Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-05
XXI
The Mills of the Gods.

1t was merely by chance that Adair had
Michael Gallagher for his engineer when
the or was made up for the after-mid-
night run from Saints Rest to the Mac
Morrogh headquarters. But it was a
chance which was duly gratifying to
Leckhard. The little Irishman was Ford s
most loyal liegeman. and a word was all
that was needed to put HIM on his mettle.
The word was spoken while he was Oiling
around for the man-killing extra service.
Pretty well knocked out, Michael?"
asked Leckhard. by way of preface.
Il thot Misther Leckhard IT'S the
good half of lasht night, all day yesther-
day and thin some
It's tough But if any of the other
men were in | should still ask you to go.
Mr. Ford is in a pinch. and Mr. Adair,
your passenger. is going to help him out.
He can do it if you get him to Horse
creek in time. and l know you'll get him
there if the 900 and the OF will stay on
the STEEL
Ito help Misther Ford out? Thot's
me-" said Gallagher, simply.
Not having a wire l can't boost you
any from this end. You'll meet Folsom
of empties where you can; you'll run as
fast as the Lordll let you on such a
track as you have; but above all, you'll
stay on the rails. If you ditch yourself
III III go nard with Mr.. Ford.
Tn do all thin things and wan more
and thot wan is the shtiffest av thin all
the saints adm me, Misther Leckhard,
III SHAY awake
There was short siding at the summit
of the pass. and by good hap Gallagher
met Folsom with the first string of
empties at that point. or rather. giving
the bit OF good luck full credit he heard
the roaring of Folsoms exhaust as the
hrSt of the opposing trains pounded up
the dangerous western grade. and hastily
back up and took the summit siding.
Pitching over the hill with the or the
moment Folsom's tail lights had passed
the outlet switch. Gallagher had a sharp
attack of memory. The day before, in
the Horse creek yard, he had seen and
remarked a jagged scratch on the side
of the Nadia. Hence he was watching
for the narrow rock cuttings and the
three passages perilous on the cliff face
We're made in safety.
Once off the mountain, however, the
greater peril began to assert itself. For
a time the Irishman kept himself fully
awake and alert by pushing the go to
the ragged edge of hazard. scurrying over
the shor. tangents and lifting her around
the curves in breath taking spurts. Later
this eXpedient began to lose it's FLIP.
Since the train was running wholly on
the air brakes here nothing for the
fireman TO do. and Jackson, the lOyaleSt
understudy Gallagher had ever known.
tumbied from his box in a doZe staggered
across the gangway into the half-filled
tender and fell like a man anaesthetized
full length on the coal. Gallagher did
not try to arouse him.
Tis h-ll for wan, an twice hill for
two he muttered: and then he shifted
his right hand to the brake cock and
grasped the hot throttle lever with the
ungloved left. And for time the pain
of the burn suf1iced.
1t was another piece of coed luck. good
or bad that made Ten Mile station the
special trains meeting point with the
second train - ompties. This time 1t was
Graham. the other engineer, who heard.
He had stopped at Ten Mile on the bare
chance that the wire between that point
and Saints Rest had been repaired; pub
lie opinion to the contrary nOtwithStand-
ing. an engineer does not run wild"
when he can help it.
The engineer of the third section had