Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1885-01-01

anyhow this weather. We will have te
run as we can while this snow lasts
Who in the devil looked for such weather
in this country. I'll bet my dinaro anoth
er Winter will find me back on earth"
at won't last long," replied Mr.. Gale
"May be not, but it will play the deuce
while it does last. There won't be post
a mile left by night, and the line will be
down from Albuquerque to flagstaff"
The engine seemed to creep and hug
the rails as they entered on the bridge
where sudden lurch would send one
down hundreds of feet on the pitiless
jagged rocks below.
"It's ticklish work crossing this hole
isn't it Cushing?" observed Mr.. Gale as
he Involuntary drew back from the cab
window, where he had been looking out
eyes, never cross it without shud-
der. 1 reckon fellow would never
bring up short of the bottom if he went
over the SIDE"
Il don't imagine there would be much
| left to pick up by the time the bottom
was reached" Mr.. Gale replied.
1t was up grade after crossing the can
on and the train was heavy and almost
refused to move over the snowy track.
The engine required constant attention,
so silence fell on the inmates Of the cab.
K
AS the day advanced the calls became
| less frequent, and at noon friendly call
informed Mrs. Gale that all east of Cool
idge was cut Off No trains were passing,
and the hours seemed longer than usual.
About two O'Clock, on trying to call Win
slow, Mrs. Gale found she was cut off
from the east entirely. Presently friend
ly click came over the wire from the
west, and Mrs. Gale recognized her hus-
bands touch Oh tie key.
The tank is all right and SO am l, but
there is no possibility of train getting
through tonight. l will" and the
message ended abruptly. Mrs. Gale
knew what that meant. The wire had
snapped, and there she was, cut off from
the world. She was courageous woman,
though, and aside from being lonely she
was not alarmed. She thought she knew
the rest of the unfinished message and 80
rested easy.
The last faint beam of light was shut
out between black clouds, and stormy
night, settled down over the valley.
Meta, who had been peering out into
darkness, suddenly turned from the win
dow with white, scared face. Mamma,
the stage from Prescott is due tonight.
Where can it be? 1t should have been
in five hours ago."
Mrs. Gale looked up at her daughter
horror stricken. They knew too well
what the morrow might bring forth.
"What can " e do, mammal"
Nln1Gpd | knn,V nnthipp Ua do ~
eve can light up the bow window
mamma. 1t can't be seen very far, but
it may do some good" Fc!ore she lad
done speaking che had drawn the curtain
as high as it would go, and placed in the
window three lamps.
"We will keep watch meeting tonight,
mamma, and see the old year out"
Mrs. Gale went to the door and lis
tened, bnt no sound could be heard above
the bowling wind.
They kept their lonely watch until
nearly eleven o'clock, when Meta sprang
up, saying: 81 am almost sure heard a
cry, mamma" and both went to the door
and listened.
The wind had lulled, but the snow was
falling thick and fast. Meta was disap-
pointed again, however,as 10 cry greeted
their ears.
Mamma, whoever is on the stage to.
night will perish if they do not come
sOon"
"Yes, child, it is terrible night for
wanderer. Ifear some accident. Canon
Padre and Diabolo both to Cross"
Meta flew to the door before her mother
stopped speaking. II did hear some one
call, mamma" and stepping out on the
platform, she raised her voice in long,
clear shout. The echo had not died
away before an answering sound came
faulty up from the canon.
Il know just where they are mamma.
They are at the upper crossing. l will
90 to them and bring them up"
'My child you will only get lost"
Mamma, must GO they might die"
Meta was ready to 60 by the time she
finished speaking: 1t was not so far and
Meta knew every foot of the road. She
hallooed as she ran and again faint cry
came from the canon. On reaching the
crossing she heard grOan and called to
know who was there.
Its me kid, or what's left of NE, and
a lady and little boy. Idrove too near
the side of the road, and the blamed
stage upset, and reckon my legs broke.
The woman has gone clean insensible
Guess it's mostly fright though"
Meta was soon at the stage drivers
side. The road was steep and shelving,
but at the bottom of the canon was q
wide, level strip, and in promiscuous
heap lay seats, robes. packages, bundles,
small sacks and boxes. The lady was
lying on buffalo robe, and her little boy,
unhurt, was crying softly. Meta spoke
to him, and kneeling by his mother, rub
bed snow on her face, and she soon came
to her senses.
snow then, how are you to get up to
the house, papa is at Angels, and no.
body is here to help you but me?"
"The horses are just round that shelf
of rock, and maybe the stage isn't badly
broke. Here, give me your shoulder,
kid, till see il l am all broke up" At
ter much painful effort, it was found that
the stage would hang together for the
short trip. So, tying up the harness as
best they could, they managed to reach
the station house, where Mrs. Gale made
them as comfortable as possible. The
lady, the wife of a division superintend-
ent Of the road, was only stunned by the
fall, and the stage driver had a sprained
ankle.
"It's past my time how we ever saved
our necks in that tumble" was his only
The clock was on the stroke of twelve |
when the little party were startled by |
sound of steps, and the door opened to
admit Mr.. Gale.
There was noisy welcome and much
as to how he got there.
81 couldn't get all your message" said
bis wife, as she helped him take off his
great coat and rubbed his numbed hards, |
but got enough to make me think you
Uo11ld sfay oil niuht in AnnollsO