West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-06-10

troth 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 hts restlessncsS. since Il
Obliged him To keep watch - the train
hut why did he come hercs He could
have Kept watch as wsi from his
proper position I'm the lookout on tho
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 tre. but I
can't see why he should be scared"
The train. unLlng good time. had
half finished it's Journey. The smoke
had become >" thick that nothing
could be seen u rod away. aud 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 H." said
Hal. coughing and wiping his infamed
eyes upon his coat sleeve without re-
moving either hand from the machin
cry.
And Il looks TO me ms n Il was
sweeping up on both sides OF u.s." add
ed Roy. "ls there any danger. HaIf"
N-no, answered the engineer "that
Is, not unless the heat warps the rails.
which isn't probable. for the roadway
In too wide for that. Wen blister our
paint trine and maybe have 10 nut
out blaze or two on the ears, but
thsti be all. I've been In Just such
places before"
A few minutes passed. and then, as
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
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. nway To the vanishing point where
the two burning fronts OF the forest
seemed 20 join. IL was the same.
"Whew" exclaimed Hal This Is n
scorcher! I'll let her out n bit and
make rush through it."
Just then Brainerd leaped into the
cab.
"Whnt are you doing. Kinsley?" he
shouted. You are not going on?"
"Going onf" gasped Hal, utterly
amazed. "Of course I'm going on I'm
not afraid OF little fire. hope; but.
by George Tom Brainerd. believe
you are"
Reverse quick. man, and back us
outT' said Brainerd In n harsh. vehe.
ment voice. SELLING the engineers arm
with both hands. YES I'm afraid
Reverse her. tell you"
Hal pushed the conductor aside with
thrust OF his strong elbow. Don't
you know better than thatT" cried ne
angrily. whats the matter with you.
Tom Brainerdf You net like crazy
man"
"Pil be n dead one and you and the
boy. too, II you don't back out" per.
sisted Brainerd. do you know what
we've got for freightT'
Hal and Roy lookeG' at him half
frightened. He had certainly lost his
senses. they thought.
mo. and don't care" said Hal.
But what is itf"
blasting powderr screamed the
conductor.
what" cried the brothers together.
"Yes. tons OF II for the SIlverton
mines. And the handlers loosened the
stnves 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. I'VE can't go back. The fre's
all along that way by this time. We
must put her through. Coal up. Roy
| but not too much. Quick. boy
When I'm O position OF peril 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 Iirainerd
did not attempt to assert his authority
over the train. but sat perfectly still
his fists cIinched. his eyes set Roy.
pale faced. but steady. fed the hrebo1
MS n he were II part Of the machinery
The engine leapel and bounded under
Hafs hard driving. crashing aud rat
,ling so Hercely that the roaring
flames on either side sent no sound to
the ears Of those in the cab
Suddenly Brainerd sprang up. took n
| spare shovel. some cotton waste and a
| bucket Of water and left the cab. Roy.
turning saw him OF top OF the freight
car. scraplng OF the sparks aud swab.
bing out the little fires which started
upon the dry boards Of the roof
'Toms n 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 n he met II
But he's all right from this on"
Hal had mentarily taken HIS eyes
on the track while saying this. When
he turned them back he gave n nerv-
Gus start and then. scizing the whistle
cord. signaled Down brakesr while
With the other hand be closed the
| throttle.
Jump. floy. aud put on our brakes
bnck therew
A grenf burning tree lay 0cross the
| rails ahead. Even while Es,y threw
1 hsH "fibht VII tHt Di"hfN Nt WIZ ihiiih-
ing, What shall we do nowf and be.
fore be had finished turning the iron
wheel he had thought
The drag md jar behlnI showed thtt
Brainerd. Obeying lIal'S signal. was
settling the car brakes. aud soon. the
reduced speed allowing II llni ~.
i yersed
The locomotive. sliding md grating
along, came slowly TO stand some
yards from the blazing obstruction.
Before the train stopped Roy had
opened his knife and cut away the
leather curtain which closes the back