Argosy All-Story Weekly, July 11, 1925 — page 135: what you’re looking at

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

THE CALL OF SHINING STEEL, 289 “ Boys, my friend here, Zeb’s, getting spliced to-day! Whoopee! It’s a grand event! Let’s have a drink on it!” Some one passed a bottle. Jim turned it up and swallowed deeply. There was a bedlam of voices, all wishing luck to Zeb, who, embarrassed, hardly knew which way to turn. He wished fervently that Jim had kept quiet. Then he reflected, it was nothing to be ashamed of, and sooner or later every one would hear of his marriage. It is hard for a railroader to have a secret, and well Zeb knew this. He got away from the noisy crowd as soon as he could, and with the words “ See you on Sixteen ” to Jim, he hurried out. A few minutes before Sixteen left Jim met him and the two sat in the smoking car, As the train took the crossover on to the West End Division they noted unsual signs of activity. Pile after pile of newly hewn cross ties were stacked in neat heaps along the right of way. Heavy new rails lay end to end on both sides of the road bed. A half mile out a steam shovel fluttered its exhaust while the big toothed bucket bit chunks out of the red clay bank of a narrow cut. . Jim spoke: “‘ Widening the right of way. There’s something doing on the West End. Wonder what?” They flashed by a work train that waited on a passing track for them to go by. The conductor came through and saw the two. “ Hello, White! Hello, Jim! What you guys riding the cushions for all dolled up?” Looking at Zeb he winked roguishly and added, ‘‘ Say, boy, I’ve heard a few rumors. Are they true. Are you going to marry that pretty little blue-eyed girl out at Eccle- fechan?”’ Zeb nodded. “ Well, luck to you! I’ve been married for ten years and here’s something straight —when a man gets a good woman life means something to him. Why, I hardly can wait to get home at the end of the run now, and I remember when I was your age I never went home till every other _ place was closed for the night.” He laughed. “Things change in ten ene Pointing out through the window ae to where Sixteen was flashing by a long string of work cars on the siding, he re- marked: ‘“ There’s changes been going on right here. Crushed stone ballast, ninety pound rails, and new bridge steel. Mark my words, this is about through being a wooden axle division. And, say,” he con- tinued, ‘“‘ I just read an official bulletin this morning. It’s not posted yet. Ecclefechan is about done.” “What?” Zeb queried in surprise. “Yep, it’s so. They’re renaming it Junction City. Heard of the new coal road, haven’t you?” They both nodded. “Well, she ties in at the West End there. It’s her terminal. Junction City will be some place too, when they start moving freight through it.” The conductor moved down the car. “‘ See you guys later,” he said, and left them to talk over the news. Jim was enthusiastic. “ Boy, there’s a big future ahead for you,” he began, then he stopped, a look of sadness crossing his face. “I’m frankly envious of you, Zeb. You’ve got the woman you want. You see for a good run, but me—I’m in a ole.” ‘Why, Jim, you’re making more money right now than I am.” “Oh, I know, Zeb. But—‘It’s gone, let it go. God bless it!’ ” he hummed. “ ll never wheel a drag again,”’ Zeb looked out of the window. He couldn’t find words to fit. Jim was out of it. He wondered how it felt to be a rail- roader and to be banished from the road. He came to with a start. A familiar curve was sweeping in an arc before him, a stone walled field flanked the railroad, a rock house nestled against the slope of the hill behind. He looked again. On the door step stood a woman. Itchy-Witchy was waiting. His heart pounded fast as he led the way to the end of the car. Ten minutes later he had greeted her. She was a vision of loveliness, a white, fluffy bundle of youth and vitality who, much to Zeb’s embarrassment, greeted him with a hug and a kiss, heedless of her Tenney who crowded around.