"
"What leg story?"
"Old innocence; that amputation below the knee--you know."
"Wa'n't it below the knee?"
"Yes, but it was only the little toe."
"John," said Miles, "she cried when she looked for that wooden foot and
only found a slightly flat wheel."
"That's just like 'em," said I. "Here Marie only expected a part of a
hero, and we give her a whole man, and she kicks--that's gratitude for
you."
"I got my hero all right, though," said Marie; "you told me a big fib
just the same, but I could kiss you for it."
"Don't you do that," said I; "but if the Lord should send you many
blessings, and any of 'em are boys, you might name one after me."
She said she'd do it--and she did.
MY LADY OF THE EYES
One morning, some years ago, I struck the general master mechanic of a
Rocky Mountain road for a job as an engineer--I needed a job pretty
badly.
As quick as the M. M. found that I could handle air on two hundred foot
grades, he was as tickled as I was; engineers were not plenty in the
country then, so many deserted to go to the mines.
"The 'III' will be out in a couple of days, and you can have her
regular, unless Hopkins comes back," said he.
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