Danger Signals | Page 4

you wait until Monday? It will be an accommodation to me.'
"Of course I waited.
"The next day Miss Reynolds did not come to the office, and I was
busy at the shop. Monday came, but no Miss Reynolds. About nine
o'clock, however, the foreman came down to the Experiment with a
boy, apparently about eighteen years old, and said there was a lad with
a note for me.

"Before reading the note I shook hands with the boy, and told him I
knew who he was, for he looked like his sister. He was small, but wiry,
and had evidently come prepared for business, as he had some
overclothes under his arm and a pair of buckskin gloves. He was
bashful and quiet, as boys usually are during their first experience away
from home. The note read:
"'DEAR MR. WAINRIGHT.--This will be handed you by brother
George. I hope you will be satisfied with him. I know he will try to
please you and do his duty; don't forget how green he is. I am obliged
to go into the country to settle up some of my father's affairs and may
not see you again before you go. I sincerely hope the "Experiment,"
George, and his engineer will be successful. I shall watch you all.
"'G. E. REYNOLDS.'
"I felt kind of cut up, somehow, about going away without bidding Old
Business--as the other draughtsman called Miss Reynolds--good-by;
but I was busy with the engine.
"The foreman came along half an hour after the arrival of young
Reynolds, and seeing him at work cleaning the window glass, asked
who he was.
"'The fireman,' said I.
"'What! that kid?'
"And from that day I don't think I ever called young Reynolds by any
other name half a dozen times. That was the 'Kid' you knew. When it
came quitting time that night, I asked the Kid where they lived, and he
said, Charlestown. I remarked that his voice was like his sister's; but he
laughed, and said I'd see difference enough if they were together; and
bidding me good-night, caught a passing car.
"We broke the Experiment in for a few days, and then tackled half a
train for Providence. She would keep her water just about hot enough
to wash in with the pump on. It was a tough day; I was in the front end

half the time at every stop. The Kid did exactly what I told him, and
was in good spirits all the time. I was cross. Nothing will make a man
crosser than a poor steamer.
"We got to Providence in the evening tired; but after supper the Kid
said he had an aunt and her family living there, and if I didn't mind,
he'd try to find them. I left the door unlocked, and slept on one side of
the bed, but the Kid didn't come back; he was at the engine when I got
there the next morning.
"The Kid was such a nice little fellow I liked to have him with me, and,
somehow or other (I hardly noticed it at the time), he had a good
influence on me. In them days I took a drink if I felt like it; but the Kid
got me into the habit of taking lemonade, and wouldn't go into drinking
places, and I soon quit it. He gave me many examples of controlling
my temper, and soon got me into the habit of thinking before I spoke.
"We played horse with that engine for four or five weeks, mostly
around town, but I could see it was no go. The patent fuel was no good,
and the patent fire-box little better, and I advised the firm to put a
standard boiler on her and a pair of links, and sell her while the paint
was fresh. They took my advice.
"The Kid and I took the engine to Hinkley's, and left her there; we
packed up our overclothes, and as we walked away, the Kid asked:
'What will you do now, Jim?'
"'Oh, I've had a nice play, and I'll go back to the road. I wish you'd go
along.'
"'I wouldn't like anything better; will you take me?'
"'Yes, but I ain't sure that I can get you a job right away.'
"'Well, I could fire for you, couldn't I?'
"'I'd like to have you, Kid; but you know I have a regular engine and a
regular fireman. I'll ask for you, though.'

"'I won't fire for anybody else!'
"'You won't! What would you do if I should die?'
"'Quit.'
"Get out!'
"'Honest; if I can't fire for you, I won't fire at all.'
"I put in a few days around the 'Hub,' and as I had nothing to do, my
mind kept turning to