Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1909-08-12

right it'll be because"-
He stopped short In what he had
beer about to say, took another long
stare ahead and then, without speak
ing again. climbed back over the ten
der, swung himself upon the first car
and disappeared.
whats got into Tom Brainerd to-
night?' said Hal. II never saw him
this way before. If I didn't know he
never touches a drop 1 should say he'd
been drinking. but that can't be-"
During the next half hour Brainerd
repeatedly appeared on the top Of the
car, gazing toward the rapidly increas-
ing light ahead. The occasional glare
from the furnace door showed the
same anxious, alarmed expression upon
his usually stern face.
The cars were so few that he had no
brakeman with him. This fact might
account for his restlessness, since it
obliged him to keep watch Of the train.
But why did he come here? He could
have kept watch as we'll from his
proper position in the lookout on the
rear car.
what can be the trouble with HING
Hal asked when Brainerd appeared for
the tenth time above them. HE seems
to be terribly afraid of that fire, but I
can't see why be should be scared"
The train. making good time, had
half finished it's journey. The smoke
had become so thick hat nothing
could be seen a rod away, and through
it came the intermittent. nearing
flashes of the great fire.
The air grew hot, and little drifts of
ashes formed against the projecting
parts of the locomotive. Sparks and
dead cinders ratified against the cab
windows.
1--WE are running right into it," said
Hal, coughing and wiping his inlamed
eyes upon his coat sleeve without re-
moving either hand from the machin-
cry.
"And il looks to me as if it was
sweeping up on both sides of US" add
ed Roy. SIS there any danger, Hal?'
"N-no." answered the engineer-"that
is, not unless the heat warps the rails.
which isn't probable. for the roadway
is too wide for that. Well blister our
paint a tritie and maybe have to put
out a blaze or two On the cars, but
thatll be all. I've been in just such
places before"
\ few minutes passed. and then, as
if Il curtain had been drawn away. the
smoke disappeared and the train
plunged into relatively clear air be
tween two lines of flaming trees which
sen up great gushes of fire under the
h%urrying clouds Of black vapor that
they had rolled into the sky.
AS far down the track as one could
see. away to the vanishing point where
the two burning fronts Of the forest
seemed to join. it was the same.
"Whew" exclaimed Hal. t'Thts Is a
scorcher! I'll let her out a bit and
make a rush through it."
Just then Brainerd leaped into the
cab.
what are you doing, Kinsley?' he
shouted. "You are not going on?
"Going on" gasped Hal, utterly
amazed. "Of cours I'm going on. I'm
not afraid of a little fire, 1 hope; but
by George, Tom Brainerd, I believe
you are"
Reverse quick. man, and back us
out" said Brainerd in a harsh, vehe
ment voice, Selling the engineers arm
with both hands. Eyes, I'm afraid
Reverse her, I tell you"
Hal pushed the conductor aside witt
a thrust Of his strong elbow. "Don'
you know better than that?" cried hi
angrily. whats the matter with you
Tom Brafnerd? You act like a Graz,
man."
"1'll be a dead one and you and tn
, boy, too, if you don't back out" per
sisted Brainerd. DO you know wha
we've got for freight"
Hal and Roy looked at him hal
frightened. He had certainly lost hi
senses, they thought.
mo, and l don't care" said Hal
"But what is it?'
BLASTING powder" screamed tn
conductor.
WHAT" cried the brothers together
eyes. tons of it for the Silvertol
mines. And the handlers loosened tn
slaves OF two or three kegs when the.
loaded it, SO that there's loose powde
scattered all about the next car"
kinsley pulled the throttle wide ope1
"Sit down, Tom," he commando
calmly without looking at the COZ
ductor. 1--WE can't go back. The fire.
all along that way by this time. w
must put her through. Coal up, Roy
but not too much. Quick, boy!.'
When in q position of peril a deter
mined, strong willed man makes u
his mind to a certain course there
something about him which makes a
% others yield to his plans. Brainer
did not attempt to assert his authorit
q over the train, but sat perfectly still
* his fists clinched, his eyes set. Ro
pale faced, but steady, fed the irebe
g as If he were a part of the machiner:
Is The engine leapel and bounded undo
10 Halls hard driving. crashing and ra