Run To Seed | Page 7

to do it.
For some time they thought he was dead. He laid off for over a month.
After that Jim wore what clothes he chose: no one ever troubled him.
So he went on in the same way: slow, sleepy, stuttering, thin, stingy,
ill-dressed, lame.
He was made a fireman; preferred it to being a conductor, it led to
being an engineer, which paid more. He ran extra trips whenever he
could, up and double straight back. He could stand an immense amount
of work. If he got sleepy he put tobacco in his eyes to keep them open.
It was bad for the eyes, but waked him up. Kitty was going to take
music next year, and that cost money. He had not been home for
several months, but was going at Christmas.
They did not have any sight tests then. But the new Directory meant to
be thorough. Mr. Wagoner had become a Director, had his eye on the
presidency. Jim was one day sent for, and was asked about his eyes.
They were bad. There was not a doubt about it. They were inflamed; he
could not see a hundred yards. He did not tell them about the extra trips
and putting the tobacco in them. Dick Rail must have told about him.

They said he must go. Jim turned white. He went to his little room,
close up under the roof of a little dingy house in a back street, and sat
down in the dark; thought about his mother and Kitty, and dimly about
some one else; wrote his mother and Kitty a letter; said he was coming
home--called it "a visit"; cried over the letter, but was careful not to cry
on it. He was a real cry-baby--Jim was.
"Just run to seed," he said to himself, bitterly, over and over; "just run
to seed." Then he went to sleep.
The following day he went down to the railroad. That was the last day.
Next day he would be "off." The train-master saw him and called him.
A special was just going out. The Directors were going over the road in
the officers' car. Dick Rail was the engineer, and his fireman had been
taken sick. Jim must take the place. Jim had a mind not to do it. He
hated Dick. He thought of how he had pursued him. But he heard a
voice behind him and turned. Carry was standing down the platform,
talking with some elderly gentlemen. She had on a travelling cap and
ulster. She saw him and came forward--a step:
"How do you do?" she held out her little gloved hand. She was going
out over the road with her father. Jim took off his hat and shook hands
with her. Dick Rail saw him, walked round the other side of the engine,
and tried to take off his hat like that. It was not a success; Dick knew it.
Jim went.
"Who was that?" one of the elderly gentlemen asked Carry.
"An old friend of mine--a gentleman," she said.
"Rather run to seed--hey?" the old fellow quoted, without knowing
exactly why; for he only half recognized Jim, if he recognized him at
all.
They started.
It was a bad trip. The weather was bad, the road was bad, the engine

bad; Dick bad;--worse than all. Jim had a bad time: he was to be off
when he got home. What would his mother and Kitty do?
Once Carry came (brought by the President) and rode in the engine for
a little while. Jim helped her up and spread his coat for her to sit on, put
his overcoat under her feet; his heart was in it. Dick was sullen, and Jim
had to show her about the engine. When she got down to go back to the
car she thanked him--she "had enjoyed it greatly"--she "would like to
try it again." Jim smiled. He was almost good-looking when he smiled.
Dick was meaner than ever after that, sneered at Jim--swore; but Jim
didn't mind it. He was thinking of some one else, and of the rain which
would prevent her coming again.
They were on the return trip, and were half-way home when the
accident happened. It was just "good dusk," and it had been raining all
night and all day, and the road was as rotten as mud. The special was
behind and was making up. She had the right of way, and she was
flying. She rounded a curve just above a small "fill," under which was a
little stream, nothing but a mere "branch." In good weather it would
never be noticed. The gay party behind were at dinner. The first thing
they knew was the sudden jerk which came from reversing the engine
at full