The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1915-04-24

somewhere IhF oeeh biou4 tsN jan"
locomotive hootsd mourufuliy.
IT'S got tot" Alan replied. helping
Rose aboard. IF we can only get out
Of sight before they get here"
Don't worry" Barcus advised;
that's n freight whistle"
Maybe you can distinguish the
whistle OF a freight from that OF pas
senger train--I don't say you can't:
but III take no chances on your iudg.
ment being good. Hop aboard here IL
you're coming with u.s."
Slowly the hand car stirred on its
grease hungry and complaining aIles
slowly It gathered momentum and
eurged noisily up the track as Alan
and Barcus. on opposite sides OF the
hAndlebar. alternately rose and fell
back; slowly Il mounted the slight
grade 10 the bend in the track. rounded
II. lost sight OF the stalled Pullman
on the siding and began TO move more
swiftly on a moderate down grade.
Behind Il the thunder OF an ap-
preaching train grew momentarily In
volume. lending color to the theory OF
Mr.. Barcus that what they had heard
had been the whistle OF . freighter
rather than OF the light engine. But
Just as Alan was about TO advocats
leaving the tracks and taking tho hand
car with them. 10 clear the way for the
train, It's rumble began TO diminish.
grew less and beautifully less. and was
stllled.
what do you make OF thatT Alan
painted across the racking bar.
The obvious" BaTcus returned.
THE freight has taken the siding TO
wait for some other through train 10
pass. Wen have to look sharp and be
ready to jump"
The grade became q trace more
steep: the car moved with less reluc'
tance
Let 60" Alan advised: 'ls'll coast
down the balance OF this incline-and
we'd better save our strength
But they had barely regainsd their
breath and mopped the streaming
sweat away from their eyes when
second whistle. OF q different tone.
startled both back 10 their task.
Catching the eye OF Barcus Alan
nodded despairinEiy.
Afraid it's all up with us now" he
groaned: that sounded precisely like
the whistle OF the light engine"
Sure IL did," Barcus agreed. II
wouldn't be US II We had any better
luck The saints be praised for this
grade'"
For ali its age and decrepitude the
hand car made q very fair pace at the
urge OF the two who rose and sagged
again without respite on either side
the handlebar: and the grade was hap
PLY long. turning and twisting like Q
snake through the hills.
A little grace wAs granted them.
moreover. through the circumstance
tas they afterward discovered) that
the light engine had stopped at tho
siding long enough TO couple up Trine's
PullmAn-thua automatically ceasinE
20 be a light engine. and becoming .
special
II was fully q quarter OF an hour be-
fore the growing rumble OF the latter
warned the trio on the hand car. Just
as Il gained the end OF the grade and
addressed itself to q level though tor
tuous stretch OF track
And at this point discovery OF tho
switch OF a spur line that shot on
iouthwRrd into the hills furnished Alan
with his independent inspiration.
Stopping tho hand car after II had |
Iolted over the frogs. he jumped down.
set the switch TO shunt the pursuit OF
10 the spur. and leaped back upon
tho car
Hardly had they succeeded In work. |
ng the hand car up round the shoulder |
of the next bend when the special took |
he switch without pause and the roar
1t It's progress. shut on by an inter |
'ehing mountain. was suddenly stilled
70 n murmur
But even so. there was neither rest
'or the weary nor much excuse for
ielfcongratulAtion: the rumble OF the
'pecial was not altogether lost to hear
NIX when the thunder OF tho freight
and drowned II out.
or n sudden. releasing the handle
1ar. Alan stood up and signed 10 Bar.
,us 10 initiate his example.
well" this last painted, when he
lad obeyed
Jump or-leave the hand car where
I is-they1l have TO stop TO clear Il OF
he track"
And them"
'I'll buy n lift from them II Il takes
ny last dollar In the world" Alan
Promised. IT'S our only hope. We
ant keep up this heartbreakinE bust
less forever-and II can't be long be-
ore Trine and Marrophat discover
heir mistake!"