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- tains until the twin
2:
ALWAYS ON TIME.|
BY ALBERT J. BOOTH.
CHAPTER I.
A RACE WITH THE FLOOD,
Tue L, & D, Railroad ran through one of
tue wildest regions in the whole country,
its°course being a continuous succession
cf gullies, mountain gorges, sharp curves
steep ascents from the moment it left
Longwood until it reached Dunscombe,
one hundred miles distant.
As the crow flies it was not more than
fifty miles from one terminus to the other,
but nothing but a crow could have gone in
a straight line between the two places, un-
‘less it went right through miles and miles
of solid mountains, and across the deepest
and widest ravines, :
There were tunnels and there were
bridges, but in many places both tunnels
aad bridges would have been too_expen-
sive, and here the road made long detours,
going around the mountains or alongside
vend crooked streams,
‘0
eof these was. Rocky river, running
at times through mountain gorges and
making many and very sharp turns, its
banks at some points being almost precipi-
. tous bluffs, and at these places the pent up
waters rushed along with the fury of a
mill-race,
The L, & D. crossed the river at a small
town called Pine Tree, ran alongside for
six or eight miles, and then left it bya
sharp curve where it made three or four
sharp bends through the mountains, cross-
ing it again six or eight miles further
own, ~
The south bound express, due at Long-
wood at six in the evening, had just left
Vine Tree station, and was about to cross
the bridge over Rocky river.
The bridge did not cross at right angles,
-and one had, therefore, a good view of the
river in either direction.
When midway on the bridge, the engi-
neer, a young man of not more than nine-
teen years, said to his fireman, a man of
forty:
“ There's a storm coming on the moun-
tains, Jim, See how black it is over to-
wards Devil's Horns, They’re going to
catch it soon,”
“Right you are, Roy, and they'll catch
it wet, too,”
o very sharp and lofty peaks in the
distance, called Devil’s Horns by the peo-
ple of the region, were clearly outlined
against the sky, and could be seen from
the railroad for miles as it followed the
course of the river, .
The train stopped soon after crossing
the bridge ata town named River View,
and here a magnificent outlook upon the
river and the mountains couid be obtained,
the town being splendidly situated.
“It's getting worse up there every min-
ute, Jim,” said the young: engineer, as he
i i ‘There's going to be a
heavy rain, and the river will rise rapidly.
You know how it fills u je bend
aftera rain, Devil's forns is right in the
second bend, and the river isn’t more than
feet wide from there to Tom's
Q
Zee
* You're afraid of something, Roy,” said
the fireman, after some minutes, noticing
the anxious look on the boy's face,
The clouds were heavier and darker, and
‘he twin peaks in the distance could
-searcely be distinguished, a
' “TI don’t Jike the looks of things,” said
Roy. ‘‘fom's Bridge is a bad place to
cross. The bridge is old and worn, and the
river does rise tremendously there at
mes.
“But that’s in the spring, when the
snow on the mountains melts and fills the
brooks, This issummer, The river ain’t
extra high now, is it?” .
“No, it isn’t; but if I'm going to be on
time at Longwood, I’ve got to get ahead of
that storm that’s hovering over the
ou’re alwats on-time, Roy,”
laughed Jim. “That's what they say of
you all along the road. There isn't another
engineer on the L. & D, that has that ree-
ord.”
‘ “Popalways taught me to be on time,
Jim, and it’s a yood plan.”
“Well, old Sam was a
until—natil he got too old,” said Jim,
ing a short break in his sentence,
“Until he took to drink, you meant to
say, Jim,” corrected Roy. “Pop isn’
old. Well, he's a good fellow and he’s al-
ways bean kind to me and I'll helpghim all
Ican to keep from the habit that’s fast
killing him,” .
Darkev grew the clouds over the moun-
peaks were entirely
ood engineer
mak-
blotted cut, Lo .
Theu there came vivid flashes of forked
lizghtnin. which seemed fairly to rend the
heavens, and blacker yet grew the clouds,
Just a3 they were leaving the river they
saw a ttash which nearly blinded them by
its intense brilliance, ‘
its light Devil's Horns mountain
j :
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See Directions on Page 16.
was revealed for an instant, but for an in-
stant only, everything being totally ob-
scured at the next moment,
** Did you see the rain?” asked Roy. “It
seemed to be coming in a solid sheet.”
“No, I didn’t see it.
good as yours. That was a master.clap of
thunder, though; never heard anything
like it.’
When they came in sight of the river
again its appearance had greatly changed.
I risen to a considerable height,
and its current was vastly swifter than
before.
There was a station right at a bend of
the river, and, two miles beyond, after
another sharp bend, there was the bridge
of which Roy had spoken,
“There was a cloud bust on t’other side
o’ th’ Horns,” said the station agent, as
Roy was pi out. ‘*Reckon you'll
ketch it, time you get to Tom's.”
