The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-09-18


poles would resemblea fine tooth comb
But the girl did not reply. She stood
before the lever wishing that she could
urge the engine to greater speed. Sheim
agined that the two engines would meet
In gulch that embraced a curve about
six miles below Colby. 1t was terrible
place for collision and the loss of life
there would be great. The haze or mist
would prevent the engineers from sig
mailing 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 to believe mad The cold mist, slow
ly turning to drlzzle, was occasionally
blown against his face by the wind 1t
served to cool his heated temples, and to
make him think calmly of his situation
and the folks at home.
So fast were they moving that they
seemed to glide over the rails, scarcely
touching them in their mad career, and
when Drucie told Jim TO listen for the
sound of Toms train the boy poked his
head out of the window and held his
breath.
Pears to me hear sound, y he said,
without turning his head. ''NIebbe I'm
mistaken, so many things pear to me
just now."
Thank God ~ calculated the girl.
Listen with all your might, Jim. Oh,
for the speed of a bullet"
Her face was glowing with heat, and
while Jim listened she opened the fur
mace 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-"twentyo of 'em if we must do
it,"
Then We'll catch him. Colby must
he nine miles away yet, and the gulch is
six miles further on-tifteen miles Jim
can't you hear him yet ?"
"No; guess L was mistaken awhile
back" the boy said, and Drucie's coun-
tenance fell.
There's the sound again" he ex-
claimed, a minute later. Listen for
yourself, girl
her head out
That's Tom !" she cried. o heaven,
let esave 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
Drucie looked at Jim again she found
him staring at the gauge.
'"What's the matter, Jim 2" she asked.
He came forward with his hand ex-
tended toward the little instrument.
GA little more fire and We'll blow up"
he gasped.
"Tom would hear the explosion and
stop his train. That might prevent the
collision ~ was Drucie's reply.
1t was 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 drizzling rain that
beat into her face, and awaited the de-
cisive moment.
The sound of the train on the other
track grew momentarily more distinct
and the girl fancied she heard No. 6 COM
ing through the valley below Colby.
Yes, it is Tom !" she cried, to en-
courage the boy at the lever. 81 see his
light Now!"
Then she leaned out of the window
and shouted at the top of her voice:
Switch at Colby Switch at Colby
Colby, six Colby, six ~
Many times she repeated her cry, and
all at once she dashed by the heavy
train.
Right into her lovers face as he lean
ed from his engine she shouted 'Switch
at Colbyl" 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-whiz !" hesaid laughing. "If
we can ever stop the Belle We'll go back;
but thegirl's got her spunk up and would