The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-01-25

ONA AIDE " % ACCe0g 60AS
@N Blundon.
~ 10 "And maybe it amt q
a. Ii ! hoax" said the conductor.
49, Blundon, the conductor
NXT and Laurie had been stand
N2N ing close together during
this short and half-whispered colIcquy,
but the negro fireman had stepped up
behind them, and had seen the note by
the lanterns glimmer.
Good Lawd Almighty = he yelled.
'De train robbers is arter dis heah
train! Well, dey ain gwin'tr git no
chance fur to blow dis niger up wild
dynamite" And without another
word he took to his heels, and imme
diately was lost in the darkness.
Here's a pretty kettle of fish !" ex-
claimed the conductor.
Never you mind" said Blundon,
with a grim smile; this young Teller
will be my fireman, and I'll agree to
take the train across the mountain,
hold up or no hold up. I'm eff duty
now until six o'clock to morrow morn
ing, and 1 can get back by that time"
"Al right, answered the conductor,
going toward the cab where they found
the engineer groauing with pain.
"Juet groan through the telephone"
said Blundon, as they helped him out,
and you'll get a doctor from the house
over wonder, and he'll set your arm In
8jafy."
Wouldn't it be a good idea," said
Laurie, efficiently, eff the engineer tel
phoned to Stoneville that if the train is
delayed to send a posse to the Stone
vile end of the atrestle3 This is the
night the stoneville Light Infantry
meet to drill. and they'd be handy in
case of a hold up"
The conductor heeitated a moment,
then went over to the express Car and
came back.
t'The express messenger says to tele-
phone to the soldier boys, and if it is 9
hoax, he can stand the racket, and If II
ain't-well, he has got near ninety
thousand dollars in the safe, and he
a-going to give it away"
II another moment the injured en-
gineer was ringing the telephone bell
Two or three passengers then appeared
on the platform of the smoker.
"Hellol" cried one Of them, in a voice
si~ngularly like Laurie's. whats upH'
stopping for a new fireman, SIR
answered the conductor, airily. CAL
aboardI'
As Laurie took his seat in the cab be-
side Blundon, he said, with a pale face,
That was my father who spoke"
GLAD of it" bawled Bluudon, over
the roar of the train. 81 hope he's got
gun"
Laurie had often heard that one new
er could judge of a man until he had
been seen engaged in his own especial
vocation, and he found it true as re-
garded Blundon. The old engineer was
usually roundshouldered, and had a
leisurely, not to say lazy, way OF NOV
ing about. But, the instant his hand
touched the throttle of the engine he
became alert and keen-eyed, his figure
straighted, and the power he possessed
intrinsically became visible.
The train sped On for an hour before
anteriDg a deep cut, at the end of which
hey would have to cross a great ra-
vine over a long trestle. a mile Oh
svo beyond the trestle was the little
aanufacturing town of Stoneville. AS
hey entered the cut darkness became
.lacker. and the train began to slow
40 a little before going on the trestle
Laurie shouted in Blundon's ear
This is a mighty good place for a trair
cyOberyl !"
Blundon nodded, and Laurie, turn
ing to the window, strained his eyer
toward the ravine that showed like
huge black shadow before them. AOC
in the middle of the trestle a red dan
ger signal burned steadily.
It's there" cried Laurie to Blum
don.