Argosy, Vol. 147, No. 1 — page 159: what you’re looking at

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

that man sooner or later and remained, » and removed on some was “turned in charge or other. This practice, consider it, was more self than to the others. getting new men—" Students,” aS they were termed, who were just breaking mto the game and knew little or nothing about the work expected of them. This threw most of the work and all the responsibility upon Dave, and did not tend to improve his efficiency. After “turning in” a particularly able brakeman for no more reprehensible reason than that the man had “ talked back ” to him, a clean looking young fellow of twenty-one or two, intelligent, industrious and anxious to learn, who had just com- pleted his student trips, was assigned to Dave's run. Upon their first meeting, when the young man had brought his engine from the roundhouse and was coupling it to the train, Dave looked him over critic- ally, sneered, and observed: “ Another student, eh? Wonder how this road expects to run trains with dubs like you? It’s enough to make a man throw up his job and go where they use some judgment. ” “We all have to learn, you know, ” the young fellow returned smilingly; “and I suppose this road has to teach its share of gg Dave whipped out his time book and pencil. “ What’s your name? I suppose Tl have to turn in your time for the trip anyhew. ” “ My name is Ewing, ” replied the other, still smiling —* Edwin L. Ewing.” “ All right—Ewing, ” Dave snapped as he inscribed the name and jammed the book back into his pocket, “if you stay on this run you'll hit the ball. Try to re- member that. ” “Yes, sir,” smiled Ewing. what I’m here for.” The run was one of the best and fastest on the division, pulling only live stock and . other perishable freight. There was little ; for a brakeman to do except ride. For two trips everything went on smoothly “eae ee Dave got an order to pick * That’s 1” af - a + € ean.” « « “pROM THE GROUND UP. 145% sé * ll _. re . -— 8 = 2 eS ont oi = . + — be ans — = + pane 3 =- en a! oF} cars of live stock at @ st few miles farther on. He handed © I'm getting the bills from the agent. An he added with a sneer, “ see if you cam © Yes, sir,” said Ewing pleasantly. The cars were on the stock track at Uf loading chute. A two empties in on top of them. The proper method would have been to bring all five cars out at once, leave the loads on the main, and kick the empties back on the stock track again. In Ew! first brought out the empties, went back for the loads, coupled them ahead of the empties and set the two back on the stock track, thus making two extra si itches. Dave Thorne came running up just as the engine was coming out on the | from the last operation. ae “Qf all the brainless, useless, muddle- headed dubs! ” he shouted, throwing hi arms aid swearing with the fluency of lor practice. “ Didn’t you know enough | bring all those cars out at once, eave tk loads on the main and simply kick” empties back? ” > a “T know it now,” returned the bra man: “ but I didn’t think of it until 1 almost throvigh. You should nave t me.” Te “ That’s the trouble with you, and ab nine-tenths of the other fatheads on road,’ Thorne raged. “ You never % You expect some one else to do it for If a thought should ever get in the t of yours it would split wide open. N couple up that train—if you know e —and let’s go.” aa Instead of darting confusedly 2 be : under Dave’s tirades, Ewing straigh placed his hands on his hips an d gri calmly up at him. i. talk tends to promote efficiency your men, or that it will nflue ce to give you a better job?” Dave moved forward threater “No more of your lip, ae ee ‘ up three ~~ ser he” i me ~ es | - ~- <5 or | a wey —— ~~ ¢comicbooks.com yO Nyt Pe