John Fitzgerald GB 04 Great Bra Read Online Free Page B

put it that way,” he said, “I agree the railroad owes you a ride in the locomotive. But you’ll get your clothes all dirty.”
    Tom was so happy he wanted to do a little dance. “I’ve got a rain slicker and rain hat in my suitcase I can wear.”
     
    28
     
    “Go get them,” Mr. Walters said. “But come up to the locomotive on the other side of the train. I don’t want the stationmaster to see you. I haven’t time to explain to him right now.”
    Sweyn was back in his seat when Tom entered the coach. He stared bug-eyed as Tom opened the suitcase and put on his rain slicker and hat.
    “Have you gone plumb loco?” he asked. “It isn’t raining. And even if it was you can’t get wet in here.”
    “I’m going to ride in the locomotive and don’t want to get my clothes dirty,” Tom said.
    “In a pig’s eye,” Sweyn said.
    “Just make sure you take my suitcase off the train when we get to Salt Lake City,” Tom said.
    Poor Sweyn just sat there with his mouth open as he watched Tom leave the coach.
    Tom ran around to the other side of the train and up to the locomotive. He could hear Mr. Walters talking to the engineer.
    “Got a passenger for you. Ed, from here to Salt Lake City,” the conductor said. “He is a boy about eleven or twelve years old. He has a curious mind and will ask you a lot of questions.”
    “I get it,” Ed said. “He must be the son of some big shot on the railroad.”
    “I haven’t time to explain now,” Mr. Walters said. “Just make sure he gets off on the opposite side from the depot so the stationmaster doesn’t see him. You’ll find him waiting on the other side now.”
    A moment later the engineer put his head out of the cab window. “Come on up to the deck, boy,” he said.
    Tom was so excited he almost slipped and fell as he
     
    29
     
    climbed into the cab of the locomotive. The engineer was wearing blue overalls, a blue shirt, and a blue cap with a long visor. He had a red bandanna handkerchief tied around his neck. The fireman was dressed the same but his face, hands, and clothing were covered with coal dust.
    “My name is Ed,” the engineer said, “and the fireman’s name is Bill. What is your name, boy?”
    “Tom Fitzgerald,” Tom answered.
    The engineer scratched his forehead. “Funny,” he said, “but I never heard of any big shot on this railroad by that name.”
    Tom knew he’d better change the subject quickly. “Why did you tell me to come up to the deck?” he asked. “I thought only boats had decks.”
    “The platform of a locomotive is called the deck by railroad men,” Ed answered. “Now stand back from the gangway so Bill can slug the firebox.”
    Tom stepped back. He watched the fireman use the end of a scoop shovel to open the door of the firebox. He was surprised at the intense heat coming from the burning coal. He watched Bill stoke the firebox with coal taken from the tender.
    “That ought to take care of it until we get to Salt Lake City,” Bill said, shutting the door of the firebox.
    “We are going to have to pound her to make up for the few minutes we are late,” Ed said.
    Tom was puzzled. “I understood ‘gangway’ meant the rear part of the deck,” he said. “And I knew when you told Bill to slug the firebox you wanted him to put more coal in it. But what do you mean by ‘pounding’ her?”
    “It is railroad talk meaning we’ve got to get all the speed we safely can out of this locomotive,” Ed said. “See
     
    30
     
    that cord? The one on the left? It rings the bell to let passengers know we will be leaving in a few minutes. Don’t yank on it too hard or the bell will just spin around. You can tell by the feel of the cord and the sound of the bell when you are doing it just right.”
    Boy, oh, boy, was Tom in his glory. He never expected they would let him ring the bell. He had heard locomotive bells many times in Adenville. But the sound of the bell on engine number 205 as he rang it was the most beautiful