Page:George Collins - A Strange Railroad Wreck.pdf/27

Rh why he never plays lively tunes only when asked? He's the best player on the piano I ever heard, too—but always them sad pieces. And no one ever heard a word about his past, only that he came here from Italy a year ago; that his parents are dead, and he has no relatives in this country."

Next morning Joe started out on his first "road trip." He was just a little hit nervous as the train thundered along at forty miles an hour, over trestles, through deep cuts and around sharp curves. Being what is known as "front brakeman"—that is, the one nearest the locomotive—he had to jump off and run ahead of the moving train to throw switches at points where his train was ordered to take siding. This duty was not very dangerous during the mild October weather; but he wondered how it was possible to do it with safety.when the track and ground were covered with snow and ice.

Reaching the end of the "run," after being on the road for twenty-two hours, the young brakeman was tired and hungry. He had asked another member of the crew about a boarding place at the terminus of the road, and was told that they all slept in the "caboose"—a small red car attached, to the rear end of all freight trains.

"Saves paying board and room rent at both ends of the road," the brakeman said. This suggestion did not suit Joe Fleming, however, and a room was finally