Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-06-10
Dad" Clayburn was getting old
---but he was some engineer!

realized that Dad, on his last trip, would whirl
them to frightful peril.
But the pulsing emotion in that big crowd
became too much for Dan to bear. The broad
shoulders that years had not bent, were bowed
under the weight of well wishes. Dads eyes
were streaming
Danny" he called, you finish the oiling I
haven't shed a tear for 40 years-not since
Martha died; but it's getting me. Danny-get-
ting me cause I can't see the folks every day
or so as I've been doing. Give er lots of fast
oil Danny. The Master Mechanic will let it pass
today all right, bet
Dad grinned at Sol Pickering, the master
mechanic.
You could have the oil house." Sol grinned
back
90 K DAN you walk along with the boys;
the hostler and I will put her on the train"
Fleming told him. And Dad was swallowed up
in the crowd of friends that surged toward the
long depot platform. a.
And the friends would not let him go until
the last moment until the four cab whistles
sounded for the final release Of the air test.
And the round house whistle, the fire siren
were screeching unearthly blasts; but they
failed to drown the final cheers as Dad pulled
the throttle and the long limited rolled quietly
west.
But soon, as the 1922 sang her song of speed.
foreboding gripped Big Dan Fleming.
1t was a moment later that Dad called across
the cab "Its getting awful dark, isn't it.
Danny? Seems like the sky, over there. is
all cloudng up. Doc Sutherland has promised
me some glasses like telescopes I wish 1 had
'em now"
you're right. Dad. you're right 1t
dark"
Course I'm right. amt blind, am II AL
need is"
"But-but-Da Fleming stam-
mered. He was leaning out of the cab window
behind Dad, pointing
/ EAT waves shimmered up from the empty
! ] road bed. In spite of the whistling wind
blast the air was furnace-hke. A blueblack
cloud had blanked out the coppery sun.
Dad strained to see what Fleming was in
dicating, then his face went grim His gnarled
knuckles frightened on the polished throttle
lever. Came a roar from the stack as the 2222
leaped away under the lash of a wide open
throttle. n F
For across the scared prairie, across the
ripened fields of wheat sinister, twisting cloud
hurtled toward the rushing train.
A big barn crumpled and disappeared as
F1eming's fascinated gaze followed the tentacle
that switched down from the angry cloud
above Its course was roughly parallel to the
train; but its course was erratic.
And now the swishing plainly audi
BILE above the roar of the train. Nearer yet,
and telegraph poles snapped and disappeared
like toothpicks. Dad grinned bleakly when the
signal whistle thrilled-more speed. The speed
indicator said 90.
With roar the twister shot past. Shot past
and then switched again, switched and slowly
edged back toward the train.
Tell me, Danny" Dad shouted. Tell me
when that cloud gets by behind us. I've gone
blind Danny: I'm plum blind Well have to hit
that freight at Burton crossing, mebbe but it's
better than to ditch the whole train"
Dads tones were steely with resolve. And
Dan Fleming glanced ahead and saw the long
freight that was pulling slowly across Burton
Junction.
Tell me, Danny" came Dads clear call. I'm
waiting. son"
"Set the emergency" Fleming yelled. after .
tense moment. There was the roar of emergency
air as Dad pulled the lever far over, the shrin
screech of tortured brakes as the drivers
pounded over the Burton switch frogs; but
Continued on Fifteenth Page.