Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1913-01-09
The Boy Trained To Mind.

and known up and down the valley as
Number One" pulled into Sherwood
twenty minutes late.
Instantly the inspectors were gliding
swiftly from car TO car, tapping wheels
that gave out a clear "all right to the
frosty air. Against the sides OF the cars
and along the rosd-bed the flickering
torches threw huge and monstrous shad-
ows. On the platform, DAILY, the con-
ductor, stood with his watch in his hand,
frowning impatiently at the baggagemen,
who were heaving up truck-load OF
mail-bags and trunks. Hardly had the
last bag cleared the sill of the car when
he raised his hand. The deep-chested
painting OF the engine changed to a slow,
titanic cough, the drivers spun round in a
shower OF sparks, DAILY stepped aboard,
and Number One was off.
The lastseeping- Car had hardly ground
its way pastthe station, and the monkey
lights" in the rear were still twinkling in
the mist and shadows OF the night, when,
as stealthilY as serpent, a great black
shape stole out from the siding opposite,
and turned its head to the main track.
The shape was the larger part-twenty
cars-of train-load OF pulp-wood that
had been waitirg for clear track after
the passage of the night express. 1t
stood upon down grade, and under the
iarring of Number One weak draw-bar
or coupling pin had given way.
So slowly and so softly moved the
shape that Mitchell, the night operator,
heard nothing till more than half lis bulk
had passed from the siding to the main
track. Then the rumble was loud enough
TO reach his practised ear; and since no
putting OF an engine accompanied it, he
knew instantly what the sound meant,
He leaped TO the door, back TO his key,
and started the persistent, monotonouS
call for Lakeville, ten miles below.
"Lel LIE LeW Quickly he told the
story. Twenty cars, broken freight
running wild, out Of Sherwood ten-forty-
nine"
Gardner, the night man at Lakeville,
sent his 20 K" and Mitchell felt that all
would be well.
But at LaReylle all was not well.
Gardner, dashing out across the tracks,
found McFadden in the cab OF his new
Mogul, reading the newspaper. McFad-
denS run would not begin for half an
hour; but he was forehanded man, and
the steam in The engine was already up,
the finger of the gage was trembling, and
and safety valve throbbing.
"Where's Kelsey, your fireman." cried
Gardner.
"He's back at the bunk house, eating.
Why? DO you want him ?"
Gardner read the despatch from Sher-
wood. McFadden thrust his head out OF
the window, and called, "Hey! Donald,
lad p'
cave, feytherP' A tall, lanky figure
emerged from the roundhouSe ami came
forward.
"Climb up Take off your hat, and
put on Jim's cap. There's work for ye
the NIGHT"
The elder McFadden gave no explana-
ton; but the boy obeyed unquestioningly,
and his heart leaped within him. For a
year he had been trying 10 get chance
to fire, but his father, whose recommen-
dation would have had much weight, had
refused to say the necessary word.
"Going to take that boy on a trip like
this ?" asked Gardner, in amazement.
"He can't fire. What experience has he
ever had ?"
"He's quite experienced in keepin' his
mouth shut and doin' what he's told, !"
the old man answered. dryly.
Then turning TO Donald, he said, "Pull
your coal forward, and break it up well
wi your bar"
The boy jumped TO his task. His father
glanced at the trembling finger on the
gage and at the water tube, and then,
satisfied, thrust his head out OF the cab
window to listen.
In an instant it came-the low, far-of
growl that his ears were strained 10 catch.
Steadily it rose and spread until it domi-
mated the whole valley. and the very
mountains seemed to roar in rage. Then
came the rush OF the black shadow, IL
lumined here and there by sparks from
grinding wheels, but for most of its length
mysterious ard indistinct; the passage
of a monster. vague, uncontrolled and
terrible.
"Now, ladW said McFadden, and
threw the throttle.
He knew the course. On the right
lay the rock-ribbed hills, from the face OF
which much of the road-bed had been
carved. On the left, Tar below, the tor
tuous, icy channel oi the Hassanippi
River. They would pass through Dun
can, Burnham, Langstown, Blair and
WIlis-down grade all the way, and
most of it heavy grade at that.
Crooked as a dogs hind leg, the
whole OF H." said the old man TO himself,
"but there's one good thing-the sharp
est turns are out and not in"
1t seemed but moment before there
were lights ahead, and in fash the town
OF Duncan passed. For Andrew Nc
Fadden and his son Donald there WIS
only the instantaneous impression of a
group Of staring people on the platform