Presently the others returned. They were so engrossed that they
did not notice my adventure or the aged woman seated on the
ground.
Marion was putting questions to the workman.
"There was no obstruction on the track?"
"No, Miss."
"The engineer was watching?"
"Yes, Miss Warfield, he had to slow up and be careful about the
crossing. There is no curve on this grade, he could see every
foot of the way. The track was clear and in place, and he was
watching it. There was nothing on it. - The rails simply spread
under the weight of the engine."
And he began to comment on the excessive size and weight of the
huge modern passenger engine.
"The brute drove the rails apart," he said, "that's all there is
to it."
"Was the track in repair?" said Marion.
"It was patrolled to-day, Miss, and it was all in shape."
Then he repeated:
"The big engine just pushed the rails out."
"But the road is built for this type of engine," said Marion.
"Yes, Miss Warfield," replied the man, "it's supposed to be, but
every roadbed gets a spread rail sometimes."
Then he added:
"It has to be mighty solid to hold these hundred ton engines on
the rails at sixty miles an hour.
Pages:
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292