“Did ear what he said?" asked
yo
Roy. “A cloud burst.
more than an ordinary rain.
““Yes, but it was on the other side of the
mountain, We won't see the effects of it
for a long time.” .
“All the same, I’m going to get across
‘om’s Bridge as soon as possible,” said
Roy, opening the throttle,
“You ‘t run like that.over the
There's a nasty curve just before
's, the worst on the
J knew it was
bridge.
fou come to Tom
ine.”
ine,’
“Can’t help it,” said Roy, doggedly.
“T’ve got to get across, Didn't you see
how the river was swollen at the Bluff?
We couldn’t see above that, but I'll bet
you thatevery stream on the mountain
side isa raging torrent, pouring tons of
water into the Rocky every minute, - That
cloudburst had the start of us by half an
hour.” :
“Yes, but the river bends three or four
times, and takes long turns that we skip,”
“Keep those fires going, Jim,” said
Roy, in a determined tone. ‘*If the river
rises a foot higher the bridge at om's
won't be standing an hour longer.”
They fairly flew over the road, but Roy
slackened his speed as he reached the ba
curve just before getting to the bridge.
Notwithstanding his caution, they flew
around the curve at a most reckless speed,
and it seemed as if the engine must leave
the track,
Roy Knew the danger he ran, but he’also
knew the other danger just beyond.
He had not run an engine over the L. &
D, two years for nothing. He had not
traveled over the road as fireman for his
full the dangerous character of the moun-
tain streams when swollen by rains,
The engine leaped around the curve, and
then they came in sight of .the bridge,
straight aLead.
It was standing, and Roy rushed at it,
never slackening his speed, but rather in-
creasing it to the old rate,
As the train ran upon the bridge, which
was not enclosed, he shot a swift glance
up stream, ~
my an instant his heart almost failed
m.
A wall of water, tree trunks, wrecked
cabins and rubbish of all sorts—a rushing
wall twenty feet high—was being borne
down stream toward the bridge,
The roar of it was deafening—the sight
of it was appalling.
The steep, rocky banks had dammed the
river far beyond its usual height, and thus
this terrible wall had been formed,
No ordinary bridge could stand the
shock of sucha mass being hurled against
it, and the bridge at this point much Jess,
being already old and badly damaged from
previous floods.
he instance that awful moving wall of
water struck it nothing could save it,
Bridge, train and all would be swept
away in a’twinkling, and Roy knew it,
On sped the train, it being impossible to
stopit now, but on came the Hood, roaring
eyes ain't as| saw
and splashing and terrifying even Ro
who had the stoutest of hearts, y
And now a new danger presented itself,
| Then she obeyed, and, leaving her, Roy
sprang upon the narrow footboard run-
“ning along the boiler and hurried to the
| little door opening into the cab. .
| He pushed against it, but it resisted, and
aconsiderable effort was required before
it would yield, .
At last Roy was able to Squeeze through,
and then he saw what had happened,
Jim had fainted, from: terror, no doubt,
and lay upon the floor of the cab, almost in
front of the door,
was the work of an instant only to
close the throttle, shut off steam and call
for eS.
In a short time the speed was greatly
slackened, and by the time that Roy
reached a level grade, a mile or two further
ons he had his engine under complete con-
trol,
There was a station just beyond, and
Roy stopped, although it was not one of
the regular Stopping places of the express,
He jumped down from his engine, ran
forward, assisted the girl to alight, and .
said: -
“T couldn’t come to you before, miss. I
had to look after my engine. Maybe I
spoke cross to you just now, but I really
had to do it, You didn’t mind much? You
held on well, at any rate, and now you're
Ilalf way across the bridge, on the foot- | safe.
path which ran alongside the track, Roy
a young girl hurrfing to reach the
further side. |,
She had evidently started to cross the
ridge on the footpath before realizing the
danger, and she was now straining every
nerve to escape the impending disaster,
t Ina moment Roy had determined what
‘0 do. .
It was impossible for the girl to escape
the flood without aid.
The train might get overin time, but the
girl could not unless help were given her,
Roy resolved to give her that help at the
risk of his life, - a
He sprang to the throttle and threw it
wide open, .
Then he dashed out at the little door in
the forward part of the cab, and leaped
upon the narrow platform running the
length of the boiler, :
namoment he was at the pilot, just
under the headlight, kneeling on one khee,
e arm around the iron Hagstaff, the
other extended over the path,
he girl turned for an instant, saw the
approaching train and_ stood still, terror-
stricken and bewildered. ~
he seething, roaring, leaping wall of
water was almost at the bridge, while just
low the current eddied and bubbled and
shrieked in mad . .
Scarcely a quarter minute intervened be-
tween safety and destruction,
racing himself firmly and summoning
all his strength, all his will to his aid, Roy
reached out, caug' the imperiled girl
about the waist and swung her in upon
the bars of the pilot.
