The Greeley tribune., 1907-02-28

"You talk about men," continued th'
Young fellow. "If am not more of I
man than to slug fellow from be
hind, the way they slugged me, II
get off this engine and stay off. l,
that's what you call men out here,
don't want to be man. I'll 60 back
to Pennsylvania"
"Why didn't you stay there?" crowl
ed Dad.
"Why didn't your?
without attempting to return the
shot Dad pulled nervously at the chain
.'If hadn't been fool enough to &c
ont on strike, l might have been run
ming there yet" continued George.
"ought to have kept away from the
postodAee." grumbled Dad atter n
pause.
81 get letter twice week that |
think more of than I do Of this whole
road. and l propose to go to the post
office and get it without asking any,
body's permission"
They'll pound you again."
George looked out into the storm.
"Well, why shouldn't they7 I've got no
friends"
"Got girl back in Pennsylvania?
Eyes, I've got girl there" replied
the boy MS the rain tore at the cab win
dow. "T've had 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 postoff1ce without a guard
IAN"
"There she comes" said Dad as the
headlight of the Pullman special shone
faint ahead through the mist.
"Tm mighty glad Of it." said Geor
gle, looking at his watch. "Give ME
steam now, Dad, and I'll get you home
in time for a nap before breakfast"
A minute later the special shot over
the switch, and the young runner
crowding the pistons bit, started off
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
II
As the speed increased the young
man and the old relapsed into their
usual silence. The pa was always
free steamer, but Georgie put her
through her PAGES without any apollo
gy, and it took lots of coal to square
the account.
In 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.
1t is not an inviting stretch at any
time with big string Of gondolas be-
hind. But on a wet night It is the last
place on the division where an engi-
neer would want 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 ittesan in
daylight, snapped like a stick q leo
rice. The hind end ripped up into the
cab like the nose Of q swordfsh. tear
ing and smashing with appalling force
and fury.
George McNeal's seat burst under
him as II a stick Of giant powder had
exploded. He was jammed against the
cab roof like link pin and fell sprawl
Ing, while the monster steel dail
thrashed and tore through the cab with
every lightning revolution of the great
driver from which it swung
It was a frightful moment Any
thing thought or done must be thought
and done at once. 1t was either to
stop that train, and quickly, or to
pound along until the 244 jumped the
track and lit In the river, with thirty
cars Of coal to cover It,
Instantly-so Dad Hamilton after
ward told me-instantly the boy,
scrambltng to his feet, reached for his
throttle-reached for 1t through q rain
Of iron blows, and staggered back with
his right arm hanging like a broken
wing from his shoulder. And back
again after it-after the throttle with
his left; slipping and creeping care
fully this time up the throttle lever un-
va, oSAoAAAh8 anu twisting and 0oQg-
ing, he caught the latch and pushed 1t
tightly home, Dad whistling vigorous
ly the while for brakes.
Relieved Of the tremendous head ON
the cylinder. the old engine calmsd
down enough to let the two nsn col.
lect themselves. Rapidly as the brakes
could do II, the long train was brought
up standing. and George, helped BY
bis fireman, dropped out of the cab.
and they set about disconnectins-tha
engineer with his one arm-the for
midable ends Of the broken rod.
1t was a slow, difficult piece Of work
to do. In spite of their most active
efforts the rain chilled them to the
marrow. The train crew gave them
as much help as willing hands could.
which wasn't much, but by every man
doing something they got thing. nxed.
called In their fagmen just before day.
break and started home. When the
sun rose George, grim and silent the