Crittenden record=press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1907-1909, 1907-03-14


and the quarry. for they had seen the
ute after a star and a streak and a
trail OF rotten smoke fly down the
wind. and she had come and passed
and gone.
IL was just east OF that siding. 30
Burns and Sinclair always maintain
ed, but II measured 10000 feet east.
that they caught them.
A shout from Dad brought the drip
ping fireman up standing. aud. looking
ahead. he saw in the blaze OF their
own headlight the string OF coalers
standing still ahead Of them-so il
seemed TO him-their own speed was
so great. and the runaways were al
most equaling it. They were making
forty miles an hour when they dashed
past the paralyzed freight crew.
Without waiting for orders-what or
Gers did such a man need 1-without n
word Burns crawled out OF his window
with a pin and ran forward on the
footboard, clinging the best he could as
the engine dipped and mrched. climbed
down on the cowcatcher and lifted the
pilot bar 10 couple. IL was crazy
thing 10 attempt. He was much like
lier TO get under the pilot than to sue.
coed. yet he tried H.
Then IL was that the fine hand OF
Dad Sinclair came into play. To TEN
per the speed enough. and just enough,
60 push her nose just enough and far
enough for Burns TO make the draw
bar OF the runaway-that was the
nicely OF the big scanned hands on the
throttle and on the air, the very magic
OF touch which on slender bar OF
steel could push a hundred tons Of fly.
ing metal up and hold II steady In a
play Of six inches on the teeth OF the
gale that tore down behind him.
Again and again Burns tried 90
couple and failed. Sinclair. straining
anxiously ahead. caught sight OF the
headlight OF No rounding o'Fallon's
bluffs.
He cried 20 Burns. and. incredible
though Il seems. the fireman heard.
Above all the Internal din. the tearing
OF the fanges and the roaring OF the
wind Burns heard the cry. IL nervel
him TO a supreme effort He slipped the
eye once more into the draw and man.
aged TO drop his pin. Up went bis
hand in signal
Choking the steam. Sinclair threw
the brake shoes flaming against the
big drivers. The sand poured on the
rails. and with Burns up on the coaler~
setting brakes the three great run
aways were brought TO with a JERK
that would have astounded the most
reckless scapegraces Ia the world.
While the plucky fireman crept along
the top Of the freight cars 10 keep
from being blown bodily through the
air, Sinclair. with every resource that
brain and nerve and power could eN
ert. was struggling to overcome the
terrible Roadway OF pursuer and pur-
sued, driving now frightfully into the
beaming head OF No. l.
With the Johnson bar over and the
drivers dancing a gallop backward.
with the sand striking fire and the rails
burning under H.; with the old sky
scraper shivering again In a terrific
struggle and Burns twisting the heads
of the brake rods: with every trick Of
old Snclair's cunning and his boy du
plicating every one OF them in the
cab OF No. 1-still they came together
II was too fearful a momentum %
overcome when minutes mean miles
and tons are reckoned by thousands.
They came together. but Instead of
an appalling wreck, destruction ana
death il was only a bump. No. l had
the speed when they met, and II was
a car OF coal dumped bit sudden and
a nose on Georges engine like full
backs after a center rush. The pilot
doubled back into the ponies, and the
headlight was secured with nut, pea
and slack, but the stack was hardly
bruised
The minute they struck George sin
clair. making fast and leaping from
his cab. ran forward in the dark. pant
ing with rage and excitement Burns.
torch In hand. was himself just jump
ing down 10 get forward. His face
wore its usual grin, even when Geor
gle assalled him with torrent OF
abuse
what do you mean, you red headed
lubberT' he shouted. with much the
lungs of his father. What are you
doing switching coal here on the main
lineY
In fact, George called the astonished
fireman everything he could think Of
until his father, who was laundering
forward on his side OF the engine, hear
ing the voice, turned and ran around
behind the tender TO take a hand him
self.
"Meanr' he roared above the blow
OF his safety. "MeanT' he beloved In
the teeth OF the wind. "Meanf Why.
you impudent empty headed. migrate
full rapscalllon. what do you mean com
ing around here TO abuse a man that's
saved you and your train from the
scrapT
And big Dick Burns. standing by
with his torch. burst into an Irish
laugh, fairly doubled up before the
nonplused boy and listened with great
relish 10 the excited father and px-