The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1907-02-21

Il
At Athens we had barely two hours
to rest before doubling back. was
never tired in my life tlll struck the
| pillow that night. but before ! got II
warm the caller routed me out agaln
| The easthound hier was on time. OF
nearly so. and when | got into the .cah
for the run back Foley was Just cou-
| pllng on.
Did you get a napY asked as we
| pulled out
mo; we slipped an eccentric coming
up. and I'VE been under the engine
ever since. Say. she's bird, isn't
she? She's all right couldn't run
her coming up. but I've touched up
her valve motion Bit. and I'll get ac-
ton on her as soon as It's daylight"
Don't mind getting action on my
account. Foley: I'm shy on life insur-
ance."
He laughed.
you're safe with me. never killed
man, woman or child in my life.
When do. i quit the cab. Give her
| plenty OF diamonds. II you please" he
added. letting her out full.
He gave me the ride of my life. but
| l hated to show scare, he was so coolly
| audacious himself We had but one
stop-for water.-and after that all
down grade. We bowled along as easy
as nlneplns, but the pace was hair
raiser. After we passed Arickaree we
never touched thing but the high
joints The long, heavy train behind
us flew round the bluffs once in awhile
like the tail of very caprlclous kite,
yet somehow, and that's an engineers
magic. she always lit on the steel
Day broke ahead, and between
breaths caught the glory of sun
rise on the plains from a locomotive
cab window. When the smoke of the
McCloud shops stained the horizon, re-
membering the ugly threats of the
strikers, | left my seat to speak to
Foley.
~ think you'd better swing off
when you slow up for the yards and
cut across to the rOundhouse"' l cried,
getting close to his ear for we were
on terrific speed. He looked at me in
quiringly. "In that way you won't run
into Cameron and his crowd at the de-
pot" l added. 81 can stop her all
right"
He didn't take his eyes off the track.
'T'l take the train to the PLATFORM"
said he.
Isn't that crossing cut ahead?" he
added suddenly as we swung round
hill west of town.
Yes, and bad one"
He reached for the whistle and gave
the long warming screams. 1 set the
hell ringer and stopped to open the fur
mace door to cool the fire, when-chug!
l few up against the water gauges
like a coupling pin. The monster en-
gine reared right up on her head.
Scrambling to my feet, | saw the new
man clutching the air lever with both
hands, and every wheel on the train
was screeching, jumped to his side
and looked over his shoulder. On the
crossing just ahead big white horse,
dragging buggy plunged and reared
frantically. Standing on the buggy
seat baby boy clung, bewildered. to
the lazyback-not another soul in
sight. All at once the horse swerved
sharply back, The buggy lurched half
over. The lines seemed to be caught
around one wheel. The little fellow
clung on, but the crazy horse, instead
of running, began hornpipe right be-
tween the deadly rails.
looked at Foley in despair. From
tho rnopctrnuc n,1ivarinu IaupS nf IN
great engine knew the drivers We're
in the clutch of the mighty air brake.
but the reslstless momentum of the
train was none the less sweeping us
down at deadly speed on the baby.
Between the two tremendous forces the
locomotive shivered like gigantic
beast. | shrang back in horror, but the
little man at the throttle, throwing the
last ounce of air on the burning wheels,
leaped from his box with a face trans
figured.
'Take her" he cried, and, never
shifting his eyes from the cut, he shot
through his open window and darted
like cat along the running board to
the front.
Not hundred feet separated us from
the crossing | could see the baby's
curls blowing in the wind. The horse
suddenly leaped from across the track
to the side of It, That left the buggy
quartering with the rails, but not
twelve inches clear. The way the
wheels We're cramped single step
ahead would throw the hind wheels
into the train: step backward would
shove the front wheels into It, 1t was
appalling
Foley. clnging with one hand to a
headlight bracket, dropped down en-
the steam chest and swung far out AS
the cowcatcher shot past Foley's long
arm dipped into the buggy like the |
sweep of connecting rod and caught |
the boy by the breeches. The impetus |
or our speed threw the child high in the |
air, but Foleys grip was on the little |
Oyeralls, and as the youngster bounded |
back he caught it close saw the |
horse give a leap. 1t sent the hind |
wheels into the corner of the baggage |
ear. There was crash like the report |
OF hundred rifles, ana the buggy flew
In the air. The big horse was thrown |
tifty feet, but Foley, with great light
In his eyes and the baby boy In his
arm, crawled, laughing, into the cab.
Thinking he would take the engine
again, ! tried TO take the baby. Take
II? Well, | think not!
I'll, there, buster shouted the little
engineer wildly, "that's corklng pair