Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1909-07-08
A RUN WITH THE
EXTRA FREIGHT.
Through a Burning Forest With
a Train Load of Powder.
BY FRANK n. SWEET.

copyright, 1909. by American Press Asso-
citation.
To live within sight and hearing Of a
IN engineer on that railroad and to
make trips with him whenever he will
allow and school does not interfere Is
a state Of things calculated to please
the average boy. and II did please Roy
kinsley. who was rather more than
the average.
When he could sit on the high seat
opposite Hal he felt like king. and
the only thing he needed In order to
make him perfectly happy was a
chance to run the engine. II only for
few minutes. But that was something
which Hal. who was very careful en-
glneer never allowed.
Yet Roy seldom lacked occupation
while on the engine for II the bell was
not to be rung nor the whistle to be
blown he could always help Jack Dunn
Ia fire.
One afternoon Hal came home look
ing vexed
Roy. do you want to go up to Silver
ton with me toright!" he asked as his
brother met him at the door. Here
I'm just back from my run and have
got orders to take au extra freight up
the branch tonight. which means only
four hours sleep II get any. But
that isn't the trouble Dunn's sick and
u tx, ~ nj
work | can't get another man before
morning. so you see how 1t Is. VIII
you fire this trip for me?'
"Of course | VIII" exclaimed Roy.
Its just what want. Hooray!"
He rushed about to get his cap. over
alls and heavy coat. Hal smiled at the
boys excitement.
you won't be quite so clipper by
the time we get to Silverton." said he.
Its hard. rough work enough when
you have to keep at II steadily even for
a strong boy like you. 1t isn't like TAX
Ing a turn at the shovel whenever you
fancy"
well, l can go and WILL" declared
Roy. following his brother toward the
station. land when get too tired and
lazy to work my passage l want to be
put Of"
A few minutes later the freight train
pulled out Of the yard. There were
only three cars, and Hal grumbled to
himself that 1t wasn't worth the trou-
BILE II caused. This seemed to be the
opinion Of the conductor. who wore
remarkably gloomy countenance and
appeared to be much out Of humor al
though he said nothing whatever.
The Silverton branch ran through an
almost uninhabited country to large
mining settlement some thirty miles
from the junction.
The single track was shut In by
thick woods on both sides throughout
the greater part Of this distance and
WAS consequently far from presenting
any objects Of interest along Its way.
But Hal kinsley did not tind fault
with II on that score. He had no
grade crossings. switches nor signals
to watch. no stray cows nor reckless
men to avoid running over and no 9TH
er trains to bother him.
IF rallroading was always like this"
he remarked at the end Of few miles.
there would be Il good many less &C
cidents and good many more en-
gineers dying of old age But still
there's always a drawback some
where"
Il don't see any now" Roy objected
between two shovelfuls.
"You will. though. before we've gone
much farther. Look at all this smoke!
DON'T YOU KNOW BETTER THAN THATp"
1t means that the woods up the line
are Oh tire and that we shall have to
run In Il smother 80 thick that we
shan't he able to See our smokestack
half the time"
Just then a man came scrambling
over the tender into the cab 1t was
the conductor, Tom Brainerd., who