“Mebbe I did for a minute,” confessed the engineer; “but I was crazy mad, and I didn’t know what I was doin’. I’ve had a heap of trouble lately, and it’s broke me all up. You don’t want to ruin me entirely, do ye?”
“I do not want to ruin anyone. You brought it on yourself.”
Old Joe had managed to sit up in an awkward position, and he raised his eyes to Frank appealingly. He was a pitiful-looking object, with his begrimed, blood-stained face. Frank could not help feeling sorry for the man.
“I kept my word when I promised you I wouldn’t trouble Jack and Nell,” said the engineer; “and I never bothered you no more till you forced yourself onter me.”
“I did not force myself onto you. I was placed here by the manager. I simply did what I was told to do.”
“I know that’s right; but I didn’t like ye, and I had taken some drinks to stiddy my nerves this morning. The stuff got inter my head.”
“It’s a wonder the stuff has not lost you your job before this.”
“You hadn’t oughter talked to me the way ye did.”
“I told you the truth. You were trying to knock me on the first trip, and you know it. I have not kept eyes and ears open since taking this work without finding out something. I have listened to the talk in the roundhouse, and I know that an engineer can knock out the best fireman who ever swung a shovel.”
Old Joe was silent, and his face showed that Frank had hit upon the truth.