
+needles sticking in them, but thanks to my lucky stars, I was not
+otherwise hurt. Everything appeared so quiet and still that I was dazed,
+but presently I heard a low mumbling of voices out to the westwards. I
+made my way thither and found the population (all that was left of it),
+assembled. When I staggered up to a group of the men, they turned on me
+like tigers, not knowing what kind of an animal I was. I recognized one
+of them who was commonly known as "Full-House Charley," and weakly said,
+
+"Don't shoot, Charley, it's Bates the night operator at the depot."
+
+"Well! where the devil have you been all the time? When the depot was
+burning some of us went over there, but you'd gone some place. We
+couldn't save anything so we let 'er burn. Your side partner, the day
+man, was killed and scalped."
+
+It appeared that just as the fight was the hottest, three troops of
+the --th U. S. Colored Cavalry, appeared on the scene, having been on
+the trail of this same band all day. They made short work of the red men
+who melted away to the fastnesses of the Mogollons, first setting fire
+to the depot, the troops in close pursuit. If there ever were faithful
+hard working fighters in that country, it was these same dusky
+brunettes.
+
+I told the gang where I had been, and in a few minutes several of them
+went over to the station to help me rig up a wire. I knew the
+despatcher's wire, and taking a pole's length out of another line, I
+soon made a connection to the instrument I had saved. It was no go--the
+wire was dead open. Then I rigged up a ground by running a wire to a
+pipe that ran down the well, and in testing I found the wire was open
+west. I called up "DS," who was east of-me, and told him what a nice hot
+old time we had been having out there.
+
+"Yes," he said, "I knew there was trouble. Just after you told me about
+the Indians and fire, Clear Creek said their place was attacked by
+another band and things were getting pretty hot with them. Then the wire
+went open, caused as I supposed by your fire, but now it seems as if
+Baird is probably up against it as well. A train load of troops will
+come through in a short while to try and get beyond the Indians and cut
+them off. If you are able, I wish you would flag them and go over to
+Clear Creek and report from there. Disconnect and take your instrument
+and leave the line cut through. A line man will be sent out from here in
+the morning. Everything is tied up on the road, and you can tell the C.
+& E. there's nothing ahead of them, but to run carefully, keeping a
+sharp lookout for torn up track and burned trestles."
+
+My experiences had been so exciting and the smoke in my lungs so
+painful, that I was ready to drop from fatigue; but then I thought of
+poor Fred Baird and his family, and I said I'd go. The troop train came
+in presently and I boarded her. It did my heart good to ride on that
+engine with "Daddy" Blake at the throttle, and think that four hundred
+big husky American regulars were trailing along behind, waiting for
+something to turn up and just aching for a crack at the red men.
+
+It was now about three o'clock, and just as the first rays of early dawn
+illumined the horizon, we came in sight of Clear Creek. There was a dull
+red glow against the sky, that told only too well what we should find.
+The place had not been as well protected as Blue Field, and the
+slaughter was something fearful. The depot was nothing but a smoldering
+mass of ruins, and but a short distance away we came upon the bodies of
+Baird, his wife and two children, shot to pieces, stripped, horribly
+mutilated and scalped. It was sickening, and shortly after, when the
+troop train pulled out for Chiquito, the sense of loneliness was
+oppressing. A few people had escaped by hiding in obscure places and
+when they came out they went to work and buried the dead. I finally
+succeeded in getting a wire through and then, despite the heat, I slept.
+
+The next day the troops corralled the Indians, gave them a good licking
+and sent them back to their old reservations. And yet in face of just
+such incidents as these, there are people who say that poor Lo can be
+civilized.
+
+A construction gang came out and started to re-build, and the company
+offered me a good day office if I would remain, but Nay! Nay! I had had
+all I wanted of Arizona, and I went back to Texas, thankful that I had a
+whole skin and a full shock of red hair.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+TAKING A WHIRL AT COMMERCIAL WORK--MY FIRST ATTEMPT--THE GALVESTON FIRE
+
+
+The memory of my exciting experience in Arizona lasted me a good long
+time, and I finally determined to leave the railroad service and try my
+hand at commercial work. The two classes are the same, and yet they are
+entirely different.
+
+It is a most interesting sight, to the uninitiated, to go into the
+operating room of a big commercial office and see the swarms of men and
+women bending over glass partitioned tables; nimble footed check boys
+running hither and thither like so many flies, carrying to each wire the
+proper messages, while the volume of sound that greets your ears is
+positively deafening. Every once in a while some operator will raise his
+head and yell "Pink," "C. N. D." or "Wire." "Pink" means a message that
+is to be rushed; "C. N. D." is a market quotation that is to be hurried
+over to the Bucket Shops or Stock Exchange, while "Wire," means a
+message that pertains to some wire that is in trouble and such messages
+must have precedence over all others. The check boys are trained to
+know the destination of each and every wire and work under the direction
+of the traffic chief.
+
+Far over on one side of a room is the switch board. To the untutored
+mind it looks like numberless long parallel strips of brass tacked on
+the side of the wall, and each strip perforated by a number of small
+holes, while stuck around, in what seems endless profusion, are many
+gutta-percha-topped brass pegs. Yet through all this seeming mass of
+confusion, everything is in apple pie order, and each one of those
+strips represents a wire and every plug a connection to some set of
+instruments. The wire chief and his assistants are in full charge of
+this work, and it must needs be a man of great ability to successfully
+fill such a place in a large office.
+
+The chief operator has entire supervision over the whole office, and his
+duties are hard, constant, and arduous. Like competent train
+despatchers, men able to be first-class chief operators are few and far
+between. Not only must he be an expert telegrapher, but he must
+thoroughly understand line, battery and switch board work, and his
+executive ability must be of the highest order.
+
+I had always supposed if a man were a first-class railroad operator he
+could do equally good work on a commercial wire; in fact the operator
+in a small town is always employed by the railroad company and does the
+little amount of commercial work in addition to his other duties.
+
+After leaving Blue Field I loafed a while, but that's tiresome work at
+best, so I journeyed down to Galveston, Texas, one bright fall morning,
+and after trying my luck at the railroad offices, I wandered into the
+commercial office on the Strand and asked George Clarke, the chief
+operator, for a job.
+
+"What kind of a man are you?" he said.
+
+"First-class in every respect, sir," I replied.
+
+"Sit down there on the polar side of that Houston quad and if you are
+any account, I'll give you a job at seventy dollars per month."
+
+Now a "Quad" is an instrument whereby four messages are going over the
+_same_ wire at the _same_ time. The mechanism of the machine is
+different in every respect from the old relay, key and sounder, used on
+the railroad wires. In a vague way I had heard of "quads," and imagined
+I could work them as well as an "O. S." wire, but when he said for me to
+sit down on the "Polar side," I was, for a minute, stumped. However,
+there were already three chaps sitting at that table, so the fourth
+place must be mine. I sat down and presently I heard the sounder say,
+"Who?" I answered "BY," and then "HO," said, "Hr. City," I grabbed a pen
+and made ready to copy, but by the time he had finished the address I
+was just putting down the number and check. "Break" I said, "G. A.
+from," B-r-r-r-r- how that sounder did jump. This interesting operation
+was repeated several times, but finally I succeeded in getting the
+message down, and then without giving me time to draw my breath, he
+said, "C. N. D." and started ahead with a jargon of figures and words
+that I had never heard of before. His sending was plain enough, in fact
+it was like a circus bill, but I wasn't on to the combination, and it
+was all Greek to me. Perspiration started from every pore, and in my
+agony I said, "Break, G. A. Ahr.," Holy Smoke! how he did fly off at
+that, and how those other three chaps did grin at my discomfiture.
+
+"Call your chief operator over here," and with that he refused to work
+with me any more. Clarke came over and that blasted chump at "HO" said,
+
+"For heaven's sake give us an operator to do the receiving on the polar'
+side of this quad. We are piled up with business and can't be delayed by
+teaching the ropes to a railroad ham. He's been ten minutes taking one
+message, and I haven't been able to pound into his head what a 'C. N.
+D,' is yet."
+
+Clarke quietly gave him "O. K." and then turned to me with,
+
+"I guess you are not used to this kind of work. Better go back to
+railroading, and learn something about commercial work before tackling a
+job like this again. Come back in six months and I'll give you another
+trial." I sneaked out of the office, followed by the broad smiles of
+every man in the place, and thus ended the first lesson.
+
+I took Clarke's advice and went back to work on a narrow-gauge road
+running northwards out of Houston, through the most God-forsaken country
+on the footstool. Sluggish bayous, foul rank growth of vegetation,
+alligators as long as a rail, that would come out and stop trains by
+being on the track, and air so malarious in quality that it was only a
+question of time until one had the fever. I stuck it out for two months
+and then succumbed to the inevitable and went to the hospital where I
+lay for three weeks. After I had fully recovered they put me to work in
+the Houston General Office, and some eight months after reaching there I
+received a message from my old friend Clarke, saying, "if I had improved
+any in my commercial work he would give me a job at seventy dollars per
+month." I hadn't improved much, but as this world is two-thirds bluff, I
+made mine, and said I'd come, trusting to luck to be able to hold on.
+
+I reached there one pleasant afternoon and the next morning went to
+work. I must have had my rabbit's foot with me, because I was assigned
+to a "Way Wire." I think if he had told me to tackle a "Quad," again, I
+should have fainted. A "Way Wire," is one that runs along a railroad,
+having offices cut in in all the small towns. There wasn't a town on the
+whole string that had more than ten or fifteen messages a day, but the
+aggregate of all the offices made up a very good day's work. Then again
+I didn't have to handle any of those confounded "C. N. D." messages.
+Clarke watched me closely and at the end of the first day he said my
+work showed a marked improvement. You may rest assured I watched my P's
+and Q's, and it wasn't long before I had the hang of the system and
+could take my trick on a "Quad" with the best of them. Rheostats,
+wheatstone bridges, polarized relays, pole changers, and ground switches
+became as familiar to me as the old relay key and sounder had been.
+
+Some of the rarest gems of the profession worked in "G" office at this
+time--George Clarke, "Cy" Clamphitt, "Jack" Graham, Will Church,
+John McNeill, Paul Finnegan alias the "Count," and a score or more of
+men, as good as ever touched a key or balanced a quad. A day's work was
+from eight A. M., until five P. M., and for all over time we were paid
+extra at the rate of forty cents per hour. This extra work was called
+"Scooping."
+
+One day in December, Clarke asked me if I wanted to "scoop" that night.
+I acquiesced and after eating a hasty supper I went back to the office
+and prepared for a long siege. I was put to sending press reports, which
+is just about as hard work as a man can do. I sent "30" (the end) at two
+o'clock in the morning, and went home worn to a frazzle. I was boarding
+on Avenue M. with ten other operators, in a house kept by a Mrs.
+Swanson, and roomed with her little son Jimmie, who was a hopeless
+cripple. I undressed, and after shoving little Jim over to his own side
+of the bed, tumbled in and was soon sleeping like a log. It seemed as if
+I had just closed my eyes when I felt some one pulling my hair. I
+knocked the hand away and prepared to take another snooze, when there
+was that awful pull on my red head again. I opened my eyes prepared to
+fight, when I felt an extra hard pull, and heard the wee sma' voice of
+my diminutive room mate say,
+
+"Get up, the house is on fire." "Rats," I said--Again,--the awful
+pull,--and,--"Mr. Bates, for God's sake get up; the house is on fire;
+the whole town is burning up."
+
+I sprang out of bed and the crackling of the timbers, the glow of the
+flames, and the stifling smoke, soon assured me it was time to move, and
+quickly at that. I grabbed up a few clothes in one arm, and grasping
+brave little Jimmie Swanson in the other, I started for the steps. On
+our side, the whole house was in flames, and the smoke rushing up the
+stair-way was something awful. I wrapped Jimmie's head in his night
+shirt, and throwing a coat over mine, I started down the stairs. Half
+way down my foot slipped, and we both pitched head first to the bottom.
+Poor little Jim, his right arm was broken by the fall, and when he tried
+to get up, he found that his one sound leg was badly strained. He said,
+
+"Never mind me, Mr. Bates, save yourself. I'll crawl out."
+
+Leave him to roast alive? Never! I grabbed him again and after a
+desperate effort succeeded in getting him out. All our supply of
+clothing had been lost in our mad efforts to escape, and as a bitter
+norther was blowing at the time, our position was anything but pleasant.
+I found a few clothes dropped by some one else and we made ourselves as
+warm as possible. Then I grabbed Jimmie up again and fled before the
+fiery blast. The awful catastrophe had started in a fisherman's shack
+over on the bay, twenty-seven squares from where we lived, and being
+borne by a high wind, had swept everything in its path. The houses were
+mostly of timber and were easy prey to the relentless flames. Although
+Galveston is entirely surrounded by water, the pipe-lines for fighting
+fire at this time extended only to Avenue H, ten blocks from the Strand.
+Beyond that, the fire department depended on the cisterns of private
+houses for the water to subdue the flames.
+
+With lightning-like rapidity the flames had spread and almost before
+they knew it the town seemed doomed. Arches of flame, myriads of falling
+sparks, hundreds of fleeing half-clad men, women and children, the
+hissing of the engines in their puny attempts to fight the monster, and
+ever and anon the dull roar of the falling walls, made a scene, as grand
+and weird as it was desolate and awful. In less than two hours time
+fifty-two squares had been laid waste, leaving a trail of smoldering
+black ashes. That the whole city did not go is due to a providential
+switch of the wind that blew the flames back on their own tracks.
+
+Of the fifteen operators in the day force, twelve had been burned out,
+and the next morning, at eight o'clock, when all had reported for duty,
+they were as sorry a looking lot of men as ever assembled.
+
+"Some in rags, some in jags, and one in velvet gown." "Count" Finnegan
+had on a frilled shirt, a pair of trousers three sizes too small for
+him, and his manly form was wrapped in a flowing robe of black velvet,
+picked up by him in his mad flight.
+
+It was many a day before the effects of this direful calamity were
+entirely obliterated.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+SENDING A MESSAGE PERFORCE--RECOGNIZING AN OLD FRIEND BY HIS STUFF
+
+
+Some time after this I was in Fort Worth copying night reports at eighty
+dollars per month. The night force consisted of two other men besides
+myself. The "split trick" man worked until ten o'clock, the other chap
+stayed around until twelve, or until he was clear, while I hung on until
+"30" on report which came anywhere from one-thirty until four A. M.
+After midnight I had to handle all the business that came along.
+
+When I had received "30" I would cut out the instruments and go home.
+
+One morning, about two-thirty I had said "G. N." to Galveston, cut out
+the instruments, put out the lights in the operating room, and started
+to go home through the receiving room and I was about to put out the
+last light there, when the outer door opened and in staggered a half
+drunken ranchman who said,
+
+"Hold on there, young fellow, I want to send a message to St. Louis."
+
+"I'm sorry, but it's too late to send it now. All the instruments are
+cut out and we wont have St. Louis until eight o'clock in the morning.
+Come around then and some of the day force will send it for you."
+
+"But," he said in a maudlin voice, "I've got nineteen cars of cattle out
+here that are going up there to-morrow and I want to notify my agents."
+
+I persisted in my refusal and was beginning to get hot under the collar,
+but my bucolic friend also had a temper and showed it.
+
+"D--n it," he said, "you send this message or there is going to be
+trouble."
+
+"Not much, I won't send your confounded old message. Get out of this
+office: I'm going home."
+
+Just then I heard an ominous click and in a second I was gazing down the
+barrel of a .45, and he said,
+
+"Now will you send it? You'd better or I'll send you to a home that will
+be a permanent one."
+
+A .45, especially when it is loaded, cocked and pointed at your head,
+with a half drunken galoot's finger on the trigger, is a powerful
+incentive to quick action.
+
+"Give me your blamed old message, and I'll send it for you."
+
+Now there wasn't a through wire to any place at the time, but I had
+thought of a scheme to stave him off. I took his telegram, went over and
+monkeyed around the switch board for a while, and then sat down to a
+local instrument and went through the form of sending a message. My
+whole salvation lay in the hope that he was not an operator and would
+fail to discover my ruse. I glanced at him furtively out of the corner
+of my eye, and there he stood, pistol in hand, grinning like a monkey
+and swaying to and fro like a reed in the wind. I didn't know what that
+grin portended for me, but after I had gone through the form of sending
+the telegram, I hung it up on the hook, and turned around with,
+
+"There, I hope you are satisfied now. Your blamed old message has been
+sent."
+
+"Satisfied! Why certainly I'm satisfied. I just wanted to show you that
+the Western Union Company wasn't the whole push. Come on over to the
+White Elephant with me and we'll have a drink together, just to show
+there's no hard feelings between us," and with that he put away his
+pistol and we went out. On the way over to the Elephant he said,
+
+"Say, kid, did you think I'd shoot if you hadn't sent the message?"
+
+"Well," I replied, "I wasn't taking any chances on the matter."
+
+Then he laughed loud enough to be heard a block away and said, "Why,
+that pistol hasn't been loaded for six months, I was just running a
+bluff on you, and you bit like a fish."
+
+Good joke, wasn't it? We had our drink, _and his message was sent by one
+of the day force, at eight-twelve A. M._
+
+The Morse telegraphic alphabet is exactly the same the world over, and
+yet each operator has a peculiarity to his sending, or "stuff," as it is
+called, that makes it easy to recognize an old friend, even though his
+name be changed.
+
+In the early part of my career, when I was working days at X----, in
+Nebraska, at Sweeping Water there was a chap called Ned Kingsbury
+holding down the night job, and as wild a youngster as ever hit the
+road. One night when I was sitting up a little late I heard the
+despatcher give Ned an order for a train that ordinarily would not stop
+there. Ned repeated it back all right enough, and then gave the signal,
+"6," which meant that he had turned his red-light to the track and would
+hold it there until the order was delivered and understood. So far, so
+good. But the reckless little devil had forgotten to turn his red-board
+and proceeded to write to some of his numerous girls, and the first
+thing he knew that freight train went smashing by at a thirty-five mile
+clip, and Mr. Ned knew he was up against it.
+
+In some states a railroader guilty of criminal negligence is sent up
+for a term of from one to ten years. The smash up that resulted from
+Ned's carelessness was a catastrophe of the fatal kind; one engineer was
+killed, and a fireman and brakeman or two laid up for months. He fully
+realized the magnitude of his offence and promptly skipped away from the
+wrath that was sure to follow, and nothing more was heard of him in that
+section of the country.
+
+This all happened a number of years before I went to work in Fort Worth,
+and one morning I was doing a little "scooping," by working days, and
+sat down to send on the "DA" quad. I worked hard for about two hours on
+the polar side, and was sending to some cracker jack, who signed "KY."
+Shortly after that I changed over to the receiving side and "KY" did the
+sending to me. I had been taking about ten messages and the conviction
+was growing on me momentarily that the sending was very familiar and
+that I must have known the sender. Where had I heard that peculiar jerky
+sending before? It was as plain as print, but there was an
+individuality about it that belonged only to one man. All at once that
+night in Nebraska flashed on my mind and I knew my sender was none other
+than Ned Kingsbury. I broke him and said,
+
+"Hello, Ned Kingsbury, where did you come from?"
+
+"You've got the wrong man this time, sonny, my name is Pillsbury," he
+replied.
+
+"Oh! come off. I'd know that combination of yours if I heard it in
+Halifax. Didn't you work at Sweeping Water, Nebraska, some time ago, and
+didn't you have some kind of a queer smash up there?"
+
+Then he 'fessed up and said he had recognized my stuff as soon as he
+heard it, but hadn't said anything in hopes I wouldn't twig him.
+
+"Don't give me away, old chap. I'm flying the flag now and have lost all
+my former brashness."
+
+I never did.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+BILL BRADLEY, GAMBLER AND GENTLEMAN
+
+
+Telegraphers are, as a rule, a very nomadic class, wandering hither and
+thither like a chip buffeted about on the ocean. Their pathway is not
+always one of roses, and many times their feet are torn by the jagged
+rocks of adversity. I was no different from any of the rest, neither
+better nor worse, and many a night I have slept with only the deep blue
+sky for a covering, and it may be added--sotto voce--it is not a very
+warm blanket on a cold night. 'Tis said, an operator of the first class
+can always procure work, but there are times when even the best of them
+are on their uppers. For instance, when winter's chill blasts sweep
+across the hills and dales of the north, like swarms of swallows,
+operators flit southwards to warmer climes, and for this reason the
+supply is often greater than the demand.
+
+I was a "flitter" of the first water, and after I had been in Fort Worth
+for a very short while I became possessed of a desire to see something
+of the far famed border towns along the Rio Grande frontier. So I went
+south to a town called Hallville, and found it a typical tough frontier
+town. I landed there all right enough and then proceeded to gently
+strand. Work was not to be had, money I had none, and my predicament can
+be imagined. Many of you have doubtless been on the frontier and know
+what these places are. There was the usual number of gambling dens,
+dance halls and saloons, and of course they had their variety theatre.
+Ever go into one of the latter places? The first thing that greets your
+eye is a big black and white sign "Buy a drink and see the show."
+Inside, at one end, is the long wooden bar, presided over by some thug
+of the highest order, with a big diamond stuck in the centre of a broad
+expanse of white shirt front. At the other end is the so-called stage,
+while scattered about indiscriminately are the tables and chairs. The
+air is filled--yea, reeking--with the fumes of bad whiskey, stale beer,
+and the odor of foul smelling cheap tobacco smoke, and through all this
+haze the would-be "show," goes on, and the applause is manifested by
+whistles, cat calls, the pounding of feet on the floor and glasses on
+the tables. Occasionally some artist (?) will appear who does not seem
+to strike the popular fancy and will be greeted by a beer glass or
+empty bottle being fired at his or her head.
+
+Now, at the time of which I speak, my prospects were very slim, and as
+nature had endowed me with a fair singing voice, I had just about made
+up my mind to go to the Palace Variety Theatre and ask for a position as
+a vocalist. I could, at least, sing as well as some of the theatrical
+bygones that graced the place. The price of admission in one of these
+places is simply the price of a drink. I felt in my pocket and found
+that I had one solitary lonely dime, and swinging aside the green baize
+door, I entered.
+
+"Gimme a beer," I said laying down my dime. A small glass, four-fifths
+froth and one-fifth beer, was skated at me by the bartender from the
+other end of the counter, and my dime was raked into the till.
+
+Then I stood around like a bump on a log, trying to screw my courage up
+to ask the blear eyed, red-nosed Apollo for a job. Some hack voiced old
+chromo was trying to warble "Do they miss me at home," and mentally I
+thought "if he had ever sung like that when he was at home they were
+probably glad he had left." The scene was sickening and disgusting to
+me, but empty stomachs stand not on ceremony, so I turned around and
+was just about to accost the proprietor, when Biff! I felt a stinging
+whack between my shoulders. Quickly I faced about, all the risibility of
+my red headed nature coming to the surface, and there I saw a big
+handsome chap standing in front of me. Six feet tall, broad-shouldered,
+straight, lithe limbs, denoting herculean strength, a massive head
+poised on a well shaped neck, two cold blue eyes, and a face covered by
+a bushy brown beard; dressed in well fitting clothes, trousers tucked in
+the tops of shiny black boots, long Prince Albert coat and a broad
+sombrero set rakishly on one side of his head. Such was the man who hit
+me in the back.
+
+"Hello, youngster, what's your name?"
+
+Rubbing my lame shoulder, I said, "Well it might be Jones and it might
+be Smith, but it ain't, and I don't know what affair it is of yours, any
+way."
+
+"Oh! come now, boy, don't get huffy. You've got an honest face and
+appear to be in trouble. What is it? Out with it. You're evidently a
+tenderfoot and this hell-hole of vice isn't a place for a boy of your
+years. What's your name? Come over here at this table and sit down and
+tell me."
+
+Something in his bluff hearty manner gave me hope and after sitting
+down, I said.
+
+"My name is Martin Bates. I'm a telegraph operator by profession and
+blew into this town this morning on my uppers. I can't get work and I
+haven't a red cent to my name. It is necessary for me to live, and as I
+can sing a little bit, I came in here to see if I could get a job
+warbling. I won't beg or steal, and there is no one here I can borrow
+from. There's my story. Not a very pleasant one is it?"
+
+"There may have been worse. How long since you've had anything to eat."
+
+"Nine o'clock this morning," I grimly replied.
+
+"Good Lord, that's twelve hours ago. Come on with me out of here and
+I'll fix you up."
+
+Meekly I followed my new found friend. I was sick at heart, weary and
+worn out in body and I didn't care a rap whether school kept or not;
+anything would be better than my present situation. He took me about
+three blocks up the main street and we went into a suite of beautifully
+furnished rooms. He rang a bell, a darkey came in, and it wasn't long
+before I had a lunch in front of me fit for the gods, and I may add it
+didn't take me many minutes to get outside of it. My friend watched me
+narrowly while I was eating, and when I had finished he said,
+
+"Now youngster, you're all tired out. You go to bed in the next room and
+get a good night's sleep. In the morning we'll see what we can do for
+you, but one thing is certain, you're not going into that vile hole of a
+Palace Theatre again. Somewhere in this world you have a father and
+mother who are praying for you this night. Don't make a slip in your
+pathway in life and break their hearts. Everything is safe and quiet
+here and no one will disturb you until I come in in the morning."
+
+There was a peculiar earnestness in his voice as he spoke that was very
+convincing, and as he rose to go out, I meekly said,
+
+"What's your name, mister?"
+
+"Bill Bradley," he answered with a queer smile. "Now don't you ask any
+more questions to-night," and with that he was gone.
+
+I went to bed almost sick from my exposure and lack of food, and just as
+the old sand man of childhood's happy days began to sprinkle his grains
+in my eyes, I heard, way off in the distance, a peculiar click and a
+drawling voice calling off some numbers. "Four." "Sixteen."
+"Thirty-three." "Seventy-eight." "Ten." "Twenty-six," and then, a great
+shout arose and some one called out "KENO." Ah! I was near a gambling
+house, but I was too tired to care, nature asserted herself, and I
+gently crossed the river into the land of Nod.
+
+The next morning I was really sick with a high fever, and when Bill came
+in I was well nigh loony.
+
+"Hello," he said, "this won't do. Tom, I say, you Tom, go and tell
+Doctor Bailey I want him here quick. D--n quick. Do you hear?" and black
+Tom answered, "Yas, suh."
+
+To be brief, I was three weeks on my back, and bluff old Bill Bradley
+nursed me like a loving mother would a sick child. Day and night he hung
+over me, never a thing did I need but what he procured for me, and one
+day after the fever had left me and I was sitting up by an open window,
+I said,
+
+"Mr. Bradley, what do you do for a living?"
+
+"Boy," he replied with a flushed face, "I am sorry you asked that
+question, but sooner or later you would have heard it and I'd a great
+deal rather tell you about it myself. I'm a gambler and these three
+rooms adjoin my place which is called the "Three Nines," and then he
+told me the story of his life. He was a son of a fine Connecticut
+family, a graduate of Harvard, and in his day had been a very able young
+lawyer with brilliant prospects, but one night, he went out with a crowd
+of roystering chaps, the lie was passed, and--it was the old story,--he
+came to Texas for a refuge. The great civil war was just over, the
+country in a chaotic state, and there he had remained ever since. Thrown
+with wild, uncouth men, and being reckless in the extreme, he opened a
+gambling house.
+
+"Why did you take this great interest in me?" I asked.
+
+"Look here, young chap, you are altogether too inquisitive. I've got an
+old father and mother way up in Ball Brooke, Connecticut, whose hearts
+have been broken by my actions, and when I saw you in that hellish den
+of vice you looked so out of place that I determined to save you. It was
+impulse, my boy, and then again, it may have been the remembrance of the
+one, at whose knee I used to lisp, 'Now I lay me down to sleep.'"
+
+My recovery was very rapid from that time on, and when I was able to
+work I secured a position in the commercial office in Hallville. One
+evening after being paid I strolled into the "Three Nines;" Bill was
+dealing faro, and I thought I might in a measure, show my gratitude
+towards him by risking a coin. There was a big crowd standing around
+the table, but I edged my way in and placed a dollar on the queen to
+win. Luck was with me and I won. Once, twice, thrice, did the cards come
+my way, and my stack of whites and reds was growing. This didn't seem to
+me much like gratitude to win a man's money, and I wished I hadn't
+started. Presently Bill looked up, and spying me, pointed to my stack of
+chips, and said, "Whose stack is that?" "Mine," I replied, and with one
+fell swoop he dashed the chips into the rack, and taking a ten-dollar
+bill from the drawer, he turned to his side partner and said, "Jim, take
+the deal," and then he got up, took me by the arm, saying, "You come
+with me."
+
+Feeling like a sneak I followed him, and when we had reached his
+sitting-room, he sat down and said,
+
+"Kid, how much were you in on that deal?"
+
+"Just one dollar," I replied.
+
+Then he looked at me, his eyes shone like coals of fire, and he said,
+
+"Look here boy, here's ten dollars. If you are ever hard up and want
+money come to me, and I'll give it to you willingly, but don't you ever
+let me see or hear of you staking a cent on a card again. I'm running a
+gambling house, and as gambling houses go, it's an honest one, but I'm
+not out plucking lambs like you. Your intentions were probably good but
+don't you ever do it again. If you really want to show your gratitude
+for what I have done for you, promise me honestly that you will never
+gamble."
+
+I felt very much humiliated, but took his words of advice, promised, and
+have never flipped a coin on a card since that night.
+
+Bill was a married man, and in addition to his suite of rooms spoken of,
+he had a very nice residence on Capitol Hill. His suite was a side
+issue, to be used when the games were running high. I had never met Mrs.
+Bradley, but during my illness I had evidence every day of her goodness
+in the shape of many delicacies that found their way to my bedside. I
+had asked Bill time and again to take me out to meet his wife, but he
+always put me off on one pretext or another.
+
+When I started to work, I had secured a room at the house of a Mrs.
+Slade. She had three daughters and one Sunday afternoon we were all out
+walking together, when one of them pointed to a very fine residence and
+said, "That's the residence of Bill Bradley, the big gambler."
+
+Just then Bill and his wife came driving by behind a spanking team of
+bays. Quick as a flash my hat came off, and I bowed low. Bill saw it
+and very cavalierly returned my salute. The elder Miss Slade turned on
+me like a tigress, and said,
+
+"Mr. Bates, do you know who that man is? Do you know what he is?"
+
+"Yes, I know him very well," I replied.
+
+"Then what do you mean by insulting us by speaking to such a man? I did
+not know that you associated with men of his ilk."
+
+In a plain unvarnished way I told them of Bill Bradley's kindness to me,
+but it was no go, and as I would not renounce my liking for the man who
+had been my benefactor, my room in their house became preferable to my
+society and I left.
+
+The next evening I saw Bill in his rooms, and he said,
+
+"Martin, yesterday, when Mrs. Bradley and I drove by you and the Slade
+girls, you spoke to me and lifted your hat to Mrs. Bradley. I could do
+naught but return the salute. Now my boy, there's no use of my mincing
+words with you; I befriended you, probably saved you from ruin, but
+young as you are, you know full well that our paths do not lie parallel
+with each other. I am a gambler, and although Mrs. Bradley is as good a
+woman as ever lived, (and I'd kill the first man that said she wasn't)
+we are not recognized by society; no, not even by the riff raff that
+live in Hallville. You have your way to carve in the world, don't ruin
+it right at the outset by letting people know you are friendly with
+gamblers. No matter how good your motives may be, this scoffing world
+will always misconstrue them and censure you."
+
+This made me hot and I told him so. No matter if he was a gambler, he
+was more of a gentleman than nine-tenths of the men of society, yes,
+men, who would come and gamble half the night away in his place, and
+then go forth the next day and pose as models of propriety.
+
+The upshot of the whole business was that I left Hallville soon after
+this and went to San Antonio to take day report, and one day I picked up
+a paper, and read an account of how Bill Bradley had been assassinated
+by a cowardly cur who had a grudge against him. He was stabbed in the
+back, and thus ended the career of Bill Bradley, gambler and gentleman.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+THE DEATH OF JIM CARTWRIGHT--CHASED OFF A WIRE BY A WOMAN
+
+
+I didn't stay at San Antonio very long after this but started
+northwards. You see it was getting to be warm weather. The first place I
+struck was a night job in a smashing good town up near the south line of
+the pan handle. I quit working at midnight, and to get to my boarding
+house had to walk a mile through a portion of the town called "Hell's
+half-acre."
+
+The most prominent place of any description in the city was a saloon and
+gambling house known as the "Blue Goose," owned by John Waring and Luke
+Ravel. Both men were as nervy as they make 'em and several nicks in the
+butts of their revolvers testified mutely as to their prowess. Their
+place was like all other dens, and consisted of the usual bar and lunch
+counter in one room, while in the adjoining one was the hall of gaming.
+Faro, roulette, hazard, monte, and the great national game, poker, held
+high carnival there nightly. Next to the "Goose" was a long narrow room
+used as a shooting gallery. The place was only a few doors around the
+corner from my office, and many a night on my way home I would stop at
+the lunch counter and have a sandwich and a cup of coffee. I remembered
+my promise to bluff old Bill Bradley, and was never tempted to go in the
+gambling hall. I generally used to rise about noon each day and go up
+town and loaf until four o'clock, when it was time to go to work. I
+picked up a speaking acquaintance with Luke Ravel, and sometimes we
+would go into the shooting gallery together and have a friendly bout
+with the Flobert rifles.
+
+At this time there was one of those tough characters in the town named
+Jim Cartwright. In days gone by he had been a deputy United States
+Marshal, and one time took advantage of his official position to provoke
+a quarrel with an enemy and killed him in cold blood. Public indignation
+ran high and Jim had to skip to Mexico. He stayed away two years and
+getting in trouble over there, came back to his old stamping grounds in
+hopes the people had forgotten his former scrape. They hadn't exactly
+forgotten it, but Jim was a pretty tough character and no one seemed to
+care to tackle him.
+
+One night Luke Ravel and Jim had some words over a game of cards, and
+bad blood was engendered between them. The next day my side partner
+Frank Noel, and I went into the shooting gallery to try our luck, and
+were standing there enjoying ourselves, when Luke came in and took a
+hand. He was dressed in the height of fashion, and while we three were
+standing there, Jim Cartwright, three sheets in the wind, appeared in
+the doorway pistol in hand. He looked at Luke and said, with an oath,
+
+"Look here, Luke Ravel, your time has come. I'm going to kill you."
+
+My hair arose, my heart seemed to stop beating, but there was no way
+out, so Noel and I edged our way over as far as possible, and held our
+breath. Luke never turned a hair, nor changed color. He was as cool as
+an iceberg, and squarely facing Cartwright said,
+
+"You wouldn't shoot an unarmed man would you, Jim?"
+
+"Ain't you got no gun?"
+
+"No," replied Luke, "I'm unarmed. See," and with that he threw up the
+tails of his long coat.
+
+Jim hesitated a minute, and then shoving his gun into his pocket he
+said,
+
+"No, by heavens, I won't kill an unarmed man. I'll give you a chance
+for your life, but I warn you to fix yourself, because the next time I
+see you I'm going to let daylight through your carcass," and with
+another oath he turned to walk away. Hardly had he taken two steps, when
+there was a blinding flash followed by a loud report, and Jim Cartwright
+lay dead, shot through the heart, while Luke Ravel stood over him; a
+smoking .38 pocket pistol in his hand. Where he pulled his gun from no
+one ever knew; it was all over in a flash. It seems a cowardly thing to
+shoot a man in the back, but it was a case of 'dog eat dog.'
+
+Luke was arrested next day, and Noel and I gave our testimony before the
+coroner's jury, and he was bound over for trial before the next term of
+the circuit court to sit six months hence. There is an old and very
+trite saying in Texas that, "a dead witness is better than a live one."
+This was gently whispered into our ears, and accordingly one night about
+a month after this, Noel and I "folded our tents, and like the Arabs,
+silently stole away."
+
+Luke was acquitted on the plea of self defence.
+
+Spring time having come, and with it the good hot weather, I continued
+to move northwards and finally brought up in a good office in Nebraska,
+where I was to copy the night report from Chicago. We had two wires
+running to Chicago, one a quad for the regular business, and the other a
+single string for "C. N. D." and report work. My stay in this office
+was, short, sharp, brilliant and decisive.
+
+The first night I sat down to work at six-thirty, and in a few minutes
+was receiving the worst pounding I had ever experienced, from some
+operator in "CH" office who signed "JL." There was no kick coming on the
+sending, it was as plain as a large sized poster, but it was so
+all-fired fast, that it made me hustle for all I was worth to get it
+down. There is no sense in a fellow sending so fast, because nothing is
+made by it and it tires every one completely out. Ordinarily, a thirty
+word a minute clip is a good stiff speed for report, but this night,
+thirty-five or forty was nearer the mark. In every operator there is a
+certain amount of professional pride inherent that makes him refrain
+from breaking on report unless it is absolutely necessary. The sender
+always keeps a record of the breaks of each receiver on the line, and if
+they become too frequent the offender is gently fired. On the night in
+question I didn't break, but there were several times when foreign
+dispatches were coming that I faked names in great shape. It was an ugly
+night out, and about nine o'clock our quad flew the track, and in a
+minute "JL" said to me,
+
+"Here's ten blacks (day messages) just handed me to send to you," and
+without waiting for me to get my manifold clip out of the way he
+started. I didn't get a chance to put the time or date down, and was
+swearing, fighting mad. After sending five of the ten messages, "JL"
+stopped a second and said,
+
+"How do I come?"
+
+"You come like the devil. For heaven's sake let up a bit," I replied.
+
+"Who do you think you are talking to?" came back at me.
+
+Seemingly, patience had ceased to be a virtue with me, so I replied,
+"Some d----d ambitious chump of a fool who's stuck on making a record
+for himself."
+
+"That settles you. Call your chief operator over here."
+
+Joe Saunders was the chief, and when he came over he said,
+
+"What's the trouble here, kid, this wire gone down?"
+
+"No," I answered, "the wire hasn't gone down, but that cuss up in 'CH'
+who signs 'JL' has been pounding the eternal life out of me and I've
+just given him a piece of my mind."
+
+"Say anything brash?" asked Joe.
+
+"No, not very. Just told him he was a d--d fool with a few light
+embellishments."
+
+Joe laughed very heartily and said, "I guess you are the fool in this
+case, because 'JL' is a woman, Miss Jennie Love, by name, and the
+swiftest lady operator in the business. If she makes this complaint
+official, you'll get it in the neck."
+
+I didn't wait for any official complaint, but put on my coat and walked
+out much chagrined, because I had always boasted that no woman could
+ever run me off a wire. I had the pleasure of meeting Miss Love
+afterwards and apologized for my conduct. She forgave me, but like Mary
+Marsh, she married another man.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+WITNESSING A MARRIAGE BY WIRE--BEATING A POOL ROOM--SPARRING AT LONG
+RANGE
+
+
+After my disastrous encounter with Miss Love, I went south and brought
+up in St. Louis, where old "Top," the chief operator, gave me a place
+working a New York quad. This was about the worst "roast" I had ever
+struck, and it was work from the word go from 5 P. M. until 1 A. M. Work
+on any wire from a big city leading to New York is always hot, and this
+particular wire was the worst of the bunch. While working in this office
+I had several little incidents come under my observation that may be of
+interest.
+
+The coy little god of love manifests itself in many ways, and the
+successful culmination of two hearts' happiness is as often queer as it
+is humorous.
+
+Miss Jane Grey was an operator on the G. C. & F. Railway at Wichita,
+Kansas, and Mr. Paul Dimmock worked for the Western Union in Louisville,
+Kentucky. Through the agency of a matrimonial journal, Jane and Paul
+became acquainted; letters and pictures were exchanged, and--it was the
+old, old story--they became engaged. They wanted to be wedded and the
+more sensational and notorious they could make it the better it would
+suit them both. Jane only earned forty dollars per month, while Paul's
+monthly stipend was the magnificent sum of sixty, with whatever extra
+time he could "scoop." Neither one of them wanted to quit work just
+then, they felt they could not afford it, but that marriage must come
+off, or they would both die of broken hearts. Paul wrote,--Jane
+wrote,--plans and compromises were made and refused; the situation was
+becoming desperate, and finally Jane's brilliant mind suggested a
+marriage by wire. Great head--fine scheme. _It takes a woman to
+circumvent unforeseen obstacles every time._ Chief operators were
+consulted in Kansas City and St. Louis and they agreed to have the wire
+cut through on the evening appointed. There were to be two witnesses in
+each office, and I was one of the honored two in St. Louis. The day
+finally arrived, and promptly at seven-thirty in the evening Louisville
+was cut through to Wichita, and after all the contracting parties and
+the witnesses had assembled, the ceremony began. There was a minister at
+each end, and as the various queries and responses were received by the
+witnesses, they would read them to the contracting party present, and
+finally Paul said,
+
+"With this ring, I thee wed, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow:
+in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Amen."
+
+The ring was placed on the bride's finger, _by proxy_, the benediction
+pronounced by the Wichita minister, and the deed was done. In due time
+the certificate was received and signed by all the witnesses, and the
+matter made of record in both places.
+
+How long did they live apart? Oh! not very long. I think it was the next
+night that I saw a message going through directed to Paul saying, "Will
+leave for Louisville to-night," and signed "Jane."
+
+I wonder if old S. F. B. Morse ever had any idea when he was perfecting
+the telegraph, that it would some day be used to assist in joining
+together,
+
+    "Two souls with but a single thought,
+    Two hearts that beat as one."
+
+Operators are as a rule as honest as the sun, yet, "where you find
+wheat, there also you find chaff," and once in a while a man will be
+found whose proper place is the penitentiary. One of the easiest ways
+for an operator, so inclined to make money, is to cut wires, steal the
+reports of races, market quotations, or C. N. D. reports, and beat them
+to their destinations. Wires are watched very closely so that it is hard
+for an outsider to do any monkeying. Many men understand telegraphy who
+do not work at the business, and it is for this reason that all the
+instruments in the bucket shops and stock exchanges are turned so low
+that no one outside of the operating room can hear a sound. When it is
+realized that transactions are made, and fortunes won or lost in a
+fractional part of a minute, it will be seen how very careful the great
+telegraph companies must be. The big horse races every year offer great
+temptations.
+
+While I was working in St. Louis, a case came under my observation that
+will readily illustrate the perversity of human nature. In a large
+office not so very far away, there was working a friend of mine, who did
+nothing but copy race reports and C. N. D.'s all day. On the day the
+great Kentucky Derby was to be run, the wire was cut through from the
+track in Louisville to a big pool room in this city.
+
+Now the chief operator in this place was a scaly sort of a cuss--in
+fact, it was said that he had done time in the past for some
+skullduggery--and when the horses went to the post, he stood by the
+switchboard and deliberately cut the pool room wire, so the report
+didn't go through. He copied the report himself, knew what horse had
+won, and then sent a message to a henchman of his, who was an operator
+and had an instrument secreted in his room near the pool room. This chap
+went quickly into the pool room and made wagers right and left. A rank
+outsider, a twenty to one shot, won the race, and after the confederate
+had signified that he was ready, the chief sent the report through as if
+it had come from the track. The whole transaction didn't take over two
+minutes and the "bookies" were hit for about $30,000, which Mr. Chief
+and his side pardner divided between them.
+
+A little while later the suspicions of the bookmakers became aroused,
+complaints were made, an investigation followed, and one fine day when
+matters were becoming pretty warm, the recalcitrant chief disappeared.
+His confederate confessed to the whole scheme and the jig was up. The
+chief was afterwards apprehended and sent up for seven years, but he
+held on to his boodle.
+
+For the first month of my stay in St. Louis, my life was as uneventful
+as a May day, but at the end of that time a man came on the New York end
+of our quad that was enough to make a man drink. The men working
+together on a wire like this should always be harmonious, because the
+business is so heavy there is no time for any war of words. However,
+operators are like all other men, and scraps are not uncommon. Generally
+they take place at long range, and no one is hurt thereby. Some men have
+an unhappy faculty of incurring the hatred of every person over a wire,
+while personally they may be princes of good fellows. The man referred
+to above, signed "SY," and he had about as much judgment as a two year
+old kid. It didn't make any difference to him whether the weather was
+clear or muggy, no matter whether the wire was weak or strong, he'd
+pound along like a cyclone. Remonstrance availed nothing, and one night
+when he was cutting up some of his monkeyshines, I became very warm
+under the collar and told him in language more expressive than elegant,
+just what I thought of him, threatening to have our wire chief have him
+fired off the wire. He answered:
+
+"Oh! you go to blazes, you big ham. You're too fresh anyway."
+
+The epithet "ham" is about as mean a one as can be applied to an
+operator, and I came back at him with:
+
+"Look here, you infernal idiot, I'll meet you some time and when I do
+I'm going to smash your face. Stop your monkeying and take these
+messages."
+
+"Hold your horses, sonny, what's the difference between you and a
+jackass?" he said.
+
+"Just nine hundred miles," I replied.
+
+Further words were useless and in a few minutes he was relieved, but
+just about the time he got up he said:
+
+"Say, 'BY,' don't forget you've got a contract to smash my face some of
+these days. I'll be expecting you. Ta Ta."
+
+That was the last of him on that wire and the incident passed from my
+mind. I pulled up and left St. Louis shortly after that and went to work
+for the old Baltimore and Ohio Commercial Company, at the corner of
+Broadway and Canal streets, in New York. I drew a prize in the shape of
+the common side of the first Boston quad. Sitting right alongside of me
+was a great, big, handsome Irish chap named Dick Stanley. He was as fine
+a fellow as ever lived, and that night took me over to his house on
+Long Island to board. We were sitting in his room about nine-thirty,
+having a farewell smoke before retiring and our conversation turned to
+"shop talk." We talked of the old timers we had both known, told
+reminiscences, spun yarns, and all at once Dick said:
+
+"Say, Bates, did you ever work in 'A' office in St. Louis?"
+
+"Oh! yes," I replied, "I put in three months there under 'Old Top.' In
+fact, I came from there to New York."
+
+"That so?" he answered. "I used to work on the polar side of the No. 2
+quad, from this end, over in the Western Union office on Broadway and
+Dey street. What did you sign there?"
+
+"BY," I answered. I thought he looked queer, but we continued our talk,
+and finally I told him of my wordy war with a man in New York, who
+signed "SY," and remarked that I was going over to 195 Broadway, and
+size him up some day. He knocked the ashes out of his pipe, got up from
+his chair, and, stretching his six feet two of anatomy to its full
+length said:
+
+"Well, old chap, I'm fagged. I'm going to bed. You'd better get a good
+sleep and be thoroughly rested in the morning, because you'll need all
+your strength. I'm the man that signed 'SY' in the New York office, and
+I'm ready to take that licking."
+
+[Illustration: "He looked at me ... then catching me by the collar...."]
+
+Did I lick him? Not much, I couldn't have licked one side of him, and we
+were the best of chums during my stay in the city.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+HOW A SMART OPERATOR WAS SQUELCHED--THE GALVESTON FLOOD
+
+
+A little while after this "Stub" Hanigan, another operator, invited Dick
+and me to go down to a chop house with him for lunch, and we accepted. I
+say chop house when in reality it was one of those numerous little
+hotels that abound all over New York where one can get a good meal for
+very little money. Hanigan was a rattling good operator, but he was very
+young and had a tendency to be too fresh on occasion.
+
+He ordered us a fine lunch and while we were sitting there discussing
+the good things, a big awkward looking chap came into the dining-room.
+He was accompanied by a sweet, pretty looking little woman. She was a
+regular beauty, and it needed but a glance to see that they were bride
+and groom, and from the country. They had all the ear marks so apparent
+in every bride and groom. They hesitated on the threshold a moment, and
+the groom said very audibly:
+
+"Dearest, this is the finest dining-room in the world," and "Dearest"
+beamed on her liege lord in a manner that was very trustful and sweet.
+Hanigan, idiot that he was, laughed outright. Dick and I both gave him a
+savage kick under the table, but it didn't have any effect.
+
+The head waiter brought the couple over and sat them down at our table,
+and, say--that woman was as pretty as any that ever came down the pike.
+Towards the end of the meal, Hanigan took his knife and fork and began
+to telegraph to Stanley and me, making all sorts of fun about the
+country pair. Now that is a pretty dangerous business, because there is
+no telling who may be an operator. Dick growled at him savagely under
+his breath and told him to shut up. Nay! Nay! Mr. Hanigan wouldn't shut
+up worth a cent. Finally he made some scurrilous remark, and then
+another knife and fork came into play. Mr. Bridegroom was doing the
+talking now, and this is what he said to Hanigan:
+
+"I happen to be an operator myself, and have heard and understood every
+word you said. As long as you confined yourself to innocent remarks
+about country brides and grooms, I haven't minded it a bit. In fact, I
+have rather enjoyed it. But now you've gone too far, and in about five
+seconds I'm going to have the pleasure of smashing your face."
+
+Then, before we had time to do a thing, biff; and Hanigan got it
+squarely on the jaw. We hustled him out of there as soon as we could,
+but Mr. Bridegroom had all his Irish up and followed him out. Eventually
+we succeeded in calming him down; "Stub" made a most abject apology, and
+I don't believe he ever used his knife and fork for any such a purpose
+again.
+
+The gawky chap was Mr. Dave Harrison, one of the finest operators in the
+profession.
+
+Just about this time fall weather was coming on, and there was a
+suggestion of an approaching winter in the chill morning air, and
+receiving a letter from my old friend Clarke in Galveston, telling me
+there was a good job waiting for me if I could come at once, I pulled up
+stakes in New York, and sailed away on the Mallory Line ship "Comal,"
+for my old stamping ground. I reached there the next week and was put to
+work on the New York Duplex, which, by the way, was the longest string
+in the United States. Mrs. Swanson had re-opened her boarding house on
+Avenue M, everything looked lovely and I anticipated a very pleasant
+winter. Up to September 18th, everything was as quiet and calm as a May
+day. The weather had been beautiful, the surf bathing and concerts in
+front of the Beach Hotel fine, and nothing was left to wish for.
+
+I quit working on Thursday, September 18th, at five P. M., and went out
+to the beach and had a plunge. The sky was clear, but there was a good
+stiff breeze blowing, and it was increasing all the time. The tide was
+flowing in, and the dashing of the waves and roar of the surf made a
+picture long to be remembered. After my swim I went home, and when
+supper was finished three of us again went out to the beach. The wind
+had increased to a perfect gale, and already the water was over the car
+tracks. The Pagoda and Surf bath houses were surrounded, while numerous
+small shacks along the shore had been washed away. Inch by inch, foot by
+foot, the water advanced until it began to look serious, but no one
+dreamed of the flood that was to follow.
+
+We went home at eight-thirty, and at ten I dropped into the realms of
+the sand man, lulled to sleep by the roar of the distant surf, and the
+whistling and moaning of the high wind.
+
+Jimmie Swanson was again my roommate and about five o'clock he woke me
+up and said:
+
+"Mr. Bates, if this wind keeps up the whole island will be under water
+in a very few hours more."
+
+"Nonsense, Jimmie," I replied, "there is no danger of that," and I
+turned over to have another snooze, when I heard a peculiar _swash_,
+_swash_, _swash_, against the side of the house.
+
+"Jimmie, what's the swash we hear?" I asked.
+
+He got out of bed, limped over to the window, opened the blinds, looked
+a minute and then yelled:
+
+"Good Lord! the whole town is under water, and we are floating."
+
+It needed but a glance to convince me that he spoke part truth. There we
+were surrounded on all sides by water, but the house was still on its
+foundation.
+
+    "Water, water, everywhere
+    Nor any drop to drink."
+
+On account of the sandy nature of the soil on Galveston Island, most of
+the houses were built up on piles, and the water was gently slopping all
+over the first floor of our habitation. The streets were flowing waist
+high, and filled with floating debris of all kinds;--beer kegs, boards,
+doors, and tables _ad lib_. The wind soon began to quiet down, and when
+our first fright was over we had a high old time swimming and splashing
+around in the water. It's a great city that will bring salt water
+bathing right up to the doors of its houses.
+
+After a very skimpy breakfast, four of us made a raft, and paddled and
+pushed it down to the office. Nary a wire was there in working order.
+You see, Galveston is on a very flat island scarcely one mile wide, and
+the only approach at this time was a low railroad bridge, three miles
+long. Our wires were strung along the side of that, and at five o'clock
+in the morning, every wire was under water, and the force on duty either
+swam home or slept on the floor.
+
+That day was about the easiest I ever spent in a telegraph office. There
+was a Mexican cable from Galveston to Vera Cruz, but the flood had
+washed away their terminals, and for that day, Galveston was entirely
+isolated from the world.
+
+Houston, fifty-five miles north, was the first big town adjacent, and as
+all our wires ran through there, it was apparent they were having a hot
+time doing the relaying all day. They had only a small force, and
+evidently the business was delayed. The storm had finally blown itself
+out, and at four o'clock Clarke called for volunteers to go to Houston
+to help out until our wires came in shape again. The G. H. & H. railroad
+people said they thought the water was low enough to permit an engine
+to cross the bridge, and in response to Clarke's call eight of us
+volunteered to attempt the trip. After reaching the mainland we would be
+all right, but there was that confounded three mile bridge to cross. We
+boarded engine 341, with Dad Duffy at the throttle, and at four-fifteen
+he pulled out. Water was still over the track and we proceeded at a
+snail-like pace. Just at the edge of the bridge we stopped; Dad looked
+over the situation and said:
+
+"The water is within two inches of the fire-box now, and it's doubtful
+if we can get across, but here goes and God save us all."
+
+The sensation when we first struck that bridge and realized that we were
+literally on a water support, was anything but pleasant, and I reckon
+most of us uttered the first prayer in many a day. Slowly we crept
+along, and just as we were in the middle of the structure the draw
+sagged a little, and _kersplash!_ out went the fire. A great cloud of
+steam arose and floated away on the evening air, and then, there stood
+that iron monster as helpless as a babe. Dad looked around at us eight
+birds perched up on the tender and said:
+
+"Well I reckon you fellers won't pound any brass in Houston to-night."
+
+Pleasant fix to be in, wasn't it? A mile and a half from land, perched
+up on a dead engine, surrounded on all sides by water, and no chance to
+get away. There was no absolute danger, because the underpinning was
+firm enough, but all the same, every man jack of us wished he hadn't
+come. Night, black and dreary, settled over the waters, and still no
+help. Finally, at eight o'clock, the water had receded so that the tops
+of the rails could be seen, and two of us volunteered to go back on foot
+to the yard office for help. That was just three miles away, but nothing
+venture, nothing have, so we dropped off the hind end of the tender and
+started on our tramp back over the water-covered ties. We had one
+lantern, and after we had gone about a half of a mile, my companion who
+was ahead, slipped and nearly fell. I caught him but good-bye to the
+lantern, and the rest of the trip was made in utter darkness. To be
+brief, after struggling for two hours and a half, we reached the yard
+office, and an engine was sent out to help us. At twelve o'clock the
+whole gang were back in the city, wet, weary and worn out.
+
+The next day the water had entirely subsided and work was resumed. We
+learned then of the horror of the flood. Sabine Pass had been
+completely submerged, and some hundred and fifty or two hundred people
+drowned. Indianola had been wiped out of existence, and the whole coast
+lined with the wreckage of ships. That there were no casualties in
+Galveston, was providential, and due, doubtless, to the fact that the
+whole country for fifty miles back of it is as flat as a pan-cake, and
+the water had room to spread.
+
+I worked there until spring and then a longing for my first love, the
+railroad, came over me and I gave up my place and bade good-bye to the
+commercial business forever. I had had my fling at it and was
+satisfied.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+SENDING MY FIRST ORDER
+
+
+I had now been knocking about the country for quite a few years, and
+working in all kinds of offices and places, and had acquired a great
+deal of experience and valuable information, so I reached the conclusion
+that it was about time for me to settle down and get something that
+would last me for a while. Commercial work I did not care for, nor did I
+want to go back on the road as a night operator on a small salary. I
+thought I had the making of a good despatcher in me, and determined to
+try for that place. I knew it had to be attained by starting first at
+the bottom, so I went up on the K. M. & O. and secured a position as
+night operator at Vining. The K. M. & O. was a main trunk line running
+out of Chaminade, and was the best road for business that I had as yet
+struck. Vining was midway on the division, and was such a good old town
+that I would have been content to have stayed there for some time, but
+one day an engine pulling a through livestock express broke a driving
+rod while running like lightning, and the result was a smash up of the
+first water--engine in the ditch, cars piled all over her, livestock
+mashed up, engineer killed, fireman badly hurt, and the road blocked for
+twenty-four hours. The wreck occurred on a curve going down a rather
+steep grade, so that it was impossible to build a temporary track around
+it. A wrecking train was sent out from El Monte, and as I happened to be
+off duty, I was picked up and taken along, to cut in the wrecking
+office. The division superintendent came out to hurry up things and he
+appeared so pleased at my work that, in a few weeks, he offered me a
+place as copy operator in the despatcher's office at El Monte. This
+appeared to be a great chance to satisfy my ambition to become a
+despatcher, so I gladly accepted, and in a few days was safely ensconced
+in my new position. The despatchers only work eight hours a day, while
+the copy operators work twelve, so they work with two despatchers every
+day. I had the day end of the job and worked from eight A. M. until eight
+P. M., with an hour off for dinner, so that I really was only on duty for
+eleven hours. The pay was good for me, seventy dollars per month, and I
+was thoroughly satisfied. Really all that is necessary to be a first
+class copy operator is to be an expert telegrapher. It is simply a work
+of sending and receiving messages all day. However I wanted to learn, so
+I kept my ears and eyes opened, and studied the time card, train sheet,
+and order book very assiduously.
+
+The first trick despatcher was honest old Patrick J. Borroughs, a man of
+twenty-five years' experience in the business and as good a man as ever
+sent an order or took an O. S. report. He was kindness and gentleness
+personified, and assisted me in every way possible, and all my future
+success was due to his help and teaching. The memory of the time I
+worked under him is the brightest spot in all the years I served in the
+business. After I had been there for about five months, he would allow
+me, under his supervision, to make simple meeting points for two trains,
+and one day he allowed me to give a right-of-track order to a through
+freight train over a delayed passenger. Then he would let me sit around
+in his chair, while he swallowed his lunch, and copy the O. S. reports.
+I was beginning to think that my education as a despatcher was complete,
+and was thinking of asking for the next vacancy, when a little incident
+occurred that entirely disabused my mind. The following occurrence will
+show how little I knew about the business.
+
+We had received notice one morning of a special train to be run over our
+division that afternoon, carrying a Congressional Railroad Committee,
+and of course that meant a special schedule, and you all know how
+anxious the roads are to please railroad committees, especially when
+they are on investigating tours (?) with reference to the extension of
+the Inter-State Commerce Act, as this one was. We were told to "whoop
+her through." The track on our division was the best on the whole road,
+and it was only 102 miles long; we had plenty of sidings and passing
+tracks, and besides old "Jimmie" Hayes, with engine 444 was in, so they
+could be assured of a run that was a hummer. Mr. Hebron, the division
+superintendent, came in the office and told Borroughs to tear things
+loose, in fact, as he said, "Make 'em all car sick."
+
+After he had gone out Pat tossed the notification over to me, and said,
+"Bates, here's a chance for you to show what kind of stuff you are made
+of. Make out a schedule for this special, giving her a clean sweep from
+end to end, with the exception of No. 21."
+
+Proud! That wasn't the proper name for it. I was fully determined that
+_this_ special should have a run for her money if she ran on my
+schedule. No Congressional Committee was going back to Washington with
+the idea that the K. M. & O. wasn't the swiftest road in the bunch, if I
+could help it, and I had a big idea that I could. Pat told me he would
+do the copying while I made the schedule, but as he said it I fancied I
+saw a merry twinkle in his honest blue eyes. I wasn't daunted though,
+and started to work.
+
+     "Order No. 34.
+     "To C&E, all trains:
+
+     "K. M. & O. RAILROAD (Eastern Division).
+     "DESPATCHER'S OFFICE, 'DS,' October 15, 18--
+
+     "Special east engine 444, will run from El Monte to Marsan having
+     right of track over all trains except No. 21, on the following
+     schedule:--
+
+     "Leave El Monte, 2:30 P. M."
+
+Thus far I proceeded without any trouble, and then I stuck. Here was
+where the figuring came in, along with the knowledge of the road, grades
+and so forth, but I was sadly lacking in that respect. I studied and
+figured and used up lots of gray matter, and even chewed up a pencil or
+two. I finally finished the schedule and submitted it to Pat. He read it
+carefully, knitted his brows for a moment, and then said, slowly:
+
+"For a beginner that schedule is about the best I ever saw. It's a
+hummer without a doubt. But to prevent the lives of the Congressional
+Committee from being placed in jeopardy, I think I shall have to make
+another." Then he laughed heartily, and continued,
+
+"All joking aside, Bates, my boy, you did pretty well, but you have only
+allowed seven minutes between Sumatra and Borneo, while the time card
+shows the distance to be fourteen miles. Jim Hayes and engine 444 are
+capable of great bursts of speed, but, by Jingo, they can't fly. Then
+again you have forgotten our through passenger train, No. 21, which is
+an hour late from the south to-day; what are you going to do with her?
+Pass them on one track, I suppose. But don't be discouraged, my boy,
+brace up and try it again. That's a much better schedule than the first
+one I ever made."
+
+He made another schedule and I resumed my copying. It wasn't long,
+however, before my confidence returned and I wanted a trick. I got it,
+but in such a manner that even now, fifteen years afterwards, I shudder
+to think of it.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+RUNNING TRAINS BY TELEGRAPH--HOW IT IS DONE
+
+
+The despatcher's office of a big railroad line is one of the most
+interesting places a man can get into, especially if he is interested in
+the workings of our great railway systems. It is located at the division
+headquarters, or any other point, such as will make the despatching of
+trains and attendant orders of easy accomplishment. In riding over a
+road, many people are prone to give the credit of a good swift run to
+the engineer and train crew. Pick up a paper any day that the President
+or some big functionary is out on a trip, and you will probably read
+how, at the end of the run, he stopped beside the panting engine, and
+reaching up to shake the hand of the faithful, grimy engineer, would
+say:
+
+"Thank you so much for giving us such a good run. I don't know when I
+have ridden so fast before," or words to that effect. He never thinks
+that the engineer and crew are but the mechanical agents, they are but
+small cogs in a huge machine. They do their part and do it well, but the
+brains of the machine are up in the little office and are all
+incorporated in the despatcher on duty. Flying over the country
+regardless of time or space, one is apt to forget where the real credit
+belongs. The swift run could not be made, and the train kept running
+without a stop, if it were not for the fact that the despatcher puts
+trains on the sidetrack so that the special need not be delayed, and he
+does it in such a manner that the regular business of the road shall not
+be interfered with.
+
+The interior of the despatcher's office is not, as a rule, very
+sumptuous. There is the big counter at one side of the room, on which
+are the train registers, car record books, message blanks, and forms for
+the various reports. Against the wall on one of the other sides is a big
+black board known as the "call board." On it is recorded the probable
+arrival and departure of trains, and the names of their crews, also the
+time certain crews are to be called. As soon as the train men have
+completed the work of turning their train over to the yard crew at the
+end of their run, they are registered in the despatcher's office, and
+are liable thereafter for duty in their turn. The rule "first in,
+first, out," is supposed to be strictly adhered to in the running of
+trains. About the middle of the room, or in the recess of the bay
+window, is the despatcher's table. On it in front of the man on duty, is
+the train sheet, containing information, exact and absolute in its
+nature, of each train on the division. On this sheet there is also a
+space set apart for the expected arrival of trains on his district from
+the other end, and one for delays. Loads, empties, everything, is there
+that is necessary for him to know to properly run the trains on time and
+with safety. At any minute the despatcher on duty can tell you the
+precise location of any train, what she is doing, how her engine is
+working, how much work she has to do along the road, and all about her
+engineer and conductor. Generally, there are two sets of instruments on
+the table, one for use of what is known as the despatcher's wire, over
+which his sway is absolute, and the other for a wire that is used for
+messages, reports, and the like, and in case of emergency, by the
+despatcher. Mounted on a roll in front of him is the current official
+time card of the division. From the information contained thereon, the
+despatcher makes all his calculations for time orders, meeting points,
+work trains, etc. Across the table from the despatcher sits the "copy
+operator," whose duty it is to copy everything that comes along, thus
+relieving the despatcher of anything that would tend to disturb him in
+his work. The copy operator is generally the man next for promotion to a
+despatcher's trick, and his relations with his chief must be entirely
+harmonious.
+
+The working force in a well regulated despatcher's office consists of
+the chief despatcher, three trick despatchers, and two copy operators,
+with the various call boys and messengers. The chief despatcher is next
+to the division superintendent, and has full charge of the office. He
+has the supervision of the yard and train reports, and the ordering out
+of the trains and crews. He has charge of all the operators on the
+division, their hiring and dismissal, and has general supervision of the
+telegraph service. In fact, he is a little tin god on wheels. His office
+hours? He hasn't any. Most of the chiefs are in their offices from early
+morn until late at night, and there is no harder worked man in the world
+than the chief despatcher.
+
+Each day is divided into three periods of eight hours each, known as
+"tricks," and a despatcher assigned to each. The first trick is from
+eight A. M. until four P. M.; the second from four P. M. until twelve
+midnight; and the third from twelve midnight until eight A. M.
+
+At eight o'clock in the morning, the first trick despatcher comes on
+duty, and his first work is to verify the train sheet and order book.
+The man going off duty checks off all orders issued by him that have
+been carried out, and his successor signs his initials to all orders yet
+to be obeyed. This signifies that he has read them over very carefully
+and thoroughly understands their purport. As soon as he has receipted
+for them he becomes as responsible as if he had first issued them. He
+glances carefully over his train sheet, assures himself that everything
+is correct and then assumes his duties for the day. Anything that is not
+clear to him must be thoroughly explained before his predecessor leaves,
+and he must signify that he understands everything. The value of that
+old time card rule, so familiar to all railroaders, "In case of doubt
+always take the safe side," is exemplified many times every day in the
+running of trains by telegraph, and the attendant orders. After a
+despatcher has assumed charge of the trick he is the master of the
+situation; he is responsible for everything, and his attentiveness,
+ability and judgment are the powers that keep the trains moving and on
+time.
+
+When all trains are running on time, and there are no extras or specials
+out, the despatcher's duty is easy, and consists largely in taking and
+recording "O. S. reports," and "Consists." The "O. S. report" is the
+report sent in by the various operators as the trains arrive and depart
+from the several stations. A "consist" is a message sent by the
+conductor of a train to the division superintendent, giving the exact
+composition and destination of every car in his train. When trains are
+late, however, or many extras are running or the track washed out, the
+despatcher's work becomes very arduous. Orders of all kinds have to be
+made, engines and crews kept working together and trains moving.
+
+Down the centre of the train sheet, which varies in size according to
+the length of the division, are printed the names of all the telegraph
+stations on the division and the distances between them. On either side
+of this main column are ruled smaller columns, each one of which
+represents a train. The number of each train is at the head of the
+appropriate column, and under it are the number of the engine, the names
+of the conductor and engineer, and the number of loads and empties in
+the train. All trains on the division are arranged in three classes, and
+each class has certain rights. Trains of the first class are always
+passengers; the through freight, and the combination freight and
+passenger trains compose the second class. All other trains, such as
+local freights, work trains and construction trains belong to the third
+class. It is an invariable rule on all railroads that trains running one
+way have _exclusive rights_ over trains of their own and of inferior
+classes running in the opposite direction.
+
+What is called the "double order system," is used almost exclusively on
+all single track roads, and if the rules and regulations governing it
+were strictly adhered to and carried out, accidents for which human
+agency is responsible, would be impossible. It consists simply in giving
+an order to all the trains concerned _at the same time_. That is to say,
+if the despatcher desires to make a meeting point for two trains, he
+will send the same order simultaneously to both of them. If a train is
+leaving his end of the division and he desires to make a meeting point
+with a train coming in, before giving his order to his conductor and
+engineer, he would telegraph it to a station at which the incoming train
+was soon to arrive, and from whence the operator would repeat it back
+word for word, and would give a signal signifying that his red board was
+turned. By this means both trains would receive the same order, and
+there would be no doubt about the point at which they were to meet.
+
+To illustrate this method, let us suppose a case of two sections of No.
+13 running east and one section of No. 14 running west. Both trains are
+of the second class, and as the east bound trains have the right of way,
+No. 14 _must_ keep out of the way of the two 13's. A certain point, call
+it Smithville, is, according to the time card, the meeting point for
+these two trains. But No. 14 finds out she has a lot of work to do at
+Jonesboro; or a hot driving box or a draw head pulling out delays her,
+and thus she cannot possibly reach Smithville for No. 13. She is at
+Jason, and unless she can get orders to run farther on No. 13's time,
+she will have to tie up there and be further delayed an hour. The
+conductor tells the operator at Jason to ask "DS" if he can help them
+out any. "DS" glances over his train sheet, and finds that he cannot let
+them run to Smithville, because No. 13 is nearly on time; but there is a
+siding at Burkes, between Jason and Smithville, and he concludes to let
+14 go there. So he tells the operator at Jason to "copy 3," and then he
+calls Smithville and tells him to "copy 5." Both the engineer and
+conductor get a copy of all orders pertaining to their trains, and the
+operators retain one for their records and for reference in case of
+accident. Both operators turn their red boards _the first thing_, and so
+long as the signal remains red, no train can pass the station, without
+first receiving an order or a clearance card. In the case supposed the
+order would be as follows:
+
+     "DS Despatcher's Office, 12, 8, '98
+
+     "Orders No. 31.
+
+     To C. & E. 1st and 2nd 13, SM.
+     To C. & E. No. 14, JN.
+
+     First and second sections No. 13, and No. 14 will meet at Burkes.
+
+     12. (Answer how you understand).
+
+     "H. G. C."
+
+The despatcher's operator, sitting opposite to him, copies every word of
+this order as the despatcher sends it, and when the operators at
+Smithville and Jason repeat it back, he underlines each word, great care
+being taken to correct any mistakes made by the operators. After an
+operator has repeated an order back he signs his name, and the
+despatcher then says:
+
+"Order No. 31, O. K.," giving the time and signing the division
+superintendent's initials thereto. The order is next handed to the
+conductor and engineer of each train when they come to the office; both
+read it carefully, and then signify that they understand it fully by
+signing their names. The operator then says to the despatcher, "Order
+31, sig. Jones and Smith," and the despatcher gives the "complete" and
+the exact time. Then a copy is given to the conductor and one to the
+engineer and they leave. On the majority of roads the conductor must
+read the order aloud to the engineer before leaving the office.
+
+Thus No. 14 having received her orders, pulls out, and when she reaches
+Burkes, she goes on the side track and waits there for both 13's,
+because 13, being an east bound train of the same class, has the
+right-of-track over her. The same _modus operandi_ is gone through with
+for No. 13, and when the trains have departed the operators pull in
+their red boards. When the meeting has been made and both trains are
+safely by Burkes, the despatcher draws a blue pencil or makes a check
+mark on his order book copy and signs his initials, which signifies that
+the provisions of the order have been carried out. Should its details
+not have been completed when the despatcher is relieved, his successor
+signs his initials thereto showing that he has received it. This is the
+method of sending train orders, exact and simple, on single track
+railroads. On double track lines the work is greatly simplified because
+trains running in each direction have separate tracks. Does it not seem
+simple? And how impossible are mistakes when its rules are adhered to.
+It really seems as if any one gifted with a reasonable amount of common
+sense, and having a knowledge of the rudiments of mathematics, could do
+the work, but underneath all the simplicity explained, there runs a deep
+current of complications that only long time and a cool head can master.
+I have worked in offices and been figuring on orders for a train soon to
+start out from my end of the division, when all of a sudden some train
+out on the road that has been running all night, will bob up with a hot
+box, or a broken draw head, and then all the calculations for the new
+train will be knocked into a cocked hat.
+
+The simple meeting order has been given above. The following examples
+will illustrate some of the other many forms of orders, and are
+self-explanatory.
+
+TIME ORDER
+
+No. 14 has a right to use ten minutes of the time of No. 13 between
+Jason and Jonesboro.
+
+SLOW ORDER
+
+All trains will run carefully over track from one-half mile east of
+Salt Water to Big River Bridge, track soft.
+
+EXTRA ORDER
+
+Engine 341 will run extra from DeLeon to Valdosta.
+
+ANNULMENT ORDER
+
+No. 15 of January 6th is annulled between Santiago and Rio.
+
+WORK ORDER
+
+Engine 228 will work between Posey and Patterson, keeping out of the way
+of all regular trains. Clear track for extra west, engine 327 at 10:30
+A. M.
+
+When an operator has once turned his red board to the track for an
+order, under no circumstances must he pull it in until he has delivered
+the order for the train for which it is intended. In the meantime should
+another train come in for which he has no orders, he will give it a
+clearance card as follows:
+
+     To C. & E., No. 27
+     There are no orders for you, signal is set for No. 18.
+     H. G. CLARKE, Operator.
+
+At stated times during the day, the despatchers on duty on each division
+send full reports of all their trains to the divisions adjoining them
+on either side. This train report is very complete, giving the
+composition of each and every train on the road, and the destination of
+every car. A form of the message will readily illustrate this:
+
+     SAN ANGELO, 5 | 16, 18--.
+     W. H. C. DS
+
+     No 17 will arrive at DS, at 10:20 A. M., with the following:
+
+       1 HH goods           Chgo.
+       2 Livestock          Kansas City.
+       3 Mdse                   "
+       1 Emgt. outfit       St. Louis.
+       6 Coal               Houston.
+       6 Wheat              Chgo.
+       7 Empty sys. flats   Flat Rock.
+      --
+      Total 26
+
+     H. G. B.
+
+All work is done over the initials of the division superintendent and in
+his name. These reports keep the despatchers fully informed as to what
+may be expected, and arrangements can be made to keep the trains moving
+without delay. Of course the report illustrated above is for but one
+train, necessarily it must be much longer when many trains are running.
+
+At some regular time during the day all the agents on the division send
+in a car report. This is copied by the despatcher's operator and shows
+how many and what kind of cars are on the side tracks; the number of
+loads ready to go out; the number and kind of cars wanted during the
+ensuing twenty-four hours; and if the station is a water station, how
+many feet of water are in the tank; or if a coaling station, how many
+cars of coal there are on hand; and lastly, what is the character of the
+weather. On some roads weather reports are sent in every hour.
+
+In view of all this, I think it is not too much to say, that the eyes of
+the despatcher see everything on the road. There are a thousand and one
+small details, in addition to the momentous matters of which he has
+charge, and the man who can keep his division clear, with all trains
+moving smoothly and on time, must indeed possess both excellent method
+and application, and must have the ability and nerve to master numerous
+unexpected situations the moment they arise. He is not an artisan or a
+mechanic, _he is a genius_.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+AN OLD DESPATCHER'S MISTAKE--MY FIRST TRICK
+
+
+I had become thoroughly proficient and more frequently than ever
+Borroughs would let me "spell" for him for a while each day. Be it said
+to his credit, however, he was always within hearing, when I was doing
+any of his work. He was carefulness personified, and the following
+incident only serves to show what unaccountable errors will be made by
+even the best of men.
+
+One cold morning in January, I started to the office as usual. The air
+was so still, crisp and biting that the air-pumps of the engines had
+that peculiar sharp, snappy sound heard only in a panting engine in cold
+weather. They seemed almost imbued with life. As I went into the office
+at eight o'clock to go to work, the night man remarked that I must be
+feeling pretty brash; my spirits seemed so high. And in fact, that was
+no joke; I was feeling fine as silk and showed it all over. But as I
+said good morning to Borroughs, I noticed that he seemed rather glum,
+and I asked: "What's the matter, Dad? Feeling bad this morning?"
+
+He snapped back in a manner entirely foreign to him, "No, but I don't
+feel much like chaffing this day. I feel as if something was going to
+happen, and I don't like the feeling."
+
+I answered, "Oh! bosh, Dad. You'll feel all right in a few minutes; I
+reckon you've got a good old attack of dyspepsia; brace up."
+
+Just then the wires started up, and he gruffly told me to sit down and
+go to work and our conversation ceased. That was the first time he had
+ever used anything but a gentle tone to me, and I felt hurt. The first
+trick is always the busiest, and under the stress of work the incident
+soon passed from my mind. Pat remarked once, that the general
+superintendent was going to leave Chaminade in a special at 10:30 A. M.,
+on a tour of inspection over the road. That was about all the talking he
+did that morning. His work was as good as ever, and in fact, he made
+some of the prettiest meets that morning I had ever seen.
+
+[Illustration: "... Half lying on the table, face downward, dead by
+his own hand"]
+
+About 10:35, I asked Borroughs to allow me to go over to the hotel to
+get a cigar. I would be gone only a few minutes. He assented, and I
+slipped on my overcoat and went out. I wasn't gone over ten minutes, and
+as I stepped into the doorway to come upstairs on my return, I heard
+what sounded like a shot in the office. I flew upstairs two steps at a
+time, and never to my dying day will I forget the sight that met my
+gaze. Borroughs, whom I had left but a few moments before full of life
+and energy, was half lying on the table, face downwards, dead by his own
+hand. The blood was oozing from a jagged wound in his temple, and on the
+floor was the smoking pistol he had used. Fred Bennett, the chief
+despatcher, as pale as a ghost, was bending over him, while the two call
+boys were standing near paralyzed with fright. It was an intensely
+dramatic setting for a powerful stage picture, and my heart stood still
+for a minute as I contemplated the awful scene. Mr. Hebron, the division
+superintendent, came in from the outer office, and was transfixed with
+horror and amazement when he saw the terrible picture.
+
+Bennett turned to me and said, "Bates, come here and help me lift poor
+Borroughs out of this chair."
+
+Gently and carefully we laid him down on the floor and sent one of the
+badly frightened boys for a surgeon. Medical skill was powerless,
+however, and the spirit of honest Pat Borroughs had crossed the dark
+river to its final reckoning.
+
+Work in the office was at a standstill on account of the tragic
+occurrence, but all of a sudden I heard Monte Carlo calling "DS" and
+using the signal "WK," which means "wreck." Bennett told me to sit down
+and take the trick until the second trick man could be called. I went
+over and sat down in the chair, still warm from the body of my late
+friend, and wiping his blood off the train sheet with my handkerchief, I
+answered.
+
+It would be impossible to describe the state of my feelings as I first
+touched the key; I had completely lost track of trains, orders and
+everything else. However, I gradually pulled myself together, and got
+the hang of the road again, and then I learned how the wreck had
+occurred. About a minute after I went out, Borroughs had given a
+right-of-track order to an express freight from Monte Carlo to
+Johnsonville, and had told them to hurry up. Johnsonville is on the
+outskirts of Chaminade, and Borroughs had completely forgotten that the
+general superintendent's special had left there just five minutes before
+with a clean sweep order. That he had known of it was evident from the
+fact that it was recorded on the train sheet. Two minutes after the
+freight had left Monte Carlo, poor Pat realized he had at last made his
+mistake. He said not a word to any person, but quietly ordered out the
+wrecking outfit, and then reaching in the drawer he took out a revolver
+and--snuffed out his candle. He fell forward on the train sheet, as if
+to cover up with his lifeless body, the terrible blunder he had just
+made. Many other despatchers had made serious errors, and in a measure
+outlived them; but here was a man who had grown gray in the service of
+railroads, with never a bad mark against him. Day and night, in season
+and out, he had given the best of his brain and life to the service, and
+finally by one slip of the memory he had, as he thought, ruined himself;
+and, too proud to bear the disgrace, he killed himself. He was
+absolutely alone in the world and left none to mourn his loss save a
+large number of operators he had helped over the rough places of the
+profession.
+
+The wreck was an awful one. The superintendent's son was riding on the
+engine, and he and the engineer and the fireman were mashed and crushed
+almost beyond recognition. The superintendent, his wife and daughter,
+and a friend, were badly bruised, but none of them seriously injured.
+The second trick man was not to be found immediately, so I worked until
+four o'clock, and the impression of that awful day will never leave me.
+Pat's personality was constantly before me in the shape of the blood
+stain on the train sheet. It was a long time before I recovered my
+equanimity.
+
+The next afternoon we buried poor Pat under the snow, and the earth
+closed over him forever; and thus passed from life a man whose character
+was the purest, whose nature was the gentlest: honest and upright, I
+have never seen his equal in the profession or out. I often think if I
+had not gone over to the hotel that morning, the accident might have
+been averted, because, perhaps, I would have noticed the mistake in time
+to have prevented the collision. But, on the other hand, it is probable
+I would not have noticed it, because operators, not having the
+responsibility of the despatchers, rarely concentrate their minds
+intensely on what they are taking. A man will sit and copy by the hour
+with the greatest accuracy, and at the same time be utterly oblivious of
+the purport of what he has been taking. There can be no explanation as
+to why Pat forgot the special. It is one of those things that happen;
+that's all.
+
+The rule of seniority was followed in the office, and in the natural
+sequence of events the night man got my job, I was promoted to the third
+trick--from twelve midnight until eight A. M.--and a new copy operator
+was brought in from Vining.
+
+If any trick is easier than another it is the third, but none of them
+are by any means sinecures. When I was a copy operator I used to imagine
+it was an easy thing to sit over on the other side of the table and give
+orders, "jack up" operators, conductors and engineers, and incidentally
+haul some men over the coals every time I had to call them a few
+minutes; but when I reached the summit of an operator's ambition, and
+was assigned to a trick I found things very different. Copying with no
+responsibility was dead easy; but despatching trains I found about the
+stiffest job I had ever undertaken. I had to be on the alert with every
+faculty and every minute during the eight hours I was on duty. While the
+first and second trick men, have perhaps more train order work attached
+to them, the third is about on a par with them as far as actual labor is
+concerned, because, in addition to the regular train order work, a new
+train sheet has to be opened every night at twelve o'clock, which
+necessitates keeping two sheets until all the trains on the old one have
+completed their runs. There is also a consolidated train report to be
+made at this time, which is a re-capitulation of the movements of all
+trains for the preceding twenty-four hours, giving delays, causes
+thereof, accidents, cars hauled, etc. This is submitted to the division
+superintendent in the morning, and after he has perused and digested its
+contents he sends a condensed copy to the general superintendent. Many a
+man loses his job by a report against him on that train sheet.
+
+To show the strain on a man's mind when he is despatching trains, let me
+tell a little incident that happened to me just in the beginning of my
+career as a despatcher. Every morning about five o'clock, the third
+trick man begins to figure on his work train orders for the day and when
+he has completed them he sends them out to the different crews. Work
+train orders, it may not be amiss to explain, are orders given to the
+different construction crews, such as the bridge gang, the grading gang,
+the track gang, etc., to work between certain points at certain times.
+They must be very full and explicit in detail as to all trains that are
+to run during the continuance of the order. For regular trains running
+on time, no notification need be given, because the time card rules
+would apply; but for all extras, specials, and delayed trains, warnings
+must be given, so that the work trains can get out of the way for them,
+otherwise the results might be very serious, and business be greatly
+delayed. Work orders are the bane of a new despatcher's existence, and
+the manner in which he handles them is a sure indication as to whether
+he will be successful or not. Many a man gets to a trick only to fall
+down on these work orders.
+
+I stumbled along fairly well the first night as a despatcher, and had no
+mishaps to speak of, although I delayed a through passenger some ten
+minutes, by hanging it up on a siding for a fast freight train, and I
+put a through freight on a siding for a train of an inferior class. For
+these little errors of judgment I was "cussed out" by all the conductors
+and engineers on the division when they came in; and the division
+superintendent, on looking over the train sheet the next morning,
+remarked, that delaying a passenger train would never do--in such a tone
+of voice that I could plainly see my finish should I ever so offend
+again.
+
+The second night passed all right enough, and by 5:30 A. M., I had
+completed my work orders and sent them out. From that time on until
+eight o'clock when the first trick man relieved me I was kept busy. He
+read over my outstanding orders, verified the sheet, and signed the
+transfer on the order book, and after a few moments' chat I went home.
+I went to bed about nine o'clock, and was on the point of dropping off
+to sleep, when all at once I remembered that an extra fast freight was
+due to leave at 9:45 A. M., and that there was a train working in a cut
+four miles out. I wondered if I had notified her to get out of the way
+of the extra. That extra would go down through that cut like a streak of
+greased lightning, because Horace Daniels, on engine 341, was going to
+pull her, and Horace was known as a runner from away back. I reviewed in
+my mind, as carefully as I could all the orders I had given to the work
+train, and was rather sure I had notified them, but still I was not
+absolutely certain, and began to feel very uncomfortable. Poor Borroughs
+had just had his smash up, and I didn't want "poor Bates," to have his
+right away. Maybe it was the spirit of this same old man Borroughs, who
+was sleeping so peacefully under the ground that made me feel and act
+carefully. I looked at my watch and found it was 9:20. The extra would
+leave in twenty-five minutes and I lived nearly a mile from the office.
+The strain was beginning to be too much, so I slipped on my clothes and
+without putting on a collar or a cravat, I caught up my hat and ran with
+all my might for the depot. As I approached I saw Daniels giving 341
+the last touch of oil before he pulled out. Thank God, they hadn't gone.
+I shouted to him, "Don't pull out for a minute, Daniels; I think there
+is a mistake in your orders."
+
+Daniels was a gruff sort of a fellow, and he snapped back at me, "What's
+the matter with you? I hain't got no orders yet. Come here until I oil
+those wheels in your head."
+
+I went up in the office and Daniels followed me. Bennett, the chief, was
+standing by the counter as I went in, and after a glance at me he said,
+"What's up, kid? Seen a ghost? You look almost pale enough to be one
+yourself."
+
+I said, "No, I haven't seen any ghosts, but I am afraid I forgot to
+notify that gang working just east of here about this extra."
+
+The conductor and engineer were both there and they smiled very audibly
+at my discomfiture; in fact, it was so audible you could hear it for a
+block. Bennett went over to the table, glanced at the order book and
+train sheet for a minute and then said, "Oh, bosh! of course you
+notified them. Here it is as big as life, 'Look out for extra east,
+engine 341, leaving El Monte at 9:45 A. M.' What do you want to get such
+a case of the rattles and scare us all that way for?"
+
+I was about to depart for home to resume my sleep, and was
+congratulating myself on my escape, when Bennett called me over to one
+side of the room, and in a low, but very firm voice, metaphorically ran
+up and down my spinal column with a rake. He asked me if I didn't know
+there were other despatchers in that office besides myself; men who knew
+more in a minute about the business than I did in a month; and didn't I
+suppose that the order book would be verified, and the train sheet
+consulted before sending out the extra? He hoped I would never show such
+a case of the rattles again. That was all. Good morning. All the same I
+was glad I went back to the office that morning, because I had satisfied
+myself that I had not committed an unpardonable error at the outset of
+my career.
+
+_In case of doubt always take the safe side._
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+A GENERAL STRIKE--A LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEER FOR A DAY
+
+
+During the ensuing spring, one of those spasmodic waves of strikes
+passed over the country. Some northern road that wasn't earning enough
+money to pay the interest on its bonds, cut down the salaries of some of
+its employees, and they went out. Then the "sympathy" idea was worked to
+the full limit, and gradually other roads were tied up. We had hopes it
+would escape us, but one fine day we awoke to find our road tied up good
+and hard. The conductors and brakemen went first, and a few days later
+they were followed by the engineers and firemen. That completed the
+business and we were up against it tighter than a brick. Our men hadn't
+the shadow of a grievance against the company, and were not in full
+sympathy with the strike, but their obligation to their unions was too
+strong for them to resist.
+
+It placed us in a pretty bad fix because just at this time we had a yard
+full of freight, a good deal of it perishable, and it was imperative
+that it should be moved at once or the company would be out a good many
+dollars. The roundhouse men and a few hostlers were still working, so it
+was an easy thing to get a yard engine out. Bennett, myself, Burns, the
+second trick man, and Mr. Hebron, the division superintendent, went down
+in the yard to do the switching. There were twenty-three cars of Texas
+livestock and California fruit waiting for a train out, and the drovers
+were becoming impatient, because they wanted to get up to Chicago to
+take advantage of a big bulge in the market.
+
+I soon found that standing up in the bay window of an office, watching
+the switchmen do the yard work and doing it yourself, were two entirely
+different propositions. When I first went in between two cars to make a
+coupling, I thought my time had come for sure. I fixed the link and pin
+in one car, and then ran down to the next and fixed the pin there. The
+engine was backing slowly, but when I turned around, it looked as if it
+had the speed of an overland "flyer." I watched carefully, raised and
+guided the link in the opposite draw head, and then dropped the pin.
+Those two cars came together like the crack of doom, and I shut my eyes
+and jumped back, imagining that I had been crushed to death, in fact, I
+could feel that my right hand was mashed to a pulp. But it was a false
+alarm; it wasn't. I had made the coupling without a scratch to myself,
+and it wasn't long before I became bolder, and jumped on and off of the
+foot-boards and brake-beams like any other lunatic. That all four of us
+were not killed is nothing short of miracle.
+
+By a dint of hard work we succeeded in getting a train made up for
+Chaminade, and all that was now needed was an engine and crew. There was
+a large and very interested crowd of men standing around watching us,
+and many a merry ha-ha we received from them for our crude efforts.
+Engine 341 was hooked on, and we were all ready for the start. Burns was
+going to play conductor, Bennett was to be the hind man, while I was to
+ride ahead. But where were the engineer and fireman? Mr. Hebron had
+counted on a non-union engineer to pull the train, and a wiper to do the
+firing, but just as we expected them to appear, we found that some of
+the strikers had succeeded in talking them over to their side. To make
+matters worse the roundhouse men and the hostlers caught the fever, and
+out they went. Mr. Hebron was in a great pickle, but he didn't want to
+acknowledge that he was beaten so he stood around hanging on in hopes
+something would turn up to relieve the strain.
+
+Now, it had occurred to me that I could run that engine. When I was
+young and fresh in the railroad business, I had spent much of my spare
+time riding around on switch engines, and once in a while I had taken a
+run out over the road with an engineer who had a friendly interest in
+me. One man, old Tom Robinson, who pulled a fast freight, had been
+particularly kind to me, and on one occasion I had taken a few days' lay
+off, and gone out and back one whole trip with him. Being of an
+inquisitive turn of mind, I asked him a great many questions about
+gauges, valves, oil cups, eccentrics, injectors, etc., and whenever he
+would go down under his engine, I always paid the closest attention to
+what he did. I used to ride on the right hand side of the cab with him,
+and occasionally he would allow me to feel the throttle for a few
+minutes. Thus, when I was a little older, I could run an engine quite
+well. I knew the oil cups, could work the injector, knew enough to open
+and close the cylinder cocks, could toot the whistle and ring the bell
+like an old timer, and had a pretty fair idea, generally speaking, of
+the machine. Having all these things in mind, I approached Mr. Hebron,
+as he stood cogitating upon his ill-luck, and said, "Mr. Hebron, I'll
+run this train into Chaminade if you will only get some one to keep the
+engine hot."
+
+"You," said Hebron, "you are a despatcher; what the devil do you know
+about running a locomotive?"
+
+I told him I might not know much, but if he would say the word I would
+get those twenty-three cars into Chaminade, or know the reason why. He
+looked at me for a minute, asked me a few questions about what I knew of
+an engine and then said,
+
+"By George! I'll risk it. Get on that engine, my boy; take this one
+wiper left for a fireman, and pull out. But first go over to the office
+for your orders. You won't need many, because everything is tied up
+between here and Johnsonville, and you will have a clear track. Now fly,
+and let me see what kind of stuff you are made of."
+
+Strangely enough, after he had consented I was not half so eager to
+undertake it; but I had said I would and now I must stick to my word, or
+acknowledge that I was a big bluffer. I went up to the office and Fred
+Bennett gave me the orders. But as he did so he said: "Bates, that's a
+foolhardy thing for you to do, and I reckon the old man must be crazy to
+allow you to try it, but rather than give in to that mob out there I'll
+see you through with it. Now don't you forget for one minute, that you
+have twenty-three cars and a caboose trailing along behind you; that I
+am on the hind end, and that I have a wife and family to support, with a
+mighty small insurance on my life."
+
+He went out, and Bennett told the cattle men to get aboard as we were
+about to start. All this had been done unbeknown to any of the strikers;
+but when they saw me coming down that yard with a piece of yellow tissue
+paper in my hand they knew something was up, for every man of them knew
+that was a train order. But where was the engineer?
+
+I went down and climbed up in the cab of old 341, and removing my coat,
+put on a jumper I had brought from the office. Engine 341, as I have
+said, was run by Horace Daniels, one of the best men that ever pulled a
+throttle, and his pride in her was like that of a mother in a child. She
+was a big ten-wheeled Baldwin, and I have heard Daniels talk to her as
+if she was a human being; in fact, he said she was the only sweetheart
+he ever had. He was standing in the crowd and when he saw me put on the
+jumper he came over and said:
+
+"See here, Mr. Hebron, who is going to pull this train out?"
+
+Mr. Hebron who was standing by the step, said, "Bates is."
+
+Daniels grew red with rage, and said:
+
+"Bates? Why good heavens, Mr. Hebron, Bates can't run an engine; he's
+nothing but an old brass pounder, and, judging from some of the meets he
+has made for me on this division, he must be a very poor one at that.
+This here old girl don't know no one but me nohow; for God's sake don't
+let her disgrace herself by going out with that sandy-haired chump at
+the throttle."
+
+Mr. Hebron smiled and said, "Well then, you pull her out, Daniels."
+
+Daniels shook his head and replied, "You know I can't do that, Mr.
+Hebron. It's true I'm not in sympathy with this strike one jot, but the
+boys are out, and I've got to stand by them. But when this strike is
+over I want old 341 back. Why, Mr. Hebron, I'd rather see a scab run her
+than that old lightning jerker."
+
+But Mr. Hebron was firm and Daniels walked slowly and sadly away. By
+this time we had a good head of steam on, and Bennett gave me the signal
+to pull out. I shoved the reverse lever from the centre clear over
+forward, and grasping the throttle, tremblingly gave it a pull.
+
+Longfellow says, in "The Building of the Ship:" "She starts, she moves,
+she seems to feel a thrill of life along her keel." I can fancy exactly
+how that ship felt, because just as the first hiss of steam greeted my
+ears and I felt that engine move, I felt a peculiar thrill run along my
+keel, and my heart was in my mouth. She did not start quite fast enough
+for me, so I gave the throttle another jerk, and whew! how those big
+drivers did fly around! I shut her off quickly, gave her a little sand,
+and started again. This time she took the rail beautifully, walking away
+like a thoroughbred.
+
+There is a little divide just outside of the El Monte yard, and then for
+a stretch of about five miles, it is down grade. After this the road
+winds around the river banks, with level tracks to Johnsonville, where
+the double track commences. All I had to do was to get the train to the
+double track, and from there a belt line engine was to take it in. Thus
+my run was only thirty-five miles.
+
+Our start was very auspicious, and when we were going along at a pretty
+good gait, I pulled the reverse lever back to within one point of the
+centre, and opened her up a little more. She stood up to her work just
+as if she had an old hand at the throttle instead of a novice. I wish I
+were able to describe my sensations as the engine swayed to and fro in
+her flight. The fireman was rather an intelligent chap, and had no
+trouble in keeping her hot, and twenty-three cars wasn't much of a train
+for old 341. We went up the grade a-flying. When we got over the divide,
+I let her get a good start before I shut her off for the down grade. And
+how she did go! I thought at times she would jump the track but she held
+on all right. At the foot of this grade is a very abrupt curve and when
+she struck it, I thought she bounded ten feet in the air. My hat was
+gone, my hair was flying in the wind, and all the first fright was lost
+in the feeling of exhilaration over the fact that _I_ was the one who
+was controlling that great iron monster as she tore along the track.
+I--I was doing it all by myself. It was like the elixir of life to an
+invalid. My fireman came ever to me at one time and said in my ear that
+I'd better call for brakes or the first thing we knew we would land in
+the river. Brakes! Not on your life. I didn't want any brakes, because
+if she ever stopped I wasn't sure that I could get her started again. We
+made the run of thirty-five miles in less than an hour, and when we
+reached Johnsonville I received a message from Mr. Hebron,
+congratulating me on my success. But Bennett--well, the rating he gave
+me was worth going miles to hear. He said that never in his life had he
+taken such a ride, nor would he ever volunteer to ride behind a crazy
+engineer again. But I didn't care; I had pulled the train in as I said I
+would, and the engine was in good shape, barring a hot driving box. I
+may add, however, that I don't care to make any such trip again myself.
+
+We went back on a mail train that night, that was run by a non-union
+engineer, and in a day or two the strike was declared off, the men
+returned to work, and peace once more reigned supreme. Daniels got his
+"old girl" in as good shape as ever, and once when he was up in my
+office he told me he had hoped that old 341 would get on the rampage
+that day I took her out and "kick the stuffin'" out of that train and
+every one on it. Poor old Daniels, he stuck to his "old girl" to the
+last, but one day he struck a washout, and as a result received a "right
+of track order," on the road that leads to the paradise of all
+railroaders.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+CHIEF DESPATCHER--AN INSPECTION TOUR--BIG RIVER WRECK
+
+
+I had always supposed that the higher up you ascended in any business,
+the easier would be your position and the happier your lot. What a
+fallacy, especially in the railroad service, where your
+responsibilities, work, care, and worries increase in direct proportion
+as you rise! The operator's responsibility is limited to the correct
+reception, transmission, delivery and repetition of his orders and
+messages; the despatcher's to the correct conception of the orders and
+their transmission at the proper time to the right train; but the chief
+despatcher's responsibilities combine not only these but many more. A
+despatcher's work is cut out for him, just as the tailor would cut his
+cloth for a journeyman workman, and when his eight hour trick is done,
+his work for the day is finished and his time is his own. Not so the
+chief. His work is never done; he works early and late, and even at
+night when he goes home utterly tired out from his long day, he is
+liable to be called up to go out on a wrecking outfit, or to perform
+some special duty. As soon as anything goes wrong on a division the
+first cry is, "Send for the chief despatcher." Almost everybody on the
+division is under his jurisdiction except the division superintendent,
+and sometimes I have seen that mighty dignitary take a back seat for his
+chief despatcher.
+
+It was some ten years after I had begun to pound brass, that I awoke one
+fine morning to find myself offered the position of chief despatcher on
+the central division of the C. N. & Q. Railway, with headquarters at
+Selbyville. I was very well satisfied at El Monte, had been promoted to
+the first trick and had many friends whom I did not like to leave, but
+then, I was as high as I could get in a good many years, because Fred
+Bennett, the chief, was a stayer from away back, and there wouldn't be a
+vacancy there for a long time to come. The district of which I was to
+take charge was about three hundred miles long, and consisted of three
+freight divisions of one hundred miles each. That meant a whole lot of
+hard confining work, but who wouldn't accept a promotion; so after
+carefully considering the matter, I gratefully accepted, and was duly
+installed in my new position. As I did not know anything about the road
+or the operators thereon, one of my first acts was to take a trip of
+inspection over the road. I rode on freight trains or anything that came
+along, and dropped off as I wanted to, in order that I might become
+thoroughly acquainted with the road and the men.
+
+One of the time card rules was that no person was to be allowed to enter
+any of the telegraph offices except those on duty there; even the train
+men were supposed to receive their orders and transact their business at
+the window or counter. Generally, however, this rule was not enforced
+very rigidly. When I was a night operator I never paid any attention to
+it at all. I dropped off No. 6 at eleven-thirty one night at
+Bakersville. A night office was kept there because it was a good order
+point and had a water tank. I had never met the night man and knew
+nothing of him, except that he was a fiery-tempered Irishman named
+Barry, and a most excellent operator. It had been told me that the
+despatchers had, on more than one occasion, complained of his impudence,
+but his ability was so marked and he was so prompt in answering and
+transacting business, that he was allowed to remain. As No. 6 pulled out
+he went into the office, closed the door and then shut the window. He
+had apparently not seen me, or if he had he paid no attention to me, so
+I went into the waiting-room and rapped on the ticket window. He shoved
+it up, stared at me and gruffly said, "Well! what's wanted?"
+
+I answered pretty sharply, that I desired to come into his office.
+
+"Well then you can take it out in wanting, because you don't get in
+here, see!"
+
+I started to reason with him, when he slammed the window in my face.
+That made me madder than a March hare, and I told him if he didn't let
+me in that office mighty quick, I'd smash that window into smithereens
+and come in anyhow.
+
+Biff! Up went that window, and Mr. Barry's face looking like a boiled
+beet appeared, "Smash that window will you? You just try it and I'll
+smash your blamed old red head with this poker. Get out of that
+waiting-room. Tramps are not allowed."
+
+Just then it occurred to me that he did not know me from the sight of
+sole leather; so I said: "Hold on there, young man; I'm Mr. Bates, the
+newly appointed chief despatcher of this division, and I'm out on a tour
+of inspection. Now stop your monkeying and open up."
+
+"Bates thunder! Bates would never come sneaking out over the road in
+this manner. You pack up and get. It will take more than your word to
+make me believe you are Bates."
+
+I saw that remonstrance with him was useless, and, besides I had an idea
+that he might carry out his threat to smash my head with the poker, so I
+went over to a mean little hotel and stayed all night, vowing to have
+vengeance on his head in the morning. When daylight came, I went back to
+the station, and Dayton, the day man, knew me at once, having worked
+with me on the K. M. & O. Barry had told him of the trouble, and he was
+having a great laugh at my expense. Barry, himself, showed up in a
+little while, but he didn't seem the least bit disturbed, when he found
+out who I really was. He said there was a time card rule, that forbade
+him allowing any unauthorized person in his office; he thought I was
+some semi-respectable "hobo," who wanted a place to stay all night; how
+in the world was he to know? Suppose some one else had come out and said
+he was the chief despatcher, was he going to let them in the office
+without some proof? I saw that this was mighty good reasoning and that
+he was right. Did I fire him? Not much. Men on railroads who so
+implicitly obey orders are too valuable to lose; and before I left the
+road he was working the third trick.
+
+Things ran along very smoothly for a while and I was having a good time.
+The winter passed and with the advent of spring came the heavy rains for
+which that part of the country was justly noted. Then the work
+commenced.
+
+One Friday evening after four or five days of the steadiest and hardest
+kind of rain, I received a message from the section foreman at Truxton,
+saying that Big River was beginning to come up pretty high, and that the
+constant rains were making the track quite soft. I immediately sent him
+an order to put out a track walker at once, and told the despatcher on
+duty to make a "slow order" for five miles this side of the Big River;
+the track on the other, or south side, was all right, being on high
+ground.
+
+Our fast mail came in just then, and after the engines were changed, the
+engineer and conductor came into my office for their orders. I told them
+about the soft track, and in a spirit of pure fun, remarked to Ben
+Roberts, the engineer, that he had better look out or he would be taking
+a bath in Big River that night. He facetiously replied: "Well, I don't
+much mind. I'm generally so dirty when I get that far out that a bath
+would do me good."
+
+They received their orders, and as Roberts went out the door, he
+laughingly said, "I reckon, Bates, you'd better send the wrecker out
+right after us to fish me out of Big River to-night."
+
+I stepped over to the window, saw him climb up on engine 232, a
+beautiful McQueen, and pull out, and just as he started, he turned and
+waved his hand to me as if in token of farewell.
+
+Truxton, five miles from the river, was not a stop for the mail, but I
+had them flagged there, to give them another special warning about
+approaching Big River with caution. Just then the track walker came into
+Truxton, and reported that he had come from the river on a velocipede,
+and that while the track was soft it was not unsafe and the bridge
+appeared to be all right. Presently, I heard, "OS, OS, XN, No. 21, a
+7:45, d 7:51" and I knew the mail had gone on.
+
+The next station south was Burton, three miles beyond the bridge, and I
+thought I would wait until I had the "OS" report from there before going
+home for the night. Thirty minutes passed and no sign of her. This did
+not worry me much, because I knew Roberts would be extremely careful and
+run slow until he passed the bridge. In a minute Truxton opened up and
+said, "Raining like blazes now." I asked him where the track walker
+was, and he said he had gone out towards the bridge just after the mail
+had left.
+
+Fifty minutes of the most intense anxiety passed, and all of a sudden
+every instrument in the office ceased clicking. As soon as a wire opens,
+all the operators are instructed to try their ground wires, and in that
+way the break is soon located. Bentonville, Bakersville, Muncy, Ashton,
+all in quick succession tried their grounds, and reported "All wires
+open south." Presently the despatchers' wire closed again, and "DS, DS,
+XN." There! that was Truxton calling us now. I answered and he said,
+"Wires all open south. Heavy rain now falling; violent wind storm has
+just passed over us; lots of lightning; looks like the storm would last
+all night."
+
+I told him to hustle out and get the section foreman, and gave him an
+order to take his gang and car and go to the bridge and back at once and
+make a full report.
+
+But where was 21 all this time? Stuck in the mud, I hoped, but all the
+same I was beginning to have a great many misgivings. Mr. Antwerp, the
+division superintendent, came in just then, and I reported all the facts
+of the case to him. He was very much worried, but said he hoped it would
+turn out all right. Getting nothing from Burton, on the south, I told
+Truxton to keep on his ground until the section gang or track walker
+came back with a report. Twenty minutes later he began to call "DS" with
+all his might. I answered and this is what the despatcher's copy
+operator took:
+
+     Truxton, 5 | 21, 188--.
+
+     "M. N. B. "DS.
+
+     "No. 21 went through Big River bridge to-night; track was soft all
+     the way over from Truxton; engine, mail, baggage and one coach on
+     the bridge when it gave way; three Pullmans stayed on the track.
+     Roberts, engineer; Carter, fireman, and Sampson, conductor, all
+     missing. Need doctors.
+
+     "O'HARA,
+     "Brakeman."
+
+My God! wasn't it awful! I sent one caller to get out the wrecking crew
+and another for a doctor. I then instructed Burke to prepare orders for
+the wrecker, pulling everything off and giving her a clean sweep; told
+Truxton to keep on his ground wire and stay close; and pulling on my
+rain coat, I bounded down the steps and up to the roundhouse to hurry up
+the engine. Engine 122, with Ed Stokes at the throttle, was just backing
+down as I came out, so I ran back, signed the orders, and as soon as
+the doctors arrived, Mr. Antwerp told me to pull out and take charge,
+saying he would come out if necessary on a special.
+
+It was scarcely five minutes from the time I received the first message
+until we pulled out and started on our wild ride of rescue. Forty miles
+in forty minutes, with one slow down was our time. The old derrick and
+wreck outfit swayed to and fro like reeds in the wind, as we went down
+the track like a thunderbolt, but fortunately we held to the rails.
+There was scarcely a word spoken in the caboose, every one being intent
+upon holding on and thinking of the horrible scene we were soon to view.
+When we reached Truxton we found the track walker there, and after
+hearing his story in brief, we pulled out for the bridge. Our ride from
+Truxton over to the wreck was frightful. It was still raining torrents,
+the wind was coming up again, lightning flashed, thunder rolled and the
+track was so soft in some places that it seemed as if we would topple
+over; but we finally reached there--and then what a scene to behold!
+
+The bridge, a long wooden trestle, was completely gone, nothing being
+left but twisted iron and a few broken stringers hanging in the air.
+Four mail clerks, the express messenger, and the baggage man were
+drowned like rats in a trap. Poor Ben Roberts had hung to his post like
+the hero, that he was, and was lost. Sampson, the conductor, and Carter,
+the fireman, were both missing, and in the forward coach, which was not
+entirely submerged, having fallen on one end of the baggage car, were
+many passengers, a number of whom were killed, and the rest all more or
+less injured.
+
+The river was not very wide, and I had the headlight taken off of our
+engine and placed on the bank; and presently a wrecker came up from the
+south, and her headlight was similarly placed, casting a ghastly weird,
+white light over the scene of suffering and desolation. I cut in a
+wrecking office, Truxton took off his ground, I put on mine, and Mr.
+Antwerp was soon in possession of all the facts. A little later I was
+standing up to my knees in mud and water, and I heard a weak voice say:
+"Mr. Bates, for God's sake let me speak to you a minute."
+
+I looked around and beheld the most woebegone, bedraggled specimen of
+humanity I had ever seen in my life. "Well, who under the sun are you?"
+I asked.
+
+"I'm Carter, the fireman of No. 21. When I felt the bridge going I
+jumped. I was half stunned, but managed to keep afloat, being carried
+rapidly down the stream. I struck the bank about a mile and a half below
+here, and I've had one almighty big struggle to get back. For the love
+of the Virgin give me a drink; I'm half dead;" and with that the poor
+fellow fell over senseless.
+
+I called one of the doctors and had him taken to the caboose of the
+wrecker, and when I had time I went in and heard the rest of his story.
+The poor chap was badly hurt, having one ankle broken, besides being
+bruised up generally. He said when No. 21 left Truxton, Roberts
+proceeded at a snail-like pace, keeping a sharp lookout for a wash out.
+He slowed almost to a standstill before going on the bridge, but
+everything appearing all safe and sound he started again, remarking to
+Carter, "Here's where I get the bath that Bates spoke about."
+
+[Illustration: "See here, who is going to pull this train?"]
+
+The engine was half way over when there came a deafening roar; the train
+quivered, and--then Carter jumped. That was all he knew. It was enough,
+and we sent him back with the rest of the wounded the next morning. He
+is pulling a passenger train there to-day. The engine was lost in the
+quicksands, and was never recovered, and Ben Roberts stayed with her to
+the last. He had more than his bath in Big River that night; he had his
+funeral; the river was his grave, and the engine his shroud.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+A PROMOTION BY FAVOR AND ITS RESULTS
+
+
+I had been on the C. N. & Q. for about eight months, when my second
+trick man took sick, and being advised to seek a healthier climate,
+resigned and went south. Generally speaking the chief despatcher's
+recommendation is enough to place a man in his office; and as I had
+always believed in the rule of seniority, I wanted to appoint the third
+trick man to the second trick, make the day copy operator third trick
+man, and call in a new copy operator to replace the night man who would
+be promoted to the day job. In fact, I had started the ball rolling
+toward the accomplishment of this end, when Mr. Antwerp, the division
+superintendent, defeated all my plans by peremptorily asserting his
+prerogative and appointing his nephew, John Krantzer, who had been night
+copy operator to the third trick. I protested with all my might, in fact
+was once on the point of resigning my position but the old man wouldn't
+hear of either proposition, and Krantzer secured the place. Now while
+Krantzer was an excellent copy operator, he was very young, and lacked
+that persistence and reliability so essential in a successful
+despatcher. After I had protested until I was black in the face, I asked
+Mr. Antwerp at least to put the young man on the second trick, so that
+in a measure I could have him under my eye. But no, nothing but the
+third trick would satisfy him, so on the third trick the rattle-brained
+chap went the next night.
+
+He struggled through the first night without actually killing anybody,
+but his train sheet the next morning resembled a man with a very bad
+case of measles; there were delays on everything on the road, with very
+few satisfactory explanations. There was the fast mail twenty-five
+minutes in going six miles. Cause? None was given. But a perusal of the
+order book showed that Krantzer had made a meet for her with a freight
+train, and had hung her up on a blind siding for fifteen minutes.
+Freights that had been out all night were still out, tied up in all
+kinds of shapes. Meets had been made for two long trains at a point
+where the passing track was not large enough to accommodate either one
+of them, and the result was thirty minutes lost by both of them in "raw
+hiding" by. Many other discrepancies were noticeable, but these
+sufficed to show that Krantzer's abilities as a despatcher were of a
+very low order. However, I reflected, that it was his first night, and I
+remembered my own similar experience not many years ago, so I simply
+submitted the sheet to Mr. Antwerp without comment. He wiped his
+glasses, carefully adjusted them on his aristocratic nose, and after
+glancing at the sheet for a few moments, said, "Ah! humph! Well! Well!
+Well! Not a very auspicious start, to be sure; but the boy will pick up.
+Just jack him up in pretty good shape, Bates; it will do him good." I
+jacked him up all right to the queen's taste but it was like pouring
+water on a duck's back.
+
+The second night was not much of an improvement, and I made a big kick
+to Mr. Antwerp the following morning, but it did no good. The third
+night was a hummer. I was kept at the office pretty late, in fact until
+after eleven o'clock, and before going home I wrote Krantzer a note
+telling him to be very careful as there were many trains on the road.
+Our through business at this time was very heavy, and compelled us to
+run many extras and specials. I was particular to inform him of two
+extras north, that would leave Bradford, the lower end of the division,
+some time after 12:30 A. M., and directed him to run them as special
+freights having the right of track over all trains except the
+passengers. Each train was made up of twenty-five cars of California
+fruit bound for New York, and they were the first of their kind to be
+run by us. We had a strong competitor for this class of business in the
+Valley Route, a line twenty miles away, and were making a big bid for
+the trade. The general manager had sent a message that a special effort
+was to be made to put the two trains through a-whooping, and I had
+ordered engines 228 and 443, two of the best on the road, to pull them.
+Burke, the second trick man had everything running smoothly at the time
+I wrote the note, and I told Krantzer that, as it looked then, all he
+would have to do would be to keep them coming. No. 13, a fast freight
+south, had an engine that wasn't steaming very well, and I suggested to
+him to put her on the siding at Manitou. It would delay 13 about fifteen
+minutes but her freight was all dead stuff, so that would not make much
+difference. I did everything but write the order, and that I could not
+do, because I couldn't tell just what the conditions would be when the
+extras reached Bradford, where they would receive the order.
+
+Krantzer succeeded in getting them started in fair shape; but not
+content to let well enough alone, he thought he would run No. 13 on to
+Burnsides instead of putting her on the siding at Manitou as I had
+suggested, and gave orders to that effect. After he had given the
+"complete" he told the operator to tell them to "fly." If he had given
+this same order for the meeting at Burnsides to the two extras, _at the
+same time_, all would have been well, except that the extras would have
+been delayed some fifteen minutes, but this he was unable to do.
+Burnsides itself is only a day office, so he could not communicate with
+them there, and they had already passed Gloriana, the first night office
+south of Burnsides. The operator at Gloriana heard the order to 13 and
+told Krantzer it was a risky thing to do; but he told him "to mind his
+own business, as he (Krantzer) could run that division without any
+help."
+
+No. 13 was pulled by engine 67, with Jim Bush at the throttle, and he
+was such a runner that he had earned the sobriquet of "Lightning
+Jimmie." While he had reported early in the evening that his engine was
+not steaming very well, he had succeeded in getting her to working good
+by this time. Burnsides is at the foot of a long grade from the north,
+and about a mile up there is a very abrupt curve as the track winds
+around the side of the hill. The two extras were bowling along merrily
+when they struck this grade; and although there is a time card rule that
+says that trains will be kept ten minutes apart, they were right
+together, helping each other over the grade. In fact, it was one train
+with two engines, somewhat of a double header with the second engine in
+the middle. They were going on for all they were worth, expecting to
+meet No. 13 at Manitou, as originally ordered.
+
+In the meantime, Bush pulling No. 13, had passed Manitou, and with
+thirty-eight heavy cars behind him, was working her for all she was
+worth on the down grade, so as to get on the siding for the extras at
+Burnsides. He was carrying out Krantzer's order to "fly," with a
+vengeance. And just as he turned the curve, he saw, not fifty yards
+ahead of him, the headlight of the first extra. To stop was out of the
+question. He whistled once for brakes, reversed his engine, pulled her
+wide open and then jumped! He landed safely enough, and beyond a broken
+right arm, and a badly bruised leg, was unhurt. His poor fireman,
+though, jumped on the other side and was dashed to pieces on the rocks;
+and the head man and engineer of the first extra were also killed. I had
+known many times of two trains being put in the hole; but this was the
+first time I had ever seen three of them so placed.
+
+Krantzer had sense enough to order out the wrecker, and send for me. I
+knew just as soon as I heard the caller's rap on my door that he had
+done something so I lost no time in getting over to the office and there
+sat Krantzer as cool as if he had not just killed three men by his gross
+carelessness and cost the company thousands of dollars. I had the old
+man called and when he came and learned what had occurred, his
+discomfiture was so great that I felt fully repaid for all my annoyance
+on his nephew's account. He directed me to go out to the wreck and
+report to him upon arrival. I had Forbush, the first trick man, called
+and placed him in charge of the office during my absence. Incidentally,
+I told Krantzer he had better be scarce when I sent the remains of those
+crews in, because I fancied they were in a fit mood to kill him. When I
+returned I found that he had gone. It appeared that Jim Bush went up
+into the office, and although he had one arm broken, he was prepared to
+beat the life out of that crazy young despatcher. Forbush saw him coming
+and gave Krantzer a tip, and as Bush came in one door, Krantzer went out
+the other.
+
+The effects of this wreck were far beyond calculation to the company
+because they lost the business they were striving to win, and the way
+the general manager went for old man Antwerp was enough to make us all
+grin with delight. It is needless to say I was allowed to place my own
+men thereafter.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+JACKING UP A NEGLIGENT OPERATOR--A CONVICT OPERATOR--DICK, THE PLUCKY
+CALL BOY
+
+
+One of the most unpleasant duties I had to perform was that of "jacking
+up" operators, and punishing them for their short-comings. Generally, if
+the case was not a very bad one, and the man had a good reputation, I
+would try and smooth it over with only a reprimand; but there are times
+"when patience ceases to be a virtue," and punishment must be inflicted.
+The train sheet is always the first indication that some operator is to
+be "hauled up on the carpet." One morning I found the following entry on
+the sheet:--
+
+"No. 16 delayed forty-five minutes at Bentonville, account not being
+able to raise the operator at Sicklen in that time. Called for
+explanation and operator said 'he was over at hotel getting some
+lunch.'"
+
+That excuse "over at hotel getting some lunch," is as familiar to a
+railroad operator as the creed is to a good churchman. A young man
+named Charles Ferral was the night man at Sicklen, and his ability as
+an operator was only exceeded by his inability to tell the truth when he
+was in a tight place. I was too old an operator to be fooled by any such
+a yarn as this; and besides, the conductor of No. 17 reported to me that
+he had found Ferral stretched out on the table asleep, when he stopped
+there for water. But he was a first-rate man and I didn't want to lose
+him, so I wrote him a sharp letter and told him that a repetition of his
+offense would cause him to receive his time instantly. He was as
+penitent as the prodigal son, and promised never to so offend again; and
+he kept his word--for just about ten days.
+
+One morning he asked my permission to come up to "DS" on No. 2 and go
+back on No. 3 in the afternoon. I gave it, but warned him to not lose
+too much sleep. There are some men in the business that the sound of
+their office call on a telegraph instrument will cause to awaken at once
+no matter how soundly they may be sleeping, but Ferral was not one of
+these. The night following his return to his station, I was kept at the
+office until late, and about eleven o'clock No. 22 appeared at
+Bakersville, and wanted to run to Ashton for No. 17. They were both
+running a little late, and as 17 had a heavy train of coal and system
+empties, I told Burke to let them go. But the only station at which we
+could then get an order to 17 was Sicklen, Ferral's station. Burke began
+to call, but Sicklen made no answer. He called for forty-five minutes at
+a stretch, 22 all the time waiting at Bakersville. He stopped for five
+minutes and then went at it again. In ten minutes Sicklen answered.
+Burke started to give the order, but Ferral broke and gave the "OS"
+report that 17 had just gone by.
+
+That settled it; No. 22 was hung up another hour all on account of
+Ferral's failure to attend to his duty. I opened up on him and said,
+"Where have you been for the last fifteen minutes?" The same old excuse,
+"Lunch," came back at me.
+
+"Well, where were you for ten minutes before that?"
+
+Then that dear old stereotyped expression, "Fixing my batteries,"
+followed. But I was only too sure that he had been asleep, and No. 17
+going by had awakened him. So I gently remarked that "I was not born
+yesterday, and said that he would probably have ample time to fix his
+batteries after this; that, in fact, I thought it would be a good thing
+for him to take a long course in battery work, and I would assist him
+all I could--I would provide him with the time for the work."
+
+The next morning I laid the matter before Mr. Antwerp, and he wanted the
+man discharged forthwith. But during the night my anger had cooled
+somewhat and now I felt inclined to give him another chance; so I simply
+urged that he be laid off for a while.
+
+"All right, Bates, but make it a good stiff lay-off--not less than
+fifteen days," said Mr. Antwerp.
+
+I wrote Ferral accordingly; but I had scarcely finished when a letter
+came from him to me, begging off, and promising anything if I would not
+discharge him; but, instead would lay him off for _forty-five days_. I
+took him at his word and gave him the forty-five days he asked for,
+instead of the fifteen I had intended to give him. But, about two weeks
+later he came up to "DS," and looked so woebegone, and pleaded so hard
+to be taken back, that I remitted the remainder of his punishment. He
+was greatly chagrined when he learned that he had trebled his own
+sentence. He was never remiss again. Go over to the despatcher's office
+any night and you will see him, bright and alert, sitting opposite the
+despatcher doing the copying. He is in the direct line of promotion, and
+some day will be a despatcher himself. I never regretted my leniency.
+
+In addition to the main line, I had a branch of thirty-eight miles,
+running from Bentonville up to Sandia. The despatching for this branch
+was done from my office, and when we wanted anyone there Bentonville
+would cut us through. This was seldom necessary, however, because there
+were only two trains daily, a combination freight and passenger each
+way. The last station this side of Sandia was Alexis. The state
+penitentiary was located there, and the telegraphing was done by a
+convict "trusty"--a man who, having been appointed cashier of a big
+freight office in the western part of the state, couldn't stand
+prosperity, and, in consequence, had been sent up for six years. His
+conduct had been so good that, after he had served four years inside of
+the walls, he was made a "trusty." His ability as an operator was
+extraordinary. He had a smooth easy way of sending that made his sending
+as plain as a circus bill.
+
+The two branch trains on the branch were known as 61 and 62, and one day
+62, running north in the morning, had jumped the track laying herself
+out about ten hours. When she left Sandia as 61 on her return trip
+south, she again went off the track and the result was sixteen hours'
+more delay. We wouldn't send a wrecker up from the main line, and they
+had to work out their own salvation. When they finally appeared at
+Alexis they were running on the time of 62. That would never do, and the
+conductor asked the operator at Alexis to get him orders to run to
+Bentonville regardless of No. 62. Burke, my second trick man, was on
+duty at the time, and it so chanced that he did not know the Alexis man
+was a convict. He was about to give the order asked for when something
+on the main line diverted him for a moment. When he was ready again,
+Alexis broke him and said, "Wait a minute."
+
+To tell a despatcher to wait a minute when he is sending a train order
+is to court sudden death, and Burke said, "Wait for what?"
+
+"For whatever you blame please, I'm going out to weigh this coal."
+
+Burke's Irish blood was all up in his head by this time, and he said:
+"What do you mean by talking that way to me? No. 61 is waiting for this
+'9'; now you copy and I'll get your time sent you in the morning."
+
+"Oh! will you? I guess my time is all fixed so you can't touch it. I
+only wish you could; I'd like mighty well to be fired from this job; I
+wouldn't even wait for my pay."
+
+I had been sitting at my desk taking it all in, and was just about
+ready to expire with laughter, when Burke called over to me: "Did you
+hear that young fellow's impudence?"
+
+"Yes, I heard."
+
+"Well, what are you going to do about it? I've never had an operator
+talk to me like that before. I must certainly insist that you dismiss
+him at once. He and I can't work on the same road."
+
+"Unfortunately, Burke," said I, "the State has a claim on his services
+for two years yet, and I am afraid they won't waive it."
+
+At this it dawned upon Burke, who and what the man really was; but I
+cannot say that his humor was improved at once by the discovery.
+
+One morning shortly after this I was sitting in my office making up an
+annual train report, and was cussing out anything and everybody, because
+this train report is one of the worst things in the whole business. It
+was figures till you couldn't rest, and I had already been working at it
+for three days, and my head was in a perfect whirl. That morning one of
+our call boys had turned up missing and that fact also irritated me. It
+would seem that a call boy was a pretty insignificant chap in a big
+railroad, but such is not the case. In a perfect system every employee
+is like a cog in a big wheel, and as soon as one cog is broken there is
+a jar in the otherwise smooth symmetrical movement of the machine. The
+call boy is quite an important personage, because, upon him depends the
+prompt calling of the various crews in time to take out their trains. He
+must keep a keen watch on the call board for the marking up of trains;
+he must know who is the first to go out, and he must know the dwelling
+place of every engineer, fireman, conductor and brakeman in the city. On
+a big division like ours, this, in itself, was not a small job. On some
+roads men are employed for this work, but I had always been partial to
+the boys, and kept four of them, two on days and two on nights. When my
+day boy left, I promoted a night boy to the second day job, and was
+cudgeling my brain for a good chap to go on nights. In a little while I
+heard a sharp rap on the office door, and in response to my "come in,"
+uttered in a tone that was anything but pleasant, a sturdy looking
+little chap about fourteen years old stood before me. He had a shock of
+jet black hair, tumbled all over his head, a pair of bright eyes, round
+full face, not over clean, strong limbs and a well knit body. His
+clothes hung on him like gunny sacks, and the crudity of the many
+various patches indicated that they had not been put on by woman's deft
+fingers. He didn't wait for me to speak, but blurted out:
+
+"Say, mister, I have just heard tell as how you wants a call boy. Do
+you?"
+
+He took my breath away by his bluntness; he looked so honest and
+sincere, so I simply replied, "Yes," and waited.
+
+"Well then, I wants the job. See!"
+
+"What's your name, youngster, and where is your home?"
+
+"My name's Dick Durstine; I hain't got no home, no father, no mother, no
+nothin', just me, and I wants to learn the tick tick business. It looks
+dead easy."
+
+This was really funny, but I liked his impudence, and, while I had no
+intention of hiring him, I determined to draw him out, so I said:
+
+"Where were you born, when did you come here, and do you know where any
+of the crews live?"
+
+"I was born in St. Louis; mother died when I was a kid, and Dad was such
+a drunken worthless old cuss and beat me so much, that I brought up in a
+foundling asylum. I come in here riding on the trucks of your mail train
+about three weeks ago, and the fellers up in the roundhouse have been
+lettin' me feed and snooze there. I know where all the crews live
+exceptin' some of your kid glove engineers wot pulls the fast trains,
+but I can soon find them out. Please give me the job, mister; I'm honest
+and I'll work hard."
+
+Something in his blunt straightforward way appealed to me and I
+determined to try him. Handled right I imagined he would be a good man;
+handled wrong, he would probably become a bright and shining light of
+the _genus_ hobo. So I hired him, telling him his salary would be forty
+dollars per month.
+
+"Hully gee!" he exclaimed, "forty plunks a month! Well say! I won't do a
+ting wid all dat mun; I'll just buy a road. Thank you mister, I'll work
+so hard for you that you'll not be sorry you gave me the job. But don't
+you forget that I wants to learn the tick tick business."
+
+That night at seven o'clock he went to work, and it didn't take long to
+see that he was as bright as a new dollar. He knew everything about the
+division, knew all the crews and where they lived. Days went by and
+still he held up his end and was a great favorite with all the force.
+There was a local instrument in the office, and one of the operators
+wrote the Morse alphabet for him, and ever after that he kept pegging
+away at the key. He practiced writing and it wasn't many weeks before
+he was getting to be something of an operator. I went out to the main
+line battery room one evening to give some instructions to the man in
+charge and there I discovered Master Dick with a battery syringe in one
+hand and a brush in the other deeply engrossed in monkeying with the
+jars.
+
+"Look here, you young rascal," I said sharply, "what are you doing in
+here? First thing you know you will short circuit some of these
+batteries and then there'll be the de'il to pay: Don't you ever let me
+catch you out here again, or I'll fire you bodily."
+
+"I hain't been doing nothin', Mister Bates, I just wanted to see what
+made the old thing go tick tick. Wot's all them glass jars for wid the
+green water and the tin in?"
+
+I explained to him as well as I could the construction of the gravity
+battery. He had been forbidden to monkey with any of the instruments or
+the switch board in the main office, but his infernal inquisitiveness
+soon ran away with his sense, and it wasn't long before he was in
+trouble. He pulled a plug out of the switch board one evening, and Burke
+threatened to kill him. Another evening, he went into my office and
+monkeyed with an instrument that I kept there connected to the
+despatcher's wire, and left it open. There was no report from any of the
+offices on either side, and investigation soon revealed the culprit. The
+wire was open for ten minutes and Burke was as mad as a March hare, when
+he reported it to me the next morning. I sent for Master Dick and
+informed him that another such a report against him would cause his
+instant dismissal. He seemed penitent enough, but two nights afterwards
+he short circuited all the main line batteries by his foolishness, and
+raised Cain in the office for a while. The next morning his time was
+presented to him and he was told to get out. He pleaded hard but his
+offenses had been too numerous, and I had to let him go. I must confess,
+however, that we all missed him greatly, because, in spite of his
+troublesome nature, he was a prime favorite with all the force.
+
+Our road ran through some wild unsettled country, and a few years
+previous, a Mr. Bob Forney and some distinguished gentlemen of the road,
+had paid us a visit, with the result that the express company lost about
+forty thousand dollars and their messenger his life. The country became
+too warm for them and they fled.
+
+Our flyer left two nights after this, having on board about a hundred
+thousand dollars of government money, and I remarked to Bob Stanton,
+the conductor, that it was a fine chance for a hold up, but he laughed
+it off and said that civilization was too far advanced for that kind of
+work just now.
+
+About nine o'clock I was sitting in the despatcher's office smoking a
+cigar before going home for the night, when all at once the despatcher's
+wire and the railroad line opened. Sicklen reported south of him and
+then took off his ground. Pretty soon the sounder began to open and
+close in a peculiar shaky manner, and then I heard the following:
+
+"To 'DS,' gang of robbers goin' to hold up the flyer in Ashley's cut
+to-night. They will place rails and ties on the track to wreck train if
+they don't heed signal. Warn train to watch out and bring gang out from
+Sicklen. This is Dick Durstine."
+
+All was quiet for a minute and then he started again, but soon he
+stopped short and we heard no more. The line remained open.
+
+We raised Sicklen on a commercial wire and told him to turn his
+red-light and hold everything. I was in somewhat of a quandary; the
+sending had been miserable, sounding unlike any stuff Dick had ever
+sent, and then the stopping of the whole business made it seem rather
+suspicious. Still Ashley's cut was an ideal place for a hold up, and the
+weather was dark and stormy. Everything was propitious for just such a
+job.
+
+In the meantime, Ashton, the first office south of Sicklen, had reported
+on the commercial line that the despatcher's wire was open north of him.
+That would place it near the cut in all probability. Anyway I didn't
+intend to take any chance, so I sent a message to Sicklen telling him to
+notify the sheriff of all the facts and ask him to send out a posse on
+the flyer, and, also, for him to get the day man to go out and patch the
+lines up until a line man could get there in the morning. About twenty
+minutes afterwards the flyer left Sicklen nicely fixed with a strong
+posse, and an order to approach the cut with caution. It was only three
+miles from Sicklen to the cut, and I knew it would be but a matter of a
+short while until something was heard. Sure enough, forty minutes later
+the despatcher's wire closed and this message came:
+
+     "To Bates, DS:
+
+     "Attempt to hold up No. 21 in Ashley's cut was frustrated by the
+     sheriff's posse. Outlaws had placed ties on the track in case we
+     did not heed the signal to stop. Two of them killed, three captured
+     and one escaped. Dick Durstine is here, badly shot through the
+     right lung. Will have him sent in from Sicklen on 22 in the
+     morning.
+
+     "Stanton, Conductor."
+
+The next morning when 22 pulled in I went down and there, laid out on a
+litter in the baggage car, was Dick Durstine, my former call boy, weak,
+pale, and just living. He was conscious, and when I leaned over him his
+eyes glistened for a minute, he smiled and feebly said:
+
+"Say, Mister Bates, didn't I do them fellers up in good shape? When I
+gets well again will you gimme back my job so I can learn some more
+about the tick tick? I'll never monkey any more, honest to God, I
+won't."
+
+A queer lump came in my throat and there was a suspicion of moisture in
+my eyes as I contemplated this brave little hero, and I said:
+
+"God bless your brave little heart, Dick, you can have anything on this
+division."
+
+Mr. Antwerp had appeared and was visibly affected. We had Dick removed
+to the company hospital, and then for some days he lay hovering between
+life and death, but youth, and a strong constitution finally won out and
+he began to mend.
+
+When he was able to sit up I heard his story. It appeared that when I
+dismissed him he laid around the place for a day, and then jumping a
+freight, started south. At Sicklen he had been put off by a heartless
+brakeman and had started to walk to Ashton. It was evening and he became
+tired. After walking as far as the north end of the cut he laid down and
+went to sleep behind a pile of old ties. He was awakened by the sound of
+voices near by, and listening intently, he learned that the men were
+outlaws and intended to hold up the flyer that night. They intended to
+flag her down as she entered the cut and do the business in the usual
+smooth manner. In case she wouldn't stop, they would have a pile of ties
+on the track that would soon put a quietus on her flight. Poor little
+Dick was horrified and stealing quietly away some distance he stopped
+and cogitated. Time was becoming precious. How was he to send a warning?
+Oh! if he could only get into a telegraph office! Suddenly an idea
+struck him. He went a little farther up the track, and shinning up a
+pole he took his heavy jack-knife, and after a hard effort, succeeded in
+cutting two wires. Another pole was climbed and only one wire cut from
+it. With this strand he made a joint so that the two ends of the
+despatcher's wire could be brought in easy contact. Then by knocking the
+two ends together he sent the warning. His cutting of the wire had made
+a peculiar loud twang and one of the outlaws heard it. Becoming
+suspicious, he and his partner started up the track to investigate. They
+came upon Dick, kneeling on one knee, engrossed in his work, and without
+one word of warning shot him in the back. They left him for dead, but
+thank God he did not die, and to-day he is on a road that before many
+years will land him on top of the heap.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+AN EPISODE OF SENTIMENT
+
+
+The night man down at Bentonville quit rather suddenly one fall morning,
+and as I had no immediate relief in prospect, I wired the chief
+despatcher of the division south of me to send me a man if he had any to
+spare. That afternoon I received a message from him saying he had sent
+Miss Ellen Ross to take the place. I still had a very distinct
+recollection of my encounter with Miss Love, and I wasn't overfond of
+women operators anyway, so Miss Ross's welcome to my division was not a
+hearty one. She was the first woman I had ever had under my
+jurisdiction. I was at the office quite late a night or two after this,
+and heard some of her work; there was no use denying that she was a very
+smooth operator as well as a very prompt one. Burke said he had no
+complaint to offer; she was always on time, and I must confess I felt
+much chagrined. I wanted a chance to discharge her, but it didn't appear
+to materialize. But I was a patient waiter and one morning about three
+weeks later I came into the office and on looking over the delay sheet I
+saw the following entry in the delay column:
+
+"No. 18 delayed fifty minutes, account not being able to raise the
+operator at Bentonville in that time; as an explanation, operator says
+she was over at the hotel getting her lunch."
+
+Evidently Miss Ross had little ingenuity in the line of excuses or she
+would never have offered such a threadbare one as that. I wanted the
+chance to annihilate her and here it was. I called up Bentonville and
+asked if Miss Ross was there. She was, and I said, "Isn't it possible
+for you to invent a better excuse than 'lunch' for your failure to
+answer last night, or this morning rather?"
+
+She drummed on the key for a moment and then said if I didn't like that
+excuse I knew what I could do. I caught my breath at her audacity and
+then "_did_." I sent her time to her on No. 21, and a man to take her
+place. I then dismissed the matter from my mind and supposed that I had
+heard the last of Miss Ross. I never was very well acquainted with the
+female sex or I would not have dismissed the matter with such
+complacency.
+
+A day or two after this I was sitting in the division superintendent's
+office, he being out on the road, and I heard a voice say:
+
+"Is this Mr. Bates?" I had not heard anyone come in and I glanced up and
+answered, "Yes." I saw before me a young woman of an air and appearance
+that fairly took my breath away. I immediately arose to my feet and with
+all possible deference invited her to take a seat. I supposed she was
+the wife of some of the officials and wanted a pass. In response to my
+inquiry as to what could I do for her she said, timidly:
+
+"I am Miss Ross, lately night operator at Bentonville."
+
+Her answer put me more off my ease than ever, but the discipline of the
+road had to be maintained at any-cost; so as soon as I could, I put on
+my severest look and sternly said, "Well!" She smiled slightly in a way
+that made me doubt if she were much impressed by my display of rigor;
+and answered, "I came to see if you wouldn't take me back. I am sure I
+didn't mean to offend the other night. I have been an operator for
+nearly four years and I have never had the least bit of trouble before.
+You have no fault to find with my work I am sure; and I promise to be
+very careful to never offend again. Won't you please take me back?"
+
+Gee! but she did look pretty and her big black eyes were shining like
+bright stars. If she had only known it I was ready by this time to have
+given her the best job on the whole division, even my own, but I wasn't
+going to give up without a show of resistance and I said:
+
+"Humph! Well let's see!" Then I rang my bell and told the boy to get me
+the train sheet of the sixteenth. I looked very stern and very wise as I
+read the delay report to her.
+
+"That, Miss Ross, is a very serious offense. A delay of fifty minutes to
+any train is bad enough, but when it happens to a through freight it is
+the worst possible. Then you say you were at the hotel for lunch. The
+order book shows that the despatcher called you from two A. M. until
+two-fifty A. M. Isn't that rather an unearthly hour to be going out to
+lunch? My recollection of the Bentonville station is that it is a mile
+from the excuse of a hotel in the place. Really, I am very sorry but I
+don't see how anything can be done."
+
+Discipline was being maintained, you see, in great shape, but all the
+time I was delivering my little speech I was feeling like a big
+red-headed hypocrite. Miss Ross looked up at me with those beautiful
+eyes; then two big tears made their appearance on the scene, and she
+sobbed out:
+
+"Well, I know I told a fib when I made that excuse, but the despatcher
+was so sharp and I was so scared when he said he had been calling me for
+fifty minutes, that I told him the first thing that came into my mind.
+Then, the next day I was angry at you, because I thought you were
+chaffing me, as I was the only woman on the line, and I suppose I was
+rather impudent. But do you think it is fair to discharge me for the
+same thing that you only gave Mr. Ferral fifteen days for? Are you not
+doing it simply because I am a woman?"
+
+I never could stand a woman's tears, especially a pretty one, and when
+she cited the case of Ferral, I realized that I had lost my game. I let
+myself down as easily as I could and that night Miss Ross went back to
+work at Bentonville, and the man there was put on the waiting list.
+
+It was very funny after this how many times I had to run down to
+Bentonville. That Sandia branch line had to be inspected; the switch
+board had to be replaced by a new one in "BN" office; wires had to be
+changed, a new ground put in, and many other things done, and always I
+had to go myself to see that the work was done properly. The agent at
+Bentonville came, before very long, to smile in a very knowing way
+whenever I jumped off the train; Mr. Antwerp had a peculiarly wise look
+in his eye when I mentioned anything about Bentonville, but I didn't
+mind it. I was in love with the sweet little girl, and was walking on
+the clouds. If I hadn't been I would have seen that my cake was all
+dough in that quarter. I might have noticed that big Dan Forbush had an
+amused look in his eye when I went off on one of these trips. If I had
+watched the mail I might have seen numerous little billets coming daily
+from Bentonville, addressed in a neat round hand to "Mr. Dan Forbush."
+But I didn't, I kept right on in my mad career, and one day when my
+courage was high I offered my hand and my heart to Miss Ross. She
+refused and told me that while she was honored by my proposal, she had
+been engaged to Mr. Forbush for two years, having known him down on the
+"Sunset" before he came to our road. I took my defeat as philosophically
+as I could and the next spring she left Bentonville for good, and Dan
+took a three weeks' leave. When he came back he brought sweet Ellen as
+his bride. One evening not long after that I was calling there, when
+Mrs. Forbush looked up at me very naively and said:
+
+"Mr. Bates, did I pay you back for discharging me?"
+
+[Illustration: "Are you not doing it just because I am a woman?"]
+
+There's no doubt about it, she did, and I felt it. She was the third
+girl to throw me over, and I determined to give up the business and go
+for a soldier. I stuck it out there till fall and then resigned for all
+time.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+
+THE MILITARY OPERATOR--A FAKE REPORT THAT NEARLY CAUSED TROUBLE
+
+
+The railroad and commercial telegraphers are well known to the general
+public, because they are thrown daily in contact with them, but there is
+still another class in the profession, which, while not being so well
+known are, in their way, just as important in their acts and deeds. I
+refer to the military telegrapher. His work does not often carry him
+within the environments of civilization; his instruments are not of the
+beautiful Bunnell pattern, placed on polished glass partitioned tables;
+his task is a very hard one and yet he does it without a grumble. His
+sphere of duty is out at the extreme edge of advancing civilization. You
+will find him along the Rio Grande frontier; out on the sun-baked
+deserts of New Mexico and Arizona; up in the Bad Lands of Montana, and
+the snow-capped mountains of the Rockies. A few of them you will find in
+nice offices at some department headquarters or in the war office in
+Washington, but such places are generally given to men who have grown
+old and gray in the service. His office? Any old place he can plant his
+instruments, many times a tent with a cracker box for a table; a chair
+would be an unheard-of luxury. His pay? Thirteen big round American
+dollars per month. His rank and title? Hold your breath while I tell
+you. Private, United States Army. Great, isn't it? Many times a detail
+to one of the frontier points means farewell to your friends as long as
+the tour lasts.
+
+When I left the railroad business I journeyed out westward to Fort
+Hayes, Kansas, and held up my right hand and swore all manner of oaths
+to support the Constitution of the United States; obey the orders of the
+President of the United States and all superior officers; to accept the
+pay and allowances as made by a generous (God save the word) Congress
+for the period of five years. Thus did I become a soldier and a "dough
+boy" because I went to the infantry arm of the service. I've stuck to
+the business ever since.
+
+I supposed when I went into the army that my connection with wires and
+telegraph instruments was entirely finished. I had worked at the
+business long and faithfully and was in a state of mind that I thought I
+had had enough. That's very good in theory, but powerful poor in
+practice, because I hadn't been soldiering a month before a feeling of
+homesickness for my old love came over me; in fact to this day I never
+see a railroad but what I want to go up in the despatcher's office and
+sit down and take a "trick." But there were commissions to be had from
+the ranks of the army and I wanted one, so I hung on and did my duty as
+best I could.
+
+The stay at Fort Hayes was a very peaceful and serene one; I did no
+telegraphing there for a year, and then we were ordered to Fort Clark,
+Texas. When I quit the commercial business I had almost taken an oath
+never to go back to Texas, but I couldn't help it in this case.
+
+Fort Clark is one hundred and thirty miles due west of dear old San
+Antonio, and situated nine miles from the railroad. When my company
+arrived, there was no telegraphic communication with the outside world
+and all telegrams had to be sent by courier to Spofford Junction, for
+transmission. After having been stationed there for about eight months I
+was sent for by the commanding officer and told to take charge of a
+party and build a telegraph line over to the railroad. The poles had
+been set by a detachment of the 3rd Cavalry and in five days' time I had
+strung the wire. Being the only operator in the post I was placed in
+charge of the office and relieved from all duty. It was a perfect snap;
+no drills, no guards, no parades, nothing but just work the wire and
+plenty of time to devote to my studies.
+
+In December, 1890, the Sioux Indians again broke loose from their
+reservations at Pine Ridge and all of the available men of the pitifully
+small, but gallant, United States army were hurriedly rushed northwards
+to give them a smash that would be lasting and convincing. There was the
+7th Cavalry, Custer's old command, the 6th and 9th Cavalry, the 10th,
+2nd, and 17th Infantry, the late lamented and gallant Capron's flying
+battery of artillery, besides others--General Miles personally assumed
+command, and the campaign was short, sharp, brilliant and decisive. The
+Indians were lambasted into a semblance of order, and that
+personification of deviltry, Sitting Bull, given his transportation to
+the happy hunting grounds, but not before a score or more of brave
+officers and men had passes to their long reckoning. Captain George
+Wallace, of the 7th Cavalry; Lieutenant Mann, of the same regiment, and
+Lieutenant Ned Casey, of the 22nd Infantry, left places in the ranks of
+the officers that were hard to fill.
+
+My regiment, the 18th Infantry, was too far away to go, and besides,
+the Rio Grande frontier, with Señor Garza and his band of cutthroats
+prowling around loose, could not be left unprotected. There would be too
+big a howl from the Texans if that occurred.
+
+During all these trying times my telegraph office was naturally the
+center of interest, and I had made an arrangement with the chief
+operator at San Antonio to send me bulletins of any important news. I
+always made two copies, posting one on the bulletin board in front of my
+office, and delivering the other to the colonel in person.
+
+Soldiers are very loquacious as a rule and give them a thread upon which
+to hang an argument, and in a minute a free silver, demo-popocrat
+convention would sound tame in comparison. Go into a squad-room at any
+time the men are off duty, and you can have a discussion on almost any
+old subject from the result of the coming prize fight to the deepest
+question of the bible and theology. Many times the argument will become
+so warm between Privates "Hicky" Flynn and "Pie Faced" Sullivan that
+theology will be settled _a la_ Queensbury out behind the wash-house.
+Among soldiers this argumentative spirit is called "chewing the rag."
+
+One morning shortly after Wounded Knee with its direful results had
+been fought, I thought it would be a great joke to post a startling
+bulletin, just to start the men's tongues a-wagging.
+
+So I wrote the following:
+
+     "Bulletin
+
+     "San Antonio, Texas, 12 | 26, 1890.
+
+     "Reported that the 6th and 9th Cavalry were ambuscaded yesterday by
+     Sioux Indians under Crazy Horse, and completely wiped out of
+     existence. Custer's Little Big Horn massacre outdone. Not a man
+     escaped."
+
+I chuckled with fiendish glee as I posted this on the bulletin board and
+then started for breakfast. I thought some soldier would read it, tell
+it to the men of his company, and in that way the fun would commence. My
+scheme worked to perfection, because some of the men of G Company, (mine
+was D) had seen me stick it up and had come post haste to read. I
+started the ball rolling in my own company and in about a minute there
+were fifty men around me all jabbering like magpies as to the result of
+this awful massacre. Of course, the regiment would be hurried north
+forthwith--no other regiment could do the work of annihilation so well
+as the 18th. Oh! no. Of course not!
+
+Said my erstwhile friend and bunkie "Hickey" Flynn: "Av coorse, Moiles
+will be after sendin' a message to Lazelle to bring the Ateenth fut up
+at once, and thin the smashin' we will be after givin' them rid divils
+will make a wake look sick."
+
+"Aw cum off, Hickey," said Sullivan, "phat the divil does yez know av
+foightin' injuns? Phat were ye over in the auld sod? Nathin' but a turf
+digger. Phat were ye here before ye 'listed? Dom ye, I think ye belong
+to the Clan na Gael and helped to murther poor Doc Cronin, bad cess to
+ye."
+
+A display of authority on the part of the top sergeant prevented a clash
+and the jaw-breaking contest proceeded. By this time the news had spread
+and the entire garrison were talking. Just as I was about to tell them
+that it was a fake pure and simple, I happened to glance towards my
+office, and Holy Smoke! there was my captain standing on his tiptoes (he
+was only five feet four) reading that confounded bulletin. I hadn't
+counted on any of the officers reading it. Generally they didn't get up
+until eight o'clock and by that time I would have destroyed the fake
+report.
+
+The officers' club was in the same building as my office and the captain
+had come down early, evidently to get a--to read the morning paper
+(_which came at 4 P. M._) and his eye lighted on my bulletin. I saw him
+read it carefully, and then reaching up he tore it from the board and as
+quick as his little legs would carry him, he made a bee line for the
+commanding officer's quarters. I knew full well how the colonel would
+regard that bulletin when he found out it was a fake. I was able to
+discern a summary court-martial in my mind's eye, and that would knock
+my chances for a commission sky-highwards--because a man's military
+record must be absolutely spotless when he appears for examination. What
+was I to do? Just then I saw the captain go up the colonel's steps, ring
+the bell, and in a moment he was admitted. I felt that my corpse was
+laid out right then and there and the wake was about to begin.
+
+A few moments later the commanding officer's orderly came in, and
+looking around for a minute, caught sight of me and said:
+
+"Corporal, the commanding officer wants to see you at his quarters at
+once," and out he went. "Start the band to playing the 'Dead March in
+Saul,'" thought I, "because this is the beginning of a funeral
+procession in which I am to play the leading part." I walked as slowly
+as I could and not appear lagging, but I arrived at my crematory all too
+soon. I rapped on the door and in tones that made me shiver was bidden
+by the old man to come in. The colonel was standing in the middle of
+his parlor, wrapped in a gaudy dressing gown, and in his hand he held my
+mangled bulletin. Right at that minute I wished I had never heard a
+telegraph instrument click.
+
+"Corporal," said the colonel, "what time did you receive this bulletin?"
+
+"About six-fifteen, sir, immediately after reveille," I replied with a
+face as expressionless as a mummy's.
+
+"Why did you not bring it to me direct as you have heretofore done?"
+
+"Well, sir, I didn't think you were awake yet, and I did not want to
+disturb you."
+
+"Have you any later news, corporal?"
+
+"No sir, none, but I haven't been back to the office since, sir." Gee!
+but that room was becoming warm!
+
+"Are you certain as to the truth of this awful report?"
+
+"It is probably as authentic as a great many stories that are started
+during times like these--that is all I know of it, sir." (Lord forgive
+me.)
+
+"It seems almost too horrible to be true, and yet, one cannot tell about
+those Sioux. They're a bad lot--a devilish bad lot"--this to my
+captain--and then to me: "You go back to your office, corporal, and
+remain very close until you have a denial or a confirmation of this
+story and bring any news you may receive to me instanter. That's all
+corporal."
+
+The "corporal" needed no second dismissal, and saluting I quickly got
+out of an atmosphere that was far from chilly to me.
+
+Now, by my cussed propensity for joking, I had involved myself in this
+mess, and there was but one way out of it, and that was to brazen it out
+for a while longer and then post a denial of the supposed awful rumor.
+_But the denial must come over the wire_, so when I reached my office I
+called up Spofford and told old man Livingston what I had done and what
+I wanted him to do for me, and in about half an hour he sent me a
+"bulletin" saying that the previous report had happily proved unfounded
+and the 6th and 9th Cavalry were all right. This message I took at once
+to the colonel and as he read it he heaved a big sigh of relief, but he
+dismissed me with a very peculiar look in his eye.
+
+The next evening as I was passing the colonel's quarters on my way to
+deliver a message to the hospital, I heard him remark to another
+officer, "Major, don't you think it is strange that the papers received
+to-day make no mention of that frightful report received-here yesterday
+morning relative to the supposed massacre of the 6th and 9th Cavalry?"
+
+No, the major didn't think it a bit strange. Maybe he knew that
+newspaper stories should be taken _cum grano salis_, and then maybe he
+knew me.
+
+There were no more "fake reports" from that office.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII
+
+PRIVATE DENNIS HOGAN, HERO
+
+
+It was while I was sitting around a barrack-room fire that I picked up
+the following story. There were a number of old soldiers in my
+company--men who had served twenty-five years in the army--and their
+fund of anecdote and excitement was of the largest size.
+
+On Thanksgiving Day, 187--, Private Dennis Hogan, Company B, 29th United
+States Infantry, the telegraph operator at Fort Flint, Montana, sat in
+his dingy little "two by four" office in the headquarter building,
+communing with himself and cussing any force of circumstances that made
+him a soldier. The instruments were quiet, a good Thanksgiving dinner
+had been enjoyed and now the smoke from his old "T. D." pipe curled in
+graceful rings around his red head.
+
+Denny was a smashing good operator and some eighteen months before he
+had landed in St. Louis dead broke. All the offices and railroads were
+full and nary a place did he get. While walking up Pine street one
+morning his eye fell foul of a sign:--
+
+"Wanted, able-bodied, unmarried men, between the ages of twenty-one and
+thirty-five, for service in the United States Army."
+
+In his mind's eye he sized himself up and came to the conclusion that he
+would fill all the requirements. Now, he hadn't any great hankering for
+soldiering, but he didn't have a copper to his name and as empty
+stomachs stand not on ceremony, in he went and after being catechized by
+the recruiting sergeant, he was pounded for thirty minutes by the
+examining surgeon, pronounced as sound as a dollar, and then sworn in
+"to serve Uncle Sam honestly and faithfully for five years. So help me
+God." The space of time necessary to transform a man from a civilian to
+a soldier is of a very short duration, and almost before he knew it he
+was dressed in the plain blue of the soldier of the Republic. He was
+assigned to B company of the 28th United States Infantry stationed at
+Fort Flint, Montana. The experience was new and novel to him, and the
+three months recruit training well nigh wore him out, but he stuck to
+it, and some two months after he had been returned to duty, he was
+detailed as telegraph operator vice Adams of G Company, discharged.
+There he had remained since.
+
+At four o'clock on the afternoon in question Denny was aroused from his
+reverie by the sounder opening up and calling "FN" like blue blazes. He
+answered and this is what he took:
+
+    "DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS ST. PAUL, MINN.
+    "November 26th, 187-
+
+    "COMMANDING OFFICER,
+    "Fort Flint, Montana.
+
+    "Sioux Indians out. Prepare your command
+    for instant field service. Thirty days' rations;
+    two hundred rounds ammunition per man. Wire
+    when ready.
+
+    "By command of Major General Wherry.
+
+    (Signed) SMITH,
+    "Assistant Adjutant-General."
+
+Denny was the messenger boy as well as operator and without waiting to
+make an impression copy, he grabbed his hat and flew down the line to
+the colonel's quarters. That worthy was entertaining a party at dinner,
+and was about to give Hogan fits for bringing the message to him instead
+of to the post adjutant; but a glance at the contents changed things and
+in a moment all was bustle and confusion.
+
+For weeks the premonitory signs of this outbreak had been plainly
+visible, but true to the red-tape conditions, the army could not move
+until some overt act had been committed. The generous interior
+department had supplied the Indians with arms and ammunition and then
+Mr. Red Devil under that prince of fiends incarnate, Sitting Bull,
+started on his campaign of plunder and pillage.
+
+At eight o'clock that night Colonel Clarke wired his chief that his
+command was ready, and at midnight he received orders to proceed the
+next morning at daylight, by forced marches up to the junction of the
+forks of the Red Bud, and take position there to intercept the Indians
+should they attempt to cross. Two regiments from the more northern posts
+were due to reach there at the same time, and the combined strength of
+the three commands was supposed to be sufficient to drive back any body
+of Indians. There was little sleep in Fort Flint that night.
+
+Now, Hogan wasn't much of a success as a garrison soldier, but when a
+chance for a genuine fight presented itself, all the Irish blood in his
+nature came to the surface, and after much pleading and begging, the
+adjutant allowed him to join his company, detailing Jones of D Company
+as operator in his stead. Jones wasn't as good an operator by far as
+Denny, but in a pinch he could do the work, and besides, he had just
+come out of the hospital and was unable to stand the rigors attendant
+upon a winter campaign in Montana.
+
+Denny went to the company quarters in high glee and soon had his kit all
+packed. Some weeks before he had been out repairing the line and when he
+returned to the post he had left a small pocket instrument and a few
+feet of office wire in his haversack. He saw these things and was about
+to remove them, when something impelled him to take them along. What
+this was no one ever knew. Perhaps premonition.
+
+The next morning just as the first dim shadows of early dawn stole over
+the snow-clad earth, the gallant old 29th, five hundred strong, swung
+out of Fort Flint, on its long tramp. From out of half-closed blinds on
+the officer's line gazed many a tear-stained face, and up on "Soapsuds
+Row" many an honest-hearted laundress was bemoaning the fates that
+parted her from her "ould mon."
+
+The weather turned bitter cold and after seven days of the hardest kind
+of marching they reached and crossed the Red Bud just below the junction
+of the two forks. A strong position was taken and every disposition made
+to prevent surprise. The expected re-enforcement would surely come soon
+and then all would be safe.
+
+The next day dawned and passed, but not a sign of that re-enforcement.
+That night queer looking red glows were seen at stated intervals on the
+horizon--North, West and East on the north side of the river, and to the
+South on the other bank did they gleam and glow. Colonel Clarke was old
+and tried in Indian warfare and well did he know what those fires
+meant--Indians--and lots of them all around his command. His hope now
+was that the two northern regiments would strike them in the rear while
+he smashed them in front.
+
+The next morning, first one, two, three, four, an hundred, a thousand
+figures mounted on fleet footed ponies appeared silhouetted against the
+clear sky, and it wasn't long before that little command of sturdy
+bluecoats was surrounded by a superior force of the wildest red devils
+that ever strode a horse or fired a Winchester rifle. Slowly they drew
+their lines closer about the troops like the clinging tentacles of some
+monster devilfish, and about eleven o'clock, _Bang!_ and the battle was
+on.
+
+"Husband your fire, men. Don't shoot until you have taken deliberate
+aim, and can see the object aimed at," was the word passed along the
+line by Colonel Clarke.
+
+Behind hastily constructed shelter trenches the soldiers fought off that
+encircling band of Indians, with a desperation and valor born of an
+almost hopeless situation. Ever and anon, from across the river came the
+ping of a Winchester bullet, proving that retreat was cut off that way.
+The Indians had completely marched around them.
+
+Where was the re-enforcement? Why didn't it come? Was this to be another
+Little Big Horn, and were these brave men to be massacred like the
+gallant 7th Cavalry under Custer? As long as his ammunition held out
+Colonel Clarke knew he could stand them off, but after three days of
+hard fighting, resulting in the loss of many brave men, the situation
+was becoming desperate. Fires could not be lighted and more than one
+brave fellow went to kingdom come in filling the canteens at the river's
+bank. Most of the animals had been shot, many of them being used for
+breastworks.
+
+Colonel Clarke was inspecting his lines on the early evening of the
+third day, and had about made up his mind to ask for a volunteer to try
+and get beyond the Indian lines and carry the news to Fort Scott, sixty
+miles away, to call for re-enforcements. Six troops of the 11th Cavalry
+were stationed there under his old friend and classmate, Colonel
+Foster. He knew the character of the regular army chaps well enough to
+be certain they would come to his assistance, if it were a possible
+thing. If all went well with his courier in three days' time they would
+be there.
+
+The word was passed along the line and in a few seconds he had any
+number of officers and men who were willing and ready to take the ride.
+Just as the colonel had decided to send 1st Lieutenant Jarvis on this
+perilous trip, Hogan appeared before him, saluting with military
+precision, and said with a broad Irish brogue:--
+
+"Axin' yer pardin' kurnel, but Oi think Oi kin tell ye a betther way.
+The telegraph loine from Scott to Kearney runs just twenty-foive moiles
+beyant here to the southards. Up at the end of our loines on the other
+side of the river is a deep ravine. If Oi kin get across with a good
+horse and slip through the Indian loines on the other soide, I can, by
+hard roidin' reach this loine in two or three hours. I have a pocket
+instrument wid me and can cut in and ask for re-enforcements from Fort
+Scott. If the loine is down I can continue on to the post, and make as
+quick time as any of the officers; if it is up it will be a matther of a
+short toime before we are pulled out of this hole. Plaze let me thry it
+kurnel. Lieutenant Jarvis has a wife and two children, and his loss
+would be greatly felt, whoile I--I--well I haven't any wan, sir, and
+besoides, I'm an Irishman, and you know, kurnel, an Irishman is a fool
+for luck." This last was said with a broad grin.
+
+Colonel Clarke was somewhat amazed at this speech, but he studied
+reflectively, with knitted brows for a moment, and then said, "All
+right, Hogan, I'll let you try it. Take my horse and start at three
+o'clock in the morning. Do your best, my man, do your best; the lives of
+the remainder of this command depend on your efforts. God be with you."
+
+"If I fail kurnel, it will be because I'm dead, sir."
+
+Shortly before three o'clock in the morning, Denny made ready for his
+perilous ride. The horse's hoofs were carefully padded, ammunition and
+revolver looked after, the pocket instrument fastened around his neck by
+the wire, so if any accident happened to the horse he would not be
+unnecessarily delayed, and all was ready. He gave his old bunkie a
+farewell silent clasp of the hand and then started on his ride that
+meant life or death to his comrades. The horse was a magnificent
+Kentuckian and seemed to know what was required of him. Carefully and
+slowly Hogan pushed his way to the place opposite the ravine, and then
+giving his mount a light touch with the spurs, he took to the cold
+water. The stream was filled with floating ice but was only about fifty
+yards wide and in a few minutes he was safely over, and climbing up the
+other bank through the ravine. Finally, the end was reached and he was
+on high ground. Resting a minute to see if all was well, he started. So
+far, so good, he was beyond the Indian lines. He was congratulating
+himself on the promised success of his mission when all at once,
+directly in front of him he saw the dim shadowy outlines of a mounted
+Indian. Quick as a flash Denny pulled his revolver and another Indian
+was soon in the happy hunting ground. This caused a general alarm and
+Hogan knew he was in for it. Putting his spurs deep in his horse's
+flanks away he went with the speed of the wind. A perfect swarm of
+Indians came after him, yelling like fiends and shooting like demons.
+On! on! he sped, seemingly bearing a charmed life because bullets
+whizzed by him like hail. He was not idle, and when the opportunity
+presented itself his revolver spoke and more than one Indian pony was
+made riderless thereby.
+
+Suddenly he felt a sharp stinging pain in his right shoulder, and but
+for a convulsive grasp of the pommel with his bridle hand he would have
+pitched headlong to the earth.
