The bee., 1877-08-09


 knows how to manage the Belle"
 "And so do 1. Wood up. Jim Fill the fu' mace chock full. We must catch Tom this side of the new tracks termi nus or -"
 "0r what, Miss Drucie?"
 "0r blow upl Y
 That's what's the matter r said Jim, catching her spirit. ''And we'll catch him, tool Wood wood There 1 the furnace is chock full Golly-whiz zl how we arc going n
 Drucie smiled faintly at the boy and noted the hand of the guage. The en- zine had received new momentum which momentarily increased, and all at once, Jim, who had been trying to pierce the haze, said
 1.-Two miles minute, I'll bet, Miss Drucie If il was daylight the telegraph poles would resemble a fine-tooth comb
 But the girl did not reply. She stood before the lever, wishing that she could urge the engine to greater speed. She had calculated that the two trains would meet in gulch that embraced a curve about six miles below Colby It was a terrible place for collision, and the loss of life there would be great. The haze of mist would prevent the en- gineers from signaling each other, and collision was inevitable.
 The train, which seemed to have bro ken loose. rushed madly on, with Jim looking at Drucie, whom he was inclin- ed 10 believe mad. The cold mist slow ly turning to a drizze, was occasionally blown against his face by the wind it served to cool his heated temples, and to make him think calmly of his silua- ton and the folks at home.
 So fast were they moving, that they seemed to glide over the rails, scarcely touching them in the mad career, and when Drucie told Jim to listen for the sound of Toms train ahead, the boy pc ked his head out of the window and held his breath.
 "Pears to me heard a sound" he sad without turning his head. "Mebbe I'm mistaken--so many things pear to me just now"
 "Thank Godl" ejaculated the girl "Listen with all your might. Jim. Oh, for the speed of bullet P
 Her face was glowing with heat, and while Jim listened she opened the furn- ace door and threw in the last sticks of wood they possessed.
 1.-The woods gone, Jim. How far can we go at this rate of speed ?"
 About fifteen miles, ;" the boy answer ed--"twenty of 'em, if we must do it
 "Then we'll catch him. Colby must be nine miles away yet, and the gulch is six miles further on--ffteen miles Jim, can't you hear him yet ?'
 No; guess I was pistaken awhile back,' the boy said, andeDrucie's coun tenance fell.
 'Theres the sonnd again !" he ex- claimed moment later. .Listen for yourself, girl"
 Drucie went to the window and put her head out.
 "Thats Tom F she cried. "Oh Heav- en, let me save him and all the other precious lives to-night!'
 With this prayer she turned to the fur mace again and smiled at the red hot doors. The engine and lis empty tender seemed to fly over the track, and when Drucie looked at Jim again she found him staring at the guage.
 "What's the matter, Jim ?" she asked.
 He came forward with hand extended toward the little instrument.
 "A little more fire and we'll blow up," he gasped
 '.Tom would hear the explosion and stop his train. That might prevent the collision p was Drucies reply.
 It was now evident that the sound l ahead was that of Tom Gray's train, and the girl prepared to warn her lover of his danger The tracks were quite close,. and she told the fire boy to watch the ma chinery while she attended to that part | of the warning work which, she had al lotted to herself.
 With pallid face and almost throbless heart she took up her station at the win dow, needing not the drizzlng rain that beat into her face, and awaited the decis i've moment