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

graph Office aud ufopped inao tbe cbaiF
before the clicking instrument. CHANGING
Al ihe clock shove Der bead sbe noticed
that Il vas almost time for her 20 close
The oface for the night and seek her bum-
bic bone 81 the foot Of oEe Of The dark
ened streets Of the village. The rumb.
log of The train which had jus1 lefi The
station was growing fainter aud fainter,
aud The girl listened 70 il as though IL
Wss The voice Of 4 friend who was leay-
Ing Der for long time.
She did not expect sny more messages
that night, the engine breathing heavily
from its grea, iron lungs on The track
near ber window would not move until
the night express had passed up, and the
engineer, knowing this, bad sought his
sweetheart, who lived in the village.
Tom Gray, the engineer Of The train
just departing, was Drueia's loveri and
his Intimate friends knew when the we'd
ding was to take place. He bad not
known her long, but that did not matter,
since be was true fellow, who loved
her with all his heart, and with al hers
she loved Tom.
The rumble Of the train at length died
away and DrucIa was about TO shut eff
the current and leave the oflice when q
message began to fall upon her ears.
She started, for the first word drove
the color from her cheeks, and standing
over the instrument she heard this mes
sage;
Number ten Ncifch al Colby til aum.
Der si1 passes. Sir Just starting!
Six just startingl Ny Godl They
will meet cried the beautiful operators
starting from the table. What canI do
TO save him-them!
And with her eyes staring at the clock
she stood in the center Of the room think
ing OF the two trains approaching each
other through the mist that almost hid
the moon.
The real situation, enough to blanch
the girls checks, was appalling.
The order for the train which had just
left Fletcher TO switch OF Colby could not
be obeyed now. The telegraph even
could not stop II, for there was no night
Office at Colby. II was sn unusual mat
ter for No. G to leave Fort Wayne before
the arrival of No. 10; but as the latter
train was some twelve minutes behind
tune on that particular night, No. 6,
anxious to leave on time, to save its con-
nections, telegraphed to Fletcher the
message which had SO startled Drucia
Miller. From Fletcher to point four
miles below Colby the company had
completed a double track, which when
finished TO Fort Wayne would obviatC
the trouble Of switching and prevent
trouble.
When Drucla recovered her selfposs-
cssion she started from the office with
the message in her hand. II had arrived
just two minutes too late, and Tom Gray
unconscious Of its existence, was driving
bis engine ahead and thinking of the girl
be lately kissed adieu. lie knew that il
was known in Fort Wayne that he was
unavoIdably behind time, and supposed
that according to custom the express,
waiting there, would not move out until
he arrived.
But let us return to Drucia Miller.
She saw the freight engine standing on
the new track already mentioned and
caught a glimpse of the young fireman
asleep on his box.
A determined resolution entered her
head, and the next moment she was in
the engine room with her hand on the
boys shoulder.
That you, Miss Drucis2 said the boy,
rousing himself with yawu. Laws
mercy -
Get out and uncouple the freight
she cried. Toms moved out, and if be
doesn't switch at Colby everybody will
be killed. We must catch him.
The boy with cry of horror left the
engine, aud a 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.
/ Wbat'l Dick say when be comes back
aud finds bis engine gone! asked the boy
looking up into Drucia's face.
What do we care what he saysg What
is Dicks life to the precious lives on The
two trains2 Jim, how fast can your en-
giue travell
4 About two miles a minute! the boy
answered With a smile. She's the swift
est bird on the road. But don't think
we can catch No. 10; we might IL we had
Dick with US. He knows just how to
manage the Belle.
And so do |, Wood up, Jim! Fill
the furnace ehock full. We must catch
Tom this side OF the new tracks termi-
nus, Or
i The girl paused aud looked at The pale
boy.
1 Or what, Miss Drucias
Or blow upl
That's what's the matterl said Jim
catching her spirit. And we'll catch bin
tool Wood wood! There. the furnsc'
Is cbock fail. Golly-whlzz! how w
are going!
| DrnciA smiled fAintiy q. the bog aud
noted The hand OF the gusgc. The en-.
1 CINE bad received new momentum
which momenlarily increased, aud all al
once Jim, who bad been trying 10
pierce the haze, said:
! Two miles minute, i'il bet, Misl
1 Drucisi Iflt was daylight the telegraph