The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-01-13

his bcll revolving kc circular saw Those
Of us wEo knew George Amhorn knew that
the cld man was ncrvy enough TO get that
trcin through on tine. il it was IN human
power, and to take any chances imaginable
in order TO d1 it.. 5 Young Bob didn't know
whether 70 be proud or scared, and nc came
nightynear being 10th.
McSttwtrt came in and began grumbling
about tic treatment tic 1903 was probably
getting IIc vowed that Amhorn was no
careful man, and that II 50 much as quar-
ter Of an inch was wcm of those tires it
would be back TO wiping for George. 1t
would have been sad day for McStewart
il Re had had to decide which he loved the
better, his family or his engines.
But Iilty-six kept right on waking things
up on the jerkwater division. Down in the
Rainy Greek hills the track wound through
them like Il snake, and when the train hit
the first bend the mail clerks were slammed
about numerically. But a railway mail
clerk has moro lives than cat, and George
didn't slow down any On their account.
The engine would strike curve like thou
send tons Of brick, and time after time
ycung Angus stood up thinking his hour
lad comc; but always the big machine
rigbted fcrsclG and the lurching cars fol
lowed somehow without leaving the iron.
Tic fireman Lad to brace himself with one
hand wkilc he shoycled with the other, and
even thcn, expert as he was, the coal often
went wide Of the tire-box door Once a
stoycliul went out through the gangway,
and Aplhorn grcaned when he saw it, Tor
he lad no time to stop to coal and every
lun-p was going to count.
TFcrc was joy in his soul when they came
to Tie tcp cl the long, straight grade down
E]uc Mountain, the ono that he had gotten
thirty days for.thc last time be went down
it. "Slay days or wreck this time, said
cid George to himself, and he pulled the
throttle clear over to the last notch. He
felt the engine respond, and a minute later
they were flying down that mountain like a
whilwind possessed, The conductor offered
to make deposition under oath that the last
car never touched tic r2ls but twice the
whole thirty-tvo miles. halfway down the
hill was little station called Glcnyar, and
tho agent there had truck-load of chickens
in coops sitting near the track When he
heard the mail train coming he thought he
would go out and move them back a little.
With an ordinary train he would have had
plenty Of time, but this was different. lie
got to the door just in time to see the whole
five coops disappear under the wheels Of the
rear car, where they had been drawn by the
terrific suction BY the time he realized
what had happened George was whistling
for the franklin road crossing three miles
away. The next dayScction hands reported
feathers along tfc tight OF way for eleven
miles below Gleuvaf.
At the foot Of the mountain was tank
where they had to stop for water, but the
engineer was afraid to take time to coal and
he told Angus that he would have to make
the supply hold out. The new engines had
big, high tenders, and jim said all right, he
would do il if he lad to burn his shirt He
did burn it, and his stispcnders, too, before
they saw the lights Of Clinch River that
night but | am getting On too fast with the
story. aob Do if
Alter leaving the tank it was uphill
through the long Pine Creek gorge, with
The engine putting her heart out and Jim
Angus shoyeling like fcnd All The help
that 4 good engineer can give a fireman
old George gave the youngster but at that
the sweat ran of the boy in streams as he
sAs- MM NA "A