+
+No, by God! he couldn't fail now. He must succeed, the lives of his
+comrades depended on his efforts. He had told Colonel Clarke he would
+get through or die, and he was a long way from dead yet. Only an hour
+and a half more and he would have sent the message and then all the
+Indians in the country could go to the demnition bow wows for all he
+cared.
+
+Hearing no more shots Denny drew rein for a moment and listened. Not a
+sound could be heard, the snow had started to softly fall and the first
+faint rays of light on the eastern horizon heralded the approach of a
+new-born day. Ah! he had outridden his pursuers. Gently patting his
+faithful horse's neck, he once more started swiftly on, and when he was
+within a few miles of the line he chanced to glance back and saw that
+one lone Indian was following him.
+
+Now it was a case of man against man. In his first flight and running
+fight he had fired away all his ammunition save one cartridge. This he
+determined to use to settle his pursuer, but not until it was absolutely
+necessary; and putting spurs to his already tired horse, he galloped
+on.
+
+The Indian was slowly gaining on him and he saw the time for decisive
+action was at hand. Ahead of him but one short half mile was that line,
+already in the early morning light he could see the poles, and if the
+god of battles would only speed his one remaining bullet in the right
+direction, his message could be sent in safety and his comrades rescued.
+His wounded right arm was numb from pain and his left was not the
+steadiest in the world, but nothing venture, nothing have, and just
+then--_Bang!_ and a bullet whizzed by his head. "Not this toime, ye red
+devil," Denny defiantly shouted. A second bullet and he dropped off his
+horse. Quickly wheeling about, he dropped on his stomach, and taking a
+careful aim over his wounded right arm, he fired. The shot was
+apparently a true one and the Indian pitched off head first and lay
+still.
+
+With an exultant shout Hogan jumped up and started for the line. Nothing
+could stop him now. Loss of blood and the intense cold had weakened him
+so that his legs were shaky, the earth seemed to be going around at a
+great rate, dark spots were dancing before his eyes; but with a
+superhuman effort he recovered himself and was soon at the line.
+
+The wire was strung on light lances, and if Denny were in full
+possession of his strength he could easily pull one down. He threw his
+weight against one with all of his remaining force--but to no avail.
+What was he to do? But sixteen feet intervened between him and that
+precious wire.
+
+The faithful, tired horse, when Denny jumped off, had only run a little
+way and stopped, only too glad of the chance to rest. He was now
+standing near Hogan, as if intent on being of some further use to him.
+Suddenly Denny's anxious eyes lighted on the horsehair lariat attached
+to the saddle. Here was the means at hand. Quickly as he could he undid
+it, and with great difficulty tied one end to the pommel and the other
+to the lance. Then he gave the horse a sharp blow, and, _Crash!_ down
+went the lance.
+
+Making the connections to the pocket instrument as best he could with
+one cold hand, he placed the wire across a sharp rock and a few blows
+with the butt of his revolver soon cut it. The deed was done.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Private Dunn, the operator at Fort Scott, opened up his office bright
+and early one cold morning and marveled to find the wire working clear
+to Kearney. After having a chat with the man at Kearney about the
+Indian trouble, he was sitting around like Mr. Micawber when he heard
+the sounder weakly calling "FS." Quickly adjusting down he answered and
+this is what he took.
+
+    "COMMANDING OFFICER,
+    "Fort Scott, Montana.
+
+    "29th Infantry surrounded by large body hostile Sioux just north
+    of junction of the forks of the Red Bud. Colonel Clarke asks for
+    immediate re-enforcements; ammunition almost gone; situation
+    desperate. I left the command at three o'clock this morning.
+
+    (Signed.) DENNIS HO----."
+
+Then blank, the sounder was still and the line remained open. The
+sending had been weak and shaky, just as if the sender had been out all
+night, but there was no mistaking the purport of the message.
+
+Dunn didn't wait to pick up his hat but fairly flew down the line to the
+commanding officer's quarters. The colonel was not up yet, but the sound
+of animated voices in the hallway caused him to appear at the head of
+the stairs in his dressing gown.
+
+"What is it, Dunn," he asked.
+
+"A message from the 29th Infantry, sir, saying they are surrounded by
+the Sioux Indians and want help."
+
+Colonel Foster read the message, and exclaimed,
+
+"My God! Charlie Clarke stuck out there and wants help! Dunn, have the
+trumpeter sound 'Boots and Saddles.' Present my compliments to the
+adjutant and tell him I desire him to report to me at once.
+Kraus,"--this to his Dutch striker who was standing around in
+open-mouthed wonderment--"saddle my horse and get my field kit ready at
+once. Be quick about it."
+
+A few men had seen Dunn's mad rush to the colonel's quarters and
+suspected that something was up, so they were not surprised a few
+minutes later to hear "Boots and Saddles" ring out on the clear morning
+air. The command had been in readiness for field service for some days,
+and but a few moments elapsed until six sturdy troops were standing in
+line on the snow-covered parade. A hurried inspection was made by the
+troop commanders and then Colonel Foster commanded "Fours right, trot,
+march," and away they went on their sixty-mile ride of rescue. A few
+halts were made during the day to tighten girths, and at six o'clock a
+short rest was made for coffee.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The sound of the firing across the river shortly after Hogan left the
+29th was plainly heard by his comrades and many a man was heard to
+exclaim, "It's all up with poor Denny." But the firing grew more distant
+and Colonel Clarke had hopes that Hogan had successfully eluded his
+pursuers and determined to hold on as best he could. He knew full well
+that the Indians would be extraordinarily careful and that it would be
+folly for him to attempt to get another courier through that night. That
+day was indeed a hard one; it was trying to the extreme. Tenaciously did
+those Indians watch their prey. Well did they know by the rising of the
+morrow's sun the ammunition of the soldiers would be exhausted and then
+would come their feast of murder and scalps; Little Big Horn would be
+repeated.
+
+About two o'clock, Colonel Clarke, utterly regardless of personal
+danger, exposed himself for a moment and Chug! down he went, shot
+through the thigh by a Winchester bullet. Brave old chap, never for one
+minute did he give up, and after having his wound dressed as best it
+could be done, he insisted on remaining near the fighting line.
+Lieutenant Jarvis was shot through the arm, Captain Belknap of E Company
+was lying dead near his company, and scores of other brave men had gone
+to their last reckoning. Hanigan, Hogan's bunkie, was badly wounded, and
+out of his head. Every once in a while he would mumble, "Never you mind,
+fellers, we will be all right yet, just stand 'em off a little while
+longer and Denny will be here with the 11th Cavalry. He said he'd do it
+and by God! he won't fail."
+
+As the shades of the cold winter evening crept silently over the earth,
+the firing died away, and the command settled down to another night of
+the tensest anxiety and watching. Oh! why didn't those northern
+regiments come? Did Hogan succeed in his perilous mission? Depressed
+indeed were the spirits of the officers and men.
+
+About nine o'clock Lieutenant Tracy, the adjutant, was sitting beside
+his chief, who was apparently asleep. Suddenly, Colonel Clarke sat up
+and grabbing Tracy by the arm said, "Hark! what's that noise I hear?"
+
+"Nothing sir, nothing," replied Tracy; "lie down Colonel and try to
+rest, you need it sir"--and then aside--"poor old chap, his mind's
+wandering."
+
+"No, no, Tracy. Listen man, don't you hear it? It sounds like the beat
+of many horses' hoofs, re-enforcements are coming, thank God. Hogan got
+through."
+
+Just then, Crash! Bang! and a clear voice rang out, "Right front into
+line, gallop, March! _Charge!_" and those sturdy chaps of the 11th
+Cavalry true to their regimental hatred for the Indians, charged down
+among the red men scattering them like so much chaff. Then to the
+northwards was heard another ringing cheer, and the two long-delayed
+regiments came down among the Indians like a thunderbolt of vengeance.
+Truly, "It never rains but it pours." The 29th, all that was left of it,
+was saved, and when Colonel Foster leaned over the prostrate form of his
+old friend and comrade, Colonel Clarke feebly asked, "Where is that
+brave little chap, Hogan?"
+
+"Hogan? Who is Hogan?" asked Foster.
+
+"Why, my God, man, Hogan was the man that got beyond the Indian lines to
+make the ride to inform you of our plight. Didn't you see him?"
+
+"No, I didn't see him," and then Colonel Foster related how the
+information had reached him.
+
+A rescuing party was started out and in the pale moonlight they came
+upon the body of poor Denny lying stark and stiff under the telegraph
+line, his left hand grasping the instrument and the key open. A bullet
+hole in his head mutely told how he had met his death. Beside him lay
+the Indian, dead, one hand grasping Hogan's scalp lock, the other
+clasping a murderous-looking knife. Death had mercifully prevented the
+accomplishment of his hellish purpose.
+
+Hogan's shot had mortally wounded the Indian in the left breast, but
+with all the vengeful nature of his race, he had crawled forward on his
+hands and knees, and while Hogan was intent on sending his precious
+message, he shot him through the head, but not until the warning had
+been given to Fort Scott. Denny's faithful horse was standing near, as
+if keeping watch over the inanimate form of his late friend.
+
+They buried him where he lay, and a traveler passing over that trail,
+will observe a solitary grave. On the tombstone at the head is
+inscribed:
+
+    "DENNIS HOGAN,
+    "Private, Company B,
+    "29th U. S. Infantry.
+    "He died that others might live."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII
+
+THE COMMISSION WON--IN A GENERAL STRIKE
+
+
+The time spent as a soldier in the ranks passed by all too swiftly. The
+service was pleasant, the duty easy, and the regiment one of the best in
+the entire army. I don't know any two and a half years of my life that
+have been as happy and peaceful as those spent in the ranks of the
+American Army. When the proper time came my recommendations were all in
+good shape and I was duly ordered to appear before an august lot of
+officers and gentlemen at Fortress Monroe, Virginia, to determine my
+fitness to trot along behind a company, sign the sick-book, and witness
+an occasional issue of clothing. One warm June afternoon I bade good-bye
+to the men who had so long been my comrades, and journeyed to the
+eastwards. I was successful in the examinations, and on a Sunday morning
+early in August, myself, in company with twelve other young chaps,
+received the precious little parchment in which the President of the
+United States sends greetings and proclaims to all the world:--
+
+"That reposing especial confidence and trust in the valor, patriotism,
+and fidelity of one John Smith, I have made him a second lieutenant in
+the regular army. Look out for him because he hasn't much sense but I
+have strong hopes as how he will learn after a while."
+
+[Illustration: "... Dennis, lying under the telegraph line, his left
+hand still grasped the instrument"]
+
+The apprenticeship was finished and the chevrons gave way to the
+shoulder straps.
+
+This time I thought surely I had heard the last of the telegraph, never
+again was I going to touch a key. I had been at my first station just
+about two months when one morning I appeared before the Signal Officer
+of the post and plaintively asked him to let me have a set of telegraph
+instruments. He did, and it wasn't long before I had a ticker going in
+my quarters. There was no one to practice with me, so I just pounded
+away by myself for an hour or so each day, to keep my hand in. I have
+yet to see a man who has worked at the business for any length of time
+who could give it up entirely. It's like the opium habit--powerful hard
+to break off. I have never since tried to lose sight of it.
+
+In 189- one of those spasmodic upheavals known as a sympathetic strike
+spread over the country like wild fire, and it wasn't long before the
+continuance of law and order was entirely out of the hands of the state
+authorities in about ten states, and once more the faithful little army
+was called out to put its strong hand on the throat of destruction and
+pillage. Troops were hurriedly despatched from all posts to the worst
+points and the inefficient state militia in several states relegated to
+its proper sphere--that of holding prize drills and barbecues.
+
+Owing to the fact that the army cannot be used until a state executive
+acknowledges his inability to preserve law and order, and owing also to
+the fact that the executives in one or two of the states were pandering
+to the socialistic element, saying they could enforce the laws without
+the assistance of the army, this strike had spread until the entire
+country except the extreme east and southeast was in its strong grasp,
+and the work cut out for the army was doled out to it in great big
+chunks. Men seemed to lose all their senses and the emissaries of the
+union succeeded in getting many converts, each one of which paid the sum
+of one dollar to the so-called head of the union. Snap for the aforesaid
+"head," wasn't it? It was positively refreshing to the army at this time
+to have at its head a man who did not know what it was to pander to the
+socialists, and one who would enforce his solemn oath, "To enforce the
+laws of the United States," at all hazards. United States mail trains
+were being interfered with; the Inter-State Commerce law was being
+violated with impunity, and various other acts of vandalism and pillage
+were being committed all over the land--and the municipal and state
+authorities "winked the other eye."
+
+Way out in one of the far western posts was a certain Lieutenant Jack
+Brainerd, 31st U. S. Infantry, serving with his company. Jack was a big,
+whole-souled, impulsive chap, and before his entrance to the military
+academy, had been a pretty fair operator. In fact, being the son of a
+general superintendent of one of the big trunk lines, he was quite
+familiar with a railroad, and could do almost anything from driving a
+spike, or throwing a switch to running an engine. The first three years
+succeeding his graduation had been those of enervating peace; all of
+which palled on the soul of Lieutenant Jack to a large degree. The
+martial spirit beat high within his breast, and he wanted a scrap--he
+wanted one badly.
+
+The preliminary mutterings of this great strike had been heard for days,
+but no one dreamed that anarchy was about to break loose with the
+strength of all the fires of hell; and yet such was the case. On the
+evening of July 4th, a message came to the commanding officer at Fort
+Blank, to send his command of six companies of infantry to C---- at once
+to assist in quelling the riots. The chance for a scrap so longed for by
+Lieutenant Brainerd was coming swift and sure. The next morning the
+command pulled out. The trip was uneventful during the day, but at night
+a warning was received by Major Sharp, the grizzled battalion commander,
+who had fought everything from manly, brave confederates to skulking
+Indians, to watch out for trouble as he approached the storm centre.
+There were rumors of dynamited bridges, broken rails, etc. The major
+didn't believe much in these yarns, but--"_Verbum Sap_."--and the
+precautions were taken. The next morning at five the train pulled into
+Hartshorne, eleven miles out from C----. This was the beginning of the
+great railroad yards and evidences of the presence of the enemy were
+becoming very apparent. A large crowd had gathered to watch the
+bluecoats and it was plain to be seen that they were in full sympathy
+with the strikers. "Scab" and a few other choice epithets were hurled at
+the train crew, and when they were ready to pull out the train didn't
+go. The conductor went forward and found that the engineer had refused
+to handle his engine because Hartshorne was his home and the crowd had
+threatened to kill him if he hauled that load of "slaves of Pullman" any
+further. When Major Sharp heard of it his little grey eyes snapped and
+he growled out:--
+
+"Won't pull this train, eh! Well, damn him, we'll make him pull it.
+Here, Mr. Brainerd, you take some men and go forward and make that
+engineer take us through these yards. If he refuses you know what to do
+with him."
+
+Do? Well, I reckon Jack knew what to do all right enough. He took
+Sergeant Fealy, a veteran, and three men and went forward. The engineer,
+a little snub-nosed Irishman, was at his post with his fireman, a good
+head of steam was on, but nary an inch did that train budge. A big crowd
+of men and women stood around jeering and laughing at the plight of the
+bluecoats. Pushing his way through the crowd, Jack climbed up into the
+cab closely followed by his little escort.
+
+"Sergeant Fealy," he said in a voice loud enough to be heard a block,
+"get up on that tender, have your men load their rifles, and shoot the
+first d----d man that raises a hand or throws a missile. And you," this
+to the engineer, "shove that reverse lever over and pull out."
+
+"But, my God, lieutenant," expostulated the engineer, "this is my home
+and if I pull you fellers out of here they'll kill me on sight--besides
+look at the track ahead. I'd run over and kill a lot of those people."
+
+"There's no 'buts' about it. This train is going in or I'll lose my
+commission in the army; besides if these people haven't sense enough to
+get out of the way let 'em die."
+
+Mr. Engineer started to expostulate farther but the ominous click of a
+.38 Colt's was incentive enough to make him stop and then he shoved her
+over and gave her a little steam--just a coaxer.
+
+"Here, you blasted chump, that won't do," and with that Brainerd reached
+over and yanked the throttle so that she bounded away like a hare; at
+the same time he gave her sand. It's a great wonder every draw head in
+the train didn't pull out, but fortunately they held on. The crowd on
+the track melted away like the mists before the summer's sun, and beyond
+a few taunting jeers no overt act was committed. The engineer didn't
+relish the idea of a soldier running his engine and became somewhat
+obstreperous. Brainerd grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and landed
+him all in a heap in the coal. Then he climbed up on the right-hand side
+of the cab and took charge of things himself. There were myriads of
+tracks stretching out before him like the long arms of some giant
+octopus, but all traffic was suspended on account of the strike and the
+main line was clear. The train flew down the line like a scared rabbit
+and in thirty minutes reached the camp at Blake Park. I had arrived
+there that morning from the south for special service and when I saw
+Brainerd climb down off of that engine his face was smutty, but his eyes
+twinkled and he came towards me with a broad grin and said,
+
+"Hello, Bates, where in thunder did you spring from?"
+
+There wasn't much time for talking because the great city was groaning
+beneath the grasp of anarchy, and until that power was broken, there
+would be no rest for the weary.
+
+The situation that existed at this time is too well known to require any
+explanation here. The state and city authorities were powerless; the
+militia inefficient and many a citizen bowed his head and thanked God on
+that warm July morning for the arrival of the regulars. Only twenty-one
+hundred of them all told, mind you, against so many thousands of the
+rioters, and yet, they were disciplined men and led by officers who
+simply enforced orders as they received them. No matter where or what
+the sympathies of the men of a company might be, when the captain said
+"Fire," look out, because the bullets would generally fly breast high.
+The situation resembled the Paris Commune, and but for the timely
+arrival of the small body of bluecoats, another cow might have kicked
+over another lamp, and the frightful conflagration of 1871 have been
+more than duplicated. But the "cow" was slaughtered and the "lamp"
+extinguished.
+
+The morning after Brainerd arrived he was detailed on special service
+and ordered to report to me, and together we worked until the trouble
+was over. Just what this service was need not be recorded, but one thing
+sure, railroads and the telegraph figured in it quite largely. In fact
+the general superintendent of the Western Union Telegraph Company placed
+the entire resources of the company at my disposal. A wire was run
+direct to Washington, lines run to all the camps, and Jack and I each
+carried a little pocket instrument on our person.
+
+Although the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers did not go out in a
+body, there was quite a number of them who would not pull trains for
+fear of personal violence from the strikers. One old chap, Bob Redway,
+by name, had known Major McKenney of our battalion, in days gone by,
+when he was pulling a train on the N. P., and the major was stationed at
+Missoula. Bob wandered into camp one afternoon to see his old friend and
+just at that time a company was ordered to the southern part of the city
+to stop a crowd that was looting and burning P. H. Railway property. As
+usual the engineer backed out at the last moment. The major turned to
+Redway, and said, "See here, Bob, you're not in sympathy with these
+cutthroats, suppose you pull this train out."
+
+"All right, major, I'll pull you through if the old girl will only hold
+up. She's a stranger to me, but I reckon she'll last."
+
+Brainerd and I were to go along and do some special work around the
+stock-yards, and soon we were shooting down the track like a flyer. At
+62nd street we passed a sullen looking crowd and when we reached 130th
+street, we were flagged by the operator in the tower, and informed that
+the mob in our rear was starting to block the track by overturning a
+standard sleeper. They were going to cut us off. We cut the engine
+loose, put fourteen men up on the tender, and Brainerd and I started
+back with them. The engine was going head on, having backed out from the
+city, and Bob let her put for all she was worth. Just at 62nd street
+there is a long sweeping curve and we were coming around it like a
+streak of blue lightning, when all at once we saw the crowd just in the
+act of pulling the sleeper over on our track. There was no time to lose
+and the command "Fire" was sharply given. "Bang," rang out the
+Springfields, one or two of the mob dropped to the ground, the rest let
+go of the ropes and ran like scared cats, and the car tottered back in
+its original place. Redway had shut off steam and was slowing down under
+ordinary air, when all at once there was a dull deafening roar, and then
+for me--oblivion. I was only stunned and when I regained consciousness
+looked around and saw the men slowly regaining their feet. Redway was
+not killed, but the shock and concussion of the detonation of the
+dynamite made him lose his speech and he was bleeding profusely at the
+nose and ears. The cowcatcher, headlight and forward trucks of the
+engine were blown to smithereens, but fortunately the boiler did not
+burst and there she stood like some powerful monster wounded to the
+death. The mob, imagining that their fiendish work had been complete,
+became emboldened and rapidly gathered around the little body of
+bluecoats. It began to look rocky, and Brainerd came limping over to me
+and said, "Bates, I'm pretty badly bruised about the legs, and can't
+climb, but if you're able, for God's sake climb that telegraph pole and
+cut in and ask department headquarters to send us down some help. I'll
+form the men around the bottom of the pole and shoot the first damned
+man or woman that throws a missile. We're in a devilish bad box."
+
+I took the little instrument, nippers and wire and up I went. There were
+side steps on the pole so the ascent was easy. What a scene below! Five
+or six thousand angry faces, besotted, coarse and ill-bred looking
+brutes, gazing up at me with the wrath of vengeance in their hearts; and
+held at bay by a band of fourteen battered and bruised bluecoats, a
+wounded engineer and fireman, commanded by an almost beardless boy. Well
+did that mob know that if those rifles ever spoke there would be a
+number of vacant chairs at the various family boards that night. The
+wire was soon cut, the main office gave me department headquarters and
+in thirty minutes' time that mob was scattering like so much chaff
+before the wind, and with a ringing cheer, two companies of the --th
+Infantry came down among them like a thunderbolt. We were saved and took
+Redway back to camp with us. That evening the major came over to see
+him. Poor chap! he couldn't speak but he motioned for a pencil and
+paper and this is what he wrote:--
+
+"Don't worry, major, I'm all right. My speaking machine seems to have
+had a head end collision with a cyclone, but if you want me to pull any
+more trains out my right arm is still in pretty good shape." Bob hung to
+us all through the trying weeks that followed and in the end some of us
+succeeded in getting him a good position in one of the departments in
+Washington.
+
+Far up in the Northwest things were in a very bad shape. Everything was
+tied up tight; mail trains could not run because there were no men to
+run them; "Debsism" had a firm grasp; and even though many of the
+trainmen were willing to run, intimidation by the strikers caused them
+to go slow.
+
+At one place, call it Bridgeton, there was an overland mail waiting to
+go out, but no engineer. Here's where the versatility of the American
+soldier came in. Major Clarke of the --th Infantry, had four companies
+of his regiment guarding public property at Bridgeton and he sent word
+by his orderly that he wanted a locomotive engineer and a fireman. Quick
+as a flash he had six engineers and any number of men who could fire. He
+chose two good men and then detailed Captain Stilling's company to go
+along as an escort. Orders were procured at the telegraph office for the
+train to run to Pokeville, where further orders would be sent them. When
+the crowd of loiterers and strikers saw the preparations they jeered in
+derision. They had the engineer and fireman corralled, but their laugh
+turned to sorrow when they saw a strapping infantry sergeant climb into
+the cab and after placing his loaded rifle in front of him, he grasped
+the throttle and away they went--much to the disgust of Mr. Rioter. They
+didn't like it worth a cent, but as one striker put it, "What's the use
+of monkeyin' with them reg'lars? When they gets an order to shoot,
+they're just damned fools enough to shoot right into the crowd. Milish'
+fire in the air, because as a rule they have friends in the crowd and
+don't care to hurt 'em."
+
+Pokeville was one hundred and two miles from Bridgeton and the run was
+carefully made and without incident. When the volunteer engineer and
+Captain Stillings, who was playing conductor, went to the office for
+orders, they found the place deserted. A sullen-looking crowd was
+looking on and appeared to enjoy the discomfiture of the soldiers. They
+had put the operator _away_ for a while. Pressing up near the sides of
+the train they became somewhat ugly and Captain Stillings brought out
+his company, and lining them up alongside of the track he turned to his
+1st lieutenant and said:
+
+"Mr. Mitchell, I'm going into this telegraph office. If this crowd gets
+ugly I want you to shoot the first damned man that moves a finger to
+harm anybody."
+
+But without an operator orders could not be procured, and without orders
+the train could not go. Captain Stillings was in a quandary, but all at
+once he stepped out in front of his company and said in a loud tone, "I
+want an operator."
+
+"I'm one, sir," said Private O'Brien, quickly stepping forward and
+saluting.
+
+"Go in that office and get orders for this train."
+
+"Yes, sir," replied O'Brien, and in a minute another bluecoat was
+helping the train on its way. If Captain Stillings had wanted a Chinese
+interpreter he could have gotten one--any old thing. The train had no
+further mishaps, because everything necessary to run a railroad was
+right here in one company of sixty-two men belonging to the regular
+army.
+
+July slipped away and it was well into August before we returned to our
+posts and the old grind of "Fours right," and "Fours left."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV
+
+EXPERIENCES AS A GOVERNMENT CENSOR OF TELEGRAPH
+
+
+The few years succeeding the great strike were ones of calm, peaceful
+tranquility. Each recurring November 1st, brought the initiation of Post
+Lyceums at all garrisons, in which the officers were gathered together
+twice a week, and war in all its phases was studied. We didn't exactly
+know where the war was coming from, but, still we boned it out. Old
+campaigns were fought over; the mistakes made by the world's greatest
+commanders, from Alexander the Great to Grant and Lee were pointed out;
+Kriegspiel was played; essays written and discussed, recommendations
+made as to ammunition and food supply; use of artillery in attack and
+defense; the proper method of employing the telegraph in the war; and a
+thousand and one things relative to the machine militaire were gone
+over. All this time we were slumbering over a smoldering volcano, and on
+February 16, 1898, the eruption broke loose; the good ship _Maine_ was
+destroyed in Havana harbor, and the feelings of the people, already
+drawn to the breaking point by the inhuman cruelties of Spain towards
+her colonies near our own shores, burst with a vehemence that portended,
+in unmistakable language, the rending asunder of the once proud kingdom
+of Spain. The army wanted a war; the navy wanted it, the whole
+population wanted it and here it was within our grasp. It was the
+dawning of a new day for the United States; a new empire was being born
+in the Western hemisphere. The feverish preparations attendant upon the
+new conditions are of too recent date to need any sketching here.
+
+When it was finally determined that the time had arrived for the
+assembling of the small but efficient regular army, I was stationed with
+my regiment at Fort Wayne, Michigan. Like all other troops, we were at
+the post ready for the start. The pistol cracked on the 15th of April,
+and on the 19th we started. Mobile, Alabama, was our objective where we
+arrived on the 22nd of the month. Here began the ceaseless preparation
+for the part the regiment was to play in the grand drama of war that was
+to follow, all this camp life and concentration being but the prologue.
+
+The camp was a most beautiful one, the weather pleasant, and it was
+indeed a most inspiring sight to see the long unbroken lines of blue go
+swinging by, keeping absolute time and perfect alignment to the
+inspiring strains of some air like "Hot time in the old town to-night,"
+or "The stars and stripes forever."
+
+I had started in with my regiment and expected to remain on duty with it
+until the end of the war, sharing all its perils and hardships, doing my
+part in the fighting, and partaking of any of the renown it might
+achieve should the Dons ever be met. But "Man proposes and God
+disposes," and on the afternoon of May 21st, I was sitting in my tent
+correcting some manuscript when a very bright-eyed colored newsboy came
+along and said:
+
+"Buy a paper, cap'n."
+
+That was the day that a wild rumor had been in circulation that Sampson
+had met Cervera in the Bahama Channel and completely smashed him, so I
+laid down my manuscript and said:
+
+"Anything in there about Sampson licking Cervera?"
+
+"Naw, sir, dat were a fake, cap'n, but dere is lots of oder news fur
+you."
+
+"No, kid, I don't want a paper to-night, and besides I'm not a captain,
+I'm only a lieutenant."
+
+"But yer may be one some day. Please buy one cap'n," and with this he
+laid a paper down on my table (a cracker box). I was about to shove it
+aside and sharply tell him to skip out when my eye fell upon:
+
+"Nominations by the President."
+
+"To be captains in the Signal Corps," then followed my name. I bought a
+paper, yes, all he had.
+
+On May 27th, I was ordered to proceed at once to Tampa, Florida,
+reporting upon arrival by telegraph to the chief signal officer of the
+army for instructions. Tuesday morning, the 29th of May, I reported my
+arrival and spent the rest of the morning in looking around the camps,
+renewing old acquaintances. I supposed of course that I was to be
+assigned to the command of one of the new signal companies then forming
+to take part in the Santiago campaign and was filled with delight at the
+prospect, but about eleven o'clock I received an order from General
+Greely directing me to assume charge of the telegraphic censorship at
+Tampa. Three civilians, Heston at Jacksonville, Munn at Miami, and
+Fellers at Tampa, were sworn in as civilian assistants and directed to
+report to me, thereafter acting wholly under my orders. Mr. B. F.
+Dillon, superintendent of the Western Union Telegraph Company, was in
+Tampa, and I had a long conference with him. He assured me of his
+confidence and cordial support, and placed the entire resources of his
+company at my disposal. Operators all over the state were instructed
+that anything I ordered was to be obeyed and then the work began.
+
+The idea of a telegraphic censorship was a new and irksome one to the
+great American people and just what it meant was hard to determine. Much
+has been written about "Press Censorship." That term was a misnomer.
+There never _was_ an attempt to _censor_ the _great American press_. The
+newspapers were just as free to print as they were before the war
+started. _All the censorship that existed was over the telegraph lines
+militarily occupied._ A government officer was placed in charge and his
+word was absolute; he could only be overruled by General Greely, the
+Secretary of War or the President. It was his duty to watch telegrams,
+regulate the kind that were allowed to pass, and to see that no news was
+sent whereby the interests of the government or the safety of the army
+might suffer.
+
+The instructions I received were general in their nature and in all
+specific cases arising, my judgment was to determine, and I want to
+remark right here, the rapidity with which those specific cases would
+arise was enough to make a man faint. The first rule made was that
+cipher messages or those written in a foreign tongue were prohibited
+unless sent by a government official on public business. There were a
+few exceptions to this rule. For instance; many large business houses
+have telegraphic cipher codes for the transaction of business, and it
+was not the policy of the government to interfere in any manner with the
+commercial affairs of the country, so these messages were allowed to
+pass when the code book was presented to the censor and a sworn
+translation made in his presence. Spanish messages were transmitted only
+after being most carefully scanned and upon proof of the loyalty of the
+sender or receiver and a sworn translation. Not a single private message
+could be sent by any one, that in any way hinted at the time of the
+departure or destination of any ship or body of troops. Even officers
+about to sail away were not allowed to telegraph their wives and
+families. If they had a pre-arranged code, whereby a message could be
+written in plain English, there was no way to stop their transmission.
+Foreign messages were watched with eagle eyes and many and many a one
+was gently consigned to the pigeon hole, when the contents and meaning
+were not plain.
+
+From Key West (which was shortly afterwards placed in my charge) there
+ran the cable to Havana, and this line was the subject of an
+extraordinarily strict espionage; not a message being allowed to pass
+over it that was not perfectly plain in its meaning. Mr. J. W. Atkins
+was sworn in as my assistant at Key West, and thus I had the whole state
+of Florida under my control. All the lines from the southern part of the
+state converge to Jacksonville, and not a message could go from a point
+within the state to one out of it without first passing under the
+scrutiny of either myself or one of my sworn assistants.
+
+My office was in H. B. Plant's Tampa Bay hotel, and there, every day,
+from seven A. M. until twelve midnight, and sometimes one and two in the
+morning, I did my work. My own long experience as a practical
+telegrapher stood me in good stead and when any direct work was to be
+done with the White House in Washington, or any especially important
+messages were to be sent, I personally did the telegraphing. At the
+Executive Mansion was Colonel B. F. Montgomery, signal corps, in charge
+of the telegraph office, so when anything special passed, no one knew
+it but the colonel and myself.
+
+The Tampa Bay hotel was at this time the scene of the most dazzling and
+brilliant gaiety. Shafter's 5th Corps was preparing for its Santiago
+campaign and each night many officers and their wives would meet in the
+hotel and pass the time away listening to the music of some regimental
+band or in pleasant conversation. Men who had not seen each other since
+the close of the great civil war renewed old acquaintances and spun
+reminiscences by the yard. Military attaches from all the countries of
+the world were daily arriving, and their gaudy uniforms added a dash of
+color to the already brilliant panorama. The bright gold of Captain
+Paget, the English naval attache, the deep blue of Colonel Yermeloff,
+who represented Russia, contrasted vividly with the blue and yellow of
+Japanese Major Shiska, and the scarlet and black of Count Goetzen of
+Germany. But prominent among all this moving panorama of color was the
+plain blue of the volunteer, and the brown khaki of the regular. My view
+of the scene was limited to fleeting glimpses from my office where I was
+nightly scanning messages, doing telegraphing or overlooking 30,000 or
+40,000 words of correspondents' copy. Preparations for the embarkation
+were going on with feverish haste, and orders were daily expected for
+the army to move.
+
+There were at this time nearly two hundred newspaper correspondents
+scattered around through the hotel and in the various camps. They
+represented papers from all over the world, and were typical
+representatives of the brain and sinew of the newspaper profession, and
+were there to accompany the army when it moved. Such men as Richard
+Harding Davis, Stephen Bonsai, Frederick Remington, Caspar Whitney,
+Grover Flint, Edward Marshall, Maurice Low, John Taylor, John Klein,
+Louis Seibold, George Farman and Mr. Akers of the London papers, and
+scores of others. They were quick and active, intensely patriotic, alert
+for all the news, a "scoop" for them was the blood of life, and the
+censorship came like a wet blanket. In a small way I had been
+corresponding for a paper since the beginning of the war, but when the
+detail as censor came I gave it up as the two were incompatible.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV
+
+MORE CENSORSHIP
+
+
+I must confess that I stood in awe of these newspaper chaps, because I
+knew my orders would incense them and if they took it into their heads
+to roast me my life would be made miserable for a good many days to
+come. But then in the army orders are made to be obeyed and I determined
+not to show partiality to any of them. It was to be "a fair field and no
+favor," so I sent word and asked them to meet me in the reading-room of
+the hotel at two o'clock that afternoon. They came garbed in all sorts
+of field uniform and I made a little speech telling what they might send
+and what was interdicted; I remarked that the work was as irksome to me
+as it was to them, but orders were orders and if they would live up to
+the few _simple_ rules they would make my task much easier and save
+themselves lots of trouble. Nothing absolutely was to be sent, that
+would convey in any way an idea of the number of troops in Tampa, the
+time of arrival or departure of any number of troops or ships, and
+above all, not a word was to be sent out as to when the 5th Army Corps
+was to sail. When I had finished one of the correspondents shook his
+head in a deprecatory way and said:
+
+"Well, captain, we thought Lieutenant Miley (my predecessor) was bad
+enough but you can give him cards and spades and beat him out. You're
+certainly a hummer from the word go, and I reckon we'd better go home."
+
+He had my sympathy but that was all. Every correspondent had a war
+department pass; these I examined and registered each man.
+
+That night my fun commenced. At six P. M. they began to file stuff, and
+armed with a big blue pencil I started to slash and when I finished,
+some of their sheets looked like a miniature football field, while their
+faces betokened blank amazement and intense disgust. Boiled down, the
+first night's batch of copy consisted of a glowing description of the
+new censor; this fiend whose weapon was a blue pencil--his glowing red
+whiskers--his goggle eyes, and his Titian-colored hair. One of them
+said:
+
+"This afternoon the new censor stuck his head out of the window and the
+glow was so great from his red whiskers and auburn locks that the fire
+department was turned out. The latest report is that the censor was
+unquenched," and so on. They couldn't send any news so they sent me.
+Most of them were space writers and everything went. In many ways they
+tried to evade the rules; by insinuations, hints upon which a bright
+telegraph editor could raise an edifice with a semblance of truth, but
+the blue pencil generally got in its work before the dispatch reached
+the operator. I had two stamps made; one "O. K. for transmission," and
+the other, "REJECTED, file, do not return." Number one went on all
+messages for transmission and number two on all others. As I gaze at
+these relics now I see that number two has been used much more than its
+companion.
+
+I had made it a rule that each paper maintaining a correspondent in
+Tampa was to furnish me with a copy of every edition of the paper. As a
+result, in a few days I had a mail that was stupendous. A clerk was on
+hand who read these papers, marking all things bearing a Tampa date
+line. Then I would read them and woe betide the correspondent whose
+paper contained contraband news from Tampa. Off went his head and his
+permit was recalled for a certain time as a punishment.
+
+There never has been a line of sentinels so strong but that some one
+could break through, and there was undoubtedly some leakage from Tampa,
+but to see news of actual importance from there was like hunting for a
+needle in a haystack. The mails carried out some, but even then the
+correspondents suffered. Two incidents may not be amiss.
+
+One young chap whose keenness ran away with his judgment, brought me a
+stack of copy one night, almost every word of which was contraband. The
+blue pencil got in its work in great shape and then the "rejected" stamp
+put its seal of disapproval on the message and it was filed away with
+many others, that "were not dead, but sleeping." Mr. Correspondent
+muttered something about "a cussed red-headed censor who wasn't the pope
+and could be beaten" and walked away. I thought no more of the matter
+until about seven days thereafter when my clerk gave me a marked copy of
+the correspondent's paper, and there, big as life, under a Tampa date
+line was the rejected dispatch. He had left my office and mailed his
+story to a friend living up in Georgia, and it was telegraphed by him
+from there. You see, Georgia was beyond my jurisdiction. He had surely
+made a "scoop;" he had sown the wind and that night he reaped the
+whirlwind, because I promptly suspended him from correspondents'
+privileges, and forbade him the use of the wires. General Greely upheld
+me in this as in all other cases and for ten days I allowed him to
+ruminate over his offence, while his paper was cussing him out for
+failing to send in stuff. Then I restored him to his former status,
+first making him sign a pledge on honor that he would abide forever
+thereafter by the censorship rules.
+
+Another young man who represented a Cincinnati daily, walked into the
+express office in Tampa one evening and gave the agent a package saying:
+
+"Say, old chap, have your messenger running north to-night give this to
+the first operator after crossing the Georgia line and tell him to send
+it to my paper. It's a big scoop and I want to get it through."
+
+Of course, the "old chap" was built just that way. He took the message
+and in five minutes it was reposing gently in my desk. I then quickly
+sent out a telegram to all my censors taking away the correspondent's
+privileges until further orders.
+
+That night full of innocence--and beer--he walked into the Tampa city
+office and handed Censor Fellers a message for his paper, just as a
+sort of a bluff. Fellers grinned at him quietly said:
+
+"Sorry, Mr. J--, but Captain B--has just suspended you from use of the
+telegraph until further orders."
+
+In a very few minutes Mr. J--appeared at my office, blustering like a
+Kansas cyclone, and demanded to know why I had dared to treat him thus?
+I simply picked up his copy and showed it to him, saying:
+
+"This is your handwriting, I believe, Mr. J--."
+
+The props dropped out from under him and he said:
+
+"Well, by thunder, you censor mail, telegraph and express; I reckon if I
+attempted to send anything by carrier pigeon you'd catch it and put that
+d--d old 'rejected' stamp on it."
+
+"No," I replied, "but I might possibly use it on a mule."
+
+In spite of his pleadings and promises he was hung up for ten days.
+
+It must be said, however, that such men as these were rarities: most of
+the men, especially those representing the great dailies, were only too
+willing to abide by orders. They kicked hard--naturally and
+rightfully--because news that they were forbidden to send from Tampa was
+sent broadcast from Washington as coming from the war department. Oh!
+yes they kicked so much that it seemed as if my auburn locks would turn
+gray, but the protest was against the censorship in general and not
+against me. I was enough of a newspaper man to fully appreciate their
+position, and more than one message went from me to General Greely
+asking if Washington could not be censored as well as Tampa. No! Army
+officers had no power to stop the mouths of the high civil officials of
+the government, and so the dance went on.
+
+And the managing editors would flood their correspondents with telegrams
+of inquiry as to why they did not send the news that daily came from
+Washington as having originated in Tampa; and the correspondents would
+come to me and I would endeavor to calm them down as best I could. Then,
+incidentally, the managing editors would take a fling at me personally,
+and I would receive a polite telegram of protest but to no avail.
+
+Finally, one night the trouble culminated, and conjointly the
+correspondents sent a long telegram to General Greely asking if he could
+not right the seeming injustice. They did not mind being beaten in a
+fair field, but they did hate to be "scooped" by Washington
+correspondents who were having an easy time. Almost every man signed
+the protest and then it was brought to me, and I quickly O. K'd. it.
+Shortly afterwards a number of them came to my office and assured me
+that it was not against me personally they were kicking, and Louis
+Seibold, of the New York World, sent General Greely a message saying:
+
+"I don't like your blooming censor business one bit, but if you have to
+have it, you've got the best man for it in the army right here in
+Tampa," or words to that effect. Many others sent similar messages, but
+not quite so outspoken. General Greely appreciated their position and
+said so, but was unable to change the condition of affairs and so
+matters continued.
+
+All this time feverish preparations were being made to rush off
+Shafter's expedition. June 7th was a very hard and trying day, and at
+six o'clock in the evening I had just seated myself for a hasty bite of
+dinner when a messenger came to me from the telegraph office saying that
+the White House wanted me at once. I went to the key and was informed
+that the President wanted to talk to Generals Miles and Shafter and that
+the greatest secrecy must be maintained. After sending word to the
+generals, I sent all the operators out of the office, closed the windows
+and turned down the sounder so that it could not be heard _three feet
+away_. When General Shafter came in he had an officer stationed in the
+hall so that no one could approach in that direction. General Miles came
+in shortly afterwards and the door was closed. We all sat in front of
+the table, General Miles on my right, and General Shafter on the left.
+Lieutenant Miley of General Shafter's staff stood behind his chief. It
+was a scene long to be remembered. General Shafter was dressed in the
+plain blue army fatigue uniform, its strict sombreness being relieved
+only by the two gleaming silver stars on his shoulder straps. General
+Miles, the commanding general, was in conventional tuxedo dress, and
+looked every inch the gallant soldier and gentleman that he is. From the
+little telegraph instrument on the table ran a single strand of copper
+wire, out in the dark night, over the pine tops of Florida and Georgia,
+over the mountains of the Carolinas, and hills and vales of Virginia,
+into the Executive Mansion at Washington. In the office of the White
+House were the President, the Secretary of War, and Adjutant-General
+Corbin. The key there was worked by Colonel Montgomery, so if there ever
+was an official wire this was one.
+
+When all was ready I told the White House to go ahead.
+
+The first message was from the Secretary of War to General Shafter
+directing him to sail at once, as he was needed at the destination which
+was known at this time only to about five officers in Tampa. General
+Shafter replied that he would be ready to sail the next morning at
+daylight. Then, by the President's direction, a message was repeated
+that had been received from Admiral Sampson, saying he had that day
+bombarded the outer defenses of Santiago, and if ten thousand men were
+there the city and fleet would fall within forty-eight hours. The
+President further directed that General Shafter should sail as indicated
+by him with not less than ten thousand men. Then followed an interchange
+of messages, more or less personal in their nature, between the generals
+and the Washington contingent. Finally all was over and the line was cut
+off. The whole conversation lasted about fifty minutes, but the
+beginning of new history was started in that time and the curtain was
+going up on the grand drama of war. All the time this was going on I
+could hear faintly his strains of '_Auf Wiedersehn_,' together with the
+merry jest of the officers and the light laughter of the women. Brave
+men, braver women--soon their laughter was turned to tears and many of
+the officers who went out of the Tampa Bay hotel on that warm June night
+are now sleeping their last sleep, having given up their lives that
+their country's honor might live. The train carrying the headquarters to
+Port Tampa left at five o'clock in the morning. There was very little
+sleep that night and the next morning the big hotel was well nigh
+deserted. And all this time the destination of the fleet was unknown to
+all but those high in rank and myself.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI
+
+CENSORSHIP CONCLUDED
+
+
+My own sleep on that night was limited to about two hours snatched
+between work, and the following morning was a very busy one. About once
+every hour I would report to the White House how things were progressing
+at the port. As the big transports received their load of living
+freight, one by one they would pull out in the stream and anchor,
+waiting until the time should come when all would be ready, and then
+like a big swarm they would pull out together. They did not sail at
+daylight; unexpected delays occurred, and eight, nine, ten, eleven and
+twelve o'clock passed and still they had not sailed, although the twelve
+o'clock report said they would be gone by twelve-thirty.
+
+At one o'clock a messenger came hurriedly to me and said the White House
+wanted me at the key at once. When I answered, Colonel Montgomery said,
+"_The President wants to know if you can stop that fleet?_" Now the wire
+to Port Tampa was on a table right back of me and calling him with my
+left hand I said:
+
+"Can you get General Miles or General Shafter?" and with my right hand I
+said to the President, "I'll try, wait a minute."
+
+Then said the White House, "_It is imperative that the fleet be stopped
+at once._"
+
+From Port Tampa, "No sir, I can't find General Miles or General
+Shafter."
+
+I replied, "Have all the transports pulled out of the slip?"
+
+"Yes sir, so far as I can see they are all gone."
+
+From Washington, "Have you stopped the fleet?"
+
+"Wait a minute--will let you know later, am trying now."
+
+To Port Tampa, "Go out and find a tug and get this message to either
+General Miles or General Shafter, 'The President directs that you stop
+the sailing of Shafter's army until further orders.' Now fly."
+
+Just then Port Tampa said, "Here comes General Miles now," and in a
+minute more the message was delivered and the fleet stopped. I then
+reported to the President:
+
+"I have delivered your message to General Miles and the fleet will not
+sail until further orders."
+
+They came back wondering what had stopped them and that evening we
+learned of the appearance of the "Phantom" Spanish fleet in the Nicholas
+Channel _heading westward_. "Cervera wasn't bottled up in Santiago,"
+said some, "and before morning he will be here and blow us out of the
+water." Great was the consternation and as a precaution all the ships
+were ordered back into the slip. It must be said, however, that General
+Miles _never had any idea that the Spanish fleet was approaching our
+shores_.
+
+The transport fleet was tied up and then followed six days of weary
+waiting, and the duties of the censor became more arduous than ever, and
+the utmost vigilance was exercised. Private messages were almost all
+hung up, in fact, very little else than government business was allowed
+to pass over the wires. And yet, every day for a week, copies of the
+daily papers that reached me had, under flaming headlines, the startling
+news that Shafter's fleet had sailed--destination--Havana, San Juan,
+Matanzas,--yes--even the Spanish coast. All this was announced from
+Washington, and made the correspondents snort; they made every excuse to
+let their papers know they were still there. They wanted money, they
+wanted to send messages to their families, in fact, they wanted
+everything under the sun, but to no avail. Finally, on the 14th of June
+the army sailed away, filled with hope and courage, on their mission
+that resulted in victory for the American arms; but that was a foregone
+conclusion, while we less fortunate ones were left behind to pray for
+the success that we knew would be theirs.
+
+The correspondents were all on the transport "Olivette," and just before
+they pulled out I sent them a message saying I would release the news
+that night about the _sailing of the fleet only_, and they might file
+their messages. They did in large numbers and here is where the joke
+came in. When the messages reached the papers they thought it was all a
+bluff to mislead the public, and many of them refused to publish the
+news, but the fleet had gone this time for certain. As late as two days
+afterwards I received messages from the managing editors of two of the
+greatest papers in the country, asking me if the fleet had really
+sailed. I assured them it had. One thing is certain, the destination of
+that fleet was a well-kept secret. Mr. Richard Harding Davis in his
+admirable book on the Cuban and Porto Rican Campaigns, says that credit
+is due the censor because it was so well kept. I am afraid that this is
+about the only good word the censor ever received from the said Mr.
+Davis.
+
+The "Olivette," on which the correspondents sailed, was the last boat to
+leave Port Tampa. She left about six-thirty P. M. in the glory of the
+setting sun of a tropical evening. About five-thirty P. M. Mr. Edward
+Marshall, that prince of good fellows, who represented the New York
+Journal, came into my office to write a message for his paper, to be
+left with me and sent when the story was released. Marshall was a
+typical newspaper man and a thorough American, and had just returned
+from New York where he had been in attendance upon the sick-bed of his
+wife. He was very anxious to get his story written before he sailed. I
+knew the "Olivette" was about to pull out, and if he expected to go on
+her it was high time he was moving. As Port Tampa was nine miles away, I
+told him to fly and cut his story short or send it from Port Tampa. He
+thanked me and reached Port Tampa just in time to save being left. It
+was this same Edward Marshall who so daringly pushed to the front during
+the Guasimas fight of the Rough Riders, and was seriously wounded by a
+Mauser bullet near his spine. He was supposed to be dying, but true to
+his newspaper training and full of loyalty to his paper, he dictated a
+message to his journal between the puffs of a cigarette, when it was
+supposed each breath would be his last. But thank God he did not die,
+and now gives promise of many years of useful life. I have often thought
+if I had not warned him in time to go he would not have been shot; but
+then all war is uncertain, and in warning him I was only, "Doing unto
+others as I would be done by."
+
+During all these stirring times just described there were two women
+correspondents, poor souls, who were indeed sad and lonely. They were
+very ambitious and wanted to go to Cuba with the army, but the War
+Department wisely forbade any such a move and then my trouble began. At
+all hours of the day or night I was pestered by these same women. One of
+them represented a Canadian paper and was most anxious to go. She tried
+every expedient and tackled every man or woman of influence that came
+along. Even dear old Clara Barton did not escape her importunities. She
+wanted to go as a Red Cross nurse, but didn't know anything about
+nursing. However, I reckon she was as good as some of the women who did
+go. She was an Irish girl with rich red hair, and as mine was of an
+auburn tinge we didn't get along worth a cent. She didn't do much
+telegraphing but sent all of her stuff by mail. However, it was her
+intention to send _one telegram_ to her paper and "scoop" all the other
+chaps in so doing. She wrote a letter to her managing editor in Toronto
+and told him there was a censor down there who thought he could bottle
+up Florida as regards news, but she intended to outwit him. Particular
+attention was being paid so as to preserve the secrecy of the sailing
+day of Shafter's army. Cipher and code messages bearing on this
+occurrence were to be strictly interdicted. But that didn't make any
+difference to her; she could beat that game. So on the day the fleet
+actually sailed she would send a message to her paper saying, "_Send me
+six more jubilee books._" This would indicate that the fleet had really
+gone. Brilliant scheme from the brain of a very bright woman, but she
+lost sight of the fact that Messrs. Carranza and Polo y Bernabe were at
+that time in Canada spying on the United States, and that all the
+Canadian mail was most carefully watched. Such, however, was the case,
+and in a short time the contents of her letter were known to General
+Greely, and by him communicated to me. One evening Miss Correspondent
+was standing in the lobby of the Tampa Bay hotel surrounded by a group
+of her friends, when I approached and said:
+
+"Excuse me, Miss J--, but I should like to speak to you for a moment."
+
+"Well, what is it, pray? Surely you haven't anything to say but what my
+friends can hear, have you?" Sassy, wasn't she?
+
+"Oh! well if that is the case?" I replied, "I am sorry to inform you
+that you are suspended from correspondent's privileges and from the use
+of the telegraph until further orders."
+
+"And what for pray?"
+
+"I don't just exactly know," I answered, "but I think it has something
+to do with sending you 'six more jubilee books' from Canada."
+
+Well! she turned all the colors of the rainbow, and snapped out,
+"Goodness gracious! how did you--where did you hear that?"
+
+I smiled politely and walked away. The next morning, shortly after I
+reached my office, a timid knock was heard at the door.
+
+"Come in," I yelled, thinking it was a messenger boy. In walked Miss
+J----, woebegone, crestfallen and disheartened, with a letter of apology
+and explanation. I forwarded this to General Greely and kept her
+suspended for seven days. She never offended again, and the last I
+heard of her she was in Key West gazing with longing eyes towards the
+Pearl of the Antilles. She never reached there.
+
+The other woman correspondent was different. She was an American widow,
+bright, dashing and vivacious. She had heard of the ogre of a censor;
+she would conquer him through his susceptibility. I'll admit that the
+censor in question was susceptible of some things--but not in business
+matters. One day she filed an innocent little telegram to her paper,
+saying, "For ice cream read typhoid." The operator glanced at it and
+said, "You'll have to get Captain B----'s O. K. on that message before I
+can send it."
+
+She talked sweetly to him, but that didn't happen to be one of his
+"susceptible" days. Then she came to me, and as my "susceptibility" had
+run to a pretty low ebb I refused to permit the message to go on, on
+account of its hidden meaning.
+
+"Oh, pshaw! Captain, I wrote a story for my paper and in it described
+the death of a man from the effects of eating too much ice cream, and
+now I learn that he died of typhoid fever."
+
+I was pretty hard-headed that morning and couldn't assist the lady and
+she left the office vowing vengeance. The next edition of her paper
+contained the most charmingly sarcastic article about the red-headed,
+white-shoed censor I have ever seen, but I had become case-hardened by
+this time and did not mind it in the least.
+
+It might be supposed that as soon as the army had sailed and the
+correspondents had gone, that the censorship duties would be lighter.
+They were, officially, but otherwise they became harder than ever. The
+army had gone, but the women had been left behind. The husbands were
+away--fighting--dying--while the wives were waiting with dry eyes and
+aching hearts for the news that would mean life or death to them. There
+were some forty wives, daughters, and sweethearts remaining in the Tampa
+Bay hotel, and to them the censor became a most interesting party. They
+knew that any news that came to Tampa would come through him, and they
+wanted it whether his orders would allow him to divulge it or not.
+Before, I had to contend with the importunities of zealous
+correspondents, now it was the longing eyes of sweet women whose hearts
+were breaking with suspense, whose lives had stood still since the 14th
+day of June when the fleet sailed away. Of the two, I would rather
+contend with the former.
+
+The long and trying days dragged slowly by and still no news. Finally,
+on the 22nd of June, it was known that the army was landing; June 24th,
+the Guasimas fight of the cavalry division took place, and from that
+time on life was made miserable for me by importunate women. Many
+telegrams--yes, hundreds of them--came to me every day, and each time
+one of those cursed little yellow envelopes was put in my hands, if I
+happened to be in the lobby of the hotel, I could feel forty or fifty
+pairs of anxious eyes concentrated on me, as if to read from the
+expression of my face whether the news was good or bad. Colonel Michler
+of General Miles's staff was there, and if we should happen to be
+together talking, the women would surmise that the news was bad; and
+many times their surmises were just about right. One sweet little
+black-eyed woman always said she could tell from my face whether I was
+bluffing or not. July 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, were very gloomy days for we
+poor chaps who had been left behind--and for the women. We--they--knew
+the fight was on, that men were heroically dying, and _we_ also knew
+that the army was in a hard way. Strive as we might, no gleam of hope
+could be culled from the news of those three days. Cervera's fleet was
+still in the harbor of Santiago, and the army not only had the Spanish
+troops to fight but the navy as well. Flesh and blood might stand the
+rain of Mauser bullets, but they could not stand rapid-fire guns and
+eight-inch shells. The third of July dragged by, and at eleven o'clock
+Colonel Michler retired for the night not feeling in a very pleasant
+frame of mind. The lobby was well nigh deserted, but Colonels Smith and
+Powell and a few more officers sat by one of the big open doors having a
+farewell smoke and chat before going to bed. At eleven-thirty I was
+standing by the desk talking to the clerk, when the night operator came
+charging out of the office and gave me a little piece of yellow paper. I
+quickly opened it and read, "Sampson entirely destroyed Cervera's fleet
+this morning." News like that, if true, was too good to keep, so I went
+into the telegraph office and had a wire cut through to the New York
+office and asked for a confirmation or denial of the report. They
+confirmed it and gave me the text of the official report. I bounded out
+in the hall and shouted out the glorious news at the top of my voice.
+Gloom was dispelled instanter, and joy reigned supreme. At just twelve
+o'clock midnight, we drank a toast to the army and navy, and to our
+country.
+
+Santiago surrendered and the army went to Porto Rico only to be stopped
+in the midst of a most brilliant campaign by the signing of the
+protocol. The censorship was ended and willingly did I lay down the blue
+pencil and take up my sword.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII
+
+CONCLUSION
+
+
+I cannot refrain from concluding this little volume by a tribute to the
+telegraphers of the country.
+
+It is but fifty-five years since Professor S. F. B. Morse electrified
+the civilized world by the completion of his electro-magnetic telegraph.
+Since that time great improvements have been made until now it is
+difficult to recognize in the delicate mechanisms of the relay, key,
+sounder, duplex, quad, and multiplex, the principle first promulgated in
+the old Morse register. Its influence was at once felt in all walks of
+life; it was an art to be an expert telegrapher. Keeping pace with the
+strides of advancing civilization, the telegraph has spread its slender
+wires, until now almost the entire world is connected by its magnetism.
+Away back in the early fifties when railroads and comforts were few,
+while danger and trials were plenty, these faithful knights of the key
+carried on their work under the most adverse circumstances. Since its
+first appearance it has manifestly been the possessor of millions of
+secrets, public and private. In times of joy you flash your
+congratulations to distant relatives or friends; in minutes of sorrow
+and tribulation, your message of sympathy is quickly carried as a balm
+to aching hearts; in the worries of business its use is of the most
+vital importance; and while you are peacefully slumbering on some
+swiftly moving railroad train the telegraph is one of the principal
+means of insuring a safe and speedy trip. Pick up your favorite daily
+paper--the one that is always reliable--read the market or press reports
+accurately printed, and then think that the telegraph does it all. Read
+news from foreign countries--from out-of-the-way places--and think of
+the miles of mountains, deserts, plains and valleys passed over; think
+of the slender cable down deep in the throbbing bosom of the ocean and
+of the little spark that brings the news to your door; and then reflect
+on the men whose abilities accomplish these results. Think of his work
+in the countries where it is so hot that it seems as if the land beyond
+the River Styx is at his elbow; in lands where it is always cold and the
+days and nights are long. In season and out; in times of death,
+pestilence and famine, with never a murmur, these sturdy, loyal men, and
+true-hearted women do their work. All these are incidents of peace. Now
+think, when war, grim-visaged and terrible, spreads its mighty power
+over the earth. What is responsible for the news of victory? What brings
+you the list you so anxiously scan of the dead and wounded? What means
+are employed by the subdivisions of the army in the field to keep in
+constant communication, so that they may act as the integral parts of an
+harmonious whole? In the late Spanish-American war what first brought
+news, authentic in character, to the Navy Department that Cervera with
+his doomed fleet was in Santiago harbor? And during the dark and trying
+days from June 22nd until July 14th, the telegraphers of the army--the
+signal corps men--were ceaseless and tireless in their efforts, and as a
+result within five minutes of its being sent, a message would be in
+Washington. While the army slept they worked, without any regard to self
+or comfort. And to-day in the far-off Philippine islands they are still
+striving with the best results. The telegraphers are honest, loyal,
+patriotic men--a little Bohemian, perhaps, in their tastes--and deserve
+a better recognition for the good work they do.
+
+                                    "30"
+                             "Filed, 2:35 A. M."
+                            "Received, 2:43 A. M."
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Danger Signals, by 
+John A. Hill and Jasper Ewing Brady
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+  <head>
+    <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" />
+    <title>
+      The Project Gutenberg eBook of Danger Signals, by John A. Hill and Jasper Ewing Brady
+    </title>
+    <style type="text/css">
+/*<![CDATA[  XML blockout */
+<!--
+    p                 {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em;}
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+    table             {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;}
+    body              {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;}
+    .pagenum          {display: inline;	font-size: x-small; text-align: right;
+                       position: absolute; right: 2%; border:1px solid white;
+                       padding: 1px 3px; font-style: normal;
+                       font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; text-decoration: none;
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+    .center           {text-align: center;}
+    .smcap            {font-variant: small-caps;}
+    hr.full           {width:100%; margin-top:2em; margin-bottom: 2em;}
+    hr.major          {width:75%; margin-top:2em; margin-bottom: 2em;}
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+<pre>
+
+Project Gutenberg's Danger Signals, by John A. Hill and Jasper Ewing Brady
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Danger Signals
+       Remarkable, Exciting and Unique Examples of the Bravery,
+              Daring and Stoicism in the Midst of Danger of Train
+              Dispatchers and Railroad Engineers
+
+Author: John A. Hill and Jasper Ewing Brady
+
+Release Date: August 8, 2006 [EBook #19007]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DANGER SIGNALS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+
+<div class='figcenter' style='width: 397px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="illus-001" id="illus-001"></a>
+<img src='images/p1-fpc.jpg' alt='"Quick as a flash the Kid had my arm."' title='' width = '397' height = '493'/><br />
+<span class='caption'>"Quick as a flash the Kid had my arm."</span>
+</div>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+
+<table width="550" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="" border="1">
+  <col style="width:100%;" />
+  <tr>
+    <td align="center">
+    <span style="font-size: 250%;"><br /><br />DANGER SIGNALS</span><br /><br /><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;">REMARKABLE, EXCITING AND UNIQUE</span><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;">EXAMPLES OF THE BRAVERY, DAR-</span><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;">ING AND STOICISM IN THE</span><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;">MIDST OF DANGER OF</span><br /><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 180%;">Train Dispatchers And Railroad Engineers</span><br /><br /><br />
+    <span style="font-size:  80%;">BY</span><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;"><i>JOHN A. HILL</i></span><br />
+    <span style="font-size:  80%;"><i>and</i></span><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;"><i>JASPER EWING BRADY</i></span><br /><br /><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;" class="smcap">Absorbing Stories of Men with Nerves of Steel,</span><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;" class="smcap">Indomitable Courage and</span><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;" class="smcap">Wonderful Endurance</span><br /><br /><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 120%;">FULLY ILLUSTRATED</span><br /><br /><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;">CHICAGO</span><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 120%;">JAMIESON-HIGGINS CO.</span><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;">1902</span><br /><br /><br />
+    </td>
+  </tr>
+</table>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+
+<p class='center'>Copyright 1898, 1899<br />
+By S. S. McClure Co.<br />
+<br />
+Copyright 1899<br />
+By Doubleday &amp; McClure Co.<br />
+<br />
+Copyright 1900<br />
+By Jamieson-Higgins Co.<br />
+</p>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+
+<h2><a name="Contents" id="Contents"></a>Contents</h2>
+
+<h3>Part I</h3>
+
+<table border="0" width="600" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents">
+<col style="width:10%;" />
+<col style="width:80%;" />
+<col style="width:10%;" />
+<tr><td align="left">&nbsp;</td><td align="left">Jim Wainright's Kid</td><td align="right"><a href="#A">7</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">&nbsp;</td><td align="left">An Engineer's Christmas Story</td><td align="right"><a href="#B">37</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">&nbsp;</td><td align="left">The Clean Man And The Dirty Angels</td><td align="right"><a href="#C">59</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">&nbsp;</td><td align="left">A Peg-Legged Romance</td><td align="right"><a href="#D">77</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">&nbsp;</td><td align="left">My Lady Of The Eyes</td><td align="right"><a href="#E">99</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">&nbsp;</td><td align="left">Some Freaks Of Fate</td><td align="right"><a href="#F">152</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">&nbsp;</td><td align="left">Mormon Joe, The Robber</td><td align="right"><a href="#G">193</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">&nbsp;</td><td align="left">A Midsummer Night's Trip</td><td align="right"><a href="#H">229</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">&nbsp;</td><td align="left">The Polar Zone</td><td align="right"><a href="#J">255</a></td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<h3>Part II</h3>
+
+<table border="0" width="600" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents">
+<col style="width:10%;" />
+<col style="width:80%;" />
+<col style="width:10%;" />
+<tr><td align="right">I&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">Learning The Business&mdash;My First Office</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">1</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">II&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">An Encounter With Train Robbers</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">11</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">III&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">In A Wreck</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">19</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">IV&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">A Woman Operator Who Saved A Train</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">25</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">V&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">A Night Office In Texas&mdash;A Stuttering Despatcher</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">33</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">VI&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">Blue Field, Arizona, And An Indian Scrimmage</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">42</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">VII&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">Taking A Whirl At Commercial Work&mdash;My First Attempt&mdash;The Galveston Fire</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">52</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">VIII&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">Sending A Message Perforce&mdash;Recognizing An Old Friend By His Stuff</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">62</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">IX&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">Bill Bradley, Gambler And Gentleman</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">68</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">X&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">The Death Of Jim Cartwright&mdash;Chased Off A Wire By A Woman</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">80</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XI&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">Witnessing A Marriage By Wire&mdash;Beating A Pool Room&mdash;Sparring At Range</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">87</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XII&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">How A Smart Operator Was Squelched&mdash;The Galveston Flood</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">96</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XIII&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">Sending My First Order</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">105</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XIV&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">Running Trains By Telegraph&mdash;How It Is Done</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">111</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XV&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">An Old Despatcher's Mistake&mdash;My First Trick</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">125</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XVI&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">A General Strike&mdash;A Locomotive Engineer For A Day</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">137</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XVII&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">Chief Despatcher&mdash;An Inspection Tour&mdash;Big River Wreck</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">147</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XVIII&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">A Promotion By Favor And Its Results</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">160</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XIX&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">Jacking Up A Negligent Operator&mdash;A Convict Operator&mdash;Dick, The Plucky Call Boy</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">168</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XX&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">An Episode Of Sentiment</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">185</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XXI&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">The Military Operator&mdash;A Fake Report That Nearly Caused Trouble</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">192</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XXII&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">Private Dennis Hogan, Hero</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">203</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XXIII&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">The Commission Won&mdash;In A General Strike</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">222</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XXIV&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">Experiences As A Government Censor Of Telegraph</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">237</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XXV&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">More Censorship</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">246</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XXVI&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">Censorship Concluded</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">257</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XXVII&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">Conclusion</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">270</a></td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+
+<h2>Illustrations</h2>
+
+<h3>Part I</h3>
+
+<table border="0"  width="600" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Illustrations">
+<col style="width:90%;" />
+<col style="width:10%;" />
+<tr><td align="left">"Quick as a flash the Kid had my arm."</td><td align="right"><a href="#illus-001">Frontispiece</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">"I noticed his long, slim hand on the top of the reverse-lever."</td><td align="right"><a href="#illus-018">50</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">"It was a strange courting ... there on that engine."</td><td align="right"><a href="#illus-002">70</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">"We carried him into the depot."</td><td align="right"><a href="#illus-003">90</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">"He was the first man I ever killed."</td><td align="right"><a href="#illus-004">170</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">"'Mexican,' said I."</td><td align="right"><a href="#illus-005">234</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">"What seemed to be a giant iceberg...."</td><td align="right"><a href="#illus-006">282</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">"A white city ... was visible for an instant."</td><td align="right"><a href="#illus-007">290</a></td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<h3>Part II</h3>
+
+<table border="0"  width="600" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Illustrations">
+<col style="width:90%;" />
+<col style="width:10%;" />
+<tr><td align="left">Facsimile Of A Completed Order As Entered In The Despatcher's Order-Book</td><td align="right"><a href="#illus-008">1</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">"Two of the men tied my hands in front of me."</td><td align="right"><a href="#illus-009">14</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">"After many efforts I finally reached the lowest cross-arm."</td><td align="right"><a href="#illus-010">30</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">"One of them picked up the lantern, and swaggering over to where I sat all trembling...."</td><td align="right"><a href="#illus-011">46</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">"He looked at me ... then catching me by the collar...."</td><td align="right"><a href="#illus-012">95</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">"... Half lying on the table, face downward, dead by his own hand"</td><td align="right"><a href="#illus-013">128</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">"See here, who is going to pull this train?"</td><td align="right"><a href="#illus-014">158</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">"Are you not doing it just because I am a woman?"</td><td align="right"><a href="#illus-015">190</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">"... Dennis, lying under the telegraph line, his left hand still grasped the instrument"</td><td align="right"><a href="#illus-016">222</a></td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+
+<h1>DANGER SIGNALS.</h1>
+<h2><span class="smcap">Part</span> I.</h2>
+
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="A" id="A"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">7</a></span>
+<h2>JIM WAINRIGHT'S KID</h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>As I put down my name and the number of the crack engine of America&mdash;as
+well as the imprint of a greasy thumb&mdash;on the register of our roundhouse
+last Saturday night, the foreman borrowed a chew of my fireman's
+fine-cut, and said to me:</p>
+
+<p>"John, that old feller that's putting on the new injectors wants to see
+you."</p>
+
+<p>"What does he want, Jack?" said I. "I don't remember to have seen him,
+and I'll tell you right now that the old squirts on the 411 are good
+enough for me&mdash;I ain't got time to monkey with new-fangled injectors on
+<i>that</i> run."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, he says he knowed you out West fifteen years ago."</p>
+
+<p>"So! What kind o' looking chap is he?"</p>
+
+<p>"Youngish face, John; but hair and whiskers as white as snow.
+Sorry-looking<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">8</a></span> rooster&mdash;seems like he's lost all his friends on earth,
+and wa'n't jest sure where to find 'em in the next world."</p>
+
+<p>"I can't imagine who it would be. Let's see&mdash;'Lige Clark, he's dead;
+Dick Bellinger, Hank Baldwin, Jim Karr, Dave Keller, Bill Parr&mdash;can't be
+none of them. What's his name?"</p>
+
+<p>"Winthrop&mdash;no, Wetherson&mdash;no, lemme see&mdash;why, no&mdash;no, Wainright; that's
+it, Wainright; J. E. Wainright."</p>
+
+<p>"Jim Wainright!" says I, "Jim Wainright! I haven't heard a word of him
+for years&mdash;thought he was dead; but he's a young fellow compared to me."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, he don't look it," said Jack.</p>
+
+<p>After supper I went up to the hotel and asked for J. E. Wainright.</p>
+
+<p>Maybe you think Jim and I didn't go over the history of the "front."
+"Out at the front" is the pioneer's ideal of railroad life. To a man who
+has put in a few years there the memory of it is like the memory of
+marches, skirmishes, and battles in the mind of the veteran soldier. I
+guess we started<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">9</a></span> at the lowest numbered engine on the road, and
+gossiped about each and every crew. We had finished the list of
+engineers and had fairly started on the firemen when a thought struck
+me, and I said:</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I forgot him, Jim&mdash;the 'Kid,' your cheery little cricket of a
+firesy, who thought Jim Wainright the only man on the road that could
+run an engine right. I remember he wouldn't take a job running
+switcher&mdash;said a man that didn't know that firing for Jim Wainright was
+a better job than running was crazy. What's become of him? Running, I
+suppose?"</p>
+
+<p>Jim Wainright put his hand up to his eyes for a minute, and his voice
+was a little husky as he said:</p>
+
+<p>"No, John, the Kid went away&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Went away?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, across the Great Divide&mdash;dead."</p>
+
+<p>"That's tough," said I, for I saw Jim felt bad. "The Kid and you were
+like two brothers."</p>
+
+<p>"John, I loved the&mdash;"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">10</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Then Jim broke down. He got his hat and coat, and said:</p>
+
+<p>"John, let's get out into the air&mdash;I feel all choked up here; and I'll
+tell you a strange, true story&mdash;the Kid's story."</p>
+
+<p>As we got out of the crowd and into Boston Common, Jim told his story,
+and here it is, just as I remember it&mdash;and I'm not bad at remembering.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll commence at the beginning, John, so that you will understand. It's
+a strange story, but when I get through you'll recall enough yourself to
+prove its truth.</p>
+
+<p>"Before I went beyond the Mississippi and under the shadows of the Rocky
+Mountains, I fired, and was promoted, on a prairie road in the Great
+Basin well known in the railway world. I was much like the rest of the
+boys until I commenced to try to get up a substitute for the link
+motion. I read an article in a scientific paper from the pen of a
+jackass who showed a Corliss engine card, and then blackguarded the
+railroad mechanics of America for being satisfied with the link because
+it was handy. I started in to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">11</a></span> design a motion to make a card,
+but&mdash;well, you know how good-for-nothing those things are to pull loads
+with.</p>
+
+<p>"After my first attempt, I put in many nights making a wooden model for
+the Patent Office. I was subsequently informed that the child of my
+brain interfered with about ten other motions. Then I commenced to
+think&mdash;which I ought to have done before. I went to studying <i>what had
+been done</i>, and soon came to the conclusion that I just knew a
+little&mdash;about enough to get along running. I gave up hope of being an
+inventor and a benefactor of mankind, but study had awakened in me the
+desire for improvement; and after considerable thought I came to the
+conclusion that the best thing I could do was to try to be the best
+runner on the road, just as a starter. In reality, in my inmost soul, my
+highest ideal was the master mechanic's position.</p>
+
+<p>"I was about twenty-five years old, and had been running between two or
+three years, with pretty good success, when one day the general master
+mechanic sent for me.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">12</a></span> In the office I was introduced to a gentleman,
+and the G. M. M. said to him in my presence:</p>
+
+<p>"'This is the engineer I spoke to you of. We have none better. I think
+he would suit you exactly, and, when you are through with him, send him
+back; we are only lending him, mind,' and he went out into the shop.</p>
+
+<p>"The meaning of it all was that the stranger represented a firm that had
+put up the money to build a locomotive with a patent boiler for burning
+a patent fuel&mdash;she had an improved valve motion, too&mdash;and they had asked
+our G. M. M. for a good engineer, to send East and break in and run the
+new machine and go with her around the country on ten-day trials on the
+different roads. He offered good pay, it was work I liked, and I went. I
+came right here to Boston and reported to the firm. They were a big
+concern in another line, and the head of the house was a relative of our
+G. M. M.&mdash;that's why he had a chance to send me.</p>
+
+<p>"After the usual introductions, the president said to me:</p>
+
+<p>"'Now, Mr. Wainright, this new engine<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">13</a></span> of ours is hardly started yet.
+The drawings are done, and the builders' contract is ready to sign; but
+we want you to look over the drawings, to see if there are any practical
+suggestions you can make. Then stay in the shops, and see that the work
+is done right. The inventor is not a practical man; help him if you can,
+for experience tells us that ten things fail because of bad <i>design</i>
+where one does because of bad manipulation. Come up into the
+drawing-room, and I will introduce you to the inventor.'</p>
+
+<p>"Up under the skylight I met the designer of the new engine, a mild
+little fellow&mdash;but he don't figure in this story. In five minutes I was
+deep in the study of the drawings. Everything seemed to be worked out
+all right, except that they had the fire-door opening the wrong way and
+the brake-valve couldn't be reached&mdash;but many a good builder did that
+twenty years ago. I was impressed with the beauty of the drawings&mdash;they
+were like lithographs, and one, a perspective, was shaded and colored
+handsomely. I complimented him on them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">14</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"'They are beautiful, sir,' he said; 'they were made by a lady. I'll
+introduce you to her.'</p>
+
+<p>"A bright, plain-faced little woman with a shingled head looked up from
+her drawing-board as we approached, shook hands cordially when
+introduced, and at once entered into an intelligent discussion of the
+plans of the new record-beater.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, it was some months before the engine was ready for the road, and
+in that time I got pretty well acquainted with Miss Reynolds. She was
+mighty plain, but sharp as a buzz-saw. I don't think she was really
+homely, but she'd never have been arrested for her beauty. There was
+something 'fetching' about her appearance&mdash;you couldn't help liking her.
+She was intelligent, and it was such a novelty to find a woman who knew
+the smoke stack from the steam chest. I didn't fall in love with her at
+all, but I liked to talk to her over the work. She told me her story;
+not all at once, but here and there a piece, until I knew her history
+pretty well.</p>
+
+<p>"It seems that her father had been chief<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">15</a></span> draughtsman of those works for
+years, but had lately died. She had a strong taste for mechanics, and
+her father, who believed in women learning trades, had taught her
+mechanical drawing, first at home and then in the shop. She had helped
+in busy times as an extra, but never went to work for regular wages
+until the death of her father made it necessary.</p>
+
+<p>"She seemed to like to hear stories of the road, and often asked me to
+tell her some thrilling experience the second time. Her eyes sparkled
+and her face kindled when I touched on a snow-bucking experience. She
+often said that if she was a man she'd go on the railroad, and after
+such a remark she would usually sigh and smile at the same time. One
+day, when the engine was pretty nearly ready, she said to me:</p>
+
+<p>"'Mr. Wainright, who is going to fire the Experiment?'</p>
+
+<p>"'I don't know. I had forgot about that; I'll have to see about it.'</p>
+
+<p>"'It wouldn't be of much use to get an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">16</a></span> experienced man, would it&mdash;the
+engine will burn a new fuel in a new way?'</p>
+
+<p>"'No,' said I, 'not much.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Now,' said she, coloring a little, 'let me ask a favor of you. I have
+a brother who is just crazy to go out firing. I don't want him to go
+unless it's with a man I can trust; he is young and inexperienced, you
+know. Won't you take him? Please do.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Why, I'll be glad to,' said I. 'I'll speak to the old man about it.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Don't tell him it's my brother.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, all right.'</p>
+
+<p>"The old man told me to hire whoever I liked, and I told Miss Reynolds
+to bring the boy in the morning.</p>
+
+<p>"'Won't you wait until Monday? It will be an accommodation to me.'</p>
+
+<p>"Of course I waited.</p>
+
+<p>"The next day Miss Reynolds did not come to the office, and I was busy
+at the shop. Monday came, but no Miss Reynolds. About nine o'clock,
+however, the foreman came down to the Experiment with a boy,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">17</a></span> apparently
+about eighteen years old, and said there was a lad with a note for me.</p>
+
+<p>"Before reading the note I shook hands with the boy, and told him I knew
+who he was, for he looked like his sister. He was small, but wiry, and
+had evidently come prepared for business, as he had some overclothes
+under his arm and a pair of buckskin gloves. He was bashful and quiet,
+as boys usually are during their first experience away from home. The
+note read:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"'<span class="smcap">Dear Mr. Wainright.</span>&mdash;This will be handed you by brother George. I
+hope you will be satisfied with him. I know he will try to please
+you and do his duty; don't forget how green he is. I am obliged to
+go into the country to settle up some of my father's affairs and
+may not see you again before you go. I sincerely hope the
+"Experiment," George, and his engineer will be successful. I shall
+watch you all.</p>
+
+<p>"'<span class="smcap">G. E. Reynolds.</span>'</p></div>
+
+<p>"I felt kind of cut up, somehow, about going away without bidding Old
+Business&mdash;as the other draughtsman called Miss Reynolds&mdash;good-by;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">18</a></span> but I
+was busy with the engine.</p>
+
+<p>"The foreman came along half an hour after the arrival of young
+Reynolds, and seeing him at work cleaning the window glass, asked who he
+was.</p>
+
+<p>"'The fireman,' said I.</p>
+
+<p>"'What! that kid?'</p>
+
+<p>"And from that day I don't think I ever called young Reynolds by any
+other name half a dozen times. That was the 'Kid' you knew. When it came
+quitting time that night, I asked the Kid where they lived, and he said,
+Charlestown. I remarked that his voice was like his sister's; but he
+laughed, and said I'd see difference enough if they were together; and
+bidding me good-night, caught a passing car.</p>
+
+<p>"We broke the Experiment in for a few days, and then tackled half a
+train for Providence. She would keep her water just about hot enough to
+wash in with the pump on. It was a tough day; I was in the front end
+half the time at every stop. The Kid did exactly what I told him, and
+was in good spirits<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">19</a></span> all the time. I was cross. Nothing will make a man
+crosser than a poor steamer.</p>
+
+<p>"We got to Providence in the evening tired; but after supper the Kid
+said he had an aunt and her family living there, and if I didn't mind,
+he'd try to find them. I left the door unlocked, and slept on one side
+of the bed, but the Kid didn't come back; he was at the engine when I
+got there the next morning.</p>
+
+<p>"The Kid was such a nice little fellow I liked to have him with me, and,
+somehow or other (I hardly noticed it at the time), he had a good
+influence on me. In them days I took a drink if I felt like it; but the
+Kid got me into the habit of taking lemonade, and wouldn't go into
+drinking places, and I soon quit it. He gave me many examples of
+controlling my temper, and soon got me into the habit of thinking before
+I spoke.</p>
+
+<p>"We played horse with that engine for four or five weeks, mostly around
+town, but I could see it was no go. The patent fuel was no good, and the
+patent fire-box little better, and I advised the firm to put a standard<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">20</a></span>
+boiler on her and a pair of links, and sell her while the paint was
+fresh. They took my advice.</p>
+
+<p>"The Kid and I took the engine to Hinkley's, and left her there; we
+packed up our overclothes, and as we walked away, the Kid asked: 'What
+will you do now, Jim?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Oh, I've had a nice play, and I'll go back to the road. I wish you'd
+go along.'</p>
+
+<p>"'I wouldn't like anything better; will you take me?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Yes, but I ain't sure that I can get you a job right away.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, I could fire for you, couldn't I?'</p>
+
+<p>"'I'd like to have you, Kid; but you know I have a regular engine and a
+regular fireman. I'll ask for you, though.'</p>
+
+<p>"'I won't fire for anybody else!'</p>
+
+<p>"'You won't! What would you do if I should die?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Quit.'</p>
+
+<p>"Get out!'</p>
+
+<p>"'Honest; if I can't fire for you, I won't fire at all.'</p>
+
+<p>"I put in a few days around the 'Hub,'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">21</a></span> and as I had nothing to do, my
+mind kept turning to Miss Reynolds. I met the Kid daily, and on one of
+our rambles I asked him where his sister was.</p>
+
+<p>"'Out in the country.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Send word to her that I am going away and want to see her, will you,
+Kid?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, yes; but Sis is funny; she's too odd for any use. I don't think
+she'll come.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, I'll go and see her.'</p>
+
+<p>"'No, Sis would think you were crazy.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Why? Now look here Kid, I like that sister of yours, and I want to see
+her.'</p>
+
+<p>"But the Kid just stopped, leaned against the nearest building, and
+laughed&mdash;laughed until the tears ran down his cheeks. The next day he
+brought me word that his sister had gone to Chicago to make some
+sketches for the firm and hoped to come to see us after she was through.
+I started for Chicago the day following, the Kid with me.</p>
+
+<p>"I had little trouble in getting the Kid on with me, as my old fireman
+had been promoted. I had a nice room with another plug-puller, and in a
+few days I was in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">22</a></span> old jog&mdash;except for the Kid. He refused to room
+with my partner's fireman; and when I talked to him about saving money
+that way, he said he wouldn't room with any one&mdash;not even me. Then he
+laughed, and said he kicked so that no one could room with him. The Kid
+was the butt of all the firemen on account of his size, but he kept the
+cleanest engine, and was never left nor late, and seemed more and more
+attached to me&mdash;and I to him.</p>
+
+<p>"Things were going along slick enough when Daddy Daniels had a row with
+his fireman, and our general master mechanic took the matter up.
+Daniels' fireman claimed the run with me, as he was the oldest man, and,
+as they had an 'oldest man' agreement, the master mechanic ordered
+Smutty Kelly and the Kid changed.</p>
+
+<p>"I was not in the roundhouse when the Kid was ordered to change, but he
+went direct to the office and kicked, but to no purpose. Then he came to
+me.</p>
+
+<p>"'Jim,' said he, with tears in his eyes, 'are you satisfied with me on
+the 12?'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">23</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"'Why, yes, Kid. Who says I'm not?'</p>
+
+<p>"'They've ordered me to change to the 17 with that horrible old ruffian
+Daniels, and Smutty Kelly to go with you.'</p>
+
+<p>"'They have!' says I. 'That slouch can't go out with me the first time;
+I'll see the old man.'</p>
+
+<p>"But the old man was mad by the time I got to him.</p>
+
+<p>"'That baby-faced boy says he won't fire for anybody but you; what have
+you been putting into his head?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Nothing; I've treated him kindly, and he likes me and the 12&mdash;that's
+the cleanest engine on the&mdash;'</p>
+
+<p>"'Tut, tut, I don't care about that; I've ordered the firemen on the 12
+and 17 changed&mdash;and they are going to be changed.'</p>
+
+<p>"The Kid had followed me into the office, and at this point said, very
+respectfully:</p>
+
+<p>"'Excuse me, sir, but Mr. Wainright and I get along so nicely together.
+Daniels is a bad man; so is Kelly; and neither will get along with
+decent men. Why can't you&mdash;'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">24</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"'There! stop right there, young man. Now, will you go on the 17 <i>as
+ordered</i>?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Yes, if Jim Wainright runs her.'</p>
+
+<p>"'No <i>ifs</i> about it; will you go?'</p>
+
+<p>"'No, sir, I won't!'</p>
+
+<p>"'You are discharged, then.'</p>
+
+<p>"'That fires me, too,' said I.</p>
+
+<p>"'Not at all, not at all; this is a fireman row, Jim.'</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know what struck me then, but I said:</p>
+
+<p>"'No one but this boy shall put a scoop of coal in the 12 or any other
+engine for me; I'll take the poorest run you have, but the Kid goes with
+me.'</p>
+
+<p>"Talk was useless, and in the end the Kid and I quit and got our time.</p>
+
+<p>"That evening the Kid came to my room and begged me to take my job back
+and he would go home; but I wouldn't do it, and asked him if he was sick
+of me.</p>
+
+<p>"'No, Jim,' said he. 'I live in fear that something will happen to
+separate us, but I don't want to be a drag on you&mdash;I think more of you
+than anybody.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">25</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"They were buying engines by the hundred on the Rio Grande and Santa F&eacute;
+and the A. &amp; P. in those days, and the Kid and I struck out for the
+West, and inside of thirty days we were at work again.</p>
+
+<p>"We had been there three months, I guess, when I got orders to take a
+new engine out to the front and leave her, bringing back an old one. The
+last station on the road was in a box-car, thrown out beside the track
+on a couple of rails. There was one large, rough-board house, where they
+served rough-and-ready grub and let rooms. The latter were stalls, the
+partitions being only about seven feet high. It was cold and bleak, but
+right glad we were to get there and get a warm supper. Everything was
+rough, but the Kid seemed to enjoy the novelty. After supper I asked the
+landlord if he could fix us for the night.</p>
+
+<p>"'I can jest fix ye, and no more,' said he; 'I have just one room left.
+Ye's'll have to double up; but this is the kind o' weather for that;
+it'll be warmer.'</p>
+
+<p>"The Kid objected, but the landlord<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">26</a></span> bluffed him&mdash;didn't have any other
+room&mdash;and he added: 'If I was your pardner there, I'd kick ye down to
+the foot, such a cold strip of bacon as ye must be.'</p>
+
+<p>"About nine o'clock the Kid slipped out, and not coming in for an hour,
+I went to look for him. As I went toward the engine, I met the watchman:</p>
+
+<p>"'Phy don't that fireman o' yourn sleep in the house or on the caboose
+floor such a night as this? He'll freeze up there in that cab wid no
+blankets at all; but when I tould him that, he politely informed meself
+that he'd knowed men to git rich mindin' their own biz. He's a sassy
+slip of a Yankee.'</p>
+
+<p>"I climbed up on the big consolidation, and, lighting my torch, looked
+over the boiler-head at the Kid. He was lying on a board on the seat,
+with his overcoat for a covering and an arm-rest for a pillow.</p>
+
+<p>"'What's the matter with you, Kid?' I asked. 'What are you doing
+freezing here when we can both be comfortable and warm in the house? Are
+you ashamed or afraid to sleep with me? I don't like this for a cent.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">27</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"'Hope you won't be mad with me, Jim, but I won't sleep with any one;
+there now!'</p>
+
+<p>"'You're either a fool or crazy,' said I. 'Why, you will half freeze
+here. I want some explanation of such a trick as this.'</p>
+
+<p>"The Kid sat up, looked at me soberly for a few seconds, reached up and
+unhooked his door, and said:</p>
+
+<p>"'Come over and sit down, Jim, and I'll tell you something.'</p>
+
+<p>"I blew out the torch and went over, half mad. As I hooked the door to
+keep out the sharp wind I thought I heard a sob, and I took the Kid's
+head in my hands and turned his face to the moonlight. There were big
+tears in the corner of each tightly closed eye.</p>
+
+<p>"'Don't feel bad, Kid,' said I. 'I'm sure there's some reason keeps you
+at such tricks as this; but tell me all your trouble&mdash;it's imaginary, I
+know.'</p>
+
+<p>"There was a tremor in the Kid's voice as he took my hand and said, 'We
+are friends, Jim; ain't we?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Why, of course,' said I.</p>
+
+<p>"'I have depended on your friendship and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">28</a></span> kindness and manhood, Jim. It
+has never failed me yet, and it won't now, I know. I have a secret, Jim,
+and it gnaws to be out one day, and hides itself the next. Many and many
+a time I have been on the point of confessing to you, but something held
+me back. I was afraid you would not let me stay with you, if you knew&mdash;'</p>
+
+<p>"'Why, you ain't killed any one, Kid?' I asked, for I thought he was
+exaggerating his trouble.</p>
+
+<p>"'No&mdash;yes, I did, too&mdash;I killed my sister.'</p>
+
+<p>"I recoiled, hurt, shocked. 'You&mdash;'</p>
+
+<p>"'Yes, Jim, there is no such person to be found as my sister,
+Georgiana&mdash;<i>for I am she</i>!''</p>
+
+<p>"'You! Why, Kid, you're crazy!'</p>
+
+<p>"'No, I'm not. Listen, Jim, and I will explain.'</p>
+
+<p>"'My father was always sorry I was not a boy. Taught me boyish tricks,
+and made me learn drawing. I longed for the life on a locomotive&mdash;I
+loved it, read about it, thought of it, and prayed to be transformed
+into <i>something</i> that could go out on the road.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">29</a></span> My heart went out to
+you early in our acquaintance, and one day the thought to get started as
+a fireman with you shot into my brain and was acted upon at once. After
+the first move there was no going back, and I have acted my part well; I
+have even been a good fireman. I am strong, healthy, and happy when on
+the road with you. I love the life, hard as it is, and can't think of
+giving it up, and&mdash;and you, Jim.'</p>
+
+<p>"And then she broke down, and cried as only a woman can.</p>
+
+<p>"I took both her hands in mine and kissed her&mdash;think of kissing your
+fireman on the engine&mdash;and told her that we could be happy yet. Then I
+told her how I had tried to get a letter to the lost sister, and how
+they never came back, and were never answered&mdash;that I loved the sister
+and loved her. She reminded me that she herself got all the letters I
+had sent, and was pretty sure of her ground when she threw herself on my
+protection.</p>
+
+<p>"It was a strange courting, John, there on that engine at the front, the
+boundless plains on one side, the mountains on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">30</a></span> other, the winds of
+the desert whirling sand and snow against our little house, and the moon
+looking coldly down at the spectacle of an engineer making love to his
+fireman.</p>
+
+<p>"That night the Kid slept in the bed in the house, and I stayed on the
+engine.</p>
+
+<p>"When we got back to headquarters the Kid laid off to go home, and I
+made a trip or two with another fireman, and then I had to go to
+Illinois to fix up some family business&mdash;Kid and I arranged that.</p>
+
+<p>"We met in St. Louis, the Kid hired a ball dress, and we were married as
+quiet as possible. I had promised the Kid that, for the present at
+least, she could stay on the road with me, and you know that the year
+you were there I done most of the heavy firing while the Kid did the
+running. We remained in the service for something like two years&mdash;a
+strange couple, but happy in each other's company and our work.</p>
+
+<p>"I often talked to my wife about leaving the road and starting in new,
+where we were not known, as man and wife, she to remain at home; but she
+wouldn't hear of it, asking<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">31</a></span> if I wanted an Irishman for a side-partner.
+This came to be a joke with us&mdash;'When I get my Irishman I will do
+so-and-so.'</p>
+
+<p>"One day, as our 'hog' was drifting down the long hill, the Kid said to
+me, 'Jim, you can get your Irishman; I'm going to quit this trip.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Kind o' sudden, hey, Kid?'</p>
+
+<p>"'No, been hating to give up, but&mdash;' and then the Kid came over and
+whispered something to me.</p>
+
+<p>"John, we both quit and went South. I got a job in Texas, and the Kid
+was lost sight of, and Mrs. J. E. Wainright appeared on the scene in
+tea-gown, train, and flounces. We furnished a neat little den, and I was
+happy. I missed my kid fireman, and did indeed have an Irishman. Kid had
+a struggle to wear petticoats again, and did not take kindly to
+dish-washing, but we were happy just the same.</p>
+
+<p>"Our little fellow arrived one spring day, and then our skies were all
+sunshiny for three long, happy years, until one day Kid and I followed a
+little white hearse out beyond<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">32</a></span> the cypress grove and saw the earth
+covered over our darling, over our hopes, over our sunshine, and over
+our hearts.</p>
+
+<p>"After that the house was like a tomb, so still, so solemn, and at every
+turn were reminders of the little one who had faded away like the
+morning mist, gone from everything but our memories&mdash;there his sweet
+little image was graven by the hand of love and seared by the
+branding-iron of sorrow.</p>
+
+<p>"Men and women of intelligence do not parade their sorrows in the
+market-place; they bear them as best they can, and try to appear as
+others, but once the specter of the grim destroyer has crossed the
+threshold, his shadow forever remains, a dark reminder, like a
+prison-bar across the daylight of a cell. This shadow is seen and
+recognized in the heart of a father, but it is larger and darker and
+more dreadful in the mother heart.</p>
+
+<p>"At every turn poor Kid was mutely reminded of her loss, and her heart
+was at the breaking point day by day, and she begged for her old life,
+to seek forgetfulness in toil and get away from herself. So we went<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">33</a></span>
+back to the old road, as we went away&mdash;Jim Wainright and Kid
+Reynolds&mdash;and glad enough they were to get us again for the winter work.</p>
+
+<p>"Three years of indoor life had softened the wiry muscles of the Kid,
+and our engine was a hard steamer, so I did most of the work on the
+road. But the work, excitement, and outdoor life brought back the color
+to pale cheeks, and now and then a smile to sad lips&mdash;and I was glad.</p>
+
+<p>"One day the Kid was running while I broke up some big lumps of coal,
+and while busy in the tank I felt the air go on full and the reverse
+lever come back, while the wheels ground sand. I stepped quickly toward
+the cab to see what was the matter, when the Kid sprang into the gangway
+and cried 'Jump!'</p>
+
+<p>"I was in the left gangway in a second, but quick as a flash the Kid had
+my arm.</p>
+
+<p>"'The other side! Quick! The river!'</p>
+
+<p>"We were almost side by side as she swung me toward the other side of
+the engine, and jumped as we crashed into a landslide.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">34</a></span> I felt Kid's
+hand on my shoulder as I left the deck&mdash;just in time to save my life,
+but not the Kid's.</p>
+
+<p>"She was crushed between the tank and boiler in the very act of keeping
+me from jumping to certain death on the rocks in the river below.</p>
+
+<p>"When the crew came over they found me with the crushed clay of my poor,
+loved Kid in my arms, kissing her. They never knew who she was. I took
+her back to our Texas home and laid her beside the little one that had
+gone before. The Firemen's Brotherhood paid Kid's insurance to me and
+passed resolutions saying: 'It has pleased Almighty God to remove from
+our midst our beloved brother, George Reynolds,' etc., etc.</p>
+
+<p>"George Reynolds's grave cannot be found; but over a mound of
+forget-me-nots away in a Southern land, there stands a stone on which is
+cut: 'Georgiana, wife of J. E. Wainright, aged thirty-two years.'</p>
+
+<p>"But in my heart there is a golden pyramid of love to the memory of a
+fireman and a sweetheart known to you and all the world but me, as 'Jim
+Wainright's Kid.'"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">35</a></span></p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="B" id="B"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">37</a></span>
+<h2>AN ENGINEER'S CHRISTMAS STORY</h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>In the summer, fall, and early winter of 1863, I was tossing chips into
+an old Hinkley insider up in New England, for an engineer by the name of
+James Dillon. Dillon was considered as good a man as there was on the
+road: careful, yet fearless, kindhearted, yet impulsive, a man whose
+friends would fight for him and whose enemies hated him right royally.</p>
+
+<p>Dillon took a great notion to me, and I loved him as a father; the fact
+of the matter is, he was more of a father to me than I had at home, for
+my father refused to be comforted when I took to railroading, and I
+could not see him more than two or three times a year at the most&mdash;so
+when I wanted advice I went to Jim.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">38</a></span></p>
+
+<p>I was a young fellow then, and being without a home at either end of the
+run, was likely to drop into pitfalls. Dillon saw this long before I
+did. Before I had been with him three months, he told me one day, coming
+in, that it was against his principles to teach locomotive-running to a
+young man who was likely to turn out a drunkard or gambler and disgrace
+the profession, and he added that I had better pack up my duds and come
+up to his house and let "mother" take care of me&mdash;and I went.</p>
+
+<p>I was not a guest there: I paid my room-rent and board just as I should
+have done anywhere else, but I had all the comforts of a home, and
+enjoyed a thousand advantages that money could not buy. I told Mrs.
+Dillon all my troubles, and found kindly sympathy and advice; she
+encouraged me in all my ambitions, mended my shirts, and went with me
+when I bought my clothes. Inside of a month, I felt like one of the
+family, called Mrs. Dillon "mother," and blessed my lucky stars that I
+had found them.</p>
+
+<p>Dillon had run a good many years, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">39</a></span> was heartily tired of it, and he
+seldom passed a nice farm that he did not call my attention to it,
+saying: "Jack, now there's comfort; you just wait a couple of
+years&mdash;I've got my eye on the slickest little place, just on the edge of
+M&mdash;&mdash;, that I am saving up my pile to buy. I'll give you the 'Roger
+William' one of these days, Jack, say good evening to grief, and me and
+mother will take comfort. Think of sleeping till eight o'clock,&mdash;and no
+poor steamers, Jack, no poor steamers!" And he would reach over, and
+give my head a gentle duck as I tried to pitch a curve to a front corner
+with a knot: those Hinkleys were powerful on cold water.</p>
+
+<p>In Dillon's household there was a "system" of financial management. He
+always gave his wife just half of what he earned; kept ten dollars for
+his own expenses during the month, out of which he clothed himself; and
+put the remainder in the bank. It was before the days of high wages,
+however, and even with this frugal management, the bank account did not
+grow rapidly. They owned the house in which they lived, and out of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">40</a></span> her
+half "mother" had to pay all the household expenses and taxes, clothe
+herself and two children, and send the children to school. The oldest, a
+girl of some sixteen years, was away at normal school, and the boy,
+about thirteen or fourteen, was at home, going to the public school and
+wearing out more clothes than all the rest of the family.</p>
+
+<p>Dillon told me that they had agreed on the financial plan followed in
+the family before their marriage, and he used to say that for the life
+of him he did not see how "mother" got along so well on the allowance.
+When he drew a small month's pay he would say to me, as we walked home:
+"No cream in the coffee this month, Jack." If it was unusually large, he
+would say: "Plum duff and fried chicken for a Sunday dinner." He
+insisted that he could detect the rate of his pay in the food, but this
+was not true&mdash;it was his kind of fun. "Mother" and I were fast friends.
+She became my banker, and when I wanted an extra dollar, I had to ask
+her for it and tell what I wanted it for, and all that.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">41</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Along late in November, Jim had to make an extra one night on another
+engine, which left me at home alone with "mother" and the boy&mdash;I had
+never seen the girl&mdash;and after swearing me to be both deaf, dumb, and
+blind, "mother" told me a secret. For ten years she had been saving
+money out of her allowance, until the amount now reached nearly $2,000.
+She knew of Jim's life ambition to own a farm, and she had the matter in
+hand, if I would help her. Of course I was head over heels into the
+scheme at once. She wanted to buy the farm near M&mdash;&mdash;, and give Jim the
+deed for a Christmas present; and Jim mustn't even suspect.</p>
+
+<p>Jim never did.</p>
+
+<p>The next trip I had to buy some underclothes: would "mother" tell me how
+to pick out pure wool? Why, bless your heart, no, she wouldn't, but
+she'd just put on her things and go down with me. Jim smoked and read at
+home.</p>
+
+<p>We went straight to the bank where Jim kept his money, asked for the
+President, and let him into the whole plan. Would he take<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">42</a></span> $2,100 out of
+Jim's money, unbeknown to Jim, and pay the balance of the price of the
+farm over what "mother" had?</p>
+
+<p>No, he would not; but he would advance the money for the purpose&mdash;have
+the deeds sent to him, and he would pay the price&mdash;that was fixed.</p>
+
+<p>Then I hatched up an excuse and changed off with the fireman on the
+M&mdash;&mdash; branch, and spent the best part of two lay-overs fixing up things
+with the owner of the farm and arranging to hold back the recording of
+the deeds until after Christmas. Every evening there was some part of
+the project to be talked over, and "mother" and I held many whispered
+conversations. Once Jim, smiling, observed that, if I had any hair on my
+face, he would be jealous.</p>
+
+<p>I remember that it was on the 14th day of December, 1863, that payday
+came. I banked my money with "mother," and Jim, as usual, counted out
+his half to that dear old financier.</p>
+
+<p>"Uncle Sam'd better put that 'un in the hospital," observed Jim, as he
+came to a ragged<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">43</a></span> ten-dollar bill. "Goddess of Liberty pretty near got
+her throat cut there; guess some reb has had hold of her," he continued,
+as he held up the bill. Then laying it down, he took out his pocket-book
+and cut off a little three-cornered strip of pink court-plaster, and
+made repairs on the bill.</p>
+
+<p>"Mother" pocketed her money greedily, and before an hour I had that very
+bill in my pocket to pay the recording fees in the courthouse at M&mdash;&mdash;.</p>
+
+<p>The next day Jim wanted to use more money than he had in his pocket, and
+asked me to lend him a dollar. As I opened my wallet to oblige him, that
+patched bill showed up. Jim put his finger on it, and then turning me
+around towards him, he said: "How came you by that?"</p>
+
+<p>I turned red&mdash;I know I did&mdash;but I said, cool enough, "'Mother' gave it
+to me in change."</p>
+
+<p>"That's a lie," he said, and turned away.</p>
+
+<p>The next day we were more than two-thirds of the way home before he
+spoke; then, as I straightened up after a fire, he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">44</a></span> said: "John
+Alexander, when we get in, you go to Aleck (the foreman) and get changed
+to some other engine."</p>
+
+<p>There was a queer look on his face; it was not anger, it was not
+sorrow&mdash;it was more like pain. I looked the man straight in the eye, and
+said: "All right, Jim; it shall be as you say&mdash;but, so help me God, I
+don't know what for. If you will tell me what I have done that is wrong,
+I will not make the same mistake with the next man I fire for."</p>
+
+<p>He looked away from me, reached over and started the pump, and said:
+"Don't you know?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, sir, I have not the slightest idea."</p>
+
+<p>"Then you stay, and I'll change," said he, with a determined look, and
+leaned out of the window, and said no more all the way in.</p>
+
+<p>I did not go home that day. I cleaned the "Roger William" from the top
+of that mountain of sheet-iron known as a wood-burner stack to the back
+casting on the tank, and tried to think what I had done wrong, or not
+done at all, to incur such displeasure<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">45</a></span> from Dillon. He was in bed when
+I went to the house that evening, and I did not see him until breakfast.
+He was in his usual spirits there, but on the way to the station, and
+all day long, he did not speak to me. He noticed the extra cleaning, and
+carefully avoided tarnishing any of the cabfittings;&mdash;but that awful
+quiet! I could hardly bear it, and was half sick at the trouble, the
+cause of which I could not understand. I thought that, if the patched
+bill had anything to do with it, Christmas morning would clear it up.</p>
+
+<p>Our return trip was the night express, leaving the terminus at 9:30. As
+usual, that night I got the engine out, oiled, switched out the cars,
+and took the train to the station, trimmed my signals and headlight, and
+was all ready for Jim to pull out. Nine o'clock came, and no Jim; at
+9:10 I sent to his boarding-house. He had not been there. He did not
+come at leaving time&mdash;he did not come at all. At ten o'clock the
+conductor sent to the engine-house for another engineer, and at 10:45,
+instead of an engineer,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">46</a></span> a fireman came, with orders for John Alexander
+to run the "Roger William" until further orders,&mdash;I never fired a
+locomotive again.</p>
+
+<p>I went over that road the saddest-hearted man that ever made a maiden
+trip. I hoped there would be some tidings of Jim at home&mdash;there were
+none. I can never forget the blow it was to "mother;" how she braced up
+on account of her children&mdash;but oh, that sad face! Christmas came, and
+with it the daughter, and then there were two instead of one: the boy
+was frantic the first day, and playing marbles the next.</p>
+
+<p>Christmas day there came a letter. It was from Jim&mdash;brief and cold
+enough&mdash;but it was such a comfort to "mother." It was directed to Mary
+J. Dillon, and bore the New York post-mark. It read:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"Uncle Sam is in need of men, and those who lose with Venus may win
+with Mars. Enclosed papers you will know best what to do with. Be a
+mother to the children&mdash;you have <i>three</i> of them.</p>
+
+<p>"<span class="smcap">James Dillon</span>."</p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">47</a></span></p>
+
+<p>He underscored the three&mdash;he was a mystery to me. Poor "mother!" She
+declared that no doubt "poor James's head was affected." The papers with
+the letter were a will, leaving her all, and a power of attorney,
+allowing her to dispose of or use the money in the bank. Not a line of
+endearment or love for that faithful heart that lived on love, asked
+only for love, and cared for little else.</p>
+
+<p>That Christmas was a day of fasting and prayer for us. Many letters did
+we send, many advertisements were printed, but we never got a word from
+James Dillon, and Uncle Sam's army was too big to hunt in. We were a
+changed family: quieter and more tender of one another's feelings, but
+changed.</p>
+
+<p>In the fall of 64 they changed the runs around, and I was booked to run
+in to M&mdash;&mdash;. Ed, the boy, was firing for me. There was no reason why
+"mother" should stay in Boston, and we moved out to the little farm.
+That daughter, who was a second "mother" all over, used to come down to
+meet us at the station with the horse, and I talked "sweet"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">48</a></span> to her; yet
+at a certain point in the sweetness I became dumb.</p>
+
+<p>Along in May, '65, "mother" got a package from Washington. It contained
+a tin-type of herself; a card with a hole in it (made evidently by
+having been forced over a button), on which was her name and the old
+address in town; then there was a ring and a saber, and on the blade of
+the saber was etched, "Presented to Lieutenant Jas. Dillon, for bravery
+on the field of battle." At the bottom of the parcel was a note in a
+strange hand, saying simply, "Found on the body of Lieutenant Dillon
+after the battle of Five Forks."</p>
+
+<p>Poor "mother!" Her heart was wrung again, and again the scalding tears
+fell. She never told her suffering, and no one ever knew what she bore.
+Her face was a little sadder and sweeter, her hair a little whiter&mdash;that
+was all.</p>
+
+<p>I am not a bit superstitious&mdash;don't believe in signs or presentiments or
+prenothings&mdash;but when I went to get my pay on the 14th day of December,
+1866, it gave me a little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">49</a></span> start to find in it the bill bearing the
+chromo of the Goddess of Liberty with the little three-cornered piece of
+court-plaster that Dillon had put on her wind-pipe. I got rid of it at
+once, and said nothing to "mother" about it; but I kept thinking of it
+and seeing it all the next day and night.</p>
+
+<p>On the night of the 16th, I was oiling around my Black Maria to take out
+a local leaving our western terminus just after dark, when a tall, slim
+old gentleman stepped up to me and asked if I was the engineer. I don't
+suppose I looked like the president: I confessed, and held up my torch,
+so I could see his face&mdash;a pretty tough-looking face. The white mustache
+was one of that military kind, reinforced with whiskers on the right and
+left flank of the mustache proper. He wore glasses, and one of the
+lights was ground glass. The right cheek-bone was crushed in, and a red
+scar extended across the eye and cheek; the scar looked blue around the
+red line because of the cold.</p>
+
+<p>"I used to be an engineer before the war," said he. "Do you go to
+Boston!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">50</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"No, to M&mdash;&mdash;."</p>
+
+<p>"M&mdash;&mdash;! I thought that was on a branch."</p>
+
+<p>"It is, but is now an important manufacturing point, with regular trains
+from there to each end of the main line."</p>
+
+<p>"When can I get to Boston?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not till Monday now; we run no through Sunday trains. You can go to
+M&mdash;&mdash; with me to-night, and catch a local to Boston in the morning."</p>
+
+<p>He thought a minute, and then said, "Well, yes; guess I had better. How
+is it for a ride?"</p>
+
+<p>"Good; just tell the conductor that I told you to get on."</p>
+
+<p>"Thanks; that's clever. I used to know a soldier who used to run up in
+this country," said the stranger, musing. "Dillon; that's it, Dillon."</p>
+
+<p>"I knew him well," said I. "I want to hear about him."</p>
+
+<p>"Queer man," said he, and I noticed he was eying me pretty sharp.</p>
+
+<p>"A good engineer."</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps," said he.</p>
+
+<div class='figcenter' style='width: 458px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="illus-008" id="illus-008"></a>
+<img src='images/p1-022.jpg' alt='"I noticed his long, slim hand on the top of the reverse-lever."' title='' width = '401' height = '507'/><br />
+<span class='caption'>"I noticed his long, slim hand on the top of the reverse-lever."</span>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">51</a></span></p>
+
+<p>I coaxed the old veteran to ride on the engine&mdash;the first coal-burner I
+had had. He seemed more than glad to comply. Ed was as black as a negro,
+and swearing about coal-burners in general and this one in particular,
+and made so much noise with his fire-irons after we started, that the
+old man came over and sat behind me, so as to be able to talk.</p>
+
+<p>The first time I looked around after getting out of the yard, I noticed
+his long slim hand on the top of the reverse-lever. Did you ever notice
+how it seems to make an ex-engineer feel better and more satisfied to
+get his hand on the reverse-lever and feel the life-throbs of the great
+giant under him? Why, his hand goes there by instinct&mdash;just as an
+ambulance surgeon will feel for the heart of the boy with a broken leg.</p>
+
+<p>I asked the stranger to "give her a whirl," and noticed with what eager
+joy he took hold of her. I also observed with surprise that he seemed to
+know all about "four-mile hill," where most new men got stuck. He caught
+me looking at his face, and touching the scar, remarked: "A little love
+pat, with the compliments<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">52</a></span> of Wade Hampton's men." We talked on a good
+many subjects, and got pretty well acquainted before we were over the
+division, but at last we seemed talked out.</p>
+
+<p>"Where does Dillon's folks live now?" asked the stranger, slowly, after
+a time.</p>
+
+<p>"M&mdash;&mdash;," said I.</p>
+
+<p>He nearly jumped off the box. "M&mdash;&mdash;? I thought it was Boston!"</p>
+
+<p>"Moved to M&mdash;&mdash;."</p>
+
+<p>"What for?"</p>
+
+<p>"Own a farm there."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I see; married again?"</p>
+
+<p>"No."</p>
+
+<p>"No!"</p>
+
+<p>"Widow thought too much of Jim for that."</p>
+
+<p>"No!"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>"Er&mdash;what became of the young man that they&mdash;er&mdash;adopted?"</p>
+
+<p>"Lives with 'em yet."</p>
+
+<p>"So!"</p>
+
+<p>Just then we struck the suburbs of M&mdash;&mdash;, and, as we passed the cemetery,
+I pointed to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">53</a></span> a high shaft, and said: "Dillon's monument."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, how's that?"</p>
+
+<p>"Killed at Five Forks. Widow put up monument."</p>
+
+<p>He shaded his eyes with his hand, and peered through the moonlight for a
+minute.</p>
+
+<p>"That's clever," was all he said.</p>
+
+<p>I insisted that he go home with me. Ed took the Black Maria to the
+house, and we took the street cars for it to the end of the line, and
+then walked. As we cleaned our feet at the door, I said: "Let me see, I
+did not hear your name?"</p>
+
+<p>"James," said he, "Mr. James."</p>
+
+<p>I opened the sitting-room door, and ushered the stranger in.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, boys," said "mother," slowly getting up from before the fire and
+hurriedly taking a few extra stitches in her knitting before laying it
+down to look up at us, "you're early."</p>
+
+<p>She looked up, not ten feet from the stranger, as he took off his
+slouched hat and brushed back the white hair. In another<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">54</a></span> minute her
+arms were around his neck, and she was murmuring "James" in his ear, and
+I, like a dumb fool, wondered who told her his name.</p>
+
+<p>Well, to make a long story short, it was James Dillon himself, and the
+daughter came in, and Ed came, and between the three they nearly
+smothered the old fellow.</p>
+
+<p>You may think it funny he didn't know me, but don't forget that I had
+been running for three years&mdash;that takes the fresh off a fellow; then,
+when I had the typhoid, my hair laid off, and was never reinstated, and
+when I got well, the whiskers&mdash;that had always refused to grow&mdash;came on
+with a rush, and they were red. And again, I had tried to switch with an
+old hook-motion in the night and forgot to take out the starting-bar,
+and she threw it at me, knocking out some teeth; and taking it
+altogether, I was a changed man.</p>
+
+<p>"Where's John?" he said finally.</p>
+
+<p>"Here," said I.</p>
+
+<p>"No!"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">55</a></span></p>
+
+<p>He took my hand, and said, "John, I left all that was dear to me once,
+because I was jealous of you. I never knew how you came to have that
+money or why, and don't want to. Forgive me."</p>
+
+<p>"That is the first time I ever heard of that," said "mother."</p>
+
+<p>"I had it to buy this farm for you&mdash;a Christmas present&mdash;if you had
+waited," said I.</p>
+
+<p>"That is the first time I ever heard of that," said he.</p>
+
+<p>"And you might have been shot," said "mother," getting up close.</p>
+
+<p>"I tried my darndest to be. That's why I got promoted so fast."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, James!" and her arms were around his neck again.</p>
+
+<p>"And I sent that saber home myself, never intending to come back."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, James, how could you!"</p>
+
+<p>"Mother, how can you forgive me?"</p>
+
+<p>"Mother," was still for a minute, looking at the fire in the grate.
+"James, it is late in life to apply such tests, but love is like gold;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">56</a></span>
+ours will be better now&mdash;the dross has been burned away in the fire. I
+did what I did for love of you, and you did what you did for love of me;
+let us all commence to live again in the old way," and those arms of
+hers could not keep away from his neck.</p>
+
+<p>Ed went out with tears in his eyes, and I beckoned the daughter to
+follow me. We passed into the parlor, drew the curtain over the
+doorway&mdash;and there was nothing but that rag between us and heaven.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">57</a></span></p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="C" id="C"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">59</a></span>
+<h2>THE CLEAN MAN AND THE DIRTY ANGELS</h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>When I first went firing, down in my native district, where Bean is
+King, there was a man on the road pulling a mixed train, by the name of
+Clark&mdash;'Lige Clark.</p>
+
+<p>Being only a fireman, and a new one at that, I did not come very much in
+contact with Clark, or any of the other engineers, excepting my
+own&mdash;James Dillon.</p>
+
+<p>'Lige Clark was a character on the road; everybody knew "old 'Lige;" he
+was liked and respected, but not loved; he was thought puritanical, or
+religious, or cranky, by some, yet no one hated him, or even had a
+strong dislike for him.</p>
+
+<p>His honesty and straightforwardness were proverbial. He was always in
+charge of the funds of every order he belonged to, as well as of the
+Sunday-school and church.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">60</a></span></p>
+
+<p>He was truthful to a fault, but above all, just.</p>
+
+<p>"'Cause 'tain't right, that's why," was his way of refusing to do a
+thing, and his argument against others doing it.</p>
+
+<p>After I got to running, I saw and knew more of 'Lige, and I think,
+perhaps, I was as much of a friend as he ever had. We never were chums.
+I never went to his house, and he never went to mine; we were simply
+roundhouse acquaintances; used to talk engine a little, but usually
+talked about children&mdash;'Lige had four, and always spoke about "doing the
+right thing by them."</p>
+
+<p>'Lige had a very heavy full beard, that came clear up to his eyes, and a
+mass of wavy hair&mdash;all iron grey. His eyes were steel grey, and matched
+his hair, and he had a habit of looking straight at you when he spoke.</p>
+
+<p>On his engine he invariably ran with his head out of the side window,
+rain or shine, and always bareheaded. When he stepped upon the
+footboard, he put his hat away with his clothes, and there it stayed. He
+was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">61</a></span> never known to wear a cap, excepting in the coldest weather.</p>
+
+<p>Once in a while, when I was firing, I have seen him come in, in winter,
+with his beard white with frost and ice, and some smoke-shoveling wit
+dubbed him Santa Claus.</p>
+
+<p>'Lige had a way of looking straight ahead and thinking of his work, and,
+after he got to running express, would go through a town, where other
+trains were sidetracked for him, looking at the track ahead, and at the
+trains, but never seeming to care that they were there, never nodding or
+waving a hand. Once in a while he would blink his eyes,&mdash;that was all.
+The wind tossed his mane and hair and made him look for all the world
+like a lion, who looks at, but appears to care nothing for the crowds
+around his den. Someone noticed the comparison, and dubbed him "The
+Lion," and the name clung to him. He was spoken of as "Old 'Lige, the
+Lion." Just why he was called old, I don't know&mdash;he was little more than
+forty then.</p>
+
+<p>When the men on the road had any grievances,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">62</a></span> they always asked 'Lige to
+"go and see the old man." 'Lige always went to lodge and to meetings of
+the men, but was never known to speak. When the demands were drawn up
+and presented to him, he always got up and said: "Them air declarations
+ain't right, an' I wouldn't ask any railroad to grant 'em;" or, "The
+declarations are right. Of course I'll be glad to take 'em."</p>
+
+<p>When old 'Lige declined to bear a grievance it was modified or
+abandoned; and he never took a request to headquarters that was not
+granted&mdash;until the strike of '77.</p>
+
+<p>When the war broke out, 'Lige was asked to go, and the railroad boys
+wanted him to be captain of a company of them; but he declined, saying
+that slavery was wrong and should be crushed, but that he had a sickly
+wife and four small children depending on his daily toil for bread, and
+it wouldn't be right to leave 'em unprovided for. They drafted him
+later, but he still said it "wa'n't right" for him to go, and paid for a
+substitute. But three months later his father-in-law died, up in the
+country somewhere, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">63</a></span> left his wife some three thousand dollars, and
+'Lige enlisted the next, day, saying "'Tain't right for any man to stay
+that can be spared; slavery ain't right; it must be stopped." He served
+as a private until it was stopped.</p>
+
+<p>Shortly after the war 'Lige was pulling the superintendent over the
+road, when he struck a wagon, killing the driver, who was a farmer, and
+hurting his wife. The woman afterward sued the road, and 'Lige was
+called as a witness for the company. He surprised everybody by stating
+that the accident was caused by mismanagement of the road, and explained
+as follows: "I pull the regular Atlantic express, and should have been
+at the crossing where the accident occurred, an hour later than I was;
+but Mr. Doe, our superintendent, wanted to come over the road with his
+special car, and took my engine to pull him, leaving a freight engine to
+bring in the express. Mr. Doe could have rode on the regular train, or
+could have had his car put into the train, instead of putting the
+company to the expense of hauling a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">64</a></span> special, and kept the patrons of
+the road from slow and poor service. We ran faster than there was any
+use of, and Mr. Doe went home when he got in, showing that there was no
+urgent call for his presence at this end of the line. If there had been
+no extra train on the road this farmer wouldn't have been killed:
+'twa'n't right."</p>
+
+<p>The widow got pretty heavy damages, and the superintendent tried to
+discharge 'Lige. But 'Lige said '"twa'n't right," and the men on the
+road, the patrons and even the president agreed with him, so the irate
+super gave the job up for the time being.</p>
+
+<p>A couple of weeks after this, I went to that super.'s office on some
+business, and had to wait in the outer pen until "His Grace" got through
+with someone else. The transom over the door to the "Holy of Holies" was
+open, and I heard the well-known voice of 'Lige "the Lion".</p>
+
+<p>"Now, there's another matter, Mr. Doe, that perhaps you'll say is none
+of my business, but 'tain't right, and I'm going to speak about it.
+You're hanging around the yards<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">65</a></span> and standing in the shadows of cars and
+buildings half the night, watching employees. You've discharged several
+yardmen, and I want to tell you that a lot of the roughest of them are
+laying for you. My advice to you is to go home from the office. They'll
+hurt you yet. 'Tain't right for one man to know that another is in
+danger without warning him, so I've done it; 'twouldn't be right for
+them to hurt you. You're not particularly hunting them but me, but you
+won't catch me."</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Doe assured "the Lion" that he could take care of himself, and two
+nights later got sand-bagged, and had about half his ribs kicked loose,
+over back of the scale house.</p>
+
+<p>When the trouble commenced in '77, old 'Lige refused to take up a
+request for increase of pay, to headquarters; said the road could afford
+to keep us just where we were, which was more than some roads were
+doing, and "'twa'n't right" to ask for more. Two months later they cut
+us ten per cent., and offered to pay half script. Old 'Lige<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">66</a></span> said
+'"twa'n't right," and he'd strike afore he'd stand it;&mdash;and, in the end,
+we all struck.</p>
+
+<p>The fourth day after the strike commenced I met 'Lige, and he asked me
+where I was going to hunt work. I told him I was going back when we won.
+He laughed, and said there wa'n't much danger of any of us going back;
+we were beat; mail trains all running, etc. '"Tain't right, Brother
+John, to loaf longer'n you can help. I'm goin' out West to-morrer"&mdash;and
+he went.</p>
+
+<p>Some weeks afterward Joe Johnson and I concluded that, contrary to all
+precedent, the road was going to run without us, and we also went West;
+but by that time the country was full of men just like us. When I did
+get a job, it was drying sand away out at the front on one of the new
+roads. The first engine that come up to the sand house had a familiar
+look, even with a boot-leg stack that was fearfully and wonderfully
+made. There was a shaggy head sticking out of the side window, and two
+cool grey eyes blinked at me, but didn't seem to see me; yet a cheery
+voice from under the beard<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">67</a></span> said: "Hello, Brother John, you're late, but
+guess you'll catch on pretty quick. There's lots of 'em here that don't
+know nothin' about railroading, as far as I can see, and they're running
+engines, too. 'Tain't right."</p>
+
+<p>The little town was booming, and 'Lige invested in lots, and became
+interested in many schemes to benefit the place and make money. He had
+been a widower for some years, and with one exception his children were
+doing for themselves, and that one was with his sister, and well cared
+for. 'Lige had considerable means, and he brought it all West. He
+personally laid the corner-stone of the courthouse, subscribed more than
+any other working man to the first church, and was treasurer of half the
+institutions in the village. He ought to have quit the road, but he
+wouldn't; but did compromise on taking an easy run on a branch.</p>
+
+<p>'Lige was behind a benevolent scheme to build a hospital, to be under
+the auspices of the church society, and to it devoted not a little time
+and energy. When the constitution and by-laws were drawn up, the more<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">68</a></span>
+liberal of the trustees struck a snag in old 'Lige. He was bound that
+the hospital should not harbor people under the influence of liquor, or
+fallen women. 'Lige was very bitter against prostitution. "It is the
+curse of civilization," he often said. "Prostitutes ruin ten men where
+whiskey ruins one. They stand in the path of every young man in the
+country, gilded tempters of virtue, honesty and manhood; 'tain't right
+that they should be allowed in the country." If you attributed their
+existence to man's passions, inhumanity or cruelty, or woman's weakness,
+he checked you at once.</p>
+
+<p>"Every woman that becomes a crooked woman does so from choice; she
+needn't to if she didn't want to. The way to stop prostitution is for
+every honest man and woman to refuse to have anything to do with them in
+any way, or with those who do recognize them. 'Tain't right."</p>
+
+<p>In this matter 'Lige Clark had no sympathy nor charity. "'Twa'n't
+right"&mdash;and that settled it as far as he was concerned.</p>
+
+<p>The ladies of the church sided with old<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">69</a></span> 'Lige in his stand on the
+hospital board, but the other two men wanted the doors of the
+institution to be opened to all in need of medical attention or care,
+regardless of who they were or what caused their ailment. 'Lige gave in
+on the whiskey, but stood out resolutely against the soiled doves, and
+so matters stood until midwinter.</p>
+
+<p>Half the women in the town were outcasts from society&mdash;two dance-houses
+were in full blast&mdash;and 'Lige soon became known to them and their
+friends as the "Prophet Elijah, second edition."</p>
+
+<p>The mining town over the hills, at the end of 'Lige's branch, was
+booming, too, and wanted to be the county seat. It had its church,
+dance-halls, etc., and the discovery of coal within a few miles bid fair
+to make it a formidable rival.</p>
+
+<p>The boom called for more power and I went over there to pull freight,
+and 'Lige pulled passengers only. Then they put more coaches on his
+train and put my engine on to help him, thus saving a crew's wages.
+Passenger service increased steadily<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">70</a></span> until a big snow-slide in one of
+the gulches shut up the road. I'll never forget that slide. It happened
+on the 26th of January. 'Lige and I were double-heading on nine coaches
+of passengers and when on a heavy grade in Alder Gulch, a slide of snow
+started from far up the mountain-side, swept over the track just ahead
+of us, carrying trees, telegraph poles and the track with it. We tried
+to stop, but 'Lige's engine got into it, and was carried sideways down
+some fifty or sixty feet. Mine contented herself with simply turning
+over, without hurting either myself or fireman&mdash;much to my satisfaction.</p>
+
+<p>'Lige fared worse. His reverse lever caught in his clothing and before
+he could get loose, the engine had stopped on her side, with 'Lige's
+feet and legs under her. He was not badly hurt except for the scalding
+water that poured upon him. As soon as we could see him, the fireman and
+I got hold of him and forcibly pulled him out of the wreck. His limbs
+were awfully burned&mdash;cooked would be nearer the word.</p>
+
+<div class='figcenter' style='width: 458px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="illus-002" id="illus-002"></a>
+<img src='images/p1-070.jpg' alt='"It was a strange courting ... there on that engine."' title='' width = '458' height = '307'/><br />
+<span class='caption'>"It was a strange courting ... there on that engine."</span>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">71</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The passengers crowded around, but did little good. One look was enough
+for most of them. There were ten or twelve women in the cars. They came
+out slowly, and stood timidly away from the hissing boilers, with one
+exception. This one came at once to the injured man, sat down in the
+snow, took his head in her lap, and taking a flask of liquor from her
+ulster pocket, gave poor 'Lige some with a little snow.</p>
+
+<p>I got the oil can and poured some oil over the burned parts to keep the
+air from them; we needed bandages, and I asked the ladies if they had
+anything we could use for the purpose. One young girl offered a
+handkerchief and another a shawl, but before they were accepted the cool
+woman holding 'Lige's head got up quickly, laying his head down tenderly
+on the snow, and without a word or attempt to get out of sight, pulled
+up her dress, and in a second kicked out two white skirts, and sat down
+again to cool 'Lige's brow.</p>
+
+<p>That woman attended 'Lige like a guardian angel until we got back to
+town late that afternoon. The hospital was not yet<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">72</a></span> in shape, so 'Lige
+was taken to the rather dreary and homeless quarters of the hotel.</p>
+
+<p>As quick as it was known that Elijah Clark was hurt, he had plenty of
+friends, male and female, who came to take care of him, but the woman
+who helped him live at the start came not; yet every day there were
+dainty viands, wine or books left at the house for him&mdash;but pains were
+taken to let no one know from whom they came.</p>
+
+<p>One day a month after the accident I sat beside 'Lige's bed when he told
+me that he was anticipating quite a discussion there that evening, as
+the hospital committee was going to meet to decide on the rules of the
+institution. "Wilcox and Gorman are set to open the house to those who
+have no part in our work and no sympathy with Christian institutions,
+and 'tain't right," said he. "Brother John, you can't do no good by
+prolonging the life of a brazen woman bent on vice."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you think, 'Lige," said I, "that you are a little hard on an
+unfortunate class of humanity, who, in nine cases out of ten, are the
+victims of others' wrong-doing, and stay<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">73</a></span> in the mire because no hand is
+extended to help them out? Think of the woman of Samaria. It's sinners,
+not saints, that need saving."</p>
+
+<p>"They are as a coiled serpent in the pathway of mankind, Brother John,
+fascinating, but poisonous. There can be no good in one of those
+creatures."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh yes there is, I'm sure," said I. "Why, 'Lige, don't you know who the
+woman was that gave you brandy, held your head, and used her skirts for
+bandages when you were hurt?"</p>
+
+<p>Old 'Lige raised up on his elbow, all eagerness. "No, John, I don't, but
+she wa'n't one of them. She was too thoughtful, too tender, too womanly.
+I've blessed her from that day to this, and though I don't know it, I
+think she has sent me all these wines and fruits. She saved my life. Who
+is she? Do you know?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes. She is Molly May, who keeps the largest dance-house in Cascade
+City. She makes lots of money, but spends it all in charity; there has
+never been a human being<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">74</a></span> buried by the town since she has been there.
+Molly May is a ministering angel to the poor and sick, but a bird of
+prey to those who wish to dissipate."</p>
+
+<p>The hospital was opened on Easter, and the first patient was a poor
+consumptive girl, but lately an inmate of the Red-Light dance-house.
+'Lige Clark did not run again; he became mayor of the little city, had
+faith in its future, invested his money in land and died rich some years
+ago.</p>
+
+<p>'Lige must have changed his mind as he grew older, or at least abandoned
+the idea that to crush out a wrong you should push it from all sides,
+and thus compress and intensify it at the heart, and come to the
+conclusion that the right way is to get inside and push out, thus
+separating and dissolving it. For before me lies the tenth annual
+prospectus of a now noted institution in one of the great cities of the
+continent, and on its title page, I read through the dimmed glasses of
+my spectacles: "Industrial Home and Refuge for Fallen Women. Founded by
+Elijah Clark. Mary E. May, Matron."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">75</a></span></p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="D" id="D"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">77</a></span>
+<h2>A PEG-LEGGED ROMANCE</h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>Some men are born heroes, some become heroic, and some have heroism
+thrust upon them; but nothing of the kind ever happened to me.</p>
+
+<p>I don't know how it is; but, some way or other, I remember all the
+railroad incidents I see or hear, and get to the bottom of most of the
+stories of the road. I must study them over more than most men do, or
+else the other fellows enjoy the comedies and deplore the tragedies, and
+say nothing. Sometimes I am mean enough to think that the romance, the
+dramas, and the tragedies of the road don't impress them as being as
+interesting as those of the plains, the Indians, or the seas&mdash;people are
+so apt to see only the everyday side of life anyway, and to draw all
+their romance and heroics from books.</p>
+
+<p>I helped make a hero once&mdash;no, I didn't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">78</a></span> either; I helped make the
+golden setting after the rough diamond had shown its value.</p>
+
+<p>Miles Diston pulled freight on our road a few years ago. He was of
+medium stature, dark complexion, but no beauty. He was a manly-looking
+fellow, well-educated enough, sober, and a steady-going, reliable
+engineer; you would never pick him out for a hero. Miles was young
+yet&mdash;not thirty&mdash;but, somehow or other, he had escaped matrimony: I
+guess he had never had time. He stayed on the farm at home until he was
+of age, and then went firing, so that when I first knew him he had
+barely got to his goal&mdash;the throttle.</p>
+
+<p>A good many men, when they first get there, take great interest in their
+work for a few months&mdash;until experience gives them confidence; then they
+take it easier, look around, and take some interest in other things.
+Most of them never hope to get above running, and so sit down more or
+less contented, get married, buy real estate, gamble, or grow fat, each
+according to the dictates<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">79</a></span> of his own conscience or the inclinations of
+his make-up. Miles figured a little on matrimony.</p>
+
+<p>I can't explain it; but when a railroad man is in trouble, he comes to
+me for advice, just as he would go to the company doctor for kidney
+complaint. I am a specialist in heart troubles. Miles came to me.</p>
+
+<p>Miles was like the rest of them. They don't come right down and say,
+"Something's the matter with me; what would you do for it?" No, sir!
+They hem and haw, and laugh off the symptoms, until you come right out
+and tell them just how they feel and explain the cause; then they will
+do anything you say. Miles hemmed and hawed a little, but soon came out
+and showed his symptoms&mdash;he asked me if I had ever noticed the
+"Frenchman's" girl.</p>
+
+<p>"The Frenchman," be it known, was our boss bridge carpenter. He lived at
+a small place half-way over my division&mdash;I was pulling express&mdash;and the
+freights stopped there, changing engines. I knew Venot, the bridge
+carpenter, very well; met him in lodge occasionally,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">80</a></span> and once in a
+while he rode on the engine with me to inspect bridges. His wife was a
+Canadian woman, and good-looking for her forty years and ten children.
+The daughter that was killing Miles Diston, Marie Venot, was the eldest,
+and had just graduated from some sisters' school. She was a very
+handsome girl, and you could read the romantic nature of her being
+through her big, round, gray eyes. She was vivacious, and loved to go;
+but she was a dutiful daughter, and at once took hold to help her mother
+in a way that made her all the more adorable in the eyes of practical
+men like Miles.</p>
+
+<p>Miles made the most of his opportunities.</p>
+
+<p>But, bless you, there were other eyes for good-looking girls besides
+those in poor Miles Diston's head, and he was far from having the field
+to himself; this he wanted badly, and came to get advice from me.</p>
+
+<p>I advised strongly against wasting energy to clear the field, and in
+favor of putting it all into making the best show and in getting ahead
+of all competitors. Under my advice,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">81</a></span> Miles disposed of some vacant
+lots, and bought a neat little house, put it in thorough order, and made
+the best of his opportunities with Marie.</p>
+
+<p>Marie came to our house regularly, and I had good opportunity to study
+her. She was a sensible little creature, and, to my mind, just the girl
+for Miles; as Miles was just the man for her. But she had confided to my
+wife the fact that she never, never could consent to marry and settle
+down in the regulation, humdrum way; she wanted to marry a hero, some
+one she could look up to&mdash;a king among men.</p>
+
+<p>My wife told her that kings and heroes were scarce just then, and that a
+lot of pretty good women managed to be comparatively happy with common
+railroad men. But Marie wanted a hero, and would hear of nothing less.</p>
+
+<p>It was during one of her visits to my house that Miles took Marie out
+for a ride and (accidentally, of course) dropped around by his new
+house, induced her to look at it, and told his story, asking her to
+make<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">82</a></span> the home complete. It would have caught almost any girl; but when
+Miles delivered her at our door and drove off, I knew that there would
+be a "For Rent" card on that house in a few days and that Marie Venot
+was bound to have a hero or nothing.</p>
+
+<p>Miles took his repulse calmly, but it hurt. He told me that Marie was
+hunting for a different kind of man from him; said that he thought
+perhaps if he would enlist, and go out to fight Sitting Bull, and come
+home in a new, brass-bound uniform, with a poisoned arrow sticking out
+of his breast, she would fall at his feet and worship him. She told him
+she liked him better than any of the town boys; his calling was noble
+enough and hard enough; but she failed to see her ideal hero in a man
+with blue overclothes on and cinders in his ears. If any of Miles's
+competitors had rescued a drowning child, or killed a bear with a
+penknife, at this juncture, I'm afraid Marie would have taken him. But,
+as I have indicated, it was a dull season for heroes.</p>
+
+<p>About this time our road invested in some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">83</a></span> mogul passenger engines, and
+I drew one. I didn't like the boiler sticking back between me and Dennis
+Rafferty. I didn't like six wheels connected. I didn't like a
+knuckle-joint in the side rod. I didn't like eighteen-inch cylinders. I
+was opposed to solid-end rods. And I am afraid I belonged to a class of
+ignorant, short-sighted, bull-headed engineers who didn't believe that a
+railroad had any right to buy anything but fifteen by twenty-two
+eight-wheelers&mdash;the smaller they were the more men they would want. I
+got over that a long time ago; but, at the time I write of, I was cranky
+about it. The moguls were high and short and jerky, and they tossed a
+man around like a rat in a corn-popper. One day, as I was chasing time
+over our worst division, holding on to the arm-rest and watching to see
+if the main frame touched the driving-boxes as she rolled, Dennis
+Rafferty punched me in the small of the back, and said: "Jahn, for the
+love ave the Vargin, lave up on her a minit. Oi does be chasing that
+dure for the lasth<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">84</a></span> twinty minits, and dang the wan'st has I hit it
+fair. She's the divil on th' dodge."</p>
+
+<p>Dennis had a pile of coal just inside and just outside of the door, the
+forward grates were bare, the steam was down, and I went in seven
+minutes late, too mad to eat&mdash;and that's pretty mad for me. I laid off,
+and Miles Diston took the high-roller out next trip.</p>
+
+<p>Miles didn't rant and write letters or poetry, or marry some one else to
+spite himself, or take the first steamer for Burraga, or Equatorial
+Africa, as rejected lovers in stories do. It hurt, and he didn't enjoy
+it, but he bore up all right, and went about his business, just as
+hundreds of other sensible men do every day. He gave up entirely,
+however, rented his house, and said he couldn't fill the bill&mdash;there
+wasn't a hero in his family as far back as he could remember.</p>
+
+<p>Miles had been making time with the Black Maria for about a week, when
+the big accident happened in our town. The boilers in a cotton mill blew
+up, and killed a score of girls and injured hundreds more. Miles was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">85</a></span> at
+the other end of the division, and they hurried him out to take a
+car-load of doctors down. They were given the right of the road, and
+Miles tested the speed of that mogul&mdash;proving that a pony truck would
+stay on the track at fifty miles an hour, which a lot of us "cranks" had
+disputed.</p>
+
+<p>A few miles out there is a coaling-station, and at that time they were
+building the chutes. One of the iron drop-aprons fell just before Miles
+with the mogul got to it; it smashed the headlight, dented the stack,
+ripped up the casing of the sand-box and dome, cut a slit in the jacket
+the length of the boiler, tore off the cab, struck the end of the first
+car, and then tore itself loose, and fell to the ground.</p>
+
+<p>The throttle was knocked wide open, and the mogul was flying. Miles was
+thrown down, his head cut open by a splinter, and his foot pretty badly
+hurt. He picked himself up instantly, and took a look back as he closed
+the throttle. Everything was "coming" all right, he remembered the
+emergency of the case, and opened the throttle<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">86</a></span> again. A hasty
+inspection showed the engine in condition to run&mdash;she only looked
+crippled. Miles had to stand up. His foot felt numb and weak, so he
+rested his weight on the other foot. He was afraid he would fall off if
+he became faint, and he had Dennis take off the bell-cord and tie it
+around his waist, throwing a loop over the reverse lever, as a measure
+of safety. The right side of the cab and all the roof were gone, so that
+Miles was in plain sight. The cut in his scalp bled profusely, and in
+trying to wipe the blood from his eyes, he merely spread it all over
+himself, so that he looked as if he had been half murdered.</p>
+
+<p>It was this apparition of wreck, ruin, and concentrated energy that
+Marie Venot saw flash past her father's door, hastening to the relief of
+the victims of a worse disaster, forty miles away.</p>
+
+<p>Her father came home for his dinner in a few minutes from his little
+office in the depot. To his daughter's eager inquiry he said there had
+been some big accident in town and the "extra" was carrying doctors
+from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">87</a></span> up the road. But what was the matter with the engine, he didn't
+know; it was the 170; so it was old man Alexander, he said&mdash;and that's
+the nearest I ever came to being a hero.</p>
+
+<p>Marie knew who was running the 170 pretty well; so after dinner she went
+to the telegraph office for information, and there she learned that the
+special had struck the new coal chute at Coalton and that the engineer
+was hurt. It was time she ran down to see Mrs. Alexander, she said, and
+that afternoon's regular delivered her in town.</p>
+
+<p>Like all other railroaders not better employed, I dropped round to the
+depot at train time to talk with the boys and keep track of things in
+general. The regular was late, but Miles Diston was coming with a
+special, and came while we were talking about it. Miles didn't realize
+how badly he was hurt until he stopped the mogul in front of the general
+office. So long as the excitement of the run was on, so long as he saw
+the absolute necessity of doing his whole duty until the desired end was
+accomplished, so long as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">88</a></span> he had a reputation to protect, his will power
+subordinated all else. But when several of us engineers ran up to the
+engine, we found Miles hanging to the reverse lever by his safety cord,
+in a dead faint. We carried him into the depot, and one of the doctors
+administered some restorative. Then we got a hack and started him and
+the doctor for my house; but Miles came to himself, and insisted on
+going to his boarding-house and nowhere else.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Bailey, Miles's boarding-house keeper, had been a trained nurse,
+but had a few years before invested in a rather disappointing
+matrimonial venture. She was one of the best nurses and one of the
+"crankiest" women I ever knew. I believe she was actually glad to see
+Miles come home hurt, just to show how she could pull him through.</p>
+
+<p>The doctor found that Miles had an ankle out of joint; the little toe
+was badly crushed; there was a bad cut in the leg, that had bled
+profusely; there was a black bruise over the short ribs on the right
+side, and there was a button-hole in the scalp that needed about<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">89</a></span> four
+stitches. The little toe was cut off without ceremony, the ankle
+replaced and hot bandages applied, and other repairs were made, which
+took up most of the afternoon.</p>
+
+<p>When the doctor got through, he called Mrs. Bailey and myself out into
+the parlor, and said that we must not let people crowd in to see the
+patient; that his wounds were not dangerous, but very painful; that
+Miles was weak from loss of blood, and that his constitution was not in
+particularly good condition. The doctor, in fact, thought that Miles
+would be in great luck if he got out of the scrape without a run of
+fever. Thereafter Mrs. Bailey referred all visitors to me. I talked with
+the doctor and the nurse, and we all agreed that it would stop most
+inquisitive people to simply say that the patient had suffered an
+amputation.</p>
+
+<p>That evening, when I went home, there were two anxious women-to receive
+me, and the younger of them looked suspiciously as if she had been
+crying. I told them something of the accident, how it all happened, and
+about Miles's injuries. Both of them<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">90</a></span> wanted to go right down and help
+"do something," but I told them of the doctor's order and of his fears.</p>
+
+<p>By this time the reporters came; and I called them into the parlor, and
+then let them pump me. I detailed the accident in full, but declined to
+tell anything about Miles or his history. "The fact is," said I, "that
+you people won't give an engineer his just dues. Now, if Miles Diston
+had been a fireman and had climbed down a ladder with a child, you would
+have his picture in the paper and call him a hero and all that sort of
+thing; but here is a man crushed, bleeding, with broken bones, and a
+crippled engine, who stands on one foot, lashed to his reverse lever,
+for eighty miles, and making the fastest time ever made over the road,
+because he knew that others were suffering for the relief he brought."</p>
+
+<p>"That's nerve," said one of the young men.</p>
+
+<p>"Nerve!" said I, "nerve! Why, that man knows no more about fear than a
+lion; and think of the sand of the man! This afternoon he sat up and
+watched the doctor perform that amputation without a quiver; he wouldn't
+take chloroform; he wouldn't even lie down."</p>
+
+<div class='figcenter' style='width: 489px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="illus-003" id="illus-003"></a>
+<img src='images/p1-100.jpg' alt='"We carried him into the depot."' title='' width = '489' height = '337'/><br />
+<span class='caption'>"We carried him into the depot."</span>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">91</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Was the amputation above or below the knee?" asked the reporter.</p>
+
+<p>"Below" (I didn't state how far).</p>
+
+<p>"Which foot?"</p>
+
+<p>"Left."</p>
+
+<p>"He is in no great danger?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, the doctor says he will be a very sick man for some time&mdash;if he
+recovers at all. Boys," I added, "there's one thing you might
+mention&mdash;and I think you ought to&mdash;and that is that it is such heroes as
+this that give a road its reputation; people feel as though they were
+safe behind such men."</p>
+
+<p>If Miles Diston had read the papers the next morning he would have died
+of flattery; the reporters did themselves proud, and they made a whole
+column of the "iron will and nerves of steel" shown in that "amputation
+without ether."</p>
+
+<p>Marie Venot was full of sympathy for Miles; she wanted to see him, but
+Mrs. Bailey<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">92</a></span> referred her to me, and she finally went home, still
+inquiring every day about him. I don't think she had much other feeling
+for him than pity. She was down again a week later, and I talked freely
+of going to pick out a wooden foot for Miles, who was improving right
+along.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, the papers far and near copied the articles about the "Hero
+of the Throttle," and the item about the road's interest in heroes
+attracted the attention of our general passenger agent&mdash;he liked the
+free advertising and wanted more of it&mdash;so he called me in one day, and
+asked if I knew of a choice run they could give Miles as a reward of
+merit.</p>
+
+<p>I told him, if he wanted to make a show of gratitude from the road, and
+get a big free advertisement in the papers, to have Miles appointed
+superintendent of the Spring Creek branch, where a practical man was
+needed, and then give it out "cold" that Miles had been rewarded by
+being made superintendent of the road. This was afterwards<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">93</a></span> done, with a
+great hurrah (in the papers).</p>
+
+<p>The second Sunday after Miles was hurt, Marie was down, and I thought
+I'd have a little fun with her, and see how she regarded Miles.</p>
+
+<p>"There's quite a romance connected with Diston's affair," said I at the
+dinner table, rather carelessly. "There is a young lady visiting here in
+town&mdash;I hear she is very wealthy&mdash;who saw Miles when we took him off
+his engine. She sends flowers every day, calls him her hero, and is just
+crazy for him to get well so she can see him."</p>
+
+<p>"Who is she, did you say?" asked my wife.</p>
+
+<p>"I forgot her name," said I, "but I am here to tell you that she will
+get Miles if there is any chance in the world. Her father is an army
+officer, but she says that Miles Diston is a greater hero than the army
+ever produced."</p>
+
+<p>"She's a hussy," said Marie.</p>
+
+<p>I don't know whether you would call that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">94</a></span> a bull or a bear movement on
+the Diston stock, but it went up&mdash;I could see that.</p>
+
+<p>A week later Miles was able to come down to our house for dinner, and my
+wife asked Marie to come also. I met her at the depot, and after she was
+safe in the buggy, I told her that Miles was up at the house. She nearly
+jumped out; but I quieted her, and told her she mustn't notice or say a
+word about Miles's game leg, as he was extremely sensitive about it.</p>
+
+<p>My wife was in the kitchen, and I went to the barn to put out the horse.
+Marie went to the sitting-room to avoid the parlor and Miles, but he was
+there, I guess, and Marie found her hero, for when they came out to
+dinner he had his arm around her. They were married a month later, and
+went to Washington, stopping to see us on the way back.</p>
+
+<p>As I came home that night with my patent dinner pail, and with two rows
+of wrinkles and a load of responsibility on my brow, Marie shook her
+fist in my face and called me "an old story-teller."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">95</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Story-teller," said I; "what story?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, what story? That <i>leg</i> story, of course, you old cheat."</p>
+
+<p>"What leg story?"</p>
+
+<p>"Old innocence; that amputation below the knee&mdash;you know."</p>
+
+<p>"Wa'n't it below the knee?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, but it was only the little toe."</p>
+
+<p>"John," said Miles, "she cried when she looked for that wooden foot and
+only found a slightly flat wheel."</p>
+
+<p>"That's just like 'em," said I. "Here Marie only expected a part of a
+hero, and we give her a whole man, and she kicks&mdash;that's gratitude for
+you."</p>
+
+<p>"I got my hero all right, though," said Marie; "you told me a big fib
+just the same, but I could kiss you for it."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you do that," said I; "but if the Lord should send you many
+blessings, and any of 'em are boys, you might name one after me."</p>
+
+<p>She said she'd do it&mdash;and she did.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">96</a></span></p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="E" id="E"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">99</a></span>
+<h2>MY LADY OF THE EYES</h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>One morning, some years ago, I struck the general master mechanic of a
+Rocky Mountain road for a job as an engineer&mdash;I needed a job pretty
+badly.</p>
+
+<p>As quick as the M. M. found that I could handle air on two hundred foot
+grades, he was as tickled as I was; engineers were not plenty in the
+country then, so many deserted to go to the mines.</p>
+
+<p>"The 'III' will be out in a couple of days, and you can have her
+regular, unless Hopkins comes back," said he.</p>
+
+<p>I hustled around for a room and made my peace with the boarding-house
+people before I reported to break in the big consolidation that was to
+fall to my care.</p>
+
+<p>She was big and black and ugly and new, and her fresh fire made the
+asphalt paint on her fire-box and front-end stink in that peculiar<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">100</a></span> and
+familiar way given to recently rebuilt engines; but it smelt better to
+me than all the perfumes of Arabia.</p>
+
+<p>A good-natured engineer came out on the ash-pit track to welcome me to
+the West and the road, and incidentally to remark that it was a great
+relief to the gang that I had come as I did.</p>
+
+<p>"Why," I asked, "are you so short-handed that you are doubling and
+trebling?" "No, but they are afraid that some of 'em will have to take
+out the 'III'&mdash;she is a holy terror."</p>
+
+<p>Hadn't she been burned the first trip? Didn't she kill Jim O'Neil with
+the reverse lever? Hadn't she lain down on the bed of the Arkansas river
+and wallowed on "Scar Face" Hopkins, and he not up yet? Hadn't she run
+away time and again without cause or provocation?</p>
+
+<p>But a fellow that has needed a job for six months will tackle almost
+anything, and I tackled the "holy terror."</p>
+
+<p>In fixing up the cab, I noticed an extra bracket beside the steam gage
+for a clock,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">101</a></span> and mentally noted that it would come in handy just as
+soon as I had a twenty dollar bill to spare for one of those jeweled,
+nickle-plated, side-winding clocks, that are the pride and comfort of
+those particular engineers who want nice things, with their names
+engraved on the case.</p>
+
+<p>Before I had got everything ready to take the "three aces" over the
+turn-table for her breaking-in trip, the foreman of the back-shop came
+out with a package done up in a pair of old overalls, and said that here
+was Hopkins's clock, which I might as well use until he got around
+again&mdash;'fraid someone would steal it if left in his office.</p>
+
+<p>Hopkins's clock was put on its old bracket.</p>
+
+<p>Hopkins must have been one of those particular engineers; his clock was
+a fine one; "S. H. Hopkins" was engraved on the case in German text. The
+lower half of the dial was black with white figures, the upper half
+white with black figures. But what struck me was part of a woman's face
+burned into the enamel. Just half of this face showed,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">102</a></span> that on the
+white part of the dial; the black half hid the rest.</p>
+
+<p>It was the face, or part of the face, of a handsome young woman with
+hair parted in the middle and waved back over the ears, a broad
+forehead, and such glorious eyes&mdash;eyes that looked straight into yours
+from every view point&mdash;honest eyes&mdash;reproving eyes&mdash;laughing
+eyes&mdash;loving eyes. I mentally named the picture "Her Eyes."</p>
+
+<p>Now, I was not and am not sentimental or superstitious. I'd been married
+and helped wean a baby or two even then, but those eyes bothered me.
+They hunted mine and looked at me and asked me questions and made me
+forget things, and made me think and dream and speculate; all of which
+are sheer suicide for a locomotive engineer.</p>
+
+<p>I got a switchman and started out to limber up the "III." I asked him to
+let me out on the main line, took a five-mile spin, and sidetracked for
+a freight train. While the man was unlocking the switch, I looked into
+the eyes and wondered what their owner was, or could be, or had been, to
+"Scar Faced"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">103</a></span> Hopkins, and&mdash;ran off the switch. Then I wondered if
+Hopkins was looking into those eyes when he and the "III" went into the
+Arkansas river that dark night.</p>
+
+<p>A few days after this the "III," Dennis Rafferty and I went into the
+regular freight service of the road.</p>
+
+<p>On the first trip, when half way up Greenhall grade, I glanced at the
+clock and was startled. The "Eyes" were looking at me; there was a
+scared, pained look, a you-must-do-something look in the eyes, or it
+seemed to me there was.</p>
+
+<p>"Damn that clock," said I to myself, "I'm getting superstitious or have
+softening of the brain," and I reached over to open the front door, so
+that the breeze could cool me off. In doing so my hand touched the water
+pipe to the injector&mdash;it was hot. The closed overflow injector was new
+to merit had "broke," and was blowing steam back to the tank that I
+thought was putting water into the boiler. I put it to work properly and
+"felt of the water:" there was just a flutter in the lower gage cock; in
+five minutes the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">104</a></span> crown sheet and my reputation would have been burned
+beyond recognition. Those eyes were good for something after all.</p>
+
+<p>I looked at them and they were calm. "It's all right now, but be
+careful," they said.</p>
+
+<p>Dennis Rafferty had troubles of his own. The liner came off the new fire
+door letting the door get red hot, but it wasn't half as hot as Dennis.
+He hammered it with the coal pick and burned his hands and swore, and
+Dennis was an artist in profanity. He stepped up into the cab wiping his
+face on his sleeve, and ripping the English and profane languages into
+tatters; but he stopped short in the middle of an oath and looked
+ashamed, glanced at me, crossed himself and went back to his work
+quietly. When he came back into the cab, I asked him what choked him so
+sudden.</p>
+
+<p>"Her," said he, nodding his head toward the clock. "Howly Mither, man,
+she looked hurted and sorry-like, same's me owld mither uster, whin I
+was noctious with the blasthfemry." So the "Eyes" were on Dennis,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">105</a></span> too.
+That took some of the conceit out of me, I was getting foolish about the
+eyes.</p>
+
+<p>We had a time order against a passenger train, it would be sharp work to
+make the next station, the train was heavy, the road and the engine new
+to me, and I hesitated. The conductor was dubious but said the "204" or
+Frosty Keeler could do it any day of the week. I looked at my watch and
+then at the clock. The eyes looked "Yes, go, you can do it easily; the
+'III' will do all you ask; trust her." I went, and as we pulled our
+caboose in to clear and before the express whistled for the junction,
+the eyes looked "Didn't I tell you; wasn't that splendid." Those eyes
+had been over the road more than I had, and knew the "III" better. I
+would trust the eyes.</p>
+
+<p>On the return trip, a night run, I had a big train and a bad rail, but
+the "III" did splendid work and made her time while "Her Eyes" approved
+every move I made, smiled at me and admired my handling of the engine.
+The conductor unbent enough to send over word that it was the best run<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">106</a></span>
+he'd ever had from a new man, but the "Eyes" looked, "That's nothing,
+you can do it every time, I know you can."</p>
+
+<p>Half over the division, we took a siding for the "Cannon Ball." We
+cleared her ten minutes and I had time to oil around while Dennis
+cleaned his fire. I climbed up into the cab, wiping the long oiler and
+glanced at the clock. The "Eyes" were looking wild alarm&mdash;"do something
+quick." The "Eyes" had the look, or seemed to me to have the look, you
+might expect in those of a bound woman who sees a child at the stake
+just before the fire is lighted&mdash;immeasurable pain, pity, appeal. I
+tried the water, unconsciously; it was all right. I stepped into the
+gangway and glanced back. Our tail-lights were "in" and the white light
+of the switch flashed safely there, and we had backed in any way. I
+glanced ahead. The switch light was white, the target showed main line
+plainly, for my headlight shone on it full and clear. What could be the
+matter with "Her Eyes."</p>
+
+<p>As I turned to enter the cab the roar of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">107</a></span> the coming express came down
+the wind on the frosty air and my eyes fell on the rail ahead. My God,
+they were full to the siding! It was a stub-rail switch, and the stand
+had moved the target and the light, but not the rails&mdash;the bridle-rod
+was broken.</p>
+
+<p>I yelled like a mad man, but the brakeman had gone to the caboose for
+his lunch pail. I ran to the switch. It was useless. I fought it an
+instant and then turned to the rails. Putting my foot against the main
+line rail, I grasped the switch rail and throwing all my strength into
+the effort, jerked it-over to the main line, but would it stay until the
+train passed over? I felt sure it would not. I looked about for
+something to hold it. Part of a broken pin was the only thing in sight.
+The headlight of the express shone in my face, and something seemed to
+say, "This is your trial, do something quick." I threw myself prone on
+the ground, my head near the rails, and held the broken pin between the
+end of the siding rail and the main line. The switch rails could not be
+forced over without shearing off the pin. The corner of the pilot<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">108</a></span> of
+the flying demon caught my right sleeve and tore it off, and the cloth
+threw the cylinder cocks open with a hiss, the wind and dust blinded and
+shook me, and the rails hammered and bruised and pinched my hand, but I
+held on. Twenty seconds later I sat watching the red lights of the tenth
+sleeper whip themselves out of sight. Then I went back to the cab, and
+"Her Eyes" glorified me. "God bless your dear eyes," said I, "where
+would we have all been now but for you?"</p>
+
+<p>But the "Eyes" deprecated my remarks, and looked me upon a pedestal, but
+the company doctor dressed my hand the next day, and the superintendent
+gave the whole crew ten days for backing into that siding.</p>
+
+<p>Another round trip, and I fear I watched "Her Eyes" more than the
+signals and the track ahead. "Her Eyes" decided for me, chose for me,
+approved and disapproved. I was running by "Her Eyes."</p>
+
+<p>In a telegraph office they asked me if I could do something in a certain
+time and I was dazed. I didn't give my usual quick decision,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">109</a></span> my
+judgment was wobbly and uncertain. I must look at my clock&mdash;and "Her
+Eyes." I went out to the "III" to consult them, lost my chance and was
+"put in the hole" all over the division by the disgusted dispatcher.</p>
+
+<p>Then I got to thinking and moralizing and sitting in judgment on my
+thraldom. Was I running the "III" or was "Her Eyes?" Did the company pay
+me for my knowledge, judgment, experience and skill in handling a
+locomotive, or for obeying orders from "Her Eyes." Any fool could obey
+orders.</p>
+
+<p>Then I declared for liberty, but I kept away from "Her Eyes." I declared
+for liberty in the roundhouse.</p>
+
+<p>I am a man of decision, and no sooner had I taken this oath than I got a
+screw driver, climbed into the cab of the "III," without looking at "Her
+Eyes," held my hand over the face of the clock and took it down. I
+wrapped it up and took it back to the foreman.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, yes," said he, "'Scar Face' was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">110</a></span> here for it this morning. He's
+round somewhere yet. Ain't goin' to railroad no more, goin' into the
+real estate business. He's got money, so's his wife&mdash;daffool he didn't
+quit long ago."</p>
+
+<p>"If 'Scar Face' Hopkins puts that clock over his desk and trusts 'Her
+Eyes,' he'll get rich," thought I. Perhaps, though, those eyes don't
+reach the soul of "Scar Face" Hopkins; perhaps he don't see them change
+as I did; men are conceited that way.</p>
+
+<p>During the next month I got acquainted with "Scar Face" Hopkins, who was
+a first-class fellow, with a hand-clasp like a polar bear, a heart like
+a steam pulsometer, and a face that looked as if it might have been used
+for the butting post at the end of the world.</p>
+
+<p>"Scar Face" Hopkins got all his scars in the battle of life. Men who
+command locomotives on the firing line often get hurt, but Hopkins had
+votes of thanks from officials and testimonials from men, and
+life-saver's medals from two governments to show that his scars were the
+brands of honorable degrees conferred by the Almighty on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">111</a></span> the field for
+brave and heroic deeds well done.</p>
+
+<p>"Scar Face" Hopkins was a fellow you'd like to get up close to of a
+night and talk with, and smoke with, and think with, until unlawful
+hours.</p>
+
+<p>One day I went into his office and the clock was there, and his old
+torch and a nickle-plated oiler, mementoes of the field. I looked at the
+clock, and "Her Eyes" smiled at me, or I thought they did, and said,
+just as plain as words, "Glad to see you, dear friend; sit down." But I
+turned my back to that clock; I can resist temptation when I know where
+it is coming from.</p>
+
+<p>One day, a few weeks later, I stopped before a store window in a crowd
+to examine some pictures, satisfied my curiosity, and in stepping back
+to go away, put the heel of my number ten on a lady's foot with that
+peculiar "craunch" that you know hurts. I turned to make an apology, and
+faced the original of the picture on the clock. A beautiful pair of
+eyes, the rest of the face was hidden by a peculiar arrangement of veil
+that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">112</a></span> crossed the bridge of the nose and went around the ears and neck.</p>
+
+<p>Those eyes, full of pain at first, changed instantly to frank
+forgiveness, and, bowing low, I repeated my plea for pardon for my
+clumsy carelessness, but was absolved so absolutely and completely, and
+dismissed so naturally, that I felt relieved.</p>
+
+<p>I sauntered up to Hopkins' office. "Hopkins," said I, "I just met your
+wife."</p>
+
+<p>"You did?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, and I stepped on her foot and hurt her badly, I know." Then I told
+him about it.</p>
+
+<p>"What did she say?" asked Hopkins, and I noticed a queer look. I thought
+it might be jealousy.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, well, why I don't know as I remember, but it was very kindly and
+ladylike."</p>
+
+<p>There was a queer expression on Hopkins' face.</p>
+
+<p>"Of course&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Sure she spoke?" asked Hopkins. "How did you know it was my wife
+anyway?"</p>
+
+<p>"Because it was the same face that is pictured<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">113</a></span> on your clock, and some
+one in the crowd said it was Mrs. Hopkins. You know Hop., I ran by that
+clock for a few weeks, and I noticed the eyes."</p>
+
+<p>"Anything queer about 'em?" This was a challenge.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I think there is. In the first place, I know you will understand
+me when I say they are handsome eyes, and I'm free to confess that they
+had a queer influence on me, I imagined they changed and expressed
+things and&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Talked, eh."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, yes." Then I told Hopkins the influence the "Eyes" had on me.</p>
+
+<p>He listened intently, watching me; when I had finished, he came over,
+reached out his hand and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Shake, friend, you're a damned good fellow."</p>
+
+<p>I thought Hopkins had been drinking&mdash;or looking at "Her Eyes." He pulled
+up a chair and lit a cigar.</p>
+
+<p>"John," said he, "it isn't every man that can understand what my wife
+says. Only<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">114</a></span> kindred spirits can read the language of the eyes. <i>She
+hasn't spoken an audible word in ten years</i>, but she talks with her
+eyes, even her picture talks. We, rather she, is a mystery here; people
+believe all kinds of things about her and us; but we don't care. I want
+you to come up to the house some evening and know her better. We'll be
+three chums, I know it, but don't ask questions; you will know things
+later on."</p>
+
+<p>Before I ever went to Hopkins' house, he had told her all about me, and
+when he introduced us, he said:</p>
+
+<p>"Madeline, this is the friend who says your picture talked to him."</p>
+
+<p>I bowed low to the lady and tried to put myself and her at ease.</p>
+
+<p>"Mrs. Hopkins, I'm afraid your husband is poking fun at me, and thinks
+my liver is out of order, but, really, I did imagine I saw changing
+expression in your eyes in that picture&mdash;in fact, I named you 'My Lady
+of the Eyes.'"</p>
+
+<p>She laughed&mdash;with her eyes&mdash;held out her hands and made me welcome.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">115</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"That name is something like mine," said Hopkins, "I call her Talking
+Eyes.'"</p>
+
+<p>Then Hopkins brought in his little three-year-old daughter, who
+immediately climbed on my knee, captured my watch, and asked:</p>
+
+<p>"What oo name?"</p>
+
+<p>"John," said I.</p>
+
+<p>"Don, Don," she repeated; "my name Maddie."</p>
+
+<p>"That's Daddy's chum," put in Hopkins.</p>
+
+<p>"Tum," repeated Maddie.</p>
+
+<p>"Uncle Chummy," said Hopkins.</p>
+
+<p>"Untle Tummie."</p>
+
+<p>And I was "Untle Tummie" to little Madeline and "Chummy" to Hopkins and
+his wife from then on.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Hopkins wore her veil at home as well as abroad, but it was so
+neatly arranged and worn so naturally that I soon became entirely used
+to it, in fact, didn't notice it. Otherwise, she was a well-dressed,
+handsomely set up woman, a splendid musician and a capital companion.
