Adventure Magazine Cover — page 129: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Super of the Santee don’t know your business. How you ever lasted this long on the D. & R. is a mystery to me.” _ “Yes, sor,” agreed Paddy politely. McGann continued deliberately. “Furthermore, I think you are a coward!”’ Paddy blinked his eyes and rolled them at the men who were witnessing his bitter dose. Then looked back at McGann. He was not cowed, for he asked — “You do?” “I do! A poor engineer—and a coward. A disgrace to the road!”’ “What makes ye think that?” “You stopped out on the road last night when you were almost in Petersburg. If you had kept your head and your nerve you could have brought your trainin. And the Santee Division wouldn’t be the joke of the rest of the road.” “The water was gettin’ down on the crown plates.” ‘““A weak excuse! You merely thought it was that low. You might have had enough water to go twenty-five miles farther.” “Yes,” said Paddy, “and I might have killed me fireman, meself, an’ the President too.” McGann shook his head and his every word was an insult. ““A — thin excuse, Reese! You can’t crawfish with me that way. I say you could have made Petersburg! If I had been at the throttle I would have taken the Special right into the station. Thank heavens, I’m not a sniffling coward!” Paddy lost his aplomb. His face grew red. Then paled. His hands clutched the brim of his derby until the knuckles went white. “You would?” was all he could say. “T would! I’m a man who finishes any- thing I start. If I had set out to put the President in Petersburg on time I would have done so, short of a wreck.” Paddy said nothing. “Unfortunately there are no rules dealing with your particular brand of cowardice,” said McGann bitingly. ‘I can’t very well discharge you, though I would like to do so. But I want every man on the road to know the sort you are—and the way I feel about it. Iam going to suspend you both for five trips. And after this I’ll keep my eye on you. Watch your step, Reese! When I see a man like you I weed him out as soon as possible.” oo 123 Paddy had to stand and take it. For, after all, a mere engineer can’t talk back toa division super. Not a veteran engineer with his life behind him and only a few more years until retirement sets him free. No. He might lose his retirement along with his job, and find himself with no trade and no youth. It behooves such a man to walk carefully. McGann said a few more biting words. Then pushed on by and entered his office. Paddy stood a long moment and looked at the door which closed behind the super. Then he said prayerfully, to no one in particular— “Tf I could get him in a dark room alone, fer three minutes!” And then Paddy clapped his derby on his head, turned on his heel and left the room, followed by Watkins. suspension. And then began a period of misery for Paddy. ‘The eight who had wit- nessed his treatment at the hands of McGann told others. And up and down the entire division the tale spread. Everywhere Paddy went he was greeted with chafing. Not a man who did not know that McGann had strayed far from the truth. Not a man who did not sym- pathize with Paddy. Yet the chance to poke fun was too good to miss. They kidded him unmercifully. For once in his life they got under Paddy’s skin. McGann had struck too deep. Every reference to the matter smarted. Paddy’s usual ready retorts withered and died un- der the surge of his feelings when the matter was brought up. He began to grow moody and nurse a festering dislike for McGann. Three trips he made after he returned from his suspension. And reported at the Santee roundhouse for the fourth. He was running No. 17 at the time, leaving Santee at nine in the evening, and arriving in Pe- tersburg a little after one in the morning. A fairly fast train, No. 17, though not ap- proaching the running time of the Hill and Plain Express. Still, a moderately fast run. The engine was a good one. As was his wont Paddy arrived at the roundhouse early. And while he was changing into his work clothes he suffered another barrage of chaff from several crews Piss and Watkins served their COMiCooks C© 5}