The Colfax chronicle., 1904-12-31

Well, they were going to fall. he told
himself as he opened the throttle.
| 1t was but short distance to Turn-
er's bridge, and Dicks brain was work
ing like mad as they sped along. Grad
ually he notched the reversing lever
forward, closing the throttle little to
hold down the speed. In his left hand
| he fumb1ed heavy wrench. Harry was
| on the tender getting coal. Suddenly.
and as IL by accident, Dick lurched for
ward, falling from his seat. AS he went.
with his right hand he jerked the
throttle wide open, and the iron mon
ster ldarted forward like spirited
steed from It's masters whip; with his
left hand he smashed the water glass.
In an instant the cab was full of
steam ard water. Two revolver bull
lets fattened themselves against the
boiler. On his hands and knees Dick
crawled away from the furnace door,
taking his share Of the scalding water
It's an engineers duty to be parboilei
if necessary.
Cropping along the cab floor, at the
doorway his hand fell on felt boot.
Firemen don't wear felt boots, so it
couldn't be Harry. Dick raised his
wrench and struck with all his might
where he supposed the body would be.
He fancied he heard the choking groan
as the resistance gave way and the
foot slipped from the cab.
But with the other outlaw he was
less successful. Scarce, had they stum-
bled together when wiry fingers closed
about his throat. and Dick knew it was
a. life-and-death struggle. The men
swayed in each others arms; the hiss
ing steam, the scalding water, the rush
ing, swinging locomotive. forgotten in
that last vital contest for mastery. Sud-
denly, above the din came the hollow
roar of Turner'S bridge, and at the
same moment the struggling men
swung outward, slipped, and dashed
downward into the darkness.
An hour later they picked him up,
stiff and pallid, but still alive. His
bed of soft snow had saved him alike
from death by falling, and from revenge
from the check-mated outlaws, who had
searched for him in vain. What be-
came of his two passengers he never
learned-but the superintendent was
safe.
Henderson," said the superintend-
ent, week later, II want to do the
right thing with YOU You've been off
duty since the--event. Now we're go
ing to give you No. on the - line.
It's the best run on the system. High
est pay. short and regular hours, and
home every night"
Il am deeply grateful" said Dick,
but I'll can't take it."
II know" said the superintendent,
that It's no proper return for your
sacrifice. but it's. the best l have to
offer just now. AS soon as l can do
better. I will"
Its not that, sir, not that But the
fact that have decided to quit engine
driving for good"
why Henderson,"
Its like this like the business.
but my nerves gone. Every danger
signal would now raise that pallid face
with the cleaning, sightless eyes. Ugh!
Yes" he added with a pathetic mourn
fulness in his voice, Il am a broken
man."
The superintendent sat for some
minutes in deep thought. x have
IT," he at last cried, with the eagerness
of school-boy; Il have it, We are
opening a division terminal at Bay
front, hills and forest behind, a rolling
prairie away to the south. Take your
wife and family out there, buy an acre
Or two of land, and build up your home
in peace The company will give you
a position as locomotive inspector, with
a salary of twenty-five hundred. What
do you say?"
ITS done" .. answered Dick, quietly.
Engineers learn to make quick de-
cisions.
AS the two men shook hands the
superintendent dwelt on Dicks devo-
ton to himself and the company
We'll, it wasn't that that made me
do it."
What then?" qneried the official.
On the wall hung a painting of the
famous "Birkenhead drill" II guess 1t
was because / have some of that blood
in me-" said Dick. as he pointed to
Iho v,,ofu~o Oorod,o~ No~o,;.o