+She sat at her work listening, while Hopkins and I "railroaded" and
+argued about politics, and religion<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">116</a></span> and everything else under the sun.
+Mrs. Hopkins took sides freely; a glance at her eyes told where she
+stood on any question.</p>
+
+<p>Between "Scar Face" Hopkins and his handsome wife there appeared to be
+perfect sympathy and confidence. Sitting in silence, they glanced from
+one to the other now and again, smiled, nodded&mdash;and understood.</p>
+
+<p>I was barred from the house for a month during the winter because little
+Madeline had the scarlet fever, then epidemic, but it was reported a
+light case and I contented myself with sending her toys and candy.</p>
+
+<p>One day I dropped into Hopkins' office to make inquiry, when a clerk
+told me Hopkins had not been to the office for several days. Mrs.
+Hopkins was sick. I made another round trip and inquired again, and got
+the same answer; then I went up to the house.</p>
+
+<p>The officious quarantine guard was still walking up and down in front of
+the Hopkins residence. To a single inquiry, this voluble functionary
+volunteered the information<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">117</a></span> that the baby was all right now, but the
+lady herself was very sick with scarlet fever. Hopkins was most crazy,
+no trained nurses could be had for love nor money, the doctor was coming
+three times a day, and did I know that Mrs. Hopkins was some kind of a
+foreign Dago, and the whole outfit "queer?"</p>
+
+<p>Hopkins was in trouble; I pushed open the gate and started up the walk.</p>
+
+<p>"Hey, young feller, where yer goin'," demanded the guard.</p>
+
+<p>"Into the house, of course."</p>
+
+<p>"D'ye know if you go in ye got to stay for the next two weeks?"</p>
+
+<p>"Perfectly."</p>
+
+<p>"Then go on, you darned fool."</p>
+
+<p>And I went on.</p>
+
+<p>Hopkins met me, hollow-eyed and haggard.</p>
+
+<p>"Chum," said he, "you've come to prison, but I'm glad. Help is out of
+reach. If you can take care of Maddie, the girl will do the cooking and
+I will&mdash;I will do my duty."</p>
+
+<p>And night and day he did do his duty,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">118</a></span> being alone with his wife except
+for the few moments of the doctor's calls.</p>
+
+<p>One evening, after my little charge had been put to sleep downstairs by
+complying with her invariable order to "tell me a 'tory 'bout when oo
+was a 'ittle teenty weenty boy," the doctor came down with a grave face.</p>
+
+<p>"Our patient has reached the worst stage&mdash;delirium. The turn will come
+to-night. Poor Hopkins is about worn out, and I'm afraid may need you.
+Please don't go to bed; be 'on call.'"</p>
+
+<p>One hour, two hours, I sat there without hearing a sound from upstairs.
+I was drowsy and remembering that I had missed my evening smoke I
+lighted my pipe, silently opened the front door and stepped out upon the
+porch to get a whiff of fresh air. It was a still dark night, and I
+tiptoed down to the end that overlooked the city and stood looking at
+the lights and listening to the music of the switch engines in the yards
+below the hill. The porch was in darkness except the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">119</a></span> broad beam of
+light from the hall gas jet through the open door.</p>
+
+<p>The lights below made me think of home and my wife and little ones
+sleeping safely, I hoped, close to the coastwise lights of the Old
+Colony.</p>
+
+<p>I thought I heard a stealthy footfall behind me, and turned around to
+face an apparition that made the cold chill creep up my back. If ever
+there was a ghost, this must be one, an object in white not six feet
+from me.</p>
+
+<p>I'm not at all afraid of ghosts when I reach my second wind, and I
+grabbed at this one. It moved backward silently and as I made a quick
+step toward it that specter let out the most blood-curdling yell I ever
+heard&mdash;the shriek of a maniac.</p>
+
+<p>I stepped quicker now, but it moved away until it stood in the flood of
+light from the doorway, and then I saw a sight that took all the
+strength out of me. The most awful and frightful face I ever beheld,
+and,&mdash;it was the face of Madeline Hopkins.</p>
+
+<p>The neck and jaw and mouth were drawn<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">120</a></span> and seamed and scarred in a
+frightful and hideous manner, the teeth protruded and the mouth was
+drawn to one side in a frightful leer; above that was all the beauty of
+"My Lady of the Eyes."</p>
+
+<p>For a moment I was dumb and powerless, and in that moment Hopkins
+appeared with a bound, and between us we captured my poor friend's wife
+and struggled and fought with her up the long stairs and back to her
+bed.</p>
+
+<p>Sitting one on either side, we had all we could do to hold her hands.
+She would lift us both to our feet, she was struggling desperately, and
+the eyes were the eyes of a tigress.</p>
+
+<p>When this strain was at its worst and every nerve on edge, another
+scream from behind us cut our ears like a needle, the eyes of the
+tigress as well as ours sought the door, and there in her golden curls
+and white "nightie" stood little Madeline. The eyes of the tigress
+softened to tenderest love, and with a bound, the baby was on her
+mother's breast, her arms around her neck, and she was saying,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">121</a></span> "Poor
+Mama, what they doin' to poor Mama?"</p>
+
+<p>"My darling, my darling," said the mother in the sweetest of tones.</p>
+
+<p>I unconsciously released my hold upon the arm I held, and she drew the
+sheet up and covered her face as I was wont to see it, and held it
+there. With the other, she gently stroked the baby curls.</p>
+
+<p>I watched this transformation as if under a spell.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly she turned her head toward Hopkins, her eyes full of tenderness
+and pity and love, reached out her hand and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Steadman, my voice has come back, God has taken off the curse."</p>
+
+<p>But poor Hopkins was on his knees beside the bed, his face buried in his
+arms, his strong shoulders heaving and pitiful sobs breaking from his
+very heart.</p>
+
+<p>A couple of months afterward I resigned to go back to God's country, the
+home of the east wind, and where I could know my own children and speak
+to my own wife without<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">122</a></span> an introduction, and the Hopkins invited me to a
+farewell dinner.</p>
+
+<p>"My Lady of the Eyes" presided, looking handsomer and stronger than
+usual, but she didn't eat with us. But with eyes and voice she
+entertained us so royally and pleasantly that Hopkins and I did eating
+enough for all.</p>
+
+<p>After supper, Hop. and I lighted our cigars and "railroaded" for awhile,
+then "Her Eyes" went to the piano and sang a dozen songs as only a
+trained singer can. Her voice was wonderfully sweet and low. They were
+old songs, but they seemed the better for that, and while she sang
+Hopkins's cigar went out and he just gazed at her with pride and joy in
+every lineament of his scarred and furrowed face.</p>
+
+<p>Little Maddie was allowed to sit up in honor of "Untle Tummy," but after
+awhile the little head bobbed quietly and the little chin fell between
+the verses of her mother's song, and "My Lady of the Eyes" took her by
+the hand and brought her over to us.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">123</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Tell papa good-night and Uncle Chum my good-bye, dear, and we'll go to
+bed."</p>
+
+<p>Hopkins kissed the baby, and I got my hug, and another to take to my
+"ittle dirl," and Mrs. Hopkins held out both her hands to me.</p>
+
+<p>"Good-bye, dear Chum," said she, "my love to you and yours, now and
+always."</p>
+
+<p>Hopkins put his arm around his wife, kissed her forehead and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Sweetheart, I'm going to tell Chum a story."</p>
+
+<p>"And don't forget the hero," said she, and turning to me, "Don't believe
+all he says, and don't blame those that he blames, and remember that
+what is, is best, and seeming calamities are often blessings in
+disguise."</p>
+
+<p>Hopkins and I looked into each other's faces and smoked in silence for
+ten minutes, then he turned to his secretary and, opening a drawer, took
+out a couple of cases and opened them. They contained medals. Then he
+opened a package of letters and selected one or two. We lighted fresh
+cigars and Hopkins began his story.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">124</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"My father was a pretty well-to-do business man and I his only child. My
+mother died when I was young. I managed to get through a grammar school
+and went to college. I wanted to go on the road from the time I could
+remember and had no ambition higher than to run a locomotive. That was
+my ideal of life.</p>
+
+<p>"My father opposed this very strenuously, and offered to let me go to
+work if I'd select something decent&mdash;that's the way he put it. He used
+to say, 'Try a brick-yard, you might own one some day, you'll never own
+a railroad.' I had my choice, college or something decent,' and I took
+the college, although I didn't like it.</p>
+
+<p>"The summer before I came of age my father died suddenly and my college
+life ended."</p>
+
+<p>Here Hopkins fumbled around in his papers and selected one.</p>
+
+<p>"Just to show you how odd my father was, here is the text of his will,
+leaving out the legal slush that lawyers always pack their papers in:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">125</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"'To my son, Steadman Hudson Hopkins, I leave one thousand dollars to be
+paid immediately on my demise. All the residue of my estate consisting
+of etc., etc.'&mdash;six figures, Chum, a snug little wad&mdash;'shall be placed
+in the hands of three trustees'&mdash;naming the presidents of three
+banks&mdash;'to be invested by them in state, municipal or government bonds,
+principal and interest accruing to be paid by said trustees to my son
+hereinbefore mentioned when he has pursued one calling, with average
+success, for ten consecutive years, and not until then. All in the best
+judgment of the trustees aforenamed.</p>
+
+<p>"'To my son I also bequeath this fatherly advice, knowing the waste of
+money by heirs who have done nothing to produce it, and knowing that had
+I been given a fortune at the beginning of my career, it would have been
+lost for lack of business experience, and knowing too, the waste of time
+usually made by young men who drift from one employment or occupation to
+another'&mdash;having wasted fifteen years of my own life in this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">126</a></span> way&mdash;I
+make these provisions in this my last will and testament, believing that
+in the end, if not now, my son will see the wisdom of this provision,
+etc., etc.'</p>
+
+<p>"The governor had a long, clear head and he knew me and young men in
+general, but bless you, I thought he was a little mean at the time.</p>
+
+<p>"I turned to the trustees and asked what they would consider as
+fulfilling the requirements of the will.</p>
+
+<p>"'Any honorable employment,' answered the oldest man of the trio.</p>
+
+<p>"The next day, I went to see Andy Bridges, general superintendent of the
+old home road, who had been a friend of father's, and told him I wanted
+to go railroading. He offered to put me in his office, but I insisted on
+the footboard, and to make a long story short, was firing inside of
+three weeks and running inside of three years.</p>
+
+<p>"I was the proudest young prig that ever pulled a throttle. I always
+loved the work and&mdash;well, you know how the first five years<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">127</a></span> of it
+absorbs you if you are cut out for it and like it and intend to stay at
+it.</p>
+
+<p>"I had been running about two years, and had paid about as much
+attention to young women as I had to the subject of astronomy, until
+Madelene Bridges came out of a Southern convent to make her home with
+her uncle, our 'old man.'</p>
+
+<p>"The first time I saw her I went clean, stark, raving, blind, drunken
+daft over her. I tried to argue and reason myself out of it, but it was
+no go. I didn't even know who she was then.</p>
+
+<p>"But I was in love and, being so, wasn't hardly safe on the road.</p>
+
+<p>"Then I spruced up and started in to see if I couldn't interest her in
+me half as much as I was interested in her.</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't have much trouble to get a start, for Andy Bridges had come up
+from the ranks and hadn't forgotten it&mdash;most of 'em do&mdash;and welcomed any
+decent young man in his house, even if he was a car hand. Madelene had a
+couple of marriageable cousins then and that may account for old Andy.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">128</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I got on pretty well at first, for I was first in the field. I got in a
+theatre or two before the other young fellows caught on. About this time
+there was a dance, and I lost my grip. I took Madelene but couldn't
+dance, and all the others could, especially Dandy Tamplin, one of the
+train despatchers.</p>
+
+<p>"I took private dancing lessons, however, and squared myself that way.</p>
+
+<p>"Singing was a favorite mode of passing the evenings with the young
+folks at the Bridges's home, and I cursed myself for being tuneless.</p>
+
+<p>"It finally settled down to a race between Tamplin and myself, and each
+of us was doing his level best. I was so dead in earnest and so truly in
+love that I was no fit company for man or beast, and I'm afraid I was
+twice as awkward and dull in Madelene's presence as in any other place.</p>
+
+<p>"Dandy Tamplin was a handsome young fellow, and a formidable rival, for
+he was always well-dressed, a good talker and more or less of a lady's
+man. Besides that, he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">129</a></span> was on the ground all the time and I had to be
+away two-thirds of the time on my runs.</p>
+
+<p>"I came in one trip determined to know my fate that very evening&mdash;had my
+little piece all committed to memory.</p>
+
+<p>"As I registered I heard one of the other despatchers, behind a
+partition, telling some one that he was going to work Dandy's trick
+until eleven o'clock, and then the two entered into a discussion of
+Dandy's quest of the 'old man's' niece, one of them remarking that all
+the opposition he had was Hopkins and that wasn't worth considering. I
+resolved to get to Bridges's ahead of Tamplin.</p>
+
+<p>"But man&mdash;railroad man, anyway&mdash;proposes and the superintendent
+disposes. I met Bridges at the door.</p>
+
+<p>"'Hopkins,' said he, 'I want you to do me a personal favor.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Yes, sir,'</p>
+
+<p>"'I want you to double out in half an hour on some perishable freight
+that's coming in from the West; there isn't one available engine in.
+Will you do it?'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">130</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"'Yes,' I answered, slowly, showing my disappointment. 'But, Mr.
+Bridges, I was particularly anxious to go up to your house to-night; I
+intend to ask&mdash;'</p>
+
+<p>"'I know, I know,' said he kindly, taking my hand; 'It'll be all right I
+hope; there ain't another young chap I'd like to see go up <i>and stay</i>
+better than you, but my son, <i>she will keep</i>, and this freight wont. You
+go out, and I'll promise that no one shall get a chance to ask ahead of
+you.' This was a friend at court and a strong one.</p>
+
+<p>"'It means a lot to me,' said I</p>
+
+<p>"'I know it my boy, and I'm proud to have you say so right out in
+meeting, but&mdash;well, you get those fruit cars in by moonlight, and I'll
+have you back light, and you can have the front parlor for a week.'</p>
+
+<p>"On my return trip, I found a big Howe truss bridge on fire and didn't
+get in for two days. The road was blocked, everything out of gear and I
+had to double back again, whether or no.</p>
+
+<p>"I was 'chewing the rag' with a roundhouse<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">131</a></span> foreman about it when Old
+Andy came along.</p>
+
+<p>"'Go on, Hopkins,' said he, 'and you can lay off when you get back. I'm
+going South with my car <i>and will take the girls with me</i>!'</p>
+
+<p>"That was hint enough, and I said yes.</p>
+
+<p>"It was in the evening, and while the fireman and I got our supper, the
+hostler turned my engine, coaled her up, took water and stood her on the
+north branch track, next the head end of her train, that had not yet
+been entirely made up.</p>
+
+<p>"This north branch came into the south and west divisions off a very
+heavy grade and on a curve, the view being cut off at this point by
+buildings close to the track. The engine herself stood close to the
+office building, and after oiling around, I backed on to the train,
+bringing my cab right opposite a window in the despatcher's office. Just
+before this open window and facing me sat Dandy Tamplin at his key. I
+hated Dandy Tamplin.</p>
+
+<p>"It was dark outside and in the cab, the conductor had given me my
+orders and said<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">132</a></span> we'd go just as quick as the pony found a couple of
+cars more and put them on the hind end. Dennis had put in a big fire for
+the hill, and then gone skylarking around the station, and I was in the
+dark glaring at Dandy Tamplin in the light.</p>
+
+<p>"The blow-off cock on this engine was on the right side and opened from
+the cab. Ordinarily, you pulled the handle up, but the last time the
+boiler was washed out they had turned the plug cock half over and the
+handle stuck up through the deck among the oil cans ahead of the reverse
+lever, and opened by pushing it down. I remember thinking it was
+dangerous, as a man might accidentally open it. On the cock was a piece
+of pipe to carry the hot water away from the paint work, and this stuck
+straight out under the footboard, the cock leaked a little and the end
+of the pipe dripped hot water and steam.</p>
+
+<p>"While I glared at Tamplin, old man Bridges and the girls came into the
+room. Bridges went up to the narrow, shelf-like counter, looked at the
+register and asked Tamplin a question.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">133</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Tamplin went up to the group, his back to me, and spoke to one after
+the other. Madelene was the last in the row and, while the others were
+talking, laid her gloves, veil and some flowers on the counter. Tamplin
+spoke to her and I could see the color change in her face. Oh! if I only
+had hold of Dandy Tamplin.</p>
+
+<p>"Bridges hurried out into the hall behind the passage way, the girls
+following. Tamplin turned around and espied Madelene's belongings. He
+went up to them, smelled the flowers, then hurriedly took a note out of
+his pocket and slipped it into one of the gloves. The other glove he put
+in his breast pocket. It was well for Dandy Tamplin I didn't have a gun.</p>
+
+<p>"Remember, all this happened quickly. Before Tamplin was fairly in his
+seat and at work, Madelene came tripping back alone and made for her
+bundle, but Tamplin left his key open and went over to her. I couldn't
+hear what was said for by this time the safety valves of my engine were
+blowing and drowned all sound. She evidently asked<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">134</a></span> him what time it was
+and leaned partly over the counter to hear his reply. He put his hand
+under her chin and turned her face toward the clock, this with such an
+air of assurance that my heart sank&mdash;but murder was in my soul. Then
+quickly putting his hand behind her neck, he pulled her toward him and
+kissed her. I was a demon in an instant.</p>
+
+<p>"She sprang away from him and ran into the hall and he came back to his
+chair with a smile of triumph on his thin lips.</p>
+
+<p>"Somehow or other, just at this moment, I noticed the steam at the end
+of that blow-off pipe, and all the devils in hell whispered at once 'One
+move of your hand and your revenge is complete.' I wasn't Steadman
+Hopkins then, I was a madman bent on murder, and I reached down for that
+handle, holding on by the throttle with my left hand. The cock had some
+mud in it and I opened it wide before it blew out and then with a roar
+and a shriek it burst&mdash;and the crime was done.</p>
+
+<p>"All the devils flew away at once and left<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">135</a></span> me alone, naked with my
+conscience. Murderer, murderer!' resounded in my ears; hisses, roars and
+screams seemed to come to fill my brain and dance around my condemned
+soul; voices seemed shrieking and crash upon crash seemed to smite my
+ears. I thought I was dying, and I remember distinctly how glad I was. I
+didn't let go of that valve, I couldn't&mdash;I'd go to hell with it in my
+hand and let them do their worst.</p>
+
+<p>"Then remorse took possession of me. Wasn't it enough to maim and
+disfigure poor Tamplin, why cook him to death&mdash;I'd shut off that cock. I
+fought with it, but it wouldn't close, and I called Dennis to help me.</p>
+
+<p>"Some one stood behind me and put a cool hand on my brow, and a woman's
+voice said, 'Poor brave fellow, he's still thinking of his duty; all the
+heroes don't live in books.'</p>
+
+<p>"I opened my eyes, and looked around. I was in St. Mary's Hospital, and
+a nun was talking to herself.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, John, I'd been there for more than six weeks, and it took six
+more before I understood<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">136</a></span> just what had happened and could hobble
+around, for I had legs and ribs and an arm broken.</p>
+
+<p>"It must have been at the moment I opened that blow-off cock that part
+of a runaway train came down the north grade, backward, like a whirlwind
+and buried my engine and myself, piling up an awful wreck that took
+fire. I was rescued at the last moment by the crowd of railroad men that
+collected and bodily tore the wreck apart to get at me. Every one
+thought I tried to close that blow-off cock and hold the throttle shut.
+I was a hero in the papers and to the men, and I couldn't get a chance
+to tell the truth if I dared, and I was afraid to ask about Dandy
+Tamplin.</p>
+
+<p>"No word came from Madelene. One day Bridges came to see me, and brought
+me this watch I wear now, a present from the company. I determined to
+tell Bridges&mdash;but he wouldn't believe me. Looked, too, as if he thought
+I was off in my head yet and I must have looked crazy, for most of these
+brands I got that night. To be sure I've added to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">137</a></span> the collection here
+and there, but I never was pretty after that roundup.</p>
+
+<p>"At last I mustered up courage and asked: 'How is Tamplin?' 'All right,
+working right along, but takes it hard,' said Bridges.</p>
+
+<p>"'Was he laid up long? Is he as badly disfigured as I am?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Why, man, he wasn't touched. He had gone to the other end of the room
+for a drink of water. I'm afraid, my boy, its Madelene he's worried
+about.'</p>
+
+<p>"'She has refused him then?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, I don't know that. She is still in bed, badly hurt. She has not
+seen a soul but her nurse, the doctor and my wife, and denies herself to
+all callers, even her best friends, even to me.'</p>
+
+<p>"Chum, I won't tell you what I said or suffered. Madelene had come into
+the room again for her belongings, and had faced the dagger of steam
+sent by the hand of a man who would give his immortal soul to make her
+well again.</p>
+
+<p>"I couldn't get around much, but I wrote<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">138</a></span> her a brief note asking if I
+might call and sent it by a messenger.</p>
+
+<p>"She replied that she could not see me then. I waited. I hadn't the
+heart to write a confession I wanted to make in person, so after a week
+or two I went to the house.</p>
+
+<p>"Madelene sent down word that she couldn't see me then and could not
+tell when she would see me.</p>
+
+<p>"I thought the nurse, who acted as messenger, did not interpret either
+my message or hers as they were intended&mdash;I would write a note.</p>
+
+<p>"I stepped into the library on one side of the hall, made myself at home
+and wrote Madelene a note, a love letter, begging for just one
+interview. Taking blame for all that had happened and confessing my love
+and devotion to her.</p>
+
+<p>"It was a long letter and just as I finished it, I heard some one in the
+hall. I thought it was a servant and started for the doorway to ask her
+to carry my message. It was the nurse.</p>
+
+<p>"I was partly concealed by the portieres.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">139</a></span> She was facing the door, her
+finger on her lips, and before her stood Dandy Tamplin.</p>
+
+<p>"'It's all right' she whispered, 'be still,' and both of them tiptoed
+upstairs.</p>
+
+<p>"This, then was why I could not see Madelene. Dandy Tamplin was her
+accepted lover.</p>
+
+<p>"That night I left the old home for good to seek my fortunes and
+forgetfulness far away. I didn't care where, so long as it was a great
+way off.</p>
+
+<p>"At New York I found some engineers going out to run on the Meig's road
+in Peru. I signed a contract and in two days was on the Atlantic, bound
+for the Isthmus of Panama.</p>
+
+<p>"I ran an engine in Peru until the war broke out with Chili. I was sent
+to the front with a train of soldiers one day and got on the battle
+field. Our side was getting badly worsted, and I got excited and jumping
+off the engine, armed myself and lit into the fight. A little crowd
+gathered around me and I found myself the leader, no officer in sight.
+There was a charge and we didn't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">140</a></span> run&mdash;surprised the Chilians. I got
+some of these blue brands on my left cheek there and made a new
+reputation. Before I knew it, I had on a uniform and dangled a sword.
+They nicknamed me the 'Fighting Yankee.'</p>
+
+<p>"Peru had lots of trouble and I saw a good deal of it. When it was all
+over, I found myself in command of a gun boat, just a tug, but she was
+alive and had accounted for herself several times.</p>
+
+<p>"The president sent me on a special mission to Chili just after the
+close of the war, and, all togged out in a new uniform, I went on board
+of an American ship at Callao bound for Valparaiso. I thought I was some
+pumpkins then. I'd lived a rough and tumble life for about three years
+and was beginning to like it&mdash;and to forget.</p>
+
+<p>"I used to do the statuesque before the passengers, my scars attested my
+fighting propensities, and there were several Peruvian liars aboard that
+knew me by reputation, and enlarged on it.</p>
+
+<p>"We touched at Coquimbo and an American<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">141</a></span> civil engineer and family came
+aboard, homeward bound.</p>
+
+<p>"That afternoon I was lolling in the smoking-room on deck, when I was
+attracted by the sound of ladies talking on the promenade just outside
+the open port where I sat. It was the engineer's wife and daughter.</p>
+
+<p>"'Mamma,' said the young lady. 'I must read you Madelene's letter. Poor,
+dear Madelene, it's just too sorrowful and romantic for anything.'</p>
+
+<p>"Madelene! I hadn't heard that name pronounced for three years. It was
+wrong, I knew it, but I listened.</p>
+
+<p>"'Poor dear, she was awfully hurt and disfigured in a railroad wreck.'</p>
+
+<p>"It was <i>my</i> Madelene they were talking about. Wild horses could not
+have dragged me from the spot.</p>
+
+<p>"The girl read something like this. I know for I've read that letter a
+hundred times. It's in this pile here.</p>
+
+<p>"'Dear Lottie: Your ever welcome'&mdash;'no, not that.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Uncle Andrew is going'&mdash;'let me see,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">142</a></span> Oh! yes, here it is, now listen
+Mamma,' said the girl.</p>
+
+<p>"'Dear Schoolmate. I have never told a soul about my troubles or my
+trials, for long I could not bear to think of them myself. But lately I
+have seen it in its true light, and have come to the conclusion that I
+have no right to moan my life away. I'm past all that, there is nothing
+for me to live for in myself, but my life is spared for some purpose,
+and I propose to devote it to doing good to others'&mdash;'isn't she a sweet
+soul, mamma?'</p>
+
+<p>"'After I came to live with Uncle Andrew, I was very happy, it seemed
+like a release from prison. I saw much company, and in six months had
+two lovers&mdash;more than I deserved. One of these was a plain, honest manly
+man; he was one of Uncle Andrew's engineers. He wasn't handsome, but he
+was the kind of man that sensible women love. The other was a handsome,
+showy, witty man, also an employee of the railroad, considered 'the
+catch' among the girls. Really, Lottie, both of them tried to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">143</a></span> propose
+and I wouldn't let them, I didn't know which one of them I liked best.
+But if things had taken the usual course, I should have married the
+handsome one&mdash;and been sorry forever after.'</p>
+
+<p>"My heart stood still&mdash;she hadn't married Dandy Tamplin after all."</p>
+
+<p>"'The night of the wreck, I was going out on Uncle Andrew's private car.
+The handsome man was on duty in the office. The plain man on an engine
+that stood before the open window, I didn't know that then.</p>
+
+<p>"'A runaway train crashed into the engine and something exploded and a
+stream of boiling water came into the room and scalded me beyond
+recognition. You would not know me, Lottie, I am so disfigured.</p>
+
+<p>"'The handsome man did nothing but wring his hands; the plain one staid
+on the engine and tried to stop the steam from coming out, and was
+himself terribly injured.</p>
+
+<p>"'I was for weeks in bed and suffered mental agony much beyond the
+merely physical pain. I was so wicked I cursed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">144</a></span> my life and my Maker and
+prayed for death&mdash;yet I lived. I was so resentful, so heartbroken, so
+wicked, that I refused to speak for weeks, then, when I tried, I
+couldn't, God had put the curse of silence on my wickedness.'</p>
+
+<p>"Think of Madelene being wicked, Chum.</p>
+
+<p>"'When I was getting well enough and reconciled to my own fate, enough
+to think of others, I thought of my two lovers. Then I asked my nurse
+for a glass. One look, and I made up my mind never to see either of them
+again.</p>
+
+<p>"'Both of them were clamoring to see me, and I refused to see either.
+The plain man wrote me the only love letter I ever received. I have worn
+it out reading it. It was so manly, so unselfish! He blamed himself for
+the accident, and offered me his devotion and love, no matter in what
+condition the letter found me. This letter he wrote in Uncle Andrew's
+library, left it open on the desk and&mdash;disappeared.</p>
+
+<p>"'I have never heard from him from that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">145</a></span> day to this. I never could
+understand it. A man that could write that letter, couldn't run away.
+The last sentence in his letter proved that. It said: "Remember, dear
+Madelene, that somewhere, somehow, I am thinking of you always; that
+whether you see me or not, you will some day come to know that I love
+your soul, not your face; that your life is dear to me, and no calamity
+can make any difference."</p>
+
+<p>"'Those were brave words, and after I read them, I knew for the first
+time that this was the man I loved. They told me he was frightfully
+disfigured, too, but that made no difference to me, I loved him. But he
+was gone, no one knew where. Why did he go?</p>
+
+<p>"'The handsome man disappeared the same day, and he never came back, but
+he left no letter.</p>
+
+<p>"'Dear Lottie, I have only now solved the mystery. My sometime nurse has
+just confessed that the night the letter was written the other man came
+to the house, like a thief, he had bribed her to give me drugs to make
+me sleep and then she led him into my room<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">146</a></span> and showed him my scars. If
+he ever loved me at all, he was in love with my face; the other man
+loved me. One went away because he saw me, the other one because he saw
+his rival apparently granted the interview refused to him. My true lover
+must have seen that man sneaking up to my room.'</p>
+
+<p>"John, every fibre of my being danced for joy. I didn't hear the rest,
+and she read several pages. I had heard enough.</p>
+
+<p>"I went right out on the deck, begged pardon to begin with, introduced
+myself, confessed to eavesdropping, told who I was, where I had been and
+asked for that letter.</p>
+
+<p>"I got it and Madelene's picture; the one you have seen on my clock.</p>
+
+<p>"I finished my task at Valparaiso while the vessel lay there, reported
+by mail, and came home on the same ship.</p>
+
+<p>"I took that letter and photograph to Andy Bridges's house and wrote
+across the envelope 'Madelene Bridges, I demand your immediate and
+unconditional surrender, signed, Steadman H. Hopkins.'</p>
+
+<p>"And I got it in five minutes. Chum, that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">147</a></span> is the only case on record
+where something worth having was ever surrendered to an officer of the
+Peruvian government.</p>
+
+<p>"In six months I was back on an engine in a new country, with my silent,
+loved and loving wife, in a new home. Three times before now someone has
+seen Madelene's face, twice I told this story, and then we moved away;
+once I told it and trusted, and it was not repeated. Madelene can stand
+being a mystery and wondered at, but she cannot stand pity and
+curiosity. As for you, old Chum, I haven't even asked you not to repeat
+what I have told you&mdash;I know you won't."</p>
+
+<p>After a long while, I turned to Hopkins and said: "And yet, Hopkins,
+fools say there is no romance in railroad life. This is a story worth
+reading, and some day I'd like to write it."</p>
+
+<p>"Not in Madelene's time, or in mine, Chum, but if ever a time comes,
+I'll send you a token."</p>
+
+<p>"Send me your picture, Hop."</p>
+
+<p>"No, I'll send you Madelene's. No, I'll<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">148</a></span> send you the clock with the
+'talking eyes.'"</p>
+
+<p>And standing at Hopkins's gate, the scar-faced man with the romance and
+I parted, like ships that meet, hail and pass on, never to meet again.
+Hopkins and I moved away from one another, each on his own course,
+across the seven seas of life.</p>
+
+<p>And all this happened almost twenty years ago.</p>
+
+<p>The other day, my office boy brought me a card that read, "Mrs. Henry
+Adams, Washington, D. C." "Is she a book agent?" I asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Nope, don't look like one."</p>
+
+<p>"Show her in."</p>
+
+<p>A young woman came in, looked at me hard for a moment, laid a package on
+my desk and asked,</p>
+
+<p>"Is this the Mr. Alexander who used to be an engineer?"</p>
+
+<p>I confessed.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't suppose you remember me," she asked.</p>
+
+<p>I put on my glasses and looked at her. No, I never&mdash;then she put her
+handkerchief<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">149</a></span> up to her lips covering the lower part of her face; it was
+the face of Madelene Hopkins.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said I, "I remember you perfectly, seventeen or eighteen years
+ago you used to sit on my knee and call me 'Untle Tummy.' and I called
+you Maddie."</p>
+
+<p>Then we laughed and shook hands.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Alexander," said she, "In looking over some of father's papers, we
+came across a request that under certain conditions you were to be sent
+an old keepsake of his, a clock with mother's picture on it. I have
+brought it to you."</p>
+
+<p>"And your father and mother, what of them, my friend?" I asked, for the
+promise of that clock "under certain conditions" was coming back to me.</p>
+
+<p>"Haven't you heard, sir, poor papa and mama were lost in that awful
+wreck at Castleton, two years ago."</p>
+
+<p>And as I write, from the dial of "Scar Faced" Hopkins's clock "My Lady
+of the Eyes" looks down at me from across the mystery of eternity. The
+eyes do not change as once they did, or has age dimmed my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">150</a></span> sight and
+imagination? Long I look into their peaceful depths thinking of their
+story, and ask, "Dear Eyes, is it well with thee?"&mdash;and they seem to
+answer, "It is well."</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="F" id="F"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">152</a></span>
+<h2>SOME FREAKS OF FATE</h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>I am just back from a visit to old scenes, old chums and old memories of
+my interesting experience on the western fringe of Uncle Sam's great,
+gray blanket&mdash;the plains.</p>
+
+<p>If some of these fellows who know more about writing than about running
+engines would only go out there for a year and keep their eyes and ears
+and brains open, and mouths shut, they could come home and write us some
+true stories that would make fiction-grinders exceedingly weary.</p>
+
+<p>The frontier attracts strong characters, men with pioneer spirit, men
+who are willing to sacrifice something, in order to gain an end; men
+with loves and men with hates. Bad men are there, some of them hunted
+from Eastern communities, perhaps, but you will find no fools and mighty
+few weak faces&mdash;there's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">154</a></span> character in every feature you look at.</p>
+
+<p>Every one is there for a purpose; to accomplish something; to get ahead
+in the world; to make a new start; perhaps to live down something, or to
+get out of the rut cut by ancestors; some may only want to drink, and
+shout, and shoot, but even these do it with a vim&mdash;they mean it.</p>
+
+<p>Of the many men who ran engines at the front, with me in the old days, I
+recall few whose lives were purposeless; almost every one had a
+life-story.</p>
+
+<p>If there's anything that I enjoy, it's to sit down to a pipe and a
+life-story&mdash;told by the subject himself. How many have I listened to,
+out there, and every one of them worthy the pen of a Kipling!</p>
+
+<p>The population of the frontier is never all made up of men, and the
+women all have strong features, too&mdash;self-sacrifice, devotion,
+degradation, or <i>something</i>, is written on every face. There are no
+blanks in that lottery&mdash;there's little material there for homes of
+feeble-minded.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">155</a></span></p>
+
+<p>It isn't strange, either, when you come to think of it; fools never go
+anywhere, they are just born and raised. If they move it's because they
+are "took"&mdash;you never heard of a pioneer fool.</p>
+
+<p>One of the strongest characters I ever knew was a runner out there by
+the name of Gunderson&mdash;Oscar Gunderson. He was of Swedish parentage,
+very light-complexioned, very large, and a splendid mechanic, as Swedes
+are apt to be when they try. Gunderson's name was, I suppose, properly
+entered on the company's time-book, but it never was in the nomenclature
+of the road. With the railroaders' gift for abbreviation and nickname,
+Gunderson soon came down to "Gun," his size, head, hand or heart
+furnished the prefix of "Big," and "Big Gun" he remains to-day. "Big
+Gun" among his friends, but simple "Gun" to me. I think I called him
+"Gun" from the start.</p>
+
+<p>Gun ran himself as he did his engine, exercised the same care of
+himself, and always talked engine about his own anatomy, clothes, food
+and drink.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">156</a></span></p>
+
+<p>His hat was always referred to as his "dome-casing;" his Brotherhood pin
+was his "number-plate;" his coat was "the jacket;" his legs the
+"drivers;" his hands "the pins;" arms were "side-rods;" stomach
+"fire-box;" and his mouth "the pop."</p>
+
+<p>He invariably referred to a missing suspender-button as a broken
+"spring-hanger;" to a limp as a "flat-wheel;" he "fired up" when eating;
+he "took water," the same as the engine; and "oiled round," when he
+tasted whisky.</p>
+
+<p>Gun knew all the slang and shop-talk of the road, and used it&mdash;was even
+accused of inventing much of it&mdash;but his engine talk was unique and
+inimitable.</p>
+
+<p>We roomed together a whole winter; and often, after I had gone to bed,
+Gun would come in, and as he peeled off his clothes he would deliver
+himself something as follows:</p>
+
+<p>"Say, John, you don't know who I met on the up trip? Well, sir, Dock
+Taggert. I was sailin' along up the main line near Bob's, and who should
+I see but Dock backed in on the sidin'&mdash;seemed kinder dilapidated, like<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">157</a></span>
+he was runnin' on one side. I jest slammed on the wind and went over and
+shook. Dock looks pretty tough, John&mdash;must have been out surfacing
+track, ain't been wiped in Lord knows when, oiled a good deal, but nary
+a wipe, jacket rusted and streaked, tire double flanged, valves blowin',
+packing down, don't seem to steam, maybe's had poor coal, or is all
+limed up. He's got to go through the back shop 'efore the old man'll
+ever let him into the roundhouse. I set his packin' out and put him in a
+stall at the Gray's corral; hope he'll brace up. Dock's a mighty good
+workin' scrap, if you could only get him to carryin' his water right; if
+he'd come down to three gauges he'd be a dandy, but this tryin' to run
+first section with a flutter in the stack all the time is no good&mdash;he
+must 'a flagged in."</p>
+
+<p>Which, being translated into English, would carry the information that
+Gun had seen one of the old ex-engineers at Bob Slattery's saloon, had
+stopped and greeted him. Dock looked as if he had tramped, had drank,
+was dirty, coat had holes, soles of his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">158</a></span> boots badly worn, wheezing,
+seemed hungry and lifeless, been eating poor food, and was in a general
+run-down condition. Gun had "set out his packing" by feeding him and put
+him in a bed at the Grand Central Hotel&mdash;nicknamed the "Grayback's
+Corral." Gun thought he would have to reform, before the M. M. put him
+into active service. He was a good engineer, but drank too much, and
+lastly, he was in so bad a condition he could not get himself into
+headquarters unless someone helped him by "flagging" for him.</p>
+
+<p>Gun was a bachelor; he came to us from the Pacific side, and told me
+once that he first went west on account of a woman, but&mdash;begging Mr.
+Kipling's pardon&mdash;that's another story.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't think I'd care to double-crew my mill," Gun would say when the
+conversation turned to matrimony. "I've been raised to keep your own
+engine and take care of it, and pull what you could. In double-heading
+there's always a row as to who ought to go ahead and enjoy the scenery
+or stay behind and eat cinders."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">159</a></span></p>
+
+<p>I knew from the first that Gun had a story to tell, if he'd only give it
+up, and I fear I often led up to it, with the hope that he would tell it
+to me&mdash;but he never did.</p>
+
+<p>My big friend sent a sum of money away every month, I supposed to some
+relative, until one day I picked up from the floor a folded paper dirty
+from having been carried long in Gun's pocket, and found a receipt. It
+read:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"<span class="smcap">Mission, San Antonio</span>, <i>Jan. 1, 1878.</i></p>
+
+<p>"Received of O. Gunderson, for Mabel Rogers, $40.00.</p>
+
+<p>"<span class="smcap">Sister Theresa</span>."</p></div>
+
+<p>Ah, a little girl in the story! I thought; it's a sad story, then.
+There's nothing so pure and beautiful and sweet and joyous as a little
+girl, yet when a little girl has a story it's almost always a sad story.</p>
+
+<p>I gave Gun the paper; he thanked me; said he must look out better for
+those receipts, and added that he was educating a bit of a girl out on
+the coast.</p>
+
+<p>"Yours, Gun?" I asked kindly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">160</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"No, John; she ain't; I'd give $5,000 if she was."</p>
+
+<p>He looked at me straight, with that clear, blue eye, and I knew he told
+me the truth.</p>
+
+<p>"How old is she?" I asked.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know; 'bout five or six."</p>
+
+<p>"Ever seen her?"</p>
+
+<p>"No."</p>
+
+<p>"Where did you get her?"</p>
+
+<p>"Ain't had her."</p>
+
+<p>"Tell me about her?"</p>
+
+<p>"She was willed to me, John, kinder put in extra, but I can't tell you
+her story now, partly because I don't know it all myself, and partly
+because I won't&mdash;I won't even tell her."</p>
+
+<p>I did not again refer to Gun's little girl, and soon other experiences
+and other biographies crowded the story out of my mind.</p>
+
+<p>One evening in the spring, I sat by the open window, enjoying the cool
+night breeze from off the mountains, when I heard Gun's cheery voice on
+the porch below. He was lecturing his fireman, in his own, unique way.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">161</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Well, Jim, if I ain't ashamed of you! There ain't no one but you;
+coming into general headquarters with a flutter in the stack, so full
+that you can't whistle, air-pump a-squealing 'count of water, smeared
+from stack to man-hole, headlight smoked and glimmery, don't know your
+own rights, kind o' runnin' wildcat, without proper signals, imagining
+you're first section with a regardless order. You want to blow out, man,
+and trim up, get your packing set out and carry less juice. You're worse
+than one of them slippin', dancin', three-legged, no-good Grants. The
+next time I catch you at high-tide, I'll scrap you, that's what I'll do,
+fire you into the scrap-pile. Why can't you use some judgment in your
+runnin'? Why can't you say, 'Why, here's the town of Whisky, I'm going
+to stop here and oil around,' sail right into town, put the air on
+steady and fine, bring her right down to the proper gait, throw her into
+full release, so as to just stop right, shut off your squirt, drop a
+little oil on the worst points, ring your bell and sail on.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">162</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"But you, you come into town forty miles an hour, jam on the emergency
+and while the passengers pick 'emselves out of the ends of the cars, you
+go into the supply house and leave the injector on, and then, when you
+do move, you're too full to go without opening your cylinder cocks and
+givin' yourself dead away.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, I'm goin' to Californ', next month, and if you get so as you can
+tell when you've got enough liquor without waiting for it to break your
+injectors, I'll ask the old man to let you finger the plug on Old Baldy
+whilst I'm gone. But I'm damned if I don't feel as if you was like that
+measly old 19&mdash;jest fit to be jacked up to saw wood with."</p>
+
+<p>While Gun was in California, I was taken home on a requisition from my
+wife, and Oscar Gunderson and his little girl became a memory&mdash;a page in
+a book that I had partly read and lost, but not entirely forgotten.</p>
+
+<p>One day last summer I took the westbound express at Topeka, and
+spreading my grip, hat, coat and umbrella, out on the seats,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">163</a></span> so as to
+resemble an experienced English tourist, I fished up a Wheeling stogie
+and a book and went into the smoking-pen of the sleeper, which I had all
+to myself for half-an-hour.</p>
+
+<p>The train stopped to give the thirsty tender a drink and a man came in
+to wash his hands. He had been riding on the engine.</p>
+
+<p>After washing, he stepped to the door of the "smokery," struck a match
+on the leg of his pants, held both hands around the end of his cigar
+while he lighted it, then waving the match to put it out, he threw it
+down and came in.</p>
+
+<p>While he was absorbed in all this, I took a glance at him.
+Six-foot-four, if an inch; high cheek bones; yellow beard; clear, blue
+eyes; white skin, and a hand about the size of a Cincinnati ham. I knew
+that face despite twelve years of turkey-tracks about the eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"Gunderson, old man, how are you?" I said, offering my fin.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, John Alexander, how in the name of thunder did you get away out
+here on the main stem, without orders?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">164</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Inspection-car," said I; "how did you get here?"</p>
+
+<p>"Deadheading home; been out on special, a gilt-edged special, took her
+clean through to New York."</p>
+
+<p>"You did!" I exclaimed; "why, how was that?"</p>
+
+<p>"Went up special to a weddin', don't you see? Went up to see a new
+compound start off&mdash;prettiest sight I ever saw&mdash;working smooth as
+grease; but I'm kind of dubious about repairs and general running. I'm
+anxious to see how the performance sheet looks at the end of the year,
+John."</p>
+
+<p>"Who's been double-heading, Gun?"</p>
+
+<p>"Why&mdash;why, my little girl, trimmest, neatest, slickest little mill you
+ever saw. Lord! but she was painted red and white and gold-leaf, three
+brass bands on her stack, solid nickel trimming, all the latest
+improvements, corrugated fire-box, high pressure smoke consumer and
+sand-jet&mdash;jest made a purpose for specials, and pay-car. But if she
+ain't got herself coupled onto a long-fire-boxed ten-wheeler, with a big
+lap and a Joy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">165</a></span> gear, you can put me down for a clinker. Yes, sir; the
+baby is a heart-breaker on dress-parade, and the ten-wheeler is a whale
+on business, and if they don't jump the track, you watch out for some
+express speed that will make the canals sick, see if they don't."</p>
+
+<p>Without giving me time to say a word, he was off again.</p>
+
+<p>"You ought to seen 'em start out, nary a slip, cutting off square as a
+die, small one ahead speaking her little piece chipper and fast on
+account of her smaller wheels, and the ten-wheeler barking bass, steady
+as a clock, with a hundred-and-enough on the gauge, a full throttle, and
+half a pipe of sand. You couldn't tell to save you whether the little
+one was pulling the big one or the big one shoving the little&mdash;never saw
+a relief train start out in such shape in my life."</p>
+
+<p>Gunderson was evidently enthusiastic over the marriage of his little
+girl.</p>
+
+<p>We talked over old times and the changes, and followed each other up to
+date with a great deal of mutual enjoyment, until the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">166</a></span> porter demanded
+the "smokery" for his bunk.</p>
+
+<p>As we started for bed, Gun laid his hand on my shoulder and said:</p>
+
+<p>"John, a good many years ago, you asked me to tell you the story of my
+little girl. I refused then for her sake. I'll tell you in the morning."</p>
+
+<p>After a hearty breakfast and a good cigar, Gunderson squared himself for
+the story. He shut his eyes for a few minutes, as if to recall
+something, and then, speaking as if to himself, he said:</p>
+
+<p>"Well, sir, there wasn't a simmer anywhere, dampers all shut; you
+wouldn't'a suspected they was up to the popping point, but the minute
+they got their orders, and the con. put up his hand, so, up went&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Say," I interrupted, "I thought I was to have the story. I believe you
+told me about the wedding, last night. The young couple started out
+well."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes, old man, I forgot, the story; well, get on the next pit here,"
+motioning to a seat next to him, "and I'll give you the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">167</a></span> history of an
+old, hook-motion, name of Oscar Gunderson, and a trim, Class "G" made of
+solid silver, from pilot to draft-gear.</p>
+
+<p>"You think I'm a Swede; well, I ain't, I don't know what I am, but I
+guess I come nearer to being a Chinaman than anything else. My father
+was a sea-captain, and my mother found me on the China sea&mdash;but they
+were both Swedes just the same. I had two sisters older than myself, and
+in order to better our chances, father moved to New York when I was less
+than five years old.</p>
+
+<p>"He soon secured work as captain on a steamer in the Cuban trade, and
+died at sea, when I was ten.</p>
+
+<p>"I had a bent for machinery, and tried the old machine-shops of the
+Central road, but soon found myself firing.</p>
+
+<p>"I went to California, shortly after the war, on account of a
+woman&mdash;mostly my fault.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, after running around there for some years, I struck a job on the
+Virginia &amp; Truckee, in '73.</p>
+
+<p>"Virginia City and Carson and all the Nevada<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">168</a></span> towns were doing a
+fall-rush business, turning every wheel they had, with three crews to a
+mill. Why, if you'd go down street in any one of them towns at night,
+and see the crowds around the gamblers and molls, you'd think hell was
+a-coming forty-mile an hour, and that it wan't more than a car-length
+away.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, one morning, I came into Virginia about breakfast time, and with
+the rest of the crew, went up to the old California Chop-house for
+breakfast. This same chop-house was a building about good-enough for a
+stable, these days; but it had a reputation then for steaks. All the
+gamblers ate there; and it's a safe rule to eat where the gamblers do,
+in a frontier town, if you want the best there is, regardless of price.</p>
+
+<p>"It was early for the regular trade, and we had the dining-room mostly
+to ourselves, for a few minutes, then there were four women folks came
+in and sat down at a table bearing a card: 'Reserved for Ladies.'</p>
+
+<p>"Three of them were dressed loud, had signs out whereby any one could
+tell that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">169</a></span> they wouldn't be received into no Four Hundred; but one of
+them was a nice-looking, modestly-dressed woman, had on half-mourning,
+if I remember. She had one of them sweet, strong faces, John, like the
+nun when I had my arm broke and was scalded,&mdash;her sweet mouth kept
+mumblin' prayers, but her fingers held an artery shut that was trying
+its damndest to pump Gun Gunderson's old heart dry&mdash;strong character,
+you bet.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, that woman sat facing our table and kept looking at me; I
+couldn't see her without turning, but I knew she was looking. John, did
+you ever notice that you could <i>feel</i> the presence of some people; you
+knew they were near you without seeing them? Well, when that happens,
+don't forget to give that fellow due credit; for whoever it is he or she
+has the strongest mind&mdash;the dominant one.</p>
+
+<p>"I <i>had</i> to look around at that woman. I shall never forget how she
+looked; her hand was on the side of her face; her great, brown, tender
+eyes were staring right at me&mdash;she was reading my very soul. I let her
+read.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">170</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I had been jacking up a gilly of a gafter who had referred to his
+mother as "the old woman," and I didn't let the four females disturb me.
+I meant to hold up a looking-glass for that young whelp to look into. I
+hate a man that don't love his mother.</p>
+
+<p>"Why," says I, "you miserable example of Divine carelessness, do you
+know what that 'old woman' mother has done for you, you drivelin' idiot,
+a-thankin' God that you're alive and forgetting the very mother that
+bore you; if you could see the tears that she has shed, if you could
+count the sleepless nights that she has put in, the heartaches, the
+pain, the privation that she has humbly, silently, even thankfully borne
+that you might simply live, you'd squander your last cent and your last
+breath to make her life a joy, from this day until her light goes out. A
+man that don't respect his mother is lost to all decency; a man who will
+hear her name belittled is a Judas, and a man who will call his mother
+'old woman' is a no-good, low-down, misbehaven whelp. Why, damn it, I'd
+fight a buzz-saw, if it called my mother 'old woman'&mdash;and she's been
+dead a long time; gone to that special, exalted, gilt-edged and glorious
+heaven for mothers. No one but mothers have a right to expect to go to a
+heaven, and the only question that'll be asked is, 'Have you been a
+mother?'</p>
+
+<div class='figcenter' style='width: 415px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="illus-004" id="illus-004"></a>
+<img src='images/p1-176.jpg' alt='"He was the first man I ever killed."' title='' width = '415' height = '526'/><br />
+<span class='caption'>"He was the first man I ever killed."</span>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">171</a></span></p>
+<p>"Well, sir, I had forgot about the women, but they clapped their hands
+and I looked around, and there were tears in the eyes of that one woman.</p>
+
+<p>"She got up; came to our table and laid a card by my plate, and said, 'I
+beg your pardon; but won't you call on me? Please do.'</p>
+
+<p>"I was completely knocked out, but told her I would, and she went out
+alone; the others finished their breakfast.</p>
+
+<p>"She had no sooner gone than Cy Nash, my conductor, commenced to
+giggle&mdash;'Made a mash on the flyest woman in town,' he tittered; 'ain't a
+blood in town but what would give his head for your boots, old man;
+that's Mabel Verne&mdash;owns the Odeon dance hall, and the Tontine, in
+Carson.'</p>
+
+<p>"I glanced at the card, and it did read, 'Mabel Verne, 21 Flood
+avenue.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">172</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Well, Flood avenue is no slouch of a street, the best folks live
+there," I answered.</p>
+
+<p>"'Yes, that's her private residence, and if you go there and are let in,
+you'd be the first man ever seen around there. She's a curious critter,
+never rides or drives, or shows herself off at all; but you bet she sees
+that the rest of the stock show off. She's in it for money, I tell you.'</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know why, but it made me kind of heart-sick to think of the
+hell that woman must be in, for I knew by her looks that she had a heart
+and a brain, and that neither of them was in the Odeon or the Tontine
+dance-houses.</p>
+
+<p>"I thought the matter over,&mdash;and didn't go to see her. The next trip,
+she sent a carriage for me.</p>
+
+<p>"She met me at the door, and took my hat, and as I dropped into an easy
+chair, I opened the ball to the effect that 'this here was a strange
+proceeding for a lady.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Yes,' said she, sitting down square in front of me; 'it is; I felt as
+if I had found a true man, when I first saw you, and I have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">173</a></span> asked you
+here to tell you a story, my story, and ask your help and advice. I am
+so earnest, so anxious to do thoroughly what I have undertaken, that I
+fear to overdo it; I need counsel, restraint; I can trust you. Won't you
+help me?"</p>
+
+<p>"'If I can; what is it that you want me to do, madam?'</p>
+
+<p>"'First of all, keep a secret, and next, protect or help protect, an
+innocent child.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Suppose I help the child, and you don't tell me the secret?'</p>
+
+<p>"'No, it concerns the child, sir; she is my child; I want her to grow up
+without knowing what her mother has done, or how she has lived and
+suffered; you wouldn't tell her that, would you?'</p>
+
+<p>"'No; certainly not!'</p>
+
+<p>"'Nor anyone else?'</p>
+
+<p>"'No.'</p>
+
+<p>"'You would judge her alone, forgetting her mother?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Yes.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Then I will tell you the story.'</p>
+
+<p>"She got up and changed the window<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">174</a></span> blinds, so that the light shone on
+my face; I guess she wanted to study the effect of her words.</p>
+
+<p>"'I was born at Sacramento,' she began; 'my father was a well-to-do
+mechanic, and I his only child; I grew up pretty fair-looking, and my
+parents spent about all they could make to complete my education,
+especially in music, of which I was fond. When I was eighteen years old,
+I fell in love with a young man, the son of one of the rich merchants of
+San Francisco, where we had removed. Like many another foolish girl, I
+trusted too implicitly, and believed too easily, and soon found myself
+in a humiliating position, but trusted to the honor of my lover to stand
+by me.</p>
+
+<p>"'When I explained matters to him he seemed pleased, said he could fix
+that easy enough; we would get married at once and claim a secret
+marriage for some months past.</p>
+
+<p>"'He arranged that I should meet him the next evening, and go to an old
+priest in an obscure parish, and be married.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">175</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"'I stood long hours on a corner, half dead with fear, that night, for a
+lover that never came. He's dead now, got run over in Oakland yard, that
+very night, as he was running away from me, and as I waited and shivered
+under the stars and the fire of my own conscience.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Did he stand on one track, to get out of the way of another train, and
+get struck?' I asked.</p>
+
+<p>"'Yes,' looking at me close.</p>
+
+<p>"'Did he have on a false moustache, and a good deal of money and
+securities in a satchel, and everybody think at first he was a burglar?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Yes; but how did you know that?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Because, I killed him.'</p>
+
+<p>"'You?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Yes; I ran an engine over him, couldn't make him hear or see me. He
+was the first man I ever killed; strange he should be <i>this</i> particular
+man.'</p>
+
+<p>"'It's fate,' said the woman, rocking slowly back and forth, 'it's fate,
+but it seems as though I like you better now that you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">176</a></span> were my avenger.
+That accident drove revenge out of my heart, caused me to let <i>him</i> be
+forgotten, and to live for my child. I have lived for her. I live to-day
+for her and I will continue to live for her.'</p>
+
+<p>"'My disgrace killed my mother and ruined my father. I swore I would be
+an honest woman, and I sought employment to earn a living for my babe
+and myself, but every avenue was closed to me. I washed and scrubbed
+while I was able to teach music splendidly, but I could get no pupils. I
+made shirts for a pittance and daily refused, to me, fortunes for
+dishonor. I have gone hungry and almost naked to pay for my baby's
+board, but I was hunted down at last.</p>
+
+<p>"'One day, after many rebuffs in seeking employment, I went to the home
+of a sister of my child's father, and took the baby, told her who I was
+and asked her to help me to a chance to work. The good woman scarcely
+looked at me or the child; she said that had it not been for such as I,
+poor Charles would have been alive; his blood<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">177</a></span> was on my head; I ought
+to ask God to wash my blood-stained hands.</p>
+
+<p>"'I went away from that house with my mind made up what to do. I would
+put my child in honest hands, and chain myself to the stake to suffer
+everlasting damnation for her sweet sake.</p>
+
+<p>"'She is in the Mission San Antonio now, between three and four, a
+perfect little princess, she looks like me, and grows, oh, so lovely! If
+you could see her, you'd love her.</p>
+
+<p>"'I can't go to see her any more; she is old enough to remember. The
+last time I was there, she demanded a papa!</p>
+
+<p>"'I am making a great deal of money. Many of the rich men, whose Puritan
+wives and daughters refused me honest work, are squandering lots of
+their wealth in my houses. I am saving money, too; and propose, as soon
+as I can get a neat fortune together to go away to the ends of the
+earth, and have my little girl with me. I will raise her to know herself
+and to know mankind.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">178</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"'And what do you want me to do, madam?'</p>
+
+<p>"'I want you to be that child's guardian; the honest man through whom
+she will reach the outside of San Antonio and the world. Who will go
+between her and me until a happier time.'</p>
+
+<p>"'I am only a rough engineer; the child will be raised to consider
+herself well off, perhaps rich.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Adopt her. I will stay in the background; make her expenditures and
+her education what you like. I will trust you.'</p>
+
+<p>"'I can't do that.'</p>
+
+<p>"'You are single; your life is hard; I have money enough for us all. Let
+us go to the Sandwich islands, anywhere, and commence life anew. The
+little one will know no other father, and all inquiry will be stopped.'</p>
+
+<p>"'I couldn't think of it, my dear madam; it's too easy; it's like
+pulling jerkwater passenger&mdash;I like through freight.'</p>
+
+<p>"Well, John, to make a long story short, the interview ended about here,
+and several<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">179</a></span> more got to about the same place. There were a thousand
+things I could not help but admire in that woman, and I liked her better
+the more I knew her. But it wan't love; it was a sort of an admiration
+for her love of the child, and the nerve she displayed in its behalf.
+But I shrank from becoming her husband or companion, although I think
+she loved me, in the end, better than she ever did anybody.</p>
+
+<p>"However, I finally agreed to look after the little one, in case
+anything happened to the mother, and commenced then to send the money
+for her board and tuition, and the mother dropped out of all connection
+with the child or those having her in charge.</p>
+
+<p>"The mother made her pile and got out of the business, and at my
+suggestion went down near Los Angeles and bought a nice country place,
+to start respectable before she took the little one home. She left money
+in Carson, subject to my check, for the little girl, and things slid
+along for a year or so all smooth enough.</p>
+
+<p>"I was out on a snow-bucking expedition<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">180</a></span> one time the next winter,
+sleeping in cars, shanties or on the engine, and I soon found myself all
+bunged up with the worst dose of rheumatiz' you ever see. I had to get
+down to a lower altitude, and made for Sacramento in the spring. I paid
+the Mission a year in advance, and with less than a hundred dollars of
+my own, struck out, hoping to dodge the twists that were in my bones.</p>
+
+<p>"A hundred blind gaskets don't go far when you're sick, and the first
+thing I knew I was dead broke; couldn't pay my board, couldn't buy
+medicine, couldn't walk&mdash;nothing but think and suffer. I finally had to
+go to a hospital. Not one of the old gang ever came to see me. Old Gun
+was a dandy, when he was making&mdash;and spending&mdash;a couple hundred a month;
+the rest of the time he was supposed to be dead.</p>
+
+<p>"I might have died in the hospital, if fate hadn't decreed to send me
+relief. It suddenly dawned upon me that I was getting far better
+treatment than usual, had a special nurse, the best of food, flowers,
+etc., all labeled 'From the Boys.'"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">181</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I found out, after I was well enough to take a sun bath on the porch,
+that a woman had sent all my luxuries, and that her purse had been
+opened for my relief. I knew who it was at once, and was anxious to get
+well and at work, so as not to live on one who was only too glad to do
+everything for me.</p>
+
+<p>"A six months' wrastle with the twisters leaves a fellow stiff-jointed
+and oldish, and lying in bed takes the strength out of him. I took the
+notion to get out and go to work, one day, and walked down to the
+shops&mdash;I was carried back, chuck full of 'em again.</p>
+
+<p>"The doctor said I must go to Ojo Caliente, away down south, if I was to
+get well. John, if the Santa F&eacute; road had 'a been for sale for a cent
+then, I couldn't 'a bought a spike.</p>
+
+<p>"At about the height of my ill-luck, I got a letter from Mabel
+Verne&mdash;she had another name, but that don't matter&mdash;and she asked me
+again to come to her; to have a home, and care and devotion. It wasn't a
+love-sick letter, but it was one of them strong, tender, <i>fetching</i>
+letters. It was unselfish, it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">182</a></span> asked very little of me, and offered a
+good deal.</p>
+
+<p>"I thought over it all night, and decided at last to go. What better was
+I than this woman? Surely she was better educated, better bred. She had
+made one mistake, I had made many. She had no friends on earth; I didn't
+seem to have any, either. I hadn't had a letter from either of my
+married sisters for six or eight years, then. We could trust one
+another, and have an object in life in the education of the child. I'd
+be no worse off than I was, anyway.</p>
+
+<p>"The next morning I felt better. I got ready to leave, bid all my fellow
+flat-wheels good-by; and had a gig ordered to take me to the train&mdash;the
+doctor had given me two-hundred dollars a short time before&mdash;'from a
+lady friend.'</p>
+
+<p>"As I sat waiting for the hack, they brought me a letter from home&mdash;a
+big one, with a picture in it. It was from my youngest sister, and the
+picture was of her ten-year boy, named for me&mdash;such a happy, sunny
+little Swede face you never see. 'He always<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">183</a></span> talks of Uncle Oscar as a
+great and good man,' wrote Carrie, 'and says every day that he's going
+to do just like you. He will do nothing that we tell him Uncle Oscar
+would not like, and anything that he would. If you are as good as he
+thinks you are, you are sure of heaven.'</p>
+
+<p>"And I was even then going off to live with a woman who made a fortune
+out of Virginia City dance-houses. I had a sort of a remorseful chill,
+and before I really knew just where I was, I had got to Arizona, and
+from there to the Santa F&eacute; where you knew me.</p>
+
+<p>"I wrote my benefactress an honest letter, and told her why I had not
+come, and in a short time sent her the money she had put up for me; but
+it was returned again, and I sent it to the mission for my little girl.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, while I was with you there, I got a fare-thee-well letter, saying
+that when I got that Mabel Verne would be no more&mdash;same as dead&mdash;and
+that she had deposited forty thousand dollars in the Phoenix Bank for
+<i>your</i> little girl&mdash;<i>yours</i>, mind ye&mdash;and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">184</a></span> asked me to adopt her legally
+and tell her that her mother was dead.</p>
+
+<p>"John, I ain't heard of that woman from then until now. I thought she
+had got tired of waiting on me and got married, but I believe she is
+dead.</p>
+
+<p>"I went to California and adopted the baby&mdash;a daisy too&mdash;and I've
+honestly tried to be a father to her.</p>
+
+<p>"I got to making money in outside speculations, and had plenty; so I let
+her money accumulate at the Phoenix and paid her way myself.</p>
+
+<p>"About four years ago, I left the road for good; bought me a nice place
+just outside of Oakland, and settled down to take a little comfort.</p>
+
+<p>"Mabel, my daughter Mabel, for she called me papa, went to Germany,
+nearly three years ago, in charge of her music teacher, Sister Florence,
+to finish herself off. Ah, John, you ort to see her claw ivory! Before
+she went, she called me into the mission parlor, one day, and almost got
+me into a snap; she wanted me to tell her all about<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">185</a></span> her parents right
+then, and asked me if there wasn't some mystery about her birth, and the
+way she happened to be left in the mission all her life, her mother
+disappearing, and my adoption of her."</p>
+
+<p>"What did you tell her, Gun?" I asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, lied to her, of course, as any honorable man would have done. I
+told her that her father was an engineer and a friend of mine, and that
+he was killed in an accident before she was born&mdash;that was all plausible
+enough.</p>
+
+<p>"Then I told her that her mother was in poor health, and had died just
+before I had adopted her, and had left a will, giving her to me, and
+besides had left forty thousand dollars in the bank for her, when she
+married or became of age.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, John, cutting down short, she met a fellow over there, a New
+Yorker, that just seemed to think she was made a-purpose for him, and
+about a year ago he wrote and asked me for my daughter&mdash;just think of
+it! His petition was seconded by the baby herself, and recommended by
+Sister Florence.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">186</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"They came home six months ago, and the baby got ready for dress-parade;
+and I went down to New York and seen 'em off; but here's where old Fate
+gets in his work again. That rascal of an O. B. Sanderson&mdash;I didn't
+notice the name before&mdash;was my own nephew, the very young cuss whose
+picture kept me from marryin' the baby's mother! I never tumbled till I
+ran across his mother, she was my sister Carrie.</p>
+
+<p>"John, I don't care a continental cuss how good he was, the baby was
+good enough for him&mdash;too good&mdash;I just said nothing&mdash;and watched the
+signals. You ort to a seen me a-givin' the bride away! Then, when it was
+all over, and I was childless, I give my little girl a check for
+forty-seven thousand and a fraction; kissed her, and lit out for
+home&mdash;and here I am.</p>
+
+<p>"But I ain't satisfied now, and just as quick as I get back, I'm a-going
+running again; then, when I've got so old I can't see more'n a car
+length, I'm going to ask for a steam-pump to run. I'm a-going to die
+railroading."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">187</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Have you ever made any inquiries about the mother, Gun?" I asked.</p>
+
+<p>"No; not much; it's so long now, it ain't no use; I guess that her
+light's gone out."</p>
+
+<p>"What would you do, if she was to turn up?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I don't know; I guess I'd keep still and see what she done."</p>
+
+<p>"Suppose, Gun, that she showed up now; loved you more than ever for what
+you have done, and renewed her old proposal? You know it's leap year."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, old man, if an angel flew down out of the sky and give me a
+second-hand pair of wings just rebuilt, and ordered me to put 'em on and
+follow her, I guess I wouldn't refuse to go out. Time was, though, when
+I'd a-held out for new, gold-mounted ones, or nothing; but that won't
+come, John; but you just ort to a been to the consolidation; it was just
+simply&mdash;well, pulling the president's special would be just like hauling
+a gravel-train to it!"</p>
+
+<p>The train stopped suddenly here, and "Gun" said he was going ahead to
+get acquainted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">188</a></span> with the water-boiler, and I took out my note-book and
+jotted down a few points.</p>
+
+<p>After the train got into motion again, I was reading over my notes,
+when, without looking, I thought Gunderson had come back, and I moved
+along in the seat to give him room, but a black dress sat down beside
+me.</p>
+
+<p>We had been sitting with our backs to a curtain between the first berth
+and a state-room. The lady came from the state-room.</p>
+
+<p>"Pardon me, sir," she said, "I want to finish that story. I have heard
+it all; I am Sister Florence, music teacher to Mr. Gunderson's daughter;
+he does not know that I am on this train.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Gunderson did not tell you that the Phoenix bank failed some months
+ago, and that the fortune of his adopted child was lost. He never told
+her and she does not know it to-day&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"He said he paid her the full amount&mdash;" I interrupted.</p>
+
+<p>"Very true. He did; but he paid it out of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">189</a></span> his own pocket. Sold his
+farm; put up all his securities, and borrowed seven hundred dollars to
+make the sum complete. That is the reason he is going to run an engine
+again. He does not know that I am aware of this, so don't mention it to
+him."</p>
+
+<p>"Gun is a man," said I; "a great, big-hearted, true man."</p>
+
+<p>"He is a nobleman!" said the nun, arising and going back into the
+state-room.</p>
+
+<p>Half an hour later, Gunderson came back, took a seat beside me and
+commenced to talk.</p>
+
+<p>"Say, John, that's the hardest-riding old pelter I ever see, about three
+inches of slack between engine and tank, pounding like a stamp-mill
+and&mdash;" looking over his shoulder and then at me, "John, I could a swore
+there was some one standing right there, I <i>felt</i> 'em.</p>
+
+<p>"It seems to me they ort to keep up their engines here in pretty good
+shape. They've got bad water, and so much boiler work that they have to
+have new flues before the machinery gets worn much. But, Lord, they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">190</a></span>
+don't seem&mdash;" he looked over his shoulder again, quickly, then settled
+in his seat to resume, when a pair of hands covered Gun's eyes&mdash;the
+nun's hands.</p>
+
+<p>"Guess who it is, Gun," said I; and noticed that he was very pale.</p>
+
+<p>"It's Mabel," said he, putting up his hands and taking both of hers; "no
+one but her ever made me feel like that."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">191</a></span></p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="G" id="G"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">193</a></span>
+<h2>MORMON JOE, THE ROBBER</h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>I'm on intimate terms with one of the biggest robbers in this country.
+He's an expert at the business, but has now retired from active work.
+The fact of the matter is, Joe didn't know he was robbing, at the time
+he did it, but he got there, just the same, and come mighty nigh doing
+time in the penitentiary for it, too.</p>
+
+<p>Maybe I'd better commence at the beginning and tell you that I first
+knew Joe Hogg in '79, out at the front, on the Santa F&eacute;. Joe hailed from
+Salt Lake City, and had run on the Utah Central, which gave him the
+nickname of "Mormon Joe," a name he never resented being called, and to
+which he always answered. I never did really know whether he was a
+Mormon or not, and never cared; he was a good engineer, that's about all
+I cared for. Joe took good care of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">194</a></span> his engine, wore a clean shirt and
+behaved himself&mdash;which was doing more than the average engineer at the
+front did.</p>
+
+<p>I remember, one night, Jack McCabe&mdash;"Whisky Jack," we used to call
+him&mdash;made some mean remark about the Mormons in general and Joe in
+particular, and Joe replied: "I don't propose to defend the Mormon
+faith; it's as good as any, to my mind. I don't propose to judge or
+misjudge any man by his belief or absence of belief. All that I have got
+to say is, that the Mormon religion is a <i>practical</i> religion. They
+don't give starving women a tract, or tramps jobs on the stone-pile. The
+women get bread, and the tramps work for <i>pay</i>. Their faith is based on
+the Christian Bible, with a book added&mdash;guess they have as big a right
+to add or take away as some of the old kings had&mdash;bigamy is upheld by
+the Bible, but has been dead in Utah, for some years. It can't live for
+the young people are against it. In Utah the woman has all the rights a
+man has, votes, and is a <i>person</i>. (Since cut out of new constitution.)
+Before the Gentiles came<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">195</a></span> to Salt Lake, the Mormons had but <i>one</i>
+policeman, no jail, few saloons, no houses of prostitution&mdash;now the
+Gentile Christian has sway, and the town is full of them. I guess you
+could argue on the quality and quantity of rot-gut whisky a good
+engineer ought to drink, better than on theology, anyhow."</p>
+
+<p>I never heard any of the gang twit Joe about the Mormons again.</p>
+
+<p>I didn't take an awful sight of notice about Joe until I came in, one
+night, and the boys told me that Joe was arrested as an accomplice in
+the robbery of the Black Prince mine, in Constitution gulch.</p>
+
+<p>This Black Prince was a gold placer owned by two middle-aged Englishmen.
+They had a small stamp-mill, run by mule power; and a large number of
+sluice-boxes. They always worked alone, and said they were developing
+the mine. No one had any idea that they were taking out much dust, until
+the mill and sluice-boxes were burned one night, and the story came out
+that they had been robbed of more than thirty thousand dollars.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">196</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Each partner accused the other of the theft. Both were arrested, and
+detectives commenced to follow every clue.</p>
+
+<p>Joe's arrest fell like a thunder-clap among us. The Brotherhood men took
+it up right away, and I went to see Joe, that very night. It was said
+that Joe had visited the Black Prince, the day before, and had been seen
+carrying away a large package, the night before the robbery.</p>
+
+<p>Joe absolutely refused to say a word for or against himself.</p>
+
+<p>"The detectives got this scheme up and know what they are doing," said
+he; "I don't. When they get all through, you'll know how it'll come
+out."</p>
+
+<p>To all questions as to his guilt or innocence, to every query about the
+crime or his arrest, he replied alike, to friend or foe:</p>
+
+<p>"Ask the sheriff; he's doing this."</p>
+
+<p>He was in jail a long time, but nothing was proven against him and he
+was finally released.</p>
+
+<p>Neither of the Englishmen could fasten the crime on his partner, and
+they sold out<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">197</a></span> and drifted away, one going back to England and the other
+to Mexico.</p>
+
+<p>Joe ran awhile on the road again and then took a job as chief-engineer
+of a big stamp-mill in Arizona, and going there he was lost to myself
+and the men on the road, and finally the Black Prince robbery passed
+into history, and nothing remained but the tradition, a sort of a myth
+of the mountains, like Captain Kidd's treasures, the amount only being
+increased by time. I believe that the last time I heard the story, it
+was calmly stated that thirty million dollars was taken.</p>
+
+<p>When I was out West, last time, I got off the train at Santa F&eacute;, and
+when gunning through the baggage for my <i>kiester</i>, I saw a trunk,
+bearing on its end this legend:</p>
+
+<p>
+"MRS. JOS. HOGG."<br />
+</p>
+
+<p>While I was "gopping" at it, as they say down East, and wondering if it
+could be my Joe Hogg, a very nice-looking lady came in, leading a little
+girl, glanced along the lines<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">198</a></span> of trunks, put her hand on the one I was
+looking at, and said:</p>
+
+<p>"That's the one; yes; the little one. I want it checked to New York."</p>
+
+<p>Just then, a little fellow with whiskers on his chin and a twinkle in
+his eye came in and took charge of the trunk, the woman and the child,
+and with the little one's arms around his neck, bid them good-by, and
+got them into their seats in the sleeper.</p>
+
+<p>I watched this individual with a great deal of interest; he looked like
+my old friend, "Mormon Joe," only for the whiskers and the stockman
+clothes.</p>
+
+<p>Finally he jumped off the moving train, waved his hand and stood
+watching it out of sight, to catch the last glimpse of (to him) precious
+burden-bearer; he raised his hand to shade his eyes, and as he did so, I
+saw that it was minus one thumb, and I remembered that "Mormon Joe" left
+one of his under an engine up in Colorado&mdash;I was sure of him.</p>
+
+<p>There was a tear in his eye, as he turned to go away, so I stepped up to
+him and asked:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">199</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Any new wives wanted down your way, Elder?"</p>
+
+<p>He glanced up, half angry, looked me straight in the eye, and a smile
+started at the southeast corner of his phiz and ran around to his port
+ear.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, John, old man, I don't mind being <i>sealed</i> to one about your
+size, right now. I've just sent away the best one in the wide world. Old
+man, you're looking plump; by the Holy Joe Smith, a sight of you is good
+for sore eyes!"</p>
+
+<p>Well, we started, and&mdash;but there ain't no use in telling you all about
+it&mdash;I went home with Joe, went up a creek with a jaw-breaking Spanish
+name, for miles, to a very good cattle ranch, that was the property of
+"Mormon Joe."</p>
+
+<p>Joe only quit running some three or four years ago, and the ranch and
+its neat little home represented the savings of Joe Hogg's life.</p>
+
+<p>His wife and only child had just started for a visit to England where
+she was born.</p>
+
+<p>The next day we rode the range to see<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">200</a></span> Joe's cattle, and the next we
+started out for a little hunt. It was sitting by a jolly camp-fire, back
+in the hills of New Mexico, that "Mormon Joe" told me the true story of
+the robbery of the Black Prince mine and the romance of his life.</p>
+
+<p>Filling his cob pipe with cut-plug, Joe sat looking away over space
+toward our hobbled horses and then said:</p>
+
+<p>"Old man, I reckon you remember all about the Black Prince robbery. I
+don't forget you were the first man that came to the cooler to see me
+while I was doing time as a <i>suspect</i>. Well, coming right down to the
+point, <i>I had the dust all the time</i>! and the working out of the mystery
+would be rather interesting reading if it was written up, and, as you
+are such an accomplished liar, I wouldn't be surprised if you made it
+the base-line of one of them yarns of yourn&mdash;only, mind you, don't go
+too far with it, for it's as curious as a lie itself. I would not try to
+improve on it, if I was you. I'll tell it to you as it was.</p>
+
+<p>"About four days before the robbery, I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">201</a></span> was introduced to Rachel
+Rokesby, daughter of one of the partners in the Black Prince. I met her,
+in what seemed to be a casual way, at Mother Cameron's hash-foundry, but
+I found out, a long time afterward, that she had worked for two weeks to
+bring about the introduction.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know as you remember seeing her, but she was a quiet, retiring,
+well-educated, rosy-cheeked English girl&mdash;impressed you right away as
+being the pure, unrefined article, about twenty-two karat. She "chinned"
+me about an hour, that evening, and just cut a cameo of her pretty face
+right on my old heart.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, course I saw her home, and tried my best to be interesting, but
+if a fellow ever in his natural life becomes a double-barreled jackass,
+it's just immediately after he falls in love. Why, he ain't as
+interesting as the unlettered side of an ore-sack.</p>
+
+<p>"But we got on amazing well; the girl did most of the talking and along
+toward the last, mentioned that she was in great trouble&mdash;of course I
+wa'n't interested in that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">202</a></span> at all. I liked to have broken my neck in
+getting her to tell me at once if I couldn't do something to help her,
+say, for instance, move Raton mountain up agin Pike's Peak.</p>
+
+<p>"I went home that night, promising to call on her the next trip, not to
+let any one know I was coming, not to tell anybody I had been there, not
+for <i>worlds</i> to repeat or intimate what she told me, and she would tell
+me her trouble from start to finish, and then I could help her, if I
+wanted to. Well, I wanted to, <i>bad</i>.</p>
+
+<p>"I went up to the Rokesby's cabin, next trip in; it was dark, and as I
+went up the front walk, I heard the old gentleman going out the back,
+bound for the village 'diggin's.' I had it all to myself&mdash;the secret, I
+mean.</p>
+
+<p>"When I went in, I got about a forty-second squeeze of a neat little
+hand, and things did look so nice and clean and homelike that I had it
+on the end of my tongue to ask right then to camp in the place.</p>
+
+<p>"After a few commonplaces, she turned around and asked me if I still
+wanted to help her and would keep the secret, if I concluded<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">203</a></span> in the end
+to keep out of her troubles. You bet your life, old man, she didn't have
+to wait long for assurance&mdash;why I wouldn't'a waited a minute to have
+contracted to turn the Mississippi into the Mammoth Cave, if she had
+asked it.</p>
+
+<p>"'Well," says she, finally, "it is not generally known, in fact, isn't
+known at all, that the Black Prince is a paying placer, and that papa
+and Mr. Sanson have been taking out lots of gold for some time. They
+have over fifty pounds of gold-dust and nuggets hidden under the floor
+of the old mill.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Well,' says I, 'that hadn't ought to worry you so.'</p>
+
+<p>"'But that isn't all the story,' she continued; 'we have discovered a
+plot on the part of Mr. Sanson to rob papa of the gold and burn the mill
+and sluice-boxes, to hide the crime. You will find that every tough in
+town is his friend, because he buys whisky for them, and they all
+dislike papa. If he carried out his plan, we would have no redress
+whatever; all the justices in town can be bribed. The plan is to take
+the gold,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">204</a></span> burn the mill, and then accuse papa of the crime. Now, can't
+you help me to fool that old villain of a Sanson, and put papa's half of
+the money in a safe place?'</p>
+
+<p>"I thought quite a while before I answered; it seemed strange to me that
+the case should be as she stated, and I half feared I might be made a
+cat's-paw and get into trouble, but the girl looked at me so trustingly
+with her blue eyes and added:</p>
+
+<p>"'I am afraid that I am the cause of all the trouble, too. Papa and
+Sanson got along well until I refused to marry him; after that, the row
+began&mdash;I hate him. He said I would <i>have</i> to marry him before he was
+done with me&mdash;but I won't!'</p>
+
+<p>"'You bet you won't, darling,' says I, before I thought. 'Pardon me,
+Miss Rokesby, but if there is any marrying done around here, I want a
+hand in the game myself.'</p>
+
+<p>"She blushed deeply, looked at the toe of her shoe a minute, and said:</p>
+
+<p>"'I'm only eighteen, and am too young to think of marrying. Suppose we
+don't talk<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">205</a></span> of that until we get out of the present difficulties.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Sensible idea,' says I. 'But when we are out, suppose you and I have a
+talk on that subject.'</p>
+
+<p>"She looked at the toe of her shoe for a minute again, turned red and
+white around the gills, looked up at me, shyly at first, then fully and
+fairly, stretched out her hand and said:</p>
+
+<p>"'Yes; if you care to.'</p>
+
+<p>"Course, I didn't <i>care</i>, or nothing&mdash;no more than a man cares for his
+head.</p>
+
+<p>"I guess that was about a half engagement, anyhow, it's the only one we
+ever had. She said it would be ruinous to our plans if I was seen with
+her then or afterward; and agreed to leave a note at the house for me by
+next trip, telling me her plan&mdash;which she should talk over with her
+father.</p>
+
+<p>"A couple of days later I got in from a round trip and made a dive for
+the boarding-house.</p>
+
+<p>"'Any mail for me, mother?' I asked old Mrs. Cameron.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">206</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"'No, young man; I'm sorry to say there ain't'</p>
+
+<p>"'I was anxious to hear from home.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Too bad; but maybe it'll come to-morrow.'</p>
+
+<p>"I was up to fever heat, but could do nothing but wait. I went to bed
+late, and, raising up my pillow to put my watch under it, I found a
+note; it read:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"'Midnight, July 17.</p>
+
+<p>"<span class="smcap">'Dear Joe</span>:</p>
+
+<p>"'Just thought of that rule for changing counter-balance you
+wanted. There has always been a miscalculation about the weight of
+counter-balance; they are universally <i>too heavy</i>. The weights are
+in pieces; take out two <i>pieces</i>; this treatment would even improve
+a mule sweep. When once out, pieces should be changed or placed
+where careless or malicious persons cannot get hold of them and
+replace them. All is well; hope you are the same; will see you some
+time soon.</p>
+
+<p>"'<span class="smcap">Jack.</span>'</p></div>
+
+<p>"Here was apparently a fool letter from one young railroader to another,
+but I knew<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">207</a></span> well enough that it was from Rachel and meant something.</p>
+
+<p>"I noticed that it was dated the <i>next night</i>; then I commenced to see,
+and in a few minutes my instructions were plain. The old five-stamp mill
+was driven by a mule, who wandered aimlessly around a never-ending
+circle at the end of a long, wooden sweep; this pole extended past the
+post of the mill a few feet, and had on the short end a box of stones as
+a counter-weight. I would find two packages of gold there at midnight of
+July 17.</p>
+
+<p>"I was running one of those old Pittsburgh hogs then, and she had to
+have her throttle ground the next day, but it was more than likely that
+she would be ready to go out at 8:30 on her turn; but I arranged to have
+it happen that the stand-pipe yoke should be broken in putting it up, so
+that another engine would have to be fired up, and I would lay in.</p>
+
+<p>"I told stories in the roundhouse until nearly ten o'clock that fateful
+night, and then started for the hash-foundry, dodged into a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">208</a></span> lumber
+yard, got onto the rough ground back of town and made a wide detour
+toward Constitution Gulch, the Black Prince and the mule-sweep. I crept
+up to the washed ground through some brush and laid down in a path to
+wait for midnight. I felt a full-fledged sneak-thief, but I thought of
+Rachel and didn't care if I was one or not, so long as she was
+satisfied.</p>
+
+<p>"I looked often at my watch in the moonlight, and at twelve o'clock
+everything was as still as death. I could hear my own heart beat against
+my ribs as I sneaked up to that counter-balanced sweep. I got there
+without accident or incident, found two packages done up in canvas with
+tarred-string handles; they were heavy but small, and in ten minutes I
+had them alone with me among the stumps and stones on the little <i>mesa</i>
+back of town.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll never forget how I felt there in the dark with all that money that
+wasn't mine, and if some one had have said 'boo' from behind a stump, I
+should have probably dropped the boodle and taken to the brush.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">209</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"As I approached the town, I realized that I could never get through it
+to the boarding-house or the roundhouse with those two bundles that
+<i>looked like country sausages</i>. I studied awhile on it and finally put
+them under an old scraper beside the road, and went without them to the
+shops. I got from my seat-box a clean pair of overalls and jacket and
+came back without being seen.</p>
+
+<p>"I wrapped one of the packages up in these and boldly stepped out into
+the glare of the electric lights&mdash;I remember I thought the town too
+darned enterprising.</p>
+
+<p>"One of the first men I met was the marshal, Jack Kelly. He was reported
+to be a Pinkerton man, and was mistrusted by some of the men, but tried
+to be friendly and 'stand in' with all of us. He slapped me on the back
+and nearly scared the wits out of me. He insisted on treating me, and I
+went into a saloon and 'took something' with him, in fear and trembling.
+The package was heavy, but I must carry it lightly under my arm, as if
+it were only overclothes.</p>
+
+<p>"I treated in return, and had it charged,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">210</a></span> because I dare not attempt to
+get my right hand into my pocket. Jack was disposed to talk, and I
+feared he was just playing with me like a cat does with a mouse, but I
+finally got off and deposited my precious burden in my seat-box, under
+lock and key&mdash;then I sneaked back for the second haul. I met Jack and a
+policeman, on my next trip, and he exclaimed:</p>
+
+<p>"'Why, ain't you gone out yet?' and started off, telling the roundsman
+to keep the bunkos off me up to the shop. <i>I thought then I was caught</i>,
+but I was not, and the bluecoat bid me a pleasant good-night, at the
+shop yard.</p>
+
+<p>"When I got near my engine, I was surprised to see Barney Murry, the
+night machinist, with his torch up on the cab&mdash;he was putting in the
+newly-ground throttle.</p>
+
+<p>"Just before I had decided to emerge from the shadow of the next engine,
+Barney commenced to yell for his helper, Dick, to come and help him on
+with the dome-cover.</p>
+
+<p>"Dick came with a sandwich in one hand and a can of coffee in the other.
+This reminded<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">211</a></span> Barney of his lunch, and setting his torch down on the
+top of the cab, he scrambled down on the other side and hurried off to
+the sand-dryer, where the gang used to eat their dyspepsia insurance and
+swap lies.</p>
+
+<p>"After listening a moment, to be sure I was alone, I stepped lightly to
+the cab, and in a minute the two heavy and dangerous packages were side
+by side again.</p>
+
+<p>"But just here an inspiration struck me. I opened the front door of the
+cab, stepped out on the running-board, and a second later was holding
+Barney's smoking torch down in the dome.</p>
+
+<p>"The throttle occupied most of the space, but there was considerable
+room each side of it and a good two feet between the top of the boiler
+shell and the top row of flues. I took one of the bags of gold, held it
+down at arm's length, swung it backward and forward a time or two, and
+let go, so as to drop it well ahead on the flues: the second bag
+followed at once, and again I held down the light to see if the bags
+were out of sight; satisfied on this point, I got down, took my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">212</a></span> clothes
+under my arm, and jumped off the engine into the arms of the night
+foreman."</p>
+
+<p>"'What did you call me for? That engine is not ready to go out on the
+extra,' I demanded, off-hand.</p>
+
+<p>"'I ain't called you; you're dreaming.'</p>
+
+<p>"'May be I am,' said I, 'but I would 'a swore some one came and called
+under my window that I got out at 2:10, on a stock-train, extra.'</p>
+
+<p>"Just then, Barney and Dick came back, and I soon had the satisfaction
+of seeing the cover screwed down on my secret and a fire built under
+it&mdash;then I went home and slept.</p>
+
+<p>"I guess it was four round trips that I made with the old pelter, before
+Kelly put this and that together, and decided to put me where the dogs
+wouldn't bite me.</p>
+
+<p>"I appeared as calm as I could, and set the example since followed by
+politicians, that of 'dignified silence.' Kelly tried to work one of the
+'fellow convict' rackets on me, but I made no confessions. I soon became
+a martyr, in the eyes of the women of the town. You boys got to talking
+of backing up a suit<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">213</a></span> for false imprisonment; election was coming on and
+the sheriff and county judge were getting uneasy, and the district
+attorney was awfully unhappy, so they let me out.</p>
+
+<p>"Nixon, the sheriff, pumped me slyly, to see what effect my imprisonment
+would have on future operations, and I told him I didn't propose to lose
+any time over it, and agreed to drop the matter for a little nest-egg
+equal to the highest pay received by any engineer on the road. Pat
+Dailey was the worst hog for overtime, and I selected his pay as the
+standard and took big money,&mdash;from the campaign funds. I wasn't afraid
+of re-arrest;&mdash;I had 'em for bribery.</p>
+
+<p>"Whilst I was in hock, I had cold chills every time I heard the 313's
+whistle, for fear they would wash her out and find the dust; but she
+gave up nothing.</p>
+
+<p>"When I reported for work, the old scrap was out on construction and
+they were disposed to put me on another mill, pulling varnished cars,
+but I told the old man I was under the weather and 'crummy,' and that
+put him in a good humor; and I was sent out to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">214</a></span> a desolate siding, and
+once again took charge, of the steam 'fence,' for the robber of the
+Black Prince mine.</p>
+
+<p>"On Sunday, by a little maneuvering, I managed to get the crew to go off
+on a trout-fishing expedition, and under pretext of grinding-in her
+chronically leaky throttle, I took off her dome-cover and looked in;
+there was nothing in sight.</p>
+
+<p>"I was afraid that the cooking of two months or more had destroyed the
+canvas bags; then again the heavy deposit of scale might have cemented
+the bags to the flues. In either case, rough handling would send the
+dust to the bottom of the boiler, making it difficult if not impossible
+to recover; and worse yet, manifest itself sometime and give me dead
+away.</p>
+
+<p>"I concluded to go at the matter right, and after two hours of hard
+work, managed to get the upright throttle-pipe out of the dome. I drew
+her water down below the flue-line, and though it was tolerably warm, I
+got in.</p>
+
+<p>"Both of my surmises were partially correct; the canvas was rotted, in a
+measure,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">215</a></span> and the bags were fastened to the flues. The dust had been put
+up in buckskin bags, first, and these had been put into shot-sacks; the
+buckskin was shrunken but intact. I took a good look around, before I
+dared take the treasure into the sunlight; but the coast was clear, and
+inside of an hour they were locked in my clothes-box, and the cover was
+on the kettle again and I was pumping her up by hand.</p>
+
+<p>"I was afraid something would happen to me or the engine, so I buried
+the packages in a bunch of willows near the track.</p>
+
+<p>"It must have been two weeks after this that a mover's wagon stopped
+near the creek within half a mile of the track, and hobbled horses soon
+began to 'rustle' grass, and the smoke of a camp-fire hunted the clouds.</p>
+
+<p>"We saw this sort of thing often, and I didn't any more than glance at
+it; but after supper I sauntered down by the engine, smoking and
+thinking of Rachel Rokesby, when I noticed a woman walking towards me,
+pail in hand.</p>
+
+<p>"She had on a sunbonnet that hid her face<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">216</a></span> and she got within ten feet
+of me before she spoke&mdash;she asked for a pail of drinking-water from the
+tank&mdash;the creek was muddy from a recent rain.</p>
+
+<p>"Just as soon as she spoke, I knew it was Rachel, but I controlled
+myself, for others were within hearing. I walked with her to the engine
+and got the water; I purposely drew the pail full, which she promptly
+spilled, and I offered to carry it for her.</p>
+
+<p>"The crew watched us walk away and I heard some of them mention 'mash,'
+but I didn't care, I wanted a word with my girl.</p>
+
+<p>"When we were out of earshot, she asked without looking up:</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, old coolness, are you all right?'</p>
+
+<p>"'You bet! darling.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Papa has sold out his half and we are going away for good. I think if
+we get rid of the dust without trouble, we may go to England. Just as
+soon as all is safe, you shall hear from me; can't you trust me, Joe?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Yes, Rachel, darling; now and forever.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Where's the gold?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Within one hundred feet of you, in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">217</a></span> those willows; when it is dark, I
+will go and get it and put it on that stump by the big tree; go then and
+get it. But where will you put it?'</p>
+
+<p>"'I'm going to pack it in the bottom of a jar of butter.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Good idea, little girl! I think you'd make a good thief yourself.
+How's my friend, Sanson?'</p>
+
+<p>"'He's gone to Mexico; says yet that papa robbed him, but he knows as
+well as you or I that all his bluster was because he only found <i>half</i>
+that he expected; I pride myself on getting ahead of a wicked man once,
+thanks to our hero, by the name of Hogg.'</p>
+
+<p>"It was getting dusk and we were out of sight, so I sat down the pail
+and asked:</p>
+
+<p>"'Do I get a kiss, this evening?'</p>
+
+<p>"'If you want one.'</p>
+
+<p>"'There's only one thing I want worse.'</p>
+
+<p>"'What is that, Joe?'</p>
+
+<p>"My arm was around her waist now, and the sunbonnet was shoved back from
+the face. I took a couple of cream-puffs where they were ripe, and
+answered:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">218</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"That message to come and have that talk about matrimony.'</p>
+
+<p>"Here a man's voice was heard calling: 'Rachel! Rachel!' and throwing
+her arms around my neck, she gave me one more kiss, snatched up her pail
+and answered:</p>
+
+<p>"'Yes; I'm coming.'</p>
+
+<p>"Then to me, hurriedly:</p>
+
+<p>"'Good-by, dear; wait patiently, you shall hear from me.'</p>
+
+<p>"I went back and put the dangerous dust on the stump and returned to the
+bunk-car. The next morning when I turned out, the outlines of the wagon
+were dimly discernible away on a hill in the road; it had been gone an
+hour.</p>
+
+<p>"I walked down past my stump&mdash;the gold was gone.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, John, I settled down to work and to wait for that precious letter
+that would summon me to the side of Rachel Rokesby, wherever she was;
+but it never came. Uncle Sam never delivered a line to me from her from
+that day to this."</p>
+
+<p>Joe kicked the burning sticks in our fire<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">219</a></span> closer together, lit his pipe
+and then proceeded:</p>
+
+<p>"I was hopeful for a month or two; then got impatient, and finally got
+angry, but it ended in despair. A year passed away before I commenced to
+<i>hunt</i>, instead of waiting to be hunted; but after another year I gave
+it up, and came to the belief that Rachel was dead or married to
+another. But the very minute that such a treasonable thought flashed
+through my mind, my heart held up the image of her pure face and rebuked
+me.</p>
+
+<p>"I was discharged finally, for forgetting orders&mdash;I was thinking of
+something else&mdash;then I commenced to pull myself together and determined
+to control myself. I held the job in Arizona almost a year, but the mill
+company busted; then I drifted down on to the Mexican National, when it
+was building, and got a job. A few months later, it came to my ears that
+one of our engineers, Billy Gardiner, was in one of their damnable
+prisons, for running over a Greaser, and I organized a relief
+expedition. I called on Gardiner, and talked over his trouble fully;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">220</a></span> he
+was in a loathsome dobie hole, full of vermin, and dark. As I sat
+talking to him, I noticed an old man, chained to the wall in a little
+entry on the other side of the room. His beard was grizzly white, long
+and tangled. He was hollow-cheeked and wild-eyed, and looked at me in a
+strange, fascinated way.</p>
+
+<p>"'What's he in for,' I whispered to Gardiner.</p>
+
+<p>"'Murdered his partner in a mining camp. Got caught in the act. He don't
+know it yet, but he's condemned to be shot next Friday&mdash;to-morrow. Poor
+devil, he's half crazy, anyhow.'</p>
+
+<p>"As I got up to go, the old man made a sharp hiss, and as I turned to
+look at him, he beckoned with his finger. I took a step or two nearer,
+and he asked, in an audible whisper:</p>
+
+<p>"'Mr. Hogg, don't you know me?'</p>
+
+<p>"I looked at him long and critically, and then said:</p>
+
+<p>"'No; I never saw you before.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Yes; that's so,' said he; 'but I have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">221</a></span> seen you, many times. You
+remember the Black Prince robbery?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Yes, indeed; then you are Sanson?'</p>
+
+<p>"'No; Rokesby.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Rokesby! My God, man, where's Rachel?'</p>
+
+<p>"'I thought so,' he muttered. 'Well, she's in England, but I'm here.'</p>
+
+<p>"'What part of England?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Sit down on that box, Mr. Hogg, and I will tell you something.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Is she married?' I asked eagerly.</p>
+
+<p>"'No, lad, she ain't, and what's more, she won't be till she marries
+you, so be easy there.'</p>
+
+<p>"Just here a pompous Mexican official strode in, stepped up in front of
+the old man and read something in Spanish.</p>
+
+<p>"'What in hell did he say?' asked the prisoner of Gardiner.</p>
+
+<p>"'Something about sentence, pardner.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, it's time they was doing something; did he say when it was?'</p>
+
+<p>"'To-morrow.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Good enough; I'm dead sick o' this.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">222</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"'Can't I do anything for you, Mr. Rokesby&mdash;for Rachel's sake?'</p>
+
+<p>"'No&mdash;yes, you can, too, young man; you can grant me a pardon for a
+worse crime nor murder, if you will&mdash;for&mdash;for Rachel's sake."</p>
+
+<p>"'It's granted then.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Good! that gives me heart. Now, Mr. Hogg, to business, it was me that
+robbed the Black Prince mine. I took every last cent there was, and I
+used you and Rachel to do the work for me and take the blame if caught.
+Sanson was honest enough, I fired the mill myself.</p>
+
+<p>"'It was me that sent Rachel to you; I admired your face, as you rode by
+the claim every day on your engine. I knew you had nerve. If you and
+Rachel hadn't fallen in love with one another, I'd 'a lost though; but I
+won.</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, I took the money I got for the claim and sent Rachel back to her
+mother's sister, in England. You may not know, but she is not my
+daughter; she thinks she is, though. Her parents died when she was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">223</a></span>
+small, and I provided for her. I'm her half-uncle. I got avaricious in
+my old age, and went into a number of questionable schemes.</p>
+
+<p>"'After leaving New Mexico, I worked the dust off, a little at a time,
+an' wasted the money&mdash;but never mind that.</p>
+
+<p>"'It was just before she got aboard the ship that Rachel sent me a
+letter containing another to you, to be sent when all was right&mdash;I've
+carried it ever since&mdash;somehow or other I was afraid it would drop a
+clew to send it at first, and after it got a year old, I didn't think of
+it much.'</p>
+
+<p>"He fumbled around inside of his dirty flannel shirt for a minute, and
+soon fished up a letter almost as black as the shirt, and holding it up,
+said:</p>
+
+<p>"'That's it.'</p>
+
+<p>"'I had the envelope off in a second, and read:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"<span class="smcap">'Dear Joseph</span>:</p>
+
+<p>"'I am going to my aunt, Mrs. Julia Bradshaw, 15 Harrow Lane,
+Leicester, England. If you do not change your mind, I will be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">224</a></span>
+happy to talk over our affairs whenever you are ready. I shall be
+waiting.</p>
+
+<p>"<span class="smcap">'Rachel'</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p>"I turned and bolted toward a door, when Gardiner yelled:</p>
+
+<p>"'Where are you going?'</p>
+
+<p>"'To England,' said I.</p>
+
+<p>"'This door, then, sir,' said a Mexican.</p>
+
+<p>"I came back to the old man.</p>
+
+<p>"'Rokesby,' said I, 'you have cut ten years off my life, but I forgive
+you; good-by.'</p>
+
+<p>"'One thing more, Mr. Hogg; don't tell 'em at home how I went&mdash;nothing
+about this last deal.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, all right; but I'll tell Rachel, if we marry and come to
+America.'</p>
+
+<p>"'I've got lots of honest relations, and my old mother still lives, in
+her eighties.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, not till after she goes, unless to save Rachel in some way.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Good-by, Mr. Hogg, God bless you! and&mdash;and, little Rachel.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Good-by, Mr. Rokesby.'</p>
+
+<p>"The next day I left Mexico for God's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">225</a></span> country, and inside of ten days
+was on a Cunarder, eastward bound. I reached England in proper time; I
+found the proper pen in the proper train, and was deposited in the
+proper town, directed to the proper house, and street, and number, and
+had pulled out about four yards of wire attached to the proper bell.</p>
+
+<p>"A kindly-faced old lady looked at me over her spectacles, and I asked:</p>
+
+<p>"'Does Mrs. Julia Bradshaw live here?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Yes, sir; that's me.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Have you a young lady here named Rachel R&mdash;'</p>
+
+<p>"The old lady didn't wait for me to finish the name, she just turned her
+head fifteen degrees, put her open hand up beside her mouth, and shouted
+upstairs:</p>
+
+<p>"'Rachel! Rachel! Come down here, quick! Here's your young man from
+America!'"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">226</a></span></p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="H" id="H"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">229</a></span>
+<h2>A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S TRIP</h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>It is all of twenty years now since the little incident happened that I
+am going to tell you about. After the strike of '77, I went into exile
+in the wild and woolly West, mostly in "bleeding Kansas," but often in
+Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona&mdash;the Santa F&eacute; goes almost everywhere
+in the Southwest.</p>
+
+<p>One night in August I was dropping an old Baldwin consolidator down a
+long Mexican grade, after having helped a stock train over the division
+by double-heading. It was close and hot on this sage-brush waste,
+something not unusual at night in high altitudes, and the heat and sheet
+lightning around the horizon warned me that there was to be one of those
+short, fierce storms that come but once or twice a year in these
+latitudes, and which are known as cloudbursts.</p>
+
+<p>The alkali plains, or deserts, as they are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">230</a></span> often erroneously called,
+are great stretches of adobe soil, known as "dobie" by the natives. This
+soil is a yellowish brown, or perhaps more of a gray color, and as fine
+as flour. Water plays sad havoc with it, if the soil lies so as to
+oppose the flow, and it moves like dust before a slight stream. On the
+flat, hard-baked plains, the water makes no impression, but on a
+railroad grade, be it ever so slight, the tendency is to dig pitfalls. I
+have seen a little stream of water, just enough to fill the ditches on
+each side of the track, take out all the dirt, and keep the ties and
+track afloat until the water was gone, then drop them into a hole eight
+or ten feet deep, or if the washout was short, leave them suspended,
+looking safe and sound, to lure some poor engineer and his mate to
+death.</p>
+
+<p>Another peculiarity of these storms is that they come quickly, rage
+furiously for a few minutes, and are gone, and their lines are sharply
+defined. It is not uncommon to find a lot of water, or a washout,
+within a mile<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">231</a></span> of land so dry that it looks as if it had never seen a
+drop of water.</p>
+
+<p>All this land is fertile when it can be brought under irrigating ditches
+and watered, but here it lies out almost like a desert. It is sparsely
+inhabited along the little streams by a straggling off-shoot of the
+Mexican race; yet once in a while a fine place is to be seen, like an
+oasis in the Sahara, the home of some old Spanish Don, with thousands of
+cattle or sheep ranging on the plains, or perhaps the headquarters of
+some enterprising cattle company. But these places were few and far
+between at the time of which I write; the stations were mere passing
+places, long side-tracks, with perhaps a stock-yard and section house
+once in a while, but generally without buildings or even switch lights.</p>
+
+<p>Noting the approach of the storm, I let the heavy engine drop the
+faster, hoping to reach a certain sidetrack, over twenty miles away,
+where there was a telegraph operator, and learn from him the condition
+of the road. But the storm was faster than any consolidator<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">232</a></span> that
+Baldwins ever built, and as the lightning suddenly ceased and the air
+became heavy, hot, and absolutely motionless, I realized that we would
+have the storm full upon us in a few moments. I had nothing to meet for
+more than thirty miles, and there was nothing behind me; so I stopped,
+turned the headlight up, and hung my white signal lamps down below the
+buffer-beams each side of the pilot&mdash;this to enable me to see the ends
+of the ties and the ditch.</p>
+
+<p>Billy Howell, my fireman, and a good one, hastily went over the
+boiler-jacket with signal oil, to prevent rust; we donned our gum coats;
+I dropped a little oil on the "Mary Ann's" gudgeon's, and we proceeded
+on our way without a word. On these big consolidators you cannot see
+well ahead, past the big boiler, from the cab, and I always ran with my
+head out of the side window. Both of us took this position now, standing
+up ready for anything; but we bowled safely along for one mile&mdash;two
+miles, through the awful hush. Then, as sudden as a flash of light,
+"boom!" went a peal of thunder as sharp<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">233</a></span> and clear as a signal gun.
+There was a flash of light along the rails, the surface of the desert
+seemed to break out here and there with little fitful jets of
+greenish-blue flame, and from every side came the answering reports from
+the batteries of heaven, like sister gunboats answering a salute. The
+rain fell in torrents, yes, in sheets. I have never, before or since,
+seen such a grand and fantastic display of fireworks, nor heard such
+rivalry of cannonade. I stopped my engine, and looked with awe and
+interest at this angry fit of nature, watched the balls of fire play
+along the ground, and realized for the first time what a sight was an
+electric storm.</p>
+
+<p>As the storm commenced at the signal of a mighty peal of thunder, so it
+ended as suddenly at the same signal; the rain changed in an instant
+from a torrent to a gentle shower, the lightning went out, the batteries
+ceased their firing, the breeze commenced to blow gently, the air was
+purified. Again we heard the signal peal of thunder, but it seemed a
+great way off, as if the piece was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">234</a></span> hurrying away to a more urgent
+quarter. The gentle shower ceased, the black clouds were torn asunder
+overhead; invisible hands seemed to snatch a gray veil of fleecy clouds
+from the face of the harvest moon, and it shone out as clear and serene
+as before the storm. The ditches on each side of the track were half
+full of water, ties were floating along in them, but the track seemed
+safe and sound, and we proceeded cautiously on our way. Within two miles
+the road turned to the West, and here we found the water in the ditches
+running through dry soil, carrying dead grass and twigs of sage upon its
+surface; we passed the head of the flood, tumbling along through the dry
+ditches as dirty as it well could be, and fast soaking into the soil;
+and then we passed beyond the line of the storm entirely.</p>
+
+<p>Billy put up his seat and filled his pipe, and I sat down and absorbed a
+sandwich as I urged my engine ahead to make up for lost time; we took up
+our routine of work just where we had left it, and&mdash;life was the same
+old song. It was past midnight now, and as I never did a great deal of
+talking on an engine, I settled down to watching the rails ahead, and
+wondering if the knuckle-joints would pound the rods off the pins before
+we got to the end of the division.</p>
+
+<div class='figcenter' style='width: 236px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="illus-005" id="illus-005"></a>
+<img src='images/p1-236.jpg' alt='"&#39;Mexican,&#39; said I."' title='' width = '236' height = '539'/><br />
+<span class='caption'>"'Mexican,' said I."</span>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">235</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Billy, with his eyes on the track ahead, was smoking his second pipe and
+humming a tune, and the "Mary Ann" was making about forty miles an hour,
+but doing more rolling and pitching and jumping up and down than an
+eight-wheeler would at sixty. All at once I discerned something away
+down the track where the rails seemed to meet. The moon had gone behind
+a cloud, and the headlight gave a better view and penetrated further.
+Billy saw it, too, for he took his pipe out of his mouth, and with his
+eyes still upon it, said laconically, as was his wont: "Cow."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said I, closing the throttle and dropping the lever ahead.</p>
+
+<p>"Man," said Billy, as the shape seemed to assume a perpendicular
+position.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said I, reaching for the three-way cock, and applying the tender
+brake, without thinking what I did.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">236</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Woman," said Billy, as the shape was seen to wear skirts, or at least
+drapery.</p>
+
+<p>"Mexican," said I, as I noted the mantilla over the head. We were fast
+nearing the object.</p>
+
+<p>"No," said Billy, "too well built."</p>
+
+<p>I don't know what he judged by; we could not see the face, for it was
+turned away from us; but the form was plainly that of a comely woman.
+She stood between the rails with her arms stretched out like a cross,
+her white gown fitting her figure closely. A black, shawl-like mantilla
+was over the head, partly concealing her face; her right foot was upon
+the left-hand rail. She stood perfectly still. We were within fifty feet
+of her, and our speed was reduced to half, when Billy said sharply:
+"Hold her, John&mdash;for God's sake!"</p>
+
+<p>But I had the "Mary Ann" in the back motion before the words left his
+mouth, and was choking her on sand. Billy leaned upon the boiler-head
+and pulled the whistle-cord, but the white figure did not move. I shut
+my eyes as we passed the spot where she had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">237</a></span> stood. We got stopped a rod
+or two beyond. I took the white light in the tank and sprang to the
+ground. Billy lit the torch, and followed me with haste. The form still
+stood upon the track just where we had first seen it; but it faced us
+and the arms were folded. I confess to hurrying slowly until Billy
+caught up with the torch, which he held over his head.</p>
+
+<p>"Good evening, se&ntilde;ors," said the apparition, in very sweet English, just
+tinged with the Castilian accent, but she spoke as if nearly exhausted.</p>
+
+<p>"Good gracious," said I, "whatever brought you away out here, and hadn't
+you just as lief shoot a man as scare him to death?"</p>
+
+<p>She laughed very sweetly, and said: "The washout brought me just here,
+and I fancy it was lucky for you&mdash;both of you."</p>
+
+<p>"Washout?" said I. "Where?"</p>
+
+<p>"At the dry bridge beyond."</p>
+
+<p>Well, to make a long story short, we took her on the engine&mdash;she was wet
+through&mdash;and went on to the dry bridge. This was a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">238</a></span> little wooden
+structure in a sag, about a mile away, and we found that the storm we
+had encountered farther back had done bad work at each end of the
+bridge. We did not cross that night, but after placing signals well
+behind us and ahead of the washout, we waited until morning, the three
+of us sitting in the cab of the "Mary Ann," chatting as if we were old
+acquaintances.</p>
+
+<p>This young girl, whose fortunes had been so strangely cast with ours,
+was the daughter of Se&ntilde;or Juan Arboles, a rich old Spanish Don who owned
+a fine place and immense herds of sheep over on the Rio Pecos, some ten
+miles west of the road. She was being educated in some Catholic school
+or convent at Trinidad, and had the evening before alighted at the big
+corrals, a few miles below, where she was met by one of her father's
+Mexican rancheros, who led her saddle broncho. They had started on their
+fifteen-mile ride in the cool of the evening, and following the road
+back for a few miles were just striking off toward the distant hedge of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">239</a></span>
+cotton woods that lined the little stream by her home when the storm
+came upon them.</p>
+
+<p>There was a lone pine tree hardly larger than a bush about a half-mile
+from the track, and riding to this, the girl, whose name was Josephine,
+had dismounted to seek its scant protection, while the herder tried to
+hold the frightened horses. As peal on peal of thunder resounded and the
+electric lights of nature played tag over the plain, the horses became
+more and more unmanageable and at last stampeded, with old Paz muttering
+Mexican curses and chasing after them wildly.</p>
+
+<p>After the storm passed, Josephine waited in vain for Paz and the
+bronchos, and then debated whether she should walk toward her home or
+back to the corrals. In either direction the distance was long, and the
+adobe soil is very tenacious when wet, and the wayfarer needs great
+strength to carry the load it imposes on the feet. As she stood there,
+thinking what it was best to do, a sound came to her ears from the
+direction of the timber and home, which she recognized in an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">240</a></span> instant,
+and without waiting to debate further, she turned and ran with all her
+strength, not toward her home, but away from it. Across the waste of
+stunted sage she sped, the cool breeze upon her face, every muscle
+strained to its utmost. Nearer and nearer came the sound; the deep,
+regular bay of the timber wolf. These animals are large and fierce; they
+do not go in packs, like the smaller and more cowardly breeds of wolves,
+but in pairs, or, at most, six together. A pair of them will attack a
+man even when he is mounted, and lucky is he if he is well armed and
+cool enough to despatch one before it fastens its fangs in his horse's
+throat or his own thigh.</p>
+
+<p>As the brave girl ran, she cast about for some means of escape or place
+of refuge. She decided to run to the railroad track and climb a
+telegraph pole&mdash;a feat which, owing to her free life on the ranch, she
+was perfectly capable of. Once up the pole, she could rest on the
+cross-tree, in perfect safety from the wolves, and she would be sure to
+be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">241</a></span> seen and rescued by the first train that came along after daybreak.</p>
+
+<p>She approached the track over perfectly dry ground. To reach the
+telegraph poles, she sprang nimbly into the ditch; and as she did so,
+she saw a stream of water coming rapidly toward her&mdash;it was the front of
+the flood. The ditch on the opposite side of the track, which she must
+also cross to reach the line of poles, she found already full-flooded.
+She decided to run up the track, between the walls of water. This would
+put a ten-foot stream between her and her pursuers, and change her
+course enough, she hoped, to throw them off the scent. In this design
+she was partly successful, for the bay of the wolves showed that they
+were going to the track as she had gone, instead of cutting straight
+across toward her. Thus she gained considerable time. She reached the
+little arroyo spanned by the dry bridge; it was like a mill-pond, and
+the track was afloat. She ran across the bridge; she scarcely slackened
+speed, although the ties rocked and moved on the spike-heads holding
+them to the rails.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">242</a></span></p>
+
+<p>She hoped for a moment that the wolves would not venture to follow her
+over such a way; but their hideous voices were still in her ear and came
+nearer and nearer. Then there came to her, faintly, another, a strange,
+metallic sound. What was it? Where was it? She ran on tiptoe a few paces
+in order to hear it better; it was in the rails&mdash;the vibration of a
+train in motion. Then there came into view a light&mdash;a headlight; but it
+was so far away, so very far, and that awful baying so close! The "Mary
+Ann," however, was fleeter of foot than the wolves; the light grew big
+and bright and the sound of working machinery came to the girl on the
+breeze.</p>
+
+<p>Would they stop for her? Could she make them see her? Then she thought
+of the bridge. It was death for them as well as for her&mdash;they <i>must</i> see
+her. She resolved to stay on the track until they whistled her off; but
+now the light seemed to come so slow. A splash at her side caused her to
+turn her head, and there, a dozen feet away, were her pursuers, their
+tongues out, their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">243</a></span> eyes shining like balls of fire. They were just
+entering the water to come across to her. They fascinated her by their
+very fierceness. Forgetting where she was for the instant, she stared
+dumbly at them until called to life and action by a scream from the
+locomotive's whistle. Then she sprang from the track just in the nick of
+time. She actually laughed as she saw two grayish-white wolf-tails bob
+here and there among the sage brush, as the wolves took flight at sight
+of the engine.</p>
+
+<p>This was the story she told as she dried her garments before the furnace
+door, and I confess to holding this cool, self-reliant girl in high
+admiration. She never once thought of fainting; but along toward morning
+she did say that she was scared then at thinking of it.</p>
+
+<p>Early in the morning a party of herders, with Josephine's father ahead,
+rode into sight. They were hunting for her. Josephine got up on the
+tender to attract their attention, and soon she was in her father's
+arms. Her frightened pony had gone home<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">244</a></span> as fast as his legs would carry
+him, and a relief party swam their horses at the ford and rode forward
+at once.</p>
+
+<p>The old Don was profuse in his thanks, and would not leave us until
+Billy and I had agreed to visit his ranch and enjoy a hunt with him, and
+actually set a date when we should meet him at the big corral. I wanted
+a rest anyway, and it was perfectly plain that Billy was beyond his
+depth in love with the girl at first sight; so we were not hard to
+persuade when she added her voice to her father's.</p>
+
+<p>Early in September Billy and I dropped off No. 1 with our guns and
+"plunder," as baggage is called there, and a couple of the old Don's men
+met us with saddle and pack animals. I never spent a pleasanter two
+weeks in my life. The quiet, almost gloomy, old Don and I became fast
+friends, and the hunting was good. The Don was a Spaniard, but
+Josephine's mother had been a Mexican woman, and one noted for her
+beauty. She had been dead some years at the time of our visit. Billy
+devoted most of his time to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">245</a></span> girl. They were a fine looking young
+couple, he being strong and broad-shouldered, with laughing blue eyes
+and light curly hair, she slender and perfect in outline, with a typical
+Southern complexion, black eyes&mdash;and such eyes they were&mdash;and hair and
+eyebrows like the raven's wing.</p>
+
+<p>A few days before Billy and I were booked to resume our duties on the
+deck of the "Mary Ann," Miss Josephine took my arm and walked me down
+the yard and pumped me quietly about "Mr. Howell," as she called Billy.
+She went into details a little, and I answered all questions as best I
+could. All I said was in the young man's favor&mdash;it could not, in truth,
+be otherwise. Josephine seemed satisfied and pleased.</p>
+
+<p>When we got back to headquarters, I was given the care of a cold-water
+Hinkley, with a row of varnished cars behind her, and Billy fell heir to
+the rudder of the "Mary Ann." We still roomed together. Billy put in
+most of his lay-over time writing long letters to somebody, and every
+Thursday, as regular as a clock, one came for him, with a censor's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">246</a></span> mark
+on it. Often after reading the letter, Billy would say: "That girl has
+more horse sense than the rest of the whole female race&mdash;she don't slop
+over worth a cent." He invariably spoke of her as "my Mexican girl," and
+often asked my opinion about white men intermarrying with that mongrel
+race. Sometimes he said that his mother would go crazy if he married a
+Mexican, his father would disown him, and his brother Henry&mdash;well, Billy
+did not like to think just what revenge Henry would take. Billy's father
+was manager of an Eastern road, and his brother was assistant to the
+first vice-president, and Billy looked up to the latter as a great man
+and a sage. He himself was in the West for practical experience in the
+machinery department, and to get rid of a slight tendency to asthma. He
+could have gone East any time and "been somebody" on the road under his
+father.</p>
+
+<p>Finally, Billy missed a week in writing. At once there was a cog gone
+from the answering wheel to match. Billy shortened his letters; the
+answers were shortened.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">247</a></span> Then he quit writing, and his Thursday letter
+ceased to come. He had thought the matter all over, and decided, no
+doubt, that he was doing what was best&mdash;both for himself and the girl;
+that his family's high ideas should not be outraged by a Mexican
+marriage. He had put a piece of flesh-colored court-plaster over his
+wound, not healed it.</p>
+
+<p>Early in the winter the old Don wrote, urging us to come down and hunt
+antelope, but Billy declined to go&mdash;said that the road needed him, and
+that Josephine might come home from school and this would make them both
+uncomfortable. But Henry, his older brother, was visiting him, and he
+suggested that I take Henry; he would enjoy the hunt, and it would help
+him drown his sorrow over the loss of his aristocratic young wife, who
+had died a year or two before. So Henry went with me, and we hunted
+antelope until we tired of the slaughter. Then the old Don planned a
+deer-hunting trip in the mountains, but I had to go back to work, and
+left Henry and the old Don to take the trip without me. While they were
+in the mountains,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">248</a></span> Josephine came home, and Henry Howell's stay
+lengthened out to a month. But I did not know until long afterward that
+the two had met.</p>
+
+<p>Billy was pretty quiet all winter, worked hard and went out but
+little&mdash;he was thinking about something. One day I came home and found
+him writing a letter. "What now, Billy?" I asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Writing to my Mexican girl," said he.</p>
+
+<p>"I thought you had got over that a long time ago?"</p>
+
+<p>"So did I, but I hadn't. I've been trying to please somebody else
+besides myself in this matter, and I'm done. I'm going to work for Bill
+now."</p>
+
+<p>"Take an old man's advice, Billy, and don't write that girl a line&mdash;go
+and see her."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I can fix it all right by letter, and then run down there and see
+her."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't do it."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll risk it."</p>
+
+<p>A week later Billy and I sat on the veranda of the company's
+hash-foundry, figuring up our time and smoking our cob meerschaums,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">249</a></span>
+when one of the boys who had been to the office, placed two letters in
+Billy's hands. One of them was directed in the handwriting that used to
+be on the old Thursday letters. Billy tore it open eagerly&mdash;and his own
+letter to Josephine dropped into his hand. Billy looked at the ground
+steadily for five minutes, and I pretended not to have seen. Finally he
+said, half to himself: "You were right, I ought to have gone myself&mdash;but
+I'll go now, go to-morrow." Then he opened the other letter.</p>
+
+<p>He read its single page with manifest interest, and when his eyes
+reached the last line they went straight on, and looked at the ground,
+and continued to do so for fully five minutes. Without looking up, he
+said: "John, I want you to do me two favors."</p>
+
+<p>"All right," said I.</p>
+
+<p>Still keeping his eyes on the ground, he said, slowly, as if measuring
+everything well: "I'm going up and draw my time, and will leave for Old
+Mexico on No. 4 to-night. I want you to write to both these parties and
+tell them that I have gone there and that you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">250</a></span> have forwarded both these
+letters. Don't tell 'em that I went after reading 'em."</p>
+
+<p>"And the other favor, Billy?"</p>
+
+<p>"Read this letter, and see me off to-night."</p>
+
+<p>The letter read:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"Philadelphia, May 1, 1879.</p>
+
+<p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Brother Will</span>: I want you and Mr. A. to go down to Don Juan
+Arboles's by the first of June. I will be there then. You must be
+my best man, as I stand up to marry the sweetest, dearest
+wild-flower of a woman that ever bloomed in a land of beauty. Don't
+fail me. Josephine will like you for my sake, and you will love her
+for your brother.</p>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Henry</span>."</p></div>
+
+<p>Most engineers' lives are busy ones and full of accident and incident,
+and having my full share of both, I had almost forgotten all these
+points about Billy Howell and his Mexican girl, when they were all
+recalled by a letter from Billy himself. With his letter was a
+photograph of a family group&mdash;a be-whiskered man of thirty-five, a
+good-looking woman of twenty, but undoubtedly a Mexican,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">251</a></span> and a
+curly-headed baby, perhaps a year old. The letter ran:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"City of Mexico, July 21, 1890.</p>
+
+<p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Old John</span>: I had lost you, and thought that perhaps you had
+gone over to the majority, until I saw your name and recognized
+your quill in a story. Write to me; am doing well. I send you a
+photograph of all there are of the Howell outfit. <i>No half-breeds
+for your uncle this time.</i></p>
+</div>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="J" id="J"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">255</a></span>
+<h2>THE POLAR ZONE</h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>Very few of my friends know me for a seafaring man, but I sailed the
+salt seas, man and boy, for nine months and eighteen days, and I know
+just as much about sailing the hereinbefore mentioned salt seas as I
+ever want to.</p>
+
+<p>Ever so long ago, when I was young and tender, I used to have fits of
+wanting to go into business for myself. Along about the front edge of
+the seventies, pay for "toting" people and truck over the eastern
+railroads of New England was not of sufficient plenitude to worry a man
+as to how he would invest his pay check&mdash;it was usually invested before
+he got it. One of my periodical fits of wanting to go into business for
+myself came on suddenly one day, when I got home and found another baby
+in the house. I was right in the very worst spasms of it when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">256</a></span> my
+brother Enoch, whom I hadn't seen for seventeen years, walked in on me.</p>
+
+<p>Enoch was fool enough to run away to sea when he was twelve years old&mdash;I
+suppose he was afraid he would get the chance to do something besides
+whaling. We were born down New Bedford way, where another boy and myself
+were the only two fellows in the district, for over forty years, who
+didn't go hunting whales, icebergs, foul smells, and scurvy, up in King
+Frost's bailiwick, just south of the Pole.</p>
+
+<p>Enoch had been captain and part owner of a Pacific whaler; she had
+recently burned at Honolulu, and he was back home now to buy a new ship.
+He had heard that I, his little brother John, was the best locomotive
+engineer in the whole world, and had come to see me&mdash;partly on account
+of relationship, but more to get my advice about buying a steam
+whaling-ship. Enoch knew more about whales and ships and such things
+than you could put down in a book, but he had no more idea <i>how</i> steam
+propelled a ship than I had what a "skivvie tricer" was.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">257</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Well, before the week was out, Enoch showed me that he was pretty well
+fixed in a financial way, and as he had no kin but me that he cared
+about, he offered me an interest in his new steam whaler, if I would go
+as chief engineer with her to the North Pacific.</p>
+
+<p>The terms were liberal and the chance a good one, so it seemed, and
+after a good many consultations, my wife agreed to let me go for <i>one</i>
+cruise. She asked about the stops to be made in going around the Horn,
+and figured mentally a little after each place was named&mdash;I believe now,
+she half expected that I would desert the ship and walk home from one of
+these spots, and was figuring on the time it would take me.</p>
+
+<p>When the robins were building their nests, the new steam whaler,
+"Champion," left New Bedford for parts unknown (<i>via</i> the Horn), with
+the sea-sickest chief engineer that ever smelt fish oil. The steam plant
+wasn't very much&mdash;two boilers and a plain twenty-eight by thirty-six
+double engine, and any amount of hoisting rigs, blubber<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">258</a></span> boilers, and
+other paraphernalia. We refitted in San Francisco, and on a clear summer
+morning turned the white-painted figurehead of the "Champion" toward the
+north and stood out for Behring sea. But, while we lay at the mouth of
+the Yukon river, up in Alaska, getting ready for a sally into the realm
+of water above the Straits, a whaler, bound for San Francisco and home,
+dropped anchor near us, the homesickness struck in on me, and&mdash;never
+mind the details now&mdash;your Uncle John came home without any whales, and
+was mighty glad to get on the extra list of the old road.</p>
+
+<p>The story I want to tell, however, is another man's story, and it was
+while lying in the Yukon that I heard it. I was deeply impressed with it
+at the time, and meant to give it to the world as soon as I got home,
+for I set it all down plain then, but I lost my diary, and half forgot
+the story&mdash;who wouldn't forget a story when he had to make two hundred
+and ten miles a day on a locomotive and had five children at home? But
+now, after twenty years, my wife turns up<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">259</a></span> that old diary in the garret
+this spring while house-cleaning. Fred had it and an old Fourth-of-July
+cannon put away in an ancient valise, as a boy will treasure up useless
+things.</p>
+
+<p>Under the head of October 12th, I find this entry:</p>
+
+<p>"At anchor in Yukon river, weather fair, recent heavy rains; set out
+packing and filed main-rod brasses of both engines. Settled with Enoch
+to go home on first ship bound south. Demented white man brought on
+board by Indians, put in my cabin."</p>
+
+<p>In the next day's record there appears the following: "Watched beside
+sick man all night; in intervals of sanity he tells a strange story,
+which I will write down to-day."</p>
+
+<p>The 14th has the following:</p>
+
+<p>"Wrote out story of stranger. See the back of this book."</p>
+
+<p>And at the back of the book, written on paper cut from an old log of the
+"Champion," is the story that now, more than twenty-five years later, I
+tell you here:</p>
+
+<p>On the evening of the 12th, I went on deck<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">260</a></span> to smoke and think of home,
+after a hard day's work getting the engines in shape for a siege. The
+ship was very quiet, half the crew being ashore, and some of the rest
+having gone in the boat with Captain Enoch to the "Enchantress,"
+homeward bound and lying about half a mile below us. I am glad to say
+that Enoch's principal business aboard the "Enchantress" is to get me
+passage to San Francisco. I despise this kind of dreariness&mdash;rather be
+in state prison near the folks.</p>
+
+<p>I sat on the rail, just abaft the stack, watching some natives handle
+their big canoes, when a smaller one came alongside. I noticed that one
+of the occupants lay at full length in the frail craft, but paid little
+attention until the canoe touched our side. Then the bundle of skins and
+Indian clothes bounded up, almost screamed, "At last!" made a spring at
+the stays, missed them, and fell with a loud splash into the water.</p>
+
+<p>The Indians rescued him at once, and in a few seconds he lay like one
+dead on the deck. I saw at a glance that the stranger in Indian clothes
+was a white man and an American.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">261</a></span></p>
+
+<p>A pretty stiff dram of liquor brought him to slightly. He opened his
+eyes, looked up at the rigging, and closing his eyes, he murmured:
+"Thank God!&mdash;'Frisco&mdash;Polaria!"</p>
+
+<p>I had him undressed and put into my berth. He was shaking as with an
+ague, and when his clothes were off we plainly saw the reason&mdash;he was a
+skeleton, starving. I went on deck at once to make some inquiry of the
+Indians about our strange visitor, but their boat was just disappearing
+in the twilight.</p>
+
+<p>The man gained strength, as we gave him nourishment in small, frequent
+doses, and talked in a disjointed way of everything under the sun. I sat
+with him all night. Toward morning he seemed to sleep longer at a time,
+and in the afternoon of yesterday fell into a deep slumber, from which
+he did not waken for nearly twenty hours.</p>
+
+<p>When he did waken, he took nourishment in larger quantities, and then
+went off into another long sleep. The look of pain on his face lessened,
+a healthy glow appeared on his cheek, and he slept so soundly that I
+turned in&mdash;on the floor.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">262</a></span></p>
+
+<p>I was awake along in the small hours of the morning, and heard my
+patient stirring, so I got up and drew the little curtain over the
+bulls-eye port&mdash;it was already daylight. I gave him a drink and a
+biscuit, and told him I would go to the cook's galley and get him some
+broth, but he begged to wait until breakfast time&mdash;said he felt
+refreshed, and would just nibble a sea biscuit. Then he ate a dozen in
+as many minutes.</p>
+
+<p>"Did you take care of my pack?" he said eagerly, throwing his legs out
+of the berth, and looking wildly at me.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, it's all right; lie down and rest," said I; for I thought that to
+cross him would set him off his head again.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you know that dirty old pack contains more treasures than the mines
+of Africa?"</p>
+
+<p>"It don't look it," I answered, and laughed to get him in a pleasant
+frame of mind&mdash;for I hadn't seen nor heard of his pack.</p>
+
+<p>"Not for the little gold and other valuable things, but the proofs of a
+discovery as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">263</a></span> great as Columbus made, the discovery of a new continent,
+a new people, a new language, a new civilization, and riches beyond the
+dreams of a Solomon&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>He shut his eyes for a minute, and then continued: "But beyond
+Purgatory, through Death, and the other side of Hell&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>Just here Enoch came in to inquire after his health, and sat down for a
+minute's chat. Enoch is first, last, and all the time captain of a
+whaler; he knows about whales and whale-hunters just as an engineer on
+the road knows every speck of scenery along the line, every man, and
+every engine. Enoch couldn't talk ten minutes without being "reminded"
+of an incident in his whaling life; couldn't meet a whaleman without
+"yarning" about the whale business. He lit his pipe and asked: "Been
+whaling, or hunting the North Pole?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, both."</p>
+
+<p>"What ship?"</p>
+
+<p>"The 'Duncan McDonald.'"</p>
+
+<p>"The&mdash;the 'McDonald!'&mdash;why, man, we counted her lost these five years;
+tell me<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">264</a></span> about her, quick. Old Chuck Burrows was a particular friend of
+mine&mdash;where is he?"</p>
+
+<p>"Captain, Father Burrows and the 'Duncan McDonald' have both gone over
+the unknown ocean to the port of missing ships."</p>
+
+<p>"Sunk?"</p>
+
+<p>"Aye, and crushed to atoms in a frozen hell."</p>
+
+<p>Enoch looked out of the little window for a long time, forgot his pipe,
+and at last wiped a tear out of his eye, saying, as much to himself as
+to us: "George Burrows made me first mate of the first ship he ever
+sailed. She was named for his mother, and we left her in the ice away up
+about the seventy-third parallel. He was made of the salt of the
+earth&mdash;a sailor and a nobleman. But he was a dare-devil&mdash;didn't know
+fear&mdash;and was always venturing where none of the rest of us would dare
+go. He bought the 'McDonald,' remodeled and refitted her after he got
+back from the war&mdash;she was more than a whaler, and I had a feeling that
+she would carry Burrows and his crew away forever&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>Eight bells rung just here, and Enoch left<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">265</a></span> us, first ordering breakfast
+for the stranger, and saying he would come back to hear the rest after
+breakfast.</p>
+
+<p>As I was going out, a sailor came to the door with a flat package,
+perhaps six inches thick and twelve or fourteen square, covered with a
+dirty piece of skin made from the intestines of a whale, which is used
+by the natives of this clime because it is light and water-proof.</p>
+
+<p>"We found this in a coil of rope, sir; it must belong to him. It must be
+mostly lead."</p>
+
+<p>It was heavy, and I set it inside the door, remarking that here was his
+precious pack.</p>
+
+<p>"Precious! aye, aye, sir; precious don't describe it. Sacred, that's the
+word. That package will cause more excitement in the world than the
+discovery of gold in California. This is the first time it's been out of
+my sight or feeling for months and months; put it in the bunk here,
+please."</p>
+
+<p>I went away, leaving him with his arms around his "sacred" package.</p>
+
+<p>After breakfast, Enoch and I went to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">266</a></span> little cabin to hear the
+stranger's story, and I, for one, confess to a great deal of curiosity.
+Our visitor was swallowing his last bowl of coffee as we went in. "So
+you knew Captain Burrows and the 'Duncan McDonald,'" said he. "Let me
+see, what is your name?"</p>
+
+<p>"Alexander, captain of the 'Champion,' at your service, sir."</p>
+
+<p>"Alexander; you're not the first mate, Enoch Alexander, who sat on a
+dead whale all night, holding on to a lance staff, after losing your
+boat and crew?"</p>
+
+<p>"The same."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, I've heard Captain Burrows speak of you a thousand times."</p>
+
+<p>"But you were going to tell us about the 'Duncan McDonald.' Tell us the
+whole cruise from stem to stern."</p>
+
+<p>"Let's see, where shall I begin?"</p>
+
+<p>"At the very beginning," I put in.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, perhaps you've noticed, and perhaps you have not, but I'm not a
+sailor by inclination or experience. I accidentally went<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">267</a></span> out on the
+'Duncan McDonald.' How old would you take me to be?"</p>
+
+<p>"Fifty or fifty-five," said Enoch.</p>
+
+<p>"Thanks, captain, I know I must look all of that; but, let me see,
+forty-five, fifty-five, sixty-five, seventy&mdash;seventy&mdash;what year is
+this?"</p>
+
+<p>"Seventy-three."</p>
+
+<p>"Seventy-three. Well, I'm only twenty-eight now."</p>
+
+<p>"Impossible! Why, man, you're as gray as I am, and I'm twice that."</p>
+
+<p>"I was born in forty-five, just the same. My father was a sea captain in
+the old clipper days, and a long time after. He was in the West India
+trade when the war broke out, and as he had been educated in the navy,
+enlisted at once. It was on one of the gunboats before Vicksburg that he
+was killed. My mother came of a well-to-do family of merchants, the
+Clarks of Boston, and&mdash;to make a long story short&mdash;died in sixty-six,
+leaving me considerable money.</p>
+
+<p>"An itching to travel, plenty of money, my majority, and no ties at
+home, sent me<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">268</a></span> away from college to roam, and so one spring morning in
+sixty-seven found me sitting lazily in the stern of a little pleasure
+boat off Fort Point in the Golden Gate, listlessly watching a steam
+whaler come in from the Pacific. My boatman called my attention to her,
+remarking that she was spick-and-span new, and the biggest one he ever
+saw, but I took very little notice of the ship until in tacking across
+her wake, I noticed her name in gold letters across the stern&mdash;'Duncan
+McDonald.' Now that is my own name, and was my father's; and try as I
+would, I could not account for this name as a coincidence, common as the
+name might be in the highlands of the home of my ancestors; and before
+the staunch little steamer had gotten a mile away, I ordered the boat to
+follow her. I intended to go aboard and learn, if possible, something of
+how her name originated.</p>
+
+<p>"As she swung at anchor, off Goat island, I ran my little boat alongside
+of her and asked for a rope. 'Rope?' inquired a Yankee sailor, sticking
+his nose and a clay pipe<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">269</a></span> overboard; 'might you be wantin' to come
+aboard?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Yes, I want to see the captain.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, the cap'en's jest gone ashore; his dingy is yonder now, enemost
+to the landin'. You come out this evenin'. The cap'en's particular about
+strangers, but he's always to home of an evenin'.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Who's this boat named after?'</p>
+
+<p>"'The Lord knows, stranger; I don't. But I reckon the cap'en ken tell;
+he built her.'</p>
+
+<p>"I left word that I would call in the evening, and at eight o'clock was
+alongside again. This time I was assisted on board and shown to the door
+of the captain's cabin; the sailor knocked and went away. It was a full
+minute, I stood there before the knock was answered, and then from the
+inside, in a voice like the roar of a bull, came the call: 'Well, come
+in!'</p>
+
+<p>"I opened the door on a scene I shall never forget. A bright light swung
+from the beams above, and under it sat a giant of the sea&mdash;Captain
+Burrows. He had the index finger of his right hand resting near the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">270</a></span>
+North Pole of an immense globe; there were many books about, rolls of
+charts, firearms; instruments, clothing, and apparent disorder
+everywhere. The cabin was large, well-furnished, and had something
+striking about it. I looked around in wonder, without saying a word.
+Captain Burrows was the finest-looking man I ever saw&mdash;six feet three,
+straight, muscular, with a pleasant face; but the keenest, steadiest
+blue eye you ever saw. His hair was white, but his long flowing beard
+had much of the original yellow. He must have been sixty. But for all
+the pleasant face and kindly eye, you would notice through his beard the
+broad, square chin that proclaim the decision and staying qualities of
+the man."</p>
+
+<p>"That's George Burrows, stranger, to the queen's taste&mdash;just as good as
+a degerry-type," broke in Enoch.</p>
+
+<p>"Well," continued the stranger, "he let me look for a minute or two, and
+then said: 'Was it anything particular?'</p>
+
+<p>"I found my tongue then, and answered; 'I hope you'll excuse me, sir;
+but I must confess<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">271</a></span> it is curiosity. I came on board out of curiosity
+to&mdash;'</p>
+
+<p>"'Reporter, hey?' asked the captain.</p>
+
+<p>"'No, sir; the fact is that your ship has an unusual name, one that
+interests me, and I wish to make so bold as to ask how she came to have
+it.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Any patent on the name?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Oh, no, but I&mdash;'</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, young man, this ship&mdash;by the way, the finest whaler that was
+ever stuck together&mdash;is named for a friend of mine; just such a man as
+she is a ship&mdash;the best of them all.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Was he a sailor?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Aye, aye, sir, and such a sailor. Fight! why, man, fighting was meat
+and drink to him&mdash;'</p>
+
+<p>"'Was he a whaler?'</p>
+
+<p>"'No, he wa'n't; but he was the best man I ever knew who wa'n't a
+whaler. He was a navy sailor, he was, and a whole ten-pound battery by
+hisself. Why, you jest ort to see him waltz his old tin-clad gun-boat up
+agin one of them reb forts&mdash;jest naturally skeered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">272</a></span> 'em half to death
+before he commenced shooting at all.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Wasn't he killed at the attack on Vicksburg?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Yes, yes; you knowed him didn't you? He was a&mdash;'</p>
+
+<p>"'He was my father.'</p>
+
+<p>"'What? Your father?' yelled Captain Burrows, jumping up and grasping
+both my hands. 'Of course he was; darn my lubberly wit that I couldn't
+see that before!' Then he hugged me as if I was a ten-year-old girl, and
+danced around me like a maniac.</p>
+
+<p>"'By all the gods at once, if this don't seem like Providence&mdash;yes, sir,
+old man Providence himself! What are you a-doin'? When did you come out
+here? Where be you goin', anyway?'</p>
+
+<p>"I found my breath, and told him briefly how I was situated. 'Old man
+Providence has got his hand on the tiller of this craft or I'm a
+grampus! Say! do you know I was wishin' and waitin' for you? Yes, sir;
+no more than yesterday, says I to myself, Chuck Burrows, says I, you are
+gettin' long too fur<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">273</a></span> to the wind'ard o' sixty fur this here trip all to
+yourself. You ort to have young blood in this here enterprise; and then
+I just clubbed myself for being a lubber and not getting married young
+and havin' raised a son that I could trust. Yes, sir, jest nat'rally
+cussed myself from stem to stern, and never onct thought as mebbe my old
+messmate, Duncan McDonald, might 'a'done suthin' for his country afore
+that day at Vicks&mdash;say! I want to give you half this ship. Mabee I'll do
+the square thing and give you the whole of the tub yet. All I want is
+for you to go along with me on a voyage of discovery&mdash;be my helper,
+secretary, partner, friend&mdash;anything. What de ye say? Say!' he yelled
+again, before I could answer, 'tell ye what I'll do! Bless me if&mdash;if I
+don't adopt ye; that's what I'll do. Call me pop from this out, and I'll
+call you son. <i>Son!</i>' he shouted, bringing his fist down with a bang on
+the table. '<i>Son!</i> that's the stuff! By the bald-headed Abraham, who
+says Chuck Burrows ain't got no kin? The "Duncan McDonald," Burrows &amp;
+Son, owners,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">274</a></span> captain, chief cook, and blubber cooker. And who the hell
+says they ain't?'</p>
+
+<p>"And the old captain glared around as if he defied anybody and everybody
+to question the validity of the claims so excitedly made.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, gentlemen, of course there was much else said and done, but that
+announcement stood; and to the day of his death I always called the
+captain Father Burrows, and he called me 'son,' always addressing me so
+when alone, as well as when in the company of others. I went every day
+to the ship, or accompanied Father Burrows on some errand into the city,
+while the boat was being refitted and prepared for a three-years'
+cruise.</p>
+
+<p>"Every day the captain let me more and more into his plans, told me
+interesting things of the North, and explained his theory of the way to
+reach the Pole, and what could be found there; which fascinated me.
+Captain Burrows had spent years in the North, had noted that
+particularly open seasons occurred in what appeared cycles of a given
+number of years, and proposed to go<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">275</a></span> above the eightieth parallel and
+wait for an open season. That, according to his figuring, would occur
+the following year.</p>
+
+<p>"I was young, vigorous, and of a venturesome spirit, and entered into
+every detail with a zest that captured the heart of the old sailor. My
+education helped him greatly, and new books and instruments were added
+to our store for use on the trip. The crew knew only that we were going
+on a three-years' cruise. They had no share in the profits, but were
+paid extra big wages in gold, and were expected to go to out-of-the-way
+places and further north than usual. Captain Burrows and myself only
+knew that there was a brand-new twenty-foot silk flag rolled up in
+oil-skin in the cabin, and that Father Burrows had declared: 'By the
+hoary-headed Nebblekenizer, I'll put them stars and stripes on new land,
+and mighty near to the Pole, or start a butt a-trying.'</p>
+
+<p>"In due course of time we were all ready, and the 'Duncan McDonald'
+passed out of the Golden Gate into the broad Pacific, drew her fires,
+and stopped her engines, reserving<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">276</a></span> this force for a more urgent time.
+She spread her ample canvas, and stood away toward Alaska and the
+unknown and undiscovered beyond.</p>
+
+<p>"The days were not long for me, for they were full of study and
+anticipation. Long chats with the eccentric but masterful man whose
+friendship and love for my father had brought us together were the
+entertainment and stimulus of my existence&mdash;a man who knew nothing of
+science, except that he was master of it in his own way; who knew all
+about navigation, and to whom the northern seas were as familiar as the
+contour of Boston Common was to me; who had more stories of whaling than
+you could find in print, and better ones than can ever be printed.</p>
+
+<p>"I learned first to respect, then to admire, and finally to love this
+old salt. How many times he told me of my father's death, and how and
+when he had risked his life to save the life of Father Burrows or some
+of the rest of his men. As the days grew into weeks, and the weeks into
+months, Captain Burrows and myself became as one man.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">277</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I shall never forget the first Sunday at sea. Early in the morning I
+heard the captain order the boatswain to pipe all hands to prayers. I
+had noticed nothing of a religious nature in the man, and, full of
+curiosity, went on deck with the rest. Captain Burrows took off his hat
+at the foot of the mainmast, and said:</p>
+
+<p>"'My men, this is the first Sunday we have all met together; and as some
+of you are not familiar with the religious services on board the 'Duncan
+McDonald,' I will state that, as you may have noticed, I asked no man
+about his belief when I employed him&mdash;I hired you to simply work this
+ship, not to worship God&mdash;but on Sundays it is our custom to meet here
+in friendship, man to man, Protestant and Catholic, Mohammedan,
+Buddhist, Fire-worshiper, and pagan, and look into our own hearts,
+worshiping God as we know him, each in his own way. If any man has
+committed any offense against his God, let him make such reparation as
+he thinks will appease that God; but if any man has committed an
+offense<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">278</a></span> against his fellow-man, let him settle with that man now and
+here, and not worry God with the details. Religion is goodness and
+justice and honesty; no man needs a sky-pilot to lay a course for him,
+for he alone knows where the channel, and the rocks, and the bar of his
+own heart are&mdash;look into your hearts.'</p>
+
+<p>"Captain Burrows stood with his hat in his hand, and bowed as if in
+prayer, and all the old tars bowed as reverently as if the most eloquent
+divine was exhorting an unseen power in their behalf. The new men
+followed the example of the old. It was just three minutes by the
+wheel-house clock before the captain straightened up and said 'Amen,'
+and the men turned away about their tasks.</p>
+
+<p>"'Beats mumblin' your words out of a book, like a Britisher,' said the
+captain to me; 'can't offend no man's religion, and helps every one on
+'em.'</p>
+
+<p>"Long months after, I attended a burial service conducted in the same
+way&mdash;in silence.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">279</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"In due course of time we anchored in Norton Sound, and spent the rest
+of the winter there; and in the spring of sixty-eight, we worked our way
+north through the ice. We passed the seventy-fifth parallel of latitude
+on July 4th. During the summer we took a number of whales, storing away
+as much oil as the captain thought necessary, as he only wanted it for
+fuel and our needs, intending to take none home to sell unless we were
+unsuccessful in the line of discovery&mdash;in that event he intended to stay
+until he had a full cargo."</p>
+
+<p>Here our entertainer gave out, and had to rest; and while resting he
+went to sleep, so that he did not take up his story until the next day.</p>
+
+<p>In the morning our guest expressed a desire to be taken on deck; and,
+dressed in warm sailor clothes, he rested his hand on my shoulder, and
+slowly crawled on deck and to a sheltered corner beside the captain's
+cabin. Here he was bundled up; and again Enoch and I sat down to listen
+to the strange story of the wanderer.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">280</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I hope it won't annoy you, gentlemen," said he, "but I can't settle
+down without my pack; I find myself thinking of its safety. Would you
+mind sending down for it?"</p>
+
+<p>It was brought up, and set down beside him; he looked at it lovingly,
+slipped the rude strap-loop over his arm, and seemed ready to take up
+his story where he left off. He began:</p>
+
+<p>"I don't remember whether I told you or not, but one of the objects of
+Captain Burrows's trip was to settle something definite about the
+location of the magnetic pole, and other magnetic problems, and
+determine the cause of some of the well-known distortions of the
+magnetic needle. He had some odd, perhaps crude, instruments, of his own
+design, which he had caused to be constructed for this purpose, and we
+found them very efficient devices in the end. Late in July, we found
+much open water, and steamed steadily in a northwesterly course. We
+would find a great field of icebergs, then miles of floe, and then again
+open water.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">281</a></span> The aurora was seen every evening, but it seemed pale and
+white.</p>
+
+<p>"Captain Burrows brought the 'Duncan McDonald's' head around to the west
+in open water, one fine day in early August, and cruised slowly; taking
+a great many observations, and hunting, as he told me, for floating
+ice&mdash;he was hunting for a current. For several days we kept in the open
+water, but close to the ice, until one morning the captain ordered the
+ship to stand due north across the open sea.</p>
+
+<p>"He called me into his cabin, and with a large map of the polar regions
+on his table, to which he often referred, he said: 'Son, I've been
+hunting for a current; there's plenty of 'em in the Arctic ocean, but
+the one I want ain't loafing around here. You see, son, it's currents
+that carries these icebergs and floes south; I didn't tell you, but some
+days when we were in those floes, we lost as much as we gained. We
+worked our way north through the floe, but not on the surface of the
+globe; the floe was taking us south with it. Maybe you won't believe
+it,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">282</a></span> but there are currents going north in this sea; once or twice in a
+lifetime, a whaler or passage hunter returns with a story of being
+drifted <i>north</i>&mdash;now that's what I want, I am hunting for a northern
+current. We will go to the northern shore of this open water, be it one
+mile or one thousand, and there&mdash;well, hunt again.'</p>
+
+<p>"Well, it was in September when we at last got to what seemed the
+northern shore of this open sea. We had to proceed very slowly, as there
+were almost daily fogs and occasional snow-storms; but one morning the
+ship rounded to, almost under the shadow of what seemed to be a giant
+iceberg. Captain Burrows came on deck, rubbing his hands in glee.</p>
+
+<p>"'Son,' said he, 'that is no iceberg; that's ancient ice, perpetual ice,
+the great ice-ring&mdash;pal&aelig;crystic ice, you scientific fellows call it. I
+saw it once before, in thirty-seven, when a boy; that's it, and, son,
+beyond that there is something. Take notice that that is ice; clear,
+glary ice. You know a so-called iceberg is really a snowberg; it's
+three-fourths under water. Now, it may be possible that, that being ice
+which will float more than half out of water, the northern currents may
+go under it&mdash;but I don't believe it. Under or over, I am going to find
+one of 'em, if it takes till doomsday.'</p>
+
+<div class='figcenter' style='width: 278px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="illus-006" id="illus-006"></a>
+<img src='images/p1-282.jpg' alt='"What seemed to be a giant iceberg...."' title='' width = '278' height = '591'/><br />
+<span class='caption'>"What seemed to be a giant iceberg...."</span>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">283</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"We sailed west, around close to this great wall of ice, for two weeks,
+without seeing any evidence of a current of any kind, until there came
+on a storm from the northwest that drove a great deal of ice around the
+great ring; but it seemed to keep rather clear of the great wall of ice
+and to go off in a tangent toward the south. The lead showed no bottom
+at one hundred fathoms, even within a quarter of a mile of the ice.</p>
+
+<p>"It was getting late in the season, the mercury often going down to
+fifteen below zero, and every night the aurora became brighter. We
+sailed slowly around the open water, and finally found a place where the
+sheer precipice of ice disappeared and the shore sloped down to
+something like a beach. Putting out a sea-anchor, the 'Duncan McDonald'
+kept within a half-a-mile of this icy shore.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">284</a></span> The captain had determined
+to land and survey the place, which far away back seemed to terminate in
+mountain peaks of ice.</p>
+
+<p>"That night the captain and I sat on the rail of our ship, talking over
+the plans for to-morrow's expedition, when the ship slowly but steadily
+swung around her stern to the mountain of ice&mdash;the engines had been
+moving slowly to keep her head to the wind. Captain Burrows jumped to
+his feet in joy. 'A current!' he shouted; 'a current, and toward the
+north, too&mdash;old man Providence again, son; he allus takes care of his
+own!'</p>
+
+<p>"Some staves were thrown overboard, and, sure enough, they floated
+toward the ice; but there was no evidence of an opening in the mighty
+ring, and I remarked to Captain Burrows that the current evidently went
+under the ice.</p>
+
+<p>"'It looks like it did, son; it looks like it did; but if it goes under,
+we will go over.'</p>
+
+<p>"After we had taken a few hours of sleep, the long-boat landed our
+little party of five men and seven dogs. We had food and drink for a two
+weeks' trip, were well armed,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">285</a></span> and carried some of our instruments. It
+appeared to be five or six miles to the top of the mountain, but it
+proved more than thirty. We were five days in getting there, and did so
+only after a dozen adventures that I will tell you at another time.</p>
+
+<p>"We soon began to find stones and dirt in the ice, and before we had
+gone ten miles, found the frozen carcass of an immense mastodon&mdash;its
+great tusks only showing above the level; but its huge, woolly body
+quite plainly visible in the ice. The ice was melting, and there were
+many streams running towards the open water. It was warmer as we
+proceeded. Dirt and rocks became the rule, instead of the exception, and
+we were often obliged to go around a great boulder of granite. While we
+were resting, on the third day, for a bite to eat, one of the men took a
+dish, scooped up some sand from the bottom of the icy stream, and
+'panned' it out. There was gold in it: gold enough to pay to work the
+ground. About noon of the fifth day, we reached the summit of the
+mountain, and from there looked down the other side&mdash;upon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">286</a></span> a sight the
+like of which no white men had ever seen before.</p>
+
+<p>"From the very summits of this icy-ring mountain the northern side was a
+sheer precipice of more than three thousand feet, and was composed of
+rocks, and rocks only, the foot of the mighty crags being washed by an
+open ocean; and this was lighted up by a peculiar crimson glow. Great
+white whales sported in the waters; huge sea-birds hung in circles high
+in the air; yet below us, and with our glasses, we could see, on the
+rocks at the foot of the crags, seals and some other animals that were
+strange to us. But follow the line of beetling crags and mountain peaks
+where you would, the northern side presented a solid blank wall of awful
+rocks, in many places the summit overhanging and the shore well under in
+the mighty shadow. Nothing that any of us had ever seen in nature before
+was so impressive, so awful. We started on our return, after a couple of
+hours of the awe-inspiring sight beyond the great ring, and for full two
+hours not a man spoke.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">287</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"'Father Burrows,' said I, 'what do you think that is back there?'</p>
+
+<p>"'No man knows, my son, and it will devolve on you and me to name it;
+but we won't unless we get to it and can take back proofs.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Do you think we could get down the other side?'</p>
+
+<p>"'No, I don't think so, and we seem to have struck it in the lowest spot
+in sight. I'd give ten years of my life if the 'Duncan McDonald' was
+over there in that duck pond.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Captain,' said Eli Jeffries, the second mate, 'do you know what I've
+been thinkin'? I believe that 'ere water we seen is an open passage from
+the Behring side of the frozen ocean over agin' some of them 'ere
+Roosian straits. If we could get round to the end of it, we'd sail right
+through the great Northwest Passage.'</p>
+
+<p>"'You don't think there is land over there somewhere?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Nope.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Didn't take notice that the face of your<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">288</a></span> "passage" was granite or
+quartz rocks, hey? Didn't notice all them animals and birds, hey?&mdash;'</p>
+
+<p>"'Look out!' yelled the man ahead with the dog-sledge.</p>
+
+<p>"A strange, whirring noise was heard in the foggy light, that sounded
+over our heads. We all dropped to the ground, and the noise increased,
+until a big flock of huge birds passed over us in rapid flight north.
+There must have been thousands of them. Captain Burrows brought his
+shot-gun to his shoulder and fired. There were some wild screams in the
+air, and a bird came down to the ice with a loud thud. It looked very
+large a hundred feet away, but sight is very deceiving in this white
+country in the semi-darkness. We found it a species of duck, rather
+large and with gorgeous plumage.</p>
+
+<p>"'Goin' north, to Eli's "passage" to lay her eggs on the ice,' said the
+captain, half sarcastically.</p>
+
+<p>"We reached the ship in safety, and the captain and I spent long hours
+in trying to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">289</a></span> form some plan for getting beyond the great ice-ring.</p>
+
+<p>"'If it's warm up there, and everything that we've seen says it is, all
+this cold water that's going north gets warm and goes out some place;
+and rest you, son, wherever it goes out, there's a hole in the ice.'</p>
+
+<p>"Here we were interrupted by the mate, who said that there were queer
+things going on overhead, and some of the sailors were ready to mutiny
+unless the return trip was commenced. Captain Burrows went on deck at
+once, and you may be sure I followed at his heels.</p>
+
+<p>"'What's wrong here?' demanded the captain, in his roaring tone,
+stepping into the midst of the crew.</p>
+
+<p>"'A judgment against this pryin' into God's secrets, sir,' said an
+English sailor, in an awe-struck voice. 'Look at the signs, sir,'
+pointing overhead.</p>
+
+<p>"Captain Burrows and I both looked over our heads, and there saw an
+impressive sight, indeed. A vast colored map of an unknown world hung in
+the clouds over us&mdash;a mirage<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">290</a></span> from the aurora. It looked very near, and
+was so distinct that we could distinguish polar bears on the ice-crags.
+One man insisted that the mainmast almost touched one snowy peak, and
+most of them actually believed that it was an inverted part of some
+world, slowly coming down to crush us. Captain Burrows looked for
+several minutes before he spoke. Then he said: 'My men, this is the
+grandest proof of all that Providence is helping us. This thing that you
+see is only a picture; it's a mirage, the reflection of a portion of the
+earth on the sky. Just look, and you will see that it's in the shape of
+a crescent, and we are almost in the center of it; and, I tell you, it's
+a picture of the country just in front of us. See this peak? See that
+low place where we went up? There is the great wall we saw, the open sea
+beyond it, and, bless me, if it don't look like something green over in
+the middle of that ocean! See, here is the "Duncan McDonald," as plain
+as A, B, C, right overhead. Now, there's nothing to be afraid of in
+that; if it's a warning, it's a good one&mdash;and if any one wants to go
+home to his mother's, and is old enough, <i>he can walk</i>!'</p>
+
+<div class='figcenter' style='width: 452px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="illus-007" id="illus-007"></a>
+<img src='images/p1-292.jpg' alt='"A white city ... was visible for an instant."' title='' width = '452' height = '350'/><br />
+<span class='caption'>"A white city ... was visible for an instant."</span>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">291</a></span>"The captain looked around, but the sailors were as cool as he was&mdash;they
+were reassured by his honest explanation. Then he took me by the arm,
+and, pointing to the painting in the sky, said: 'Old man Providence
+again, son, sure as you are born; do you see that lane through the great
+ring? There's an open, fairly straight passage to the inner ocean,
+except that it's closed by about three miles of ice on our side; see it
+there, on the port side?'</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I could see it, but I asked Captain Burrows how he could account
+for the open passages beyond and the wall of ice in front; it was cold
+water going in.</p>
+
+<p>"'It's strange,' he answered, shading his eye with his hand, and looking
+long at the picture of the clear passage, like a great canal between the
+beetling cliffs. All at once, he grasped my arm and said in excitement,
+pointing towards the outer end of the passage: 'Look!'</p>
+
+<p>"As I looked at the mirage again, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">292</a></span> great mass of ice in front
+commenced to slowly turn over, outwardly.</p>
+
+<p>"'It's an iceberg, sir, only an iceberg!' said the captain, excitedly,
+'and she is just holding that passage because the current keeps her up
+against the hole; now, she will wear out some day, and then&mdash;in goes the
+"Duncan McDonald"!'</p>
+
+<p>"'But there are others to take its place,' and I pointed to three other
+bergs, apparently some twenty miles away, plainly shown in the sky;
+'they are the reinforcements to hold the passage.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Looks that way, son, but by the great American buzzard, we'll get in
+there somehow, if we have to blow that berg up.'</p>
+
+<p>"As we looked, the picture commenced to disappear, not fade, but to go
+off to one side, just as a picture leaves the screen of a magic lantern.
+Over the inner ocean there appeared dark clouds; but this part was
+visible last, and the clouds seemed to break at the last moment, and a
+white city, set in green fields and forests, was visible for an instant,
+a great golden dome in the center remaining<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">293</a></span> in view after the rest of
+the city was invisible.</p>
+
+<p>"'A rainbow of promise, son,' said the captain.</p>
+
+<p>"I looked around. The others had grown tired of looking, and were gone.
