The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-09-26

Bucks felt especially gratified to know that Pat
Francis had the precious load, but what about the
cash fare from Medicine Bend to Red Cloud? Bucks
knew these things couldn't be trfleo "ltn-nol oll
line-and faced the pleasant prospect OF next
morning greeting his right bower IN the passenger
service with accusation OF theft ana d SUMMARY
discharge If he had only asked me Tor tnree dollars
and half thought Bucks, sorely. He would ratner
have given his pay check than TO nave hao d1
Francis hold up dollar.
Pat Francis, taciturn, sphinx-hke' was puncn-
ing transportation at that particular moment on
No 2 east from Benton Checking passen-
gers keeping eye the ventators and the otner
on the date limits, working both pencils, both hands,
both both ends OF the punch dHu oo11 o'uo0 %
the at the same time.
There wasn't a cinder to break the even enjoyment
of the run up to the clouds. Everybody was gong
home and going home happy. From the Pullmans-
it was warm and sunny in the mountalns-came
nothing but ragtme and Brooklyn yells 10 describe
our scenery might invidious, but the grade where
No. was then climbing would alone make the tor-
tune of ordinary Eastern scenic line.
The Overland Freight No. Sc, east-bound, with a
long train tea, pulling out OF Toltec station
as No. stuck it's head into the foot of the Moose
At Toltec on the day run, take mans breath
and give him large for his money in bit OF
the prettiest engineering anywhere on eartn.
Totec lies in the Powder Range, near the foot OF
a great curve called the Moose, because every time
an engineer slips the head of his train into 1t ne is
glad to hold his breath till he gets it out
The Toltec Moose is engineering magnificent out
it is raroadng without words-unless one counts the
wicked words Eagle Pass station, the head OF the
Moose looks across unspeakable gulf, directly
down into Toltec five hundred feet befow and barely
a mile away. But by the rail we count seven miles
around that and without any Immigrant per-
quisites, either.
Every train that runs the Moose is double-headed
both ways and now-this before-they add, to
keep trainmen off the relief scrap pusher
That day there pusher behind the over
land Freight and No. 2s crew, they pulled out OF
Toltec climb the loop could plainly see above anu
across, the storming, struggling choking engines O.
the tea train they neared with tnelr oao the suiA
NIT of Eagle Pass.
The wind bore down to them in breaking waves
the sucking roaring cut of the quvering furnaces.
Pat Francis stood in the open door of the baggage
car old John Parker and the head brakeman beside
him, looking together at the freight with the
absorbed air Of at the bottom of well who
watch the loaded bucket near the top.
Through the clnt clear mountain air they could
almost read the numbers the engine tenders They
could freight conductor start over his train
for the head end, and they looked they saw his
train break in two behind him, and the rear end,
parting like snakes TAIL slough off, lose headway
and roll back down the hill The hind end brakeman
cat and began setting brakes The passenger crew
saw the brakeshoes clutch in flame at the slipping
trucks, but the drawbars couldn't stand It, From one
of the big a drawbar parted like a tooth.
The tea train again broke in two, this time behind
the rear brakeman and the caboose with five 10000
pound cars, shot down the grade; and NO. was no"
climbing above Toltec.
A volley Of danger signals cured white from the
freight engine across the gulf Pat Francis sprang
for the bell cord but it needless; his engineers
at the very threw double chambers OF air on
the wheels.
It caught cards off the whist tables and swept
baked potatoes the bosoms Of asonished diners;
it spoiled the point of pretty jokes, and broke the
tedium of stupid stories; it upset royserers, and
staggered men; it basted the cooks with gravy
and the walters with frut it sent the blood to the
hearts and a chill to the brains; it was an emer-
gency stop, and a. severe one-No was against it.
Before frightened porters could open the vesti-
bules the passenger engines were working in the
hack motion, and No. scuttling down the Moose
to get away from impending disaster. The trainmer
huddled again in the baggage car door, with thei'
eyes glued the runaways the Moose Is SO perfec
curve that every foot of their flight could be seen
It was backwards to save the passenger train
but for every they could crowd into it's wheels
the runaways were making two. Pat Francis
fast-saw it before they had covered half the Ills
lance back to Toltec. They could never make thu
hill west Of the Moose; it wasn't in steam to bea
gravity. Moreover, if they crowded No. too hare
she might fly elevation and go into the gull
It is one thing to down hill, and another thing
to fall down hill. The tea train was falling down
hill.
Y Francis turned to bare headed John Parker ant
handed him his watch and money.
"What do you mean?" John Parker choked tn
words out, because he knew what he meant.
Turn this stuff in to Bucks, John, If don't max
: it.. It's all company money
r The brakeman, greenish and dazed, steadied him
t with hand on the jamb; the baggageman stare
wild-eyed through his rusty lenses Pat" he fal
tered, what do you mean?"
= It'll drop off at the Toltec switch, and maybe
70 can open it to catch that str1ng-We'H never make
- this way, john in Gods world
"You might almost we'll jump out into the canon
:, you'll never live to switch-key Pat-we'r
=, crowding mile minute"
Francis looked at him steadily he pulled hi
-, - ring and took switch-key off the bunch
They're crowdng 2, john"
The car slowed under them. John Parker TOT
h OF his spectacles
"Pat I'm a lighter man than you-give me til
;" switch key!" he cried, gripping the conductor
A. shoulder as followed him out the door to the plat
at form.
Va mo"
N your children are younger than mine, Pat. Gil,
the key"
it. "This is my train. John. Ask Bucks to look aft
as my insurance" :: e. :.
ty With these "ords FRANCIS tore tne olo 1nah nal