Willmar tribune., 1909-07-07


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 1t
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 him?'
Hal asked when Brainerd appeared for
the tenth time above them. HE seems
to be terribly afraid of that fire, but l
can't see why he should be scared"
The train. making good time, had
half finished its journey. The smoke
had become so thick that nothing
could be seen 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.
I'VE are running right into it," said
Hal, coughing and wiping his inflamed
| eyes upon his coat sleeve without re-
| moving either hand from the machin.
cry.
And it looks to me as If it was
sweeping up on both sides Of u.s." add
ed Roy. "Is there any danger, Hal?"
"N-no," answered the engineer-"th
Is, not unless the heat warps the rails,
| which isn't probable. for the roadway
is too wide for that. Wen blister our
paint trif1e and maybe have to put
out blaze or two on the cars, but
that'l be all. I've been In just such
places before"
| a few minutes passed. and then as
II curtain had been drawn away, the
smoke disappeared and the train
plunged into relatively clear air be-
tween two lines Of flaming trees which
sent up great gushes Of fire under the
hurrying 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. "This is
scorcher! I'll let her out a bit and
make 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 course I'm going on. I'm
not afraid Of little fire, l hope; but
by George. Tom Brainerd, believe
you are"
Reverse quick. man. and back us
out!' said Brainerd in harsh, vehe-
ment voice, seizing the engineers arm
with both hands. Eyes. I'm afraid.
Reverse her. tell YOU"
| Hal pushed the conductor aside with
thrust Of his strong elbow. "Don't
you know better than that?" cried he
angrily. whats the matter with you,
Tom Brainerd? You act like crazy
man."
'Pll be dead one and you and the
boy. too, If you don't back out" per-
sisted Brainerd. do you know what
we've got for freight"
Hal and Roy looked at him half
frightened. He had certainly lost his
senses, they thought.
mo, and l don't care" said Hal
"But what is it,"
Blasting powderv' screamed the
conductor.
"What!" cried the brothers together
Eyes, tons Of it for the Silverton
mines. And the handlers loosened the
slaves of two or three kegs when they
loaded it. so that there's loose powder
scattered all about the next car"
Kinsley pulled the throttle wide open.
''Sit down. Tom." he commanded
calmly without looking at the con-
ductor. "We can't go back. The fires
all along that way by this time. We
must put her through. Coal up, Roy.
but not too much. Quick, boy"'
When in a position Of peril a deter
mined. strong willed man makes up
his mind to certain course there is
something about him which makes all
others yield to his plans. Brainerd
did not attempt to assert his authority
over the train. but sat perfectly still.
his fists clinched his eyes set. Roy
pale faced, but steady, fed the firebox
as if he were Il part Of the machinery.
The engine leapel and bounded under
Halls hard driving. crashing and rat.
tllng SO fercely that the roaring
flames or either side sent no sound tc
the ears of those in the cab
Suddenly Brainerd sprang up. took a
spare shovel. some cotton waste and Q
bucket Of water and left the cab. Roy.
turning, saw him on top of the freight
car. scraping off the sparks and swab-
bing out the little fires which started
upon the dry boards of the roof.
'"Tom's brave fellow" said Hal.
1T was the worry and dread that made
him weaken. You see, he knew where
the fire was and knew what he had
got to carry through it if he met it.
But he's all right from this on
Hal had momentarily taken his eyes
off the track while saying this. WheD
he turned them back ne gave a nerv-
GUS start and then, seizing the whistle
cord, signaled Down brakes!" while