The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1907-12-14

former iron chums" he could tell
them by their numbers.
In the evenings, Winston spent
many of his spare moments reviewing
as best he could, his telegraphy, and
by rudely constructed key he be-
gan to teach the system to Harold,
his eleven year-old brother.
"It may come handy sometime, I"
declared the elder boy. "And if it
doesn't, it's something interesting
| Just to know"
A leak in one of the big dyeing
tanks detained Winston at the mills
one evening, long after his usual hour
of leaving. 1t was nearly time for
No. IS, the evening express from
Madison, to be due, when he neared
the station on his way home. 1t was
a dark, foggy night, and there was a
perceptible chill in the air.
II guess I'll wait till she goes by /;
it's old Plato No. 24o, that pulls
the Madison express. My I'd like
tosrun such an engine as that twould
mean something more to a fellow than
tending dye tanks in hot, stuffy
room -
Winston stood for a few moments
on the platform, but as the train
seemed to be late, he opened the door
of the waiting room and went in.
mo. IS on time ?" he asked, step
ping across the floor.
Receiving no reply, Winston look.
ed through the open window into the
long, narrow ticket Office. It was
empty, it seemed to him, in the dim
light.
IT wonder where the operator is 7"
and Winston looked at the clock. 1t
was exactly half-past eight, and the
train was due at twenty-6v FIVE minutes
past.
Queer where"
The click-clic of the telegraph in
strupent suddenly caught his ear.
He leaned forward excitedly into the
open window. Twas call for Col
fax; word by word he spelled out the
message:
"Hold No. IS. The superinten-
dents special will pass at Colfax."
Winston glanced quickly at the
clock, and then hurried outside to the
platform. He feared No. IS might
already be rounding the curve at the
bridge, and if so-ne dared not think
of the consequences
The man who had taken his fathers
place had gone bone for the night
No one was about the little country
station; all was silent and still.
eff I only had a key to the switch
lever?" thought the boy, helplessly.
Realizing instantly the situation,
however, Winston rushed to the shed
across the tracks where he knew his
father had always kept a heavy ak.
If it could be found he might avert
frightful disaster.
Cropping his way in the dark, he at
length found the ak handle leaning
against corner of the shed. Snatch
ing it quickly, he ran swiftly up the
main irnnlz To tine switch
eff can only break the pin I'll be
able to save"
A shrill whistle sounded through
the fog.
That's odd Plato p Winston
instantly recognized the whistle.
He raised the heavy ak and brought
it down with tremendous force against
the pin that held the lever of the
switch in place. But it had no effect
on the strong iron. Again he gave a
we'll directed blow, but the pin still
held
He could now hear the rumble of
the train just beyond the curve-and
it sounded fatally near.
With almost superhuman force Win
ston once more brought down the
heavy ak against the stubborn pin.
This time it broke, part flying dag
onally across the track into the gully
beyond.
The headlight of No. IS came
swiftly round the curve.
Winston threw down the ak and
grasped the lever. With strong,
steady pull he set over the rails of the
main track, and in moment more
the heavy train glided safely out on
the siding
Almost before No. IS had left the
main track the special pulled in at
the station. Mr.. Chaffee, the super
intepdent of the line, stepped down
from his car with a telegraph blank
in his hand. He wished to wire the
home Office from Colfax. !.
"No one-in ?'' He was standing
before the open window of the ticket
office. "That's queer-mightily I
wonder where the operator is p
Winston entered the room just as
Mr.. Chaffee was speaking.
"He isn't here. !"
'Isn't here r' exclaimed the super
intendent, looking questiouingly at
Winston. "Well, where in the world
is he? It's his business to be here
Who sidetracked No. IS if the opera
tor didn't?"
''I did, sir. I happened to be in
the station and heard the message
and II got the switch set just in
time"
"You |" and the tone of his voice
expressed Mr.. Chaffee's amazement.
"How could you understand tele-
graphy-and know what to do at
such time 70
In few words Winston told his