Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-09-26
let me save him and all 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 fly over the track, and when
Drucia looked at Jim again she found
him staring at the gauge.
What the matter, Jim?" she asked.
He came forward with his hand extended
toward the little instrument.
"A little more fire and we'll blow up"
tom would hear the explosion and
stop his train. That might prevent the
collision! was Druca reply.
1t WAS now evident that the sound 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 machinery while
she attended to that part of the warning
work which she had allotted 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 decisive
moment.
The sound of the train on the other
track grew momentarily more distinct,
and the daring girl fancied that she heard
No 6 coming through the valley below
Colby.
Yes, it is Toni ~ she cried, to enconr-
age the boy at the lever. Il see his light
Now!n
Then she leaned out of the window and
shouted at the top of her voice
"Switch ut Colby! Switch at Colby
Colby, six! Colby, ski"
Many times she repeated her cry, and
at once she dashed by the heavy train.
Right into her lovers face as he leaned
from his engine she shouted: Switch al
COLBY" and heard the shrieks that told
her that he would obey.
"Saved! saved. Jim!" she cried with
Joy, turning upon the breathless boy, who
already was checking the Bellies speed.
Golly-whzz! he said, laughing
" If we can ever stop the Belle we'll &C
back; but the girls got her spunk up and
ould run on forever!
Drucia Miller returned to the window
with u heart filled with thankfulness, fol
Tom had heard, and already was running
on the switch mt Colby.
After awhile the Belle was got under
control. and backed with lessened fires.
Listen suddenly cried Jim.
Yes, No. G is coming, but we don't
fear her now! " said Drucia with smile
Tom and his passengers are safe on the
switch"
The next moment No. 6 dashed by, and
Drucia laughed and actually clapped hel
hands.
The meeting between Tom Gray anC
his love cannot be described.
Your headlight seemed meteor he
said to her; land l knew your voice
don't know why. l Iguess you made time
coming down"
"Time!" cried Jim. ~ don't think
the wheels touched the rails more'n hal
! the time. If it had been day the mile
stones would have looked like n rake"
There was laugh at the boys eXagger.
alton, and when Tom took Drucia aside
he kissed her.
1t was not the only kiss she got thai
night, for all the women on the trair
kissed the girl who had saved their lives
and Tom Gray said he wouldn't get jeal
GUS when the moustached passengers BEN
over Drucia blushing like rose.
The story of Drucie's feat crept into the
apers, and, though my story may be ole
to some of my readers, have told it be-
cause | believe it will bear repetition.
Dick Lambert iorgave Drucia for run
ming away with his engine, and Jim, the
fire boy, never grows weary of telling d
that run.
Tom Gray, is still on the road, but Dru
cia does not listen to the click-click of the
sounder any more. Every night at eigh
she holds little boy up to tho window
and he cries "papa!" and claps his little
hands as an engine dashes by.