Tip Top Weekly No. 118: Frank Merriwell, Engine Wiper — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

‘IP TOP WEEKLY, Be » oe 7 Did I hear you say you 3 were looking for work???” ‘Ves, sir.”? . “What kind of wurk?” ‘Any kind that I can get.” | ““Why, there is no work in here that you would do. You are uot a machinist?” ‘*No, sir.?? “Know anythinz about locomotives?” “No, sir.?? 0m sorry, but it’s no use to » talk to you. The only work for an inexperienced maninthis place is that of wiper, and you would not like that kind of work.” “‘f must do something. Can you give mea place as wiper???’ The foreman lifted his eyebrows and again surveyed the youth critically. “It can’t be that you understand what wipers havetodo. Itisthe lowest and dirtiest work on a railroad.” ‘“T presumed so.” - “They have to wipe engines, turn the table, shovel ashes, wash out boilers and tanks, help the machinists to lug and lift, and do a hundred other things equal- “ly unpleasant.” “But there is 4 chance for promotion ?”’ “Oh, yes, for good men, but it comes. slow. A man must wipe long enough to become familiar with every part of an engine, and know how one is run before he can get anything better. Even then there may be two or three others waiting ahead of him, and he is likely te lose his - courage before he gets an opportunity to fire.?? | | ‘But engine wipers stand a. show af becoming firemen ? on ; ‘(Vas, ¥} ““T wish you would give me a chance as wiper, sir.” “But you will not stand the work.” “Won't 1? Iam BETO Ey and I think I can stand it.’ oUF do not mean that way. You will “REMEMBER THE MAINE!” become disgusted and ‘quit before. ‘you have worked a day.” - ods. Try me’? o ‘“‘Are you in earnest?? 9 ‘*Ves, sir.’’ ‘“What is your name?” ““Rrank Merriwell,.’’ ‘Vou have never done any aan ‘Wotke: Your hands show that.’? ‘“No, sir.?? “YT don’t understand why you want such a job.”’ - “Because J ust do something, and t think I would like to beconie a locomo- tive eugineer.”’ ‘““Why are you forced to work, Mr. Merriwell? You look like a young man - of means. ”’ ‘I have lost every dollar I had in the © world. I was in college, but the loss of - my fortune forced me to leave. WhenI. knew I must do something, I resolved to ~ try to get a joboua railroad. That 3 is all, sir.?? | ‘Parents living ?”’ | ‘‘My mother is dead.’? “And your father?” - **l know not where heis.”? ~~ ‘Hum! -You’ve had hard luck. But * =. Senet you are not fit.to become a wiper. Why, the men would not give you any peace. They would regard you asa. dude, and worry you to death. ” The youth smiled. e = § “TY think I can take care of. myself, sir,’? he said, with quiet confidence... ‘“Haven’t I proved that??? ‘‘By George! I really believe you cant And you seem to be in earnest... I shouldn't like to bother with you if you” are going to get sick in a few hours or.a - day or two and leave your work. Too many stich chaps start in here.”? ‘““T give you my-word that you need not fear that I wi leave within a day, or a week—or a month.’ WEAR A “MAINE” BUTTON. JOO IG (C(O) So (SO) mn