The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-01-23
grumbled Dad after a

postofice," grumbled Dad after a
pause.
Il get a letter twice week that I
think more OF than 1 do of this whole
road. and / propose TO 90 to the post
Office and get it without asking any
body's permission"
They'll pound you again"
George looked out into the storm. I
well. why shouldn't they? I've got no
friends"
Got a girl back in Pennsylvania"
Eyes. I've got a girl there replied
the boy as the rain tore at the cab win
dow. I've had a girl there a good
while. She's gray headed and sixty /
years old-that's my girl-and if she
can write letters TO me | can get them
out of the postoffice without guard
lam
There she comes" said Dad as the
headlight of the Pullman special shone
faint ahead through the mist.
I'm mighty glad of it," said Geor-
gle looking at his watch. GIVE me
steam now, Dad. and I'll get you home
i in time for nap before breakfast.
! A minute later the special shot over
the switch. and the young runner,
crowding the plstons bit started on
/ the siding. When Dad. looking back
/ for the hind end brakeman to lock the
switch and swing on, called all clear,
George pulled her out another notch,
and the long train slowly gathered
Roadway up the slippery track.
AS the speed increased the young
| man and the old relapsed into their
usual silence. The 244 was always a
free steamer, but George put her
through her PAGES without any apollo
gy, and it took lots of coal TO square
the account
In a few minutes they were pound
ing along up through the Narrows. The
track there follows the high bench be-
tween the bluffs, which sheer up on
one side. and the river bed, thirty feet
below the grade, on the other.
It is not an inviting stretch at any
time with a big string Of gondolas be-
hind. But on a wet night 1t Is the last
place on the division where an engi-
neer would want d side rod to go
wrong, and just there and then Geor-
gie's rod went very wrong indeed.
Halfway between centers the big
steel bar on his side, dipping then so
fast you couldn't have seen it even in
daylight, snapped like a stick of leo
rice The hind end ripped up into the
cab like the nose of a swordfish, tear
ing and smashing with appalling force
and fury.
George McNeals seat burst under
him as If a stick Of giant powder had
exploded. He was damned against the
cab roof like a link pin and fell sprawl
ing, while the monster steel f1ai
thrashed and tore through the cab with
every lightning revolution of the great
driver from which it swung.
1t was a frightful moment Any
thing thought or done must be though
and done at once. 1t was either Il
stop that train, and quickly, or t.
pound along until the pa jumped thu
track and lit in the river, with thirty
cars of coal to cover 1t.
Instantly-so Dad Hamilton after
ward told me-instantly the boy
scrambling to his feet, reached for hi
throttle-reached for it through a rail-
Of iron blows, and staggered back witt
his right arm hanging like a broker
wing from his shoulder. And bacl
again after it-after the throttle Wit
h his left; slipping and creeping care
fully this time up the throttle lever IN
til, straining and twisting and dodg
ing, he caught the latch and pushed
4 tightly home, Dad whistling vigorous
ly the while for brakes.
y Relieved Of the tremendous head O
the cylinder, the old engine calme
: down enough to let the two men co
lect themselves. Rapidly as the brake
. could do 1t, the long train was brough
y up standing, and George, helped b
his fireman, dropped out of the cal
le and they set about disconnecting-th
% engineer with his one arm-the To-
4 midable ends of the broken rod
sr 1t was a slow, difficult piece of wor
TO to do In spite of their most activ
efforts the rain chilled them to til
a marrow. The train crew gave thel
IF as much help as willing hands coul,
ir which wasn't much, but by every ma
le doing something they got things fixe
lie called IN their fasmen just before da,
er break and started home. When Il
Id sun rose Georgia grim and silent, Il
throttle in his left hand, was urgir
a the old engine along on a dogtr
In across the Blackwood fats, and s
n limping in on one side, the kid brougl
as his train into the GAINESVILLE yard
re with Dad Hamilton unable to NAL
himself helpful enough, unable to sho
err his appreciation of the skill and Il
ID grit that the night had disclosed in Il
kid engineer.
ad The hostler waiting in the va
be sprang into the cab with ama5eme
on his face and was just In time