Robert Barr

Name: The Face and the Mask — XV. OLD NUMBER EIGHTY-SIX
Author: Robert Barr

The Face and the Mask — XV. OLD NUMBER EIGHTY-SIX (1894)

Summary

“The Face and the Mask — XV. OLD NUMBER EIGHTY-SIX”, published in 1894, is a work by Robert Barr. It explores elements such as Eighty-six, Saggart and engineer.

Quotes from The Face and the Mask — XV. OLD NUMBER EIGHTY-SIX (Robert Barr)

Robert Barr, The Face and the Mask — XV. OLD NUMBER EIGHTY-SIX (1894)

“ Now, it's an anxious enough time for me anyhow with a heavy train to take through, with the thermometer at zero, and the rails like glass, and I like to have a man in front that I can depend on."
"It's bad enough not to know the road," said John gloomily, "but it's worse not to know old Eighty-six. She's a brute if she takes a notion."
"I don't suppose there is another engine that could draw this train and keep her time," said the conductor.
"No! She'll do her work all right if you'll only humor her," admitted Saggart, who could not conceal his love for the engine even while he blamed her. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Robert Barr, The Face and the Mask — XV. OLD NUMBER EIGHTY-SIX (1894)

“ Now and then the black bulk of a barn or a clump of trees showed for one moment against the sky, and Saggart would say to himself, "Now he should shut off an inch of steam," or, "Now he should throw her wide open." The train made few stops, but he saw that they were losing time. Eighty-six was sulking, very likely. Thinking of the engine turned his mind to his own fate. No man was of very much use in the world, after all, for the moment he steps down another is ready to stand in his place. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Robert Barr, The Face and the Mask — XV. OLD NUMBER EIGHTY-SIX (1894)

“ Saggart, as he stood there, thought of the seven years he had spent on the foot-board of old Eighty-six, and of the many tricks she had played him during that period. If, as the poet says, the very chains and the prisoner become friends through long association, it may be imagined how much of a man's affection goes out to a machine that he thoroughly understands and likes—a machine that is his daily companion for years, in danger and out of it. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Robert Barr, The Face and the Mask — XV. OLD NUMBER EIGHTY-SIX (1894)

“ The wise men in the city who had listened to his defence knew so well that an engine was merely a combination of iron and steel and brass, and that a given number of pounds of steam would get it over a given number of miles in a given number of hours, and they had smiled incredulously when he told them that an engine had her tantrums, and informed them that sometimes she had to be coddled up like any other female. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Robert Barr, The Face and the Mask — XV. OLD NUMBER EIGHTY-SIX (1894)

“ Still it might be the fault of the new man not knowing when to push her for all she was worth and when to ease up. All these things go to the making of time. But it was more than probable that old Eighty-six, like Gilpin's horse, was wondering more and more what thing upon her back had got. "He'll have trouble," muttered John to himself, "when she finds out."
The conductor came in again and sat down beside the engineer. He said nothing, but sat there sorting his tickets, while Saggart gazed out of the window. Suddenly the engineer sprang to his feet with his eyes wide open. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Robert Barr, The Face and the Mask — XV. OLD NUMBER EIGHTY-SIX (1894)

“ Even the train boys know that. Old Eighty-six has taken the bit between her teeth. He can't stop her. Where do you pass No. 6 to-night?"
"At Pointsville."
"That's only six miles ahead," said the engineer; "and in five minutes at this rate we will be running on her time and on her rails. She's always late, and won't be on the side track. I must get to Eighty-six."
Saggart quickly made his way through the baggage-coach, climbed on the express car, and jumped on the coal of the tender. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Robert Barr, The Face and the Mask — XV. OLD NUMBER EIGHTY-SIX (1894)

“ Next instant the crash came. Two headlights and two cow-catchers went to flinders, and the two trains stood there with horns locked, but no great damage done, except a shaking up for a lot of panic-stricken passengers. ”

Robert Barr

Summary

Quotes from The Face and the Mask — XV. OLD NUMBER EIGHTY-SIX (Robert Barr)

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