Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1907-11-07

to be hts kind.
across the Quaking tundra to the noun
fains and the mines. Upon this slender
trail Of steel there rolled one small.
nngainly teapot of an engine which
daily creaked and clanked back and
forth at snails pace, screaming and
wailing its complaint of the two high
loaded fatcars behind. The ties be-
meath 1t were spiked to planks laid
lengthwise yer the semi-liquid road
bed, in places sagging beneath the sur
face till the hunpbacked. short wasted
locomotive waved and reeled and
squealed like drunken fishwife. At
night 1t painted wearily into the board
station and there sighed and coughed
and Kissed away It's fatigue as the
Goals died and the breath relaxed in its
lungs.
Early to bed and early to rise was
perforce the motto Of its grimy crew,
who lived near by. Tonight they were
Just retiring when stayed by sum-
mons at their door. The engineer
opened it to admit what appeared to
his astonished eyes to be Krupp can
non propelled by man in yellow oiled
clothes and white cotton mask. This
weapon assumed the proportions of a
great one eyed monster. which stared
with baieful fxity at his vitals. giving
him a cold and empty feeling Away
back beyond this Cyclops of the Sight
less Orb were two other strangers like
wise equipped
The fireman arose from his chair,
dropping an empty shoe with thump;
but. being of the west. without cavll
or waste of wind he stretched his
hands above his head, balancing on
one foot to keep his uushod member
from the damp floor He had unbuc-
killed. his belt, and now, Ioosened by the
movement. his overalls seemed bent on
sinking doorward In an ecstasy OF
abashment at the Intrusion, whereupon
with convulsiye grip he Rugged them
to their duty. one hand and foot stin
elevated as though In the grand hailing
sign of some secret order The other
man was new to the ways of the north
so backed to the limit of bis quarters
laid both hands protectingly upon his
middle and doubled up, renlarking fer
wildly:
Don't point that damned thing at
my stomach
"Ha, hal" laughed the fireman, with
unnatural loudness. Have your joke,
boys
This amt no joke" said the fore
most figure, its breath bellying out the
mask at its mouth.
"Sure 1t Is. insisted the shoeIess one
Must be We Amt got anything
worth stealing
"Get into your clothes and come
along We won't hurt you" The two
obeyed and were taken to the sleeping
engine and there instructed to produce
full head Of steam In thirty minutes
or suffer premature taking off and a
prompt elison from the realms of ap-
piled mechanics. As stimulus to their
efforts two OF the men stood over them
till the engine began to sob and sigh
reluctantly. Through the gloom that
curtaIned the cab they saw other dim
forms Undertaking. and climbing Ell
Iently on to the cars behind. Thsn as
the steam gauge touched the mark.
the word was given. and the train
rumbled out from It's shelter. its shrill
plant at curb and crossing whipped
away and drowned in the storm.
sIapjack remained In the cab. gun In
lap, while Dextry climbed back to
Glenister. He found the young man 10
rood shirts. despite the discomfort OF
BIS exposed position. and striving 70
sight hts pipe behind the shelter Of his
coat.
re the dynamite aboardY' the old
man questioned,
ssure. Enough to ballast battle
ship"
As the train crent ont q The camp