Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1889-08-08

tne tnrOttie. ~ ne Steauy Out tallllOsC
lnoiseless beat of the engine followed
and we moved smoothly forward
across etrestle spanning therace,,
along the embankment beyond, and
then over tho trestle that crosses
Mill River. Two miles further we
passed a culvert, and, about the
same distance beyond, bridge over
tho highway. After crossing this
Harry closed the valve, and allowed
the car to come to a standstill.
"Now for spin back" he said,
and quickly reversing the engine, he
opened the throttle again. There
was q peculiar jumping motion as We
started, and Harry in some way lost
his balance, fell forward and side
ways, nnd carrying tho lever down
with him, opened the valve to its
fullest capacity.
There was sudden lurching for
ward of tho car, and in a moment
the tremendous speed Of tho engine
added to tho force of grayitation---
for it was down grade now-sent us
forward like an arrow. The air
seemed to hiss past us, so great was
our speed.
Harry rcgaincd his feet at once,
and called to me, "Ned, the lever is
bent over the guide rods. Help me
straightcn It." Rnt our efforts wnro
useless. We only bent it in another
place, while the united strength Of
all three could not shut the valve.
"Thc brake, Ned" said Harry, and
catchir, the wheel I gave it quick
turn. Even as I saw how loosely it
spun around, Harry exclaimed: "No
use. The collar is on Aliens bench.
l saw it there this morning. We
are in for it, boys"
We were. Even while we had
been making the discovery we had
reached the high cmbankmcnt near
the river. a moment more and
there was Il Rur-r-r-r! as we sped
over the trcstlc. A brief interval,
scarcely noticeable, and shorter
Rur-r-r sounded. The next in
stance Stcvcnton station and shops
were before It's, and Oil the platform,
with lantern held above his head,
stood the watchman.
We had thrown surselvcs flat
upon the floor, forward, before cross
ing the bridges. The car swung
round the curve in safety, gained the
main line, and sped OH toward the
next station of ITanfcld, a town Of
some Importance twelve miles be-
low.
Willis had not spoken since our
mishap; he now asked, in voice SO
changed that l would never have
known it, "Dont you think the
watchman will telegraph them to
sidctrack us at IIanhcld or do some
thing for us?"
"ITc can't" said Harry. "Evcn if
he could find our operator, the Han
field Office is closed. Don't worry
boys" he added coolly; "we'rc all
right if our engine only runs down
before the special meets us"
Oddly enough, I had forgotten the
special train which was to bring
twenty-five hundred recruits up to
the camp at Fairvicw, " - Harry
spoke chill crcpt owe. me and a
horrible buzzing filled my ears, and
then every sense was strained to
catch some sign Of the much dreaded
train.
Still our speed was undimnishcd
| We sped through cuts and over
bridges; past barns and patches of
woodland; through fields and past
quiet farm houses. On, on, on.
"liark!" called Harry, involunta-
rily, for we could not be more quiet
or alert, and then to our cars was
borne the sound of distant whis-
tie.
The special was coming.
Again the whistle sounded, nearer
than before, and to me it seemed
like human shrick.
In another moment we caught
sight of a white light high above
the track. The Central Road
crossed us here at the grade, and
this was the signal to the special
train that our line was open. And
then to the left of the track VIC
disccrncd lantern borne by a man
who seemed to be running toward
us. But these sights were forgotten
in an instant as the glare OF a loco.
motive headlight burst full upon us
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