The Jones County news., 1920-08-26

ipt lAF Hhl RN0f uA EltElUE INC caUNtrfi
IN which Shirley and Colonel Pennlng-
ton had ridden to the woods out onto
the main line agaln-where owing TO-
slight downhill grade. the caboose
controlled by the brakeman could
coast gently forward and be hoobed
onto the end Of tho log train for the
return journey to Sequoia.
Throughout the afternoon Shirley,
following the battle royal between
Bryce ard the Pennington retainers,
had sat disnally In the caboose. She
was prey 10 many conflicting emo
tions' but having had what her sex
term "a good cry, she had to great
extent recovered Ger customary poise
and was busily speculating on the
rapdlty with which she could leave
Sequoia and forget she had ever met
Bryce Cardigan-when the log train
rumbled into the landing and the last
Of the long string Of trucks came TO
stop directly opposite the caboose.
Shirley happened to be looking
through the grimy caboose window at
NiANA IAWAAtAAAr VII AAlE ANif ANA Va AAAN
load the object Of her unhappy specu-
lations was seated, apparently quite
obliyious OF the IA t that he was back
once more in the haunt Of his enemies,
although knowledge that the double
bltted ak he had so unceremoniously
borrowed Of COLONEL Pennington was
driven deep into he log beside him
with the haft COM anent to his hand
probably had much 70 do with Bryce's
air Of detached Indifference.
Shirley told herself that should he
move should he show the slightest
disposition TO raise his head and bring
his eyes on level with hers, she
would dodge away from the window
in time to escape his scrutiny.
She reckoned without the engine
With a smart bump It struck the ca
boose and shunted 1t briskly up the
siding; at the sound Of tie impact
Bryce raised his trogbed glance just
In time to see Shrley's body, yield
Ing to the shock sway into full view
at the window
w AAAA hAAtNNAAN lAG NllliAN3nfA ~ E AAAi
an bet my immortal soul she was
peelJing at me-" he soliloqulzed. "Con-
found the luck Another meeting this
afternoon would be embarrassing :"
Tactfully he resumed his study Of his
feet, not even looking gp when the
caboose. after gaining the main track.
slid gently down the slight grade and
was coupled TO the rear logging truck.
He heard the engineer shout to the
brakeman-wh had ridden down from
the head OF the train to unlock the
siding switch and couple the caboose
Ito hurry up, lock the switch, and
get bacg aboard the engine.
Cant get this DANCED key TO turn
IN the lock-" the brakeman shouted
presently. locks rusty, and some
things gone bast inside"
Minutes passed Bryce's assumed
abstraction became real, for he had
many matters TO occupy his busy
brain, ana It was impossible for him to
sit idle without adverting to some Of
them. Presently he was subconscious-
" aware that the train was moving
gently forward; almost Immediately
1t seemed to him, the long string Of
trucks had gathered their customary
speed ana then suddenly It dawned
upon Bryce that the train had started
on without a single Jerk-and that it
was gathering headway rapidly.
lie looked ahead-and his hair grew
creepy at tie roots. There was no To-
comotlve attached to the trHinl It
was running away down a two per
! cent grade, and because of the tire
mendous weight OF the train, 1t was
gathering momentum at fearful rate.
The reason for the runaway dawned
on Bryce instantly. The road, being
privately owned. was, like most log
ging roads, neglected as to roadbed
and rolling stock; also it was under'
manned, and the brakeman, who also
acted rs switchman, had failed to set
the hand-brakes on the leading truck
after the engineer had locked the air
brakes. AS a result. during the five or
six minutes required to spot In" the
cahOose. and an extra minute or two
lost while the brakeman struggled
wIth the recalcitrant lock on the
switch. the air had leaked away
through the worn valves and rubber
tubing. and the brakes had been re
leased-so that the train, without
warning. had quietly and almost noise
lessly slid out of tho log-landlng and
started on its mad career. There was
nothing to do now save watch the wild
runaway and pray, for Of all the mad
runaways in mad world. loaded
logging train IS by far the worst.
For an instant after realizing his
p-edlcament. Bryce Cardigan was
tempted to Jump and take his chance
on few broken bones. before the
train could reach a greater speed than
twenty miles an hsnr. His next i'm
! lnilse was to ruS sorvard and set the
mandrake on the 'eaulns truck. but
n glance showed him that even win
the train standing still he could not
| hone to lean from tluck to truck and
land on the round. freshly peeled sur
4 face ~ the logs without slipping. for