Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-27
THE RESCUE.

them we were expected to stretch our little
resources to the uttermost
l studied a minute, then turned to the
dispatcher.
TEL Norman to send them out as sec
ond 4; that gives the right of way over
every wheel against them. If they cant
make it on that kind of schedule, 1t isn't
In the track
TT was extraordinary business, rather
sending a train of wheat through on pas
senger schedule. practically, as the sec
ond section of our east-bound flyer: but We
took hair-lifting chances on the plains
1t was noon when the orders were 1iashed.
At o'clock No. was due to leave Zares-
VILE For three hours l kept the wires busy
warning all operators and tratnmen, even
switch engines and yardmaSters, or the
wheat special-second a.
The Flyer, the first section ana regular
passenger train, was checked ou- Of Zanes-
Vile on time. Second 4, which meant
George McNeal, Dad, the SkySccaper, and
| fifty loads of wheat, reported out at $40
While we worked on our time card, Neigh
| bor in the dispatcher's office across the
| hall, figured out that the wheat train
would enrich the company just 1000, tolls
and premium. IF it doesn't break in tw7
on Beverly HILL growled Neighbo-. with
| a qualm.
On the dispatcher's sheet, which is Sc
| of panorama, I watched the big train
| whirl past station after station. drawing
| steadily nearer to us, and doing 1t, the mar
| feat, and George McNeal. whose nerve and
brain were guiding the tremendous load
was breaking records with evelF milestone
They were due in Harvard at O'Clock.
The first 4, our Flyer, pulled In and out
| on time meeting So, the west-bound over
| land freight, at the second station east OF
Harvard-Redbud.
Neighbor and 1 sat with the dispatchers
up in their office. smoking. The wheat
| train was now due from the west, and, look
| ing at my watch, l stepped to the western
| window Almost Immediately 1 heard the
| long peculiarly hollow blast of the Sky
| Scraper whistling for the upper yard
She's coming" l exclaimed.
The boys crowded to the window; but
| Neighbor happened to glance to the east.
What's that coming in from the juno
I ton. Bailey?" he exclaimed. turning to the
| local dispatcher. We looked and saw a
! headlight in the east.
That's So"
Where do they meet?"
| mo s. takes the long siding in from the
| junction (which was two miles east-"and
| she ought to be on it right now" added
| the dispatcher, anxiously, looking over the
! master mechanics shoulder.
Neghbor jumped as If bullet had struck
him. She'll never take a siding tonight
| She's coming down the main track. Whats
her orders?" he demanded, furiously.
Meeting orders for first at Redbud
second here, rs at Glencoe. Great Jupi-
| teri" cried the dispatcher, and his face went
! SICK and scared, they've forgotten SECOND
They'll think of her a long time dead >
| reared the master mechanic. savagely
| jumping to the west window. Throw your
red lights! There's the Sky-Scraper noww
| Her head shot that instant around the
| coal chutes, less than mile away. and 81
| going dead against her. I stood like one
i palsied. my eyes glued on the burning ey;
| of the big engine. AS she whipped past
| street arc light I caught glimpse OF
| George McNeafs head out of the cab win.
| dow. He always rode bareheaded II the
| night was warm, and knew it was he but
| suddenly like flash. his head went in.
| knew why as well as II my eyes were his
| eyes and my thoughts his thoughts He
| had seen red signals where he had ever,
| right to look for white.
But red signals now-to stop hero pull
| her fiat on her launches like a bronco.
Shake weather flag at cyclone!
| 1 saw the fire stream from her drivers;
| knew they were churning in the sand;
| knew he had twenty air cars behind hin
| sliding. What OF 1t?
Two thousand tons were sweeping for
| ward like an avalanche. What did brain.
| or pluck count for now with 55 dancing
along like schoolgirl right into the teetf
| Of It? 1850
| I don't know how the other men fel. A.
| for me, my breath choked in my throat, m,
| knees shook, and deadly nausea seizec
| me. Unable to avert the horrible blunder
| / saw it's hideous results.
| Darkness hid the worst Of the sight: Il
| was the sound that appalled, Children
| asleep in sod shanties miles from where
| the two engines reared in awful shocl
Jumped in their cribs at that crash. Fifty
| fives little engine barely checked the Sky
Scraper. She split it like banana. Sh'
bucked like a frantic horse, and leaped fear
fully ahead. There was binding explo
sion, sudden awful burst Of steam; tn
windows crashed about our ears, and W,
were dashed to the wall and floor like lead