River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1901-10-24


81 hope So" said the conductor.
Weaver looked out the window at
the flying landscape and nervously
drummed on the window sill. He
would have almost an hour to wait at
Clinton before the accommodation for
De Forrest went through. He had
made the trip many times and he knew
the time table by heart. But an hour
TO an eager bridegroom on his we'd
ding day is almost a week, and he
groaned as he thought of loafing
around the dingy little town of Gin
ton for an hour. When at last its
spires and red roofs, so familiar to his
eyes, sprang into sight away ahead of
the train, he was the first passenger
TO alight and almost before the pant
ing express had hurried on its way
across the continent he was at the
ticket office.
Ticket for De Forrest, one way"
said Weaver.
''When are you going?" asked the
agent, reaching for the pasteboard.
'When?" asked Weaver, in surprise.
"Why, to-day, on the 1880, of course"
THAT train is gone, sir" said the
agent.
Gomez" echoed Weaver, blankly.
looking at his watch. what do you
mean? It's only 9:45 now"
Time table was changed, sir. Went
into effect yesterday" said the agent.
$40. 4 leaves now at $3.50 daily. except
Saturday"
when is the next train?" asked
Weaver, anxiously.
mo more to-day, sir" said the agent,
shortly.
"What?" shrieked the bridegroom,
mo more?" What are you talking
about? Where's the 1880? must get
there to-day"
"Threethirty was abandoned in the
new time table. No more trains to De
Forrest to-day"
Weaver stepped back almost
stunned. What should he do? 1t was
imperative that he reach De Forrest
without delay. And it was 60 miles
away. Driving was out Of the question.
Suddenly an idea sruck him. Why not
charter a car and engine? True, it
would be expensive, but he was desper-
ate. Five minutes later a message
clicked into the Office of the general
superintendent asking for permission
to charter a car and special engine for
a run to De Forrest. Two minutes
afterward a message came back say
ing no car could be furnished, but the
passenger might ride in an engine for
SIS. And ten minutes after that big
mogul was slowly backed out of the
roundhouse at Clinton. and Harry
Weaver, having turned over SIS to the
ticket agent. climbed aboard. But the
wheels of the big engine had not made
a dozen revolutions before the sound
er in Tom Kelly's telegraph office
away off at De Forrest said to him:
Hold down freight on De Forest
siding. Special engine just leaving
here with one passenger for De For
rest. Has right of way over every
thing"
The ticker ceased a moment, and
then came a private message from the
operator at Clinton: Passenger is
your old friend, Harry Weaver" and
then Tom Kelly knew.
"I'll do the 60 miles inside an hour,
sir" said Engineer Larkins, as he
slowly sent the great machine over the
switches of the Clinton junction and
gave her more steam as she hit the
main track. 81 won't say in minutes"
he continued, "but inside an hour"
Weaver climbed up on the little seat
of the fireman, for that functionary
had a good job ahead of him keeping
the nav of the furnace filled with coal,
and Larkins began TO ''let her out"
Faster and faster the telegraph poles
and trees few by as Larkins opened
the throttle wider and wider. The en-
CINE began to fairly hum with the
pressure of the steam, and the indica-
tor on the steam guage trembled at $50
pounds. The roar of the wheels filled
Viewers ears and he chung desperately
to the seat as the engine rocked back
and forth, and the whistle shrieked al
Aip9b SChS NHhtAg as AlC y ing AhOASbCA
approached roads and towns.
Were making AZ miles," shouted
the fireman into Viewers ear.
"0h, are we?" said Weaver. He had
an idea that the speed was nearer LAT.
But his heart was light and happy and
his thoughts few faster than the To-
connective and were already in De For
rest. The screaming of the whistle,
the roaring of the wheels and the
pounding of the heavy tender were al
most unheard as he thought of Myrtle
and how she would greet him after his
long and exciting ride. A half hour
passed and he was only 30 miles away
when he was startled by the sudden
reverse of the lever and the grinding of
the brakes.
What's the matter?" he asked.
"Semaphore's against us" said
Larkins, shortly.
Almost a mile ahead on a high pole
beside the track a long yellow arm iut-
ted out warningly. The engine slowed
down and stopped near the switch
tower.