The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-08-17
TWO MINUTES TOO LATE.


\ THRILLING SfoRY OF RAILROAD LIFE.
With his goodbye ringing in her ear,
Drucie Miller re entered the telegraph
office and dropped into the chair before the
clicking instrument CHANGING at the clock
abov.' her head, she noticed that it was
almost time for her to close the Office for
the night, and seek her humble home at
the foot OF one of the darkened streets of
the village. The rumbling of the train
which had just left the station was grow
ing fainter and fainter, and the girl listened
: to it As though it was the voice of a friend
who was leaving her for long time.
She did not expect any more messages
that night; the engine breathing heavily
from its great iron lungs on the track near
her window would not move until the night
express had passed up, and the engineer
knowing this, had sought his sweetheart,
who lived in the village
Tom Gray. the engineer of the train Just
departing was Drucie's lover, and his in
innate friends knew when the wedding was
to take place. lie had not known her long,
but that did not matter, since he was a
true fellow, who loved her with all his
heart, and with all hers she loved Tom.
The rumble of the train at length died
away, and Drucie was about to shut off
the current aud leave the Office, when a
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 the message:
Number ten switch at Colby till num-
Der six passes. Six just starting
Six just starting, My God. they will
meet" cried the beautiful operator, start
ing from the table; ''wha; can do to
save him-them -
And with her eyes staring at the clock,
she stood in the centre 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 blanche
young girls cheeks, was appalling.
The order fer the train, which had Just
left Fletcher, to switch at Colby could not
be obeyed now. The telegraph, even,
could not stop it, for there was no night
office at Colby. 1t was an unusual matter
for number six to leave Fort Wayne, before
the arrival of number ten: but as the latter
train was some twelve minutes behind
time on that particular night, SIX, anx ious
to leave time to save its connections.
telegraphed to Fletcher the message
which had SO startled Drucie Miller. From
Fletcher 10 point four miles below Colby,
the company had completed double track,
which, when finished 10 Fort Wayne,
would obviaie the trouble of switching,
and prevent accidents.
When Drucic recovered her self-pos-
session, she started from the Office with
the message i'll her hand. 1t had arrived
Just two minutes too late, and Tom Gray,
unconscious of its existence, was driving
his engine ahead and thinking of the girl
he had lately kissed adieu. He knew that
it was known in Fort Wayne that he was
unavoidably behind time, and thought that
according to custom, the express waiting
there would not move until he arrived.
But let us return to Drucie 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.
y 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 Drucie ," said the boy,
rousing himself with yawn.
Laws mercy
Get out and uncouple the freight
she cried, /" Toms moved out, and if lie
doesn't switch at Colby, everybody will be
killed. We must catch him
The boy with a cry of horror left the
engine, and a minute later the freight ears
were standing idly on the track while the
engine and It's tender were moving out,
gaining momentum at each revolution of
the wheel
- What'll Dick say when lie comes back
and nnds the engine gone said the boy,
looking up into Drucie'S face
% What do We care what he says: What
is Dick 5 anger 20 the precious lives on the
two trains? Jim, how fast can your en-
CINE travel?"
About two miles minute" the boy
answered with a smile. shes the swift.
est bird on the road, but | don't thing we
can catch number ten; we might if we had
Dick with us. lie knows how to manage
the Belle"
And so do |. Wood up, Jim Fill the
furnace chock full. We must catch Tom
this side Of the new track terminus, Or
The girl paused and looked at the pale
boy.
'Or what Miss Drucie >"
"Or blow up.''
:. That's what's the matter" said jim,
catching her spirit. And we Il catch her.
too. Wood! wood, There, the furnace is
chock full. Golly-whiz, how we are
going
Drucie smiled family at the boy and
noted the hand of the gauge. The engine
had received new momentum, which mo
mentariy Increased, and all at once, Jim,
who had been trying to pierce the haze,
said:
Two miles a minute, I'll bet Miss
Drucie II 1t was daylight the telegraph
poles would resemble fine tooth comb"
But the girl made no reply. She stood
before the lever, wishing that she could
urge the engine to greater speed. She had
calculated that the two trains would meet
in a Clutch that embraced I 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 signal
ing each other, and a collision was iuevi-
table.
The train, which seemed to have broken
loose, rushed madly on, with Jim looking
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