Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Coos Bay times. (Marshfield, Or.) 1906-1957 | View Entire Issue (May 17, 1907)
THB DAILT C0Q8 nAY TIMES, MARSHFIEIiD, OREGON, FRIDAY MAY 1 ?, i '507 se The Manager Of the B. A. By VAUGHAN Copyright. 1901, by V (Continued from Wednesday.) . CHAPTER XXIII. WIIEN lloger Oakley appeared on the platform at Buckborn Junction Durks started vio lently, while Dan took a quick step forward and placed a warn ing hand on the old convict's arm. lie feared what he might say. Then he said to the operator: "He'll do. Go see If you can get Antloch. Try Just once more. If you succeed tell them the en . glnes and hose will be there within an hour or they need not look for them. Do you understand?" "All right, Mr. Oakley." And Durks moved up the platform with alacrity. He was relieved of one Irksome re sponsibility. He had his own theories as to who the stranger was, but he told himself It was none of his business. As soon as he was out of hearing Dan turned to his father and said ear nestly: "Look here, daddy, I can't allow you to do It. We are neither of us popu lar. 'It's bad enough for me to have to go." "Why can't you allow it, Dannie?" And his son recognized the same cheer ful tone with which he had always met and overruled his objections. "It will end In your arrest, and wo don't want that." "It's more than likely I'll be arrest ed sooner or later, anyhow," he said, with a suggestion of weariness, as If this were a matter It was a waste of time to consider. "The Lord has set his face against me. It's his wish I should return. I've been stubborn and headstrong and wouldn't see It, but look there." And he nodded toward the red western sky. "It's a sum mons. I got to obey whether I want to or not." "It won't be safe. No telling what they will do with you." "That ain't the question, Dannie; that ain't at all the question. It's not what they'll do to me." And he softly patted the hand that rested on his arm. Dan saw that his clothes hung loose ly to his mighty frame. They were torn and stained. He had the appear ance of a man who had endured hard ship, privation and toil. His glance was fugitive and anxious. "Where have you been all this while?" he ask ed. "Not here?" "No; I have been living la the woods, trying to escape from tho country, and the fires wouldn't let me. Wherever I went they were there ahead of me, driving me back." "Why did you kill him? How did It happen?" Dan added. "Or Is it all a mistake? Did you do it?" The smile faded from the old con vict's lips. "It was a sort of accident, and it was sort of carelessness, Dannie," he explained, with a touch of sullenness. "I hit him not hard, mind you. I know I shouldn't have done It, but he was in the wrong, and he wouldn't listen to reason. I don't know when I ever seen a man so set in his wick edness." "And now you want to go back. Do you know what it means if you are arrested? Have you thought of that?" Roger .Oakley waved the query aside as though it concerned blm not at all. "I want to bo with you," ho said wistfully. "You may not get through alive, and I want to bo with you. You'll need me. There's no one you can trust as you can mo, for I won't fall you no matter what the dunger Is. And there's tho girl, Dannie. Have you thought of her?" Dan set his lips. "My God, I can't think of anything else." There was a moment's silence. "Here," said Dan, thrusting his hands Into bis pockets. "I am going to give you what money I havo. It Isn't much." "What for, Dannie?" "You are suro to be seen and recog nized If you stay about here. Your de scription has been telegraphed all over tho state. For that reason I'll take you with me part way. Then I'll slow up, and you can hide again. It's your only chanco. I am sorry I can't do more for you. I wish I could. But perhaps wo can arrange to meet afterward." His father smiled with the uncon scious superiority of the man who firmly believes ho Is controlled by an Intelligence Infinitely wise and beyond all human conception. No amount of argument could have convinced him that Providence was not burning mil lions of feet of standing timber and an occasional town solely for bis guid ance. In his simple seriousness he saw nothing absurd or preposterous in the idea. He Bald; "I'vo wanted to escape, Dannie, for your sake, not for mine. But when I seen you