The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-09-20
The Manager Of
the B. ( A.
By VAUGHAN KEsTER
Copyright. 1901, by Harper & Brothers
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.

L IL, l..
Oakley. Two cars, loaded with fire
engines and lot of old hose. They
are on the siding now"
Were any men sent here with the
relief train?" questioned Oakley.
''No; Antioch just wanted hose and
engines. The waters played out, and
they got to depend on the river if the
fire strikes the town. They're in pretty
bad shape, with nothing but one old
hand engine. You see, their water
mains are about empty and their hose
carts amt worth much.'
Oakley turned on his heel and strobe
from the Office. The operator followed
him. AS they gained the platform
Dan paused. The very air was heavy
with smoke. The sun was sinking be-
hind blue film. Its dull disk was the
color of copper. He wondered if the
same somber darkness was settling
down on Antioch. The element of
danger seemed very real and present
To Dan this danger centered about
Constance Emory. He quite over
looked the fact that there We're several
thousand other people in Antioch
Durks, at his side, rubbed the sandy
bristles on his chin with the back of
his hand and tried to believe he had
thought Of everything and had done
everything there was to do.
The woods We're on fire all about
the 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
a barn was E-azing.
There goes Warwick's barn." re-
marked the operator.
"What was the last word from An
tioch? Do you remember exactly what
was said? asked Dan.
'"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 fiat cars, loaded
with hose and fire engines, on one of
the sidings He turned on Durks with
an angry scowi
''Why haven't you tried to start that
train through? It's ready"
''No one is here to go with it, Mr..
Oakley. was sort of counting on the
freight crew for the job"
where's Baker?"
Gle went home on the 6:10. He
lives up at Carson, you know"
This was the first stop on the NJ. and
w. east of Buckhorn.
'Why did you let him leave? Do
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 Huckleberry!'
Durks did not attempt to reply to
this explosion of wrath.
"Who made up the train?" demand
ed Dan.
Baker did-him and his fireman.
didn't know but the freight might come
up from Parker's Run, and / wanted
to be fixed for en. couldn't do ;
thing with Baker. told him his or
ders We're to try and reach Antioch
with the relief train, but he said III
didn't care who gave the order, b,
wasn't going to risk his life"
But Dan had lost interest in Baker.
Look here" he cried you mus
get fireman for me, and I'll take GU
the train myself"
He wondered why he had not though
of this before.
II guess I'll manage to reach Anti
och,' he added as he ran across to tn
siding and swung himself into the cab
A faded blue blouse and pair o
greasy overalls We're lying on the sea
in the cab. He removed his coat ant
vest and put them on. Durks, who hat
followed him, climbed up on the steps
You'll have to run slow, Mr.. Oakley
because it's likely the heat has spreat
the rails, if it amt twisted them loos
from the ties" he volunteered. Fo
answer Oakley thrust shovel into hi
hands.
Here, throw in some coal" he OF
dered, opening the furnace door.
DurlSs turned a sicilly, notified white
II can't leave" he gasped.
you idiot. You don't suppose II
take you from your post. What wan
you to do is to help me get up steam.
The operator attacked the coal o.
the tender vigorously. He felt an in
mense sense of comfort.
Dams railroad experience covere
nearly every branch. SO it chance
that he had fired for year prior t
taking an office position. Indeed, hi
first ambition had been to be an en-
gineer. 1t was now quite dark, anG
the fires being raked down, he lit
torch and inspected his engine with
comprehensive eye Next he probe
a two foot oiler into the rods and bea1
ings and filled the cups. He found
certain pleasure in the fact that tn
lore of the craft to which he had one
aspired was still fresh in his mind.
Baker keeps her in apple pie order