Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-03

his mouth It was known throughout the rail
way world that Hiram X. Hustle, American rail
way king, was Sir Jordan's guest at Magnus Hall
Coming from anyone else but the Napoleonic ST
Jordan this telegraphic command must have 81
vored of lunacy 1t was Christmas Eve, tn
Northern Central swarming with excursion traffic
and last, but by no means least, Magnus Hall
two hundred and fifty miles down the line wa,
Ithree-quarters of mile from the railway tracb
land the nearest station.
What did it mean? Was Sir Jordan intent on
showing the American railway magnate that thing'
could be done smartly in the old country? Stan.
/ ley re-rcad the wire.
| "By seven o'clock tomorrow morning, ese
lose contract he muttered, in a hoarse unsteady
voice "Contract-what for? Locomotives Of
the Mammoth type?"
Then the telephone bell in the office whirred
out lie sprang to the instrument
"Hcllo!" said the quiet voice THAT you, Stan
ley? I'm Winter Northern Central. just been
wired by the chairman"
so have l." replied Stanley. What does Il
mean?"
Cant tell YOU. I've had the wire repeated.
Our chairman doesn't waste time in explanations.
Can you do it? You realize what it means?"
Stanley laughed into the telephone-a trihC
Historically, perhaps.
"Well. yes" he said Getting the Mammoth
to TorSard on Christmas Eve, and from Torkard
station to Magnus Hall I'll have steam up and
be out of the shed in under an hour"
Good. Every effort will be made to give you
clear run to Torkard I'm wiring Waveney
Junction to send permanent-way gang and ma
terials special to Torkard But they can't be
there much before you. You'll have to hustle
them You'll want pilot for the road. Any
thing else you require?"
Couple of toolvans two thirty-ton hydraulic
Jacks replied Stanley. "Permanent-way train
will take down sleepers wood-packing and rails.
Give me as many men as possible
"All l can spare; but it's Christmas Eve, and
there's fog and snow up North. Pick up your
too-vans at Waveney Good luckl'
That was all. Stanley sprang from the tele
phone and worked like Niger. 1t was not an
occasion for speculation and emotion, but one
demanding action and efficiency. Yet more than
once Fay ntruded herself upon his thoughts
Wood soaked with paraffn stocked into the
Mammoths fire-box, a steam pipe was thrust In
to her funnel to create a vacuum and draught.
Within the hour she throbbing like living
thing eager to be gone.
A deepthroated cheer drew echoes from the
shed as Stanley, black as sweep, his eyes gleam-
ing out like lamps from the backness, opened the
throttle and with a kissing and steaming from
her cylinders. Mammoth No. crawled out into
the driving snow. He stopped her just before
the junction of the shed-track with the main line
to pick up the Northern Central driver, who was
to serve as pilot along the ROAD lhe stoher, ono
of Staney's men. expert fireman.
Fright ahead!" cried the pilot.
The Mammoth Jumped springily the points
on the main line Stanley opened her out liz
tie, listening with straining to the rhythm
of the machinery. And his heart leaped, for the
rhythm was good and true.
He thrust over the starting level further, and
let out the reversing gear couple of notches.
The footpate trembled and Jared and the
rhythm of the machinery beat quicker time as
the Mammoth leaped into greater speed, obedient
to the touch of her creator.
Through station. The platform was crowded
as she dashed by, huge, gray, and indistinct in a
swirl of steam and gae-driven snow. 1t Was
known along the line that Stanley and Mammoth
No. . were being sent along special at the chair.
mans command for some big reason, and chee7
from railroad men followed her-the cheer of nee
who believed in and honored him
More hghts-more stations-more excursion