The Savannah morning news., 1901-02-17

For one instant Barney hesitated then
shut off to make the stop. "Only TWEEN
ty miles i'm he muttered, ''and this stop
means ten minutes. 1 guess we're up a
tree" But the next instant he turned
to the fireman for the first time since
they had started.
"Hey, Billy" he called out sharply,
run back and see how much water we've
got" Billy needed no second bidding
, but grabbed the broom on the instant
ran back over the COAL jerked off the
manhole plate, reached down and touched
the bottom of the tank with the end of
the broom handle, and then holding it
up so that Barney could see how much
of it was wet, he called out:
"Only about three inches. Wen never
be able to make it with that"
But Barney appeared to be satisfied,
| for he turned around gave the throttle
jerk that brought an angry snort from
the engine and in another moment they
had passed the water tank and were fly
ing on through the town, leaving the
Midland crew gaping at them in open
mouthed establishment.
How in the H" began the fireman
as he got back to the deck, but Barney
interrupted him with, Here, take her a
minute and don't ease her up. either.
We've got one chance. and only one, and
As he stepped down from the seat he
picked up the coal order book, scribbled
hurriedy on it for a moment with the
stub of a pencil he found in it, tore out
the page and handed it to the fireman
with the remark, Drop that to the OPP
orator at H." Then he turned, picked
up the end gate. and coal pick and start
ed back over the coal.
Still at a loss to account for his move
. rvIa Il h.
sage he held in his hands, but it brought
no light to his mind. All he could make
out was. 'Wire headquarters to have
the south yard section gang on the look
out for fire on the track, and have the
icehouse track clear ready to load
ton, or two when we get in lie was
enough Of a railroad man, however, to
know how to obey orders, and in far
less time than it takes TO tell it he had
folded the paper, weighted it with a
small chunk of coal and turned to watch
Barney.
AS the engineer reached the back end
of the tank he jerked the lid off the
manhole and then took the end gate
and slipped the upper cross bar over the
brake rod on the first car, in such
manner as to allow the bottom edge to
be directly over the manhole. This done,
he picked up the coal pick, took a firm
grip on the brake rod braced his feet
for an instant on the end gate, and
swung himself up on the roof of the
car In another moment Billy under
stood at least a part OF the message. He
was going to get a water supply from
the ice boxes in the refrigerator.
Entirely unassisted and with only the
coal pick for an ice hook, Barney hauled
up the big Northumberland cakes out
of the ice box, ran them along the run
ming board till they reached the end Of
the car. then gave them a lick or two
with the pick ana down slid the pieces
into the tank. Although they were run
ming fully fifty miles an hour, he worked
just as swiftly as though they were
standing still. Not a lick was missed,
and not cake got away from him.
When the box at one end of the car was
emptied he an to the other end. and be-
gan on the second one. When that was
emptied he climbed down upon the tank
took off the end gate, dropped the Id
over the manhole, and came back into
the cab
Now shut off your overflow" he said,
as the fireman yielded up his seat.
Throw your tank valve over and open
your injector throttle. We've got 10 get
steam enough into the tank 10 melt that
ice. put In fifteen cakes They're good
for twenty gallons apiece. / guess tina;
VIII let us in. In fact It's got to-" he
continued as he glanced at tho steam
guagc "fcr we can't spare steam enough
no melt any more
From then on not a word was said.
Barney took his place on the seat box,
| the fireman kept bis eye on the water
| glass. and the brakeman looked at ~
| the coal. Tie steam soon melted the