On swept the train, leaped upon the firm
ground, dashed dow: e@ steep grade,
while, as the end of the last car left the
bridge, the flood struck the structure, tore
it from its fastenings and bore it down-
stream in ruins,
CHAPTER II,
: WHAT THE CARDS FORETOLD,
THE danger was over, and Roy felt that
he could have stood the strain not an in-
stant longer.
sense of weakness came over him, and
he realized that he must get back to the
cab without delay,
“Shut her off, Jim!” he shouted back
to the fireman, drawing himself to an up-
right position, and lifting his companion
toa place beside him, just above the pilot,
The girl clung to him, and seemed nearly
overcome by terror, laughing and erying
by turns,
“Steady,” said Roy; “you're all right
now, the worst is over, Step up here, if
you can, and keep hold of the rail.” -
“Oh, I can't!” wailed the girl,“
let go of me, I shall fall if you do.”
“Steady, now, steady! Tcan't give you
all my help. , ou must do something for
yourself,” said Roy, nerving himself by an
effort to keep his strength till be reached
the cab. “Shut her off, Jim !”
The fireman either did not hear, or was
incapable of exertion, for the speed of the
engine was no means diminished, the
train flying down the steep grade at an
alarming rate of speed,
Somethi must be done to check it, or
a frightful disaster might yet happen,
Encumbered as he was by the hysterical
Don’t
must reach the cab and stop the
train,” he said. “ Something has happened | m
tothe fireman, Remain here for afew min-
utes, firs tightly to the rail and you will
safe.” -
r
&
The girl sobbed and seemed unwilling to
let go of her rescuer, who then said firmly,
putting his face close to hers:
‘32 °
“ You must do as I say, or we will al
lost, Hold tight to the rail ” all be
Bh vA
“ You have saved my life,” said the girl.
“How shall I ever repay you? But for
your bravery and presence of mind 1 would
ave been carried away by the flood.” .
A number of passengers came bhurryIng
tothe spot, and one of them, a tall; ele-
gant-looking man, said: 2
““Young man, you-saved your train and
all the passengers by your promptness.
Allow me to thank you. What is your
name?”
“Roy Rockwood, sir,” said the young
engineer. ‘*Iixcuse me; I must look after
my fireman. He has fainted,” .
He hurried back to the cab and found
Jim sitting up, but looking very weak and
pale,
“It’s all right, is it, Roy?’ he asked.
“‘Reckon, I must have plumb given out.
Gosh! Iwish I had some o’ your nerve,
but I haven't. I wouldn’t be still firing at
forty if Thad,”
“You're all right now, Jim; you can
make the run?” .
“Yes.”. :
Roy leaned out of the cab to see the con-
ductor, when a boy of his own a; e, but as
fair as he was dark, and with ight blue
“Father wants to know where you live.
Te wauts to talk to
hing. By George
engine tiptop. My name's Frank Ray.
My father spoke to you just now.”
** All aboard-!” shouted the conductor.
“Ready there, Roy?” .
“ All ready and
wood on time.” :
“Well, good-by for the present,” said the
oung standing beside the engine.
Tu see you at Longwood,”
Then he ran back and boarded the train,
which started a moment later.
Several stations were passed, but at last
the train stopped at quite a large town
where there was a junction with another
ad, .
Here a stop for supper was made, and
passengers from the other road were taken.
the L. &D.’s most im-
You handled the
2
er.
bound to get Into Long-
et
¥
portant connections,
_ While Roy was sitting in the cab, wait-
ing for the signal to start, the young man
who had spoken to him before, came up
and said:
“Do you live in Longwood ?”
“Yes.” >
“Father wanted to know. Ie expects
to be there a few days, at the least, and
would like to know you. He’s got some
connection with railroads, and he might.
able tohelp you. I hope you don’t mind
my saying it again, but you handled your
engine fine at that bridge. There wasn’t
one of us but expected to be struck by
the flood and washed away. That was
nerve, that was,”
“Thank vou,” said Roy, “but if I had
known of the danger sooner, I would not
have taken the risk. It’s one thing to be
on time and it’s another to endanger the
lives of your passengers.”
you take this train out again?” —.:
ve in the morning, We leave early
so as to make connection here and at Duns:
combe with trains going to the coast,”
“Hal five. That's rather early, Could
be seen this evening ?”
Yes,” said Roy, carelessly, .
Just then the station bell rang and the
engineer turned to say a word to the fire-
nan, .
“Well, I'll see you later,”
man, hurrying awa
“Seems to take a
he?? muttered Jim,
“Yes. Rather a good looking fellow,
and seems 8 good Sorte He's aa the Mast,
ake it. Pop says they’re differen mn
us Western boys Wire different fro
suppose
“AG
you
said the young
iot of interest, doesn’t
eyes, Roy's being a dark blue, stepped up |
and said:
ou more about this -
‘What time do you leave to-morrow? I.