Danger Signals | Page 3

the stranger represented a firm that had
put up the money to build a locomotive with a patent boiler for burning
a patent fuel--she had an improved valve motion, too--and they had
asked our G. M. M. for a good engineer, to send East and break in and
run the new machine and go with her around the country on ten-day
trials on the different roads. He offered good pay, it was work I liked,
and I went. I came right here to Boston and reported to the firm. They
were a big concern in another line, and the head of the house was a
relative of our G. M. M.--that's why he had a chance to send me.
"After the usual introductions, the president said to me:
"'Now, Mr. Wainright, this new engine of ours is hardly started yet.
The drawings are done, and the builders' contract is ready to sign; but
we want you to look over the drawings, to see if there are any practical
suggestions you can make. Then stay in the shops, and see that the
work is done right. The inventor is not a practical man; help him if you
can, for experience tells us that ten things fail because of bad design
where one does because of bad manipulation. Come up into the

drawing-room, and I will introduce you to the inventor.'
"Up under the skylight I met the designer of the new engine, a mild
little fellow--but he don't figure in this story. In five minutes I was deep
in the study of the drawings. Everything seemed to be worked out all
right, except that they had the fire-door opening the wrong way and the
brake-valve couldn't be reached--but many a good builder did that
twenty years ago. I was impressed with the beauty of the
drawings--they were like lithographs, and one, a perspective, was
shaded and colored handsomely. I complimented him on them.
"'They are beautiful, sir,' he said; 'they were made by a lady. I'll
introduce you to her.'
"A bright, plain-faced little woman with a shingled head looked up
from her drawing-board as we approached, shook hands cordially when
introduced, and at once entered into an intelligent discussion of the
plans of the new record-beater.
"Well, it was some months before the engine was ready for the road,
and in that time I got pretty well acquainted with Miss Reynolds. She
was mighty plain, but sharp as a buzz-saw. I don't think she was really
homely, but she'd never have been arrested for her beauty. There was
something 'fetching' about her appearance--you couldn't help liking her.
She was intelligent, and it was such a novelty to find a woman who
knew the smoke stack from the steam chest. I didn't fall in love with
her at all, but I liked to talk to her over the work. She told me her story;
not all at once, but here and there a piece, until I knew her history
pretty well.
"It seems that her father had been chief draughtsman of those works for
years, but had lately died. She had a strong taste for mechanics, and her
father, who believed in women learning trades, had taught her
mechanical drawing, first at home and then in the shop. She had helped
in busy times as an extra, but never went to work for regular wages
until the death of her father made it necessary.
"She seemed to like to hear stories of the road, and often asked me to

tell her some thrilling experience the second time. Her eyes sparkled
and her face kindled when I touched on a snow-bucking experience.
She often said that if she was a man she'd go on the railroad, and after
such a remark she would usually sigh and smile at the same time. One
day, when the engine was pretty nearly ready, she said to me:
"'Mr. Wainright, who is going to fire the Experiment?'
"'I don't know. I had forgot about that; I'll have to see about it.'
"'It wouldn't be of much use to get an experienced man, would it--the
engine will burn a new fuel in a new way?'
"'No,' said I, 'not much.'
"'Now,' said she, coloring a little, 'let me ask a favor of you. I have a
brother who is just crazy to go out firing. I don't want him to go unless
it's with a man I can trust; he is young and inexperienced, you know.
Won't you take him? Please do.'
"'Why, I'll be glad to,' said I. 'I'll speak to the old man about it.'
"'Don't tell him it's my brother.'
"'Well, all right.'
"The old man told me to hire whoever I liked, and I told Miss Reynolds
to bring the boy in the morning.
"'Won't