The Greenville times., 1910-05-13

| haps you fellows got word to,
Simpson Strengthened up. HI. face
was white, but he spoke in low voice.
| "Mr. Mckenzie he said. ss;f Won
think any engineer on this road spiked
that switch or asked anybody else to
do it, wen back into Plymouth Nv
kids probably dying. hut I wont take
help from man that thinks the wav
You re thinking
Mckenzie looked at Simpson for a
switch
Get on the engne,'' he said.
There was no apology in Ms tone or
his manner, but Simpson was satisfied.
- We can't throw that switch back,
so wen have to push those ear. out
and drop 'em in, said Mckenzie.
"Ki1, you be brakeman for a mi mute
.... Wait, you better take run
down to the other end and see if that
switch is all right. Swing us ahead if
it is and we III shove those ear. down
to you and you can couple US up
Simpson and Mckenzie sat in their
respective seats without looking at
each other till the fireman swung them
ahead. Then Mckenzie crept up be-
hind the ears with his engine and push
ed them the length of the siding. The
fireman had opened the switch and the
ears and engine went out on the main
track. The fireman coupled the engine
onto the ears. Simpson stood at the
switch, the fireman riding the pilot.
Mckenzie sent the engine down the
track a quarter of mile, stopped, and
started back again. Half way to the
switch the fireman uncoupled the en-
CINE, and Simpson let it down the main
track. As soon as it had passed, Simp-
son threw che switch red and the ears
glided in on the siding Throwing the
switch white again, Simpson elambered
agoard again, followed by the fireman
Again they had the right of way.
Simpson looked at Mckenzie. "Mack
he said, slowly, 'er losing time
Mckenzie wanted to know whose
fault it was.
"Wen, nobody's, Simpson replied.
'"We eouldn It help that open switch,
but l was going to say
FWhat?' said Mckenzie.
We'll, | was going to say that per-
haps ther will be some more open
switches, and I suppose you will want
to run under control. You see you re
looking at this thing different than L
am. That spiked switch back there
seems big to YOU To me''-he spread
out his open palms-''to me, Mack, it s
nothing go. If / was afraid every
switch between here and home was op
en-, d still take the chance - What
was going to say was that if you fell
lows want to drop down, IN take the
engine over the district. I can keep the
fire going all right. And then In
either make Jime-or go into some
thing like that back there
81 ii stick,'' said the fireman at
once. "You can't go too fast for
vour Uncle Dudley. I'll see you
through, Buck
For an instant Mckenzie looked at
Simpson up and down. To Simpson he
had a preoccupied air, as if he did not
know just what he was doing.
In point of fact, Mckenzie was just
somewhat ashamed that he had suspect
er the engineers of spiking the switch.
En- the iEnermost heart of him he was
sure the suspicion was ridiculous. He
had known those men too long. They
might strike at an unopportune time,
but they would not be guilty of crime.
eve started together he said qui-
city .1We'll go through with it to-
gether--I guess I haven't quite APP
preeiated how you feel, Buck
Simpson S throat frightened as he
suddenly turned to hook out of the win
dow.
keep your eyes peeled, and sit
fast said Mckenzie.
Again there was no sudden jump TO 9
| higher speed Mckenzie was too good
an engineer for that. But Simpson fell
the engine gather herself and then set
| tie to her stride. And with each mo
| ment the pace became faster, faster
| The engine took her breath deeply and
| evenly. Under her there was only ar
| even hum, except when she hit frog
| THEN there was a clank; the engine
seemed to spring, but grew quickly
steady.
From Vendome to Ashland. To Villas
! vile. To Andover-Then the sta
| ion at Andover was gone and the.
were in cut with trees on either side
| From this cut to WellsvilIe was clever
miles. Simpson rook out his watch. |
was twenty minutes past four 'eloek
| 1t seemed TO him that his eyes left tn
| timepieee for minute and there wa
| the station at Wellsville ahead of them
Il