The Crittenden press., 1920-09-17

lafions was seated, apparently quite
oblivious Of the fact that he was back
once more In the haunt of his enemies,
although knowledge that the double
bitted ax he had SO unceremoniously
borrowed OF Colonel Pennington was
driven deep into the log beside him.
with the haft convenient to his hand.
probably had much to do with Bryce's
air OF detached Indifference.
Shirley told herself thar 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 1t struck the ca.
boose and shunted II briskly up the
siding; at the sound Of tire impact
Bryce raised his troubled glance just
In time 10 see Shirley's body. yield.
Ing to the shock. sway into full view
ut the window.
With difficulty he suppressed a grin
"l'll bet my immortal soul she was
peeking at me-" he soliloquIzed. "Con-
found the luck Another meeting this
afternoon would be embarrassing
Tactfully he resumed his study Of his
feet. not even looking up 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
brnkeman-wh had ridden down from
the head OF the train to unlock the
siding switch and couple the cabOOse
to hurry up. lock the switch, and
get back aboard the engine.
Cant get this DANCED key to turn
In the lock" the brakeman shouted
presently. Locks rusty. and some
things gone bust inside"
Minutes passed. Bryce's assumed
abstraction became real, for he had
many matters to occupy his busy
brain. and II was impossible for him to
sit Idle without adyertlng to sosle Of
them. Presently he was subconsclOus.
ly aware that the train was moving
gently forward; almost Immediately,
II seemed 10 him. the long string of
trucks had gathered their customary
speed; and then suddenly II dawned
upon Bryce that the train had started
Of without single jerk-and that It
was gathering headway rapidly.
He looked ahead-and his hair grew
creepy at the roots. There was no To-
comotive attached to the tNin. II
was running away down two per
cent grade, and because OF the ire.
mendous weight of the train. II was
gathering mnmcnil!m NJ 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 II was under.
manned. and the brakeman, who also
acted ms swltchman, had failed to set
the hand.brakes on the leading truck
after the engineer had locked the air
brakes AZ n result. during the five or
six minutes required to spot In" the
cnboose. and an extra minute or two
lost while the brakeman struggled
with the rccalcItrant lock on the
switch. the air had leaked away
through the worn valves and rubber
tubing. and the brakes had been re-
lensed-So that the train. without
warning. had quietly and almost noise
lessly slid out NJ the log.landng and
started on IT, mad career. There was
nothing to do now save watch the Wild
runaway and pray. for Of all the mad
runaways N mad world, loaded
logging train is by far the worst.
For nm Instant after realizing his
predlcnment. Bryce Cardigan was
tempted 10 Jump and take his chance
IN few broken homes. before the
train could reach n greater speed than
twenty miles nm hour. His next I'm.
rulse was to run forward and set the
hand.hrnkc on the leading truck. hut
glance showed him that even with
the train standing still he could not
hope 10 leap from truck TO truck and
land on the round. freshly peeled sur,
face ~ the logs without slipping. for
he had no calks In his boots. And to
slip now meant swift and horrible
death.
Then he remembered. In the wildly
rolling cnhoose shirley Sumner rode
with her uncle, while less than two
miles ahead. the track swung In n
sharp curve high up along the hillside
above Mad river Bryce knew the
leading truck would never take that
curve nt hich speed, even II the an.
Client rolling stock should hold togeth.
er until the curve was reached. but
would shoot or NJ a tangent into the
canyon, carrying trucks. logs, and ca.
hoosc with II, rolling over and over
down the hillside to the river.
"rhc cnhoosc must be cut out OF
this runway" Bryce solllouuizcd
"and II mus, he cut out In devil OF
u hurry. Here goes nothing In par.
ticulnr, and may God be- good to my
dear OLD man."
lie jcrked his axe out " the log.
drove II deep into the top log toward
the end, and by using the haft to cling
10, crawlcd toward the rear ~ the
lond .nnd looked down at the caboosc
coupling. The ton log was n sixteen.
foot hutt, the two bottom los- were
cirhtecn.fco,ers. with n silent PRAYER
" thanks to Providence. Bryce slid
down to the landing thus formed. Tie
was still Ave feet above the coupling
however,; but by leaning over the
swnylng. humping edge and swinging
the axe with one hand. he managed TO
.,,,t thrn,,gh th, r,,hhas h... ~. Ar.