The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1914-03-20
REVENGE WAS SWEET
BY c. S. REID.


pace, the caboose looking like but
ton on the end Of a rattlesnake's tail.
After classifying and adjusting bunch
Of waybills, Hayden, the conductor,
went forward to the front end of the
cab, where, just beyond the tool pit
under the lookout, was an improvised
bunk on one side, and an arrangement
on the other which served as dresser.
Hayden had received smart slap on
the cheek from loose end of box
strap while helping to unload some
freight packages back there at Caruth-
ers, and he had gone in search Of
mirror with which to examine the
wound.
The dresser referred to was moth
ing more nor less than a number of
tiers Of shelving, built one above the
other, in the side of the car. But con-
trary to the usual arrangement of such
affairs, Hayden's mirror, a small,
framed glass, reposed on lower shelf.
Bending forward, he drew the mir.
ror from its resting place. Then, sud
denly, and without examining the
wound in his cheek, he threw the mir
ror upon the top shelf, and, Selling
large pinch bar which was leaning
against the tool pit, hurried out upon
the front platform, closing the door
behind him.
Here he stood moment thinking
intently. Presently he thrust the claw
end of the bar under the shoulder OF
the coupling pin which held the ca
boose attached to the train, using
portion of the drawhead as fulcrum.
Then with his hands on the opposite
end he watched the pin unswervingly
and waited. A few moments later,
as the front trucks dropped over a
high joint, and there was single in
stant's slack in the tension of the
coupling, Hayden bore down viciously
upon the end of the bar; and the
coupling pin went flying into the air
over the side of the truck.
And now Hayden drew deep
breath. Jobs were hard to get, and
easy to lose, especially now since
there was so much talk Of cutting
wages, reducing the force and econo-
MIXING in every possible way, to meet
the conditions occasioned by the en-
bezzlement Of Walt Bradley, treasurer
of the Kennewah branch, he having
skipped out the day before with all of
the surplus funds Of the company in
his possession.
But as the caboose slowed down.
then began a reverse motion, Hayden
drew another long breath, and went in
side. The fiagman and the rest of the
crew were now forward on the fast
disappearing train.
Back down the five-mile hill sped
the caboose alone, gathering momen-
tum at each rail length, until the trees
and shrubs along the way appeared as
grade from the foot of the hill to Ca
ruthers, and the speed of the cab had
decreased somewhat when it leaped
by the station. The agent, however,
had seen it coming before 1t reached
the foot of the hill, and had expected
to see it fly from the track and go to
pieces in the ravine below.
But it had not done this; and what
he saw, as the car shot past the office,
was Hayden sitting in the doorway,
smiling and waving him a clearance
signal. The agent sprang to his key
and called frantically the dispatcher
at Kennewah. Getting the latter's at
tention he ratified away:
ifty-one-runaway caboose-open
switch quick-brakes off-Hayden on
board-evidently crazy"
Meanwhile the caboose was flying
towards Kennewah at the rate of rs
miles an hour, and people along the
route stared after the meteor-like OBJ
ject in amazement and horror
The grade, after passing Caruthers,
was upward for about three miles;
then there was another two-mile
stretch of track for rapid coasting.
After this the grade was gradual, but
rising and falling, and entering the
yard at Kennewah at a slight incline.
So the speed of the caboose was but
little decreased until within mile
Of the junction, when the cab began to
slow down.
II was at this time that Hayden
went out on the platform and caught
the brake wheel, which he brought
around sharply, until the shoes clasped
the truck wheels. Approaching the
yard, he saw that the switch had been
opened, and that the car would go in
on a clear siding. Passing the switch,
he frightened upon the brakes with all
of his might, and the runaway caboose
came to a dead stop almost opposite
the station.
This accomplished, Hayden turned
quickly back into the car, jerked big
revolver from its hiding place in his
locker, and, drawing bead upon the
aisle between his bunk and the dresser.
he called out:
Come out from under that bunk,
Bradley! or by the living st. Peter,
I'll perforate all space, matter and mo-
ton beneath that berth. Shove your
gun out first, butt end foremost, and
you want to be quick about the whole
business"