The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-09-13
THE RUN OF 81.
A Wild Race with a Runaway
Freight Train.

Happcneu 10 nave gray hair? We'll, OF
course you know it's premature. am
only twenty-seven. 1t was six years
ago, and this is how it happened"
Having often wondered how it was
that Harry Baily should possess head
of hair the color Of clean cotton and the
stoop of man of sixty, while still
young in years. 1t was with q feeling of
satisfaction that prepared to listen to
the explanation:
"You can publish the story IL you
want to, but l shall expect you to sub
stitute fictitious names and keep the
identity of the road secret
ut was in Colorado, on one of the
widest and toughest railroads / know
of. Tho scenery was similar to that of
the Denver &c Rio Grande on Dump
mountain.
cat the bottom, the road-bed was
forced in against the opposite mountain
by noisy little river, that ran some
thirty feet below There were three
tracks on the mountain side, and, stand
ing on any one of the three, the other
two could be seen.
"The road was stocked with Baldwin
engines, and, to facilitate the climbing
of the heavy grades, they had small
driving-wheels.
"I was fireman on 67, which was used
in the passenger service. She had the
largest drivers on the road, and they
only measured forty-eight inches in
diameter.
''Matt Irwin was the engineer. He
was Grabbed, cross, little, old man,
with n bald head and an iron nerve.
He had been on the road ever since it
had been constructed, and seemed to
think that the officers should respect
him-which they did in a way-instead
of vice versa.
II had taken some rather rapid rides
with old Matt; but the most terrific one
experience another happened about
the middle of April.
"Sixty-seven had just been housed
after run. l was filling the oil-cans
and Matt was hauling off his overalls,
when Mr.. Fox, the superintendent,
climbed into the cab.
AFTER few commonplace remarks,
he asked, abruptly:
Matt, how soon can 67 60 out?'
"Just as soon as ! can pull on my
'overalls,' was the reply. Her steam
hasn't been blown out yet, and her fire
hasn't been drawn
"The superintendent looked at both
of us rather hard, as though he was siz-
ing US up, and then he said, awful sol
emn:
Matt, you've been with us long
time. You've been tried and not found
wanting. Tonight we call on you to
perform the most dangerous piece of
work yet. Will you do it?'
''Matt's eyes looked as large as sau-
GERS in the dim light of the cab. 1 con-
fess was trembling myself.
"'What is it?' he asked.
"'There's been big mistake made in
the higher offices-but that is not for
us to criticise-and there is but one way
to rectify it Here the superintendent's
voice dropped to a whisper. One hun
dred and fifty thousand dollars in gold
has got to be in B. before midnight,
to connect with the Eastern express,
and you're the man selected to take it
through
''Old Matt showed his astonishment
with his eyes, but never opened his
mouth. AS for me, was so excited by
this time that had to stop my work,
because poured more oil on the floor
than did in the cans.
"'As / said BEFORE went ON the SUI
perintendent, it's dangerous business.
There are men in town tonight who, If
they knew the nature of this run, would
ditch you to secure the fortune. Guards
would only excite suspicion, and if you
of hn oil h hnt Ha
sack grade and the bottom, one man
would be as good as fifty, for none could
escape. You'll
"'I'll CO. said old Matt, Strengthening
up.
"'And your fireman"
"'I'll take Harry, here. It's going to
be dark run tonight, and dom want
strange hands about the engine. We
understand each other
''That was as fine a compliment as
Matt ever gave, and felt proud. But
l was only little potatoes in this deal.
The superintendent merely glanced at
me, and, turning to Matt, continued:
ga 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 Ma5t and
/ 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
1.-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, as 1 climbed up beside him.
Il found it pinned to my cushion
Son it was scrawled, with lead PEN
ell, the words: H#
"Dangerl Don't pull the wild freight to- |
night II you value your lives.
"A TRUE FRIEND
so make it that some one besides |
the superintendent and us knows of it, |
/ replied, the cold shivers beginning to |
chase each other up my spinal column.
There's danger ahead@