The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-02-19
VOL. XXXIII.--NO. II.

frightened the rope Ned braced at the
other end, realized that the struggle had
just begun, for looking despairingly around |
to find something to fasten the rope to, he |
could see nothing Then with a rush he
remembered the iron handle on the tender
near the front, by which the men swing
themselves into the cab, and with one last
pull on the moose he dropped on his
stomach, slipped the end through the bar
and tied it, and springing to his feet,
caught up coupling pin and jumped into
cab. Billy, turning his head at the sound,
saw the slender figure towering over him,
holding an iron pin in the upraised right
hand. The man clutched the pistol
fiercely, and tried to turn it on the boy.
Drop that gun, Ned said, ''or I'll
brain you y
There was no answer, and the man
gripped the revolver tightly.
Drop it ! This is the last timer'
Ned stood well out of the way of an un-
expected kick, as the man observed, and
he dropped the gun with clatter.
"What you goin' to do?' he asked,
sullenly.
In second Ned had the pistol and
cooked it, and with his left haud he jam
med the throttle open wide, and the engine
bounded ahead, Move" he said, ''an'
I'll drop you This engine 'soin' right
throughT' d.
From the time Billy had fired the shot
until Ned was in possession Of the cab
scarcely five minutes had elapsed, but to the
boy, who was desperate with anxiety and
dread, it had seemed as though the mo-
ment would never come when he could
speak to his father, and he fell on his
knees. and touched him at last almost
fearfulIy.
There Was no response, and he felt
quickly for the heart, saying: "Daddy
oh daddy
Still there was no answer, and he search
ed hurriedly for the wound, guided by
wet line that was broadest up the shoulder,
and he tore open the flannel shirt to see if
the shot had entered the lung.
The blood was Oozing forth, but slowly,
for the dry atmosphere thickened it quickly
and was making natural check to the
flow. As nearly as the boy could see, the
bullet had entered just below the neck,
and reaching out for the coat in the ten
der, he cut out the lining and made
bandage before slipping it under his fathers
head as a pillow. So absorbed WIS he
that he forgot the surroundings until he
wanted some water for his father; then get
ting up, he noticed that the clock pointed
to quarter of ten, and remembered that
the train ahead was due at Quincy at ten.
He looked out on the line anxiOusly, but
as far as he could see the course lay clear
before them, and he drew cup of water
from the little drinking tank and wet his
father face and hands. Again he felt
for heartbeat, and this time there was
sluggish action that cheered him inexpress-
IDLY. He put his lips close to his fathers
ear, and said, distinctly
.'It's Ned with you, dad, an the en-
gine's going through all right.
Probably it was his imagination, but he
fancied johnson lips moved to reply, and
the boy rose inspired to anything. He
had forgotten the construction train, or if
he did recollect. it was with the belief that
Billy knew whereof he spoke, and that it
was the other side of Quincy.
There were on the down grade now,
with the siding at the bottom, and Billy
tried eagerly to lean forward, but he was
fast to the back of the seat His whole
attitude suggested suppressed excitement,
and Ned caught the idea that something
was about to happen. For the first time
he remembered the fire, and that it needed
feeding, and he staggered under the few
shOvelfuls of coal he carried, taking great
care to drop none on his father. Then for
some reason he thought Of the boiler, and
wondered about the water. The first
gauge he tested to try the water supply
showed that it had already fallen below
that point, but the fact neither alarmed
nor astonished him. When the second
gauge Kissed he closed it quickly, and
tried the third The water was below the
safety point, and how long before the in
vitable explosion would occur he could not
tell For one moment his heart failed him,
and unconsciously he half closed the throt-
tie; but Billy, who had watched every
thing from the corner of his eye, yelled,
triumphantly,
eyer ditched y
Ned turned on him fercely
"What's the matter with the water p
he demanded.
"Thought you was so ALFRED smart,
an knowed all bout engines" Billy
sneered. II turned most of it out. that S
whatn
sTurued it out?'' Ned repeated, dazed.
.'Didn' know l could, did you? Well,
| done it by the valve that connects with
the 'blow-off' Learned somethin' new
bout engines amt you? Hang youI'
he added, dropping the jeering tone.
s'But We all go to smash together if you
don stopr'
The boy made no answer, but the deter
mination to succeed filled him again, and
he threw open the throttle once more.
He would take the chance of the water
lasting, and few minutes now would de-
eide it either way.
They were tearing along the down grade
wildly, and Ned, watching the course, saw
they were nearly at the siding. The next
view filed him with horror. The siding
switch was lying open, with Il stone wedged
in as an extra means of wrecking them
In an instant he grasped the situation,
The switch had been opened to delay the
relief train that would be sent out from
Horner when the news of the accident
reached there, and thus the escape of the
robbers would be facilitated. That was
what had sustained Billy through his cap