The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1915-01-21

progressed. until 1t darted out of sight
far below.
That's great" murmured Fergu-
son.
As the days passed, the fascination
OF Gabriels Balcony strengthened and,
with its growth, Ferguson's desire to
leave Lantana diminished. His en-
treaties for relief ceased, FOR which the
chief dispatcher was duly grateful.
All the time that could be spared
from his trifiing duties at the station
was spent at Gabriel's Balcony To
hurl rocks from the brink of the preci-
pice developed into a mania Like
morphine, the dose must be taken in
ever-increasing quantities to satisfy
the craving.
The sight of small rocks diving
down the incline was no longer salts
flying to Ferguson. Each rock must
be larger than it's predecessor. Bowld-
ers that taxed his strength to the ut
most to poise on the edge of the preci-
pice were sent crashing down the
slope, followed by satellites OF slate
and earth they had loosened in their
flight.
Ferguson wondered vaguely whittier
these rushing houlders fastened SO
eagerly, and meant some day to mount
massive rock and journey down with
it, to learn their destination.
And one day there came the Voice
just as Ferguson had started mon
strous rock down the incline.
What If that had been the Eagle
Limited?" the Voice suggested.
What's that?" asked Ferguson, not
comprehending.
No answer. Ferguson glanced up
and down the track. There was no
one in sight
HUH" said Ferguson. Mighty
funny" aud resumed his absorbing oc-
cupation.
AS he sent another sphere of gran
tie catapulting from the Balcony, Fer
guson heard the voice again. What
if that had been the Eagle Limited?
With eyes staring at the fast vanish
ing rock, he answered: Yes, that
would be exciting"
1t was a friendly Voice, and it often
came to cheer his heartrending lonell-
ness. Ferguson pleaded with it to stay
and share his quarters IL the box car.
And the Voice knew New York-hls
New York--and soon a bond Of eternal
brotherhood was sealed with tears OF
JOY on Ferguson's part for the pres
ence Of this unexpected comrade in
the wilderness.
Not many days after the Voice had
first made its presence known, it spoke
long and earnestly to Ferguson, and
as he hardened, the light of wild ant1c
ipation cleaned in his eyes.
From under the couch in the corner
ne drew crowbar, wrench, and
sledgehammer. These he carried to
Gsbriels Balcony, and, according as
the Voice commanded, he welded the
tools, singing as he toiled.
When the work was done, the Voice
and Ferguson waited impatiently. The
Limited came to its fate with no warn
ing. From the verge of Gabriels Bal
cony it plunged, coach trailing coach.
Rocks and earth detached from the
precipi pursued it as it fell.
Down the steep incline rolled
twisted metal and splintered timbers,
enshrouded in an ever-swelling mass
of rock and soil. 1t grew into roar
ing avalanche, and as it struck the
timbered slope it added trees of CEN
fury growth to it's appalling bulk.
1t was no mean death that Fergu-
son had wrought for passengers and
crew, and no man may say, IN truth,
where they found sepulcher.
At Gradyville, Superintendent Jen.
kins ordered out the wrecking train.
The Limited had left Rawdon on time,
but was hours overdue at Lantana,
and repeated efforts to gain response
from Ferguson were fruitless.
The wrecking crew found Ferguson
seated on huge bowlder where the l..
S. and G. track made the turn at Ga
briefs Balcony, gibbering incoherent-
ly. The impalpable spirit Of the noun
tain, the immensely of space, had
crushed him with its mystery.
1t was the fertile imagination of Su-
perintendent jenkins that evolved the
landslide theory for newspaper con-
sllmptiOn to account for the absolute
disappearance Of the Eagle Linited.
jenkins knew railroading from a fish
plate on a spur to the manipulation of
stocks in Wall street, from the con-
struction of a shoo-fy track around
the debris of wreck to the concoc-
ton Of shoo-hy tale for the report
ers, and he handled the situation with
mastery resourcefulness.
And the Voice came no more to Fen
guson.