Los Angeles herald., 1906-07-22
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himself and scarcely conscious OF what ne
did, except that he was making herce ell
forts to save the railroad train from destruc-
ton. :,
1t is well known that at such times, as well
as in cases of somnambulism, we can do
things which in our cooler and more wakeful
moments are impossible. 1t seemed to jarvis
that he went across the shaking structure WIN
three leaps and then headed straight up the
track toward the approaching engine. lie
swung his hat over his head and shouted with
might and main, never once thinking that
the latter was useless expenditure oil
strength.
The time between the beginning of this ex-
traordinary run and the meeting with the en-
gine. was necessarily very brief. Jarvis ran
much greater personal risk than he ever
knew; for, feeling that it was all-important to
stay on the rails to the very last second, he |
waited until the ribbed pilot was almost upon
him. Then he sprang just far enough aside to
permit it to go by.
1t seemed to him that it had not slack
ened its speed in the least and was sure to
plunge into the chasm. Engine and cars went
past, and, certain that nothing could save
them, Jarvis casped his hands to his face to
shut out the dreadful sight, and muttered:
God help them! God help them!'
He listened for the crash, but the seconds
passed and nothing but the dull roar OF the
torrent reached him. Wondering whether, af-
ter all, he was not dreaming, he urOppeu HIS
hands and looked
The train was standing motionless the rear
car so close to him that he had to take only
one step forward to touch the brake rod. The
engine appeared far down the track but it
was self-evident that it had come to stand
still before passing upon the unsafe trestle-
work. He had succeeded, after all, in stop
ping it in time.
With this happy knowledge came the fact
that most of the passengers seemed to have
- 1a af fba Il xxh,l nth
were on the platforms, and several were walk
ing along the side of the cars toward the
front Whenever any delay takes place with
the train, the American traveller is bound to
know the cause OF it,
AS Jarvis joined the people who were max
ing their way rather uncertainty over the
ground which slopec downward on each side
from the track, he overheard many expressions
OF wonder and speculation as to the reason OF
the sudden stoppage The noise of the torrent
suggested the explanation, but there was some
natural doubt about it.
When the front Of the train was reached
every one stepped forward between the rails,
where the different faces were visible in the
glare of the locomotive headlight. As they
were then within a few yards of the structure,
whose sunken appearance was easily seen, there
could be no question as to the cause OF the
halt.
Engineer and fremen had stepped down
from the engine, and walking the short dis
tance in advance, briefly inspected the bridge
as seen in the reflection from the head
light.
few seconds we're enough to tell their ex
perienced eyes what had happened, and they
came back and began answering the ques
tions of the passengers crowded around The
noise of the brawing torrent compelled then
to speak loud; but conversation was not diff
cult.
"T've had distrust of that trestle for {
good while, and Mr.. Dunbar has had it ex
amined number of times; but he said it wa
one of the strongest bridges on the road; ism
that so?"
The grimy, broad-faced engineer addresses
his question to a slight, bright-eyed gentle
man, who stepped forward Just then froT
around the corner of the engine. He wa
the superintendent of the road, and happene
to be on the train with his son, Godfrey,
young man Of eighteen, who accompanied hiI
and seemed anxious to impress all with hi
importance
too; but the time has come when the continui
dropping has worn away the stone, as the e,
preston goes. We'll now put up an iro
structure. which will stand foods, deluges an
al recommended that months ago, as yC
are well aware, father" said Godfrey Dul
bar, Tipping a match on the bottom of
silver mateh-safe, and then shading his ciga
cite from the breeze, as he applied the light.
There was general turning Of heads to 8
how this wonderful youth looked. Shovil
his hands down in the pockets Of his fall owe
coat, and putting his vile smoke impartial
into the faces Of all, he leaned back 80 that
stood on one foot, while the other was thru
forward, and the polished boot tapped Il
ha al