The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1915-04-01
Somewhere far back along the line a


locomotive booted mournfully.
TITS got to-" Alan replied. helping
Rose aboard, IF we can only get out
of sight before they get here"
Don't worry" Barcus advised;
that's freight whistle"
Maybe you can distinguish the
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 judy
ment being good Hop aboard here II
you're coming with u.s."
Slowly the hand car stirred on its
grease-hungry and complaining axles;
slowly IL gathered momentum and
surged noisily up the track as Alan
and Barcus. on opposite sides of the
handlebar, alternately rose and fell
| back; slowly It mounted the slight
| grade TO the bend in the track, rounded |
1 II. lost sight OF the stalled Pullman
on the siding and began 10 move more |
swiftly on a moderate down grade,
Behind II the thunder of an APP |
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 advocate
leaving the tracks and taking the hand
car with them. TO clear the way for the
train, its rumble began 20 diminish,
grew less and beautifully less. and was
stilled.
What do you make OF that7" Alan
painted across the racking bar.
The obvious" Barcus 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 trace more
steep; the car moved with less reluc-
lance
Let CO." Alan advised; "itll coast
down the balance OF this incline-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 a 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 It didl" Barcus agreed. 1T
- wouldn't be us II we had any better
luck. The saints DO praised for this
graded"
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
las they afterward discovered) that
the light engine had stopped at the
siding long enough 10 couple up Trlne's
Pullman-thms automatically ceasinR
TO be a light engine. and becoming a
H special.
/ II was fully quarter OF an hour be
4 fore the growing rumble OF the latter
\ warned the trio on the hand car, Just
4 as II gained the end OF the grade and
/ addressed itself 10 level though tor
i tuous stretch OF track
4 And at this point discovery Of tn,
1 switch OF spur line that shot OF
Il southwark into the hills furnished Altar
with his Independent inspiration.
Stopping the hand car after Il hat
:, jolted over the frogs, he jumped down
= set the switch to shunt the pursuit Of
to the spur, and leaped back upor
e the car,
.. Hardly had they succeeded in work
u ing the hand car up round the shoulde
OF the next bend when the special tool
r. the switch without pause and the roa
< OF it's progress. shut of by an inter
rd yening mountain. was suddenly stillet
to a murmur.
But even so. there was neither res
le for the weary nor much excuse 70
Ns self-congratulation: the rumble OF tn
OF special was not altogether lost to hear
10 ing when the thunder OF the frelgh
e- replaced and drowned II out.
% or a sudden. releasing the handle
u bar, Alan stood up and signed to Bar
GUS TO initiate his example
~ we'll" this last painted, when h
had obeyed.
Jump oti--leave the hand car wher
itis--they1l have to stop to clear II Of
a." the track"
y And them"
~ "rll buy lift from them II It take
49, my last dollar in the world" Ala
promised. ITS our only hope. w
can't keep up this heartbreaking bus
~ ness foreyer-and II can't be long b.
ne fore Urine and Marrophat discoye
ne their mistake!"
h.