The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1871-08-31
and once more Aleck turned to EN-

Emmons, are you sure you know
your business
go ahead p screamed Emmons,
white with rage. "And give her all
the steam you've got. If you are too
much of a coward"
"Stop p said Aleck, his face pale, but
determined. eff you say go ahead, !
will go if | strip my engine to strings;
but it is the last time you ever run the
train that | am coupled to-"
Aleck now turned to Carrie.
You must not so on this train, "
said he. "Come"
And before Carrie had time to exer-
else a will of her own, she bent to his
stronger one, and went out of the car
with him.
Goodbye, Carrie, if never see
you again." said Aleck, as he hurried
away to his engine.
He sprang into the cab, and, giving
the bell cord one pull, he opened the
throttle, and the engine started.
"Fm afraid there's death to some of
US, Johnny" said he, glancing back to
where Carrie stood watching the train,
as it moved out of sight. =" The
freight is due in four minutes, and we
shall meet it. But Emmons ordered us
out, and we must go"
On sped the noble engine, but Aleck
was not using half his steam.
"Help me keep lookout, Johnny"
he said to his fireman. " If we are
cautious it may amount to nothing more
than a run back to tie station. If we
can pass the curve, we can see miles
God have mercyw
This exclamation was caused by the
sight Of the approaching freight train.
There was short, sharp whistle
from each engine, an instantaneous
closing of two throttlcs; then followed
a grinding crash, and shock which
made the very ground tremblc. Then
for one brief moment, an awful stiffness,
broken, at last, by the sound Of rash
ing steam-by the cries and shouts of
men, as they crawled from beneath the
debris of the wrecked trains, and by
the groans of others, less fortunate.
Carrie Davis watched the train out Of
sight, and then went into the waiting
room, to remain until the express ar
rived. Alexis last words Goodbye,
Carry, if never see you again had
fallen with crushing weight upon her
ears. A foreboding Of some terrible
danger to Alcck took possession Of her,
and she paced uneasily up and down
the waiting room, going every moment
to the window and looking down the
track. After q half an hour of this
suspense, she saw man running to-
ward the depot. She recognized Alexis
fireman, Johnny. She threw up the
window just i'll time to speak to him
"Aleck-what Of Aleck 2" she cried.
81 can't tell don't know" all
swered Johnny, without stopping.
Both trains are stove to slivcrs =
Down dropped the heavy window,
and down dropped Carrie into a seat;
but she rallied instantly, and calmly
witnessed the preparations for relief to
the unfortunate men.
Another hour Of the most terrible
suspense, and the relief train came
back.
One by one the men filed out of the
two coaches, some of them slightly
bruised, but all wearing a cheerful as
pect, that ought to have given Carrie
hope. But it did not. She was look
ing for Aleck, and saw nothing, only
that he was not there.
"Was any one killed." she timidly
asked, yet dreading to be answered.
" No one, thank God!" was the
answer But one man was uery ser
iously injured"
His name? ?" she asked, breath
lessly. :" am sure | cannot say" the
man replied. He was the engineer,
or-mercy she has tainted y
The man caught her, before she fell
and carried her into the depot.
Carrie lay in the swoon long time;
but she awoke to happiness, for Aleck
stood over her.
"Oh, Aleck I! are you safe!" she ex-
claimed. "They told me you were SER
iously injured"
at was Emmons," replied Alcck.