The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-10-12

From McCloud to Ogalalla there is a
good bit OF twisting and Slowing; but
looking east from Athens a marble
dropped between tSe rails might roll
clear into the Ogalalla yards. II is
a sixty-mile grade, the ballast of Stag,
and the sweetest, springiest bed I'M
der steel.
To cover those sixty miles In better
than nifty minutes was ike picking
them of the ponies: and the Five-Nine
breasted the Morgan divide. fretting
for more hills to climb.
The Five-Nine-for that matter any
or the sky-scrapers are built TO
balance ten or a dozen sleepers.
and when you run them light they
have fashion of roofing their
noses into the track A modest up
grade just about counters this tenden-
cy; but on slump and a stiff clip and
no tail 10 speak OF. You feel as If the
drivers were going % buck up on the
ponies every once in awhile. How
ever, they never do. and George whis-
tied for Scarboro junction. and $50
miles and two waters. in 1913 minutes
out Of McCloud; and, looking happy.
cussed Mr.. MeWilliams a little and
gave her another hatful of steam.
II is getting down a hill, like the
hills of the Mattaback valley. at such
a pace that pounds the track out OF
shape. The Five-Nine lurched at the
curves like a mad woman, shook free
with very fury, and If the baggage car
had not been fairly loaded down with
the grief of McWilliams 1t must have
jumped the rails a dozen times in as
many minutes.
Indeed, the fireman-it was Jerry
neutrality-suspicious. and shifting be-
tween the tender and the furnace,
looked for the first time grave, and
stole a questioning glance from the
steam gauge towards George.
But yet he didn't expect 20 see the
boy, his face set ahead and down the
track. straighten so suddenly up, sink
in the lever and close at the instant
on the air. Jerry felt her stumble IN
der his feet-caught up Ike a girl in
skipping rOpe-and. grabbing a
brace, looked, like wise stoker. for
his answer out OF his window. There,
far ahead. It rose in hot curling clouds
of smoke down among the alfalfa
meadows and over the sweep of will
lows along the Mattaback river. The
Mattaback bridge was on fire. with
the McWililamS Special on one side
Jerry MacElroy yelled-the engineer
didn't even look around; only whistled
an alarm back to Pat Francis, eased
her down the grade bit. like a man
rejecting. and watched the smoke and
flames that rose to bar the McWil-
liams Special out of Denver.
The FiVe-Ning SKINNED across the
meadows without a break, and pulled
up a hundred feet from the burning
bridge. 1t was an old Howe truss,
and snapped Ike pop corn as the flames
bit into the rotten shed
Pat Francis and his brakeman ran
forward. Across the river they could
see half a dozen section men chasing
wildly about throwing impotent buck
cts of water on the burning truss.
We're up against it. George" cried
Francis.
mot if we can get across before
the bridge tumbles into the river" re-
turned Sinclair.
you don't mean you'd try it?"
Would I? Wouldn't I? You know
the orders. That bridge is good for
an hour yet. Pat, If you're game. III
run IT"
Holy smoke" unused Pat Francis,
who would have run the river With
out any bridge at all II so ordered.
They told US 10 deliver the goods,
didn't they?"
I'VE might as welltbe starting, Pat"
suggested Jerry MacElroy, who depre-
Gated losing good time. "There'll be
plenty of time to talk after we get
into Denver or the Mattabaek"
Think quick, Pat" urged Sinclair;
cat af
Back her up, then, and let her go. -
cried Francis; I'D just as lief have
that baggage car at the bottom of the
river as on my hands any longer"
There was some sharp footing, then
the McWilliams Special backed;
backed away across the meadow, halt
ed. and screamed hard enough TO wake
the dead. George was trying TO warn
the section men. AT that instant the
door Of the baggage car opened and
a sharp-featured young man peered
out.
What's the row-what's all this
screeching about. CONDUCTOR" he
asked. as Francis passed.
Bridge burning ahead there"
Bridge BURNING" he cried, looking
nervously forward. We'll, that's a
deal. What you going to do about
it?"
Run it. Are you Mcwnliams?'
'McWiniams? ] wish / was for Just
one minute. I'm one Of his clerks"
Where is hep"
4 left him on La Sale street yes
terday afternoon.
What's your name?"
Just plain Ferguson"
well, Ferguson, it's none of my
business, but as long as we're going
to put you into Denver OF into the
river in about a minute. I'm curious
to know what the blazes you're hust-
ling along this way for"
Me? I've got twelve hundred
thousand dollars in gold coin in
this car for the Sierra Leone National
bank-that's all Didn't you know that
five big banks there closed their doors
yesterday. Worst panic in the United
States. That's what I'm here for, and
five huskes with me eating and sleep
ing in this car" continued Ferguson
looking ahead. You're not going tc
tackle the bridge are your"
I'VE are, and right Oft. II there's any
of your huskies want to drop out
now's their chance" said Pat Fran
els, as Sinclair slowed up for his run
Ferguson called his men. The 1--WE
with their rifles came cautiously for.
J ward.
Boys" said Ferguson. briefly
there's a bridge afre ahead. These
guys are going to try to run it. It's
not in your contract. that kind of q
chance. Do you want TO get of?
stay with the specie myself. You car
do exactly as you please. Murray
what do you say" he asked, address.
| ing the leader of the force, who ap.
peared to weigh about $50.
What do | say?" echoed Murray
with decision, as he looked for a sofr
place 20 aiight alongside the track q
say III drop out right here. / don't
mind train robbers. but l don't tackl,
a burning bridge-not if / know il,
and he jumped of.