The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-07-27

And the men shouted and screamed
and beat at one another In their
frenzy of happiness. In spite OF the
1act that the trick had been torn
away from behind them as tho II
never had existed. and that they now
were cut OFT entirely from the rest
or the weird. Only ono snow shed
remained. with but feeble bulwark
81 drifts before H. Already lights
were cleaning down the hack.stretch.
engines we're putting upward. bear
ma ties and rails and ballast and
ehutment materials, on toward the
expected. with men ready 90 repair
she damage as soon az II was done.
There were cries also from there be-
low. the shouts Of men who were glad
even as the crews Of the engines and
plows were glad. ana the engineers
and flremen leaned from their cabs
10 answer.
Stln the whistles screamed: all
thru the night they screamed. as
drfft after drift yielded. as the eight.
foot bite Of the first giant anger
gnewed and tore At tho packed con
tents OF the last shed atop Crcssiinc:
then roared and sang. while the hills
sent back their outhursfs with echoes
that rolled. one into another. until az
last the whole world was one terrific
|, cutpourinr Of explosive sounds and
shriil. shrisking blasts. as tho the
mountains were believing their
anger. their remoustranee at defeat.
Eight feet. then eight feet more:
stsndIiy eight Feet onward. Nor did
the men curse AZ the sulphur fumes.
nor rail- az the steel hiuc Ice. IL was
the final fight: on the downgrade
were lesser drifts. puny In compari.
son 10 what they had gone thru.
simple. easily defeated obstacles %
the giant machinery, which would
work then with gravity instead az
against II. Eight feet uorc--eighs
feet after that. they marked II off on
the windows OF the engine cabs with
greasy fingers and counted the hours
until success. Might faded. Dawn
came and then---the SUM- Clear and
brilliant with the promise OF spring
again and OF melting SHOWS. The
fight was the same as over.
Sieep--and men who laughed. even
~ thcy snored. laughed With the
eubconscious knowledge OF success.
while the bunk ears which sheltered
them moved onward. up 20 the peak
then started down the range. Might
axain--and Houston once more IN
the engine cab. But this time. the
rcd glare Of the fire-box did not show
n often against the sky; tho stops
we're less frequent for the leo packs:
oncs tho men even sanxi
Morning OF the second day--end
'oGa5n the sunshine. causing dripping
streams from the long. laden
branches Of the pines and spruce.
11iltng the streams bank.fuil. here
and therc cutting thru the blanket
~ white 70 the dun-brown earth
again Work over. Houston leaned
out tia door Of the bunk car. drink.
ing In tho sunshine. warm for the
xirst time Ia weeks. II Secondhand
warm In heart and spirit. n abe
would only keep her promised II she
would allow sfedains 70 see her. n
ohs would tell her the truth--abcut
the contract. the lease. and most Of
81! that accusation IT,
The whistles sEsin.--and crowded
forms at the doors Of the cars. Tab
ernacis was IN tho distance. while
men and women wafcd thru the
soxxy SHOWS 10 BE- the first TO reach
the train. Happiness cleaned on the
features Of the Inhabitants Of be
leaxured land shut away from the
world for weeks. men and women
who saw no shame In the tears which
ssrenrncd down their cheeks. and
who sought not 70 hids them Eag.
eriy Barry searched the thronging
crowd. al last to catch sight Of a
gigantic figure. his woif-dog beside
him He Ieapef from the car even
before Il had ceased 20 move.
-BavisfsF' ne called. "fsa'tlster'
Great arms opened wide. A sob
came from the throat Of a giant
Mon BARGE, Mon BareeF' II was
an ne coufd ney for moment