Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-03-31

| er tires bit. and slowly she sent the
long train OF steel down on Chris
switch. lie heard the frosty nanges
grinding on the face OF the rails as he
tried 10 loosen his foot
Coolly. first like a confident man in a
Guicksand. soon with alarm running
into fright; but there was time enough
The head car was four or i've ieuetha
above the switch and coming very.
very slowly, heavylike aud squeakinr
stifiy under its load. yet coming. and
he wrenched harder, but his foot stuck.
Then he yelled for ShOckley. Shock
ley had gone over to open the caboose
switch. ShOckley couldn't hear. and be
knew il, and he yelled again.
The sweat broke over him as he turn
ed and twisted The grip OF the frog
seemed to stine him. Half the time
was gone. The near truck wheels
screeched two car lengths away, and
the switchman played his last card.
Time and time again Shockley had told
him what TO do if that moment came in
the night-had told him to throw his
lamp in the air like a rocket. But Chris
had forgotten all that till the fat drop
ped heavily on the tongue i'm front OF
him. Then he threw his lamp like a
rocket high into the night
No help came. lie raised his arms
frantically above his head. and his
cries cut the wind. Desperate at last.
he threw himself fat, 70 lie outside the
rail to save all but a foot, but the frog
held him and crying horribly he strug-
gled back-to his feet only 70 sink again
half crazy to the ground. As his senses
left him he was hardly aware Of a
singing pain in his foot, Of a wrench
at his leg an instant arm around his
neck and his yardmaster's voice In his
ear.
Jump screamed Shockley.
Chris scrambled frantically on the
deadly rails. unable to jump, felt him
self picked from the ground. heard a
choke in the throat at his ear, aud he
was flung like a drawbar through the
dark. Shockley had passed a knife
blade from vamp TO sole. slit the Rus
slams clumsy shoe. jerked his foot
from it and thrown him bodily into the
clear.
Chris staggered painting 20 his feet.
Already the steel was moving slowly
over the switch. He heard the sullen
pounding OF the trucks on the contact.
a lantern. burning yet, lay on its side
near the stand. 1t was Shockley's
lamp. Chris looked wildly around Tor
bis yardmaster. called out. called
ShOckley's name, listened. No scream.
no groan, no cry. no answer, no sound.
but just the steady pounding OF the
wheels over the contact. The little
switchman screamed again IN a frenzy
and. turning. raced stumbling up the
track 20 the cab He swung into IL and
by signs made the engineer shut OF.
He tried 20 talk and only stammered n
lingo or switch pidgin and the name of
Shockley. They couldn't understand Il
oil. but they shut or with faces pinch
ed and sallow. threw open the furnace
door and. grabbing their lanterns. ran
back. The fireman. on his knees, held
his lamp out under the fat that span
ned the contact. lie drew. shrinking
back and, rising. started on the run
for the depot 10 rouse Callahan.
IL was Callahan who pulled the pin
a moment later. Chris shivering like
rabbit M bis side 10 was Callahan
who gave the slow pull ahead order
that cut the train IN two at the frog
and Callahan who stepped. wayering.
from the gap that opened behind the
receding fiat-back from something be
tween the ralls-back 10 put his hands
olindly out for the target rod and un-
steadily upon it. lie heard Shockiey
breathing
Some carried the headlight back. and
some tore the door or box car. and
they got him on. They carried him un-
evenly. stumbling over 20 the depot.
They laid him on Callahan's mattress
In the waiting room, and the men
stood all about him, but the only
sound was his breathing. aud inside
under the lamp the receiver, clicking.
clicking. clicking, OF Bucks and the
company surgeon coming on a special
ahead or 80.
They twisted touFnlquets into his
quivering fesh. and with the light dy-
ing in his eyes they put whisky TO his
lips. But he turned his head and spit II
from his mouth. Then he looked from
face to face about him-to the engineer
and 10 the fireman and to little Chris
and 10 Callahan-and his lips moved.
Chris bent over him, but try as he
would he could not catch the words.
"Block-block-" said Shockley's lips.
And Shockley died.
They lifted the mattress into the bag
gage room. Callahan drew over II a
crumpled sheet A lantern left burned
on the checking desk, but the men, ex-
cept Chris. went their ways. Chris
hung irresoiute around the open door.
The special pulled In. and with the
shoes wringing fire from her heels as
she slowed Bucks and a man following
close sprang from the step of the coach.
Callahan met them; shook his head.
Twenty minutes later 80 whistIed for
the yard, but in the yard all was dark