Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1878-05-08
ped at Beaumont, scarcely a station

wheels, and looking with wonde
ment upon the mighty beauties {
his iron pet, he leaped to tn
ground.
"a pretty piece Of machinery,
he said to her, sand she goes like
bird"
She blushed when she caught hi
eye and the sound OF his voic
thrilled her.
Overcoming her timidity, he help
ed her into his cosy apartment OF
the engine and explained to her tn
wonderous mechanism of the beau
tiful monster. Then he said good
bye, and she saw the train NOV,
of, and his hat waving from The
engine was the last thing she saw
as il darted around the curve.
A week later she found herself
at the station talking to him again
Their meeting seemed purely acct
dental, and no doubt it was such ;
but l am sure that the meetings
that followed it were not. By-snd-
by, Ed. Gordon, the engineer, car
ried picture over his heart, and
on Ytol bureau lay the photo
grspher's semblance of his face.
Thus the acquaintance at the
station during the Red Birds trial
trip over the new road, had ripen-
ed into love, and the two midnight
shrieks told her he was safe and
driving his engine toward the river
metropolis. She sat at the window
ofttimes with the lamp on the sill,
and often fancied that she could
see him leaning from bis engine
with eyes fixed to catch a glimpse
of her before the train would be
swallowed up by the woods again.
This life was excitement and Joy
to Ytol it was passing away. The
time was coming when Ed. Gordon
would leave the road, and accept
the superinteudency Of the COM
pany's car shops in a fourishing
city.
But let me return to the Octo-
Der night when Ytol left her home
to investigate the sounds that SEEM
ed to come from Gwynne's Cut.
She felt that distractions were
being placed upon the track in the
dismal place. OF late the company
had incurred the hatred of certain
persons residing in the vicinity Of
the station. and once or twice the
track had been tempered with,
but fortunately to no serious ex-
tent. The night express generally
went through the cut with undi-
speed, for no distractions
bad been encountered there, though
he cattle guard in the center
would assist the evilly disposed.
Ytol at last reached the cut into
which the mellow moonbeams fell,
md paused. Something high and !
lark INSTRUCTED the track before
Ter, at the very spot where the
cattle guard seemed to be, and she
held her breath. It was twelve
''clock when she left the house, ,
md her walk had occupied num- 7
Der Of precious minutes. The ;
hrieks Of the Red Bird would r
Don be heard, and moment there
'fter its headlight would fash in +,
o the cut or gorge.
She saw more than a pile Of
trong ties on the track. She saw
he dark figure OF man moving
bout the pyramid, as if contem- !,
'lating his nights work and spec /.
'lating upon the death and ruin it
would cause. She watched until
he believed that one man had ac- :,
omplished the diabolical deed, then
he crept forward through the I,
hadow of the bushes that lined !
he sides Of the cut, until she stood =
within ten feet Of him.
"I1l go back to the station now" !.
he heard him say to himself. IL
AN get there before the accident, a,
md when 1t occurs, why can run =
Up there and see him under the :
uins Of his engine, so crushed that /.
hat doll-faced girl Of his will not :
ecognize him."
A cruel laugh rippled over his h
Ups as he stepped back from the a
reap OF ties, several Of which he :.
lad forced into the guard, where a
hey were wedged like posts of =
ron. He enjoyed bis own words, q
md viewed the work Of his mad
,ands.
eth crush the Red Bird" he a
aid, turning away, "and put him
'ut OF my path forever"