Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-09-12

again, ana Inen Things would be as they
were before he threw it forward.
But Harry's hand was not expert
enced, and when the lever did not move
at his light touch, he put too much OF
his young strength in his arm and sent
it forward much farther than he In
tended. Big 90 was ready and willing,
and with a throb and a culver she
started out Of the yard.
The quick and unexpected movement
Of the engine startled Harry so that he
forgot himself and every thing else ex-
cept the fact that he had done wrong.
had put himself in danger, and would
be made to suffer for It in some way.
In fact, the poor boy became sud
denly panic-stricken, and in that condI.
ton was as helpless as If he were a
babe in arms.
In few seconds 90 was out of tho
yard and on the main track. MOVING
with ever-increasing speed. AS she
passed out of the yard, some of tb.
men, who were eating their dinner in
one OF the Sheds saw DER and cried ont
IN CONSERVATION when the head of q
frantic boy looked at them from the cab
window. Dropping everything. tne-
rushed to the station and gave the
alarm.
The station-master was quiet and hal
head for business. He as once or.
dered the operator to telegraph Bolton
Harbor that wild engine" was com
ing, and to try to get the / O'Clock ac-
mediation train on a siding, out Of the
way. Then he sent word to Sutton that
his boy was in danger and he must
come to the station.
The engineer came at once and
though his heart felt MS If II were /,
the jaws Of a wise, he kept his head and
took counsel with his friends as to what
could be done.
This is the situation that confronted
them: The line was single track. Bel
ton Harbor, the nearest station, was
five miles down the road In ten min
utes Big 81 would be there; perhaps In
less time If the Inflated boy had thrown
the throttle far enough open.
The accommodation train was almost
sure, at that moment, to be lust below
Belten Harbor on it's way up, and thera-
fore beyond the reach Of the telegraph.
II the engine were not stopped at Bel
ton Harbor it would meet and crash
into the accommodation, for there was
no means Of stopping the latter. The
station-master's message TO Bolton Har-
Dor had been only a wild hope.
There was a siding at Bolton Har
Dor with only one opening to the main
track, and that was toward Fairview.
If the people at Bolton Harbor should
open the siding, Big 90 would dash onto
it and thence to inevitable destruction.
That would save the accommodation
train and its passengers, but it would
be sudden and cruel death to Sutton's
son.
On the other hand, if they did not
open the siding, 90 would meet the ac-
commodation on the main track, and tho
result Of such a collision was fearful
to think about. In either case, it was
instant death to the boy.
Can you imagine a loving father con
Npnted by a situation more terrible
than this? But he bore himself with
Spartan courage, and agreed with the
station-master, that the Bolton Har-
Dor station must be wired to turn the
switch and throw the engine off.
Their consultation did not occupy
half a minute; they dared not delay.
You see, they knew the situation and
did not need the explanation that I
have given you.
Quick, throw the wild engine on the
siding"
That is the message that the wires
flashed to Bolton Harbor.
Meanwhile, what Of the unfortunate
boy? He sat staring wildly at the fields
as they flew by him, dazed with the
great fright that had taken possession
of his senses.
The engine threbbed and whizzed and
quivered as she dashed over the rails.
Under other circumstances Harry
would have gloried in the excitement If
such a ride, but now he was going to
certain death, and death at the hands
of the object that he most admired in
all the world.
1t was all like a flesh Of dazzling
| lightning through his bIai1, and then
without warnlng-there came a great