The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1914-11-27

same nOuf IN lns evening. OCCdSlOh-
ally he would pause to exchange
few commonplaces with the Kid-usu-
ally, he hurried to the caHp where he
lived The nights we're longSand lone
some; part of the dey was spent In
repose.
He became wearied of the monotopy
after a few weeks and began to spend
few hours of the daylight in hunting
the rabbits which abounded in the sur
rounding country. II was his only d.
version, and it gradually grew upon
him until he was filling the days with
1t and losing the sleep which was
absolutely indispensable if he was to
remain vigilantly on guard during his
shift.
The Kid sat looking out of the win
dow in the side of the box car and
wondered how much longer he could
endure the oppressive humdrum.
No. 6S went by at midnight carrying
a green. He reported her passage and
turned to his reading. The long mel
ancholy blast of the whistle echoed in
his ears long after the train had
flashed by with its golden squares OF
light. 1t diverted him from his book
for moment but his eyes slowly re-
turned to the page, and he read on.
Suddenly he was gripped by the
dread that something unusual had &C.
Cured. 1t seemed to him that he had
been doing. He started as second 68
roared by
"I'll wait and then put her down."
he muttered drowsily.
Again he was overwhelmed by a
as it should be.
He listened as the sounder abruptly
broke out in harsh staccato.
$751;" licked the in
strument.
He stirred
Where have you been-in the
hay?" came the query. "OS."
He Hastily "OS'd" second 6S and
closed the key.
Third 6S by YETI" the sounder
asked
The Kid opened his key.
"Not yet" he replied.
"OK, put her In the siding for Sec
ond 49,"
Loaded with fast freight, second 73
was waiting at Hawk, about twenty
five miles east of Scovers, for the right
of way. The Kid clicked the order to
Hawk, and shortly afterward the wire
told him that second 73 had started.
Again the fear OF error and disaster
assailed the Kid. He could not resist
it. He picked up the train-sheet and
scrutinized it. He rose unsteadily to
his feet, horror graved in every line OF
his pale drawn face.
Third 6S went by and | didn't put
her down." he gasped.
1t meant wreck, death, and disgrace.
He had slept, he knew it now, and the
truth of it was scared into his mind.
The trains would collide about ten
miles west of Hawk. No stations in
teryened-it could not possibly be
averted. In neglectful moment the
tide of circumstances had swept aside
the placid current of his life and
turned it into dizzying turmoil
Should he report her? For a mo-
ment he vacillated. They would know
why 1t had happened. He need not
admit the horrible truth now.
Third 6S yet?" the key broke in t<r.
rifyingly.
. With the vacillation had come weak
ness.
Not yet" the Kid answered
He sank into his chair and buried
his face in his hands, Often, before
he became a telegrapher, he had won.
dered how feels the man who makes
the fatal blunder and hurls train
load of passengers into the infinite.
1t had seemed to him that it must be
crushing, maddening-th end of all
peace. Now he knew how really dire
it was.
He reached for the key. He would
do what small human thing he could
confess.
Suddenly there was a roaring in his
ears. His form Strengthened in the
chair and his head went back as he
gazed with staring, unbelieving eyes
as third 6S rumbled by with gleam OF
light.
He rubbed his eyes and looked stu
pidly at her tail-lights as they swept
from his vision.
He sat down and thought long and
seriously. Third 6S was safe. There