The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-07-15

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coupled and backed in on the siding
for the purpose of kicking the caboOse.
In which Shirley and Colonel Pennlng-
ton had ridden 10 the syoods. out onto
the main line again-where. owing 20
slight downhlll grade. the caboose
controlled by the brakeman could
coast gently forward and be hooked
onto the end Of the log train for the
return Journey TO SequOla.
Throughout the afternoon Shirley.
following the battle royal between
Bryce and the Pennington retainers.
had sat disinally In the caboose. She
was prey TO many conflicting emo
tions; but having had what her sex
term "a good cry" she had to a great
extent recovered her customary poise
and was busily speculating on the
rapidly with which she could leave
Sequola and forget she had ever met
Bryce Cardigan-when the log train
rumbied into the landing and the last
of the long string OF trucks came to a
stop directly opposite the caboose.
Shirley happened to be looking
through the griny caboose window at
that moment. On the top log OF the
load the object of her unhappy specu-
latlons was seated, apparently quite
obllvious OF the fact that he was back
once more I'm the haunt Of his enemies.
although knowledge that the double.
bltted aN 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 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 10 escape his scrutiny.
She reckoned without the engine.
With a smart bump IL struck the ca.
boose and shunted Il briskly up the
siding: at the sound of tire impact
Bryce raised his troubled glance Just
in time to see Shlrley's body. yield5
Ing to the shock, sway into full view
at the window.
with difficulty he suppressed grin.
"Tll bet my immortal soul she was
peeklng at me-" he soliloquized Con
found the luck Another meeting this
afternoon would he embarrassing.
T'actfully 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
brakeman-who had ridden down from
the head of the train TO unlock the
siding switch and couple the caboose
to hurry mp, lock the switch, and
get back aboard the engine
"Can't 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 It was impossible for him to
sit idle without adyerting to some 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 theNtrain had started
or without n single jerk-and that II
was gathering headway rapidly.
lie looked ahead-and his hair grew
creepy at the roots. There was no lo-
comotive attached TO the train 1t
was running away down two per
cent grade and because OF the tire.
mendous weight OF the train, It was
gathering momentum at fearful rate.
The reason for the runaway dawned
on Bryce instantly. The road, being
privately owned. was, like most log
cling roads, neglected as 10 roadbed
and rolling stock; also II was under
manned, and the brakeman, who also
acted as switchman, had failed 10 set
she hand-brakes on the leading truck
after the cngSneer had locked the air
brakes. As result, during the five or
six minutes required to spot In" the
caboose, and an extra minute or two |
lost while the brakeman struggled
with the recalcltrant lock on the
switch. the mir 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 the log-landing and
started on its mad career. There was
nothing 10 do now save watch the Wild |
and pray, for OF all the mad
In mad world, loaded
logging train is by far the worst.
For an instant after realizing his
Bryce Cardigan was
tempted 10 Jump and take his chance
On n few broken bones, before the
train could reach a greater speed than
twenty miles an hour. His next Inn
pulse was To ran forward and set the
.. ., a h,olsa ON tha laa,,n. t,-,,.ty l,.t |