+Captain Burrows and myself were the only ones that saw the city.</p>
+
+<p>"We got under way for an hour, and then stood by near the berg until
+eight bells the next morning; but you must remember it was half dark all
+the time up there then. While Captain Burrows and myself were at
+breakfast, he cudgeled his brains over ways and means for moving that
+ice, or preventing other bergs from taking its place. When we went on
+deck, our berg was some distance from the mouth of the passage, and
+steadily floating away. Captain Burrows steamed the ship cautiously up
+toward the passage; there was a steady current coming out.</p>
+
+<p>"'I reckon,' said Eli Jeffries, 'they must have a six-months' ebb and
+flow up in that ocean.'</p>
+
+<p>"'If that's the case, said Captain Burrows,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">294</a></span> 'the sooner we get in, the
+better;' and he ordered the 'Duncan McDonald' into the breach in the
+world of ice.</p>
+
+<p>"Gentlemen, suffice it to say that we found that passage perfectly
+clear, and wider as we proceeded. This we did slowly, keeping the lead
+going constantly. The first mate reported the needle of the compass
+working curiously, dipping down hard, and sparking&mdash;something he had
+never seen. Captain Burrows only said: 'Let her spark!'</p>
+
+<p>"As we approached the inner ocean, as we called it, the passage was
+narrow; it became very dark and the waters roared ahead. I feared a fall
+or rapid, but the 'Duncan McDonald' could not turn back. The noise was
+only the surf on the great crags within. As the ship passed out into the
+open sea beyond, the needle of the compass turned clear around and
+pointed back. 'Do you know, son,' said Captain Burrows, 'that I believe
+the so-called magnetic pole is a great ring around the true Pole, and
+that we just passed it there? The whole inside of this mountain<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">295</a></span> looks
+to me like rusted iron instead of stone, anyhow.'"</p>
+
+<p>Here our story-teller rested and dozed for a few minutes; then rousing
+up, he said: "I'll tell you the rest to-morrow; yes, to-morrow; I'm tired
+now. To-morrow I'll tell you about a wonderful country; wonderful
+cities; wonderful people! I'll show you solar pictures such as you never
+saw, of scenes, places, and people you never dreamed of. I will show you
+implements that will prove that there's a country where gold is as
+common as tin at home&mdash;where they make knives and forks and stew-pans of
+it! I'll show you writing more ancient and more interesting than the
+most treasured relics in our Sanscrit libraries. I'll tell you of the
+two years I spent in another world. I'll tell you of the precious cargo
+that went to the bottom of the frozen ocean with the staunch little
+ship, 'Duncan McDonald;' of the bravest, noblest commander, and the
+sweetest angel of a woman that ever breathed and lived and loved. I'll
+tell you of my escape and the hell I've been through. To-morrow&mdash;"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">296</a></span></p>
+
+<p>He dozed off for a few moments again.</p>
+
+<p>"But I've got enough in this pack to turn the world inside out with
+wonder&mdash;ah, what a sensation it will be, what an educational feature! It
+will send out a hundred harum-scarum expeditions to find Polaria&mdash;but
+there are few commanders like Captain Burrows; he could do it, the rest
+of 'em will die in the ice. But when I get to San Fran&mdash;&mdash;. Say,
+captain, how long will it take to get there, and how long before you
+start?"</p>
+
+<p>Enoch and I exchanged glances, and Enoch answered: "We wa'n't goin' to
+"Frisco."</p>
+
+<p>"Around the Horn, then?" inquired the stranger, sitting up. "But you
+will land me in 'Frisco, won't you? I can't wait, I must&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"We're goin' <i>in</i>," said Enoch; "goin' north, for a three-years'
+cruise."</p>
+
+<p>"North!" shouted the stranger, wildly. "Three years in that hell of ice.
+Three years! My God! North! North!"</p>
+
+<p>He was dancing around the deck like a maniac, trying to put his
+pack-loop over his head. Enoch went toward him, to tell him how he
+could go on the "Enchantress," but he looked wildly at him, ran forward
+and sprang out on the bowsprit, and from there to the jib. Enoch saw he
+was out of his mind, and ordered two sailors to bring him in. As they
+sprang on to the bow, he stood up and screamed:</p>
+
+<p>"No! No! No! Three years! Three lives! Three hells! I never&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>One of the men reached for him here, but he kicked at the sailor
+viciously, and turning sidewise, sprang into the water below.</p>
+
+<p>A boat, already in the water, was manned instantly; but the worn-out
+body of another North Pole explorer had gone to the sands of the bottom
+where so many others have gone before; evidently his heavy pack had held
+him down, there to guard the story it could tell&mdash;in death as he had in
+life.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>THE END</p>
+
+<hr class='full' />
+
+<table width="550" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="" border="1">
+  <col style="width:100%;" />
+  <tr>
+    <td align="center">
+    <span style="font-size: 250%;"><br /><br />DANGER SIGNALS</span><br /><br /><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;">REMARKABLE, EXCITING AND UNIQUE</span><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;">EXAMPLES OF THE BRAVERY, DAR-</span><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;">ING AND STOICISM IN THE</span><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;">MIDST OF DANGER OF</span><br /><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 180%;">Train Dispatchers And Railroad Engineers</span><br /><br /><br />
+    <span style="font-size:  80%;">BY</span><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;"><i>JOHN A. HILL</i></span><br />
+    <span style="font-size:  80%;"><i>and</i></span><br />
+    <span style="font-size:  100%;"><i>JASPER EWING BRADY</i></span><br /><br /><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;" class="smcap">Absorbing Stories of Men with Nerves of Steel,</span><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;" class="smcap">Indomitable Courage and</span><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;" class="smcap">Wonderful Endurance</span><br /><br /><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 120%;">FULLY ILLUSTRATED</span><br /><br /><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;">CHICAGO</span><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 120%;">JAMIESON-HIGGINS CO.</span><br />
+    <span style="font-size: 100%;">1902</span><br /><br /><br />
+    </td>
+  </tr>
+</table>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+
+<div class='figcenter' style='width: 352px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="illus-018" id="illus-018"></a>
+<img src='images/p2-001.jpg' alt='Facsimile Of A Completed Order As Entered In The Despatcher@#39;s Order-Book' title='' width = '352' height = '282'/><br />
+<span class='caption'>Facsimile Of A Completed Order As Entered In The Despatcher's Order-Book</span>
+</div>
+
+<hr class='minor' />
+
+<h1>DANGER SIGNALS.</h1>
+<h2><span class="smcap">Part</span> II.</h2>
+
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9001" id="Page_9001">1</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER I</h2><h3>LEARNING THE BUSINESS&mdash;MY FIRST OFFICE</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Seated in sumptuously furnished palace cars, annihilating space at the
+rate of sixty miles an hour, but few passengers ever give a thought to
+the telegraph operators of the road stuck away in towers or in dingy
+little depots, in swamps, on the tops of mountains, or on the bald
+prairies and sandy deserts of the west; and yet, these selfsame
+telegraph operators are a very important adjunct to the successful
+operation of the road, and a single error on the part of one of them
+might result in the loss of many lives and thousands of dollars.</p>
+
+<p>The whole length of the railroad from starting point to terminus is
+literally under the eyes of the train despatcher. By means of reports
+sent in by hundreds of different operators, he knows the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9002" id="Page_9002">2</a></span> exact location
+of all trains at all times, the number of "loads" and "empties" in each
+train, the number of cars on each siding, the number of passing tracks
+and their capacity, the capabilities of the different engines, the
+gradients of the road, the condition of the roadbed, and, above all, he
+knows the personal characteristics of every conductor and engineer on
+the road. In fact if there is one man of more importance than another on
+a railroad it is the train despatcher. During his trick of eight hours
+he is the autocrat of the road, and his will in the running of trains is
+absolute. Therefore despatchers are chosen with very special regard for
+their fitness for the position. They must be expert telegraphers, quick
+at figures, and above all they must be as cool as ice, have nerves of
+steel, and must be capable of grasping a trying situation the minute an
+emergency arises. An old despatcher once said to me: "Sooner or later a
+despatcher, if he sticks to the business, will have his smash-up, and
+then down goes a reputation which possibly he has been years in building
+up, and his name is inscribed on the roll of 'has-beens.'"</p>
+
+<p>Before the despatcher comes the operator, and the old Biblical saying,
+"Many are called but few are chosen," is well illustrated by the small
+number of good despatchers that are found; it is easy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9003" id="Page_9003">3</a></span> enough to find
+excellent operators, but a first-class despatcher is a rarity among
+them.</p>
+
+<p>I learned telegraphy some fifteen or sixteen years ago at a school away
+out in western Kansas. After I had been there three or four months, I
+was the star of the class, and imagined that the spirit of Professor
+Morse had been reincarnated in me. No wire was too swift for me to work,
+no office too great for me to manage; in fact visions of a
+superintendency of telegraph flitted before my eyes. Such institutions
+as this school are very correctly named "ham factories."</p>
+
+<p>During my stay at the school I formed the acquaintance of the night
+operator at the depot and it was my wont to spend most of my nights
+there picking up odds and ends of information. For my own benefit I used
+to copy everything that came along; but the young man in charge never
+left me entirely alone. Night operators at all small stations have to
+take care of their own lamps and fires, sweep out, handle baggage, and,
+in short, be porter as well as operator, and for the privilege of being
+allowed to stay about I used to do this work for the night man at the
+office in question. His name was Harry Burgess and he was as good a man
+as ever sat in front of a key. Some few weeks after this he was
+transferred to a day office<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9004" id="Page_9004">4</a></span> up the road and by his help I was made
+night operator in his stead. Need I say how proud I felt when I received
+a message from the Chief Despatcher telling me to report for duty that
+night? I think I was the proudest man, or boy rather, on this earth.
+Just think! Night operator, porter and baggageman, working from seven
+o'clock in the evening until seven o'clock in the morning, and receiving
+the magnificent sum of forty dollars per month! It was enough to make my
+bosom swell with pride and it's a wonder I didn't burst.</p>
+
+<p>Heretofore, I had had Burgess to fall back upon when I was copying
+messages or orders, but now I was alone and the responsibility was all
+mine. I managed to get through the first night very well, because all I
+had to do was to take a few "red" commercial messages, "O. S." the
+trains and load ten big sample trunks on No. 2. The trains were all on
+time and consequently there were no orders. I was proud of my success
+and went off duty at seven o'clock in the morning with a feeling that my
+services were well nigh indispensable to the road, and if anything were
+to happen to me, receivers would surely have to be appointed.</p>
+
+<p>The second night everything went smoothly until towards eleven o'clock,
+when the despatcher<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9005" id="Page_9005">5</a></span> began to call "MN," and gave the signal "9." Now
+the signal "9" means "Train Orders," and takes precedence over
+everything else on the wire. The situation was anything but pleasant for
+me, because I had never yet, on my own responsibility, taken a train
+order, and I stood in a wholesome fear of the results that might accrue
+from any error of mine. So I didn't answer the despatcher at once as I
+should have done because I hoped he would get tired of calling me and
+would tackle "OG," and give him the order. But he didn't. He just kept
+on calling me, increasing his speed all the time. In sheer desperation,
+I went out on the platform for five minutes and stamped around to keep
+warm, hoping all the time he would stop when he found I did not answer.
+But when I returned instead of calling me on one wire, he had his
+operator calling me on the commercial line while he was pounding away on
+the railroad wire. At the rate those two sounders were going they
+sounded to me like the crack of doom and I was becoming powerfully warm.
+I finally mustered up courage and answered him.</p>
+
+<p>The first thing the despatcher said was:</p>
+
+<p>"Where in h&mdash;l have you been?"</p>
+
+<p>I didn't think that was a very nice thing for him to say, and he fired
+it at me so fast I could hardly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9006" id="Page_9006">6</a></span> read it, so I simply replied, "Out
+fixing my batteries."</p>
+
+<p>"Well," he said, "your batteries will need fixing when I get through
+with you. Now copy 3."</p>
+
+<p>"Copy 3," means to take three copies of the order that is to follow, so
+I grabbed my manifold order-book and stylus and prepared to copy. There
+is a rule printed in large bold type in all railroad time-cards which
+says, "Despatchers, in sending train orders to operators, will
+accommodate their speed to the abilities of the operators. In all cases
+<i>they will send plainly and distinctly</i>." If the despatcher had sent
+according to my ability just then he would have sent that order by train
+mail. But instead, from the very beginning, he fired it at me so fast,
+that before I had started to take it he was away down in the body of it.
+I had written down only the order number and date, when I broke and
+said, "G. A. To." That made him madder than ever and he went at me again
+with increased violence the sounder seeming like the roll of a drum. I
+think I broke him about ten times and finally he said, "For heaven's
+sake go wake up the day man. You're nothing but a ham." Strangely enough
+I could take all of his nasty remarks without any trouble while the
+order almost completely stumped me. However, I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9007" id="Page_9007">7</a></span> finally succeeded in
+putting it all down, repeated it back to him, and received his "O. K."</p>
+
+<p>When the train arrived the conductor and engineer came in the office and
+I gave them the order. The conductor glanced at it for a moment and then
+said with a broad grin, "Say, kid, which foot did you use in copying
+this?" My copy wasn't very clear, but finally he deciphered it, and they
+both signed their names, the despatcher gave me the "complete," and they
+left. As soon as the train, which was No. 22, a livestock express, had
+departed, I made my O. S. report, and then heaved a big sigh of relief.</p>
+
+<p>Scarcely had the tail-lights disappeared across the bridge and around
+the bend, when the despatcher called again and said, "For God's sake
+stop that train."</p>
+
+<p>I said, "I can't. She's gone."</p>
+
+<p>"Well," he snapped back, "there's a good chance for a fine smash-up this
+night."</p>
+
+<p>That scared me almost out of my wits, and I looked at my copy of the
+order. But it read all right, and yet I felt mighty creepy. About thirty
+minutes afterwards, I heard a heavy step on the platform and in a second
+the hind brakeman came tramping in, and cheerfully saluted me with,
+"Well, I reckon you've raised h&mdash;l to-night. 21<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9008" id="Page_9008">8</a></span> and 22 are up against
+each other hard about a mile and a half east of here. They met on a
+curve and engines, box-cars, livestock and freight are piled up in fine
+shape."</p>
+
+<p>"Any one killed?" I asked with a blanched face and sinking heart.</p>
+
+<p>"Naw, no one is exactly killed, but one engineer and a fireman are
+pretty badly scalded, and 'Shorty' Jones, our head man, has a broken leg
+caused by jumping. You'd better tell the despatcher."</p>
+
+<p>Visions of the penitentiary for criminal neglect danced before my
+disordered brain; all my knowledge of telegraphy fled; I was weak in the
+knees, sick at heart, and as near a complete wreck as a man could be.
+But something had to be done, so I finally told the despatcher that Nos.
+21 and 22 were in the ditch, and he snapped back, "D&mdash;n it, I've been
+expecting it, and have ordered the wrecking outfit out from Watsego. You
+turn your red-light and hold everything that comes along. In the
+meantime go wake up the day man. I want an operator there, and not a
+ham."</p>
+
+<p>When the day man came in, half dressed, he said, "Well, what the devil
+is the matter?"</p>
+
+<p>Speech had entirely left me by this time, so I simply pointed to the
+order, and the brakeman<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9009" id="Page_9009">9</a></span> told him the rest. Never in all my life have I
+spent such a night as that. The day man regaled me with charming little
+incidents, about men he knew, who, for having been criminally negligent,
+had been shot by infuriated engineers or had been sent up for ten years.
+He seemed to take a fiendish delight in telling me these things and my
+discomfiture was great. I would have run away if I hadn't been too weak.
+About seven o'clock in the morning, after a night of misery, he
+patronizingly told me, that it wasn't my fault at all; the despatcher
+had given a "lap order," and that the blame was on him. Well! the
+reaction was as bad, almost, as the first feeling of horror. I went home
+and after a light breakfast, retired to bed, but not to sleep, for every
+time I would close my eyes, visions of wrecks, penitentiaries, dead men
+and ruined homes came crowding upon my disordered brain.</p>
+
+<p>About ten o'clock they sent for me to come to the office. I went over
+and Webster the agent said the superintendent wanted to see me. I had
+never seen the superintendent and he seemed to me to be about as far off
+as the President of the United States, but I screwed up my courage and
+went in. I saw a kindly-looking gentleman seated before Webster's desk,
+but I was too much<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9010" id="Page_9010">10</a></span> frightened to speak and just stood there like a bump
+on a log. Presently, Mr. Brink, the superintendent, turned to Webster
+and said, "I wonder why that night man doesn't come?"</p>
+
+<p>I tremblingly replied, "I am the night man, sir." He looked at me for a
+moment and smilingly said, "Why, bless my soul, my lad! I thought you
+were a messenger boy." He then asked me for my story of the wreck. When
+I had given it he seemed satisfied, and gave me lots of good advice; but
+in the end he said I was too young to have the position, and I was
+discharged. But he kindly added, that in a few years he would be glad to
+have me come back on the road, after I had acquired more experience. The
+next day I returned to school.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9011" id="Page_9011">11</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER II</h2><h3>AN ENCOUNTER WITH TRAIN ROBBERS</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>My first attempt at holding an office had proved such a flat and dismal
+failure that I thought I should never have the heart to apply for
+another. I worked faithfully in the school for about a month, and then
+the fever to try again took hold of me. I knew it would be of no use to
+apply to my former superintendent, Mr. Brink, so I wrote to Mr. R. B.
+Bunnell, Superintendent of Telegraph of the P. Q. &amp; X. Railroad at
+Kansas City, Missouri, saying I was an expert operator and desired a
+position on his road. Mr. Bunnell must have been laboring under a
+hypnotic spell, for by return mail he wrote, enclosing me a pass to
+Alfreda, Kansas, and directing me to assume charge of the night office
+at that point at the magnificent salary of $37.50 per month. This was a
+slight decrease from my former salary, but I didn't care. I wanted a
+chance to redeem myself and I felt confident I could be more successful
+in my second attempt. So I packed my few belongings, bade good-bye to
+the school forever, and away I went.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9012" id="Page_9012">12</a></span></p>
+
+<p>When I left "MN," I said nothing to any one about my destination, and I
+did not know a thing about Alfreda, except that it was near the border
+line between Kansas and Colorado. The brakeman on the train in talking
+to me told me it was a very pleasant place; but when he said so I
+fancied I could detect a sarcastic ring in his voice, and I was in no
+doubt about it when I arrived and saw what a desolate, dreary place
+Alfreda was. The only things in sight were a water-tank, a pump-house
+and the telegraph office; and I wish you could have seen that office. It
+was simply the bed of a box-car, taken off the trucks and set down with
+one end towards the track. A small platform, two windows, a door, and
+the signal board perched high on a pole completed the outfit.</p>
+
+<p>I arrived at six-thirty in the morning and there wasn't a living soul in
+sight. An hour later, a big broad shouldered Irishman who proved to be
+the pumper, came ambling along on a railroad velocipede. He looked at me
+for a minute, and after I had made myself known he grinned and said,
+"Well, I hopes as how ye will loike the place. Burke, the man who was
+here afore ye, got scared off by thramps, and I reckon he's not stopped
+runnin' yit." Fine introduction wasn't it?</p>
+
+<p>I found there was no day operator and the only<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9013" id="Page_9013">13</a></span> house around was the
+section house, two miles up the track. The operator and pumper boarded
+there with the section boss; but the railroad company was magnanimous
+enough to furnish a velocipede for their use in going to and from the
+station. How I felt the first night, stuck away out there in that
+box-car, two miles from the nearest house and twelve miles from the
+nearest town, I must leave to the imagination. My heart sank and I had
+many misgivings, in fact, I was scared to death, but I set my teeth hard
+and determined to do my best, with the hope that I might be promoted to
+a better office. I did win that promotion but I wouldn't go through my
+experiences again for the whole road.</p>
+
+<p>One night after I had been working there about a month, I went to my
+office as usual at seven o'clock. It was a black night threatening a big
+storm. The pumper had not gone home as yet and he remarked, that it was
+"goin' to be a woild night," but he hoped "the whistlin' av the wind
+would be after kaping me company," and with that he jumped on the
+velocipede, and off he went.</p>
+
+<p>I didn't much relish the idea of the storm, for I knew the reputation of
+Kansas as a cyclone state, and my box-car office was not well adapted to
+stand a hurricane. However, I went inside, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9014" id="Page_9014">14</a></span> after lighting my lamps,
+sat down and wrote letters and read, when I was not taking train orders.
+This office was kept up solely because it was a convenient place to
+deliver orders to freight trains at night when they stopped for water.</p>
+
+<p>About twelve-thirty in the morning my door opened suddenly, and a man
+stepped quickly in. I was startled because this was almost the only man
+except the pumper and the train crews that had been there since I came.
+Once in a while a stray tramp had gone through, but this man was not a
+tramp. He wore a long overcoat, buttoned to his chin, with the collar
+turned up. A slouch hat pulled well down over his eyes so far concealed
+his face that his features were scarcely visible. He came over to my
+desk and gruffly asked, "What time is there a passenger train east
+to-night?"</p>
+
+<p>I answered that one went through at half past one, the Overland Flyer,
+but it did not stop at Alfreda. Quick as a flash he pulled a revolver
+and poking it in my face, said, "Young man, you turn your red-light and
+stop that train or I'll make a vacancy in this office mighty d&mdash;&mdash;d
+quick."</p>
+
+<div class='figcenter' style='width: 367px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="illus-009" id="illus-009"></a>
+<img src='images/p2-016.jpg' alt='"Two of the men tied my hands in front of me."' title='' width = '367' height = '571'/><br />
+<span class='caption'>"Two of the men tied my hands in front of me."</span>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9015" id="Page_9015">15</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The longer I gazed down the barrel of that revolver the bigger it grew,
+and it looked to me as if it was loaded with buck-shot to the muzzle.
+When it had grown to about the size of a gatling gun (and it didn't take
+long to do it), I concluded that "discretion was the better part of
+valor," and reached up and turned my red-light. Meanwhile the door
+opened again, and three more men came in. They were masked and the
+minute I saw them I knew they were going to make an attempt to hold up
+the Overland Flyer. Often this train carried large amounts of bullion
+and currency east, and I supposed they had heard that there was a
+shipment to go through that night.</p>
+
+<p>I was standing with my back to the table, and just then I heard the
+despatcher say that the Flyer was thirty minutes late from the west. I
+put my hands quietly behind me and let the right rest on the key. I then
+carefully opened the key and had just begun to speak to the despatcher
+when one of the men suspected me and said to the leader, "Bill, watch
+that little cuss. He's monkeying with the instrument and may give them
+warning."</p>
+
+<p>I stopped, closed the key, and was trying to look unconcerned, when
+"Bill," said that "to stop all chances of further trouble," they would
+bind and gag me. Thereupon two of the men tied my hands in front of me,
+bound my legs securely, and thrust a villainously dirty gag in my mouth.
+When this was done, "Bill" said, "Throw him across those blamed
+instruments so they will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9016" id="Page_9016">16</a></span> keep quiet." They flung me upon the table,
+face downwards, so that the relay was just under my stomach, and of
+course my weight against the armature of the relay stopped the clicking
+of the sounder. As luck would have it, my left hand was in such a
+position that it just touched the key, and I found I could move the hand
+slightly. So I opened the key and pretended to be struggling quite a
+little. The leader came over and giving me a good stiff punch in the
+ribs, said with an oath, "You keep quiet or we'll find a way to make
+you." I became passive again, and then when the men were engaged in
+earnest conversation, I began to telegraph softly to the despatcher. The
+relay being shut off by my weight, there was no noise from the sounder,
+and I sent so slowly that the key was noiseless. Of course I did not
+know on whom I was breaking in, but I kept on. I told the exact state of
+affairs, and asked him to either tell the Flyer not to heed my red-light
+and go through, or, better still, to send an armed posse from Kingsbury,
+twelve miles up the road. I repeated the message twice, so that he would
+be sure to hear it, and then trusted to luck.</p>
+
+<p>The cords and gags were beginning to hurt, and my anxiety was very
+great. The minutes dragged slowly by, and I thought that hour would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9017" id="Page_9017">17</a></span>
+never end; but it did end at last, and all of a sudden I heard the long
+calliope whistle of the engine on the Flyer as she came down the grade.
+This was followed by two short blasts, that showed she had seen my
+red-light and was going to stop. "My God!" I thought. "Has she been
+warned?" So soon as the train whistled the men went out leaving me
+helpless on the table. I heard the whistle of the air brakes and knew
+the train must be slowing up. My anxiety was intense. Presently I heard
+her stop at the tank, and then, in about a second, I listened to the
+liveliest fusillade that I had ever heard in my life. It was sweet music
+to my ears I can tell you, for it indicated to me, what proved to be a
+fact, that a posse were on board and that the robbers were foiled. One
+of them was shot, and two were captured, but "Bill," the leader,
+escaped. They had their horses hitched to the telegraph poles, and as
+"Bill" went running by the office I heard him say, "I'll fix that d&mdash;d
+operator, anyhow." Then, BANG! crash, went the glass in the window, and
+a bullet buried itself in the table, not two inches from my head. I was
+not exactly killed, but I was frightened so badly, and the strain had
+been so great, that when the trainmen came in to release me, I at once
+lost consciousness. When I came to, I was surrounded<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9018" id="Page_9018">18</a></span> by a sympathetic
+crowd of passengers and trainmen, and a doctor, who happened to be on
+the train, was pouring something down my throat that soon made me feel
+better.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as I had recovered myself sufficiently, I telegraphed the
+despatcher what had happened, and the chief, who in the meantime had
+been sent for, told me to close up my office, and come east on the
+flyer, to report for duty in the morning in his office as copy operator.</p>
+
+<p>That is how I won my promotion.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9019" id="Page_9019">19</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER III</h2><h3>IN A WRECK</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The change from Alfreda to the chief despatcher's office in Nicholson
+was, indeed, a pleasant one. The despatchers, especially the first trick
+man, seemed somewhat dubious as to my ability to do the work, but I was
+rapidly improving in telegraphy, and, in spite of my extreme youth I was
+allowed to remain. But the life of a railroad man is very uncertain, and
+one day we were much surprised to hear that the road had gone into the
+hands of receivers. There were charges of mismanagement made against a
+number of the higher officials of the road, and one of the first things
+the receivers did was to have a general "house-cleaning." The general
+manager, the general superintendent, and a number of the division
+superintendents resigned to save dismissal, and my friend the chief
+despatcher went with them. He was succeeded by Ted Donahue, the man who
+had been working the first trick. Ted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9020" id="Page_9020">20</a></span> didn't like me worth a cent, and,
+rather than give him an opportunity to dismiss me, I quit.</p>
+
+<p>I was at home idle for a few weeks, and then hearing that there might be
+an opening for operators on the C. Q. &amp; R., a new road building up in
+Nebraska, I once more started out. It was an all night ride to the
+division headquarters, and thinking I might as well be luxurious for
+once, I took a sleeper. My berth was in the front end of the last car on
+the train. I retired about half past ten and soon dropped off into a
+sound sleep. I had been asleep for perhaps two hours, when I was
+awakened by the car giving a violent lurch, and then suddenly stopping.
+I was stunned and dazed for a moment, but I soon heard the cracking and
+breaking of timbers, and the hissing of steam painfully near to my
+section. I tried to move and rise up, but found that the confines of my
+narrow quarters would not permit it. I then realized that we were
+wrecked and that I was in a bad predicament. I felt that I had no bones
+broken, and my only fear was that the wreck would take fire. My fears
+were not groundless for I soon smelled smoke. I cried out as loudly as I
+could, but my berth had evidently become a "sound proof booth." Then I
+felt that my time had come, and had about given<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9021" id="Page_9021">21</a></span> up all hope, and was
+trying to say a prayer, when I heard the train-crew and passengers
+working above me. Again I cried out and this time was heard, and soon
+was taken out. God! what a night it was&mdash;raining a perfect deluge and
+the wind blowing a hurricane.</p>
+
+<p>I learned that our train had stopped on account of a hot driving-box on
+the engine; the hind brakeman had been sent back to put out a flag, but,
+imagining there was nothing coming, he had neglected to do his full
+duty, and before he knew it, a fast freight came tearing around the
+bend, and a tail-end collision was the result. Seeing the awful effects
+of his gross neglect, the brakeman took out across the country and was
+never heard of again. I fancy if he could have been found that night by
+the passengers and train-crew his lot would have been anything but
+pleasant. Two people in the sleeper were killed outright, and three were
+injured, while the engineer and fireman of the freight were badly hurt
+by jumping. I didn't get a scratch.</p>
+
+<p>As I stood watching the wrecked cars burn, I heard the conductor say,
+"he wished to God he had an operator with him." I told him I was an
+operator and offered my services. He said there was a pocket instrument
+in the baggage car, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9022" id="Page_9022">22</a></span> asked me if I would cut in on the wire and tell
+the despatcher of the wreck. I assented and went forward with him to the
+baggage car, where he gave me a pair of pliers, a pocket instrument and
+about eight feet of office wire. I asked for a pair of climbers and some
+more office wire, but neither was to be had. Here, therefore, was a
+pretty knotty problem. The telegraph poles were thirty feet high; how
+was I to make a connection with only eight feet of wire and no climbers?
+I thought for a while, and then I put the instrument in my pocket, and
+undertook to "shin up" the pole as I used to do when I was a schoolboy.
+After many efforts, in which I succeeded in tearing nearly all the
+clothes off of me, I finally reached the lowest cross-arm, and seated
+myself on it with my legs wrapped around the pole. There was only one
+wire on this arm, so I had, comparatively speaking, plenty of room. On
+each of the other two cross arms there were four wires, and there was
+also one strung along the tops of the poles. This made ten wires in all,
+and I had not the least idea which one was the despatcher's wire. The
+pole being wet from the rain, made the wires mighty hot to handle. I had
+the fireman hand me up a piece of old iron wire he happened to have on
+the engine, and with this I made a flying<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9023" id="Page_9023">23</a></span> cut in the third wire of the
+second cross arm. I attached the little pocket instrument, and found
+that upon adjusting it, I was on a commercial wire. There I was,
+straddling a cross arm between heaven and earth, with the instrument
+held on my knee, and totally ignorant of any of the calls or the wire I
+was on. I yelled down to the conductor and asked him if he knew any of
+the calls. No; of course he didn't; and he was so excited he didn't have
+sense enough to look on his time-card, where the calls are always
+printed. Finally, after carefully adjusting the instrument, I opened my
+key, broke in on somebody, and said "Wreck." The answer came, "Sine." I
+said, "I haven't any sine. No. 2 on the C. K. &amp; Q. has been wrecked out
+here, and I want the despatcher's office. Can you tell me if he is on
+this wire?"</p>
+
+<p>Now there is a vast deal of difference between sending with a Bunnell
+key on a polished table, and sending with a pocket instrument held on
+your knee, especially when you are perched on a thirty foot pole, with
+the rain pouring down in torrents, the wind blowing almost a gale, and
+expecting every minute to be blown off and have your precious neck
+broken. Consequently my sending was pretty "rocky," and some one came
+back at me with, "Oh! get out you big ham."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9024" id="Page_9024">24</a></span> But I hung to it and
+finally made them understand who I was and what I wanted. The main
+office in Ouray cut me in on the despatcher's wire and I told him of the
+wreck. He said he had suspected that No. 2. was in trouble, but he had
+no idea that it was as bad as I had reported. He said he would order out
+the wrecking outfit and would send doctors with it. Would I please stay
+close and do the telegraphing for them, he would see that I was properly
+rewarded. Then I told him about where I was, but promised to hold on as
+long as I could, but for him to be sure and send out some more wire and
+a pair of climbers on the wrecker. After waiting about an hour the
+wrecker arrived, and with it the doctors; so our anxiety was relieved,
+the wounded taken care of, and a decent wrecking office put in.</p>
+
+<p>The division superintendent came out with them, and for my services he
+offered me the day office at X&mdash;&mdash;, which I accepted.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9025" id="Page_9025">25</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2><h3>A WOMAN OPERATOR WHO SAVED A TRAIN</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>X&mdash;&mdash; was a pretty good sort of an office to have, barring a beastly
+climate wherein all four seasons would sometimes be ably and fully
+represented in one twenty-four hours. But eighty big round American
+dollars a month was not to be sneezed at&mdash;that was a heap of money to a
+young chap&mdash;and I hung on. In those days civilization had not advanced
+as far westward as it is to-day, and there was not much local business
+on the road, due to the sparsely settled country. The first office east
+of X&mdash;&mdash; was Dunraven, some twenty miles away. Between the two places were
+several blind sidings used as passing tracks. Dunraven was a cracking
+good little village and the day operator there was Miss Mary Marsh;
+there was no night office. Now I was just at the age where all a young
+man's susceptibility comes to the surface, and I was a pretty fair
+sample. I weighed one hundred and fifty pounds and every ounce of me was
+as susceptible as a barometer on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9026" id="Page_9026">26</a></span> a stormy day. Consequently it was not
+long until I knew Mary and liked her immensely. All my spare time was
+occupied in talking to her over the wire, except when the cussed
+despatcher would chase me off with, "Oh! get out you big spoon, you make
+every one tired." Then Mary would give me the merry, "Ha, ha, ha."</p>
+
+<p>One time I took a day off and ran down to Dunraven, and my impressions
+were fully confirmed. Mary was a little bit of a woman, with black hair,
+red lips, white teeth, and two eyes that looked like coals of fire, so
+bright were they. She was small, but when she took hold of the key, she
+was jerked lightning, and I have never seen but one woman since who was
+her equal in that line.</p>
+
+<p>Our road was one of the direct connections of the "Overland Route," west
+to San Francisco, and twice a day we had a train, that in those days was
+called a flyer. Now it would be in a class with the first class
+freights. The west bound train passed my station at eight in the
+morning, and the east bound at seven-thirty in the evening. After that I
+gave "DS" good night, and was free until seven the next morning. The
+east bound flyer passed Dunraven at eight-fifteen in the evening and
+then. Mary was through for the night. The town was a mile away from the
+depot and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9027" id="Page_9027">27</a></span> poor girl had to trudge all that distance alone. But she
+was as plucky as they make them and was never molested. A mile west of
+Dunraven was Peach Creek, spanned by a wooden pile and stringer bridge.
+Ordinarily, you could step across Peach Creek, but sometimes, after a
+heavy rain it would be a raging torrent of dirty muddy water, and it
+seemed as if the underpinning must surely be washed out by the flood.</p>
+
+<p>One day after I had been at X&mdash;&mdash; a couple of months, we had a stem-winder
+of a storm. The rain came down in torrents unceasingly for twelve hours,
+and the country around X&mdash;&mdash; was almost a morass. The roadbed was good,
+however, and when the section men came in at six that night they
+reported the track firm and safe. But, my stars! how the rain was
+falling at seven-thirty as the flyer went smashing by. I made my "OS"
+report and then thought I'd sit around and wait until it had passed
+Dunraven and have a little chat with Mary, before going home for the
+night. At seven-forty-five I called her but no answer. Then I waited.
+Eight o'clock, eight-fifteen, eight-twenty, and still nothing from
+Dunraven. The despatcher then started to call "DU," but no answer.
+Finally, he said to me, "You call 'DU.' Maybe the wire is heavy and she
+can't adjust for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9028" id="Page_9028">28</a></span> me." I called steadily for five minutes, but still no
+reply. I was beginning to get scared. All sorts of ideas came into my
+head&mdash;robbers, tramps, fire and murder.</p>
+
+<p>"DS" said, "I'm afraid something has happened to the flyer. Turn your
+red-light and when No. 26 comes along, I'll give them an order to cut
+loose with the engine and go through and find the flyer."</p>
+
+<p>Five minutes later the wire opened and closed. Then the current became
+weak, but adjusting down, I heard, "DS, DS, WK." Ah! that meant a wreck.
+"DS" answered and I heard the following message:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"W. D. C. <span class="smcap">"Peach Creek</span>, 4 | 13, 18&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"DS.</p>
+
+<p>"Peach Creek bridge washed out to-night, but I heard of it and
+arrived here in time to flag the flyer. Send an operator on the
+wrecking outfit to relieve me.</p>
+
+<p>(signed) <span class="smcap">Mary Marsh</span>, Operator."</p></div>
+
+<p>Two hours afterwards the wrecker came by X&mdash;&mdash; and, obedient to orders from
+the despatcher, I boarded it and went down to work the office. We
+reached there in about forty minutes and found that the torrent had
+washed out the underpinning of the bridge, and nothing was left but a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9029" id="Page_9029">29</a></span>
+few ties, the rails and the stringers. A half witted boy, who lived in
+Dunraven, had been fishing that day like "Simple Simon," and came
+tramping up to the office, telling Miss Marsh, in an idiotic way, that
+Peach Creek bridge had washed out. Just then she heard me "OS" the flyer
+and her office was the next one to mine. As the flyer did not stop at
+Dunraven, the baggageman and helper went home at six o'clock and she was
+absolutely alone save for this half witted boy. The section house was a
+mile and a half away to the east. A mile away, to the south were the
+twinkling lights of the village, while but one short mile to the west
+was Peach Creek, with the bridge gone out, and the flyer thundering
+along towards it with its precious load of human freight. How could it
+be warned. The boy hadn't sense enough to pound sand. She must do it.
+So, quick as a flash she picked up the red-light standing near, and
+started down the track. The rain was coming down in a perfect deluge,
+and the wind was sweeping across the Nebraska prairies like a hurricane.
+Lightning was flashing, casting a lurid glare over the soaked earth, and
+the thunder rolled peal after peal, resembling the artillery of great
+guns in a big battle. Truly, it was like the setting for a grand drama.
+Undaunted by it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9030" id="Page_9030">30</a></span> all, this brave little woman, bare headed, hair flying
+in the wind, and soaked to the skin, battled with the elements as she
+fought her way down the track. A mile, ordinarily, is a short distance,
+but now, to her, it seemed almost interminable; and all the time the
+flyer was coming nearer and nearer to the creek with the broken bridge.
+My God! would she make it! Presently, above the howling of the wind she
+heard the mad waters as they went boiling and tumbling down the
+channel.</p>
+
+<div class='figcenter' style='width: 295px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="illus-010" id="illus-010"></a>
+<img src='images/p2-030.jpg' alt='"After many efforts I finally reached the lowest cross-arm."' title='' width = '295' height = '589'/><br />
+<span class='caption'>"After many efforts I finally reached the lowest cross-arm."</span>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9031" id="Page_9031">31</a></span></p>
+
+<p>At last she was there, standing on the brink. But the train was not yet
+saved. Just across the creek the road made an abrupt curve around a
+small hill, and if she could not reach that curve her labors would be to
+no avail, and a frightful wreck would follow. All the bridge was gone
+save the rails, stringers and a few shaky ties. Only forty feet
+intervened between her and the opposite bank, and get across she must.
+There was only one way, so grasping the lantern between her teeth, she
+started across on her hands and knees. The stringers swayed back and
+forth in the wind, and her frail body, it seemed, would surely be caught
+up and blown into the mad ma&euml;lstrom of waters below. No! No! she could
+not fail now. Away up the road, borne to her anxious ears by the howling
+wind, she heard two long and two short blasts of the flyer's whistle as
+she signalled for a crossing. God! would she ever get there. Straining
+every nerve, at last success was hers, and tottering, she struggled up
+the other side. Flying up the track, looking for all the world like some
+eyrie witch, she reached the curve, swinging her red light like mad. Bob
+Burns, who was pulling the flyer that night, saw the signal, and
+immediately applied the emergency brakes. Then he looked again and the
+red-light was gone. But caution is a magic watchword with all railroad
+men, and he stopped. Climbing down out of the cab of the engine, he took
+his torch, and started out to investigate. He didn't have far to go,
+when he came upon the limp, inanimate form of Mary Marsh, the
+extinguished red-light tightly clasped in her cold little hand.</p>
+
+<p>"My God! Mike," he yelled to his fireman, "it's a woman. Why, hang me,
+if it isn't the little lady from Dunraven. Wonder what she is doing out
+here." He wasn't long in ignorance, because a brakeman sent out ahead
+saw that the bridge had gone.</p>
+
+<p>Rough, but kindly hands, bore her tenderly into the sleeper, and under
+the ministrations of her own sex, she soon came around. So soon as she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9032" id="Page_9032">32</a></span>
+had seen the flyer stopping she realized that she had succeeded and
+womanlike&mdash;she fainted. Her clothes were torn to tatters, and taken all
+in all this little heroine was a most woebegone specimen of humanity.</p>
+
+<p>A wrecking office was cut in by the baggageman, who happened to be an
+old lineman, and she sent the message to "DS," telling him of the wreck.
+I relieved her and she stayed in the sleeper all night, and the next day
+she returned to her work at Dunraven, but little worse for the
+experience. She had positively refused to accept a thing from the
+thankful passengers, saying she did but her duty.</p>
+
+<p>Two months afterwards she married the chief despatcher, and the
+profession lost the best woman operator in the business. I was
+dreadfully cut by the ending of affairs, but she had said, "Red headed
+operators were not in her class," and I reckon she was about right.</p>
+
+<p>Surely, she was a direct descendant from the Spartan mothers.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9033" id="Page_9033">33</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER V</h2><h3>A NIGHT OFFICE IN TEXAS&mdash;A STUTTERING DESPATCHER</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>It was not long after Mary threw me over that I became tired of X&mdash;&mdash; and
+gave up my job and started south. I said it was on account of ill
+health, but the last thing that cussed first trick despatcher said to me
+was, "Never mind, you old spoon, you'll get over this attack in a very
+short while."</p>
+
+<p>I landed in St. Louis one bright morning and went up to the office of
+the chief despatcher of the Q. M. &amp; S., and applied for an office on his
+division. He had none to give me but wired the chief despatcher at Big
+Rock, and in answer thereto I was sent the next morning to Healyville.
+And what a place I found! The town was down in the swamps of southeast
+Missouri, four miles north of the Arkansas line, and consisted of the
+depot and twenty or twenty-five houses, five of which were saloons.
+There was a branch road running from here to Honiton, quite a settlement
+on the Mississippi river, and that was the only<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9034" id="Page_9034">34</a></span> possible excuse for an
+officer at this point. The atmosphere was so full of malaria, that you
+could almost cut it with an axe. I stayed there just three days, and
+then, fortunately, the chief despatcher ordered me to come to his
+office. He wanted me to take the office at Boling Cross, near the Texas
+line, but I had the traveling fever and wanted to go further south, and
+he sent me down on the I. &amp; G. N., and the chief there sent me to
+Herron, Texas. There wasn't much sickness in the air around Herron, but
+there were just a million fleas to every square inch of sand in the
+place. Herron was one of the few towns in a very extensive cattle belt,
+and a few days after I had arrived I noticed the town had filled up with
+"cow punchers." They had just had their semi-annual round up, and were
+in town spending their money and having a whooping big time. You
+probably know what that means to a cow-boy. I was a tenderfoot of the
+worst kind, and every one at the boarding-house and depot seemed to take
+particular delight in telling me of the shooting scrapes and rackets of
+these cow-boys, and how they delighted in making it warm for a
+tenderfoot. Bob Wolfe, the day man at the depot, told me how at times
+they had come up and raised particular Cain at the station, especially
+when there was a new<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9035" id="Page_9035">35</a></span> operator on hand. I didn't half believe all their
+stories, but I will confess that I had a few misgivings the first night
+when I went to work. One night passed safely enough, but the second was
+a hummer from the word go. The office was somewhat larger than the
+telegraph offices usually are in small towns. The table was in the
+recess of a big bay window, giving me a clear view of the I. &amp; G. N.
+tracks, while along the front ran the usual long wide platform. The P. &amp;
+T. C. road crossed at right angles at one end of the platform, and one
+operator did the work for the two roads. There were two lamps over my
+desk&mdash;one on each side of the bay window&mdash;and one was out in the
+waiting-room. I also kept a lantern lighted to carry when I went out to
+trains.</p>
+
+<p>All through the early part of the night, I heard sounds of revelry and
+carousing, accompanied by an occasional pistol shot, up in the town, but
+about half past eleven these sounds ceased, and I was congratulating
+myself that my night, would after all, be uneventful. About twelve
+o'clock, however, there arose just outside the office the greatest
+commotion I had ever heard in my life. I was eating my midnight lunch,
+and had a piece of pie in my hand, when I heard the tramp of many feet
+on the platform. It sounded like a regiment<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9036" id="Page_9036">36</a></span> of infantry, and in a
+minute there came the report of a shot, and with a crash out went one of
+my lights, a shower of glass falling on the table. Before I could
+collect myself there came another shot and smash out went the other
+light. I dropped my pie and spasmodically grasped the table. The only
+lights left were the one in the waiting-room and my lantern, which made
+it in the office little better than total darkness. All the time the
+tramp, tramp on the platform was coming closer and closer, and my heart
+was gradually forcing its way up in my mouth. In a moment the
+waiting-room door was thrown open, and with a wild whoop and a big
+hurrah, the crowd came in. The door between the office and the
+waiting-room was closed, but that made no difference to my visitors;
+they smashed it open and swarmed into the office. One of them picked up
+the lantern, and swaggering over to where I sat all trembling with fear,
+and expecting that <i>my</i> lights would go out next, raised it to my face.
+They all crowded around me and one of them gave me a good punch in the
+ribs. Then the one with the lantern said, "Well, fellows, the little
+cuss is game. He didn't get under the table like the last one did. Kid,
+for a tenderfoot, you're a hummer."</p>
+
+<p>Get under the table! I couldn't. I would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9037" id="Page_9037">37</a></span> have given half my interest in
+the hereafter to have been able to crawl under the table or to have run
+away. But fright held its sway, and locomotion was impossible.</p>
+
+<p>For about five minutes the despatcher had been calling me for orders,
+and in a trembling voice I asked them to let me answer and take the
+order. "Cert," said one of them, who appeared to be the leader, "go on
+and take the order, and then take a drink with us."</p>
+
+<p>By the dim light of only that lantern, with my order pad on a table
+covered with broken glass, and smattered with pie, I finally copied the
+order, but it was about the worst attempt I had ever made; and the
+conductor remarked when he signed it, that it would take a Philadelphia
+lawyer to read it. The cow-punchers, however, from that time on were
+very good friends of mine, and many a pleasant Sunday did I spend on
+their ranches. They afterwards told me that Bob Wolfe had put them up to
+their midnight visit in order to frighten me. They certainly succeeded.
+My service at Herron was not very profitable, the road being in the
+hands of receivers, and for four months none of us received a cent of
+wages. The road was called the "International &amp; Great Northern,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9038" id="Page_9038">38</a></span> but we
+facetiously dubbed it the "Independent &amp; Got Nothing."</p>
+
+<p>Some months after this I was transferred down to the southern division,
+and made night operator at Mankato. This was really about the best
+position I had yet struck: good hours, plenty of work and a fine office
+to do it in, and eighty dollars a month. The agent and day man were both
+fine fellows, and there was no chore work around the station&mdash;a baggage
+smasher did that. The despatchers up in "DS" office were pleasant to
+work with and as competent a lot of men as ever touched a key. I had
+never met any of them when I first took the office, though of course I
+soon knew their names, and the following incident will disclose how and
+under what unusual circumstances I formed the acquaintance of one of
+them, Fred De Armand, the second trick man.</p>
+
+<p>About four weeks after I took the Mankato office, engine 333, pulling a
+through livestock freight north, broke a parallel rod, and besides
+cutting the engineer into mince-meat, caused a great wreck. This took
+place about two miles and a half north of Mankato. The hind man came
+back and reported it, and being off duty, I caught up a pocket
+instrument and some wire, and jumping on a velocipede, was soon at the
+wreck.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9039" id="Page_9039">39</a></span> I cut in an office in short order, and "DS" soon knew exactly
+how matters stood. One passenger train south was tied up just beyond the
+wreck, and in about an hour and a half the wrecker appeared in charge of
+the trainmaster. I observed a young man twenty-eight or thirty years of
+age standing around looking on, and once when I was near him I noticed
+that he stammered very badly.</p>
+
+<p>I carefully avoided saying anything to that young man, because, I, too,
+at times, had a rather bad impediment in my speech. It asserted itself
+especially when I heard any one else stutter, or when the weather was
+going to change; the men who knew me well said they could always
+foretell a storm by my inability to talk. From my own experience,
+however, I knew that when a stammerer heard another man stammer, he
+imagined that he was being made fun of, and all the fight in him came at
+once to the surface; and as this young man was about twice my size, I
+did my best to keep away from him. But in a few moments he came over to
+where I was and said to me, "A-a-a-sk 'DS' t-t-t-t-o s-s-s-end out
+m-m-m-y r-r-ain c-c-c-c-oat on th-th-th-irteen." Every other word was
+followed by a whistle.</p>
+
+<p>My great help in stammering was to kick with my right foot. I knew what
+was coming, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9040" id="Page_9040">40</a></span> tried my best to avert the trouble. I drew in a long
+breath and said: "Who sh-sh-sh-all I s-s-s-ay y-y-y-ou are?" and my
+right foot was doing great execution. True to its barometrical
+functions, my throat was predicting a storm. It came.</p>
+
+<p>He looked at me for a second, grew red in the face, then catching me by
+the collar, gave me a yank, that made me see forty stars, and said,
+"B-b-b-last you! wh-wh-at d-d-o y-y-ou m-mean b-b-y m-mocking me? I'll
+sm-sm-ash y-y-our b-b-b-lamed r-r-ed head.'"</p>
+
+<p>Speech left me entirely then, and I am afraid I would have been most
+beautifully thumped, had not Sanders, the trainmaster, come over and
+stopped him. He called him "De Armand," and I then knew he was the
+second trick despatcher. After many efforts De Armand told Sanders how I
+had mocked him. Sanders didn't know me and the war clouds began to
+gather again; but Johnson, the conductor of the wrecker, came over and
+said, "Hold on there, De Armand, that kid ain't mocking you; he stammers
+so bad at times that he kicks a hole in the floor. Why, I have seen him
+start to say something to my engineer pulling out of Mankato, and he
+would finish it just as the caboose went by, and we had some forty cars
+in the train at that."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9041" id="Page_9041">41</a></span></p>
+
+<p>At this a smile broke over De Armand's face, and he grasped my hand and
+said, "Excuse m-m-m-e k-k-id; but y-y-you k-k-know how it is
+y-y-yourself." You may well believe that I did know.</p>
+
+<p>One night, shortly after this, I was repeating an order to De Armand,
+and in the middle of it I broke myself very badly. He opened his key,
+and said, "Kick, you devil, kick!" And I got the merry ha-ha from up and
+down the line. But in giving me a message a little while after he flew
+the track, and I instantly opened up and said, "Whistle, you tarrier,
+whistle!" Maybe he didn't get it back.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9042" id="Page_9042">42</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2><h3>BLUE FIELD, ARIZONA, AND AN INDIAN SCRIMMAGE</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The desire to travel was strong within me, and in the following June I
+left Mankato, went out to Arizona and secured a position on the A. &amp; P.,
+at Blue Field, a small town almost in the centre of the desert. Alfreda,
+Kansas, was dreary and desolate enough, but there, I was at least in
+communication with civilization, because I had one wire running to
+Kansas City, while Blue Field was the crowning glory of utter
+desolation. The Bible says that the good Lord made heaven and earth in
+six days, and rested on the seventh. It needed but a single glance at
+Blue Field to thoroughly convince me that the Lord quit work at the end
+of the sixth day right there, and had never taken it up since. There was
+nothing but some scattering adobe shacks, with the usual complement of
+saloons, and as far almost as the eye could see in every
+direction,&mdash;sand&mdash;hot, glaring, burning sand. To the far northwards,
+could be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9043" id="Page_9043">43</a></span> dimly observed the outlines of the Mogollon range of
+mountains. The population consisted chiefly of about four hundred
+dare-devil spirits who had started to wander westwards in search of the
+El Dorado and had finally settled there, too tired, too disgusted to go
+any farther, and lacking money enough to return to their homes. It
+wasn't the most congenial crowd in the world. There was only one good
+thing in the place, and that was a deep well of pure sparkling water.
+The sun during the day was so scorching that the rails seemed to sizzle
+as they stretched out like two slender, interminable bands of silver
+over the hot sands, and at night no relief was apparent, and the office
+so stifling hot that my existence was well nigh unbearable. But the pay
+was ninety dollars per month and I hung on until I could save funds
+enough to get back to God's own country. To sleep in a house, in the day
+time, was almost killing, so I used to make up a sort of bunk on a truck
+and sleep in the shade of the freight shed. At seven-forty-three in the
+evening, the Trans-Continental flyer went smashing by at a fifty-five
+mile an hour clip and the dust it raised was enough to strangle a man.</p>
+
+<p>The Arizona climate is a well known specific for pulmonary troubles, and
+thousands of people<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9044" id="Page_9044">44</a></span> come down there in all stages of consumption from
+the first premonitory cough to the living emaciated skeleton.</p>
+
+<p>The first station west of me was Clear Creek (so called on account of a
+good sized stream of water that came down from the Mogollons), and a few
+days after I arrived at Blue Field, I heard a message going over the
+wires saying that Fred Baird was coming down there to take charge. I had
+known him up in Kansas, and his looks and a hacking cough indicated only
+too truly, that the dreaded consumption had fastened itself on him;
+therefore when I heard of his assignment to Clear Creek, I knew it was
+his health that brought him down to that awful country. He had a wife
+(and a sweet little woman she was), and two beautiful children, aged two
+and four. A few evenings after this I had the pleasure of talking to
+them for several minutes as they went through on a slow passenger train,
+and I must say that my heart ached when I thought of the town to which
+that family was going. What a place to bring a woman? But then women
+have a faculty of hanging on to their liege lords under all
+circumstances and conditions. God bless 'em. Baird, himself, looked
+wretched, being a mere shadow of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9045" id="Page_9045">45</a></span> his former self, but like all
+consumptives he imagined he was going to get well.</p>
+
+<p>Just about this time, two Indian gentlemen, named Geronimo and Victoria,
+were raising particular mischief all through that section of the
+country, and the feeling that any moment they might come down on you and
+raise your scalp after puncturing you full of holes was anything but
+pleasant. It was decidedly creepy and many a time I wished myself back
+in the good old state of Texas. I had come for excitement and adventure
+and it was not long until I had both articles doled out to me in large
+chunks. Those Indians used to break out from their reservations, swoop
+down on some settlement, kill everything in sight and then loot and burn
+to their heart's content. There was no warning&mdash;just a few shots, then a
+shrill war-whoop, and a perfect horde of yelling and shooting red devils
+would be upon you. Precautions were taken and some of the larger
+settlements were able to stand them off until some of the small army
+could come and scatter them. Blue Field had pickets posted every night,
+chosen from among the four hundred toughs that lived there, and was
+pretty well protected.</p>
+
+<p>They gave us a wide berth for a while, but one night, I was sitting
+dozing in my chair about<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9046" id="Page_9046">46</a></span> eleven-thirty, when I was awakened by the
+sharp crack of a rifle, followed in quick succession by others, until it
+was a regular fusillade. Then I heard the short shrill Apache war-whoop,
+and mentally I thought my time had come. I tried to breathe a prayer,
+but the high and unusual position of my heart effectually prevented any
+articulation. The window had been closed on account of a high wind
+blowing, or I fancy I should have gone out that way. However, I grabbed
+up a rifle, and then opening a trap door, dropped down into a little
+cubbyhole under the floor, where we used to keep our batteries. What I
+brought the rifle along for I can't say, unless it was to blow the top
+of my own head off. The place was like a bake-oven and all the air I
+received came through a small crack in the floor, and it was not long
+until I was soaked with perspiration.</p>
+
+<div class='figcenter' style='width: 421px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="illus-011" id="illus-011"></a>
+<img src='images/p2-038.jpg' alt='"One of them picked up the lantern, and swaggering over to where I sat all trembling...."' title='' width = '421' height = '498'/><br />
+<span class='caption'>"One of them picked up the lantern, and swaggering over to where I sat all trembling...."</span>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9047" id="Page_9047">47</a></span>
+Overhead I could hear the crack of the rifles and the whoop of the
+Indians as the battle raged, back and forth. During a temporary lull I
+heard the despatcher calling me for dear life, but he could call for all
+I cared; I had other business just then&mdash;I was truly "25." All at once I
+heard a bigger commotion than ever, there was a sound as if caused by
+the scurrying of many feet, and then all was quiet. I sat there
+wondering what was coming next, and how much longer I had to live, when
+I smelled smoke, and in a second I knew the depot was on fire. I tried
+to raise the trap-door, but it had a snap lock and had been dropped so
+hard in my mad efforts to get away, that it was securely locked. Good
+God! was I to be burned like a rat in a trap? All was quiet save the
+crackling of the flames as they licked up the depot. Something must be
+done and quickly at that, or there would be one operator who would
+receive his cong&eacute; in a manner that was anything but pleasant.
+Feverishly, I groped around, and all at once my hand came in contact
+with the Winchester rifle. I grasped it by the barrel, and using it as a
+battering ram I started to smash that door. The smoke by this time was
+stifling, suffocating, and already my senses were leaving
+me,&mdash;everything was swimming around before my eyes, but it was a case of
+life and death, and I hammered away with all my might. Finally, Crash!
+Ah! I had succeeded, the lock broke and in a moment I had pulled myself
+up in the office.</p>
+
+<p>The side towards the door was all ablaze and escape that way was
+impossible, so I picked up a chair and slammed it through the window
+over the table, and climbed out taking a loose set of instruments with
+me. The wires were still working,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9048" id="Page_9048">48</a></span> and above the crackle of the flames I
+heard "DS" still calling me. I reached in through the window and simply
+said,</p>
+
+<p>"Indians&mdash;depot on fire&mdash;have saved a set of instruments&mdash;will call you
+later when I can fix a wire," and signed my name, "Bates."</p>
+
+<p>My lungs were filled with smoke and felt like they had a million sharp
+needles sticking in them, but thanks to my lucky stars, I was not
+otherwise hurt. Everything appeared so quiet and still that I was dazed,
+but presently I heard a low mumbling of voices out to the westwards. I
+made my way thither and found the population (all that was left of it),
+assembled. When I staggered up to a group of the men, they turned on me
+like tigers, not knowing what kind of an animal I was. I recognized one
+of them who was commonly known as "Full-House Charley," and weakly said,</p>
+
+<p>"Don't shoot, Charley, it's Bates the night operator at the depot."</p>
+
+<p>"Well! where the devil have you been all the time? When the depot was
+burning some of us went over there, but you'd gone some place. We
+couldn't save anything so we let 'er burn. Your side partner, the day
+man, was killed and scalped."</p>
+
+<p>It appeared that just as the fight was the hottest, three troops of
+the &mdash;th U. S. Colored Cavalry,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9049" id="Page_9049">49</a></span> appeared on the scene, having been on
+the trail of this same band all day. They made short work of the red men
+who melted away to the fastnesses of the Mogollons, first setting fire
+to the depot, the troops in close pursuit. If there ever were faithful
+hard working fighters in that country, it was these same dusky
+brunettes.</p>
+
+<p>I told the gang where I had been, and in a few minutes several of them
+went over to the station to help me rig up a wire. I knew the
+despatcher's wire, and taking a pole's length out of another line, I
+soon made a connection to the instrument I had saved. It was no go&mdash;the
+wire was dead open. Then I rigged up a ground by running a wire to a
+pipe that ran down the well, and in testing I found the wire was open
+west. I called up "DS," who was east of-me, and told him what a nice hot
+old time we had been having out there.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," he said, "I knew there was trouble. Just after you told me about
+the Indians and fire, Clear Creek said their place was attacked by
+another band and things were getting pretty hot with them. Then the wire
+went open, caused as I supposed by your fire, but now it seems as if
+Baird is probably up against it as well. A train load of troops will
+come through in a short while to try and get beyond the Indians and cut
+them<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9050" id="Page_9050">50</a></span> off. If you are able, I wish you would flag them and go over to
+Clear Creek and report from there. Disconnect and take your instrument
+and leave the line cut through. A line man will be sent out from here in
+the morning. Everything is tied up on the road, and you can tell the C.
+&amp; E. there's nothing ahead of them, but to run carefully, keeping a
+sharp lookout for torn up track and burned trestles."</p>
+
+<p>My experiences had been so exciting and the smoke in my lungs so
+painful, that I was ready to drop from fatigue; but then I thought of
+poor Fred Baird and his family, and I said I'd go. The troop train came
+in presently and I boarded her. It did my heart good to ride on that
+engine with "Daddy" Blake at the throttle, and think that four hundred
+big husky American regulars were trailing along behind, waiting for
+something to turn up and just aching for a crack at the red men.</p>
+
+<p>It was now about three o'clock, and just as the first rays of early dawn
+illumined the horizon, we came in sight of Clear Creek. There was a dull
+red glow against the sky, that told only too well what we should find.
+The place had not been as well protected as Blue Field, and the
+slaughter was something fearful. The depot was nothing but a smoldering
+mass of ruins, and but a short<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9051" id="Page_9051">51</a></span> distance away we came upon the bodies of
+Baird, his wife and two children, shot to pieces, stripped, horribly
+mutilated and scalped. It was sickening, and shortly after, when the
+troop train pulled out for Chiquito, the sense of loneliness was
+oppressing. A few people had escaped by hiding in obscure places and
+when they came out they went to work and buried the dead. I finally
+succeeded in getting a wire through and then, despite the heat, I slept.</p>
+
+<p>The next day the troops corralled the Indians, gave them a good licking
+and sent them back to their old reservations. And yet in face of just
+such incidents as these, there are people who say that poor Lo can be
+civilized.</p>
+
+<p>A construction gang came out and started to re-build, and the company
+offered me a good day office if I would remain, but Nay! Nay! I had had
+all I wanted of Arizona, and I went back to Texas, thankful that I had a
+whole skin and a full shock of red hair.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9052" id="Page_9052">52</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2><h3>TAKING A WHIRL AT COMMERCIAL WORK&mdash;MY FIRST ATTEMPT&mdash;THE GALVESTON FIRE</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The memory of my exciting experience in Arizona lasted me a good long
+time, and I finally determined to leave the railroad service and try my
+hand at commercial work. The two classes are the same, and yet they are
+entirely different.</p>
+
+<p>It is a most interesting sight, to the uninitiated, to go into the
+operating room of a big commercial office and see the swarms of men and
+women bending over glass partitioned tables; nimble footed check boys
+running hither and thither like so many flies, carrying to each wire the
+proper messages, while the volume of sound that greets your ears is
+positively deafening. Every once in a while some operator will raise his
+head and yell "Pink," "C. N. D." or "Wire." "Pink" means a message that
+is to be rushed; "C. N. D." is a market quotation that is to be hurried
+over to the Bucket Shops or Stock Exchange, while "Wire," means a
+message that pertains to some wire that is in trouble and such messages
+must have precedence<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9053" id="Page_9053">53</a></span> over all others. The check boys are trained to
+know the destination of each and every wire and work under the direction
+of the traffic chief.</p>
+
+<p>Far over on one side of a room is the switch board. To the untutored
+mind it looks like numberless long parallel strips of brass tacked on
+the side of the wall, and each strip perforated by a number of small
+holes, while stuck around, in what seems endless profusion, are many
+gutta-percha-topped brass pegs. Yet through all this seeming mass of
+confusion, everything is in apple pie order, and each one of those
+strips represents a wire and every plug a connection to some set of
+instruments. The wire chief and his assistants are in full charge of
+this work, and it must needs be a man of great ability to successfully
+fill such a place in a large office.</p>
+
+<p>The chief operator has entire supervision over the whole office, and his
+duties are hard, constant, and arduous. Like competent train
+despatchers, men able to be first-class chief operators are few and far
+between. Not only must he be an expert telegrapher, but he must
+thoroughly understand line, battery and switch board work, and his
+executive ability must be of the highest order.</p>
+
+<p>I had always supposed if a man were a first-class railroad operator he
+could do equally<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9054" id="Page_9054">54</a></span> good work on a commercial wire; in fact the operator
+in a small town is always employed by the railroad company and does the
+little amount of commercial work in addition to his other duties.</p>
+
+<p>After leaving Blue Field I loafed a while, but that's tiresome work at
+best, so I journeyed down to Galveston, Texas, one bright fall morning,
+and after trying my luck at the railroad offices, I wandered into the
+commercial office on the Strand and asked George Clarke, the chief
+operator, for a job.</p>
+
+<p>"What kind of a man are you?" he said.</p>
+
+<p>"First-class in every respect, sir," I replied.</p>
+
+<p>"Sit down there on the polar side of that Houston quad and if you are
+any account, I'll give you a job at seventy dollars per month."</p>
+
+<p>Now a "Quad" is an instrument whereby four messages are going over the
+<i>same</i> wire at the <i>same</i> time. The mechanism of the machine is
+different in every respect from the old relay, key and sounder, used on
+the railroad wires. In a vague way I had heard of "quads," and imagined
+I could work them as well as an "O. S." wire, but when he said for me to
+sit down on the "Polar side," I was, for a minute, stumped. However,
+there were already three chaps sitting at that table, so the fourth
+place must be mine. I sat down and presently<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9055" id="Page_9055">55</a></span> I heard the sounder say,
+"Who?" I answered "BY," and then "HO," said, "Hr. City," I grabbed a pen
+and made ready to copy, but by the time he had finished the address I
+was just putting down the number and check. "Break" I said, "G. A.
+from," B-r-r-r-r- how that sounder did jump. This interesting operation
+was repeated several times, but finally I succeeded in getting the
+message down, and then without giving me time to draw my breath, he
+said, "C. N. D." and started ahead with a jargon of figures and words
+that I had never heard of before. His sending was plain enough, in fact
+it was like a circus bill, but I wasn't on to the combination, and it
+was all Greek to me. Perspiration started from every pore, and in my
+agony I said, "Break, G. A. Ahr.," Holy Smoke! how he did fly off at
+that, and how those other three chaps did grin at my discomfiture.</p>
+
+<p>"Call your chief operator over here," and with that he refused to work
+with me any more. Clarke came over and that blasted chump at "HO" said,</p>
+
+<p>"For heaven's sake give us an operator to do the receiving on the polar'
+side of this quad. We are piled up with business and can't be delayed by
+teaching the ropes to a railroad ham. He's been ten minutes taking one
+message, and I haven't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9056" id="Page_9056">56</a></span> been able to pound into his head what a 'C. N.
+D,' is yet."</p>
+
+<p>Clarke quietly gave him "O. K." and then turned to me with,</p>
+
+<p>"I guess you are not used to this kind of work. Better go back to
+railroading, and learn something about commercial work before tackling a
+job like this again. Come back in six months and I'll give you another
+trial." I sneaked out of the office, followed by the broad smiles of
+every man in the place, and thus ended the first lesson.</p>
+
+<p>I took Clarke's advice and went back to work on a narrow-gauge road
+running northwards out of Houston, through the most God-forsaken country
+on the footstool. Sluggish bayous, foul rank growth of vegetation,
+alligators as long as a rail, that would come out and stop trains by
+being on the track, and air so malarious in quality that it was only a
+question of time until one had the fever. I stuck it out for two months
+and then succumbed to the inevitable and went to the hospital where I
+lay for three weeks. After I had fully recovered they put me to work in
+the Houston General Office, and some eight months after reaching there I
+received a message from my old friend Clarke, saying, "if I had improved
+any in my commercial work he would give me a job at seventy dollars per<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9057" id="Page_9057">57</a></span>
+month." I hadn't improved much, but as this world is two-thirds bluff, I
+made mine, and said I'd come, trusting to luck to be able to hold on.</p>
+
+<p>I reached there one pleasant afternoon and the next morning went to
+work. I must have had my rabbit's foot with me, because I was assigned
+to a "Way Wire." I think if he had told me to tackle a "Quad," again, I
+should have fainted. A "Way Wire," is one that runs along a railroad,
+having offices cut in in all the small towns. There wasn't a town on the
+whole string that had more than ten or fifteen messages a day, but the
+aggregate of all the offices made up a very good day's work. Then again
+I didn't have to handle any of those confounded "C. N. D." messages.
+Clarke watched me closely and at the end of the first day he said my
+work showed a marked improvement. You may rest assured I watched my P's
+and Q's, and it wasn't long before I had the hang of the system and
+could take my trick on a "Quad" with the best of them. Rheostats,
+wheatstone bridges, polarized relays, pole changers, and ground switches
+became as familiar to me as the old relay key and sounder had been.</p>
+
+<p>Some of the rarest gems of the profession worked in "G" office at this
+time&mdash;George Clarke, "Cy" Clamphitt, "Jack" Graham, Will Church,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9058" id="Page_9058">58</a></span>
+John McNeill, Paul Finnegan alias the "Count," and a score or more of
+men, as good as ever touched a key or balanced a quad. A day's work was
+from eight A. M., until five P. M., and for all over time we were paid
+extra at the rate of forty cents per hour. This extra work was called
+"Scooping."</p>
+
+<p>One day in December, Clarke asked me if I wanted to "scoop" that night.
+I acquiesced and after eating a hasty supper I went back to the office
+and prepared for a long siege. I was put to sending press reports, which
+is just about as hard work as a man can do. I sent "30" (the end) at two
+o'clock in the morning, and went home worn to a frazzle. I was boarding
+on Avenue M. with ten other operators, in a house kept by a Mrs.
+Swanson, and roomed with her little son Jimmie, who was a hopeless
+cripple. I undressed, and after shoving little Jim over to his own side
+of the bed, tumbled in and was soon sleeping like a log. It seemed as if
+I had just closed my eyes when I felt some one pulling my hair. I
+knocked the hand away and prepared to take another snooze, when there
+was that awful pull on my red head again. I opened my eyes prepared to
+fight, when I felt an extra hard pull, and heard the wee sma' voice of
+my diminutive room mate say,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9059" id="Page_9059">59</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Get up, the house is on fire." "Rats," I said&mdash;Again,&mdash;the awful
+pull,&mdash;and,&mdash;"Mr. Bates, for God's sake get up; the house is on fire;
+the whole town is burning up."</p>
+
+<p>I sprang out of bed and the crackling of the timbers, the glow of the
+flames, and the stifling smoke, soon assured me it was time to move, and
+quickly at that. I grabbed up a few clothes in one arm, and grasping
+brave little Jimmie Swanson in the other, I started for the steps. On
+our side, the whole house was in flames, and the smoke rushing up the
+stair-way was something awful. I wrapped Jimmie's head in his night
+shirt, and throwing a coat over mine, I started down the stairs. Half
+way down my foot slipped, and we both pitched head first to the bottom.
+Poor little Jim, his right arm was broken by the fall, and when he tried
+to get up, he found that his one sound leg was badly strained. He said,</p>
+
+<p>"Never mind me, Mr. Bates, save yourself. I'll crawl out."</p>
+
+<p>Leave him to roast alive? Never! I grabbed him again and after a
+desperate effort succeeded in getting him out. All our supply of
+clothing had been lost in our mad efforts to escape, and as a bitter
+norther was blowing at the time, our position was anything but pleasant.
+I found a few clothes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9060" id="Page_9060">60</a></span> dropped by some one else and we made ourselves as
+warm as possible. Then I grabbed Jimmie up again and fled before the
+fiery blast. The awful catastrophe had started in a fisherman's shack
+over on the bay, twenty-seven squares from where we lived, and being
+borne by a high wind, had swept everything in its path. The houses were
+mostly of timber and were easy prey to the relentless flames. Although
+Galveston is entirely surrounded by water, the pipe-lines for fighting
+fire at this time extended only to Avenue H, ten blocks from the Strand.
+Beyond that, the fire department depended on the cisterns of private
+houses for the water to subdue the flames.</p>
+
+<p>With lightning-like rapidity the flames had spread and almost before
+they knew it the town seemed doomed. Arches of flame, myriads of falling
+sparks, hundreds of fleeing half-clad men, women and children, the
+hissing of the engines in their puny attempts to fight the monster, and
+ever and anon the dull roar of the falling walls, made a scene, as grand
+and weird as it was desolate and awful. In less than two hours time
+fifty-two squares had been laid waste, leaving a trail of smoldering
+black ashes. That the whole city did not go is due to a providential
+switch of the wind that blew the flames back on their own tracks.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9061" id="Page_9061">61</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Of the fifteen operators in the day force, twelve had been burned out,
+and the next morning, at eight o'clock, when all had reported for duty,
+they were as sorry a looking lot of men as ever assembled.</p>
+
+<p>"Some in rags, some in jags, and one in velvet gown." "Count" Finnegan
+had on a frilled shirt, a pair of trousers three sizes too small for
+him, and his manly form was wrapped in a flowing robe of black velvet,
+picked up by him in his mad flight.</p>
+
+<p>It was many a day before the effects of this direful calamity were
+entirely obliterated.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9062" id="Page_9062">62</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2><h3>SENDING A MESSAGE PERFORCE&mdash;RECOGNIZING AN OLD FRIEND BY HIS STUFF</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Some time after this I was in Fort Worth copying night reports at eighty
+dollars per month. The night force consisted of two other men besides
+myself. The "split trick" man worked until ten o'clock, the other chap
+stayed around until twelve, or until he was clear, while I hung on until
+"30" on report which came anywhere from one-thirty until four A. M.
+After midnight I had to handle all the business that came along.</p>
+
+<p>When I had received "30" I would cut out the instruments and go home.</p>
+
+<p>One morning, about two-thirty I had said "G. N." to Galveston, cut out
+the instruments, put out the lights in the operating room, and started
+to go home through the receiving room and I was about to put out the
+last light there, when the outer door opened and in staggered a half
+drunken ranchman who said,</p>
+
+<p>"Hold on there, young fellow, I want to send a message to St. Louis."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9063" id="Page_9063">63</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I'm sorry, but it's too late to send it now. All the instruments are
+cut out and we wont have St. Louis until eight o'clock in the morning.
+Come around then and some of the day force will send it for you."</p>
+
+<p>"But," he said in a maudlin voice, "I've got nineteen cars of cattle out
+here that are going up there to-morrow and I want to notify my agents."</p>
+
+<p>I persisted in my refusal and was beginning to get hot under the collar,
+but my bucolic friend also had a temper and showed it.</p>
+
+<p>"D&mdash;n it," he said, "you send this message or there is going to be
+trouble."</p>
+
+<p>"Not much, I won't send your confounded old message. Get out of this
+office: I'm going home."</p>
+
+<p>Just then I heard an ominous click and in a second I was gazing down the
+barrel of a .45, and he said,</p>
+
+<p>"Now will you send it? You'd better or I'll send you to a home that will
+be a permanent one."</p>
+
+<p>A .45, especially when it is loaded, cocked and pointed at your head,
+with a half drunken galoot's finger on the trigger, is a powerful
+incentive to quick action.</p>
+
+<p>"Give me your blamed old message, and I'll send it for you."</p>
+
+<p>Now there wasn't a through wire to any place<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9064" id="Page_9064">64</a></span> at the time, but I had
+thought of a scheme to stave him off. I took his telegram, went over and
+monkeyed around the switch board for a while, and then sat down to a
+local instrument and went through the form of sending a message. My
+whole salvation lay in the hope that he was not an operator and would
+fail to discover my ruse. I glanced at him furtively out of the corner
+of my eye, and there he stood, pistol in hand, grinning like a monkey
+and swaying to and fro like a reed in the wind. I didn't know what that
+grin portended for me, but after I had gone through the form of sending
+the telegram, I hung it up on the hook, and turned around with,</p>
+
+<p>"There, I hope you are satisfied now. Your blamed old message has been
+sent."</p>
+
+<p>"Satisfied! Why certainly I'm satisfied. I just wanted to show you that
+the Western Union Company wasn't the whole push. Come on over to the
+White Elephant with me and we'll have a drink together, just to show
+there's no hard feelings between us," and with that he put away his
+pistol and we went out. On the way over to the Elephant he said,</p>
+
+<p>"Say, kid, did you think I'd shoot if you hadn't sent the message?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9065" id="Page_9065">65</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Well," I replied, "I wasn't taking any chances on the matter."</p>
+
+<p>Then he laughed loud enough to be heard a block away and said, "Why,
+that pistol hasn't been loaded for six months, I was just running a
+bluff on you, and you bit like a fish."</p>
+
+<p>Good joke, wasn't it? We had our drink, <i>and his message was sent by one
+of the day force, at eight-twelve A. M.</i></p>
+
+<p>The Morse telegraphic alphabet is exactly the same the world over, and
+yet each operator has a peculiarity to his sending, or "stuff," as it is
+called, that makes it easy to recognize an old friend, even though his
+name be changed.</p>
+
+<p>In the early part of my career, when I was working days at X&mdash;&mdash;, in
+Nebraska, at Sweeping Water there was a chap called Ned Kingsbury
+holding down the night job, and as wild a youngster as ever hit the
+road. One night when I was sitting up a little late I heard the
+despatcher give Ned an order for a train that ordinarily would not stop
+there. Ned repeated it back all right enough, and then gave the signal,
+"6," which meant that he had turned his red-light to the track and would
+hold it there until the order was delivered and understood. So far, so
+good. But the reckless little devil had forgotten to turn his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9066" id="Page_9066">66</a></span> red-board
+and proceeded to write to some of his numerous girls, and the first
+thing he knew that freight train went smashing by at a thirty-five mile
+clip, and Mr. Ned knew he was up against it.</p>
+
+<p>In some states a railroader guilty of criminal negligence is sent up
+for a term of from one to ten years. The smash up that resulted from
+Ned's carelessness was a catastrophe of the fatal kind; one engineer was
+killed, and a fireman and brakeman or two laid up for months. He fully
+realized the magnitude of his offence and promptly skipped away from the
+wrath that was sure to follow, and nothing more was heard of him in that
+section of the country.</p>
+
+<p>This all happened a number of years before I went to work in Fort Worth,
+and one morning I was doing a little "scooping," by working days, and
+sat down to send on the "DA" quad. I worked hard for about two hours on
+the polar side, and was sending to some cracker jack, who signed "KY."
+Shortly after that I changed over to the receiving side and "KY" did the
+sending to me. I had been taking about ten messages and the conviction
+was growing on me momentarily that the sending was very familiar and
+that I must have known the sender. Where had I heard that peculiar jerky
+sending before? It was as plain as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9067" id="Page_9067">67</a></span> print, but there was an
+individuality about it that belonged only to one man. All at once that
+night in Nebraska flashed on my mind and I knew my sender was none other
+than Ned Kingsbury. I broke him and said,</p>
+
+<p>"Hello, Ned Kingsbury, where did you come from?"</p>
+
+<p>"You've got the wrong man this time, sonny, my name is Pillsbury," he
+replied.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! come off. I'd know that combination of yours if I heard it in
+Halifax. Didn't you work at Sweeping Water, Nebraska, some time ago, and
+didn't you have some kind of a queer smash up there?"</p>
+
+<p>Then he 'fessed up and said he had recognized my stuff as soon as he
+heard it, but hadn't said anything in hopes I wouldn't twig him.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't give me away, old chap. I'm flying the flag now and have lost all
+my former brashness."</p>
+
+<p>I never did.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9068" id="Page_9068">68</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2><h3>BILL BRADLEY, GAMBLER AND GENTLEMAN</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Telegraphers are, as a rule, a very nomadic class, wandering hither and
+thither like a chip buffeted about on the ocean. Their pathway is not
+always one of roses, and many times their feet are torn by the jagged
+rocks of adversity. I was no different from any of the rest, neither
+better nor worse, and many a night I have slept with only the deep blue
+sky for a covering, and it may be added&mdash;sotto voce&mdash;it is not a very
+warm blanket on a cold night. 'Tis said, an operator of the first class
+can always procure work, but there are times when even the best of them
+are on their uppers. For instance, when winter's chill blasts sweep
+across the hills and dales of the north, like swarms of swallows,
+operators flit southwards to warmer climes, and for this reason the
+supply is often greater than the demand.</p>
+
+<p>I was a "flitter" of the first water, and after I had been in Fort Worth
+for a very short while I became possessed of a desire to see something
+of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9069" id="Page_9069">69</a></span> the far famed border towns along the Rio Grande frontier. So I went
+south to a town called Hallville, and found it a typical tough frontier
+town. I landed there all right enough and then proceeded to gently
+strand. Work was not to be had, money I had none, and my predicament can
+be imagined. Many of you have doubtless been on the frontier and know
+what these places are. There was the usual number of gambling dens,
+dance halls and saloons, and of course they had their variety theatre.
+Ever go into one of the latter places? The first thing that greets your
+eye is a big black and white sign "Buy a drink and see the show."
+Inside, at one end, is the long wooden bar, presided over by some thug
+of the highest order, with a big diamond stuck in the centre of a broad
+expanse of white shirt front. At the other end is the so-called stage,
+while scattered about indiscriminately are the tables and chairs. The
+air is filled&mdash;yea, reeking&mdash;with the fumes of bad whiskey, stale beer,
+and the odor of foul smelling cheap tobacco smoke, and through all this
+haze the would-be "show," goes on, and the applause is manifested by
+whistles, cat calls, the pounding of feet on the floor and glasses on
+the tables. Occasionally some artist (?) will appear who does not seem
+to strike the popular fancy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9070" id="Page_9070">70</a></span> and will be greeted by a beer glass or
+empty bottle being fired at his or her head.</p>
+
+<p>Now, at the time of which I speak, my prospects were very slim, and as
+nature had endowed me with a fair singing voice, I had just about made
+up my mind to go to the Palace Variety Theatre and ask for a position as
+a vocalist. I could, at least, sing as well as some of the theatrical
+bygones that graced the place. The price of admission in one of these
+places is simply the price of a drink. I felt in my pocket and found
+that I had one solitary lonely dime, and swinging aside the green baize
+door, I entered.</p>
+
+<p>"Gimme a beer," I said laying down my dime. A small glass, four-fifths
+froth and one-fifth beer, was skated at me by the bartender from the
+other end of the counter, and my dime was raked into the till.</p>
+
+<p>Then I stood around like a bump on a log, trying to screw my courage up
+to ask the blear eyed, red-nosed Apollo for a job. Some hack voiced old
+chromo was trying to warble "Do they miss me at home," and mentally I
+thought "if he had ever sung like that when he was at home they were
+probably glad he had left." The scene was sickening and disgusting to
+me, but empty stomachs stand not on ceremony, so I turned around and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9071" id="Page_9071">71</a></span>
+was just about to accost the proprietor, when Biff! I felt a stinging
+whack between my shoulders. Quickly I faced about, all the risibility of
+my red headed nature coming to the surface, and there I saw a big
+handsome chap standing in front of me. Six feet tall, broad-shouldered,
+straight, lithe limbs, denoting herculean strength, a massive head
+poised on a well shaped neck, two cold blue eyes, and a face covered by
+a bushy brown beard; dressed in well fitting clothes, trousers tucked in
+the tops of shiny black boots, long Prince Albert coat and a broad
+sombrero set rakishly on one side of his head. Such was the man who hit
+me in the back.</p>
+
+<p>"Hello, youngster, what's your name?"</p>
+
+<p>Rubbing my lame shoulder, I said, "Well it might be Jones and it might
+be Smith, but it ain't, and I don't know what affair it is of yours, any
+way."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! come now, boy, don't get huffy. You've got an honest face and
+appear to be in trouble. What is it? Out with it. You're evidently a
+tenderfoot and this hell-hole of vice isn't a place for a boy of your
+years. What's your name? Come over here at this table and sit down and
+tell me."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9072" id="Page_9072">72</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Something in his bluff hearty manner gave me hope and after sitting
+down, I said.</p>
+
+<p>"My name is Martin Bates. I'm a telegraph operator by profession and
+blew into this town this morning on my uppers. I can't get work and I
+haven't a red cent to my name. It is necessary for me to live, and as I
+can sing a little bit, I came in here to see if I could get a job
+warbling. I won't beg or steal, and there is no one here I can borrow
+from. There's my story. Not a very pleasant one is it?"</p>
+
+<p>"There may have been worse. How long since you've had anything to eat."</p>
+
+<p>"Nine o'clock this morning," I grimly replied.</p>
+
+<p>"Good Lord, that's twelve hours ago. Come on with me out of here and
+I'll fix you up."</p>
+
+<p>Meekly I followed my new found friend. I was sick at heart, weary and
+worn out in body and I didn't care a rap whether school kept or not;
+anything would be better than my present situation. He took me about
+three blocks up the main street and we went into a suite of beautifully
+furnished rooms. He rang a bell, a darkey came in, and it wasn't long
+before I had a lunch in front of me fit for the gods, and I may add it
+didn't take me many minutes to get outside of it. My friend<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9073" id="Page_9073">73</a></span> watched me
+narrowly while I was eating, and when I had finished he said,</p>
+
+<p>"Now youngster, you're all tired out. You go to bed in the next room and
+get a good night's sleep. In the morning we'll see what we can do for
+you, but one thing is certain, you're not going into that vile hole of a
+Palace Theatre again. Somewhere in this world you have a father and
+mother who are praying for you this night. Don't make a slip in your
+pathway in life and break their hearts. Everything is safe and quiet
+here and no one will disturb you until I come in in the morning."</p>
+
+<p>There was a peculiar earnestness in his voice as he spoke that was very
+convincing, and as he rose to go out, I meekly said,</p>
+
+<p>"What's your name, mister?"</p>
+
+<p>"Bill Bradley," he answered with a queer smile. "Now don't you ask any
+more questions to-night," and with that he was gone.</p>
+
+<p>I went to bed almost sick from my exposure and lack of food, and just as
+the old sand man of childhood's happy days began to sprinkle his grains
+in my eyes, I heard, way off in the distance, a peculiar click and a
+drawling voice calling off some numbers. "Four." "Sixteen."
+"Thirty-three." "Seventy-eight." "Ten." "Twenty-six,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9074" id="Page_9074">74</a></span> and then, a great
+shout arose and some one called out "KENO." Ah! I was near a gambling
+house, but I was too tired to care, nature asserted herself, and I
+gently crossed the river into the land of Nod.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning I was really sick with a high fever, and when Bill came
+in I was well nigh loony.</p>
+
+<p>"Hello," he said, "this won't do. Tom, I say, you Tom, go and tell
+Doctor Bailey I want him here quick. D&mdash;n quick. Do you hear?" and black
+Tom answered, "Yas, suh."</p>
+
+<p>To be brief, I was three weeks on my back, and bluff old Bill Bradley
+nursed me like a loving mother would a sick child. Day and night he hung
+over me, never a thing did I need but what he procured for me, and one
+day after the fever had left me and I was sitting up by an open window,
+I said,</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Bradley, what do you do for a living?"</p>
+
+<p>"Boy," he replied with a flushed face, "I am sorry you asked that
+question, but sooner or later you would have heard it and I'd a great
+deal rather tell you about it myself. I'm a gambler and these three
+rooms adjoin my place which is called the "Three Nines," and then he
+told me the story of his life. He was a son of a fine Connecticut<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9075" id="Page_9075">75</a></span>
+family, a graduate of Harvard, and in his day had been a very able young
+lawyer with brilliant prospects, but one night, he went out with a crowd
+of roystering chaps, the lie was passed, and&mdash;it was the old story,&mdash;he
+came to Texas for a refuge. The great civil war was just over, the
+country in a chaotic state, and there he had remained ever since. Thrown
+with wild, uncouth men, and being reckless in the extreme, he opened a
+gambling house.</p>
+
+<p>"Why did you take this great interest in me?" I asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Look here, young chap, you are altogether too inquisitive. I've got an
+old father and mother way up in Ball Brooke, Connecticut, whose hearts
+have been broken by my actions, and when I saw you in that hellish den
+of vice you looked so out of place that I determined to save you. It was
+impulse, my boy, and then again, it may have been the remembrance of the
+one, at whose knee I used to lisp, 'Now I lay me down to sleep.'"</p>
+
+<p>My recovery was very rapid from that time on, and when I was able to
+work I secured a position in the commercial office in Hallville. One
+evening after being paid I strolled into the "Three Nines;" Bill was
+dealing faro, and I thought I might in a measure, show my gratitude
+towards him by risking<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9076" id="Page_9076">76</a></span> a coin. There was a big crowd standing around
+the table, but I edged my way in and placed a dollar on the queen to
+win. Luck was with me and I won. Once, twice, thrice, did the cards come
+my way, and my stack of whites and reds was growing. This didn't seem to
+me much like gratitude to win a man's money, and I wished I hadn't
+started. Presently Bill looked up, and spying me, pointed to my stack of
+chips, and said, "Whose stack is that?" "Mine," I replied, and with one
+fell swoop he dashed the chips into the rack, and taking a ten-dollar
+bill from the drawer, he turned to his side partner and said, "Jim, take
+the deal," and then he got up, took me by the arm, saying, "You come
+with me."</p>
+
+<p>Feeling like a sneak I followed him, and when we had reached his
+sitting-room, he sat down and said,</p>
+
+<p>"Kid, how much were you in on that deal?"</p>
+
+<p>"Just one dollar," I replied.</p>
+
+<p>Then he looked at me, his eyes shone like coals of fire, and he said,</p>
+
+<p>"Look here boy, here's ten dollars. If you are ever hard up and want
+money come to me, and I'll give it to you willingly, but don't you ever
+let me see or hear of you staking a cent on a card again. I'm running a
+gambling house, and as gambling<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9077" id="Page_9077">77</a></span> houses go, it's an honest one, but I'm
+not out plucking lambs like you. Your intentions were probably good but
+don't you ever do it again. If you really want to show your gratitude
+for what I have done for you, promise me honestly that you will never
+gamble."</p>
+
+<p>I felt very much humiliated, but took his words of advice, promised, and
+have never flipped a coin on a card since that night.</p>
+
+<p>Bill was a married man, and in addition to his suite of rooms spoken of,
+he had a very nice residence on Capitol Hill. His suite was a side
+issue, to be used when the games were running high. I had never met Mrs.
+Bradley, but during my illness I had evidence every day of her goodness
+in the shape of many delicacies that found their way to my bedside. I
+had asked Bill time and again to take me out to meet his wife, but he
+always put me off on one pretext or another.</p>
+
+<p>When I started to work, I had secured a room at the house of a Mrs.
+Slade. She had three daughters and one Sunday afternoon we were all out
+walking together, when one of them pointed to a very fine residence and
+said, "That's the residence of Bill Bradley, the big gambler."</p>
+
+<p>Just then Bill and his wife came driving by behind a spanking team of
+bays. Quick as a flash<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9078" id="Page_9078">78</a></span> my hat came off, and I bowed low. Bill saw it
+and very cavalierly returned my salute. The elder Miss Slade turned on
+me like a tigress, and said,</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Bates, do you know who that man is? Do you know what he is?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I know him very well," I replied.</p>
+
+<p>"Then what do you mean by insulting us by speaking to such a man? I did
+not know that you associated with men of his ilk."</p>
+
+<p>In a plain unvarnished way I told them of Bill Bradley's kindness to me,
+but it was no go, and as I would not renounce my liking for the man who
+had been my benefactor, my room in their house became preferable to my
+society and I left.</p>
+
+<p>The next evening I saw Bill in his rooms, and he said,</p>
+
+<p>"Martin, yesterday, when Mrs. Bradley and I drove by you and the Slade
+girls, you spoke to me and lifted your hat to Mrs. Bradley. I could do
+naught but return the salute. Now my boy, there's no use of my mincing
+words with you; I befriended you, probably saved you from ruin, but
+young as you are, you know full well that our paths do not lie parallel
+with each other. I am a gambler, and although Mrs. Bradley is as good a
+woman as ever lived, (and I'd kill the first man that said she wasn't)
+we are not recognized by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9079" id="Page_9079">79</a></span> society; no, not even by the riff raff that
+live in Hallville. You have your way to carve in the world, don't ruin
+it right at the outset by letting people know you are friendly with
+gamblers. No matter how good your motives may be, this scoffing world
+will always misconstrue them and censure you."</p>
+
+<p>This made me hot and I told him so. No matter if he was a gambler, he
+was more of a gentleman than nine-tenths of the men of society, yes,
+men, who would come and gamble half the night away in his place, and
+then go forth the next day and pose as models of propriety.</p>
+
+<p>The upshot of the whole business was that I left Hallville soon after
+this and went to San Antonio to take day report, and one day I picked up
+a paper, and read an account of how Bill Bradley had been assassinated
+by a cowardly cur who had a grudge against him. He was stabbed in the
+back, and thus ended the career of Bill Bradley, gambler and gentleman.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9080" id="Page_9080">80</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER X</h2><h3>THE DEATH OF JIM CARTWRIGHT&mdash;CHASED OFF A WIRE BY A WOMAN</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>I didn't stay at San Antonio very long after this but started
+northwards. You see it was getting to be warm weather. The first place I
+struck was a night job in a smashing good town up near the south line of
+the pan handle. I quit working at midnight, and to get to my boarding
+house had to walk a mile through a portion of the town called "Hell's
+half-acre."</p>
+
+<p>The most prominent place of any description in the city was a saloon and
+gambling house known as the "Blue Goose," owned by John Waring and Luke
+Ravel. Both men were as nervy as they make 'em and several nicks in the
+butts of their revolvers testified mutely as to their prowess. Their
+place was like all other dens, and consisted of the usual bar and lunch
+counter in one room, while in the adjoining one was the hall of gaming.
+Faro, roulette, hazard, monte, and the great national game, poker, held
+high carnival there<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9081" id="Page_9081">81</a></span> nightly. Next to the "Goose" was a long narrow room
+used as a shooting gallery. The place was only a few doors around the
+corner from my office, and many a night on my way home I would stop at
+the lunch counter and have a sandwich and a cup of coffee. I remembered
+my promise to bluff old Bill Bradley, and was never tempted to go in the
+gambling hall. I generally used to rise about noon each day and go up
+town and loaf until four o'clock, when it was time to go to work. I
+picked up a speaking acquaintance with Luke Ravel, and sometimes we
+would go into the shooting gallery together and have a friendly bout
+with the Flobert rifles.</p>
+
+<p>At this time there was one of those tough characters in the town named
+Jim Cartwright. In days gone by he had been a deputy United States
+Marshal, and one time took advantage of his official position to provoke
+a quarrel with an enemy and killed him in cold blood. Public indignation
+ran high and Jim had to skip to Mexico. He stayed away two years and
+getting in trouble over there, came back to his old stamping grounds in
+hopes the people had forgotten his former scrape. They hadn't exactly
+forgotten it, but Jim was a pretty tough character and no one seemed to
+care to tackle him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9082" id="Page_9082">82</a></span></p>
+
+<p>One night Luke Ravel and Jim had some words over a game of cards, and
+bad blood was engendered between them. The next day my side partner
+Frank Noel, and I went into the shooting gallery to try our luck, and
+were standing there enjoying ourselves, when Luke came in and took a
+hand. He was dressed in the height of fashion, and while we three were
+standing there, Jim Cartwright, three sheets in the wind, appeared in
+the doorway pistol in hand. He looked at Luke and said, with an oath,</p>
+
+<p>"Look here, Luke Ravel, your time has come. I'm going to kill you."</p>
+
+<p>My hair arose, my heart seemed to stop beating, but there was no way
+out, so Noel and I edged our way over as far as possible, and held our
+breath. Luke never turned a hair, nor changed color. He was as cool as
+an iceberg, and squarely facing Cartwright said,</p>
+
+<p>"You wouldn't shoot an unarmed man would you, Jim?"</p>
+
+<p>"Ain't you got no gun?"</p>
+
+<p>"No," replied Luke, "I'm unarmed. See," and with that he threw up the
+tails of his long coat.</p>
+
+<p>Jim hesitated a minute, and then shoving his gun into his pocket he
+said,</p>
+
+<p>"No, by heavens, I won't kill an unarmed man.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9083" id="Page_9083">83</a></span> I'll give you a chance
+for your life, but I warn you to fix yourself, because the next time I
+see you I'm going to let daylight through your carcass," and with
+another oath he turned to walk away. Hardly had he taken two steps, when
+there was a blinding flash followed by a loud report, and Jim Cartwright
+lay dead, shot through the heart, while Luke Ravel stood over him; a
+smoking .38 pocket pistol in his hand. Where he pulled his gun from no
+one ever knew; it was all over in a flash. It seems a cowardly thing to
+shoot a man in the back, but it was a case of 'dog eat dog.'</p>
+
+<p>Luke was arrested next day, and Noel and I gave our testimony before the
+coroner's jury, and he was bound over for trial before the next term of
+the circuit court to sit six months hence. There is an old and very
+trite saying in Texas that, "a dead witness is better than a live one."
+This was gently whispered into our ears, and accordingly one night about
+a month after this, Noel and I "folded our tents, and like the Arabs,
+silently stole away."</p>
+
+<p>Luke was acquitted on the plea of self defence.</p>
+
+<p>Spring time having come, and with it the good hot weather, I continued
+to move northwards and finally brought up in a good office in Nebraska,
+where I was to copy the night report from Chicago.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9084" id="Page_9084">84</a></span> We had two wires
+running to Chicago, one a quad for the regular business, and the other a
+single string for "C. N. D." and report work. My stay in this office
+was, short, sharp, brilliant and decisive.</p>
+
+<p>The first night I sat down to work at six-thirty, and in a few minutes
+was receiving the worst pounding I had ever experienced, from some
+operator in "CH" office who signed "JL." There was no kick coming on the
+sending, it was as plain as a large sized poster, but it was so
+all-fired fast, that it made me hustle for all I was worth to get it
+down. There is no sense in a fellow sending so fast, because nothing is
+made by it and it tires every one completely out. Ordinarily, a thirty
+word a minute clip is a good stiff speed for report, but this night,
+thirty-five or forty was nearer the mark. In every operator there is a
+certain amount of professional pride inherent that makes him refrain
+from breaking on report unless it is absolutely necessary. The sender
+always keeps a record of the breaks of each receiver on the line, and if
+they become too frequent the offender is gently fired. On the night in
+question I didn't break, but there were several times when foreign
+dispatches were coming that I faked names in great shape. It was an ugly
+night out, and about<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9085" id="Page_9085">85</a></span> nine o'clock our quad flew the track, and in a
+minute "JL" said to me,</p>
+
+<p>"Here's ten blacks (day messages) just handed me to send to you," and
+without waiting for me to get my manifold clip out of the way he
+started. I didn't get a chance to put the time or date down, and was
+swearing, fighting mad. After sending five of the ten messages, "JL"
+stopped a second and said,</p>
+
+<p>"How do I come?"</p>
+
+<p>"You come like the devil. For heaven's sake let up a bit," I replied.</p>
+
+<p>"Who do you think you are talking to?" came back at me.</p>
+
+<p>Seemingly, patience had ceased to be a virtue with me, so I replied,
+"Some d&mdash;&mdash;d ambitious chump of a fool who's stuck on making a record
+for himself."</p>
+
+<p>"That settles you. Call your chief operator over here."</p>
+
+<p>Joe Saunders was the chief, and when he came over he said,</p>
+
+<p>"What's the trouble here, kid, this wire gone down?"</p>
+
+<p>"No," I answered, "the wire hasn't gone down, but that cuss up in 'CH'
+who signs 'JL' has been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9086" id="Page_9086">86</a></span> pounding the eternal life out of me and I've
+just given him a piece of my mind."</p>
+
+<p>"Say anything brash?" asked Joe.</p>
+
+<p>"No, not very. Just told him he was a d&mdash;d fool with a few light
+embellishments."</p>
+
+<p>Joe laughed very heartily and said, "I guess you are the fool in this
+case, because 'JL' is a woman, Miss Jennie Love, by name, and the
+swiftest lady operator in the business. If she makes this complaint
+official, you'll get it in the neck."</p>
+
+<p>I didn't wait for any official complaint, but put on my coat and walked
+out much chagrined, because I had always boasted that no woman could
+ever run me off a wire. I had the pleasure of meeting Miss Love
+afterwards and apologized for my conduct. She forgave me, but like Mary
+Marsh, she married another man.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9087" id="Page_9087">87</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2><h3>WITNESSING A MARRIAGE BY WIRE&mdash;BEATING A POOL ROOM&mdash;SPARRING AT RANGE</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>After my disastrous encounter with Miss Love, I went south and brought
+up in St. Louis, where old "Top," the chief operator, gave me a place
+working a New York quad. This was about the worst "roast" I had ever
+struck, and it was work from the word go from 5 <span class="smcap">p. m.</span> until 1 <span class="smcap">a. m.</span> Work
+on any wire from a big city leading to New York is always hot, and this
+particular wire was the worst of the bunch. While working in this office
+I had several little incidents come under my observation that may be of
+interest.</p>
+
+<p>The coy little god of love manifests itself in many ways, and the
+successful culmination of two hearts' happiness is as often queer as it
+is humorous.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Jane Grey was an operator on the G. C. &amp; F. Railway at Wichita,
+Kansas, and Mr. Paul Dimmock worked for the Western Union in Louisville,
+Kentucky. Through the agency of a matrimonial journal, Jane and Paul
+became acquainted;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9088" id="Page_9088">88</a></span> letters and pictures were exchanged, and&mdash;it was the
+old, old story&mdash;they became engaged. They wanted to be wedded and the
+more sensational and notorious they could make it the better it would
+suit them both. Jane only earned forty dollars per month, while Paul's
+monthly stipend was the magnificent sum of sixty, with whatever extra
+time he could "scoop." Neither one of them wanted to quit work just
+then, they felt they could not afford it, but that marriage must come
+off, or they would both die of broken hearts. Paul wrote,&mdash;Jane
+wrote,&mdash;plans and compromises were made and refused; the situation was
+becoming desperate, and finally Jane's brilliant mind suggested a
+marriage by wire. Great head&mdash;fine scheme. <i>It takes a woman to
+circumvent unforeseen obstacles every time.</i> Chief operators were
+consulted in Kansas City and St. Louis and they agreed to have the wire
+cut through on the evening appointed. There were to be two witnesses in
+each office, and I was one of the honored two in St. Louis. The day
+finally arrived, and promptly at seven-thirty in the evening Louisville
+was cut through to Wichita, and after all the contracting parties and
+the witnesses had assembled, the ceremony began. There was a minister at
+each end, and as the various<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9089" id="Page_9089">89</a></span> queries and responses were received by the
+witnesses, they would read them to the contracting party present, and
+finally Paul said,</p>
+
+<p>"With this ring, I thee wed, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow:
+in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Amen."</p>
+
+<p>The ring was placed on the bride's finger, <i>by proxy</i>, the benediction
+pronounced by the Wichita minister, and the deed was done. In due time
+the certificate was received and signed by all the witnesses, and the
+matter made of record in both places.</p>
+
+<p>How long did they live apart? Oh! not very long. I think it was the next
+night that I saw a message going through directed to Paul saying, "Will
+leave for Louisville to-night," and signed "Jane."</p>
+
+<p>I wonder if old S. F. B. Morse ever had any idea when he was perfecting
+the telegraph, that it would some day be used to assist in joining
+together,</p>
+
+<p class='blockquot'>
+"Two souls with but a single thought,<br />
+Two hearts that beat as one."<br />
+</p>
+
+<p>Operators are as a rule as honest as the sun, yet, "where you find
+wheat, there also you find chaff," and once in a while a man will be
+found<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9090" id="Page_9090">90</a></span> whose proper place is the penitentiary. One of the easiest ways
+for an operator, so inclined to make money, is to cut wires, steal the
+reports of races, market quotations, or C. N. D. reports, and beat them
+to their destinations. Wires are watched very closely so that it is hard
+for an outsider to do any monkeying. Many men understand telegraphy who
+do not work at the business, and it is for this reason that all the
+instruments in the bucket shops and stock exchanges are turned so low
+that no one outside of the operating room can hear a sound. When it is
+realized that transactions are made, and fortunes won or lost in a
+fractional part of a minute, it will be seen how very careful the great
+telegraph companies must be. The big horse races every year offer great
+temptations.</p>
+
+<p>While I was working in St. Louis, a case came under my observation that
+will readily illustrate the perversity of human nature. In a large
+office not so very far away, there was working a friend of mine, who did
+nothing but copy race reports and C. N. D.'s all day. On the day the
+great Kentucky Derby was to be run, the wire was cut through from the
+track in Louisville to a big pool room in this city.</p>
+
+<p>Now the chief operator in this place was a scaly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9091" id="Page_9091">91</a></span> sort of a cuss&mdash;in
+fact, it was said that he had done time in the past for some
+skullduggery&mdash;and when the horses went to the post, he stood by the
+switchboard and deliberately cut the pool room wire, so the report
+didn't go through. He copied the report himself, knew what horse had
+won, and then sent a message to a henchman of his, who was an operator
+and had an instrument secreted in his room near the pool room. This chap
+went quickly into the pool room and made wagers right and left. A rank
+outsider, a twenty to one shot, won the race, and after the confederate
+had signified that he was ready, the chief sent the report through as if
+it had come from the track. The whole transaction didn't take over two
+minutes and the "bookies" were hit for about $30,000, which Mr. Chief
+and his side pardner divided between them.</p>
+
+<p>A little while later the suspicions of the bookmakers became aroused,
+complaints were made, an investigation followed, and one fine day when
+matters were becoming pretty warm, the recalcitrant chief disappeared.
+His confederate confessed to the whole scheme and the jig was up. The
+chief was afterwards apprehended and sent up for seven years, but he
+held on to his boodle.</p>
+
+<p>For the first month of my stay in St. Louis, my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9092" id="Page_9092">92</a></span> life was as uneventful
+as a May day, but at the end of that time a man came on the New York end
+of our quad that was enough to make a man drink. The men working
+together on a wire like this should always be harmonious, because the
+business is so heavy there is no time for any war of words. However,
+operators are like all other men, and scraps are not uncommon. Generally
+they take place at long range, and no one is hurt thereby. Some men have
+an unhappy faculty of incurring the hatred of every person over a wire,
+while personally they may be princes of good fellows. The man referred
+to above, signed "SY," and he had about as much judgment as a two year
+old kid. It didn't make any difference to him whether the weather was
+clear or muggy, no matter whether the wire was weak or strong, he'd
+pound along like a cyclone. Remonstrance availed nothing, and one night
+when he was cutting up some of his monkeyshines, I became very warm
+under the collar and told him in language more expressive than elegant,
+just what I thought of him, threatening to have our wire chief have him
+fired off the wire. He answered:</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! you go to blazes, you big ham. You're too fresh anyway."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9093" id="Page_9093">93</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The epithet "ham" is about as mean a one as can be applied to an
+operator, and I came back at him with:</p>
+
+<p>"Look here, you infernal idiot, I'll meet you some time and when I do
+I'm going to smash your face. Stop your monkeying and take these
+messages."</p>
+
+<p>"Hold your horses, sonny, what's the difference between you and a
+jackass?" he said.</p>
+
+<p>"Just nine hundred miles," I replied.</p>
+
+<p>Further words were useless and in a few minutes he was relieved, but
+just about the time he got up he said:</p>
+
+<p>"Say, 'BY,' don't forget you've got a contract to smash my face some of
+these days. I'll be expecting you. Ta Ta."</p>
+
+<p>That was the last of him on that wire and the incident passed from my
+mind. I pulled up and left St. Louis shortly after that and went to work
+for the old Baltimore and Ohio Commercial Company, at the corner of
+Broadway and Canal streets, in New York. I drew a prize in the shape of
+the common side of the first Boston quad. Sitting right alongside of me
+was a great, big, handsome Irish chap named Dick Stanley. He was as fine
+a fellow as ever lived, and that night took me<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9094" id="Page_9094">94</a></span> over to his house on
+Long Island to board. We were sitting in his room about nine-thirty,
+having a farewell smoke before retiring and our conversation turned to
+"shop talk." We talked of the old timers we had both known, told
+reminiscences, spun yarns, and all at once Dick said:</p>
+
+<p>"Say, Bates, did you ever work in 'A' office in St. Louis?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! yes," I replied, "I put in three months there under 'Old Top.' In
+fact, I came from there to New York."</p>
+
+<p>"That so?" he answered. "I used to work on the polar side of the No. 2
+quad, from this end, over in the Western Union office on Broadway and
+Dey street. What did you sign there?"</p>
+
+<p>"BY," I answered. I thought he looked queer, but we continued our talk,
+and finally I told him of my wordy war with a man in New York, who
+signed "SY," and remarked that I was going over to 195 Broadway, and
+size him up some day. He knocked the ashes out of his pipe, got up from
+his chair, and, stretching his six feet two of anatomy to its full
+length said:</p>
+
+<p>"Well, old chap, I'm fagged. I'm going to bed. You'd better get a good
+sleep and be thoroughly rested in the morning, because you'll need all
+your strength. I'm the man that signed 'SY' in the New York office, and
+I'm ready to take that licking."</p>
+
+<div class='figcenter' style='width: 326px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="illus-012" id="illus-012"></a>
+<img src='images/p2-100.jpg' alt='"He looked at me ... then catching me by the collar...."' title='' width = '326' height = '526'/><br />
+<span class='caption'>"He looked at me ... then catching me by the collar...."</span>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9095" id="Page_9095">95</a></span>
+Did I lick him? Not much, I couldn't have licked one side of him, and we
+were the best of chums during my stay in the city.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9096" id="Page_9096">96</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2><h3>HOW A SMART OPERATOR WAS SQUELCHED&mdash;THE GALVESTON FLOOD</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>A little while after this "Stub" Hanigan, another operator, invited Dick
+and me to go down to a chop house with him for lunch, and we accepted. I
+say chop house when in reality it was one of those numerous little
+hotels that abound all over New York where one can get a good meal for
+very little money. Hanigan was a rattling good operator, but he was very
+young and had a tendency to be too fresh on occasion.</p>
+
+<p>He ordered us a fine lunch and while we were sitting there discussing
+the good things, a big awkward looking chap came into the dining-room.
+He was accompanied by a sweet, pretty looking little woman. She was a
+regular beauty, and it needed but a glance to see that they were bride
+and groom, and from the country. They had all the ear marks so apparent
+in every bride and groom. They hesitated on the threshold a moment, and
+the groom said very audibly:</p>
+
+<p>"Dearest, this is the finest dining-room in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9097" id="Page_9097">97</a></span> world," and "Dearest"
+beamed on her liege lord in a manner that was very trustful and sweet.
+Hanigan, idiot that he was, laughed outright. Dick and I both gave him a
+savage kick under the table, but it didn't have any effect.</p>
+
+<p>The head waiter brought the couple over and sat them down at our table,
+and, say&mdash;that woman was as pretty as any that ever came down the pike.
+Towards the end of the meal, Hanigan took his knife and fork and began
+to telegraph to Stanley and me, making all sorts of fun about the
+country pair. Now that is a pretty dangerous business, because there is
+no telling who may be an operator. Dick growled at him savagely under
+his breath and told him to shut up. Nay! Nay! Mr. Hanigan wouldn't shut
+up worth a cent. Finally he made some scurrilous remark, and then
+another knife and fork came into play. Mr. Bridegroom was doing the
+talking now, and this is what he said to Hanigan:</p>
+
+<p>"I happen to be an operator myself, and have heard and understood every
+word you said. As long as you confined yourself to innocent remarks
+about country brides and grooms, I haven't minded it a bit. In fact, I
+have rather enjoyed it. But now you've gone too far, and in about five<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9098" id="Page_9098">98</a></span>
+seconds I'm going to have the pleasure of smashing your face."</p>
+
+<p>Then, before we had time to do a thing, biff; and Hanigan got it
+squarely on the jaw. We hustled him out of there as soon as we could,
+but Mr. Bridegroom had all his Irish up and followed him out. Eventually
+we succeeded in calming him down; "Stub" made a most abject apology, and
+I don't believe he ever used his knife and fork for any such a purpose
+again.</p>
+
+<p>The gawky chap was Mr. Dave Harrison, one of the finest operators in the
+profession.</p>
+
+<p>Just about this time fall weather was coming on, and there was a
+suggestion of an approaching winter in the chill morning air, and
+receiving a letter from my old friend Clarke in Galveston, telling me
+there was a good job waiting for me if I could come at once, I pulled up
+stakes in New York, and sailed away on the Mallory Line ship "Comal,"
+for my old stamping ground. I reached there the next week and was put to
+work on the New York Duplex, which, by the way, was the longest string
+in the United States. Mrs. Swanson had re-opened her boarding house on
+Avenue M, everything looked lovely and I anticipated a very pleasant
+winter. Up to September 18th, everything was as quiet and calm as a May
+day.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9099" id="Page_9099">99</a></span> The weather had been beautiful, the surf bathing and concerts in
+front of the Beach Hotel fine, and nothing was left to wish for.</p>
+
+<p>I quit working on Thursday, September 18th, at five <span class="smcap">p. m.</span>, and went out
+to the beach and had a plunge. The sky was clear, but there was a good
+stiff breeze blowing, and it was increasing all the time. The tide was
+flowing in, and the dashing of the waves and roar of the surf made a
+picture long to be remembered. After my swim I went home, and when
+supper was finished three of us again went out to the beach. The wind
+had increased to a perfect gale, and already the water was over the car
+tracks. The Pagoda and Surf bath houses were surrounded, while numerous
+small shacks along the shore had been washed away. Inch by inch, foot by
+foot, the water advanced until it began to look serious, but no one
+dreamed of the flood that was to follow.</p>
+
+<p>We went home at eight-thirty, and at ten I dropped into the realms of
+the sand man, lulled to sleep by the roar of the distant surf, and the
+whistling and moaning of the high wind.</p>
+
+<p>Jimmie Swanson was again my roommate and about five o'clock he woke me
+up and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Bates, if this wind keeps up the whole island<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9100" id="Page_9100">100</a></span> will be under water
+in a very few hours more."</p>
+
+<p>"Nonsense, Jimmie," I replied, "there is no danger of that," and I
+turned over to have another snooze, when I heard a peculiar <i>swash</i>,
+<i>swash</i>, <i>swash</i>, against the side of the house.</p>
+
+<p>"Jimmie, what's the swash we hear?" I asked.</p>
+
+<p>He got out of bed, limped over to the window, opened the blinds, looked
+a minute and then yelled:</p>
+
+<p>"Good Lord! the whole town is under water, and we are floating."</p>
+
+<p>It needed but a glance to convince me that he spoke part truth. There we
+were surrounded on all sides by water, but the house was still on its
+foundation.</p>
+
+<p class='blockquot'>
+"Water, water, everywhere<br />
+Nor any drop to drink."<br />
+</p>
+
+<p>On account of the sandy nature of the soil on Galveston Island, most of
+the houses were built up on piles, and the water was gently slopping all
+over the first floor of our habitation. The streets were flowing waist
+high, and filled with floating debris of all kinds;&mdash;beer kegs, boards,
+doors, and tables <i>ad lib</i>. The wind soon began to quiet down, and when
+our first fright was over we had a high old time swimming and splashing
+around<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9101" id="Page_9101">101</a></span> in the water. It's a great city that will bring salt water
+bathing right up to the doors of its houses.</p>
+
+<p>After a very skimpy breakfast, four of us made a raft, and paddled and
+pushed it down to the office. Nary a wire was there in working order.
+You see, Galveston is on a very flat island scarcely one mile wide, and
+the only approach at this time was a low railroad bridge, three miles
+long. Our wires were strung along the side of that, and at five o'clock
+in the morning, every wire was under water, and the force on duty either
+swam home or slept on the floor.</p>
+
+<p>That day was about the easiest I ever spent in a telegraph office. There
+was a Mexican cable from Galveston to Vera Cruz, but the flood had
+washed away their terminals, and for that day, Galveston was entirely
+isolated from the world.</p>
+
+<p>Houston, fifty-five miles north, was the first big town adjacent, and as
+all our wires ran through there, it was apparent they were having a hot
+time doing the relaying all day. They had only a small force, and
+evidently the business was delayed. The storm had finally blown itself
+out, and at four o'clock Clarke called for volunteers to go to Houston
+to help out until our wires came in shape again. The G. H. &amp; H. railroad
+people<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9102" id="Page_9102">102</a></span> said they thought the water was low enough to permit an engine
+to cross the bridge, and in response to Clarke's call eight of us
+volunteered to attempt the trip. After reaching the mainland we would be
+all right, but there was that confounded three mile bridge to cross. We
+boarded engine 341, with Dad Duffy at the throttle, and at four-fifteen
+he pulled out. Water was still over the track and we proceeded at a
+snail-like pace. Just at the edge of the bridge we stopped; Dad looked
+over the situation and said:</p>
+
+<p>"The water is within two inches of the fire-box now, and it's doubtful
+if we can get across, but here goes and God save us all."</p>
+
+<p>The sensation when we first struck that bridge and realized that we were
+literally on a water support, was anything but pleasant, and I reckon
+most of us uttered the first prayer in many a day. Slowly we crept
+along, and just as we were in the middle of the structure the draw
+sagged a little, and <i>kersplash!</i> out went the fire. A great cloud of
+steam arose and floated away on the evening air, and then, there stood
+that iron monster as helpless as a babe. Dad looked around at us eight
+birds perched up on the tender and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Well I reckon you fellers won't pound any brass in Houston to-night."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9103" id="Page_9103">103</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Pleasant fix to be in, wasn't it? A mile and a half from land, perched
+up on a dead engine, surrounded on all sides by water, and no chance to
+get away. There was no absolute danger, because the underpinning was
+firm enough, but all the same, every man jack of us wished he hadn't
+come. Night, black and dreary, settled over the waters, and still no
+help. Finally, at eight o'clock, the water had receded so that the tops
+of the rails could be seen, and two of us volunteered to go back on foot
+to the yard office for help. That was just three miles away, but nothing
+venture, nothing have, so we dropped off the hind end of the tender and
+started on our tramp back over the water-covered ties. We had one
+lantern, and after we had gone about a half of a mile, my companion who
+was ahead, slipped and nearly fell. I caught him but good-bye to the
+lantern, and the rest of the trip was made in utter darkness. To be
+brief, after struggling for two hours and a half, we reached the yard
+office, and an engine was sent out to help us. At twelve o'clock the
+whole gang were back in the city, wet, weary and worn out.</p>
+
+<p>The next day the water had entirely subsided and work was resumed. We
+learned then of the horror of the flood. Sabine Pass had been
+completely<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9104" id="Page_9104">104</a></span> submerged, and some hundred and fifty or two hundred people
+drowned. Indianola had been wiped out of existence, and the whole coast
+lined with the wreckage of ships. That there were no casualties in
+Galveston, was providential, and due, doubtless, to the fact that the
+whole country for fifty miles back of it is as flat as a pan-cake, and
+the water had room to spread.</p>
+
+<p>I worked there until spring and then a longing for my first love, the
+railroad, came over me and I gave up my place and bade good-bye to the
+commercial business forever. I had had my fling at it and was
+satisfied.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9105" id="Page_9105">105</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2><h3>SENDING MY FIRST ORDER</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>I had now been knocking about the country for quite a few years, and
+working in all kinds of offices and places, and had acquired a great
+deal of experience and valuable information, so I reached the conclusion
+that it was about time for me to settle down and get something that
+would last me for a while. Commercial work I did not care for, nor did I
+want to go back on the road as a night operator on a small salary. I
+thought I had the making of a good despatcher in me, and determined to
+try for that place. I knew it had to be attained by starting first at
+the bottom, so I went up on the K. M. &amp; O. and secured a position as
+night operator at Vining. The K. M. &amp; O. was a main trunk line running
+out of Chaminade, and was the best road for business that I had as yet
+struck. Vining was midway on the division, and was such a good old town
+that I would have been content to have stayed there for some time, but
+one day an engine pulling a through livestock express<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9106" id="Page_9106">106</a></span> broke a driving
+rod while running like lightning, and the result was a smash up of the
+first water&mdash;engine in the ditch, cars piled all over her, livestock
+mashed up, engineer killed, fireman badly hurt, and the road blocked for
+twenty-four hours. The wreck occurred on a curve going down a rather
+steep grade, so that it was impossible to build a temporary track around
+it. A wrecking train was sent out from El Monte, and as I happened to be
+off duty, I was picked up and taken along, to cut in the wrecking
+office. The division superintendent came out to hurry up things and he
+appeared so pleased at my work that, in a few weeks, he offered me a
+place as copy operator in the despatcher's office at El Monte. This
+appeared to be a great chance to satisfy my ambition to become a
+despatcher, so I gladly accepted, and in a few days was safely ensconced
+in my new position. The despatchers only work eight hours a day, while
+the copy operators work twelve, so they work with two despatchers every
+day. I had the day end of the job and worked from eight <span class="smcap">a. m.</span> until eight
+<span class="smcap">p. m.</span>, with an hour off for dinner, so that I really was only on duty for
+eleven hours. The pay was good for me, seventy dollars per month, and I
+was thoroughly satisfied. Really all that is necessary to be a first
+class copy operator<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9107" id="Page_9107">107</a></span> is to be an expert telegrapher. It is simply a work
+of sending and receiving messages all day. However I wanted to learn, so
+I kept my ears and eyes opened, and studied the time card, train sheet,
+and order book very assiduously.</p>
+
+<p>The first trick despatcher was honest old Patrick J. Borroughs, a man of
+twenty-five years' experience in the business and as good a man as ever
+sent an order or took an O. S. report. He was kindness and gentleness
+personified, and assisted me in every way possible, and all my future
+success was due to his help and teaching. The memory of the time I
+worked under him is the brightest spot in all the years I served in the
+business. After I had been there for about five months, he would allow
+me, under his supervision, to make simple meeting points for two trains,
+and one day he allowed me to give a right-of-track order to a through
+freight train over a delayed passenger. Then he would let me sit around
+in his chair, while he swallowed his lunch, and copy the O. S. reports.
+I was beginning to think that my education as a despatcher was complete,
+and was thinking of asking for the next vacancy, when a little incident
+occurred that entirely disabused my mind. The following occurrence will
+show how little I knew about the business.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9108" id="Page_9108">108</a></span></p>
+
+<p>We had received notice one morning of a special train to be run over our
+division that afternoon, carrying a Congressional Railroad Committee,
+and of course that meant a special schedule, and you all know how
+anxious the roads are to please railroad committees, especially when
+they are on investigating tours (?) with reference to the extension of
+the Inter-State Commerce Act, as this one was. We were told to "whoop
+her through." The track on our division was the best on the whole road,
+and it was only 102 miles long; we had plenty of sidings and passing
+tracks, and besides old "Jimmie" Hayes, with engine 444 was in, so they
+could be assured of a run that was a hummer. Mr. Hebron, the division
+superintendent, came in the office and told Borroughs to tear things
+loose, in fact, as he said, "Make 'em all car sick."</p>
+
+<p>After he had gone out Pat tossed the notification over to me, and said,
+"Bates, here's a chance for you to show what kind of stuff you are made
+of. Make out a schedule for this special, giving her a clean sweep from
+end to end, with the exception of No. 21."</p>
+
+<p>Proud! That wasn't the proper name for it. I was fully determined that
+<i>this</i> special should have a run for her money if she ran on my
+schedule.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9109" id="Page_9109">109</a></span> No Congressional Committee was going back to Washington with
+the idea that the K. M. &amp; O. wasn't the swiftest road in the bunch, if I
+could help it, and I had a big idea that I could. Pat told me he would
+do the copying while I made the schedule, but as he said it I fancied I
+saw a merry twinkle in his honest blue eyes. I wasn't daunted though,
+and started to work.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"Order No. 34. "To C&amp;E, all trains:</p>
+
+<p>"K. M. &amp; O. <span class="smcap">Railroad</span> (Eastern Division). "<span class="smcap">Despatcher's Office</span>,
+'DS,' <i>October</i> 15, 18&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Special east engine 444, will run from El Monte to Marsan having
+right of track over all trains except No. 21, on the following
+schedule:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Leave El Monte, 2:30 <span class="smcap">p. m.</span>"</p></div>
+
+<p>Thus far I proceeded without any trouble, and then I stuck. Here was
+where the figuring came in, along with the knowledge of the road, grades
+and so forth, but I was sadly lacking in that respect. I studied and
+figured and used up lots of gray matter, and even chewed up a pencil or
+two. I finally finished the schedule and submitted it to Pat. He read it
+carefully, knitted his brows for a moment, and then said, slowly:</p>
+
+<p>"For a beginner that schedule is about the best I ever saw. It's a
+hummer without a doubt. But<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9110" id="Page_9110">110</a></span> to prevent the lives of the Congressional
+Committee from being placed in jeopardy, I think I shall have to make
+another." Then he laughed heartily, and continued,</p>
+
+<p>"All joking aside, Bates, my boy, you did pretty well, but you have only
+allowed seven minutes between Sumatra and Borneo, while the time card
+shows the distance to be fourteen miles. Jim Hayes and engine 444 are
+capable of great bursts of speed, but, by Jingo, they can't fly. Then
+again you have forgotten our through passenger train, No. 21, which is
+an hour late from the south to-day; what are you going to do with her?
+Pass them on one track, I suppose. But don't be discouraged, my boy,
+brace up and try it again. That's a much better schedule than the first
+one I ever made."</p>
+
+<p>He made another schedule and I resumed my copying. It wasn't long,
+however, before my confidence returned and I wanted a trick. I got it,
+but in such a manner that even now, fifteen years afterwards, I shudder
+to think of it.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9111" id="Page_9111">111</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2><h3>RUNNING TRAINS BY TELEGRAPH&mdash;HOW IT IS DONE</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The despatcher's office of a big railroad line is one of the most
+interesting places a man can get into, especially if he is interested in
+the workings of our great railway systems. It is located at the division
+headquarters, or any other point, such as will make the despatching of
+trains and attendant orders of easy accomplishment. In riding over a
+road, many people are prone to give the credit of a good swift run to
+the engineer and train crew. Pick up a paper any day that the President
+or some big functionary is out on a trip, and you will probably read
+how, at the end of the run, he stopped beside the panting engine, and
+reaching up to shake the hand of the faithful, grimy engineer, would
+say:</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you so much for giving us such a good run. I don't know when I
+have ridden so fast before," or words to that effect. He never thinks
+that the engineer and crew are but the mechanical<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9112" id="Page_9112">112</a></span> agents, they are but
+small cogs in a huge machine. They do their part and do it well, but the
+brains of the machine are up in the little office and are all
+incorporated in the despatcher on duty. Flying over the country
+regardless of time or space, one is apt to forget where the real credit
+belongs. The swift run could not be made, and the train kept running
+without a stop, if it were not for the fact that the despatcher puts
+trains on the sidetrack so that the special need not be delayed, and he
+does it in such a manner that the regular business of the road shall not
+be interfered with.</p>
+
+<p>The interior of the despatcher's office is not, as a rule, very
+sumptuous. There is the big counter at one side of the room, on which
+are the train registers, car record books, message blanks, and forms for
+the various reports. Against the wall on one of the other sides is a big
+black board known as the "call board." On it is recorded the probable
+arrival and departure of trains, and the names of their crews, also the
+time certain crews are to be called. As soon as the train men have
+completed the work of turning their train over to the yard crew at the
+end of their run, they are registered in the despatcher's office, and
+are liable thereafter for duty in their turn. The rule "first<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9113" id="Page_9113">113</a></span> in,
+first, out," is supposed to be strictly adhered to in the running of
+trains. About the middle of the room, or in the recess of the bay
+window, is the despatcher's table. On it in front of the man on duty, is
+the train sheet, containing information, exact and absolute in its
+nature, of each train on the division. On this sheet there is also a
+space set apart for the expected arrival of trains on his district from
+the other end, and one for delays. Loads, empties, everything, is there
+that is necessary for him to know to properly run the trains on time and
+with safety. At any minute the despatcher on duty can tell you the
+precise location of any train, what she is doing, how her engine is
+working, how much work she has to do along the road, and all about her
+engineer and conductor. Generally, there are two sets of instruments on
+the table, one for use of what is known as the despatcher's wire, over
+which his sway is absolute, and the other for a wire that is used for
+messages, reports, and the like, and in case of emergency, by the
+despatcher. Mounted on a roll in front of him is the current official
+time card of the division. From the information contained thereon, the
+despatcher makes all his calculations for time orders, meeting points,
+work trains, etc. Across the table from the despatcher sits the "copy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9114" id="Page_9114">114</a></span>
+operator," whose duty it is to copy everything that comes along, thus
+relieving the despatcher of anything that would tend to disturb him in
+his work. The copy operator is generally the man next for promotion to a
+despatcher's trick, and his relations with his chief must be entirely
+harmonious.</p>
+
+<p>The working force in a well regulated despatcher's office consists of
+the chief despatcher, three trick despatchers, and two copy operators,
+with the various call boys and messengers. The chief despatcher is next
+to the division superintendent, and has full charge of the office. He
+has the supervision of the yard and train reports, and the ordering out
+of the trains and crews. He has charge of all the operators on the
+division, their hiring and dismissal, and has general supervision of the
+telegraph service. In fact, he is a little tin god on wheels. His office
+hours? He hasn't any. Most of the chiefs are in their offices from early
+morn until late at night, and there is no harder worked man in the world
+than the chief despatcher.</p>
+
+<p>Each day is divided into three periods of eight hours each, known as
+"tricks," and a despatcher assigned to each. The first trick is from
+eight <span class="smcap">a. m.</span> until four <span class="smcap">p. m.</span>; the second from four <span class="smcap">p. m.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9115" id="Page_9115">115</a></span></span> until twelve
+midnight; and the third from twelve midnight until eight <span class="smcap">a. m.</span></p>
+
+<p>At eight o'clock in the morning, the first trick despatcher comes on
+duty, and his first work is to verify the train sheet and order book.
+The man going off duty checks off all orders issued by him that have
+been carried out, and his successor signs his initials to all orders yet
+to be obeyed. This signifies that he has read them over very carefully
+and thoroughly understands their purport. As soon as he has receipted
+for them he becomes as responsible as if he had first issued them. He
+glances carefully over his train sheet, assures himself that everything
+is correct and then assumes his duties for the day. Anything that is not
+clear to him must be thoroughly explained before his predecessor leaves,
+and he must signify that he understands everything. The value of that
+old time card rule, so familiar to all railroaders, "In case of doubt
+always take the safe side," is exemplified many times every day in the
+running of trains by telegraph, and the attendant orders. After a
+despatcher has assumed charge of the trick he is the master of the
+situation; he is responsible for everything, and his attentiveness,
+ability and judgment are the powers that keep the trains moving and on
+time.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9116" id="Page_9116">116</a></span></p>
+
+<p>When all trains are running on time, and there are no extras or specials
+out, the despatcher's duty is easy, and consists largely in taking and
+recording "O. S. reports," and "Consists." The "O. S. report" is the
+report sent in by the various operators as the trains arrive and depart
+from the several stations. A "consist" is a message sent by the
+conductor of a train to the division superintendent, giving the exact
+composition and destination of every car in his train. When trains are
+late, however, or many extras are running or the track washed out, the
+despatcher's work becomes very arduous. Orders of all kinds have to be
+made, engines and crews kept working together and trains moving.</p>
+
+<p>Down the centre of the train sheet, which varies in size according to
+the length of the division, are printed the names of all the telegraph
+stations on the division and the distances between them. On either side
+of this main column are ruled smaller columns, each one of which
+represents a train. The number of each train is at the head of the
+appropriate column, and under it are the number of the engine, the names
+of the conductor and engineer, and the number of loads and empties in
+the train. All trains on the division are arranged in three classes, and
+each class has certain rights.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9117" id="Page_9117">117</a></span> Trains of the first class are always
+passengers; the through freight, and the combination freight and
+passenger trains compose the second class. All other trains, such as
+local freights, work trains and construction trains belong to the third
+class. It is an invariable rule on all railroads that trains running one
+way have <i>exclusive rights</i> over trains of their own and of inferior
+classes running in the opposite direction.</p>
+
+<p>What is called the "double order system," is used almost exclusively on
+all single track roads, and if the rules and regulations governing it
+were strictly adhered to and carried out, accidents for which human
+agency is responsible, would be impossible. It consists simply in giving
+an order to all the trains concerned <i>at the same time</i>. That is to say,
+if the despatcher desires to make a meeting point for two trains, he
+will send the same order simultaneously to both of them. If a train is
+leaving his end of the division and he desires to make a meeting point
+with a train coming in, before giving his order to his conductor and
+engineer, he would telegraph it to a station at which the incoming train
+was soon to arrive, and from whence the operator would repeat it back
+word for word, and would give a signal signifying that his red board was
+turned. By this means both trains<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9118" id="Page_9118">118</a></span> would receive the same order, and
+there would be no doubt about the point at which they were to meet.</p>
+
+<p>To illustrate this method, let us suppose a case of two sections of No.
+13 running east and one section of No. 14 running west. Both trains are
+of the second class, and as the east bound trains have the right of way,
+No. 14 <i>must</i> keep out of the way of the two 13's. A certain point, call
+it Smithville, is, according to the time card, the meeting point for
+these two trains. But No. 14 finds out she has a lot of work to do at
+Jonesboro; or a hot driving box or a draw head pulling out delays her,
+and thus she cannot possibly reach Smithville for No. 13. She is at
+Jason, and unless she can get orders to run farther on No. 13's time,
+she will have to tie up there and be further delayed an hour. The
+conductor tells the operator at Jason to ask "DS" if he can help them
+out any. "DS" glances over his train sheet, and finds that he cannot let
+them run to Smithville, because No. 13 is nearly on time; but there is a
+siding at Burkes, between Jason and Smithville, and he concludes to let
+14 go there. So he tells the operator at Jason to "copy 3," and then he
+calls Smithville and tells him to "copy 5." Both the engineer and
+conductor get a copy of all orders pertaining to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9119" id="Page_9119">119</a></span> their trains, and the
+operators retain one for their records and for reference in case of
+accident. Both operators turn their red boards <i>the first thing</i>, and so
+long as the signal remains red, no train can pass the station, without
+first receiving an order or a clearance card. In the case supposed the
+order would be as follows:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"DS <span class="smcap">Despatcher's Office</span>, 12, 8, '98</p>
+
+<p>"Orders No. 31.</p>
+
+<p>
+To C. &amp; E. 1st and 2nd 13, SM.<br />
+To C. &amp; E. No. 14, JN.<br />
+</p>
+
+<p>First and second sections No. 13, and No. 14 will meet at Burkes.</p>
+
+<p>12. (Answer how you understand).</p>
+
+<p>"H. G. C."</p></div>
+
+<p>The despatcher's operator, sitting opposite to him, copies every word of
+this order as the despatcher sends it, and when the operators at
+Smithville and Jason repeat it back, he underlines each word, great care
+being taken to correct any mistakes made by the operators. After an
+operator has repeated an order back he signs his name, and the
+despatcher then says:</p>
+
+<p>"Order No. 31, O. K.," giving the time and signing the division
+superintendent's initials thereto. The order is next handed to the
+conductor and engineer of each train when they come to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9120" id="Page_9120">120</a></span> the office; both
+read it carefully, and then signify that they understand it fully by
+signing their names. The operator then says to the despatcher, "Order
+31, sig. Jones and Smith," and the despatcher gives the "complete" and
+the exact time. Then a copy is given to the conductor and one to the
+engineer and they leave. On the majority of roads the conductor must
+read the order aloud to the engineer before leaving the office.</p>
+
+<p>Thus No. 14 having received her orders, pulls out, and when she reaches
+Burkes, she goes on the side track and waits there for both 13's,
+because 13, being an east bound train of the same class, has the
+right-of-track over her. The same <i>modus operandi</i> is gone through with
+for No. 13, and when the trains have departed the operators pull in
+their red boards. When the meeting has been made and both trains are
+safely by Burkes, the despatcher draws a blue pencil or makes a check
+mark on his order book copy and signs his initials, which signifies that
+the provisions of the order have been carried out. Should its details
+not have been completed when the despatcher is relieved, his successor
+signs his initials thereto showing that he has received it. This is the
+method of sending train orders, exact and simple, on single track
+railroads. On double track lines<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9121" id="Page_9121">121</a></span> the work is greatly simplified because
+trains running in each direction have separate tracks. Does it not seem
+simple? And how impossible are mistakes when its rules are adhered to.
+It really seems as if any one gifted with a reasonable amount of common
+sense, and having a knowledge of the rudiments of mathematics, could do
+the work, but underneath all the simplicity explained, there runs a deep
+current of complications that only long time and a cool head can master.
+I have worked in offices and been figuring on orders for a train soon to
+start out from my end of the division, when all of a sudden some train
+out on the road that has been running all night, will bob up with a hot
+box, or a broken draw head, and then all the calculations for the new
+train will be knocked into a cocked hat.</p>
+
+<p>The simple meeting order has been given above. The following examples
+will illustrate some of the other many forms of orders, and are
+self-explanatory.</p>
+
+<p class='center'><span class="smcap">Time Order</span></p>
+
+<p>No. 14 has a right to use ten minutes of the time of No. 13 between
+Jason and Jonesboro.</p>
+
+<p class='center'><span class="smcap">Slow Order</span></p>
+
+<p>All trains will run carefully over track from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9122" id="Page_9122">122</a></span> one-half mile east of
+Salt Water to Big River Bridge, track soft.</p>
+
+<p class='center'><span class="smcap">Extra Order</span></p>
+
+<p>Engine 341 will run extra from DeLeon to Valdosta.</p>
+
+<p class='center'><span class="smcap">Annulment Order</span></p>
+
+<p>No. 15 of January 6th is annulled between Santiago and Rio.</p>
+
+<p class='center'><span class="smcap">Work Order</span></p>
+
+<p>Engine 228 will work between Posey and Patterson, keeping out of the way
+of all regular trains. Clear track for extra west, engine 327 at 10:30
+<span class="smcap">a. m.</span></p>
+
+<p>When an operator has once turned his red board to the track for an
+order, under no circumstances must he pull it in until he has delivered
+the order for the train for which it is intended. In the meantime should
+another train come in for which he has no orders, he will give it a
+clearance card as follows:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>To C. &amp; E., No. 27</p>
+
+<p>There are no orders for you, signal is set for No. 18.</p>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">H. G. Clarke</span>, <i>Operator</i>.</p></div>
+
+<p>At stated times during the day, the despatchers on duty on each division
+send full reports of all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9123" id="Page_9123">123</a></span> their trains to the divisions adjoining them
+on either side. This train report is very complete, giving the
+composition of each and every train on the road, and the destination of
+every car. A form of the message will readily illustrate this:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">San Angelo</span>, 5 | 16, 18&mdash;.</p>
+
+<p>W. H. C. DS</p>
+
+<p>No 17 will arrive at DS, at 10:20 <span class="smcap">a. m.</span>, with the following:</p>
+
+<table summary='order'>
+<tr><td>1 HH goods</td><td>Chgo.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>2 Livestock</td><td>Kansas City.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>3 Mdse</td><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"</td></tr>
+<tr><td>1 Emgt. outfit</td><td>St. Louis.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>6 Coal</td><td>Houston.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>6 Wheat</td><td>Chgo.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>7 Empty sys. flats&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>Flat Rock.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>&mdash;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Total 26&nbsp;</td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<p>H. G. B.</p></div>
+
+<p>All work is done over the initials of the division superintendent and in
+his name. These reports keep the despatchers fully informed as to what
+may be expected, and arrangements can be made to keep the trains moving
+without delay. Of course the report illustrated above is for but one
+train, necessarily it must be much longer when many trains are running.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9124" id="Page_9124">124</a></span></p>
+
+<p>At some regular time during the day all the agents on the division send
+in a car report. This is copied by the despatcher's operator and shows
+how many and what kind of cars are on the side tracks; the number of
+loads ready to go out; the number and kind of cars wanted during the
+ensuing twenty-four hours; and if the station is a water station, how
+many feet of water are in the tank; or if a coaling station, how many
+cars of coal there are on hand; and lastly, what is the character of the
+weather. On some roads weather reports are sent in every hour.</p>
+
+<p>In view of all this, I think it is not too much to say, that the eyes of
+the despatcher see everything on the road. There are a thousand and one
+small details, in addition to the momentous matters of which he has
+charge, and the man who can keep his division clear, with all trains
+moving smoothly and on time, must indeed possess both excellent method
+and application, and must have the ability and nerve to master numerous
+unexpected situations the moment they arise. He is not an artisan or a
+mechanic, <i>he is a genius</i>.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9125" id="Page_9125">125</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2><h3>AN OLD DESPATCHER'S MISTAKE&mdash;MY FIRST TRICK</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>I had become thoroughly proficient and more frequently than ever
+Borroughs would let me "spell" for him for a while each day. Be it said
+to his credit, however, he was always within hearing, when I was doing
+any of his work. He was carefulness personified, and the following
+incident only serves to show what unaccountable errors will be made by
+even the best of men.</p>
+
+<p>One cold morning in January, I started to the office as usual. The air
+was so still, crisp and biting that the air-pumps of the engines had
+that peculiar sharp, snappy sound heard only in a panting engine in cold
+weather. They seemed almost imbued with life. As I went into the office
+at eight o'clock to go to work, the night man remarked that I must be
+feeling pretty brash; my spirits seemed so high. And in fact, that was
+no joke; I was feeling fine as silk and showed it all over. But as I
+said good morning to Borroughs, I noticed that he seemed rather glum,
+and I asked:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9126" id="Page_9126">126</a></span> "What's the matter, Dad? Feeling bad this morning?"</p>
+
+<p>He snapped back in a manner entirely foreign to him, "No, but I don't
+feel much like chaffing this day. I feel as if something was going to
+happen, and I don't like the feeling."</p>
+
+<p>I answered, "Oh! bosh, Dad. You'll feel all right in a few minutes; I
+reckon you've got a good old attack of dyspepsia; brace up."</p>
+
+<p>Just then the wires started up, and he gruffly told me to sit down and
+go to work and our conversation ceased. That was the first time he had
+ever used anything but a gentle tone to me, and I felt hurt. The first
+trick is always the busiest, and under the stress of work the incident
+soon passed from my mind. Pat remarked once, that the general
+superintendent was going to leave Chaminade in a special at 10:30 <span class="smcap">A. M.</span>,
+on a tour of inspection over the road. That was about all the talking he
+did that morning. His work was as good as ever, and in fact, he made
+some of the prettiest meets that morning I had ever seen.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9127" id="Page_9127">127</a></span></p>
+
+<div class='figcenter' style='width: 350px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="illus-013" id="illus-013"></a>
+<img src='images/p2-128.jpg' alt='"... Half lying on the table, face downward, dead by his own hand"' title='' width = '350' height = '524'/><br />
+<span class='caption'>"... Half lying on the table, face downward, dead by his own hand"</span>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9129" id="Page_9129">129</a></span>About
+10:35, I asked Borroughs to allow me to go over to the hotel to
+get a cigar. I would be gone only a few minutes. He assented, and I
+slipped on my overcoat and went out. I wasn't gone over ten minutes, and
+as I stepped into the doorway to come upstairs on my return, I heard
+what sounded like a shot in the office. I flew upstairs two steps at a
+time, and never to my dying day will I forget the sight that met my
+gaze. Borroughs, whom I had left but a few moments before full of life
+and energy, was half lying on the table, face downwards, dead by his own
+hand. The blood was oozing from a jagged wound in his temple, and on the
+floor was the smoking pistol he had used. Fred Bennett, the chief
+despatcher, as pale as a ghost, was bending over him, while the two call
+boys were standing near paralyzed with fright. It was an intensely
+dramatic setting for a powerful stage picture, and my heart stood still
+for a minute as I contemplated the awful scene. Mr. Hebron, the division
+superintendent, came in from the outer office, and was transfixed with
+horror and amazement when he saw the terrible picture.</p>
+
+<p>Bennett turned to me and said, "Bates, come here and help me lift poor
+Borroughs out of this chair."</p>
+
+<p>Gently and carefully we laid him down on the floor and sent one of the
+badly frightened boys for a surgeon. Medical skill was powerless,
+however, and the spirit of honest Pat Borroughs had crossed the dark
+river to its final reckoning.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9130" id="Page_9130">130</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Work in the office was at a standstill on account of the tragic
+occurrence, but all of a sudden I heard Monte Carlo calling "DS" and
+using the signal "WK," which means "wreck." Bennett told me to sit down
+and take the trick until the second trick man could be called. I went
+over and sat down in the chair, still warm from the body of my late
+friend, and wiping his blood off the train sheet with my handkerchief, I
+answered.</p>
+
+<p>It would be impossible to describe the state of my feelings as I first
+touched the key; I had completely lost track of trains, orders and
+everything else. However, I gradually pulled myself together, and got
+the hang of the road again, and then I learned how the wreck had
+occurred. About a minute after I went out, Borroughs had given a
+right-of-track order to an express freight from Monte Carlo to
+Johnsonville, and had told them to hurry up. Johnsonville is on the
+outskirts of Chaminade, and Borroughs had completely forgotten that the
+general superintendent's special had left there just five minutes before
+with a clean sweep order. That he had known of it was evident from the
+fact that it was recorded on the train sheet. Two minutes after the
+freight had left Monte Carlo, poor Pat realized he had at last<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9131" id="Page_9131">131</a></span> made his
+mistake. He said not a word to any person, but quietly ordered out the
+wrecking outfit, and then reaching in the drawer he took out a revolver
+and&mdash;snuffed out his candle. He fell forward on the train sheet, as if
+to cover up with his lifeless body, the terrible blunder he had just
+made. Many other despatchers had made serious errors, and in a measure
+outlived them; but here was a man who had grown gray in the service of
+railroads, with never a bad mark against him. Day and night, in season
+and out, he had given the best of his brain and life to the service, and
+finally by one slip of the memory he had, as he thought, ruined himself;
+and, too proud to bear the disgrace, he killed himself. He was
+absolutely alone in the world and left none to mourn his loss save a
+large number of operators he had helped over the rough places of the
+profession.</p>
+
+<p>The wreck was an awful one. The superintendent's son was riding on the
+engine, and he and the engineer and the fireman were mashed and crushed
+almost beyond recognition. The superintendent, his wife and daughter,
+and a friend, were badly bruised, but none of them seriously injured.
+The second trick man was not to be found immediately, so I worked until
+four o'clock, and the impression of that awful day will never<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9132" id="Page_9132">132</a></span> leave me.
+Pat's personality was constantly before me in the shape of the blood
+stain on the train sheet. It was a long time before I recovered my
+equanimity.</p>
+
+<p>The next afternoon we buried poor Pat under the snow, and the earth
+closed over him forever; and thus passed from life a man whose character
+was the purest, whose nature was the gentlest: honest and upright, I
+have never seen his equal in the profession or out. I often think if I
+had not gone over to the hotel that morning, the accident might have
+been averted, because, perhaps, I would have noticed the mistake in time
+to have prevented the collision. But, on the other hand, it is probable
+I would not have noticed it, because operators, not having the
+responsibility of the despatchers, rarely concentrate their minds
+intensely on what they are taking. A man will sit and copy by the hour
+with the greatest accuracy, and at the same time be utterly oblivious of
+the purport of what he has been taking. There can be no explanation as
+to why Pat forgot the special. It is one of those things that happen;
+that's all.</p>
+
+<p>The rule of seniority was followed in the office, and in the natural
+sequence of events the night man got my job, I was promoted to the third
+trick&mdash;from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9133" id="Page_9133">133</a></span> twelve midnight until eight <span class="smcap">A. M.</span>&mdash;and a new copy operator
+was brought in from Vining.</p>
+
+<p>If any trick is easier than another it is the third, but none of them
+are by any means sinecures. When I was a copy operator I used to imagine
+it was an easy thing to sit over on the other side of the table and give
+orders, "jack up" operators, conductors and engineers, and incidentally
+haul some men over the coals every time I had to call them a few
+minutes; but when I reached the summit of an operator's ambition, and
+was assigned to a trick I found things very different. Copying with no
+responsibility was dead easy; but despatching trains I found about the
+stiffest job I had ever undertaken. I had to be on the alert with every
+faculty and every minute during the eight hours I was on duty. While the
+first and second trick men, have perhaps more train order work attached
+to them, the third is about on a par with them as far as actual labor is
+concerned, because, in addition to the regular train order work, a new
+train sheet has to be opened every night at twelve o'clock, which
+necessitates keeping two sheets until all the trains on the old one have
+completed their runs. There is also a consolidated train report to be
+made at this time, which is a re-capitulation of the movements of all
+trains for the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9134" id="Page_9134">134</a></span> preceding twenty-four hours, giving delays, causes
+thereof, accidents, cars hauled, etc. This is submitted to the division
+superintendent in the morning, and after he has perused and digested its
+contents he sends a condensed copy to the general superintendent. Many a
+man loses his job by a report against him on that train sheet.</p>
+
+<p>To show the strain on a man's mind when he is despatching trains, let me
+tell a little incident that happened to me just in the beginning of my
+career as a despatcher. Every morning about five o'clock, the third
+trick man begins to figure on his work train orders for the day and when
+he has completed them he sends them out to the different crews. Work
+train orders, it may not be amiss to explain, are orders given to the
+different construction crews, such as the bridge gang, the grading gang,
+the track gang, etc., to work between certain points at certain times.
+They must be very full and explicit in detail as to all trains that are
+to run during the continuance of the order. For regular trains running
+on time, no notification need be given, because the time card rules
+would apply; but for all extras, specials, and delayed trains, warnings
+must be given, so that the work trains can get out of the way for them,
+otherwise the results might be very serious, and business<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9135" id="Page_9135">135</a></span> be greatly
+delayed. Work orders are the bane of a new despatcher's existence, and
+the manner in which he handles them is a sure indication as to whether
+he will be successful or not. Many a man gets to a trick only to fall
+down on these work orders.</p>
+
+<p>I stumbled along fairly well the first night as a despatcher, and had no
+mishaps to speak of, although I delayed a through passenger some ten
+minutes, by hanging it up on a siding for a fast freight train, and I
+put a through freight on a siding for a train of an inferior class. For
+these little errors of judgment I was "cussed out" by all the conductors
+and engineers on the division when they came in; and the division
+superintendent, on looking over the train sheet the next morning,
+remarked, that delaying a passenger train would never do&mdash;in such a tone
+of voice that I could plainly see my finish should I ever so offend
+again.</p>
+
+<p>The second night passed all right enough, and by 5:30 <span class="smcap">A. M.</span>, I had
+completed my work orders and sent them out. From that time on until
+eight o'clock when the first trick man relieved me I was kept busy. He
+read over my outstanding orders, verified the sheet, and signed the
+transfer on the order book, and after a few moments' chat I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9136" id="Page_9136">136</a></span> went home.
+I went to bed about nine o'clock, and was on the point of dropping off
+to sleep, when all at once I remembered that an extra fast freight was
+due to leave at 9:45 <span class="smcap">A. M.</span>, and that there was a train working in a cut
+four miles out. I wondered if I had notified her to get out of the way
+of the extra. That extra would go down through that cut like a streak of
+greased lightning, because Horace Daniels, on engine 341, was going to
+pull her, and Horace was known as a runner from away back. I reviewed in
+my mind, as carefully as I could all the orders I had given to the work
+train, and was rather sure I had notified them, but still I was not
+absolutely certain, and began to feel very uncomfortable. Poor Borroughs
+had just had his smash up, and I didn't want "poor Bates," to have his
+right away. Maybe it was the spirit of this same old man Borroughs, who
+was sleeping so peacefully under the ground that made me feel and act
+carefully. I looked at my watch and found it was 9:20. The extra would
+leave in twenty-five minutes and I lived nearly a mile from the office.
+The strain was beginning to be too much, so I slipped on my clothes and
+without putting on a collar or a cravat, I caught up my hat and ran with
+all my might for the depot. As I approached I saw Daniels giving 341
+the last touch of oil before he pulled out. Thank God, they hadn't gone.
+I shouted to him, "Don't pull out for a minute, Daniels; I think there
+is a mistake in your orders."</p>
+
+<p>Daniels was a gruff sort of a fellow, and he snapped back at me, "What's
+the matter with you? I hain't got no orders yet. Come here until I oil
+those wheels in your head."</p>
+
+<p>I went up in the office and Daniels followed me. Bennett, the chief, was
+standing by the counter as I went in, and after a glance at me he said,
+"What's up, kid? Seen a ghost? You look almost pale enough to be one
+yourself."</p>
+
+<p>I said, "No, I haven't seen any ghosts, but I am afraid I forgot to
+notify that gang working just east of here about this extra."</p>
+
+<p>The conductor and engineer were both there and they smiled very audibly
+at my discomfiture; in fact, it was so audible you could hear it for a
+block. Bennett went over to the table, glanced at the order book and
+train sheet for a minute and then said, "Oh, bosh! of course you
+notified them. Here it is as big as life, 'Look out for extra east,
+engine 341, leaving El Monte at 9:45 <span class="smcap">A. M.</span>' What do you want to get such
+a case of the rattles and scare us all that way for?"</p>
+
+<p>I was about to depart for home to resume my sleep, and was
+congratulating myself on my escape, when Bennett called me over to one
+side of the room, and in a low, but very firm voice, metaphorically ran
+up and down my spinal column with a rake. He asked me if I didn't know
+there were other despatchers in that office besides myself; men who knew
+more in a minute about the business than I did in a month; and didn't I
+suppose that the order book would be verified, and the train sheet
+consulted before sending out the extra? He hoped I would never show such
+a case of the rattles again. That was all. Good morning. All the same I
+was glad I went back to the office that morning, because I had satisfied
+myself that I had not committed an unpardonable error at the outset of
+my career.</p>
+
+<p><i>In case of doubt always take the safe side.</i></p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9137" id="Page_9137">137</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2><h3>A GENERAL STRIKE&mdash;A LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEER FOR A DAY</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>During the ensuing spring, one of those spasmodic waves of strikes
+passed over the country. Some northern road that wasn't earning enough
+money to pay the interest on its bonds, cut down the salaries of some of
+its employees, and they went out. Then the "sympathy" idea was worked to
+the full limit, and gradually other roads were tied up. We had hopes it
+would escape us, but one fine day we awoke to find our road tied up good
+and hard. The conductors and brakemen went first, and a few days later
+they were followed by the engineers and firemen. That completed the
+business and we were up against it tighter than a brick. Our men hadn't
+the shadow of a grievance against the company, and were not in full
+sympathy with the strike, but their obligation to their unions was too
+strong for them to resist.</p>
+
+<p>It placed us in a pretty bad fix because just at this time we had a yard
+full of freight, a good deal<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9138" id="Page_9138">138</a></span> of it perishable, and it was imperative
+that it should be moved at once or the company would be out a good many
+dollars. The roundhouse men and a few hostlers were still working, so it
+was an easy thing to get a yard engine out. Bennett, myself, Burns, the
+second trick man, and Mr. Hebron, the division superintendent, went down
+in the yard to do the switching. There were twenty-three cars of Texas
+livestock and California fruit waiting for a train out, and the drovers
+were becoming impatient, because they wanted to get up to Chicago to
+take advantage of a big bulge in the market.</p>
+
+<p>I soon found that standing up in the bay window of an office, watching
+the switchmen do the yard work and doing it yourself, were two entirely
+different propositions. When I first went in between two cars to make a
+coupling, I thought my time had come for sure. I fixed the link and pin
+in one car, and then ran down to the next and fixed the pin there. The
+engine was backing slowly, but when I turned around, it looked as if it
+had the speed of an overland "flyer." I watched carefully, raised and
+guided the link in the opposite draw head, and then dropped the pin.
+Those two cars came together like the crack of doom, and I shut my eyes
+and jumped back, imagining that I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9139" id="Page_9139">139</a></span> had been crushed to death, in fact, I
+could feel that my right hand was mashed to a pulp. But it was a false
+alarm; it wasn't. I had made the coupling without a scratch to myself,
+and it wasn't long before I became bolder, and jumped on and off of the
+foot-boards and brake-beams like any other lunatic. That all four of us
+were not killed is nothing short of miracle.</p>
+
+<p>By a dint of hard work we succeeded in getting a train made up for
+Chaminade, and all that was now needed was an engine and crew. There was
+a large and very interested crowd of men standing around watching us,
+and many a merry ha-ha we received from them for our crude efforts.
+Engine 341 was hooked on, and we were all ready for the start. Burns was
+going to play conductor, Bennett was to be the hind man, while I was to
+ride ahead. But where were the engineer and fireman? Mr. Hebron had
+counted on a non-union engineer to pull the train, and a wiper to do the
+firing, but just as we expected them to appear, we found that some of
+the strikers had succeeded in talking them over to their side. To make
+matters worse the roundhouse men and the hostlers caught the fever, and
+out they went. Mr. Hebron was in a great pickle, but he didn't want to
+acknowledge that he was beaten so he stood around<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9140" id="Page_9140">140</a></span> hanging on in hopes
+something would turn up to relieve the strain.</p>
+
+<p>Now, it had occurred to me that I could run that engine. When I was
+young and fresh in the railroad business, I had spent much of my spare
+time riding around on switch engines, and once in a while I had taken a
+run out over the road with an engineer who had a friendly interest in
+me. One man, old Tom Robinson, who pulled a fast freight, had been
+particularly kind to me, and on one occasion I had taken a few days' lay
+off, and gone out and back one whole trip with him. Being of an
+inquisitive turn of mind, I asked him a great many questions about
+gauges, valves, oil cups, eccentrics, injectors, etc., and whenever he
+would go down under his engine, I always paid the closest attention to
+what he did. I used to ride on the right hand side of the cab with him,
+and occasionally he would allow me to feel the throttle for a few
+minutes. Thus, when I was a little older, I could run an engine quite
+well. I knew the oil cups, could work the injector, knew enough to open
+and close the cylinder cocks, could toot the whistle and ring the bell
+like an old timer, and had a pretty fair idea, generally speaking, of
+the machine. Having all these things in mind, I approached Mr. Hebron,
+as he stood cogitating<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9141" id="Page_9141">141</a></span> upon his ill-luck, and said, "Mr. Hebron, I'll
+run this train into Chaminade if you will only get some one to keep the
+engine hot."</p>
+
+<p>"You," said Hebron, "you are a despatcher; what the devil do you know
+about running a locomotive?"</p>
+
+<p>I told him I might not know much, but if he would say the word I would
+get those twenty-three cars into Chaminade, or know the reason why. He
+looked at me for a minute, asked me a few questions about what I knew of
+an engine and then said,</p>
+
+<p>"By George! I'll risk it. Get on that engine, my boy; take this one
+wiper left for a fireman, and pull out. But first go over to the office
+for your orders. You won't need many, because everything is tied up
+between here and Johnsonville, and you will have a clear track. Now fly,
+and let me see what kind of stuff you are made of."</p>
+
+<p>Strangely enough, after he had consented I was not half so eager to
+undertake it; but I had said I would and now I must stick to my word, or
+acknowledge that I was a big bluffer. I went up to the office and Fred
+Bennett gave me the orders. But as he did so he said: "Bates, that's a
+foolhardy thing for you to do, and I reckon the old man must be crazy to
+allow you to try it, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9142" id="Page_9142">142</a></span> rather than give in to that mob out there I'll
+see you through with it. Now don't you forget for one minute, that you
+have twenty-three cars and a caboose trailing along behind you; that I
+am on the hind end, and that I have a wife and family to support, with a
+mighty small insurance on my life."</p>
+
+<p>He went out, and Bennett told the cattle men to get aboard as we were
+about to start. All this had been done unbeknown to any of the strikers;
+but when they saw me coming down that yard with a piece of yellow tissue
+paper in my hand they knew something was up, for every man of them knew
+that was a train order. But where was the engineer?</p>
+
+<p>I went down and climbed up in the cab of old 341, and removing my coat,
+put on a jumper I had brought from the office. Engine 341, as I have
+said, was run by Horace Daniels, one of the best men that ever pulled a
+throttle, and his pride in her was like that of a mother in a child. She
+was a big ten-wheeled Baldwin, and I have heard Daniels talk to her as
+if she was a human being; in fact, he said she was the only sweetheart
+he ever had. He was standing in the crowd and when he saw me put on the
+jumper he came over and said:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9143" id="Page_9143">143</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"See here, Mr. Hebron, who is going to pull this train out?"</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Hebron who was standing by the step, said, "Bates is."</p>
+
+<p>Daniels grew red with rage, and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Bates? Why good heavens, Mr. Hebron, Bates can't run an engine; he's
+nothing but an old brass pounder, and, judging from some of the meets he
+has made for me on this division, he must be a very poor one at that.
+This here old girl don't know no one but me nohow; for God's sake don't
+let her disgrace herself by going out with that sandy-haired chump at
+the throttle."</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Hebron smiled and said, "Well then, you pull her out, Daniels."</p>
+
+<p>Daniels shook his head and replied, "You know I can't do that, Mr.
+Hebron. It's true I'm not in sympathy with this strike one jot, but the
+boys are out, and I've got to stand by them. But when this strike is
+over I want old 341 back. Why, Mr. Hebron, I'd rather see a scab run her
+than that old lightning jerker."</p>
+
+<p>But Mr. Hebron was firm and Daniels walked slowly and sadly away. By
+this time we had a good head of steam on, and Bennett gave me the signal
+to pull out. I shoved the reverse lever from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9144" id="Page_9144">144</a></span> the centre clear over
+forward, and grasping the throttle, tremblingly gave it a pull.</p>
+
+<p>Longfellow says, in "The Building of the Ship:" "She starts, she moves,
+she seems to feel a thrill of life along her keel." I can fancy exactly
+how that ship felt, because just as the first hiss of steam greeted my
+ears and I felt that engine move, I felt a peculiar thrill run along my
+keel, and my heart was in my mouth. She did not start quite fast enough
+for me, so I gave the throttle another jerk, and whew! how those big
+drivers did fly around! I shut her off quickly, gave her a little sand,
+and started again. This time she took the rail beautifully, walking away
+like a thoroughbred.</p>
+
+<p>There is a little divide just outside of the El Monte yard, and then for
+a stretch of about five miles, it is down grade. After this the road
+winds around the river banks, with level tracks to Johnsonville, where
+the double track commences. All I had to do was to get the train to the
+double track, and from there a belt line engine was to take it in. Thus
+my run was only thirty-five miles.</p>
+
+<p>Our start was very auspicious, and when we were going along at a pretty
+good gait, I pulled the reverse lever back to within one point of the
+centre, and opened her up a little more. She stood<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9145" id="Page_9145">145</a></span> up to her work just
+as if she had an old hand at the throttle instead of a novice. I wish I
+were able to describe my sensations as the engine swayed to and fro in
+her flight. The fireman was rather an intelligent chap, and had no
+trouble in keeping her hot, and twenty-three cars wasn't much of a train
+for old 341. We went up the grade a-flying. When we got over the divide,
+I let her get a good start before I shut her off for the down grade. And
+how she did go! I thought at times she would jump the track but she held
+on all right. At the foot of this grade is a very abrupt curve and when
+she struck it, I thought she bounded ten feet in the air. My hat was
+gone, my hair was flying in the wind, and all the first fright was lost
+in the feeling of exhilaration over the fact that <i>I</i> was the one who
+was controlling that great iron monster as she tore along the track.
