The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-15

OF
forenoon The ray Of light that
patchers shoulder he looked into the darkness
showed however, that it rain drifting downward in
the minutest drops.
1t almost time for the night dispatcher, Rollins,
to put in an appearance and Mr. Mingle looked at his
Suddenly he glanced up he saw man the top of
freightcar the yards swing his lantern about his
head and make jump clear to the ground to pile
Of cinders.
'That was foolish thing do'' said Mr.. Mingle
himself "He might have broken his legs; then he'd
have sued the company
The not injured, however, for he skipped
He and To- the OF The en-
CINE that raising such beneath the window.
The glow from the rosy Goals made everything quite
Never in his life had Mr. Minge face wear
such look that.
The fireman closed the furnace door with slam,
and the engineer had been out on the footboard
hurried back at gesture Two Words and he dropped
bundle of waste in his hand and pulled wide the throt
tle At the same time the engine shrieked for open
Switches What could it meant As the dispatcher turned
to the door of the staircase he into the whose
face he had in the glare from the rebox. It
the assistant yardmaster
Lord, Mr. Mngle!'' he exclaimed, 'tis No. A on
times Hurry and ind out' passed junction
The dispatcher IL stride stepped to the instru-
ment the desk. With his finger on the keyboard he
paused. e,Ten me quickly" he said, *what has hap
1.-THE train!'' exclaimed the yardmaster, sinking
back into the worn armchair and dropping his hands
heipessly on either side of him. some one left the
pulled by herself down the grade on the main track
saw her going from the top Of the freight How she
started, Lord knows. She slipped out like ghost, sr
Mr. Mingle had caught only the first few words. His
hand jumping he sounded the call for the
operator at Selma junction. twenty-five miles down the
road:
IN s strained 6en his IS: teeth eSate1ss
he had felt blast of icy wind There nothing to do
Fifteen of that twenty-five miles all down-grade
on single track bad grade that necesstaed extra
engine to help it's brother puff and tug the heavy trains
up out Of the valley. Between Jimtown and the juno
ton there was station and only siding, that
out to the Fetterlof quarres, ten miles below
'tThe switch eng cine has gone after herr said the
yardmaster T she catch up before they reach the
steep grade the pine woods they be able to make
. She viii catch them now'' said Mr.. Mingle.
Heaven help all in 49, great sob like SILVER
Tho nm he wretans as
and ssa Of the boy: seths s. M
quarters They will be safe for twenty minutes yet.
Hurry, man! Don't sit there like fool!'' 49,
The yardmaster slipped his hat on his head and
plunged down the steep stairway. ~
The dispatcher rubbed his forehead.
It was hard thing to do. Sixty miles away they
by his touching the little instrument that his trembling
hand reached forward for How could he begin the
sage4 The idea of that load of gathering frghtful
Roadway every minute whirng along thru the darkness
toward that slowly approaching train made him sick and
faint There going to be wreck, and nothing in
could see the crash BE could see what that fireman and
engineer of No. would see thru the randrops in the
glare from the headlight. Old Jack Lane, he knew him
wen It would be Jacks last trip There would not be
time to think time to press the throttle It would be
on them all at ..-.-
The dispatcher called up headquarters. Would they
answeri It seemed already half hour since the
yardmaster had left him. E. -
Somebody thumped up the stairway ...-.
'Hello, Mixer!' said cheerful voice. tfFine night
for ducks, eh9' The speaker young with slight,
athletic frame, dashed his hat the table, "Wha up,
Culy7" he asked MI. Mingle turned from the nstru-
ent and the other caught glimpse of his scared white
face. - .-E-7-
shouting but he spoke slowly and distinctly The young
he had been addressing had thrown off his rubber
coat The tails had been pinned up and his back
covered with streak of mud When the dispatcher
finished his companion reached the head of the stairs in
jump ~,E.. ..-&--s IL +
"1n try for ill., he said .Theres just one chance
III try to make the quarriesl' -
Despite the fact that headquarters calling
back Mingle to the door, He just In time to
the night dispatcher lifting something down the steps
outside
tsTry it, Roe! he shouted and ran out into the