The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1921-09-08


me, sweeping them rearward.
Suddenly I heard a shrill whistle
ahead, and l realized that an engine
was on the same track as my car. 1t
had stopped about a mile off.
"'Here's where we make a sensa-
tfonal finish.' I said to myself. Then
saw the engine get into motion and
start down the track. That fellow at
the throttle certainly let her out some,
by my pyrotechnical Pullman kept
gaining on him steadily. l grew in
terested in the race, and wished that
/ was close enough to bet the engineer
on the outcome.
''Talk about the mountain of fame
That grade had the mountain of fame
looking level. Slowly we gained on
that engine ahead, which was speeding
like an automobile endeavoring to out
distance pursuing fine collector.
Ahead, in the distance, another
town came into view, and wondered
whether there would be a reception
committee to greet us.
"That engineer seemed to get an
extra burst of speed out of his puff
ing engine as we neared the town, and
just as he struck the outskirts he slack
ened up, and his fireman jumped. He
ran back a short distance, and l saw
him desperately trying to throw
oh 10 iy1St in time
and my special left the main track.
81 thought we had been going some
before, but this new line that they
had switched me onto was in class
by itself The fellows that laid that
track must have worked on ladders.
You've seen those gravity roads where
they pull trains up with a steel cable.
and let them run down by holding
them back?
"Well, that's the kind of proposition
i was up against. At the end of the
track, about a mile down, l caught
glimpse of river, which seemed to be
rushing up to meet me, and before 1
had time to get the mental impression
lCSiSlClSSty luaI SdIIotiA Va - ~ AAAe
something, and l made long-distance
dive into the watery depths.
81 hit the water and went down
about a mile. When l came up, and
got the water out of my eyes, l struck
out for the shore"
Say, Pete" interrupted Loquacious
Louie, when and where did you learn
to swim?"
ooh" replied Pete, II learned to
swim before cut my wisdom teeth.
was born on canal boat. Well, as
] was saying, l struck out for the shore
like bullfrog going a wooing. The
car had struck bumper on the river
edge, and the wreck was burning
,fercely. By the time l had pulled
myself ashore a crowd had collected to
enjoy the fire.
"'Say, sport said a fellow who
looked like a railroad man, 'where'd
you come from?
Cup by the powder works about
five miles back l answered.
"'Powder works. said the fellow.
what powder works? There amt no
powder works within 20 miles of this
place
"I guess I can read l said. 'Es-
peciaIly when the letters happen to
be about five feet high. If that place
isn't a powder works, they ought to
take in their sign
THE village constable pushed
through the crowd and asked the
cause of the trouble. The railroad
looking fellow told him, and advised
that he lock me up until they found
out how 1 came to be joy-riding around
the country.
'1he constable took me over to the
town burgess. When l told my story
he seemed TO be favorably impressed.
"'There is one weak point in your
story he said. You claim that this
car was standing Alongside the powder
works, but there are no powder works
within 20 miles of this place.
; "But l can take you to them,' in .
sisted.
"'All right he replied How far
is it?'
About mile straight up, and five
miles back along the line,' l replied.
! flake he said, turning to the con-
stable, hitch up my team, and We'll
drive up. l haven't anything particu-
lar on hand
!, "Well, we drove up, and finally reach
led the point where had started my trip
on the combustible limited. The pike
ran along the railroad tracks at the
point, and as we came opposite the
open space in the string of cars. told
Jake to pull up his prancing plugs.
; ""There! l said triumphantly, point
! ing to the sign. What does that
meanT
"The Judge and Jake gave look,
and then burst into hilarious laugh
ter.
"'Gosh all hemlockr laughed the
Judge, when he could control himself
This sure is a joke on you. Come on,
Jake Let's take him over and show
him, and then ship him back to Mis-
souri,
eve all got out of the wagon and
crossed the railroad tracks. They
took me through the open space in the
!string Of cars, and then the cause Of
their hilarity broke upon my astonish-
ed gaze.
painted along the whole length of
the fence, in letters like the ones I'd
hn