+I&mdash;I was doing it all by myself. It was like the elixir of life to an
+invalid. My fireman came ever to me at one time and said in my ear that
+I'd better call for brakes or the first thing we knew we would land in
+the river. Brakes! Not on your life. I didn't want any brakes, because
+if she ever stopped I wasn't sure that I could get her started again. We
+made the run of thirty-five miles in less than an hour, and when we
+reached Johnsonville I received a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9146" id="Page_9146">146</a></span> message from Mr. Hebron,
+congratulating me on my success. But Bennett&mdash;well, the rating he gave
+me was worth going miles to hear. He said that never in his life had he
+taken such a ride, nor would he ever volunteer to ride behind a crazy
+engineer again. But I didn't care; I had pulled the train in as I said I
+would, and the engine was in good shape, barring a hot driving box. I
+may add, however, that I don't care to make any such trip again myself.</p>
+
+<p>We went back on a mail train that night, that was run by a non-union
+engineer, and in a day or two the strike was declared off, the men
+returned to work, and peace once more reigned supreme. Daniels got his
+"old girl" in as good shape as ever, and once when he was up in my
+office he told me he had hoped that old 341 would get on the rampage
+that day I took her out and "kick the stuffin'" out of that train and
+every one on it. Poor old Daniels, he stuck to his "old girl" to the
+last, but one day he struck a washout, and as a result received a "right
+of track order," on the road that leads to the paradise of all
+railroaders.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9147" id="Page_9147">147</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2><h3>CHIEF DESPATCHER&mdash;AN INSPECTION TOUR&mdash;BIG RIVER WRECK</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>I had always supposed that the higher up you ascended in any business,
+the easier would be your position and the happier your lot. What a
+fallacy, especially in the railroad service, where your
+responsibilities, work, care, and worries increase in direct proportion
+as you rise! The operator's responsibility is limited to the correct
+reception, transmission, delivery and repetition of his orders and
+messages; the despatcher's to the correct conception of the orders and
+their transmission at the proper time to the right train; but the chief
+despatcher's responsibilities combine not only these but many more. A
+despatcher's work is cut out for him, just as the tailor would cut his
+cloth for a journeyman workman, and when his eight hour trick is done,
+his work for the day is finished and his time is his own. Not so the
+chief. His work is never done; he works early and late, and even at
+night when he goes home utterly tired out<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9148" id="Page_9148">148</a></span> from his long day, he is
+liable to be called up to go out on a wrecking outfit, or to perform
+some special duty. As soon as anything goes wrong on a division the
+first cry is, "Send for the chief despatcher." Almost everybody on the
+division is under his jurisdiction except the division superintendent,
+and sometimes I have seen that mighty dignitary take a back seat for his
+chief despatcher.</p>
+
+<p>It was some ten years after I had begun to pound brass, that I awoke one
+fine morning to find myself offered the position of chief despatcher on
+the central division of the C. N. &amp; Q. Railway, with headquarters at
+Selbyville. I was very well satisfied at El Monte, had been promoted to
+the first trick and had many friends whom I did not like to leave, but
+then, I was as high as I could get in a good many years, because Fred
+Bennett, the chief, was a stayer from away back, and there wouldn't be a
+vacancy there for a long time to come. The district of which I was to
+take charge was about three hundred miles long, and consisted of three
+freight divisions of one hundred miles each. That meant a whole lot of
+hard confining work, but who wouldn't accept a promotion; so after
+carefully considering the matter, I gratefully accepted, and was duly
+installed in my new position. As I did not know anything about the road<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9149" id="Page_9149">149</a></span>
+or the operators thereon, one of my first acts was to take a trip of
+inspection over the road. I rode on freight trains or anything that came
+along, and dropped off as I wanted to, in order that I might become
+thoroughly acquainted with the road and the men.</p>
+
+<p>One of the time card rules was that no person was to be allowed to enter
+any of the telegraph offices except those on duty there; even the train
+men were supposed to receive their orders and transact their business at
+the window or counter. Generally, however, this rule was not enforced
+very rigidly. When I was a night operator I never paid any attention to
+it at all. I dropped off No. 6 at eleven-thirty one night at
+Bakersville. A night office was kept there because it was a good order
+point and had a water tank. I had never met the night man and knew
+nothing of him, except that he was a fiery-tempered Irishman named
+Barry, and a most excellent operator. It had been told me that the
+despatchers had, on more than one occasion, complained of his impudence,
+but his ability was so marked and he was so prompt in answering and
+transacting business, that he was allowed to remain. As No. 6 pulled out
+he went into the office, closed the door and then shut the window. He
+had apparently not seen me, or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9150" id="Page_9150">150</a></span> if he had he paid no attention to me, so
+I went into the waiting-room and rapped on the ticket window. He shoved
+it up, stared at me and gruffly said, "Well! what's wanted?"</p>
+
+<p>I answered pretty sharply, that I desired to come into his office.</p>
+
+<p>"Well then you can take it out in wanting, because you don't get in
+here, see!"</p>
+
+<p>I started to reason with him, when he slammed the window in my face.
+That made me madder than a March hare, and I told him if he didn't let
+me in that office mighty quick, I'd smash that window into smithereens
+and come in anyhow.</p>
+
+<p>Biff! Up went that window, and Mr. Barry's face looking like a boiled
+beet appeared, "Smash that window will you? You just try it and I'll
+smash your blamed old red head with this poker. Get out of that
+waiting-room. Tramps are not allowed."</p>
+
+<p>Just then it occurred to me that he did not know me from the sight of
+sole leather; so I said: "Hold on there, young man; I'm Mr. Bates, the
+newly appointed chief despatcher of this division, and I'm out on a tour
+of inspection. Now stop your monkeying and open up."</p>
+
+<p>"Bates thunder! Bates would never come sneaking out over the road in
+this manner. You<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9151" id="Page_9151">151</a></span> pack up and get. It will take more than your word to
+make me believe you are Bates."</p>
+
+<p>I saw that remonstrance with him was useless, and, besides I had an idea
+that he might carry out his threat to smash my head with the poker, so I
+went over to a mean little hotel and stayed all night, vowing to have
+vengeance on his head in the morning. When daylight came, I went back to
+the station, and Dayton, the day man, knew me at once, having worked
+with me on the K. M. &amp; O. Barry had told him of the trouble, and he was
+having a great laugh at my expense. Barry, himself, showed up in a
+little while, but he didn't seem the least bit disturbed, when he found
+out who I really was. He said there was a time card rule, that forbade
+him allowing any unauthorized person in his office; he thought I was
+some semi-respectable "hobo," who wanted a place to stay all night; how
+in the world was he to know? Suppose some one else had come out and said
+he was the chief despatcher, was he going to let them in the office
+without some proof? I saw that this was mighty good reasoning and that
+he was right. Did I fire him? Not much. Men on railroads who so
+implicitly obey orders are too valuable to lose; and before I left the
+road he was working the third trick.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9152" id="Page_9152">152</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Things ran along very smoothly for a while and I was having a good time.
+The winter passed and with the advent of spring came the heavy rains for
+which that part of the country was justly noted. Then the work
+commenced.</p>
+
+<p>One Friday evening after four or five days of the steadiest and hardest
+kind of rain, I received a message from the section foreman at Truxton,
+saying that Big River was beginning to come up pretty high, and that the
+constant rains were making the track quite soft. I immediately sent him
+an order to put out a track walker at once, and told the despatcher on
+duty to make a "slow order" for five miles this side of the Big River;
+the track on the other, or south side, was all right, being on high
+ground.</p>
+
+<p>Our fast mail came in just then, and after the engines were changed, the
+engineer and conductor came into my office for their orders. I told them
+about the soft track, and in a spirit of pure fun, remarked to Ben
+Roberts, the engineer, that he had better look out or he would be taking
+a bath in Big River that night. He facetiously replied: "Well, I don't
+much mind. I'm generally so dirty when I get that far out that a bath
+would do me good."</p>
+
+<p>They received their orders, and as Roberts went<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9153" id="Page_9153">153</a></span> out the door, he
+laughingly said, "I reckon, Bates, you'd better send the wrecker out
+right after us to fish me out of Big River to-night."</p>
+
+<p>I stepped over to the window, saw him climb up on engine 232, a
+beautiful McQueen, and pull out, and just as he started, he turned and
+waved his hand to me as if in token of farewell.</p>
+
+<p>Truxton, five miles from the river, was not a stop for the mail, but I
+had them flagged there, to give them another special warning about
+approaching Big River with caution. Just then the track walker came into
+Truxton, and reported that he had come from the river on a velocipede,
+and that while the track was soft it was not unsafe and the bridge
+appeared to be all right. Presently, I heard, "OS, OS, XN, No. 21, a
+7:45, d 7:51" and I knew the mail had gone on.</p>
+
+<p>The next station south was Burton, three miles beyond the bridge, and I
+thought I would wait until I had the "OS" report from there before going
+home for the night. Thirty minutes passed and no sign of her. This did
+not worry me much, because I knew Roberts would be extremely careful and
+run slow until he passed the bridge. In a minute Truxton opened up and
+said, "Raining like blazes now." I asked him where the track<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9154" id="Page_9154">154</a></span> walker
+was, and he said he had gone out towards the bridge just after the mail
+had left.</p>
+
+<p>Fifty minutes of the most intense anxiety passed, and all of a sudden
+every instrument in the office ceased clicking. As soon as a wire opens,
+all the operators are instructed to try their ground wires, and in that
+way the break is soon located. Bentonville, Bakersville, Muncy, Ashton,
+all in quick succession tried their grounds, and reported "All wires
+open south." Presently the despatchers' wire closed again, and "DS, DS,
+XN." There! that was Truxton calling us now. I answered and he said,
+"Wires all open south. Heavy rain now falling; violent wind storm has
+just passed over us; lots of lightning; looks like the storm would last
+all night."</p>
+
+<p>I told him to hustle out and get the section foreman, and gave him an
+order to take his gang and car and go to the bridge and back at once and
+make a full report.</p>
+
+<p>But where was 21 all this time? Stuck in the mud, I hoped, but all the
+same I was beginning to have a great many misgivings. Mr. Antwerp, the
+division superintendent, came in just then, and I reported all the facts
+of the case to him. He was very much worried, but said he hoped it would
+turn out all right. Getting nothing from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9155" id="Page_9155">155</a></span> Burton, on the south, I told
+Truxton to keep on his ground until the section gang or track walker
+came back with a report. Twenty minutes later he began to call "DS" with
+all his might. I answered and this is what the despatcher's copy
+operator took:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Truxton, 5 | 21, 188&mdash;.</p>
+
+<p>"M. N. B. "DS.</p>
+
+<p>"No. 21 went through Big River bridge to-night; track was soft all
+the way over from Truxton; engine, mail, baggage and one coach on
+the bridge when it gave way; three Pullmans stayed on the track.
+Roberts, engineer; Carter, fireman, and Sampson, conductor, all
+missing. Need doctors.</p>
+
+<p>"<span class="smcap">O'Hara</span>,<br />
+"Brakeman."<br />
+</p></div>
+
+<p>My God! wasn't it awful! I sent one caller to get out the wrecking crew
+and another for a doctor. I then instructed Burke to prepare orders for
+the wrecker, pulling everything off and giving her a clean sweep; told
+Truxton to keep on his ground wire and stay close; and pulling on my
+rain coat, I bounded down the steps and up to the roundhouse to hurry up
+the engine. Engine 122, with Ed Stokes at the throttle, was just backing
+down as I came out, so I ran back, signed the orders,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9156" id="Page_9156">156</a></span> and as soon as
+the doctors arrived, Mr. Antwerp told me to pull out and take charge,
+saying he would come out if necessary on a special.</p>
+
+<p>It was scarcely five minutes from the time I received the first message
+until we pulled out and started on our wild ride of rescue. Forty miles
+in forty minutes, with one slow down was our time. The old derrick and
+wreck outfit swayed to and fro like reeds in the wind, as we went down
+the track like a thunderbolt, but fortunately we held to the rails.
+There was scarcely a word spoken in the caboose, every one being intent
+upon holding on and thinking of the horrible scene we were soon to view.
+When we reached Truxton we found the track walker there, and after
+hearing his story in brief, we pulled out for the bridge. Our ride from
+Truxton over to the wreck was frightful. It was still raining torrents,
+the wind was coming up again, lightning flashed, thunder rolled and the
+track was so soft in some places that it seemed as if we would topple
+over; but we finally reached there&mdash;and then what a scene to behold!</p>
+
+<p>The bridge, a long wooden trestle, was completely gone, nothing being
+left but twisted iron and a few broken stringers hanging in the air.
+Four mail clerks, the express messenger, and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9157" id="Page_9157">157</a></span> baggage man were
+drowned like rats in a trap. Poor Ben Roberts had hung to his post like
+the hero, that he was, and was lost. Sampson, the conductor, and Carter,
+the fireman, were both missing, and in the forward coach, which was not
+entirely submerged, having fallen on one end of the baggage car, were
+many passengers, a number of whom were killed, and the rest all more or
+less injured.</p>
+
+<p>The river was not very wide, and I had the headlight taken off of our
+engine and placed on the bank; and presently a wrecker came up from the
+south, and her headlight was similarly placed, casting a ghastly weird,
+white light over the scene of suffering and desolation. I cut in a
+wrecking office, Truxton took off his ground, I put on mine, and Mr.
+Antwerp was soon in possession of all the facts. A little later I was
+standing up to my knees in mud and water, and I heard a weak voice say:
+"Mr. Bates, for God's sake let me speak to you a minute."</p>
+
+<p>I looked around and beheld the most woebegone, bedraggled specimen of
+humanity I had ever seen in my life. "Well, who under the sun are you?"
+I asked.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm Carter, the fireman of No. 21. When I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9158" id="Page_9158">158</a></span> felt the bridge going I
+jumped. I was half stunned, but managed to keep afloat, being carried
+rapidly down the stream. I struck the bank about a mile and a half below
+here, and I've had one almighty big struggle to get back. For the love
+of the Virgin give me a drink; I'm half dead;" and with that the poor
+fellow fell over senseless.</p>
+
+<p>I called one of the doctors and had him taken to the caboose of the
+wrecker, and when I had time I went in and heard the rest of his story.
+The poor chap was badly hurt, having one ankle broken, besides being
+bruised up generally. He said when No. 21 left Truxton, Roberts
+proceeded at a snail-like pace, keeping a sharp lookout for a wash out.
+He slowed almost to a standstill before going on the bridge, but
+everything appearing all safe and sound he started again, remarking to
+Carter, "Here's where I get the bath that Bates spoke about."</p>
+
+<div class='figcenter' style='width: 411px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="illus-014" id="illus-014"></a>
+<img src='images/p2-144.jpg' alt='"See here, who is going to pull this train?"' title='' width = '411' height = '600'/><br />
+<span class='caption'>"See here, who is going to pull this train?"</span>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9159" id="Page_9159">159</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The engine was half way over when there came a deafening roar; the train
+quivered, and&mdash;then Carter jumped. That was all he knew. It was enough,
+and we sent him back with the rest of the wounded the next morning. He
+is pulling a passenger train there to-day. The engine was lost in the
+quicksands, and was never recovered, and Ben Roberts stayed with her to
+the last. He had more than his bath in Big River that night; he had his
+funeral; the river was his grave, and the engine his shroud.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9160" id="Page_9160">160</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2><h3>A PROMOTION BY FAVOR AND ITS RESULTS</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>I had been on the C. N. &amp; Q. for about eight months, when my second
+trick man took sick, and being advised to seek a healthier climate,
+resigned and went south. Generally speaking the chief despatcher's
+recommendation is enough to place a man in his office; and as I had
+always believed in the rule of seniority, I wanted to appoint the third
+trick man to the second trick, make the day copy operator third trick
+man, and call in a new copy operator to replace the night man who would
+be promoted to the day job. In fact, I had started the ball rolling
+toward the accomplishment of this end, when Mr. Antwerp, the division
+superintendent, defeated all my plans by peremptorily asserting his
+prerogative and appointing his nephew, John Krantzer, who had been night
+copy operator to the third trick. I protested with all my might, in fact
+was once on the point of resigning my position but the old man wouldn't
+hear of either proposition, and Krantzer secured the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9161" id="Page_9161">161</a></span> place. Now while
+Krantzer was an excellent copy operator, he was very young, and lacked
+that persistence and reliability so essential in a successful
+despatcher. After I had protested until I was black in the face, I asked
+Mr. Antwerp at least to put the young man on the second trick, so that
+in a measure I could have him under my eye. But no, nothing but the
+third trick would satisfy him, so on the third trick the rattle-brained
+chap went the next night.</p>
+
+<p>He struggled through the first night without actually killing anybody,
+but his train sheet the next morning resembled a man with a very bad
+case of measles; there were delays on everything on the road, with very
+few satisfactory explanations. There was the fast mail twenty-five
+minutes in going six miles. Cause? None was given. But a perusal of the
+order book showed that Krantzer had made a meet for her with a freight
+train, and had hung her up on a blind siding for fifteen minutes.
+Freights that had been out all night were still out, tied up in all
+kinds of shapes. Meets had been made for two long trains at a point
+where the passing track was not large enough to accommodate either one
+of them, and the result was thirty minutes lost by both of them in "raw
+hiding" by. Many other discrepancies<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9162" id="Page_9162">162</a></span> were noticeable, but these
+sufficed to show that Krantzer's abilities as a despatcher were of a
+very low order. However, I reflected, that it was his first night, and I
+remembered my own similar experience not many years ago, so I simply
+submitted the sheet to Mr. Antwerp without comment. He wiped his
+glasses, carefully adjusted them on his aristocratic nose, and after
+glancing at the sheet for a few moments, said, "Ah! humph! Well! Well!
+Well! Not a very auspicious start, to be sure; but the boy will pick up.
+Just jack him up in pretty good shape, Bates; it will do him good." I
+jacked him up all right to the queen's taste but it was like pouring
+water on a duck's back.</p>
+
+<p>The second night was not much of an improvement, and I made a big kick
+to Mr. Antwerp the following morning, but it did no good. The third
+night was a hummer. I was kept at the office pretty late, in fact until
+after eleven o'clock, and before going home I wrote Krantzer a note
+telling him to be very careful as there were many trains on the road.
+Our through business at this time was very heavy, and compelled us to
+run many extras and specials. I was particular to inform him of two
+extras north, that would leave Bradford, the lower end of the division,
+some time<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9163" id="Page_9163">163</a></span> after 12:30 <span class="smcap">A. M.</span>, and directed him to run them as special
+freights having the right of track over all trains except the
+passengers. Each train was made up of twenty-five cars of California
+fruit bound for New York, and they were the first of their kind to be
+run by us. We had a strong competitor for this class of business in the
+Valley Route, a line twenty miles away, and were making a big bid for
+the trade. The general manager had sent a message that a special effort
+was to be made to put the two trains through a-whooping, and I had
+ordered engines 228 and 443, two of the best on the road, to pull them.
+Burke, the second trick man had everything running smoothly at the time
+I wrote the note, and I told Krantzer that, as it looked then, all he
+would have to do would be to keep them coming. No. 13, a fast freight
+south, had an engine that wasn't steaming very well, and I suggested to
+him to put her on the siding at Manitou. It would delay 13 about fifteen
+minutes but her freight was all dead stuff, so that would not make much
+difference. I did everything but write the order, and that I could not
+do, because I couldn't tell just what the conditions would be when the
+extras reached Bradford, where they would receive the order.</p>
+
+<p>Krantzer succeeded in getting them started in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9164" id="Page_9164">164</a></span> fair shape; but not
+content to let well enough alone, he thought he would run No. 13 on to
+Burnsides instead of putting her on the siding at Manitou as I had
+suggested, and gave orders to that effect. After he had given the
+"complete" he told the operator to tell them to "fly." If he had given
+this same order for the meeting at Burnsides to the two extras, <i>at the
+same time</i>, all would have been well, except that the extras would have
+been delayed some fifteen minutes, but this he was unable to do.
+Burnsides itself is only a day office, so he could not communicate with
+them there, and they had already passed Gloriana, the first night office
+south of Burnsides. The operator at Gloriana heard the order to 13 and
+told Krantzer it was a risky thing to do; but he told him "to mind his
+own business, as he (Krantzer) could run that division without any
+help."</p>
+
+<p>No. 13 was pulled by engine 67, with Jim Bush at the throttle, and he
+was such a runner that he had earned the sobriquet of "Lightning
+Jimmie." While he had reported early in the evening that his engine was
+not steaming very well, he had succeeded in getting her to working good
+by this time. Burnsides is at the foot of a long grade from the north,
+and about a mile up there is a very abrupt curve as the track winds
+around the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9165" id="Page_9165">165</a></span> side of the hill. The two extras were bowling along merrily
+when they struck this grade; and although there is a time card rule that
+says that trains will be kept ten minutes apart, they were right
+together, helping each other over the grade. In fact, it was one train
+with two engines, somewhat of a double header with the second engine in
+the middle. They were going on for all they were worth, expecting to
+meet No. 13 at Manitou, as originally ordered.</p>
+
+<p>In the meantime, Bush pulling No. 13, had passed Manitou, and with
+thirty-eight heavy cars behind him, was working her for all she was
+worth on the down grade, so as to get on the siding for the extras at
+Burnsides. He was carrying out Krantzer's order to "fly," with a
+vengeance. And just as he turned the curve, he saw, not fifty yards
+ahead of him, the headlight of the first extra. To stop was out of the
+question. He whistled once for brakes, reversed his engine, pulled her
+wide open and then jumped! He landed safely enough, and beyond a broken
+right arm, and a badly bruised leg, was unhurt. His poor fireman,
+though, jumped on the other side and was dashed to pieces on the rocks;
+and the head man and engineer of the first extra were also killed. I had
+known many times of two trains being put in the hole;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9166" id="Page_9166">166</a></span> but this was the
+first time I had ever seen three of them so placed.</p>
+
+<p>Krantzer had sense enough to order out the wrecker, and send for me. I
+knew just as soon as I heard the caller's rap on my door that he had
+done something so I lost no time in getting over to the office and there
+sat Krantzer as cool as if he had not just killed three men by his gross
+carelessness and cost the company thousands of dollars. I had the old
+man called and when he came and learned what had occurred, his
+discomfiture was so great that I felt fully repaid for all my annoyance
+on his nephew's account. He directed me to go out to the wreck and
+report to him upon arrival. I had Forbush, the first trick man, called
+and placed him in charge of the office during my absence. Incidentally,
+I told Krantzer he had better be scarce when I sent the remains of those
+crews in, because I fancied they were in a fit mood to kill him. When I
+returned I found that he had gone. It appeared that Jim Bush went up
+into the office, and although he had one arm broken, he was prepared to
+beat the life out of that crazy young despatcher. Forbush saw him coming
+and gave Krantzer a tip, and as Bush came in one door, Krantzer went out
+the other.</p>
+
+<p>The effects of this wreck were far beyond calculation<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9167" id="Page_9167">167</a></span> to the company
+because they lost the business they were striving to win, and the way
+the general manager went for old man Antwerp was enough to make us all
+grin with delight. It is needless to say I was allowed to place my own
+men thereafter.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9168" id="Page_9168">168</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2><h3>JACKING UP A NEGLIGENT OPERATOR&mdash;A CONVICT OPERATOR&mdash;DICK, THE PLUCKY CALL BOY</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>One of the most unpleasant duties I had to perform was that of "jacking
+up" operators, and punishing them for their short-comings. Generally, if
+the case was not a very bad one, and the man had a good reputation, I
+would try and smooth it over with only a reprimand; but there are times
+"when patience ceases to be a virtue," and punishment must be inflicted.
+The train sheet is always the first indication that some operator is to
+be "hauled up on the carpet." One morning I found the following entry on
+the sheet:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"No. 16 delayed forty-five minutes at Bentonville, account not being
+able to raise the operator at Sicklen in that time. Called for
+explanation and operator said 'he was over at hotel getting some
+lunch.'"</p>
+
+<p>That excuse "over at hotel getting some lunch," is as familiar to a
+railroad operator as the creed is to a good churchman. A young man
+named<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9169" id="Page_9169">169</a></span> Charles Ferral was the night man at Sicklen, and his ability as
+an operator was only exceeded by his inability to tell the truth when he
+was in a tight place. I was too old an operator to be fooled by any such
+a yarn as this; and besides, the conductor of No. 17 reported to me that
+he had found Ferral stretched out on the table asleep, when he stopped
+there for water. But he was a first-rate man and I didn't want to lose
+him, so I wrote him a sharp letter and told him that a repetition of his
+offense would cause him to receive his time instantly. He was as
+penitent as the prodigal son, and promised never to so offend again; and
+he kept his word&mdash;for just about ten days.</p>
+
+<p>One morning he asked my permission to come up to "DS" on No. 2 and go
+back on No. 3 in the afternoon. I gave it, but warned him to not lose
+too much sleep. There are some men in the business that the sound of
+their office call on a telegraph instrument will cause to awaken at once
+no matter how soundly they may be sleeping, but Ferral was not one of
+these. The night following his return to his station, I was kept at the
+office until late, and about eleven o'clock No. 22 appeared at
+Bakersville, and wanted to run to Ashton for No. 17. They were both
+running a little late, and as 17 had a heavy train of coal and syste<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9170" id="Page_9170">170</a></span>m
+empties, I told Burke to let them go. But the only station at which we
+could then get an order to 17 was Sicklen, Ferral's station. Burke began
+to call, but Sicklen made no answer. He called for forty-five minutes at
+a stretch, 22 all the time waiting at Bakersville. He stopped for five
+minutes and then went at it again. In ten minutes Sicklen answered.
+Burke started to give the order, but Ferral broke and gave the "OS"
+report that 17 had just gone by.</p>
+
+<p>That settled it; No. 22 was hung up another hour all on account of
+Ferral's failure to attend to his duty. I opened up on him and said,
+"Where have you been for the last fifteen minutes?" The same old excuse,
+"Lunch," came back at me.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, where were you for ten minutes before that?"</p>
+
+<p>Then that dear old stereotyped expression, "Fixing my batteries,"
+followed. But I was only too sure that he had been asleep, and No. 17
+going by had awakened him. So I gently remarked that "I was not born
+yesterday, and said that he would probably have ample time to fix his
+batteries after this; that, in fact, I thought it would be a good thing
+for him to take a long course in battery work, and I would assist him
+all I could&mdash;I would provide him with the time for the work."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9171" id="Page_9171">171</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The next morning I laid the matter before Mr. Antwerp, and he wanted the
+man discharged forthwith. But during the night my anger had cooled
+somewhat and now I felt inclined to give him another chance; so I simply
+urged that he be laid off for a while.</p>
+
+<p>"All right, Bates, but make it a good stiff lay-off&mdash;not less than
+fifteen days," said Mr. Antwerp.</p>
+
+<p>I wrote Ferral accordingly; but I had scarcely finished when a letter
+came from him to me, begging off, and promising anything if I would not
+discharge him; but, instead would lay him off for <i>forty-five days</i>. I
+took him at his word and gave him the forty-five days he asked for,
+instead of the fifteen I had intended to give him. But, about two weeks
+later he came up to "DS," and looked so woebegone, and pleaded so hard
+to be taken back, that I remitted the remainder of his punishment. He
+was greatly chagrined when he learned that he had trebled his own
+sentence. He was never remiss again. Go over to the despatcher's office
+any night and you will see him, bright and alert, sitting opposite the
+despatcher doing the copying. He is in the direct line of promotion, and
+some day will be a despatcher himself. I never regretted my leniency.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9172" id="Page_9172">172</a></span></p>
+
+<p>In addition to the main line, I had a branch of thirty-eight miles,
+running from Bentonville up to Sandia. The despatching for this branch
+was done from my office, and when we wanted anyone there Bentonville
+would cut us through. This was seldom necessary, however, because there
+were only two trains daily, a combination freight and passenger each
+way. The last station this side of Sandia was Alexis. The state
+penitentiary was located there, and the telegraphing was done by a
+convict "trusty"&mdash;a man who, having been appointed cashier of a big
+freight office in the western part of the state, couldn't stand
+prosperity, and, in consequence, had been sent up for six years. His
+conduct had been so good that, after he had served four years inside of
+the walls, he was made a "trusty." His ability as an operator was
+extraordinary. He had a smooth easy way of sending that made his sending
+as plain as a circus bill.</p>
+
+<p>The two branch trains on the branch were known as 61 and 62, and one day
+62, running north in the morning, had jumped the track laying herself
+out about ten hours. When she left Sandia as 61 on her return trip
+south, she again went off the track and the result was sixteen hours'
+more delay. We wouldn't send a wrecker up from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9173" id="Page_9173">173</a></span> the main line, and they
+had to work out their own salvation. When they finally appeared at
+Alexis they were running on the time of 62. That would never do, and the
+conductor asked the operator at Alexis to get him orders to run to
+Bentonville regardless of No. 62. Burke, my second trick man, was on
+duty at the time, and it so chanced that he did not know the Alexis man
+was a convict. He was about to give the order asked for when something
+on the main line diverted him for a moment. When he was ready again,
+Alexis broke him and said, "Wait a minute."</p>
+
+<p>To tell a despatcher to wait a minute when he is sending a train order
+is to court sudden death, and Burke said, "Wait for what?"</p>
+
+<p>"For whatever you blame please, I'm going out to weigh this coal."</p>
+
+<p>Burke's Irish blood was all up in his head by this time, and he said:
+"What do you mean by talking that way to me? No. 61 is waiting for this
+'9'; now you copy and I'll get your time sent you in the morning."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! will you? I guess my time is all fixed so you can't touch it. I
+only wish you could; I'd like mighty well to be fired from this job; I
+wouldn't even wait for my pay."</p>
+
+<p>I had been sitting at my desk taking it all in,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9174" id="Page_9174">174</a></span> and was just about
+ready to expire with laughter, when Burke called over to me: "Did you
+hear that young fellow's impudence?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I heard."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, what are you going to do about it? I've never had an operator
+talk to me like that before. I must certainly insist that you dismiss
+him at once. He and I can't work on the same road."</p>
+
+<p>"Unfortunately, Burke," said I, "the State has a claim on his services
+for two years yet, and I am afraid they won't waive it."</p>
+
+<p>At this it dawned upon Burke, who and what the man really was; but I
+cannot say that his humor was improved at once by the discovery.</p>
+
+<p>One morning shortly after this I was sitting in my office making up an
+annual train report, and was cussing out anything and everybody, because
+this train report is one of the worst things in the whole business. It
+was figures till you couldn't rest, and I had already been working at it
+for three days, and my head was in a perfect whirl. That morning one of
+our call boys had turned up missing and that fact also irritated me. It
+would seem that a call boy was a pretty insignificant chap in a big
+railroad, but such is not the case. In a perfect system every employee
+is like a cog in a big wheel, and as soon as one cog is broken<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9175" id="Page_9175">175</a></span> there is
+a jar in the otherwise smooth symmetrical movement of the machine. The
+call boy is quite an important personage, because, upon him depends the
+prompt calling of the various crews in time to take out their trains. He
+must keep a keen watch on the call board for the marking up of trains;
+he must know who is the first to go out, and he must know the dwelling
+place of every engineer, fireman, conductor and brakeman in the city. On
+a big division like ours, this, in itself, was not a small job. On some
+roads men are employed for this work, but I had always been partial to
+the boys, and kept four of them, two on days and two on nights. When my
+day boy left, I promoted a night boy to the second day job, and was
+cudgeling my brain for a good chap to go on nights. In a little while I
+heard a sharp rap on the office door, and in response to my "come in,"
+uttered in a tone that was anything but pleasant, a sturdy looking
+little chap about fourteen years old stood before me. He had a shock of
+jet black hair, tumbled all over his head, a pair of bright eyes, round
+full face, not over clean, strong limbs and a well knit body. His
+clothes hung on him like gunny sacks, and the crudity of the many
+various patches indicated that they had not been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9176" id="Page_9176">176</a></span> put on by woman's deft
+fingers. He didn't wait for me to speak, but blurted out:</p>
+
+<p>"Say, mister, I have just heard tell as how you wants a call boy. Do
+you?"</p>
+
+<p>He took my breath away by his bluntness; he looked so honest and
+sincere, so I simply replied, "Yes," and waited.</p>
+
+<p>"Well then, I wants the job. See!"</p>
+
+<p>"What's your name, youngster, and where is your home?"</p>
+
+<p>"My name's Dick Durstine; I hain't got no home, no father, no mother, no
+nothin', just me, and I wants to learn the tick tick business. It looks
+dead easy."</p>
+
+<p>This was really funny, but I liked his impudence, and, while I had no
+intention of hiring him, I determined to draw him out, so I said:</p>
+
+<p>"Where were you born, when did you come here, and do you know where any
+of the crews live?"</p>
+
+<p>"I was born in St. Louis; mother died when I was a kid, and Dad was such
+a drunken worthless old cuss and beat me so much, that I brought up in a
+foundling asylum. I come in here riding on the trucks of your mail train
+about three weeks ago, and the fellers up in the roundhouse have been
+lettin' me feed and snooze there. I know<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9177" id="Page_9177">177</a></span> where all the crews live
+exceptin' some of your kid glove engineers wot pulls the fast trains,
+but I can soon find them out. Please give me the job, mister; I'm honest
+and I'll work hard."</p>
+
+<p>Something in his blunt straightforward way appealed to me and I
+determined to try him. Handled right I imagined he would be a good man;
+handled wrong, he would probably become a bright and shining light of
+the <i>genus</i> hobo. So I hired him, telling him his salary would be forty
+dollars per month.</p>
+
+<p>"Hully gee!" he exclaimed, "forty plunks a month! Well say! I won't do a
+ting wid all dat mun; I'll just buy a road. Thank you mister, I'll work
+so hard for you that you'll not be sorry you gave me the job. But don't
+you forget that I wants to learn the tick tick business."</p>
+
+<p>That night at seven o'clock he went to work, and it didn't take long to
+see that he was as bright as a new dollar. He knew everything about the
+division, knew all the crews and where they lived. Days went by and
+still he held up his end and was a great favorite with all the force.
+There was a local instrument in the office, and one of the operators
+wrote the Morse alphabet for him, and ever after that he kept pegging
+away at the key. He practiced writing and it wasn't many weeks<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9178" id="Page_9178">178</a></span> before
+he was getting to be something of an operator. I went out to the main
+line battery room one evening to give some instructions to the man in
+charge and there I discovered Master Dick with a battery syringe in one
+hand and a brush in the other deeply engrossed in monkeying with the
+jars.</p>
+
+<p>"Look here, you young rascal," I said sharply, "what are you doing in
+here? First thing you know you will short circuit some of these
+batteries and then there'll be the de'il to pay: Don't you ever let me
+catch you out here again, or I'll fire you bodily."</p>
+
+<p>"I hain't been doing nothin', Mister Bates, I just wanted to see what
+made the old thing go tick tick. Wot's all them glass jars for wid the
+green water and the tin in?"</p>
+
+<p>I explained to him as well as I could the construction of the gravity
+battery. He had been forbidden to monkey with any of the instruments or
+the switch board in the main office, but his infernal inquisitiveness
+soon ran away with his sense, and it wasn't long before he was in
+trouble. He pulled a plug out of the switch board one evening, and Burke
+threatened to kill him. Another evening, he went into my office and
+monkeyed with an instrument that I kept there connected to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9179" id="Page_9179">179</a></span>
+despatcher's wire, and left it open. There was no report from any of the
+offices on either side, and investigation soon revealed the culprit. The
+wire was open for ten minutes and Burke was as mad as a March hare, when
+he reported it to me the next morning. I sent for Master Dick and
+informed him that another such a report against him would cause his
+instant dismissal. He seemed penitent enough, but two nights afterwards
+he short circuited all the main line batteries by his foolishness, and
+raised Cain in the office for a while. The next morning his time was
+presented to him and he was told to get out. He pleaded hard but his
+offenses had been too numerous, and I had to let him go. I must confess,
+however, that we all missed him greatly, because, in spite of his
+troublesome nature, he was a prime favorite with all the force.</p>
+
+<p>Our road ran through some wild unsettled country, and a few years
+previous, a Mr. Bob Forney and some distinguished gentlemen of the road,
+had paid us a visit, with the result that the express company lost about
+forty thousand dollars and their messenger his life. The country became
+too warm for them and they fled.</p>
+
+<p>Our flyer left two nights after this, having on board about a hundred
+thousand dollars of government<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9180" id="Page_9180">180</a></span> money, and I remarked to Bob Stanton,
+the conductor, that it was a fine chance for a hold up, but he laughed
+it off and said that civilization was too far advanced for that kind of
+work just now.</p>
+
+<p>About nine o'clock I was sitting in the despatcher's office smoking a
+cigar before going home for the night, when all at once the despatcher's
+wire and the railroad line opened. Sicklen reported south of him and
+then took off his ground. Pretty soon the sounder began to open and
+close in a peculiar shaky manner, and then I heard the following:</p>
+
+<p>"To 'DS,' gang of robbers goin' to hold up the flyer in Ashley's cut
+to-night. They will place rails and ties on the track to wreck train if
+they don't heed signal. Warn train to watch out and bring gang out from
+Sicklen. This is Dick Durstine."</p>
+
+<p>All was quiet for a minute and then he started again, but soon he
+stopped short and we heard no more. The line remained open.</p>
+
+<p>We raised Sicklen on a commercial wire and told him to turn his
+red-light and hold everything. I was in somewhat of a quandary; the
+sending had been miserable, sounding unlike any stuff Dick had ever
+sent, and then the stopping of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9181" id="Page_9181">181</a></span> whole business made it seem rather
+suspicious. Still Ashley's cut was an ideal place for a hold up, and the
+weather was dark and stormy. Everything was propitious for just such a
+job.</p>
+
+<p>In the meantime, Ashton, the first office south of Sicklen, had reported
+on the commercial line that the despatcher's wire was open north of him.
+That would place it near the cut in all probability. Anyway I didn't
+intend to take any chance, so I sent a message to Sicklen telling him to
+notify the sheriff of all the facts and ask him to send out a posse on
+the flyer, and, also, for him to get the day man to go out and patch the
+lines up until a line man could get there in the morning. About twenty
+minutes afterwards the flyer left Sicklen nicely fixed with a strong
+posse, and an order to approach the cut with caution. It was only three
+miles from Sicklen to the cut, and I knew it would be but a matter of a
+short while until something was heard. Sure enough, forty minutes later
+the despatcher's wire closed and this message came:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"To Bates, DS:</p>
+
+<p>"Attempt to hold up No. 21 in Ashley's cut was frustrated by the
+sheriff's posse. Outlaws had placed ties on the track in case we
+did not heed the signal to stop. Two of them killed, three captured
+and one escaped. Dick Durstine is here,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9182" id="Page_9182">182</a></span> badly shot through the
+right lung. Will have him sent in from Sicklen on 22 in the
+morning.</p>
+
+<p>"Stanton, Conductor."</p></div>
+
+<p>The next morning when 22 pulled in I went down and there, laid out on a
+litter in the baggage car, was Dick Durstine, my former call boy, weak,
+pale, and just living. He was conscious, and when I leaned over him his
+eyes glistened for a minute, he smiled and feebly said:</p>
+
+<p>"Say, Mister Bates, didn't I do them fellers up in good shape? When I
+gets well again will you gimme back my job so I can learn some more
+about the tick tick? I'll never monkey any more, honest to God, I
+won't."</p>
+
+<p>A queer lump came in my throat and there was a suspicion of moisture in
+my eyes as I contemplated this brave little hero, and I said:</p>
+
+<p>"God bless your brave little heart, Dick, you can have anything on this
+division."</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Antwerp had appeared and was visibly affected. We had Dick removed
+to the company hospital, and then for some days he lay hovering between
+life and death, but youth, and a strong constitution finally won out and
+he began to mend.</p>
+
+<p>When he was able to sit up I heard his story. It appeared that when I
+dismissed him he laid around the place for a day, and then jumping a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9183" id="Page_9183">183</a></span>
+freight, started south. At Sicklen he had been put off by a heartless
+brakeman and had started to walk to Ashton. It was evening and he became
+tired. After walking as far as the north end of the cut he laid down and
+went to sleep behind a pile of old ties. He was awakened by the sound of
+voices near by, and listening intently, he learned that the men were
+outlaws and intended to hold up the flyer that night. They intended to
+flag her down as she entered the cut and do the business in the usual
+smooth manner. In case she wouldn't stop, they would have a pile of ties
+on the track that would soon put a quietus on her flight. Poor little
+Dick was horrified and stealing quietly away some distance he stopped
+and cogitated. Time was becoming precious. How was he to send a warning?
+Oh! if he could only get into a telegraph office! Suddenly an idea
+struck him. He went a little farther up the track, and shinning up a
+pole he took his heavy jack-knife, and after a hard effort, succeeded in
+cutting two wires. Another pole was climbed and only one wire cut from
+it. With this strand he made a joint so that the two ends of the
+despatcher's wire could be brought in easy contact. Then by knocking the
+two ends together he sent the warning. His cutting of the wire had made
+a peculiar loud twang and one of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9184" id="Page_9184">184</a></span> the outlaws heard it. Becoming
+suspicious, he and his partner started up the track to investigate. They
+came upon Dick, kneeling on one knee, engrossed in his work, and without
+one word of warning shot him in the back. They left him for dead, but
+thank God he did not die, and to-day he is on a road that before many
+years will land him on top of the heap.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9185" id="Page_9185">185</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XX</h2><h3>AN EPISODE OF SENTIMENT</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The night man down at Bentonville quit rather suddenly one fall morning,
+and as I had no immediate relief in prospect, I wired the chief
+despatcher of the division south of me to send me a man if he had any to
+spare. That afternoon I received a message from him saying he had sent
+Miss Ellen Ross to take the place. I still had a very distinct
+recollection of my encounter with Miss Love, and I wasn't overfond of
+women operators anyway, so Miss Ross's welcome to my division was not a
+hearty one. She was the first woman I had ever had under my
+jurisdiction. I was at the office quite late a night or two after this,
+and heard some of her work; there was no use denying that she was a very
+smooth operator as well as a very prompt one. Burke said he had no
+complaint to offer; she was always on time, and I must confess I felt
+much chagrined. I wanted a chance to discharge her, but it didn't appear
+to materialize. But I was a patient waiter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9186" id="Page_9186">186</a></span> and one morning about three
+weeks later I came into the office and on looking over the delay sheet I
+saw the following entry in the delay column:</p>
+
+<p>"No. 18 delayed fifty minutes, account not being able to raise the
+operator at Bentonville in that time; as an explanation, operator says
+she was over at the hotel getting her lunch."</p>
+
+<p>Evidently Miss Ross had little ingenuity in the line of excuses or she
+would never have offered such a threadbare one as that. I wanted the
+chance to annihilate her and here it was. I called up Bentonville and
+asked if Miss Ross was there. She was, and I said, "Isn't it possible
+for you to invent a better excuse than 'lunch' for your failure to
+answer last night, or this morning rather?"</p>
+
+<p>She drummed on the key for a moment and then said if I didn't like that
+excuse I knew what I could do. I caught my breath at her audacity and
+then "<i>did</i>." I sent her time to her on No. 21, and a man to take her
+place. I then dismissed the matter from my mind and supposed that I had
+heard the last of Miss Ross. I never was very well acquainted with the
+female sex or I would not have dismissed the matter with such
+complacency.</p>
+
+<p>A day or two after this I was sitting in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9187" id="Page_9187">187</a></span> division superintendent's
+office, he being out on the road, and I heard a voice say:</p>
+
+<p>"Is this Mr. Bates?" I had not heard anyone come in and I glanced up and
+answered, "Yes." I saw before me a young woman of an air and appearance
+that fairly took my breath away. I immediately arose to my feet and with
+all possible deference invited her to take a seat. I supposed she was
+the wife of some of the officials and wanted a pass. In response to my
+inquiry as to what could I do for her she said, timidly:</p>
+
+<p>"I am Miss Ross, lately night operator at Bentonville."</p>
+
+<p>Her answer put me more off my ease than ever, but the discipline of the
+road had to be maintained at any-cost; so as soon as I could, I put on
+my severest look and sternly said, "Well!" She smiled slightly in a way
+that made me doubt if she were much impressed by my display of rigor;
+and answered, "I came to see if you wouldn't take me back. I am sure I
+didn't mean to offend the other night. I have been an operator for
+nearly four years and I have never had the least bit of trouble before.
+You have no fault to find with my work I am sure; and I promise to be
+very careful to never offend again. Won't you please take me back?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9188" id="Page_9188">188</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Gee! but she did look pretty and her big black eyes were shining like
+bright stars. If she had only known it I was ready by this time to have
+given her the best job on the whole division, even my own, but I wasn't
+going to give up without a show of resistance and I said:</p>
+
+<p>"Humph! Well let's see!" Then I rang my bell and told the boy to get me
+the train sheet of the sixteenth. I looked very stern and very wise as I
+read the delay report to her.</p>
+
+<p>"That, Miss Ross, is a very serious offense. A delay of fifty minutes to
+any train is bad enough, but when it happens to a through freight it is
+the worst possible. Then you say you were at the hotel for lunch. The
+order book shows that the despatcher called you from two <span class="smcap">a. m.</span> until
+two-fifty <span class="smcap">a. m.</span> Isn't that rather an unearthly hour to be going out to
+lunch? My recollection of the Bentonville station is that it is a mile
+from the excuse of a hotel in the place. Really, I am very sorry but I
+don't see how anything can be done."</p>
+
+<p>Discipline was being maintained, you see, in great shape, but all the
+time I was delivering my little speech I was feeling like a big
+red-headed hypocrite. Miss Ross looked up at me with those beautiful
+eyes; then two big tears made their appearance on the scene, and she
+sobbed out:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9189" id="Page_9189">189</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Well, I know I told a fib when I made that excuse, but the despatcher
+was so sharp and I was so scared when he said he had been calling me for
+fifty minutes, that I told him the first thing that came into my mind.
+Then, the next day I was angry at you, because I thought you were
+chaffing me, as I was the only woman on the line, and I suppose I was
+rather impudent. But do you think it is fair to discharge me for the
+same thing that you only gave Mr. Ferral fifteen days for? Are you not
+doing it simply because I am a woman?"</p>
+
+<p>I never could stand a woman's tears, especially a pretty one, and when
+she cited the case of Ferral, I realized that I had lost my game. I let
+myself down as easily as I could and that night Miss Ross went back to
+work at Bentonville, and the man there was put on the waiting list.</p>
+
+<p>It was very funny after this how many times I had to run down to
+Bentonville. That Sandia branch line had to be inspected; the switch
+board had to be replaced by a new one in "BN" office; wires had to be
+changed, a new ground put in, and many other things done, and always I
+had to go myself to see that the work was done properly. The agent at
+Bentonville came, before very long, to smile in a very knowing way
+whenever I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9190" id="Page_9190">190</a></span> jumped off the train; Mr. Antwerp had a peculiarly wise look
+in his eye when I mentioned anything about Bentonville, but I didn't
+mind it. I was in love with the sweet little girl, and was walking on
+the clouds. If I hadn't been I would have seen that my cake was all
+dough in that quarter. I might have noticed that big Dan Forbush had an
+amused look in his eye when I went off on one of these trips. If I had
+watched the mail I might have seen numerous little billets coming daily
+from Bentonville, addressed in a neat round hand to "Mr. Dan Forbush."
+But I didn't, I kept right on in my mad career, and one day when my
+courage was high I offered my hand and my heart to Miss Ross. She
+refused and told me that while she was honored by my proposal, she had
+been engaged to Mr. Forbush for two years, having known him down on the
+"Sunset" before he came to our road. I took my defeat as philosophically
+as I could and the next spring she left Bentonville for good, and Dan
+took a three weeks' leave. When he came back he brought sweet Ellen as
+his bride. One evening not long after that I was calling there, when
+Mrs. Forbush looked up at me very naively and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Bates, did I pay you back for discharging me?"</p>
+
+<div class='figcenter' style='width: 334px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="illus-015" id="illus-015"></a>
+<img src='images/p2-190.jpg' alt='"Are you not doing it just because I am a woman?"' title='' width = '334' height = '466'/><br />
+<span class='caption'>"Are you not doing it just because I am a woman?"</span>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9191" id="Page_9191">191</a></span></p>
+
+<p>There's no doubt about it, she did, and I felt it. She was the third
+girl to throw me over, and I determined to give up the business and go
+for a soldier. I stuck it out there till fall and then resigned for all
+time.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9192" id="Page_9192">192</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXI</h2><h3>THE MILITARY OPERATOR&mdash;A FAKE REPORT THAT NEARLY CAUSED TROUBLE</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The railroad and commercial telegraphers are well known to the general
+public, because they are thrown daily in contact with them, but there is
+still another class in the profession, which, while not being so well
+known are, in their way, just as important in their acts and deeds. I
+refer to the military telegrapher. His work does not often carry him
+within the environments of civilization; his instruments are not of the
+beautiful Bunnell pattern, placed on polished glass partitioned tables;
+his task is a very hard one and yet he does it without a grumble. His
+sphere of duty is out at the extreme edge of advancing civilization. You
+will find him along the Rio Grande frontier; out on the sun-baked
+deserts of New Mexico and Arizona; up in the Bad Lands of Montana, and
+the snow-capped mountains of the Rockies. A few of them you will find in
+nice offices at some department headquarters or in the war office in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9193" id="Page_9193">193</a></span>
+Washington, but such places are generally given to men who have grown
+old and gray in the service. His office? Any old place he can plant his
+instruments, many times a tent with a cracker box for a table; a chair
+would be an unheard-of luxury. His pay? Thirteen big round American
+dollars per month. His rank and title? Hold your breath while I tell
+you. Private, United States Army. Great, isn't it? Many times a detail
+to one of the frontier points means farewell to your friends as long as
+the tour lasts.</p>
+
+<p>When I left the railroad business I journeyed out westward to Fort
+Hayes, Kansas, and held up my right hand and swore all manner of oaths
+to support the Constitution of the United States; obey the orders of the
+President of the United States and all superior officers; to accept the
+pay and allowances as made by a generous (God save the word) Congress
+for the period of five years. Thus did I become a soldier and a "dough
+boy" because I went to the infantry arm of the service. I've stuck to
+the business ever since.</p>
+
+<p>I supposed when I went into the army that my connection with wires and
+telegraph instruments was entirely finished. I had worked at the
+business long and faithfully and was in a state of mind that I thought I
+had had enough. That's very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9194" id="Page_9194">194</a></span> good in theory, but powerful poor in
+practice, because I hadn't been soldiering a month before a feeling of
+homesickness for my old love came over me; in fact to this day I never
+see a railroad but what I want to go up in the despatcher's office and
+sit down and take a "trick." But there were commissions to be had from
+the ranks of the army and I wanted one, so I hung on and did my duty as
+best I could.</p>
+
+<p>The stay at Fort Hayes was a very peaceful and serene one; I did no
+telegraphing there for a year, and then we were ordered to Fort Clark,
+Texas. When I quit the commercial business I had almost taken an oath
+never to go back to Texas, but I couldn't help it in this case.</p>
+
+<p>Fort Clark is one hundred and thirty miles due west of dear old San
+Antonio, and situated nine miles from the railroad. When my company
+arrived, there was no telegraphic communication with the outside world
+and all telegrams had to be sent by courier to Spofford Junction, for
+transmission. After having been stationed there for about eight months I
+was sent for by the commanding officer and told to take charge of a
+party and build a telegraph line over to the railroad. The poles had
+been set by a detachment of the 3rd Cavalry and in five days' time I had
+strung<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9195" id="Page_9195">195</a></span> the wire. Being the only operator in the post I was placed in
+charge of the office and relieved from all duty. It was a perfect snap;
+no drills, no guards, no parades, nothing but just work the wire and
+plenty of time to devote to my studies.</p>
+
+<p>In December, 1890, the Sioux Indians again broke loose from their
+reservations at Pine Ridge and all of the available men of the pitifully
+small, but gallant, United States army were hurriedly rushed northwards
+to give them a smash that would be lasting and convincing. There was the
+7th Cavalry, Custer's old command, the 6th and 9th Cavalry, the 10th,
+2nd, and 17th Infantry, the late lamented and gallant Capron's flying
+battery of artillery, besides others&mdash;General Miles personally assumed
+command, and the campaign was short, sharp, brilliant and decisive. The
+Indians were lambasted into a semblance of order, and that
+personification of deviltry, Sitting Bull, given his transportation to
+the happy hunting grounds, but not before a score or more of brave
+officers and men had passes to their long reckoning. Captain George
+Wallace, of the 7th Cavalry; Lieutenant Mann, of the same regiment, and
+Lieutenant Ned Casey, of the 22nd Infantry, left places in the ranks of
+the officers that were hard to fill.</p>
+
+<p>My regiment, the 18th Infantry, was too far<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9196" id="Page_9196">196</a></span> away to go, and besides,
+the Rio Grande frontier, with Se&ntilde;or Garza and his band of cutthroats
+prowling around loose, could not be left unprotected. There would be too
+big a howl from the Texans if that occurred.</p>
+
+<p>During all these trying times my telegraph office was naturally the
+center of interest, and I had made an arrangement with the chief
+operator at San Antonio to send me bulletins of any important news. I
+always made two copies, posting one on the bulletin board in front of my
+office, and delivering the other to the colonel in person.</p>
+
+<p>Soldiers are very loquacious as a rule and give them a thread upon which
+to hang an argument, and in a minute a free silver, demo-popocrat
+convention would sound tame in comparison. Go into a squad-room at any
+time the men are off duty, and you can have a discussion on almost any
+old subject from the result of the coming prize fight to the deepest
+question of the bible and theology. Many times the argument will become
+so warm between Privates "Hicky" Flynn and "Pie Faced" Sullivan that
+theology will be settled <i>a la</i> Queensbury out behind the wash-house.
+Among soldiers this argumentative spirit is called "chewing the rag."</p>
+
+<p>One morning shortly after Wounded Knee with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9197" id="Page_9197">197</a></span> its direful results had
+been fought, I thought it would be a great joke to post a startling
+bulletin, just to start the men's tongues a-wagging.</p>
+
+<p>So I wrote the following:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"Bulletin</p>
+
+<p>"San Antonio, Texas, 12 | 26, 1890.</p>
+
+<p>"Reported that the 6th and 9th Cavalry were ambuscaded yesterday by
+Sioux Indians under Crazy Horse, and completely wiped out of
+existence. Custer's Little Big Horn massacre outdone. Not a man
+escaped."</p></div>
+
+<p>I chuckled with fiendish glee as I posted this on the bulletin board and
+then started for breakfast. I thought some soldier would read it, tell
+it to the men of his company, and in that way the fun would commence. My
+scheme worked to perfection, because some of the men of G Company, (mine
+was D) had seen me stick it up and had come post haste to read. I
+started the ball rolling in my own company and in about a minute there
+were fifty men around me all jabbering like magpies as to the result of
+this awful massacre. Of course, the regiment would be hurried north
+forthwith&mdash;no other regiment could do the work of annihilation so well
+as the 18th. Oh! no. Of course not!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9198" id="Page_9198">198</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Said my erstwhile friend and bunkie "Hickey" Flynn: "Av coorse, Moiles
+will be after sendin' a message to Lazelle to bring the Ateenth fut up
+at once, and thin the smashin' we will be after givin' them rid divils
+will make a wake look sick."</p>
+
+<p>"Aw cum off, Hickey," said Sullivan, "phat the divil does yez know av
+foightin' injuns? Phat were ye over in the auld sod? Nathin' but a turf
+digger. Phat were ye here before ye 'listed? Dom ye, I think ye belong
+to the Clan na Gael and helped to murther poor Doc Cronin, bad cess to
+ye."</p>
+
+<p>A display of authority on the part of the top sergeant prevented a clash
+and the jaw-breaking contest proceeded. By this time the news had spread
+and the entire garrison were talking. Just as I was about to tell them
+that it was a fake pure and simple, I happened to glance towards my
+office, and Holy Smoke! there was my captain standing on his tiptoes (he
+was only five feet four) reading that confounded bulletin. I hadn't
+counted on any of the officers reading it. Generally they didn't get up
+until eight o'clock and by that time I would have destroyed the fake
+report.</p>
+
+<p>The officers' club was in the same building as my office and the captain
+had come down early, evidently to get a&mdash;to read the morning paper
+(<i>which came at</i> 4 <span class="smcap">P. M.</span>) and his eye lighted on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9199" id="Page_9199">199</a></span> my bulletin. I saw him
+read it carefully, and then reaching up he tore it from the board and as
+quick as his little legs would carry him, he made a bee line for the
+commanding officer's quarters. I knew full well how the colonel would
+regard that bulletin when he found out it was a fake. I was able to
+discern a summary court-martial in my mind's eye, and that would knock
+my chances for a commission sky-highwards&mdash;because a man's military
+record must be absolutely spotless when he appears for examination. What
+was I to do? Just then I saw the captain go up the colonel's steps, ring
+the bell, and in a moment he was admitted. I felt that my corpse was
+laid out right then and there and the wake was about to begin.</p>
+
+<p>A few moments later the commanding officer's orderly came in, and
+looking around for a minute, caught sight of me and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Corporal, the commanding officer wants to see you at his quarters at
+once," and out he went. "Start the band to playing the 'Dead March in
+Saul,'" thought I, "because this is the beginning of a funeral
+procession in which I am to play the leading part." I walked as slowly
+as I could and not appear lagging, but I arrived at my crematory all too
+soon. I rapped on the door and in tones that made me shiver was bidden
+by the old man to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9200" id="Page_9200">200</a></span> come in. The colonel was standing in the middle of
+his parlor, wrapped in a gaudy dressing gown, and in his hand he held my
+mangled bulletin. Right at that minute I wished I had never heard a
+telegraph instrument click.</p>
+
+<p>"Corporal," said the colonel, "what time did you receive this bulletin?"</p>
+
+<p>"About six-fifteen, sir, immediately after reveille," I replied with a
+face as expressionless as a mummy's.</p>
+
+<p>"Why did you not bring it to me direct as you have heretofore done?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, sir, I didn't think you were awake yet, and I did not want to
+disturb you."</p>
+
+<p>"Have you any later news, corporal?"</p>
+
+<p>"No sir, none, but I haven't been back to the office since, sir." Gee!
+but that room was becoming warm!</p>
+
+<p>"Are you certain as to the truth of this awful report?"</p>
+
+<p>"It is probably as authentic as a great many stories that are started
+during times like these&mdash;that is all I know of it, sir." (Lord forgive
+me.)</p>
+
+<p>"It seems almost too horrible to be true, and yet, one cannot tell about
+those Sioux. They're a bad lot&mdash;a devilish bad lot"&mdash;this to my
+captain&mdash;and then to me: "You go back to your office, corporal,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9201" id="Page_9201">201</a></span> and
+remain very close until you have a denial or a confirmation of this
+story and bring any news you may receive to me instanter. That's all
+corporal."</p>
+
+<p>The "corporal" needed no second dismissal, and saluting I quickly got
+out of an atmosphere that was far from chilly to me.</p>
+
+<p>Now, by my cussed propensity for joking, I had involved myself in this
+mess, and there was but one way out of it, and that was to brazen it out
+for a while longer and then post a denial of the supposed awful rumor.
+<i>But the denial must come over the wire</i>, so when I reached my office I
+called up Spofford and told old man Livingston what I had done and what
+I wanted him to do for me, and in about half an hour he sent me a
+"bulletin" saying that the previous report had happily proved unfounded
+and the 6th and 9th Cavalry were all right. This message I took at once
+to the colonel and as he read it he heaved a big sigh of relief, but he
+dismissed me with a very peculiar look in his eye.</p>
+
+<p>The next evening as I was passing the colonel's quarters on my way to
+deliver a message to the hospital, I heard him remark to another
+officer, "Major, don't you think it is strange that the papers received
+to-day make no mention of that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9202" id="Page_9202">202</a></span> frightful report received-here yesterday
+morning relative to the supposed massacre of the 6th and 9th Cavalry?"</p>
+
+<p>No, the major didn't think it a bit strange. Maybe he knew that
+newspaper stories should be taken <i>cum grano salis</i>, and then maybe he
+knew me.</p>
+
+<p>There were no more "fake reports" from that office.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9203" id="Page_9203">203</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXII</h2><h3>PRIVATE DENNIS HOGAN, HERO</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>It was while I was sitting around a barrack-room fire that I picked up
+the following story. There were a number of old soldiers in my
+company&mdash;men who had served twenty-five years in the army&mdash;and their
+fund of anecdote and excitement was of the largest size.</p>
+
+<p>On Thanksgiving Day, 187&mdash;, Private Dennis Hogan, Company B, 29th United
+States Infantry, the telegraph operator at Fort Flint, Montana, sat in
+his dingy little "two by four" office in the headquarter building,
+communing with himself and cussing any force of circumstances that made
+him a soldier. The instruments were quiet, a good Thanksgiving dinner
+had been enjoyed and now the smoke from his old "T. D." pipe curled in
+graceful rings around his red head.</p>
+
+<p>Denny was a smashing good operator and some eighteen months before he
+had landed in St. Louis dead broke. All the offices and railroads were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9204" id="Page_9204">204</a></span>
+full and nary a place did he get. While walking up Pine street one
+morning his eye fell foul of a sign:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Wanted, able-bodied, unmarried men, between the ages of twenty-one and
+thirty-five, for service in the United States Army."</p>
+
+<p>In his mind's eye he sized himself up and came to the conclusion that he
+would fill all the requirements. Now, he hadn't any great hankering for
+soldiering, but he didn't have a copper to his name and as empty
+stomachs stand not on ceremony, in he went and after being catechized by
+the recruiting sergeant, he was pounded for thirty minutes by the
+examining surgeon, pronounced as sound as a dollar, and then sworn in
+"to serve Uncle Sam honestly and faithfully for five years. So help me
+God." The space of time necessary to transform a man from a civilian to
+a soldier is of a very short duration, and almost before he knew it he
+was dressed in the plain blue of the soldier of the Republic. He was
+assigned to B company of the 28th United States Infantry stationed at
+Fort Flint, Montana. The experience was new and novel to him, and the
+three months recruit training well nigh wore him out, but he stuck to
+it, and some two months after he had been returned to duty, he was
+detailed as telegraph operator vice<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9205" id="Page_9205">205</a></span> Adams of G Company, discharged.
+There he had remained since.</p>
+
+<p>At four o'clock on the afternoon in question Denny was aroused from his
+reverie by the sounder opening up and calling "FN" like blue blazes. He
+answered and this is what he took:</p>
+
+<p class='blockquot'>
+<span class="smcap">"Department Headquarters St. Paul, Minn</span>.<br />
+<br />
+"<i>November 26th, 187&mdash;</i><br />
+<br />
+<span class="smcap">"Commanding Officer</span>,<br />
+<br />
+"Fort Flint, Montana.<br />
+<br />
+"Sioux Indians out. Prepare your command<br />
+for instant field service. Thirty days' rations;<br />
+two hundred rounds ammunition per man. Wire<br />
+when ready.<br />
+<br />
+"By command of Major General Wherry.<br />
+<br />
+(Signed) <span class="smcap">Smith</span>,<br />
+<br />
+"Assistant Adjutant-General."<br />
+</p>
+
+<p>Denny was the messenger boy as well as operator and without waiting to
+make an impression copy, he grabbed his hat and flew down the line to
+the colonel's quarters. That worthy was entertaining a party at dinner,
+and was about to give Hogan fits for bringing the message to him instead
+of to the post adjutant; but a glance at the contents changed things and
+in a moment all was bustle and confusion.</p>
+
+<p>For weeks the premonitory signs of this outbreak<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9206" id="Page_9206">206</a></span> had been plainly
+visible, but true to the red-tape conditions, the army could not move
+until some overt act had been committed. The generous interior
+department had supplied the Indians with arms and ammunition and then
+Mr. Red Devil under that prince of fiends incarnate, Sitting Bull,
+started on his campaign of plunder and pillage.</p>
+
+<p>At eight o'clock that night Colonel Clarke wired his chief that his
+command was ready, and at midnight he received orders to proceed the
+next morning at daylight, by forced marches up to the junction of the
+forks of the Red Bud, and take position there to intercept the Indians
+should they attempt to cross. Two regiments from the more northern posts
+were due to reach there at the same time, and the combined strength of
+the three commands was supposed to be sufficient to drive back any body
+of Indians. There was little sleep in Fort Flint that night.</p>
+
+<p>Now, Hogan wasn't much of a success as a garrison soldier, but when a
+chance for a genuine fight presented itself, all the Irish blood in his
+nature came to the surface, and after much pleading and begging, the
+adjutant allowed him to join his company, detailing Jones of D Company
+as operator in his stead. Jones wasn't as good an operator<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9207" id="Page_9207">207</a></span> by far as
+Denny, but in a pinch he could do the work, and besides, he had just
+come out of the hospital and was unable to stand the rigors attendant
+upon a winter campaign in Montana.</p>
+
+<p>Denny went to the company quarters in high glee and soon had his kit all
+packed. Some weeks before he had been out repairing the line and when he
+returned to the post he had left a small pocket instrument and a few
+feet of office wire in his haversack. He saw these things and was about
+to remove them, when something impelled him to take them along. What
+this was no one ever knew. Perhaps premonition.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning just as the first dim shadows of early dawn stole over
+the snow-clad earth, the gallant old 29th, five hundred strong, swung
+out of Fort Flint, on its long tramp. From out of half-closed blinds on
+the officer's line gazed many a tear-stained face, and up on "Soapsuds
+Row" many an honest-hearted laundress was bemoaning the fates that
+parted her from her "ould mon."</p>
+
+<p>The weather turned bitter cold and after seven days of the hardest kind
+of marching they reached and crossed the Red Bud just below the junction
+of the two forks. A strong position was taken and every disposition made
+to prevent surprise.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9208" id="Page_9208">208</a></span> The expected re-enforcement would surely come soon
+and then all would be safe.</p>
+
+<p>The next day dawned and passed, but not a sign of that re-enforcement.
+That night queer looking red glows were seen at stated intervals on the
+horizon&mdash;North, West and East on the north side of the river, and to the
+South on the other bank did they gleam and glow. Colonel Clarke was old
+and tried in Indian warfare and well did he know what those fires
+meant&mdash;Indians&mdash;and lots of them all around his command. His hope now
+was that the two northern regiments would strike them in the rear while
+he smashed them in front.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning, first one, two, three, four, an hundred, a thousand
+figures mounted on fleet footed ponies appeared silhouetted against the
+clear sky, and it wasn't long before that little command of sturdy
+bluecoats was surrounded by a superior force of the wildest red devils
+that ever strode a horse or fired a Winchester rifle. Slowly they drew
+their lines closer about the troops like the clinging tentacles of some
+monster devilfish, and about eleven o'clock, <i>Bang!</i> and the battle was
+on.</p>
+
+<p>"Husband your fire, men. Don't shoot until you have taken deliberate
+aim, and can see the object<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9209" id="Page_9209">209</a></span> aimed at," was the word passed along the
+line by Colonel Clarke.</p>
+
+<p>Behind hastily constructed shelter trenches the soldiers fought off that
+encircling band of Indians, with a desperation and valor born of an
+almost hopeless situation. Ever and anon, from across the river came the
+ping of a Winchester bullet, proving that retreat was cut off that way.
+The Indians had completely marched around them.</p>
+
+<p>Where was the re-enforcement? Why didn't it come? Was this to be another
+Little Big Horn, and were these brave men to be massacred like the
+gallant 7th Cavalry under Custer? As long as his ammunition held out
+Colonel Clarke knew he could stand them off, but after three days of
+hard fighting, resulting in the loss of many brave men, the situation
+was becoming desperate. Fires could not be lighted and more than one
+brave fellow went to kingdom come in filling the canteens at the river's
+bank. Most of the animals had been shot, many of them being used for
+breastworks.</p>
+
+<p>Colonel Clarke was inspecting his lines on the early evening of the
+third day, and had about made up his mind to ask for a volunteer to try
+and get beyond the Indian lines and carry the news to Fort Scott, sixty
+miles away, to call for re-enforcements. Six troops of the 11th Cavalry
+were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9210" id="Page_9210">210</a></span> stationed there under his old friend and classmate, Colonel
+Foster. He knew the character of the regular army chaps well enough to
+be certain they would come to his assistance, if it were a possible
+thing. If all went well with his courier in three days' time they would
+be there.</p>
+
+<p>The word was passed along the line and in a few seconds he had any
+number of officers and men who were willing and ready to take the ride.
+Just as the colonel had decided to send 1st Lieutenant Jarvis on this
+perilous trip, Hogan appeared before him, saluting with military
+precision, and said with a broad Irish brogue:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Axin' yer pardin' kurnel, but Oi think Oi kin tell ye a betther way.
+The telegraph loine from Scott to Kearney runs just twenty-foive moiles
+beyant here to the southards. Up at the end of our loines on the other
+side of the river is a deep ravine. If Oi kin get across with a good
+horse and slip through the Indian loines on the other soide, I can, by
+hard roidin' reach this loine in two or three hours. I have a pocket
+instrument wid me and can cut in and ask for re-enforcements from Fort
+Scott. If the loine is down I can continue on to the post, and make as
+quick time as any of the officers; if it is up it will be a matther of a
+short toime before we are pulled out of this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9211" id="Page_9211">211</a></span> hole. Plaze let me thry it
+kurnel. Lieutenant Jarvis has a wife and two children, and his loss
+would be greatly felt, whoile I&mdash;I&mdash;well I haven't any wan, sir, and
+besoides, I'm an Irishman, and you know, kurnel, an Irishman is a fool
+for luck." This last was said with a broad grin.</p>
+
+<p>Colonel Clarke was somewhat amazed at this speech, but he studied
+reflectively, with knitted brows for a moment, and then said, "All
+right, Hogan, I'll let you try it. Take my horse and start at three
+o'clock in the morning. Do your best, my man, do your best; the lives of
+the remainder of this command depend on your efforts. God be with you."</p>
+
+<p>"If I fail kurnel, it will be because I'm dead, sir."</p>
+
+<p>Shortly before three o'clock in the morning, Denny made ready for his
+perilous ride. The horse's hoofs were carefully padded, ammunition and
+revolver looked after, the pocket instrument fastened around his neck by
+the wire, so if any accident happened to the horse he would not be
+unnecessarily delayed, and all was ready. He gave his old bunkie a
+farewell silent clasp of the hand and then started on his ride that
+meant life or death to his comrades. The horse was a magnificent
+Kentuckian and seemed to know what was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9212" id="Page_9212">212</a></span> required of him. Carefully and
+slowly Hogan pushed his way to the place opposite the ravine, and then
+giving his mount a light touch with the spurs, he took to the cold
+water. The stream was filled with floating ice but was only about fifty
+yards wide and in a few minutes he was safely over, and climbing up the
+other bank through the ravine. Finally, the end was reached and he was
+on high ground. Resting a minute to see if all was well, he started. So
+far, so good, he was beyond the Indian lines. He was congratulating
+himself on the promised success of his mission when all at once,
+directly in front of him he saw the dim shadowy outlines of a mounted
+Indian. Quick as a flash Denny pulled his revolver and another Indian
+was soon in the happy hunting ground. This caused a general alarm and
+Hogan knew he was in for it. Putting his spurs deep in his horse's
+flanks away he went with the speed of the wind. A perfect swarm of
+Indians came after him, yelling like fiends and shooting like demons.
+On! on! he sped, seemingly bearing a charmed life because bullets
+whizzed by him like hail. He was not idle, and when the opportunity
+presented itself his revolver spoke and more than one Indian pony was
+made riderless thereby.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly he felt a sharp stinging pain in his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9213" id="Page_9213">213</a></span> right shoulder, and but
+for a convulsive grasp of the pommel with his bridle hand he would have
+pitched headlong to the earth.</p>
+
+<p>No, by God! he couldn't fail now. He must succeed, the lives of his
+comrades depended on his efforts. He had told Colonel Clarke he would
+get through or die, and he was a long way from dead yet. Only an hour
+and a half more and he would have sent the message and then all the
+Indians in the country could go to the demnition bow wows for all he
+cared.</p>
+
+<p>Hearing no more shots Denny drew rein for a moment and listened. Not a
+sound could be heard, the snow had started to softly fall and the first
+faint rays of light on the eastern horizon heralded the approach of a
+new-born day. Ah! he had outridden his pursuers. Gently patting his
+faithful horse's neck, he once more started swiftly on, and when he was
+within a few miles of the line he chanced to glance back and saw that
+one lone Indian was following him.</p>
+
+<p>Now it was a case of man against man. In his first flight and running
+fight he had fired away all his ammunition save one cartridge. This he
+determined to use to settle his pursuer, but not until it was absolutely
+necessary; and putting spurs to his already tired horse, he galloped
+on.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9214" id="Page_9214">214</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The Indian was slowly gaining on him and he saw the time for decisive
+action was at hand. Ahead of him but one short half mile was that line,
+already in the early morning light he could see the poles, and if the
+god of battles would only speed his one remaining bullet in the right
+direction, his message could be sent in safety and his comrades rescued.
+His wounded right arm was numb from pain and his left was not the
+steadiest in the world, but nothing venture, nothing have, and just
+then&mdash;<i>Bang!</i> and a bullet whizzed by his head. "Not this toime, ye red
+devil," Denny defiantly shouted. A second bullet and he dropped off his
+horse. Quickly wheeling about, he dropped on his stomach, and taking a
+careful aim over his wounded right arm, he fired. The shot was
+apparently a true one and the Indian pitched off head first and lay
+still.</p>
+
+<p>With an exultant shout Hogan jumped up and started for the line. Nothing
+could stop him now. Loss of blood and the intense cold had weakened him
+so that his legs were shaky, the earth seemed to be going around at a
+great rate, dark spots were dancing before his eyes; but with a
+superhuman effort he recovered himself and was soon at the line.</p>
+
+<p>The wire was strung on light lances, and if<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9215" id="Page_9215">215</a></span> Denny were in full
+possession of his strength he could easily pull one down. He threw his
+weight against one with all of his remaining force&mdash;but to no avail.
+What was he to do? But sixteen feet intervened between him and that
+precious wire.</p>
+
+<p>The faithful, tired horse, when Denny jumped off, had only run a little
+way and stopped, only too glad of the chance to rest. He was now
+standing near Hogan, as if intent on being of some further use to him.
+Suddenly Denny's anxious eyes lighted on the horsehair lariat attached
+to the saddle. Here was the means at hand. Quickly as he could he undid
+it, and with great difficulty tied one end to the pommel and the other
+to the lance. Then he gave the horse a sharp blow, and, <i>Crash!</i> down
+went the lance.</p>
+
+<p>Making the connections to the pocket instrument as best he could with
+one cold hand, he placed the wire across a sharp rock and a few blows
+with the butt of his revolver soon cut it. The deed was done.</p>
+
+<hr class='minor' />
+
+<p>Private Dunn, the operator at Fort Scott, opened up his office bright
+and early one cold morning and marveled to find the wire working clear
+to Kearney. After having a chat with the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9216" id="Page_9216">216</a></span> man at Kearney about the
+Indian trouble, he was sitting around like Mr. Micawber when he heard
+the sounder weakly calling "FS." Quickly adjusting down he answered and
+this is what he took.</p>
+
+<p class='blockquot'>
+"<span class="smcap">Commanding Officer</span>,<br />
+<br />
+"Fort Scott, Montana.<br />
+<br />
+"29th Infantry surrounded by large body<br />
+hostile Sioux just north of junction of the forks<br />
+of the Red Bud. Colonel Clarke asks for immediate<br />
+re-enforcements; ammunition almost gone;<br />
+situation desperate. I left the command at three<br />
+o'clock this morning.<br />
+<br />
+(Signed.)   <span class="smcap">Dennis Ho&mdash;</span>."<br />
+</p>
+
+<p>Then blank, the sounder was still and the line remained open. The
+sending had been weak and shaky, just as if the sender had been out all
+night, but there was no mistaking the purport of the message.</p>
+
+<p>Dunn didn't wait to pick up his hat but fairly flew down the line to the
+commanding officer's quarters. The colonel was not up yet, but the sound
+of animated voices in the hallway caused him to appear at the head of
+the stairs in his dressing gown.</p>
+
+<p>"What is it, Dunn," he asked.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9217" id="Page_9217">217</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"A message from the 29th Infantry, sir, saying they are surrounded by
+the Sioux Indians and want help."</p>
+
+<p>Colonel Foster read the message, and exclaimed,</p>
+
+<p>"My God! Charlie Clarke stuck out there and wants help! Dunn, have the
+trumpeter sound 'Boots and Saddles.' Present my compliments to the
+adjutant and tell him I desire him to report to me at once.
+Kraus,"&mdash;this to his Dutch striker who was standing around in
+open-mouthed wonderment&mdash;"saddle my horse and get my field kit ready at
+once. Be quick about it."</p>
+
+<p>A few men had seen Dunn's mad rush to the colonel's quarters and
+suspected that something was up, so they were not surprised a few
+minutes later to hear "Boots and Saddles" ring out on the clear morning
+air. The command had been in readiness for field service for some days,
+and but a few moments elapsed until six sturdy troops were standing in
+line on the snow-covered parade. A hurried inspection was made by the
+troop commanders and then Colonel Foster commanded "Fours right, trot,
+march," and away they went on their sixty-mile ride of rescue. A few
+halts were made during the day to tighten girths, and at six o'clock a
+short rest was made for coffee.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9218" id="Page_9218">218</a></span></p>
+
+<hr class='minor' />
+
+<p>The sound of the firing across the river shortly after Hogan left the
+29th was plainly heard by his comrades and many a man was heard to
+exclaim, "It's all up with poor Denny." But the firing grew more distant
+and Colonel Clarke had hopes that Hogan had successfully eluded his
+pursuers and determined to hold on as best he could. He knew full well
+that the Indians would be extraordinarily careful and that it would be
+folly for him to attempt to get another courier through that night. That
+day was indeed a hard one; it was trying to the extreme. Tenaciously did
+those Indians watch their prey. Well did they know by the rising of the
+morrow's sun the ammunition of the soldiers would be exhausted and then
+would come their feast of murder and scalps; Little Big Horn would be
+repeated.</p>
+
+<p>About two o'clock, Colonel Clarke, utterly regardless of personal
+danger, exposed himself for a moment and Chug! down he went, shot
+through the thigh by a Winchester bullet. Brave old chap, never for one
+minute did he give up, and after having his wound dressed as best it
+could be done, he insisted on remaining near the fighting line.
+Lieutenant Jarvis was shot through the arm, Captain Belknap of E Company
+was lying dead near<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9219" id="Page_9219">219</a></span> his company, and scores of other brave men had gone
+to their last reckoning. Hanigan, Hogan's bunkie, was badly wounded, and
+out of his head. Every once in a while he would mumble, "Never you mind,
+fellers, we will be all right yet, just stand 'em off a little while
+longer and Denny will be here with the 11th Cavalry. He said he'd do it
+and by God! he won't fail."</p>
+
+<p>As the shades of the cold winter evening crept silently over the earth,
+the firing died away, and the command settled down to another night of
+the tensest anxiety and watching. Oh! why didn't those northern
+regiments come? Did Hogan succeed in his perilous mission? Depressed
+indeed were the spirits of the officers and men.</p>
+
+<p>About nine o'clock Lieutenant Tracy, the adjutant, was sitting beside
+his chief, who was apparently asleep. Suddenly, Colonel Clarke sat up
+and grabbing Tracy by the arm said, "Hark! what's that noise I hear?"</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing sir, nothing," replied Tracy; "lie down Colonel and try to
+rest, you need it sir"&mdash;and then aside&mdash;"poor old chap, his mind's
+wandering."</p>
+
+<p>"No, no, Tracy. Listen man, don't you hear it? It sounds like the beat
+of many horses' hoofs,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9220" id="Page_9220">220</a></span> re-enforcements are coming, thank God. Hogan got
+through."</p>
+
+<p>Just then, Crash! Bang! and a clear voice rang out, "Right front into
+line, gallop, March! <i>Charge!</i>" and those sturdy chaps of the 11th
+Cavalry true to their regimental hatred for the Indians, charged down
+among the red men scattering them like so much chaff. Then to the
+northwards was heard another ringing cheer, and the two long-delayed
+regiments came down among the Indians like a thunderbolt of vengeance.
+Truly, "It never rains but it pours." The 29th, all that was left of it,
+was saved, and when Colonel Foster leaned over the prostrate form of his
+old friend and comrade, Colonel Clarke feebly asked, "Where is that
+brave little chap, Hogan?"</p>
+
+<p>"Hogan? Who is Hogan?" asked Foster.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, my God, man, Hogan was the man that got beyond the Indian lines to
+make the ride to inform you of our plight. Didn't you see him?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, I didn't see him," and then Colonel Foster related how the
+information had reached him.</p>
+
+<p>A rescuing party was started out and in the pale moonlight they came
+upon the body of poor Denny lying stark and stiff under the telegraph
+line, his left hand grasping the instrument and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9221" id="Page_9221">221</a></span> key open. A bullet
+hole in his head mutely told how he had met his death. Beside him lay
+the Indian, dead, one hand grasping Hogan's scalp lock, the other
+clasping a murderous-looking knife. Death had mercifully prevented the
+accomplishment of his hellish purpose.</p>
+
+<p>Hogan's shot had mortally wounded the Indian in the left breast, but
+with all the vengeful nature of his race, he had crawled forward on his
+hands and knees, and while Hogan was intent on sending his precious
+message, he shot him through the head, but not until the warning had
+been given to Fort Scott. Denny's faithful horse was standing near, as
+if keeping watch over the inanimate form of his late friend.</p>
+
+<p>They buried him where he lay, and a traveler passing over that trail,
+will observe a solitary grave. On the tombstone at the head is
+inscribed:</p>
+
+<p class='center'>
+"DENNIS HOGAN,<br />
+"Private, Company B,<br />
+"29th U. S. Infantry.<br />
+"He died that others might live."<br />
+</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9222" id="Page_9222">222</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXIII</h2><h3>THE COMMISSION WON&mdash;IN A GENERAL STRIKE</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The time spent as a soldier in the ranks passed by all too swiftly. The
+service was pleasant, the duty easy, and the regiment one of the best in
+the entire army. I don't know any two and a half years of my life that
+have been as happy and peaceful as those spent in the ranks of the
+American Army. When the proper time came my recommendations were all in
+good shape and I was duly ordered to appear before an august lot of
+officers and gentlemen at Fortress Monroe, Virginia, to determine my
+fitness to trot along behind a company, sign the sick-book, and witness
+an occasional issue of clothing. One warm June afternoon I bade good-bye
+to the men who had so long been my comrades, and journeyed to the
+eastwards. I was successful in the examinations, and on a Sunday morning
+early in August, myself, in company with twelve other young chaps,
+received the precious little parchment in which the President of the
+United States sends greetings and proclaims to all the world:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"That reposing especial confidence and trust in the valor, patriotism,
+and fidelity of one John Smith, I have made him a second lieutenant in
+the regular army. Look out for him because he hasn't much sense but I
+have strong hopes as how he will learn after a while."</p>
+
+<div class='figcenter' style='width: 321px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="illus-016" id="illus-016"></a>
+<img src='images/p2-219.jpg' alt='"... Dennis, lying under the telegraph line, his left hand still grasped the instrument"' title='' width = '321' height = '513'/><br />
+<span class='caption'>"... Dennis, lying under the telegraph line, his left hand still grasped the instrument"</span>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9223" id="Page_9223">223</a></span>
+The apprenticeship was finished and the chevrons gave way to the
+shoulder straps.</p>
+
+<p>This time I thought surely I had heard the last of the telegraph, never
+again was I going to touch a key. I had been at my first station just
+about two months when one morning I appeared before the Signal Officer
+of the post and plaintively asked him to let me have a set of telegraph
+instruments. He did, and it wasn't long before I had a ticker going in
+my quarters. There was no one to practice with me, so I just pounded
+away by myself for an hour or so each day, to keep my hand in. I have
+yet to see a man who has worked at the business for any length of time
+who could give it up entirely. It's like the opium habit&mdash;powerful hard
+to break off. I have never since tried to lose sight of it.</p>
+
+<p>In 189- one of those spasmodic upheavals known as a sympathetic strike
+spread over the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9224" id="Page_9224">224</a></span> country like wild fire, and it wasn't long before the
+continuance of law and order was entirely out of the hands of the state
+authorities in about ten states, and once more the faithful little army
+was called out to put its strong hand on the throat of destruction and
+pillage. Troops were hurriedly despatched from all posts to the worst
+points and the inefficient state militia in several states relegated to
+its proper sphere&mdash;that of holding prize drills and barbecues.</p>
+
+<p>Owing to the fact that the army cannot be used until a state executive
+acknowledges his inability to preserve law and order, and owing also to
+the fact that the executives in one or two of the states were pandering
+to the socialistic element, saying they could enforce the laws without
+the assistance of the army, this strike had spread until the entire
+country except the extreme east and southeast was in its strong grasp,
+and the work cut out for the army was doled out to it in great big
+chunks. Men seemed to lose all their senses and the emissaries of the
+union succeeded in getting many converts, each one of which paid the sum
+of one dollar to the so-called head of the union. Snap for the aforesaid
+"head," wasn't it? It was positively refreshing to the army at this time
+to have at its head a man who did not know what it was to pander<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9225" id="Page_9225">225</a></span> to the
+socialists, and one who would enforce his solemn oath, "To enforce the
+laws of the United States," at all hazards. United States mail trains
+were being interfered with; the Inter-State Commerce law was being
+violated with impunity, and various other acts of vandalism and pillage
+were being committed all over the land&mdash;and the municipal and state
+authorities "winked the other eye."</p>
+
+<p>Way out in one of the far western posts was a certain Lieutenant Jack
+Brainerd, 31st U. S. Infantry, serving with his company. Jack was a big,
+whole-souled, impulsive chap, and before his entrance to the military
+academy, had been a pretty fair operator. In fact, being the son of a
+general superintendent of one of the big trunk lines, he was quite
+familiar with a railroad, and could do almost anything from driving a
+spike, or throwing a switch to running an engine. The first three years
+succeeding his graduation had been those of enervating peace; all of
+which palled on the soul of Lieutenant Jack to a large degree. The
+martial spirit beat high within his breast, and he wanted a scrap&mdash;he
+wanted one badly.</p>
+
+<p>The preliminary mutterings of this great strike had been heard for days,
+but no one dreamed that anarchy was about to break loose with the
+strength<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9226" id="Page_9226">226</a></span> of all the fires of hell; and yet such was the case. On the
+evening of July 4th, a message came to the commanding officer at Fort
+Blank, to send his command of six companies of infantry to C&mdash;&mdash; at once
+to assist in quelling the riots. The chance for a scrap so longed for by
+Lieutenant Brainerd was coming swift and sure. The next morning the
+command pulled out. The trip was uneventful during the day, but at night
+a warning was received by Major Sharp, the grizzled battalion commander,
+who had fought everything from manly, brave confederates to skulking
+Indians, to watch out for trouble as he approached the storm centre.
+There were rumors of dynamited bridges, broken rails, etc. The major
+didn't believe much in these yarns, but&mdash;"<i>Verbum Sap</i>."&mdash;and the
+precautions were taken. The next morning at five the train pulled into
+Hartshorne, eleven miles out from C&mdash;&mdash;. This was the beginning of the
+great railroad yards and evidences of the presence of the enemy were
+becoming very apparent. A large crowd had gathered to watch the
+bluecoats and it was plain to be seen that they were in full sympathy
+with the strikers. "Scab" and a few other choice epithets were hurled at
+the train crew, and when they were ready to pull out the train didn't
+go. The conductor went forward and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9227" id="Page_9227">227</a></span> found that the engineer had refused
+to handle his engine because Hartshorne was his home and the crowd had
+threatened to kill him if he hauled that load of "slaves of Pullman" any
+further. When Major Sharp heard of it his little grey eyes snapped and
+he growled out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Won't pull this train, eh! Well, damn him, we'll make him pull it.
+Here, Mr. Brainerd, you take some men and go forward and make that
+engineer take us through these yards. If he refuses you know what to do
+with him."</p>
+
+<p>Do? Well, I reckon Jack knew what to do all right enough. He took
+Sergeant Fealy, a veteran, and three men and went forward. The engineer,
+a little snub-nosed Irishman, was at his post with his fireman, a good
+head of steam was on, but nary an inch did that train budge. A big crowd
+of men and women stood around jeering and laughing at the plight of the
+bluecoats. Pushing his way through the crowd, Jack climbed up into the
+cab closely followed by his little escort.</p>
+
+<p>"Sergeant Fealy," he said in a voice loud enough to be heard a block,
+"get up on that tender, have your men load their rifles, and shoot the
+first d&mdash;&mdash;d man that raises a hand or throws a missile. And you," this
+to the engineer, "shove that reverse lever over and pull out."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9228" id="Page_9228">228</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"But, my God, lieutenant," expostulated the engineer, "this is my home
+and if I pull you fellers out of here they'll kill me on sight&mdash;besides
+look at the track ahead. I'd run over and kill a lot of those people."</p>
+
+<p>"There's no 'buts' about it. This train is going in or I'll lose my
+commission in the army; besides if these people haven't sense enough to
+get out of the way let 'em die."</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Engineer started to expostulate farther but the ominous click of a
+.38 Colt's was incentive enough to make him stop and then he shoved her
+over and gave her a little steam&mdash;just a coaxer.</p>
+
+<p>"Here, you blasted chump, that won't do," and with that Brainerd reached
+over and yanked the throttle so that she bounded away like a hare; at
+the same time he gave her sand. It's a great wonder every draw head in
+the train didn't pull out, but fortunately they held on. The crowd on
+the track melted away like the mists before the summer's sun, and beyond
+a few taunting jeers no overt act was committed. The engineer didn't
+relish the idea of a soldier running his engine and became somewhat
+obstreperous. Brainerd grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and landed
+him all in a heap in the coal. Then he climbed up on the right-hand side
+of the cab and took charge of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9229" id="Page_9229">229</a></span> things himself. There were myriads of
+tracks stretching out before him like the long arms of some giant
+octopus, but all traffic was suspended on account of the strike and the
+main line was clear. The train flew down the line like a scared rabbit
+and in thirty minutes reached the camp at Blake Park. I had arrived
+there that morning from the south for special service and when I saw
+Brainerd climb down off of that engine his face was smutty, but his eyes
+twinkled and he came towards me with a broad grin and said,</p>
+
+<p>"Hello, Bates, where in thunder did you spring from?"</p>
+
+<p>There wasn't much time for talking because the great city was groaning
+beneath the grasp of anarchy, and until that power was broken, there
+would be no rest for the weary.</p>
+
+<p>The situation that existed at this time is too well known to require any
+explanation here. The state and city authorities were powerless; the
+militia inefficient and many a citizen bowed his head and thanked God on
+that warm July morning for the arrival of the regulars. Only twenty-one
+hundred of them all told, mind you, against so many thousands of the
+rioters, and yet, they were disciplined men and led by officers who
+simply enforced orders as they received them. No matter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9230" id="Page_9230">230</a></span> where or what
+the sympathies of the men of a company might be, when the captain said
+"Fire," look out, because the bullets would generally fly breast high.
+The situation resembled the Paris Commune, and but for the timely
+arrival of the small body of bluecoats, another cow might have kicked
+over another lamp, and the frightful conflagration of 1871 have been
+more than duplicated. But the "cow" was slaughtered and the "lamp"
+extinguished.</p>
+
+<p>The morning after Brainerd arrived he was detailed on special service
+and ordered to report to me, and together we worked until the trouble
+was over. Just what this service was need not be recorded, but one thing
+sure, railroads and the telegraph figured in it quite largely. In fact
+the general superintendent of the Western Union Telegraph Company placed
+the entire resources of the company at my disposal. A wire was run
+direct to Washington, lines run to all the camps, and Jack and I each
+carried a little pocket instrument on our person.</p>
+
+<p>Although the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers did not go out in a
+body, there was quite a number of them who would not pull trains for
+fear of personal violence from the strikers. One old chap, Bob Redway,
+by name, had known Major<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9231" id="Page_9231">231</a></span> McKenney of our battalion, in days gone by,
+when he was pulling a train on the N. P., and the major was stationed at
+Missoula. Bob wandered into camp one afternoon to see his old friend and
+just at that time a company was ordered to the southern part of the city
+to stop a crowd that was looting and burning P. H. Railway property. As
+usual the engineer backed out at the last moment. The major turned to
+Redway, and said, "See here, Bob, you're not in sympathy with these
+cutthroats, suppose you pull this train out."</p>
+
+<p>"All right, major, I'll pull you through if the old girl will only hold
+up. She's a stranger to me, but I reckon she'll last."</p>
+
+<p>Brainerd and I were to go along and do some special work around the
+stock-yards, and soon we were shooting down the track like a flyer. At
+62nd street we passed a sullen looking crowd and when we reached 130th
+street, we were flagged by the operator in the tower, and informed that
+the mob in our rear was starting to block the track by overturning a
+standard sleeper. They were going to cut us off. We cut the engine
+loose, put fourteen men up on the tender, and Brainerd and I started
+back with them. The engine was going head on, having backed out from the
+city, and Bob let her put for all she was worth. Just at 62nd<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9232" id="Page_9232">232</a></span> street
+there is a long sweeping curve and we were coming around it like a
+streak of blue lightning, when all at once we saw the crowd just in the
+act of pulling the sleeper over on our track. There was no time to lose
+and the command "Fire" was sharply given. "Bang," rang out the
+Springfields, one or two of the mob dropped to the ground, the rest let
+go of the ropes and ran like scared cats, and the car tottered back in
+its original place. Redway had shut off steam and was slowing down under
+ordinary air, when all at once there was a dull deafening roar, and then
+for me&mdash;oblivion. I was only stunned and when I regained consciousness
+looked around and saw the men slowly regaining their feet. Redway was
+not killed, but the shock and concussion of the detonation of the
+dynamite made him lose his speech and he was bleeding profusely at the
+nose and ears. The cowcatcher, headlight and forward trucks of the
+engine were blown to smithereens, but fortunately the boiler did not
+burst and there she stood like some powerful monster wounded to the
+death. The mob, imagining that their fiendish work had been complete,
+became emboldened and rapidly gathered around the little body of
+bluecoats. It began to look rocky, and Brainerd came limping over to me
+and said, "Bates, I'm pretty badly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9233" id="Page_9233">233</a></span> bruised about the legs, and can't
+climb, but if you're able, for God's sake climb that telegraph pole and
+cut in and ask department headquarters to send us down some help. I'll
+form the men around the bottom of the pole and shoot the first damned
+man or woman that throws a missile. We're in a devilish bad box."</p>
+
+<p>I took the little instrument, nippers and wire and up I went. There were
+side steps on the pole so the ascent was easy. What a scene below! Five
+or six thousand angry faces, besotted, coarse and ill-bred looking
+brutes, gazing up at me with the wrath of vengeance in their hearts; and
+held at bay by a band of fourteen battered and bruised bluecoats, a
+wounded engineer and fireman, commanded by an almost beardless boy. Well
+did that mob know that if those rifles ever spoke there would be a
+number of vacant chairs at the various family boards that night. The
+wire was soon cut, the main office gave me department headquarters and
+in thirty minutes' time that mob was scattering like so much chaff
+before the wind, and with a ringing cheer, two companies of the &mdash;th
+Infantry came down among them like a thunderbolt. We were saved and took
+Redway back to camp with us. That evening the major came over to see
+him. Poor chap! he couldn't speak but he motioned<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9234" id="Page_9234">234</a></span> for a pencil and
+paper and this is what he wrote:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Don't worry, major, I'm all right. My speaking machine seems to have
+had a head end collision with a cyclone, but if you want me to pull any
+more trains out my right arm is still in pretty good shape." Bob hung to
+us all through the trying weeks that followed and in the end some of us
+succeeded in getting him a good position in one of the departments in
+Washington.</p>
+
+<p>Far up in the Northwest things were in a very bad shape. Everything was
+tied up tight; mail trains could not run because there were no men to
+run them; "Debsism" had a firm grasp; and even though many of the
+trainmen were willing to run, intimidation by the strikers caused them
+to go slow.</p>
+
+<p>At one place, call it Bridgeton, there was an overland mail waiting to
+go out, but no engineer. Here's where the versatility of the American
+soldier came in. Major Clarke of the &mdash;th Infantry, had four companies
+of his regiment guarding public property at Bridgeton and he sent word
+by his orderly that he wanted a locomotive engineer and a fireman. Quick
+as a flash he had six engineers and any number of men who could fire. He
+chose two good men and then detailed Captain Stilling's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9235" id="Page_9235">235</a></span> company to go
+along as an escort. Orders were procured at the telegraph office for the
+train to run to Pokeville, where further orders would be sent them. When
+the crowd of loiterers and strikers saw the preparations they jeered in
+derision. They had the engineer and fireman corralled, but their laugh
+turned to sorrow when they saw a strapping infantry sergeant climb into
+the cab and after placing his loaded rifle in front of him, he grasped
+the throttle and away they went&mdash;much to the disgust of Mr. Rioter. They
+didn't like it worth a cent, but as one striker put it, "What's the use
+of monkeyin' with them reg'lars? When they gets an order to shoot,
+they're just damned fools enough to shoot right into the crowd. Milish'
+fire in the air, because as a rule they have friends in the crowd and
+don't care to hurt 'em."</p>
+
+<p>Pokeville was one hundred and two miles from Bridgeton and the run was
+carefully made and without incident. When the volunteer engineer and
+Captain Stillings, who was playing conductor, went to the office for
+orders, they found the place deserted. A sullen-looking crowd was
+looking on and appeared to enjoy the discomfiture of the soldiers. They
+had put the operator <i>away</i> for a while. Pressing up near the sides of
+the train they became somewhat ugly and Captain Stillings<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9236" id="Page_9236">236</a></span> brought out
+his company, and lining them up alongside of the track he turned to his
+1st lieutenant and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Mitchell, I'm going into this telegraph office. If this crowd gets
+ugly I want you to shoot the first damned man that moves a finger to
+harm anybody."</p>
+
+<p>But without an operator orders could not be procured, and without orders
+the train could not go. Captain Stillings was in a quandary, but all at
+once he stepped out in front of his company and said in a loud tone, "I
+want an operator."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm one, sir," said Private O'Brien, quickly stepping forward and
+saluting.</p>
+
+<p>"Go in that office and get orders for this train."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, sir," replied O'Brien, and in a minute another bluecoat was
+helping the train on its way. If Captain Stillings had wanted a Chinese
+interpreter he could have gotten one&mdash;any old thing. The train had no
+further mishaps, because everything necessary to run a railroad was
+right here in one company of sixty-two men belonging to the regular
+army.</p>
+
+<p>July slipped away and it was well into August before we returned to our
+posts and the old grind of "Fours right," and "Fours left."</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9237" id="Page_9237">237</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXIV</h2><h3>EXPERIENCES AS A GOVERNMENT CENSOR OF TELEGRAPH</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The few years succeeding the great strike were ones of calm, peaceful
+tranquility. Each recurring November 1st, brought the initiation of Post
+Lyceums at all garrisons, in which the officers were gathered together
+twice a week, and war in all its phases was studied. We didn't exactly
+know where the war was coming from, but, still we boned it out. Old
+campaigns were fought over; the mistakes made by the world's greatest
+commanders, from Alexander the Great to Grant and Lee were pointed out;
+Kriegspiel was played; essays written and discussed, recommendations
+made as to ammunition and food supply; use of artillery in attack and
+defense; the proper method of employing the telegraph in the war; and a
+thousand and one things relative to the machine militaire were gone
+over. All this time we were slumbering over a smoldering volcano, and on
+February 16, 1898, the eruption broke loose; the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9238" id="Page_9238">238</a></span> good ship <i>Maine</i> was
+destroyed in Havana harbor, and the feelings of the people, already
+drawn to the breaking point by the inhuman cruelties of Spain towards
+her colonies near our own shores, burst with a vehemence that portended,
+in unmistakable language, the rending asunder of the once proud kingdom
+of Spain. The army wanted a war; the navy wanted it, the whole
+population wanted it and here it was within our grasp. It was the
+dawning of a new day for the United States; a new empire was being born
+in the Western hemisphere. The feverish preparations attendant upon the
+new conditions are of too recent date to need any sketching here.</p>
+
+<p>When it was finally determined that the time had arrived for the
+assembling of the small but efficient regular army, I was stationed with
+my regiment at Fort Wayne, Michigan. Like all other troops, we were at
+the post ready for the start. The pistol cracked on the 15th of April,
+and on the 19th we started. Mobile, Alabama, was our objective where we
+arrived on the 22nd of the month. Here began the ceaseless preparation
+for the part the regiment was to play in the grand drama of war that was
+to follow, all this camp life and concentration being but the prologue.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9239" id="Page_9239">239</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The camp was a most beautiful one, the weather pleasant, and it was
+indeed a most inspiring sight to see the long unbroken lines of blue go
+swinging by, keeping absolute time and perfect alignment to the
+inspiring strains of some air like "Hot time in the old town to-night,"
+or "The stars and stripes forever."</p>
+
+<p>I had started in with my regiment and expected to remain on duty with it
+until the end of the war, sharing all its perils and hardships, doing my
+part in the fighting, and partaking of any of the renown it might
+achieve should the Dons ever be met. But "Man proposes and God
+disposes," and on the afternoon of May 21st, I was sitting in my tent
+correcting some manuscript when a very bright-eyed colored newsboy came
+along and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Buy a paper, cap'n."</p>
+
+<p>That was the day that a wild rumor had been in circulation that Sampson
+had met Cervera in the Bahama Channel and completely smashed him, so I
+laid down my manuscript and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Anything in there about Sampson licking Cervera?"</p>
+
+<p>"Naw, sir, dat were a fake, cap'n, but dere is lots of oder news fur
+you."</p>
+
+<p>"No, kid, I don't want a paper to-night, and besides I'm not a captain,
+I'm only a lieutenant."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9240" id="Page_9240">240</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"But yer may be one some day. Please buy one cap'n," and with this he
+laid a paper down on my table (a cracker box). I was about to shove it
+aside and sharply tell him to skip out when my eye fell upon:</p>
+
+<p>"Nominations by the President."</p>
+
+<p>"To be captains in the Signal Corps," then followed my name. I bought a
+paper, yes, all he had.</p>
+
+<p>On May 27th, I was ordered to proceed at once to Tampa, Florida,
+reporting upon arrival by telegraph to the chief signal officer of the
+army for instructions. Tuesday morning, the 29th of May, I reported my
+arrival and spent the rest of the morning in looking around the camps,
+renewing old acquaintances. I supposed of course that I was to be
+assigned to the command of one of the new signal companies then forming
+to take part in the Santiago campaign and was filled with delight at the
+prospect, but about eleven o'clock I received an order from General
+Greely directing me to assume charge of the telegraphic censorship at
+Tampa. Three civilians, Heston at Jacksonville, Munn at Miami, and
+Fellers at Tampa, were sworn in as civilian assistants and directed to
+report to me, thereafter acting wholly under my orders. Mr. B. F.
+Dillon, superintendent of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9241" id="Page_9241">241</a></span> Western Union Telegraph Company, was in
+Tampa, and I had a long conference with him. He assured me of his
+confidence and cordial support, and placed the entire resources of his
+company at my disposal. Operators all over the state were instructed
+that anything I ordered was to be obeyed and then the work began.</p>
+
+<p>The idea of a telegraphic censorship was a new and irksome one to the
+great American people and just what it meant was hard to determine. Much
+has been written about "Press Censorship." That term was a misnomer.
+There never <i>was</i> an attempt to <i>censor</i> the <i>great American press</i>. The
+newspapers were just as free to print as they were before the war
+started. <i>All the censorship that existed was over the telegraph lines
+militarily occupied.</i> A government officer was placed in charge and his
+word was absolute; he could only be overruled by General Greely, the
+Secretary of War or the President. It was his duty to watch telegrams,
+regulate the kind that were allowed to pass, and to see that no news was
+sent whereby the interests of the government or the safety of the army
+might suffer.</p>
+
+<p>The instructions I received were general in their nature and in all
+specific cases arising, my judgment was to determine, and I want to
+remark<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9242" id="Page_9242">242</a></span> right here, the rapidity with which those specific cases would
+arise was enough to make a man faint. The first rule made was that
+cipher messages or those written in a foreign tongue were prohibited
+unless sent by a government official on public business. There were a
+few exceptions to this rule. For instance; many large business houses
+have telegraphic cipher codes for the transaction of business, and it
+was not the policy of the government to interfere in any manner with the
+commercial affairs of the country, so these messages were allowed to
+pass when the code book was presented to the censor and a sworn
+translation made in his presence. Spanish messages were transmitted only
+after being most carefully scanned and upon proof of the loyalty of the
+sender or receiver and a sworn translation. Not a single private message
+could be sent by any one, that in any way hinted at the time of the
+departure or destination of any ship or body of troops. Even officers
+about to sail away were not allowed to telegraph their wives and
+families. If they had a pre-arranged code, whereby a message could be
+written in plain English, there was no way to stop their transmission.
+Foreign messages were watched with eagle eyes and many and many a one
+was gently consigned<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9243" id="Page_9243">243</a></span> to the pigeon hole, when the contents and meaning
+were not plain.</p>
+
+<p>From Key West (which was shortly afterwards placed in my charge) there
+ran the cable to Havana, and this line was the subject of an
+extraordinarily strict espionage; not a message being allowed to pass
+over it that was not perfectly plain in its meaning. Mr. J. W. Atkins
+was sworn in as my assistant at Key West, and thus I had the whole state
+of Florida under my control. All the lines from the southern part of the
+state converge to Jacksonville, and not a message could go from a point
+within the state to one out of it without first passing under the
+scrutiny of either myself or one of my sworn assistants.</p>
+
+<p>My office was in H. B. Plant's Tampa Bay hotel, and there, every day,
+from seven <span class="smcap">a. m.</span> until twelve midnight, and sometimes one and two in the
+morning, I did my work. My own long experience as a practical
+telegrapher stood me in good stead and when any direct work was to be
+done with the White House in Washington, or any especially important
+messages were to be sent, I personally did the telegraphing. At the
+Executive Mansion was Colonel B. F. Montgomery, signal corps, in charge
+of the telegraph office, so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9244" id="Page_9244">244</a></span> when anything special passed, no one knew
+it but the colonel and myself.</p>
+
+<p>The Tampa Bay hotel was at this time the scene of the most dazzling and
+brilliant gaiety. Shafter's 5th Corps was preparing for its Santiago
+campaign and each night many officers and their wives would meet in the
+hotel and pass the time away listening to the music of some regimental
+band or in pleasant conversation. Men who had not seen each other since
+the close of the great civil war renewed old acquaintances and spun
+reminiscences by the yard. Military attaches from all the countries of
+the world were daily arriving, and their gaudy uniforms added a dash of
+color to the already brilliant panorama. The bright gold of Captain
+Paget, the English naval attache, the deep blue of Colonel Yermeloff,
+who represented Russia, contrasted vividly with the blue and yellow of
+Japanese Major Shiska, and the scarlet and black of Count Goetzen of
+Germany. But prominent among all this moving panorama of color was the
+plain blue of the volunteer, and the brown khaki of the regular. My view
+of the scene was limited to fleeting glimpses from my office where I was
+nightly scanning messages, doing telegraphing or overlooking 30,000 or
+40,000 words of correspondents' copy. Preparations for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9245" id="Page_9245">245</a></span> the embarkation
+were going on with feverish haste, and orders were daily expected for
+the army to move.</p>
+
+<p>There were at this time nearly two hundred newspaper correspondents
+scattered around through the hotel and in the various camps. They
+represented papers from all over the world, and were typical
+representatives of the brain and sinew of the newspaper profession, and
+were there to accompany the army when it moved. Such men as Richard
+Harding Davis, Stephen Bonsai, Frederick Remington, Caspar Whitney,
+Grover Flint, Edward Marshall, Maurice Low, John Taylor, John Klein,
+Louis Seibold, George Farman and Mr. Akers of the London papers, and
+scores of others. They were quick and active, intensely patriotic, alert
+for all the news, a "scoop" for them was the blood of life, and the
+censorship came like a wet blanket. In a small way I had been
+corresponding for a paper since the beginning of the war, but when the
+detail as censor came I gave it up as the two were incompatible.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9246" id="Page_9246">246</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXV</h2><h3>MORE CENSORSHIP</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>I must confess that I stood in awe of these newspaper chaps, because I
+knew my orders would incense them and if they took it into their heads
+to roast me my life would be made miserable for a good many days to
+come. But then in the army orders are made to be obeyed and I determined
+not to show partiality to any of them. It was to be "a fair field and no
+favor," so I sent word and asked them to meet me in the reading-room of
+the hotel at two o'clock that afternoon. They came garbed in all sorts
+of field uniform and I made a little speech telling what they might send
+and what was interdicted; I remarked that the work was as irksome to me
+as it was to them, but orders were orders and if they would live up to
+the few <i>simple</i> rules they would make my task much easier and save
+themselves lots of trouble. Nothing absolutely was to be sent, that
+would convey in any way an idea of the number of troops in Tampa, the
+time of arrival or departure of any number of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9247" id="Page_9247">247</a></span> troops or ships, and
+above all, not a word was to be sent out as to when the 5th Army Corps
+was to sail. When I had finished one of the correspondents shook his
+head in a deprecatory way and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Well, captain, we thought Lieutenant Miley (my predecessor) was bad
+enough but you can give him cards and spades and beat him out. You're
+certainly a hummer from the word go, and I reckon we'd better go home."</p>
+
+<p>He had my sympathy but that was all. Every correspondent had a war
+department pass; these I examined and registered each man.</p>
+
+<p>That night my fun commenced. At six <span class="smcap">P. M.</span> they began to file stuff, and
+armed with a big blue pencil I started to slash and when I finished,
+some of their sheets looked like a miniature football field, while their
+faces betokened blank amazement and intense disgust. Boiled down, the
+first night's batch of copy consisted of a glowing description of the
+new censor; this fiend whose weapon was a blue pencil&mdash;his glowing red
+whiskers&mdash;his goggle eyes, and his Titian-colored hair. One of them
+said:</p>
+
+<p>"This afternoon the new censor stuck his head out of the window and the
+glow was so great from his red whiskers and auburn locks that the fire<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9248" id="Page_9248">248</a></span>
+department was turned out. The latest report is that the censor was
+unquenched," and so on. They couldn't send any news so they sent me.
+Most of them were space writers and everything went. In many ways they
+tried to evade the rules; by insinuations, hints upon which a bright
+telegraph editor could raise an edifice with a semblance of truth, but
+the blue pencil generally got in its work before the dispatch reached
+the operator. I had two stamps made; one "O. K. for transmission," and
+the other, "REJECTED, file, do not return." Number one went on all
+messages for transmission and number two on all others. As I gaze at
+these relics now I see that number two has been used much more than its
+companion.</p>
+
+<p>I had made it a rule that each paper maintaining a correspondent in
+Tampa was to furnish me with a copy of every edition of the paper. As a
+result, in a few days I had a mail that was stupendous. A clerk was on
+hand who read these papers, marking all things bearing a Tampa date
+line. Then I would read them and woe betide the correspondent whose
+paper contained contraband news from Tampa. Off went his head and his
+permit was recalled for a certain time as a punishment.</p>
+
+<p>There never has been a line of sentinels so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9249" id="Page_9249">249</a></span> strong but that some one
+could break through, and there was undoubtedly some leakage from Tampa,
+but to see news of actual importance from there was like hunting for a
+needle in a haystack. The mails carried out some, but even then the
+correspondents suffered. Two incidents may not be amiss.</p>
+
+<p>One young chap whose keenness ran away with his judgment, brought me a
+stack of copy one night, almost every word of which was contraband. The
+blue pencil got in its work in great shape and then the "rejected" stamp
+put its seal of disapproval on the message and it was filed away with
+many others, that "were not dead, but sleeping." Mr. Correspondent
+muttered something about "a cussed red-headed censor who wasn't the pope
+and could be beaten" and walked away. I thought no more of the matter
+until about seven days thereafter when my clerk gave me a marked copy of
+the correspondent's paper, and there, big as life, under a Tampa date
+line was the rejected dispatch. He had left my office and mailed his
+story to a friend living up in Georgia, and it was telegraphed by him
+from there. You see, Georgia was beyond my jurisdiction. He had surely
+made a "scoop;" he had sown the wind and that night he reaped the
+whirlwind, because I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9250" id="Page_9250">250</a></span> promptly suspended him from correspondents'
+privileges, and forbade him the use of the wires. General Greely upheld
+me in this as in all other cases and for ten days I allowed him to
+ruminate over his offence, while his paper was cussing him out for
+failing to send in stuff. Then I restored him to his former status,
+first making him sign a pledge on honor that he would abide forever
+thereafter by the censorship rules.</p>
+
+<p>Another young man who represented a Cincinnati daily, walked into the
+express office in Tampa one evening and gave the agent a package saying:</p>
+
+<p>"Say, old chap, have your messenger running north to-night give this to
+the first operator after crossing the Georgia line and tell him to send
+it to my paper. It's a big scoop and I want to get it through."</p>
+
+<p>Of course, the "old chap" was built just that way. He took the message
+and in five minutes it was reposing gently in my desk. I then quickly
+sent out a telegram to all my censors taking away the correspondent's
+privileges until further orders.</p>
+
+<p>That night full of innocence&mdash;and beer&mdash;he walked into the Tampa city
+office and handed Censor Fellers a message for his paper, just as a
+sort<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9251" id="Page_9251">251</a></span> of a bluff. Fellers grinned at him quietly said:</p>
+
+<p>"Sorry, Mr. J&mdash;, but Captain B&mdash;has just suspended you from use of the
+telegraph until further orders."</p>
+
+<p>In a very few minutes Mr. J&mdash;appeared at my office, blustering like a
+Kansas cyclone, and demanded to know why I had dared to treat him thus?
+I simply picked up his copy and showed it to him, saying:</p>
+
+<p>"This is your handwriting, I believe, Mr. J&mdash;."</p>
+
+<p>The props dropped out from under him and he said:</p>
+
+<p>"Well, by thunder, you censor mail, telegraph and express; I reckon if I
+attempted to send anything by carrier pigeon you'd catch it and put that
+d&mdash;d old 'rejected' stamp on it."</p>
+
+<p>"No," I replied, "but I might possibly use it on a mule."</p>
+
+<p>In spite of his pleadings and promises he was hung up for ten days.</p>
+
+<p>It must be said, however, that such men as these were rarities: most of
+the men, especially those representing the great dailies, were only too
+willing to abide by orders. They kicked hard&mdash;naturally and
+rightfully&mdash;because news that they were forbidden to send from Tampa was
+sent broadcast<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9252" id="Page_9252">252</a></span> from Washington as coming from the war department. Oh!
+yes they kicked so much that it seemed as if my auburn locks would turn
+gray, but the protest was against the censorship in general and not
+against me. I was enough of a newspaper man to fully appreciate their
+position, and more than one message went from me to General Greely
+asking if Washington could not be censored as well as Tampa. No! Army
+officers had no power to stop the mouths of the high civil officials of
+the government, and so the dance went on.</p>
+
+<p>And the managing editors would flood their correspondents with telegrams
+of inquiry as to why they did not send the news that daily came from
+Washington as having originated in Tampa; and the correspondents would
+come to me and I would endeavor to calm them down as best I could. Then,
+incidentally, the managing editors would take a fling at me personally,
+and I would receive a polite telegram of protest but to no avail.</p>
+
+<p>Finally, one night the trouble culminated, and conjointly the
+correspondents sent a long telegram to General Greely asking if he could
+not right the seeming injustice. They did not mind being beaten in a
+fair field, but they did hate to be "scooped" by Washington
+correspondents who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9253" id="Page_9253">253</a></span> were having an easy time. Almost every man signed
+the protest and then it was brought to me, and I quickly O. K'd. it.
+Shortly afterwards a number of them came to my office and assured me
+that it was not against me personally they were kicking, and Louis
+Seibold, of the New York World, sent General Greely a message saying:</p>
+
+<p>"I don't like your blooming censor business one bit, but if you have to
+have it, you've got the best man for it in the army right here in
+Tampa," or words to that effect. Many others sent similar messages, but
+not quite so outspoken. General Greely appreciated their position and
+said so, but was unable to change the condition of affairs and so
+matters continued.</p>
+
+<p>All this time feverish preparations were being made to rush off
+Shafter's expedition. June 7th was a very hard and trying day, and at
+six o'clock in the evening I had just seated myself for a hasty bite of
+dinner when a messenger came to me from the telegraph office saying that
+the White House wanted me at once. I went to the key and was informed
+that the President wanted to talk to Generals Miles and Shafter and that
+the greatest secrecy must be maintained. After sending word to the
+generals, I sent all the operators out of the office, closed the windows
+and turned down the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9254" id="Page_9254">254</a></span> sounder so that it could not be heard <i>three feet
+away</i>. When General Shafter came in he had an officer stationed in the
+hall so that no one could approach in that direction. General Miles came
+in shortly afterwards and the door was closed. We all sat in front of
+the table, General Miles on my right, and General Shafter on the left.
+Lieutenant Miley of General Shafter's staff stood behind his chief. It
+was a scene long to be remembered. General Shafter was dressed in the
+plain blue army fatigue uniform, its strict sombreness being relieved
+only by the two gleaming silver stars on his shoulder straps. General
+Miles, the commanding general, was in conventional tuxedo dress, and
+looked every inch the gallant soldier and gentleman that he is. From the
+little telegraph instrument on the table ran a single strand of copper
+wire, out in the dark night, over the pine tops of Florida and Georgia,
+over the mountains of the Carolinas, and hills and vales of Virginia,
+into the Executive Mansion at Washington. In the office of the White
+House were the President, the Secretary of War, and Adjutant-General
+Corbin. The key there was worked by Colonel Montgomery, so if there ever
+was an official wire this was one.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9255" id="Page_9255">255</a></span></p>
+
+<p>When all was ready I told the White House to go ahead.</p>
+
+<p>The first message was from the Secretary of War to General Shafter
+directing him to sail at once, as he was needed at the destination which
+was known at this time only to about five officers in Tampa. General
+Shafter replied that he would be ready to sail the next morning at
+daylight. Then, by the President's direction, a message was repeated
+that had been received from Admiral Sampson, saying he had that day
+bombarded the outer defenses of Santiago, and if ten thousand men were
+there the city and fleet would fall within forty-eight hours. The
+President further directed that General Shafter should sail as indicated
+by him with not less than ten thousand men. Then followed an interchange
+of messages, more or less personal in their nature, between the generals
+and the Washington contingent. Finally all was over and the line was cut
+off. The whole conversation lasted about fifty minutes, but the
+beginning of new history was started in that time and the curtain was
+going up on the grand drama of war. All the time this was going on I
+could hear faintly his strains of '<i>Auf Wiedersehn</i>,' together with the
+merry jest of the officers and the light laughter of the women. Brave
+men, braver women&mdash;soon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9256" id="Page_9256">256</a></span> their laughter was turned to tears and many of
+the officers who went out of the Tampa Bay hotel on that warm June night
+are now sleeping their last sleep, having given up their lives that
+their country's honor might live. The train carrying the headquarters to
+Port Tampa left at five o'clock in the morning. There was very little
+sleep that night and the next morning the big hotel was well nigh
+deserted. And all this time the destination of the fleet was unknown to
+all but those high in rank and myself.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9257" id="Page_9257">257</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXVI</h2><h3>CENSORSHIP CONCLUDED</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>My own sleep on that night was limited to about two hours snatched
+between work, and the following morning was a very busy one. About once
+every hour I would report to the White House how things were progressing
+at the port. As the big transports received their load of living
+freight, one by one they would pull out in the stream and anchor,
+waiting until the time should come when all would be ready, and then
+like a big swarm they would pull out together. They did not sail at
+daylight; unexpected delays occurred, and eight, nine, ten, eleven and
+twelve o'clock passed and still they had not sailed, although the twelve
+o'clock report said they would be gone by twelve-thirty.</p>
+
+<p>At one o'clock a messenger came hurriedly to me and said the White House
+wanted me at the key at once. When I answered, Colonel Montgomery said,
+"<i>The President wants to know if you can stop that fleet?</i>" Now the wire
+to Port Tampa<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9258" id="Page_9258">258</a></span> was on a table right back of me and calling him with my
+left hand I said:</p>
+
+<p>"Can you get General Miles or General Shafter?" and with my right hand I
+said to the President, "I'll try, wait a minute."</p>
+
+<p>Then said the White House, "<i>It is imperative that the fleet be stopped
+at once.</i>"</p>
+
+<p>From Port Tampa, "No sir, I can't find General Miles or General
+Shafter."</p>
+
+<p>I replied, "Have all the transports pulled out of the slip?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes sir, so far as I can see they are all gone."</p>
+
+<p>From Washington, "Have you stopped the fleet?"</p>
+
+<p>"Wait a minute&mdash;will let you know later, am trying now."</p>
+
+<p>To Port Tampa, "Go out and find a tug and get this message to either
+General Miles or General Shafter, 'The President directs that you stop
+the sailing of Shafter's army until further orders.' Now fly."</p>
+
+<p>Just then Port Tampa said, "Here comes General Miles now," and in a
+minute more the message was delivered and the fleet stopped. I then
+reported to the President:</p>
+
+<p>"I have delivered your message to General<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9259" id="Page_9259">259</a></span> Miles and the fleet will not
+sail until further orders."</p>
+
+<p>They came back wondering what had stopped them and that evening we
+learned of the appearance of the "Phantom" Spanish fleet in the Nicholas
+Channel <i>heading westward</i>. "Cervera wasn't bottled up in Santiago,"
+said some, "and before morning he will be here and blow us out of the
+water." Great was the consternation and as a precaution all the ships
+were ordered back into the slip. It must be said, however, that General
+Miles <i>never had any idea that the Spanish fleet was approaching our
+shores</i>.</p>
+
+<p>The transport fleet was tied up and then followed six days of weary
+waiting, and the duties of the censor became more arduous than ever, and
+the utmost vigilance was exercised. Private messages were almost all
+hung up, in fact, very little else than government business was allowed
+to pass over the wires. And yet, every day for a week, copies of the
+daily papers that reached me had, under flaming headlines, the startling
+news that Shafter's fleet had sailed&mdash;destination&mdash;Havana, San Juan,
+Matanzas,&mdash;yes&mdash;even the Spanish coast. All this was announced from
+Washington, and made the correspondents snort; they made every excuse to
+let their papers know they were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9260" id="Page_9260">260</a></span> still there. They wanted money, they
+wanted to send messages to their families, in fact, they wanted
+everything under the sun, but to no avail. Finally, on the 14th of June
+the army sailed away, filled with hope and courage, on their mission
+that resulted in victory for the American arms; but that was a foregone
+conclusion, while we less fortunate ones were left behind to pray for
+the success that we knew would be theirs.</p>
+
+<p>The correspondents were all on the transport "Olivette," and just before
+they pulled out I sent them a message saying I would release the news
+that night about the <i>sailing of the fleet only</i>, and they might file
+their messages. They did in large numbers and here is where the joke
+came in. When the messages reached the papers they thought it was all a
+bluff to mislead the public, and many of them refused to publish the
+news, but the fleet had gone this time for certain. As late as two days
+afterwards I received messages from the managing editors of two of the
+greatest papers in the country, asking me if the fleet had really
+sailed. I assured them it had. One thing is certain, the destination of
+that fleet was a well-kept secret. Mr. Richard Harding Davis in his
+admirable book on the Cuban and Porto Rican Campaigns, says that credit
+is due the censor because<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9261" id="Page_9261">261</a></span> it was so well kept. I am afraid that this is
+about the only good word the censor ever received from the said Mr.
+Davis.</p>
+
+<p>The "Olivette," on which the correspondents sailed, was the last boat to
+leave Port Tampa. She left about six-thirty <span class="smcap">P. M.</span> in the glory of the
+setting sun of a tropical evening. About five-thirty <span class="smcap">p. m.</span> Mr. Edward
+Marshall, that prince of good fellows, who represented the New York
+Journal, came into my office to write a message for his paper, to be
+left with me and sent when the story was released. Marshall was a
+typical newspaper man and a thorough American, and had just returned
+from New York where he had been in attendance upon the sick-bed of his
+wife. He was very anxious to get his story written before he sailed. I
+knew the "Olivette" was about to pull out, and if he expected to go on
+her it was high time he was moving. As Port Tampa was nine miles away, I
+told him to fly and cut his story short or send it from Port Tampa. He
+thanked me and reached Port Tampa just in time to save being left. It
+was this same Edward Marshall who so daringly pushed to the front during
+the Guasimas fight of the Rough Riders, and was seriously wounded by a
+Mauser bullet near his spine. He was supposed to be dying, but true to
+his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9262" id="Page_9262">262</a></span> newspaper training and full of loyalty to his paper, he dictated a
+message to his journal between the puffs of a cigarette, when it was
+supposed each breath would be his last. But thank God he did not die,
+and now gives promise of many years of useful life. I have often thought
+if I had not warned him in time to go he would not have been shot; but
+then all war is uncertain, and in warning him I was only, "Doing unto
+others as I would be done by."</p>
+
+<p>During all these stirring times just described there were two women
+correspondents, poor souls, who were indeed sad and lonely. They were
+very ambitious and wanted to go to Cuba with the army, but the War
+Department wisely forbade any such a move and then my trouble began. At
+all hours of the day or night I was pestered by these same women. One of
+them represented a Canadian paper and was most anxious to go. She tried
+every expedient and tackled every man or woman of influence that came
+along. Even dear old Clara Barton did not escape her importunities. She
+wanted to go as a Red Cross nurse, but didn't know anything about
+nursing. However, I reckon she was as good as some of the women who did
+go. She was an Irish girl with rich red hair, and as mine was of an
+auburn tinge we didn't get<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9263" id="Page_9263">263</a></span> along worth a cent. She didn't do much
+telegraphing but sent all of her stuff by mail. However, it was her
+intention to send <i>one telegram</i> to her paper and "scoop" all the other
+chaps in so doing. She wrote a letter to her managing editor in Toronto
+and told him there was a censor down there who thought he could bottle
+up Florida as regards news, but she intended to outwit him. Particular
+attention was being paid so as to preserve the secrecy of the sailing
+day of Shafter's army. Cipher and code messages bearing on this
+occurrence were to be strictly interdicted. But that didn't make any
+difference to her; she could beat that game. So on the day the fleet
+actually sailed she would send a message to her paper saying, "<i>Send me
+six more jubilee books.</i>" This would indicate that the fleet had really
+gone. Brilliant scheme from the brain of a very bright woman, but she
+lost sight of the fact that Messrs. Carranza and Polo y Bernabe were at
+that time in Canada spying on the United States, and that all the
+Canadian mail was most carefully watched. Such, however, was the case,
+and in a short time the contents of her letter were known to General
+Greely, and by him communicated to me. One evening Miss Correspondent
+was standing in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9264" id="Page_9264">264</a></span> lobby of the Tampa Bay hotel surrounded by a group
+of her friends, when I approached and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Excuse me, Miss J&mdash;, but I should like to speak to you for a moment."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, what is it, pray? Surely you haven't anything to say but what my
+friends can hear, have you?" Sassy, wasn't she?</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! well if that is the case?" I replied, "I am sorry to inform you
+that you are suspended from correspondent's privileges and from the use
+of the telegraph until further orders."</p>
+
+<p>"And what for pray?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't just exactly know," I answered, "but I think it has something
+to do with sending you 'six more jubilee books' from Canada."</p>
+
+<p>Well! she turned all the colors of the rainbow, and snapped out,
+"Goodness gracious! how did you&mdash;where did you hear that?"</p>
+
+<p>I smiled politely and walked away. The next morning, shortly after I
+reached my office, a timid knock was heard at the door.</p>
+
+<p>"Come in," I yelled, thinking it was a messenger boy. In walked Miss
+J&mdash;&mdash;, woebegone, crestfallen and disheartened, with a letter of apology
+and explanation. I forwarded this to General Greely and kept her
+suspended for seven days.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9265" id="Page_9265">265</a></span> She never offended again, and the last I
+heard of her she was in Key West gazing with longing eyes towards the
+Pearl of the Antilles. She never reached there.</p>
+
+<p>The other woman correspondent was different. She was an American widow,
+bright, dashing and vivacious. She had heard of the ogre of a censor;
+she would conquer him through his susceptibility. I'll admit that the
+censor in question was susceptible of some things&mdash;but not in business
+matters. One day she filed an innocent little telegram to her paper,
+saying, "For ice cream read typhoid." The operator glanced at it and
+said, "You'll have to get Captain B&mdash;&mdash;'s O. K. on that message before I
+can send it."</p>
+
+<p>She talked sweetly to him, but that didn't happen to be one of his
+"susceptible" days. Then she came to me, and as my "susceptibility" had
+run to a pretty low ebb I refused to permit the message to go on, on
+account of its hidden meaning.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, pshaw! Captain, I wrote a story for my paper and in it described
+the death of a man from the effects of eating too much ice cream, and
+now I learn that he died of typhoid fever."</p>
+
+<p>I was pretty hard-headed that morning and couldn't assist the lady and
+she left the office vowing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9266" id="Page_9266">266</a></span> vengeance. The next edition of her paper
+contained the most charmingly sarcastic article about the red-headed,
+white-shoed censor I have ever seen, but I had become case-hardened by
+this time and did not mind it in the least.</p>
+
+<p>It might be supposed that as soon as the army had sailed and the
+correspondents had gone, that the censorship duties would be lighter.
+They were, officially, but otherwise they became harder than ever. The
+army had gone, but the women had been left behind. The husbands were
+away&mdash;fighting&mdash;dying&mdash;while the wives were waiting with dry eyes and
+aching hearts for the news that would mean life or death to them. There
+were some forty wives, daughters, and sweethearts remaining in the Tampa
+Bay hotel, and to them the censor became a most interesting party. They
+knew that any news that came to Tampa would come through him, and they
+wanted it whether his orders would allow him to divulge it or not.
+Before, I had to contend with the importunities of zealous
+correspondents, now it was the longing eyes of sweet women whose hearts
+were breaking with suspense, whose lives had stood still since the 14th
+day of June when the fleet sailed away. Of the two, I would rather
+contend with the former.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9267" id="Page_9267">267</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The long and trying days dragged slowly by and still no news. Finally,
+on the 22nd of June, it was known that the army was landing; June 24th,
+the Guasimas fight of the cavalry division took place, and from that
+time on life was made miserable for me by importunate women. Many
+telegrams&mdash;yes, hundreds of them&mdash;came to me every day, and each time
+one of those cursed little yellow envelopes was put in my hands, if I
+happened to be in the lobby of the hotel, I could feel forty or fifty
+pairs of anxious eyes concentrated on me, as if to read from the
+expression of my face whether the news was good or bad. Colonel Michler
+of General Miles's staff was there, and if we should happen to be
+together talking, the women would surmise that the news was bad; and
+many times their surmises were just about right. One sweet little
+black-eyed woman always said she could tell from my face whether I was
+bluffing or not. July 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, were very gloomy days for we
+poor chaps who had been left behind&mdash;and for the women. We&mdash;they&mdash;knew
+the fight was on, that men were heroically dying, and <i>we</i> also knew
+that the army was in a hard way. Strive as we might, no gleam of hope
+could be culled from the news of those three days. Cervera's fleet was
+still in the harbor of Santiago, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9268" id="Page_9268">268</a></span> the army not only had the Spanish
+troops to fight but the navy as well. Flesh and blood might stand the
+rain of Mauser bullets, but they could not stand rapid-fire guns and
+eight-inch shells. The third of July dragged by, and at eleven o'clock
+Colonel Michler retired for the night not feeling in a very pleasant
+frame of mind. The lobby was well nigh deserted, but Colonels Smith and
+Powell and a few more officers sat by one of the big open doors having a
+farewell smoke and chat before going to bed. At eleven-thirty I was
+standing by the desk talking to the clerk, when the night operator came
+charging out of the office and gave me a little piece of yellow paper. I
+quickly opened it and read, "Sampson entirely destroyed Cervera's fleet
+this morning." News like that, if true, was too good to keep, so I went
+into the telegraph office and had a wire cut through to the New York
+office and asked for a confirmation or denial of the report. They
+confirmed it and gave me the text of the official report. I bounded out
+in the hall and shouted out the glorious news at the top of my voice.
+Gloom was dispelled instanter, and joy reigned supreme. At just twelve
+o'clock midnight, we drank a toast to the army and navy, and to our
+country.</p>
+
+<p>Santiago surrendered and the army went to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9269" id="Page_9269">269</a></span> Porto Rico only to be stopped
+in the midst of a most brilliant campaign by the signing of the
+protocol. The censorship was ended and willingly did I lay down the blue
+pencil and take up my sword.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'>
+<a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII"></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9270" id="Page_9270">270</a></span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXVII</h2><h3>CONCLUSION</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>I cannot refrain from concluding this little volume by a tribute to the
+telegraphers of the country.</p>
+
+<p>It is but fifty-five years since Professor S. F. B. Morse electrified
+the civilized world by the completion of his electro-magnetic telegraph.
+Since that time great improvements have been made until now it is
+difficult to recognize in the delicate mechanisms of the relay, key,
+sounder, duplex, quad, and multiplex, the principle first promulgated in
+the old Morse register. Its influence was at once felt in all walks of
+life; it was an art to be an expert telegrapher. Keeping pace with the
+strides of advancing civilization, the telegraph has spread its slender
+wires, until now almost the entire world is connected by its magnetism.
+Away back in the early fifties when railroads and comforts were few,
+while danger and trials were plenty, these faithful knights of the key
+carried on their work under the most adverse circumstances. Since its
+first appearance it has manifestly been the possessor of millions of
+secrets,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9271" id="Page_9271">271</a></span> public and private. In times of joy you flash your
+congratulations to distant relatives or friends; in minutes of sorrow
+and tribulation, your message of sympathy is quickly carried as a balm
+to aching hearts; in the worries of business its use is of the most
+vital importance; and while you are peacefully slumbering on some
+swiftly moving railroad train the telegraph is one of the principal
+means of insuring a safe and speedy trip. Pick up your favorite daily
+paper&mdash;the one that is always reliable&mdash;read the market or press reports
+accurately printed, and then think that the telegraph does it all. Read
+news from foreign countries&mdash;from out-of-the-way places&mdash;and think of
+the miles of mountains, deserts, plains and valleys passed over; think
+of the slender cable down deep in the throbbing bosom of the ocean and
+of the little spark that brings the news to your door; and then reflect
+on the men whose abilities accomplish these results. Think of his work
+in the countries where it is so hot that it seems as if the land beyond
+the River Styx is at his elbow; in lands where it is always cold and the
+days and nights are long. In season and out; in times of death,
+pestilence and famine, with never a murmur, these sturdy, loyal men, and
+true-hearted women do their work. All these are incidents of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9272" id="Page_9272">272</a></span> peace. Now
+think, when war, grim-visaged and terrible, spreads its mighty power
+over the earth. What is responsible for the news of victory? What brings
+you the list you so anxiously scan of the dead and wounded? What means
+are employed by the subdivisions of the army in the field to keep in
+constant communication, so that they may act as the integral parts of an
+harmonious whole? In the late Spanish-American war what first brought
+news, authentic in character, to the Navy Department that Cervera with
+his doomed fleet was in Santiago harbor? And during the dark and trying
+days from June 22nd until July 14th, the telegraphers of the army&mdash;the
+signal corps men&mdash;were ceaseless and tireless in their efforts, and as a
+result within five minutes of its being sent, a message would be in
+Washington. While the army slept they worked, without any regard to self
+or comfort. And to-day in the far-off Philippine islands they are still
+striving with the best results. The telegraphers are honest, loyal,
+patriotic men&mdash;a little Bohemian, perhaps, in their tastes&mdash;and deserve
+a better recognition for the good work they do.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>"30"<br />
+"Filed, 2:35 <span class="smcap">a. m.</span>"<br />
+"Received, 2:43 <span class="smcap">a. m.</span>"</p>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Danger Signals, by 
+John A. Hill and Jasper Ewing Brady
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+
diff --git a/old/19007.txt b/old/19007.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f5c74f0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/19007.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,11788 @@
+Project Gutenberg's Danger Signals, by John A. Hill and Jasper Ewing Brady
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Danger Signals
+       Remarkable, Exciting and Unique Examples of the Bravery,
+       Daring and Stoicism in the Midst of Danger of Train
+       Dispatchers and Railroad Engineers
+
+Author: John A. Hill and Jasper Ewing Brady
+
+Release Date: August 8, 2006 [EBook #19007]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DANGER SIGNALS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: "Quick as a flash the Kid had my arm."]
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+DANGER SIGNALS
+
+Remarkable, Exciting And Unique Examples Of The Bravery,
+Daring And Stoicism In The Midst Of Danger Of
+TRAIN DISPATCHERS AND RAILROAD ENGINEERS
+
+By
+
+JOHN A. HILL
+and
+JASPER EWING BRADY
+
+ABSORBING STORIES OF MEN WITH NERVES OF STEEL,
+INDOMITABLE COURAGE AND WONDERFUL ENDURANCE
+
+Fully Illustrated
+
+CHICAGO
+JAMIESON-HIGGINS CO.
+1902
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+Copyright 1898, 1899
+By S. S. McClure Co.
+
+Copyright 1899
+By Doubleday & McClure Co.
+
+Copyright 1900
+By Jamieson-Higgins Co.
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+PART I.                                                           PAGE
+
+Jim Wainright's Kid                                                 7
+
+An Engineer's Christmas Story                                       35
+
+The Clean Man and the Dirty Angels                                  57
+
+A Peg-legged Romance                                                75
+
+My Lady of the Eyes                                                 97
+
+Some Freaks of Fate                                                151
+
+Mormon Joe, the Robber                                             191
+
+A Midsummer Night's Trip                                           227
+
+The Polar Zone                                                     253
+
+
+PART II.
+
+CHAPTER
+
+    I. Learning the Business--My First Office                        1
+
+   II. An Encounter with Train Robbers                              11
+
+  III. In a Wreck                                                   12
+
+   IV. A Woman Operator Who Saved a Train                           25
+
+    V. A Night Office in Texas--A Stuttering Despatcher             33
+
+   VI. Blue Field, Arizona, and an Indian Scrimmage                 42
+
+  VII. Taking a Whirl at Commercial Work--My First
+       Attempt--The Galveston Fire                                  52
+
+ VIII. Sending a Message Perforce--Recognizing
+       an Old Friend by His Stuff                                   62
+
+   IX. Bill Bradley, Gambler and Gentleman                          68
+
+    X. The Death of Jim Cartwright--Chased off a Wire by a Woman    80
+
+   XI. Witnessing a Marriage by Wire--Beating a
+       Pool Room--Sparring at Long Range                            87
+
+  XII. How a Smart Operator was Squelched--The Galveston Flood      96
+
+ XIII. Sending My First Order                                      104
+
+  XIV. Running Trains by Telegraph--How It is Done                 111
+
+   XV. An Old Despatcher's Mistake--My First Trick                 125
+
+  XVI. A General Strike--A Locomotive Engineer for a Day           137
+
+ XVII. Chief Despatcher--An Inspection Tour--Big River Wreck       147
+
+XVIII. A Promotion by Favor and Its Results                        160
+
+  XIX. Jacking up a Negligent Operator--A Convict
+       Operator--Dick, the Plucky Call Boy                         168
+
+   XX. An Episode of Sentiment                                     185
+
+  XXI. The Military Operator--A Fake Report that
+       Nearly Caused Trouble                                       192
+
+ XXII. Private Dennis Hogan, Hero                                  203
+
+XXIII. The Commission Won--In a General Strike                     222
+
+ XXIV. Experiences as a Government Censor of Telegraph             237
+
+  XXV. More Censorship                                             246
+
+ XXVI. Censorship Concluded                                        257
+
+XXVII. Conclusion                                                  269
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+List of Illustrations
+
+PART I.
+
+"Quick as a flash the Kid had my arm."                    Frontispiece
+
+                                                               TO FACE
+"I noticed his long, slim hand on the top of the
+reverse-lever"                                                      22
+
+"It was a strange courting ... there on that engine"                70
+
+"We carried him into the depot"                                    100
+
+"He was the first man I ever killed"                               176
+
+"'Mexican,' said I"                                                236
+
+"What seemed to be a giant iceberg...."                            282
+
+"A white city ... was visible for an instant"                      292
+
+PART II.
+
+Facsimile of a completed train-despatcher's order                    1
+
+"Two of the men tied my hands in front of me"                       16
+
+"After many efforts I finally reached the lowest cross-arm"         30
+
+"One of them picked up the lantern, and swaggering over to
+where I sat all trembling...."                                      38
+
+"He looked at me ... then catching me by the collar...."           100
+
+"... Half lying on the table, face downward, dead by his own hand" 128
+
+"'See here, who is going to pull this train?'"                     144
+
+"Are you not doing it just because I am a woman?"                  190
+
+"... Dennis, lying under the telegraph line. His left hand
+still grasped the instrument"                                      219
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+
+
+DANGER SIGNALS.
+
+PART I.
+
+JIM WAINRIGHT'S KID
+
+
+As I put down my name and the number of the crack engine of America--as
+well as the imprint of a greasy thumb--on the register of our roundhouse
+last Saturday night, the foreman borrowed a chew of my fireman's
+fine-cut, and said to me:
+
+"John, that old feller that's putting on the new injectors wants to see
+you."
+
+"What does he want, Jack?" said I. "I don't remember to have seen him,
+and I'll tell you right now that the old squirts on the 411 are good
+enough for me--I ain't got time to monkey with new-fangled injectors on
+_that_ run."
+
+"Why, he says he knowed you out West fifteen years ago."
+
+"So! What kind o' looking chap is he?"
+
+"Youngish face, John; but hair and whiskers as white as snow.
+Sorry-looking rooster--seems like he's lost all his friends on earth,
+and wa'n't jest sure where to find 'em in the next world."
+
+"I can't imagine who it would be. Let's see--'Lige Clark, he's dead;
+Dick Bellinger, Hank Baldwin, Jim Karr, Dave Keller, Bill Parr--can't be
+none of them. What's his name?"
+
+"Winthrop--no, Wetherson--no, lemme see--why, no--no, Wainright; that's
+it, Wainright; J. E. Wainright."
+
+"Jim Wainright!" says I, "Jim Wainright! I haven't heard a word of him
+for years--thought he was dead; but he's a young fellow compared to me."
+
+"Well, he don't look it," said Jack.
+
+After supper I went up to the hotel and asked for J. E. Wainright.
+
+Maybe you think Jim and I didn't go over the history of the "front."
+"Out at the front" is the pioneer's ideal of railroad life. To a man who
+has put in a few years there the memory of it is like the memory of
+marches, skirmishes, and battles in the mind of the veteran soldier. I
+guess we started at the lowest numbered engine on the road, and
+gossiped about each and every crew. We had finished the list of
+engineers and had fairly started on the firemen when a thought struck
+me, and I said:
+
+"Oh, I forgot him, Jim--the 'Kid,' your cheery little cricket of a
+firesy, who thought Jim Wainright the only man on the road that could
+run an engine right. I remember he wouldn't take a job running
+switcher--said a man that didn't know that firing for Jim Wainright was
+a better job than running was crazy. What's become of him? Running, I
+suppose?"
+
+Jim Wainright put his hand up to his eyes for a minute, and his voice
+was a little husky as he said:
+
+"No, John, the Kid went away--"
+
+"Went away?"
+
+"Yes, across the Great Divide--dead."
+
+"That's tough," said I, for I saw Jim felt bad. "The Kid and you were
+like two brothers."
+
+"John, I loved the--"
+
+Then Jim broke down. He got his hat and coat, and said:
+
+"John, let's get out into the air--I feel all choked up here; and I'll
+tell you a strange, true story--the Kid's story."
+
+As we got out of the crowd and into Boston Common, Jim told his story,
+and here it is, just as I remember it--and I'm not bad at remembering.
+
+"I'll commence at the beginning, John, so that you will understand. It's
+a strange story, but when I get through you'll recall enough yourself to
+prove its truth.
+
+"Before I went beyond the Mississippi and under the shadows of the Rocky
+Mountains, I fired, and was promoted, on a prairie road in the Great
+Basin well known in the railway world. I was much like the rest of the
+boys until I commenced to try to get up a substitute for the link
+motion. I read an article in a scientific paper from the pen of a
+jackass who showed a Corliss engine card, and then blackguarded the
+railroad mechanics of America for being satisfied with the link because
+it was handy. I started in to design a motion to make a card,
+but--well, you know how good-for-nothing those things are to pull loads
+with.
+
+"After my first attempt, I put in many nights making a wooden model for
+the Patent Office. I was subsequently informed that the child of my
+brain interfered with about ten other motions. Then I commenced to
+think--which I ought to have done before. I went to studying _what had
+been done_, and soon came to the conclusion that I just knew a
+little--about enough to get along running. I gave up hope of being an
+inventor and a benefactor of mankind, but study had awakened in me the
+desire for improvement; and after considerable thought I came to the
+conclusion that the best thing I could do was to try to be the best
+runner on the road, just as a starter. In reality, in my inmost soul, my
+highest ideal was the master mechanic's position.
+
+"I was about twenty-five years old, and had been running between two or
+three years, with pretty good success, when one day the general master
+mechanic sent for me. In the office I was introduced to a gentleman,
+and the G. M. M. said to him in my presence:
+
+"'This is the engineer I spoke to you of. We have none better. I think
+he would suit you exactly, and, when you are through with him, send him
+back; we are only lending him, mind,' and he went out into the shop.
+
+"The meaning of it all was that the stranger represented a firm that had
+put up the money to build a locomotive with a patent boiler for burning
+a patent fuel--she had an improved valve motion, too--and they had asked
+our G. M. M. for a good engineer, to send East and break in and run the
+new machine and go with her around the country on ten-day trials on the
+different roads. He offered good pay, it was work I liked, and I went. I
+came right here to Boston and reported to the firm. They were a big
+concern in another line, and the head of the house was a relative of our
+G. M. M.--that's why he had a chance to send me.
+
+"After the usual introductions, the president said to me:
+
+"'Now, Mr. Wainright, this new engine of ours is hardly started yet.
+The drawings are done, and the builders' contract is ready to sign; but
+we want you to look over the drawings, to see if there are any practical
+suggestions you can make. Then stay in the shops, and see that the work
+is done right. The inventor is not a practical man; help him if you can,
+for experience tells us that ten things fail because of bad _design_
+where one does because of bad manipulation. Come up into the
+drawing-room, and I will introduce you to the inventor.'
+
+"Up under the skylight I met the designer of the new engine, a mild
+little fellow--but he don't figure in this story. In five minutes I was
+deep in the study of the drawings. Everything seemed to be worked out
+all right, except that they had the fire-door opening the wrong way and
+the brake-valve couldn't be reached--but many a good builder did that
+twenty years ago. I was impressed with the beauty of the drawings--they
+were like lithographs, and one, a perspective, was shaded and colored
+handsomely. I complimented him on them.
+
+"'They are beautiful, sir,' he said; 'they were made by a lady. I'll
+introduce you to her.'
+
+"A bright, plain-faced little woman with a shingled head looked up from
+her drawing-board as we approached, shook hands cordially when
+introduced, and at once entered into an intelligent discussion of the
+plans of the new record-beater.
+
+"Well, it was some months before the engine was ready for the road, and
+in that time I got pretty well acquainted with Miss Reynolds. She was
+mighty plain, but sharp as a buzz-saw. I don't think she was really
+homely, but she'd never have been arrested for her beauty. There was
+something 'fetching' about her appearance--you couldn't help liking her.
+She was intelligent, and it was such a novelty to find a woman who knew
+the smoke stack from the steam chest. I didn't fall in love with her at
+all, but I liked to talk to her over the work. She told me her story;
+not all at once, but here and there a piece, until I knew her history
+pretty well.
+
+"It seems that her father had been chief draughtsman of those works for
+years, but had lately died. She had a strong taste for mechanics, and
+her father, who believed in women learning trades, had taught her
+mechanical drawing, first at home and then in the shop. She had helped
+in busy times as an extra, but never went to work for regular wages
+until the death of her father made it necessary.
+
+"She seemed to like to hear stories of the road, and often asked me to
+tell her some thrilling experience the second time. Her eyes sparkled
+and her face kindled when I touched on a snow-bucking experience. She
+often said that if she was a man she'd go on the railroad, and after
+such a remark she would usually sigh and smile at the same time. One
+day, when the engine was pretty nearly ready, she said to me:
+
+"'Mr. Wainright, who is going to fire the Experiment?'
+
+"'I don't know. I had forgot about that; I'll have to see about it.'
+
+"'It wouldn't be of much use to get an experienced man, would it--the
+engine will burn a new fuel in a new way?'
+
+"'No,' said I, 'not much.'
+
+"'Now,' said she, coloring a little, 'let me ask a favor of you. I have
+a brother who is just crazy to go out firing. I don't want him to go
+unless it's with a man I can trust; he is young and inexperienced, you
+know. Won't you take him? Please do.'
+
+"'Why, I'll be glad to,' said I. 'I'll speak to the old man about it.'
+
+"'Don't tell him it's my brother.'
+
+"'Well, all right.'
+
+"The old man told me to hire whoever I liked, and I told Miss Reynolds
+to bring the boy in the morning.
+
+"'Won't you wait until Monday? It will be an accommodation to me.'
+
+"Of course I waited.
+
+"The next day Miss Reynolds did not come to the office, and I was busy
+at the shop. Monday came, but no Miss Reynolds. About nine o'clock,
+however, the foreman came down to the Experiment with a boy, apparently
+about eighteen years old, and said there was a lad with a note for me.
+
+"Before reading the note I shook hands with the boy, and told him I knew
+who he was, for he looked like his sister. He was small, but wiry, and
+had evidently come prepared for business, as he had some overclothes
+under his arm and a pair of buckskin gloves. He was bashful and quiet,
+as boys usually are during their first experience away from home. The
+note read:
+
+     "'DEAR MR. WAINRIGHT.--This will be handed you by brother George. I
+     hope you will be satisfied with him. I know he will try to please
+     you and do his duty; don't forget how green he is. I am obliged to
+     go into the country to settle up some of my father's affairs and
+     may not see you again before you go. I sincerely hope the
+     "Experiment," George, and his engineer will be successful. I shall
+     watch you all.
+
+     "'G. E. REYNOLDS.'
+
+"I felt kind of cut up, somehow, about going away without bidding Old
+Business--as the other draughtsman called Miss Reynolds--good-by; but I
+was busy with the engine.
+
+"The foreman came along half an hour after the arrival of young
+Reynolds, and seeing him at work cleaning the window glass, asked who he
+was.
+
+"'The fireman,' said I.
+
+"'What! that kid?'
+
+"And from that day I don't think I ever called young Reynolds by any
+other name half a dozen times. That was the 'Kid' you knew. When it came
+quitting time that night, I asked the Kid where they lived, and he said,
+Charlestown. I remarked that his voice was like his sister's; but he
+laughed, and said I'd see difference enough if they were together; and
+bidding me good-night, caught a passing car.
+
+"We broke the Experiment in for a few days, and then tackled half a
+train for Providence. She would keep her water just about hot enough to
+wash in with the pump on. It was a tough day; I was in the front end
+half the time at every stop. The Kid did exactly what I told him, and
+was in good spirits all the time. I was cross. Nothing will make a man
+crosser than a poor steamer.
+
+"We got to Providence in the evening tired; but after supper the Kid
+said he had an aunt and her family living there, and if I didn't mind,
+he'd try to find them. I left the door unlocked, and slept on one side
+of the bed, but the Kid didn't come back; he was at the engine when I
+got there the next morning.
+
+"The Kid was such a nice little fellow I liked to have him with me, and,
+somehow or other (I hardly noticed it at the time), he had a good
+influence on me. In them days I took a drink if I felt like it; but the
+Kid got me into the habit of taking lemonade, and wouldn't go into
+drinking places, and I soon quit it. He gave me many examples of
+controlling my temper, and soon got me into the habit of thinking before
+I spoke.
+
+"We played horse with that engine for four or five weeks, mostly around
+town, but I could see it was no go. The patent fuel was no good, and the
+patent fire-box little better, and I advised the firm to put a standard
+boiler on her and a pair of links, and sell her while the paint was
+fresh. They took my advice.
+
+"The Kid and I took the engine to Hinkley's, and left her there; we
+packed up our overclothes, and as we walked away, the Kid asked: 'What
+will you do now, Jim?'
+
+"'Oh, I've had a nice play, and I'll go back to the road. I wish you'd
+go along.'
+
+"'I wouldn't like anything better; will you take me?'
+
+"'Yes, but I ain't sure that I can get you a job right away.'
+
+"'Well, I could fire for you, couldn't I?'
+
+"'I'd like to have you, Kid; but you know I have a regular engine and a
+regular fireman. I'll ask for you, though.'
+
+"'I won't fire for anybody else!'
+
+"'You won't! What would you do if I should die?'
+
+"'Quit.'
+
+"Get out!'
+
+"'Honest; if I can't fire for you, I won't fire at all.'
+
+"I put in a few days around the 'Hub,' and as I had nothing to do, my
+mind kept turning to Miss Reynolds. I met the Kid daily, and on one of
+our rambles I asked him where his sister was.
+
+"'Out in the country.'
+
+"'Send word to her that I am going away and want to see her, will you,
+Kid?'
+
+"'Well, yes; but Sis is funny; she's too odd for any use. I don't think
+she'll come.'
+
+"'Well, I'll go and see her.'
+
+"'No, Sis would think you were crazy.'
+
+"'Why? Now look here Kid, I like that sister of yours, and I want to see
+her.'
+
+"But the Kid just stopped, leaned against the nearest building, and
+laughed--laughed until the tears ran down his cheeks. The next day he
+brought me word that his sister had gone to Chicago to make some
+sketches for the firm and hoped to come to see us after she was through.
+I started for Chicago the day following, the Kid with me.
+
+"I had little trouble in getting the Kid on with me, as my old fireman
+had been promoted. I had a nice room with another plug-puller, and in a
+few days I was in the old jog--except for the Kid. He refused to room
+with my partner's fireman; and when I talked to him about saving money
+that way, he said he wouldn't room with any one--not even me. Then he
+laughed, and said he kicked so that no one could room with him. The Kid
+was the butt of all the firemen on account of his size, but he kept the
+cleanest engine, and was never left nor late, and seemed more and more
+attached to me--and I to him.
+
+"Things were going along slick enough when Daddy Daniels had a row with
+his fireman, and our general master mechanic took the matter up.
+Daniels' fireman claimed the run with me, as he was the oldest man, and,
+as they had an 'oldest man' agreement, the master mechanic ordered
+Smutty Kelly and the Kid changed.
+
+"I was not in the roundhouse when the Kid was ordered to change, but he
+went direct to the office and kicked, but to no purpose. Then he came to
+me.
+
+"'Jim,' said he, with tears in his eyes, 'are you satisfied with me on
+the 12?'
+
+"'Why, yes, Kid. Who says I'm not?'
+
+"'They've ordered me to change to the 17 with that horrible old ruffian
+Daniels, and Smutty Kelly to go with you.'
+
+"'They have!' says I. 'That slouch can't go out with me the first time;
+I'll see the old man.'
+
+"But the old man was mad by the time I got to him.
+
+"'That baby-faced boy says he won't fire for anybody but you; what have
+you been putting into his head?'
+
+"'Nothing; I've treated him kindly, and he likes me and the 12--that's
+the cleanest engine on the--'
+
+"'Tut, tut, I don't care about that; I've ordered the firemen on the 12
+and 17 changed--and they are going to be changed.'
+
+"The Kid had followed me into the office, and at this point said, very
+respectfully:
+
+"'Excuse me, sir, but Mr. Wainright and I get along so nicely together.
+Daniels is a bad man; so is Kelly; and neither will get along with
+decent men. Why can't you--'
+
+"'There! stop right there, young man. Now, will you go on the 17 _as
+ordered_?'
+
+"'Yes, if Jim Wainright runs her.'
+
+"'No _ifs_ about it; will you go?'
+
+"'No, sir, I won't!'
+
+"'You are discharged, then.'
+
+"'That fires me, too,' said I.
+
+"'Not at all, not at all; this is a fireman row, Jim.'
+
+"I don't know what struck me then, but I said:
+
+"'No one but this boy shall put a scoop of coal in the 12 or any other
+engine for me; I'll take the poorest run you have, but the Kid goes with
+me.'
+
+"Talk was useless, and in the end the Kid and I quit and got our time.
+
+"That evening the Kid came to my room and begged me to take my job back
+and he would go home; but I wouldn't do it, and asked him if he was sick
+of me.
+
+"'No, Jim,' said he. 'I live in fear that something will happen to
+separate us, but I don't want to be a drag on you--I think more of you
+than anybody.'
+
+"They were buying engines by the hundred on the Rio Grande and Santa Fe
+and the A. & P. in those days, and the Kid and I struck out for the
+West, and inside of thirty days we were at work again.
+
+"We had been there three months, I guess, when I got orders to take a
+new engine out to the front and leave her, bringing back an old one. The
+last station on the road was in a box-car, thrown out beside the track
+on a couple of rails. There was one large, rough-board house, where they
+served rough-and-ready grub and let rooms. The latter were stalls, the
+partitions being only about seven feet high. It was cold and bleak, but
+right glad we were to get there and get a warm supper. Everything was
+rough, but the Kid seemed to enjoy the novelty. After supper I asked the
+landlord if he could fix us for the night.
+
+"'I can jest fix ye, and no more,' said he; 'I have just one room left.
+Ye's'll have to double up; but this is the kind o' weather for that;
+it'll be warmer.'
+
+"The Kid objected, but the landlord bluffed him--didn't have any other
+room--and he added: 'If I was your pardner there, I'd kick ye down to
+the foot, such a cold strip of bacon as ye must be.'
+
+"About nine o'clock the Kid slipped out, and not coming in for an hour,
+I went to look for him. As I went toward the engine, I met the watchman:
+
+"'Phy don't that fireman o' yourn sleep in the house or on the caboose
+floor such a night as this? He'll freeze up there in that cab wid no
+blankets at all; but when I tould him that, he politely informed meself
+that he'd knowed men to git rich mindin' their own biz. He's a sassy
+slip of a Yankee.'
+
+"I climbed up on the big consolidation, and, lighting my torch, looked
+over the boiler-head at the Kid. He was lying on a board on the seat,
+with his overcoat for a covering and an arm-rest for a pillow.
+
+"'What's the matter with you, Kid?' I asked. 'What are you doing
+freezing here when we can both be comfortable and warm in the house? Are
+you ashamed or afraid to sleep with me? I don't like this for a cent.'
+
+"'Hope you won't be mad with me, Jim, but I won't sleep with any one;
+there now!'
+
+"'You're either a fool or crazy,' said I. 'Why, you will half freeze
+here. I want some explanation of such a trick as this.'
+
+"The Kid sat up, looked at me soberly for a few seconds, reached up and
+unhooked his door, and said:
+
+"'Come over and sit down, Jim, and I'll tell you something.'
+
+"I blew out the torch and went over, half mad. As I hooked the door to
+keep out the sharp wind I thought I heard a sob, and I took the Kid's
+head in my hands and turned his face to the moonlight. There were big
+tears in the corner of each tightly closed eye.
+
+"'Don't feel bad, Kid,' said I. 'I'm sure there's some reason keeps you
+at such tricks as this; but tell me all your trouble--it's imaginary, I
+know.'
+
+"There was a tremor in the Kid's voice as he took my hand and said, 'We
+are friends, Jim; ain't we?'
+
+"'Why, of course,' said I.
+
+"'I have depended on your friendship and kindness and manhood, Jim. It
+has never failed me yet, and it won't now, I know. I have a secret, Jim,
+and it gnaws to be out one day, and hides itself the next. Many and many
+a time I have been on the point of confessing to you, but something held
+me back. I was afraid you would not let me stay with you, if you knew--'
+
+"'Why, you ain't killed any one, Kid?' I asked, for I thought he was
+exaggerating his trouble.
+
+"'No--yes, I did, too--I killed my sister.'
+
+"I recoiled, hurt, shocked. 'You--'
+
+"'Yes, Jim, there is no such person to be found as my sister,
+Georgiana--_for I am she_!''
+
+"'You! Why, Kid, you're crazy!'
+
+"'No, I'm not. Listen, Jim, and I will explain.'
+
+"'My father was always sorry I was not a boy. Taught me boyish tricks,
+and made me learn drawing. I longed for the life on a locomotive--I
+loved it, read about it, thought of it, and prayed to be transformed
+into _something_ that could go out on the road. My heart went out to
+you early in our acquaintance, and one day the thought to get started as
+a fireman with you shot into my brain and was acted upon at once. After
+the first move there was no going back, and I have acted my part well; I
+have even been a good fireman. I am strong, healthy, and happy when on
+the road with you. I love the life, hard as it is, and can't think of
+giving it up, and--and you, Jim.'
+
+"And then she broke down, and cried as only a woman can.
