The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1877-08-08

Drucie smiled family at the boy and |
noted the hand Of the gauge. The en-
gine had received new momentum
which momentarily increased, and all
at once jim, who had been trying to
pierce the haze, said
"Two miles minute, I'll bet, Miss
Druciel Ifit was daylight the tele.
graph poles would resemble fine tooth
comb"
But the girl did not reply. She
stood at the lever wishing that she
could urge the engine to greater speed
She had calculated that the two trains
would meet in a gulch that embraced
curve about six miles below Colby.
It was terrible place for a collision,
and the loss Of life there would be
great. The haze or mist would pre-
vent the engineers from signalling each
other, and collision was inevitable.
The engine, which seemed to have
broken loose, rushed madly on, with
jim looking at Drucie, whom be was
inclined to believe mad. The cold
mist, slowly turning to a drizzle, was
occasionally blown against his face by
the wind il served to cool his heated
temples, and to make him think calm
ly OF his situation and the folks at
home So fast we're they moving that
they seemed to glide over the rails,
scarcely tbuching them in their mad
career, and when Drucie told Jim to
listen for the sound of Toms train
ahead, the boy poked his head out Of
the window aud held his breath.
4" Pears to me l heard sound" he
said without turning his head. "Mebbe
Pm mistaken-so many things pear to
me just now"
"Thank God p CALCULATED the girl.
''listen with all your might, jim. Oh,
for the speed Of a bullet p
Her face was glowing with heat, and
while jim listened she threw open the
furnace door and threw in the last stick
Of wood they possessed.
"The woods gone, jim. How far
yet can we go at this rate of speed ?"
"About fifteen miles" the boy an
swered-"twenty Of 'em, if we must do
it."
"Then we'll catch him. Colby must
Se nine miles away yet, and the gulch
is six miles further oa--fifteen miles |
jim, can't you hear him YETI"
No guess ! was mistaken awhile
back" the boy said, aud Drucie's face
fell.
There's the sound again !" he ex.
claimed, a minute later. "Listen for
yourself, girl
Drucie went to the window and put
her head cut.
That's Tom p she cried. ooh,
Heaven, let me save him and all the
other precious lives tonight p
With this prayer she turned to the
furnace again and smiled at the red hot
doors. The engine and its empty ten
der seemed to fly over the track, and
when Drucie looked at Jim again she
found him staring at the gauge.
whats the matter, jim ?" she ask
ed. He came forward with hand ex.
tended toward the little Instrument.
"a little more fire and well blow
upW he gasped.
"Tom would hear the explosion and
stop his train. That might prevent
the collision I" was Drucie's reply.
1t was now evident that the sound
ahead was that Of Tom Gray's train,
and the girl prepared to warn her low
er of his danger. The tracks were
quite close, aud she told the fire boy to
watch the machinery while she attend.
ed to that part Of the warning work
which she had allotted to herself.
With palld face and almost throb,
less heart, she took up her station al
tho window, heeding not the drizzling
rain that beat into her face, and await,
ed the decisive moment.
The sound Of the train ou the other
track grew momentarily more distinct
and the daring girl fancied that she
heard number six coming through the
valley below Colby.
Yes, it is Tom I" she cried, to en-
courage the boy at the lever. 81 see bis
light Now 1"
Then she leaned ont Of the window
and shouted at the top Of her voice
Switch at Colby Switch at Colby
Colby, six ! Colby, six J!
Many times she repeated her cry
and all at once she dashed by tht
heavy train.
Right into her lovers face as h,
leaned from his engine she she shouted
Switch at Colby I" and heard the
shrieks that told her that he woulC
obey.
t Saved saved, jim 90 she cried Will
! Joy, turning upon the .breathless boz
, who already was checking the Belle
speed