West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1881-10-21
THE DANGER STGN4L.

- ~ u.
Inc added. taking base advantage of NV
Sensibility to remark, elf were you ia
ait down, and not wriggle You don't
know how satirically Governor r f..
watching you"
Now, had no fear OF the regard OF
that mild countenanco across the ais,o
and resented this duplicity of Mocao,
mas.
eff you don't go and bring h,thor tho
conductor" threatened, IL viii po IN
hin myself yonder among all tho.o
men-and ask him"
Moc"onas-I think the trait is common
T" most all men-diSlikus 10 he made
conspicuous, and lie knows INV merits
"acity' a moment later the strong
square lace ofthe conductor bent over
me- as preferred my request with an
"'us''c admiXturo OF appeal and assur-
ance' This artfulness was rewarded. st
me pext station lao came back TO Tho
platform where L perchod. brsa,bIos.
with suspense.
Inc engineer says you NAV come"
iauhunPly. thcn, j protruded nv
chin at Mecaenas.
NOW! You 500 all mon have not
your obduracy."
Mecaenas sighed. "Ah, Welt Being
SO very willful. you must 60"
IL was with no commonplace sensa.
lion that Swallowed my guide tbropoh
me in,crocosmic life of the platform.
nus'led by vari ed throng. Mere stalk
ca tall or sturdy prospectors, roncb-
bearded, rough-clad, equipped in all the
pioneer paraphernalia Of the section.
mere lowered the stately form and grand
gray head OF man had often marked
and revoted.
From the chaos OF this crowd aud H.
babel Of their voices tho nond,,a,..
swung mo up to the engine.
Here is the young lady who wants 70
try the cab" ~
WIN prompt, business-like air, the
engineer lifted me to tho cushioned 600,
where he had been leaning, tucked NV
scant skirts beyond reach of the yra,t
shining lover Of the air-brakes. sbowad
mo now to brace myself, rang the warn.
ing bell, blew Off the prescribed amount
OIL water. and sped his engine forward.
10 me that was a Wild, weird ride
me sun shone i'm at the opea cab win.
COWS, but the wind blew cold from q
snow clad range at the right. Section
men along the line-grimy, stern>fa
Cauca slams and stolid coolies-Ieaned on
their picks to gaze i'm wonder NJ o-
man face looking on them from such
"hwonted masculine surroundings. ss
We new past. Forward, forward sned
.ne engine along the ringing rails. f,irIv
bounding over long, straight stretches
Paht'hg up heavy grades, reelinp. svav,
ing inward, as the incline of the road
fought the centrifugal force aronnd
short, sharp bends.
The dismal surroundings Mortified
me; trembled that the great monster
mounted should go careering on. annar.
entity unguided. 1 wanted to know ho,v
u dominated-to see the hanG of man on
me curb or tho insensiblo creature. 7
leaned out OF the window and snola
DacK 10 the engineer standing on tho
tender. Come and stand by me; am
AFRAID" He smiled, indulgent to weak.
ness, as strong men arc, and camo I'm .t
once He taught me the trick OF tho
throttle, learned me the lore OF the lever
ana showed me the secure index of the
waier-guage, where aceratod. milky Auid
ran IN and down, with our motion.
Suddenly clinched his broad shout
der with nervous hand. 'That man
on the track! You will run him DOWN.
But his hand was already OH the belI-
rope. THAT Is track walker. Do Won
see his red fiag2 They are stationed all
Hlcng here every Eve to fifteen milos
lie will leave in good time"
The man but few rods awav. stan
pug from tie to Tie between the raila.
swung himself leisurely aside as we few
past.
tTied to excuse my cowardice "You
See' have been weak and in, and 7 have
seen two men killed by the cars
Yes; 1 know what that horror isu
His voice dropped. "Ionee killed a man
So" '''>'
Presently he opened SOFT of locker
beneath my feet, saying:
must see the timetable. This is
only my second trip over the road"
As i drew up my feet to give way. a |
gust at wind swirled in aud swept INV
skirts back from the low shoes and scar |
iet hoes that matched in the rest of a
rainier masculine costume. In dospite
oil himself tho engineer smiled at nv
CONSERVATION. Correctness of detail Is
my pride and weakness.
Let me tell you story" he said. ct,
can hardly seem inpertinent now that
we have laughed together. Before the
JUNCTION Of these roads / was running
between N and NJ. Lacy. the
station man at Austin, had a daugI tor. a
halfgrown girl, Wild rs an antelope
Austin was no place at all, just the sta
Won house, In part of which Lacy lived, !
and We mover stopped there unless sig.
nailed. IL was only four miles out OF |
Las Milpas, and his daughter walked |
daily to the pueblo to school and back |
we passed Austin between 4 and 3 jn |
'ho afternoon, and ! used IN meet Marcia !
trudging along the ties bomeward. Some. |
tmes she would bring my heart to INV
throat by keeping 10 the track uu I !
'hodght she must bo caught sure. But
she always escaped just in time. and
% FF.fs HU Il H..m