tonight I know the Lord in tended wo should keep together. He didn't bring us here for nothing. That Uln't hla way. There's no one to go with you but me, and you can't go alone." "I can I wllll" And Dan swore un der bis breath. He realised that no word of bis could move bis father. He would carry his point, Just as be al ways bad. Durks came running along the plat form, from tho donot- . s i KESTER. Harper fc Brother -A "It's nouse," shaking his head. "The wire's down. Say, you want to keep your eyes open for the freight. It may be on tho siding at Parker's Run, and It may be on the main track," Dan made a last appeal to his father. "Won't you listen to what I say?" sinking his voice to a hoarse whisper. "They'll hang you do you hear? If ever they lay bands on you they will show no mercy 1" It did not occur to him that his father would be returning under circumstances so exceptional that public sentiment might well un dergo a radical change in his favor. Roger Oakley merely smiled as ho answered, with gentle composure: "I don't think we need to worry about that. We aro In his handsDannle." And he raised his face to the Heavens. Dan groaned. "Come, then," he said aloud. "I'll throw the switch for youl" And the operator ran down the track. He was quite positive he should never see Oakley again, and ho felt something akin to enthusiasm at the willing sac rifice of his life which he conceived him to be making. Father and son stepped to the en gine. The old convict mounted heavily to his post, and Dan sprang after him, his hand groping for the throttle lever. There was tho hiss of steam, and Joe cried from tho darkness: "All right, come ahead!" And the en gine, with Its tender and two cars, be gan Its hazardous Journey. As they slipped past him the opera tor yelled his goodby and Dan pushed open the cab window and waved his band. Roger Oakley on the narrow Iron shelf between the, engine and the tend er was already throwing coal into the furnace. His face wore a satisfied ex pression. .Apparently he was utterly unmoved by the excitement of the mo ment, for be bent to his work as if it were the most usual of tasks and the occasion the most commonplace. He bad taken off his coat and vest and had tossed tbem up on the tender out of his way. Dan, looking over tbo boiler's end, could sec his broad shoulders and the top of his head. He leaned back, with his hand on tho throttle. "Father!" be called. The old convict straightened up in stantly. "Yes, Dannie." "You are going with me? You aro determined?" "I thought we settled that, Dannie, before we started," he said pleasantly, but there was a shrewd, kindly droop to the corners of his mouth, for be ap preciated his victory. "I want to know, because If I am to slow up for you I'll have to do it soon or I'll be leaving you In worse shape than I found you." To this his father made no direct re ply. Instead he asked, "Do you think we'll reach Antloch In time to do them any good?" Dan faced about They slid into a straight stretch of road beyond the Junction, and tho track shone yellow far ahead, where the engine looked down upon it with its single eye. Each minute their speed increased. A steady Jarring and pounding had begun that grew Into a dull and ponderous roar as the englno rushed forward. Dan kept a sharp watch for the freight. As Durks had said, it might be on the siding at Parker's Run, and It might not. In the latter event bis and bis father's troubles would soon be at an end. He rose from his seat and went to tho door of the cab. "Wo'll take It easy for the first ten miles or so, then we'll bo Id tho fire, and that will be our time to bit her up." Roger Oakley nodded his acquies cence. In what he concoived to be worldly matters he was quite willing to abide by Dan's Judgment, for which he had profound respect. "How fast are we going?" he asked. Dan steadied himself and listened, with H finger on his pulse, until he caught the rhythmic swing of the engine as It jarred from one rail to another. Then he said: "Twenty-five mllos an hour." "It ain't very fast, la it, Dannie?" Ho wad ovldently disappointed. "We'll do twice that presently." The old convict looked relieved. They were running now with a strip of for est on one side of the track and culti vated fields on the other, but with each rod they covered they were edging in nearer the flames. At