Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-04-12

EO6uS udu always uccu VI Tue uelCcbs
sort. This was due to the fact that al
they lay 30 close together 1t was NO
trouble for shippers to transfer trade
from one to the other, and the nip and
tuck scramble for the local business
kept all the division points at fever
heat.
As Barney figured 1t, the chances In
the coming test were about even. Taken
altogether, the Midland had perhaps q
few less miles of track, but It had more
hills. On the western division it had
the advantage, but on the eastern di.
vision it was the other way. The real
test would come over the middle divi-
sion, and whoever got into headquar.
tiers first would undoubtedly win the
race.
AS the appointed day drew near. Bar
ney's interest increased to such an eN-
tent that he decided to overcome his
scruples for once and go down to the
depot with the crowd. That the racing
train would not stop he was certain.
for he knew that these clear track or
ders respect nothing but water tanks
and coal chutes. with perhaps an Occa-
sional railroad crossing, and as the
town possessed none of these his only
satisfaction would be glimpse Of yel-
low paint as the refrigerators flashed
by, but he considered this much worth
the effort.
When lie reached the platform. which
wis already well filled with people, he
found them I'LL discussing the one sub
icct Men who had never set foot In an
engine cab were busily engaged show
Ing inst how the Midland was going
to get beaten. while an equal number
Of others, possessed of an equal amount
Of knowledge. were showing how 1t
was impossible. Some were betting on
the time that would be made. others
on the amount Of meat carried. and
still others were telling just how much
the lucky road would clear on the con-.
tract in the next three years.
Barney took no part in any Of these
discussions. but stood quietly at one
edge of the crowd waiting patiently for
the first sound Of the trains approach
In short time his trained ear detected
the unmistakable rumble. and soon a
thin column of smoke appeared far
down the track. and In another moment
the whistle sounded. AS the train came
up by the lower switch he could see
that steam was shut Off with the evil
dent intention Of stopping. That's
queer" he remarked to himself as he
took step or two nearer the track.
II wonder what's wrong"
The crowd. too, had noticed by this
time that something was the matter,
and they began pushing and scram-
bling in a wild endeavor to reach the
the agents window just as the train
came to standstill. with the engine
even with the depot. 1t took but mo-
ment for them to learn what was
wrong. The engineer. overcome with
the heat and the strain Of the excite
ment. had given out and was unable to
20 any farther.
The conductor held hurried consul
tation with the agent. "I'm afraid the
contracts lost" he said gloomily. "They
told us when we took water at P. that
we were just about even, but here we
are. laid out. and not an engineer with
in forty miles. I'd run her myself II |
thought could make it, but | guess
you might as well tell headquarters
we've lost the heat"
But the agent. whose eyes had been
wandering over the crowd while the
conductor was talking. suddenly caught