Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1893-09-23
A RACE FOR LIFE.

adventure
awe" were Tedd:e O'Brien, tn
station agents son, and myself, Char
lie Cameron. My home is in st
Louis, but that summer l was
lanky, spindling fellow OF 16. will
no more strength than a girl, so m.
father took me out to the mountain
of Colorado to rough it and grow
healthy while he looked after some
mining claims which he owned IL
that State. One of these claims wa
few mile north Of Texas Creek, {
little station on the Denver & Rio
Grande Railroad just west OF the
Royal Gorge of the Arkansas River
While father was overseeing some
work on that particular property, he
and I boarded with the wife of the
station agent, and nv only occupa
tions were hunting and fishing with
Teddie O'Brien. Father rode a
bucking brOncho to and fro be.
tween his mines and the station.
One fine day, the vicious little
brute threw his rider and gave him a
tad fall. Indeed, so bruised was
fathers hip and side that he was
unable to ride again for a week or
more. OF course, he could not 60 up
to the mine during this time, since it
was impossible to drive wagon along
the narrow mountain trail, so he de-
cided to take q trip down to Denver
for few days. l should have gone
with him, but the very morning that
we were to start | teased Mrs,
O'Brian'S pet kitten until it scratched
my face too badly for me to think Of
showing myself 10 our friends in the
city. So l was forced to stay behind
with Teddie.
Now Teddie was the most good
natured fellow you ever saw, but how
ugly he was. To a round, red
face, whose big mouth was forever
stretched in grin, ada pair Of
white eyebrows beneath which the
greeniSh eyes could be seen only now
and then since the white -fringed lids
were always winking and blinking;
this countenance was topped by
shock of bright-rcd hair that ran
straight down from the crown like
the straw on a matched roof, and
there you have Teddie O'Brien's pic
ture complete. But that homely face
grew beautiful to me that summer;
and now that my hero has been prop
erly introduced to you, l must tell
you what he did to merit the title,
and how he did it.
The morning of the day that was to
bring my father back to Texas Creek
had dawned bright and clear. 1t
seemed a week to me before noon
came. More and more slowly the
minutes dragged by, but at last it
was o'clock. Fathers train was
due at $50. Three hours and half
more to wait! What would / ever
find to do with myself for all that
time?
Just then Teddie stepped out of the
door Of the station-house and glanced
carelessly up toward the northern
hills.
"Look. look, Charlie" he cried,
suddenly.
There's waterspout coming down
Jones's gulch!"
In a moment was at his side and
looking where he pointed. Swooping
down from the top Of barren mount
ain came horrible black cloud that
twisted and whirled as it drew on,
while its tail-like portion reached
nearer and nearer the earth. In a
twinkling, this tail had sunk out Of
sight in Jones's gulch, and the main
body of the cloud tloated along as if
following the course of the rayine
below.
l looked at Teddie. His face,
usually so red was now ashy pale and
the freckles stood out like brown
blotches, while his eyes blinked at
a fearful rate
"It's a-coming down Jones's gulch
and it III strike the river in fifteen
minutes more and go down through
the gorge. The tracks bound to be
torn out. What if it catches the up
train?" cried Teddie in a husky
voice.
My brain whirled. In imagination
/ saw the train hemmed Iin between
the perpendicular walls OF the gorge
where the railway embankment tres
passes upon the Arkansas River, soon
TO be swollen by the waterspout
to an irresistible Itorrent And
my father would be one of the pas
sengers on that train!
TELEGRAPH down and stop the
train" cried, trembling with ex-
element.
tCan't, Fathers gone up to the
springs and in ten minutes more the
line will 60 out at the mouth of the
gulch The drift wood will break off
the poles, you know" groaned Ted
die. And that awful cloud drew still
nearer.
Just then Teddie's eye fell UPON
the hand-car standing beside the
track. 1t will beat the water through
the gorge. Hurry, hurry!"
In second we had thrown it upon
the rails.
Tell father how it was If / don't
come back" said Teddie, jumping
aboard while showed the car of.
But sprung on beside him and to-
gether we started on OR errand Of