The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1877-10-04

Ken loose, rushed msdly eu, with Jim
looking 81 Draeia, whomhe was inclined
te believe mad. The cold mist slowly
tutning to = dff1ie. was occasionally
blown AgGins, Be face by the wind; Il
served 70 cool hhs heated temples and
make him think calmly Of bis siiaation
aud q The folks st home.
So fast were they moving that they
seemed 10 glide over the rails, scarcely
touching them In shcir mad career, and
when DruclA told Jim to listen for the
sound Of Toms train ahead the boy
pokcd BIZ bead oas OF the window and
held bis breath.
Pears 10 me hasrd sound, be said,
withou, turning his head. Mebbe I'm
mislaken--so many things pear TO me
just now.
Thsnk Cod eJagnlated the girl. Lis
ten with all your night, jim. Oh, for
the speed Of bnlieu
Her face was glowing with beat, and
while Jim listened. she opened the fur
mace door aud threw In the last stick of
wood they possessed.
The woods gone, Jim. How far yet
can We 60 al this rate OF speed?
About fifteen miles, the boy answered
twenty Of EN-, II we must do ii
Then wen catch him. Colby must be
nine miles away yet and the gulch is six
miles further on-tlfIeen miles jim,
can't You hear him yet2
No; guess was mistaken awhile back,
the boy said, and Drucia's countenanee
fell.
There's the sound again he exclaimed,
minute later Listen for yourself, girl.
Drucia went to tbe window aud put
her head ont.
That's Toni she cried. o Heaven, let
one save him and sli the other precious
lives tonight.
With this prayer she turned to the fur
mace again and smiled at the red-hot
doors. The engine and its empty tender
seemed to fy over The track, aud when
Drucia looked at Jim again she found
him staring at the guige.
What's the matter, Jims she asked.
lie came forward with his hand ex-
tend ID toward the little instrument.
A little more fire aud well blow up,
he gssped.
Tom would hear the explosion and
stop his train. That might prevent the
collision! was Drucia's reply.
1t was now evident that the sound
ahead was that Of Tom Gray's train, aud
the girl prepared to warn her lover of his
danger. The tracks were quite close,
and she told the fire boy to watch the
machinery while she attended TO that
part Of the warning work which she had
allotted to herself.
With pallid face and almost throblees
heart she took up her station at the win
dow, needing not the drizzling rain that
beat into her face, aud awaited tie deci.
sive moment.
The sound of the train on the other
track grew momentariIy more distinct,
aud the daring girl faBcied that she heard
No. coming through the valley below
Colby.
Yes, 1t is Tom she cried, TO encourage
the boy at the lever. see his light, now.
Then she leaned ont Of the window
and shouted at the top of her voice
Switch at Colbyi Switch at Colby |!
Colby, ski Colby, sixl
Many times she repeated her cry, and
at once she dashed by the heavy train.
Right into her lovers face as be leaned
from his engine she shouted Switch at
Colbyl and heard the shrieks that told
her that be would obey.
Saved saved, JIM she cried with joy,
turning upon the breatbess boy, who al
ready was checking the Bellies speed.
Golly-Whizzl he sad, laughing. If
we can ever stop the Belle we'll go back
but the girls got her spunk up and
would run on foreveri
Drucia Miller returned 10 the window
with a heart fiIed with lhankfnness, for
Tom had heard, and already was run
ming on the switch at Colby.
After awhile lne Belle was got under
control, and backed with lessened fires.
Lislenl suddenly cried jim.
Yes, No, 6 is coming, but we don't
fear her now! said Drncia with smile.
Tom and his passengers are safe on the
switch.
The uexi moment No. dashed by, and
Drucia laughed and actually clapped her
/ hands.
/ The meeting between Tom Gray and
his love cannot be described.
Your headlight seemed meteor, he
said 10 her; and knew your voice-I
don't know why. | guess You made
time coming down.
Time cried Jim. | don't think the
wheels touched the rails more'n half the
time. II II had been day the mile-stoncs
would have looked like rake.
! There was a laugh at the boys exag
geration, and when Tom took Drucia
aside be kissed her.
II was not The only Kiss she got thai
night, for all the women on the train
kissed the girl who had saved their lives,
aud Tom Gray said he wouldn't get jeal.
ous when the moustacbed passenger
bent over Drucia blnshing like rose.
The story of DrueiA's feat crept into
lbe papers, and, though my story may b
old 10 some % my readers, have told i
because believe Il will bear repetition.
g Tns.A- \ l.a.t kae....fc Drwas. g.. ss..a