Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-12-30

Duffy, brakeman on No. 3. sat in
| hands.
Katie had been accepting McArdle's
! attentions with ostentatious favor of
late. and the evening before starting
| out, in his presence, she had turned
to McArdle and spoken of the delights
of trolley riding 1t had resulted in a
! prompt invitation, while be stood stu
! pidly by and listened.
| So when the warning toet of the
/ engine recalled the men from their
| lunch Duffy rose with all the indie
cision gone from his gray eyes and
| square chin.
An increasing rumble was vibrating
the rails TO the west. Another few
minutes and the express would sweep
in. making it's three minutes stop and
| then tear off into the east. As its rear
car passed the rails of the siding the
switch tender would connect the rails
and allow the freight to roll out.
Duffy climbed to the top of the last
box car and grasped the brake wheel,
then turned toward the engine and
waited for the signal. His face was
white, but inhexible, his gaze steady.
The vibration became a roar, and the
express rounded the curve and rushed
down upon them. past the siding. Then
came che signal, the brakes were loos-
ed and the long freight Strengthened
out upon the main track like huge
snake slipping from its lair.
1t had been showing for an hour,
soft and sticky and clinging to what
ever it touched. Presently the snow
became rain. and a little later the
weather dropped 20 degrees and the |
oozy mass froze into smooth, solid |
coating over the tops of the cars.
Old brakemen know what that |
meanS-the worst peril in the lives of 1
men who walk freights. Usually there |
is snow in the ice or the ice is frozen /
with enough roughness to allow foot /
hold. But when It is perfectly smooth |
and so hard that a heavy boot can
make no indentation then the brake
man knows that with all precautions
he is very. very near to death. With
the cars motionless 1t is a feat to walk
the narrow planks of their tops; with
them jerking and humping and sway
ing on side grades and around curves
miracle.
Duffy was naturally slow and me
thodical and, though daring all. careful
to a degree. Fortunately there were
few stops or grades that called for
extra braking. and for the most part
he was able to stay at the rear car
brake and even occasionally during
long runs to slip down into the ca
boose
But as the afternoon grayed into
evening and the evening BACKED into
night his face grew more troubled and
anxious. Beyond Elton was a wild
country, with sharp up and down
grades where brakes would have to
be frequently changed. On that part
Of the road in the darkness a careful
man ON top of the freight would be in :
such danger as the soldier facing bat
teries
Duffy had been thinking Of the bills
and of the almost certain fate of reck-
less. inexperienced McArdle on the
night trip through them. His square
hin and white face meant the extend
ng Of the right hand of friendship to
lis successful rival and the giving up
If any personal matter or advantage
hat would tend to the rivals help. for
hat would be the best way to help
Katie. There was scarcity of brake
men in the passenger service. and be-
ore long one OF them would be sure of Z.
promotion. His name would come be-
ore McArdle's on the freight promo
ion. Now he must find some way to
over his record so that McArdle's
Iame should rank first. The passenger
ervice meant comparative safety and
etter remuneration.
But thoDe hills. He had. been think
1g Of them since the melted snow be-
anne rigid. CLASSY ice. and now the
rords of the experienced brakeman
onfirmed his worst fears. II McAr1le
box the hill trip there would be no use
tanning help for Katie through him.
s for planning help without IL such
loughts occurred TO Duffy they were
burned unceremoniousiy aside. Katie 3
wed McArdle. But what could he do? n