The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-07-30

telegraph the terrible news down the line,
but Just as he opened the door he saw o
faint white cloud on the western horizon.
1t was train. Help was coming. At
the same instant his wife appeared with
new grief and terror in her eyes.
II cannot get call in either direction.
The wires are blown down."
This only added to the danger, for
there was now no means Of sending word
in advance of the runaway car. It must
so on to its fate without help or warn
ing.
"Help is coming, mother. Here's a
train bound east" n.
Nearer and nearer came the train, and
the father and mother stood watching it
as it crept along the rails. 1t seemed as
| if it would never come. At last, it reach
ed the platform and proved to be pas
senger train bound up the Black River
| road and not intended to go in the direc-
ton in which the car had been blown
away. The instant it stopped, the sta
tion-master ran to the engineer and told
his terrible story. The mother, with
quicker wit, found the conductor and de-
manded that the engine be taken off and
sent after the children.
The conductor was a man of regular
habits, and such bold request struck
him as something extraordinary. Take
the engine off, and leave the train and
passengers waiting at this lonely station?
The idea was preposterous! Some of the
passengers gathered near and asked what
| was the matter.
Tnree children lost, blown away in an
empty car. Some one said. eyes, 90 at
once. We can wait till the engine re-
turns The conductor said he must tel
egraph for instructions; but some one
said the wires are down." and the people
| only cried out the more, 'sLet the engine
go?'' so the mother ran to the tender and
began to pull out the pin, that the engine
might start.
Hold on, marm," said a brakeman.
"1'll cast her off: You jump aboard if you
want to 60, too. Fire up, Jack, ana make
her hum"
1t was all done in a moment, and away
flew the engine, leaving the conductor and
the station-master staring in surprise at
this singular proceeding. The station
master did not teel very happy. He had
half intended to 60 with the engine, but
it would never do to leave his post.
"Fire steady, Jack" said the engineer
to the fireman. "It's no use to get excit-
ed, for we're in for long race"
"lt's enough to make a fellow excited,
to see that woman" said the fireman.
The engineer turned round, and there
by his side stood the mother, her eyes
straining ahead down the line in search
of the missing ones.
"Oh, sir! open the throttle wide. Don't
try to save coal at such time as this.'
Eve must keep cool, marin, and go
steady, or we shall run out of coal and
water and come to stand-still on the
line"
The woman sa' d not a word, but nod
ded mournfully and leaned against the
side OF the cab for support, ard then the
fireman gave her his seat, where she
could look out ahead over the line. How
the engine shook and reared! The little
finger of the steam-gauge trembled and
rose higher and higher as the steam pres
sure increased over the raging fire. The
engine seemed to be eating up the track
in front, and behind the track spun out
like shining ribbons in the sun. The
station and train had alreaky sunk down
out of sight, and the grassy horizon on
either side seemed to fly away in a kind
of gigantic waltz. The wind died away
to dead calm, and in few moments a
little breeze sprang up and blew in at the
front windows.
eve are beating the wind," said the
engineer. eff we can keep this pace up
we shall soon overtake them.''
CHOW long have they been gomez"
shouted the fireman above the roar of the
engine.
II don't KNOW" screamed the woman,
without taking her eyes from the horizon,
where the rails met the sky. s'It may
have been two hours or more. They were
playing in the empty carr
elbow did she get out of the sidine?''
Gle meant the cary
''1ts one Of the new switches" said the
engineer. Gears can easily jump out up
on the main line.''
All something ahead. Was it the
runaway car? No, the next station.
What terrible pace! Twenty miles al
ready!
"Oh, don't stop?''cried the woman, as
she saw the engineer put his hand an the
Unbelievable.
II must, marin. We are getting out
OF water, and perhaps we can learn some
thing of the runaway"
| The sudden arrival of solitary engine,
containing two men and woman, start
led the station-master, and he came out
to see what it meant. He seemed to
guess at the truth, for he said:
| "After the runaway cara"
eyes, yes. There were three children
inside"
sob, marin, I'm sorry for ye. It went
past here, going twenty miles an hour
1t came down-grade all the way, but the
upgrade begins about two miles out. ]
was inside when it passed, and didn't see
it till it had gone past the door,
How long 1t took to fill the tender
The engine stood hot and smoking by
the water-tank, and the water came Out
in slender stream, while the poo,
mother stood locking on, fearful and i'm.
patient.
''Good-by! I'll put up the pipe
Heaven help ye the up-grade-''