The suburban citizen., 1901-10-12
BY WILL LISENBEE.

! this, and were starting uD the last
grade, when the engine stuck.
l heard the loud, rapid putting of the
locomotive as the wheels slipped on
the track, and then the train gradu'
ally came to a standstlll. Then we
began to move backward, and | knew
we were backing on to the level space
to get q new start.
The train moved pretty fast down
| the grade, and l rightly guessed that
the engineer was out Of humor.
We had crossed the level space and
reached the down gade below it, when
we were brought almost to a stand
! still. The engine gave loud snort
then there came n rafting Of cars rs
it began TO move forward again. Then
I felt q violent jerk, 1 heard some
thing break, and the engine on which
I was riding stopped, while the train
moved on up the track,
The violent pull given by the exas-
perated engineer had broken the coup
| ling, and l was being left behind.
knew that the break would soon
be discovered, and when tho conductor
should come back to investigate the
accident, l would be found and put
of the train.
AS soon as 1 realized this, began
to look hastily about me for some
place in which to conceal myself,
Happening TO glance downward, l
| discovered the door leading down to
the furnace standing open, and in
moment I had concealed myself in the
fire box, closing the door behind me.
Scarcely had l gained the shelter of
that rather unusual hiding place when
1 felt the engine begin to slowly
move down the track. For a short
! time I thought nothing OF this, and
nOmentarily expected to hear the
train back against it, but as the mo-
ments went by and the sound of the
train grew fainter and fainter, came
| to the conclusion that the breaking
loose Of the engine had not been dis
! covered.
now resolved to crawl from my
place Of concealment, but as l at
! tempted to open the door found that
it was latched on the outside, and l
was as securely fastened in as if 1
had been locked in the strongest pris-
! on.
The engine was now gaining speed at
every turn OF the wheels, and would
soon be rushing with frightful rapid
ity down the steep incline.
With a feeling Of horror I realized
my awful peril, for l knew that in
descending the ten-mile grade there
was little hope that the engine would
stay upon the rails. 1 shouted at the
top Of my voice, hoping chat some Of
the train men had returned to the en-
gine, but only the sound Of the swift
ly rolling wheels came in answer to
my call. There were several sharp
curves along the route and some Of
these were on the very verge Of deep
abysses, making the peril Of my de-
scent so great that 1 was almost be-
side myself with terror.
Glancing downward through the
CRATE could see the road running like
a great belt beneath me, while faster
and faster rolled the engine, sending
up a cloud Of dust that almost stiaed
me.
The engine now rocked violently
from side to side, ana every moment
| expected 1t to leave the track. If ]
could only escape from my prison
there might yet be time for me to
jump and save myself. Once more ]
took hold Of the iron door and shook
1t with all my might, but 1t remained
as solid as the walls Of iron about me.
now despaired Of escape. and. al.
most stupehed with the terror OF my
situation, l sat there and waited fo1
whatever might happen. The speed
was growing frightful, and every in.
slant 1 expected the engine to lear
from the rails and go crashing down
into one of the deep ravines that skirt
ed the road
e Suddenly felt the engine lurch vio
lentiy from side to side as 1t rounded
a curve, then, to my joy, l saw thai
the furnace door had been thrown
open by the shock. With a cry Of de
- Light l sprang through the opening
and was soon standing I'm the cab.
+ A single glance told me that It would
3 be worse than madness to leap from
that fast flying engine, which was
z now moving at a speed Of fifty miles
an hour. The high cliffs and patches
, o. cedars that skirted the road shot by
e me in mingled streak Of gray an(
e green.
t Far down the track ahead 1 saw I
/ gang Of section men at work. Tit