The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-04-20

that the old man meant to drive ahead
through day and through darkness,
whether he could see or not.
"But you must leave the road, Jack,"
said Jasper, as he pulled up at a sta.
ton, ',you must leave the road, boy.
trouble coming and there's no reason
why YOU should be in It,"
"But can't leave the road, father.
I know no her way to earn a living,
and, besides, want to stay with YOU"
mo, no; You have only yourself to
support and you can do that atany-
thing. Besides, you will not be left
without little"
"lsut, father" Jack interrupted, 81
Il have more than myself to support,
or soon will have.
Jacks voice faltered, though he was
not usually timid in the presence of
his father. Jasper looked up with
puzzled face.
"For the life of me I can't under
stand what a girl can see to admire in
a big lout of fellow like you," he
said. at the same time bestowing upon
his brawny and grimy son look which
belied his words: what does the girl
love you for::"
~ don't know. father" said Jack,
bashfully, and bowling his head as If
to look at the water gauge. ~ don't
know unless it is because she thinks l
am to be an engineer some day.
think that's it. She wouldn't love me,
| am afraid, if l were to leave the road.
I'm just sure she wouldn't"
Jack said this without guile. He
believed it, and his father believed it,
too. The old man smiled under his
gray beard, so greatly did the artless
compliment please him. And so, al.
most without an effort, and without
realizing how cloquently he had plead
ed his cause. Jack won his fathers con.
sent to his remaining on the engine.
He was to marry the girl he loved, and
had his fathers consent to marrying
as quick as he liked. OF course Jack
was very happy. and whistled little
tune as he opened the furnace door
and shoveled huge scoops of coal into
the glowing fire box.
Mary Clifford was a pretty girl. She
had great brown eyes which looked
out from under brow of marble
whiteness. Her home was near the
railway track, and there Jack had first
seen her while taking occasional rides
with his father before mounting the
foot-board as fireman. Mary used to
stand out at the front gate and watch
the cars go by. \ locomotive was her
ideal Of strength and beauty. Jaspcr's
old engine was Respondent with brass
trimmings and ornaments. and these,
kept rs shiny as good housewives
silver, and glistcning in the sunlight,
had caught both the eye and the fancy
of the big-eyed maiden and done more
than half the wooing for the boy who
SO proudly rode by his fathers side.
Once when the accommodation stopped
near her home to wait for the passing
of an "extra," to crafty her curiosity
she came out. and was urged to visit
the locomotive cab and sit on the en-.
gineers perch,and her bravery was test
ed by an invitation 10 mount the pilot
or "cowcatcher" and ride down to the
railway crossing, half mile away. She
was equal to the occasion. and thought
the odd ride such rare sport that for
many day after, and even after she
had grown to be dignitied young
lady, she longcd to repeat the expert
ence.
Well, the wedding day was set, and
all preparations were duly made, Jack
continuing meanwhile TO "ire" No.
45l for his father. Jasper was be.
coming familiar with the new engine,
but the electric headlight he could not
endure without many words of grum-
bling and many forebodings for the flu
ture. 10 add to his trouble at time
when he was little able to bear new
burdens, he was transferred from his
old run on the accommodation to an
express train. Most men would have
taken this for IN honor, but to old
Jasper it was an affront which he
could not forgive. Nor could he help
1t, either, and SO he took the new run,
which ambitious Jack was glad to get,
and between them they made very
good time night after night.
\ couple of weeks before the we'd
ding day Jasper and Jack were on
their way west on regular trip, when
they were again stopped at the eide
track near Mary's home, to pass a be-
lated freight train. Jack looked in
vain for light in the Clifford House,
for 1t was near midnight. Just before
the freight came laundering along,
and while Jack was busy shoveling
coal, old Jasper was startled by catch
ing glimpse of something which
looked to him like human form steal
ing through the darkness toward his
engine, but he instantly attributed the
delusion to the bothersome electric
headlight, turned his eyes away, and
soon afterward opened the throttle and
resumed his journey. 1t was moon
less night in December, and the snow,
softened under the rays of the sun at
midday, had now been frozen and
crystallized on the ground and along
the earthworks of the railway, so that
the brilliant rays from the electric
headlamp set the course with myriads
of sparkling diamonds, very pretty to
look upon but exceedingly trouble.
some to the eyes of the veteran en-.
gineer.
An hour later rcd light at Nliller's
Station caused Jasper TO put on the
brakes and come to a stop.
There's the train ORDER" said the
telegraph operator, appearing at the
cab window. "and here's a private mes.
sage for Jack"
"My God, father" cried Jack, read
ing his message before Jasper had de.
ciphered the first words of the train
dispatcher's order on the yellow mani
fold paper, "read that! What shall se
do?"
Jasper took the dispatch and read:
"Mary Clifford has disappeared.
Search parties are out. Come homc.''
Jack was frantic, and wanted to
jump off the engine and start back on
foot. Jasper had better idea.
"Wait till we get to smithvllc," he
said, land there you may ask the fire.
man of No. Z to take your place while
you take his and return home. That
is all that can be done, my boy"
They were very sad men who rode
away in the cab Of engine 45l. They
had not word to say to each other
Each was busy with his own thoughts
Jasper was thinking that his forebod
ings were beginning to bear fruit, and
I q hn nm -, 49,,