The Meeker herald., 1892-10-01

which thu storm was beating.
The mayor sat very stithy upright
and the fireman was perched back oh
tho tender while l,ttle misshnpen
Ben. with hard on the throttle was
piercing through the rain aud mist
guiding tho whirring wheels
The watchers at the station looked
after the locomotive until they saw it
shoot into the black opening 81 a.
short tunnel n half mile down the
canon. Then they saw the pun OF
smoke on the other sido and knew
that all was well. Soon they had re.
turned TO their duties and had for
gotten the trio taking the long aud
dangerous fight
The old Pilgrim went Numbering
on down the road. Two mile. five
miles ten miles His honor grow
herE. Gus Never in his life had he
I ridden at such speed on That
crooked mountain road now on one
side OF the stream and now on the
other now into Il tunnels darkness
and now out on ,restle over the
water -s--
But Ben was calm. The roar OF
machinery and laundering tread OF
the wheels prevented them from talk
ing and the locomotive bounded and
swayed IA they rolled fercely over
the track.
The Pilgrim seemed to exut In a
conscious power and many admiring
| gaZers watched it speed through the
little mining towns that afternoon.
| The storm had lessened. but mucky
atmosphere still encompasscd the val
ley.
Ben's thin, white hand clutched the
lever aud his sharp eyes scanned
eagerly the track ahead and the ma
chinery below Town after town and
then came Wood lawn an incipient
| summer resort for tourists just half
way. Here they stopped for water.
The mems faces were black with Gin
ders
Shall we get to the Springs in
time?" asked tho mayor. looking ut
his watch. I'VE have come this far
in thirty-tive minutes. Can we do the
other half in thirty-dve2"
''ies; slr. said Ben, chcerily. ain
less time than that"
Then you shall have two hundred
dollars"
Bea secretly determined 10 ga,
to the Springs in thirty minutes blu:
he failed to do it.
They rushed on again. Cascade
was passed Manitou Ute Park they
were now only fifteen miles from tho
city.
Tho mayor grew more ard more
anxious us they approached their des-
tination. In his mind 5 eye he saw
the city IN the hands OF mob and
fearful battles going on in the street
Twelve miles!
Ten miles.
Eight miles
In the region through which they
were now passing the storm had
ragged most iiercely of anywhere on
the route Although the clouds had
now passed away except for II few
hanging about the hoary head OF
Pixies peak. the ronring stream
showed how great had been the vol
umc OF water poured down by their
force
Just afte- they passed Lonemont
there was long descending grade.
At the bottom the little stream
now swollen into n river which they
had been following made sharp
turn crossing the railways course.
gurgllng under n long bridge one hun
dred feet from side to side and sup
ported on piles driven into the earth
OF tho canon and the bed of the river.
Down the grade toward the bridge
rushed the engine with fearful veloc-
lty the cab swinging from side to side
until it seemed that 1t must throw the
three passengers out
All at once Ben. straining his eyes
toward tie dying perspective OF rocks
and track ahead perceived something
that made his heart lean into his
throat The water on the lower side
of the bridge was thick with mud.
This was evidently from the banking
behind tho piers OF the structure.
Was i, possible that the bridge was
giving way'
To stop tho engine was now out OF
the question. Ben made up his mind
In an instant With u quick nervous
jerk he pulled the lever and let on
full head OF steam. The Pilgrim
sprang forward like frantic crea-
ture. The mayor turned and gazed
ut his frail engineer. Ben was lean
ing forward with flashing eyes scan-
ming the danger His lips were set
firmly and the concentrated intensity
of his look made the boy almost
grand. He said nothing, He was
bent upon rushing the engine across
the bridge before it had time 10 sink.
even IL tho a5utmcnts were already
giving way
In moment they were upon it
Ben saw the turbid water boiling
below The little mountain stream
could be very swift when so disposed.
The bridge shook the engine rocked
and staggered AS 1t flew along. The
mayor leaped down from his seat with
startled eyes. aud Terence the fro
man. uttered frightened cry.
But Crooked Ben remained cool.
His very excitement seemed 10 nerve
him into desperate calmness There
was sensation of sinking and Ben
saw that several timbers had started.
The mayor and the poor fireman pro-
pared themselves for n flying leap into
the river. But the young engineers
shrill piping voice stopped them:
Stop" he cried don't move! Stay
here or you will be killed"
The weakened bridge settled and
creaked but did not sink The loco
motive did its duty nobly and swept
across the trestles like whirlwind.
II q H. en-