The Osceola times., 1882-05-06

were doing something, she could not al
frs. see what TO the track. Pretty
soon. up came a rail, and in a minute
more 1t was thrown down steep ledge
within four feet Of the track-where the
whole train must be precipitated in less
than an hour il something could not be
done tc warn them. Mike saw it all now
and for a moment stood, her eyes di-
lated with horror, while she saw the
shake their fists toward her
way and heard an imprecation. Then
they passed on and Mike, grown cold IN
the sudden extremity, turned and sped
toward the depot.
The rail had been removed on curve
which WAS shaded on the west side by a
high bank 30 that at halfpast 5 it wss
quite dusk there, and, rs the train al
ways came in on q down grade, they
came at full epeed. SO Mike thought TO
herself, "l'm 40 glad came, for now III
hurry and telegraph to Stratford before
the train comes by. and then we j see.
Mr.. Tramps, how your little scheme
comes out"
She reached the Office and looked at
the clock. Five minutes TO iivel and the
train left Stratford at 5:03. Well, eight
minutes was plenty Of time If she could
raise" Stratford. She grasped the Key.
"Sd-sd sd" clicked the instrument.
Never before was there so impatient an
operator on that line. With her eyes on
the clock which seemed then, If ever, to
say. forever r-never-forever,
she kept up the call Somebody on the
other side "broke her" twice, but she
gave all the danger signalssh could think
of and kept on. The moments kept on
one, two, three, four, five-slowly peal
ed the old clock-each stroke an agony
to the girl.
Meanwhile the agent at Stratford could
not operate at all, and the boy, who could
and who served as general chore-boy
about the place, had gone for the COWS
and there was no one TO answer tile call
on which 80 much depended.
A few minutes and it was too late, and
Mike was in a new dilemma.
Nike closed the key in despair She
did not know the train signals, but she
seized the red flag under the old desk
and ran for dear life-litsrally the dear
lives of her fellow creatures. Not until
she got TO the wrecked place did she re-
member that she must 60 beyond the
curve TO stop them or she would be oil
no use. Already she heard the ap-
preaching train rumble in the distance.
Faster, faster she sped round the curve
straight up the track. She could see
them now coming in. On they rushed,
the great engine bent on destroying its
precious freight. Mike stopped in the
midst of the track and frantically swung
her red flag, but still the monster rushed
toward her, showing no abatement OF
speed.
Meanwhile the engineer and fireman
had seen the slight form of the girl, and
the fireman stood aghast to see the en-
gineer 80 utterly regardless Of her.
stop, mani" he shouted; don't you
see the girl?"
"Yes," said the halfdrunk engineer.
"Why don't tie little fool get out of my
way? I'll teach her." and made no move
ment to stop.
Mike waited with a sinking heart.
Oh, why did everything go against her?
Was it the will of God that this dread.
ful thing should happen? The engine
was close upon her and she ran with a
jutting rock by the railroad still waving
her scarlet flag, but just as the engine
came alongside of her she heard the
sharp click of the call-bell in the engine
and saw the fireman thrust the engineer
aside and reverse the engiue. The con-
ductor, who had just seen her and excite
edly pulled the bell-rope, jumped of and
came toward her. But the reaction was
too much for poor Mike and che could
only gasp out "Rouxd the cnrve," and
then she was white heap with no sense
of anything.
Passengers rushed out, and. after some
bad been to the curve and seen what the
little plain girl had saved them from, no
lady in the land could be so royalty
waited upon as Mike when she had been
lifted into the car and told modestly her
little story. 1t was some time before the
track was ready for the train to proceed,
and many kind hands pressed her in
farewell, while the conductor left some
thing in her hand, too, just as the train
left, saying, "You are the bravest little
woman in the State"
Not until she had been in the office a
good half hour with her fither--who had
got home from hislawsut and wondered
what had made the train so late and
where Mike had gone to-and told him
all the story, did Mike think to look at
the packet. Then she read note: "Will
Miss Eunsce Markham accept the ac-
comparing from the friends she so brave
ly saved Aug. %, 1850 ?"
The note was wrapped around $500 in
bank notes.
"Oh, papa now you can pay off the
mortgage on the house." cried Mike and +,
the father said:
81 declare, Nick, you get higher wages
as agent than / dop
The Superintendent of the q. & l..
Railroad Company came down to Par
kerston that week, and soon after there
was vacancy in one of the best offices
in tie company in nelghboring city and
Mr. Markham was rendered the situation.
He accepted, 80 that Nike can bave the
schooling she wants so much," he said,
and to-day Miss Eunce Markham is one
Of the most promising pupils in the high
school of that city. But more than ever
is she the pride of her fathers heart,
who never tires of telling of the after
noon "his girl was station agent"
But after all YOU would never have Ia