Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1915-05-06
.put will ~" Rarcus doubted.
Samaw.ere TAR back along the line =


locomotive hooted mournfuiiy.
'o. 49, aot tot" Alan replied. helping
posa aboard. III we can only ger OUT
~ sisht before they get here
mont worry" Barcus adViseo'
CHATS a freight whistle.
"Niavhs YOU can distinguish the
wh,stle OF freight from that OF pas
seneer train don't say you can't
hut I'll take no chances on your jug
mert being good. Hop aboard mere II
you're coming with u.s.
Slowly the hand car stirred on It's
srease.hungry and complaining aAies,
slowly It gathered momentum anu
sureed noisily up the track as Alan
and Barcus. OH opposite sides OF the
bandlebar. alternately rose ana ieii
back. slowly II mounted the siight
Grade to the bend in the track ROUNDED
n lost sight OF the stalled Pullman
on the siding and began to move more
swiftly on a moderate down grace.
Rehind IL the thunder OF an ap-
nroachins train grew momentarily In
volume lending color to the theory 0.
Mr. Barcus that what they had nearu
had been the whistle OF frelgnter
rather than OF the light engine. But
inst as Alan was about to advocate
leaving the tracks and taking the hand
car with them. to clear the way FOR the
train. its rumble began to diminish
grew less and beautifully less. and was
stilled-
what do you make OF that Alan
painted across the racking bar
THE obvious" Barcus returned.
"The freight has taken the siding TO
wait for some other through train to
pass. Wen have 10 look sharp and be
ready to jump"
The grade became trace more
steep; the car moved with less reluc-
lance.
Let 60" Alan advised: It'll coast
down the balance OF this incllne-and
we'd better save our strength.
But they had barely regained their
breath and mopped the streaming
sweat away from their eyes when a
second whistle. OF different tone.
startled both back to their task.
Catching the eye OF Barcus Alan
nodded despairingly.
Afraid it's all up with US now" he
groaned; that sounded precisely like
the whistle OF the light engine"
"Sure II did," Barcus agreed. TT
wouldn't be us II we had any better
luck. The saints be praised for this
gradel"
For all its age and decrepitude the
hand car made 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 a
snake through the hills.
A little grace was granted them.
moreover. through the circumstance
(as they afterward discovered) that
the light engine had stopped at the
siding long enough to couple up Trine's
Pullman-thus automatically ceasing
to be light engine. and becoming q
special
| ~ "oo Adhy a qudl vi Ill HOuT DC
fore the growing rumble OF the latter
warned the trio on the hand car. Just
as 1t gained the end OF the grade and
addressed itself to level though tor,
tuous stretch OF track.
And at this point discovery OF the
switch OF spur line that shot on
southwark into the hills furnished Alan
with his independent inspiration.
Stopping the hand car after II had
1olted over the frogs. he jumped down
set the switch to shunt the pursuit OF,
10 the spur. and leaped back upon
the car.
Hardly had they succeeded In work
Ing the hand car up round the shoulde,
OF the next bend when the special tool
the switch without pause and the roa,
OF its progress. shut on by an inter
Vening mountain. was suddenly stillet
to murmur.
But even so. there was neither rel.
Tor the weary nor much excuse 70,
selr-congratulation: the rumble OF IN,
special was not altogether lost to hear
ing when the thunder Of the freixh
replaced and drowned 1t out.
Or sudden. releasing the handle
par Alan stood up and signed to Bar
Gus to Initiate his example
.Well-?" this last painted. when h,
had obeyed.
/ Jump on-leave the hand car wher
~ ls-theyll have to stop to clear II OF
the track" - VI
"And them"
. III buy lift from them II Il take
my last dollar in the world" Ala,
: promised. IT'S our only hone W.
, can I keep up this heartbreaking bus,
3 ness forever-and It can't he Iona =.
/, lore Trine and Marrophat discova
their mistakel"
, | CAADrEn