Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-11-08
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 in a comfortable
little cottage by the very side of the track, SO
that they could not remember a time when
rushing trains, screaming Whistles changing
bells and the acrid smell of coal smoke had
not been familiar things to them.
Smart little railroaders they were, at ages
when most boys hardly know q throttle from
a reversing lever; for they had been ull-
consciously picking up knowledge every day
of their lives during the hours spent at 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 209, where they learned to
stop and start the magnificent machine, and
even to run it on safe stretches of road. Often
Ben relieved the big, good natured fireman
at the shovel, and fed the box under his di-
rections, while Roger attended to the bell and
whistle and learned to manage the air brake.
Of course all this was against the rules OF
the road, but rules have their exceptions, and
the pair Of young engineers were such excep-
tions. Even that stern potentate, the divis-
ion superintendent, uttered never 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 if the
whole train depended upon his vigilance.
They can run an easy piece as well as
can," Mr.. Moore once proudly. said:
''An' they'd do prutty will in toight
place, too" added the fireman. But Mr.
Moore shook his head at this.
perhaps so, Mike; but it isn't knowing the
machine that pulls a man through tight
places. It's pluck and grit and cool head,
and thinking of your train first and yourself
last-that's what it is"
''Sure. But if liver tn b'ys have to show
what's in 'em, yez won't find em lackin'.
Olive soized em oop, an Oh till yez they're
tn roight soort. Wait till they've the
chance, an Yell see"
Only short time afterward they actually
did have the chance, and will leave it to
you whether or no Mike Murphy was mis-
taken.
''What's the matter with that car? It's
moving off of itself!n exclaimed Roger, while
he and his brother were standing at 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," replied Ben. "Shell be
stopped in a minute. Yes, there goes some
body now.n
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 te
stop the ponderous car.
''No USE Brakes must be out of order,
said Roger, after minutes observation.
Eyes, that's it,' assented Ben, carelessly
But, even while yet speaking, he gave sud
den start of excitement
"Roger, there's going to be trouble. Set
how it gathers speed. 1t must be just getting
ON the down grade outside the yard.n
"And that goes clear to the Gravelly Run
BRIDGE" replied Roger, also becoming ex
cited 1.-The flat will be running like light
ming by the time it gets there"
eyes, and it'll pitch off the bridge, be
Sides" continued Ben. "But don't see wha
can De zone dUOuU 1uo IutH nave SlN0l
I'D. Seel They're jumping otf-and it's tim
they did"
''Well, the company will lose some money,
said Roger, ''but that's all the harm, TO
there's clear track and no train coming VI
| for two hours"
But Ben all at once grasped his brother b,
| the wrist.
80, Roger, don't you remembera There
| o;,,,,, hid
They're clear down in the gully where the,
can't see OF hear the car, and it'll fall RICH
over upon theml They'll all be killed! they
all be killedW
Roger could not say word He stoo
staring after the disappearing car, pale face
and breathing hard. Ben looked aroun
hopelcssy until his eyes fell upon somethin
that made his heart leap with joy 1t wa
the change engine waiting to relieve thei
fathers when his train came in. 1t stood o
the main track near the two boys, but wit
no one aboard, for the engineer and frema
were eating their noon lunch at the rounc
house, as they generally did.
Jump aboard, quick, quick!" cried Ber
dragging Roger toward the locomotive
ave can't stop to call the crew-we mus
run her ourselves. I'm the strolses:; L
fire and you-you start her upl IIurr7!"
Roger instantly understood. He spran
upon the footboard after his brother, ali
grasped the lever and throttle. It was L
time for careful handling, and the great Ell
CINE fairly jumped on the rails as the abrup
i ly opened valves sent the steam rushin
through it, Ben sei2ed the whistle lever, an
a long scream of warning sounded in the cal
of the astonished men who were watchin
al, {t,nc.
moment with the sound, the roaring locomt
tive leaped by them over the rattlin
switches and shot down the line like MT
teor.
Both boys, now that they were actually 6
) work to avert disaster, the very thought {
which had unnereed them minute befor
were cool and steady. Roger, with his hant
occupied and feet braced firmly against Il
heavy shocks and lurches of hehying eIgn
moved his eyes from the track ahead ohl
for swift glance at the gauges. Ben fed IL
fire box with all the skill he knew, recallln
Mike Murphy's instructions and dong n
best to keep d steady, hot fire without smot
ering it by putting on too much coal, Il
common mistake of Inexperienced hreme
Never once since starting had he looked fro
his work, or even taken a single gimp
from the .aindnW directly in front OF him.
Yet all the time his MIND WAS busy. L
had set upon this wild race with the sing
idea of chasing the fat car and in some ws
preventing the destruction it was sure
create if left to itself.
But now the question was whether the @
p could be overtaken, and, if it could WI
should then be done Knowing how far
, bridge was away from the station, he ".
tally calculated the probable speed OF the Il
and the time it would occupy in making t
distance Then, between shovelfuls OF co;
he fixed the pace necessary to come up WI
! m. fo, fro,, q