Page:McClure's Magazine volume 10.djvu/31

Rh "Oh, I didn't have no trouble," says Tom. "I didn't notice that 'twas any slipperyer'n usual; guess maybe the pet cock on yer pump might 'a' been leakin' a little or suthin' an' wet the rail fer ye."

"Mebbe so," says the other fellow; and away he went to look his engine over and see if such was the case.

I "broke" a year, and by that time was of some use. I could read the time table, discuss train orders, and knew the trains by heart. I came to the conclusion that the engine offered more opportunities of advancement than the caboose; so by Tom Riley's advice, I filed an application with the master mechanic, asking for a position as fireman. And though I must admit that he didn't give me the slightest encouragement, yet the fact that I had my application on file made me feel that I was sure of a job, and that, too, at no very distant day. So I began to take a greater interest than ever in the engines, and I presume I made a nuisance of myself by asking innumerable questions of the engineers and firemen, so anxious was I to learn all I could in regard to the machine, for which, even to this day, I have an abiding love and respect.

Sometimes when the train was not too heavy and the grade was favorable, one or other of the firemen would let me "take her" for a bit; and then if I was able to "keep her tail up," I felt myself indeed a man and never failed to let it be known in the caboose that I had fired on a certain stretch of the road. But if while I was at the shovel she dropped her tail and the fireman had to take her from me, I would not allude to that episode when bragging of my abilities; but the men were sure to hear of it, and the guying I got fully offset my petty triumphs.

About six months after I filed my application there was a mistake made in orders that came very near winding up my railroad career for good. I did not know at the time exactly what the trouble was, nor can I say now positively. Simmons and the engineer, who were both discharged, asserted that they were sacri-