The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1892-09-30

uncertain about your ability don try
it What do you say"
IN go sir.
The passenger reached for the rope
and the BELLS clangor sounded through
the howl OF the storm Ben tried the
water guages looked at the fire, and
then with his slender white hand
drew the lever to let the steam into
the cylinder
With an angry hiss the engine
started on its way followed by loud
hurrahs and waving caps from the
Office men. On she sped. faster and
faster down the inclined track click.
ing over the switches and then out on
the two threads OF steel that skirted
the edge of the mountain side against
which the storm was beating.
The mayor sat very stifiy upright,
and the fireman was perched back on
the tender while little misshapen
Ben, with hand on the throttle, was
piercing through the rain and mist
guiding the whirring wheels
The watchers at the station looked
after the locomotive until they saw it
shoot into the black opening of a
short tunnel half mile down the
canon. Then they saw the puff Of
smoke on the other side and knew
that all was we'll. Soon they had re.
turned Ito their duties and had for
gotten the trio taking the long and
dangerous flight
The old Pilgrim went laundering
on down the road. Two miles five
miles ten miles His honor grew
nervous Never in his life had he
ridden at such a speed on that
crooked mountain road, now on one
side of the stream and now on the
other now into tunnels darkness
and now out on a trestle over the
water
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 as ;hey rolled 1ercely over
the track.
The Pilgrim seemed to exult 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 encompassed the val.
ley.
Ben's thin, white hand clutched the
lever and his sharp eyes scanned
eagerly the track ahead and the ma
below. Town after town and
then came Woodlawn, 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
timeY asked the mayor, looking at
his watch. I'VE have come this far
in thirty-fve minutes. Can we do the
other half in thirty fiveP"
"Yes; sir, said Ben, cheerily Tin
less time than thatr'
Then you shall have two hundred
dollars"
Ben secretly determined to get
TO the Springs in thirty minutes-but
he failed to do it
They rushed on again. Cascade
was passed, Manitou, Ute Park-they
were now only fifteen miles from the
,ity
The mayor grew more and more
anxious as they approached their des-
,ination In his minds eye he saw
he city IN the hands OF mob and
earful battles going on in the street
Twelve miles!
len miles!
Fight miles!
In the region through which thev
we're now passing the storm had |
aged most tercely of anywhere on
he route Although the clouds had
low passed away except for a few
hanging about the hoary head Of
'ike's peak, the roaring stream
bowed how great had been the vol
me OF water poured down by their
Orce.
just after they passed Longmont
here was long descending grade
1t the bottom3 the little stream
ow swollen into river which they
ad been following made u sbnrn
urn crossing the railways course
urgling under long bridge one hun.
red feet from side to side and sup.
orted on piles driven into the earth
I the canon and the bed of the river.
Down the grade toward the BRIDGE
ushed the engine with fearful yeloc.
~ the cab swinging from side to side
ntil it seemed that it must throw the
lree passengers out
All at once Ben straining his ewes
'ward TIE flying perspective of rocks
nd track ahead perceived something
nat made his heart leap into his
lroat The water on the lower side
the bridge was thick with mud
bis was evidently from the banking
ehind the piers of the structure.
rs IL possible that the bridge was
wing wayP
10 stop the engine was now out of
lie question. Ben made up his mind
an instant With a quick nervous 1
rk he pulled the lever and let on a s
III head OF steam. The Pilgrim
'rang forward like a frantic cren.
ire. The mayor turned and gazed
his frail engineer Ben was lean /
e Toward with flashing eyes scan 8
ng the danger His lips we're set h
'mly and the concentrated intensity f
his look made the boy almost
and. He said nothing. lie was l