Page:George Collins - A Strange Railroad Wreck.pdf/25

Rh told me, after filling up the application blank, that you never used intoxicants. This fact places you far ahead of many men who now work for us, for your own safety and also in the line of promotion. Stick to that principle, no difference how you may be ridiculed for it, and you will come out all right."

Joe Fleming, though frail and apparently unfit for the rough and dangerous work of brakeing on a freight train, soon convinced the conductor and others of his crew that his brain was far superior to that of many new brakemen. He never forgot an order. The work, being entirely new to him, was confusing for a few days; but he observed so closely and listened so attentively, that within a week he was able to do everything required by his superiors without instruction. His conductor happened to be a rough, profane man, accustomed to giving orders in a loud voice, accompanied by a string of oaths, and at first he had treated the young brakeman with contempt. A new brakeman is always unwelcome to a freight conductor; one who has had no previous railroad experience, doubly so. And if to this is added a pale face, soft hands and a low even voice, as in this case, the new man is likely to have a hard time of it for a while. But all the rebukes and tyrannical orders from the conductor were met by young Fleming with such a quiet look of surprise, with never a word of protest or reproach, that he soon changed in his