Parker's Run the road crossed a little stream which doubled back In the direction of Buck horn Junction. There was nothing aft er that to stay tbo progress of the fire, and tho rest of their way lay through the blazing plno woods. Just before they reached the ten mllo fill they came to the strip of burned timber that bad sent Baker back to Buckborn earlier In the day. Here and there a tree was still blazing, but tor the most part the fire had spent 1U strength. Aa they swung past Parker's Bun a little farther oi Dan saw the freight, or, rather, what was left of It, on the Biding. It had been cutting out four flat cars loaded with ties, and he un derstood the difficulty at a glance. On the main track' a brick and stone cul vert spanned the run, but tho elding crowed it on a fllmay wooden bridge. ThfiTUrldge find prouaDiy been burning as tho freight backed In for tho flat cars, and when it attempted to pull out tho weakened structuro had collapsed and the engine bad gone through Into the cut. It rested on its forward end, Jammed between the steep banks, with Its big drivers In the nlr. Of the cars there remained only tho trucks and Ironwork. Near by a tool shed had formerly stood, but that was gono too. The wheels and gearing of a hand car In the midst of a heap of ashes marked the spot. Dan turned to his father. "Are you all right, daddy?" bo asked. "Yes, Dannie." "Mind your footing. It will bo pretty shaky back there." They were still In tho burned district, where a change In tho wind that after noon had driven the flro back on Itself. It had made a clean sweci) of every thing Inflammable. Luckily the road had been freshly ballasted, and the track was In fair condition to resist the flames. But an occasional tie smol dered, and from these the rushing train thrashed showers of sparks. Dan kept his eyes fastened on the rails, which showed plainly In tho Jerky glare of the headlight. It was well to be careful while care was possible. By and by ho would havo to throw aside all caution and trust to chance. Now he Increased his speed, and the In sistent thud of the wheels drowned ev ery other sound, even the faroff roar of the Humes. At his back at lntemiln a ruddy glow shot upward into the night when Uoger Oakley threw open the furnace door to pass In coal. Save for this It was still quite dark in the cab, where Dan sat with his hand on the throttle lever and watched the yel low streak that ran along the rails In advauco of the engine. Suddenly the wall of light ahead brightened visibly, and Its glare filled the cab. They were nearlng the fire. Dan Jammed the little window at his elbow open and put out bis head. A hot blast roared past him, mill the heat of the lire was In his face. He drew the window shut. It was light as day In the cab now. He leaned across the boiler's end and, with a hand to his lips, called to his father, "Are you all right?" The old man drew himself erect and crept nearer. "What's that you say, Dannie?" he asked. His face was black with coal dust and grime. "Are you all right? Can you bear the bent?" "I am doing very nicely, but this ain't a patch on what It's going to be." "Yes, it will bo much worse, though this Is bad enough." "But we can stand it. We must think of those poor people at Antloch." "We'll stick to the engine as long as the engine sticks to the rails," said Dan grimly. "Hadn't you better come Into the cab with me? You'll be fright fully exposed when wo got Into the thick of It" "Not yet Dannie? I'll give you steam, and you drive her as hard as you can." He turned away, shovel In band. Then, nil in a second, and they were In the burning woods, rushing beneath trees that were blazing to their very summits. The track seemed to shake and tremblo in tbo fierce light nnd fiercer heat. Burning leaves nnd branches were caught up to be whirled In fiery eddies back down the rails as the train tore along, for Dan was hit ting her up. Tongues of fire struck across at the two men. Smoke and fine white ashes filled their mouths and nostrils. Their bodies seemed to bake. They bad been streaming wet with perspiration a mo ment before. Off In the forest It was posslblo to see for miles. Every tree and bush stood forth distinct and separate, Roger Oakley put down his shovel for an Instant to fill a bucket with wa ter from the tank on the tender. He plunged bis