The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1914-12-10

=
locomotive hooted mournfully.
ITS got tol" Alan replied. helping
Rose aboard. III We can only get out
OF sight before they get here"
Don't worry" Barcus advised:
that's a freight whistle"
Maybe you can distinguish tho
whistle OF freight from that OF a pas
senger train-I don't say you can't;
but I'll take no chances ON your juds-
ment being good. Hop aboard here II
you're coming with usi"
Slowly the hand car stirred on its
grease'hungry and complaining axles:
slowly II gathered momentum and
surged noiaily up the track as Alan
and Barcus. on opposite sides Of thu
handlebar. alternately rose and fell
back slowly II mounted the slight
grade 10 the bend In the track. rounded
H. lost sight Of the stalled Pullman
on the siding and began TO move moro
swiftly on a moderate down grade.
behind Il the thunder OF an ap-
preaching train grew momentarily In
volume. lending color 10 the theory OF
Mr harcus that what they had heard
had been the whistle Of freighter
rather than Of the light engine. But
Just 40 Alan was about To advocate
leaving the tracks and taking the hand
car with them. 10 clear the way for the
train. its rumble began TO diminish.
grew lees and beautifully less. and was
stilled.
What do you make Of that" Alan
painted across the rRckinE bar
The obvious" Rarcus returned.
THE freight has taken the siding TO
wait for some other through train TO
pass. Wen have to look sharp and be
ready TO jump"
The grade became trace moro
steep. the car moved with less reluc.
lance
Let 60" Alan advised. "it1l coast
down the balance OF this incllne-and
we'd better save our strength"
But they had barely regained their
breath aud mopped the streaming
sweat away from their eyes when q
second whistle. OF different tone
startled both back to their task
Catching the eye Of Barous Alar
nodded despairingly.
Afraid it's all up with Us now" h.
groaned. that sounded precisely lik'
the whistle Of the light engine"
Sure II ala" Barcus agreed. -
wouldn't be W. II we had any beitel
luck The saints be praised for thil
gradei"
For all iis age and decrepitude thu
hand car made very fair pace al tn
urEe Of the two who rose and sagge'
again without respite on either sid
the handlebar; and the Grade was haF
PLY long. turning and twisting like
snake through the hills
A little grace was granted them
moreover. through the circumstanc
(as they afterward disoovered) tina
the nsht engine had ssopT~d al IN
siding long enough 10 couple up Trine
Pullman--thus automatically ceasin
10 he a light engine. and becoming
special
II was fully = quarter Of an hour b
fore the growing rumble Of the latte
warned the trio on the hand car. jus
~ Il gained the end Of the grade an
addressed itself to a level though to-
tuous stretch Of track.
And At this point discovery Of IN
switch OF q spur line that shot o
southwark into the hills furnished Ala
with his independent inspiration.
Stopping the hand car after Il ha
jolted over the frogs. he jumped dowl
set the switch TO shunt the pursuit o
20 the spur. aud leaped back upo
the car
Hardly had they succeeded In wor'
ing the hand car up round the should'
Of the next bend when the special toe
the switch without pause and the ro'
, OF lth progress. shut on by an int
vening mountain. was suddenly stills
10 a murmur
But even 30. there was neither re
for the weary nor much excuse 4
INSTRUMENTATION the rumble OF u
special was not altogether lost to he's
: ing when the thunder Of the freig
replaced and drowned II out.
or sudden. releasing the hand
bar. Alan stood up and signed TO Ba
Gus 20 initiate HE example.
we'll" this last painted. when
: had obeyed.
Jump off-leaye the hand car whe
itis-theyll have to stop to clear II
= the track"
"And them"
= 'T1l buy lift from them II Il TAX
nv last dollar in the world" Al
promised. 'lt's our only hope, '
can't keep up this heartbreaking bu
ness forcver--and II can't be long
fore Trine and Marrophat discoS
their mistakel"
caboose.
For once. In a way. II fell out ?
cisely as Mr.. Law had planned q
praved