The Placer herald., 1872-01-06

and true to the touch she would leap ahead
like thing of life-past houses, villages
and towns, seen ahead for second, and ther
far behind us. All the while stood by
Nellie with one hand upon the throttle and
the other upon the reversing lever, peerins
ahead on the track illuminated by the Ariel s
head light
dared not look at Nellie, for all our lives
depended on my vigilance. | knew not WI hat
moment we might overtakc the train; so
stood with her so near me, yet so far from
me. Sometimes | spoke to her, and she
would put her lips TO my ear to reply. Again
her little hands would clasp my arm as we
sped over some rough piece of road that
threatened to shake the iron monster to
pieces, but word would reassure her.
AT length, in turning curve, saw the
red light in the rear of the express, aud so
suddenly, had | not been on my guard
there would have been one less passenger
coach on the road, and who can tell where
Jack Everett would have been But was
prepared, and there was no danger.
My whistle was recognized, for there
was not another like it on the road; and
wondering no doubt what lad sent the Ariel
after them, they stopped for me-
"Well I'm beat" exclaimed Charley
Adams, the conductor. " What's in the
wind now, Jack p
For reply gave him the letter.
"W-h-e-w! Here, Jack, see what you
make of it..
held thei imissive up to the light ,and read ::
"CoNDUCToR ADAMS My daughter, Mel
lie Mayord, is running away from her home
| have reason 70 believe she is on your train.
Send her back to me on the Ariel, in charge
of Everett. Use force if necessary.
JOHN MAyLoRD."
think gave a longer and more emphatic
whistle than Charlie.
"There's some mischief at the bottom Of
this" said |.
Exactly, Jack, and if she were on my
train would not use force to send her back
to the old hunk-nary bit. would take
her the other way, and keep num-"
"Then, Charley, will put her aboard
your train and send her along. She is in
my cab now"
Charley gave vent to an expression more
forcible than elegant, and after | told him
how came to have Nellie here, he wrote on
the back of John Maylord's letter:
Mid,cGy betlceen O. and A,
Nor. II, II 80 p. m..
" JcMS :. MAY.oRaP Lay a2a as9a hass9Ihe Ariel has
ton. Miss Nellie Maylord is not on my
train. nor has she been on it this trip.
CHAs. ADAMS.
"There, Jack, that does not tell him that
=. L. -, N,u, LOT nc buctla or |
shall not make time.
The transfer was quickly made, but not
without some regret on my part, and started
back
John Maylord was waiting for me.
"Where is she ?'said he, jumping into the
cab.
feigned ignorance and passed him the
letter.
Some modigious oahs escaped from bis
lps, but as they were not directed to me,
had nothing to say. Then he hurriedly left
me.
This was not the last of it, however. |
was put through a course of questioning the
next day that would have done credit to a
criminal lawyer, and, if | do not mistake,
John MayIord went home none the wiser.
met Charley Adams too.
"Jack," said he, "you have won her
everlasting gratitude, not to use stronger
term. 1t was a close rub though. Old
Maylord- hes only her uncle, after all
was determined to marry her to old Silver,
and as she had not lived quite long enough
to be her own mistress-she was one day
short-she couldn't do better than to run
away. The danger is all over now, aud she
can choose for herself Better go up as soon
as YOU can. Here is her address. And
Jack, my boy, there are two things you
must not forget-that she's got cool hum
dred thousand, and your humble servant
when the wedding comes off"
1t is needless to say that | went up, even
at the risk of losing the Ariel, and | had
good success up there. While John May
lord was turning the country upside down in
search Of Nellie, very quietly married her.
Perhaps John Maylord was mad when he
heard it, but he passed over Nellic's property
without murmur. But do not run the
Ariel any more, and Nellie now has the love
| once felt for my noble engine, and that
other love besides. 1t is no more than she
deserves.