The Washington times., 1905-05-07

you certainly killed fin-you are the
first man he ever carried a train
length"
Soon they backed against train
."Fhe tail lights seem comfortably
close" said the fireman. An exchange
OF orders, .'go ahead" indicated by
firt of 81 lamp, then they pulled easily
off John enjoyed 1t hugely-the hollow
roar in the fire-box. rising and falling
with the swing of the door. the broad
back diving continually between 1t and
coal board, flirting the heaping shovel
OF coal deftly into corners and sides;
the heavy figure slouchtng carelessly on
the right seat box, the quiet eyes rest
ing ever on the rails, the great hand on
the throttle-made wide contrast to
the old life.
..J.deing from the way he Is running
her he must have had a train OF peaches
s1oil on his hands some time. remarked
Howe to the fireman as that worthy
Strengthened himself for a brief survey
o. the steam gauge; his only answer an
appreciatiye grin
Dawn was breaking. John put his
head out In tne keen rush OF the morn
ing wind and was taking In this strange
northland, and as his eyes fel over the
broad black river. now family white
lined in dashing ripple, whife-spfaVed
rocks. or stretching III long. silent
reaches between low blue mist-fecked
mountains. sweetly strange thoughts
ran across mis- mind. Again he heard
Madge Deans low, sweet voice reading
the great tinkers' !" immortal aiiegery.
And they came from the mountain
down to a great ri9er was uncon-
sciousIy forming upon his lips. when
voice hoarse in ringing command came
across the deck.
.sIIit the grit. Quick, boys. quick.
The fireman lets the shovel go into
the ffrebox, dashes, streak OF checked
overshirt. between the blackboard and
tank. then is gone. John looks across
the deck. the slouehing inert figure has
disappeared, in It's place moves with
quick masterful energy dashtng form,
the incarnation of resolute action; even
as he looks the stocky leg flies over
the reverse lever. the foot braces
against the boiler head, then as the
broad back sways ahead under the pull
of the links against the unIatched lever,
he sees IL straighten with an EFFORT
that brings the veins out turgid on the
brawny neck, the lever latches in the
last backward d odi ting idh6
and the sand lever is back over the
throttle, its fractured brass handle TO
fall in the deck as the heavy shoulders
and white face disappear back from the
tank. step.
Look out for the side rods. she is in
, the harness and wide OPEN yells
Howe, catching John hv the collar he
him from and
run back jump. boy. jump
Thus adjured John jumns-straight
| out a ffeetfng Craze OF the swift-fyiGg
earth against his foot follows. then
grinding, pounding knock on the head,
| then grass, stones and mixed red and
| blue lights. He raises his heavy head
| in time TO see the lunging, shsvering en-
| gine smash into a huge rock. Then as
| the tank shoots over her, TO Craze to
the left down into the river. Cars are
apparently falling around in all sorts
of shape ana conditions for the mere
| fun of the thing. An arm is thrown
| around him Jerking him swiftly back.
/ Vaguely wondering its wherefore, he
sees a car roll easily where he had been
sitting, TO break to splinters in the most
| unaccountable manner.
E'Sit there and let the whole train roll
over youi I'd like to break your Internal
neck yelled Howe, "and after my tell
ing you how TO run backwards. I'll
have to get you wet nurse. But say,
I old boy, you got out lucky. Can you
stand up? Good. Now take a step;
| now move your fingers; now clasp your
| hands behind your head. Good,
| wouldn't have given two cents for you
a few minutes SINCE
yet you put your life at the same
valuation" answered John extending his
hand.
Lets forget it," said Howe IT won.
der how the rest came cut
The fireman came over the wreck
Yes, I am o. k ne answered, ''but
where is the old MANI"
Here" sounded a hearty voice from
the ditch, with my boot heels in China
and my hip bones cutting my ears off. ,
They soon got him on his feet. I'm
all right; only a little sroggy."
Better go see how Hulda is" he
growIed.
Howe directed Johns eyes TO the tive
heavy sanded rails. saying admiringly
He is a good onei Gid his work ii
shape; plugged her on sand in a second
after he saw the rock. We will have
to lie for him. We were on the pilot
and he knew nothing about it,
"AlI right" answered John Making
detour. they passed o where the en-
gineer stood looking down into the river
"Old Hulda," a stripped wreck, wa;
lying nearly covered with water
"One good thing, SAID the engineer
looking on the rising steam, I'VE won 7
have to pull any fire, but l want my
grub basket. l think I'll go down and
lcok for it."
"AIl right" said the conductor mo-
uent later I'll walh up to Brands
and send for the wreck train and a doc
tor-yes. better do it; it doesn't cost
the company anything
- Z:
A pleased shout came from the river
Here it is, as good as when the ole
lady put it up-come on boys. The
engineer proudly held up his precious
basket. However. Graz and Howe were
not hungry They sat looking over the
river. when John put his hand on
Howe's shoulder.
Frank" he said. in a low, strained
! ]