Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-07-03

crowded the local pnyslclans VIII III
strument bags and bandages. The om-
inous baggage deposited Oh the office
door, they sat down about the room or
lowered around Carhart, asking for
details. Doubleday, tall and grim,
came over from the roundh0use. Ben.
edict Morgan stamped up from the
yard. The Mountain division was
ready.
All three dispatchers were In the
room. John Mallcrs, the day man.
stood near Tracy, who had relieved
Giddings. The line was clear for the
relief run. Elcho had been notified
Of the impending disaster, and ut Ira
cy's elbow sat the chief. looking fixedly
ut the key, taking the bob Of the sound
er with his eye. 4 dozen men In the
room were talking, but they spoke as
men who, speaking, wait on the life of
a fuse. Duffy, with suspense deepen
ing into frenzy, pushed Tracy's hand
from the key and, sliding into the
chair, began once more to call his
brother ut Rat River.
"R, T - r, I - r, T - X, r."
clicked the River call. "R, Z - Il,
T-R, T Bob Bob - Boil" ,pelled
the sender. Answer me, answer, an
swer. X, t II, T - X, r - IL, L -"
And Barnes Tracy edged away and
leaned back to where the shadow hid
his face, and John Mallers, turning
from the pleading Of tire current, stared
gloomily out Of the window across the
yard, shimmering under the double
relay Of arc lights, and young Cid
dings, who couldn't stand it-just
couldn't stand it-bending on bis stool.
shook with gulping sobs.
The others knew nothing Of the heart
breaking in the little clicks. But they
all knew the track--knew where the
trains would meet: knew they could not
by any possibility see each other till
they whirled together on the curve or
the Cinnamon cut or on the trestle west
of 1t, and they waited only for the
breaking Of the suspense that settled
heavily over them.
Ten. twenty, thirty, forty minutes
went, with Martin Duffy at intervals
vainly calling. Then. as the crack
opens on the field Of ice. as the snow
breaks In the mountain slide. as the sea
gives up ut last its dead. the sOundor
spuke-Rat River made the dispatch
er's call. And Martin Duffy. staring
at the copper coil. pushed himself NJ In
bis chair like man that chOkes, caught
smothering ut his neck, and slipped
wrigglng to the floor.
Carhart caught him up, but Dufy's
eyes stared meaningless past him. Rat
River was calling him. but Martin Duf-
| fy was past the taking. Like the man
next at the gun, Barnes Tracy sprang
into the chair with the I. |. ID. The
surgeon, Giddings helping. dragged
Duffy to the lounge In Callahan's room
his chief was more to GiddinGs then
| than the fate of Special 326. Bat soon
| confused voices began to ring from
where men were crowding around the
| dispatchers' table. They echoed in to
/
Ing chief. And young GidhinsS. help
Ing. began. too, to hear strange things
from tile other room.
"The noon
"The moon"
1.-The mOonw
what"
Barnes Tracy was trying to make
himself heard:
"The moon! Moon! That's English,
amt It? Moon"
"Who's talking at Rat River?' de-
manded Benedict Morgan hoarsely.
"Chick Neale. conductor Of third
eighty. Their train is back at Rat
River. God bless that man." stammer-
ed Barnes Tracy. wIping his forehead
fevershly. Hes an old operator. He
says Bob Duffy is missing. Tell Mar
tin. quick, there isn't any wreck
quick"
what does Neale say:" cried Dou-
bleday, with an explosion.
Tracy thought he had told them. but
he hadn't. "He says his engineer, Abe
Monsoon, was scared by the moon ris,
Ing just as they cleared Kennel Butte y
explained Tracy unsteadily. HE TOOK
It for the headlight of Special 328 and
jumped from his engine. The fireman
backed the train to Rat River. See?
While Tracy talked. Mallers ut the
key was getting 1t all. Look here"
he exclaimed, did you ever hear OF
such a mixup in your life? The head
brakeman Of the freight was In the
cab, Neale says. He and the engineer
were talking about the last conclave
train, wondering where they were 60
ing to meet II, when the brakeman
spied the moon coming up around Ken
mel Butte curve. There's the 326 spe
cialv he yelled and lighted out thu
gangway. Monsoon reversed and Jump
cd of after him so quick he knocked
the fireman over in the coal. Wher
the fireman got up-he hadn't heard
word of 1t all-he couldn't see anything
ahead but the moon. So he stops th'
train and backs up for the two guys
When Neale and he picked them VI
they ran right back to Rat River 10
orders. They never got to Rock Pom
at all-why. they never got two mile
east Of Rat River"
And where's Special 1862? criet
Doubleday.
AT Rock Point, you loco. She mus
be there and waiting yet for thir'
eighty. The stopping of the treigh
gave her plenty Of time to make III
meeting point, don't you see, anu ther'
she is. sweating, yet. Neale ID an Oh
operator. By heaven, give me maj
Of the key against the world! Prais
God. from whom all blessings h0w.'
"Then there isn't to be any wreckI
yentured Il shy little lady homeopathi
| physIcian. who had been crimped int
the fray to help do up the mangle'
Knights and was mOdestly waiting he
opportunity.
"Not tonight" announced Tracy. wit
the dignity OF a man temporarily
charge of the entire division.
A yell went out Of the room Ike
tidal wave. Doubleday and Benedie
Morgan had not spoken to each othe
since the night Of the roundhouse fire
that was two years. They turned wol
der struck 10 each other. Doubleda
impulsively put out his hand and. b'
. fore he coull pull 1t In again, the wreck
| ing boss grabbed II like Il pas checl
Carhart. who was catching the new
from the rattle of young Gild!ng'. wcr
I'LL ....;,,,, o., r.,n.,,t II IN duffy Will