The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-10-25

they whirled along over the rails. linen
the ever-changing scenery; the busting
cities and towns along the routes; the
big rivers over which they steamed on
spiderweb steel bridges; tho wild level
prairies, across which they raced at
whirlwind speed, occasionally sighting
a herd of deer or frightening up a
flock of prairie chickens-au these
things made an endless programme OF
interest and pleasure for Kent Ballard
Thcn what thrill passed through
him, when at last they came in sight
of the towering Rockies. with their
terraced foothills, like natures door
stop to the threshold of tho mighty
range.
So far the overland express had
whirled on in its long western trip,
without the slightest adventure.
Thereshad not even been an hours de-
lay. The train was sharp on time, and.
if everything went well, its journey
would be completed in twelve hours
They had now reached the ascending
gravel over the foothills, and were
slowly crawling upward toward the
pass, between the great snow-capped
peaks, through which they were to
gain the Pacific slope. Tho scenery
was indescribably grand. and Kent's
eyes never wearied of feasting upon it.
'Oh, If mother could only see these
grand mountainsl'' he thought. And
if / ever get promoted to . good salary
she shallv'
Nine hours passed. and at length the
great engine, with IN almost human
sigh of relief, stopped, painting. on Q
side track At the Summit station Of tho
divide" A train of fat cars, loaded
with stone, and drawn by two locomo-
tives. was slowly putting up the west
ern grade. The express had to wait on
the siding until this freight train
should pass and leave the main track
clear. While they were waiting, Kent
Ballard left tho engine, and took his
seat on tho rear platform of the last
car, where he could look back At the
grand snow-capped mountains they bad
just passed
The heavy freight train struggled up
the grade. until it had passed the lower
end of the siding, and then stopped at
the water tank on the main track A
few minutes later tho express pulled
out, and the switchman again SGT the
main track open. Kent remained on
the rear platform Of tho train, looking
back at the mountains Presently he
saw the freight train endeavor to start
mp again. The engines backed trife,
and then, Is the car brakes were re-
leased, went forward with jerk.
Kent Ballard suddenly jumped to his
feet. What could it mean?-the freight
train seemed to be backing down the
heavy grade after the express. instead
Of going straight ahead. But no! the
engines and the main part of the train
were going the other way. Then the
startling truth flashed upon the young
man. The jerking start Of the heavy
engines had broken the train in two
and the rear part Of it, without brake
man aboard, was running wild down
the steep grade after the expressl
What was to be done? Fortunately,
Kent Ballard was not one to be easily
confused in an emergency. he waa
noted for always "having his wits about
him." Plainly. the first thing to d.
was to warn tho engineer of tho ex
press But this must be done withou
alarming the passengers and throwing
them into a panic Some persons woule
have been just foolish enough
on making the discovery which
Kent had, to run back through
the train crying: "Get ready to JUMP
for your livesl There's q runaway
freight on the track behind us!" Blu
Kent did not hurry through the cars, o.
his way forward to the engine, lest h
should thereby excite the suspicious o
the passengers Even the brakemel
did not suspect any danger from his &C
tons. as he passed through the train
But, as soon as he reached the baggage
car, where the conductor was sitting
he motioned the latter to follow him