Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1877-10-04

! that according to custom the express,
waiting there, would not move out
until he arrived.
But let us return to Drucie Mil
ler.
She saw the freight engine standing
on the track already mentioned and
caught glimpse of the young fireman
asleep on his box.
A determined resolution entered
her head, the next moment she was
in the engine-room with her hand on
the boys shoulder.
"That you, Miss Drucie?" said
the boy rousing himself with a yawn.
'"Laws q mercy
Get out and uncouple the freight -
she cried. ''Tom's moved out, and
if he doesn't switch at Colby every
body will be killed. We must catch
| him -
The boy with cry of horror left
the engine, and minute later the
freight cars were standing idly on the
track while the engine and its tender
were moving out, gaining momentum
at each revolution of the wheel.
''What'll Dick say when he comes
back and finds his engine gomez
said the boy, looking up in Drucie's
face.
s'What do we care what he says?
What is Dicks life TO the precious
lives on the two trains! Jim, how
fast can your engine trayel!"
about two miles minute!" the
boy answered, with u smile. "She's
the swiftest bird on the road, but l
don't think we can catch number ten.
We might if we had Dick with rs. He
knows how to manage the Belle"
And so do L. Wood up, Sim!
Fill the furnace chuck full. We must
catch Tom this side OF the new tracks
terminus or------.
COR what, Miss Drucie!'
''Or blow up"
That's what's the matter,' said
jim. catching her spirit. ''And wei
catch him, too. Wood wood! there
the furnace is chuck full. Goly-
whiz, now we are going
Drucie smiled faintly ut the boy
and noted the hand of the gague.
The engine had received new momen-
tum which momentarily increased, and
air at once, Jim, who had been trying
! to-picrce the haze, said:
Two miles Il minute, I'll bet. Miss
Drucie, If it was daylight the tele-
grapA poles would resemble fine
tooth comb.
But the girl did not reply. She
stood before the lever, wishing that
she could urge the engine to a greater
speed. She had calculated that the
) two trains would meet in a gulch that
embraced n curve about six miles be-
low Colby. 1t was terrible place
for a collision. and the loss of life
would he great. The haze or mist
would prevent the engineers from
seeing each other, and collision was
inevitable.
The train, which seemed to have
broken loose, rushed madly on, with
Jim looking ut Drucie, whom he was
inclined to believe mad. The cold
mist slowly turning to Il. drizzle, was
occasionally blown against his face by
the wind, serving to cool his heated
temples, and to make him think calm
| " of his situation and the folks at
! home.
So fast were they moving, that they
seemed to glide over the rails, scarce
" touching them in their mad career,
and when Drucie told jim to listen for
/ the sound OF Toms train ahead, the
boy pokcd his head out of the window
and held his breath.
! Pears to me heard a sound" he
said, without turning his head. "Meb-
be I'm mistaken, so many things
'pear to me just now."
''Than.: God !" calculated the girl.
"Listen with all your might, jim. Oh
for the speed of bullet!"
Her face was glowing with heat,
and while jim listened she opened
| the furnace door and threw in the last
sticl, of wood they possessed.
The woods gone, jim. How far
yet can we go az this rate of speed?"
"About fifteen miles," the boy
answered. twenty of 'em if we must
do it,
''Then Wen catch him. Colby
must be nine miles away yet, and the
gulch six miles further on-fifteen
miles! Jim can't you hear him
YETI"
mo; guess l was mistaken awhile
back" the boy said, and Drucie's
countenance fell.
Theresa sound again!" he ex-
claimed minute later. Listen for
yourself, girl
Drucie went to the window and put
her head out.
ssThat's Toni" She cried. "Oh,
Heaven, let me save HIM and all the
other precious lives tonight.
With this prayer she turned to the