+
+"I took both her hands in mine and kissed her--think of kissing your
+fireman on the engine--and told her that we could be happy yet. Then I
+told her how I had tried to get a letter to the lost sister, and how
+they never came back, and were never answered--that I loved the sister
+and loved her. She reminded me that she herself got all the letters I
+had sent, and was pretty sure of her ground when she threw herself on my
+protection.
+
+"It was a strange courting, John, there on that engine at the front, the
+boundless plains on one side, the mountains on the other, the winds of
+the desert whirling sand and snow against our little house, and the moon
+looking coldly down at the spectacle of an engineer making love to his
+fireman.
+
+"That night the Kid slept in the bed in the house, and I stayed on the
+engine.
+
+"When we got back to headquarters the Kid laid off to go home, and I
+made a trip or two with another fireman, and then I had to go to
+Illinois to fix up some family business--Kid and I arranged that.
+
+"We met in St. Louis, the Kid hired a ball dress, and we were married as
+quiet as possible. I had promised the Kid that, for the present at
+least, she could stay on the road with me, and you know that the year
+you were there I done most of the heavy firing while the Kid did the
+running. We remained in the service for something like two years--a
+strange couple, but happy in each other's company and our work.
+
+"I often talked to my wife about leaving the road and starting in new,
+where we were not known, as man and wife, she to remain at home; but she
+wouldn't hear of it, asking if I wanted an Irishman for a side-partner.
+This came to be a joke with us--'When I get my Irishman I will do
+so-and-so.'
+
+"One day, as our 'hog' was drifting down the long hill, the Kid said to
+me, 'Jim, you can get your Irishman; I'm going to quit this trip.'
+
+"'Kind o' sudden, hey, Kid?'
+
+"'No, been hating to give up, but--' and then the Kid came over and
+whispered something to me.
+
+"John, we both quit and went South. I got a job in Texas, and the Kid
+was lost sight of, and Mrs. J. E. Wainright appeared on the scene in
+tea-gown, train, and flounces. We furnished a neat little den, and I was
+happy. I missed my kid fireman, and did indeed have an Irishman. Kid had
+a struggle to wear petticoats again, and did not take kindly to
+dish-washing, but we were happy just the same.
+
+"Our little fellow arrived one spring day, and then our skies were all
+sunshiny for three long, happy years, until one day Kid and I followed a
+little white hearse out beyond the cypress grove and saw the earth
+covered over our darling, over our hopes, over our sunshine, and over
+our hearts.
+
+"After that the house was like a tomb, so still, so solemn, and at every
+turn were reminders of the little one who had faded away like the
+morning mist, gone from everything but our memories--there his sweet
+little image was graven by the hand of love and seared by the
+branding-iron of sorrow.
+
+"Men and women of intelligence do not parade their sorrows in the
+market-place; they bear them as best they can, and try to appear as
+others, but once the specter of the grim destroyer has crossed the
+threshold, his shadow forever remains, a dark reminder, like a
+prison-bar across the daylight of a cell. This shadow is seen and
+recognized in the heart of a father, but it is larger and darker and
+more dreadful in the mother heart.
+
+"At every turn poor Kid was mutely reminded of her loss, and her heart
+was at the breaking point day by day, and she begged for her old life,
+to seek forgetfulness in toil and get away from herself. So we went
+back to the old road, as we went away--Jim Wainright and Kid
+Reynolds--and glad enough they were to get us again for the winter work.
+
+"Three years of indoor life had softened the wiry muscles of the Kid,
+and our engine was a hard steamer, so I did most of the work on the
+road. But the work, excitement, and outdoor life brought back the color
+to pale cheeks, and now and then a smile to sad lips--and I was glad.
+
+"One day the Kid was running while I broke up some big lumps of coal,
+and while busy in the tank I felt the air go on full and the reverse
+lever come back, while the wheels ground sand. I stepped quickly toward
+the cab to see what was the matter, when the Kid sprang into the gangway
+and cried 'Jump!'
+
+"I was in the left gangway in a second, but quick as a flash the Kid had
+my arm.
+
+"'The other side! Quick! The river!'
+
+"We were almost side by side as she swung me toward the other side of
+the engine, and jumped as we crashed into a landslide. I felt Kid's
+hand on my shoulder as I left the deck--just in time to save my life,
+but not the Kid's.
+
+"She was crushed between the tank and boiler in the very act of keeping
+me from jumping to certain death on the rocks in the river below.
+
+"When the crew came over they found me with the crushed clay of my poor,
+loved Kid in my arms, kissing her. They never knew who she was. I took
+her back to our Texas home and laid her beside the little one that had
+gone before. The Firemen's Brotherhood paid Kid's insurance to me and
+passed resolutions saying: 'It has pleased Almighty God to remove from
+our midst our beloved brother, George Reynolds,' etc., etc.
+
+"George Reynolds's grave cannot be found; but over a mound of
+forget-me-nots away in a Southern land, there stands a stone on which is
+cut: 'Georgiana, wife of J. E. Wainright, aged thirty-two years.'
+
+"But in my heart there is a golden pyramid of love to the memory of a
+fireman and a sweetheart known to you and all the world but me, as 'Jim
+Wainright's Kid.'"
+
+
+
+
+AN ENGINEER'S CHRISTMAS STORY
+
+
+In the summer, fall, and early winter of 1863, I was tossing chips into
+an old Hinkley insider up in New England, for an engineer by the name of
+James Dillon. Dillon was considered as good a man as there was on the
+road: careful, yet fearless, kindhearted, yet impulsive, a man whose
+friends would fight for him and whose enemies hated him right royally.
+
+Dillon took a great notion to me, and I loved him as a father; the fact
+of the matter is, he was more of a father to me than I had at home, for
+my father refused to be comforted when I took to railroading, and I
+could not see him more than two or three times a year at the most--so
+when I wanted advice I went to Jim.
+
+I was a young fellow then, and being without a home at either end of the
+run, was likely to drop into pitfalls. Dillon saw this long before I
+did. Before I had been with him three months, he told me one day, coming
+in, that it was against his principles to teach locomotive-running to a
+young man who was likely to turn out a drunkard or gambler and disgrace
+the profession, and he added that I had better pack up my duds and come
+up to his house and let "mother" take care of me--and I went.
+
+I was not a guest there: I paid my room-rent and board just as I should
+have done anywhere else, but I had all the comforts of a home, and
+enjoyed a thousand advantages that money could not buy. I told Mrs.
+Dillon all my troubles, and found kindly sympathy and advice; she
+encouraged me in all my ambitions, mended my shirts, and went with me
+when I bought my clothes. Inside of a month, I felt like one of the
+family, called Mrs. Dillon "mother," and blessed my lucky stars that I
+had found them.
+
+Dillon had run a good many years, and was heartily tired of it, and he
+seldom passed a nice farm that he did not call my attention to it,
+saying: "Jack, now there's comfort; you just wait a couple of
+years--I've got my eye on the slickest little place, just on the edge of
+M----, that I am saving up my pile to buy. I'll give you the 'Roger
+William' one of these days, Jack, say good evening to grief, and me and
+mother will take comfort. Think of sleeping till eight o'clock,--and no
+poor steamers, Jack, no poor steamers!" And he would reach over, and
+give my head a gentle duck as I tried to pitch a curve to a front corner
+with a knot: those Hinkleys were powerful on cold water.
+
+In Dillon's household there was a "system" of financial management. He
+always gave his wife just half of what he earned; kept ten dollars for
+his own expenses during the month, out of which he clothed himself; and
+put the remainder in the bank. It was before the days of high wages,
+however, and even with this frugal management, the bank account did not
+grow rapidly. They owned the house in which they lived, and out of her
+half "mother" had to pay all the household expenses and taxes, clothe
+herself and two children, and send the children to school. The oldest, a
+girl of some sixteen years, was away at normal school, and the boy,
+about thirteen or fourteen, was at home, going to the public school and
+wearing out more clothes than all the rest of the family.
+
+Dillon told me that they had agreed on the financial plan followed in
+the family before their marriage, and he used to say that for the life
+of him he did not see how "mother" got along so well on the allowance.
+When he drew a small month's pay he would say to me, as we walked home:
+"No cream in the coffee this month, Jack." If it was unusually large, he
+would say: "Plum duff and fried chicken for a Sunday dinner." He
+insisted that he could detect the rate of his pay in the food, but this
+was not true--it was his kind of fun. "Mother" and I were fast friends.
+She became my banker, and when I wanted an extra dollar, I had to ask
+her for it and tell what I wanted it for, and all that.
+
+Along late in November, Jim had to make an extra one night on another
+engine, which left me at home alone with "mother" and the boy--I had
+never seen the girl--and after swearing me to be both deaf, dumb, and
+blind, "mother" told me a secret. For ten years she had been saving
+money out of her allowance, until the amount now reached nearly $2,000.
+She knew of Jim's life ambition to own a farm, and she had the matter in
+hand, if I would help her. Of course I was head over heels into the
+scheme at once. She wanted to buy the farm near M----, and give Jim the
+deed for a Christmas present; and Jim mustn't even suspect.
+
+Jim never did.
+
+The next trip I had to buy some underclothes: would "mother" tell me how
+to pick out pure wool? Why, bless your heart, no, she wouldn't, but
+she'd just put on her things and go down with me. Jim smoked and read at
+home.
+
+We went straight to the bank where Jim kept his money, asked for the
+President, and let him into the whole plan. Would he take $2,100 out of
+Jim's money, unbeknown to Jim, and pay the balance of the price of the
+farm over what "mother" had?
+
+No, he would not; but he would advance the money for the purpose--have
+the deeds sent to him, and he would pay the price--that was fixed.
+
+Then I hatched up an excuse and changed off with the fireman on the
+M---- branch, and spent the best part of two lay-overs fixing up things
+with the owner of the farm and arranging to hold back the recording of
+the deeds until after Christmas. Every evening there was some part of
+the project to be talked over, and "mother" and I held many whispered
+conversations. Once Jim, smiling, observed that, if I had any hair on my
+face, he would be jealous.
+
+I remember that it was on the 14th day of December, 1863, that payday
+came. I banked my money with "mother," and Jim, as usual, counted out
+his half to that dear old financier.
+
+"Uncle Sam'd better put that 'un in the hospital," observed Jim, as he
+came to a ragged ten-dollar bill. "Goddess of Liberty pretty near got
+her throat cut there; guess some reb has had hold of her," he continued,
+as he held up the bill. Then laying it down, he took out his pocket-book
+and cut off a little three-cornered strip of pink court-plaster, and
+made repairs on the bill.
+
+"Mother" pocketed her money greedily, and before an hour I had that very
+bill in my pocket to pay the recording fees in the courthouse at M----.
+
+The next day Jim wanted to use more money than he had in his pocket, and
+asked me to lend him a dollar. As I opened my wallet to oblige him, that
+patched bill showed up. Jim put his finger on it, and then turning me
+around towards him, he said: "How came you by that?"
+
+I turned red--I know I did--but I said, cool enough, "'Mother' gave it
+to me in change."
+
+"That's a lie," he said, and turned away.
+
+The next day we were more than two-thirds of the way home before he
+spoke; then, as I straightened up after a fire, he said: "John
+Alexander, when we get in, you go to Aleck (the foreman) and get changed
+to some other engine."
+
+There was a queer look on his face; it was not anger, it was not
+sorrow--it was more like pain. I looked the man straight in the eye, and
+said: "All right, Jim; it shall be as you say--but, so help me God, I
+don't know what for. If you will tell me what I have done that is wrong,
+I will not make the same mistake with the next man I fire for."
+
+He looked away from me, reached over and started the pump, and said:
+"Don't you know?"
+
+"No, sir, I have not the slightest idea."
+
+"Then you stay, and I'll change," said he, with a determined look, and
+leaned out of the window, and said no more all the way in.
+
+I did not go home that day. I cleaned the "Roger William" from the top
+of that mountain of sheet-iron known as a wood-burner stack to the back
+casting on the tank, and tried to think what I had done wrong, or not
+done at all, to incur such displeasure from Dillon. He was in bed when
+I went to the house that evening, and I did not see him until breakfast.
+He was in his usual spirits there, but on the way to the station, and
+all day long, he did not speak to me. He noticed the extra cleaning, and
+carefully avoided tarnishing any of the cabfittings;--but that awful
+quiet! I could hardly bear it, and was half sick at the trouble, the
+cause of which I could not understand. I thought that, if the patched
+bill had anything to do with it, Christmas morning would clear it up.
+
+Our return trip was the night express, leaving the terminus at 9:30. As
+usual, that night I got the engine out, oiled, switched out the cars,
+and took the train to the station, trimmed my signals and headlight, and
+was all ready for Jim to pull out. Nine o'clock came, and no Jim; at
+9:10 I sent to his boarding-house. He had not been there. He did not
+come at leaving time--he did not come at all. At ten o'clock the
+conductor sent to the engine-house for another engineer, and at 10:45,
+instead of an engineer, a fireman came, with orders for John Alexander
+to run the "Roger William" until further orders,--I never fired a
+locomotive again.
+
+I went over that road the saddest-hearted man that ever made a maiden
+trip. I hoped there would be some tidings of Jim at home--there were
+none. I can never forget the blow it was to "mother;" how she braced up
+on account of her children--but oh, that sad face! Christmas came, and
+with it the daughter, and then there were two instead of one: the boy
+was frantic the first day, and playing marbles the next.
+
+Christmas day there came a letter. It was from Jim--brief and cold
+enough--but it was such a comfort to "mother." It was directed to Mary
+J. Dillon, and bore the New York post-mark. It read:
+
+     "Uncle Sam is in need of men, and those who lose with Venus may win
+     with Mars. Enclosed papers you will know best what to do with. Be a
+     mother to the children--you have _three_ of them.
+
+     "JAMES DILLON."
+
+He underscored the three--he was a mystery to me. Poor "mother!" She
+declared that no doubt "poor James's head was affected." The papers with
+the letter were a will, leaving her all, and a power of attorney,
+allowing her to dispose of or use the money in the bank. Not a line of
+endearment or love for that faithful heart that lived on love, asked
+only for love, and cared for little else.
+
+That Christmas was a day of fasting and prayer for us. Many letters did
+we send, many advertisements were printed, but we never got a word from
+James Dillon, and Uncle Sam's army was too big to hunt in. We were a
+changed family: quieter and more tender of one another's feelings, but
+changed.
+
+In the fall of 64 they changed the runs around, and I was booked to run
+in to M----. Ed, the boy, was firing for me. There was no reason why
+"mother" should stay in Boston, and we moved out to the little farm.
+That daughter, who was a second "mother" all over, used to come down to
+meet us at the station with the horse, and I talked "sweet" to her; yet
+at a certain point in the sweetness I became dumb.
+
+Along in May, '65, "mother" got a package from Washington. It contained
+a tin-type of herself; a card with a hole in it (made evidently by
+having been forced over a button), on which was her name and the old
+address in town; then there was a ring and a saber, and on the blade of
+the saber was etched, "Presented to Lieutenant Jas. Dillon, for bravery
+on the field of battle." At the bottom of the parcel was a note in a
+strange hand, saying simply, "Found on the body of Lieutenant Dillon
+after the battle of Five Forks."
+
+Poor "mother!" Her heart was wrung again, and again the scalding tears
+fell. She never told her suffering, and no one ever knew what she bore.
+Her face was a little sadder and sweeter, her hair a little whiter--that
+was all.
+
+I am not a bit superstitious--don't believe in signs or presentiments or
+prenothings--but when I went to get my pay on the 14th day of December,
+1866, it gave me a little start to find in it the bill bearing the
+chromo of the Goddess of Liberty with the little three-cornered piece of
+court-plaster that Dillon had put on her wind-pipe. I got rid of it at
+once, and said nothing to "mother" about it; but I kept thinking of it
+and seeing it all the next day and night.
+
+On the night of the 16th, I was oiling around my Black Maria to take out
+a local leaving our western terminus just after dark, when a tall, slim
+old gentleman stepped up to me and asked if I was the engineer. I don't
+suppose I looked like the president: I confessed, and held up my torch,
+so I could see his face--a pretty tough-looking face. The white mustache
+was one of that military kind, reinforced with whiskers on the right and
+left flank of the mustache proper. He wore glasses, and one of the
+lights was ground glass. The right cheek-bone was crushed in, and a red
+scar extended across the eye and cheek; the scar looked blue around the
+red line because of the cold.
+
+"I used to be an engineer before the war," said he. "Do you go to
+Boston!"
+
+"No, to M----."
+
+"M----! I thought that was on a branch."
+
+"It is, but is now an important manufacturing point, with regular trains
+from there to each end of the main line."
+
+"When can I get to Boston?"
+
+"Not till Monday now; we run no through Sunday trains. You can go to
+M---- with me to-night, and catch a local to Boston in the morning."
+
+He thought a minute, and then said, "Well, yes; guess I had better. How
+is it for a ride?"
+
+"Good; just tell the conductor that I told you to get on."
+
+"Thanks; that's clever. I used to know a soldier who used to run up in
+this country," said the stranger, musing. "Dillon; that's it, Dillon."
+
+"I knew him well," said I. "I want to hear about him."
+
+"Queer man," said he, and I noticed he was eying me pretty sharp.
+
+"A good engineer."
+
+"Perhaps," said he.
+
+[Illustration: "I noticed his long, slim hand on the top of the
+reverse-lever."]
+
+I coaxed the old veteran to ride on the engine--the first coal-burner I
+had had. He seemed more than glad to comply. Ed was as black as a negro,
+and swearing about coal-burners in general and this one in particular,
+and made so much noise with his fire-irons after we started, that the
+old man came over and sat behind me, so as to be able to talk.
+
+The first time I looked around after getting out of the yard, I noticed
+his long slim hand on the top of the reverse-lever. Did you ever notice
+how it seems to make an ex-engineer feel better and more satisfied to
+get his hand on the reverse-lever and feel the life-throbs of the great
+giant under him? Why, his hand goes there by instinct--just as an
+ambulance surgeon will feel for the heart of the boy with a broken leg.
+
+I asked the stranger to "give her a whirl," and noticed with what eager
+joy he took hold of her. I also observed with surprise that he seemed to
+know all about "four-mile hill," where most new men got stuck. He caught
+me looking at his face, and touching the scar, remarked: "A little love
+pat, with the compliments of Wade Hampton's men." We talked on a good
+many subjects, and got pretty well acquainted before we were over the
+division, but at last we seemed talked out.
+
+"Where does Dillon's folks live now?" asked the stranger, slowly, after
+a time.
+
+"M----," said I.
+
+He nearly jumped off the box. "M----? I thought it was Boston!"
+
+"Moved to M----."
+
+"What for?"
+
+"Own a farm there."
+
+"Oh, I see; married again?"
+
+"No."
+
+"No!"
+
+"Widow thought too much of Jim for that."
+
+"No!"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Er--what became of the young man that they--er--adopted?"
+
+"Lives with 'em yet."
+
+"So!"
+
+Just then we struck the suburbs of M----, and, as we passed the cemetery,
+I pointed to a high shaft, and said: "Dillon's monument."
+
+"Why, how's that?"
+
+"Killed at Five Forks. Widow put up monument."
+
+He shaded his eyes with his hand, and peered through the moonlight for a
+minute.
+
+"That's clever," was all he said.
+
+I insisted that he go home with me. Ed took the Black Maria to the
+house, and we took the street cars for it to the end of the line, and
+then walked. As we cleaned our feet at the door, I said: "Let me see, I
+did not hear your name?"
+
+"James," said he, "Mr. James."
+
+I opened the sitting-room door, and ushered the stranger in.
+
+"Well, boys," said "mother," slowly getting up from before the fire and
+hurriedly taking a few extra stitches in her knitting before laying it
+down to look up at us, "you're early."
+
+She looked up, not ten feet from the stranger, as he took off his
+slouched hat and brushed back the white hair. In another minute her
+arms were around his neck, and she was murmuring "James" in his ear, and
+I, like a dumb fool, wondered who told her his name.
+
+Well, to make a long story short, it was James Dillon himself, and the
+daughter came in, and Ed came, and between the three they nearly
+smothered the old fellow.
+
+You may think it funny he didn't know me, but don't forget that I had
+been running for three years--that takes the fresh off a fellow; then,
+when I had the typhoid, my hair laid off, and was never reinstated, and
+when I got well, the whiskers--that had always refused to grow--came on
+with a rush, and they were red. And again, I had tried to switch with an
+old hook-motion in the night and forgot to take out the starting-bar,
+and she threw it at me, knocking out some teeth; and taking it
+altogether, I was a changed man.
+
+"Where's John?" he said finally.
+
+"Here," said I.
+
+"No!"
+
+"Yes."
+
+He took my hand, and said, "John, I left all that was dear to me once,
+because I was jealous of you. I never knew how you came to have that
+money or why, and don't want to. Forgive me."
+
+"That is the first time I ever heard of that," said "mother."
+
+"I had it to buy this farm for you--a Christmas present--if you had
+waited," said I.
+
+"That is the first time I ever heard of that," said he.
+
+"And you might have been shot," said "mother," getting up close.
+
+"I tried my darndest to be. That's why I got promoted so fast."
+
+"Oh, James!" and her arms were around his neck again.
+
+"And I sent that saber home myself, never intending to come back."
+
+"Oh, James, how could you!"
+
+"Mother, how can you forgive me?"
+
+"Mother," was still for a minute, looking at the fire in the grate.
+"James, it is late in life to apply such tests, but love is like gold;
+ours will be better now--the dross has been burned away in the fire. I
+did what I did for love of you, and you did what you did for love of me;
+let us all commence to live again in the old way," and those arms of
+hers could not keep away from his neck.
+
+Ed went out with tears in his eyes, and I beckoned the daughter to
+follow me. We passed into the parlor, drew the curtain over the
+doorway--and there was nothing but that rag between us and heaven.
+
+
+
+
+THE CLEAN MAN AND THE DIRTY ANGELS
+
+
+When I first went firing, down in my native district, where Bean is
+King, there was a man on the road pulling a mixed train, by the name of
+Clark--'Lige Clark.
+
+Being only a fireman, and a new one at that, I did not come very much in
+contact with Clark, or any of the other engineers, excepting my
+own--James Dillon.
+
+'Lige Clark was a character on the road; everybody knew "old 'Lige;" he
+was liked and respected, but not loved; he was thought puritanical, or
+religious, or cranky, by some, yet no one hated him, or even had a
+strong dislike for him.
+
+His honesty and straightforwardness were proverbial. He was always in
+charge of the funds of every order he belonged to, as well as of the
+Sunday-school and church.
+
+He was truthful to a fault, but above all, just.
+
+"'Cause 'tain't right, that's why," was his way of refusing to do a
+thing, and his argument against others doing it.
+
+After I got to running, I saw and knew more of 'Lige, and I think,
+perhaps, I was as much of a friend as he ever had. We never were chums.
+I never went to his house, and he never went to mine; we were simply
+roundhouse acquaintances; used to talk engine a little, but usually
+talked about children--'Lige had four, and always spoke about "doing the
+right thing by them."
+
+'Lige had a very heavy full beard, that came clear up to his eyes, and a
+mass of wavy hair--all iron grey. His eyes were steel grey, and matched
+his hair, and he had a habit of looking straight at you when he spoke.
+
+On his engine he invariably ran with his head out of the side window,
+rain or shine, and always bareheaded. When he stepped upon the
+footboard, he put his hat away with his clothes, and there it stayed. He
+was never known to wear a cap, excepting in the coldest weather.
+
+Once in a while, when I was firing, I have seen him come in, in winter,
+with his beard white with frost and ice, and some smoke-shoveling wit
+dubbed him Santa Claus.
+
+'Lige had a way of looking straight ahead and thinking of his work, and,
+after he got to running express, would go through a town, where other
+trains were sidetracked for him, looking at the track ahead, and at the
+trains, but never seeming to care that they were there, never nodding or
+waving a hand. Once in a while he would blink his eyes,--that was all.
+The wind tossed his mane and hair and made him look for all the world
+like a lion, who looks at, but appears to care nothing for the crowds
+around his den. Someone noticed the comparison, and dubbed him "The
+Lion," and the name clung to him. He was spoken of as "Old 'Lige, the
+Lion." Just why he was called old, I don't know--he was little more than
+forty then.
+
+When the men on the road had any grievances, they always asked 'Lige to
+"go and see the old man." 'Lige always went to lodge and to meetings of
+the men, but was never known to speak. When the demands were drawn up
+and presented to him, he always got up and said: "Them air declarations
+ain't right, an' I wouldn't ask any railroad to grant 'em;" or, "The
+declarations are right. Of course I'll be glad to take 'em."
+
+When old 'Lige declined to bear a grievance it was modified or
+abandoned; and he never took a request to headquarters that was not
+granted--until the strike of '77.
+
+When the war broke out, 'Lige was asked to go, and the railroad boys
+wanted him to be captain of a company of them; but he declined, saying
+that slavery was wrong and should be crushed, but that he had a sickly
+wife and four small children depending on his daily toil for bread, and
+it wouldn't be right to leave 'em unprovided for. They drafted him
+later, but he still said it "wa'n't right" for him to go, and paid for a
+substitute. But three months later his father-in-law died, up in the
+country somewhere, and left his wife some three thousand dollars, and
+'Lige enlisted the next, day, saying "'Tain't right for any man to stay
+that can be spared; slavery ain't right; it must be stopped." He served
+as a private until it was stopped.
+
+Shortly after the war 'Lige was pulling the superintendent over the
+road, when he struck a wagon, killing the driver, who was a farmer, and
+hurting his wife. The woman afterward sued the road, and 'Lige was
+called as a witness for the company. He surprised everybody by stating
+that the accident was caused by mismanagement of the road, and explained
+as follows: "I pull the regular Atlantic express, and should have been
+at the crossing where the accident occurred, an hour later than I was;
+but Mr. Doe, our superintendent, wanted to come over the road with his
+special car, and took my engine to pull him, leaving a freight engine to
+bring in the express. Mr. Doe could have rode on the regular train, or
+could have had his car put into the train, instead of putting the
+company to the expense of hauling a special, and kept the patrons of
+the road from slow and poor service. We ran faster than there was any
+use of, and Mr. Doe went home when he got in, showing that there was no
+urgent call for his presence at this end of the line. If there had been
+no extra train on the road this farmer wouldn't have been killed:
+'twa'n't right."
+
+The widow got pretty heavy damages, and the superintendent tried to
+discharge 'Lige. But 'Lige said '"twa'n't right," and the men on the
+road, the patrons and even the president agreed with him, so the irate
+super gave the job up for the time being.
+
+A couple of weeks after this, I went to that super.'s office on some
+business, and had to wait in the outer pen until "His Grace" got through
+with someone else. The transom over the door to the "Holy of Holies" was
+open, and I heard the well-known voice of 'Lige "the Lion".
+
+"Now, there's another matter, Mr. Doe, that perhaps you'll say is none
+of my business, but 'tain't right, and I'm going to speak about it.
+You're hanging around the yards and standing in the shadows of cars and
+buildings half the night, watching employees. You've discharged several
+yardmen, and I want to tell you that a lot of the roughest of them are
+laying for you. My advice to you is to go home from the office. They'll
+hurt you yet. 'Tain't right for one man to know that another is in
+danger without warning him, so I've done it; 'twouldn't be right for
+them to hurt you. You're not particularly hunting them but me, but you
+won't catch me."
+
+Mr. Doe assured "the Lion" that he could take care of himself, and two
+nights later got sand-bagged, and had about half his ribs kicked loose,
+over back of the scale house.
+
+When the trouble commenced in '77, old 'Lige refused to take up a
+request for increase of pay, to headquarters; said the road could afford
+to keep us just where we were, which was more than some roads were
+doing, and "'twa'n't right" to ask for more. Two months later they cut
+us ten per cent., and offered to pay half script. Old 'Lige said
+'"twa'n't right," and he'd strike afore he'd stand it;--and, in the end,
+we all struck.
+
+The fourth day after the strike commenced I met 'Lige, and he asked me
+where I was going to hunt work. I told him I was going back when we won.
+He laughed, and said there wa'n't much danger of any of us going back;
+we were beat; mail trains all running, etc. '"Tain't right, Brother
+John, to loaf longer'n you can help. I'm goin' out West to-morrer"--and
+he went.
+
+Some weeks afterward Joe Johnson and I concluded that, contrary to all
+precedent, the road was going to run without us, and we also went West;
+but by that time the country was full of men just like us. When I did
+get a job, it was drying sand away out at the front on one of the new
+roads. The first engine that come up to the sand house had a familiar
+look, even with a boot-leg stack that was fearfully and wonderfully
+made. There was a shaggy head sticking out of the side window, and two
+cool grey eyes blinked at me, but didn't seem to see me; yet a cheery
+voice from under the beard said: "Hello, Brother John, you're late, but
+guess you'll catch on pretty quick. There's lots of 'em here that don't
+know nothin' about railroading, as far as I can see, and they're running
+engines, too. 'Tain't right."
+
+The little town was booming, and 'Lige invested in lots, and became
+interested in many schemes to benefit the place and make money. He had
+been a widower for some years, and with one exception his children were
+doing for themselves, and that one was with his sister, and well cared
+for. 'Lige had considerable means, and he brought it all West. He
+personally laid the corner-stone of the courthouse, subscribed more than
+any other working man to the first church, and was treasurer of half the
+institutions in the village. He ought to have quit the road, but he
+wouldn't; but did compromise on taking an easy run on a branch.
+
+'Lige was behind a benevolent scheme to build a hospital, to be under
+the auspices of the church society, and to it devoted not a little time
+and energy. When the constitution and by-laws were drawn up, the more
+liberal of the trustees struck a snag in old 'Lige. He was bound that
+the hospital should not harbor people under the influence of liquor, or
+fallen women. 'Lige was very bitter against prostitution. "It is the
+curse of civilization," he often said. "Prostitutes ruin ten men where
+whiskey ruins one. They stand in the path of every young man in the
+country, gilded tempters of virtue, honesty and manhood; 'tain't right
+that they should be allowed in the country." If you attributed their
+existence to man's passions, inhumanity or cruelty, or woman's weakness,
+he checked you at once.
+
+"Every woman that becomes a crooked woman does so from choice; she
+needn't to if she didn't want to. The way to stop prostitution is for
+every honest man and woman to refuse to have anything to do with them in
+any way, or with those who do recognize them. 'Tain't right."
+
+In this matter 'Lige Clark had no sympathy nor charity. "'Twa'n't
+right"--and that settled it as far as he was concerned.
+
+The ladies of the church sided with old 'Lige in his stand on the
+hospital board, but the other two men wanted the doors of the
+institution to be opened to all in need of medical attention or care,
+regardless of who they were or what caused their ailment. 'Lige gave in
+on the whiskey, but stood out resolutely against the soiled doves, and
+so matters stood until midwinter.
+
+Half the women in the town were outcasts from society--two dance-houses
+were in full blast--and 'Lige soon became known to them and their
+friends as the "Prophet Elijah, second edition."
+
+The mining town over the hills, at the end of 'Lige's branch, was
+booming, too, and wanted to be the county seat. It had its church,
+dance-halls, etc., and the discovery of coal within a few miles bid fair
+to make it a formidable rival.
+
+The boom called for more power and I went over there to pull freight,
+and 'Lige pulled passengers only. Then they put more coaches on his
+train and put my engine on to help him, thus saving a crew's wages.
+Passenger service increased steadily until a big snow-slide in one of
+the gulches shut up the road. I'll never forget that slide. It happened
+on the 26th of January. 'Lige and I were double-heading on nine coaches
+of passengers and when on a heavy grade in Alder Gulch, a slide of snow
+started from far up the mountain-side, swept over the track just ahead
+of us, carrying trees, telegraph poles and the track with it. We tried
+to stop, but 'Lige's engine got into it, and was carried sideways down
+some fifty or sixty feet. Mine contented herself with simply turning
+over, without hurting either myself or fireman--much to my satisfaction.
+
+'Lige fared worse. His reverse lever caught in his clothing and before
+he could get loose, the engine had stopped on her side, with 'Lige's
+feet and legs under her. He was not badly hurt except for the scalding
+water that poured upon him. As soon as we could see him, the fireman and
+I got hold of him and forcibly pulled him out of the wreck. His limbs
+were awfully burned--cooked would be nearer the word.
+
+[Illustration: "It was a strange courting ... there on that engine."]
+
+The passengers crowded around, but did little good. One look was enough
+for most of them. There were ten or twelve women in the cars. They came
+out slowly, and stood timidly away from the hissing boilers, with one
+exception. This one came at once to the injured man, sat down in the
+snow, took his head in her lap, and taking a flask of liquor from her
+ulster pocket, gave poor 'Lige some with a little snow.
+
+I got the oil can and poured some oil over the burned parts to keep the
+air from them; we needed bandages, and I asked the ladies if they had
+anything we could use for the purpose. One young girl offered a
+handkerchief and another a shawl, but before they were accepted the cool
+woman holding 'Lige's head got up quickly, laying his head down tenderly
+on the snow, and without a word or attempt to get out of sight, pulled
+up her dress, and in a second kicked out two white skirts, and sat down
+again to cool 'Lige's brow.
+
+That woman attended 'Lige like a guardian angel until we got back to
+town late that afternoon. The hospital was not yet in shape, so 'Lige
+was taken to the rather dreary and homeless quarters of the hotel.
+
+As quick as it was known that Elijah Clark was hurt, he had plenty of
+friends, male and female, who came to take care of him, but the woman
+who helped him live at the start came not; yet every day there were
+dainty viands, wine or books left at the house for him--but pains were
+taken to let no one know from whom they came.
+
+One day a month after the accident I sat beside 'Lige's bed when he told
+me that he was anticipating quite a discussion there that evening, as
+the hospital committee was going to meet to decide on the rules of the
+institution. "Wilcox and Gorman are set to open the house to those who
+have no part in our work and no sympathy with Christian institutions,
+and 'tain't right," said he. "Brother John, you can't do no good by
+prolonging the life of a brazen woman bent on vice."
+
+"Don't you think, 'Lige," said I, "that you are a little hard on an
+unfortunate class of humanity, who, in nine cases out of ten, are the
+victims of others' wrong-doing, and stay in the mire because no hand is
+extended to help them out? Think of the woman of Samaria. It's sinners,
+not saints, that need saving."
+
+"They are as a coiled serpent in the pathway of mankind, Brother John,
+fascinating, but poisonous. There can be no good in one of those
+creatures."
+
+"Oh yes there is, I'm sure," said I. "Why, 'Lige, don't you know who the
+woman was that gave you brandy, held your head, and used her skirts for
+bandages when you were hurt?"
+
+Old 'Lige raised up on his elbow, all eagerness. "No, John, I don't, but
+she wa'n't one of them. She was too thoughtful, too tender, too womanly.
+I've blessed her from that day to this, and though I don't know it, I
+think she has sent me all these wines and fruits. She saved my life. Who
+is she? Do you know?"
+
+"Yes. She is Molly May, who keeps the largest dance-house in Cascade
+City. She makes lots of money, but spends it all in charity; there has
+never been a human being buried by the town since she has been there.
+Molly May is a ministering angel to the poor and sick, but a bird of
+prey to those who wish to dissipate."
+
+The hospital was opened on Easter, and the first patient was a poor
+consumptive girl, but lately an inmate of the Red-Light dance-house.
+'Lige Clark did not run again; he became mayor of the little city, had
+faith in its future, invested his money in land and died rich some years
+ago.
+
+'Lige must have changed his mind as he grew older, or at least abandoned
+the idea that to crush out a wrong you should push it from all sides,
+and thus compress and intensify it at the heart, and come to the
+conclusion that the right way is to get inside and push out, thus
+separating and dissolving it. For before me lies the tenth annual
+prospectus of a now noted institution in one of the great cities of the
+continent, and on its title page, I read through the dimmed glasses of
+my spectacles: "Industrial Home and Refuge for Fallen Women. Founded by
+Elijah Clark. Mary E. May, Matron."
+
+
+
+
+A PEG-LEGGED ROMANCE
+
+
+Some men are born heroes, some become heroic, and some have heroism
+thrust upon them; but nothing of the kind ever happened to me.
+
+I don't know how it is; but, some way or other, I remember all the
+railroad incidents I see or hear, and get to the bottom of most of the
+stories of the road. I must study them over more than most men do, or
+else the other fellows enjoy the comedies and deplore the tragedies, and
+say nothing. Sometimes I am mean enough to think that the romance, the
+dramas, and the tragedies of the road don't impress them as being as
+interesting as those of the plains, the Indians, or the seas--people are
+so apt to see only the everyday side of life anyway, and to draw all
+their romance and heroics from books.
+
+I helped make a hero once--no, I didn't either; I helped make the
+golden setting after the rough diamond had shown its value.
+
+Miles Diston pulled freight on our road a few years ago. He was of
+medium stature, dark complexion, but no beauty. He was a manly-looking
+fellow, well-educated enough, sober, and a steady-going, reliable
+engineer; you would never pick him out for a hero. Miles was young
+yet--not thirty--but, somehow or other, he had escaped matrimony: I
+guess he had never had time. He stayed on the farm at home until he was
+of age, and then went firing, so that when I first knew him he had
+barely got to his goal--the throttle.
+
+A good many men, when they first get there, take great interest in their
+work for a few months--until experience gives them confidence; then they
+take it easier, look around, and take some interest in other things.
+Most of them never hope to get above running, and so sit down more or
+less contented, get married, buy real estate, gamble, or grow fat, each
+according to the dictates of his own conscience or the inclinations of
+his make-up. Miles figured a little on matrimony.
+
+I can't explain it; but when a railroad man is in trouble, he comes to
+me for advice, just as he would go to the company doctor for kidney
+complaint. I am a specialist in heart troubles. Miles came to me.
+
+Miles was like the rest of them. They don't come right down and say,
+"Something's the matter with me; what would you do for it?" No, sir!
+They hem and haw, and laugh off the symptoms, until you come right out
+and tell them just how they feel and explain the cause; then they will
+do anything you say. Miles hemmed and hawed a little, but soon came out
+and showed his symptoms--he asked me if I had ever noticed the
+"Frenchman's" girl.
+
+"The Frenchman," be it known, was our boss bridge carpenter. He lived at
+a small place half-way over my division--I was pulling express--and the
+freights stopped there, changing engines. I knew Venot, the bridge
+carpenter, very well; met him in lodge occasionally, and once in a
+while he rode on the engine with me to inspect bridges. His wife was a
+Canadian woman, and good-looking for her forty years and ten children.
+The daughter that was killing Miles Diston, Marie Venot, was the eldest,
+and had just graduated from some sisters' school. She was a very
+handsome girl, and you could read the romantic nature of her being
+through her big, round, gray eyes. She was vivacious, and loved to go;
+but she was a dutiful daughter, and at once took hold to help her mother
+in a way that made her all the more adorable in the eyes of practical
+men like Miles.
+
+Miles made the most of his opportunities.
+
+But, bless you, there were other eyes for good-looking girls besides
+those in poor Miles Diston's head, and he was far from having the field
+to himself; this he wanted badly, and came to get advice from me.
+
+I advised strongly against wasting energy to clear the field, and in
+favor of putting it all into making the best show and in getting ahead
+of all competitors. Under my advice, Miles disposed of some vacant
+lots, and bought a neat little house, put it in thorough order, and made
+the best of his opportunities with Marie.
+
+Marie came to our house regularly, and I had good opportunity to study
+her. She was a sensible little creature, and, to my mind, just the girl
+for Miles; as Miles was just the man for her. But she had confided to my
+wife the fact that she never, never could consent to marry and settle
+down in the regulation, humdrum way; she wanted to marry a hero, some
+one she could look up to--a king among men.
+
+My wife told her that kings and heroes were scarce just then, and that a
+lot of pretty good women managed to be comparatively happy with common
+railroad men. But Marie wanted a hero, and would hear of nothing less.
+
+It was during one of her visits to my house that Miles took Marie out
+for a ride and (accidentally, of course) dropped around by his new
+house, induced her to look at it, and told his story, asking her to
+make the home complete. It would have caught almost any girl; but when
+Miles delivered her at our door and drove off, I knew that there would
+be a "For Rent" card on that house in a few days and that Marie Venot
+was bound to have a hero or nothing.
+
+Miles took his repulse calmly, but it hurt. He told me that Marie was
+hunting for a different kind of man from him; said that he thought
+perhaps if he would enlist, and go out to fight Sitting Bull, and come
+home in a new, brass-bound uniform, with a poisoned arrow sticking out
+of his breast, she would fall at his feet and worship him. She told him
+she liked him better than any of the town boys; his calling was noble
+enough and hard enough; but she failed to see her ideal hero in a man
+with blue overclothes on and cinders in his ears. If any of Miles's
+competitors had rescued a drowning child, or killed a bear with a
+penknife, at this juncture, I'm afraid Marie would have taken him. But,
+as I have indicated, it was a dull season for heroes.
+
+About this time our road invested in some mogul passenger engines, and
+I drew one. I didn't like the boiler sticking back between me and Dennis
+Rafferty. I didn't like six wheels connected. I didn't like a
+knuckle-joint in the side rod. I didn't like eighteen-inch cylinders. I
+was opposed to solid-end rods. And I am afraid I belonged to a class of
+ignorant, short-sighted, bull-headed engineers who didn't believe that a
+railroad had any right to buy anything but fifteen by twenty-two
+eight-wheelers--the smaller they were the more men they would want. I
+got over that a long time ago; but, at the time I write of, I was cranky
+about it. The moguls were high and short and jerky, and they tossed a
+man around like a rat in a corn-popper. One day, as I was chasing time
+over our worst division, holding on to the arm-rest and watching to see
+if the main frame touched the driving-boxes as she rolled, Dennis
+Rafferty punched me in the small of the back, and said: "Jahn, for the
+love ave the Vargin, lave up on her a minit. Oi does be chasing that
+dure for the lasth twinty minits, and dang the wan'st has I hit it
+fair. She's the divil on th' dodge."
+
+Dennis had a pile of coal just inside and just outside of the door, the
+forward grates were bare, the steam was down, and I went in seven
+minutes late, too mad to eat--and that's pretty mad for me. I laid off,
+and Miles Diston took the high-roller out next trip.
+
+Miles didn't rant and write letters or poetry, or marry some one else to
+spite himself, or take the first steamer for Burraga, or Equatorial
+Africa, as rejected lovers in stories do. It hurt, and he didn't enjoy
+it, but he bore up all right, and went about his business, just as
+hundreds of other sensible men do every day. He gave up entirely,
+however, rented his house, and said he couldn't fill the bill--there
+wasn't a hero in his family as far back as he could remember.
+
+Miles had been making time with the Black Maria for about a week, when
+the big accident happened in our town. The boilers in a cotton mill blew
+up, and killed a score of girls and injured hundreds more. Miles was at
+the other end of the division, and they hurried him out to take a
+car-load of doctors down. They were given the right of the road, and
+Miles tested the speed of that mogul--proving that a pony truck would
+stay on the track at fifty miles an hour, which a lot of us "cranks" had
+disputed.
+
+A few miles out there is a coaling-station, and at that time they were
+building the chutes. One of the iron drop-aprons fell just before Miles
+with the mogul got to it; it smashed the headlight, dented the stack,
+ripped up the casing of the sand-box and dome, cut a slit in the jacket
+the length of the boiler, tore off the cab, struck the end of the first
+car, and then tore itself loose, and fell to the ground.
+
+The throttle was knocked wide open, and the mogul was flying. Miles was
+thrown down, his head cut open by a splinter, and his foot pretty badly
+hurt. He picked himself up instantly, and took a look back as he closed
+the throttle. Everything was "coming" all right, he remembered the
+emergency of the case, and opened the throttle again. A hasty
+inspection showed the engine in condition to run--she only looked
+crippled. Miles had to stand up. His foot felt numb and weak, so he
+rested his weight on the other foot. He was afraid he would fall off if
+he became faint, and he had Dennis take off the bell-cord and tie it
+around his waist, throwing a loop over the reverse lever, as a measure
+of safety. The right side of the cab and all the roof were gone, so that
+Miles was in plain sight. The cut in his scalp bled profusely, and in
+trying to wipe the blood from his eyes, he merely spread it all over
+himself, so that he looked as if he had been half murdered.
+
+It was this apparition of wreck, ruin, and concentrated energy that
+Marie Venot saw flash past her father's door, hastening to the relief of
+the victims of a worse disaster, forty miles away.
+
+Her father came home for his dinner in a few minutes from his little
+office in the depot. To his daughter's eager inquiry he said there had
+been some big accident in town and the "extra" was carrying doctors
+from up the road. But what was the matter with the engine, he didn't
+know; it was the 170; so it was old man Alexander, he said--and that's
+the nearest I ever came to being a hero.
+
+Marie knew who was running the 170 pretty well; so after dinner she went
+to the telegraph office for information, and there she learned that the
+special had struck the new coal chute at Coalton and that the engineer
+was hurt. It was time she ran down to see Mrs. Alexander, she said, and
+that afternoon's regular delivered her in town.
+
+Like all other railroaders not better employed, I dropped round to the
+depot at train time to talk with the boys and keep track of things in
+general. The regular was late, but Miles Diston was coming with a
+special, and came while we were talking about it. Miles didn't realize
+how badly he was hurt until he stopped the mogul in front of the general
+office. So long as the excitement of the run was on, so long as he saw
+the absolute necessity of doing his whole duty until the desired end was
+accomplished, so long as he had a reputation to protect, his will power
+subordinated all else. But when several of us engineers ran up to the
+engine, we found Miles hanging to the reverse lever by his safety cord,
+in a dead faint. We carried him into the depot, and one of the doctors
+administered some restorative. Then we got a hack and started him and
+the doctor for my house; but Miles came to himself, and insisted on
+going to his boarding-house and nowhere else.
+
+Mrs. Bailey, Miles's boarding-house keeper, had been a trained nurse,
+but had a few years before invested in a rather disappointing
+matrimonial venture. She was one of the best nurses and one of the
+"crankiest" women I ever knew. I believe she was actually glad to see
+Miles come home hurt, just to show how she could pull him through.
+
+The doctor found that Miles had an ankle out of joint; the little toe
+was badly crushed; there was a bad cut in the leg, that had bled
+profusely; there was a black bruise over the short ribs on the right
+side, and there was a button-hole in the scalp that needed about four
+stitches. The little toe was cut off without ceremony, the ankle
+replaced and hot bandages applied, and other repairs were made, which
+took up most of the afternoon.
+
+When the doctor got through, he called Mrs. Bailey and myself out into
+the parlor, and said that we must not let people crowd in to see the
+patient; that his wounds were not dangerous, but very painful; that
+Miles was weak from loss of blood, and that his constitution was not in
+particularly good condition. The doctor, in fact, thought that Miles
+would be in great luck if he got out of the scrape without a run of
+fever. Thereafter Mrs. Bailey referred all visitors to me. I talked with
+the doctor and the nurse, and we all agreed that it would stop most
+inquisitive people to simply say that the patient had suffered an
+amputation.
+
+That evening, when I went home, there were two anxious women-to receive
+me, and the younger of them looked suspiciously as if she had been
+crying. I told them something of the accident, how it all happened, and
+about Miles's injuries. Both of them wanted to go right down and help
+"do something," but I told them of the doctor's order and of his fears.
+
+By this time the reporters came; and I called them into the parlor, and
+then let them pump me. I detailed the accident in full, but declined to
+tell anything about Miles or his history. "The fact is," said I, "that
+you people won't give an engineer his just dues. Now, if Miles Diston
+had been a fireman and had climbed down a ladder with a child, you would
+have his picture in the paper and call him a hero and all that sort of
+thing; but here is a man crushed, bleeding, with broken bones, and a
+crippled engine, who stands on one foot, lashed to his reverse lever,
+for eighty miles, and making the fastest time ever made over the road,
+because he knew that others were suffering for the relief he brought."
+
+"That's nerve," said one of the young men.
+
+"Nerve!" said I, "nerve! Why, that man knows no more about fear than a
+lion; and think of the sand of the man! This afternoon he sat up and
+watched the doctor perform that amputation without a quiver; he wouldn't
+take chloroform; he wouldn't even lie down."
+
+[Illustration: "We carried him into the depot."]
+
+"Was the amputation above or below the knee?" asked the reporter.
+
+"Below" (I didn't state how far).
+
+"Which foot?"
+
+"Left."
+
+"He is in no great danger?"
+
+"Yes, the doctor says he will be a very sick man for some time--if he
+recovers at all. Boys," I added, "there's one thing you might
+mention--and I think you ought to--and that is that it is such heroes as
+this that give a road its reputation; people feel as though they were
+safe behind such men."
+
+If Miles Diston had read the papers the next morning he would have died
+of flattery; the reporters did themselves proud, and they made a whole
+column of the "iron will and nerves of steel" shown in that "amputation
+without ether."
+
+Marie Venot was full of sympathy for Miles; she wanted to see him, but
+Mrs. Bailey referred her to me, and she finally went home, still
+inquiring every day about him. I don't think she had much other feeling
+for him than pity. She was down again a week later, and I talked freely
+of going to pick out a wooden foot for Miles, who was improving right
+along.
+
+Meanwhile, the papers far and near copied the articles about the "Hero
+of the Throttle," and the item about the road's interest in heroes
+attracted the attention of our general passenger agent--he liked the
+free advertising and wanted more of it--so he called me in one day, and
+asked if I knew of a choice run they could give Miles as a reward of
+merit.
+
+I told him, if he wanted to make a show of gratitude from the road, and
+get a big free advertisement in the papers, to have Miles appointed
+superintendent of the Spring Creek branch, where a practical man was
+needed, and then give it out "cold" that Miles had been rewarded by
+being made superintendent of the road. This was afterwards done, with a
+great hurrah (in the papers).
+
+The second Sunday after Miles was hurt, Marie was down, and I thought
+I'd have a little fun with her, and see how she regarded Miles.
+
+"There's quite a romance connected with Diston's affair," said I at the
+dinner table, rather carelessly. "There is a young lady visiting here in
+town--I hear she is very wealthy--who saw Miles when we took him off
+his engine. She sends flowers every day, calls him her hero, and is just
+crazy for him to get well so she can see him."
+
+"Who is she, did you say?" asked my wife.
+
+"I forgot her name," said I, "but I am here to tell you that she will
+get Miles if there is any chance in the world. Her father is an army
+officer, but she says that Miles Diston is a greater hero than the army
+ever produced."
+
+"She's a hussy," said Marie.
+
+I don't know whether you would call that a bull or a bear movement on
+the Diston stock, but it went up--I could see that.
+
+A week later Miles was able to come down to our house for dinner, and my
+wife asked Marie to come also. I met her at the depot, and after she was
+safe in the buggy, I told her that Miles was up at the house. She nearly
+jumped out; but I quieted her, and told her she mustn't notice or say a
+word about Miles's game leg, as he was extremely sensitive about it.
+
+My wife was in the kitchen, and I went to the barn to put out the horse.
+Marie went to the sitting-room to avoid the parlor and Miles, but he was
+there, I guess, and Marie found her hero, for when they came out to
+dinner he had his arm around her. They were married a month later, and
+went to Washington, stopping to see us on the way back.
+
+As I came home that night with my patent dinner pail, and with two rows
+of wrinkles and a load of responsibility on my brow, Marie shook her
+fist in my face and called me "an old story-teller."
+
+"Story-teller," said I; "what story?"
+
+"Oh, what story? That _leg_ story, of course, you old cheat."
+
+"What leg story?"
+
+"Old innocence; that amputation below the knee--you know."
+
+"Wa'n't it below the knee?"
+
+"Yes, but it was only the little toe."
+
+"John," said Miles, "she cried when she looked for that wooden foot and
+only found a slightly flat wheel."
+
+"That's just like 'em," said I. "Here Marie only expected a part of a
+hero, and we give her a whole man, and she kicks--that's gratitude for
+you."
+
+"I got my hero all right, though," said Marie; "you told me a big fib
+just the same, but I could kiss you for it."
+
+"Don't you do that," said I; "but if the Lord should send you many
+blessings, and any of 'em are boys, you might name one after me."
+
+She said she'd do it--and she did.
+
+
+
+
+MY LADY OF THE EYES
+
+
+One morning, some years ago, I struck the general master mechanic of a
+Rocky Mountain road for a job as an engineer--I needed a job pretty
+badly.
+
+As quick as the M. M. found that I could handle air on two hundred foot
+grades, he was as tickled as I was; engineers were not plenty in the
+country then, so many deserted to go to the mines.
+
+"The 'III' will be out in a couple of days, and you can have her
+regular, unless Hopkins comes back," said he.
+
+I hustled around for a room and made my peace with the boarding-house
+people before I reported to break in the big consolidation that was to
+fall to my care.
+
+She was big and black and ugly and new, and her fresh fire made the
+asphalt paint on her fire-box and front-end stink in that peculiar and
+familiar way given to recently rebuilt engines; but it smelt better to
+me than all the perfumes of Arabia.
+
+A good-natured engineer came out on the ash-pit track to welcome me to
+the West and the road, and incidentally to remark that it was a great
+relief to the gang that I had come as I did.
+
+"Why," I asked, "are you so short-handed that you are doubling and
+trebling?" "No, but they are afraid that some of 'em will have to take
+out the 'III'--she is a holy terror."
+
+Hadn't she been burned the first trip? Didn't she kill Jim O'Neil with
+the reverse lever? Hadn't she lain down on the bed of the Arkansas river
+and wallowed on "Scar Face" Hopkins, and he not up yet? Hadn't she run
+away time and again without cause or provocation?
+
+But a fellow that has needed a job for six months will tackle almost
+anything, and I tackled the "holy terror."
+
+In fixing up the cab, I noticed an extra bracket beside the steam gage
+for a clock, and mentally noted that it would come in handy just as
+soon as I had a twenty dollar bill to spare for one of those jeweled,
+nickle-plated, side-winding clocks, that are the pride and comfort of
+those particular engineers who want nice things, with their names
+engraved on the case.
+
+Before I had got everything ready to take the "three aces" over the
+turn-table for her breaking-in trip, the foreman of the back-shop came
+out with a package done up in a pair of old overalls, and said that here
+was Hopkins's clock, which I might as well use until he got around
+again--'fraid someone would steal it if left in his office.
+
+Hopkins's clock was put on its old bracket.
+
+Hopkins must have been one of those particular engineers; his clock was
+a fine one; "S. H. Hopkins" was engraved on the case in German text. The
+lower half of the dial was black with white figures, the upper half
+white with black figures. But what struck me was part of a woman's face
+burned into the enamel. Just half of this face showed, that on the
+white part of the dial; the black half hid the rest.
+
+It was the face, or part of the face, of a handsome young woman with
+hair parted in the middle and waved back over the ears, a broad
+forehead, and such glorious eyes--eyes that looked straight into yours
+from every view point--honest eyes--reproving eyes--laughing
+eyes--loving eyes. I mentally named the picture "Her Eyes."
+
+Now, I was not and am not sentimental or superstitious. I'd been married
+and helped wean a baby or two even then, but those eyes bothered me.
+They hunted mine and looked at me and asked me questions and made me
+forget things, and made me think and dream and speculate; all of which
+are sheer suicide for a locomotive engineer.
+
+I got a switchman and started out to limber up the "III." I asked him to
+let me out on the main line, took a five-mile spin, and sidetracked for
+a freight train. While the man was unlocking the switch, I looked into
+the eyes and wondered what their owner was, or could be, or had been, to
+"Scar Faced" Hopkins, and--ran off the switch. Then I wondered if
+Hopkins was looking into those eyes when he and the "III" went into the
+Arkansas river that dark night.
+
+A few days after this the "III," Dennis Rafferty and I went into the
+regular freight service of the road.
+
+On the first trip, when half way up Greenhall grade, I glanced at the
+clock and was startled. The "Eyes" were looking at me; there was a
+scared, pained look, a you-must-do-something look in the eyes, or it
+seemed to me there was.
+
+"Damn that clock," said I to myself, "I'm getting superstitious or have
+softening of the brain," and I reached over to open the front door, so
+that the breeze could cool me off. In doing so my hand touched the water
+pipe to the injector--it was hot. The closed overflow injector was new
+to merit had "broke," and was blowing steam back to the tank that I
+thought was putting water into the boiler. I put it to work properly and
+"felt of the water:" there was just a flutter in the lower gage cock; in
+five minutes the crown sheet and my reputation would have been burned
+beyond recognition. Those eyes were good for something after all.
+
+I looked at them and they were calm. "It's all right now, but be
+careful," they said.
+
+Dennis Rafferty had troubles of his own. The liner came off the new fire
+door letting the door get red hot, but it wasn't half as hot as Dennis.
+He hammered it with the coal pick and burned his hands and swore, and
+Dennis was an artist in profanity. He stepped up into the cab wiping his
+face on his sleeve, and ripping the English and profane languages into
+tatters; but he stopped short in the middle of an oath and looked
+ashamed, glanced at me, crossed himself and went back to his work
+quietly. When he came back into the cab, I asked him what choked him so
+sudden.
+
+"Her," said he, nodding his head toward the clock. "Howly Mither, man,
+she looked hurted and sorry-like, same's me owld mither uster, whin I
+was noctious with the blasthfemry." So the "Eyes" were on Dennis, too.
+That took some of the conceit out of me, I was getting foolish about the
+eyes.
+
+We had a time order against a passenger train, it would be sharp work to
+make the next station, the train was heavy, the road and the engine new
+to me, and I hesitated. The conductor was dubious but said the "204" or
+Frosty Keeler could do it any day of the week. I looked at my watch and
+then at the clock. The eyes looked "Yes, go, you can do it easily; the
+'III' will do all you ask; trust her." I went, and as we pulled our
+caboose in to clear and before the express whistled for the junction,
+the eyes looked "Didn't I tell you; wasn't that splendid." Those eyes
+had been over the road more than I had, and knew the "III" better. I
+would trust the eyes.
+
+On the return trip, a night run, I had a big train and a bad rail, but
+the "III" did splendid work and made her time while "Her Eyes" approved
+every move I made, smiled at me and admired my handling of the engine.
+The conductor unbent enough to send over word that it was the best run
+he'd ever had from a new man, but the "Eyes" looked, "That's nothing,
+you can do it every time, I know you can."
+
+Half over the division, we took a siding for the "Cannon Ball." We
+cleared her ten minutes and I had time to oil around while Dennis
+cleaned his fire. I climbed up into the cab, wiping the long oiler and
+glanced at the clock. The "Eyes" were looking wild alarm--"do something
+quick." The "Eyes" had the look, or seemed to me to have the look, you
+might expect in those of a bound woman who sees a child at the stake
+just before the fire is lighted--immeasurable pain, pity, appeal. I
+tried the water, unconsciously; it was all right. I stepped into the
+gangway and glanced back. Our tail-lights were "in" and the white light
+of the switch flashed safely there, and we had backed in any way. I
+glanced ahead. The switch light was white, the target showed main line
+plainly, for my headlight shone on it full and clear. What could be the
+matter with "Her Eyes."
+
+As I turned to enter the cab the roar of the coming express came down
+the wind on the frosty air and my eyes fell on the rail ahead. My God,
+they were full to the siding! It was a stub-rail switch, and the stand
+had moved the target and the light, but not the rails--the bridle-rod
+was broken.
+
+I yelled like a mad man, but the brakeman had gone to the caboose for
+his lunch pail. I ran to the switch. It was useless. I fought it an
+instant and then turned to the rails. Putting my foot against the main
+line rail, I grasped the switch rail and throwing all my strength into
+the effort, jerked it-over to the main line, but would it stay until the
+train passed over? I felt sure it would not. I looked about for
+something to hold it. Part of a broken pin was the only thing in sight.
+The headlight of the express shone in my face, and something seemed to
+say, "This is your trial, do something quick." I threw myself prone on
+the ground, my head near the rails, and held the broken pin between the
+end of the siding rail and the main line. The switch rails could not be
+forced over without shearing off the pin. The corner of the pilot of
+the flying demon caught my right sleeve and tore it off, and the cloth
+threw the cylinder cocks open with a hiss, the wind and dust blinded and
+shook me, and the rails hammered and bruised and pinched my hand, but I
+held on. Twenty seconds later I sat watching the red lights of the tenth
+sleeper whip themselves out of sight. Then I went back to the cab, and
+"Her Eyes" glorified me. "God bless your dear eyes," said I, "where
+would we have all been now but for you?"
+
+But the "Eyes" deprecated my remarks, and looked me upon a pedestal, but
+the company doctor dressed my hand the next day, and the superintendent
+gave the whole crew ten days for backing into that siding.
+
+Another round trip, and I fear I watched "Her Eyes" more than the
+signals and the track ahead. "Her Eyes" decided for me, chose for me,
+approved and disapproved. I was running by "Her Eyes."
+
+In a telegraph office they asked me if I could do something in a certain
+time and I was dazed. I didn't give my usual quick decision, my
+judgment was wobbly and uncertain. I must look at my clock--and "Her
+Eyes." I went out to the "III" to consult them, lost my chance and was
+"put in the hole" all over the division by the disgusted dispatcher.
+
+Then I got to thinking and moralizing and sitting in judgment on my
+thraldom. Was I running the "III" or was "Her Eyes?" Did the company pay
+me for my knowledge, judgment, experience and skill in handling a
+locomotive, or for obeying orders from "Her Eyes." Any fool could obey
+orders.
+
+Then I declared for liberty, but I kept away from "Her Eyes." I declared
+for liberty in the roundhouse.
+
+I am a man of decision, and no sooner had I taken this oath than I got a
+screw driver, climbed into the cab of the "III," without looking at "Her
+Eyes," held my hand over the face of the clock and took it down. I
+wrapped it up and took it back to the foreman.
+
+"Why, yes," said he, "'Scar Face' was here for it this morning. He's
+round somewhere yet. Ain't goin' to railroad no more, goin' into the
+real estate business. He's got money, so's his wife--daffool he didn't
+quit long ago."
+
+"If 'Scar Face' Hopkins puts that clock over his desk and trusts 'Her
+Eyes,' he'll get rich," thought I. Perhaps, though, those eyes don't
+reach the soul of "Scar Face" Hopkins; perhaps he don't see them change
+as I did; men are conceited that way.
+
+During the next month I got acquainted with "Scar Face" Hopkins, who was
+a first-class fellow, with a hand-clasp like a polar bear, a heart like
+a steam pulsometer, and a face that looked as if it might have been used
+for the butting post at the end of the world.
+
+"Scar Face" Hopkins got all his scars in the battle of life. Men who
+command locomotives on the firing line often get hurt, but Hopkins had
+votes of thanks from officials and testimonials from men, and
+life-saver's medals from two governments to show that his scars were the
+brands of honorable degrees conferred by the Almighty on the field for
+brave and heroic deeds well done.
+
+"Scar Face" Hopkins was a fellow you'd like to get up close to of a
+night and talk with, and smoke with, and think with, until unlawful
+hours.
+
+One day I went into his office and the clock was there, and his old
+torch and a nickle-plated oiler, mementoes of the field. I looked at the
+clock, and "Her Eyes" smiled at me, or I thought they did, and said,
+just as plain as words, "Glad to see you, dear friend; sit down." But I
+turned my back to that clock; I can resist temptation when I know where
+it is coming from.
+
+One day, a few weeks later, I stopped before a store window in a crowd
+to examine some pictures, satisfied my curiosity, and in stepping back
+to go away, put the heel of my number ten on a lady's foot with that
+peculiar "craunch" that you know hurts. I turned to make an apology, and
+faced the original of the picture on the clock. A beautiful pair of
+eyes, the rest of the face was hidden by a peculiar arrangement of veil
+that crossed the bridge of the nose and went around the ears and neck.
+
+Those eyes, full of pain at first, changed instantly to frank
+forgiveness, and, bowing low, I repeated my plea for pardon for my
+clumsy carelessness, but was absolved so absolutely and completely, and
+dismissed so naturally, that I felt relieved.
+
+I sauntered up to Hopkins' office. "Hopkins," said I, "I just met your
+wife."
+
+"You did?"
+
+"Yes, and I stepped on her foot and hurt her badly, I know." Then I told
+him about it.
+
+"What did she say?" asked Hopkins, and I noticed a queer look. I thought
+it might be jealousy.
+
+"Why, well, why I don't know as I remember, but it was very kindly and
+ladylike."
+
+There was a queer expression on Hopkins' face.
+
+"Of course--"
+
+"Sure she spoke?" asked Hopkins. "How did you know it was my wife
+anyway?"
+
+"Because it was the same face that is pictured on your clock, and some
+one in the crowd said it was Mrs. Hopkins. You know Hop., I ran by that
+clock for a few weeks, and I noticed the eyes."
+
+"Anything queer about 'em?" This was a challenge.
+
+"Yes, I think there is. In the first place, I know you will understand
+me when I say they are handsome eyes, and I'm free to confess that they
+had a queer influence on me, I imagined they changed and expressed
+things and--"
+
+"Talked, eh."
+
+"Well, yes." Then I told Hopkins the influence the "Eyes" had on me.
+
+He listened intently, watching me; when I had finished, he came over,
+reached out his hand and said:
+
+"Shake, friend, you're a damned good fellow."
+
+I thought Hopkins had been drinking--or looking at "Her Eyes." He pulled
+up a chair and lit a cigar.
+
+"John," said he, "it isn't every man that can understand what my wife
+says. Only kindred spirits can read the language of the eyes. _She
+hasn't spoken an audible word in ten years_, but she talks with her
+eyes, even her picture talks. We, rather she, is a mystery here; people
+believe all kinds of things about her and us; but we don't care. I want
+you to come up to the house some evening and know her better. We'll be
+three chums, I know it, but don't ask questions; you will know things
+later on."
+
+Before I ever went to Hopkins' house, he had told her all about me, and
+when he introduced us, he said:
+
+"Madeline, this is the friend who says your picture talked to him."
+
+I bowed low to the lady and tried to put myself and her at ease.
+
+"Mrs. Hopkins, I'm afraid your husband is poking fun at me, and thinks
+my liver is out of order, but, really, I did imagine I saw changing
+expression in your eyes in that picture--in fact, I named you 'My Lady
+of the Eyes.'"
+
+She laughed--with her eyes--held out her hands and made me welcome.
+
+"That name is something like mine," said Hopkins, "I call her Talking
+Eyes.'"
+
+Then Hopkins brought in his little three-year-old daughter, who
+immediately climbed on my knee, captured my watch, and asked:
+
+"What oo name?"
+
+"John," said I.
+
+"Don, Don," she repeated; "my name Maddie."
+
+"That's Daddy's chum," put in Hopkins.
+
+"Tum," repeated Maddie.
+
+"Uncle Chummy," said Hopkins.
+
+"Untle Tummie."
+
+And I was "Untle Tummie" to little Madeline and "Chummy" to Hopkins and
+his wife from then on.
+
+Mrs. Hopkins wore her veil at home as well as abroad, but it was so
+neatly arranged and worn so naturally that I soon became entirely used
+to it, in fact, didn't notice it. Otherwise, she was a well-dressed,
+handsomely set up woman, a splendid musician and a capital companion.
+She sat at her work listening, while Hopkins and I "railroaded" and
+argued about politics, and religion and everything else under the sun.
+Mrs. Hopkins took sides freely; a glance at her eyes told where she
+stood on any question.
+
+Between "Scar Face" Hopkins and his handsome wife there appeared to be
+perfect sympathy and confidence. Sitting in silence, they glanced from
+one to the other now and again, smiled, nodded--and understood.
+
+I was barred from the house for a month during the winter because little
+Madeline had the scarlet fever, then epidemic, but it was reported a
+light case and I contented myself with sending her toys and candy.
+
+One day I dropped into Hopkins' office to make inquiry, when a clerk
+told me Hopkins had not been to the office for several days. Mrs.
+Hopkins was sick. I made another round trip and inquired again, and got
+the same answer; then I went up to the house.
+
+The officious quarantine guard was still walking up and down in front of
+the Hopkins residence. To a single inquiry, this voluble functionary
+volunteered the information that the baby was all right now, but the
+lady herself was very sick with scarlet fever. Hopkins was most crazy,
+no trained nurses could be had for love nor money, the doctor was coming
+three times a day, and did I know that Mrs. Hopkins was some kind of a
+foreign Dago, and the whole outfit "queer?"
+
+Hopkins was in trouble; I pushed open the gate and started up the walk.
+
+"Hey, young feller, where yer goin'," demanded the guard.
+
+"Into the house, of course."
+
+"D'ye know if you go in ye got to stay for the next two weeks?"
+
+"Perfectly."
+
+"Then go on, you darned fool."
+
+And I went on.
+
+Hopkins met me, hollow-eyed and haggard.
+
+"Chum," said he, "you've come to prison, but I'm glad. Help is out of
+reach. If you can take care of Maddie, the girl will do the cooking and
+I will--I will do my duty."
+
+And night and day he did do his duty, being alone with his wife except
+for the few moments of the doctor's calls.
+
+One evening, after my little charge had been put to sleep downstairs by
+complying with her invariable order to "tell me a 'tory 'bout when oo
+was a 'ittle teenty weenty boy," the doctor came down with a grave face.
+
+"Our patient has reached the worst stage--delirium. The turn will come
+to-night. Poor Hopkins is about worn out, and I'm afraid may need you.
+Please don't go to bed; be 'on call.'"
+
+One hour, two hours, I sat there without hearing a sound from upstairs.
+I was drowsy and remembering that I had missed my evening smoke I
+lighted my pipe, silently opened the front door and stepped out upon the
+porch to get a whiff of fresh air. It was a still dark night, and I
+tiptoed down to the end that overlooked the city and stood looking at
+the lights and listening to the music of the switch engines in the yards
+below the hill. The porch was in darkness except the broad beam of
+light from the hall gas jet through the open door.
+
+The lights below made me think of home and my wife and little ones
+sleeping safely, I hoped, close to the coastwise lights of the Old
+Colony.
+
+I thought I heard a stealthy footfall behind me, and turned around to
+face an apparition that made the cold chill creep up my back. If ever
+there was a ghost, this must be one, an object in white not six feet
+from me.
+
+I'm not at all afraid of ghosts when I reach my second wind, and I
+grabbed at this one. It moved backward silently and as I made a quick
+step toward it that specter let out the most blood-curdling yell I ever
+heard--the shriek of a maniac.
+
+I stepped quicker now, but it moved away until it stood in the flood of
+light from the doorway, and then I saw a sight that took all the
+strength out of me. The most awful and frightful face I ever beheld,
+and,--it was the face of Madeline Hopkins.
+
+The neck and jaw and mouth were drawn and seamed and scarred in a
+frightful and hideous manner, the teeth protruded and the mouth was
+drawn to one side in a frightful leer; above that was all the beauty of
+"My Lady of the Eyes."
+
+For a moment I was dumb and powerless, and in that moment Hopkins
+appeared with a bound, and between us we captured my poor friend's wife
+and struggled and fought with her up the long stairs and back to her
+bed.
+
+Sitting one on either side, we had all we could do to hold her hands.
+She would lift us both to our feet, she was struggling desperately, and
+the eyes were the eyes of a tigress.
+
+When this strain was at its worst and every nerve on edge, another
+scream from behind us cut our ears like a needle, the eyes of the
+tigress as well as ours sought the door, and there in her golden curls
+and white "nightie" stood little Madeline. The eyes of the tigress
+softened to tenderest love, and with a bound, the baby was on her
+mother's breast, her arms around her neck, and she was saying, "Poor
+Mama, what they doin' to poor Mama?"
+
+"My darling, my darling," said the mother in the sweetest of tones.
+
+I unconsciously released my hold upon the arm I held, and she drew the
+sheet up and covered her face as I was wont to see it, and held it
+there. With the other, she gently stroked the baby curls.
+
+I watched this transformation as if under a spell.
+
+Suddenly she turned her head toward Hopkins, her eyes full of tenderness
+and pity and love, reached out her hand and said:
+
+"Oh, Steadman, my voice has come back, God has taken off the curse."
+
+But poor Hopkins was on his knees beside the bed, his face buried in his
+arms, his strong shoulders heaving and pitiful sobs breaking from his
+very heart.
+
+A couple of months afterward I resigned to go back to God's country, the
+home of the east wind, and where I could know my own children and speak
+to my own wife without an introduction, and the Hopkins invited me to a
+farewell dinner.
+
+"My Lady of the Eyes" presided, looking handsomer and stronger than
+usual, but she didn't eat with us. But with eyes and voice she
+entertained us so royally and pleasantly that Hopkins and I did eating
+enough for all.
+
+After supper, Hop. and I lighted our cigars and "railroaded" for awhile,
+then "Her Eyes" went to the piano and sang a dozen songs as only a
+trained singer can. Her voice was wonderfully sweet and low. They were
+old songs, but they seemed the better for that, and while she sang
+Hopkins's cigar went out and he just gazed at her with pride and joy in
+every lineament of his scarred and furrowed face.
+
+Little Maddie was allowed to sit up in honor of "Untle Tummy," but after
+awhile the little head bobbed quietly and the little chin fell between
+the verses of her mother's song, and "My Lady of the Eyes" took her by
+the hand and brought her over to us.
+
+"Tell papa good-night and Uncle Chum my good-bye, dear, and we'll go to
+bed."
+
+Hopkins kissed the baby, and I got my hug, and another to take to my
+"ittle dirl," and Mrs. Hopkins held out both her hands to me.
+
+"Good-bye, dear Chum," said she, "my love to you and yours, now and
+always."
+
+Hopkins put his arm around his wife, kissed her forehead and said:
+
+"Sweetheart, I'm going to tell Chum a story."
+
+"And don't forget the hero," said she, and turning to me, "Don't believe
+all he says, and don't blame those that he blames, and remember that
+what is, is best, and seeming calamities are often blessings in
+disguise."
+
+Hopkins and I looked into each other's faces and smoked in silence for
+ten minutes, then he turned to his secretary and, opening a drawer, took
+out a couple of cases and opened them. They contained medals. Then he
+opened a package of letters and selected one or two. We lighted fresh
+cigars and Hopkins began his story.
+
+"My father was a pretty well-to-do business man and I his only child. My
+mother died when I was young. I managed to get through a grammar school
+and went to college. I wanted to go on the road from the time I could
+remember and had no ambition higher than to run a locomotive. That was
+my ideal of life.
+
+"My father opposed this very strenuously, and offered to let me go to
+work if I'd select something decent--that's the way he put it. He used
+to say, 'Try a brick-yard, you might own one some day, you'll never own
+a railroad.' I had my choice, college or something decent,' and I took
+the college, although I didn't like it.
+
+"The summer before I came of age my father died suddenly and my college
+life ended."
+
+Here Hopkins fumbled around in his papers and selected one.
+
+"Just to show you how odd my father was, here is the text of his will,
+leaving out the legal slush that lawyers always pack their papers in:
+
+"'To my son, Steadman Hudson Hopkins, I leave one thousand dollars to be
+paid immediately on my demise. All the residue of my estate consisting
+of etc., etc.'--six figures, Chum, a snug little wad--'shall be placed
+in the hands of three trustees'--naming the presidents of three
+banks--'to be invested by them in state, municipal or government bonds,
+principal and interest accruing to be paid by said trustees to my son
+hereinbefore mentioned when he has pursued one calling, with average
+success, for ten consecutive years, and not until then. All in the best
+judgment of the trustees aforenamed.
+
+"'To my son I also bequeath this fatherly advice, knowing the waste of
+money by heirs who have done nothing to produce it, and knowing that had
+I been given a fortune at the beginning of my career, it would have been
+lost for lack of business experience, and knowing too, the waste of time
+usually made by young men who drift from one employment or occupation to
+another'--having wasted fifteen years of my own life in this way--I
+make these provisions in this my last will and testament, believing that
+in the end, if not now, my son will see the wisdom of this provision,
+etc., etc.'
+
+"The governor had a long, clear head and he knew me and young men in
+general, but bless you, I thought he was a little mean at the time.
+
+"I turned to the trustees and asked what they would consider as
+fulfilling the requirements of the will.
+
+"'Any honorable employment,' answered the oldest man of the trio.
+
+"The next day, I went to see Andy Bridges, general superintendent of the
+old home road, who had been a friend of father's, and told him I wanted
+to go railroading. He offered to put me in his office, but I insisted on
+the footboard, and to make a long story short, was firing inside of
+three weeks and running inside of three years.
+
+"I was the proudest young prig that ever pulled a throttle. I always
+loved the work and--well, you know how the first five years of it
+absorbs you if you are cut out for it and like it and intend to stay at
+it.
+
+"I had been running about two years, and had paid about as much
+attention to young women as I had to the subject of astronomy, until
+Madelene Bridges came out of a Southern convent to make her home with
+her uncle, our 'old man.'
+
+"The first time I saw her I went clean, stark, raving, blind, drunken
+daft over her. I tried to argue and reason myself out of it, but it was
+no go. I didn't even know who she was then.
+
+"But I was in love and, being so, wasn't hardly safe on the road.
+
+"Then I spruced up and started in to see if I couldn't interest her in
+me half as much as I was interested in her.
+
+"I didn't have much trouble to get a start, for Andy Bridges had come up
+from the ranks and hadn't forgotten it--most of 'em do--and welcomed any
+decent young man in his house, even if he was a car hand. Madelene had a
+couple of marriageable cousins then and that may account for old Andy.
+
+"I got on pretty well at first, for I was first in the field. I got in a
+theatre or two before the other young fellows caught on. About this time
+there was a dance, and I lost my grip. I took Madelene but couldn't
+dance, and all the others could, especially Dandy Tamplin, one of the
+train despatchers.
+
+"I took private dancing lessons, however, and squared myself that way.
+
+"Singing was a favorite mode of passing the evenings with the young
+folks at the Bridges's home, and I cursed myself for being tuneless.
+
+"It finally settled down to a race between Tamplin and myself, and each
+of us was doing his level best. I was so dead in earnest and so truly in
+love that I was no fit company for man or beast, and I'm afraid I was
+twice as awkward and dull in Madelene's presence as in any other place.
+
+"Dandy Tamplin was a handsome young fellow, and a formidable rival, for
+he was always well-dressed, a good talker and more or less of a lady's
+man. Besides that, he was on the ground all the time and I had to be
+away two-thirds of the time on my runs.
+
+"I came in one trip determined to know my fate that very evening--had my
+little piece all committed to memory.
+
+"As I registered I heard one of the other despatchers, behind a
+partition, telling some one that he was going to work Dandy's trick
+until eleven o'clock, and then the two entered into a discussion of
+Dandy's quest of the 'old man's' niece, one of them remarking that all
+the opposition he had was Hopkins and that wasn't worth considering. I
+resolved to get to Bridges's ahead of Tamplin.
+
+"But man--railroad man, anyway--proposes and the superintendent
+disposes. I met Bridges at the door.
+
+"'Hopkins,' said he, 'I want you to do me a personal favor.'
+
+"'Yes, sir,'
+
+"'I want you to double out in half an hour on some perishable freight
+that's coming in from the West; there isn't one available engine in.
+Will you do it?'
+
+"'Yes,' I answered, slowly, showing my disappointment. 'But, Mr.
+Bridges, I was particularly anxious to go up to your house to-night; I
+intend to ask--'
+
+"'I know, I know,' said he kindly, taking my hand; 'It'll be all right I
+hope; there ain't another young chap I'd like to see go up _and stay_
+better than you, but my son, _she will keep_, and this freight wont. You
+go out, and I'll promise that no one shall get a chance to ask ahead of
+you.' This was a friend at court and a strong one.
+
+"'It means a lot to me,' said I
+
+"'I know it my boy, and I'm proud to have you say so right out in
+meeting, but--well, you get those fruit cars in by moonlight, and I'll
+have you back light, and you can have the front parlor for a week.'
+
+"On my return trip, I found a big Howe truss bridge on fire and didn't
+get in for two days. The road was blocked, everything out of gear and I
+had to double back again, whether or no.
+
+"I was 'chewing the rag' with a roundhouse foreman about it when Old
+Andy came along.
+
+"'Go on, Hopkins,' said he, 'and you can lay off when you get back. I'm
+going South with my car _and will take the girls with me_!'
+
+"That was hint enough, and I said yes.
+
+"It was in the evening, and while the fireman and I got our supper, the
+hostler turned my engine, coaled her up, took water and stood her on the
+north branch track, next the head end of her train, that had not yet
+been entirely made up.
+
+"This north branch came into the south and west divisions off a very
+heavy grade and on a curve, the view being cut off at this point by
+buildings close to the track. The engine herself stood close to the
+office building, and after oiling around, I backed on to the train,
+bringing my cab right opposite a window in the despatcher's office. Just
+before this open window and facing me sat Dandy Tamplin at his key. I
+hated Dandy Tamplin.
+
+"It was dark outside and in the cab, the conductor had given me my
+orders and said we'd go just as quick as the pony found a couple of
+cars more and put them on the hind end. Dennis had put in a big fire for
+the hill, and then gone skylarking around the station, and I was in the
+dark glaring at Dandy Tamplin in the light.
+
+"The blow-off cock on this engine was on the right side and opened from
+the cab. Ordinarily, you pulled the handle up, but the last time the
+boiler was washed out they had turned the plug cock half over and the
+handle stuck up through the deck among the oil cans ahead of the reverse
+lever, and opened by pushing it down. I remember thinking it was
+dangerous, as a man might accidentally open it. On the cock was a piece
+of pipe to carry the hot water away from the paint work, and this stuck
+straight out under the footboard, the cock leaked a little and the end
+of the pipe dripped hot water and steam.
+
+"While I glared at Tamplin, old man Bridges and the girls came into the
+room. Bridges went up to the narrow, shelf-like counter, looked at the
+register and asked Tamplin a question.
+
+"Tamplin went up to the group, his back to me, and spoke to one after
+the other. Madelene was the last in the row and, while the others were
+talking, laid her gloves, veil and some flowers on the counter. Tamplin
+spoke to her and I could see the color change in her face. Oh! if I only
+had hold of Dandy Tamplin.
+
+"Bridges hurried out into the hall behind the passage way, the girls
+following. Tamplin turned around and espied Madelene's belongings. He
+went up to them, smelled the flowers, then hurriedly took a note out of
+his pocket and slipped it into one of the gloves. The other glove he put
+in his breast pocket. It was well for Dandy Tamplin I didn't have a gun.
+
+"Remember, all this happened quickly. Before Tamplin was fairly in his
+seat and at work, Madelene came tripping back alone and made for her
+bundle, but Tamplin left his key open and went over to her. I couldn't
+hear what was said for by this time the safety valves of my engine were
+blowing and drowned all sound. She evidently asked him what time it was
+and leaned partly over the counter to hear his reply. He put his hand
+under her chin and turned her face toward the clock, this with such an
+air of assurance that my heart sank--but murder was in my soul. Then
+quickly putting his hand behind her neck, he pulled her toward him and
+kissed her. I was a demon in an instant.
+
+"She sprang away from him and ran into the hall and he came back to his
+chair with a smile of triumph on his thin lips.
+
+"Somehow or other, just at this moment, I noticed the steam at the end
+of that blow-off pipe, and all the devils in hell whispered at once 'One
+move of your hand and your revenge is complete.' I wasn't Steadman
+Hopkins then, I was a madman bent on murder, and I reached down for that
+handle, holding on by the throttle with my left hand. The cock had some
+mud in it and I opened it wide before it blew out and then with a roar
+and a shriek it burst--and the crime was done.
+
+"All the devils flew away at once and left me alone, naked with my
+conscience. Murderer, murderer!' resounded in my ears; hisses, roars and
+screams seemed to come to fill my brain and dance around my condemned
+soul; voices seemed shrieking and crash upon crash seemed to smite my
+ears. I thought I was dying, and I remember distinctly how glad I was. I
+didn't let go of that valve, I couldn't--I'd go to hell with it in my
+hand and let them do their worst.
+
+"Then remorse took possession of me. Wasn't it enough to maim and
+disfigure poor Tamplin, why cook him to death--I'd shut off that cock. I
+fought with it, but it wouldn't close, and I called Dennis to help me.
+
+"Some one stood behind me and put a cool hand on my brow, and a woman's
+voice said, 'Poor brave fellow, he's still thinking of his duty; all the
+heroes don't live in books.'
+
+"I opened my eyes, and looked around. I was in St. Mary's Hospital, and
+a nun was talking to herself.
+
+"Well, John, I'd been there for more than six weeks, and it took six
+more before I understood just what had happened and could hobble
+around, for I had legs and ribs and an arm broken.
+
+"It must have been at the moment I opened that blow-off cock that part
+of a runaway train came down the north grade, backward, like a whirlwind
+and buried my engine and myself, piling up an awful wreck that took
+fire. I was rescued at the last moment by the crowd of railroad men that
+collected and bodily tore the wreck apart to get at me. Every one
+thought I tried to close that blow-off cock and hold the throttle shut.
+I was a hero in the papers and to the men, and I couldn't get a chance
+to tell the truth if I dared, and I was afraid to ask about Dandy
+Tamplin.
+
+"No word came from Madelene. One day Bridges came to see me, and brought
+me this watch I wear now, a present from the company. I determined to
+tell Bridges--but he wouldn't believe me. Looked, too, as if he thought
+I was off in my head yet and I must have looked crazy, for most of these
+brands I got that night. To be sure I've added to the collection here
+and there, but I never was pretty after that roundup.
+
+"At last I mustered up courage and asked: 'How is Tamplin?' 'All right,
+working right along, but takes it hard,' said Bridges.
+
+"'Was he laid up long? Is he as badly disfigured as I am?'
+
+"'Why, man, he wasn't touched. He had gone to the other end of the room
+for a drink of water. I'm afraid, my boy, its Madelene he's worried
+about.'
+
+"'She has refused him then?'
+
+"'Well, I don't know that. She is still in bed, badly hurt. She has not
+seen a soul but her nurse, the doctor and my wife, and denies herself to
+all callers, even her best friends, even to me.'
+
+"Chum, I won't tell you what I said or suffered. Madelene had come into
+the room again for her belongings, and had faced the dagger of steam
+sent by the hand of a man who would give his immortal soul to make her
+well again.
+
+"I couldn't get around much, but I wrote her a brief note asking if I
+might call and sent it by a messenger.
+
+"She replied that she could not see me then. I waited. I hadn't the
+heart to write a confession I wanted to make in person, so after a week
+or two I went to the house.
+
+"Madelene sent down word that she couldn't see me then and could not
+tell when she would see me.
+
+"I thought the nurse, who acted as messenger, did not interpret either
+my message or hers as they were intended--I would write a note.
+
+"I stepped into the library on one side of the hall, made myself at home
+and wrote Madelene a note, a love letter, begging for just one
+interview. Taking blame for all that had happened and confessing my love
+and devotion to her.
+
+"It was a long letter and just as I finished it, I heard some one in the
+hall. I thought it was a servant and started for the doorway to ask her
+to carry my message. It was the nurse.
+
+"I was partly concealed by the portieres. She was facing the door, her
+finger on her lips, and before her stood Dandy Tamplin.
+
+"'It's all right' she whispered, 'be still,' and both of them tiptoed
+upstairs.
+
+"This, then was why I could not see Madelene. Dandy Tamplin was her
+accepted lover.
+
+"That night I left the old home for good to seek my fortunes and
+forgetfulness far away. I didn't care where, so long as it was a great
+way off.
+
+"At New York I found some engineers going out to run on the Meig's road
+in Peru. I signed a contract and in two days was on the Atlantic, bound
+for the Isthmus of Panama.
+
+"I ran an engine in Peru until the war broke out with Chili. I was sent
+to the front with a train of soldiers one day and got on the battle
+field. Our side was getting badly worsted, and I got excited and jumping
+off the engine, armed myself and lit into the fight. A little crowd
+gathered around me and I found myself the leader, no officer in sight.
+There was a charge and we didn't run--surprised the Chilians. I got
+some of these blue brands on my left cheek there and made a new
+reputation. Before I knew it, I had on a uniform and dangled a sword.
+They nicknamed me the 'Fighting Yankee.'
+
+"Peru had lots of trouble and I saw a good deal of it. When it was all
+over, I found myself in command of a gun boat, just a tug, but she was
+alive and had accounted for herself several times.
+
+"The president sent me on a special mission to Chili just after the
+close of the war, and, all togged out in a new uniform, I went on board
+of an American ship at Callao bound for Valparaiso. I thought I was some
+pumpkins then. I'd lived a rough and tumble life for about three years
+and was beginning to like it--and to forget.
+
+"I used to do the statuesque before the passengers, my scars attested my
+fighting propensities, and there were several Peruvian liars aboard that
+knew me by reputation, and enlarged on it.
+
+"We touched at Coquimbo and an American civil engineer and family came
+aboard, homeward bound.
+
+"That afternoon I was lolling in the smoking-room on deck, when I was
+attracted by the sound of ladies talking on the promenade just outside
+the open port where I sat. It was the engineer's wife and daughter.
+
+"'Mamma,' said the young lady. 'I must read you Madelene's letter. Poor,
+dear Madelene, it's just too sorrowful and romantic for anything.'
+
+"Madelene! I hadn't heard that name pronounced for three years. It was
+wrong, I knew it, but I listened.
+
+"'Poor dear, she was awfully hurt and disfigured in a railroad wreck.'
+
+"It was _my_ Madelene they were talking about. Wild horses could not
+have dragged me from the spot.
+
+"The girl read something like this. I know for I've read that letter a
+hundred times. It's in this pile here.
+
+"'Dear Lottie: Your ever welcome'--'no, not that.'
+
+"'Uncle Andrew is going'--'let me see, Oh! yes, here it is, now listen
+Mamma,' said the girl.
+
+"'Dear Schoolmate. I have never told a soul about my troubles or my
+trials, for long I could not bear to think of them myself. But lately I
+have seen it in its true light, and have come to the conclusion that I
+have no right to moan my life away. I'm past all that, there is nothing
+for me to live for in myself, but my life is spared for some purpose,
+and I propose to devote it to doing good to others'--'isn't she a sweet
+soul, mamma?'
+
+"'After I came to live with Uncle Andrew, I was very happy, it seemed
+like a release from prison. I saw much company, and in six months had
+two lovers--more than I deserved. One of these was a plain, honest manly
+man; he was one of Uncle Andrew's engineers. He wasn't handsome, but he
+was the kind of man that sensible women love. The other was a handsome,
+showy, witty man, also an employee of the railroad, considered 'the
+catch' among the girls. Really, Lottie, both of them tried to propose
+and I wouldn't let them, I didn't know which one of them I liked best.
+But if things had taken the usual course, I should have married the
+handsome one--and been sorry forever after.'
+
+"My heart stood still--she hadn't married Dandy Tamplin after all."
+
+"'The night of the wreck, I was going out on Uncle Andrew's private car.
+The handsome man was on duty in the office. The plain man on an engine
+that stood before the open window, I didn't know that then.
+
+"'A runaway train crashed into the engine and something exploded and a
+stream of boiling water came into the room and scalded me beyond
+recognition. You would not know me, Lottie, I am so disfigured.
+
+"'The handsome man did nothing but wring his hands; the plain one staid
+on the engine and tried to stop the steam from coming out, and was
+himself terribly injured.
+
+"'I was for weeks in bed and suffered mental agony much beyond the
+merely physical pain. I was so wicked I cursed my life and my Maker and
+prayed for death--yet I lived. I was so resentful, so heartbroken, so
+wicked, that I refused to speak for weeks, then, when I tried, I
+couldn't, God had put the curse of silence on my wickedness.'
+
+"Think of Madelene being wicked, Chum.
+
+"'When I was getting well enough and reconciled to my own fate, enough
+to think of others, I thought of my two lovers. Then I asked my nurse
+for a glass. One look, and I made up my mind never to see either of them
+again.
+
+"'Both of them were clamoring to see me, and I refused to see either.
+The plain man wrote me the only love letter I ever received. I have worn
+it out reading it. It was so manly, so unselfish! He blamed himself for
+the accident, and offered me his devotion and love, no matter in what
+condition the letter found me. This letter he wrote in Uncle Andrew's
+library, left it open on the desk and--disappeared.
+
+"'I have never heard from him from that day to this. I never could
+understand it. A man that could write that letter, couldn't run away.
+The last sentence in his letter proved that. It said: "Remember, dear
+Madelene, that somewhere, somehow, I am thinking of you always; that
+whether you see me or not, you will some day come to know that I love
+your soul, not your face; that your life is dear to me, and no calamity
+can make any difference."
+
+"'Those were brave words, and after I read them, I knew for the first
+time that this was the man I loved. They told me he was frightfully
+disfigured, too, but that made no difference to me, I loved him. But he
+was gone, no one knew where. Why did he go?
+
+"'The handsome man disappeared the same day, and he never came back, but
+he left no letter.
+
+"'Dear Lottie, I have only now solved the mystery. My sometime nurse has
+just confessed that the night the letter was written the other man came
+to the house, like a thief, he had bribed her to give me drugs to make
+me sleep and then she led him into my room and showed him my scars. If
+he ever loved me at all, he was in love with my face; the other man
+loved me. One went away because he saw me, the other one because he saw
+his rival apparently granted the interview refused to him. My true lover
+must have seen that man sneaking up to my room.'
+
+"John, every fibre of my being danced for joy. I didn't hear the rest,
+and she read several pages. I had heard enough.
+
+"I went right out on the deck, begged pardon to begin with, introduced
+myself, confessed to eavesdropping, told who I was, where I had been and
+asked for that letter.
+
+"I got it and Madelene's picture; the one you have seen on my clock.
+
+"I finished my task at Valparaiso while the vessel lay there, reported
+by mail, and came home on the same ship.
+
+"I took that letter and photograph to Andy Bridges's house and wrote
+across the envelope 'Madelene Bridges, I demand your immediate and
+unconditional surrender, signed, Steadman H. Hopkins.'
+
+"And I got it in five minutes. Chum, that is the only case on record
+where something worth having was ever surrendered to an officer of the
+Peruvian government.
+
+"In six months I was back on an engine in a new country, with my silent,
+loved and loving wife, in a new home. Three times before now someone has
+seen Madelene's face, twice I told this story, and then we moved away;
+once I told it and trusted, and it was not repeated. Madelene can stand
+being a mystery and wondered at, but she cannot stand pity and
+curiosity. As for you, old Chum, I haven't even asked you not to repeat
+what I have told you--I know you won't."
+
+After a long while, I turned to Hopkins and said: "And yet, Hopkins,
+fools say there is no romance in railroad life. This is a story worth
+reading, and some day I'd like to write it."
+
+"Not in Madelene's time, or in mine, Chum, but if ever a time comes,
+I'll send you a token."
+
+"Send me your picture, Hop."
+
+"No, I'll send you Madelene's. No, I'll send you the clock with the
+'talking eyes.'"
+
+And standing at Hopkins's gate, the scar-faced man with the romance and
+I parted, like ships that meet, hail and pass on, never to meet again.
+Hopkins and I moved away from one another, each on his own course,
+across the seven seas of life.
+
+And all this happened almost twenty years ago.
+
+The other day, my office boy brought me a card that read, "Mrs. Henry
+Adams, Washington, D. C." "Is she a book agent?" I asked.
+
+"Nope, don't look like one."
+
+"Show her in."
+
+A young woman came in, looked at me hard for a moment, laid a package on
+my desk and asked,
+
+"Is this the Mr. Alexander who used to be an engineer?"
+
+I confessed.
+
+"I don't suppose you remember me," she asked.
+
+I put on my glasses and looked at her. No, I never--then she put her
+handkerchief up to her lips covering the lower part of her face; it was
+the face of Madelene Hopkins.
+
+"Yes," said I, "I remember you perfectly, seventeen or eighteen years
+ago you used to sit on my knee and call me 'Untle Tummy.' and I called
+you Maddie."
+
+Then we laughed and shook hands.
+
+"Mr. Alexander," said she, "In looking over some of father's papers, we
+came across a request that under certain conditions you were to be sent
+an old keepsake of his, a clock with mother's picture on it. I have
+brought it to you."
+
+"And your father and mother, what of them, my friend?" I asked, for the
+promise of that clock "under certain conditions" was coming back to me.
+
+"Haven't you heard, sir, poor papa and mama were lost in that awful
+wreck at Castleton, two years ago."
+
+And as I write, from the dial of "Scar Faced" Hopkins's clock "My Lady
+of the Eyes" looks down at me from across the mystery of eternity. The
+eyes do not change as once they did, or has age dimmed my sight and
+imagination? Long I look into their peaceful depths thinking of their
+story, and ask, "Dear Eyes, is it well with thee?"--and they seem to
+answer, "It is well."
+
+
+
+
+SOME FREAKS OF FATE
+
+
+I am just back from a visit to old scenes, old chums and old memories of
+my interesting experience on the western fringe of Uncle Sam's great,
+gray blanket--the plains.
+
+If some of these fellows who know more about writing than about running
+engines would only go out there for a year and keep their eyes and ears
+and brains open, and mouths shut, they could come home and write us some
+true stories that would make fiction-grinders exceedingly weary.
+
+The frontier attracts strong characters, men with pioneer spirit, men
+who are willing to sacrifice something, in order to gain an end; men
+with loves and men with hates. Bad men are there, some of them hunted
+from Eastern communities, perhaps, but you will find no fools and mighty
+few weak faces--there's character in every feature you look at.
+
+Every one is there for a purpose; to accomplish something; to get ahead
+in the world; to make a new start; perhaps to live down something, or to
+get out of the rut cut by ancestors; some may only want to drink, and
+shout, and shoot, but even these do it with a vim--they mean it.
+
+Of the many men who ran engines at the front, with me in the old days, I
+recall few whose lives were purposeless; almost every one had a
+life-story.
+
+If there's anything that I enjoy, it's to sit down to a pipe and a
+life-story--told by the subject himself. How many have I listened to,
+out there, and every one of them worthy the pen of a Kipling!
+
+The population of the frontier is never all made up of men, and the
+women all have strong features, too--self-sacrifice, devotion,
+degradation, or _something_, is written on every face. There are no
+blanks in that lottery--there's little material there for homes of
+feeble-minded.
+
+It isn't strange, either, when you come to think of it; fools never go
+anywhere, they are just born and raised. If they move it's because they
+are "took"--you never heard of a pioneer fool.
+
+One of the strongest characters I ever knew was a runner out there by
+the name of Gunderson--Oscar Gunderson. He was of Swedish parentage,
+very light-complexioned, very large, and a splendid mechanic, as Swedes
+are apt to be when they try. Gunderson's name was, I suppose, properly
+entered on the company's time-book, but it never was in the nomenclature
+of the road. With the railroaders' gift for abbreviation and nickname,
+Gunderson soon came down to "Gun," his size, head, hand or heart
+furnished the prefix of "Big," and "Big Gun" he remains to-day. "Big
+Gun" among his friends, but simple "Gun" to me. I think I called him
+"Gun" from the start.
+
+Gun ran himself as he did his engine, exercised the same care of
+himself, and always talked engine about his own anatomy, clothes, food
+and drink.
+
+His hat was always referred to as his "dome-casing;" his Brotherhood pin
+was his "number-plate;" his coat was "the jacket;" his legs the
+"drivers;" his hands "the pins;" arms were "side-rods;" stomach
+"fire-box;" and his mouth "the pop."
+
+He invariably referred to a missing suspender-button as a broken
+"spring-hanger;" to a limp as a "flat-wheel;" he "fired up" when eating;
+he "took water," the same as the engine; and "oiled round," when he
+tasted whisky.
+
+Gun knew all the slang and shop-talk of the road, and used it--was even
+accused of inventing much of it--but his engine talk was unique and
+inimitable.
+
+We roomed together a whole winter; and often, after I had gone to bed,
+Gun would come in, and as he peeled off his clothes he would deliver
+himself something as follows:
+
+"Say, John, you don't know who I met on the up trip? Well, sir, Dock
+Taggert. I was sailin' along up the main line near Bob's, and who should
+I see but Dock backed in on the sidin'--seemed kinder dilapidated, like
+he was runnin' on one side. I jest slammed on the wind and went over and
+shook. Dock looks pretty tough, John--must have been out surfacing
+track, ain't been wiped in Lord knows when, oiled a good deal, but nary
+a wipe, jacket rusted and streaked, tire double flanged, valves blowin',
+packing down, don't seem to steam, maybe's had poor coal, or is all
+limed up. He's got to go through the back shop 'efore the old man'll
+ever let him into the roundhouse. I set his packin' out and put him in a
+stall at the Gray's corral; hope he'll brace up. Dock's a mighty good
+workin' scrap, if you could only get him to carryin' his water right; if
+he'd come down to three gauges he'd be a dandy, but this tryin' to run
+first section with a flutter in the stack all the time is no good--he
+must 'a flagged in."
+
+Which, being translated into English, would carry the information that
+Gun had seen one of the old ex-engineers at Bob Slattery's saloon, had
+stopped and greeted him. Dock looked as if he had tramped, had drank,
+was dirty, coat had holes, soles of his boots badly worn, wheezing,
+seemed hungry and lifeless, been eating poor food, and was in a general
+run-down condition. Gun had "set out his packing" by feeding him and put
+him in a bed at the Grand Central Hotel--nicknamed the "Grayback's
+Corral." Gun thought he would have to reform, before the M. M. put him
+into active service. He was a good engineer, but drank too much, and
+lastly, he was in so bad a condition he could not get himself into
+headquarters unless someone helped him by "flagging" for him.
+
+Gun was a bachelor; he came to us from the Pacific side, and told me
+once that he first went west on account of a woman, but--begging Mr.
+Kipling's pardon--that's another story.
+
+"I don't think I'd care to double-crew my mill," Gun would say when the
+conversation turned to matrimony. "I've been raised to keep your own
+engine and take care of it, and pull what you could. In double-heading
+there's always a row as to who ought to go ahead and enjoy the scenery
+or stay behind and eat cinders."
+
+I knew from the first that Gun had a story to tell, if he'd only give it
+up, and I fear I often led up to it, with the hope that he would tell it
+to me--but he never did.
+
+My big friend sent a sum of money away every month, I supposed to some
+relative, until one day I picked up from the floor a folded paper dirty
+from having been carried long in Gun's pocket, and found a receipt. It
+read:
+
+     "MISSION, SAN ANTONIO, Jan. 1, 1878.
+     "Received of O. Gunderson, for Mabel Rogers, $40.00.
+     "SISTER THERESA."
+
+Ah, a little girl in the story! I thought; it's a sad story, then.
+There's nothing so pure and beautiful and sweet and joyous as a little
+girl, yet when a little girl has a story it's almost always a sad story.
+
+I gave Gun the paper; he thanked me; said he must look out better for
+those receipts, and added that he was educating a bit of a girl out on
+the coast.
+
+"Yours, Gun?" I asked kindly.
+
+"No, John; she ain't; I'd give $5,000 if she was."
+
+He looked at me straight, with that clear, blue eye, and I knew he told
+me the truth.
+
+"How old is she?" I asked.
+
+"I don't know; 'bout five or six."
+
+"Ever seen her?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Where did you get her?"
+
+"Ain't had her."
+
+"Tell me about her?"
+
+"She was willed to me, John, kinder put in extra, but I can't tell you
+her story now, partly because I don't know it all myself, and partly
+because I won't--I won't even tell her."
+
+I did not again refer to Gun's little girl, and soon other experiences
+and other biographies crowded the story out of my mind.
+
+One evening in the spring, I sat by the open window, enjoying the cool
+night breeze from off the mountains, when I heard Gun's cheery voice on
+the porch below. He was lecturing his fireman, in his own, unique way.
+
+"Well, Jim, if I ain't ashamed of you! There ain't no one but you;
+coming into general headquarters with a flutter in the stack, so full
+that you can't whistle, air-pump a-squealing 'count of water, smeared
+from stack to man-hole, headlight smoked and glimmery, don't know your
+own rights, kind o' runnin' wildcat, without proper signals, imagining
+you're first section with a regardless order. You want to blow out, man,
+and trim up, get your packing set out and carry less juice. You're worse
+than one of them slippin', dancin', three-legged, no-good Grants. The
+next time I catch you at high-tide, I'll scrap you, that's what I'll do,
+fire you into the scrap-pile. Why can't you use some judgment in your
+runnin'? Why can't you say, 'Why, here's the town of Whisky, I'm going
+to stop here and oil around,' sail right into town, put the air on
+steady and fine, bring her right down to the proper gait, throw her into
+full release, so as to just stop right, shut off your squirt, drop a
+little oil on the worst points, ring your bell and sail on.
+
+"But you, you come into town forty miles an hour, jam on the emergency
+and while the passengers pick 'emselves out of the ends of the cars, you
+go into the supply house and leave the injector on, and then, when you
+do move, you're too full to go without opening your cylinder cocks and
+givin' yourself dead away.
+
+"Now, I'm goin' to Californ', next month, and if you get so as you can
+tell when you've got enough liquor without waiting for it to break your
+injectors, I'll ask the old man to let you finger the plug on Old Baldy
+whilst I'm gone. But I'm damned if I don't feel as if you was like that
+measly old 19--jest fit to be jacked up to saw wood with."
+
+While Gun was in California, I was taken home on a requisition from my
+wife, and Oscar Gunderson and his little girl became a memory--a page in
+a book that I had partly read and lost, but not entirely forgotten.
+
+One day last summer I took the westbound express at Topeka, and
+spreading my grip, hat, coat and umbrella, out on the seats, so as to
+resemble an experienced English tourist, I fished up a Wheeling stogie
+and a book and went into the smoking-pen of the sleeper, which I had all
+to myself for half-an-hour.
+
+The train stopped to give the thirsty tender a drink and a man came in
+to wash his hands. He had been riding on the engine.
+
+After washing, he stepped to the door of the "smokery," struck a match
+on the leg of his pants, held both hands around the end of his cigar
+while he lighted it, then waving the match to put it out, he threw it
+down and came in.
+
+While he was absorbed in all this, I took a glance at him.
+Six-foot-four, if an inch; high cheek bones; yellow beard; clear, blue
+eyes; white skin, and a hand about the size of a Cincinnati ham. I knew
+that face despite twelve years of turkey-tracks about the eyes.
+
+"Gunderson, old man, how are you?" I said, offering my fin.
+
+"Well, John Alexander, how in the name of thunder did you get away out
+here on the main stem, without orders?"
+
+"Inspection-car," said I; "how did you get here?"
+
+"Deadheading home; been out on special, a gilt-edged special, took her
+clean through to New York."
+
+"You did!" I exclaimed; "why, how was that?"
+
+"Went up special to a weddin', don't you see? Went up to see a new
+compound start off--prettiest sight I ever saw--working smooth as
+grease; but I'm kind of dubious about repairs and general running. I'm
+anxious to see how the performance sheet looks at the end of the year,
+John."
+
+"Who's been double-heading, Gun?"
+
+"Why--why, my little girl, trimmest, neatest, slickest little mill you
+ever saw. Lord! but she was painted red and white and gold-leaf, three
+brass bands on her stack, solid nickel trimming, all the latest
+improvements, corrugated fire-box, high pressure smoke consumer and
+sand-jet--jest made a purpose for specials, and pay-car. But if she
+ain't got herself coupled onto a long-fire-boxed ten-wheeler, with a big
+lap and a Joy gear, you can put me down for a clinker. Yes, sir; the
+baby is a heart-breaker on dress-parade, and the ten-wheeler is a whale
+on business, and if they don't jump the track, you watch out for some
+express speed that will make the canals sick, see if they don't."
+
+Without giving me time to say a word, he was off again.
+
+"You ought to seen 'em start out, nary a slip, cutting off square as a
+die, small one ahead speaking her little piece chipper and fast on
+account of her smaller wheels, and the ten-wheeler barking bass, steady
+as a clock, with a hundred-and-enough on the gauge, a full throttle, and
+half a pipe of sand. You couldn't tell to save you whether the little
+one was pulling the big one or the big one shoving the little--never saw
+a relief train start out in such shape in my life."
+
+Gunderson was evidently enthusiastic over the marriage of his little
+girl.
+
+We talked over old times and the changes, and followed each other up to
+date with a great deal of mutual enjoyment, until the porter demanded
+the "smokery" for his bunk.
+
+As we started for bed, Gun laid his hand on my shoulder and said:
+
+"John, a good many years ago, you asked me to tell you the story of my
+little girl. I refused then for her sake. I'll tell you in the morning."
+
+After a hearty breakfast and a good cigar, Gunderson squared himself for
+the story. He shut his eyes for a few minutes, as if to recall
+something, and then, speaking as if to himself, he said:
+
+"Well, sir, there wasn't a simmer anywhere, dampers all shut; you
+wouldn't'a suspected they was up to the popping point, but the minute
+they got their orders, and the con. put up his hand, so, up went--"
+
+"Say," I interrupted, "I thought I was to have the story. I believe you
+told me about the wedding, last night. The young couple started out
+well."
+
+"Oh, yes, old man, I forgot, the story; well, get on the next pit here,"
+motioning to a seat next to him, "and I'll give you the history of an
+old, hook-motion, name of Oscar Gunderson, and a trim, Class "G" made of
+solid silver, from pilot to draft-gear.
+
+"You think I'm a Swede; well, I ain't, I don't know what I am, but I
+guess I come nearer to being a Chinaman than anything else. My father
+was a sea-captain, and my mother found me on the China sea--but they
+were both Swedes just the same. I had two sisters older than myself, and
+in order to better our chances, father moved to New York when I was less
+than five years old.
+
+"He soon secured work as captain on a steamer in the Cuban trade, and
+died at sea, when I was ten.
+
+"I had a bent for machinery, and tried the old machine-shops of the
+Central road, but soon found myself firing.
+
+"I went to California, shortly after the war, on account of a
+woman--mostly my fault.
+
+"Well, after running around there for some years, I struck a job on the
+Virginia & Truckee, in '73.
+
+"Virginia City and Carson and all the Nevada towns were doing a
+fall-rush business, turning every wheel they had, with three crews to a
+mill. Why, if you'd go down street in any one of them towns at night,
+and see the crowds around the gamblers and molls, you'd think hell was
+a-coming forty-mile an hour, and that it wan't more than a car-length
+away.
+
+"Well, one morning, I came into Virginia about breakfast time, and with
+the rest of the crew, went up to the old California Chop-house for
+breakfast. This same chop-house was a building about good-enough for a
+stable, these days; but it had a reputation then for steaks. All the
+gamblers ate there; and it's a safe rule to eat where the gamblers do,
+in a frontier town, if you want the best there is, regardless of price.
+
+"It was early for the regular trade, and we had the dining-room mostly
+to ourselves, for a few minutes, then there were four women folks came
+in and sat down at a table bearing a card: 'Reserved for Ladies.'
+
+"Three of them were dressed loud, had signs out whereby any one could
+tell that they wouldn't be received into no Four Hundred; but one of
+them was a nice-looking, modestly-dressed woman, had on half-mourning,
+if I remember. She had one of them sweet, strong faces, John, like the
+nun when I had my arm broke and was scalded,--her sweet mouth kept
+mumblin' prayers, but her fingers held an artery shut that was trying
+its damndest to pump Gun Gunderson's old heart dry--strong character,
+you bet.
+
+"Well, that woman sat facing our table and kept looking at me; I
+couldn't see her without turning, but I knew she was looking. John, did
+you ever notice that you could _feel_ the presence of some people; you
+knew they were near you without seeing them? Well, when that happens,
+don't forget to give that fellow due credit; for whoever it is he or she
+has the strongest mind--the dominant one.
+
+"I _had_ to look around at that woman. I shall never forget how she
+looked; her hand was on the side of her face; her great, brown, tender
+eyes were staring right at me--she was reading my very soul. I let her
+read.
+
+"I had been jacking up a gilly of a gafter who had referred to his
+mother as "the old woman," and I didn't let the four females disturb me.
+I meant to hold up a looking-glass for that young whelp to look into. I
+hate a man that don't love his mother.
+
+"Why," says I, "you miserable example of Divine carelessness, do you
+know what that 'old woman' mother has done for you, you drivelin' idiot,
+a-thankin' God that you're alive and forgetting the very mother that
+bore you; if you could see the tears that she has shed, if you could
+count the sleepless nights that she has put in, the heartaches, the
+pain, the privation that she has humbly, silently, even thankfully borne
+that you might simply live, you'd squander your last cent and your last
+breath to make her life a joy, from this day until her light goes out. A
+man that don't respect his mother is lost to all decency; a man who will
+hear her name belittled is a Judas, and a man who will call his mother
+'old woman' is a no-good, low-down, misbehaven whelp. Why, damn it, I'd
+fight a buzz-saw, if it called my mother 'old woman'--and she's been
+dead a long time; gone to that special, exalted, gilt-edged and glorious
+heaven for mothers. No one but mothers have a right to expect to go to a
+heaven, and the only question that'll be asked is, 'Have you been a
+mother?'
+
+[Illustration: "He was the first man I ever killed."]
+
+"Well, sir, I had forgot about the women, but they clapped their hands
+and I looked around, and there were tears in the eyes of that one woman.
+
+"She got up; came to our table and laid a card by my plate, and said, 'I
+beg your pardon; but won't you call on me? Please do.'
+
+"I was completely knocked out, but told her I would, and she went out
+alone; the others finished their breakfast.
+
+"She had no sooner gone than Cy Nash, my conductor, commenced to
+giggle--'Made a mash on the flyest woman in town,' he tittered; 'ain't a
+blood in town but what would give his head for your boots, old man;
+that's Mabel Verne--owns the Odeon dance hall, and the Tontine, in
+Carson.'
+
+"I glanced at the card, and it did read, 'Mabel Verne, 21 Flood
+avenue.'
+
+"Well, Flood avenue is no slouch of a street, the best folks live
+there," I answered.
+
+"'Yes, that's her private residence, and if you go there and are let in,
+you'd be the first man ever seen around there. She's a curious critter,
+never rides or drives, or shows herself off at all; but you bet she sees
+that the rest of the stock show off. She's in it for money, I tell you.'
+
+"I don't know why, but it made me kind of heart-sick to think of the
+hell that woman must be in, for I knew by her looks that she had a heart
+and a brain, and that neither of them was in the Odeon or the Tontine
+dance-houses.
+
+"I thought the matter over,--and didn't go to see her. The next trip,
+she sent a carriage for me.
+
+"She met me at the door, and took my hat, and as I dropped into an easy
+chair, I opened the ball to the effect that 'this here was a strange
+proceeding for a lady.'
+
+"'Yes,' said she, sitting down square in front of me; 'it is; I felt as
+if I had found a true man, when I first saw you, and I have asked you
+here to tell you a story, my story, and ask your help and advice. I am
+so earnest, so anxious to do thoroughly what I have undertaken, that I
+fear to overdo it; I need counsel, restraint; I can trust you. Won't you
+help me?"
+
+"'If I can; what is it that you want me to do, madam?'
+
+"'First of all, keep a secret, and next, protect or help protect, an
+innocent child.'
+
+"'Suppose I help the child, and you don't tell me the secret?'
+
+"'No, it concerns the child, sir; she is my child; I want her to grow up
+without knowing what her mother has done, or how she has lived and
+suffered; you wouldn't tell her that, would you?'
+
+"'No; certainly not!'
+
+"'Nor anyone else?'
+
+"'No.'
+
+"'You would judge her alone, forgetting her mother?'
+
+"'Yes.'
+
+"'Then I will tell you the story.'
+
+"She got up and changed the window blinds, so that the light shone on
+my face; I guess she wanted to study the effect of her words.
+
+"'I was born at Sacramento,' she began; 'my father was a well-to-do
+mechanic, and I his only child; I grew up pretty fair-looking, and my
+parents spent about all they could make to complete my education,
+especially in music, of which I was fond. When I was eighteen years old,
+I fell in love with a young man, the son of one of the rich merchants of
+San Francisco, where we had removed. Like many another foolish girl, I
+trusted too implicitly, and believed too easily, and soon found myself
+in a humiliating position, but trusted to the honor of my lover to stand
+by me.
+
+"'When I explained matters to him he seemed pleased, said he could fix
+that easy enough; we would get married at once and claim a secret
+marriage for some months past.
+
+"'He arranged that I should meet him the next evening, and go to an old
+priest in an obscure parish, and be married.
+
+"'I stood long hours on a corner, half dead with fear, that night, for a
+lover that never came. He's dead now, got run over in Oakland yard, that
+very night, as he was running away from me, and as I waited and shivered
+under the stars and the fire of my own conscience.'
+
+"'Did he stand on one track, to get out of the way of another train, and
+get struck?' I asked.
+
+"'Yes,' looking at me close.
+
+"'Did he have on a false moustache, and a good deal of money and
+securities in a satchel, and everybody think at first he was a burglar?'
+
+"'Yes; but how did you know that?'
+
+"'Because, I killed him.'
+
+"'You?'
+
+"'Yes; I ran an engine over him, couldn't make him hear or see me. He
+was the first man I ever killed; strange he should be _this_ particular
+man.'
+
+"'It's fate,' said the woman, rocking slowly back and forth, 'it's fate,
+but it seems as though I like you better now that you were my avenger.
+That accident drove revenge out of my heart, caused me to let _him_ be
+forgotten, and to live for my child. I have lived for her. I live to-day
+for her and I will continue to live for her.'
+
+"'My disgrace killed my mother and ruined my father. I swore I would be
+an honest woman, and I sought employment to earn a living for my babe
+and myself, but every avenue was closed to me. I washed and scrubbed
+while I was able to teach music splendidly, but I could get no pupils. I
+made shirts for a pittance and daily refused, to me, fortunes for
+dishonor. I have gone hungry and almost naked to pay for my baby's
+board, but I was hunted down at last.
+
+"'One day, after many rebuffs in seeking employment, I went to the home
+of a sister of my child's father, and took the baby, told her who I was
+and asked her to help me to a chance to work. The good woman scarcely
+looked at me or the child; she said that had it not been for such as I,
+poor Charles would have been alive; his blood was on my head; I ought
+to ask God to wash my blood-stained hands.
+
+"'I went away from that house with my mind made up what to do. I would
+put my child in honest hands, and chain myself to the stake to suffer
+everlasting damnation for her sweet sake.
+
+"'She is in the Mission San Antonio now, between three and four, a
+perfect little princess, she looks like me, and grows, oh, so lovely! If
+you could see her, you'd love her.
+
+"'I can't go to see her any more; she is old enough to remember. The
+last time I was there, she demanded a papa!
+
+"'I am making a great deal of money. Many of the rich men, whose Puritan
+wives and daughters refused me honest work, are squandering lots of
+their wealth in my houses. I am saving money, too; and propose, as soon
+as I can get a neat fortune together to go away to the ends of the
+earth, and have my little girl with me. I will raise her to know herself
+and to know mankind.'
+
+"'And what do you want me to do, madam?'
+
+"'I want you to be that child's guardian; the honest man through whom
+she will reach the outside of San Antonio and the world. Who will go
+between her and me until a happier time.'
+
+"'I am only a rough engineer; the child will be raised to consider
+herself well off, perhaps rich.'
+
+"'Adopt her. I will stay in the background; make her expenditures and
+her education what you like. I will trust you.'
+
+"'I can't do that.'
+
+"'You are single; your life is hard; I have money enough for us all. Let
+us go to the Sandwich islands, anywhere, and commence life anew. The
+little one will know no other father, and all inquiry will be stopped.'
+
+"'I couldn't think of it, my dear madam; it's too easy; it's like
+pulling jerkwater passenger--I like through freight.'
+
+"Well, John, to make a long story short, the interview ended about here,
+and several more got to about the same place. There were a thousand
+things I could not help but admire in that woman, and I liked her better
+the more I knew her. But it wan't love; it was a sort of an admiration
+for her love of the child, and the nerve she displayed in its behalf.
+But I shrank from becoming her husband or companion, although I think
+she loved me, in the end, better than she ever did anybody.
+
+"However, I finally agreed to look after the little one, in case
+anything happened to the mother, and commenced then to send the money
+for her board and tuition, and the mother dropped out of all connection
+with the child or those having her in charge.
+
+"The mother made her pile and got out of the business, and at my
+suggestion went down near Los Angeles and bought a nice country place,
+to start respectable before she took the little one home. She left money
+in Carson, subject to my check, for the little girl, and things slid
+along for a year or so all smooth enough.
+
+"I was out on a snow-bucking expedition one time the next winter,
+sleeping in cars, shanties or on the engine, and I soon found myself all
+bunged up with the worst dose of rheumatiz' you ever see. I had to get
+down to a lower altitude, and made for Sacramento in the spring. I paid
+the Mission a year in advance, and with less than a hundred dollars of
+my own, struck out, hoping to dodge the twists that were in my bones.
+
+"A hundred blind gaskets don't go far when you're sick, and the first
+thing I knew I was dead broke; couldn't pay my board, couldn't buy
+medicine, couldn't walk--nothing but think and suffer. I finally had to
+go to a hospital. Not one of the old gang ever came to see me. Old Gun
+was a dandy, when he was making--and spending--a couple hundred a month;
+the rest of the time he was supposed to be dead.
+
+"I might have died in the hospital, if fate hadn't decreed to send me
+relief. It suddenly dawned upon me that I was getting far better
+treatment than usual, had a special nurse, the best of food, flowers,
+etc., all labeled 'From the Boys.'"
+
+"I found out, after I was well enough to take a sun bath on the porch,
+that a woman had sent all my luxuries, and that her purse had been
+opened for my relief. I knew who it was at once, and was anxious to get
+well and at work, so as not to live on one who was only too glad to do
+everything for me.
+
+"A six months' wrastle with the twisters leaves a fellow stiff-jointed
+and oldish, and lying in bed takes the strength out of him. I took the
+notion to get out and go to work, one day, and walked down to the
+shops--I was carried back, chuck full of 'em again.
+
+"The doctor said I must go to Ojo Caliente, away down south, if I was to
+get well. John, if the Santa Fe road had 'a been for sale for a cent
+then, I couldn't 'a bought a spike.
+
+"At about the height of my ill-luck, I got a letter from Mabel
+Verne--she had another name, but that don't matter--and she asked me
+again to come to her; to have a home, and care and devotion. It wasn't a
+love-sick letter, but it was one of them strong, tender, _fetching_
+letters. It was unselfish, it asked very little of me, and offered a
+good deal.
+
+"I thought over it all night, and decided at last to go. What better was
+I than this woman? Surely she was better educated, better bred. She had
+made one mistake, I had made many. She had no friends on earth; I didn't
+seem to have any, either. I hadn't had a letter from either of my
+married sisters for six or eight years, then. We could trust one
+another, and have an object in life in the education of the child. I'd
+be no worse off than I was, anyway.
+
+"The next morning I felt better. I got ready to leave, bid all my fellow
+flat-wheels good-by; and had a gig ordered to take me to the train--the
+doctor had given me two-hundred dollars a short time before--'from a
+lady friend.'
+
+"As I sat waiting for the hack, they brought me a letter from home--a
+big one, with a picture in it. It was from my youngest sister, and the
+picture was of her ten-year boy, named for me--such a happy, sunny
+little Swede face you never see. 'He always talks of Uncle Oscar as a
+great and good man,' wrote Carrie, 'and says every day that he's going
+to do just like you. He will do nothing that we tell him Uncle Oscar
+would not like, and anything that he would. If you are as good as he
+thinks you are, you are sure of heaven.'
+
+"And I was even then going off to live with a woman who made a fortune
+out of Virginia City dance-houses. I had a sort of a remorseful chill,
+and before I really knew just where I was, I had got to Arizona, and
+from there to the Santa Fe where you knew me.
+
+"I wrote my benefactress an honest letter, and told her why I had not
+come, and in a short time sent her the money she had put up for me; but
+it was returned again, and I sent it to the mission for my little girl.
+
+"Well, while I was with you there, I got a fare-thee-well letter, saying
+that when I got that Mabel Verne would be no more--same as dead--and
+that she had deposited forty thousand dollars in the Phoenix Bank for
+_your_ little girl--_yours_, mind ye--and asked me to adopt her legally
+and tell her that her mother was dead.
+
+"John, I ain't heard of that woman from then until now. I thought she
+had got tired of waiting on me and got married, but I believe she is
+dead.
+
+"I went to California and adopted the baby--a daisy too--and I've
+honestly tried to be a father to her.
+
+"I got to making money in outside speculations, and had plenty; so I let
+her money accumulate at the Phoenix and paid her way myself.
+
+"About four years ago, I left the road for good; bought me a nice place
+just outside of Oakland, and settled down to take a little comfort.
+
+"Mabel, my daughter Mabel, for she called me papa, went to Germany,
+nearly three years ago, in charge of her music teacher, Sister Florence,
+to finish herself off. Ah, John, you ort to see her claw ivory! Before
+she went, she called me into the mission parlor, one day, and almost got
+me into a snap; she wanted me to tell her all about her parents right
+then, and asked me if there wasn't some mystery about her birth, and the
+way she happened to be left in the mission all her life, her mother
+disappearing, and my adoption of her."
+
+"What did you tell her, Gun?" I asked.
+
+"Why, lied to her, of course, as any honorable man would have done. I
+told her that her father was an engineer and a friend of mine, and that
+he was killed in an accident before she was born--that was all plausible
+enough.
+
+"Then I told her that her mother was in poor health, and had died just
+before I had adopted her, and had left a will, giving her to me, and
+besides had left forty thousand dollars in the bank for her, when she
+married or became of age.
+
+"Well, John, cutting down short, she met a fellow over there, a New
+Yorker, that just seemed to think she was made a-purpose for him, and
+about a year ago he wrote and asked me for my daughter--just think of
+it! His petition was seconded by the baby herself, and recommended by
+Sister Florence.
+
+"They came home six months ago, and the baby got ready for dress-parade;
+and I went down to New York and seen 'em off; but here's where old Fate
+gets in his work again. That rascal of an O. B. Sanderson--I didn't
+notice the name before--was my own nephew, the very young cuss whose
+picture kept me from marryin' the baby's mother! I never tumbled till I
+ran across his mother, she was my sister Carrie.
+
+"John, I don't care a continental cuss how good he was, the baby was
+good enough for him--too good--I just said nothing--and watched the
+signals. You ort to a seen me a-givin' the bride away! Then, when it was
+all over, and I was childless, I give my little girl a check for
+forty-seven thousand and a fraction; kissed her, and lit out for
+home--and here I am.
+
+"But I ain't satisfied now, and just as quick as I get back, I'm a-going
+running again; then, when I've got so old I can't see more'n a car
+length, I'm going to ask for a steam-pump to run. I'm a-going to die
+railroading."
+
+"Have you ever made any inquiries about the mother, Gun?" I asked.
+
+"No; not much; it's so long now, it ain't no use; I guess that her
+light's gone out."
+
+"What would you do, if she was to turn up?"
+
+"Well, I don't know; I guess I'd keep still and see what she done."
+
+"Suppose, Gun, that she showed up now; loved you more than ever for what
+you have done, and renewed her old proposal? You know it's leap year."
+
+"Well, old man, if an angel flew down out of the sky and give me a
+second-hand pair of wings just rebuilt, and ordered me to put 'em on and
+follow her, I guess I wouldn't refuse to go out. Time was, though, when
+I'd a-held out for new, gold-mounted ones, or nothing; but that won't
+come, John; but you just ort to a been to the consolidation; it was just
+simply--well, pulling the president's special would be just like hauling
+a gravel-train to it!"
+
+The train stopped suddenly here, and "Gun" said he was going ahead to
+get acquainted with the water-boiler, and I took out my note-book and
+jotted down a few points.
+
+After the train got into motion again, I was reading over my notes,
+when, without looking, I thought Gunderson had come back, and I moved
+along in the seat to give him room, but a black dress sat down beside
+me.
+
+We had been sitting with our backs to a curtain between the first berth
+and a state-room. The lady came from the state-room.
+
+"Pardon me, sir," she said, "I want to finish that story. I have heard
+it all; I am Sister Florence, music teacher to Mr. Gunderson's daughter;
+he does not know that I am on this train.
+
+"Mr. Gunderson did not tell you that the Phoenix bank failed some months
+ago, and that the fortune of his adopted child was lost. He never told
+her and she does not know it to-day--"
+
+"He said he paid her the full amount--" I interrupted.
+
+"Very true. He did; but he paid it out of his own pocket. Sold his
+farm; put up all his securities, and borrowed seven hundred dollars to
+make the sum complete. That is the reason he is going to run an engine
+again. He does not know that I am aware of this, so don't mention it to
+him."
+
+"Gun is a man," said I; "a great, big-hearted, true man."
+
+"He is a nobleman!" said the nun, arising and going back into the
+state-room.
+
+Half an hour later, Gunderson came back, took a seat beside me and
+commenced to talk.
+
+"Say, John, that's the hardest-riding old pelter I ever see, about three
+inches of slack between engine and tank, pounding like a stamp-mill
+and--" looking over his shoulder and then at me, "John, I could a swore
+there was some one standing right there, I _felt_ 'em.
+
+"It seems to me they ort to keep up their engines here in pretty good
+shape. They've got bad water, and so much boiler work that they have to
+have new flues before the machinery gets worn much. But, Lord, they
+don't seem--" he looked over his shoulder again, quickly, then settled
+in his seat to resume, when a pair of hands covered Gun's eyes--the
+nun's hands.
+
+"Guess who it is, Gun," said I; and noticed that he was very pale.
+
+"It's Mabel," said he, putting up his hands and taking both of hers; "no
+one but her ever made me feel like that."
+
+
+
+
+MORMON JOE, THE ROBBER
+
+
+I'm on intimate terms with one of the biggest robbers in this country.
+He's an expert at the business, but has now retired from active work.
+The fact of the matter is, Joe didn't know he was robbing, at the time
+he did it, but he got there, just the same, and come mighty nigh doing
+time in the penitentiary for it, too.
+
+Maybe I'd better commence at the beginning and tell you that I first
+knew Joe Hogg in '79, out at the front, on the Santa Fe. Joe hailed from
+Salt Lake City, and had run on the Utah Central, which gave him the
+nickname of "Mormon Joe," a name he never resented being called, and to
+which he always answered. I never did really know whether he was a
+Mormon or not, and never cared; he was a good engineer, that's about all
+I cared for. Joe took good care of his engine, wore a clean shirt and
+behaved himself--which was doing more than the average engineer at the
+front did.
+
+I remember, one night, Jack McCabe--"Whisky Jack," we used to call
+him--made some mean remark about the Mormons in general and Joe in
+particular, and Joe replied: "I don't propose to defend the Mormon
+faith; it's as good as any, to my mind. I don't propose to judge or
+misjudge any man by his belief or absence of belief. All that I have got
+to say is, that the Mormon religion is a _practical_ religion. They
+don't give starving women a tract, or tramps jobs on the stone-pile. The
+women get bread, and the tramps work for _pay_. Their faith is based on
+the Christian Bible, with a book added--guess they have as big a right
+to add or take away as some of the old kings had--bigamy is upheld by
+the Bible, but has been dead in Utah, for some years. It can't live for
+the young people are against it. In Utah the woman has all the rights a
+man has, votes, and is a _person_. (Since cut out of new constitution.)
+Before the Gentiles came to Salt Lake, the Mormons had but _one_
+policeman, no jail, few saloons, no houses of prostitution--now the
+Gentile Christian has sway, and the town is full of them. I guess you
+could argue on the quality and quantity of rot-gut whisky a good
+engineer ought to drink, better than on theology, anyhow."
+
+I never heard any of the gang twit Joe about the Mormons again.
+
+I didn't take an awful sight of notice about Joe until I came in, one
+night, and the boys told me that Joe was arrested as an accomplice in
+the robbery of the Black Prince mine, in Constitution gulch.
+
+This Black Prince was a gold placer owned by two middle-aged Englishmen.
+They had a small stamp-mill, run by mule power; and a large number of
+sluice-boxes. They always worked alone, and said they were developing
+the mine. No one had any idea that they were taking out much dust, until
+the mill and sluice-boxes were burned one night, and the story came out
+that they had been robbed of more than thirty thousand dollars.
+
+Each partner accused the other of the theft. Both were arrested, and
+detectives commenced to follow every clue.
+
+Joe's arrest fell like a thunder-clap among us. The Brotherhood men took
+it up right away, and I went to see Joe, that very night. It was said
+that Joe had visited the Black Prince, the day before, and had been seen
+carrying away a large package, the night before the robbery.
+
+Joe absolutely refused to say a word for or against himself.
+
+"The detectives got this scheme up and know what they are doing," said
+he; "I don't. When they get all through, you'll know how it'll come
+out."
+
+To all questions as to his guilt or innocence, to every query about the
+crime or his arrest, he replied alike, to friend or foe:
+
+"Ask the sheriff; he's doing this."
+
+He was in jail a long time, but nothing was proven against him and he
+was finally released.
+
+Neither of the Englishmen could fasten the crime on his partner, and
+they sold out and drifted away, one going back to England and the other
+to Mexico.
+
+Joe ran awhile on the road again and then took a job as chief-engineer
+of a big stamp-mill in Arizona, and going there he was lost to myself
+and the men on the road, and finally the Black Prince robbery passed
+into history, and nothing remained but the tradition, a sort of a myth
+of the mountains, like Captain Kidd's treasures, the amount only being
+increased by time. I believe that the last time I heard the story, it
+was calmly stated that thirty million dollars was taken.
+
+When I was out West, last time, I got off the train at Santa Fe, and
+when gunning through the baggage for my _kiester_, I saw a trunk,
+bearing on its end this legend:
+
+    "MRS. JOS. HOGG."
+
+While I was "gopping" at it, as they say down East, and wondering if it
+could be my Joe Hogg, a very nice-looking lady came in, leading a little
+girl, glanced along the lines of trunks, put her hand on the one I was
+looking at, and said:
+
+"That's the one; yes; the little one. I want it checked to New York."
+
+Just then, a little fellow with whiskers on his chin and a twinkle in
+his eye came in and took charge of the trunk, the woman and the child,
+and with the little one's arms around his neck, bid them good-by, and
+got them into their seats in the sleeper.
+
+I watched this individual with a great deal of interest; he looked like
+my old friend, "Mormon Joe," only for the whiskers and the stockman
+clothes.
+
+Finally he jumped off the moving train, waved his hand and stood
+watching it out of sight, to catch the last glimpse of (to him) precious
+burden-bearer; he raised his hand to shade his eyes, and as he did so, I
+saw that it was minus one thumb, and I remembered that "Mormon Joe" left
+one of his under an engine up in Colorado--I was sure of him.
+
+There was a tear in his eye, as he turned to go away, so I stepped up to
+him and asked:
+
+"Any new wives wanted down your way, Elder?"
+
+He glanced up, half angry, looked me straight in the eye, and a smile
+started at the southeast corner of his phiz and ran around to his port
+ear.
+
+"Well, John, old man, I don't mind being _sealed_ to one about your
+size, right now. I've just sent away the best one in the wide world. Old
+man, you're looking plump; by the Holy Joe Smith, a sight of you is good
+for sore eyes!"
+
+Well, we started, and--but there ain't no use in telling you all about
+it--I went home with Joe, went up a creek with a jaw-breaking Spanish
+name, for miles, to a very good cattle ranch, that was the property of
+"Mormon Joe."
+
+Joe only quit running some three or four years ago, and the ranch and
+its neat little home represented the savings of Joe Hogg's life.
+
+His wife and only child had just started for a visit to England where
+she was born.
+
+The next day we rode the range to see Joe's cattle, and the next we
+started out for a little hunt. It was sitting by a jolly camp-fire, back
+in the hills of New Mexico, that "Mormon Joe" told me the true story of
+the robbery of the Black Prince mine and the romance of his life.
+
+Filling his cob pipe with cut-plug, Joe sat looking away over space
+toward our hobbled horses and then said:
+
+"Old man, I reckon you remember all about the Black Prince robbery. I
+don't forget you were the first man that came to the cooler to see me
+while I was doing time as a _suspect_. Well, coming right down to the
+point, _I had the dust all the time_! and the working out of the mystery
+would be rather interesting reading if it was written up, and, as you
+are such an accomplished liar, I wouldn't be surprised if you made it
+the base-line of one of them yarns of yourn--only, mind you, don't go
+too far with it, for it's as curious as a lie itself. I would not try to
+improve on it, if I was you. I'll tell it to you as it was.
+
+"About four days before the robbery, I was introduced to Rachel
+Rokesby, daughter of one of the partners in the Black Prince. I met her,
+in what seemed to be a casual way, at Mother Cameron's hash-foundry, but
+I found out, a long time afterward, that she had worked for two weeks to
+bring about the introduction.
+
+"I don't know as you remember seeing her, but she was a quiet, retiring,
+well-educated, rosy-cheeked English girl--impressed you right away as
+being the pure, unrefined article, about twenty-two karat. She "chinned"
+me about an hour, that evening, and just cut a cameo of her pretty face
+right on my old heart.
+
+"Well, course I saw her home, and tried my best to be interesting, but
+if a fellow ever in his natural life becomes a double-barreled jackass,
+it's just immediately after he falls in love. Why, he ain't as
+interesting as the unlettered side of an ore-sack.
+
+"But we got on amazing well; the girl did most of the talking and along
+toward the last, mentioned that she was in great trouble--of course I
+wa'n't interested in that at all. I liked to have broken my neck in
+getting her to tell me at once if I couldn't do something to help her,
+say, for instance, move Raton mountain up agin Pike's Peak.
+
+"I went home that night, promising to call on her the next trip, not to
+let any one know I was coming, not to tell anybody I had been there, not
+for _worlds_ to repeat or intimate what she told me, and she would tell
+me her trouble from start to finish, and then I could help her, if I
+wanted to. Well, I wanted to, _bad_.
+
+"I went up to the Rokesby's cabin, next trip in; it was dark, and as I
+went up the front walk, I heard the old gentleman going out the back,
+bound for the village 'diggin's.' I had it all to myself--the secret, I
+mean.
+
+"When I went in, I got about a forty-second squeeze of a neat little
+hand, and things did look so nice and clean and homelike that I had it
+on the end of my tongue to ask right then to camp in the place.
+
+"After a few commonplaces, she turned around and asked me if I still
+wanted to help her and would keep the secret, if I concluded in the end
+to keep out of her troubles. You bet your life, old man, she didn't have
+to wait long for assurance--why I wouldn't'a waited a minute to have
+contracted to turn the Mississippi into the Mammoth Cave, if she had
+asked it.
+
+"'Well," says she, finally, "it is not generally known, in fact, isn't
+known at all, that the Black Prince is a paying placer, and that papa
+and Mr. Sanson have been taking out lots of gold for some time. They
+have over fifty pounds of gold-dust and nuggets hidden under the floor
+of the old mill.'
+
+"'Well,' says I, 'that hadn't ought to worry you so.'
+
+"'But that isn't all the story,' she continued; 'we have discovered a
+plot on the part of Mr. Sanson to rob papa of the gold and burn the mill
+and sluice-boxes, to hide the crime. You will find that every tough in
+town is his friend, because he buys whisky for them, and they all
+dislike papa. If he carried out his plan, we would have no redress
+whatever; all the justices in town can be bribed. The plan is to take
+the gold, burn the mill, and then accuse papa of the crime. Now, can't
+you help me to fool that old villain of a Sanson, and put papa's half of
+the money in a safe place?'
+
+"I thought quite a while before I answered; it seemed strange to me that
+the case should be as she stated, and I half feared I might be made a
+cat's-paw and get into trouble, but the girl looked at me so trustingly
+with her blue eyes and added:
+
+"'I am afraid that I am the cause of all the trouble, too. Papa and
+Sanson got along well until I refused to marry him; after that, the row
+began--I hate him. He said I would _have_ to marry him before he was
+done with me--but I won't!'
+
+"'You bet you won't, darling,' says I, before I thought. 'Pardon me,
+Miss Rokesby, but if there is any marrying done around here, I want a
+hand in the game myself.'
+
+"She blushed deeply, looked at the toe of her shoe a minute, and said:
+
+"'I'm only eighteen, and am too young to think of marrying. Suppose we
+don't talk of that until we get out of the present difficulties.'
+
+"'Sensible idea,' says I. 'But when we are out, suppose you and I have a
+talk on that subject.'
+
+"She looked at the toe of her shoe for a minute again, turned red and
+white around the gills, looked up at me, shyly at first, then fully and
+fairly, stretched out her hand and said:
+
+"'Yes; if you care to.'
+
+"Course, I didn't _care_, or nothing--no more than a man cares for his
+head.
+
+"I guess that was about a half engagement, anyhow, it's the only one we
+ever had. She said it would be ruinous to our plans if I was seen with
+her then or afterward; and agreed to leave a note at the house for me by
+next trip, telling me her plan--which she should talk over with her
+father.
+
+"A couple of days later I got in from a round trip and made a dive for
+the boarding-house.
+
+"'Any mail for me, mother?' I asked old Mrs. Cameron.
+
+"'No, young man; I'm sorry to say there ain't'
+
+"'I was anxious to hear from home.'
+
+"'Too bad; but maybe it'll come to-morrow.'
+
+"I was up to fever heat, but could do nothing but wait. I went to bed
+late, and, raising up my pillow to put my watch under it, I found a
+note; it read:
+
+     "'Midnight, July 17.
+
+     "'DEAR JOE:
+
+     "'Just thought of that rule for changing counter-balance you
+     wanted. There has always been a miscalculation about the weight of
+     counter-balance; they are universally _too heavy_. The weights are
+     in pieces; take out two _pieces_; this treatment would even improve
+     a mule sweep. When once out, pieces should be changed or placed
+     where careless or malicious persons cannot get hold of them and
+     replace them. All is well; hope you are the same; will see you some
+     time soon.
+
+     "'JACK.'
+
+"Here was apparently a fool letter from one young railroader to another,
+but I knew well enough that it was from Rachel and meant something.
+
+"I noticed that it was dated the _next night_; then I commenced to see,
+and in a few minutes my instructions were plain. The old five-stamp mill
+was driven by a mule, who wandered aimlessly around a never-ending
+circle at the end of a long, wooden sweep; this pole extended past the
+post of the mill a few feet, and had on the short end a box of stones as
+a counter-weight. I would find two packages of gold there at midnight of
+July 17.
+
+"I was running one of those old Pittsburgh hogs then, and she had to
+have her throttle ground the next day, but it was more than likely that
+she would be ready to go out at 8:30 on her turn; but I arranged to have
+it happen that the stand-pipe yoke should be broken in putting it up, so
+that another engine would have to be fired up, and I would lay in.
+
+"I told stories in the roundhouse until nearly ten o'clock that fateful
+night, and then started for the hash-foundry, dodged into a lumber
+yard, got onto the rough ground back of town and made a wide detour
+toward Constitution Gulch, the Black Prince and the mule-sweep. I crept
+up to the washed ground through some brush and laid down in a path to
+wait for midnight. I felt a full-fledged sneak-thief, but I thought of
+Rachel and didn't care if I was one or not, so long as she was
+satisfied.
+
+"I looked often at my watch in the moonlight, and at twelve o'clock
+everything was as still as death. I could hear my own heart beat against
+my ribs as I sneaked up to that counter-balanced sweep. I got there
+without accident or incident, found two packages done up in canvas with
+tarred-string handles; they were heavy but small, and in ten minutes I
+had them alone with me among the stumps and stones on the little _mesa_
+back of town.
+
+"I'll never forget how I felt there in the dark with all that money that
+wasn't mine, and if some one had have said 'boo' from behind a stump, I
+should have probably dropped the boodle and taken to the brush.
+
+"As I approached the town, I realized that I could never get through it
+to the boarding-house or the roundhouse with those two bundles that
+_looked like country sausages_. I studied awhile on it and finally put
+them under an old scraper beside the road, and went without them to the
+shops. I got from my seat-box a clean pair of overalls and jacket and
+came back without being seen.
+
+"I wrapped one of the packages up in these and boldly stepped out into
+the glare of the electric lights--I remember I thought the town too
+darned enterprising.
+
+"One of the first men I met was the marshal, Jack Kelly. He was reported
+to be a Pinkerton man, and was mistrusted by some of the men, but tried
+to be friendly and 'stand in' with all of us. He slapped me on the back
+and nearly scared the wits out of me. He insisted on treating me, and I
+went into a saloon and 'took something' with him, in fear and trembling.
+The package was heavy, but I must carry it lightly under my arm, as if
+it were only overclothes.
+
+"I treated in return, and had it charged, because I dare not attempt to
+get my right hand into my pocket. Jack was disposed to talk, and I
+feared he was just playing with me like a cat does with a mouse, but I
+finally got off and deposited my precious burden in my seat-box, under
+lock and key--then I sneaked back for the second haul. I met Jack and a
+policeman, on my next trip, and he exclaimed:
+
+"'Why, ain't you gone out yet?' and started off, telling the roundsman
+to keep the bunkos off me up to the shop. _I thought then I was caught_,
+but I was not, and the bluecoat bid me a pleasant good-night, at the
+shop yard.
+
+"When I got near my engine, I was surprised to see Barney Murry, the
+night machinist, with his torch up on the cab--he was putting in the
+newly-ground throttle.
+
+"Just before I had decided to emerge from the shadow of the next engine,
+Barney commenced to yell for his helper, Dick, to come and help him on
+with the dome-cover.
+
+"Dick came with a sandwich in one hand and a can of coffee in the other.
+This reminded Barney of his lunch, and setting his torch down on the
+top of the cab, he scrambled down on the other side and hurried off to
+the sand-dryer, where the gang used to eat their dyspepsia insurance and
+swap lies.
+
+"After listening a moment, to be sure I was alone, I stepped lightly to
+the cab, and in a minute the two heavy and dangerous packages were side
+by side again.
+
+"But just here an inspiration struck me. I opened the front door of the
+cab, stepped out on the running-board, and a second later was holding
+Barney's smoking torch down in the dome.
+
+"The throttle occupied most of the space, but there was considerable
+room each side of it and a good two feet between the top of the boiler
+shell and the top row of flues. I took one of the bags of gold, held it
+down at arm's length, swung it backward and forward a time or two, and
+let go, so as to drop it well ahead on the flues: the second bag
+followed at once, and again I held down the light to see if the bags
+were out of sight; satisfied on this point, I got down, took my clothes
+under my arm, and jumped off the engine into the arms of the night
+foreman."
+
+"'What did you call me for? That engine is not ready to go out on the
+extra,' I demanded, off-hand.
+
+"'I ain't called you; you're dreaming.'
+
+"'May be I am,' said I, 'but I would 'a swore some one came and called
+under my window that I got out at 2:10, on a stock-train, extra.'
+
+"Just then, Barney and Dick came back, and I soon had the satisfaction
+of seeing the cover screwed down on my secret and a fire built under
+it--then I went home and slept.
+
+"I guess it was four round trips that I made with the old pelter, before
+Kelly put this and that together, and decided to put me where the dogs
+wouldn't bite me.
+
+"I appeared as calm as I could, and set the example since followed by
+politicians, that of 'dignified silence.' Kelly tried to work one of the
+'fellow convict' rackets on me, but I made no confessions. I soon became
+a martyr, in the eyes of the women of the town. You boys got to talking
+of backing up a suit for false imprisonment; election was coming on and
+the sheriff and county judge were getting uneasy, and the district
+attorney was awfully unhappy, so they let me out.
+
+"Nixon, the sheriff, pumped me slyly, to see what effect my imprisonment
+would have on future operations, and I told him I didn't propose to lose
+any time over it, and agreed to drop the matter for a little nest-egg
+equal to the highest pay received by any engineer on the road. Pat
+Dailey was the worst hog for overtime, and I selected his pay as the
+standard and took big money,--from the campaign funds. I wasn't afraid
+of re-arrest;--I had 'em for bribery.
+
+"Whilst I was in hock, I had cold chills every time I heard the 313's
+whistle, for fear they would wash her out and find the dust; but she
+gave up nothing.
+
+"When I reported for work, the old scrap was out on construction and
+they were disposed to put me on another mill, pulling varnished cars,
+but I told the old man I was under the weather and 'crummy,' and that
+put him in a good humor; and I was sent out to a desolate siding, and
+once again took charge, of the steam 'fence,' for the robber of the
+Black Prince mine.
+
+"On Sunday, by a little maneuvering, I managed to get the crew to go off
+on a trout-fishing expedition, and under pretext of grinding-in her
+chronically leaky throttle, I took off her dome-cover and looked in;
+there was nothing in sight.
+
+"I was afraid that the cooking of two months or more had destroyed the
+canvas bags; then again the heavy deposit of scale might have cemented
+the bags to the flues. In either case, rough handling would send the
+dust to the bottom of the boiler, making it difficult if not impossible
+to recover; and worse yet, manifest itself sometime and give me dead
+away.
+
+"I concluded to go at the matter right, and after two hours of hard
+work, managed to get the upright throttle-pipe out of the dome. I drew
+her water down below the flue-line, and though it was tolerably warm, I
+got in.
+
+"Both of my surmises were partially correct; the canvas was rotted, in a
+measure, and the bags were fastened to the flues. The dust had been put
+up in buckskin bags, first, and these had been put into shot-sacks; the
+buckskin was shrunken but intact. I took a good look around, before I
+dared take the treasure into the sunlight; but the coast was clear, and
+inside of an hour they were locked in my clothes-box, and the cover was
+on the kettle again and I was pumping her up by hand.
+
+"I was afraid something would happen to me or the engine, so I buried
+the packages in a bunch of willows near the track.
+
+"It must have been two weeks after this that a mover's wagon stopped
+near the creek within half a mile of the track, and hobbled horses soon
+began to 'rustle' grass, and the smoke of a camp-fire hunted the clouds.
+
+"We saw this sort of thing often, and I didn't any more than glance at
+it; but after supper I sauntered down by the engine, smoking and
+thinking of Rachel Rokesby, when I noticed a woman walking towards me,
+pail in hand.
+
+"She had on a sunbonnet that hid her face and she got within ten feet
+of me before she spoke--she asked for a pail of drinking-water from the
+tank--the creek was muddy from a recent rain.
+
+"Just as soon as she spoke, I knew it was Rachel, but I controlled
+myself, for others were within hearing. I walked with her to the engine
+and got the water; I purposely drew the pail full, which she promptly
+spilled, and I offered to carry it for her.
+
+"The crew watched us walk away and I heard some of them mention 'mash,'
+but I didn't care, I wanted a word with my girl.
+
+"When we were out of earshot, she asked without looking up:
+
+"'Well, old coolness, are you all right?'
+
+"'You bet! darling.'
+
+"'Papa has sold out his half and we are going away for good. I think if
+we get rid of the dust without trouble, we may go to England. Just as
+soon as all is safe, you shall hear from me; can't you trust me, Joe?'
+
+"'Yes, Rachel, darling; now and forever.'
+
+"'Where's the gold?'
+
+"'Within one hundred feet of you, in those willows; when it is dark, I
+will go and get it and put it on that stump by the big tree; go then and
+get it. But where will you put it?'
+
+"'I'm going to pack it in the bottom of a jar of butter.'
+
+"'Good idea, little girl! I think you'd make a good thief yourself.
+How's my friend, Sanson?'
+
+"'He's gone to Mexico; says yet that papa robbed him, but he knows as
+well as you or I that all his bluster was because he only found _half_
+that he expected; I pride myself on getting ahead of a wicked man once,
+thanks to our hero, by the name of Hogg.'
+
+"It was getting dusk and we were out of sight, so I sat down the pail
+and asked:
+
+"'Do I get a kiss, this evening?'
+
+"'If you want one.'
+
+"'There's only one thing I want worse.'
+
+"'What is that, Joe?'
+
+"My arm was around her waist now, and the sunbonnet was shoved back from
+the face. I took a couple of cream-puffs where they were ripe, and
+answered:
+
+"That message to come and have that talk about matrimony.'
+
+"Here a man's voice was heard calling: 'Rachel! Rachel!' and throwing
+her arms around my neck, she gave me one more kiss, snatched up her pail
+and answered:
+
+"'Yes; I'm coming.'
+
+"Then to me, hurriedly:
+
+"'Good-by, dear; wait patiently, you shall hear from me.'
+
+"I went back and put the dangerous dust on the stump and returned to the
+bunk-car. The next morning when I turned out, the outlines of the wagon
+were dimly discernible away on a hill in the road; it had been gone an
+hour.
+
+"I walked down past my stump--the gold was gone.
+
+"Well, John, I settled down to work and to wait for that precious letter
+that would summon me to the side of Rachel Rokesby, wherever she was;
+but it never came. Uncle Sam never delivered a line to me from her from
+that day to this."
+
+Joe kicked the burning sticks in our fire closer together, lit his pipe
+and then proceeded:
+
+"I was hopeful for a month or two; then got impatient, and finally got
+angry, but it ended in despair. A year passed away before I commenced to
+_hunt_, instead of waiting to be hunted; but after another year I gave
+it up, and came to the belief that Rachel was dead or married to
+another. But the very minute that such a treasonable thought flashed
+through my mind, my heart held up the image of her pure face and rebuked
+me.
+
+"I was discharged finally, for forgetting orders--I was thinking of
+something else--then I commenced to pull myself together and determined
+to control myself. I held the job in Arizona almost a year, but the mill
+company busted; then I drifted down on to the Mexican National, when it
+was building, and got a job. A few months later, it came to my ears that
+one of our engineers, Billy Gardiner, was in one of their damnable
+prisons, for running over a Greaser, and I organized a relief
+expedition. I called on Gardiner, and talked over his trouble fully; he
+was in a loathsome dobie hole, full of vermin, and dark. As I sat
+talking to him, I noticed an old man, chained to the wall in a little
+entry on the other side of the room. His beard was grizzly white, long
+and tangled. He was hollow-cheeked and wild-eyed, and looked at me in a
+strange, fascinated way.
+
+"'What's he in for,' I whispered to Gardiner.
+
+"'Murdered his partner in a mining camp. Got caught in the act. He don't
+know it yet, but he's condemned to be shot next Friday--to-morrow. Poor
+devil, he's half crazy, anyhow.'
+
+"As I got up to go, the old man made a sharp hiss, and as I turned to
+look at him, he beckoned with his finger. I took a step or two nearer,
+and he asked, in an audible whisper:
+
+"'Mr. Hogg, don't you know me?'
+
+"I looked at him long and critically, and then said:
+
+"'No; I never saw you before.'
+
+"'Yes; that's so,' said he; 'but I have seen you, many times. You
+remember the Black Prince robbery?'
+
+"'Yes, indeed; then you are Sanson?'
+
+"'No; Rokesby.'
+
+"'Rokesby! My God, man, where's Rachel?'
+
+"'I thought so,' he muttered. 'Well, she's in England, but I'm here.'
+
+"'What part of England?'
+
+"'Sit down on that box, Mr. Hogg, and I will tell you something.'
+
+"'Is she married?' I asked eagerly.
+
+"'No, lad, she ain't, and what's more, she won't be till she marries
+you, so be easy there.'
+
+"Just here a pompous Mexican official strode in, stepped up in front of
+the old man and read something in Spanish.
+
+"'What in hell did he say?' asked the prisoner of Gardiner.
+
+"'Something about sentence, pardner.'
+
+"'Well, it's time they was doing something; did he say when it was?'
+
+"'To-morrow.'
+
+"'Good enough; I'm dead sick o' this.'
+
+"'Can't I do anything for you, Mr. Rokesby--for Rachel's sake?'
+
+"'No--yes, you can, too, young man; you can grant me a pardon for a
+worse crime nor murder, if you will--for--for Rachel's sake."
+
+"'It's granted then.'
+
+"'Good! that gives me heart. Now, Mr. Hogg, to business, it was me that
+robbed the Black Prince mine. I took every last cent there was, and I
+used you and Rachel to do the work for me and take the blame if caught.
+Sanson was honest enough, I fired the mill myself.
+
+"'It was me that sent Rachel to you; I admired your face, as you rode by
+the claim every day on your engine. I knew you had nerve. If you and
+Rachel hadn't fallen in love with one another, I'd 'a lost though; but I
+won.
+
+"'Well, I took the money I got for the claim and sent Rachel back to her
+mother's sister, in England. You may not know, but she is not my
+daughter; she thinks she is, though. Her parents died when she was
+small, and I provided for her. I'm her half-uncle. I got avaricious in
+my old age, and went into a number of questionable schemes.
+
+"'After leaving New Mexico, I worked the dust off, a little at a time,
+an' wasted the money--but never mind that.
+
+"'It was just before she got aboard the ship that Rachel sent me a
+letter containing another to you, to be sent when all was right--I've
+carried it ever since--somehow or other I was afraid it would drop a
+clew to send it at first, and after it got a year old, I didn't think of
+it much.'
+
+"He fumbled around inside of his dirty flannel shirt for a minute, and
+soon fished up a letter almost as black as the shirt, and holding it up,
+said:
+
+"'That's it.'
+
+"'I had the envelope off in a second, and read:
+
+     "'DEAR JOSEPH:
+
+     "'I am going to my aunt, Mrs. Julia Bradshaw, 15 Harrow Lane,
+     Leicester, England. If you do not change your mind, I will be
+     happy to talk over our affairs whenever you are ready. I shall be
+     waiting.
+
+     "'RACHEL'.
+
+"I turned and bolted toward a door, when Gardiner yelled:
+
+"'Where are you going?'
+
+"'To England,' said I.
+
+"'This door, then, sir,' said a Mexican.
+
+"I came back to the old man.
+
+"'Rokesby,' said I, 'you have cut ten years off my life, but I forgive
+you; good-by.'
+
+"'One thing more, Mr. Hogg; don't tell 'em at home how I went--nothing
+about this last deal.'
+
+"'Well, all right; but I'll tell Rachel, if we marry and come to
+America.'
+
+"'I've got lots of honest relations, and my old mother still lives, in
+her eighties.'
+
+"'Well, not till after she goes, unless to save Rachel in some way.'
+
+"'Good-by, Mr. Hogg, God bless you! and--and, little Rachel.'
+
+"'Good-by, Mr. Rokesby.'
+
+"The next day I left Mexico for God's country, and inside of ten days
+was on a Cunarder, eastward bound. I reached England in proper time; I
+found the proper pen in the proper train, and was deposited in the
+proper town, directed to the proper house, and street, and number, and
+had pulled out about four yards of wire attached to the proper bell.
+
+"A kindly-faced old lady looked at me over her spectacles, and I asked:
+
+"'Does Mrs. Julia Bradshaw live here?'
+
+"'Yes, sir; that's me.'
+
+"'Have you a young lady here named Rachel R--'
+
+"The old lady didn't wait for me to finish the name, she just turned her
+head fifteen degrees, put her open hand up beside her mouth, and shouted
+upstairs:
+
+"'Rachel! Rachel! Come down here, quick! Here's your young man from
+America!'"
+
+
+
+
+A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S TRIP
+
+
+It is all of twenty years now since the little incident happened that I
+am going to tell you about. After the strike of '77, I went into exile
+in the wild and woolly West, mostly in "bleeding Kansas," but often in
+Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona--the Santa Fe goes almost everywhere
+in the Southwest.
+
+One night in August I was dropping an old Baldwin consolidator down a
+long Mexican grade, after having helped a stock train over the division
+by double-heading. It was close and hot on this sage-brush waste,
+something not unusual at night in high altitudes, and the heat and sheet
+lightning around the horizon warned me that there was to be one of those
+short, fierce storms that come but once or twice a year in these
+latitudes, and which are known as cloudbursts.
+
+The alkali plains, or deserts, as they are often erroneously called,
+are great stretches of adobe soil, known as "dobie" by the natives. This
+soil is a yellowish brown, or perhaps more of a gray color, and as fine
+as flour. Water plays sad havoc with it, if the soil lies so as to
+oppose the flow, and it moves like dust before a slight stream. On the
+flat, hard-baked plains, the water makes no impression, but on a
+railroad grade, be it ever so slight, the tendency is to dig pitfalls. I
+have seen a little stream of water, just enough to fill the ditches on
+each side of the track, take out all the dirt, and keep the ties and
+track afloat until the water was gone, then drop them into a hole eight
+or ten feet deep, or if the washout was short, leave them suspended,
+looking safe and sound, to lure some poor engineer and his mate to
+death.
+
+Another peculiarity of these storms is that they come quickly, rage
+furiously for a few minutes, and are gone, and their lines are sharply
+defined. It is not uncommon to find a lot of water, or a washout,
+within a mile of land so dry that it looks as if it had never seen a
+drop of water.
+
+All this land is fertile when it can be brought under irrigating ditches
+and watered, but here it lies out almost like a desert. It is sparsely
+inhabited along the little streams by a straggling off-shoot of the
+Mexican race; yet once in a while a fine place is to be seen, like an
+oasis in the Sahara, the home of some old Spanish Don, with thousands of
+cattle or sheep ranging on the plains, or perhaps the headquarters of
+some enterprising cattle company. But these places were few and far
+between at the time of which I write; the stations were mere passing
+places, long side-tracks, with perhaps a stock-yard and section house
+once in a while, but generally without buildings or even switch lights.
+
+Noting the approach of the storm, I let the heavy engine drop the
+faster, hoping to reach a certain sidetrack, over twenty miles away,
+where there was a telegraph operator, and learn from him the condition
+of the road. But the storm was faster than any consolidator that
+Baldwins ever built, and as the lightning suddenly ceased and the air
+became heavy, hot, and absolutely motionless, I realized that we would
+have the storm full upon us in a few moments. I had nothing to meet for
+more than thirty miles, and there was nothing behind me; so I stopped,
+turned the headlight up, and hung my white signal lamps down below the
+buffer-beams each side of the pilot--this to enable me to see the ends
+of the ties and the ditch.
+
+Billy Howell, my fireman, and a good one, hastily went over the
+boiler-jacket with signal oil, to prevent rust; we donned our gum coats;
+I dropped a little oil on the "Mary Ann's" gudgeon's, and we proceeded
+on our way without a word. On these big consolidators you cannot see
+well ahead, past the big boiler, from the cab, and I always ran with my
+head out of the side window. Both of us took this position now, standing
+up ready for anything; but we bowled safely along for one mile--two
+miles, through the awful hush. Then, as sudden as a flash of light,
+"boom!" went a peal of thunder as sharp and clear as a signal gun.
