The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1935-03-29
CHAPTER VII

The cars Of veneer logs were
coupled, their air hoses dangling, be-
cause the Hoot Owl never boosted air
brake for it's trains. The locomotive
painted automatically and leaking
steam trailed off into the forest. Nc
liver, the engineer, stood beside his cab,
wiping his hands slowly on a ball Of
waste and his fireman hung out the
gangway as Ben came running up.
you'll have to take 'em +. all
over at once" Elliott painted. 'Local'll
be there in fifteen minutes
If they're not at the siding in time for
the local, we lose! You've got to run
for it, Mac, and pick up enough speed
going down to carry you over"
McIver rolled the waste and eyed
his employer. Then he shook his head
slowly.
tough luck for you !" he said. "But
with that rotten steel on cold morn
in, and no telling what that trestle'll
do when weight hits it :" He
shook his head again and looked FL
lott in the eye. 81 got kids" he said
OO > Tie uTGLldu.
Some of the irate glare which had
been In Ben's face dwindled. He, too,
stared briefly down the track.
"Kids, yes" he said softly. 81 can't
ask a man with kids to try it, Mac
No hard feelings. I'll take shot my
SELF"
Teams clinked up, then, horses frost
covered. Ben surveyed the crowd that
pressed about the engine and swung
up to the step.
"Pm going to take her over myself"
he said. eff l get across that hump
with this load pushing me, I'll need a
brakeman. I'm not going to ask any
one of you to ride. Maybe well pile
up. But If we do get to the top,
l can't stop her alone at the mill
Without air, with frost on the steel,
Wen go into the pond. There's fifty
dollars in it for the man who'll ride
with mel"
They looked hard at him, and then,
almost In unison, their faces turned
down the track To watch was to know
what was il their minds: the dangers
of that curve, with rusty steel so cold |;
the problematical strength of the tres
tie they had built through the night.
Fifty dollars against a
broken neck" Ben said and his voice
trembled a bit. He drew his watch.
We've got eleven or twelve minutes
to catch the local. I'll urge no
man. . -. Fifty dollars and
a long chance. ANY takers"
He saw Dawn McManus standing
behind the group. Her face was white.
dark eyes wide and frightened.
No man moved for a moment. Then,
quite simply, without a word, Tim
LETTERS peeled his heavy sheepskin coat.
took a peavey from a man beside him
and advanced.
"Never mind the fifty, Elliott. !.
It's my neck"
Ben smiled. then. 1t seemed as
though he were so weary from effort
and strain that he must have cracked
and cried had he not smiled. He said
no word. He swung up to the cab as
the safety valve popped and steam
commenced blowing off.
Ben threw more coal into the fire
box, looked at his water gauge, showed
the reverse lever down into the corner
and opened the throttle. The little old
locomotive gave a sharp, an almost
startled, bark as valves released their
power, sending from its stack a great
puff of cumulous vapor into the still
morning air. The drivers spun and
she ler go a rapid series Of exhaust
coughs. He shut off; opened again,
and this time the tires found purchase.
The slack came out. the cars moved
and. journals squealing, belching and
suffering, they broke over to the down
grade.
70 BE CONTINUED.