Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1882-06-01

can see the track up and down for some
way.
Suddenly a tremendous crash startles
them to their feet. and at the same
instant a lightning flash illumines the
whole sky and surrounding objects.
Eleanore's face grows very pale as
she grasps her companions arm and
points down upon the track.
dora, the great elm at the foot of
the terrace has been struck. See, it
has fallen across the track. The seven
O'Clock express will be along in half an
hour. Dora, they will be wrecked. for
the curve will prevent them seeing the
danger before it is to late"
Dora looks and trembles.
"Can we do nothing, Eleanore?' she
asks.
''No. for the nearest telegraph station
is across the river, and there is no other
for five miles"
I'VE crossed the river yesterday,
Eleanore. Can we not do 1t now? am
going to try"
Eleanore gazed at her in surprise.
Dora Alton. you are crazy to think
of such a thing. To cross upon the
stepping-st stones IN fair weather is quite
a different thing to attempting it in
such a storm as this. The water is very
deep. A single false step, and your life
would pay the forfeit"
Nevertheless. l shall try. know
the way; and, God helping me, l may
be the means of saving hundreds of my
fellow-creatures from horrible fate.
Do not try to dissuade me. Eleanore. l
must go.
And though Eleanore redoubled her
terrified circumstances, Dora went
about her preparations firmly, with q
look of determination upon her young
face that never faltered.
At last she was ready. and Eleanore
strained her small, waterproof clad
figure close to her heart
"God guide you and keep you, my
darling" she said, solemnly. ''You
go for duty's sake to brave a danger
that, fearless as 1 have always deemed
myself to be, would never dare to at
tempt. love life too well to face what
seems certain death"
''Ah. i, too, love life" Dora said. as
she disengaged herself from her friends
clinging arms; ''but something draws
me on. Though knew never should
return. should 60"
Out into the storm and the darkness
Dora hurries; the wind beats against
her, now pushing her back, now urging
her forward, until at length she stands
upon the brink Of the little river that
ripples so innocently and cheerily along
under sunny sky, but whose waves
now are leaping and tossing their foam
crests like mad things. The stepping
stones, which but yesterday were so
easily crossed. are before her, and Dora
begins her perilous journey.
"Come back! Dora, Dora, come
backr' calls Eleanore's voice from the
terrace above; but she does not heed.
Steadily she goes onward. but oh, so
slowly! oftentimes slipping, and on the
very verge of falling into the treacher-
Gus water, whose inky blackness only
seems the denser, when, for few Sec
Onds, the glare of the lightning shows
her what progress she is making.
She has gained the center of the
stream; her slight form is trembling
with the combined effect of the cold
which strikes through her dripping gar
ments and the bodily exertions she has
been compelled to make to keep her
footing upon the slippery rocks. viii
she be able to reach the other side?
Bravely she struggles on, and at
length the goal is reached and her feet
touch the other shore.
A short while later the telegraph OPP
orator, leaning idly back in his chair in
his warm Office, is startled by the en-
trance of a small, dripping figure. look
ing, with its disheveled hair and pallid
face. like visitant from some ghostly
sphere.