+There was a flash of light along the rails, the surface of the desert
+seemed to break out here and there with little fitful jets of
+greenish-blue flame, and from every side came the answering reports from
+the batteries of heaven, like sister gunboats answering a salute. The
+rain fell in torrents, yes, in sheets. I have never, before or since,
+seen such a grand and fantastic display of fireworks, nor heard such
+rivalry of cannonade. I stopped my engine, and looked with awe and
+interest at this angry fit of nature, watched the balls of fire play
+along the ground, and realized for the first time what a sight was an
+electric storm.
+
+As the storm commenced at the signal of a mighty peal of thunder, so it
+ended as suddenly at the same signal; the rain changed in an instant
+from a torrent to a gentle shower, the lightning went out, the batteries
+ceased their firing, the breeze commenced to blow gently, the air was
+purified. Again we heard the signal peal of thunder, but it seemed a
+great way off, as if the piece was hurrying away to a more urgent
+quarter. The gentle shower ceased, the black clouds were torn asunder
+overhead; invisible hands seemed to snatch a gray veil of fleecy clouds
+from the face of the harvest moon, and it shone out as clear and serene
+as before the storm. The ditches on each side of the track were half
+full of water, ties were floating along in them, but the track seemed
+safe and sound, and we proceeded cautiously on our way. Within two miles
+the road turned to the West, and here we found the water in the ditches
+running through dry soil, carrying dead grass and twigs of sage upon its
+surface; we passed the head of the flood, tumbling along through the dry
+ditches as dirty as it well could be, and fast soaking into the soil;
+and then we passed beyond the line of the storm entirely.
+
+Billy put up his seat and filled his pipe, and I sat down and absorbed a
+sandwich as I urged my engine ahead to make up for lost time; we took up
+our routine of work just where we had left it, and--life was the same
+old song. It was past midnight now, and as I never did a great deal of
+talking on an engine, I settled down to watching the rails ahead, and
+wondering if the knuckle-joints would pound the rods off the pins before
+we got to the end of the division.
+
+[Illustration: "'Mexican,' said I."]
+
+Billy, with his eyes on the track ahead, was smoking his second pipe and
+humming a tune, and the "Mary Ann" was making about forty miles an hour,
+but doing more rolling and pitching and jumping up and down than an
+eight-wheeler would at sixty. All at once I discerned something away
+down the track where the rails seemed to meet. The moon had gone behind
+a cloud, and the headlight gave a better view and penetrated further.
+Billy saw it, too, for he took his pipe out of his mouth, and with his
+eyes still upon it, said laconically, as was his wont: "Cow."
+
+"Yes," said I, closing the throttle and dropping the lever ahead.
+
+"Man," said Billy, as the shape seemed to assume a perpendicular
+position.
+
+"Yes," said I, reaching for the three-way cock, and applying the tender
+brake, without thinking what I did.
+
+"Woman," said Billy, as the shape was seen to wear skirts, or at least
+drapery.
+
+"Mexican," said I, as I noted the mantilla over the head. We were fast
+nearing the object.
+
+"No," said Billy, "too well built."
+
+I don't know what he judged by; we could not see the face, for it was
+turned away from us; but the form was plainly that of a comely woman.
+She stood between the rails with her arms stretched out like a cross,
+her white gown fitting her figure closely. A black, shawl-like mantilla
+was over the head, partly concealing her face; her right foot was upon
+the left-hand rail. She stood perfectly still. We were within fifty feet
+of her, and our speed was reduced to half, when Billy said sharply:
+"Hold her, John--for God's sake!"
+
+But I had the "Mary Ann" in the back motion before the words left his
+mouth, and was choking her on sand. Billy leaned upon the boiler-head
+and pulled the whistle-cord, but the white figure did not move. I shut
+my eyes as we passed the spot where she had stood. We got stopped a rod
+or two beyond. I took the white light in the tank and sprang to the
+ground. Billy lit the torch, and followed me with haste. The form still
+stood upon the track just where we had first seen it; but it faced us
+and the arms were folded. I confess to hurrying slowly until Billy
+caught up with the torch, which he held over his head.
+
+"Good evening, senors," said the apparition, in very sweet English, just
+tinged with the Castilian accent, but she spoke as if nearly exhausted.
+
+"Good gracious," said I, "whatever brought you away out here, and hadn't
+you just as lief shoot a man as scare him to death?"
+
+She laughed very sweetly, and said: "The washout brought me just here,
+and I fancy it was lucky for you--both of you."
+
+"Washout?" said I. "Where?"
+
+"At the dry bridge beyond."
+
+Well, to make a long story short, we took her on the engine--she was wet
+through--and went on to the dry bridge. This was a little wooden
+structure in a sag, about a mile away, and we found that the storm we
+had encountered farther back had done bad work at each end of the
+bridge. We did not cross that night, but after placing signals well
+behind us and ahead of the washout, we waited until morning, the three
+of us sitting in the cab of the "Mary Ann," chatting as if we were old
+acquaintances.
+
+This young girl, whose fortunes had been so strangely cast with ours,
+was the daughter of Senor Juan Arboles, a rich old Spanish Don who owned
+a fine place and immense herds of sheep over on the Rio Pecos, some ten
+miles west of the road. She was being educated in some Catholic school
+or convent at Trinidad, and had the evening before alighted at the big
+corrals, a few miles below, where she was met by one of her father's
+Mexican rancheros, who led her saddle broncho. They had started on their
+fifteen-mile ride in the cool of the evening, and following the road
+back for a few miles were just striking off toward the distant hedge of
+cotton woods that lined the little stream by her home when the storm
+came upon them.
+
+There was a lone pine tree hardly larger than a bush about a half-mile
+from the track, and riding to this, the girl, whose name was Josephine,
+had dismounted to seek its scant protection, while the herder tried to
+hold the frightened horses. As peal on peal of thunder resounded and the
+electric lights of nature played tag over the plain, the horses became
+more and more unmanageable and at last stampeded, with old Paz muttering
+Mexican curses and chasing after them wildly.
+
+After the storm passed, Josephine waited in vain for Paz and the
+bronchos, and then debated whether she should walk toward her home or
+back to the corrals. In either direction the distance was long, and the
+adobe soil is very tenacious when wet, and the wayfarer needs great
+strength to carry the load it imposes on the feet. As she stood there,
+thinking what it was best to do, a sound came to her ears from the
+direction of the timber and home, which she recognized in an instant,
+and without waiting to debate further, she turned and ran with all her
+strength, not toward her home, but away from it. Across the waste of
+stunted sage she sped, the cool breeze upon her face, every muscle
+strained to its utmost. Nearer and nearer came the sound; the deep,
+regular bay of the timber wolf. These animals are large and fierce; they
+do not go in packs, like the smaller and more cowardly breeds of wolves,
+but in pairs, or, at most, six together. A pair of them will attack a
+man even when he is mounted, and lucky is he if he is well armed and
+cool enough to despatch one before it fastens its fangs in his horse's
+throat or his own thigh.
+
+As the brave girl ran, she cast about for some means of escape or place
+of refuge. She decided to run to the railroad track and climb a
+telegraph pole--a feat which, owing to her free life on the ranch, she
+was perfectly capable of. Once up the pole, she could rest on the
+cross-tree, in perfect safety from the wolves, and she would be sure to
+be seen and rescued by the first train that came along after daybreak.
+
+She approached the track over perfectly dry ground. To reach the
+telegraph poles, she sprang nimbly into the ditch; and as she did so,
+she saw a stream of water coming rapidly toward her--it was the front of
+the flood. The ditch on the opposite side of the track, which she must
+also cross to reach the line of poles, she found already full-flooded.
+She decided to run up the track, between the walls of water. This would
+put a ten-foot stream between her and her pursuers, and change her
+course enough, she hoped, to throw them off the scent. In this design
+she was partly successful, for the bay of the wolves showed that they
+were going to the track as she had gone, instead of cutting straight
+across toward her. Thus she gained considerable time. She reached the
+little arroyo spanned by the dry bridge; it was like a mill-pond, and
+the track was afloat. She ran across the bridge; she scarcely slackened
+speed, although the ties rocked and moved on the spike-heads holding
+them to the rails.
+
+She hoped for a moment that the wolves would not venture to follow her
+over such a way; but their hideous voices were still in her ear and came
+nearer and nearer. Then there came to her, faintly, another, a strange,
+metallic sound. What was it? Where was it? She ran on tiptoe a few paces
+in order to hear it better; it was in the rails--the vibration of a
+train in motion. Then there came into view a light--a headlight; but it
+was so far away, so very far, and that awful baying so close! The "Mary
+Ann," however, was fleeter of foot than the wolves; the light grew big
+and bright and the sound of working machinery came to the girl on the
+breeze.
+
+Would they stop for her? Could she make them see her? Then she thought
+of the bridge. It was death for them as well as for her--they _must_ see
+her. She resolved to stay on the track until they whistled her off; but
+now the light seemed to come so slow. A splash at her side caused her to
+turn her head, and there, a dozen feet away, were her pursuers, their
+tongues out, their eyes shining like balls of fire. They were just
+entering the water to come across to her. They fascinated her by their
+very fierceness. Forgetting where she was for the instant, she stared
+dumbly at them until called to life and action by a scream from the
+locomotive's whistle. Then she sprang from the track just in the nick of
+time. She actually laughed as she saw two grayish-white wolf-tails bob
+here and there among the sage brush, as the wolves took flight at sight
+of the engine.
+
+This was the story she told as she dried her garments before the furnace
+door, and I confess to holding this cool, self-reliant girl in high
+admiration. She never once thought of fainting; but along toward morning
+she did say that she was scared then at thinking of it.
+
+Early in the morning a party of herders, with Josephine's father ahead,
+rode into sight. They were hunting for her. Josephine got up on the
+tender to attract their attention, and soon she was in her father's
+arms. Her frightened pony had gone home as fast as his legs would carry
+him, and a relief party swam their horses at the ford and rode forward
+at once.
+
+The old Don was profuse in his thanks, and would not leave us until
+Billy and I had agreed to visit his ranch and enjoy a hunt with him, and
+actually set a date when we should meet him at the big corral. I wanted
+a rest anyway, and it was perfectly plain that Billy was beyond his
+depth in love with the girl at first sight; so we were not hard to
+persuade when she added her voice to her father's.
+
+Early in September Billy and I dropped off No. 1 with our guns and
+"plunder," as baggage is called there, and a couple of the old Don's men
+met us with saddle and pack animals. I never spent a pleasanter two
+weeks in my life. The quiet, almost gloomy, old Don and I became fast
+friends, and the hunting was good. The Don was a Spaniard, but
+Josephine's mother had been a Mexican woman, and one noted for her
+beauty. She had been dead some years at the time of our visit. Billy
+devoted most of his time to the girl. They were a fine looking young
+couple, he being strong and broad-shouldered, with laughing blue eyes
+and light curly hair, she slender and perfect in outline, with a typical
+Southern complexion, black eyes--and such eyes they were--and hair and
+eyebrows like the raven's wing.
+
+A few days before Billy and I were booked to resume our duties on the
+deck of the "Mary Ann," Miss Josephine took my arm and walked me down
+the yard and pumped me quietly about "Mr. Howell," as she called Billy.
+She went into details a little, and I answered all questions as best I
+could. All I said was in the young man's favor--it could not, in truth,
+be otherwise. Josephine seemed satisfied and pleased.
+
+When we got back to headquarters, I was given the care of a cold-water
+Hinkley, with a row of varnished cars behind her, and Billy fell heir to
+the rudder of the "Mary Ann." We still roomed together. Billy put in
+most of his lay-over time writing long letters to somebody, and every
+Thursday, as regular as a clock, one came for him, with a censor's mark
+on it. Often after reading the letter, Billy would say: "That girl has
+more horse sense than the rest of the whole female race--she don't slop
+over worth a cent." He invariably spoke of her as "my Mexican girl," and
+often asked my opinion about white men intermarrying with that mongrel
+race. Sometimes he said that his mother would go crazy if he married a
+Mexican, his father would disown him, and his brother Henry--well, Billy
+did not like to think just what revenge Henry would take. Billy's father
+was manager of an Eastern road, and his brother was assistant to the
+first vice-president, and Billy looked up to the latter as a great man
+and a sage. He himself was in the West for practical experience in the
+machinery department, and to get rid of a slight tendency to asthma. He
+could have gone East any time and "been somebody" on the road under his
+father.
+
+Finally, Billy missed a week in writing. At once there was a cog gone
+from the answering wheel to match. Billy shortened his letters; the
+answers were shortened. Then he quit writing, and his Thursday letter
+ceased to come. He had thought the matter all over, and decided, no
+doubt, that he was doing what was best--both for himself and the girl;
+that his family's high ideas should not be outraged by a Mexican
+marriage. He had put a piece of flesh-colored court-plaster over his
+wound, not healed it.
+
+Early in the winter the old Don wrote, urging us to come down and hunt
+antelope, but Billy declined to go--said that the road needed him, and
+that Josephine might come home from school and this would make them both
+uncomfortable. But Henry, his older brother, was visiting him, and he
+suggested that I take Henry; he would enjoy the hunt, and it would help
+him drown his sorrow over the loss of his aristocratic young wife, who
+had died a year or two before. So Henry went with me, and we hunted
+antelope until we tired of the slaughter. Then the old Don planned a
+deer-hunting trip in the mountains, but I had to go back to work, and
+left Henry and the old Don to take the trip without me. While they were
+in the mountains, Josephine came home, and Henry Howell's stay
+lengthened out to a month. But I did not know until long afterward that
+the two had met.
+
+Billy was pretty quiet all winter, worked hard and went out but
+little--he was thinking about something. One day I came home and found
+him writing a letter. "What now, Billy?" I asked.
+
+"Writing to my Mexican girl," said he.
+
+"I thought you had got over that a long time ago?"
+
+"So did I, but I hadn't. I've been trying to please somebody else
+besides myself in this matter, and I'm done. I'm going to work for Bill
+now."
+
+"Take an old man's advice, Billy, and don't write that girl a line--go
+and see her."
+
+"Oh, I can fix it all right by letter, and then run down there and see
+her."
+
+"Don't do it."
+
+"I'll risk it."
+
+A week later Billy and I sat on the veranda of the company's
+hash-foundry, figuring up our time and smoking our cob meerschaums,
+when one of the boys who had been to the office, placed two letters in
+Billy's hands. One of them was directed in the handwriting that used to
+be on the old Thursday letters. Billy tore it open eagerly--and his own
+letter to Josephine dropped into his hand. Billy looked at the ground
+steadily for five minutes, and I pretended not to have seen. Finally he
+said, half to himself: "You were right, I ought to have gone myself--but
+I'll go now, go to-morrow." Then he opened the other letter.
+
+He read its single page with manifest interest, and when his eyes
+reached the last line they went straight on, and looked at the ground,
+and continued to do so for fully five minutes. Without looking up, he
+said: "John, I want you to do me two favors."
+
+"All right," said I.
+
+Still keeping his eyes on the ground, he said, slowly, as if measuring
+everything well: "I'm going up and draw my time, and will leave for Old
+Mexico on No. 4 to-night. I want you to write to both these parties and
+tell them that I have gone there and that you have forwarded both these
+letters. Don't tell 'em that I went after reading 'em."
+
+"And the other favor, Billy?"
+
+"Read this letter, and see me off to-night."
+
+The letter read:
+
+     "Philadelphia, May 1, 1879.
+
+     "DEAR BROTHER WILL: I want you and Mr. A. to go down to Don Juan
+     Arboles's by the first of June. I will be there then. You must be
+     my best man, as I stand up to marry the sweetest, dearest
+     wild-flower of a woman that ever bloomed in a land of beauty. Don't
+     fail me. Josephine will like you for my sake, and you will love her
+     for your brother.
+
+     HENRY."
+
+Most engineers' lives are busy ones and full of accident and incident,
+and having my full share of both, I had almost forgotten all these
+points about Billy Howell and his Mexican girl, when they were all
+recalled by a letter from Billy himself. With his letter was a
+photograph of a family group--a be-whiskered man of thirty-five, a
+good-looking woman of twenty, but undoubtedly a Mexican, and a
+curly-headed baby, perhaps a year old. The letter ran:
+
+     "City of Mexico, July 21, 1890.
+
+     "DEAR OLD JOHN: I had lost you, and thought that perhaps you had
+     gone over to the majority, until I saw your name and recognized
+     your quill in a story. Write to me; am doing well. I send you a
+     photograph of all there are of the Howell outfit. _No half-breeds
+     for your uncle this time._
+
+     "WM. HOWELL."
+
+
+
+
+THE POLAR ZONE
+
+
+Very few of my friends know me for a seafaring man, but I sailed the
+salt seas, man and boy, for nine months and eighteen days, and I know
+just as much about sailing the hereinbefore mentioned salt seas as I
+ever want to.
+
+Ever so long ago, when I was young and tender, I used to have fits of
+wanting to go into business for myself. Along about the front edge of
+the seventies, pay for "toting" people and truck over the eastern
+railroads of New England was not of sufficient plenitude to worry a man
+as to how he would invest his pay check--it was usually invested before
+he got it. One of my periodical fits of wanting to go into business for
+myself came on suddenly one day, when I got home and found another baby
+in the house. I was right in the very worst spasms of it when my
+brother Enoch, whom I hadn't seen for seventeen years, walked in on me.
+
+Enoch was fool enough to run away to sea when he was twelve years old--I
+suppose he was afraid he would get the chance to do something besides
+whaling. We were born down New Bedford way, where another boy and myself
+were the only two fellows in the district, for over forty years, who
+didn't go hunting whales, icebergs, foul smells, and scurvy, up in King
+Frost's bailiwick, just south of the Pole.
+
+Enoch had been captain and part owner of a Pacific whaler; she had
+recently burned at Honolulu, and he was back home now to buy a new ship.
+He had heard that I, his little brother John, was the best locomotive
+engineer in the whole world, and had come to see me--partly on account
+of relationship, but more to get my advice about buying a steam
+whaling-ship. Enoch knew more about whales and ships and such things
+than you could put down in a book, but he had no more idea _how_ steam
+propelled a ship than I had what a "skivvie tricer" was.
+
+Well, before the week was out, Enoch showed me that he was pretty well
+fixed in a financial way, and as he had no kin but me that he cared
+about, he offered me an interest in his new steam whaler, if I would go
+as chief engineer with her to the North Pacific.
+
+The terms were liberal and the chance a good one, so it seemed, and
+after a good many consultations, my wife agreed to let me go for _one_
+cruise. She asked about the stops to be made in going around the Horn,
+and figured mentally a little after each place was named--I believe now,
+she half expected that I would desert the ship and walk home from one of
+these spots, and was figuring on the time it would take me.
+
+When the robins were building their nests, the new steam whaler,
+"Champion," left New Bedford for parts unknown (_via_ the Horn), with
+the sea-sickest chief engineer that ever smelt fish oil. The steam plant
+wasn't very much--two boilers and a plain twenty-eight by thirty-six
+double engine, and any amount of hoisting rigs, blubber boilers, and
+other paraphernalia. We refitted in San Francisco, and on a clear summer
+morning turned the white-painted figurehead of the "Champion" toward the
+north and stood out for Behring sea. But, while we lay at the mouth of
+the Yukon river, up in Alaska, getting ready for a sally into the realm
+of water above the Straits, a whaler, bound for San Francisco and home,
+dropped anchor near us, the homesickness struck in on me, and--never
+mind the details now--your Uncle John came home without any whales, and
+was mighty glad to get on the extra list of the old road.
+
+The story I want to tell, however, is another man's story, and it was
+while lying in the Yukon that I heard it. I was deeply impressed with it
+at the time, and meant to give it to the world as soon as I got home,
+for I set it all down plain then, but I lost my diary, and half forgot
+the story--who wouldn't forget a story when he had to make two hundred
+and ten miles a day on a locomotive and had five children at home? But
+now, after twenty years, my wife turns up that old diary in the garret
+this spring while house-cleaning. Fred had it and an old Fourth-of-July
+cannon put away in an ancient valise, as a boy will treasure up useless
+things.
+
+Under the head of October 12th, I find this entry:
+
+"At anchor in Yukon river, weather fair, recent heavy rains; set out
+packing and filed main-rod brasses of both engines. Settled with Enoch
+to go home on first ship bound south. Demented white man brought on
+board by Indians, put in my cabin."
+
+In the next day's record there appears the following: "Watched beside
+sick man all night; in intervals of sanity he tells a strange story,
+which I will write down to-day."
+
+The 14th has the following:
+
+"Wrote out story of stranger. See the back of this book."
+
+And at the back of the book, written on paper cut from an old log of the
+"Champion," is the story that now, more than twenty-five years later, I
+tell you here:
+
+On the evening of the 12th, I went on deck to smoke and think of home,
+after a hard day's work getting the engines in shape for a siege. The
+ship was very quiet, half the crew being ashore, and some of the rest
+having gone in the boat with Captain Enoch to the "Enchantress,"
+homeward bound and lying about half a mile below us. I am glad to say
+that Enoch's principal business aboard the "Enchantress" is to get me
+passage to San Francisco. I despise this kind of dreariness--rather be
+in state prison near the folks.
+
+I sat on the rail, just abaft the stack, watching some natives handle
+their big canoes, when a smaller one came alongside. I noticed that one
+of the occupants lay at full length in the frail craft, but paid little
+attention until the canoe touched our side. Then the bundle of skins and
+Indian clothes bounded up, almost screamed, "At last!" made a spring at
+the stays, missed them, and fell with a loud splash into the water.
+
+The Indians rescued him at once, and in a few seconds he lay like one
+dead on the deck. I saw at a glance that the stranger in Indian clothes
+was a white man and an American.
+
+A pretty stiff dram of liquor brought him to slightly. He opened his
+eyes, looked up at the rigging, and closing his eyes, he murmured:
+"Thank God!--'Frisco--Polaria!"
+
+I had him undressed and put into my berth. He was shaking as with an
+ague, and when his clothes were off we plainly saw the reason--he was a
+skeleton, starving. I went on deck at once to make some inquiry of the
+Indians about our strange visitor, but their boat was just disappearing
+in the twilight.
+
+The man gained strength, as we gave him nourishment in small, frequent
+doses, and talked in a disjointed way of everything under the sun. I sat
+with him all night. Toward morning he seemed to sleep longer at a time,
+and in the afternoon of yesterday fell into a deep slumber, from which
+he did not waken for nearly twenty hours.
+
+When he did waken, he took nourishment in larger quantities, and then
+went off into another long sleep. The look of pain on his face lessened,
+a healthy glow appeared on his cheek, and he slept so soundly that I
+turned in--on the floor.
+
+I was awake along in the small hours of the morning, and heard my
+patient stirring, so I got up and drew the little curtain over the
+bulls-eye port--it was already daylight. I gave him a drink and a
+biscuit, and told him I would go to the cook's galley and get him some
+broth, but he begged to wait until breakfast time--said he felt
+refreshed, and would just nibble a sea biscuit. Then he ate a dozen in
+as many minutes.
+
+"Did you take care of my pack?" he said eagerly, throwing his legs out
+of the berth, and looking wildly at me.
+
+"Yes, it's all right; lie down and rest," said I; for I thought that to
+cross him would set him off his head again.
+
+"Do you know that dirty old pack contains more treasures than the mines
+of Africa?"
+
+"It don't look it," I answered, and laughed to get him in a pleasant
+frame of mind--for I hadn't seen nor heard of his pack.
+
+"Not for the little gold and other valuable things, but the proofs of a
+discovery as great as Columbus made, the discovery of a new continent,
+a new people, a new language, a new civilization, and riches beyond the
+dreams of a Solomon--"
+
+He shut his eyes for a minute, and then continued: "But beyond
+Purgatory, through Death, and the other side of Hell--"
+
+Just here Enoch came in to inquire after his health, and sat down for a
+minute's chat. Enoch is first, last, and all the time captain of a
+whaler; he knows about whales and whale-hunters just as an engineer on
+the road knows every speck of scenery along the line, every man, and
+every engine. Enoch couldn't talk ten minutes without being "reminded"
+of an incident in his whaling life; couldn't meet a whaleman without
+"yarning" about the whale business. He lit his pipe and asked: "Been
+whaling, or hunting the North Pole?"
+
+"Well, both."
+
+"What ship?"
+
+"The 'Duncan McDonald.'"
+
+"The--the 'McDonald!'--why, man, we counted her lost these five years;
+tell me about her, quick. Old Chuck Burrows was a particular friend of
+mine--where is he?"
+
+"Captain, Father Burrows and the 'Duncan McDonald' have both gone over
+the unknown ocean to the port of missing ships."
+
+"Sunk?"
+
+"Aye, and crushed to atoms in a frozen hell."
+
+Enoch looked out of the little window for a long time, forgot his pipe,
+and at last wiped a tear out of his eye, saying, as much to himself as
+to us: "George Burrows made me first mate of the first ship he ever
+sailed. She was named for his mother, and we left her in the ice away up
+about the seventy-third parallel. He was made of the salt of the
+earth--a sailor and a nobleman. But he was a dare-devil--didn't know
+fear--and was always venturing where none of the rest of us would dare
+go. He bought the 'McDonald,' remodeled and refitted her after he got
+back from the war--she was more than a whaler, and I had a feeling that
+she would carry Burrows and his crew away forever--"
+
+Eight bells rung just here, and Enoch left us, first ordering breakfast
+for the stranger, and saying he would come back to hear the rest after
+breakfast.
+
+As I was going out, a sailor came to the door with a flat package,
+perhaps six inches thick and twelve or fourteen square, covered with a
+dirty piece of skin made from the intestines of a whale, which is used
+by the natives of this clime because it is light and water-proof.
+
+"We found this in a coil of rope, sir; it must belong to him. It must be
+mostly lead."
+
+It was heavy, and I set it inside the door, remarking that here was his
+precious pack.
+
+"Precious! aye, aye, sir; precious don't describe it. Sacred, that's the
+word. That package will cause more excitement in the world than the
+discovery of gold in California. This is the first time it's been out of
+my sight or feeling for months and months; put it in the bunk here,
+please."
+
+I went away, leaving him with his arms around his "sacred" package.
+
+After breakfast, Enoch and I went to the little cabin to hear the
+stranger's story, and I, for one, confess to a great deal of curiosity.
+Our visitor was swallowing his last bowl of coffee as we went in. "So
+you knew Captain Burrows and the 'Duncan McDonald,'" said he. "Let me
+see, what is your name?"
+
+"Alexander, captain of the 'Champion,' at your service, sir."
+
+"Alexander; you're not the first mate, Enoch Alexander, who sat on a
+dead whale all night, holding on to a lance staff, after losing your
+boat and crew?"
+
+"The same."
+
+"Why, I've heard Captain Burrows speak of you a thousand times."
+
+"But you were going to tell us about the 'Duncan McDonald.' Tell us the
+whole cruise from stem to stern."
+
+"Let's see, where shall I begin?"
+
+"At the very beginning," I put in.
+
+"Well, perhaps you've noticed, and perhaps you have not, but I'm not a
+sailor by inclination or experience. I accidentally went out on the
+'Duncan McDonald.' How old would you take me to be?"
+
+"Fifty or fifty-five," said Enoch.
+
+"Thanks, captain, I know I must look all of that; but, let me see,
+forty-five, fifty-five, sixty-five, seventy--seventy--what year is
+this?"
+
+"Seventy-three."
+
+"Seventy-three. Well, I'm only twenty-eight now."
+
+"Impossible! Why, man, you're as gray as I am, and I'm twice that."
+
+"I was born in forty-five, just the same. My father was a sea captain in
+the old clipper days, and a long time after. He was in the West India
+trade when the war broke out, and as he had been educated in the navy,
+enlisted at once. It was on one of the gunboats before Vicksburg that he
+was killed. My mother came of a well-to-do family of merchants, the
+Clarks of Boston, and--to make a long story short--died in sixty-six,
+leaving me considerable money.
+
+"An itching to travel, plenty of money, my majority, and no ties at
+home, sent me away from college to roam, and so one spring morning in
+sixty-seven found me sitting lazily in the stern of a little pleasure
+boat off Fort Point in the Golden Gate, listlessly watching a steam
+whaler come in from the Pacific. My boatman called my attention to her,
+remarking that she was spick-and-span new, and the biggest one he ever
+saw, but I took very little notice of the ship until in tacking across
+her wake, I noticed her name in gold letters across the stern--'Duncan
+McDonald.' Now that is my own name, and was my father's; and try as I
+would, I could not account for this name as a coincidence, common as the
+name might be in the highlands of the home of my ancestors; and before
+the staunch little steamer had gotten a mile away, I ordered the boat to
+follow her. I intended to go aboard and learn, if possible, something of
+how her name originated.
+
+"As she swung at anchor, off Goat island, I ran my little boat alongside
+of her and asked for a rope. 'Rope?' inquired a Yankee sailor, sticking
+his nose and a clay pipe overboard; 'might you be wantin' to come
+aboard?'
+
+"'Yes, I want to see the captain.'
+
+"'Well, the cap'en's jest gone ashore; his dingy is yonder now, enemost
+to the landin'. You come out this evenin'. The cap'en's particular about
+strangers, but he's always to home of an evenin'.'
+
+"'Who's this boat named after?'
+
+"'The Lord knows, stranger; I don't. But I reckon the cap'en ken tell;
+he built her.'
+
+"I left word that I would call in the evening, and at eight o'clock was
+alongside again. This time I was assisted on board and shown to the door
+of the captain's cabin; the sailor knocked and went away. It was a full
+minute, I stood there before the knock was answered, and then from the
+inside, in a voice like the roar of a bull, came the call: 'Well, come
+in!'
+
+"I opened the door on a scene I shall never forget. A bright light swung
+from the beams above, and under it sat a giant of the sea--Captain
+Burrows. He had the index finger of his right hand resting near the
+North Pole of an immense globe; there were many books about, rolls of
+charts, firearms; instruments, clothing, and apparent disorder
+everywhere. The cabin was large, well-furnished, and had something
+striking about it. I looked around in wonder, without saying a word.
+Captain Burrows was the finest-looking man I ever saw--six feet three,
+straight, muscular, with a pleasant face; but the keenest, steadiest
+blue eye you ever saw. His hair was white, but his long flowing beard
+had much of the original yellow. He must have been sixty. But for all
+the pleasant face and kindly eye, you would notice through his beard the
+broad, square chin that proclaim the decision and staying qualities of
+the man."
+
+"That's George Burrows, stranger, to the queen's taste--just as good as
+a degerry-type," broke in Enoch.
+
+"Well," continued the stranger, "he let me look for a minute or two, and
+then said: 'Was it anything particular?'
+
+"I found my tongue then, and answered; 'I hope you'll excuse me, sir;
+but I must confess it is curiosity. I came on board out of curiosity
+to--'
+
+"'Reporter, hey?' asked the captain.
+
+"'No, sir; the fact is that your ship has an unusual name, one that
+interests me, and I wish to make so bold as to ask how she came to have
+it.'
+
+"'Any patent on the name?'
+
+"'Oh, no, but I--'
+
+"'Well, young man, this ship--by the way, the finest whaler that was
+ever stuck together--is named for a friend of mine; just such a man as
+she is a ship--the best of them all.'
+
+"'Was he a sailor?'
+
+"'Aye, aye, sir, and such a sailor. Fight! why, man, fighting was meat
+and drink to him--'
+
+"'Was he a whaler?'
+
+"'No, he wa'n't; but he was the best man I ever knew who wa'n't a
+whaler. He was a navy sailor, he was, and a whole ten-pound battery by
+hisself. Why, you jest ort to see him waltz his old tin-clad gun-boat up
+agin one of them reb forts--jest naturally skeered 'em half to death
+before he commenced shooting at all.'
+
+"'Wasn't he killed at the attack on Vicksburg?'
+
+"'Yes, yes; you knowed him didn't you? He was a--'
+
+"'He was my father.'
+
+"'What? Your father?' yelled Captain Burrows, jumping up and grasping
+both my hands. 'Of course he was; darn my lubberly wit that I couldn't
+see that before!' Then he hugged me as if I was a ten-year-old girl, and
+danced around me like a maniac.
+
+"'By all the gods at once, if this don't seem like Providence--yes, sir,
+old man Providence himself! What are you a-doin'? When did you come out
+here? Where be you goin', anyway?'
+
+"I found my breath, and told him briefly how I was situated. 'Old man
+Providence has got his hand on the tiller of this craft or I'm a
+grampus! Say! do you know I was wishin' and waitin' for you? Yes, sir;
+no more than yesterday, says I to myself, Chuck Burrows, says I, you are
+gettin' long too fur to the wind'ard o' sixty fur this here trip all to
+yourself. You ort to have young blood in this here enterprise; and then
+I just clubbed myself for being a lubber and not getting married young
+and havin' raised a son that I could trust. Yes, sir, jest nat'rally
+cussed myself from stem to stern, and never onct thought as mebbe my old
+messmate, Duncan McDonald, might 'a'done suthin' for his country afore
+that day at Vicks--say! I want to give you half this ship. Mabee I'll do
+the square thing and give you the whole of the tub yet. All I want is
+for you to go along with me on a voyage of discovery--be my helper,
+secretary, partner, friend--anything. What de ye say? Say!' he yelled
+again, before I could answer, 'tell ye what I'll do! Bless me if--if I
+don't adopt ye; that's what I'll do. Call me pop from this out, and I'll
+call you son. _Son!_' he shouted, bringing his fist down with a bang on
+the table. '_Son!_ that's the stuff! By the bald-headed Abraham, who
+says Chuck Burrows ain't got no kin? The "Duncan McDonald," Burrows &
+Son, owners, captain, chief cook, and blubber cooker. And who the hell
+says they ain't?'
+
+"And the old captain glared around as if he defied anybody and everybody
+to question the validity of the claims so excitedly made.
+
+"Well, gentlemen, of course there was much else said and done, but that
+announcement stood; and to the day of his death I always called the
+captain Father Burrows, and he called me 'son,' always addressing me so
+when alone, as well as when in the company of others. I went every day
+to the ship, or accompanied Father Burrows on some errand into the city,
+while the boat was being refitted and prepared for a three-years'
+cruise.
+
+"Every day the captain let me more and more into his plans, told me
+interesting things of the North, and explained his theory of the way to
+reach the Pole, and what could be found there; which fascinated me.
+Captain Burrows had spent years in the North, had noted that
+particularly open seasons occurred in what appeared cycles of a given
+number of years, and proposed to go above the eightieth parallel and
+wait for an open season. That, according to his figuring, would occur
+the following year.
+
+"I was young, vigorous, and of a venturesome spirit, and entered into
+every detail with a zest that captured the heart of the old sailor. My
+education helped him greatly, and new books and instruments were added
+to our store for use on the trip. The crew knew only that we were going
+on a three-years' cruise. They had no share in the profits, but were
+paid extra big wages in gold, and were expected to go to out-of-the-way
+places and further north than usual. Captain Burrows and myself only
+knew that there was a brand-new twenty-foot silk flag rolled up in
+oil-skin in the cabin, and that Father Burrows had declared: 'By the
+hoary-headed Nebblekenizer, I'll put them stars and stripes on new land,
+and mighty near to the Pole, or start a butt a-trying.'
+
+"In due course of time we were all ready, and the 'Duncan McDonald'
+passed out of the Golden Gate into the broad Pacific, drew her fires,
+and stopped her engines, reserving this force for a more urgent time.
+She spread her ample canvas, and stood away toward Alaska and the
+unknown and undiscovered beyond.
+
+"The days were not long for me, for they were full of study and
+anticipation. Long chats with the eccentric but masterful man whose
+friendship and love for my father had brought us together were the
+entertainment and stimulus of my existence--a man who knew nothing of
+science, except that he was master of it in his own way; who knew all
+about navigation, and to whom the northern seas were as familiar as the
+contour of Boston Common was to me; who had more stories of whaling than
+you could find in print, and better ones than can ever be printed.
+
+"I learned first to respect, then to admire, and finally to love this
+old salt. How many times he told me of my father's death, and how and
+when he had risked his life to save the life of Father Burrows or some
+of the rest of his men. As the days grew into weeks, and the weeks into
+months, Captain Burrows and myself became as one man.
+
+"I shall never forget the first Sunday at sea. Early in the morning I
+heard the captain order the boatswain to pipe all hands to prayers. I
+had noticed nothing of a religious nature in the man, and, full of
+curiosity, went on deck with the rest. Captain Burrows took off his hat
+at the foot of the mainmast, and said:
+
+"'My men, this is the first Sunday we have all met together; and as some
+of you are not familiar with the religious services on board the 'Duncan
+McDonald,' I will state that, as you may have noticed, I asked no man
+about his belief when I employed him--I hired you to simply work this
+ship, not to worship God--but on Sundays it is our custom to meet here
+in friendship, man to man, Protestant and Catholic, Mohammedan,
+Buddhist, Fire-worshiper, and pagan, and look into our own hearts,
+worshiping God as we know him, each in his own way. If any man has
+committed any offense against his God, let him make such reparation as
+he thinks will appease that God; but if any man has committed an
+offense against his fellow-man, let him settle with that man now and
+here, and not worry God with the details. Religion is goodness and
+justice and honesty; no man needs a sky-pilot to lay a course for him,
+for he alone knows where the channel, and the rocks, and the bar of his
+own heart are--look into your hearts.'
+
+"Captain Burrows stood with his hat in his hand, and bowed as if in
+prayer, and all the old tars bowed as reverently as if the most eloquent
+divine was exhorting an unseen power in their behalf. The new men
+followed the example of the old. It was just three minutes by the
+wheel-house clock before the captain straightened up and said 'Amen,'
+and the men turned away about their tasks.
+
+"'Beats mumblin' your words out of a book, like a Britisher,' said the
+captain to me; 'can't offend no man's religion, and helps every one on
+'em.'
+
+"Long months after, I attended a burial service conducted in the same
+way--in silence.
+
+"In due course of time we anchored in Norton Sound, and spent the rest
+of the winter there; and in the spring of sixty-eight, we worked our way
+north through the ice. We passed the seventy-fifth parallel of latitude
+on July 4th. During the summer we took a number of whales, storing away
+as much oil as the captain thought necessary, as he only wanted it for
+fuel and our needs, intending to take none home to sell unless we were
+unsuccessful in the line of discovery--in that event he intended to stay
+until he had a full cargo."
+
+Here our entertainer gave out, and had to rest; and while resting he
+went to sleep, so that he did not take up his story until the next day.
+
+In the morning our guest expressed a desire to be taken on deck; and,
+dressed in warm sailor clothes, he rested his hand on my shoulder, and
+slowly crawled on deck and to a sheltered corner beside the captain's
+cabin. Here he was bundled up; and again Enoch and I sat down to listen
+to the strange story of the wanderer.
+
+"I hope it won't annoy you, gentlemen," said he, "but I can't settle
+down without my pack; I find myself thinking of its safety. Would you
+mind sending down for it?"
+
+It was brought up, and set down beside him; he looked at it lovingly,
+slipped the rude strap-loop over his arm, and seemed ready to take up
+his story where he left off. He began:
+
+"I don't remember whether I told you or not, but one of the objects of
+Captain Burrows's trip was to settle something definite about the
+location of the magnetic pole, and other magnetic problems, and
+determine the cause of some of the well-known distortions of the
+magnetic needle. He had some odd, perhaps crude, instruments, of his own
+design, which he had caused to be constructed for this purpose, and we
+found them very efficient devices in the end. Late in July, we found
+much open water, and steamed steadily in a northwesterly course. We
+would find a great field of icebergs, then miles of floe, and then again
+open water. The aurora was seen every evening, but it seemed pale and
+white.
+
+"Captain Burrows brought the 'Duncan McDonald's' head around to the west
+in open water, one fine day in early August, and cruised slowly; taking
+a great many observations, and hunting, as he told me, for floating
+ice--he was hunting for a current. For several days we kept in the open
+water, but close to the ice, until one morning the captain ordered the
+ship to stand due north across the open sea.
+
+"He called me into his cabin, and with a large map of the polar regions
+on his table, to which he often referred, he said: 'Son, I've been
+hunting for a current; there's plenty of 'em in the Arctic ocean, but
+the one I want ain't loafing around here. You see, son, it's currents
+that carries these icebergs and floes south; I didn't tell you, but some
+days when we were in those floes, we lost as much as we gained. We
+worked our way north through the floe, but not on the surface of the
+globe; the floe was taking us south with it. Maybe you won't believe
+it, but there are currents going north in this sea; once or twice in a
+lifetime, a whaler or passage hunter returns with a story of being
+drifted _north_--now that's what I want, I am hunting for a northern
+current. We will go to the northern shore of this open water, be it one
+mile or one thousand, and there--well, hunt again.'
+
+"Well, it was in September when we at last got to what seemed the
+northern shore of this open sea. We had to proceed very slowly, as there
+were almost daily fogs and occasional snow-storms; but one morning the
+ship rounded to, almost under the shadow of what seemed to be a giant
+iceberg. Captain Burrows came on deck, rubbing his hands in glee.
+
+"'Son,' said he, 'that is no iceberg; that's ancient ice, perpetual ice,
+the great ice-ring--palaecrystic ice, you scientific fellows call it. I
+saw it once before, in thirty-seven, when a boy; that's it, and, son,
+beyond that there is something. Take notice that that is ice; clear,
+glary ice. You know a so-called iceberg is really a snowberg; it's
+three-fourths under water. Now, it may be possible that, that being ice
+which will float more than half out of water, the northern currents may
+go under it--but I don't believe it. Under or over, I am going to find
+one of 'em, if it takes till doomsday.'
+
+[Illustration: "What seemed to be a giant iceberg...."]
+
+"We sailed west, around close to this great wall of ice, for two weeks,
+without seeing any evidence of a current of any kind, until there came
+on a storm from the northwest that drove a great deal of ice around the
+great ring; but it seemed to keep rather clear of the great wall of ice
+and to go off in a tangent toward the south. The lead showed no bottom
+at one hundred fathoms, even within a quarter of a mile of the ice.
+
+"It was getting late in the season, the mercury often going down to
+fifteen below zero, and every night the aurora became brighter. We
+sailed slowly around the open water, and finally found a place where the
+sheer precipice of ice disappeared and the shore sloped down to
+something like a beach. Putting out a sea-anchor, the 'Duncan McDonald'
+kept within a half-a-mile of this icy shore. The captain had determined
+to land and survey the place, which far away back seemed to terminate in
+mountain peaks of ice.
+
+"That night the captain and I sat on the rail of our ship, talking over
+the plans for to-morrow's expedition, when the ship slowly but steadily
+swung around her stern to the mountain of ice--the engines had been
+moving slowly to keep her head to the wind. Captain Burrows jumped to
+his feet in joy. 'A current!' he shouted; 'a current, and toward the
+north, too--old man Providence again, son; he allus takes care of his
+own!'
+
+"Some staves were thrown overboard, and, sure enough, they floated
+toward the ice; but there was no evidence of an opening in the mighty
+ring, and I remarked to Captain Burrows that the current evidently went
+under the ice.
+
+"'It looks like it did, son; it looks like it did; but if it goes under,
+we will go over.'
+
+"After we had taken a few hours of sleep, the long-boat landed our
+little party of five men and seven dogs. We had food and drink for a two
+weeks' trip, were well armed, and carried some of our instruments. It
+appeared to be five or six miles to the top of the mountain, but it
+proved more than thirty. We were five days in getting there, and did so
+only after a dozen adventures that I will tell you at another time.
+
+"We soon began to find stones and dirt in the ice, and before we had
+gone ten miles, found the frozen carcass of an immense mastodon--its
+great tusks only showing above the level; but its huge, woolly body
+quite plainly visible in the ice. The ice was melting, and there were
+many streams running towards the open water. It was warmer as we
+proceeded. Dirt and rocks became the rule, instead of the exception, and
+we were often obliged to go around a great boulder of granite. While we
+were resting, on the third day, for a bite to eat, one of the men took a
+dish, scooped up some sand from the bottom of the icy stream, and
+'panned' it out. There was gold in it: gold enough to pay to work the
+ground. About noon of the fifth day, we reached the summit of the
+mountain, and from there looked down the other side--upon a sight the
+like of which no white men had ever seen before.
+
+"From the very summits of this icy-ring mountain the northern side was a
+sheer precipice of more than three thousand feet, and was composed of
+rocks, and rocks only, the foot of the mighty crags being washed by an
+open ocean; and this was lighted up by a peculiar crimson glow. Great
+white whales sported in the waters; huge sea-birds hung in circles high
+in the air; yet below us, and with our glasses, we could see, on the
+rocks at the foot of the crags, seals and some other animals that were
+strange to us. But follow the line of beetling crags and mountain peaks
+where you would, the northern side presented a solid blank wall of awful
+rocks, in many places the summit overhanging and the shore well under in
+the mighty shadow. Nothing that any of us had ever seen in nature before
+was so impressive, so awful. We started on our return, after a couple of
+hours of the awe-inspiring sight beyond the great ring, and for full two
+hours not a man spoke.
+
+"'Father Burrows,' said I, 'what do you think that is back there?'
+
+"'No man knows, my son, and it will devolve on you and me to name it;
+but we won't unless we get to it and can take back proofs.'
+
+"'Do you think we could get down the other side?'
+
+"'No, I don't think so, and we seem to have struck it in the lowest spot
+in sight. I'd give ten years of my life if the 'Duncan McDonald' was
+over there in that duck pond.'
+
+"'Captain,' said Eli Jeffries, the second mate, 'do you know what I've
+been thinkin'? I believe that 'ere water we seen is an open passage from
+the Behring side of the frozen ocean over agin' some of them 'ere
+Roosian straits. If we could get round to the end of it, we'd sail right
+through the great Northwest Passage.'
+
+"'You don't think there is land over there somewhere?'
+
+"'Nope.'
+
+"'Didn't take notice that the face of your "passage" was granite or
+quartz rocks, hey? Didn't notice all them animals and birds, hey?--'
+
+"'Look out!' yelled the man ahead with the dog-sledge.
+
+"A strange, whirring noise was heard in the foggy light, that sounded
+over our heads. We all dropped to the ground, and the noise increased,
+until a big flock of huge birds passed over us in rapid flight north.
+There must have been thousands of them. Captain Burrows brought his
+shot-gun to his shoulder and fired. There were some wild screams in the
+air, and a bird came down to the ice with a loud thud. It looked very
+large a hundred feet away, but sight is very deceiving in this white
+country in the semi-darkness. We found it a species of duck, rather
+large and with gorgeous plumage.
+
+"'Goin' north, to Eli's "passage" to lay her eggs on the ice,' said the
+captain, half sarcastically.
+
+"We reached the ship in safety, and the captain and I spent long hours
+in trying to form some plan for getting beyond the great ice-ring.
+
+"'If it's warm up there, and everything that we've seen says it is, all
+this cold water that's going north gets warm and goes out some place;
+and rest you, son, wherever it goes out, there's a hole in the ice.'
+
+"Here we were interrupted by the mate, who said that there were queer
+things going on overhead, and some of the sailors were ready to mutiny
+unless the return trip was commenced. Captain Burrows went on deck at
+once, and you may be sure I followed at his heels.
+
+"'What's wrong here?' demanded the captain, in his roaring tone,
+stepping into the midst of the crew.
+
+"'A judgment against this pryin' into God's secrets, sir,' said an
+English sailor, in an awe-struck voice. 'Look at the signs, sir,'
+pointing overhead.
+
+"Captain Burrows and I both looked over our heads, and there saw an
+impressive sight, indeed. A vast colored map of an unknown world hung in
+the clouds over us--a mirage from the aurora. It looked very near, and
+was so distinct that we could distinguish polar bears on the ice-crags.
+One man insisted that the mainmast almost touched one snowy peak, and
+most of them actually believed that it was an inverted part of some
+world, slowly coming down to crush us. Captain Burrows looked for
+several minutes before he spoke. Then he said: 'My men, this is the
+grandest proof of all that Providence is helping us. This thing that you
+see is only a picture; it's a mirage, the reflection of a portion of the
+earth on the sky. Just look, and you will see that it's in the shape of
+a crescent, and we are almost in the center of it; and, I tell you, it's
+a picture of the country just in front of us. See this peak? See that
+low place where we went up? There is the great wall we saw, the open sea
+beyond it, and, bless me, if it don't look like something green over in
+the middle of that ocean! See, here is the "Duncan McDonald," as plain
+as A, B, C, right overhead. Now, there's nothing to be afraid of in
+that; if it's a warning, it's a good one--and if any one wants to go
+home to his mother's, and is old enough, _he can walk_!'
+
+[Illustration: "A white city ... was visible for an instant."]
+
+"The captain looked around, but the sailors were as cool as he was--they
+were reassured by his honest explanation. Then he took me by the arm,
+and, pointing to the painting in the sky, said: 'Old man Providence
+again, son, sure as you are born; do you see that lane through the great
+ring? There's an open, fairly straight passage to the inner ocean,
+except that it's closed by about three miles of ice on our side; see it
+there, on the port side?'
+
+"Yes, I could see it, but I asked Captain Burrows how he could account
+for the open passages beyond and the wall of ice in front; it was cold
+water going in.
+
+"'It's strange,' he answered, shading his eye with his hand, and looking
+long at the picture of the clear passage, like a great canal between the
+beetling cliffs. All at once, he grasped my arm and said in excitement,
+pointing towards the outer end of the passage: 'Look!'
+
+"As I looked at the mirage again, the great mass of ice in front
+commenced to slowly turn over, outwardly.
+
+"'It's an iceberg, sir, only an iceberg!' said the captain, excitedly,
+'and she is just holding that passage because the current keeps her up
+against the hole; now, she will wear out some day, and then--in goes the
+"Duncan McDonald"!'
+
+"'But there are others to take its place,' and I pointed to three other
+bergs, apparently some twenty miles away, plainly shown in the sky;
+'they are the reinforcements to hold the passage.'
+
+"'Looks that way, son, but by the great American buzzard, we'll get in
+there somehow, if we have to blow that berg up.'
+
+"As we looked, the picture commenced to disappear, not fade, but to go
+off to one side, just as a picture leaves the screen of a magic lantern.
+Over the inner ocean there appeared dark clouds; but this part was
+visible last, and the clouds seemed to break at the last moment, and a
+white city, set in green fields and forests, was visible for an instant,
+a great golden dome in the center remaining in view after the rest of
+the city was invisible.
+
+"'A rainbow of promise, son,' said the captain.
+
+"I looked around. The others had grown tired of looking, and were gone.
+Captain Burrows and myself were the only ones that saw the city.
+
+"We got under way for an hour, and then stood by near the berg until
+eight bells the next morning; but you must remember it was half dark all
+the time up there then. While Captain Burrows and myself were at
+breakfast, he cudgeled his brains over ways and means for moving that
+ice, or preventing other bergs from taking its place. When we went on
+deck, our berg was some distance from the mouth of the passage, and
+steadily floating away. Captain Burrows steamed the ship cautiously up
+toward the passage; there was a steady current coming out.
+
+"'I reckon,' said Eli Jeffries, 'they must have a six-months' ebb and
+flow up in that ocean.'
+
+"'If that's the case, said Captain Burrows, 'the sooner we get in, the
+better;' and he ordered the 'Duncan McDonald' into the breach in the
+world of ice.
+
+"Gentlemen, suffice it to say that we found that passage perfectly
+clear, and wider as we proceeded. This we did slowly, keeping the lead
+going constantly. The first mate reported the needle of the compass
+working curiously, dipping down hard, and sparking--something he had
+never seen. Captain Burrows only said: 'Let her spark!'
+
+"As we approached the inner ocean, as we called it, the passage was
+narrow; it became very dark and the waters roared ahead. I feared a fall
+or rapid, but the 'Duncan McDonald' could not turn back. The noise was
+only the surf on the great crags within. As the ship passed out into the
+open sea beyond, the needle of the compass turned clear around and
+pointed back. 'Do you know, son,' said Captain Burrows, 'that I believe
+the so-called magnetic pole is a great ring around the true Pole, and
+that we just passed it there? The whole inside of this mountain looks
+to me like rusted iron instead of stone, anyhow.'"
+
+Here our story-teller rested and dozed for a few minutes; then rousing
+up, he said: "I'll tell you the rest to-morrow; yes, to-morrow; I'm tired
+now. To-morrow I'll tell you about a wonderful country; wonderful
+cities; wonderful people! I'll show you solar pictures such as you never
+saw, of scenes, places, and people you never dreamed of. I will show you
+implements that will prove that there's a country where gold is as
+common as tin at home--where they make knives and forks and stew-pans of
+it! I'll show you writing more ancient and more interesting than the
+most treasured relics in our Sanscrit libraries. I'll tell you of the
+two years I spent in another world. I'll tell you of the precious cargo
+that went to the bottom of the frozen ocean with the staunch little
+ship, 'Duncan McDonald;' of the bravest, noblest commander, and the
+sweetest angel of a woman that ever breathed and lived and loved. I'll
+tell you of my escape and the hell I've been through. To-morrow--"
+
+He dozed off for a few moments again.
+
+"But I've got enough in this pack to turn the world inside out with
+wonder--ah, what a sensation it will be, what an educational feature! It
+will send out a hundred harum-scarum expeditions to find Polaria--but
+there are few commanders like Captain Burrows; he could do it, the rest
+of 'em will die in the ice. But when I get to San Fran----. Say,
+captain, how long will it take to get there, and how long before you
+start?"
+
+Enoch and I exchanged glances, and Enoch answered: "We wa'n't goin' to
+"Frisco."
+
+"Around the Horn, then?" inquired the stranger, sitting up. "But you
+will land me in 'Frisco, won't you? I can't wait, I must--"
+
+"We're goin' _in_," said Enoch; "goin' north, for a three-years'
+cruise."
+
+"North!" shouted the stranger, wildly. "Three years in that hell of ice.
+Three years! My God! North! North!"
+
+He was dancing around the deck like a maniac, trying to put his
+pack-loop over his head. Enoch went toward him, to tell him how he
+could go on the "Enchantress," but he looked wildly at him, ran forward
+and sprang out on the bowsprit, and from there to the jib. Enoch saw he
+was out of his mind, and ordered two sailors to bring him in. As they
+sprang on to the bow, he stood up and screamed:
+
+"No! No! No! Three years! Three lives! Three hells! I never--"
+
+One of the men reached for him here, but he kicked at the sailor
+viciously, and turning sidewise, sprang into the water below.
+
+A boat, already in the water, was manned instantly; but the worn-out
+body of another North Pole explorer had gone to the sands of the bottom
+where so many others have gone before; evidently his heavy pack had held
+him down, there to guard the story it could tell--in death as he had in
+life.
+
+                                THE END
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+DANGER SIGNALS
+
+Remarkable, Exciting And Unique Examples Of The Bravery,
+Daring And Stoicism In The Midst Of Danger Of
+TRAIN DISPATCHERS AND RAILROAD ENGINEERS
+
+By
+
+JOHN A. HILL
+and
+JASPER EWING BRADY
+
+ABSORBING STORIES OF MEN WITH NERVES OF STEEL,
+INDOMITABLE COURAGE AND WONDERFUL ENDURANCE
+
+Fully Illustrated
+
+CHICAGO
+JAMIESON-HIGGINS CO.
+1902
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: Facsimile Of A Completed Order As Entered In The
+Despatcher's Order-Book]
+
+DANGER SIGNALS.
+
+PART II.
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+LEARNING THE BUSINESS--MY FIRST OFFICE
+
+
+Seated in sumptuously furnished palace cars, annihilating space at the
+rate of sixty miles an hour, but few passengers ever give a thought to
+the telegraph operators of the road stuck away in towers or in dingy
+little depots, in swamps, on the tops of mountains, or on the bald
+prairies and sandy deserts of the west; and yet, these selfsame
+telegraph operators are a very important adjunct to the successful
+operation of the road, and a single error on the part of one of them
+might result in the loss of many lives and thousands of dollars.
+
+The whole length of the railroad from starting point to terminus is
+literally under the eyes of the train despatcher. By means of reports
+sent in by hundreds of different operators, he knows the exact location
+of all trains at all times, the number of "loads" and "empties" in each
+train, the number of cars on each siding, the number of passing tracks
+and their capacity, the capabilities of the different engines, the
+gradients of the road, the condition of the roadbed, and, above all, he
+knows the personal characteristics of every conductor and engineer on
+the road. In fact if there is one man of more importance than another on
+a railroad it is the train despatcher. During his trick of eight hours
+he is the autocrat of the road, and his will in the running of trains is
+absolute. Therefore despatchers are chosen with very special regard for
+their fitness for the position. They must be expert telegraphers, quick
+at figures, and above all they must be as cool as ice, have nerves of
+steel, and must be capable of grasping a trying situation the minute an
+emergency arises. An old despatcher once said to me: "Sooner or later a
+despatcher, if he sticks to the business, will have his smash-up, and
+then down goes a reputation which possibly he has been years in building
+up, and his name is inscribed on the roll of 'has-beens.'"
+
+Before the despatcher comes the operator, and the old Biblical saying,
+"Many are called but few are chosen," is well illustrated by the small
+number of good despatchers that are found; it is easy enough to find
+excellent operators, but a first-class despatcher is a rarity among
+them.
+
+I learned telegraphy some fifteen or sixteen years ago at a school away
+out in western Kansas. After I had been there three or four months, I
+was the star of the class, and imagined that the spirit of Professor
+Morse had been reincarnated in me. No wire was too swift for me to work,
+no office too great for me to manage; in fact visions of a
+superintendency of telegraph flitted before my eyes. Such institutions
+as this school are very correctly named "ham factories."
+
+During my stay at the school I formed the acquaintance of the night
+operator at the depot and it was my wont to spend most of my nights
+there picking up odds and ends of information. For my own benefit I used
+to copy everything that came along; but the young man in charge never
+left me entirely alone. Night operators at all small stations have to
+take care of their own lamps and fires, sweep out, handle baggage, and,
+in short, be porter as well as operator, and for the privilege of being
+allowed to stay about I used to do this work for the night man at the
+office in question. His name was Harry Burgess and he was as good a man
+as ever sat in front of a key. Some few weeks after this he was
+transferred to a day office up the road and by his help I was made
+night operator in his stead. Need I say how proud I felt when I received
+a message from the Chief Despatcher telling me to report for duty that
+night? I think I was the proudest man, or boy rather, on this earth.
+Just think! Night operator, porter and baggageman, working from seven
+o'clock in the evening until seven o'clock in the morning, and receiving
+the magnificent sum of forty dollars per month! It was enough to make my
+bosom swell with pride and it's a wonder I didn't burst.
+
+Heretofore, I had had Burgess to fall back upon when I was copying
+messages or orders, but now I was alone and the responsibility was all
+mine. I managed to get through the first night very well, because all I
+had to do was to take a few "red" commercial messages, "O. S." the
+trains and load ten big sample trunks on No. 2. The trains were all on
+time and consequently there were no orders. I was proud of my success
+and went off duty at seven o'clock in the morning with a feeling that my
+services were well nigh indispensable to the road, and if anything were
+to happen to me, receivers would surely have to be appointed.
+
+The second night everything went smoothly until towards eleven o'clock,
+when the despatcher began to call "MN," and gave the signal "9." Now
+the signal "9" means "Train Orders," and takes precedence over
+everything else on the wire. The situation was anything but pleasant for
+me, because I had never yet, on my own responsibility, taken a train
+order, and I stood in a wholesome fear of the results that might accrue
+from any error of mine. So I didn't answer the despatcher at once as I
+should have done because I hoped he would get tired of calling me and
+would tackle "OG," and give him the order. But he didn't. He just kept
+on calling me, increasing his speed all the time. In sheer desperation,
+I went out on the platform for five minutes and stamped around to keep
+warm, hoping all the time he would stop when he found I did not answer.
+But when I returned instead of calling me on one wire, he had his
+operator calling me on the commercial line while he was pounding away on
+the railroad wire. At the rate those two sounders were going they
+sounded to me like the crack of doom and I was becoming powerfully warm.
+I finally mustered up courage and answered him.
+
+The first thing the despatcher said was:
+
+"Where in h--l have you been?"
+
+I didn't think that was a very nice thing for him to say, and he fired
+it at me so fast I could hardly read it, so I simply replied, "Out
+fixing my batteries."
+
+"Well," he said, "your batteries will need fixing when I get through
+with you. Now copy 3."
+
+"Copy 3," means to take three copies of the order that is to follow, so
+I grabbed my manifold order-book and stylus and prepared to copy. There
+is a rule printed in large bold type in all railroad time-cards which
+says, "Despatchers, in sending train orders to operators, will
+accommodate their speed to the abilities of the operators. In all cases
+_they will send plainly and distinctly_." If the despatcher had sent
+according to my ability just then he would have sent that order by train
+mail. But instead, from the very beginning, he fired it at me so fast,
+that before I had started to take it he was away down in the body of it.
+I had written down only the order number and date, when I broke and
+said, "G. A. To." That made him madder than ever and he went at me again
+with increased violence the sounder seeming like the roll of a drum. I
+think I broke him about ten times and finally he said, "For heaven's
+sake go wake up the day man. You're nothing but a ham." Strangely enough
+I could take all of his nasty remarks without any trouble while the
+order almost completely stumped me. However, I finally succeeded in
+putting it all down, repeated it back to him, and received his "O. K."
+
+When the train arrived the conductor and engineer came in the office and
+I gave them the order. The conductor glanced at it for a moment and then
+said with a broad grin, "Say, kid, which foot did you use in copying
+this?" My copy wasn't very clear, but finally he deciphered it, and they
+both signed their names, the despatcher gave me the "complete," and they
+left. As soon as the train, which was No. 22, a livestock express, had
+departed, I made my O. S. report, and then heaved a big sigh of relief.
+
+Scarcely had the tail-lights disappeared across the bridge and around
+the bend, when the despatcher called again and said, "For God's sake
+stop that train."
+
+I said, "I can't. She's gone."
+
+"Well," he snapped back, "there's a good chance for a fine smash-up this
+night."
+
+That scared me almost out of my wits, and I looked at my copy of the
+order. But it read all right, and yet I felt mighty creepy. About thirty
+minutes afterwards, I heard a heavy step on the platform and in a second
+the hind brakeman came tramping in, and cheerfully saluted me with,
+"Well, I reckon you've raised h--l to-night. 21 and 22 are up against
+each other hard about a mile and a half east of here. They met on a
+curve and engines, box-cars, livestock and freight are piled up in fine
+shape."
+
+"Any one killed?" I asked with a blanched face and sinking heart.
+
+"Naw, no one is exactly killed, but one engineer and a fireman are
+pretty badly scalded, and 'Shorty' Jones, our head man, has a broken leg
+caused by jumping. You'd better tell the despatcher."
+
+Visions of the penitentiary for criminal neglect danced before my
+disordered brain; all my knowledge of telegraphy fled; I was weak in the
+knees, sick at heart, and as near a complete wreck as a man could be.
+But something had to be done, so I finally told the despatcher that Nos.
+21 and 22 were in the ditch, and he snapped back, "D--n it, I've been
+expecting it, and have ordered the wrecking outfit out from Watsego. You
+turn your red-light and hold everything that comes along. In the
+meantime go wake up the day man. I want an operator there, and not a
+ham."
+
+When the day man came in, half dressed, he said, "Well, what the devil
+is the matter?"
+
+Speech had entirely left me by this time, so I simply pointed to the
+order, and the brakeman told him the rest. Never in all my life have I
+spent such a night as that. The day man regaled me with charming little
+incidents, about men he knew, who, for having been criminally negligent,
+had been shot by infuriated engineers or had been sent up for ten years.
+He seemed to take a fiendish delight in telling me these things and my
+discomfiture was great. I would have run away if I hadn't been too weak.
+About seven o'clock in the morning, after a night of misery, he
+patronizingly told me, that it wasn't my fault at all; the despatcher
+had given a "lap order," and that the blame was on him. Well! the
+reaction was as bad, almost, as the first feeling of horror. I went home
+and after a light breakfast, retired to bed, but not to sleep, for every
+time I would close my eyes, visions of wrecks, penitentiaries, dead men
+and ruined homes came crowding upon my disordered brain.
+
+About ten o'clock they sent for me to come to the office. I went over
+and Webster the agent said the superintendent wanted to see me. I had
+never seen the superintendent and he seemed to me to be about as far off
+as the President of the United States, but I screwed up my courage and
+went in. I saw a kindly-looking gentleman seated before Webster's desk,
+but I was too much frightened to speak and just stood there like a bump
+on a log. Presently, Mr. Brink, the superintendent, turned to Webster
+and said, "I wonder why that night man doesn't come?"
+
+I tremblingly replied, "I am the night man, sir." He looked at me for a
+moment and smilingly said, "Why, bless my soul, my lad! I thought you
+were a messenger boy." He then asked me for my story of the wreck. When
+I had given it he seemed satisfied, and gave me lots of good advice; but
+in the end he said I was too young to have the position, and I was
+discharged. But he kindly added, that in a few years he would be glad to
+have me come back on the road, after I had acquired more experience. The
+next day I returned to school.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+AN ENCOUNTER WITH TRAIN ROBBERS
+
+
+My first attempt at holding an office had proved such a flat and dismal
+failure that I thought I should never have the heart to apply for
+another. I worked faithfully in the school for about a month, and then
+the fever to try again took hold of me. I knew it would be of no use to
+apply to my former superintendent, Mr. Brink, so I wrote to Mr. R. B.
+Bunnell, Superintendent of Telegraph of the P. Q. & X. Railroad at
+Kansas City, Missouri, saying I was an expert operator and desired a
+position on his road. Mr. Bunnell must have been laboring under a
+hypnotic spell, for by return mail he wrote, enclosing me a pass to
+Alfreda, Kansas, and directing me to assume charge of the night office
+at that point at the magnificent salary of $37.50 per month. This was a
+slight decrease from my former salary, but I didn't care. I wanted a
+chance to redeem myself and I felt confident I could be more successful
+in my second attempt. So I packed my few belongings, bade good-bye to
+the school forever, and away I went.
+
+When I left "MN," I said nothing to any one about my destination, and I
+did not know a thing about Alfreda, except that it was near the border
+line between Kansas and Colorado. The brakeman on the train in talking
+to me told me it was a very pleasant place; but when he said so I
+fancied I could detect a sarcastic ring in his voice, and I was in no
+doubt about it when I arrived and saw what a desolate, dreary place
+Alfreda was. The only things in sight were a water-tank, a pump-house
+and the telegraph office; and I wish you could have seen that office. It
+was simply the bed of a box-car, taken off the trucks and set down with
+one end towards the track. A small platform, two windows, a door, and
+the signal board perched high on a pole completed the outfit.
+
+I arrived at six-thirty in the morning and there wasn't a living soul in
+sight. An hour later, a big broad shouldered Irishman who proved to be
+the pumper, came ambling along on a railroad velocipede. He looked at me
+for a minute, and after I had made myself known he grinned and said,
+"Well, I hopes as how ye will loike the place. Burke, the man who was
+here afore ye, got scared off by thramps, and I reckon he's not stopped
+runnin' yit." Fine introduction wasn't it?
+
+I found there was no day operator and the only house around was the
+section house, two miles up the track. The operator and pumper boarded
+there with the section boss; but the railroad company was magnanimous
+enough to furnish a velocipede for their use in going to and from the
+station. How I felt the first night, stuck away out there in that
+box-car, two miles from the nearest house and twelve miles from the
+nearest town, I must leave to the imagination. My heart sank and I had
+many misgivings, in fact, I was scared to death, but I set my teeth hard
+and determined to do my best, with the hope that I might be promoted to
+a better office. I did win that promotion but I wouldn't go through my
+experiences again for the whole road.
+
+One night after I had been working there about a month, I went to my
+office as usual at seven o'clock. It was a black night threatening a big
+storm. The pumper had not gone home as yet and he remarked, that it was
+"goin' to be a woild night," but he hoped "the whistlin' av the wind
+would be after kaping me company," and with that he jumped on the
+velocipede, and off he went.
+
+I didn't much relish the idea of the storm, for I knew the reputation of
+Kansas as a cyclone state, and my box-car office was not well adapted to
+stand a hurricane. However, I went inside, and after lighting my lamps,
+sat down and wrote letters and read, when I was not taking train orders.
+This office was kept up solely because it was a convenient place to
+deliver orders to freight trains at night when they stopped for water.
+
+About twelve-thirty in the morning my door opened suddenly, and a man
+stepped quickly in. I was startled because this was almost the only man
+except the pumper and the train crews that had been there since I came.
+Once in a while a stray tramp had gone through, but this man was not a
+tramp. He wore a long overcoat, buttoned to his chin, with the collar
+turned up. A slouch hat pulled well down over his eyes so far concealed
+his face that his features were scarcely visible. He came over to my
+desk and gruffly asked, "What time is there a passenger train east
+to-night?"
+
+I answered that one went through at half past one, the Overland Flyer,
+but it did not stop at Alfreda. Quick as a flash he pulled a revolver
+and poking it in my face, said, "Young man, you turn your red-light and
+stop that train or I'll make a vacancy in this office mighty d----d
+quick."
+
+[Illustration: "Two of the men tied my hands in front of me."]
+
+The longer I gazed down the barrel of that revolver the bigger it grew,
+and it looked to me as if it was loaded with buck-shot to the muzzle.
+When it had grown to about the size of a gatling gun (and it didn't take
+long to do it), I concluded that "discretion was the better part of
+valor," and reached up and turned my red-light. Meanwhile the door
+opened again, and three more men came in. They were masked and the
+minute I saw them I knew they were going to make an attempt to hold up
+the Overland Flyer. Often this train carried large amounts of bullion
+and currency east, and I supposed they had heard that there was a
+shipment to go through that night.
+
+I was standing with my back to the table, and just then I heard the
+despatcher say that the Flyer was thirty minutes late from the west. I
+put my hands quietly behind me and let the right rest on the key. I then
+carefully opened the key and had just begun to speak to the despatcher
+when one of the men suspected me and said to the leader, "Bill, watch
+that little cuss. He's monkeying with the instrument and may give them
+warning."
+
+I stopped, closed the key, and was trying to look unconcerned, when
+"Bill," said that "to stop all chances of further trouble," they would
+bind and gag me. Thereupon two of the men tied my hands in front of me,
+bound my legs securely, and thrust a villainously dirty gag in my mouth.
+When this was done, "Bill" said, "Throw him across those blamed
+instruments so they will keep quiet." They flung me upon the table,
+face downwards, so that the relay was just under my stomach, and of
+course my weight against the armature of the relay stopped the clicking
+of the sounder. As luck would have it, my left hand was in such a
+position that it just touched the key, and I found I could move the hand
+slightly. So I opened the key and pretended to be struggling quite a
+little. The leader came over and giving me a good stiff punch in the
+ribs, said with an oath, "You keep quiet or we'll find a way to make
+you." I became passive again, and then when the men were engaged in
+earnest conversation, I began to telegraph softly to the despatcher. The
+relay being shut off by my weight, there was no noise from the sounder,
+and I sent so slowly that the key was noiseless. Of course I did not
+know on whom I was breaking in, but I kept on. I told the exact state of
+affairs, and asked him to either tell the Flyer not to heed my red-light
+and go through, or, better still, to send an armed posse from Kingsbury,
+twelve miles up the road. I repeated the message twice, so that he would
+be sure to hear it, and then trusted to luck.
+
+The cords and gags were beginning to hurt, and my anxiety was very
+great. The minutes dragged slowly by, and I thought that hour would
+never end; but it did end at last, and all of a sudden I heard the long
+calliope whistle of the engine on the Flyer as she came down the grade.
+This was followed by two short blasts, that showed she had seen my
+red-light and was going to stop. "My God!" I thought. "Has she been
+warned?" So soon as the train whistled the men went out leaving me
+helpless on the table. I heard the whistle of the air brakes and knew
+the train must be slowing up. My anxiety was intense. Presently I heard
+her stop at the tank, and then, in about a second, I listened to the
+liveliest fusillade that I had ever heard in my life. It was sweet music
+to my ears I can tell you, for it indicated to me, what proved to be a
+fact, that a posse were on board and that the robbers were foiled. One
+of them was shot, and two were captured, but "Bill," the leader,
+escaped. They had their horses hitched to the telegraph poles, and as
+"Bill" went running by the office I heard him say, "I'll fix that d--d
+operator, anyhow." Then, BANG! crash, went the glass in the window, and
+a bullet buried itself in the table, not two inches from my head. I was
+not exactly killed, but I was frightened so badly, and the strain had
+been so great, that when the trainmen came in to release me, I at once
+lost consciousness. When I came to, I was surrounded by a sympathetic
+crowd of passengers and trainmen, and a doctor, who happened to be on
+the train, was pouring something down my throat that soon made me feel
+better.
+
+As soon as I had recovered myself sufficiently, I telegraphed the
+despatcher what had happened, and the chief, who in the meantime had
+been sent for, told me to close up my office, and come east on the
+flyer, to report for duty in the morning in his office as copy operator.
+
+That is how I won my promotion.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+IN A WRECK
+
+
+The change from Alfreda to the chief despatcher's office in Nicholson
+was, indeed, a pleasant one. The despatchers, especially the first trick
+man, seemed somewhat dubious as to my ability to do the work, but I was
+rapidly improving in telegraphy, and, in spite of my extreme youth I was
+allowed to remain. But the life of a railroad man is very uncertain, and
+one day we were much surprised to hear that the road had gone into the
+hands of receivers. There were charges of mismanagement made against a
+number of the higher officials of the road, and one of the first things
+the receivers did was to have a general "house-cleaning." The general
+manager, the general superintendent, and a number of the division
+superintendents resigned to save dismissal, and my friend the chief
+despatcher went with them. He was succeeded by Ted Donahue, the man who
+had been working the first trick. Ted didn't like me worth a cent, and,
+rather than give him an opportunity to dismiss me, I quit.
+
+I was at home idle for a few weeks, and then hearing that there might be
+an opening for operators on the C. Q. & R., a new road building up in
+Nebraska, I once more started out. It was an all night ride to the
+division headquarters, and thinking I might as well be luxurious for
+once, I took a sleeper. My berth was in the front end of the last car on
+the train. I retired about half past ten and soon dropped off into a
+sound sleep. I had been asleep for perhaps two hours, when I was
+awakened by the car giving a violent lurch, and then suddenly stopping.
+I was stunned and dazed for a moment, but I soon heard the cracking and
+breaking of timbers, and the hissing of steam painfully near to my
+section. I tried to move and rise up, but found that the confines of my
+narrow quarters would not permit it. I then realized that we were
+wrecked and that I was in a bad predicament. I felt that I had no bones
+broken, and my only fear was that the wreck would take fire. My fears
+were not groundless for I soon smelled smoke. I cried out as loudly as I
+could, but my berth had evidently become a "sound proof booth." Then I
+felt that my time had come, and had about given up all hope, and was
+trying to say a prayer, when I heard the train-crew and passengers
+working above me. Again I cried out and this time was heard, and soon
+was taken out. God! what a night it was--raining a perfect deluge and
+the wind blowing a hurricane.
+
+I learned that our train had stopped on account of a hot driving-box on
+the engine; the hind brakeman had been sent back to put out a flag, but,
+imagining there was nothing coming, he had neglected to do his full
+duty, and before he knew it, a fast freight came tearing around the
+bend, and a tail-end collision was the result. Seeing the awful effects
+of his gross neglect, the brakeman took out across the country and was
+never heard of again. I fancy if he could have been found that night by
+the passengers and train-crew his lot would have been anything but
+pleasant. Two people in the sleeper were killed outright, and three were
+injured, while the engineer and fireman of the freight were badly hurt
+by jumping. I didn't get a scratch.
+
+As I stood watching the wrecked cars burn, I heard the conductor say,
+"he wished to God he had an operator with him." I told him I was an
+operator and offered my services. He said there was a pocket instrument
+in the baggage car, and asked me if I would cut in on the wire and tell
+the despatcher of the wreck. I assented and went forward with him to the
+baggage car, where he gave me a pair of pliers, a pocket instrument and
+about eight feet of office wire. I asked for a pair of climbers and some
+more office wire, but neither was to be had. Here, therefore, was a
+pretty knotty problem. The telegraph poles were thirty feet high; how
+was I to make a connection with only eight feet of wire and no climbers?
+I thought for a while, and then I put the instrument in my pocket, and
+undertook to "shin up" the pole as I used to do when I was a schoolboy.
+After many efforts, in which I succeeded in tearing nearly all the
+clothes off of me, I finally reached the lowest cross-arm, and seated
+myself on it with my legs wrapped around the pole. There was only one
+wire on this arm, so I had, comparatively speaking, plenty of room. On
+each of the other two cross arms there were four wires, and there was
+also one strung along the tops of the poles. This made ten wires in all,
+and I had not the least idea which one was the despatcher's wire. The
+pole being wet from the rain, made the wires mighty hot to handle. I had
+the fireman hand me up a piece of old iron wire he happened to have on
+the engine, and with this I made a flying cut in the third wire of the
+second cross arm. I attached the little pocket instrument, and found
+that upon adjusting it, I was on a commercial wire. There I was,
+straddling a cross arm between heaven and earth, with the instrument
+held on my knee, and totally ignorant of any of the calls or the wire I
+was on. I yelled down to the conductor and asked him if he knew any of
+the calls. No; of course he didn't; and he was so excited he didn't have
+sense enough to look on his time-card, where the calls are always
+printed. Finally, after carefully adjusting the instrument, I opened my
+key, broke in on somebody, and said "Wreck." The answer came, "Sine." I
+said, "I haven't any sine. No. 2 on the C. K. & Q. has been wrecked out
+here, and I want the despatcher's office. Can you tell me if he is on
+this wire?"
+
+Now there is a vast deal of difference between sending with a Bunnell
+key on a polished table, and sending with a pocket instrument held on
+your knee, especially when you are perched on a thirty foot pole, with
+the rain pouring down in torrents, the wind blowing almost a gale, and
+expecting every minute to be blown off and have your precious neck
+broken. Consequently my sending was pretty "rocky," and some one came
+back at me with, "Oh! get out you big ham." But I hung to it and
+finally made them understand who I was and what I wanted. The main
+office in Ouray cut me in on the despatcher's wire and I told him of the
+wreck. He said he had suspected that No. 2. was in trouble, but he had
+no idea that it was as bad as I had reported. He said he would order out
+the wrecking outfit and would send doctors with it. Would I please stay
+close and do the telegraphing for them, he would see that I was properly
+rewarded. Then I told him about where I was, but promised to hold on as
+long as I could, but for him to be sure and send out some more wire and
+a pair of climbers on the wrecker. After waiting about an hour the
+wrecker arrived, and with it the doctors; so our anxiety was relieved,
+the wounded taken care of, and a decent wrecking office put in.
+
+The division superintendent came out with them, and for my services he
+offered me the day office at X----, which I accepted.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+A WOMAN OPERATOR WHO SAVED A TRAIN
+
+
+X---- was a pretty good sort of an office to have, barring a beastly
+climate wherein all four seasons would sometimes be ably and fully
+represented in one twenty-four hours. But eighty big round American
+dollars a month was not to be sneezed at--that was a heap of money to a
+young chap--and I hung on. In those days civilization had not advanced
+as far westward as it is to-day, and there was not much local business
+on the road, due to the sparsely settled country. The first office east
+of X---- was Dunraven, some twenty miles away. Between the two places were
+several blind sidings used as passing tracks. Dunraven was a cracking
+good little village and the day operator there was Miss Mary Marsh;
+there was no night office. Now I was just at the age where all a young
+man's susceptibility comes to the surface, and I was a pretty fair
+sample. I weighed one hundred and fifty pounds and every ounce of me was
+as susceptible as a barometer on a stormy day. Consequently it was not
+long until I knew Mary and liked her immensely. All my spare time was
+occupied in talking to her over the wire, except when the cussed
+despatcher would chase me off with, "Oh! get out you big spoon, you make
+every one tired." Then Mary would give me the merry, "Ha, ha, ha."
+
+One time I took a day off and ran down to Dunraven, and my impressions
+were fully confirmed. Mary was a little bit of a woman, with black hair,
+red lips, white teeth, and two eyes that looked like coals of fire, so
+bright were they. She was small, but when she took hold of the key, she
+was jerked lightning, and I have never seen but one woman since who was
+her equal in that line.
+
+Our road was one of the direct connections of the "Overland Route," west
+to San Francisco, and twice a day we had a train, that in those days was
+called a flyer. Now it would be in a class with the first class
+freights. The west bound train passed my station at eight in the
+morning, and the east bound at seven-thirty in the evening. After that I
+gave "DS" good night, and was free until seven the next morning. The
+east bound flyer passed Dunraven at eight-fifteen in the evening and
+then. Mary was through for the night. The town was a mile away from the
+depot and the poor girl had to trudge all that distance alone. But she
+was as plucky as they make them and was never molested. A mile west of
+Dunraven was Peach Creek, spanned by a wooden pile and stringer bridge.
+Ordinarily, you could step across Peach Creek, but sometimes, after a
+heavy rain it would be a raging torrent of dirty muddy water, and it
+seemed as if the underpinning must surely be washed out by the flood.
+
+One day after I had been at X---- a couple of months, we had a stem-winder
+of a storm. The rain came down in torrents unceasingly for twelve hours,
+and the country around X---- was almost a morass. The roadbed was good,
+however, and when the section men came in at six that night they
+reported the track firm and safe. But, my stars! how the rain was
+falling at seven-thirty as the flyer went smashing by. I made my "OS"
+report and then thought I'd sit around and wait until it had passed
+Dunraven and have a little chat with Mary, before going home for the
+night. At seven-forty-five I called her but no answer. Then I waited.
+Eight o'clock, eight-fifteen, eight-twenty, and still nothing from
+Dunraven. The despatcher then started to call "DU," but no answer.
+Finally, he said to me, "You call 'DU.' Maybe the wire is heavy and she
+can't adjust for me." I called steadily for five minutes, but still no
+reply. I was beginning to get scared. All sorts of ideas came into my
+head--robbers, tramps, fire and murder.
+
+"DS" said, "I'm afraid something has happened to the flyer. Turn your
+red-light and when No. 26 comes along, I'll give them an order to cut
+loose with the engine and go through and find the flyer."
+
+Five minutes later the wire opened and closed. Then the current became
+weak, but adjusting down, I heard, "DS, DS, WK." Ah! that meant a wreck.
+"DS" answered and I heard the following message:--
+
+     "W. D. C. "PEACH CREEK, 4 | 13, 18--
+
+     "DS.
+
+     "Peach Creek bridge washed out to-night, but I heard of it and
+     arrived here in time to flag the flyer. Send an operator on the
+     wrecking outfit to relieve me.
+
+     (signed) MARY MARSH, Operator."
+
+Two hours afterwards the wrecker came by X---- and, obedient to orders
+from the despatcher, I boarded it and went down to work the office. We
+reached there in about forty minutes and found that the torrent had
+washed out the underpinning of the bridge, and nothing was left but a
+few ties, the rails and the stringers. A half witted boy, who lived in
+Dunraven, had been fishing that day like "Simple Simon," and came
+tramping up to the office, telling Miss Marsh, in an idiotic way, that
+Peach Creek bridge had washed out. Just then she heard me "OS" the flyer
+and her office was the next one to mine. As the flyer did not stop at
+Dunraven, the baggageman and helper went home at six o'clock and she was
+absolutely alone save for this half witted boy. The section house was a
+mile and a half away to the east. A mile away, to the south were the
+twinkling lights of the village, while but one short mile to the west
+was Peach Creek, with the bridge gone out, and the flyer thundering
+along towards it with its precious load of human freight. How could it
+be warned. The boy hadn't sense enough to pound sand. She must do it.
+So, quick as a flash she picked up the red-light standing near, and
+started down the track. The rain was coming down in a perfect deluge,
+and the wind was sweeping across the Nebraska prairies like a hurricane.
+Lightning was flashing, casting a lurid glare over the soaked earth, and
+the thunder rolled peal after peal, resembling the artillery of great
+guns in a big battle. Truly, it was like the setting for a grand drama.
+Undaunted by it all, this brave little woman, bare headed, hair flying
+in the wind, and soaked to the skin, battled with the elements as she
+fought her way down the track. A mile, ordinarily, is a short distance,
+but now, to her, it seemed almost interminable; and all the time the
+flyer was coming nearer and nearer to the creek with the broken bridge.
+My God! would she make it! Presently, above the howling of the wind she
+heard the mad waters as they went boiling and tumbling down the
+channel.
+
+[Illustration: "After many efforts I finally reached the lowest
+cross-arm."]
+
+At last she was there, standing on the brink. But the train was not yet
+saved. Just across the creek the road made an abrupt curve around a
+small hill, and if she could not reach that curve her labors would be to
+no avail, and a frightful wreck would follow. All the bridge was gone
+save the rails, stringers and a few shaky ties. Only forty feet
+intervened between her and the opposite bank, and get across she must.
+There was only one way, so grasping the lantern between her teeth, she
+started across on her hands and knees. The stringers swayed back and
+forth in the wind, and her frail body, it seemed, would surely be caught
+up and blown into the mad maelstrom of waters below. No! No! she could
+not fail now. Away up the road, borne to her anxious ears by the howling
+wind, she heard two long and two short blasts of the flyer's whistle as
+she signalled for a crossing. God! would she ever get there. Straining
+every nerve, at last success was hers, and tottering, she struggled up
+the other side. Flying up the track, looking for all the world like some
+eyrie witch, she reached the curve, swinging her red light like mad. Bob
+Burns, who was pulling the flyer that night, saw the signal, and
+immediately applied the emergency brakes. Then he looked again and the
+red-light was gone. But caution is a magic watchword with all railroad
+men, and he stopped. Climbing down out of the cab of the engine, he took
+his torch, and started out to investigate. He didn't have far to go,
+when he came upon the limp, inanimate form of Mary Marsh, the
+extinguished red-light tightly clasped in her cold little hand.
+
+"My God! Mike," he yelled to his fireman, "it's a woman. Why, hang me,
+if it isn't the little lady from Dunraven. Wonder what she is doing out
+here." He wasn't long in ignorance, because a brakeman sent out ahead
+saw that the bridge had gone.
+
+Rough, but kindly hands, bore her tenderly into the sleeper, and under
+the ministrations of her own sex, she soon came around. So soon as she
+had seen the flyer stopping she realized that she had succeeded and
+womanlike--she fainted. Her clothes were torn to tatters, and taken all
+in all this little heroine was a most woebegone specimen of humanity.
+
+A wrecking office was cut in by the baggageman, who happened to be an
+old lineman, and she sent the message to "DS," telling him of the wreck.
+I relieved her and she stayed in the sleeper all night, and the next day
+she returned to her work at Dunraven, but little worse for the
+experience. She had positively refused to accept a thing from the
+thankful passengers, saying she did but her duty.
+
+Two months afterwards she married the chief despatcher, and the
+profession lost the best woman operator in the business. I was
+dreadfully cut by the ending of affairs, but she had said, "Red headed
+operators were not in her class," and I reckon she was about right.
+
+Surely, she was a direct descendant from the Spartan mothers.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+A NIGHT OFFICE IN TEXAS--A STUTTERING DESPATCHER
+
+
+It was not long after Mary threw me over that I became tired of X---- and
+gave up my job and started south. I said it was on account of ill
+health, but the last thing that cussed first trick despatcher said to me
+was, "Never mind, you old spoon, you'll get over this attack in a very
+short while."
+
+I landed in St. Louis one bright morning and went up to the office of
+the chief despatcher of the Q. M. & S., and applied for an office on his
+division. He had none to give me but wired the chief despatcher at Big
+Rock, and in answer thereto I was sent the next morning to Healyville.
+And what a place I found! The town was down in the swamps of southeast
+Missouri, four miles north of the Arkansas line, and consisted of the
+depot and twenty or twenty-five houses, five of which were saloons.
+There was a branch road running from here to Honiton, quite a settlement
+on the Mississippi river, and that was the only possible excuse for an
+officer at this point. The atmosphere was so full of malaria, that you
+could almost cut it with an axe. I stayed there just three days, and
+then, fortunately, the chief despatcher ordered me to come to his
+office. He wanted me to take the office at Boling Cross, near the Texas
+line, but I had the traveling fever and wanted to go further south, and
+he sent me down on the I. & G. N., and the chief there sent me to
+Herron, Texas. There wasn't much sickness in the air around Herron, but
+there were just a million fleas to every square inch of sand in the
+place. Herron was one of the few towns in a very extensive cattle belt,
+and a few days after I had arrived I noticed the town had filled up with
+"cow punchers." They had just had their semi-annual round up, and were
+in town spending their money and having a whooping big time. You
+probably know what that means to a cow-boy. I was a tenderfoot of the
+worst kind, and every one at the boarding-house and depot seemed to take
+particular delight in telling me of the shooting scrapes and rackets of
+these cow-boys, and how they delighted in making it warm for a
+tenderfoot. Bob Wolfe, the day man at the depot, told me how at times
+they had come up and raised particular Cain at the station, especially
+when there was a new operator on hand. I didn't half believe all their
+stories, but I will confess that I had a few misgivings the first night
+when I went to work. One night passed safely enough, but the second was
+a hummer from the word go. The office was somewhat larger than the
+telegraph offices usually are in small towns. The table was in the
+recess of a big bay window, giving me a clear view of the I. & G. N.
+tracks, while along the front ran the usual long wide platform. The P. &
+T. C. road crossed at right angles at one end of the platform, and one
+operator did the work for the two roads. There were two lamps over my
+desk--one on each side of the bay window--and one was out in the
+waiting-room. I also kept a lantern lighted to carry when I went out to
+trains.
+
+All through the early part of the night, I heard sounds of revelry and
+carousing, accompanied by an occasional pistol shot, up in the town, but
+about half past eleven these sounds ceased, and I was congratulating
+myself that my night, would after all, be uneventful. About twelve
+o'clock, however, there arose just outside the office the greatest
+commotion I had ever heard in my life. I was eating my midnight lunch,
+and had a piece of pie in my hand, when I heard the tramp of many feet
+on the platform. It sounded like a regiment of infantry, and in a
+minute there came the report of a shot, and with a crash out went one of
+my lights, a shower of glass falling on the table. Before I could
+collect myself there came another shot and smash out went the other
+light. I dropped my pie and spasmodically grasped the table. The only
+lights left were the one in the waiting-room and my lantern, which made
+it in the office little better than total darkness. All the time the
+tramp, tramp on the platform was coming closer and closer, and my heart
+was gradually forcing its way up in my mouth. In a moment the
+waiting-room door was thrown open, and with a wild whoop and a big
+hurrah, the crowd came in. The door between the office and the
+waiting-room was closed, but that made no difference to my visitors;
+they smashed it open and swarmed into the office. One of them picked up
+the lantern, and swaggering over to where I sat all trembling with fear,
+and expecting that _my_ lights would go out next, raised it to my face.
+They all crowded around me and one of them gave me a good punch in the
+ribs. Then the one with the lantern said, "Well, fellows, the little
+cuss is game. He didn't get under the table like the last one did. Kid,
+for a tenderfoot, you're a hummer."
+
+Get under the table! I couldn't. I would have given half my interest in
+the hereafter to have been able to crawl under the table or to have run
+away. But fright held its sway, and locomotion was impossible.
+
+For about five minutes the despatcher had been calling me for orders,
+and in a trembling voice I asked them to let me answer and take the
+order. "Cert," said one of them, who appeared to be the leader, "go on
+and take the order, and then take a drink with us."
+
+By the dim light of only that lantern, with my order pad on a table
+covered with broken glass, and smattered with pie, I finally copied the
+order, but it was about the worst attempt I had ever made; and the
+conductor remarked when he signed it, that it would take a Philadelphia
+lawyer to read it. The cow-punchers, however, from that time on were
+very good friends of mine, and many a pleasant Sunday did I spend on
+their ranches. They afterwards told me that Bob Wolfe had put them up to
+their midnight visit in order to frighten me. They certainly succeeded.
+My service at Herron was not very profitable, the road being in the
+hands of receivers, and for four months none of us received a cent of
+wages. The road was called the "International & Great Northern," but we
+facetiously dubbed it the "Independent & Got Nothing."
+
+Some months after this I was transferred down to the southern division,
+and made night operator at Mankato. This was really about the best
+position I had yet struck: good hours, plenty of work and a fine office
+to do it in, and eighty dollars a month. The agent and day man were both
+fine fellows, and there was no chore work around the station--a baggage
+smasher did that. The despatchers up in "DS" office were pleasant to
+work with and as competent a lot of men as ever touched a key. I had
+never met any of them when I first took the office, though of course I
+soon knew their names, and the following incident will disclose how and
+under what unusual circumstances I formed the acquaintance of one of
+them, Fred De Armand, the second trick man.
+
+About four weeks after I took the Mankato office, engine 333, pulling a
+through livestock freight north, broke a parallel rod, and besides
+cutting the engineer into mince-meat, caused a great wreck. This took
+place about two miles and a half north of Mankato. The hind man came
+back and reported it, and being off duty, I caught up a pocket
+instrument and some wire, and jumping on a velocipede, was soon at the
+wreck. I cut in an office in short order, and "DS" soon knew exactly
+how matters stood. One passenger train south was tied up just beyond the
+wreck, and in about an hour and a half the wrecker appeared in charge of
+the trainmaster. I observed a young man twenty-eight or thirty years of
+age standing around looking on, and once when I was near him I noticed
+that he stammered very badly.
+
+I carefully avoided saying anything to that young man, because, I, too,
+at times, had a rather bad impediment in my speech. It asserted itself
+especially when I heard any one else stutter, or when the weather was
+going to change; the men who knew me well said they could always
+foretell a storm by my inability to talk. From my own experience,
+however, I knew that when a stammerer heard another man stammer, he
+imagined that he was being made fun of, and all the fight in him came at
+once to the surface; and as this young man was about twice my size, I
+did my best to keep away from him. But in a few moments he came over to
+where I was and said to me, "A-a-a-sk 'DS' t-t-t-t-o s-s-s-end out
+m-m-m-y r-r-ain c-c-c-c-oat on th-th-th-irteen." Every other word was
+followed by a whistle.
+
+My great help in stammering was to kick with my right foot. I knew what
+was coming, and tried my best to avert the trouble. I drew in a long
+breath and said: "Who sh-sh-sh-all I s-s-s-ay y-y-y-ou are?" and my
+right foot was doing great execution. True to its barometrical
+functions, my throat was predicting a storm. It came.
+
+He looked at me for a second, grew red in the face, then catching me by
+the collar, gave me a yank, that made me see forty stars, and said,
+"B-b-b-last you! wh-wh-at d-d-o y-y-ou m-mean b-b-y m-mocking me? I'll
+sm-sm-ash y-y-our b-b-b-lamed r-r-ed head.'"
+
+Speech left me entirely then, and I am afraid I would have been most
+beautifully thumped, had not Sanders, the trainmaster, come over and
+stopped him. He called him "De Armand," and I then knew he was the
+second trick despatcher. After many efforts De Armand told Sanders how I
+had mocked him. Sanders didn't know me and the war clouds began to
+gather again; but Johnson, the conductor of the wrecker, came over and
+said, "Hold on there, De Armand, that kid ain't mocking you; he stammers
+so bad at times that he kicks a hole in the floor. Why, I have seen him
+start to say something to my engineer pulling out of Mankato, and he
+would finish it just as the caboose went by, and we had some forty cars
+in the train at that."
+
+At this a smile broke over De Armand's face, and he grasped my hand and
+said, "Excuse m-m-m-e k-k-id; but y-y-you k-k-know how it is
+y-y-yourself." You may well believe that I did know.
+
+One night, shortly after this, I was repeating an order to De Armand,
+and in the middle of it I broke myself very badly. He opened his key,
+and said, "Kick, you devil, kick!" And I got the merry ha-ha from up and
+down the line. But in giving me a message a little while after he flew
+the track, and I instantly opened up and said, "Whistle, you tarrier,
+whistle!" Maybe he didn't get it back.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+BLUE FIELD, ARIZONA, AND AN INDIAN SCRIMMAGE
+
+
+The desire to travel was strong within me, and in the following June I
+left Mankato, went out to Arizona and secured a position on the A. & P.,
+at Blue Field, a small town almost in the centre of the desert. Alfreda,
+Kansas, was dreary and desolate enough, but there, I was at least in
+communication with civilization, because I had one wire running to
+Kansas City, while Blue Field was the crowning glory of utter
+desolation. The Bible says that the good Lord made heaven and earth in
+six days, and rested on the seventh. It needed but a single glance at
+Blue Field to thoroughly convince me that the Lord quit work at the end
+of the sixth day right there, and had never taken it up since. There was
+nothing but some scattering adobe shacks, with the usual complement of
+saloons, and as far almost as the eye could see in every
+direction,--sand--hot, glaring, burning sand. To the far northwards,
+could be dimly observed the outlines of the Mogollon range of
+mountains. The population consisted chiefly of about four hundred
+dare-devil spirits who had started to wander westwards in search of the
+El Dorado and had finally settled there, too tired, too disgusted to go
+any farther, and lacking money enough to return to their homes. It
+wasn't the most congenial crowd in the world. There was only one good
+thing in the place, and that was a deep well of pure sparkling water.
+The sun during the day was so scorching that the rails seemed to sizzle
+as they stretched out like two slender, interminable bands of silver
+over the hot sands, and at night no relief was apparent, and the office
+so stifling hot that my existence was well nigh unbearable. But the pay
+was ninety dollars per month and I hung on until I could save funds
+enough to get back to God's own country. To sleep in a house, in the day
+time, was almost killing, so I used to make up a sort of bunk on a truck
+and sleep in the shade of the freight shed. At seven-forty-three in the
+evening, the Trans-Continental flyer went smashing by at a fifty-five
+mile an hour clip and the dust it raised was enough to strangle a man.
+
+The Arizona climate is a well known specific for pulmonary troubles, and
+thousands of people come down there in all stages of consumption from
+the first premonitory cough to the living emaciated skeleton.
+
+The first station west of me was Clear Creek (so called on account of a
+good sized stream of water that came down from the Mogollons), and a few
+days after I arrived at Blue Field, I heard a message going over the
+wires saying that Fred Baird was coming down there to take charge. I had
+known him up in Kansas, and his looks and a hacking cough indicated only
+too truly, that the dreaded consumption had fastened itself on him;
+therefore when I heard of his assignment to Clear Creek, I knew it was
+his health that brought him down to that awful country. He had a wife
+(and a sweet little woman she was), and two beautiful children, aged two
+and four. A few evenings after this I had the pleasure of talking to
+them for several minutes as they went through on a slow passenger train,
+and I must say that my heart ached when I thought of the town to which
+that family was going. What a place to bring a woman? But then women
+have a faculty of hanging on to their liege lords under all
+circumstances and conditions. God bless 'em. Baird, himself, looked
+wretched, being a mere shadow of his former self, but like all
+consumptives he imagined he was going to get well.
+
+Just about this time, two Indian gentlemen, named Geronimo and Victoria,
+were raising particular mischief all through that section of the
+country, and the feeling that any moment they might come down on you and
+raise your scalp after puncturing you full of holes was anything but
+pleasant. It was decidedly creepy and many a time I wished myself back
+in the good old state of Texas. I had come for excitement and adventure
+and it was not long until I had both articles doled out to me in large
+chunks. Those Indians used to break out from their reservations, swoop
+down on some settlement, kill everything in sight and then loot and burn
+to their heart's content. There was no warning--just a few shots, then a
+shrill war-whoop, and a perfect horde of yelling and shooting red devils
+would be upon you. Precautions were taken and some of the larger
+settlements were able to stand them off until some of the small army
+could come and scatter them. Blue Field had pickets posted every night,
+chosen from among the four hundred toughs that lived there, and was
+pretty well protected.
+
+They gave us a wide berth for a while, but one night, I was sitting
+dozing in my chair about eleven-thirty, when I was awakened by the
+sharp crack of a rifle, followed in quick succession by others, until it
+was a regular fusillade. Then I heard the short shrill Apache war-whoop,
+and mentally I thought my time had come. I tried to breathe a prayer,
+but the high and unusual position of my heart effectually prevented any
+articulation. The window had been closed on account of a high wind
+blowing, or I fancy I should have gone out that way. However, I grabbed
+up a rifle, and then opening a trap door, dropped down into a little
+cubbyhole under the floor, where we used to keep our batteries. What I
+brought the rifle along for I can't say, unless it was to blow the top
+of my own head off. The place was like a bake-oven and all the air I
+received came through a small crack in the floor, and it was not long
+until I was soaked with perspiration.
+
+[Illustration: "One of them picked up the lantern, and swaggering over
+to where I sat all trembling...."]
+
+Overhead I could hear the crack of the rifles and the whoop of the
+Indians as the battle raged, back and forth. During a temporary lull I
+heard the despatcher calling me for dear life, but he could call for all
+I cared; I had other business just then--I was truly "25." All at once I
+heard a bigger commotion than ever, there was a sound as if caused by
+the scurrying of many feet, and then all was quiet. I sat there
+wondering what was coming next, and how much longer I had to live, when
+I smelled smoke, and in a second I knew the depot was on fire. I tried
+to raise the trap-door, but it had a snap lock and had been dropped so
+hard in my mad efforts to get away, that it was securely locked. Good
+God! was I to be burned like a rat in a trap? All was quiet save the
+crackling of the flames as they licked up the depot. Something must be
+done and quickly at that, or there would be one operator who would
+receive his conge in a manner that was anything but pleasant.
+Feverishly, I groped around, and all at once my hand came in contact
+with the Winchester rifle. I grasped it by the barrel, and using it as a
+battering ram I started to smash that door. The smoke by this time was
+stifling, suffocating, and already my senses were leaving
+me,--everything was swimming around before my eyes, but it was a case of
+life and death, and I hammered away with all my might. Finally, Crash!
+Ah! I had succeeded, the lock broke and in a moment I had pulled myself
+up in the office.
+
+The side towards the door was all ablaze and escape that way was
+impossible, so I picked up a chair and slammed it through the window
+over the table, and climbed out taking a loose set of instruments with
+me. The wires were still working, and above the crackle of the flames I
+heard "DS" still calling me. I reached in through the window and simply
+said,
+
+"Indians--depot on fire--have saved a set of instruments--will call you
+later when I can fix a wire," and signed my name, "Bates."
+
+My lungs were filled with smoke and felt like they had a million sharp
+needles sticking in them, but thanks to my lucky stars, I was not
+otherwise hurt. Everything appeared so quiet and still that I was dazed,
+but presently I heard a low mumbling of voices out to the westwards. I
+made my way thither and found the population (all that was left of it),
+assembled. When I staggered up to a group of the men, they turned on me
+like tigers, not knowing what kind of an animal I was. I recognized one
+of them who was commonly known as "Full-House Charley," and weakly said,
+
+"Don't shoot, Charley, it's Bates the night operator at the depot."
+
+"Well! where the devil have you been all the time? When the depot was
+burning some of us went over there, but you'd gone some place. We
+couldn't save anything so we let 'er burn. Your side partner, the day
+man, was killed and scalped."
+
+It appeared that just as the fight was the hottest, three troops of
+the --th U. S. Colored Cavalry, appeared on the scene, having been on
+the trail of this same band all day. They made short work of the red men
+who melted away to the fastnesses of the Mogollons, first setting fire
+to the depot, the troops in close pursuit. If there ever were faithful
+hard working fighters in that country, it was these same dusky
+brunettes.
+
+I told the gang where I had been, and in a few minutes several of them
+went over to the station to help me rig up a wire. I knew the
+despatcher's wire, and taking a pole's length out of another line, I
+soon made a connection to the instrument I had saved. It was no go--the
+wire was dead open. Then I rigged up a ground by running a wire to a
+pipe that ran down the well, and in testing I found the wire was open
+west. I called up "DS," who was east of-me, and told him what a nice hot
+old time we had been having out there.
+
+"Yes," he said, "I knew there was trouble. Just after you told me about
+the Indians and fire, Clear Creek said their place was attacked by
+another band and things were getting pretty hot with them. Then the wire
+went open, caused as I supposed by your fire, but now it seems as if
+Baird is probably up against it as well. A train load of troops will
+come through in a short while to try and get beyond the Indians and cut
+them off. If you are able, I wish you would flag them and go over to
+Clear Creek and report from there. Disconnect and take your instrument
+and leave the line cut through. A line man will be sent out from here in
+the morning. Everything is tied up on the road, and you can tell the C.
+& E. there's nothing ahead of them, but to run carefully, keeping a
+sharp lookout for torn up track and burned trestles."
+
+My experiences had been so exciting and the smoke in my lungs so
+painful, that I was ready to drop from fatigue; but then I thought of
+poor Fred Baird and his family, and I said I'd go. The troop train came
+in presently and I boarded her. It did my heart good to ride on that
+engine with "Daddy" Blake at the throttle, and think that four hundred
+big husky American regulars were trailing along behind, waiting for
+something to turn up and just aching for a crack at the red men.
+
+It was now about three o'clock, and just as the first rays of early dawn
+illumined the horizon, we came in sight of Clear Creek. There was a dull
+red glow against the sky, that told only too well what we should find.
+The place had not been as well protected as Blue Field, and the
+slaughter was something fearful. The depot was nothing but a smoldering
+mass of ruins, and but a short distance away we came upon the bodies of
+Baird, his wife and two children, shot to pieces, stripped, horribly
+mutilated and scalped. It was sickening, and shortly after, when the
+troop train pulled out for Chiquito, the sense of loneliness was
+oppressing. A few people had escaped by hiding in obscure places and
+when they came out they went to work and buried the dead. I finally
+succeeded in getting a wire through and then, despite the heat, I slept.
+
+The next day the troops corralled the Indians, gave them a good licking
+and sent them back to their old reservations. And yet in face of just
+such incidents as these, there are people who say that poor Lo can be
+civilized.
+
+A construction gang came out and started to re-build, and the company
+offered me a good day office if I would remain, but Nay! Nay! I had had
+all I wanted of Arizona, and I went back to Texas, thankful that I had a
+whole skin and a full shock of red hair.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+TAKING A WHIRL AT COMMERCIAL WORK--MY FIRST ATTEMPT--THE GALVESTON FIRE
+
+
+The memory of my exciting experience in Arizona lasted me a good long
+time, and I finally determined to leave the railroad service and try my
+hand at commercial work. The two classes are the same, and yet they are
+entirely different.
+
+It is a most interesting sight, to the uninitiated, to go into the
+operating room of a big commercial office and see the swarms of men and
+women bending over glass partitioned tables; nimble footed check boys
+running hither and thither like so many flies, carrying to each wire the
+proper messages, while the volume of sound that greets your ears is
+positively deafening. Every once in a while some operator will raise his
+head and yell "Pink," "C. N. D." or "Wire." "Pink" means a message that
+is to be rushed; "C. N. D." is a market quotation that is to be hurried
+over to the Bucket Shops or Stock Exchange, while "Wire," means a
+message that pertains to some wire that is in trouble and such messages
+must have precedence over all others. The check boys are trained to
+know the destination of each and every wire and work under the direction
+of the traffic chief.
+
+Far over on one side of a room is the switch board. To the untutored
+mind it looks like numberless long parallel strips of brass tacked on
+the side of the wall, and each strip perforated by a number of small
+holes, while stuck around, in what seems endless profusion, are many
+gutta-percha-topped brass pegs. Yet through all this seeming mass of
+confusion, everything is in apple pie order, and each one of those
+strips represents a wire and every plug a connection to some set of
+instruments. The wire chief and his assistants are in full charge of
+this work, and it must needs be a man of great ability to successfully
+fill such a place in a large office.
+
+The chief operator has entire supervision over the whole office, and his
+duties are hard, constant, and arduous. Like competent train
+despatchers, men able to be first-class chief operators are few and far
+between. Not only must he be an expert telegrapher, but he must
+thoroughly understand line, battery and switch board work, and his
+executive ability must be of the highest order.
+
+I had always supposed if a man were a first-class railroad operator he
+could do equally good work on a commercial wire; in fact the operator
+in a small town is always employed by the railroad company and does the
+little amount of commercial work in addition to his other duties.
+
+After leaving Blue Field I loafed a while, but that's tiresome work at
+best, so I journeyed down to Galveston, Texas, one bright fall morning,
+and after trying my luck at the railroad offices, I wandered into the
+commercial office on the Strand and asked George Clarke, the chief
+operator, for a job.
+
+"What kind of a man are you?" he said.
+
+"First-class in every respect, sir," I replied.
+
+"Sit down there on the polar side of that Houston quad and if you are
+any account, I'll give you a job at seventy dollars per month."
+
+Now a "Quad" is an instrument whereby four messages are going over the
+_same_ wire at the _same_ time. The mechanism of the machine is
+different in every respect from the old relay, key and sounder, used on
+the railroad wires. In a vague way I had heard of "quads," and imagined
+I could work them as well as an "O. S." wire, but when he said for me to
+sit down on the "Polar side," I was, for a minute, stumped. However,
+there were already three chaps sitting at that table, so the fourth
+place must be mine. I sat down and presently I heard the sounder say,
+"Who?" I answered "BY," and then "HO," said, "Hr. City," I grabbed a pen
+and made ready to copy, but by the time he had finished the address I
+was just putting down the number and check. "Break" I said, "G. A.
+from," B-r-r-r-r- how that sounder did jump. This interesting operation
+was repeated several times, but finally I succeeded in getting the
+message down, and then without giving me time to draw my breath, he
+said, "C. N. D." and started ahead with a jargon of figures and words
+that I had never heard of before. His sending was plain enough, in fact
+it was like a circus bill, but I wasn't on to the combination, and it
+was all Greek to me. Perspiration started from every pore, and in my
+agony I said, "Break, G. A. Ahr.," Holy Smoke! how he did fly off at
+that, and how those other three chaps did grin at my discomfiture.
+
+"Call your chief operator over here," and with that he refused to work
+with me any more. Clarke came over and that blasted chump at "HO" said,
+
+"For heaven's sake give us an operator to do the receiving on the polar'
+side of this quad. We are piled up with business and can't be delayed by
+teaching the ropes to a railroad ham. He's been ten minutes taking one
+message, and I haven't been able to pound into his head what a 'C. N.
+D,' is yet."
+
+Clarke quietly gave him "O. K." and then turned to me with,
+
+"I guess you are not used to this kind of work. Better go back to
+railroading, and learn something about commercial work before tackling a
+job like this again. Come back in six months and I'll give you another
+trial." I sneaked out of the office, followed by the broad smiles of
+every man in the place, and thus ended the first lesson.
+
+I took Clarke's advice and went back to work on a narrow-gauge road
+running northwards out of Houston, through the most God-forsaken country
+on the footstool. Sluggish bayous, foul rank growth of vegetation,
+alligators as long as a rail, that would come out and stop trains by
+being on the track, and air so malarious in quality that it was only a
+question of time until one had the fever. I stuck it out for two months
+and then succumbed to the inevitable and went to the hospital where I
+lay for three weeks. After I had fully recovered they put me to work in
+the Houston General Office, and some eight months after reaching there I
+received a message from my old friend Clarke, saying, "if I had improved
+any in my commercial work he would give me a job at seventy dollars per
+month." I hadn't improved much, but as this world is two-thirds bluff, I
+made mine, and said I'd come, trusting to luck to be able to hold on.
+
+I reached there one pleasant afternoon and the next morning went to
+work. I must have had my rabbit's foot with me, because I was assigned
+to a "Way Wire." I think if he had told me to tackle a "Quad," again, I
+should have fainted. A "Way Wire," is one that runs along a railroad,
+having offices cut in in all the small towns. There wasn't a town on the
+whole string that had more than ten or fifteen messages a day, but the
+aggregate of all the offices made up a very good day's work. Then again
+I didn't have to handle any of those confounded "C. N. D." messages.
+Clarke watched me closely and at the end of the first day he said my
+work showed a marked improvement. You may rest assured I watched my P's
+and Q's, and it wasn't long before I had the hang of the system and
+could take my trick on a "Quad" with the best of them. Rheostats,
+wheatstone bridges, polarized relays, pole changers, and ground switches
+became as familiar to me as the old relay key and sounder had been.
+
+Some of the rarest gems of the profession worked in "G" office at this
+time--George Clarke, "Cy" Clamphitt, "Jack" Graham, Will Church,
+John McNeill, Paul Finnegan alias the "Count," and a score or more of
+men, as good as ever touched a key or balanced a quad. A day's work was
+from eight A. M., until five P. M., and for all over time we were paid
+extra at the rate of forty cents per hour. This extra work was called
+"Scooping."
+
+One day in December, Clarke asked me if I wanted to "scoop" that night.
+I acquiesced and after eating a hasty supper I went back to the office
+and prepared for a long siege. I was put to sending press reports, which
+is just about as hard work as a man can do. I sent "30" (the end) at two
+o'clock in the morning, and went home worn to a frazzle. I was boarding
+on Avenue M. with ten other operators, in a house kept by a Mrs.
+Swanson, and roomed with her little son Jimmie, who was a hopeless
+cripple. I undressed, and after shoving little Jim over to his own side
+of the bed, tumbled in and was soon sleeping like a log. It seemed as if
+I had just closed my eyes when I felt some one pulling my hair. I
+knocked the hand away and prepared to take another snooze, when there
+was that awful pull on my red head again. I opened my eyes prepared to
+fight, when I felt an extra hard pull, and heard the wee sma' voice of
+my diminutive room mate say,
+
+"Get up, the house is on fire." "Rats," I said--Again,--the awful
+pull,--and,--"Mr. Bates, for God's sake get up; the house is on fire;
+the whole town is burning up."
+
+I sprang out of bed and the crackling of the timbers, the glow of the
+flames, and the stifling smoke, soon assured me it was time to move, and
+quickly at that. I grabbed up a few clothes in one arm, and grasping
+brave little Jimmie Swanson in the other, I started for the steps. On
+our side, the whole house was in flames, and the smoke rushing up the
+stair-way was something awful. I wrapped Jimmie's head in his night
+shirt, and throwing a coat over mine, I started down the stairs. Half
+way down my foot slipped, and we both pitched head first to the bottom.
+Poor little Jim, his right arm was broken by the fall, and when he tried
+to get up, he found that his one sound leg was badly strained. He said,
+
+"Never mind me, Mr. Bates, save yourself. I'll crawl out."
+
+Leave him to roast alive? Never! I grabbed him again and after a
+desperate effort succeeded in getting him out. All our supply of
+clothing had been lost in our mad efforts to escape, and as a bitter
+norther was blowing at the time, our position was anything but pleasant.
+I found a few clothes dropped by some one else and we made ourselves as
+warm as possible. Then I grabbed Jimmie up again and fled before the
+fiery blast. The awful catastrophe had started in a fisherman's shack
+over on the bay, twenty-seven squares from where we lived, and being
+borne by a high wind, had swept everything in its path. The houses were
+mostly of timber and were easy prey to the relentless flames. Although
+Galveston is entirely surrounded by water, the pipe-lines for fighting
+fire at this time extended only to Avenue H, ten blocks from the Strand.
+Beyond that, the fire department depended on the cisterns of private
+houses for the water to subdue the flames.
+
+With lightning-like rapidity the flames had spread and almost before
+they knew it the town seemed doomed. Arches of flame, myriads of falling
+sparks, hundreds of fleeing half-clad men, women and children, the
+hissing of the engines in their puny attempts to fight the monster, and
+ever and anon the dull roar of the falling walls, made a scene, as grand
+and weird as it was desolate and awful. In less than two hours time
+fifty-two squares had been laid waste, leaving a trail of smoldering
+black ashes. That the whole city did not go is due to a providential
+switch of the wind that blew the flames back on their own tracks.
+
+Of the fifteen operators in the day force, twelve had been burned out,
+and the next morning, at eight o'clock, when all had reported for duty,
+they were as sorry a looking lot of men as ever assembled.
+
+"Some in rags, some in jags, and one in velvet gown." "Count" Finnegan
+had on a frilled shirt, a pair of trousers three sizes too small for
+him, and his manly form was wrapped in a flowing robe of black velvet,
+picked up by him in his mad flight.
+
+It was many a day before the effects of this direful calamity were
+entirely obliterated.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+SENDING A MESSAGE PERFORCE--RECOGNIZING AN OLD FRIEND BY HIS STUFF
+
+
+Some time after this I was in Fort Worth copying night reports at eighty
+dollars per month. The night force consisted of two other men besides
+myself. The "split trick" man worked until ten o'clock, the other chap
+stayed around until twelve, or until he was clear, while I hung on until
+"30" on report which came anywhere from one-thirty until four A. M.
+After midnight I had to handle all the business that came along.
+
+When I had received "30" I would cut out the instruments and go home.
+
+One morning, about two-thirty I had said "G. N." to Galveston, cut out
+the instruments, put out the lights in the operating room, and started
+to go home through the receiving room and I was about to put out the
+last light there, when the outer door opened and in staggered a half
+drunken ranchman who said,
+
+"Hold on there, young fellow, I want to send a message to St. Louis."
+
+"I'm sorry, but it's too late to send it now. All the instruments are
+cut out and we wont have St. Louis until eight o'clock in the morning.
+Come around then and some of the day force will send it for you."
+
+"But," he said in a maudlin voice, "I've got nineteen cars of cattle out
+here that are going up there to-morrow and I want to notify my agents."
+
+I persisted in my refusal and was beginning to get hot under the collar,
+but my bucolic friend also had a temper and showed it.
+
+"D--n it," he said, "you send this message or there is going to be
+trouble."
+
+"Not much, I won't send your confounded old message. Get out of this
+office: I'm going home."
+
+Just then I heard an ominous click and in a second I was gazing down the
+barrel of a .45, and he said,
+
+"Now will you send it? You'd better or I'll send you to a home that will
+be a permanent one."
+
+A .45, especially when it is loaded, cocked and pointed at your head,
+with a half drunken galoot's finger on the trigger, is a powerful
+incentive to quick action.
+
+"Give me your blamed old message, and I'll send it for you."
+
+Now there wasn't a through wire to any place at the time, but I had
+thought of a scheme to stave him off. I took his telegram, went over and
+monkeyed around the switch board for a while, and then sat down to a
+local instrument and went through the form of sending a message. My
+whole salvation lay in the hope that he was not an operator and would
+fail to discover my ruse. I glanced at him furtively out of the corner
+of my eye, and there he stood, pistol in hand, grinning like a monkey
+and swaying to and fro like a reed in the wind. I didn't know what that
+grin portended for me, but after I had gone through the form of sending
+the telegram, I hung it up on the hook, and turned around with,
+
+"There, I hope you are satisfied now. Your blamed old message has been
+sent."
+
+"Satisfied! Why certainly I'm satisfied. I just wanted to show you that
+the Western Union Company wasn't the whole push. Come on over to the
+White Elephant with me and we'll have a drink together, just to show
+there's no hard feelings between us," and with that he put away his
+pistol and we went out. On the way over to the Elephant he said,
+
+"Say, kid, did you think I'd shoot if you hadn't sent the message?"
+
+"Well," I replied, "I wasn't taking any chances on the matter."
+
+Then he laughed loud enough to be heard a block away and said, "Why,
+that pistol hasn't been loaded for six months, I was just running a
+bluff on you, and you bit like a fish."
+
+Good joke, wasn't it? We had our drink, _and his message was sent by one
+of the day force, at eight-twelve A. M._
+
+The Morse telegraphic alphabet is exactly the same the world over, and
+yet each operator has a peculiarity to his sending, or "stuff," as it is
+called, that makes it easy to recognize an old friend, even though his
+name be changed.
+
+In the early part of my career, when I was working days at X----, in
+Nebraska, at Sweeping Water there was a chap called Ned Kingsbury
+holding down the night job, and as wild a youngster as ever hit the
+road. One night when I was sitting up a little late I heard the
+despatcher give Ned an order for a train that ordinarily would not stop
+there. Ned repeated it back all right enough, and then gave the signal,
+"6," which meant that he had turned his red-light to the track and would
+hold it there until the order was delivered and understood. So far, so
+good. But the reckless little devil had forgotten to turn his red-board
+and proceeded to write to some of his numerous girls, and the first
+thing he knew that freight train went smashing by at a thirty-five mile
+clip, and Mr. Ned knew he was up against it.
+
+In some states a railroader guilty of criminal negligence is sent up
+for a term of from one to ten years. The smash up that resulted from
+Ned's carelessness was a catastrophe of the fatal kind; one engineer was
+killed, and a fireman and brakeman or two laid up for months. He fully
+realized the magnitude of his offence and promptly skipped away from the
+wrath that was sure to follow, and nothing more was heard of him in that
+section of the country.
+
+This all happened a number of years before I went to work in Fort Worth,
+and one morning I was doing a little "scooping," by working days, and
+sat down to send on the "DA" quad. I worked hard for about two hours on
+the polar side, and was sending to some cracker jack, who signed "KY."
+Shortly after that I changed over to the receiving side and "KY" did the
+sending to me. I had been taking about ten messages and the conviction
+was growing on me momentarily that the sending was very familiar and
+that I must have known the sender. Where had I heard that peculiar jerky
+sending before? It was as plain as print, but there was an
+individuality about it that belonged only to one man. All at once that
+night in Nebraska flashed on my mind and I knew my sender was none other
+than Ned Kingsbury. I broke him and said,
+
+"Hello, Ned Kingsbury, where did you come from?"
+
+"You've got the wrong man this time, sonny, my name is Pillsbury," he
+replied.
+
+"Oh! come off. I'd know that combination of yours if I heard it in
+Halifax. Didn't you work at Sweeping Water, Nebraska, some time ago, and
+didn't you have some kind of a queer smash up there?"
+
+Then he 'fessed up and said he had recognized my stuff as soon as he
+heard it, but hadn't said anything in hopes I wouldn't twig him.
+
+"Don't give me away, old chap. I'm flying the flag now and have lost all
+my former brashness."
+
+I never did.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+BILL BRADLEY, GAMBLER AND GENTLEMAN
+
+
+Telegraphers are, as a rule, a very nomadic class, wandering hither and
+thither like a chip buffeted about on the ocean. Their pathway is not
+always one of roses, and many times their feet are torn by the jagged
+rocks of adversity. I was no different from any of the rest, neither
+better nor worse, and many a night I have slept with only the deep blue
+sky for a covering, and it may be added--sotto voce--it is not a very
+warm blanket on a cold night. 'Tis said, an operator of the first class
+can always procure work, but there are times when even the best of them
+are on their uppers. For instance, when winter's chill blasts sweep
+across the hills and dales of the north, like swarms of swallows,
+operators flit southwards to warmer climes, and for this reason the
+supply is often greater than the demand.
+
+I was a "flitter" of the first water, and after I had been in Fort Worth
+for a very short while I became possessed of a desire to see something
+of the far famed border towns along the Rio Grande frontier. So I went
+south to a town called Hallville, and found it a typical tough frontier
+town. I landed there all right enough and then proceeded to gently
+strand. Work was not to be had, money I had none, and my predicament can
+be imagined. Many of you have doubtless been on the frontier and know
+what these places are. There was the usual number of gambling dens,
+dance halls and saloons, and of course they had their variety theatre.
+Ever go into one of the latter places? The first thing that greets your
+eye is a big black and white sign "Buy a drink and see the show."
+Inside, at one end, is the long wooden bar, presided over by some thug
+of the highest order, with a big diamond stuck in the centre of a broad
+expanse of white shirt front. At the other end is the so-called stage,
+while scattered about indiscriminately are the tables and chairs. The
+air is filled--yea, reeking--with the fumes of bad whiskey, stale beer,
+and the odor of foul smelling cheap tobacco smoke, and through all this
+haze the would-be "show," goes on, and the applause is manifested by
+whistles, cat calls, the pounding of feet on the floor and glasses on
+the tables. Occasionally some artist (?) will appear who does not seem
+to strike the popular fancy and will be greeted by a beer glass or
+empty bottle being fired at his or her head.
+
+Now, at the time of which I speak, my prospects were very slim, and as
+nature had endowed me with a fair singing voice, I had just about made
+up my mind to go to the Palace Variety Theatre and ask for a position as
+a vocalist. I could, at least, sing as well as some of the theatrical
+bygones that graced the place. The price of admission in one of these
+places is simply the price of a drink. I felt in my pocket and found
+that I had one solitary lonely dime, and swinging aside the green baize
+door, I entered.
+
+"Gimme a beer," I said laying down my dime. A small glass, four-fifths
+froth and one-fifth beer, was skated at me by the bartender from the
+other end of the counter, and my dime was raked into the till.
+
+Then I stood around like a bump on a log, trying to screw my courage up
+to ask the blear eyed, red-nosed Apollo for a job. Some hack voiced old
+chromo was trying to warble "Do they miss me at home," and mentally I
+thought "if he had ever sung like that when he was at home they were
+probably glad he had left." The scene was sickening and disgusting to
+me, but empty stomachs stand not on ceremony, so I turned around and
+was just about to accost the proprietor, when Biff! I felt a stinging
+whack between my shoulders. Quickly I faced about, all the risibility of
+my red headed nature coming to the surface, and there I saw a big
+handsome chap standing in front of me. Six feet tall, broad-shouldered,
+straight, lithe limbs, denoting herculean strength, a massive head
+poised on a well shaped neck, two cold blue eyes, and a face covered by
+a bushy brown beard; dressed in well fitting clothes, trousers tucked in
+the tops of shiny black boots, long Prince Albert coat and a broad
+sombrero set rakishly on one side of his head. Such was the man who hit
+me in the back.
+
+"Hello, youngster, what's your name?"
+
+Rubbing my lame shoulder, I said, "Well it might be Jones and it might
+be Smith, but it ain't, and I don't know what affair it is of yours, any
+way."
+
+"Oh! come now, boy, don't get huffy. You've got an honest face and
+appear to be in trouble. What is it? Out with it. You're evidently a
+tenderfoot and this hell-hole of vice isn't a place for a boy of your
+years. What's your name? Come over here at this table and sit down and
+tell me."
+
+Something in his bluff hearty manner gave me hope and after sitting
+down, I said.
+
+"My name is Martin Bates. I'm a telegraph operator by profession and
+blew into this town this morning on my uppers. I can't get work and I
+haven't a red cent to my name. It is necessary for me to live, and as I
+can sing a little bit, I came in here to see if I could get a job
+warbling. I won't beg or steal, and there is no one here I can borrow
+from. There's my story. Not a very pleasant one is it?"
+
+"There may have been worse. How long since you've had anything to eat."
+
+"Nine o'clock this morning," I grimly replied.
+
+"Good Lord, that's twelve hours ago. Come on with me out of here and
+I'll fix you up."
+
+Meekly I followed my new found friend. I was sick at heart, weary and
+worn out in body and I didn't care a rap whether school kept or not;
+anything would be better than my present situation. He took me about
+three blocks up the main street and we went into a suite of beautifully
+furnished rooms. He rang a bell, a darkey came in, and it wasn't long
+before I had a lunch in front of me fit for the gods, and I may add it
+didn't take me many minutes to get outside of it. My friend watched me
+narrowly while I was eating, and when I had finished he said,
+
+"Now youngster, you're all tired out. You go to bed in the next room and
+get a good night's sleep. In the morning we'll see what we can do for
+you, but one thing is certain, you're not going into that vile hole of a
+Palace Theatre again. Somewhere in this world you have a father and
+mother who are praying for you this night. Don't make a slip in your
+pathway in life and break their hearts. Everything is safe and quiet
+here and no one will disturb you until I come in in the morning."
+
+There was a peculiar earnestness in his voice as he spoke that was very
+convincing, and as he rose to go out, I meekly said,
+
+"What's your name, mister?"
+
+"Bill Bradley," he answered with a queer smile. "Now don't you ask any
+more questions to-night," and with that he was gone.
+
+I went to bed almost sick from my exposure and lack of food, and just as
+the old sand man of childhood's happy days began to sprinkle his grains
+in my eyes, I heard, way off in the distance, a peculiar click and a
+drawling voice calling off some numbers. "Four." "Sixteen."
+"Thirty-three." "Seventy-eight." "Ten." "Twenty-six," and then, a great
+shout arose and some one called out "KENO." Ah! I was near a gambling
+house, but I was too tired to care, nature asserted herself, and I
+gently crossed the river into the land of Nod.
+
+The next morning I was really sick with a high fever, and when Bill came
+in I was well nigh loony.
+
+"Hello," he said, "this won't do. Tom, I say, you Tom, go and tell
+Doctor Bailey I want him here quick. D--n quick. Do you hear?" and black
+Tom answered, "Yas, suh."
+
+To be brief, I was three weeks on my back, and bluff old Bill Bradley
+nursed me like a loving mother would a sick child. Day and night he hung
+over me, never a thing did I need but what he procured for me, and one
+day after the fever had left me and I was sitting up by an open window,
+I said,
+
+"Mr. Bradley, what do you do for a living?"
+
+"Boy," he replied with a flushed face, "I am sorry you asked that
+question, but sooner or later you would have heard it and I'd a great
+deal rather tell you about it myself. I'm a gambler and these three
+rooms adjoin my place which is called the "Three Nines," and then he
+told me the story of his life. He was a son of a fine Connecticut
+family, a graduate of Harvard, and in his day had been a very able young
+lawyer with brilliant prospects, but one night, he went out with a crowd
+of roystering chaps, the lie was passed, and--it was the old story,--he
+came to Texas for a refuge. The great civil war was just over, the
+country in a chaotic state, and there he had remained ever since. Thrown
+with wild, uncouth men, and being reckless in the extreme, he opened a
+gambling house.
+
+"Why did you take this great interest in me?" I asked.
+
+"Look here, young chap, you are altogether too inquisitive. I've got an
+old father and mother way up in Ball Brooke, Connecticut, whose hearts
+have been broken by my actions, and when I saw you in that hellish den
+of vice you looked so out of place that I determined to save you. It was
+impulse, my boy, and then again, it may have been the remembrance of the
+one, at whose knee I used to lisp, 'Now I lay me down to sleep.'"
+
+My recovery was very rapid from that time on, and when I was able to
+work I secured a position in the commercial office in Hallville. One
+evening after being paid I strolled into the "Three Nines;" Bill was
+dealing faro, and I thought I might in a measure, show my gratitude
+towards him by risking a coin. There was a big crowd standing around
+the table, but I edged my way in and placed a dollar on the queen to
+win. Luck was with me and I won. Once, twice, thrice, did the cards come
+my way, and my stack of whites and reds was growing. This didn't seem to
+me much like gratitude to win a man's money, and I wished I hadn't
+started. Presently Bill looked up, and spying me, pointed to my stack of
+chips, and said, "Whose stack is that?" "Mine," I replied, and with one
+fell swoop he dashed the chips into the rack, and taking a ten-dollar
+bill from the drawer, he turned to his side partner and said, "Jim, take
+the deal," and then he got up, took me by the arm, saying, "You come
+with me."
+
+Feeling like a sneak I followed him, and when we had reached his
+sitting-room, he sat down and said,
+
+"Kid, how much were you in on that deal?"
+
+"Just one dollar," I replied.
+
+Then he looked at me, his eyes shone like coals of fire, and he said,
+
+"Look here boy, here's ten dollars. If you are ever hard up and want
+money come to me, and I'll give it to you willingly, but don't you ever
+let me see or hear of you staking a cent on a card again. I'm running a
+gambling house, and as gambling houses go, it's an honest one, but I'm
+not out plucking lambs like you. Your intentions were probably good but
+don't you ever do it again. If you really want to show your gratitude
+for what I have done for you, promise me honestly that you will never
+gamble."
+
+I felt very much humiliated, but took his words of advice, promised, and
+have never flipped a coin on a card since that night.
+
+Bill was a married man, and in addition to his suite of rooms spoken of,
+he had a very nice residence on Capitol Hill. His suite was a side
+issue, to be used when the games were running high. I had never met Mrs.
+Bradley, but during my illness I had evidence every day of her goodness
+in the shape of many delicacies that found their way to my bedside. I
+had asked Bill time and again to take me out to meet his wife, but he
+always put me off on one pretext or another.
+
+When I started to work, I had secured a room at the house of a Mrs.
+Slade. She had three daughters and one Sunday afternoon we were all out
+walking together, when one of them pointed to a very fine residence and
+said, "That's the residence of Bill Bradley, the big gambler."
+
+Just then Bill and his wife came driving by behind a spanking team of
+bays. Quick as a flash my hat came off, and I bowed low. Bill saw it
+and very cavalierly returned my salute. The elder Miss Slade turned on
+me like a tigress, and said,
+
+"Mr. Bates, do you know who that man is? Do you know what he is?"
+
+"Yes, I know him very well," I replied.
+
+"Then what do you mean by insulting us by speaking to such a man? I did
+not know that you associated with men of his ilk."
+
+In a plain unvarnished way I told them of Bill Bradley's kindness to me,
+but it was no go, and as I would not renounce my liking for the man who
+had been my benefactor, my room in their house became preferable to my
+society and I left.
+
+The next evening I saw Bill in his rooms, and he said,
+
+"Martin, yesterday, when Mrs. Bradley and I drove by you and the Slade
+girls, you spoke to me and lifted your hat to Mrs. Bradley. I could do
+naught but return the salute. Now my boy, there's no use of my mincing
+words with you; I befriended you, probably saved you from ruin, but
+young as you are, you know full well that our paths do not lie parallel
+with each other. I am a gambler, and although Mrs. Bradley is as good a
+woman as ever lived, (and I'd kill the first man that said she wasn't)
+we are not recognized by society; no, not even by the riff raff that
+live in Hallville. You have your way to carve in the world, don't ruin
+it right at the outset by letting people know you are friendly with
+gamblers. No matter how good your motives may be, this scoffing world
+will always misconstrue them and censure you."
+
+This made me hot and I told him so. No matter if he was a gambler, he
+was more of a gentleman than nine-tenths of the men of society, yes,
+men, who would come and gamble half the night away in his place, and
+then go forth the next day and pose as models of propriety.
+
+The upshot of the whole business was that I left Hallville soon after
+this and went to San Antonio to take day report, and one day I picked up
+a paper, and read an account of how Bill Bradley had been assassinated
+by a cowardly cur who had a grudge against him. He was stabbed in the
+back, and thus ended the career of Bill Bradley, gambler and gentleman.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+THE DEATH OF JIM CARTWRIGHT--CHASED OFF A WIRE BY A WOMAN
+
+
+I didn't stay at San Antonio very long after this but started
+northwards. You see it was getting to be warm weather. The first place I
+struck was a night job in a smashing good town up near the south line of
+the pan handle. I quit working at midnight, and to get to my boarding
+house had to walk a mile through a portion of the town called "Hell's
+half-acre."
+
+The most prominent place of any description in the city was a saloon and
+gambling house known as the "Blue Goose," owned by John Waring and Luke
+Ravel. Both men were as nervy as they make 'em and several nicks in the
+butts of their revolvers testified mutely as to their prowess. Their
+place was like all other dens, and consisted of the usual bar and lunch
+counter in one room, while in the adjoining one was the hall of gaming.
+Faro, roulette, hazard, monte, and the great national game, poker, held
+high carnival there nightly. Next to the "Goose" was a long narrow room
+used as a shooting gallery. The place was only a few doors around the
+corner from my office, and many a night on my way home I would stop at
+the lunch counter and have a sandwich and a cup of coffee. I remembered
+my promise to bluff old Bill Bradley, and was never tempted to go in the
+gambling hall. I generally used to rise about noon each day and go up
+town and loaf until four o'clock, when it was time to go to work. I
+picked up a speaking acquaintance with Luke Ravel, and sometimes we
+would go into the shooting gallery together and have a friendly bout
+with the Flobert rifles.
+
+At this time there was one of those tough characters in the town named
+Jim Cartwright. In days gone by he had been a deputy United States
+Marshal, and one time took advantage of his official position to provoke
+a quarrel with an enemy and killed him in cold blood. Public indignation
+ran high and Jim had to skip to Mexico. He stayed away two years and
+getting in trouble over there, came back to his old stamping grounds in
+hopes the people had forgotten his former scrape. They hadn't exactly
+forgotten it, but Jim was a pretty tough character and no one seemed to
+care to tackle him.
+
+One night Luke Ravel and Jim had some words over a game of cards, and
+bad blood was engendered between them. The next day my side partner
+Frank Noel, and I went into the shooting gallery to try our luck, and
+were standing there enjoying ourselves, when Luke came in and took a
+hand. He was dressed in the height of fashion, and while we three were
+standing there, Jim Cartwright, three sheets in the wind, appeared in
+the doorway pistol in hand. He looked at Luke and said, with an oath,
+
+"Look here, Luke Ravel, your time has come. I'm going to kill you."
+
+My hair arose, my heart seemed to stop beating, but there was no way
+out, so Noel and I edged our way over as far as possible, and held our
+breath. Luke never turned a hair, nor changed color. He was as cool as
+an iceberg, and squarely facing Cartwright said,
+
+"You wouldn't shoot an unarmed man would you, Jim?"
+
+"Ain't you got no gun?"
+
+"No," replied Luke, "I'm unarmed. See," and with that he threw up the
+tails of his long coat.
+
+Jim hesitated a minute, and then shoving his gun into his pocket he
+said,
+
+"No, by heavens, I won't kill an unarmed man. I'll give you a chance
+for your life, but I warn you to fix yourself, because the next time I
+see you I'm going to let daylight through your carcass," and with
+another oath he turned to walk away. Hardly had he taken two steps, when
+there was a blinding flash followed by a loud report, and Jim Cartwright
+lay dead, shot through the heart, while Luke Ravel stood over him; a
+smoking .38 pocket pistol in his hand. Where he pulled his gun from no
+one ever knew; it was all over in a flash. It seems a cowardly thing to
+shoot a man in the back, but it was a case of 'dog eat dog.'
+
+Luke was arrested next day, and Noel and I gave our testimony before the
+coroner's jury, and he was bound over for trial before the next term of
+the circuit court to sit six months hence. There is an old and very
+trite saying in Texas that, "a dead witness is better than a live one."
+This was gently whispered into our ears, and accordingly one night about
+a month after this, Noel and I "folded our tents, and like the Arabs,
+silently stole away."
+
+Luke was acquitted on the plea of self defence.
+
+Spring time having come, and with it the good hot weather, I continued
+to move northwards and finally brought up in a good office in Nebraska,
+where I was to copy the night report from Chicago. We had two wires
+running to Chicago, one a quad for the regular business, and the other a
+single string for "C. N. D." and report work. My stay in this office
+was, short, sharp, brilliant and decisive.
+
+The first night I sat down to work at six-thirty, and in a few minutes
+was receiving the worst pounding I had ever experienced, from some
+operator in "CH" office who signed "JL." There was no kick coming on the
+sending, it was as plain as a large sized poster, but it was so
+all-fired fast, that it made me hustle for all I was worth to get it
+down. There is no sense in a fellow sending so fast, because nothing is
+made by it and it tires every one completely out. Ordinarily, a thirty
+word a minute clip is a good stiff speed for report, but this night,
+thirty-five or forty was nearer the mark. In every operator there is a
+certain amount of professional pride inherent that makes him refrain
+from breaking on report unless it is absolutely necessary. The sender
+always keeps a record of the breaks of each receiver on the line, and if
+they become too frequent the offender is gently fired. On the night in
+question I didn't break, but there were several times when foreign
+dispatches were coming that I faked names in great shape. It was an ugly
+night out, and about nine o'clock our quad flew the track, and in a
+minute "JL" said to me,
+
+"Here's ten blacks (day messages) just handed me to send to you," and
+without waiting for me to get my manifold clip out of the way he
+started. I didn't get a chance to put the time or date down, and was
+swearing, fighting mad. After sending five of the ten messages, "JL"
+stopped a second and said,
+
+"How do I come?"
+
+"You come like the devil. For heaven's sake let up a bit," I replied.
+
+"Who do you think you are talking to?" came back at me.
+
+Seemingly, patience had ceased to be a virtue with me, so I replied,
+"Some d----d ambitious chump of a fool who's stuck on making a record
+for himself."
+
+"That settles you. Call your chief operator over here."
+
+Joe Saunders was the chief, and when he came over he said,
+
+"What's the trouble here, kid, this wire gone down?"
+
+"No," I answered, "the wire hasn't gone down, but that cuss up in 'CH'
+who signs 'JL' has been pounding the eternal life out of me and I've
+just given him a piece of my mind."
+
+"Say anything brash?" asked Joe.
+
+"No, not very. Just told him he was a d--d fool with a few light
+embellishments."
+
+Joe laughed very heartily and said, "I guess you are the fool in this
+case, because 'JL' is a woman, Miss Jennie Love, by name, and the
+swiftest lady operator in the business. If she makes this complaint
+official, you'll get it in the neck."
+
+I didn't wait for any official complaint, but put on my coat and walked
+out much chagrined, because I had always boasted that no woman could
+ever run me off a wire. I had the pleasure of meeting Miss Love
+afterwards and apologized for my conduct. She forgave me, but like Mary
+Marsh, she married another man.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+WITNESSING A MARRIAGE BY WIRE--BEATING A POOL ROOM--SPARRING AT LONG
+RANGE
+
+
+After my disastrous encounter with Miss Love, I went south and brought
+up in St. Louis, where old "Top," the chief operator, gave me a place
+working a New York quad. This was about the worst "roast" I had ever
+struck, and it was work from the word go from 5 P. M. until 1 A. M. Work
+on any wire from a big city leading to New York is always hot, and this
+particular wire was the worst of the bunch. While working in this office
+I had several little incidents come under my observation that may be of
+interest.
+
+The coy little god of love manifests itself in many ways, and the
+successful culmination of two hearts' happiness is as often queer as it
+is humorous.
+
+Miss Jane Grey was an operator on the G. C. & F. Railway at Wichita,
+Kansas, and Mr. Paul Dimmock worked for the Western Union in Louisville,
+Kentucky. Through the agency of a matrimonial journal, Jane and Paul
+became acquainted; letters and pictures were exchanged, and--it was the
+old, old story--they became engaged. They wanted to be wedded and the
+more sensational and notorious they could make it the better it would
+suit them both. Jane only earned forty dollars per month, while Paul's
+monthly stipend was the magnificent sum of sixty, with whatever extra
+time he could "scoop." Neither one of them wanted to quit work just
+then, they felt they could not afford it, but that marriage must come
+off, or they would both die of broken hearts. Paul wrote,--Jane
+wrote,--plans and compromises were made and refused; the situation was
+becoming desperate, and finally Jane's brilliant mind suggested a
+marriage by wire. Great head--fine scheme. _It takes a woman to
+circumvent unforeseen obstacles every time._ Chief operators were
+consulted in Kansas City and St. Louis and they agreed to have the wire
+cut through on the evening appointed. There were to be two witnesses in
+each office, and I was one of the honored two in St. Louis. The day
+finally arrived, and promptly at seven-thirty in the evening Louisville
+was cut through to Wichita, and after all the contracting parties and
+the witnesses had assembled, the ceremony began. There was a minister at
+each end, and as the various queries and responses were received by the
+witnesses, they would read them to the contracting party present, and
+finally Paul said,
+
+"With this ring, I thee wed, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow:
+in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Amen."
+
+The ring was placed on the bride's finger, _by proxy_, the benediction
+pronounced by the Wichita minister, and the deed was done. In due time
+the certificate was received and signed by all the witnesses, and the
+matter made of record in both places.
+
+How long did they live apart? Oh! not very long. I think it was the next
+night that I saw a message going through directed to Paul saying, "Will
+leave for Louisville to-night," and signed "Jane."
+
+I wonder if old S. F. B. Morse ever had any idea when he was perfecting
+the telegraph, that it would some day be used to assist in joining
+together,
+
+    "Two souls with but a single thought,
+    Two hearts that beat as one."
+
+Operators are as a rule as honest as the sun, yet, "where you find
+wheat, there also you find chaff," and once in a while a man will be
+found whose proper place is the penitentiary. One of the easiest ways
+for an operator, so inclined to make money, is to cut wires, steal the
+reports of races, market quotations, or C. N. D. reports, and beat them
+to their destinations. Wires are watched very closely so that it is hard
+for an outsider to do any monkeying. Many men understand telegraphy who
+do not work at the business, and it is for this reason that all the
+instruments in the bucket shops and stock exchanges are turned so low
+that no one outside of the operating room can hear a sound. When it is
+realized that transactions are made, and fortunes won or lost in a
+fractional part of a minute, it will be seen how very careful the great
+telegraph companies must be. The big horse races every year offer great
+temptations.
+
+While I was working in St. Louis, a case came under my observation that
+will readily illustrate the perversity of human nature. In a large
+office not so very far away, there was working a friend of mine, who did
+nothing but copy race reports and C. N. D.'s all day. On the day the
+great Kentucky Derby was to be run, the wire was cut through from the
+track in Louisville to a big pool room in this city.
+
+Now the chief operator in this place was a scaly sort of a cuss--in
+fact, it was said that he had done time in the past for some
+skullduggery--and when the horses went to the post, he stood by the
+switchboard and deliberately cut the pool room wire, so the report
+didn't go through. He copied the report himself, knew what horse had
+won, and then sent a message to a henchman of his, who was an operator
+and had an instrument secreted in his room near the pool room. This chap
+went quickly into the pool room and made wagers right and left. A rank
+outsider, a twenty to one shot, won the race, and after the confederate
+had signified that he was ready, the chief sent the report through as if
+it had come from the track. The whole transaction didn't take over two
+minutes and the "bookies" were hit for about $30,000, which Mr. Chief
+and his side pardner divided between them.
+
+A little while later the suspicions of the bookmakers became aroused,
+complaints were made, an investigation followed, and one fine day when
+matters were becoming pretty warm, the recalcitrant chief disappeared.
+His confederate confessed to the whole scheme and the jig was up. The
+chief was afterwards apprehended and sent up for seven years, but he
+held on to his boodle.
+
+For the first month of my stay in St. Louis, my life was as uneventful
+as a May day, but at the end of that time a man came on the New York end
+of our quad that was enough to make a man drink. The men working
+together on a wire like this should always be harmonious, because the
+business is so heavy there is no time for any war of words. However,
+operators are like all other men, and scraps are not uncommon. Generally
+they take place at long range, and no one is hurt thereby. Some men have
+an unhappy faculty of incurring the hatred of every person over a wire,
+while personally they may be princes of good fellows. The man referred
+to above, signed "SY," and he had about as much judgment as a two year
+old kid. It didn't make any difference to him whether the weather was
+clear or muggy, no matter whether the wire was weak or strong, he'd
+pound along like a cyclone. Remonstrance availed nothing, and one night
+when he was cutting up some of his monkeyshines, I became very warm
+under the collar and told him in language more expressive than elegant,
+just what I thought of him, threatening to have our wire chief have him
+fired off the wire. He answered:
+
+"Oh! you go to blazes, you big ham. You're too fresh anyway."
+
+The epithet "ham" is about as mean a one as can be applied to an
+operator, and I came back at him with:
+
+"Look here, you infernal idiot, I'll meet you some time and when I do
+I'm going to smash your face. Stop your monkeying and take these
+messages."
+
+"Hold your horses, sonny, what's the difference between you and a
+jackass?" he said.
+
+"Just nine hundred miles," I replied.
+
+Further words were useless and in a few minutes he was relieved, but
+just about the time he got up he said:
+
+"Say, 'BY,' don't forget you've got a contract to smash my face some of
+these days. I'll be expecting you. Ta Ta."
+
+That was the last of him on that wire and the incident passed from my
+mind. I pulled up and left St. Louis shortly after that and went to work
+for the old Baltimore and Ohio Commercial Company, at the corner of
+Broadway and Canal streets, in New York. I drew a prize in the shape of
+the common side of the first Boston quad. Sitting right alongside of me
+was a great, big, handsome Irish chap named Dick Stanley. He was as fine
+a fellow as ever lived, and that night took me over to his house on
+Long Island to board. We were sitting in his room about nine-thirty,
+having a farewell smoke before retiring and our conversation turned to
+"shop talk." We talked of the old timers we had both known, told
+reminiscences, spun yarns, and all at once Dick said:
+
+"Say, Bates, did you ever work in 'A' office in St. Louis?"
+
+"Oh! yes," I replied, "I put in three months there under 'Old Top.' In
+fact, I came from there to New York."
+
+"That so?" he answered. "I used to work on the polar side of the No. 2
+quad, from this end, over in the Western Union office on Broadway and
+Dey street. What did you sign there?"
+
+"BY," I answered. I thought he looked queer, but we continued our talk,
+and finally I told him of my wordy war with a man in New York, who
+signed "SY," and remarked that I was going over to 195 Broadway, and
+size him up some day. He knocked the ashes out of his pipe, got up from
+his chair, and, stretching his six feet two of anatomy to its full
+length said:
+
+"Well, old chap, I'm fagged. I'm going to bed. You'd better get a good
+sleep and be thoroughly rested in the morning, because you'll need all
+your strength. I'm the man that signed 'SY' in the New York office, and
+I'm ready to take that licking."
+
+[Illustration: "He looked at me ... then catching me by the collar...."]
+
+Did I lick him? Not much, I couldn't have licked one side of him, and we
+were the best of chums during my stay in the city.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+HOW A SMART OPERATOR WAS SQUELCHED--THE GALVESTON FLOOD
+
+
+A little while after this "Stub" Hanigan, another operator, invited Dick
+and me to go down to a chop house with him for lunch, and we accepted. I
+say chop house when in reality it was one of those numerous little
+hotels that abound all over New York where one can get a good meal for
+very little money. Hanigan was a rattling good operator, but he was very
+young and had a tendency to be too fresh on occasion.
+
+He ordered us a fine lunch and while we were sitting there discussing
+the good things, a big awkward looking chap came into the dining-room.
+He was accompanied by a sweet, pretty looking little woman. She was a
+regular beauty, and it needed but a glance to see that they were bride
+and groom, and from the country. They had all the ear marks so apparent
+in every bride and groom. They hesitated on the threshold a moment, and
+the groom said very audibly:
+
+"Dearest, this is the finest dining-room in the world," and "Dearest"
+beamed on her liege lord in a manner that was very trustful and sweet.
+Hanigan, idiot that he was, laughed outright. Dick and I both gave him a
+savage kick under the table, but it didn't have any effect.
+
+The head waiter brought the couple over and sat them down at our table,
+and, say--that woman was as pretty as any that ever came down the pike.
+Towards the end of the meal, Hanigan took his knife and fork and began
+to telegraph to Stanley and me, making all sorts of fun about the
+country pair. Now that is a pretty dangerous business, because there is
+no telling who may be an operator. Dick growled at him savagely under
+his breath and told him to shut up. Nay! Nay! Mr. Hanigan wouldn't shut
+up worth a cent. Finally he made some scurrilous remark, and then
+another knife and fork came into play. Mr. Bridegroom was doing the
+talking now, and this is what he said to Hanigan:
+
+"I happen to be an operator myself, and have heard and understood every
+word you said. As long as you confined yourself to innocent remarks
+about country brides and grooms, I haven't minded it a bit. In fact, I
+have rather enjoyed it. But now you've gone too far, and in about five
+seconds I'm going to have the pleasure of smashing your face."
+
+Then, before we had time to do a thing, biff; and Hanigan got it
+squarely on the jaw. We hustled him out of there as soon as we could,
+but Mr. Bridegroom had all his Irish up and followed him out. Eventually
+we succeeded in calming him down; "Stub" made a most abject apology, and
+I don't believe he ever used his knife and fork for any such a purpose
+again.
+
+The gawky chap was Mr. Dave Harrison, one of the finest operators in the
+profession.
+
+Just about this time fall weather was coming on, and there was a
+suggestion of an approaching winter in the chill morning air, and
+receiving a letter from my old friend Clarke in Galveston, telling me
+there was a good job waiting for me if I could come at once, I pulled up
+stakes in New York, and sailed away on the Mallory Line ship "Comal,"
+for my old stamping ground. I reached there the next week and was put to
+work on the New York Duplex, which, by the way, was the longest string
+in the United States. Mrs. Swanson had re-opened her boarding house on
+Avenue M, everything looked lovely and I anticipated a very pleasant
+winter. Up to September 18th, everything was as quiet and calm as a May
+day. The weather had been beautiful, the surf bathing and concerts in
+front of the Beach Hotel fine, and nothing was left to wish for.
+
+I quit working on Thursday, September 18th, at five P. M., and went out
+to the beach and had a plunge. The sky was clear, but there was a good
+stiff breeze blowing, and it was increasing all the time. The tide was
+flowing in, and the dashing of the waves and roar of the surf made a
+picture long to be remembered. After my swim I went home, and when
+supper was finished three of us again went out to the beach. The wind
+had increased to a perfect gale, and already the water was over the car
+tracks. The Pagoda and Surf bath houses were surrounded, while numerous
+small shacks along the shore had been washed away. Inch by inch, foot by
+foot, the water advanced until it began to look serious, but no one
+dreamed of the flood that was to follow.
+
+We went home at eight-thirty, and at ten I dropped into the realms of
+the sand man, lulled to sleep by the roar of the distant surf, and the
+whistling and moaning of the high wind.
+
+Jimmie Swanson was again my roommate and about five o'clock he woke me
+up and said:
+
+"Mr. Bates, if this wind keeps up the whole island will be under water
+in a very few hours more."
+
+"Nonsense, Jimmie," I replied, "there is no danger of that," and I
+turned over to have another snooze, when I heard a peculiar _swash_,
+_swash_, _swash_, against the side of the house.
+
+"Jimmie, what's the swash we hear?" I asked.
+
+He got out of bed, limped over to the window, opened the blinds, looked
+a minute and then yelled:
+
+"Good Lord! the whole town is under water, and we are floating."
+
+It needed but a glance to convince me that he spoke part truth. There we
+were surrounded on all sides by water, but the house was still on its
+foundation.
+
+    "Water, water, everywhere
+    Nor any drop to drink."
+
+On account of the sandy nature of the soil on Galveston Island, most of
+the houses were built up on piles, and the water was gently slopping all
+over the first floor of our habitation. The streets were flowing waist
+high, and filled with floating debris of all kinds;--beer kegs, boards,
+doors, and tables _ad lib_. The wind soon began to quiet down, and when
+our first fright was over we had a high old time swimming and splashing
+around in the water. It's a great city that will bring salt water
+bathing right up to the doors of its houses.
+
+After a very skimpy breakfast, four of us made a raft, and paddled and
+pushed it down to the office. Nary a wire was there in working order.
+You see, Galveston is on a very flat island scarcely one mile wide, and
+the only approach at this time was a low railroad bridge, three miles
+long. Our wires were strung along the side of that, and at five o'clock
+in the morning, every wire was under water, and the force on duty either
+swam home or slept on the floor.
+
+That day was about the easiest I ever spent in a telegraph office. There
+was a Mexican cable from Galveston to Vera Cruz, but the flood had
+washed away their terminals, and for that day, Galveston was entirely
+isolated from the world.
+
+Houston, fifty-five miles north, was the first big town adjacent, and as
+all our wires ran through there, it was apparent they were having a hot
+time doing the relaying all day. They had only a small force, and
+evidently the business was delayed. The storm had finally blown itself
+out, and at four o'clock Clarke called for volunteers to go to Houston
+to help out until our wires came in shape again. The G. H. & H. railroad
+people said they thought the water was low enough to permit an engine
+to cross the bridge, and in response to Clarke's call eight of us
+volunteered to attempt the trip. After reaching the mainland we would be
+all right, but there was that confounded three mile bridge to cross. We
+boarded engine 341, with Dad Duffy at the throttle, and at four-fifteen
+he pulled out. Water was still over the track and we proceeded at a
+snail-like pace. Just at the edge of the bridge we stopped; Dad looked
+over the situation and said:
+
+"The water is within two inches of the fire-box now, and it's doubtful
+if we can get across, but here goes and God save us all."
+
+The sensation when we first struck that bridge and realized that we were
+literally on a water support, was anything but pleasant, and I reckon
+most of us uttered the first prayer in many a day. Slowly we crept
+along, and just as we were in the middle of the structure the draw
+sagged a little, and _kersplash!_ out went the fire. A great cloud of
+steam arose and floated away on the evening air, and then, there stood
+that iron monster as helpless as a babe. Dad looked around at us eight
+birds perched up on the tender and said:
+
+"Well I reckon you fellers won't pound any brass in Houston to-night."
+
+Pleasant fix to be in, wasn't it? A mile and a half from land, perched
+up on a dead engine, surrounded on all sides by water, and no chance to
+get away. There was no absolute danger, because the underpinning was
+firm enough, but all the same, every man jack of us wished he hadn't
+come. Night, black and dreary, settled over the waters, and still no
+help. Finally, at eight o'clock, the water had receded so that the tops
+of the rails could be seen, and two of us volunteered to go back on foot
+to the yard office for help. That was just three miles away, but nothing
+venture, nothing have, so we dropped off the hind end of the tender and
+started on our tramp back over the water-covered ties. We had one
+lantern, and after we had gone about a half of a mile, my companion who
+was ahead, slipped and nearly fell. I caught him but good-bye to the
+lantern, and the rest of the trip was made in utter darkness. To be
+brief, after struggling for two hours and a half, we reached the yard
+office, and an engine was sent out to help us. At twelve o'clock the
+whole gang were back in the city, wet, weary and worn out.
+
+The next day the water had entirely subsided and work was resumed. We
+learned then of the horror of the flood. Sabine Pass had been
+completely submerged, and some hundred and fifty or two hundred people
+drowned. Indianola had been wiped out of existence, and the whole coast
+lined with the wreckage of ships. That there were no casualties in
+Galveston, was providential, and due, doubtless, to the fact that the
+whole country for fifty miles back of it is as flat as a pan-cake, and
+the water had room to spread.
+
+I worked there until spring and then a longing for my first love, the
+railroad, came over me and I gave up my place and bade good-bye to the
+commercial business forever. I had had my fling at it and was
+satisfied.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+SENDING MY FIRST ORDER
+
+
+I had now been knocking about the country for quite a few years, and
+working in all kinds of offices and places, and had acquired a great
+deal of experience and valuable information, so I reached the conclusion
+that it was about time for me to settle down and get something that
+would last me for a while. Commercial work I did not care for, nor did I
+want to go back on the road as a night operator on a small salary. I
+thought I had the making of a good despatcher in me, and determined to
+try for that place. I knew it had to be attained by starting first at
+the bottom, so I went up on the K. M. & O. and secured a position as
+night operator at Vining. The K. M. & O. was a main trunk line running
+out of Chaminade, and was the best road for business that I had as yet
+struck. Vining was midway on the division, and was such a good old town
+that I would have been content to have stayed there for some time, but
+one day an engine pulling a through livestock express broke a driving
+rod while running like lightning, and the result was a smash up of the
+first water--engine in the ditch, cars piled all over her, livestock
+mashed up, engineer killed, fireman badly hurt, and the road blocked for
+twenty-four hours. The wreck occurred on a curve going down a rather
+steep grade, so that it was impossible to build a temporary track around
+it. A wrecking train was sent out from El Monte, and as I happened to be
+off duty, I was picked up and taken along, to cut in the wrecking
+office. The division superintendent came out to hurry up things and he
+appeared so pleased at my work that, in a few weeks, he offered me a
+place as copy operator in the despatcher's office at El Monte. This
+appeared to be a great chance to satisfy my ambition to become a
+despatcher, so I gladly accepted, and in a few days was safely ensconced
+in my new position. The despatchers only work eight hours a day, while
+the copy operators work twelve, so they work with two despatchers every
+day. I had the day end of the job and worked from eight A. M. until eight
+P. M., with an hour off for dinner, so that I really was only on duty for
+eleven hours. The pay was good for me, seventy dollars per month, and I
+was thoroughly satisfied. Really all that is necessary to be a first
+class copy operator is to be an expert telegrapher. It is simply a work
+of sending and receiving messages all day. However I wanted to learn, so
+I kept my ears and eyes opened, and studied the time card, train sheet,
+and order book very assiduously.
+
+The first trick despatcher was honest old Patrick J. Borroughs, a man of
+twenty-five years' experience in the business and as good a man as ever
+sent an order or took an O. S. report. He was kindness and gentleness
+personified, and assisted me in every way possible, and all my future
+success was due to his help and teaching. The memory of the time I
+worked under him is the brightest spot in all the years I served in the
+business. After I had been there for about five months, he would allow
+me, under his supervision, to make simple meeting points for two trains,
+and one day he allowed me to give a right-of-track order to a through
+freight train over a delayed passenger. Then he would let me sit around
+in his chair, while he swallowed his lunch, and copy the O. S. reports.
+I was beginning to think that my education as a despatcher was complete,
+and was thinking of asking for the next vacancy, when a little incident
+occurred that entirely disabused my mind. The following occurrence will
+show how little I knew about the business.
+
+We had received notice one morning of a special train to be run over our
+division that afternoon, carrying a Congressional Railroad Committee,
+and of course that meant a special schedule, and you all know how
+anxious the roads are to please railroad committees, especially when
+they are on investigating tours (?) with reference to the extension of
+the Inter-State Commerce Act, as this one was. We were told to "whoop
+her through." The track on our division was the best on the whole road,
+and it was only 102 miles long; we had plenty of sidings and passing
+tracks, and besides old "Jimmie" Hayes, with engine 444 was in, so they
+could be assured of a run that was a hummer. Mr. Hebron, the division
+superintendent, came in the office and told Borroughs to tear things
+loose, in fact, as he said, "Make 'em all car sick."
