Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-01-14


must soon catch up with the express.
The express should have stopped at
Beverly, but there was no time for that
now; and rs the train roared by Lance
caught a glimpse of white astonished
faces, waving arms and flashing lights.
Then all was swallowed in darkness
again.
BY this time the passengers of the ex-
press had learned of their danger, and
were in state of panic that the utmost
efforts of the trainmen, themselves pale
with alarm, could quell. Mr.. Bascom
seemed paralyzed with CONSERVATION,
and unable to think of any means of
averting the catastrophe.
Badly frightened as he was himself
yet Lance had been pondering deeply
during the past few minutes Now he
suddenly pulled Mr.. Bascom's sleeve,
and raising his voice so as to be heard
over the din, he said, Just after we
cross the next bridge there is a heavy up
grader
"Yes, yes! What of it?"
Wasn't train stalled there few
months ago. just after the oil train had
broken DOWN.
Mr. Bascom nodded; he began to un-
derstand.
well, then, why can't we oil the
tracks and stall that engine"
Mr. Bascom reflected for a moment.
"We can try" he said at length, his pale
face clearing little 1T is at least
chance" and he hurried away.
Lance's idea was this, as every one
knows when railway tracks are coated
with ice the driving wheels of an engine
will sometimes slip and revolve rapidly
without moving the engine itself. The
same is true when the tracks are coated
with oil. When the train is under head
way and on d level this might not hap
pen, but on steep up grade the head
way would be lost, and the wheels would
probably ship on rails covered with iceor
oil.
Mr.. Bascom reappeared, pushing his
way through the terror stricken crowd
Of passengers, carrying two large oil
cans, each containing gallon or more
Of the thick mixture of oil and tallow
which is used to lubricate the machinery
of road engines. To each can was at
tached long curved spout, on the oppo-
site side handle
The express was already mounting the
steep incline, and behind it, not hun
dred yards distant, roared the pursuing
engine, it's headlight streaming broadly
in the anxious faces of the men gathered
on the rear platform of the car. Mr..
Bascom handed one of the tallow cans
to the brakemen and then both men
dropped on their knees, and leaning far
over the platform held the curved spouts
of the cans within few inches of the
rails.
AS the express sped on, Lance saw the
thick fluid rush from the spouts upon
the rails. which glistened in the glare of
the advancing engines light. Every
one, passengers and trainmen, who had
crowded to the rear of the car to witness
the experiment, held his breath as the
runaway engine rushed upon the long,
shining track.
On it came with undiminished speed;
then, yes, it was surely so-the distance
between the express and the engine was
widening And now as the imperiled
train labored up the incline, putting and
painting like an exhausted runner, all
there uttered wild cry Of joy and re-
lief.
Engine No. 20 had gradually lost its
headway, and now, kissing and snort
ing, stood still upon the oiled track, its
wheels revolving uselessly, with noise
like distant thunder.
A short distance farther on the ex-
press was also stopped, and the engineer
ran back and mounting into the stalled
engine turned off the steam, renderip 6
the pursuing engine incapable Of further
harm. A train hand, who understood
the business, took charge of it, and ran
it back to the station whence it had es.
capped.
There was meeting of certain pas.
sengers on the express held on the spot
and vote of thanks to the conductor
Mr.. Bascom, passed That gentleman,
however, declared that no thanks were
due him, and led forward Lance Elliott
looking very red and bashful. explain.
ing that the saving Of the express was
wholly due to the boys ready sugges
ton as to oiling the rails.
Lance's hand was very nearly shaken
off at the wrist by the enthusiastic pas
sengers. and much to his discontinue
several ladies insisted on kissing him
Meanwhile MIR. Bascom had been talk
ing in low tone to a group Of wei
dressed men. and now he turned to thu
boy and said with his kindly smile:
Lance, my boy, these gentlemen
agree with me that your clever idea il
well worth the course at college you hav'
always longed for. and they have mad,
arrangements to provide the necessary
funds"
Lance tried to find words to expires
his thanks. but he choked and the tear
sprang to his eyes. However. the gentle
men seemed to think he had said enough
As the passengers resumed their seat
and the train started on again Mr.. Bas
com said to Lance, Ibid | not tell yo1
to do your duty and let the rest take car
Of itselfT'
YES" answered Lance, with swell
ing breast land now am going t
climb the stairs" - Harper's Youn
People.
The One-hoss shay.