The San Francisco call., 1905-06-04

they settled on the pilot BEAM Oome
on old smoke wagon"
AS If in answer to the taunt a hoarse
roar tore through the smoke box, the
air was filled with the fiery uprising of
red cinders, the beam swung from side
to side over a heavy slip of the grind
ing drivers. John clung to his beam-de-
spite its swing it seemed refreshingly
solid Then silence for second, then
with heavy exhaust they were off.
L wish had that idiot by the neck"
howled Howe nearly standing on his head
in a frantic effort to dislodge "hot one'
from under his collar
Never drop sand at stop. they rip
an engine wide open. 1 wish. 1 was his
master mechanic-scare you. John?"
u decline TO answer questions coming
from man in your mental Condition"
responded John dryly.
All right, young man, just wait until
you get a pound OF red hot fire down
your back and then I'll do the Ben
Franklin act"
Meanwhile the train had gathered head
way To John it was very strange. very
awesome, yet delightfully."- fascinating
the divergent rays of the headlight glow
ing in quick broken ripples against ghost
ly cuts. darting amid the swaying fes-
toons of reeling bridges, or mirrored mo-
mentarily. like free, swift-flying bird.
in the sudden outflashing of cottage win
oows-the unspringing into spectral prom
inence and fieeting flight into the night of
all things. The heavy bound from the
curve to tangent-the grinding backward
return; the sense Of mighty irresisti-
bic power; rioting in thrust of piston or
grim dance of rods; the meteor fight of
lighted hamlets, their lights streaming
back like stripes on a wide-fiung banner,
and over All the sheet of living fire. pune
tuated by the hoarse tear of the eager,
crowding exhaust
''Hcw do you like it?" asked Howe.
I'm just beginning to live" came the
answer Howe noticed the vibrant ring
in the voice and clasped the hand rest
ipg near his, approvingly.
A long whistle. then the clatter of
valves. replaced the tumult of rushing
steam.
Wont the people at the station see
us2"
NO. indeed; this is the darkest place
on the train. Haven't you ever noticed
how people will stare at the headlight
until it is on them and then drop their
blinded eyes while the engine passes?
Watch nowi'' and John saw he was
right.
"Our only trouble will be at York,
where the cinder throwing high priest
will probably anoint the combination.
There is a coal bin little way this side.
but we will be safe there-too much
coal scattered on the ground for the oil
artist Now. when we get TO York we
will watch which side he gets down on,
crawl up on the running board on thefop-
posite side. crouch down, and when he
gets through and is getting up with the
torch flare in his eyes we win regain our
places. No danger of the fireman seeing
US; it only takes about four minutes TO
get water"
Howe proved a good prophet. At York
things worked like clockwork. Dodging
the burIy old engineer proved an easy
task. The strong face. torch illumined.
peering for OIL holes, passing unsuspect
ing a foot from his own. gave John
great inclination to laugh aloud.
Then they came upon a long silver
line with misty oval emeralds on its
bosom.
That's the Susquehanna," said
Howe. we will soon be in Harris
burg. It's a rough place on people in
our peculiar line. SO as soon as we
stop, dodge of and run back on the
track side; then we can cross over the
coach platform and join the passengers
as they get of"
This, too, worked all right AS the
TO the ground. Only a car inspector
served their move he muttered Rather
a slick pair; beat old John all right"
After few minutes in lunch room
they made detour to the freight
yards, where they came TO a great en-
CINE house. On an outgoing track
stood a long row OF simmering ma
chimes; standing with banked fires
awaiting their turn to leap into stren-
uous life. The stack emitting now
only a faint shadowy wisp OF vapor
soon to wave a sable plume-red
woofed in threaded fire over the stars
gIimmering in the long stretches OF
the blue Juanita" or ~Lordly Susque-
hanna.
Now these. are engines soon to go
out" said Howe as they rested upon
the edge of a friendly truck. They
are all frcights, but there comes the
one we rode here on. This winds up
her trip. Now the engineer leaves her
and the house gang takes her in
charge. The fire and ash pans are
cleaned, full supply OF coal, water
and sand put on. All repairs reported
attended to. then she is groomed like
race horse.
Now look at her, standing there her
shining rods resting high against the
big drivers with the dainty disdainful
grace Of woman holding up her skirts
on a muddy crossing. Then at those
dirty old freight pelicans, and I will
tell you something about queer idea
that came to me when in an art gall
leIy. There was an ancient, earth
stained statue. the work of some old
Greek. dead thousands of years. think