The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1890-11-13
'' And your f1reman?'

IL take Harry, mere. It's going to
be dark run tonight, and dom want
strange hands about the engine. We
understand each other
THAT was as fine q compliment as
Matt ever gave, and felt proud. But
was only little potatoes in this deal.
The superintendent merely glanced at
me, and, turning to Matt, continued:
"a lone engine might create sus-
picion, SO we'll make up wild freight.
They'll all be empties. Back down to
the offices before you couple on, and
we'll put the safe under the coal in the
tender
"That was all. He jumped off and
disappeared. For some time Matt and
1 sat staring at each other, then he slid
off his seat and said:
"'This won't do! Supper, Harry
supper! We haven't much time to lose.
1t only lacks few minutes of six. Be
back before the quarter
THE wind was whistling among the
cars. whisking the dust and papers
about, while in the south big black
cloud was coming up, resplendent with
chain lightning. Altogether, the night
promised to be unusually bad.
81 was back on time, but Matt was
there before me. He had lighted the
shaded steam-gauge lamp, and stood
scanning small piece of pasteboard.
What do you make of this, Harry?'
he asked rs | climbed up beside him.
I found it pinned to my cushion
son it was serawled, with a lead PEN
Gil, the words:
Danger! Don't pull the wild freight to-
night if you value your lives.
"A TRUE FRIEND
"'l make it that some one besides
the superintendent and US knows of it,
l replied, the cold shivers beginning to
I chase each other up my spinal column.
There's danger aheadP
! "'Aye, there is danger, my boy and
old Matt spoke softer than | had ever
s heard him before If you want to
I'll go where you lead l replied,
3 quickly, knowing what he was going to
| say.
f "'Then we'll go through if it takes
, the wheels out from under! Ring uL
the wipersr
i ''And, without waiting for the hostlel
}. to run the engine out, old Matt backed
o her on to the turn-table, where the
wipers swung her around, and then We
a backed down to the offices, where foul
" trusty men soon had the square safe
# under the coal.
n "a few minutes later we were coupled
on to half-dozen empty freight car
IS and a caboose.
n There's your ordersr cried Jimm.
q O'Connor, the conductor, showing u
e the yellow sheets of tissue-paper.
l. ''Old Matt looked them over and W,
,r began to move out OF town.
"'We've got clear track he said
n looking across at me; and then he drew
o up the corners of his mouth, and
ii looked for quick run.
Before we reached the outskirts o
d the town the rain began to come dow
e in perfect deluge. Great drops, mikes
" with hail, and in such quantity that tn
n dry drains were soon transformed int
raging creeks.
e ''The wind howled and shrieke
4, above the rumble of the train an
g. threatened to lift 81 off the rails
it When the telegraph poles began t
10 snap off Matt's face began to lengthen.
1t "'Good night for wash-overs,' h
d said. And wash-overs are as bad a
washoutsw
,s sit was all down grade and all tn
le steam used was to run the air-pump.
Or had only to keep the fire alive.
1t Eight miles down we ran past
small station where freight train wa
d side-tracked. It had perhaps a doze
IS cars.
5. "Just before we reached it I saw
t, man dart in between two of the cars
escape the headlight.
s, 81 thought him either a trainma
OR tramp, but have since changed m
mind.
" 1--WE were half way down the Have
m sack grade, with e straight stretch {
re- track and long curve before US, whe
Matt looked across and said:
th "'I'm afraid the little pasteboard W;
z only scare. If
J. s'There was the flash of light b
hind, the rattle of coal, and Bob Dul
,p can, the forward brakeman, stood
Id the cab. His face was as white as
to sheet
of "sShut her down-shut her down, f
Heavens sake!' he shouted. "A freight
u broke loose and is coming down I'll
n grade two miles minute!
s'Before you could snap your fnge
my face was as pale as Bob's
in Matt Irwin never lost his head, an
or with a coolness that comes to few mi
ay in time of danger, he asked: How
is you know?'
n "'seen her by flash of lightnin
Id O'Connor and Billy have iumpedP
1t, 'And then he swung out on the ST
IS, and disappeared.
it slump, if you want to, Harry. call
old Matt. I'm going to stick to herr
mt gave one look at the Egyptian dar
lis ness and concluded that | would st
by with old Matt.
k, Keep your eye peeled for her.
,or cried, and commenced to let So out.
There she is!' | shouted.
su- "And there it was, sure enough.
IS. had just come out of a cut One of t
If boxes was on fire. the flame streami