Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-12-27

Amos Rhlneiander, New York man of
large means. and General Holmes. return
ing on Helen's eighteenth birthday with
Rhineander and Rhlnelander's nephew
Robert Seagrue. himself young and
ambitious railroad promoter-from a trip
OF inspection OF the tdewater terminals
OF Holmes road. was eagerly awaited by
his daughter at their country home
among the San Pablo foothills. A mes
sage sent up to her from Signal. the Sub
urban station of the country seat had
asked her to meet her father that day on
No. 90. the Through eastern passenger
train.
The motor car had gone ahead and
Helen. taking Rocket. one Of her favorite
hunting horses. rode down 1t her leisure
to the station.
While far from being a spoiled child,
Helen felt very much at home anywhere
on the Copper Range a ridewater rail-
road
On the day that Helen eantered lazily
down through the foothills toward Signal.
long westbound freight train. after
climbing the grade east Of big hill
known on the division as Blackbird pass.
reached the summit only to find itself In
trouble. The air pump. after baking all
morning. had quit. and the conductor
going forward found the engineer. after
repeated efforts with the big machine,
heipiess-the airbrakes out of service.
Without losing much time. the conductor
rigged up his emergency telephone and
asked for instructions from the dis
patcher. The answer to his request was
curt: Bring In No. las by hand brakes y
The crew spread 10 their posts on the
decks. the numbering string OF heavsi,
laden cars were carefully started dowr
the hill. and the long string began rapidly
to pick up speed.
It picked up. indeed. too rapidly Tn,
crew vainly strove 90 hold back the un
wieidy train. Clubs IN hand and with tn
brakes hard jammed. they saw their mon
ster resistiessly getting away from them
The conductor hurried forward, for
conference. to the cab. and. comparin
watches with the engineer looked seriou
within twenty minutes they would b
running on N. So's time; they might evel
meet II at the bottom OF the hii befor
they reached Signal.
The conductor acted quickly Plclxln,
up lump Of coal he scratched a messae
on a white signal flag and wrapped 1
around wrench. Cedar Grove static,
was hardly a mile ahead. As the envsn
dashed by Il, the conductor, In the gang
way. hurled the message through the ~
flee window. Picking Il up ana hast,l,
reading the rough scrawI the startIs,
operator wired the tidings instantly \
the next station. That station wa
Signal
In the bouncing engine cab there wen
grave faces. What are you going TO doP
shouted the engineer. without hesita
ton the conductor cried; "Cut off m
eab0ose. We can't stop it-let the trai
goi' The engineer agreed: We've onl
got one life apiece. No time TO los,
GeorseF he yelled TO his fireman
make for the caboose."
The fireman. perhaps the younRes
man IN the two crews. without answer
Ing, continued 10 hunt for a wrench
, Wake up, George" shouted the con
ductor. come onl"
, Searching the tool box, the finems,
! shook his head. what do you mean
demanded the engineer, CATCHING 4
! excitement az his companion's arm
aren't you eoming?"
The fireman did not hurry his answe,
III stay here he said, turning slmpl,
; Stay hereg' Numbered the conduct
: IN surprise. Are you crazyg'' He cauEh
the fireman's other arm and with IN
engineer talked TO the obstinate fellow