The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1906-10-17

with sinol,e. The sun was sinking be.
E'nl n blue film. Its dull disk was the
color o: copper. He wondered IL the
same so,rber darkness was settling
down ca Antioch. The element Of
caaecr seemed very real and present.
To Dan this danger centered about
Constance Emory. He quite over
locke tie fact that there were several
thousand other people in Antioch.
Duras. mt his side. rubbed the sandy
brist'es on his chin with the back Of
bis hand and tried to believe he had
Thought Of everything and had done
every ching there was to do.
The woois were OH fire all about
tho Junction. but the town itself was
In no especial danger. as cultivated
fields interviewed to shut away the
flames. In these fields Dan could see
men and women busy at work tearing
down fences. On hillside mile of
q barn was blazing.
There goes Warwick's barn." re.
marked the operator.
what was the last word from An.
tioch? Do you remember exactly what
was saidw asked Dan.
1.-THE message was that strong
north wind was blowing and that the
town was pretty certain to burn unless
the engines and hose reached there to.
night. But they have been saying that
for two days. and the winds always
changed at the right moment and driv.
en- the fire back"
Dan glanced along the track and saw
the relief train, consisting of an en-.
CINE, tender and two fat cars, loaded
with hose and fire engines, on one OF
the sidings. He turned on Durks with
an angry scowl.
'Why haven't you tried to start that
train through? It's ready"
mo one is here to go with it, Mr..
Oakley. I was sort of counting on the
freight crew for the job"
where's Baker,"
'He went home on the 6.1O He
lives up at Carson. you know"
This was the first stop OH the NJ and
W. east of Buckhorn.
"Why did you let him leave? Dc
you mean to say that he's been loaf.
ing around here all day with his hands
In his pockets? He'll never pull an.
other throttle for the Huckleberryv'
Durls did not attempt to reply to
this explosion of wrath.
"Who made up the train?" demand.
ed Dan.
Baker did-him and his fireman. l
didn't know but the freight might come
up from Parker's Run, and l wanted
to be fixed for 'em. couldn't do
thing with Baker told him his or.
ders were to try and reach Antioch
with the relief train, but he said he
didn't care who gave the order, he
wasn't going to risk his life.'
But Dan had lost interest in Baker.
Look here" he cried. You must
get fireman for me, and I'll take out
the train myself"
He wondered why he had not thought
of this before.
Il guess I'll manage to reach Anti.
och," he added as he ran across to the
siding and swung himself into the cab
A faded blue blouse and a pair of
greasy overalls We're lying on the seat
In the cab. He removed his coat and
vest and put them on. Durks, who had
followed him, climbed up on the steps.
you'll have to run slow, Mr.. Oakley,
because it's likely the heat has spread
the rails, if it amt twisted them loose
from the ties" he volunteered. For
answer Oakley thrust a shovel into his
hands.
Here, throw in some COAL" he or
dered. opening the furnace door.
Durks turned sckly, notified white
Il can't leave" he gasped.
you idiot. You don't suppose I'd
take you from your post. What want
you to do is to help me get up steam"
The operator attacked the coal on
the tender vigorously. He felt an i'm.
mense sense of comfort.
Dams railroad experience covered
nearly every branch So it CHANGED
that he had fired for year prior to
taking an Office position. Indeed, his
first ambition had been to be an en-
gineer. 1t was now quite dark, and,
the fires being raked down, he lit
torch and inspected his engine with
comprehensive eye. Next he probed
two foot oiier into the rods and bear.
ings and filled the cups. He found a
certain pleasure in the fact that the
lore of the craft to which he had once
aspired was still fresh in his mind.
'Baker keeps her in apple pie order,
joe" he observed approvingly. The
operator nodded.
Hes always tinkering"
"Well, he's done tinkering for US IN
less l land In ditch tonight. with the
tender on top of me-"
A purring sound issued from the
squat throat of the engine. It was
sending aloft wreaths of light gray
smoke and softly splitting redhot Gin
ders.
Dan climbed upon the tender and In
spected the tank. Last of all he went
forward and lit the headlight. and his
preparations were complete. He jump
ed down from the cab and stood be-
side Joe on the platform.
ha ohaarfrrt1u uni