+
+After he had gone out Pat tossed the notification over to me, and said,
+"Bates, here's a chance for you to show what kind of stuff you are made
+of. Make out a schedule for this special, giving her a clean sweep from
+end to end, with the exception of No. 21."
+
+Proud! That wasn't the proper name for it. I was fully determined that
+_this_ special should have a run for her money if she ran on my
+schedule. No Congressional Committee was going back to Washington with
+the idea that the K. M. & O. wasn't the swiftest road in the bunch, if I
+could help it, and I had a big idea that I could. Pat told me he would
+do the copying while I made the schedule, but as he said it I fancied I
+saw a merry twinkle in his honest blue eyes. I wasn't daunted though,
+and started to work.
+
+     "Order No. 34.
+     "To C&E, all trains:
+
+     "K. M. & O. RAILROAD (Eastern Division).
+     "DESPATCHER'S OFFICE, 'DS,' October 15, 18--
+
+     "Special east engine 444, will run from El Monte to Marsan having
+     right of track over all trains except No. 21, on the following
+     schedule:--
+
+     "Leave El Monte, 2:30 P. M."
+
+Thus far I proceeded without any trouble, and then I stuck. Here was
+where the figuring came in, along with the knowledge of the road, grades
+and so forth, but I was sadly lacking in that respect. I studied and
+figured and used up lots of gray matter, and even chewed up a pencil or
+two. I finally finished the schedule and submitted it to Pat. He read it
+carefully, knitted his brows for a moment, and then said, slowly:
+
+"For a beginner that schedule is about the best I ever saw. It's a
+hummer without a doubt. But to prevent the lives of the Congressional
+Committee from being placed in jeopardy, I think I shall have to make
+another." Then he laughed heartily, and continued,
+
+"All joking aside, Bates, my boy, you did pretty well, but you have only
+allowed seven minutes between Sumatra and Borneo, while the time card
+shows the distance to be fourteen miles. Jim Hayes and engine 444 are
+capable of great bursts of speed, but, by Jingo, they can't fly. Then
+again you have forgotten our through passenger train, No. 21, which is
+an hour late from the south to-day; what are you going to do with her?
+Pass them on one track, I suppose. But don't be discouraged, my boy,
+brace up and try it again. That's a much better schedule than the first
+one I ever made."
+
+He made another schedule and I resumed my copying. It wasn't long,
+however, before my confidence returned and I wanted a trick. I got it,
+but in such a manner that even now, fifteen years afterwards, I shudder
+to think of it.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+RUNNING TRAINS BY TELEGRAPH--HOW IT IS DONE
+
+
+The despatcher's office of a big railroad line is one of the most
+interesting places a man can get into, especially if he is interested in
+the workings of our great railway systems. It is located at the division
+headquarters, or any other point, such as will make the despatching of
+trains and attendant orders of easy accomplishment. In riding over a
+road, many people are prone to give the credit of a good swift run to
+the engineer and train crew. Pick up a paper any day that the President
+or some big functionary is out on a trip, and you will probably read
+how, at the end of the run, he stopped beside the panting engine, and
+reaching up to shake the hand of the faithful, grimy engineer, would
+say:
+
+"Thank you so much for giving us such a good run. I don't know when I
+have ridden so fast before," or words to that effect. He never thinks
+that the engineer and crew are but the mechanical agents, they are but
+small cogs in a huge machine. They do their part and do it well, but the
+brains of the machine are up in the little office and are all
+incorporated in the despatcher on duty. Flying over the country
+regardless of time or space, one is apt to forget where the real credit
+belongs. The swift run could not be made, and the train kept running
+without a stop, if it were not for the fact that the despatcher puts
+trains on the sidetrack so that the special need not be delayed, and he
+does it in such a manner that the regular business of the road shall not
+be interfered with.
+
+The interior of the despatcher's office is not, as a rule, very
+sumptuous. There is the big counter at one side of the room, on which
+are the train registers, car record books, message blanks, and forms for
+the various reports. Against the wall on one of the other sides is a big
+black board known as the "call board." On it is recorded the probable
+arrival and departure of trains, and the names of their crews, also the
+time certain crews are to be called. As soon as the train men have
+completed the work of turning their train over to the yard crew at the
+end of their run, they are registered in the despatcher's office, and
+are liable thereafter for duty in their turn. The rule "first in,
+first, out," is supposed to be strictly adhered to in the running of
+trains. About the middle of the room, or in the recess of the bay
+window, is the despatcher's table. On it in front of the man on duty, is
+the train sheet, containing information, exact and absolute in its
+nature, of each train on the division. On this sheet there is also a
+space set apart for the expected arrival of trains on his district from
+the other end, and one for delays. Loads, empties, everything, is there
+that is necessary for him to know to properly run the trains on time and
+with safety. At any minute the despatcher on duty can tell you the
+precise location of any train, what she is doing, how her engine is
+working, how much work she has to do along the road, and all about her
+engineer and conductor. Generally, there are two sets of instruments on
+the table, one for use of what is known as the despatcher's wire, over
+which his sway is absolute, and the other for a wire that is used for
+messages, reports, and the like, and in case of emergency, by the
+despatcher. Mounted on a roll in front of him is the current official
+time card of the division. From the information contained thereon, the
+despatcher makes all his calculations for time orders, meeting points,
+work trains, etc. Across the table from the despatcher sits the "copy
+operator," whose duty it is to copy everything that comes along, thus
+relieving the despatcher of anything that would tend to disturb him in
+his work. The copy operator is generally the man next for promotion to a
+despatcher's trick, and his relations with his chief must be entirely
+harmonious.
+
+The working force in a well regulated despatcher's office consists of
+the chief despatcher, three trick despatchers, and two copy operators,
+with the various call boys and messengers. The chief despatcher is next
+to the division superintendent, and has full charge of the office. He
+has the supervision of the yard and train reports, and the ordering out
+of the trains and crews. He has charge of all the operators on the
+division, their hiring and dismissal, and has general supervision of the
+telegraph service. In fact, he is a little tin god on wheels. His office
+hours? He hasn't any. Most of the chiefs are in their offices from early
+morn until late at night, and there is no harder worked man in the world
+than the chief despatcher.
+
+Each day is divided into three periods of eight hours each, known as
+"tricks," and a despatcher assigned to each. The first trick is from
+eight A. M. until four P. M.; the second from four P. M. until twelve
+midnight; and the third from twelve midnight until eight A. M.
+
+At eight o'clock in the morning, the first trick despatcher comes on
+duty, and his first work is to verify the train sheet and order book.
+The man going off duty checks off all orders issued by him that have
+been carried out, and his successor signs his initials to all orders yet
+to be obeyed. This signifies that he has read them over very carefully
+and thoroughly understands their purport. As soon as he has receipted
+for them he becomes as responsible as if he had first issued them. He
+glances carefully over his train sheet, assures himself that everything
+is correct and then assumes his duties for the day. Anything that is not
+clear to him must be thoroughly explained before his predecessor leaves,
+and he must signify that he understands everything. The value of that
+old time card rule, so familiar to all railroaders, "In case of doubt
+always take the safe side," is exemplified many times every day in the
+running of trains by telegraph, and the attendant orders. After a
+despatcher has assumed charge of the trick he is the master of the
+situation; he is responsible for everything, and his attentiveness,
+ability and judgment are the powers that keep the trains moving and on
+time.
+
+When all trains are running on time, and there are no extras or specials
+out, the despatcher's duty is easy, and consists largely in taking and
+recording "O. S. reports," and "Consists." The "O. S. report" is the
+report sent in by the various operators as the trains arrive and depart
+from the several stations. A "consist" is a message sent by the
+conductor of a train to the division superintendent, giving the exact
+composition and destination of every car in his train. When trains are
+late, however, or many extras are running or the track washed out, the
+despatcher's work becomes very arduous. Orders of all kinds have to be
+made, engines and crews kept working together and trains moving.
+
+Down the centre of the train sheet, which varies in size according to
+the length of the division, are printed the names of all the telegraph
+stations on the division and the distances between them. On either side
+of this main column are ruled smaller columns, each one of which
+represents a train. The number of each train is at the head of the
+appropriate column, and under it are the number of the engine, the names
+of the conductor and engineer, and the number of loads and empties in
+the train. All trains on the division are arranged in three classes, and
+each class has certain rights. Trains of the first class are always
+passengers; the through freight, and the combination freight and
+passenger trains compose the second class. All other trains, such as
+local freights, work trains and construction trains belong to the third
+class. It is an invariable rule on all railroads that trains running one
+way have _exclusive rights_ over trains of their own and of inferior
+classes running in the opposite direction.
+
+What is called the "double order system," is used almost exclusively on
+all single track roads, and if the rules and regulations governing it
+were strictly adhered to and carried out, accidents for which human
+agency is responsible, would be impossible. It consists simply in giving
+an order to all the trains concerned _at the same time_. That is to say,
+if the despatcher desires to make a meeting point for two trains, he
+will send the same order simultaneously to both of them. If a train is
+leaving his end of the division and he desires to make a meeting point
+with a train coming in, before giving his order to his conductor and
+engineer, he would telegraph it to a station at which the incoming train
+was soon to arrive, and from whence the operator would repeat it back
+word for word, and would give a signal signifying that his red board was
+turned. By this means both trains would receive the same order, and
+there would be no doubt about the point at which they were to meet.
+
+To illustrate this method, let us suppose a case of two sections of No.
+13 running east and one section of No. 14 running west. Both trains are
+of the second class, and as the east bound trains have the right of way,
+No. 14 _must_ keep out of the way of the two 13's. A certain point, call
+it Smithville, is, according to the time card, the meeting point for
+these two trains. But No. 14 finds out she has a lot of work to do at
+Jonesboro; or a hot driving box or a draw head pulling out delays her,
+and thus she cannot possibly reach Smithville for No. 13. She is at
+Jason, and unless she can get orders to run farther on No. 13's time,
+she will have to tie up there and be further delayed an hour. The
+conductor tells the operator at Jason to ask "DS" if he can help them
+out any. "DS" glances over his train sheet, and finds that he cannot let
+them run to Smithville, because No. 13 is nearly on time; but there is a
+siding at Burkes, between Jason and Smithville, and he concludes to let
+14 go there. So he tells the operator at Jason to "copy 3," and then he
+calls Smithville and tells him to "copy 5." Both the engineer and
+conductor get a copy of all orders pertaining to their trains, and the
+operators retain one for their records and for reference in case of
+accident. Both operators turn their red boards _the first thing_, and so
+long as the signal remains red, no train can pass the station, without
+first receiving an order or a clearance card. In the case supposed the
+order would be as follows:
+
+     "DS Despatcher's Office, 12, 8, '98
+
+     "Orders No. 31.
+
+     To C. & E. 1st and 2nd 13, SM.
+     To C. & E. No. 14, JN.
+
+     First and second sections No. 13, and No. 14 will meet at Burkes.
+
+     12. (Answer how you understand).
+
+     "H. G. C."
+
+The despatcher's operator, sitting opposite to him, copies every word of
+this order as the despatcher sends it, and when the operators at
+Smithville and Jason repeat it back, he underlines each word, great care
+being taken to correct any mistakes made by the operators. After an
+operator has repeated an order back he signs his name, and the
+despatcher then says:
+
+"Order No. 31, O. K.," giving the time and signing the division
+superintendent's initials thereto. The order is next handed to the
+conductor and engineer of each train when they come to the office; both
+read it carefully, and then signify that they understand it fully by
+signing their names. The operator then says to the despatcher, "Order
+31, sig. Jones and Smith," and the despatcher gives the "complete" and
+the exact time. Then a copy is given to the conductor and one to the
+engineer and they leave. On the majority of roads the conductor must
+read the order aloud to the engineer before leaving the office.
+
+Thus No. 14 having received her orders, pulls out, and when she reaches
+Burkes, she goes on the side track and waits there for both 13's,
+because 13, being an east bound train of the same class, has the
+right-of-track over her. The same _modus operandi_ is gone through with
+for No. 13, and when the trains have departed the operators pull in
+their red boards. When the meeting has been made and both trains are
+safely by Burkes, the despatcher draws a blue pencil or makes a check
+mark on his order book copy and signs his initials, which signifies that
+the provisions of the order have been carried out. Should its details
+not have been completed when the despatcher is relieved, his successor
+signs his initials thereto showing that he has received it. This is the
+method of sending train orders, exact and simple, on single track
+railroads. On double track lines the work is greatly simplified because
+trains running in each direction have separate tracks. Does it not seem
+simple? And how impossible are mistakes when its rules are adhered to.
+It really seems as if any one gifted with a reasonable amount of common
+sense, and having a knowledge of the rudiments of mathematics, could do
+the work, but underneath all the simplicity explained, there runs a deep
+current of complications that only long time and a cool head can master.
+I have worked in offices and been figuring on orders for a train soon to
+start out from my end of the division, when all of a sudden some train
+out on the road that has been running all night, will bob up with a hot
+box, or a broken draw head, and then all the calculations for the new
+train will be knocked into a cocked hat.
+
+The simple meeting order has been given above. The following examples
+will illustrate some of the other many forms of orders, and are
+self-explanatory.
+
+TIME ORDER
+
+No. 14 has a right to use ten minutes of the time of No. 13 between
+Jason and Jonesboro.
+
+SLOW ORDER
+
+All trains will run carefully over track from one-half mile east of
+Salt Water to Big River Bridge, track soft.
+
+EXTRA ORDER
+
+Engine 341 will run extra from DeLeon to Valdosta.
+
+ANNULMENT ORDER
+
+No. 15 of January 6th is annulled between Santiago and Rio.
+
+WORK ORDER
+
+Engine 228 will work between Posey and Patterson, keeping out of the way
+of all regular trains. Clear track for extra west, engine 327 at 10:30
+A. M.
+
+When an operator has once turned his red board to the track for an
+order, under no circumstances must he pull it in until he has delivered
+the order for the train for which it is intended. In the meantime should
+another train come in for which he has no orders, he will give it a
+clearance card as follows:
+
+     To C. & E., No. 27
+     There are no orders for you, signal is set for No. 18.
+     H. G. CLARKE, Operator.
+
+At stated times during the day, the despatchers on duty on each division
+send full reports of all their trains to the divisions adjoining them
+on either side. This train report is very complete, giving the
+composition of each and every train on the road, and the destination of
+every car. A form of the message will readily illustrate this:
+
+     SAN ANGELO, 5 | 16, 18--.
+     W. H. C. DS
+
+     No 17 will arrive at DS, at 10:20 A. M., with the following:
+
+       1 HH goods           Chgo.
+       2 Livestock          Kansas City.
+       3 Mdse                   "
+       1 Emgt. outfit       St. Louis.
+       6 Coal               Houston.
+       6 Wheat              Chgo.
+       7 Empty sys. flats   Flat Rock.
+      --
+      Total 26
+
+     H. G. B.
+
+All work is done over the initials of the division superintendent and in
+his name. These reports keep the despatchers fully informed as to what
+may be expected, and arrangements can be made to keep the trains moving
+without delay. Of course the report illustrated above is for but one
+train, necessarily it must be much longer when many trains are running.
+
+At some regular time during the day all the agents on the division send
+in a car report. This is copied by the despatcher's operator and shows
+how many and what kind of cars are on the side tracks; the number of
+loads ready to go out; the number and kind of cars wanted during the
+ensuing twenty-four hours; and if the station is a water station, how
+many feet of water are in the tank; or if a coaling station, how many
+cars of coal there are on hand; and lastly, what is the character of the
+weather. On some roads weather reports are sent in every hour.
+
+In view of all this, I think it is not too much to say, that the eyes of
+the despatcher see everything on the road. There are a thousand and one
+small details, in addition to the momentous matters of which he has
+charge, and the man who can keep his division clear, with all trains
+moving smoothly and on time, must indeed possess both excellent method
+and application, and must have the ability and nerve to master numerous
+unexpected situations the moment they arise. He is not an artisan or a
+mechanic, _he is a genius_.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+AN OLD DESPATCHER'S MISTAKE--MY FIRST TRICK
+
+
+I had become thoroughly proficient and more frequently than ever
+Borroughs would let me "spell" for him for a while each day. Be it said
+to his credit, however, he was always within hearing, when I was doing
+any of his work. He was carefulness personified, and the following
+incident only serves to show what unaccountable errors will be made by
+even the best of men.
+
+One cold morning in January, I started to the office as usual. The air
+was so still, crisp and biting that the air-pumps of the engines had
+that peculiar sharp, snappy sound heard only in a panting engine in cold
+weather. They seemed almost imbued with life. As I went into the office
+at eight o'clock to go to work, the night man remarked that I must be
+feeling pretty brash; my spirits seemed so high. And in fact, that was
+no joke; I was feeling fine as silk and showed it all over. But as I
+said good morning to Borroughs, I noticed that he seemed rather glum,
+and I asked: "What's the matter, Dad? Feeling bad this morning?"
+
+He snapped back in a manner entirely foreign to him, "No, but I don't
+feel much like chaffing this day. I feel as if something was going to
+happen, and I don't like the feeling."
+
+I answered, "Oh! bosh, Dad. You'll feel all right in a few minutes; I
+reckon you've got a good old attack of dyspepsia; brace up."
+
+Just then the wires started up, and he gruffly told me to sit down and
+go to work and our conversation ceased. That was the first time he had
+ever used anything but a gentle tone to me, and I felt hurt. The first
+trick is always the busiest, and under the stress of work the incident
+soon passed from my mind. Pat remarked once, that the general
+superintendent was going to leave Chaminade in a special at 10:30 A. M.,
+on a tour of inspection over the road. That was about all the talking he
+did that morning. His work was as good as ever, and in fact, he made
+some of the prettiest meets that morning I had ever seen.
+
+[Illustration: "... Half lying on the table, face downward, dead by
+his own hand"]
+
+About 10:35, I asked Borroughs to allow me to go over to the hotel to
+get a cigar. I would be gone only a few minutes. He assented, and I
+slipped on my overcoat and went out. I wasn't gone over ten minutes, and
+as I stepped into the doorway to come upstairs on my return, I heard
+what sounded like a shot in the office. I flew upstairs two steps at a
+time, and never to my dying day will I forget the sight that met my
+gaze. Borroughs, whom I had left but a few moments before full of life
+and energy, was half lying on the table, face downwards, dead by his own
+hand. The blood was oozing from a jagged wound in his temple, and on the
+floor was the smoking pistol he had used. Fred Bennett, the chief
+despatcher, as pale as a ghost, was bending over him, while the two call
+boys were standing near paralyzed with fright. It was an intensely
+dramatic setting for a powerful stage picture, and my heart stood still
+for a minute as I contemplated the awful scene. Mr. Hebron, the division
+superintendent, came in from the outer office, and was transfixed with
+horror and amazement when he saw the terrible picture.
+
+Bennett turned to me and said, "Bates, come here and help me lift poor
+Borroughs out of this chair."
+
+Gently and carefully we laid him down on the floor and sent one of the
+badly frightened boys for a surgeon. Medical skill was powerless,
+however, and the spirit of honest Pat Borroughs had crossed the dark
+river to its final reckoning.
+
+Work in the office was at a standstill on account of the tragic
+occurrence, but all of a sudden I heard Monte Carlo calling "DS" and
+using the signal "WK," which means "wreck." Bennett told me to sit down
+and take the trick until the second trick man could be called. I went
+over and sat down in the chair, still warm from the body of my late
+friend, and wiping his blood off the train sheet with my handkerchief, I
+answered.
+
+It would be impossible to describe the state of my feelings as I first
+touched the key; I had completely lost track of trains, orders and
+everything else. However, I gradually pulled myself together, and got
+the hang of the road again, and then I learned how the wreck had
+occurred. About a minute after I went out, Borroughs had given a
+right-of-track order to an express freight from Monte Carlo to
+Johnsonville, and had told them to hurry up. Johnsonville is on the
+outskirts of Chaminade, and Borroughs had completely forgotten that the
+general superintendent's special had left there just five minutes before
+with a clean sweep order. That he had known of it was evident from the
+fact that it was recorded on the train sheet. Two minutes after the
+freight had left Monte Carlo, poor Pat realized he had at last made his
+mistake. He said not a word to any person, but quietly ordered out the
+wrecking outfit, and then reaching in the drawer he took out a revolver
+and--snuffed out his candle. He fell forward on the train sheet, as if
+to cover up with his lifeless body, the terrible blunder he had just
+made. Many other despatchers had made serious errors, and in a measure
+outlived them; but here was a man who had grown gray in the service of
+railroads, with never a bad mark against him. Day and night, in season
+and out, he had given the best of his brain and life to the service, and
+finally by one slip of the memory he had, as he thought, ruined himself;
+and, too proud to bear the disgrace, he killed himself. He was
+absolutely alone in the world and left none to mourn his loss save a
+large number of operators he had helped over the rough places of the
+profession.
+
+The wreck was an awful one. The superintendent's son was riding on the
+engine, and he and the engineer and the fireman were mashed and crushed
+almost beyond recognition. The superintendent, his wife and daughter,
+and a friend, were badly bruised, but none of them seriously injured.
+The second trick man was not to be found immediately, so I worked until
+four o'clock, and the impression of that awful day will never leave me.
+Pat's personality was constantly before me in the shape of the blood
+stain on the train sheet. It was a long time before I recovered my
+equanimity.
+
+The next afternoon we buried poor Pat under the snow, and the earth
+closed over him forever; and thus passed from life a man whose character
+was the purest, whose nature was the gentlest: honest and upright, I
+have never seen his equal in the profession or out. I often think if I
+had not gone over to the hotel that morning, the accident might have
+been averted, because, perhaps, I would have noticed the mistake in time
+to have prevented the collision. But, on the other hand, it is probable
+I would not have noticed it, because operators, not having the
+responsibility of the despatchers, rarely concentrate their minds
+intensely on what they are taking. A man will sit and copy by the hour
+with the greatest accuracy, and at the same time be utterly oblivious of
+the purport of what he has been taking. There can be no explanation as
+to why Pat forgot the special. It is one of those things that happen;
+that's all.
+
+The rule of seniority was followed in the office, and in the natural
+sequence of events the night man got my job, I was promoted to the third
+trick--from twelve midnight until eight A. M.--and a new copy operator
+was brought in from Vining.
+
+If any trick is easier than another it is the third, but none of them
+are by any means sinecures. When I was a copy operator I used to imagine
+it was an easy thing to sit over on the other side of the table and give
+orders, "jack up" operators, conductors and engineers, and incidentally
+haul some men over the coals every time I had to call them a few
+minutes; but when I reached the summit of an operator's ambition, and
+was assigned to a trick I found things very different. Copying with no
+responsibility was dead easy; but despatching trains I found about the
+stiffest job I had ever undertaken. I had to be on the alert with every
+faculty and every minute during the eight hours I was on duty. While the
+first and second trick men, have perhaps more train order work attached
+to them, the third is about on a par with them as far as actual labor is
+concerned, because, in addition to the regular train order work, a new
+train sheet has to be opened every night at twelve o'clock, which
+necessitates keeping two sheets until all the trains on the old one have
+completed their runs. There is also a consolidated train report to be
+made at this time, which is a re-capitulation of the movements of all
+trains for the preceding twenty-four hours, giving delays, causes
+thereof, accidents, cars hauled, etc. This is submitted to the division
+superintendent in the morning, and after he has perused and digested its
+contents he sends a condensed copy to the general superintendent. Many a
+man loses his job by a report against him on that train sheet.
+
+To show the strain on a man's mind when he is despatching trains, let me
+tell a little incident that happened to me just in the beginning of my
+career as a despatcher. Every morning about five o'clock, the third
+trick man begins to figure on his work train orders for the day and when
+he has completed them he sends them out to the different crews. Work
+train orders, it may not be amiss to explain, are orders given to the
+different construction crews, such as the bridge gang, the grading gang,
+the track gang, etc., to work between certain points at certain times.
+They must be very full and explicit in detail as to all trains that are
+to run during the continuance of the order. For regular trains running
+on time, no notification need be given, because the time card rules
+would apply; but for all extras, specials, and delayed trains, warnings
+must be given, so that the work trains can get out of the way for them,
+otherwise the results might be very serious, and business be greatly
+delayed. Work orders are the bane of a new despatcher's existence, and
+the manner in which he handles them is a sure indication as to whether
+he will be successful or not. Many a man gets to a trick only to fall
+down on these work orders.
+
+I stumbled along fairly well the first night as a despatcher, and had no
+mishaps to speak of, although I delayed a through passenger some ten
+minutes, by hanging it up on a siding for a fast freight train, and I
+put a through freight on a siding for a train of an inferior class. For
+these little errors of judgment I was "cussed out" by all the conductors
+and engineers on the division when they came in; and the division
+superintendent, on looking over the train sheet the next morning,
+remarked, that delaying a passenger train would never do--in such a tone
+of voice that I could plainly see my finish should I ever so offend
+again.
+
+The second night passed all right enough, and by 5:30 A. M., I had
+completed my work orders and sent them out. From that time on until
+eight o'clock when the first trick man relieved me I was kept busy. He
+read over my outstanding orders, verified the sheet, and signed the
+transfer on the order book, and after a few moments' chat I went home.
+I went to bed about nine o'clock, and was on the point of dropping off
+to sleep, when all at once I remembered that an extra fast freight was
+due to leave at 9:45 A. M., and that there was a train working in a cut
+four miles out. I wondered if I had notified her to get out of the way
+of the extra. That extra would go down through that cut like a streak of
+greased lightning, because Horace Daniels, on engine 341, was going to
+pull her, and Horace was known as a runner from away back. I reviewed in
+my mind, as carefully as I could all the orders I had given to the work
+train, and was rather sure I had notified them, but still I was not
+absolutely certain, and began to feel very uncomfortable. Poor Borroughs
+had just had his smash up, and I didn't want "poor Bates," to have his
+right away. Maybe it was the spirit of this same old man Borroughs, who
+was sleeping so peacefully under the ground that made me feel and act
+carefully. I looked at my watch and found it was 9:20. The extra would
+leave in twenty-five minutes and I lived nearly a mile from the office.
+The strain was beginning to be too much, so I slipped on my clothes and
+without putting on a collar or a cravat, I caught up my hat and ran with
+all my might for the depot. As I approached I saw Daniels giving 341
+the last touch of oil before he pulled out. Thank God, they hadn't gone.
+I shouted to him, "Don't pull out for a minute, Daniels; I think there
+is a mistake in your orders."
+
+Daniels was a gruff sort of a fellow, and he snapped back at me, "What's
+the matter with you? I hain't got no orders yet. Come here until I oil
+those wheels in your head."
+
+I went up in the office and Daniels followed me. Bennett, the chief, was
+standing by the counter as I went in, and after a glance at me he said,
+"What's up, kid? Seen a ghost? You look almost pale enough to be one
+yourself."
+
+I said, "No, I haven't seen any ghosts, but I am afraid I forgot to
+notify that gang working just east of here about this extra."
+
+The conductor and engineer were both there and they smiled very audibly
+at my discomfiture; in fact, it was so audible you could hear it for a
+block. Bennett went over to the table, glanced at the order book and
+train sheet for a minute and then said, "Oh, bosh! of course you
+notified them. Here it is as big as life, 'Look out for extra east,
+engine 341, leaving El Monte at 9:45 A. M.' What do you want to get such
+a case of the rattles and scare us all that way for?"
+
+I was about to depart for home to resume my sleep, and was
+congratulating myself on my escape, when Bennett called me over to one
+side of the room, and in a low, but very firm voice, metaphorically ran
+up and down my spinal column with a rake. He asked me if I didn't know
+there were other despatchers in that office besides myself; men who knew
+more in a minute about the business than I did in a month; and didn't I
+suppose that the order book would be verified, and the train sheet
+consulted before sending out the extra? He hoped I would never show such
+a case of the rattles again. That was all. Good morning. All the same I
+was glad I went back to the office that morning, because I had satisfied
+myself that I had not committed an unpardonable error at the outset of
+my career.
+
+_In case of doubt always take the safe side._
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+A GENERAL STRIKE--A LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEER FOR A DAY
+
+
+During the ensuing spring, one of those spasmodic waves of strikes
+passed over the country. Some northern road that wasn't earning enough
+money to pay the interest on its bonds, cut down the salaries of some of
+its employees, and they went out. Then the "sympathy" idea was worked to
+the full limit, and gradually other roads were tied up. We had hopes it
+would escape us, but one fine day we awoke to find our road tied up good
+and hard. The conductors and brakemen went first, and a few days later
+they were followed by the engineers and firemen. That completed the
+business and we were up against it tighter than a brick. Our men hadn't
+the shadow of a grievance against the company, and were not in full
+sympathy with the strike, but their obligation to their unions was too
+strong for them to resist.
+
+It placed us in a pretty bad fix because just at this time we had a yard
+full of freight, a good deal of it perishable, and it was imperative
+that it should be moved at once or the company would be out a good many
+dollars. The roundhouse men and a few hostlers were still working, so it
+was an easy thing to get a yard engine out. Bennett, myself, Burns, the
+second trick man, and Mr. Hebron, the division superintendent, went down
+in the yard to do the switching. There were twenty-three cars of Texas
+livestock and California fruit waiting for a train out, and the drovers
+were becoming impatient, because they wanted to get up to Chicago to
+take advantage of a big bulge in the market.
+
+I soon found that standing up in the bay window of an office, watching
+the switchmen do the yard work and doing it yourself, were two entirely
+different propositions. When I first went in between two cars to make a
+coupling, I thought my time had come for sure. I fixed the link and pin
+in one car, and then ran down to the next and fixed the pin there. The
+engine was backing slowly, but when I turned around, it looked as if it
+had the speed of an overland "flyer." I watched carefully, raised and
+guided the link in the opposite draw head, and then dropped the pin.
+Those two cars came together like the crack of doom, and I shut my eyes
+and jumped back, imagining that I had been crushed to death, in fact, I
+could feel that my right hand was mashed to a pulp. But it was a false
+alarm; it wasn't. I had made the coupling without a scratch to myself,
+and it wasn't long before I became bolder, and jumped on and off of the
+foot-boards and brake-beams like any other lunatic. That all four of us
+were not killed is nothing short of miracle.
+
+By a dint of hard work we succeeded in getting a train made up for
+Chaminade, and all that was now needed was an engine and crew. There was
+a large and very interested crowd of men standing around watching us,
+and many a merry ha-ha we received from them for our crude efforts.
+Engine 341 was hooked on, and we were all ready for the start. Burns was
+going to play conductor, Bennett was to be the hind man, while I was to
+ride ahead. But where were the engineer and fireman? Mr. Hebron had
+counted on a non-union engineer to pull the train, and a wiper to do the
+firing, but just as we expected them to appear, we found that some of
+the strikers had succeeded in talking them over to their side. To make
+matters worse the roundhouse men and the hostlers caught the fever, and
+out they went. Mr. Hebron was in a great pickle, but he didn't want to
+acknowledge that he was beaten so he stood around hanging on in hopes
+something would turn up to relieve the strain.
+
+Now, it had occurred to me that I could run that engine. When I was
+young and fresh in the railroad business, I had spent much of my spare
+time riding around on switch engines, and once in a while I had taken a
+run out over the road with an engineer who had a friendly interest in
+me. One man, old Tom Robinson, who pulled a fast freight, had been
+particularly kind to me, and on one occasion I had taken a few days' lay
+off, and gone out and back one whole trip with him. Being of an
+inquisitive turn of mind, I asked him a great many questions about
+gauges, valves, oil cups, eccentrics, injectors, etc., and whenever he
+would go down under his engine, I always paid the closest attention to
+what he did. I used to ride on the right hand side of the cab with him,
+and occasionally he would allow me to feel the throttle for a few
+minutes. Thus, when I was a little older, I could run an engine quite
+well. I knew the oil cups, could work the injector, knew enough to open
+and close the cylinder cocks, could toot the whistle and ring the bell
+like an old timer, and had a pretty fair idea, generally speaking, of
+the machine. Having all these things in mind, I approached Mr. Hebron,
+as he stood cogitating upon his ill-luck, and said, "Mr. Hebron, I'll
+run this train into Chaminade if you will only get some one to keep the
+engine hot."
+
+"You," said Hebron, "you are a despatcher; what the devil do you know
+about running a locomotive?"
+
+I told him I might not know much, but if he would say the word I would
+get those twenty-three cars into Chaminade, or know the reason why. He
+looked at me for a minute, asked me a few questions about what I knew of
+an engine and then said,
+
+"By George! I'll risk it. Get on that engine, my boy; take this one
+wiper left for a fireman, and pull out. But first go over to the office
+for your orders. You won't need many, because everything is tied up
+between here and Johnsonville, and you will have a clear track. Now fly,
+and let me see what kind of stuff you are made of."
+
+Strangely enough, after he had consented I was not half so eager to
+undertake it; but I had said I would and now I must stick to my word, or
+acknowledge that I was a big bluffer. I went up to the office and Fred
+Bennett gave me the orders. But as he did so he said: "Bates, that's a
+foolhardy thing for you to do, and I reckon the old man must be crazy to
+allow you to try it, but rather than give in to that mob out there I'll
+see you through with it. Now don't you forget for one minute, that you
+have twenty-three cars and a caboose trailing along behind you; that I
+am on the hind end, and that I have a wife and family to support, with a
+mighty small insurance on my life."
+
+He went out, and Bennett told the cattle men to get aboard as we were
+about to start. All this had been done unbeknown to any of the strikers;
+but when they saw me coming down that yard with a piece of yellow tissue
+paper in my hand they knew something was up, for every man of them knew
+that was a train order. But where was the engineer?
+
+I went down and climbed up in the cab of old 341, and removing my coat,
+put on a jumper I had brought from the office. Engine 341, as I have
+said, was run by Horace Daniels, one of the best men that ever pulled a
+throttle, and his pride in her was like that of a mother in a child. She
+was a big ten-wheeled Baldwin, and I have heard Daniels talk to her as
+if she was a human being; in fact, he said she was the only sweetheart
+he ever had. He was standing in the crowd and when he saw me put on the
+jumper he came over and said:
+
+"See here, Mr. Hebron, who is going to pull this train out?"
+
+Mr. Hebron who was standing by the step, said, "Bates is."
+
+Daniels grew red with rage, and said:
+
+"Bates? Why good heavens, Mr. Hebron, Bates can't run an engine; he's
+nothing but an old brass pounder, and, judging from some of the meets he
+has made for me on this division, he must be a very poor one at that.
+This here old girl don't know no one but me nohow; for God's sake don't
+let her disgrace herself by going out with that sandy-haired chump at
+the throttle."
+
+Mr. Hebron smiled and said, "Well then, you pull her out, Daniels."
+
+Daniels shook his head and replied, "You know I can't do that, Mr.
+Hebron. It's true I'm not in sympathy with this strike one jot, but the
+boys are out, and I've got to stand by them. But when this strike is
+over I want old 341 back. Why, Mr. Hebron, I'd rather see a scab run her
+than that old lightning jerker."
+
+But Mr. Hebron was firm and Daniels walked slowly and sadly away. By
+this time we had a good head of steam on, and Bennett gave me the signal
+to pull out. I shoved the reverse lever from the centre clear over
+forward, and grasping the throttle, tremblingly gave it a pull.
+
+Longfellow says, in "The Building of the Ship:" "She starts, she moves,
+she seems to feel a thrill of life along her keel." I can fancy exactly
+how that ship felt, because just as the first hiss of steam greeted my
+ears and I felt that engine move, I felt a peculiar thrill run along my
+keel, and my heart was in my mouth. She did not start quite fast enough
+for me, so I gave the throttle another jerk, and whew! how those big
+drivers did fly around! I shut her off quickly, gave her a little sand,
+and started again. This time she took the rail beautifully, walking away
+like a thoroughbred.
+
+There is a little divide just outside of the El Monte yard, and then for
+a stretch of about five miles, it is down grade. After this the road
+winds around the river banks, with level tracks to Johnsonville, where
+the double track commences. All I had to do was to get the train to the
+double track, and from there a belt line engine was to take it in. Thus
+my run was only thirty-five miles.
+
+Our start was very auspicious, and when we were going along at a pretty
+good gait, I pulled the reverse lever back to within one point of the
+centre, and opened her up a little more. She stood up to her work just
+as if she had an old hand at the throttle instead of a novice. I wish I
+were able to describe my sensations as the engine swayed to and fro in
+her flight. The fireman was rather an intelligent chap, and had no
+trouble in keeping her hot, and twenty-three cars wasn't much of a train
+for old 341. We went up the grade a-flying. When we got over the divide,
+I let her get a good start before I shut her off for the down grade. And
+how she did go! I thought at times she would jump the track but she held
+on all right. At the foot of this grade is a very abrupt curve and when
+she struck it, I thought she bounded ten feet in the air. My hat was
+gone, my hair was flying in the wind, and all the first fright was lost
+in the feeling of exhilaration over the fact that _I_ was the one who
+was controlling that great iron monster as she tore along the track.
+I--I was doing it all by myself. It was like the elixir of life to an
+invalid. My fireman came ever to me at one time and said in my ear that
+I'd better call for brakes or the first thing we knew we would land in
+the river. Brakes! Not on your life. I didn't want any brakes, because
+if she ever stopped I wasn't sure that I could get her started again. We
+made the run of thirty-five miles in less than an hour, and when we
+reached Johnsonville I received a message from Mr. Hebron,
+congratulating me on my success. But Bennett--well, the rating he gave
+me was worth going miles to hear. He said that never in his life had he
+taken such a ride, nor would he ever volunteer to ride behind a crazy
+engineer again. But I didn't care; I had pulled the train in as I said I
+would, and the engine was in good shape, barring a hot driving box. I
+may add, however, that I don't care to make any such trip again myself.
+
+We went back on a mail train that night, that was run by a non-union
+engineer, and in a day or two the strike was declared off, the men
+returned to work, and peace once more reigned supreme. Daniels got his
+"old girl" in as good shape as ever, and once when he was up in my
+office he told me he had hoped that old 341 would get on the rampage
+that day I took her out and "kick the stuffin'" out of that train and
+every one on it. Poor old Daniels, he stuck to his "old girl" to the
+last, but one day he struck a washout, and as a result received a "right
+of track order," on the road that leads to the paradise of all
+railroaders.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+CHIEF DESPATCHER--AN INSPECTION TOUR--BIG RIVER WRECK
+
+
+I had always supposed that the higher up you ascended in any business,
+the easier would be your position and the happier your lot. What a
+fallacy, especially in the railroad service, where your
+responsibilities, work, care, and worries increase in direct proportion
+as you rise! The operator's responsibility is limited to the correct
+reception, transmission, delivery and repetition of his orders and
+messages; the despatcher's to the correct conception of the orders and
+their transmission at the proper time to the right train; but the chief
+despatcher's responsibilities combine not only these but many more. A
+despatcher's work is cut out for him, just as the tailor would cut his
+cloth for a journeyman workman, and when his eight hour trick is done,
+his work for the day is finished and his time is his own. Not so the
+chief. His work is never done; he works early and late, and even at
+night when he goes home utterly tired out from his long day, he is
+liable to be called up to go out on a wrecking outfit, or to perform
+some special duty. As soon as anything goes wrong on a division the
+first cry is, "Send for the chief despatcher." Almost everybody on the
+division is under his jurisdiction except the division superintendent,
+and sometimes I have seen that mighty dignitary take a back seat for his
+chief despatcher.
+
+It was some ten years after I had begun to pound brass, that I awoke one
+fine morning to find myself offered the position of chief despatcher on
+the central division of the C. N. & Q. Railway, with headquarters at
+Selbyville. I was very well satisfied at El Monte, had been promoted to
+the first trick and had many friends whom I did not like to leave, but
+then, I was as high as I could get in a good many years, because Fred
+Bennett, the chief, was a stayer from away back, and there wouldn't be a
+vacancy there for a long time to come. The district of which I was to
+take charge was about three hundred miles long, and consisted of three
+freight divisions of one hundred miles each. That meant a whole lot of
+hard confining work, but who wouldn't accept a promotion; so after
+carefully considering the matter, I gratefully accepted, and was duly
+installed in my new position. As I did not know anything about the road
+or the operators thereon, one of my first acts was to take a trip of
+inspection over the road. I rode on freight trains or anything that came
+along, and dropped off as I wanted to, in order that I might become
+thoroughly acquainted with the road and the men.
+
+One of the time card rules was that no person was to be allowed to enter
+any of the telegraph offices except those on duty there; even the train
+men were supposed to receive their orders and transact their business at
+the window or counter. Generally, however, this rule was not enforced
+very rigidly. When I was a night operator I never paid any attention to
+it at all. I dropped off No. 6 at eleven-thirty one night at
+Bakersville. A night office was kept there because it was a good order
+point and had a water tank. I had never met the night man and knew
+nothing of him, except that he was a fiery-tempered Irishman named
+Barry, and a most excellent operator. It had been told me that the
+despatchers had, on more than one occasion, complained of his impudence,
+but his ability was so marked and he was so prompt in answering and
+transacting business, that he was allowed to remain. As No. 6 pulled out
+he went into the office, closed the door and then shut the window. He
+had apparently not seen me, or if he had he paid no attention to me, so
+I went into the waiting-room and rapped on the ticket window. He shoved
+it up, stared at me and gruffly said, "Well! what's wanted?"
+
+I answered pretty sharply, that I desired to come into his office.
+
+"Well then you can take it out in wanting, because you don't get in
+here, see!"
+
+I started to reason with him, when he slammed the window in my face.
+That made me madder than a March hare, and I told him if he didn't let
+me in that office mighty quick, I'd smash that window into smithereens
+and come in anyhow.
+
+Biff! Up went that window, and Mr. Barry's face looking like a boiled
+beet appeared, "Smash that window will you? You just try it and I'll
+smash your blamed old red head with this poker. Get out of that
+waiting-room. Tramps are not allowed."
+
+Just then it occurred to me that he did not know me from the sight of
+sole leather; so I said: "Hold on there, young man; I'm Mr. Bates, the
+newly appointed chief despatcher of this division, and I'm out on a tour
+of inspection. Now stop your monkeying and open up."
+
+"Bates thunder! Bates would never come sneaking out over the road in
+this manner. You pack up and get. It will take more than your word to
+make me believe you are Bates."
+
+I saw that remonstrance with him was useless, and, besides I had an idea
+that he might carry out his threat to smash my head with the poker, so I
+went over to a mean little hotel and stayed all night, vowing to have
+vengeance on his head in the morning. When daylight came, I went back to
+the station, and Dayton, the day man, knew me at once, having worked
+with me on the K. M. & O. Barry had told him of the trouble, and he was
+having a great laugh at my expense. Barry, himself, showed up in a
+little while, but he didn't seem the least bit disturbed, when he found
+out who I really was. He said there was a time card rule, that forbade
+him allowing any unauthorized person in his office; he thought I was
+some semi-respectable "hobo," who wanted a place to stay all night; how
+in the world was he to know? Suppose some one else had come out and said
+he was the chief despatcher, was he going to let them in the office
+without some proof? I saw that this was mighty good reasoning and that
+he was right. Did I fire him? Not much. Men on railroads who so
+implicitly obey orders are too valuable to lose; and before I left the
+road he was working the third trick.
+
+Things ran along very smoothly for a while and I was having a good time.
+The winter passed and with the advent of spring came the heavy rains for
+which that part of the country was justly noted. Then the work
+commenced.
+
+One Friday evening after four or five days of the steadiest and hardest
+kind of rain, I received a message from the section foreman at Truxton,
+saying that Big River was beginning to come up pretty high, and that the
+constant rains were making the track quite soft. I immediately sent him
+an order to put out a track walker at once, and told the despatcher on
+duty to make a "slow order" for five miles this side of the Big River;
+the track on the other, or south side, was all right, being on high
+ground.
+
+Our fast mail came in just then, and after the engines were changed, the
+engineer and conductor came into my office for their orders. I told them
+about the soft track, and in a spirit of pure fun, remarked to Ben
+Roberts, the engineer, that he had better look out or he would be taking
+a bath in Big River that night. He facetiously replied: "Well, I don't
+much mind. I'm generally so dirty when I get that far out that a bath
+would do me good."
+
+They received their orders, and as Roberts went out the door, he
+laughingly said, "I reckon, Bates, you'd better send the wrecker out
+right after us to fish me out of Big River to-night."
+
+I stepped over to the window, saw him climb up on engine 232, a
+beautiful McQueen, and pull out, and just as he started, he turned and
+waved his hand to me as if in token of farewell.
+
+Truxton, five miles from the river, was not a stop for the mail, but I
+had them flagged there, to give them another special warning about
+approaching Big River with caution. Just then the track walker came into
+Truxton, and reported that he had come from the river on a velocipede,
+and that while the track was soft it was not unsafe and the bridge
+appeared to be all right. Presently, I heard, "OS, OS, XN, No. 21, a
+7:45, d 7:51" and I knew the mail had gone on.
+
+The next station south was Burton, three miles beyond the bridge, and I
+thought I would wait until I had the "OS" report from there before going
+home for the night. Thirty minutes passed and no sign of her. This did
+not worry me much, because I knew Roberts would be extremely careful and
+run slow until he passed the bridge. In a minute Truxton opened up and
+said, "Raining like blazes now." I asked him where the track walker
+was, and he said he had gone out towards the bridge just after the mail
+had left.
+
+Fifty minutes of the most intense anxiety passed, and all of a sudden
+every instrument in the office ceased clicking. As soon as a wire opens,
+all the operators are instructed to try their ground wires, and in that
+way the break is soon located. Bentonville, Bakersville, Muncy, Ashton,
+all in quick succession tried their grounds, and reported "All wires
+open south." Presently the despatchers' wire closed again, and "DS, DS,
+XN." There! that was Truxton calling us now. I answered and he said,
+"Wires all open south. Heavy rain now falling; violent wind storm has
+just passed over us; lots of lightning; looks like the storm would last
+all night."
+
+I told him to hustle out and get the section foreman, and gave him an
+order to take his gang and car and go to the bridge and back at once and
+make a full report.
+
+But where was 21 all this time? Stuck in the mud, I hoped, but all the
+same I was beginning to have a great many misgivings. Mr. Antwerp, the
+division superintendent, came in just then, and I reported all the facts
+of the case to him. He was very much worried, but said he hoped it would
+turn out all right. Getting nothing from Burton, on the south, I told
+Truxton to keep on his ground until the section gang or track walker
+came back with a report. Twenty minutes later he began to call "DS" with
+all his might. I answered and this is what the despatcher's copy
+operator took:
+
+     Truxton, 5 | 21, 188--.
+
+     "M. N. B. "DS.
+
+     "No. 21 went through Big River bridge to-night; track was soft all
+     the way over from Truxton; engine, mail, baggage and one coach on
+     the bridge when it gave way; three Pullmans stayed on the track.
+     Roberts, engineer; Carter, fireman, and Sampson, conductor, all
+     missing. Need doctors.
+
+     "O'HARA,
+     "Brakeman."
+
+My God! wasn't it awful! I sent one caller to get out the wrecking crew
+and another for a doctor. I then instructed Burke to prepare orders for
+the wrecker, pulling everything off and giving her a clean sweep; told
+Truxton to keep on his ground wire and stay close; and pulling on my
+rain coat, I bounded down the steps and up to the roundhouse to hurry up
+the engine. Engine 122, with Ed Stokes at the throttle, was just backing
+down as I came out, so I ran back, signed the orders, and as soon as
+the doctors arrived, Mr. Antwerp told me to pull out and take charge,
+saying he would come out if necessary on a special.
+
+It was scarcely five minutes from the time I received the first message
+until we pulled out and started on our wild ride of rescue. Forty miles
+in forty minutes, with one slow down was our time. The old derrick and
+wreck outfit swayed to and fro like reeds in the wind, as we went down
+the track like a thunderbolt, but fortunately we held to the rails.
+There was scarcely a word spoken in the caboose, every one being intent
+upon holding on and thinking of the horrible scene we were soon to view.
+When we reached Truxton we found the track walker there, and after
+hearing his story in brief, we pulled out for the bridge. Our ride from
+Truxton over to the wreck was frightful. It was still raining torrents,
+the wind was coming up again, lightning flashed, thunder rolled and the
+track was so soft in some places that it seemed as if we would topple
+over; but we finally reached there--and then what a scene to behold!
+
+The bridge, a long wooden trestle, was completely gone, nothing being
+left but twisted iron and a few broken stringers hanging in the air.
+Four mail clerks, the express messenger, and the baggage man were
+drowned like rats in a trap. Poor Ben Roberts had hung to his post like
+the hero, that he was, and was lost. Sampson, the conductor, and Carter,
+the fireman, were both missing, and in the forward coach, which was not
+entirely submerged, having fallen on one end of the baggage car, were
+many passengers, a number of whom were killed, and the rest all more or
+less injured.
+
+The river was not very wide, and I had the headlight taken off of our
+engine and placed on the bank; and presently a wrecker came up from the
+south, and her headlight was similarly placed, casting a ghastly weird,
+white light over the scene of suffering and desolation. I cut in a
+wrecking office, Truxton took off his ground, I put on mine, and Mr.
+Antwerp was soon in possession of all the facts. A little later I was
+standing up to my knees in mud and water, and I heard a weak voice say:
+"Mr. Bates, for God's sake let me speak to you a minute."
+
+I looked around and beheld the most woebegone, bedraggled specimen of
+humanity I had ever seen in my life. "Well, who under the sun are you?"
+I asked.
+
+"I'm Carter, the fireman of No. 21. When I felt the bridge going I
+jumped. I was half stunned, but managed to keep afloat, being carried
+rapidly down the stream. I struck the bank about a mile and a half below
+here, and I've had one almighty big struggle to get back. For the love
+of the Virgin give me a drink; I'm half dead;" and with that the poor
+fellow fell over senseless.
+
+I called one of the doctors and had him taken to the caboose of the
+wrecker, and when I had time I went in and heard the rest of his story.
+The poor chap was badly hurt, having one ankle broken, besides being
+bruised up generally. He said when No. 21 left Truxton, Roberts
+proceeded at a snail-like pace, keeping a sharp lookout for a wash out.
+He slowed almost to a standstill before going on the bridge, but
+everything appearing all safe and sound he started again, remarking to
+Carter, "Here's where I get the bath that Bates spoke about."
+
+[Illustration: "See here, who is going to pull this train?"]
+
+The engine was half way over when there came a deafening roar; the train
+quivered, and--then Carter jumped. That was all he knew. It was enough,
+and we sent him back with the rest of the wounded the next morning. He
+is pulling a passenger train there to-day. The engine was lost in the
+quicksands, and was never recovered, and Ben Roberts stayed with her to
+the last. He had more than his bath in Big River that night; he had his
+funeral; the river was his grave, and the engine his shroud.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+A PROMOTION BY FAVOR AND ITS RESULTS
+
+
+I had been on the C. N. & Q. for about eight months, when my second
+trick man took sick, and being advised to seek a healthier climate,
+resigned and went south. Generally speaking the chief despatcher's
+recommendation is enough to place a man in his office; and as I had
+always believed in the rule of seniority, I wanted to appoint the third
+trick man to the second trick, make the day copy operator third trick
+man, and call in a new copy operator to replace the night man who would
+be promoted to the day job. In fact, I had started the ball rolling
+toward the accomplishment of this end, when Mr. Antwerp, the division
+superintendent, defeated all my plans by peremptorily asserting his
+prerogative and appointing his nephew, John Krantzer, who had been night
+copy operator to the third trick. I protested with all my might, in fact
+was once on the point of resigning my position but the old man wouldn't
+hear of either proposition, and Krantzer secured the place. Now while
+Krantzer was an excellent copy operator, he was very young, and lacked
+that persistence and reliability so essential in a successful
+despatcher. After I had protested until I was black in the face, I asked
+Mr. Antwerp at least to put the young man on the second trick, so that
+in a measure I could have him under my eye. But no, nothing but the
+third trick would satisfy him, so on the third trick the rattle-brained
+chap went the next night.
+
+He struggled through the first night without actually killing anybody,
+but his train sheet the next morning resembled a man with a very bad
+case of measles; there were delays on everything on the road, with very
+few satisfactory explanations. There was the fast mail twenty-five
+minutes in going six miles. Cause? None was given. But a perusal of the
+order book showed that Krantzer had made a meet for her with a freight
+train, and had hung her up on a blind siding for fifteen minutes.
+Freights that had been out all night were still out, tied up in all
+kinds of shapes. Meets had been made for two long trains at a point
+where the passing track was not large enough to accommodate either one
+of them, and the result was thirty minutes lost by both of them in "raw
+hiding" by. Many other discrepancies were noticeable, but these
+sufficed to show that Krantzer's abilities as a despatcher were of a
+very low order. However, I reflected, that it was his first night, and I
+remembered my own similar experience not many years ago, so I simply
+submitted the sheet to Mr. Antwerp without comment. He wiped his
+glasses, carefully adjusted them on his aristocratic nose, and after
+glancing at the sheet for a few moments, said, "Ah! humph! Well! Well!
+Well! Not a very auspicious start, to be sure; but the boy will pick up.
+Just jack him up in pretty good shape, Bates; it will do him good." I
+jacked him up all right to the queen's taste but it was like pouring
+water on a duck's back.
+
+The second night was not much of an improvement, and I made a big kick
+to Mr. Antwerp the following morning, but it did no good. The third
+night was a hummer. I was kept at the office pretty late, in fact until
+after eleven o'clock, and before going home I wrote Krantzer a note
+telling him to be very careful as there were many trains on the road.
+Our through business at this time was very heavy, and compelled us to
+run many extras and specials. I was particular to inform him of two
+extras north, that would leave Bradford, the lower end of the division,
+some time after 12:30 A. M., and directed him to run them as special
+freights having the right of track over all trains except the
+passengers. Each train was made up of twenty-five cars of California
+fruit bound for New York, and they were the first of their kind to be
+run by us. We had a strong competitor for this class of business in the
+Valley Route, a line twenty miles away, and were making a big bid for
+the trade. The general manager had sent a message that a special effort
+was to be made to put the two trains through a-whooping, and I had
+ordered engines 228 and 443, two of the best on the road, to pull them.
+Burke, the second trick man had everything running smoothly at the time
+I wrote the note, and I told Krantzer that, as it looked then, all he
+would have to do would be to keep them coming. No. 13, a fast freight
+south, had an engine that wasn't steaming very well, and I suggested to
+him to put her on the siding at Manitou. It would delay 13 about fifteen
+minutes but her freight was all dead stuff, so that would not make much
+difference. I did everything but write the order, and that I could not
+do, because I couldn't tell just what the conditions would be when the
+extras reached Bradford, where they would receive the order.
+
+Krantzer succeeded in getting them started in fair shape; but not
+content to let well enough alone, he thought he would run No. 13 on to
+Burnsides instead of putting her on the siding at Manitou as I had
+suggested, and gave orders to that effect. After he had given the
+"complete" he told the operator to tell them to "fly." If he had given
+this same order for the meeting at Burnsides to the two extras, _at the
+same time_, all would have been well, except that the extras would have
+been delayed some fifteen minutes, but this he was unable to do.
+Burnsides itself is only a day office, so he could not communicate with
+them there, and they had already passed Gloriana, the first night office
+south of Burnsides. The operator at Gloriana heard the order to 13 and
+told Krantzer it was a risky thing to do; but he told him "to mind his
+own business, as he (Krantzer) could run that division without any
+help."
+
+No. 13 was pulled by engine 67, with Jim Bush at the throttle, and he
+was such a runner that he had earned the sobriquet of "Lightning
+Jimmie." While he had reported early in the evening that his engine was
+not steaming very well, he had succeeded in getting her to working good
+by this time. Burnsides is at the foot of a long grade from the north,
+and about a mile up there is a very abrupt curve as the track winds
+around the side of the hill. The two extras were bowling along merrily
+when they struck this grade; and although there is a time card rule that
+says that trains will be kept ten minutes apart, they were right
+together, helping each other over the grade. In fact, it was one train
+with two engines, somewhat of a double header with the second engine in
+the middle. They were going on for all they were worth, expecting to
+meet No. 13 at Manitou, as originally ordered.
+
+In the meantime, Bush pulling No. 13, had passed Manitou, and with
+thirty-eight heavy cars behind him, was working her for all she was
+worth on the down grade, so as to get on the siding for the extras at
+Burnsides. He was carrying out Krantzer's order to "fly," with a
+vengeance. And just as he turned the curve, he saw, not fifty yards
+ahead of him, the headlight of the first extra. To stop was out of the
+question. He whistled once for brakes, reversed his engine, pulled her
+wide open and then jumped! He landed safely enough, and beyond a broken
+right arm, and a badly bruised leg, was unhurt. His poor fireman,
+though, jumped on the other side and was dashed to pieces on the rocks;
+and the head man and engineer of the first extra were also killed. I had
+known many times of two trains being put in the hole; but this was the
+first time I had ever seen three of them so placed.
+
+Krantzer had sense enough to order out the wrecker, and send for me. I
+knew just as soon as I heard the caller's rap on my door that he had
+done something so I lost no time in getting over to the office and there
+sat Krantzer as cool as if he had not just killed three men by his gross
+carelessness and cost the company thousands of dollars. I had the old
+man called and when he came and learned what had occurred, his
+discomfiture was so great that I felt fully repaid for all my annoyance
+on his nephew's account. He directed me to go out to the wreck and
+report to him upon arrival. I had Forbush, the first trick man, called
+and placed him in charge of the office during my absence. Incidentally,
+I told Krantzer he had better be scarce when I sent the remains of those
+crews in, because I fancied they were in a fit mood to kill him. When I
+returned I found that he had gone. It appeared that Jim Bush went up
+into the office, and although he had one arm broken, he was prepared to
+beat the life out of that crazy young despatcher. Forbush saw him coming
+and gave Krantzer a tip, and as Bush came in one door, Krantzer went out
+the other.
+
+The effects of this wreck were far beyond calculation to the company
+because they lost the business they were striving to win, and the way
+the general manager went for old man Antwerp was enough to make us all
+grin with delight. It is needless to say I was allowed to place my own
+men thereafter.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+JACKING UP A NEGLIGENT OPERATOR--A CONVICT OPERATOR--DICK, THE PLUCKY
+CALL BOY
+
+
+One of the most unpleasant duties I had to perform was that of "jacking
+up" operators, and punishing them for their short-comings. Generally, if
+the case was not a very bad one, and the man had a good reputation, I
+would try and smooth it over with only a reprimand; but there are times
+"when patience ceases to be a virtue," and punishment must be inflicted.
+The train sheet is always the first indication that some operator is to
+be "hauled up on the carpet." One morning I found the following entry on
+the sheet:--
+
+"No. 16 delayed forty-five minutes at Bentonville, account not being
+able to raise the operator at Sicklen in that time. Called for
+explanation and operator said 'he was over at hotel getting some
+lunch.'"
+
+That excuse "over at hotel getting some lunch," is as familiar to a
+railroad operator as the creed is to a good churchman. A young man
+named Charles Ferral was the night man at Sicklen, and his ability as
+an operator was only exceeded by his inability to tell the truth when he
+was in a tight place. I was too old an operator to be fooled by any such
+a yarn as this; and besides, the conductor of No. 17 reported to me that
+he had found Ferral stretched out on the table asleep, when he stopped
+there for water. But he was a first-rate man and I didn't want to lose
+him, so I wrote him a sharp letter and told him that a repetition of his
+offense would cause him to receive his time instantly. He was as
+penitent as the prodigal son, and promised never to so offend again; and
+he kept his word--for just about ten days.
+
+One morning he asked my permission to come up to "DS" on No. 2 and go
+back on No. 3 in the afternoon. I gave it, but warned him to not lose
+too much sleep. There are some men in the business that the sound of
+their office call on a telegraph instrument will cause to awaken at once
+no matter how soundly they may be sleeping, but Ferral was not one of
+these. The night following his return to his station, I was kept at the
+office until late, and about eleven o'clock No. 22 appeared at
+Bakersville, and wanted to run to Ashton for No. 17. They were both
+running a little late, and as 17 had a heavy train of coal and system
+empties, I told Burke to let them go. But the only station at which we
+could then get an order to 17 was Sicklen, Ferral's station. Burke began
+to call, but Sicklen made no answer. He called for forty-five minutes at
+a stretch, 22 all the time waiting at Bakersville. He stopped for five
+minutes and then went at it again. In ten minutes Sicklen answered.
+Burke started to give the order, but Ferral broke and gave the "OS"
+report that 17 had just gone by.
+
+That settled it; No. 22 was hung up another hour all on account of
+Ferral's failure to attend to his duty. I opened up on him and said,
+"Where have you been for the last fifteen minutes?" The same old excuse,
+"Lunch," came back at me.
+
+"Well, where were you for ten minutes before that?"
+
+Then that dear old stereotyped expression, "Fixing my batteries,"
+followed. But I was only too sure that he had been asleep, and No. 17
+going by had awakened him. So I gently remarked that "I was not born
+yesterday, and said that he would probably have ample time to fix his
+batteries after this; that, in fact, I thought it would be a good thing
+for him to take a long course in battery work, and I would assist him
+all I could--I would provide him with the time for the work."
+
+The next morning I laid the matter before Mr. Antwerp, and he wanted the
+man discharged forthwith. But during the night my anger had cooled
+somewhat and now I felt inclined to give him another chance; so I simply
+urged that he be laid off for a while.
+
+"All right, Bates, but make it a good stiff lay-off--not less than
+fifteen days," said Mr. Antwerp.
+
+I wrote Ferral accordingly; but I had scarcely finished when a letter
+came from him to me, begging off, and promising anything if I would not
+discharge him; but, instead would lay him off for _forty-five days_. I
+took him at his word and gave him the forty-five days he asked for,
+instead of the fifteen I had intended to give him. But, about two weeks
+later he came up to "DS," and looked so woebegone, and pleaded so hard
+to be taken back, that I remitted the remainder of his punishment. He
+was greatly chagrined when he learned that he had trebled his own
+sentence. He was never remiss again. Go over to the despatcher's office
+any night and you will see him, bright and alert, sitting opposite the
+despatcher doing the copying. He is in the direct line of promotion, and
+some day will be a despatcher himself. I never regretted my leniency.
+
+In addition to the main line, I had a branch of thirty-eight miles,
+running from Bentonville up to Sandia. The despatching for this branch
+was done from my office, and when we wanted anyone there Bentonville
+would cut us through. This was seldom necessary, however, because there
+were only two trains daily, a combination freight and passenger each
+way. The last station this side of Sandia was Alexis. The state
+penitentiary was located there, and the telegraphing was done by a
+convict "trusty"--a man who, having been appointed cashier of a big
+freight office in the western part of the state, couldn't stand
+prosperity, and, in consequence, had been sent up for six years. His
+conduct had been so good that, after he had served four years inside of
+the walls, he was made a "trusty." His ability as an operator was
+extraordinary. He had a smooth easy way of sending that made his sending
+as plain as a circus bill.
+
+The two branch trains on the branch were known as 61 and 62, and one day
+62, running north in the morning, had jumped the track laying herself
+out about ten hours. When she left Sandia as 61 on her return trip
+south, she again went off the track and the result was sixteen hours'
+more delay. We wouldn't send a wrecker up from the main line, and they
+had to work out their own salvation. When they finally appeared at
+Alexis they were running on the time of 62. That would never do, and the
+conductor asked the operator at Alexis to get him orders to run to
+Bentonville regardless of No. 62. Burke, my second trick man, was on
+duty at the time, and it so chanced that he did not know the Alexis man
+was a convict. He was about to give the order asked for when something
+on the main line diverted him for a moment. When he was ready again,
+Alexis broke him and said, "Wait a minute."
+
+To tell a despatcher to wait a minute when he is sending a train order
+is to court sudden death, and Burke said, "Wait for what?"
+
+"For whatever you blame please, I'm going out to weigh this coal."
+
+Burke's Irish blood was all up in his head by this time, and he said:
+"What do you mean by talking that way to me? No. 61 is waiting for this
+'9'; now you copy and I'll get your time sent you in the morning."
+
+"Oh! will you? I guess my time is all fixed so you can't touch it. I
+only wish you could; I'd like mighty well to be fired from this job; I
+wouldn't even wait for my pay."
+
+I had been sitting at my desk taking it all in, and was just about
+ready to expire with laughter, when Burke called over to me: "Did you
+hear that young fellow's impudence?"
+
+"Yes, I heard."
+
+"Well, what are you going to do about it? I've never had an operator
+talk to me like that before. I must certainly insist that you dismiss
+him at once. He and I can't work on the same road."
+
+"Unfortunately, Burke," said I, "the State has a claim on his services
+for two years yet, and I am afraid they won't waive it."
+
+At this it dawned upon Burke, who and what the man really was; but I
+cannot say that his humor was improved at once by the discovery.
+
+One morning shortly after this I was sitting in my office making up an
+annual train report, and was cussing out anything and everybody, because
+this train report is one of the worst things in the whole business. It
+was figures till you couldn't rest, and I had already been working at it
+for three days, and my head was in a perfect whirl. That morning one of
+our call boys had turned up missing and that fact also irritated me. It
+would seem that a call boy was a pretty insignificant chap in a big
+railroad, but such is not the case. In a perfect system every employee
+is like a cog in a big wheel, and as soon as one cog is broken there is
+a jar in the otherwise smooth symmetrical movement of the machine. The
+call boy is quite an important personage, because, upon him depends the
+prompt calling of the various crews in time to take out their trains. He
+must keep a keen watch on the call board for the marking up of trains;
+he must know who is the first to go out, and he must know the dwelling
+place of every engineer, fireman, conductor and brakeman in the city. On
+a big division like ours, this, in itself, was not a small job. On some
+roads men are employed for this work, but I had always been partial to
+the boys, and kept four of them, two on days and two on nights. When my
+day boy left, I promoted a night boy to the second day job, and was
+cudgeling my brain for a good chap to go on nights. In a little while I
+heard a sharp rap on the office door, and in response to my "come in,"
+uttered in a tone that was anything but pleasant, a sturdy looking
+little chap about fourteen years old stood before me. He had a shock of
+jet black hair, tumbled all over his head, a pair of bright eyes, round
+full face, not over clean, strong limbs and a well knit body. His
+clothes hung on him like gunny sacks, and the crudity of the many
+various patches indicated that they had not been put on by woman's deft
+fingers. He didn't wait for me to speak, but blurted out:
+
+"Say, mister, I have just heard tell as how you wants a call boy. Do
+you?"
+
+He took my breath away by his bluntness; he looked so honest and
+sincere, so I simply replied, "Yes," and waited.
+
+"Well then, I wants the job. See!"
+
+"What's your name, youngster, and where is your home?"
+
+"My name's Dick Durstine; I hain't got no home, no father, no mother, no
+nothin', just me, and I wants to learn the tick tick business. It looks
+dead easy."
+
+This was really funny, but I liked his impudence, and, while I had no
+intention of hiring him, I determined to draw him out, so I said:
+
+"Where were you born, when did you come here, and do you know where any
+of the crews live?"
+
+"I was born in St. Louis; mother died when I was a kid, and Dad was such
+a drunken worthless old cuss and beat me so much, that I brought up in a
+foundling asylum. I come in here riding on the trucks of your mail train
+about three weeks ago, and the fellers up in the roundhouse have been
+lettin' me feed and snooze there. I know where all the crews live
+exceptin' some of your kid glove engineers wot pulls the fast trains,
+but I can soon find them out. Please give me the job, mister; I'm honest
+and I'll work hard."
+
+Something in his blunt straightforward way appealed to me and I
+determined to try him. Handled right I imagined he would be a good man;
+handled wrong, he would probably become a bright and shining light of
+the _genus_ hobo. So I hired him, telling him his salary would be forty
+dollars per month.
+
+"Hully gee!" he exclaimed, "forty plunks a month! Well say! I won't do a
+ting wid all dat mun; I'll just buy a road. Thank you mister, I'll work
+so hard for you that you'll not be sorry you gave me the job. But don't
+you forget that I wants to learn the tick tick business."
+
+That night at seven o'clock he went to work, and it didn't take long to
+see that he was as bright as a new dollar. He knew everything about the
+division, knew all the crews and where they lived. Days went by and
+still he held up his end and was a great favorite with all the force.
+There was a local instrument in the office, and one of the operators
+wrote the Morse alphabet for him, and ever after that he kept pegging
+away at the key. He practiced writing and it wasn't many weeks before
+he was getting to be something of an operator. I went out to the main
+line battery room one evening to give some instructions to the man in
+charge and there I discovered Master Dick with a battery syringe in one
+hand and a brush in the other deeply engrossed in monkeying with the
+jars.
+
+"Look here, you young rascal," I said sharply, "what are you doing in
+here? First thing you know you will short circuit some of these
+batteries and then there'll be the de'il to pay: Don't you ever let me
+catch you out here again, or I'll fire you bodily."
+
+"I hain't been doing nothin', Mister Bates, I just wanted to see what
+made the old thing go tick tick. Wot's all them glass jars for wid the
+green water and the tin in?"
+
+I explained to him as well as I could the construction of the gravity
+battery. He had been forbidden to monkey with any of the instruments or
+the switch board in the main office, but his infernal inquisitiveness
+soon ran away with his sense, and it wasn't long before he was in
+trouble. He pulled a plug out of the switch board one evening, and Burke
+threatened to kill him. Another evening, he went into my office and
+monkeyed with an instrument that I kept there connected to the
+despatcher's wire, and left it open. There was no report from any of the
+offices on either side, and investigation soon revealed the culprit. The
+wire was open for ten minutes and Burke was as mad as a March hare, when
+he reported it to me the next morning. I sent for Master Dick and
+informed him that another such a report against him would cause his
+instant dismissal. He seemed penitent enough, but two nights afterwards
+he short circuited all the main line batteries by his foolishness, and
+raised Cain in the office for a while. The next morning his time was
+presented to him and he was told to get out. He pleaded hard but his
+offenses had been too numerous, and I had to let him go. I must confess,
+however, that we all missed him greatly, because, in spite of his
+troublesome nature, he was a prime favorite with all the force.
+
+Our road ran through some wild unsettled country, and a few years
+previous, a Mr. Bob Forney and some distinguished gentlemen of the road,
+had paid us a visit, with the result that the express company lost about
+forty thousand dollars and their messenger his life. The country became
+too warm for them and they fled.
+
+Our flyer left two nights after this, having on board about a hundred
+thousand dollars of government money, and I remarked to Bob Stanton,
+the conductor, that it was a fine chance for a hold up, but he laughed
+it off and said that civilization was too far advanced for that kind of
+work just now.
+
+About nine o'clock I was sitting in the despatcher's office smoking a
+cigar before going home for the night, when all at once the despatcher's
+wire and the railroad line opened. Sicklen reported south of him and
+then took off his ground. Pretty soon the sounder began to open and
+close in a peculiar shaky manner, and then I heard the following:
+
+"To 'DS,' gang of robbers goin' to hold up the flyer in Ashley's cut
+to-night. They will place rails and ties on the track to wreck train if
+they don't heed signal. Warn train to watch out and bring gang out from
+Sicklen. This is Dick Durstine."
+
+All was quiet for a minute and then he started again, but soon he
+stopped short and we heard no more. The line remained open.
+
+We raised Sicklen on a commercial wire and told him to turn his
+red-light and hold everything. I was in somewhat of a quandary; the
+sending had been miserable, sounding unlike any stuff Dick had ever
+sent, and then the stopping of the whole business made it seem rather
+suspicious. Still Ashley's cut was an ideal place for a hold up, and the
+weather was dark and stormy. Everything was propitious for just such a
+job.
+
+In the meantime, Ashton, the first office south of Sicklen, had reported
+on the commercial line that the despatcher's wire was open north of him.
+That would place it near the cut in all probability. Anyway I didn't
+intend to take any chance, so I sent a message to Sicklen telling him to
+notify the sheriff of all the facts and ask him to send out a posse on
+the flyer, and, also, for him to get the day man to go out and patch the
+lines up until a line man could get there in the morning. About twenty
+minutes afterwards the flyer left Sicklen nicely fixed with a strong
+posse, and an order to approach the cut with caution. It was only three
+miles from Sicklen to the cut, and I knew it would be but a matter of a
+short while until something was heard. Sure enough, forty minutes later
+the despatcher's wire closed and this message came:
+
+     "To Bates, DS:
+
+     "Attempt to hold up No. 21 in Ashley's cut was frustrated by the
+     sheriff's posse. Outlaws had placed ties on the track in case we
+     did not heed the signal to stop. Two of them killed, three captured
+     and one escaped. Dick Durstine is here, badly shot through the
+     right lung. Will have him sent in from Sicklen on 22 in the
+     morning.
+
+     "Stanton, Conductor."
+
+The next morning when 22 pulled in I went down and there, laid out on a
+litter in the baggage car, was Dick Durstine, my former call boy, weak,
+pale, and just living. He was conscious, and when I leaned over him his
+eyes glistened for a minute, he smiled and feebly said:
+
+"Say, Mister Bates, didn't I do them fellers up in good shape? When I
+gets well again will you gimme back my job so I can learn some more
+about the tick tick? I'll never monkey any more, honest to God, I
+won't."
+
+A queer lump came in my throat and there was a suspicion of moisture in
+my eyes as I contemplated this brave little hero, and I said:
+
+"God bless your brave little heart, Dick, you can have anything on this
+division."
+
+Mr. Antwerp had appeared and was visibly affected. We had Dick removed
+to the company hospital, and then for some days he lay hovering between
+life and death, but youth, and a strong constitution finally won out and
+he began to mend.
+
+When he was able to sit up I heard his story. It appeared that when I
+dismissed him he laid around the place for a day, and then jumping a
+freight, started south. At Sicklen he had been put off by a heartless
+brakeman and had started to walk to Ashton. It was evening and he became
+tired. After walking as far as the north end of the cut he laid down and
+went to sleep behind a pile of old ties. He was awakened by the sound of
+voices near by, and listening intently, he learned that the men were
+outlaws and intended to hold up the flyer that night. They intended to
+flag her down as she entered the cut and do the business in the usual
+smooth manner. In case she wouldn't stop, they would have a pile of ties
+on the track that would soon put a quietus on her flight. Poor little
+Dick was horrified and stealing quietly away some distance he stopped
+and cogitated. Time was becoming precious. How was he to send a warning?
+Oh! if he could only get into a telegraph office! Suddenly an idea
+struck him. He went a little farther up the track, and shinning up a
+pole he took his heavy jack-knife, and after a hard effort, succeeded in
+cutting two wires. Another pole was climbed and only one wire cut from
+it. With this strand he made a joint so that the two ends of the
+despatcher's wire could be brought in easy contact. Then by knocking the
+two ends together he sent the warning. His cutting of the wire had made
+a peculiar loud twang and one of the outlaws heard it. Becoming
+suspicious, he and his partner started up the track to investigate. They
+came upon Dick, kneeling on one knee, engrossed in his work, and without
+one word of warning shot him in the back. They left him for dead, but
+thank God he did not die, and to-day he is on a road that before many
+years will land him on top of the heap.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+AN EPISODE OF SENTIMENT
+
+
+The night man down at Bentonville quit rather suddenly one fall morning,
+and as I had no immediate relief in prospect, I wired the chief
+despatcher of the division south of me to send me a man if he had any to
+spare. That afternoon I received a message from him saying he had sent
+Miss Ellen Ross to take the place. I still had a very distinct
+recollection of my encounter with Miss Love, and I wasn't overfond of
+women operators anyway, so Miss Ross's welcome to my division was not a
+hearty one. She was the first woman I had ever had under my
+jurisdiction. I was at the office quite late a night or two after this,
+and heard some of her work; there was no use denying that she was a very
+smooth operator as well as a very prompt one. Burke said he had no
+complaint to offer; she was always on time, and I must confess I felt
+much chagrined. I wanted a chance to discharge her, but it didn't appear
+to materialize. But I was a patient waiter and one morning about three
+weeks later I came into the office and on looking over the delay sheet I
+saw the following entry in the delay column:
+
+"No. 18 delayed fifty minutes, account not being able to raise the
+operator at Bentonville in that time; as an explanation, operator says
+she was over at the hotel getting her lunch."
+
+Evidently Miss Ross had little ingenuity in the line of excuses or she
+would never have offered such a threadbare one as that. I wanted the
+chance to annihilate her and here it was. I called up Bentonville and
+asked if Miss Ross was there. She was, and I said, "Isn't it possible
+for you to invent a better excuse than 'lunch' for your failure to
+answer last night, or this morning rather?"
+
+She drummed on the key for a moment and then said if I didn't like that
+excuse I knew what I could do. I caught my breath at her audacity and
+then "_did_." I sent her time to her on No. 21, and a man to take her
+place. I then dismissed the matter from my mind and supposed that I had
+heard the last of Miss Ross. I never was very well acquainted with the
+female sex or I would not have dismissed the matter with such
+complacency.
+
+A day or two after this I was sitting in the division superintendent's
+office, he being out on the road, and I heard a voice say:
+
+"Is this Mr. Bates?" I had not heard anyone come in and I glanced up and
+answered, "Yes." I saw before me a young woman of an air and appearance
+that fairly took my breath away. I immediately arose to my feet and with
+all possible deference invited her to take a seat. I supposed she was
+the wife of some of the officials and wanted a pass. In response to my
+inquiry as to what could I do for her she said, timidly:
+
+"I am Miss Ross, lately night operator at Bentonville."
+
+Her answer put me more off my ease than ever, but the discipline of the
+road had to be maintained at any-cost; so as soon as I could, I put on
+my severest look and sternly said, "Well!" She smiled slightly in a way
+that made me doubt if she were much impressed by my display of rigor;
+and answered, "I came to see if you wouldn't take me back. I am sure I
+didn't mean to offend the other night. I have been an operator for
+nearly four years and I have never had the least bit of trouble before.
+You have no fault to find with my work I am sure; and I promise to be
+very careful to never offend again. Won't you please take me back?"
+
+Gee! but she did look pretty and her big black eyes were shining like
+bright stars. If she had only known it I was ready by this time to have
+given her the best job on the whole division, even my own, but I wasn't
+going to give up without a show of resistance and I said:
+
+"Humph! Well let's see!" Then I rang my bell and told the boy to get me
+the train sheet of the sixteenth. I looked very stern and very wise as I
+read the delay report to her.
+
+"That, Miss Ross, is a very serious offense. A delay of fifty minutes to
+any train is bad enough, but when it happens to a through freight it is
+the worst possible. Then you say you were at the hotel for lunch. The
+order book shows that the despatcher called you from two A. M. until
+two-fifty A. M. Isn't that rather an unearthly hour to be going out to
+lunch? My recollection of the Bentonville station is that it is a mile
+from the excuse of a hotel in the place. Really, I am very sorry but I
+don't see how anything can be done."
+
+Discipline was being maintained, you see, in great shape, but all the
+time I was delivering my little speech I was feeling like a big
+red-headed hypocrite. Miss Ross looked up at me with those beautiful
+eyes; then two big tears made their appearance on the scene, and she
+sobbed out:
+
+"Well, I know I told a fib when I made that excuse, but the despatcher
+was so sharp and I was so scared when he said he had been calling me for
+fifty minutes, that I told him the first thing that came into my mind.
+Then, the next day I was angry at you, because I thought you were
+chaffing me, as I was the only woman on the line, and I suppose I was
+rather impudent. But do you think it is fair to discharge me for the
+same thing that you only gave Mr. Ferral fifteen days for? Are you not
+doing it simply because I am a woman?"
+
+I never could stand a woman's tears, especially a pretty one, and when
+she cited the case of Ferral, I realized that I had lost my game. I let
+myself down as easily as I could and that night Miss Ross went back to
+work at Bentonville, and the man there was put on the waiting list.
+
+It was very funny after this how many times I had to run down to
+Bentonville. That Sandia branch line had to be inspected; the switch
+board had to be replaced by a new one in "BN" office; wires had to be
+changed, a new ground put in, and many other things done, and always I
+had to go myself to see that the work was done properly. The agent at
+Bentonville came, before very long, to smile in a very knowing way
+whenever I jumped off the train; Mr. Antwerp had a peculiarly wise look
+in his eye when I mentioned anything about Bentonville, but I didn't
+mind it. I was in love with the sweet little girl, and was walking on
+the clouds. If I hadn't been I would have seen that my cake was all
+dough in that quarter. I might have noticed that big Dan Forbush had an
+amused look in his eye when I went off on one of these trips. If I had
+watched the mail I might have seen numerous little billets coming daily
+from Bentonville, addressed in a neat round hand to "Mr. Dan Forbush."
+But I didn't, I kept right on in my mad career, and one day when my
+courage was high I offered my hand and my heart to Miss Ross. She
+refused and told me that while she was honored by my proposal, she had
+been engaged to Mr. Forbush for two years, having known him down on the
+"Sunset" before he came to our road. I took my defeat as philosophically
+as I could and the next spring she left Bentonville for good, and Dan
+took a three weeks' leave. When he came back he brought sweet Ellen as
+his bride. One evening not long after that I was calling there, when
+Mrs. Forbush looked up at me very naively and said:
+
+"Mr. Bates, did I pay you back for discharging me?"
+
+[Illustration: "Are you not doing it just because I am a woman?"]
+
+There's no doubt about it, she did, and I felt it. She was the third
+girl to throw me over, and I determined to give up the business and go
+for a soldier. I stuck it out there till fall and then resigned for all
+time.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+
+THE MILITARY OPERATOR--A FAKE REPORT THAT NEARLY CAUSED TROUBLE
+
+
+The railroad and commercial telegraphers are well known to the general
+public, because they are thrown daily in contact with them, but there is
+still another class in the profession, which, while not being so well
+known are, in their way, just as important in their acts and deeds. I
+refer to the military telegrapher. His work does not often carry him
+within the environments of civilization; his instruments are not of the
+beautiful Bunnell pattern, placed on polished glass partitioned tables;
+his task is a very hard one and yet he does it without a grumble. His
+sphere of duty is out at the extreme edge of advancing civilization. You
+will find him along the Rio Grande frontier; out on the sun-baked
+deserts of New Mexico and Arizona; up in the Bad Lands of Montana, and
+the snow-capped mountains of the Rockies. A few of them you will find in
+nice offices at some department headquarters or in the war office in
+Washington, but such places are generally given to men who have grown
+old and gray in the service. His office? Any old place he can plant his
+instruments, many times a tent with a cracker box for a table; a chair
+would be an unheard-of luxury. His pay? Thirteen big round American
+dollars per month. His rank and title? Hold your breath while I tell
+you. Private, United States Army. Great, isn't it? Many times a detail
+to one of the frontier points means farewell to your friends as long as
+the tour lasts.
+
+When I left the railroad business I journeyed out westward to Fort
+Hayes, Kansas, and held up my right hand and swore all manner of oaths
+to support the Constitution of the United States; obey the orders of the
+President of the United States and all superior officers; to accept the
+pay and allowances as made by a generous (God save the word) Congress
+for the period of five years. Thus did I become a soldier and a "dough
+boy" because I went to the infantry arm of the service. I've stuck to
+the business ever since.
+
+I supposed when I went into the army that my connection with wires and
+telegraph instruments was entirely finished. I had worked at the
+business long and faithfully and was in a state of mind that I thought I
+had had enough. That's very good in theory, but powerful poor in
+practice, because I hadn't been soldiering a month before a feeling of
+homesickness for my old love came over me; in fact to this day I never
+see a railroad but what I want to go up in the despatcher's office and
+sit down and take a "trick." But there were commissions to be had from
+the ranks of the army and I wanted one, so I hung on and did my duty as
+best I could.
+
+The stay at Fort Hayes was a very peaceful and serene one; I did no
+telegraphing there for a year, and then we were ordered to Fort Clark,
+Texas. When I quit the commercial business I had almost taken an oath
+never to go back to Texas, but I couldn't help it in this case.
+
+Fort Clark is one hundred and thirty miles due west of dear old San
+Antonio, and situated nine miles from the railroad. When my company
+arrived, there was no telegraphic communication with the outside world
+and all telegrams had to be sent by courier to Spofford Junction, for
+transmission. After having been stationed there for about eight months I
+was sent for by the commanding officer and told to take charge of a
+party and build a telegraph line over to the railroad. The poles had
+been set by a detachment of the 3rd Cavalry and in five days' time I had
+strung the wire. Being the only operator in the post I was placed in
+charge of the office and relieved from all duty. It was a perfect snap;
+no drills, no guards, no parades, nothing but just work the wire and
+plenty of time to devote to my studies.
+
+In December, 1890, the Sioux Indians again broke loose from their
+reservations at Pine Ridge and all of the available men of the pitifully
+small, but gallant, United States army were hurriedly rushed northwards
+to give them a smash that would be lasting and convincing. There was the
+7th Cavalry, Custer's old command, the 6th and 9th Cavalry, the 10th,
+2nd, and 17th Infantry, the late lamented and gallant Capron's flying
+battery of artillery, besides others--General Miles personally assumed
+command, and the campaign was short, sharp, brilliant and decisive. The
+Indians were lambasted into a semblance of order, and that
+personification of deviltry, Sitting Bull, given his transportation to
+the happy hunting grounds, but not before a score or more of brave
+officers and men had passes to their long reckoning. Captain George
+Wallace, of the 7th Cavalry; Lieutenant Mann, of the same regiment, and
+Lieutenant Ned Casey, of the 22nd Infantry, left places in the ranks of
+the officers that were hard to fill.
+
+My regiment, the 18th Infantry, was too far away to go, and besides,
+the Rio Grande frontier, with Senor Garza and his band of cutthroats
+prowling around loose, could not be left unprotected. There would be too
+big a howl from the Texans if that occurred.
+
+During all these trying times my telegraph office was naturally the
+center of interest, and I had made an arrangement with the chief
+operator at San Antonio to send me bulletins of any important news. I
+always made two copies, posting one on the bulletin board in front of my
+office, and delivering the other to the colonel in person.
+
+Soldiers are very loquacious as a rule and give them a thread upon which
+to hang an argument, and in a minute a free silver, demo-popocrat
+convention would sound tame in comparison. Go into a squad-room at any
+time the men are off duty, and you can have a discussion on almost any
+old subject from the result of the coming prize fight to the deepest
+question of the bible and theology. Many times the argument will become
+so warm between Privates "Hicky" Flynn and "Pie Faced" Sullivan that
+theology will be settled _a la_ Queensbury out behind the wash-house.
+Among soldiers this argumentative spirit is called "chewing the rag."
+
+One morning shortly after Wounded Knee with its direful results had
+been fought, I thought it would be a great joke to post a startling
+bulletin, just to start the men's tongues a-wagging.
+
+So I wrote the following:
+
+     "Bulletin
+
+     "San Antonio, Texas, 12 | 26, 1890.
+
+     "Reported that the 6th and 9th Cavalry were ambuscaded yesterday by
+     Sioux Indians under Crazy Horse, and completely wiped out of
+     existence. Custer's Little Big Horn massacre outdone. Not a man
+     escaped."
+
+I chuckled with fiendish glee as I posted this on the bulletin board and
+then started for breakfast. I thought some soldier would read it, tell
+it to the men of his company, and in that way the fun would commence. My
+scheme worked to perfection, because some of the men of G Company, (mine
+was D) had seen me stick it up and had come post haste to read. I
+started the ball rolling in my own company and in about a minute there
+were fifty men around me all jabbering like magpies as to the result of
+this awful massacre. Of course, the regiment would be hurried north
+forthwith--no other regiment could do the work of annihilation so well
+as the 18th. Oh! no. Of course not!
+
+Said my erstwhile friend and bunkie "Hickey" Flynn: "Av coorse, Moiles
+will be after sendin' a message to Lazelle to bring the Ateenth fut up
+at once, and thin the smashin' we will be after givin' them rid divils
+will make a wake look sick."
+
+"Aw cum off, Hickey," said Sullivan, "phat the divil does yez know av
+foightin' injuns? Phat were ye over in the auld sod? Nathin' but a turf
+digger. Phat were ye here before ye 'listed? Dom ye, I think ye belong
+to the Clan na Gael and helped to murther poor Doc Cronin, bad cess to
+ye."
+
+A display of authority on the part of the top sergeant prevented a clash
+and the jaw-breaking contest proceeded. By this time the news had spread
+and the entire garrison were talking. Just as I was about to tell them
+that it was a fake pure and simple, I happened to glance towards my
+office, and Holy Smoke! there was my captain standing on his tiptoes (he
+was only five feet four) reading that confounded bulletin. I hadn't
+counted on any of the officers reading it. Generally they didn't get up
+until eight o'clock and by that time I would have destroyed the fake
+report.
+
+The officers' club was in the same building as my office and the captain
+had come down early, evidently to get a--to read the morning paper
+(_which came at 4 P. M._) and his eye lighted on my bulletin. I saw him
+read it carefully, and then reaching up he tore it from the board and as
+quick as his little legs would carry him, he made a bee line for the
+commanding officer's quarters. I knew full well how the colonel would
+regard that bulletin when he found out it was a fake. I was able to
+discern a summary court-martial in my mind's eye, and that would knock
+my chances for a commission sky-highwards--because a man's military
+record must be absolutely spotless when he appears for examination. What
+was I to do? Just then I saw the captain go up the colonel's steps, ring
+the bell, and in a moment he was admitted. I felt that my corpse was
+laid out right then and there and the wake was about to begin.
+
+A few moments later the commanding officer's orderly came in, and
+looking around for a minute, caught sight of me and said:
+
+"Corporal, the commanding officer wants to see you at his quarters at
+once," and out he went. "Start the band to playing the 'Dead March in
+Saul,'" thought I, "because this is the beginning of a funeral
+procession in which I am to play the leading part." I walked as slowly
+as I could and not appear lagging, but I arrived at my crematory all too
+soon. I rapped on the door and in tones that made me shiver was bidden
+by the old man to come in. The colonel was standing in the middle of
+his parlor, wrapped in a gaudy dressing gown, and in his hand he held my
+mangled bulletin. Right at that minute I wished I had never heard a
+telegraph instrument click.
+
+"Corporal," said the colonel, "what time did you receive this bulletin?"
+
+"About six-fifteen, sir, immediately after reveille," I replied with a
+face as expressionless as a mummy's.
+
+"Why did you not bring it to me direct as you have heretofore done?"
+
+"Well, sir, I didn't think you were awake yet, and I did not want to
+disturb you."
+
+"Have you any later news, corporal?"
+
+"No sir, none, but I haven't been back to the office since, sir." Gee!
+but that room was becoming warm!
+
+"Are you certain as to the truth of this awful report?"
+
+"It is probably as authentic as a great many stories that are started
+during times like these--that is all I know of it, sir." (Lord forgive
+me.)
+
+"It seems almost too horrible to be true, and yet, one cannot tell about
+those Sioux. They're a bad lot--a devilish bad lot"--this to my
+captain--and then to me: "You go back to your office, corporal, and
+remain very close until you have a denial or a confirmation of this
+story and bring any news you may receive to me instanter. That's all
+corporal."
+
+The "corporal" needed no second dismissal, and saluting I quickly got
+out of an atmosphere that was far from chilly to me.
+
+Now, by my cussed propensity for joking, I had involved myself in this
+mess, and there was but one way out of it, and that was to brazen it out
+for a while longer and then post a denial of the supposed awful rumor.
+_But the denial must come over the wire_, so when I reached my office I
+called up Spofford and told old man Livingston what I had done and what
+I wanted him to do for me, and in about half an hour he sent me a
+"bulletin" saying that the previous report had happily proved unfounded
+and the 6th and 9th Cavalry were all right. This message I took at once
+to the colonel and as he read it he heaved a big sigh of relief, but he
+dismissed me with a very peculiar look in his eye.
+
+The next evening as I was passing the colonel's quarters on my way to
+deliver a message to the hospital, I heard him remark to another
+officer, "Major, don't you think it is strange that the papers received
+to-day make no mention of that frightful report received-here yesterday
+morning relative to the supposed massacre of the 6th and 9th Cavalry?"
+
+No, the major didn't think it a bit strange. Maybe he knew that
+newspaper stories should be taken _cum grano salis_, and then maybe he
+knew me.
+
+There were no more "fake reports" from that office.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII
+
+PRIVATE DENNIS HOGAN, HERO
+
+
+It was while I was sitting around a barrack-room fire that I picked up
+the following story. There were a number of old soldiers in my
+company--men who had served twenty-five years in the army--and their
+fund of anecdote and excitement was of the largest size.
+
+On Thanksgiving Day, 187--, Private Dennis Hogan, Company B, 29th United
+States Infantry, the telegraph operator at Fort Flint, Montana, sat in
+his dingy little "two by four" office in the headquarter building,
+communing with himself and cussing any force of circumstances that made
+him a soldier. The instruments were quiet, a good Thanksgiving dinner
+had been enjoyed and now the smoke from his old "T. D." pipe curled in
+graceful rings around his red head.
+
+Denny was a smashing good operator and some eighteen months before he
+had landed in St. Louis dead broke. All the offices and railroads were
+full and nary a place did he get. While walking up Pine street one
+morning his eye fell foul of a sign:--
+
+"Wanted, able-bodied, unmarried men, between the ages of twenty-one and
+thirty-five, for service in the United States Army."
+
+In his mind's eye he sized himself up and came to the conclusion that he
+would fill all the requirements. Now, he hadn't any great hankering for
+soldiering, but he didn't have a copper to his name and as empty
+stomachs stand not on ceremony, in he went and after being catechized by
+the recruiting sergeant, he was pounded for thirty minutes by the
+examining surgeon, pronounced as sound as a dollar, and then sworn in
+"to serve Uncle Sam honestly and faithfully for five years. So help me
+God." The space of time necessary to transform a man from a civilian to
+a soldier is of a very short duration, and almost before he knew it he
+was dressed in the plain blue of the soldier of the Republic. He was
+assigned to B company of the 28th United States Infantry stationed at
+Fort Flint, Montana. The experience was new and novel to him, and the
+three months recruit training well nigh wore him out, but he stuck to
+it, and some two months after he had been returned to duty, he was
+detailed as telegraph operator vice Adams of G Company, discharged.
+There he had remained since.
+
+At four o'clock on the afternoon in question Denny was aroused from his
+reverie by the sounder opening up and calling "FN" like blue blazes. He
+answered and this is what he took:
+
+    "DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS ST. PAUL, MINN.
+    "November 26th, 187-
+
+    "COMMANDING OFFICER,
+    "Fort Flint, Montana.
+
+    "Sioux Indians out. Prepare your command
+    for instant field service. Thirty days' rations;
+    two hundred rounds ammunition per man. Wire
+    when ready.
+
+    "By command of Major General Wherry.
+
+    (Signed) SMITH,
+    "Assistant Adjutant-General."
+
+Denny was the messenger boy as well as operator and without waiting to
+make an impression copy, he grabbed his hat and flew down the line to
+the colonel's quarters. That worthy was entertaining a party at dinner,
+and was about to give Hogan fits for bringing the message to him instead
+of to the post adjutant; but a glance at the contents changed things and
+in a moment all was bustle and confusion.
+
+For weeks the premonitory signs of this outbreak had been plainly
+visible, but true to the red-tape conditions, the army could not move
+until some overt act had been committed. The generous interior
+department had supplied the Indians with arms and ammunition and then
+Mr. Red Devil under that prince of fiends incarnate, Sitting Bull,
+started on his campaign of plunder and pillage.
+
+At eight o'clock that night Colonel Clarke wired his chief that his
+command was ready, and at midnight he received orders to proceed the
+next morning at daylight, by forced marches up to the junction of the
+forks of the Red Bud, and take position there to intercept the Indians
+should they attempt to cross. Two regiments from the more northern posts
+were due to reach there at the same time, and the combined strength of
+the three commands was supposed to be sufficient to drive back any body
+of Indians. There was little sleep in Fort Flint that night.
+
+Now, Hogan wasn't much of a success as a garrison soldier, but when a
+chance for a genuine fight presented itself, all the Irish blood in his
+nature came to the surface, and after much pleading and begging, the
+adjutant allowed him to join his company, detailing Jones of D Company
+as operator in his stead. Jones wasn't as good an operator by far as
+Denny, but in a pinch he could do the work, and besides, he had just
+come out of the hospital and was unable to stand the rigors attendant
+upon a winter campaign in Montana.
+
+Denny went to the company quarters in high glee and soon had his kit all
+packed. Some weeks before he had been out repairing the line and when he
+returned to the post he had left a small pocket instrument and a few
+feet of office wire in his haversack. He saw these things and was about
+to remove them, when something impelled him to take them along. What
+this was no one ever knew. Perhaps premonition.
+
+The next morning just as the first dim shadows of early dawn stole over
+the snow-clad earth, the gallant old 29th, five hundred strong, swung
+out of Fort Flint, on its long tramp. From out of half-closed blinds on
+the officer's line gazed many a tear-stained face, and up on "Soapsuds
+Row" many an honest-hearted laundress was bemoaning the fates that
+parted her from her "ould mon."
+
+The weather turned bitter cold and after seven days of the hardest kind
+of marching they reached and crossed the Red Bud just below the junction
+of the two forks. A strong position was taken and every disposition made
+to prevent surprise. The expected re-enforcement would surely come soon
+and then all would be safe.
+
+The next day dawned and passed, but not a sign of that re-enforcement.
+That night queer looking red glows were seen at stated intervals on the
+horizon--North, West and East on the north side of the river, and to the
+South on the other bank did they gleam and glow. Colonel Clarke was old
+and tried in Indian warfare and well did he know what those fires
+meant--Indians--and lots of them all around his command. His hope now
+was that the two northern regiments would strike them in the rear while
+he smashed them in front.
+
+The next morning, first one, two, three, four, an hundred, a thousand
+figures mounted on fleet footed ponies appeared silhouetted against the
+clear sky, and it wasn't long before that little command of sturdy
+bluecoats was surrounded by a superior force of the wildest red devils
+that ever strode a horse or fired a Winchester rifle. Slowly they drew
+their lines closer about the troops like the clinging tentacles of some
+monster devilfish, and about eleven o'clock, _Bang!_ and the battle was
+on.
+
+"Husband your fire, men. Don't shoot until you have taken deliberate
+aim, and can see the object aimed at," was the word passed along the
+line by Colonel Clarke.
+
+Behind hastily constructed shelter trenches the soldiers fought off that
+encircling band of Indians, with a desperation and valor born of an
+almost hopeless situation. Ever and anon, from across the river came the
+ping of a Winchester bullet, proving that retreat was cut off that way.
+The Indians had completely marched around them.
+
+Where was the re-enforcement? Why didn't it come? Was this to be another
+Little Big Horn, and were these brave men to be massacred like the
+gallant 7th Cavalry under Custer? As long as his ammunition held out
+Colonel Clarke knew he could stand them off, but after three days of
+hard fighting, resulting in the loss of many brave men, the situation
+was becoming desperate. Fires could not be lighted and more than one
+brave fellow went to kingdom come in filling the canteens at the river's
+bank. Most of the animals had been shot, many of them being used for
+breastworks.
+
+Colonel Clarke was inspecting his lines on the early evening of the
+third day, and had about made up his mind to ask for a volunteer to try
+and get beyond the Indian lines and carry the news to Fort Scott, sixty
+miles away, to call for re-enforcements. Six troops of the 11th Cavalry
+were stationed there under his old friend and classmate, Colonel
+Foster. He knew the character of the regular army chaps well enough to
+be certain they would come to his assistance, if it were a possible
+thing. If all went well with his courier in three days' time they would
+be there.
+
+The word was passed along the line and in a few seconds he had any
+number of officers and men who were willing and ready to take the ride.
+Just as the colonel had decided to send 1st Lieutenant Jarvis on this
+perilous trip, Hogan appeared before him, saluting with military
+precision, and said with a broad Irish brogue:--
+
+"Axin' yer pardin' kurnel, but Oi think Oi kin tell ye a betther way.
+The telegraph loine from Scott to Kearney runs just twenty-foive moiles
+beyant here to the southards. Up at the end of our loines on the other
+side of the river is a deep ravine. If Oi kin get across with a good
+horse and slip through the Indian loines on the other soide, I can, by
+hard roidin' reach this loine in two or three hours. I have a pocket
+instrument wid me and can cut in and ask for re-enforcements from Fort
+Scott. If the loine is down I can continue on to the post, and make as
+quick time as any of the officers; if it is up it will be a matther of a
+short toime before we are pulled out of this hole. Plaze let me thry it
+kurnel. Lieutenant Jarvis has a wife and two children, and his loss
+would be greatly felt, whoile I--I--well I haven't any wan, sir, and
+besoides, I'm an Irishman, and you know, kurnel, an Irishman is a fool
+for luck." This last was said with a broad grin.
+
+Colonel Clarke was somewhat amazed at this speech, but he studied
+reflectively, with knitted brows for a moment, and then said, "All
+right, Hogan, I'll let you try it. Take my horse and start at three
+o'clock in the morning. Do your best, my man, do your best; the lives of
+the remainder of this command depend on your efforts. God be with you."
+
+"If I fail kurnel, it will be because I'm dead, sir."
+
+Shortly before three o'clock in the morning, Denny made ready for his
+perilous ride. The horse's hoofs were carefully padded, ammunition and
+revolver looked after, the pocket instrument fastened around his neck by
+the wire, so if any accident happened to the horse he would not be
+unnecessarily delayed, and all was ready. He gave his old bunkie a
+farewell silent clasp of the hand and then started on his ride that
+meant life or death to his comrades. The horse was a magnificent
+Kentuckian and seemed to know what was required of him. Carefully and
+slowly Hogan pushed his way to the place opposite the ravine, and then
+giving his mount a light touch with the spurs, he took to the cold
+water. The stream was filled with floating ice but was only about fifty
+yards wide and in a few minutes he was safely over, and climbing up the
+other bank through the ravine. Finally, the end was reached and he was
+on high ground. Resting a minute to see if all was well, he started. So
+far, so good, he was beyond the Indian lines. He was congratulating
+himself on the promised success of his mission when all at once,
+directly in front of him he saw the dim shadowy outlines of a mounted
+Indian. Quick as a flash Denny pulled his revolver and another Indian
+was soon in the happy hunting ground. This caused a general alarm and
+Hogan knew he was in for it. Putting his spurs deep in his horse's
+flanks away he went with the speed of the wind. A perfect swarm of
+Indians came after him, yelling like fiends and shooting like demons.
+On! on! he sped, seemingly bearing a charmed life because bullets
+whizzed by him like hail. He was not idle, and when the opportunity
+presented itself his revolver spoke and more than one Indian pony was
+made riderless thereby.
+
+Suddenly he felt a sharp stinging pain in his right shoulder, and but
+for a convulsive grasp of the pommel with his bridle hand he would have
+pitched headlong to the earth.
+
+No, by God! he couldn't fail now. He must succeed, the lives of his
+comrades depended on his efforts. He had told Colonel Clarke he would
+get through or die, and he was a long way from dead yet. Only an hour
+and a half more and he would have sent the message and then all the
+Indians in the country could go to the demnition bow wows for all he
+cared.
+
+Hearing no more shots Denny drew rein for a moment and listened. Not a
+sound could be heard, the snow had started to softly fall and the first
+faint rays of light on the eastern horizon heralded the approach of a
+new-born day. Ah! he had outridden his pursuers. Gently patting his
+faithful horse's neck, he once more started swiftly on, and when he was
+within a few miles of the line he chanced to glance back and saw that
+one lone Indian was following him.
+
+Now it was a case of man against man. In his first flight and running
+fight he had fired away all his ammunition save one cartridge. This he
+determined to use to settle his pursuer, but not until it was absolutely
+necessary; and putting spurs to his already tired horse, he galloped
+on.
+
+The Indian was slowly gaining on him and he saw the time for decisive
+action was at hand. Ahead of him but one short half mile was that line,
+already in the early morning light he could see the poles, and if the
+god of battles would only speed his one remaining bullet in the right
+direction, his message could be sent in safety and his comrades rescued.
+His wounded right arm was numb from pain and his left was not the
+steadiest in the world, but nothing venture, nothing have, and just
+then--_Bang!_ and a bullet whizzed by his head. "Not this toime, ye red
+devil," Denny defiantly shouted. A second bullet and he dropped off his
+horse. Quickly wheeling about, he dropped on his stomach, and taking a
+careful aim over his wounded right arm, he fired. The shot was
+apparently a true one and the Indian pitched off head first and lay
+still.
+
+With an exultant shout Hogan jumped up and started for the line. Nothing
+could stop him now. Loss of blood and the intense cold had weakened him
+so that his legs were shaky, the earth seemed to be going around at a
+great rate, dark spots were dancing before his eyes; but with a
+superhuman effort he recovered himself and was soon at the line.
+
+The wire was strung on light lances, and if Denny were in full
+possession of his strength he could easily pull one down. He threw his
+weight against one with all of his remaining force--but to no avail.
+What was he to do? But sixteen feet intervened between him and that
+precious wire.
+
+The faithful, tired horse, when Denny jumped off, had only run a little
+way and stopped, only too glad of the chance to rest. He was now
+standing near Hogan, as if intent on being of some further use to him.
+Suddenly Denny's anxious eyes lighted on the horsehair lariat attached
+to the saddle. Here was the means at hand. Quickly as he could he undid
+it, and with great difficulty tied one end to the pommel and the other
+to the lance. Then he gave the horse a sharp blow, and, _Crash!_ down
+went the lance.
+
+Making the connections to the pocket instrument as best he could with
+one cold hand, he placed the wire across a sharp rock and a few blows
+with the butt of his revolver soon cut it. The deed was done.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Private Dunn, the operator at Fort Scott, opened up his office bright
+and early one cold morning and marveled to find the wire working clear
+to Kearney. After having a chat with the man at Kearney about the
+Indian trouble, he was sitting around like Mr. Micawber when he heard
+the sounder weakly calling "FS." Quickly adjusting down he answered and
+this is what he took.
+
+    "COMMANDING OFFICER,
+    "Fort Scott, Montana.
+
+    "29th Infantry surrounded by large body hostile Sioux just north
+    of junction of the forks of the Red Bud. Colonel Clarke asks for
+    immediate re-enforcements; ammunition almost gone; situation
+    desperate. I left the command at three o'clock this morning.
+
+    (Signed.) DENNIS HO----."
+
+Then blank, the sounder was still and the line remained open. The
+sending had been weak and shaky, just as if the sender had been out all
+night, but there was no mistaking the purport of the message.
+
+Dunn didn't wait to pick up his hat but fairly flew down the line to the
+commanding officer's quarters. The colonel was not up yet, but the sound
+of animated voices in the hallway caused him to appear at the head of
+the stairs in his dressing gown.
+
+"What is it, Dunn," he asked.
+
+"A message from the 29th Infantry, sir, saying they are surrounded by
+the Sioux Indians and want help."
+
+Colonel Foster read the message, and exclaimed,
+
+"My God! Charlie Clarke stuck out there and wants help! Dunn, have the
+trumpeter sound 'Boots and Saddles.' Present my compliments to the
+adjutant and tell him I desire him to report to me at once.
+Kraus,"--this to his Dutch striker who was standing around in
+open-mouthed wonderment--"saddle my horse and get my field kit ready at
+once. Be quick about it."
+
+A few men had seen Dunn's mad rush to the colonel's quarters and
+suspected that something was up, so they were not surprised a few
+minutes later to hear "Boots and Saddles" ring out on the clear morning
+air. The command had been in readiness for field service for some days,
+and but a few moments elapsed until six sturdy troops were standing in
+line on the snow-covered parade. A hurried inspection was made by the
+troop commanders and then Colonel Foster commanded "Fours right, trot,
+march," and away they went on their sixty-mile ride of rescue. A few
+halts were made during the day to tighten girths, and at six o'clock a
+short rest was made for coffee.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The sound of the firing across the river shortly after Hogan left the
+29th was plainly heard by his comrades and many a man was heard to
+exclaim, "It's all up with poor Denny." But the firing grew more distant
+and Colonel Clarke had hopes that Hogan had successfully eluded his
+pursuers and determined to hold on as best he could. He knew full well
+that the Indians would be extraordinarily careful and that it would be
+folly for him to attempt to get another courier through that night. That
+day was indeed a hard one; it was trying to the extreme. Tenaciously did
+those Indians watch their prey. Well did they know by the rising of the
+morrow's sun the ammunition of the soldiers would be exhausted and then
+would come their feast of murder and scalps; Little Big Horn would be
+repeated.
+
+About two o'clock, Colonel Clarke, utterly regardless of personal
+danger, exposed himself for a moment and Chug! down he went, shot
+through the thigh by a Winchester bullet. Brave old chap, never for one
+minute did he give up, and after having his wound dressed as best it
+could be done, he insisted on remaining near the fighting line.
+Lieutenant Jarvis was shot through the arm, Captain Belknap of E Company
+was lying dead near his company, and scores of other brave men had gone
+to their last reckoning. Hanigan, Hogan's bunkie, was badly wounded, and
+out of his head. Every once in a while he would mumble, "Never you mind,
+fellers, we will be all right yet, just stand 'em off a little while
+longer and Denny will be here with the 11th Cavalry. He said he'd do it
+and by God! he won't fail."
+
+As the shades of the cold winter evening crept silently over the earth,
+the firing died away, and the command settled down to another night of
+the tensest anxiety and watching. Oh! why didn't those northern
+regiments come? Did Hogan succeed in his perilous mission? Depressed
+indeed were the spirits of the officers and men.
+
+About nine o'clock Lieutenant Tracy, the adjutant, was sitting beside
+his chief, who was apparently asleep. Suddenly, Colonel Clarke sat up
+and grabbing Tracy by the arm said, "Hark! what's that noise I hear?"
+
+"Nothing sir, nothing," replied Tracy; "lie down Colonel and try to
+rest, you need it sir"--and then aside--"poor old chap, his mind's
+wandering."
+
+"No, no, Tracy. Listen man, don't you hear it? It sounds like the beat
+of many horses' hoofs, re-enforcements are coming, thank God. Hogan got
+through."
+
+Just then, Crash! Bang! and a clear voice rang out, "Right front into
+line, gallop, March! _Charge!_" and those sturdy chaps of the 11th
+Cavalry true to their regimental hatred for the Indians, charged down
+among the red men scattering them like so much chaff. Then to the
+northwards was heard another ringing cheer, and the two long-delayed
+regiments came down among the Indians like a thunderbolt of vengeance.
+Truly, "It never rains but it pours." The 29th, all that was left of it,
+was saved, and when Colonel Foster leaned over the prostrate form of his
+old friend and comrade, Colonel Clarke feebly asked, "Where is that
+brave little chap, Hogan?"
+
+"Hogan? Who is Hogan?" asked Foster.
+
+"Why, my God, man, Hogan was the man that got beyond the Indian lines to
+make the ride to inform you of our plight. Didn't you see him?"
+
+"No, I didn't see him," and then Colonel Foster related how the
+information had reached him.
+
+A rescuing party was started out and in the pale moonlight they came
+upon the body of poor Denny lying stark and stiff under the telegraph
+line, his left hand grasping the instrument and the key open. A bullet
+hole in his head mutely told how he had met his death. Beside him lay
+the Indian, dead, one hand grasping Hogan's scalp lock, the other
+clasping a murderous-looking knife. Death had mercifully prevented the
+accomplishment of his hellish purpose.
+
+Hogan's shot had mortally wounded the Indian in the left breast, but
+with all the vengeful nature of his race, he had crawled forward on his
+hands and knees, and while Hogan was intent on sending his precious
+message, he shot him through the head, but not until the warning had
+been given to Fort Scott. Denny's faithful horse was standing near, as
+if keeping watch over the inanimate form of his late friend.
+
+They buried him where he lay, and a traveler passing over that trail,
+will observe a solitary grave. On the tombstone at the head is
+inscribed:
+
+    "DENNIS HOGAN,
+    "Private, Company B,
+    "29th U. S. Infantry.
+    "He died that others might live."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII
+
+THE COMMISSION WON--IN A GENERAL STRIKE
+
+
+The time spent as a soldier in the ranks passed by all too swiftly. The
+service was pleasant, the duty easy, and the regiment one of the best in
+the entire army. I don't know any two and a half years of my life that
+have been as happy and peaceful as those spent in the ranks of the
+American Army. When the proper time came my recommendations were all in
+good shape and I was duly ordered to appear before an august lot of
+officers and gentlemen at Fortress Monroe, Virginia, to determine my
+fitness to trot along behind a company, sign the sick-book, and witness
+an occasional issue of clothing. One warm June afternoon I bade good-bye
+to the men who had so long been my comrades, and journeyed to the
+eastwards. I was successful in the examinations, and on a Sunday morning
+early in August, myself, in company with twelve other young chaps,
+received the precious little parchment in which the President of the
+United States sends greetings and proclaims to all the world:--
+
+"That reposing especial confidence and trust in the valor, patriotism,
+and fidelity of one John Smith, I have made him a second lieutenant in
+the regular army. Look out for him because he hasn't much sense but I
+have strong hopes as how he will learn after a while."
+
+[Illustration: "... Dennis, lying under the telegraph line, his left
+hand still grasped the instrument"]
+
+The apprenticeship was finished and the chevrons gave way to the
+shoulder straps.
+
+This time I thought surely I had heard the last of the telegraph, never
+again was I going to touch a key. I had been at my first station just
+about two months when one morning I appeared before the Signal Officer
+of the post and plaintively asked him to let me have a set of telegraph
+instruments. He did, and it wasn't long before I had a ticker going in
+my quarters. There was no one to practice with me, so I just pounded
+away by myself for an hour or so each day, to keep my hand in. I have
+yet to see a man who has worked at the business for any length of time
+who could give it up entirely. It's like the opium habit--powerful hard
+to break off. I have never since tried to lose sight of it.
+
+In 189- one of those spasmodic upheavals known as a sympathetic strike
+spread over the country like wild fire, and it wasn't long before the
+continuance of law and order was entirely out of the hands of the state
+authorities in about ten states, and once more the faithful little army
+was called out to put its strong hand on the throat of destruction and
+pillage. Troops were hurriedly despatched from all posts to the worst
+points and the inefficient state militia in several states relegated to
+its proper sphere--that of holding prize drills and barbecues.
+
+Owing to the fact that the army cannot be used until a state executive
+acknowledges his inability to preserve law and order, and owing also to
+the fact that the executives in one or two of the states were pandering
+to the socialistic element, saying they could enforce the laws without
+the assistance of the army, this strike had spread until the entire
+country except the extreme east and southeast was in its strong grasp,
+and the work cut out for the army was doled out to it in great big
+chunks. Men seemed to lose all their senses and the emissaries of the
+union succeeded in getting many converts, each one of which paid the sum
+of one dollar to the so-called head of the union. Snap for the aforesaid
+"head," wasn't it? It was positively refreshing to the army at this time
+to have at its head a man who did not know what it was to pander to the
+socialists, and one who would enforce his solemn oath, "To enforce the
+laws of the United States," at all hazards. United States mail trains
+were being interfered with; the Inter-State Commerce law was being
+violated with impunity, and various other acts of vandalism and pillage
+were being committed all over the land--and the municipal and state
+authorities "winked the other eye."
+
+Way out in one of the far western posts was a certain Lieutenant Jack
+Brainerd, 31st U. S. Infantry, serving with his company. Jack was a big,
+whole-souled, impulsive chap, and before his entrance to the military
+academy, had been a pretty fair operator. In fact, being the son of a
+general superintendent of one of the big trunk lines, he was quite
+familiar with a railroad, and could do almost anything from driving a
+spike, or throwing a switch to running an engine. The first three years
+succeeding his graduation had been those of enervating peace; all of
+which palled on the soul of Lieutenant Jack to a large degree. The
+martial spirit beat high within his breast, and he wanted a scrap--he
+wanted one badly.
+
+The preliminary mutterings of this great strike had been heard for days,
+but no one dreamed that anarchy was about to break loose with the
+strength of all the fires of hell; and yet such was the case. On the
+evening of July 4th, a message came to the commanding officer at Fort
+Blank, to send his command of six companies of infantry to C---- at once
+to assist in quelling the riots. The chance for a scrap so longed for by
+Lieutenant Brainerd was coming swift and sure. The next morning the
+command pulled out. The trip was uneventful during the day, but at night
+a warning was received by Major Sharp, the grizzled battalion commander,
+who had fought everything from manly, brave confederates to skulking
+Indians, to watch out for trouble as he approached the storm centre.
+There were rumors of dynamited bridges, broken rails, etc. The major
+didn't believe much in these yarns, but--"_Verbum Sap_."--and the
+precautions were taken. The next morning at five the train pulled into
+Hartshorne, eleven miles out from C----. This was the beginning of the
+great railroad yards and evidences of the presence of the enemy were
+becoming very apparent. A large crowd had gathered to watch the
+bluecoats and it was plain to be seen that they were in full sympathy
+with the strikers. "Scab" and a few other choice epithets were hurled at
+the train crew, and when they were ready to pull out the train didn't
+go. The conductor went forward and found that the engineer had refused
+to handle his engine because Hartshorne was his home and the crowd had
+threatened to kill him if he hauled that load of "slaves of Pullman" any
+further. When Major Sharp heard of it his little grey eyes snapped and
+he growled out:--
+
+"Won't pull this train, eh! Well, damn him, we'll make him pull it.
+Here, Mr. Brainerd, you take some men and go forward and make that
+engineer take us through these yards. If he refuses you know what to do
+with him."
+
+Do? Well, I reckon Jack knew what to do all right enough. He took
+Sergeant Fealy, a veteran, and three men and went forward. The engineer,
+a little snub-nosed Irishman, was at his post with his fireman, a good
+head of steam was on, but nary an inch did that train budge. A big crowd
+of men and women stood around jeering and laughing at the plight of the
+bluecoats. Pushing his way through the crowd, Jack climbed up into the
+cab closely followed by his little escort.
+
+"Sergeant Fealy," he said in a voice loud enough to be heard a block,
+"get up on that tender, have your men load their rifles, and shoot the
+first d----d man that raises a hand or throws a missile. And you," this
+to the engineer, "shove that reverse lever over and pull out."
+
+"But, my God, lieutenant," expostulated the engineer, "this is my home
+and if I pull you fellers out of here they'll kill me on sight--besides
+look at the track ahead. I'd run over and kill a lot of those people."
+
+"There's no 'buts' about it. This train is going in or I'll lose my
+commission in the army; besides if these people haven't sense enough to
+get out of the way let 'em die."
+
+Mr. Engineer started to expostulate farther but the ominous click of a
+.38 Colt's was incentive enough to make him stop and then he shoved her
+over and gave her a little steam--just a coaxer.
+
+"Here, you blasted chump, that won't do," and with that Brainerd reached
+over and yanked the throttle so that she bounded away like a hare; at
+the same time he gave her sand. It's a great wonder every draw head in
+the train didn't pull out, but fortunately they held on. The crowd on
+the track melted away like the mists before the summer's sun, and beyond
+a few taunting jeers no overt act was committed. The engineer didn't
+relish the idea of a soldier running his engine and became somewhat
+obstreperous. Brainerd grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and landed
+him all in a heap in the coal. Then he climbed up on the right-hand side
+of the cab and took charge of things himself. There were myriads of
+tracks stretching out before him like the long arms of some giant
+octopus, but all traffic was suspended on account of the strike and the
+main line was clear. The train flew down the line like a scared rabbit
+and in thirty minutes reached the camp at Blake Park. I had arrived
+there that morning from the south for special service and when I saw
+Brainerd climb down off of that engine his face was smutty, but his eyes
+twinkled and he came towards me with a broad grin and said,
+
+"Hello, Bates, where in thunder did you spring from?"
+
+There wasn't much time for talking because the great city was groaning
+beneath the grasp of anarchy, and until that power was broken, there
+would be no rest for the weary.
+
+The situation that existed at this time is too well known to require any
+explanation here. The state and city authorities were powerless; the
+militia inefficient and many a citizen bowed his head and thanked God on
+that warm July morning for the arrival of the regulars. Only twenty-one
+hundred of them all told, mind you, against so many thousands of the
+rioters, and yet, they were disciplined men and led by officers who
+simply enforced orders as they received them. No matter where or what
+the sympathies of the men of a company might be, when the captain said
+"Fire," look out, because the bullets would generally fly breast high.
+The situation resembled the Paris Commune, and but for the timely
+arrival of the small body of bluecoats, another cow might have kicked
+over another lamp, and the frightful conflagration of 1871 have been
+more than duplicated. But the "cow" was slaughtered and the "lamp"
+extinguished.
+
+The morning after Brainerd arrived he was detailed on special service
+and ordered to report to me, and together we worked until the trouble
+was over. Just what this service was need not be recorded, but one thing
+sure, railroads and the telegraph figured in it quite largely. In fact
+the general superintendent of the Western Union Telegraph Company placed
+the entire resources of the company at my disposal. A wire was run
+direct to Washington, lines run to all the camps, and Jack and I each
+carried a little pocket instrument on our person.
+
+Although the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers did not go out in a
+body, there was quite a number of them who would not pull trains for
+fear of personal violence from the strikers. One old chap, Bob Redway,
+by name, had known Major McKenney of our battalion, in days gone by,
+when he was pulling a train on the N. P., and the major was stationed at
+Missoula. Bob wandered into camp one afternoon to see his old friend and
+just at that time a company was ordered to the southern part of the city
+to stop a crowd that was looting and burning P. H. Railway property. As
+usual the engineer backed out at the last moment. The major turned to
+Redway, and said, "See here, Bob, you're not in sympathy with these
+cutthroats, suppose you pull this train out."
+
+"All right, major, I'll pull you through if the old girl will only hold
+up. She's a stranger to me, but I reckon she'll last."
+
+Brainerd and I were to go along and do some special work around the
+stock-yards, and soon we were shooting down the track like a flyer. At
+62nd street we passed a sullen looking crowd and when we reached 130th
+street, we were flagged by the operator in the tower, and informed that
+the mob in our rear was starting to block the track by overturning a
+standard sleeper. They were going to cut us off. We cut the engine
+loose, put fourteen men up on the tender, and Brainerd and I started
+back with them. The engine was going head on, having backed out from the
+city, and Bob let her put for all she was worth. Just at 62nd street
+there is a long sweeping curve and we were coming around it like a
+streak of blue lightning, when all at once we saw the crowd just in the
+act of pulling the sleeper over on our track. There was no time to lose
+and the command "Fire" was sharply given. "Bang," rang out the
+Springfields, one or two of the mob dropped to the ground, the rest let
+go of the ropes and ran like scared cats, and the car tottered back in
+its original place. Redway had shut off steam and was slowing down under
+ordinary air, when all at once there was a dull deafening roar, and then
+for me--oblivion. I was only stunned and when I regained consciousness
+looked around and saw the men slowly regaining their feet. Redway was
+not killed, but the shock and concussion of the detonation of the
+dynamite made him lose his speech and he was bleeding profusely at the
+nose and ears. The cowcatcher, headlight and forward trucks of the
+engine were blown to smithereens, but fortunately the boiler did not
+burst and there she stood like some powerful monster wounded to the
+death. The mob, imagining that their fiendish work had been complete,
+became emboldened and rapidly gathered around the little body of
+bluecoats. It began to look rocky, and Brainerd came limping over to me
+and said, "Bates, I'm pretty badly bruised about the legs, and can't
+climb, but if you're able, for God's sake climb that telegraph pole and
+cut in and ask department headquarters to send us down some help. I'll
+form the men around the bottom of the pole and shoot the first damned
+man or woman that throws a missile. We're in a devilish bad box."
+
+I took the little instrument, nippers and wire and up I went. There were
+side steps on the pole so the ascent was easy. What a scene below! Five
+or six thousand angry faces, besotted, coarse and ill-bred looking
+brutes, gazing up at me with the wrath of vengeance in their hearts; and
+held at bay by a band of fourteen battered and bruised bluecoats, a
+wounded engineer and fireman, commanded by an almost beardless boy. Well
+did that mob know that if those rifles ever spoke there would be a
+number of vacant chairs at the various family boards that night. The
+wire was soon cut, the main office gave me department headquarters and
+in thirty minutes' time that mob was scattering like so much chaff
+before the wind, and with a ringing cheer, two companies of the --th
+Infantry came down among them like a thunderbolt. We were saved and took
+Redway back to camp with us. That evening the major came over to see
+him. Poor chap! he couldn't speak but he motioned for a pencil and
+paper and this is what he wrote:--
+
+"Don't worry, major, I'm all right. My speaking machine seems to have
+had a head end collision with a cyclone, but if you want me to pull any
+more trains out my right arm is still in pretty good shape." Bob hung to
+us all through the trying weeks that followed and in the end some of us
+succeeded in getting him a good position in one of the departments in
+Washington.
+
+Far up in the Northwest things were in a very bad shape. Everything was
+tied up tight; mail trains could not run because there were no men to
+run them; "Debsism" had a firm grasp; and even though many of the
+trainmen were willing to run, intimidation by the strikers caused them
+to go slow.
+
+At one place, call it Bridgeton, there was an overland mail waiting to
+go out, but no engineer. Here's where the versatility of the American
+soldier came in. Major Clarke of the --th Infantry, had four companies
+of his regiment guarding public property at Bridgeton and he sent word
+by his orderly that he wanted a locomotive engineer and a fireman. Quick
+as a flash he had six engineers and any number of men who could fire. He
+chose two good men and then detailed Captain Stilling's company to go
+along as an escort. Orders were procured at the telegraph office for the
+train to run to Pokeville, where further orders would be sent them. When
+the crowd of loiterers and strikers saw the preparations they jeered in
+derision. They had the engineer and fireman corralled, but their laugh
+turned to sorrow when they saw a strapping infantry sergeant climb into
+the cab and after placing his loaded rifle in front of him, he grasped
+the throttle and away they went--much to the disgust of Mr. Rioter. They
+didn't like it worth a cent, but as one striker put it, "What's the use
+of monkeyin' with them reg'lars? When they gets an order to shoot,
+they're just damned fools enough to shoot right into the crowd. Milish'
+fire in the air, because as a rule they have friends in the crowd and
+don't care to hurt 'em."
+
+Pokeville was one hundred and two miles from Bridgeton and the run was
+carefully made and without incident. When the volunteer engineer and
+Captain Stillings, who was playing conductor, went to the office for
+orders, they found the place deserted. A sullen-looking crowd was
+looking on and appeared to enjoy the discomfiture of the soldiers. They
+had put the operator _away_ for a while. Pressing up near the sides of
+the train they became somewhat ugly and Captain Stillings brought out
+his company, and lining them up alongside of the track he turned to his
+1st lieutenant and said:
+
+"Mr. Mitchell, I'm going into this telegraph office. If this crowd gets
+ugly I want you to shoot the first damned man that moves a finger to
+harm anybody."
+
+But without an operator orders could not be procured, and without orders
+the train could not go. Captain Stillings was in a quandary, but all at
+once he stepped out in front of his company and said in a loud tone, "I
+want an operator."
+
+"I'm one, sir," said Private O'Brien, quickly stepping forward and
+saluting.
+
+"Go in that office and get orders for this train."
+
+"Yes, sir," replied O'Brien, and in a minute another bluecoat was
+helping the train on its way. If Captain Stillings had wanted a Chinese
+interpreter he could have gotten one--any old thing. The train had no
+further mishaps, because everything necessary to run a railroad was
+right here in one company of sixty-two men belonging to the regular
+army.
+
+July slipped away and it was well into August before we returned to our
+posts and the old grind of "Fours right," and "Fours left."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV
+
+EXPERIENCES AS A GOVERNMENT CENSOR OF TELEGRAPH
+
+
+The few years succeeding the great strike were ones of calm, peaceful
+tranquility. Each recurring November 1st, brought the initiation of Post
+Lyceums at all garrisons, in which the officers were gathered together
+twice a week, and war in all its phases was studied. We didn't exactly
+know where the war was coming from, but, still we boned it out. Old
+campaigns were fought over; the mistakes made by the world's greatest
+commanders, from Alexander the Great to Grant and Lee were pointed out;
+Kriegspiel was played; essays written and discussed, recommendations
+made as to ammunition and food supply; use of artillery in attack and
+defense; the proper method of employing the telegraph in the war; and a
+thousand and one things relative to the machine militaire were gone
+over. All this time we were slumbering over a smoldering volcano, and on
+February 16, 1898, the eruption broke loose; the good ship _Maine_ was
+destroyed in Havana harbor, and the feelings of the people, already
+drawn to the breaking point by the inhuman cruelties of Spain towards
+her colonies near our own shores, burst with a vehemence that portended,
+in unmistakable language, the rending asunder of the once proud kingdom
+of Spain. The army wanted a war; the navy wanted it, the whole
+population wanted it and here it was within our grasp. It was the
+dawning of a new day for the United States; a new empire was being born
+in the Western hemisphere. The feverish preparations attendant upon the
+new conditions are of too recent date to need any sketching here.
+
+When it was finally determined that the time had arrived for the
+assembling of the small but efficient regular army, I was stationed with
+my regiment at Fort Wayne, Michigan. Like all other troops, we were at
+the post ready for the start. The pistol cracked on the 15th of April,
+and on the 19th we started. Mobile, Alabama, was our objective where we
+arrived on the 22nd of the month. Here began the ceaseless preparation
+for the part the regiment was to play in the grand drama of war that was
+to follow, all this camp life and concentration being but the prologue.
+
+The camp was a most beautiful one, the weather pleasant, and it was
+indeed a most inspiring sight to see the long unbroken lines of blue go
+swinging by, keeping absolute time and perfect alignment to the
+inspiring strains of some air like "Hot time in the old town to-night,"
+or "The stars and stripes forever."
+
+I had started in with my regiment and expected to remain on duty with it
+until the end of the war, sharing all its perils and hardships, doing my
+part in the fighting, and partaking of any of the renown it might
+achieve should the Dons ever be met. But "Man proposes and God
+disposes," and on the afternoon of May 21st, I was sitting in my tent
+correcting some manuscript when a very bright-eyed colored newsboy came
+along and said:
+
+"Buy a paper, cap'n."
+
+That was the day that a wild rumor had been in circulation that Sampson
+had met Cervera in the Bahama Channel and completely smashed him, so I
+laid down my manuscript and said:
+
+"Anything in there about Sampson licking Cervera?"
+
+"Naw, sir, dat were a fake, cap'n, but dere is lots of oder news fur
+you."
+
+"No, kid, I don't want a paper to-night, and besides I'm not a captain,
+I'm only a lieutenant."
+
+"But yer may be one some day. Please buy one cap'n," and with this he
+laid a paper down on my table (a cracker box). I was about to shove it
+aside and sharply tell him to skip out when my eye fell upon:
+
+"Nominations by the President."
+
+"To be captains in the Signal Corps," then followed my name. I bought a
+paper, yes, all he had.
+
+On May 27th, I was ordered to proceed at once to Tampa, Florida,
+reporting upon arrival by telegraph to the chief signal officer of the
+army for instructions. Tuesday morning, the 29th of May, I reported my
+arrival and spent the rest of the morning in looking around the camps,
+renewing old acquaintances. I supposed of course that I was to be
+assigned to the command of one of the new signal companies then forming
+to take part in the Santiago campaign and was filled with delight at the
+prospect, but about eleven o'clock I received an order from General
+Greely directing me to assume charge of the telegraphic censorship at
+Tampa. Three civilians, Heston at Jacksonville, Munn at Miami, and
+Fellers at Tampa, were sworn in as civilian assistants and directed to
+report to me, thereafter acting wholly under my orders. Mr. B. F.
+Dillon, superintendent of the Western Union Telegraph Company, was in
+Tampa, and I had a long conference with him. He assured me of his
+confidence and cordial support, and placed the entire resources of his
+company at my disposal. Operators all over the state were instructed
+that anything I ordered was to be obeyed and then the work began.
+
+The idea of a telegraphic censorship was a new and irksome one to the
+great American people and just what it meant was hard to determine. Much
+has been written about "Press Censorship." That term was a misnomer.
+There never _was_ an attempt to _censor_ the _great American press_. The
+newspapers were just as free to print as they were before the war
+started. _All the censorship that existed was over the telegraph lines
+militarily occupied._ A government officer was placed in charge and his
+word was absolute; he could only be overruled by General Greely, the
+Secretary of War or the President. It was his duty to watch telegrams,
+regulate the kind that were allowed to pass, and to see that no news was
+sent whereby the interests of the government or the safety of the army
+might suffer.
+
+The instructions I received were general in their nature and in all
+specific cases arising, my judgment was to determine, and I want to
+remark right here, the rapidity with which those specific cases would
+arise was enough to make a man faint. The first rule made was that
+cipher messages or those written in a foreign tongue were prohibited
+unless sent by a government official on public business. There were a
+few exceptions to this rule. For instance; many large business houses
+have telegraphic cipher codes for the transaction of business, and it
+was not the policy of the government to interfere in any manner with the
+commercial affairs of the country, so these messages were allowed to
+pass when the code book was presented to the censor and a sworn
+translation made in his presence. Spanish messages were transmitted only
+after being most carefully scanned and upon proof of the loyalty of the
+sender or receiver and a sworn translation. Not a single private message
+could be sent by any one, that in any way hinted at the time of the
+departure or destination of any ship or body of troops. Even officers
+about to sail away were not allowed to telegraph their wives and
+families. If they had a pre-arranged code, whereby a message could be
+written in plain English, there was no way to stop their transmission.
+Foreign messages were watched with eagle eyes and many and many a one
+was gently consigned to the pigeon hole, when the contents and meaning
+were not plain.
+
+From Key West (which was shortly afterwards placed in my charge) there
+ran the cable to Havana, and this line was the subject of an
+extraordinarily strict espionage; not a message being allowed to pass
+over it that was not perfectly plain in its meaning. Mr. J. W. Atkins
+was sworn in as my assistant at Key West, and thus I had the whole state
+of Florida under my control. All the lines from the southern part of the
+state converge to Jacksonville, and not a message could go from a point
+within the state to one out of it without first passing under the
+scrutiny of either myself or one of my sworn assistants.
+
+My office was in H. B. Plant's Tampa Bay hotel, and there, every day,
+from seven A. M. until twelve midnight, and sometimes one and two in the
+morning, I did my work. My own long experience as a practical
+telegrapher stood me in good stead and when any direct work was to be
+done with the White House in Washington, or any especially important
+messages were to be sent, I personally did the telegraphing. At the
+Executive Mansion was Colonel B. F. Montgomery, signal corps, in charge
+of the telegraph office, so when anything special passed, no one knew
+it but the colonel and myself.
+
+The Tampa Bay hotel was at this time the scene of the most dazzling and
+brilliant gaiety. Shafter's 5th Corps was preparing for its Santiago
+campaign and each night many officers and their wives would meet in the
+hotel and pass the time away listening to the music of some regimental
+band or in pleasant conversation. Men who had not seen each other since
+the close of the great civil war renewed old acquaintances and spun
+reminiscences by the yard. Military attaches from all the countries of
+the world were daily arriving, and their gaudy uniforms added a dash of
+color to the already brilliant panorama. The bright gold of Captain
+Paget, the English naval attache, the deep blue of Colonel Yermeloff,
+who represented Russia, contrasted vividly with the blue and yellow of
+Japanese Major Shiska, and the scarlet and black of Count Goetzen of
+Germany. But prominent among all this moving panorama of color was the
+plain blue of the volunteer, and the brown khaki of the regular. My view
+of the scene was limited to fleeting glimpses from my office where I was
+nightly scanning messages, doing telegraphing or overlooking 30,000 or
+40,000 words of correspondents' copy. Preparations for the embarkation
+were going on with feverish haste, and orders were daily expected for
+the army to move.
+
+There were at this time nearly two hundred newspaper correspondents
+scattered around through the hotel and in the various camps. They
+represented papers from all over the world, and were typical
+representatives of the brain and sinew of the newspaper profession, and
+were there to accompany the army when it moved. Such men as Richard
+Harding Davis, Stephen Bonsai, Frederick Remington, Caspar Whitney,
+Grover Flint, Edward Marshall, Maurice Low, John Taylor, John Klein,
+Louis Seibold, George Farman and Mr. Akers of the London papers, and
+scores of others. They were quick and active, intensely patriotic, alert
+for all the news, a "scoop" for them was the blood of life, and the
+censorship came like a wet blanket. In a small way I had been
+corresponding for a paper since the beginning of the war, but when the
+detail as censor came I gave it up as the two were incompatible.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV
+
+MORE CENSORSHIP
+
+
+I must confess that I stood in awe of these newspaper chaps, because I
+knew my orders would incense them and if they took it into their heads
+to roast me my life would be made miserable for a good many days to
+come. But then in the army orders are made to be obeyed and I determined
+not to show partiality to any of them. It was to be "a fair field and no
+favor," so I sent word and asked them to meet me in the reading-room of
+the hotel at two o'clock that afternoon. They came garbed in all sorts
+of field uniform and I made a little speech telling what they might send
+and what was interdicted; I remarked that the work was as irksome to me
+as it was to them, but orders were orders and if they would live up to
+the few _simple_ rules they would make my task much easier and save
+themselves lots of trouble. Nothing absolutely was to be sent, that
+would convey in any way an idea of the number of troops in Tampa, the
+time of arrival or departure of any number of troops or ships, and
+above all, not a word was to be sent out as to when the 5th Army Corps
+was to sail. When I had finished one of the correspondents shook his
+head in a deprecatory way and said:
+
+"Well, captain, we thought Lieutenant Miley (my predecessor) was bad
+enough but you can give him cards and spades and beat him out. You're
+certainly a hummer from the word go, and I reckon we'd better go home."
+
+He had my sympathy but that was all. Every correspondent had a war
+department pass; these I examined and registered each man.
+
+That night my fun commenced. At six P. M. they began to file stuff, and
+armed with a big blue pencil I started to slash and when I finished,
+some of their sheets looked like a miniature football field, while their
+faces betokened blank amazement and intense disgust. Boiled down, the
+first night's batch of copy consisted of a glowing description of the
+new censor; this fiend whose weapon was a blue pencil--his glowing red
+whiskers--his goggle eyes, and his Titian-colored hair. One of them
+said:
+
+"This afternoon the new censor stuck his head out of the window and the
+glow was so great from his red whiskers and auburn locks that the fire
+department was turned out. The latest report is that the censor was
+unquenched," and so on. They couldn't send any news so they sent me.
+Most of them were space writers and everything went. In many ways they
+tried to evade the rules; by insinuations, hints upon which a bright
+telegraph editor could raise an edifice with a semblance of truth, but
+the blue pencil generally got in its work before the dispatch reached
+the operator. I had two stamps made; one "O. K. for transmission," and
+the other, "REJECTED, file, do not return." Number one went on all
+messages for transmission and number two on all others. As I gaze at
+these relics now I see that number two has been used much more than its
+companion.
+
+I had made it a rule that each paper maintaining a correspondent in
+Tampa was to furnish me with a copy of every edition of the paper. As a
+result, in a few days I had a mail that was stupendous. A clerk was on
+hand who read these papers, marking all things bearing a Tampa date
+line. Then I would read them and woe betide the correspondent whose
+paper contained contraband news from Tampa. Off went his head and his
+permit was recalled for a certain time as a punishment.
+
+There never has been a line of sentinels so strong but that some one
+could break through, and there was undoubtedly some leakage from Tampa,
+but to see news of actual importance from there was like hunting for a
+needle in a haystack. The mails carried out some, but even then the
+correspondents suffered. Two incidents may not be amiss.
+
+One young chap whose keenness ran away with his judgment, brought me a
+stack of copy one night, almost every word of which was contraband. The
+blue pencil got in its work in great shape and then the "rejected" stamp
+put its seal of disapproval on the message and it was filed away with
+many others, that "were not dead, but sleeping." Mr. Correspondent
+muttered something about "a cussed red-headed censor who wasn't the pope
+and could be beaten" and walked away. I thought no more of the matter
+until about seven days thereafter when my clerk gave me a marked copy of
+the correspondent's paper, and there, big as life, under a Tampa date
+line was the rejected dispatch. He had left my office and mailed his
+story to a friend living up in Georgia, and it was telegraphed by him
+from there. You see, Georgia was beyond my jurisdiction. He had surely
+made a "scoop;" he had sown the wind and that night he reaped the
+whirlwind, because I promptly suspended him from correspondents'
+privileges, and forbade him the use of the wires. General Greely upheld
+me in this as in all other cases and for ten days I allowed him to
+ruminate over his offence, while his paper was cussing him out for
+failing to send in stuff. Then I restored him to his former status,
+first making him sign a pledge on honor that he would abide forever
+thereafter by the censorship rules.
+
+Another young man who represented a Cincinnati daily, walked into the
+express office in Tampa one evening and gave the agent a package saying:
+
+"Say, old chap, have your messenger running north to-night give this to
+the first operator after crossing the Georgia line and tell him to send
+it to my paper. It's a big scoop and I want to get it through."
+
+Of course, the "old chap" was built just that way. He took the message
+and in five minutes it was reposing gently in my desk. I then quickly
+sent out a telegram to all my censors taking away the correspondent's
+privileges until further orders.
+
+That night full of innocence--and beer--he walked into the Tampa city
+office and handed Censor Fellers a message for his paper, just as a
+sort of a bluff. Fellers grinned at him quietly said:
+
+"Sorry, Mr. J--, but Captain B--has just suspended you from use of the
+telegraph until further orders."
+
+In a very few minutes Mr. J--appeared at my office, blustering like a
+Kansas cyclone, and demanded to know why I had dared to treat him thus?
+I simply picked up his copy and showed it to him, saying:
+
+"This is your handwriting, I believe, Mr. J--."
+
+The props dropped out from under him and he said:
+
+"Well, by thunder, you censor mail, telegraph and express; I reckon if I
+attempted to send anything by carrier pigeon you'd catch it and put that
+d--d old 'rejected' stamp on it."
+
+"No," I replied, "but I might possibly use it on a mule."
+
+In spite of his pleadings and promises he was hung up for ten days.
+
+It must be said, however, that such men as these were rarities: most of
+the men, especially those representing the great dailies, were only too
+willing to abide by orders. They kicked hard--naturally and
+rightfully--because news that they were forbidden to send from Tampa was
+sent broadcast from Washington as coming from the war department. Oh!
+yes they kicked so much that it seemed as if my auburn locks would turn
+gray, but the protest was against the censorship in general and not
+against me. I was enough of a newspaper man to fully appreciate their
+position, and more than one message went from me to General Greely
+asking if Washington could not be censored as well as Tampa. No! Army
+officers had no power to stop the mouths of the high civil officials of
+the government, and so the dance went on.
+
+And the managing editors would flood their correspondents with telegrams
+of inquiry as to why they did not send the news that daily came from
+Washington as having originated in Tampa; and the correspondents would
+come to me and I would endeavor to calm them down as best I could. Then,
+incidentally, the managing editors would take a fling at me personally,
+and I would receive a polite telegram of protest but to no avail.
+
+Finally, one night the trouble culminated, and conjointly the
+correspondents sent a long telegram to General Greely asking if he could
+not right the seeming injustice. They did not mind being beaten in a
+fair field, but they did hate to be "scooped" by Washington
+correspondents who were having an easy time. Almost every man signed
+the protest and then it was brought to me, and I quickly O. K'd. it.
+Shortly afterwards a number of them came to my office and assured me
+that it was not against me personally they were kicking, and Louis
+Seibold, of the New York World, sent General Greely a message saying:
+
+"I don't like your blooming censor business one bit, but if you have to
+have it, you've got the best man for it in the army right here in
+Tampa," or words to that effect. Many others sent similar messages, but
+not quite so outspoken. General Greely appreciated their position and
+said so, but was unable to change the condition of affairs and so
+matters continued.
+
+All this time feverish preparations were being made to rush off
+Shafter's expedition. June 7th was a very hard and trying day, and at
+six o'clock in the evening I had just seated myself for a hasty bite of
+dinner when a messenger came to me from the telegraph office saying that
+the White House wanted me at once. I went to the key and was informed
+that the President wanted to talk to Generals Miles and Shafter and that
+the greatest secrecy must be maintained. After sending word to the
+generals, I sent all the operators out of the office, closed the windows
+and turned down the sounder so that it could not be heard _three feet
+away_. When General Shafter came in he had an officer stationed in the
+hall so that no one could approach in that direction. General Miles came
+in shortly afterwards and the door was closed. We all sat in front of
+the table, General Miles on my right, and General Shafter on the left.
+Lieutenant Miley of General Shafter's staff stood behind his chief. It
+was a scene long to be remembered. General Shafter was dressed in the
+plain blue army fatigue uniform, its strict sombreness being relieved
+only by the two gleaming silver stars on his shoulder straps. General
+Miles, the commanding general, was in conventional tuxedo dress, and
+looked every inch the gallant soldier and gentleman that he is. From the
+little telegraph instrument on the table ran a single strand of copper
+wire, out in the dark night, over the pine tops of Florida and Georgia,
+over the mountains of the Carolinas, and hills and vales of Virginia,
+into the Executive Mansion at Washington. In the office of the White
+House were the President, the Secretary of War, and Adjutant-General
+Corbin. The key there was worked by Colonel Montgomery, so if there ever
+was an official wire this was one.
+
+When all was ready I told the White House to go ahead.
+
+The first message was from the Secretary of War to General Shafter
+directing him to sail at once, as he was needed at the destination which
+was known at this time only to about five officers in Tampa. General
+Shafter replied that he would be ready to sail the next morning at
+daylight. Then, by the President's direction, a message was repeated
+that had been received from Admiral Sampson, saying he had that day
+bombarded the outer defenses of Santiago, and if ten thousand men were
+there the city and fleet would fall within forty-eight hours. The
+President further directed that General Shafter should sail as indicated
+by him with not less than ten thousand men. Then followed an interchange
+of messages, more or less personal in their nature, between the generals
+and the Washington contingent. Finally all was over and the line was cut
+off. The whole conversation lasted about fifty minutes, but the
+beginning of new history was started in that time and the curtain was
+going up on the grand drama of war. All the time this was going on I
+could hear faintly his strains of '_Auf Wiedersehn_,' together with the
+merry jest of the officers and the light laughter of the women. Brave
+men, braver women--soon their laughter was turned to tears and many of
+the officers who went out of the Tampa Bay hotel on that warm June night
+are now sleeping their last sleep, having given up their lives that
+their country's honor might live. The train carrying the headquarters to
+Port Tampa left at five o'clock in the morning. There was very little
+sleep that night and the next morning the big hotel was well nigh
+deserted. And all this time the destination of the fleet was unknown to
+all but those high in rank and myself.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI
+
+CENSORSHIP CONCLUDED
+
+
+My own sleep on that night was limited to about two hours snatched
+between work, and the following morning was a very busy one. About once
+every hour I would report to the White House how things were progressing
+at the port. As the big transports received their load of living
+freight, one by one they would pull out in the stream and anchor,
+waiting until the time should come when all would be ready, and then
+like a big swarm they would pull out together. They did not sail at
+daylight; unexpected delays occurred, and eight, nine, ten, eleven and
+twelve o'clock passed and still they had not sailed, although the twelve
+o'clock report said they would be gone by twelve-thirty.
+
+At one o'clock a messenger came hurriedly to me and said the White House
+wanted me at the key at once. When I answered, Colonel Montgomery said,
+"_The President wants to know if you can stop that fleet?_" Now the wire
+to Port Tampa was on a table right back of me and calling him with my
+left hand I said:
+
+"Can you get General Miles or General Shafter?" and with my right hand I
+said to the President, "I'll try, wait a minute."
+
+Then said the White House, "_It is imperative that the fleet be stopped
+at once._"
+
+From Port Tampa, "No sir, I can't find General Miles or General
+Shafter."
+
+I replied, "Have all the transports pulled out of the slip?"
+
+"Yes sir, so far as I can see they are all gone."
+
+From Washington, "Have you stopped the fleet?"
+
+"Wait a minute--will let you know later, am trying now."
+
+To Port Tampa, "Go out and find a tug and get this message to either
+General Miles or General Shafter, 'The President directs that you stop
+the sailing of Shafter's army until further orders.' Now fly."
+
+Just then Port Tampa said, "Here comes General Miles now," and in a
+minute more the message was delivered and the fleet stopped. I then
+reported to the President:
+
+"I have delivered your message to General Miles and the fleet will not
+sail until further orders."
+
+They came back wondering what had stopped them and that evening we
+learned of the appearance of the "Phantom" Spanish fleet in the Nicholas
+Channel _heading westward_. "Cervera wasn't bottled up in Santiago,"
+said some, "and before morning he will be here and blow us out of the
+water." Great was the consternation and as a precaution all the ships
+were ordered back into the slip. It must be said, however, that General
+Miles _never had any idea that the Spanish fleet was approaching our
+shores_.
+
+The transport fleet was tied up and then followed six days of weary
+waiting, and the duties of the censor became more arduous than ever, and
+the utmost vigilance was exercised. Private messages were almost all
+hung up, in fact, very little else than government business was allowed
+to pass over the wires. And yet, every day for a week, copies of the
+daily papers that reached me had, under flaming headlines, the startling
+news that Shafter's fleet had sailed--destination--Havana, San Juan,
+Matanzas,--yes--even the Spanish coast. All this was announced from
+Washington, and made the correspondents snort; they made every excuse to
+let their papers know they were still there. They wanted money, they
+wanted to send messages to their families, in fact, they wanted
+everything under the sun, but to no avail. Finally, on the 14th of June
+the army sailed away, filled with hope and courage, on their mission
+that resulted in victory for the American arms; but that was a foregone
+conclusion, while we less fortunate ones were left behind to pray for
+the success that we knew would be theirs.
+
+The correspondents were all on the transport "Olivette," and just before
+they pulled out I sent them a message saying I would release the news
+that night about the _sailing of the fleet only_, and they might file
+their messages. They did in large numbers and here is where the joke
+came in. When the messages reached the papers they thought it was all a
+bluff to mislead the public, and many of them refused to publish the
+news, but the fleet had gone this time for certain. As late as two days
+afterwards I received messages from the managing editors of two of the
+greatest papers in the country, asking me if the fleet had really
+sailed. I assured them it had. One thing is certain, the destination of
+that fleet was a well-kept secret. Mr. Richard Harding Davis in his
+admirable book on the Cuban and Porto Rican Campaigns, says that credit
+is due the censor because it was so well kept. I am afraid that this is
+about the only good word the censor ever received from the said Mr.
+Davis.
+
+The "Olivette," on which the correspondents sailed, was the last boat to
+leave Port Tampa. She left about six-thirty P. M. in the glory of the
+setting sun of a tropical evening. About five-thirty P. M. Mr. Edward
+Marshall, that prince of good fellows, who represented the New York
+Journal, came into my office to write a message for his paper, to be
+left with me and sent when the story was released. Marshall was a
+typical newspaper man and a thorough American, and had just returned
+from New York where he had been in attendance upon the sick-bed of his
+wife. He was very anxious to get his story written before he sailed. I
+knew the "Olivette" was about to pull out, and if he expected to go on
+her it was high time he was moving. As Port Tampa was nine miles away, I
+told him to fly and cut his story short or send it from Port Tampa. He
+thanked me and reached Port Tampa just in time to save being left. It
+was this same Edward Marshall who so daringly pushed to the front during
+the Guasimas fight of the Rough Riders, and was seriously wounded by a
+Mauser bullet near his spine. He was supposed to be dying, but true to
+his newspaper training and full of loyalty to his paper, he dictated a
+message to his journal between the puffs of a cigarette, when it was
+supposed each breath would be his last. But thank God he did not die,
+and now gives promise of many years of useful life. I have often thought
+if I had not warned him in time to go he would not have been shot; but
+then all war is uncertain, and in warning him I was only, "Doing unto
+others as I would be done by."
+
+During all these stirring times just described there were two women
+correspondents, poor souls, who were indeed sad and lonely. They were
+very ambitious and wanted to go to Cuba with the army, but the War
+Department wisely forbade any such a move and then my trouble began. At
+all hours of the day or night I was pestered by these same women. One of
+them represented a Canadian paper and was most anxious to go. She tried
+every expedient and tackled every man or woman of influence that came
+along. Even dear old Clara Barton did not escape her importunities. She
+wanted to go as a Red Cross nurse, but didn't know anything about
+nursing. However, I reckon she was as good as some of the women who did
+go. She was an Irish girl with rich red hair, and as mine was of an
+auburn tinge we didn't get along worth a cent. She didn't do much
+telegraphing but sent all of her stuff by mail. However, it was her
+intention to send _one telegram_ to her paper and "scoop" all the other
+chaps in so doing. She wrote a letter to her managing editor in Toronto
+and told him there was a censor down there who thought he could bottle
+up Florida as regards news, but she intended to outwit him. Particular
+attention was being paid so as to preserve the secrecy of the sailing
+day of Shafter's army. Cipher and code messages bearing on this
+occurrence were to be strictly interdicted. But that didn't make any
+difference to her; she could beat that game. So on the day the fleet
+actually sailed she would send a message to her paper saying, "_Send me
+six more jubilee books._" This would indicate that the fleet had really
+gone. Brilliant scheme from the brain of a very bright woman, but she
+lost sight of the fact that Messrs. Carranza and Polo y Bernabe were at
+that time in Canada spying on the United States, and that all the
+Canadian mail was most carefully watched. Such, however, was the case,
+and in a short time the contents of her letter were known to General
+Greely, and by him communicated to me. One evening Miss Correspondent
+was standing in the lobby of the Tampa Bay hotel surrounded by a group
+of her friends, when I approached and said:
+
+"Excuse me, Miss J--, but I should like to speak to you for a moment."
+
+"Well, what is it, pray? Surely you haven't anything to say but what my
+friends can hear, have you?" Sassy, wasn't she?
+
+"Oh! well if that is the case?" I replied, "I am sorry to inform you
+that you are suspended from correspondent's privileges and from the use
+of the telegraph until further orders."
+
+"And what for pray?"
+
+"I don't just exactly know," I answered, "but I think it has something
+to do with sending you 'six more jubilee books' from Canada."
+
+Well! she turned all the colors of the rainbow, and snapped out,
+"Goodness gracious! how did you--where did you hear that?"
+
+I smiled politely and walked away. The next morning, shortly after I
+reached my office, a timid knock was heard at the door.
+
+"Come in," I yelled, thinking it was a messenger boy. In walked Miss
+J----, woebegone, crestfallen and disheartened, with a letter of apology
+and explanation. I forwarded this to General Greely and kept her
+suspended for seven days. She never offended again, and the last I
+heard of her she was in Key West gazing with longing eyes towards the
+Pearl of the Antilles. She never reached there.
+
+The other woman correspondent was different. She was an American widow,
+bright, dashing and vivacious. She had heard of the ogre of a censor;
+she would conquer him through his susceptibility. I'll admit that the
+censor in question was susceptible of some things--but not in business
+matters. One day she filed an innocent little telegram to her paper,
+saying, "For ice cream read typhoid." The operator glanced at it and
+said, "You'll have to get Captain B----'s O. K. on that message before I
+can send it."
+
+She talked sweetly to him, but that didn't happen to be one of his
+"susceptible" days. Then she came to me, and as my "susceptibility" had
+run to a pretty low ebb I refused to permit the message to go on, on
+account of its hidden meaning.
+
+"Oh, pshaw! Captain, I wrote a story for my paper and in it described
+the death of a man from the effects of eating too much ice cream, and
+now I learn that he died of typhoid fever."
+
+I was pretty hard-headed that morning and couldn't assist the lady and
+she left the office vowing vengeance. The next edition of her paper
+contained the most charmingly sarcastic article about the red-headed,
+white-shoed censor I have ever seen, but I had become case-hardened by
+this time and did not mind it in the least.
+
+It might be supposed that as soon as the army had sailed and the
+correspondents had gone, that the censorship duties would be lighter.
+They were, officially, but otherwise they became harder than ever. The
+army had gone, but the women had been left behind. The husbands were
+away--fighting--dying--while the wives were waiting with dry eyes and
+aching hearts for the news that would mean life or death to them. There
+were some forty wives, daughters, and sweethearts remaining in the Tampa
+Bay hotel, and to them the censor became a most interesting party. They
+knew that any news that came to Tampa would come through him, and they
+wanted it whether his orders would allow him to divulge it or not.
+Before, I had to contend with the importunities of zealous
+correspondents, now it was the longing eyes of sweet women whose hearts
+were breaking with suspense, whose lives had stood still since the 14th
+day of June when the fleet sailed away. Of the two, I would rather
+contend with the former.
+
+The long and trying days dragged slowly by and still no news. Finally,
+on the 22nd of June, it was known that the army was landing; June 24th,
+the Guasimas fight of the cavalry division took place, and from that
+time on life was made miserable for me by importunate women. Many
+telegrams--yes, hundreds of them--came to me every day, and each time
+one of those cursed little yellow envelopes was put in my hands, if I
+happened to be in the lobby of the hotel, I could feel forty or fifty
+pairs of anxious eyes concentrated on me, as if to read from the
+expression of my face whether the news was good or bad. Colonel Michler
+of General Miles's staff was there, and if we should happen to be
+together talking, the women would surmise that the news was bad; and
+many times their surmises were just about right. One sweet little
+black-eyed woman always said she could tell from my face whether I was
+bluffing or not. July 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, were very gloomy days for we
+poor chaps who had been left behind--and for the women. We--they--knew
+the fight was on, that men were heroically dying, and _we_ also knew
+that the army was in a hard way. Strive as we might, no gleam of hope
+could be culled from the news of those three days. Cervera's fleet was
+still in the harbor of Santiago, and the army not only had the Spanish
+troops to fight but the navy as well. Flesh and blood might stand the
+rain of Mauser bullets, but they could not stand rapid-fire guns and
+eight-inch shells. The third of July dragged by, and at eleven o'clock
+Colonel Michler retired for the night not feeling in a very pleasant
+frame of mind. The lobby was well nigh deserted, but Colonels Smith and
+Powell and a few more officers sat by one of the big open doors having a
+farewell smoke and chat before going to bed. At eleven-thirty I was
+standing by the desk talking to the clerk, when the night operator came
+charging out of the office and gave me a little piece of yellow paper. I
+quickly opened it and read, "Sampson entirely destroyed Cervera's fleet
+this morning." News like that, if true, was too good to keep, so I went
+into the telegraph office and had a wire cut through to the New York
+office and asked for a confirmation or denial of the report. They
+confirmed it and gave me the text of the official report. I bounded out
+in the hall and shouted out the glorious news at the top of my voice.
+Gloom was dispelled instanter, and joy reigned supreme. At just twelve
+o'clock midnight, we drank a toast to the army and navy, and to our
+country.
+
+Santiago surrendered and the army went to Porto Rico only to be stopped
+in the midst of a most brilliant campaign by the signing of the
+protocol. The censorship was ended and willingly did I lay down the blue
+pencil and take up my sword.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII
+
+CONCLUSION
+
+
+I cannot refrain from concluding this little volume by a tribute to the
+telegraphers of the country.
+
+It is but fifty-five years since Professor S. F. B. Morse electrified
+the civilized world by the completion of his electro-magnetic telegraph.
+Since that time great improvements have been made until now it is
+difficult to recognize in the delicate mechanisms of the relay, key,
+sounder, duplex, quad, and multiplex, the principle first promulgated in
+the old Morse register. Its influence was at once felt in all walks of
+life; it was an art to be an expert telegrapher. Keeping pace with the
+strides of advancing civilization, the telegraph has spread its slender
+wires, until now almost the entire world is connected by its magnetism.
+Away back in the early fifties when railroads and comforts were few,
+while danger and trials were plenty, these faithful knights of the key
+carried on their work under the most adverse circumstances. Since its
+first appearance it has manifestly been the possessor of millions of
+secrets, public and private. In times of joy you flash your
+congratulations to distant relatives or friends; in minutes of sorrow
+and tribulation, your message of sympathy is quickly carried as a balm
+to aching hearts; in the worries of business its use is of the most
+vital importance; and while you are peacefully slumbering on some
+swiftly moving railroad train the telegraph is one of the principal
+means of insuring a safe and speedy trip. Pick up your favorite daily
+paper--the one that is always reliable--read the market or press reports
+accurately printed, and then think that the telegraph does it all. Read
+news from foreign countries--from out-of-the-way places--and think of
+the miles of mountains, deserts, plains and valleys passed over; think
+of the slender cable down deep in the throbbing bosom of the ocean and
+of the little spark that brings the news to your door; and then reflect
+on the men whose abilities accomplish these results. Think of his work
+in the countries where it is so hot that it seems as if the land beyond
+the River Styx is at his elbow; in lands where it is always cold and the
+days and nights are long. In season and out; in times of death,
+pestilence and famine, with never a murmur, these sturdy, loyal men, and
+true-hearted women do their work. All these are incidents of peace. Now
+think, when war, grim-visaged and terrible, spreads its mighty power
+over the earth. What is responsible for the news of victory? What brings
+you the list you so anxiously scan of the dead and wounded? What means
+are employed by the subdivisions of the army in the field to keep in
+constant communication, so that they may act as the integral parts of an
+harmonious whole? In the late Spanish-American war what first brought
+news, authentic in character, to the Navy Department that Cervera with
+his doomed fleet was in Santiago harbor? And during the dark and trying
+days from June 22nd until July 14th, the telegraphers of the army--the
+signal corps men--were ceaseless and tireless in their efforts, and as a
+result within five minutes of its being sent, a message would be in
+Washington. While the army slept they worked, without any regard to self
+or comfort. And to-day in the far-off Philippine islands they are still
+striving with the best results. The telegraphers are honest, loyal,
+patriotic men--a little Bohemian, perhaps, in their tastes--and deserve
+a better recognition for the good work they do.
+
+                                    "30"
+                             "Filed, 2:35 A. M."
+                            "Received, 2:43 A. M."
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Danger Signals, by
+John A. Hill and Jasper Ewing Brady
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