The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-09-18
/ HOW The MANAGER OF THE
, B.&A. SAVED AHfl0CA.
T Buckhorn Junction. Joe
Durks who combined the du-

ley walked into the office. he nad
just stepped from the Chicago express.
"What's the latest word from An
tioch, Joe?" he asked, hurriedly.
"The message was that strong
north wind was blowing. and that the
town was pretty certain to burn unless
the engines and hose reached there TO-
night, but they have been saying that
for two days. and the winds always
changed at the right moment and
driven the fire BACK"
Dan glanced along the track, ana
saw the relief train, consisting OF an
engine, tender and two fat cars, load
ed with hose and fire engines. on one
of the sidings.
"Look here. ne cried. You must
get fireman for me- and I'll take out
the train myself"
He wondered why he had not
thought Of this before.
81 guess III manage to reach An
tioch," he added. Here. throw in
some COAL" ne ordered. opening the
furnace door.
Dan Oakley knew he might ride
into Antioch on his engine none the
worse for the trip, except for a few
burns, but there was the possibility OF
a more tragic ending. Still. whatever
the result, he would have done his full
part.
"Now, where's that fireman? Any
man who knows enough to shovel coal
will do,' he said.
"But no one will want to take such
long chances, Mr. Oakley. Baker said
it was JUST plain suicide"
"Confound It," and Dan Swore like
brakeman out Of temper. in the bad,
thoughtless manner Of his youth.
At the same moment heavy, SLOUGH
ing figure emerged from sthe shadow
at the opposite end of the freight car,
and came hesitatingly toward the two
men. Then q voice said. in gentle ad-
monition:
Don't swear so. Dannic. 1t amt
light. III go with YOU"
It was his father.
Dan turned to his father and said
. earnestly: DO you know what 1t
means if you are arrested? Have you
thought of that:'
Roger Oakley waived the query aside
as though it concerned him not at all.
81 want to be with you" he said,
wistfully. You may not get through
alive. and 1 want to be with you.
You'll need me. There's no one You
can trust as you can me. for won't
fail you, no matter what the danger
Is. And there's the girl, Dannie. Have
you thought of her."
Dan set his lips. "My God. can't
think Of anything else"
There was a moments silence.
Dan made a last appeal to his father.
won't you listen to what l. say"
sinking his voice to hoarse whisper.
'"They'll hang you-do you hear? If
ever they lay hands on you, they will
show you no mercy!'
Roger Oakley merely smiled as he
answered, with gentle composure: II
don't think we need to worry about
that We are in His hands, Dannie,"
and he raised his face to the heavens.
Dan groaned.
"Come, then," he said, aloud. Father
and son stepped to the engine. The
old convict mounted heavily to his
post. and Dan sprang after him, his
hand cropping for the throttle lever.
There was the hiss Of steam and Joe
cried from the darkness: "All right.
come ahead" And the engine. with
dts tender and two cars, began it's haz-
ardous journey. Dan kept his eyes
fastened on the rails. which showed
plainly in the jerky glare Of the head
light. 1t was we'll to be careful while
care was possible. By-and-by he
would have to throw aside all caution
and trust to chance. Now he in
creased his speed, and the inSistent
thud of the wheels drowned every
other sound, even the far-off roar OF
the flames. At his back, at intervals.
q ruddy glow shot upward into the
night, when Roger Oakley threw open
the furnace door to pass in coal. Save
for this it was still quite dark in the
cab, where Dan sat with his hand on
the throttle lever and watched the yel-
low streak that ran along the rails in
advance of the engine. Suddenly the
wall Of light ahead frightened visibly.
and it's glare filed the cab. They were
nearing the fire.
10 1iftln window n
his elbow open and put out his head.
a hot blast roared past him. and the
heat Of the fire was in his face. He
drew the window shut. 1t was light
as day in the cab now. All in
a second and they were in the burning
woods. rushing beneath trees that
were blazing to their very SUBMITS.
The track seemed to shake and trem-
bile in the fierce light and fercer heat.
Burning leaves and branches were
caught up to be whirled in fiery eddies
Back down the rails as the train tore
along. for Dan was hitting her up.
Tongues Of fire struck across at the
two men. Smoke and fine white ashes
filled their mouths and nostrils. Their
bodies seemed to bake. They had been
streaming wet with perspiration a
moment before.
Off in the forest it was possible to
see for miles. Every tree and bush
stood forth distinct and separate.
Roger Oakley put down his shovel