Evening journal., 1889-12-26
THEIR CHANCE.

Ben and Roger Moore were "railroad
boys" Their father was an engineer on one
| Of the great Western roads, and they had
been born and brought up Ia a comfortable
| little cottage by the very sideof the track so
that they could not remember a time when
rushing trains, screaming whistles, changing
bells and the ncrid smell Of coal SMOKE had
not been familiar things 10 them.
Smart little railroaders they we're, at ages
when most boys hardly know "a throttle from
reversing lever; for they had been un-
consciously picking up knowledge every day
Of their lives during the hours spent 40 the
station or in the repair shops, or while the
| yard master favored them with trip on the
queer little shifting engine which pulled up
and down the interlacing side tracks from
morning till night
AS they grew older. their father OCCASION
ally took one Of them with him on the great
| express locomotive 2C9, where they learned to
stop and start the magnificent machine. and
even to run 1t on safe stretches Of road Often
8en relieved the big, good naturod fireman
at the shovel and fed the box under his di-
rections, while Roger attended 10 the bell and
whistle and learned 10 manage the air brake,
OF course all this was against the rules OF
the road, hut rules have their exceptions, and
the pair Of young engineers were such excep-
tions Even that stern potentate, the diyis-
ion superintendent, uttered never a word Of
objection when he saw the two youthful
faces In the cab black with smoke and beam
ing with pleasure, while train hands and
station men smilingly waved their caps to
Ben or Roger leaning out OF the window and
watching for signals and switches as il the
whole train depended upon his vigilance
They can run an easy piece rs well as ]
cam MIR. Moore once proudly said:
"An' they'd do prutty will IN a toight
place, too.n added the fireman But Mr.
Moore shook his head at this.
sPerhaps 10, Mike; but Il isn't knowing the
machine that pulls o man through tight
places Its pluck and grit and a cool head,
and thinking of your irQin FIRST and yourself
last--thats what K ~
"Sme But il iver th' b'ys have 30 show
what's in 'em, yex won't lind iem lacl5iny
Owe soized 'em oop, an Oi till yez they're
ca roight soort. Wait till they've the
chance, an yen see. y
Only short time afterward they actually
did have the chance, and / will leave Il TO
y6n whether or no Mike Murphy was mis-
taken.
whats the matter with that cara Its
moving of OF itselff' exclaimed Roger, while
he and his brother were standing ut the sta.
ton awaiting their fathers train. Down the
track at the end Of the yard a fat car loaded
with ties was slowly gliding along without
any visible means of propulsion.
BRAKES loosened,n replied Ben. ''Shell be
stopped in a minute. Yes, there goes some
body now
A man climbed ON board and made his way
TO the brakes He turned the wheel vigor-
ously, but without effect. Another joined
him, and both, throwing their weight ON the
brakes, could be seen heavily leaning outward
and swinging half around as they strained to
stop the ponderous car.
.No use. Brakes must be out OF order,n
said Roger, after a minutes observation.
eyes that's ID, assented Bon, car9essly
| But, even while yet speaking. he gave q sud
den start Of excitement.
Roger, there's going to be trouble See
how it gathers speed. 1t must be just getting
ON the down grade outside the yard"
"And that goes clear 70 the Gravelly Run
bridge" replied Roger, also becoming ex-
cited. ''The fat will DO running like light
ming by the time il Gets there
Yes, and itl pitch on the bridge, be-
Sides continued Ben "But don't see what
can be done about it. The men have given
up. Seel They're jumping ofr-and it's time
they did,
''Well, the company will lose some money, y
said Roger, but that's oil the harm, for
there's clear track and no tIuin coming up
for two hours
But Hen all at once grasped his brother by
the wrist
20, Roger, don't you rememberl There's
a gang repairing the bridge at the brook
They're clear down IN the gully where they
can't see or hear the car, and ion fall right
over upon themi They'll all be killed they'll
all be killed."
Roger could not say a word. He stoot
staring after the disappearing car, pale face
and breathing hard Ben looked arounC
hopelesly until his eyes fell upon something
that made his heart leap with JOY. IL wa
the change engine waiting 70 relieve then
fathers when his train came in. 1t stood OF
the main track near the two boys, but will
no one aboard, for the engineer and fireman
were eating their noon lunch at the round
house, as they generally did.
Jump aboard, quick, quickin cried Ben
dragging Roger toward the locomotive
"We can't stop to call the crew-we mus
run her ourselves. I'm the strongest; III
lire and you-you start her upl Hmryin
Roger Instantly understood He spranl
upon the iootb0;lrd after his brother, an.
grasped the lever aud throttle 1t was IA
time for careful handling, and the great Ell
( gne fairly jumped on the rails as the abrupt
Z ly opened valves sent the steam rtshin
through it. Ben seized the whistle lever, an
!, a long scream Of warning sounded in the ear
I Of the astonished men who were watching
4 /, the runaway car, while, almost at the sam
= moment with the sound, the roaring locolno
J tive leaped by them over the rattlin
e switches, and shot down the live Ike me
teor.
Both boys now that they were actually a
work 10 avert a disaster, the very thought @
: which had unnerved them a minute before
D, were cool and steady. Roger, with HIS hand
h occupied end feet hraced firmly against tb