The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-06-25

4 again b0U biJO Diuin OPCus INSh
remained on the rear platform of TIN,
train, looking back at the mountains
Presently he saw the freight trair
endeayor to start up again. Th,
engines backed a tribe, and then, a,
the car brakes we're released. went
foi " arl with jerk.
Kent Ballard suddenly jumped tC
his feet. What could itmean ?-the
freight train seemed to be backing
down the heavy grade after the eX.
press, instead OF going straight ahead
But no tho engines and the main part
of the train were going the other way.
Then the stertling truth flashed upon
the young man. The jerking start of
the heavy engines had broken the
train in two, and the rear part Of IL,
without IL brakeman aboard, was run
ming 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 "havine his wits
about him." Plainly the first thing
to do was to warn the engi:eer of the
out alarming the passengers aud
| 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 IL runaway
freight train on the track behind us !"
But Kent did not even hurry through
the cars on his way forward to the
engine, lest he should thereby excite
the suspicious of the pas a<sepgers. Even
the brakemen did not suspect any
danger from his actions, as he passed
hn fnn IN l,,t. l,,,
reached the baggage car, where the
conductor was sitting, he motioned the
latter to follow him. Rushing to the
forward platform he climbed on top of
the tender, and shouted
'Faley ~
The engineer did not hear him at
first.
"Faley ~
The man turned quickly.
Crowd on steam The freight
train has broken in two, and is chasing
us down Tho grade"
"Terrible ~ exclaimed the conduc-
tor, who had followed Kent out on the
platform of the baggage car Let
out Fuley. will go back and signal
you from the rear car"
The conductor disappeared, aud
Kent crawled over the tender into the
cbE ulSy Hdu lcU
her out" as much as he dared on so
steep grade. Presently, however,
came the clear signal of the conduc
tors bell" More steam - Faley's
hand was on the throttle; but he
hesitated. Its worse to Jump the
rails than to get overhauled ON the
track" he muttered. But here
goes! I'm in this cab to obey orders"
He threw the throttle wider open,
and the great engine cooked and
plunged at more TERRIBLE speed down
the sharp incline. "Those stone cars
must be terribly heavy" exclaimed
Kent.
eyes; how many of them broke
loose-do you know ?" asked Faley.
"Not exactly" replied Kent; but
should say four or five"
Enough to smash tho whole ex-
press to bit" I" muttered the engineer.
IFS curious how much faster
loaded freight car can travel, on
down grade, than q LOCOMOTIVES, even.
Seems to be u greater momentum
Good heavens he wants more steam -
The conductors bell clamorcd its
signal twice. Faley threw the throttle
wide open. There" he exclaimed
"if that don't save us, it will smash
u.s."
Kent Ballard had been thinking
very hard for a few minutes. A pro-
ject was forming itself in his mind
Suddenly he grasped the engineer by
the sleeve, and asked, eagerly:
"How far ahead is the next station?"
about five miles"
'Siding there ?"
eyes"
Telegraph operator ?'
"Yes."
"Good! | have plan. Let me
work the whistle I'll signal them
What is the name of the station ="
Mineville."
Kent Ballard graspcd tho whistle
cord. In sounds currcspUn ling to
those OF the Morse code wneu ticked
out by the instrument, in sisnalled-
:" Mineville attention ~
After few seconds pause, he repat-
ed the call. How far arc we from
the station now ?" he asked.
Between three and four miles, F."
answered the engineer. "Yon can
calculate Il little moro Than II mile
minute"
Kent repeated the call once more and
allowed Il pause of ten seconds. Then
he telcgraphed, by sounds
"Open the siding, quick -
Then pause OF ten :, conds, and
again
"Open the siding !"
The station was now in 81 Elt. Men
were running to and fro in front of it,.
i've telegraphed them to open the
siding !" shouted Kent i'm Faley's ear,
for tho train wa, roaring and thunder
ing on ut IL terrific speed.
And sure enough, they've done
It'll" exclaimed Faey. shutting OFF
steam and setting the air brakes.
THE signal says siding open You've
either killed us or cured us--depends
on how close behind the freight cars
are !"
1t was minute OF terrible suspense.
The express, its speed slackened just
in time by the powerful air brakes,
glided on the siding. Would there be
| timo to throw open the main track
again before the runaway freight cars
| came on?
Jump Twelve done everything we
can" cried Faley to Kent and the fire.
man, as the express stopped on the
siding. Even as they jumped, there
was u roar like II peal of thunder on
the right side of the enginc, and u
dark shadow passed with the swift
ness of lightning.
1t was the runaway freight cars,
laundering by on the main track
The station master had thrown open
the switch rod and closed the siding
| lust In time.