Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1925-01-15

bridge, and the left bank, before the
slowly opening draw.
This Patterson knew and counted on
in his plan for revenge. aud waited all
too impatiently for the time TO come
when he should know by the signals
that they were approaching the bridge.
What mattered 1t to him that he was
imperiling the lives Of two hundred.
passengers and officers and crew OF
the steamer? He had but the thought
for one thing, and that was the death
of the pilot.
In the pilot house all was dark but
for the shaded pinnacle light. Bolton
stood at the Wheel At his right hand
was the mate, at his left, one of the
quartermasters, Far down the river,
the lights on the d.awbridge twinkled
red and green and white In the dark
night.
But now the rain had ceased. and
the thunder rumbled In the distance.
The river lay black velvet through
which the steamer softly crowded her
way Yet the banks were distinguish
able now. for the channel had mar
rowed between the island. In the cen
ter Of the stream at this place. and
the left bank of the river.
The lights on the bridge grew. and
out Of the night Its huge framework
took form like some Titan net spread
to catch the steamer. They were but
a hundred yards from 1t now. "Give
her the whistle" ordered the pilot
and the quartermaster pulled the cord
and sent hoarse blast out over the
river.
But the lights on the bridge did not
change. A bar OF light from the
steamers searchlight threw the drip
ping structure into sudden daylight,
and played along the draw, searching
each nick and corner with Its brilliant
rays and sending path Of light down
the dark river beyond. Then and only
then the men on the draw tardily
started to swing 1t.
The mate swore volubIy, for the cur
rent ran strong here and even at half
speed the steamer was sweeping down
on the draw at the rate Of some ten
knots.
stop her and back herr he or
dered abruptly. Bolton gave the sig
mails. and all three waited expectantly
anxiously. The vibration OF the en-
gines ceased, and for a moment the
big river boat glided on In stately
silence.
And then, with the structure of the
bridge towering but the steamers own
length before 1t. came the vibrations
again, and the SayvilIe seemed fairly
to leap forward, with her engines run
ming at full speed ahead
For moment the men IN the pilot
house were startled out of speech and
action and then, with an inartlculate
cry, the mate snatched the bell,cord
from the pilots hand and pulled 1t
furiously. But still the engines pound
ed ahead at full speed The steamers
forward deck swept under the draw.
which had swung but few feet, and
the towering mass of the bridge
doomed before the pilot house Hell I"
cried the mate and, his courage desert
ing him, he flung the pilot-house door
open and sprang out, the quartermas-
ter close on his heels.
Bolton, alone, stood at his post.
Whatever else HIS faults he had the
courage which makes heroes. He knew
now. 1t came to him all in moment
-Patterson's treachery and Its cause.
In way, he told himself, he was re-
sponsible for the lives of the passen-
gers, Of the officers and crew of this
boat, for had 1t not been for him. all
this would not have happened. And
yet, as he faced death, last wistful
thought of what might have been came
to him as the face Of the girl passed
before his minds eye In that kaleido-
scope of impending dissolution which
comes at such time.
For a moment he stood thus, and
then 1t seemed to him that the mass
before him was hurled at his head He
ducked, instinctively. Then came a
rending crash, shudder ran through
the steamer, and he was hurled to the
deck. AS he lay half-stunned he saw
the dark mass of the bridge sweep
over him, saw the deckhouse swept be-
fore it like paper. and the big tunnels
bend and crash to the deck below, and
then he saw that the black sky was
above him again, and realized that he
was still clinging to the wheel, and
this, with It's strong bracing, had pro-
tected him from the deckhouse, which
had gone to pieces on 1t. He put 1t
hard over and headed the wreck for
the soft bank.
SO Patterson, the engineer. did not
gain his wish after all. But that was
Bottoms last trick at the wheel His
life had been spared, but his nerve
had gone forever.
Down in the engine-room they found
20 wing M y,ioc xuhora nvn<. l,a5 hoax,