La Junta tribune., 1907-08-03

u u,
ell for the approaching n!er. saw an
engine rying Light: knew the hunter
and the quarry, for they had seen the
runa ways shoot by-saw then. u min
ute after. n star and q streak and a
trail OF rotten smoke ny down the
wind. and she had come and passed
and gone,
II was jus; east Of that siding. so
( Burns aud SIncinir always maintain
I ed. bu, II measured 10000 feet east.
i that they caught them.
A shout from Dad brought the drip
ping fireman up standing. and, looking
ahead. he saw In the blaze OF their
own headlight the string OF coalers
standing stlIl ahead OF theru-so Il
seemed TO hiu-their own speed was
so great. and the runaways were al
most equaling 1t. They were making
forty miles an hour when they dashed
past the paraiyzcd freight crew.
Without waiting for orders what or
ders did such "A man need without q
word Burns crawIed out Of his window
with pin and ran forward on the
footboar,I, clInSing the best he could us
the engine dipped and lurched. climbed
down on the cowcatcher and lifted the
pilot bar TO couple. 1t was crazy
thing to attempt. He WIS much like
Iier to get under the pilot than 10 sue
ceed yet he tried it
Then II was that the fne hand OF
Dad Sinclair came into play To tenn
per the specI enough. and just enough,
to push her nose just enough and fur
enough for Burns TO make the draw
bar OF the ruuaway-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 hundred tons OF fly
im. metal up aud hold II steady in n
play of six inches on the teeth OF the
gale that tore down behind him.
Again and again Burns tried TO
coupl. and failed. Sinclair. straining
anNiousiy ahead. caught sight OF the
headlight OF No. ! rounding O'Fallon's
bluffs.
He cried TO Burns, and. Incredible
though II seems. the fireman heard.
Above all the Internal din. the tearing
OF the fanges and the roaring OF the
wind Burns heard the cry. II nerved
him to a supreme effort. He slipped the
eye once more into the draw and man
aged TO drop his pin. Up went bis
band in signal.
Choking the steam, Sinclair threw
the brake shoes flaming against the
big drivers. The sand poured on the
rails. aud with Burns up on the coalers
setting brakes the three great run
aways were brought to with jerk
that would have astounded the most
reckless scapeSraces in the world.
While the plucky fireman crept along
the top of the freight cars TO keep
from being blown bodily through the
air. Sinclair. with every resource that
brain and nerve and power could ex-
ert. was struggling to overtSsrse the
terrible headway OF pursuer and pur-
sued. driving now frichtfuily into the
beaming head OF No. l.
With the johnson bar over and the
drivers dancing gailop backward;
with the sand striking fire and the rails
burning under 1t: with the old sky
scraper shivering again in terrihc
struggle and Burns twisting the heads
OF the brake rods: with every trick OF
old SInciair's cunning and his boy du-
piicating every one OF them in the
cab OF No. l-still they came together.
1t was too fearful momentum 10
overcome. when minutes mean miles
and tons are reckoned 10y thousands.
They came together, but instead OF
an appalling wreck. destruction lnd
death IL was only a bump. No. had
the speed when they met. and II was
car OF coal dumped Bit sudden and
q nose on Georges engine Ike full
backs after 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
| ins down so4sget forward. His face
wore its usual grin. even when Geor-
gle assailed him with Il torrent OF
abuse.
What do you mean, you red headed
I lubbery'' he shouted. with much the
lungs Of his father. What are You
doing switching coal here on the main
I line:''
! 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 hand him
4 self
/ "Mean;' he roarei above the blow
\ Of his safety. Meant" he beloved In
] the teeth of the wind. Mean? Why.
| you impudent. empty headed. migrate
/ full rapscallion, what do you mean COM
| in., arnnnl herf. To nhrse a 1nnr that's