ered Ralph, "but it is a hurry
call."

"Understand the code, do you?"

"Yes," answered Ralph. "Quiet, please, for a moment. Mr. Griscom, this
is urgent," and Ralph arose and hurried to the next room, where the
instrument was located.

He listened to the sharp ticking of the little machine. There was the
double-hurry call. Then came some sharp, nervous clicks.

"R-u-n-a-w-a-y," he spelled out.

"What's that?" cried Griscom, springing to his feet.

"J-u-s-t p-a-s-s-e-d W-i-l-m-e-r, s-i-x f-r-e-i-g-h-t c-a-r-s. S-t-o-p
t-h-e-m a-t R-i-d-g-e-t-o-n, o-r t-h-e-y w-i-l-l m-e-e-t N-o.
f-o-r-t-y-e-i-g-h-t."

Ralph looked up excitedly. Griscom stood by his side. His eyes were
wide awake enough now.

"Repeat that message--quick, lad!" he said in a suppressed tone. "Can
you signal for repeat?"

Ralph did so, once more spelling out the message as it came over the
wire.

"No. 48?" spoke Griscom rapidly. "That is the special passenger they
have been sending out from Stanley Junction since the strike. What is
the next station north? Act! Wire north to stop the train."

Ralph got the next station with some difficulty. A depressing reply
came. No. 48 had passed that point.

"Then she's somewhere on the thirty-mile stretch between there and
here," said Griscom. "Lad, it is quick action--wind blowing a
hurricane, and those freights thundering down a one per cent. grade.
Bring the lantern. Don't lose a moment. Hurry!"

Ralph took the lead, and they rushed for their locomotive. The young
fireman got a red lantern and ran down the track, set the light, and
was back to the engine quickly.

"This is bad, very bad," said Griscom. "Nothing but this siding,
ending at a big ravine, the only track besides the main. The runaway
must have a fearful momentum on that grade. What can we do?"

Ralph tested the valves. He found sufficient steam on to run the
engine.

"I can suggest only one thing, Mr. Griscom," he said.

"Out with it, lad, there is not a moment to lose," hurriedly directed
the old engineer.

"Get onto the main, back down north, set the switch here to turn the
runaways onto the siding."

"But suppose No. 48 gets here first?"

"Then we must take the risk, start south till she reaches the danger
signals, and sacrifice our engine, that is all," said Ralph plainly.

It was a moment of intense importance and strain. In any event, unless
the unexpected happened, No. 48 or their own locomotive would be
destroyed. On t