The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1892-12-17

| uimcult anu responsible position, 1Ol
two years. You deserve favor now
and then, according to my way o.
looking at things. Well, good-by t.
you, and a pleasant trip!'
The mid-week overland expires.
| pulled out, at ten o'clock on Thursday
morning, with Kent Ballard in the cal
OF the big mogul locomotive. "Oul
first run will be express for fifty
miles" said Mr.. Faley, the engineer
land you will have a good chance tc
see how No 312 behaves"
1t was trip full of profit and delight
to the young telegraph operator. lie
| was very fond of all kinds of machin
cry. and the mechanism of the engine
proved most fascinating study, as
| they whirled along over the rails. Then
the ever-changing scenery; the busting
| cities and towns along the routes; the
Eg rivers over which they steamed on
spiderweb steel bridges; the wild level
prairies, across which they raced at
| whirlwind speed. occasionally sighting
herd of deer or frightening up a
flock OF prairie chickens-al1 these
things made an endless programme of
| interest and pleasure for Kent Ballard
Then what a thrill passed through
him, when at last they came in sight
of the towering Rockies, with their
terraced foothills, like natures door
| step to the threshold of the mighty
range.
So far the overland express had
whirlcd on in its long western trip,
without the slightest adventure.
There had not even been an hours de-
lay. The train was sharp on time, and,
it 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. The scenery
was indescribably grand, and Kent's
eyes never wearied of feasting upon it.
"Oh, if mother could only see these
grand mountains!" he thought Sand
If ever get promoted to u good salary
she shall!'
Nine hours passed. and at length the
great engine, with an almost human
sigh of relief, stopped. painting, on
side track at the Summit station of the
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 the engine, and took his
seat on the 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 the express pulled
out, and the switchman again set the
main track open. Kent remained on
the rear platform of the train, looking
back at the mountains. Presently he
saw the freight train endeavor to start
up again. The engines backed trifie.
and then, as 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 express!
What was to be done? Fortunately,
Kent Ballard was not one to be easily
confused in an emergency. He was
noted for always "having his wits about |
him." Plainly, the first thing to do |
was to warn the engineer of the ex-
press. But this must be done without |
the passengers and throwing |
them into panic. Some persons would |
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 lives! There's a runaway
freight on the track behind us!" But |
Kent did not hurry through the cars, on
his way forward to the engine, lest he
should thereby excite the suspicious of
The passengers. Even the brakemen
did not suspect any danger from his &C
lions, as he passed through the train.
But, as soon as he reached the baggage
,ar. where the conductor was sitting,
ne motioned the latter to follow him.
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