Now if he had followed the straight and narrow path, indicated by the
rocks and tin cans, that led to the Junction, instead of the broad
highway indicated by the plank walk that led to the Cant-Pass-It, the
tragedy that hovered over Billy-goat Hill might have been averted.

But he had left the saloon in the midst of a heated controversy with
two Italians, concerning the supremacy of America over all other
nations. The fact that his country had never been proud of him in no
way deterred him from being very proud of his country. Until the
dispute was properly ended he felt that the honor of the nation was at
stake.

His patriotic fervor ran so high that by the time he reached the
crossing, the passenger train was already in sight. Jires, helpless
and terrified at his post, was distractedly shouting directions from
his little sentinel box.

"Flathers! There's a washout down the road! We've got to hold up the
passenger train. Get out the red flag! Quick man! Be ready to signal
the engineer. Three times cross ways! The red flag, you fool! the RED
FLAG! Oh, my God!"

For Phineas Flathers, to whom all flags now looked red, white and
blue, was standing at the crossing, joyously waving a white flag,
while the engineer with his hand on the throttle, released the brakes,
and sent his train thundering down the grade to destruction.

* * * * *

Meanwhile Myrtella, having finished her visit in a grand finale of