Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-11-22
lcoNTINuED.l

fiat cars loaded with ties. and lie uu,
derstood the difficulty at ii ~ylaMcp. On
the main track Il brick u4d >tu..r rui
vert %Silannru The run. but TIKI aiG.:!..
crossed it o. Il ninlsy wooGrl ,r.M-,r.
This bridge had probably been burniu.
as the freight backed in for the fiat
cars, and when it attempted to pull! out
the weakened structure had collapsed
and the engine had gone through into
the cut. 1T rested on its forward end,
damned between the steep banks, with
it's big drivers in the air. or the cars
there remained only the trucks and
ironWork. Near by a tool shed had
formerly stood, but that was gone too.
The wheels and gearing of a hand car
in the midst Of a heap of ashes marked
the spot.
Dan turned to his father Are you
all right, daddy?' he asked.
Eyes, Dannie."
"Mind your footing. 1t will be pretty
shaky back there"
They were still in the burned district,
where a change in the wind that after
| noon had driven the fire back on itself.
1t had made a clean sweep of every
thing inflammable. Luckily the road
had been freshly ballasted, and the
track was in fair condition to resist the
flames. But an occasional tie smo,-
| dered, and from these the rushing
train thrashed showers of sparks.
Dan kept his eyes fastened on the
rails, which showed plainly in the jerky
glare Of the headlight. 1t was we'll to
be careful while care was possible. BY
and by he would have to throw aside
all caution and trust to chance. Now
he increased his speed. and the in
| sistent thud Of the wheels drowned ey-
cry other sound, even the faroff roar
Of the flames. At his back at intervals
a ruddy glow shot upward into the
night when Roger Oakley threw open
the furnace door to pass in coal. Save
for this it was still quite dark in the
cab, where Dan sat With his hand Oh
the throttle lever and watched the vel
low streak that ran along the rails in
advance Of the engine. Suddenly the
wall of light ahead frightened visibly,
and its glare filled the cab. They were
nearing the fire.
Dan jammed the little window at bis
elbow open and put out his head. A
hot blast roarcd past him, and the heat
of the fire was in his face. He drew
the window shut. 1t was light as day
in the cab now.
He leaned across the boilers end
and, with a hand to his lips. called to
his father, Are you all rightY'
The old man drew himself erect and
crept nearer.
"What's that you say, Dannic?' be
asked. His face was black with Goa
dust and CRIME.
care you all right? Can you bea,
the heat:"
81 am doing very nicely, hnt this
amt a patch on what it's going to De"
Eyes. it will be much worse. though
this is bad enough"
"But we can stand it. We must
think of those poor people at Antioch"
"We'll stick to the engine as long as
the engine sticks to the rails" said
Dan grimly. Hadn't you better come
into the cab with me? You'll he fright
fully exposed when We get into thu
thick of it,"
Not yet. Dannie? III give yol
steam, and you drive her as hard as
you can"
He turned away. shovel in hand.
Then, all in a second, and they were
in the burning woods. rushing beneath
trees that were blazing 10 their yer!
SUBMITS. The track seemed to shak.
and tremble in the fierce light arc
iercer heat. Burning leaves and
branches were caught up to be whirleG
in fiery eddies back down the rails as
the train tore along. for Dan was hit
ting her up.
Tongues of fire struck across at the
two men. Smoke and fine white ashes
filled their mouths and nostrils. Theil
bodies seemed to bake. They had been
streaming wet with perspiration a me
ment before.
Off in the forest it was possible tC
see for miles. Every tree and buSi
stood forth distinct and separate,
Roger Oakley put down his shove
for an instant to fill Il bucket with wa.
ter from the tank on the tender. he
plunged his head and arms in it and
splashed the rest over his clothes. Oar
turned to him for the last time.
"It isn't far now be painted. Jus
around the next curve and Wen So.
the town If it's still there off in the val
ley"
The old convict did not catch moro
than the half of what he said. but he
smiled and nodded his head.
IS they swung around the curve a
dead sycamore which the fire had CIR
died mt the base crashed across the
track. The engine plunged lnto It's top
rolled Il over once and tossed il aside
There was the smashing OF glass ah'
the ripping of leather as lhe sSc"
morc's limbs raked the cab, ana Roger
Oakley uttered Il hoars" cry IL CT!
Dan did not hear. but he turned, sII'
ting dust and cIndrrs from DIS ups
and saw the old convict stu standing