head and arms In It and splashed the rest over his clothes. Dan turned to him for the last time. "It isn't far now," he panted. "Just around the next curve and we'll sm the town if it's still there off In the val ley." The old convict did not catch moro than the half of what he said, but he smiled and nodded his head. As they swung around the curve a dead sycamore which tbo flro had gir dled at tho base crashed across tho track. The engine plunged Into Its top, rolled it over once and tossed It aside. There was the smashing of glass and the ripping of leather as the syca more's limbs raked the cab, and Roger Oakley uttered a hoarse cry a cry Dan did not hear, but he turned, spit ting dust nnd cinders from bis lips, and saw the old convict still standing, shovel In band, In the narrow gangway that separated the engine nnd tender. He bad set the whistle shrieking, and It cut high above the roar of the names, for off In tho dlstanco under a canopy of smoke bo saw the lights of Antloch shining among the trees. Two minutes later and they were running smoothly through the yards, with the brakes on and tbo hiss of es caping steam. As they slowed isp be side the depot Dan sank down ou tho seat In the cab limp aud exhausted. Ho was vaguely cousclous that the platform was crowded with people and that they were yelling at him excitedly and wavlug their hats, but he beard their cries only Indifferently well. His cars were dead to everything except the noise of bis engine, which still echoed in bis tired brain, no staggered to his feet and was about to descend from the cab when he Baw that his father was lying face down on the iron Bhelf between the en glno and tender, no stooped aud rais ed him gently in his arms. Tho old convict opened his eyes and looked up Into hla face, his lips parted as If he were about to speak, but no sound caino from them. Dan turned, spitting dust nnd cinders from his lips. CHAPTER XXIV. C ONSTANCE EMORY and her mother, waiting quietly In their home, heard the cheers when the noise from Dan's shriekliit engine reached the crowd of desperate men pn tho square. Then presently they henrd the rattle and clash of the fire engines as they were dragged through the street aud were aware that tho relief train had arrived, but It was not until the doctor came In some time long after midnight thnt they knew who had been the savior of tho town. "It's all over, dear. The fire Is under control," he said cheerfully, address ing his wife. "I guess we can go to bed now and feel pretty sure we won't bo burned out before morning." Constance put down tho book she had been trying to read and rose tlredly and stttlly from her chair beside the table. "Then the train did come, after all?" she said. "Yes, but not a moment too soon. I tell you we can't be grateful enough. I've been with Oakley nnd his father. That's what kept me," he explained. "Oakley!" Constance cried in amaze ment "You don't menu" "Yes. Didn't you know that it was Oakley and his father who brought the relief train? The old man Is dead. He was, killed on the way. It's ainlrac! that either of them got through alive. Hadn't you 'heard?" Constance put out lyr hands blindly, for a sudden mist had como before her eyes. "Father, you don't mean that Mr. Oakley has returned to Antloch that he is here now?" "Yes, It seems no one else would come. Oakley was In Chicago when ho first heard of tbo lire and started Im mediately for Buckborn, where he found tho relief train. Oddly enough, he .found hjs father there .too." (To bo continued.) FOLEYSKIBNEYCURE Makes Kidnoys and Bladder Itlnht If you don't see any fun in Marshfield drop around to the shooting gallery on Front St. Prizes offered for best shots. Pull the BELL CORD Wet Your Whistle Then Blow J. R. HERRON, Prop. Front Street, I I Multifield, Oregon The Publisher's Claims Sustained United Stated Court of Claims Tho Publishers of Wtbtter' International Dictionary nllenotlmtlt "la. In fuut.tlio popu lar unaurldiruu thoroughly ie-clltcil luovcry aoiaii. ana vusuvennciiau lnovurviiiirE. wiiu tho purpose of udapMnif It to meet tliu lurircr and severer rcquirenieuts of another Kenera- non." Wo are of tbo opinion that this allegation roost clearly anil accurately dtferllKa tho work that has U-en accomplished una the result thut bus focou reached. Tlio Dictionary, aa It now gtuiula, has