It was repeated. Then short and
sharp, piercing note on piercing note, sounded the shrill, clamant
voice.
The great engine of Number Three was yelling for help.
CHAPTER II
Banneker came out of his chair with a spring.
"Help! Help! Help! Help! Help!" screamed the strident voice.
It was like an animal in pain and panic.
For a brief instant the station-agent halted at the door to assure
himself that the call was stationary. It was. Also it was slightly
muffled. That meant that the train was still in the cut. As he ran to
the key and sent in the signal for Stanwood, Banneker reflected what
this might mean. Crippled? Likely enough. Ditched? He guessed not. A
ditched locomotive is usually voiceless if not driverless as well.
Blocked by a slide? Rock Cut had a bad repute for that kind of accident.
But the quality of the call predicated more of a catastrophe than a mere
blockade. Besides, in that case why could not the train back down--
The answering signal from the dispatcher at Stanwood interrupted his
conjectures.
"Number Three in trouble in the Cut," ticked Banneker fluently. "Think
help probably needed from you. Shall I go out?"
"O. K.," came the answer. "Take charge. Bad track reported three miles
east may delay arrival.
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