The Bossier banner., 1881-05-19
THE BURNING TUNNEL.

THE BURNING TUNNEL. ea-ss
"Well, yes, sir, l have had some
rather exciting adventures since | be.
came an engineer; but the time that
my hair stood the straightest, and nv
heart beat the fastest, was when l was
firing an engine instead of taking charge
of one; and, as soon as we reach the
long upgrade, will tell you about it if
you care to hear" e.e.
So said the tall, well-shaped, keen
eyed young fellow who was controlling,
with such cool, nonchalant air, the
great iron Cyclops that was bearing us
SO swiftly over its seemingly endless
pathway of cleaning steel.
0fcourse | was all anxiety, and when
the upgrade was reached the engineer
began, his eyes meantime being faith
fully kept ahead:
I" 1t was nearly six years ago, but it
stands out before me as plainly as if it
happened yesterday. | was a fireman
on the No. 3 of the W Railroad, as
smooth a road as ever was built, and
just as straight as a rail, sir, except at
one point. There it curved sharply, and
Just beyond was a tunnel, about a hun
dred yards in length. -,--< -5--
"This tunnel was very heavily tim
bered-in fart, the inside was a close
network OF immense great joists; and,
at the time of its completion, the con-
tractor had boasted that it would last
until the judgement Day.
Harry Burton, the engineer on the
No. D, was called handsome fellow,
ana at times, especially when he was
thinking or talking about Winnie Clyde.
and his great black eyes would soften
and shine, and his dark face would flush
and dimple just like woman's, sir, he
then would really deserve the compli-
4 ment
." but there were other times that,
waea he had been vexed or crossed in
any way, hard, ugly look would creep
INTO his eyes, and his lips would shut
losether, In q. tight, cruel line, and he
would look as iltfavored as a jail-bird.
ana cause me to think pitifully of Winnie
eiyoes future if she intrusted it in his
care.
Little Winnie Clyde was the pret-
ues. girl ever saw. Just as light as
DIT OF thistle-down, with dark k-blue
syes ana mass of soft, crinkly, yellow
aalr' that made golden frame for a
lace as soft, and smooth, and pink as
au appie-blossom; and she had such a
Pte.ty way of acting, such sunny dis
Pos'uon' Pos that one couldn't help loving
t.. Ihere is no doubt but that Burton
.stliy Worshiped her; but he was quick
h'peieo w and jealous. and over bearing
" nature, and assumed the air of lord
a. saa master SO often that | think the lit
"e srl got tired of his harshness.
.,ot nlt' anyhow, he flung himself
o. a'0aru one morning in such manner
~. a. gave me to understand that some
ang San unusual had happened; and that
0a uay ne was so savage that at last got
sI vus OF patience, and told him pretty
tsaslpely that if he expected l was going
~pusup ~. with his growing any longer he
A. II; Agaaly mistaken, for l would not
lie looked at me as if he was some
low Sua' s,sa surprised, and then said, pretty
isb n suppose | have been pretty bear
man o",; neI; but | couldn't help it, as no
hone eSula, ~ h; ", who had seen all the joy and
WIZ WIZ Oh his life stolen from him The
aoie |" world seems black to me-
aoa.liu anu MS Eead sunk on his breast, as
onea !. groan escaped his lips. saw at
fb;,,stn ss mat ne was wrelched about some
anrsa , anu OF course, it changed nv
sIl soe,I 70 sympathy, and | asked him as
wss vvshlhgly as Icould what the trouble
h,, Nell, you, must, know. Ned, he
masn, s1 nou', as if he conld bear it no long
4 Iio,n.sn' nnent ta up to Clyde's last night, and
III. saau a awtite-faced, white fell
ma ma. Z. mere, whom Nellie introduced to
the. - raymond Melton. hated him
ssn.a;ll a;loment | saw him, and | had a
man. an.'c desire to throttle him every mo-
hrno.a :. MS call. When ne was gone,
" ped raved 70 winnie, and l suppose flair
nia .sseu; s.e; but before had finished. Vim
banS;oooa Ssooa up, with her eyes blazing. and
loom ns;.l me my ring, swept from the
vbsss ! ;wisnout word. Of course knew
Mslto,n' meant-simply that Raymond
bis ioh sot. mad stolen her from me. with
want 0ls NV ways and oily tongue; and /
that a oa man 70 understand, Ned Lyons,
has boaah ah VINO VINO runs me off the track
was fr;asy fr;ary, damages to pay and his face
mora s iii'lui to see; but he said nothing
thai ! aoout his trouble or ANYTHING elsa