been thoroughly re edited In every detail, has been corrected In every part, utidUudinlrubly adapted to meet the Iartrcr und severer requirements of generation which demands moro of popular pblloloKicul kiuiwledtfo than any generation that the world basevor contained. It la iwrliupa needless to odd that wo refer to tho dictionary In our Judicial work as of tho highest authority in nccuruoyof detlnl tlon: and thut in tho fiituroimliitho pant It wlU bo the source of constant leference. CU AIIUS O. JiOTT, CbUf Jiutln. LAWnKNCK WEUJO.V. JOHN DAVIS, KTANTON J. f-EKM.K CUAMXA U. UUWUi. The ntow rrftrt to WF.nSTEH'S INTERNATIONAL DICTIONARY THE GRAND PRIZE (tliohlirhest nward) was (riven to tho Interna tional ut tho World's Fair, St. Ixuls. GET THE LATEST AND BEST You will he interested in our iixclmen kju, untjrte, Q.&C.MERRIAM CO., puautHfRt, SPRINGFIELD, MAS. I WDITUTS I llXTntHAIOUli Vmctwuky TheC.B.,R.&E.R.R. and Navigation Co. TRAIN SCHEDULE NO. 2. In Effect January 1, '1007. . All previous schedules aro void. Subject to chnngo without notice. W. S. Chandler, manager; F. A. Laise, freight agent; general offices, Marshfield, Oregon. No. 1. Trains. Dally Except Sunday. I Stations. Leave 9 : 00 a. m.Mnrshfield. 0:30 a. m.B. H. Junction. 9:45 a. m.jcoqulllo. Arrive 10:30 a.m.jMyrtle Point. No. t. I Dally Except Sunday. Leave 10:45 a. m.Myrtle Point. 10:30 a. m.Cogulllo. 12:00 m. B. H. Junction. Arrive 12:30 p.m.jMarshfleld. Extra trains will run on dally spoclal orders. Trains to and from Beaver Hill dally. SKATING RINK An n ouncements: Open afternoon and even ings, 2 to 5 and 7 to 10, week days only. Prices: . 25 cents for use of Rink skates. . 15 cents for those using their own skates. 10 cents admission to Gentlemen evenings. Special attention given to beginners every after noon. Best of order always main tained. D L Avery, Manager Nalson Iron Works P. B. NELSON, Prop We repair all kinds of Machinery, Steam and Gag Kuglnee, Guns and Bi cycles. Beat of work our Specialty. : : We manufacture Casting! In Iron and Bronze for Saw Mllli and Logging Campa. Wo make the best Sheaves and lload Spools for Loggers. : : : telephone;! MARSHFIELD, - - ORECON R H. BRIGHAM ARCHITECT AND SUPERINTENDENT Plans' and specifications made for all classos of buildings. North Bend, PlIONE Oregon 541 STEAMER. FLYER M. P. Pendergraw, Matter TIME TAI1LE. Leaves Marshflold 7; 30, iMOO, and 10:30 a. m., and 1:00, 2:30 and 4:00 p. m. Leaves North Bend at 8:15, 9:46 and 11:16 a. m and 1:46, 3:16 and 6:00 p. m. Makes dally trips except Sun days. Faro: Ono way, 16 cents; iound trip, 26 cents. Steam Dye Works C Street. Ladles' andQeiits'ctvrn.euU clean ed or dyed. 'PhMp Becker, Prtarietw, i Jfr in II i iimiH' t j2 Bvtfiness Directory ' u Doctors. E. E. SITRAW, Ji, D, PHYSICIAN AJU) BOBOEOM Diseases of the Ere, Ear, Now und Thrq.ftt a Bpeololy;. Offieo tin Lockhaifo Bulidiae. MarahficW, Oregon' DR. HAYDON, Offiee.oppotlta UjUen ruraliuia BUM. Bom lo.lo Brandt ta Sjpoclid attention psiil (o lUnaae tb caa urtnary and. dUjtuWve, prrtttl 0. B.vPenslon examine Marshnold, regan DR. J. W. INGRAM, Physician and Burgees. Offlco ovor SongBtack&a'a Brut Btara, Phones Office jlflai; resJdeac 183. b. m. richardson; Physician and Sorgeaa. Diseases of dye, -ear, now and throat a specialty. - Offlco in SldbradoABlapk. ' Lawyers; B. Ii. O. FAIUUN. Attorn eyatIaw. City Attorney Depntjr Ptot, ARy. Lockhart Bunding. MarsBfleM, Or Phono 44. J. M. UPTON, Attonve7-atXw. Marshfield. - - ,- .regna. J. W. BKNNBTT, i i'!! Office over Flaaagaa Beaett Bank. ' Marshfield, ... Ofegea. o. p. Mcknight, Attoracr-atXftw. ' ! Hi Upjstalra, Bonnott & Walter' feleefc. MarBhfteld, J. W. BN'OVKK :. ot 't Attomey.aUXaw " II !- It . ' Office: aosertullsUig Marshflold, -v '" "" -t, OMaWa -l' ifchjub .tSin, COKE & OOKB, Attorney-at-Law. Marshfield, iOragoa. : PIXLKY & MATHER jtj Attornojrs-at-lAW. S fi Office over Myocs Ster. Phone 701 ,. , Nortfe B&ti. 9m. Real Estate Aeote. DIER LAND COMPANY 1 1 Real Estate RrokeM North Bend, ... aSregoa. C K McPherson Giaser u. Wholesale liquor deajwrto Cigars and saloon p plioa, y J Callferaia WiiM a SfidaK Front St., Marehlety , Efi I Coos Bay p Steam Laundry j' .-or- MARSHFIELD ...NORTH 100 WUfU sat) All work now done the North Bend Plafr A Edgar Mauzey ,lf Agent, MarskficW jj North Bew. PktM 1031 Marshfrelf. Ptaw 1804 t i S