The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-02-11
the siding at Dering's. Gut, and wait,
WUATELY."

Kirke's watch hung on nail beside the
clock. 1t was fancy of his always to
hang it there when he was off train,
so that he could make no mistake in the
time.
He glanced at the clock, and from it to
his watch. Both indicated the same hour
-7.l5.
"7.l5," said Kirke, moditatingly, "and
we leave at $50, and the pay train meets
US at Dering's Cut at 10.l5. Scant time
to make the run in this thick weather,
but it must be managed"
And he turned away to give some brief
orders to the fireman.
Jack Halliday was there--he had been
strolling in and out of the room for the
past half hour, smoking cigar, and
swearing at the bad weather. His train
did not leave until near midnight, so he
had plenty of time to swear.
We all went to the door and took look
at the weather, and unanimously voted it
duced bad, and then we walked up and
| down the platform; and smoked our after
supper cigars, and by the time we were
through it was time for the train hands to
be getting into their places. Both the
clock in the engine-room and Kirkes
watch indicated 7.4O.
Kirke was putting his watch in his
pocket as he said;
"Garth, are you going with me on the
Flyaway."
"No, thank ye,' said I, 81 get enough
of that sort of thing in my everyday life.
am going to do little swell business to-
night, and take passage in the palace car.
Want to rest my back. Goodnight to
| ye, and hold her in well round Rocky
Bottom curve. The road-bed's a little
shaky."
"Aye, aye, sir!" responded Kirke,
md swung himself to his position on the
Flyaway.
The bell rang-I scrambled to my COM
Dartment in the Pullman, and felt horrid-
y out of place among the silks and broad
loths and smells of musk. But l was in
or "first Glass; and made the best of it
o enectually that five minutes after Glib
on, who fancies he owns all creation be-
ause he has got silver cofhn-plate on his
reast with "CoNDUCToR" on it, had
houted: All aboard !" l was sound
sleep.
What occurred in other quarters to af-
ect the fate of Kirkes train learned af-
| erward
Old Whately, the superintendent of the
road, as l guess have already said, had
country residence in Leeds, on a mountain
spur, which commanded a view of the
surrounding country for more than a score
)fmiles. The line of the railway could be
distinctly seen in each direction fifteen
miles, and Whately was wont to say his
| lookout was worth more to the safety of
trains than all the telegraph wires on the
line.
Whately was rich old buffer, kind
enough in his way, but sharp as ferret
in looking after the road hands, and de-
termined that every man should do his
duty.
He had but one child, daughter; and
Floss Whately was the belle of the coun-
try. She was brave, beautiful, and
spirited, and more than once when her
father had been away, had she assumed
the responsibility of directing the trains,
and she had always acquitted herself with
credit.
Old Whately was very proud Of her, as
he had right to be, and he kept all the
young fellows at distance, until it was
said that he intended keeping his daughter
single till the Gar of all the Russians
came on to marry her.
This night in November, old Whately
and Floss were out on the piazza of their
country home, peering through the gloom
and fog for the Golosha train, which was
nearly due.
cts devilish strange it doesn't come in
sight" said Whately, lying down his
night-glass in disgust. "It is hard on to
ten now! They ought to show their
light round Spruce Pond by this time p
"You telegraphed them, father? You
let them know the pay train was on the
roadF' asked Floss.
"To be sure. And good heavens there
is the headlight Of the pay train now
See not ten miles away, and running
like the devil, as it always does !"
He pointed with trembling finger down
to the valley gorge, where, far away, a
mere speck in the gloom, could be seen a
light, scarcely moving, it seem, but those
anxious watchers knew it was approach
ing at lightning speed.
Father and daughter locked at each
other
The truth was evident Fer some rea-
son the train from Golosha was ten min
| ,,to hohinJ /