Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1895-04-08

Saggart quickly made Lis way
through the baggage car, climbed on
the express car and jumped on the
coal of the tender. He cast his eye
up the track and saw glimmering in
the distance. like faint, wavering
star, the headlight of No. 6. Look
ing down in the cab he took in the
situation at glance. The engineer,
with fear in his face and beads of
perspiration on his brow, was throw
ing his whole weight on the lever, the
fireman helping him. John leaped
down to the floor of the cab.
"Stand aside," he shouted, and
thero was such ring of confident
command in his voice that both men
instantly obeyed.
Saggart grasped the lever, and, in
stead of trying to shut off the steam,
flung it wide open. No. 86 gave q
culver and q jump forward.
'You old fiend," muttered John be-
tween his clinched teeth. Then he
pushed the lever home, and it slid
into place as if there never had been
any impedlment. The steam was shut
of, but thelights of Pointsville flashed
past them, with the empty side track
on the left, and they were now flying
along the single line of rails, with the
headlight of No. 6. growing brighter
and brighter in front of them.
"Reverse her Reverse her !" cried
the other engineer, with tremor of
fear in his voice.
"Rsverse nothing" said Saggart.
"Shell slide ten miles if you do.
Jump if you are afraid"
The man from the branch line
jumped promptly.
"Save YOURSELF" said Saggart to the
fireman. "There's bound to be o
smash"
"Ill stick by you, Mr.. Saggart," !"
said the fireman, who knew him. But
his hand trembled.
The airbrake was grinding the long
train and sending shiver of fear
through every timber, but the rails
were slippery with the frost and the
train was still going very fast. At
the right moment John reversed the
engine, and the sparks few from her
great drivers like Catharine wheel.
"Brace yourself" cried Saggart.
''No. 6 is backing up, thank God"
Next instant the crash came. Two
headlights and two cowcatchers went
to flinders, and the two trains stood
there with horns locked, but with no
great damage done except shaking
up for lot Of q panic stricken passen-
gers.
The burly engineer of No. dumped
down and came forward, his mouth
full OF oaths.
"What do you mean, running on
our time like this? Hello, is that you,
Saggart? thought there was new
man on tonight. I didn't expect this
from you"
"It's all right, Billy. 1t wasn't tho
new mans fault. He's back in tho
ditch with broken leg, Ishould say,
from the way he jumped. Old Sc is
to blame. She got on the rampage
took advantage of the greenhorn.
The conductor came running up.
elbow is it?" he cried.
'It's all right. No. sc got her nose
broke, and served her right, that's all.
Tell the passengers there's no danger
and get 'em on board. We're going
to back up to Pointsville. Better send
the brakeman to pick up the other en-
gineer. The grounds hard tonight,
and he may be hurt.
'I'm going back to talk to the Pres
ident, SAID the conductor, emphati-
cally. "He's in condition of mind
to listen to reason, Judging from the
glimpse got of his face at the door of
his car moment ago. Either he re-
instates you, or go gathering tickets
on street car. This kind of thing is
too exciting for my nerves"
The conductors interview with the
President of the road was apparently
satisfactory, for old No. sc is trying
to lead better life under the guild
ance of John Saggart. rt.--Detroit Free
Press.