The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-09-14
tically clutched Granard round the

tlcAlly Clutcheu Granaru round the
body.
Scarcely had the stream covered
them when the carriage received q
tremendous blow OH tho right, which
turned it sharply over on its side. A
yard or two farther-with tho car.
riage being dragged unwillingly along
in this positioM-all was over; tho
trains great momentum was used up,
and one of the worlds most famous
expresses, which not ten seconds bo.
fore had been plunging alons full Of
grace and power. ut the rate OF "a
mile u minute" lay wrecked and
stilled-a center oftleath, suffering and
ruin.
Granard had wedscl himsalfso tight
ly into his seat that when thecarriagc
was overturned he was not displaced,
the somnolent youth opposite was
thrown withgreat violence directly up
ON Arthur Granard's right elbow, there
by receiving u most pointed rcbuko
for his ill-judye,l movement. Dazed
with sleep and mad with fright, this
worthy grabbed Gr:lnartl by the
throat and shouted "Mur,ler! Muir.
ler!" in the widest manner, at the
snnae time doing his utmost to
sttangle his antagonist. Now, Ora.
nard was not particularly pugnacious
or prone 70 take offence, but lust then
he fvlt III no hnmor for being throt-
tied, and accordingly resented the libcr-
ty. Being OF considerable strength
and stature, and in first-rate condi-
tion, (having the day before won IL
two-milo scullingrace at Blundccombo
reS,att:I, for which lle had been III
training some six weeks OR more
he WIS soon able to free himself from
his tcllow-pasirnyor's too close enl-
brace by gripping his arms Just above
the elbows and cruncl,iny the muscles
there until the hands were powcrlcss.
Then stepping across tho carriage
and standing each foot ON an arm.
rest, he thrust him bodily through tho
open window, now above them. On
being shown tho door in this fashion,
u new idea seems to seize on
tho elected one, for he scrambled
out and flung himself down to the
ground as ifathousand mischiefs were
behind him. Had he broken IL limb in
his haste an enlightened Jury would
probably have awarded him heavy
damages "for injuries received in tho
Long llouyhton accident" On look
ing down between his legs to see how
the Others We're iaring, Granard noticed
that the Frenclman had already
wri.sled out. while tho poor little
bride was hudtiled in the corner, with
her lubbcrly husband sprawling help,
lessly upon her, apparently too un-
nervcd to make any ctlo:t to get out.
10 sec him SO filled Granard with i'll
disnant disgust. In Il moment he
reasoned to himself that the prin-
ciplc of countcr-irritation need not be
confined in its application mustard
plaster, toothachc tincturcs. and such
like mute agents, but might well be
extended for cure OF mental paralysis
and ncrvclessncss; thnt if, "ike cures
like" ashock might undo mischief q
shock had caused. Acting on thi.
deduction, lie grpsped the hut.rails on
either side to maintain his balance,
and then administered to the wretch.
ed husband IL sharp, decisive kick in
t.
GLAND up that lady!"
The effect was instantaneous. lie
grasped his partner with sudden cner-
~ and promptly passed her up to
Granartl, who had meanwhile forced
open the door to allow moro room for
hor to get out. AS he lifted her out.
and was in the act OF ofpassine her down
TO q gentleman on the ground, a
thought came suddenly into his mind
which brought his heart into his throat
He remembered tho down express.
The down fast had not passed them
yet!
lie saw with horror thnt nearly all
the passengers were now standing on
the down track! lie knew the wreck
must have fouled both lines! What n
smash would follow if tie coming cx-
press should dash in upon them un.
checked! He knew it was already
overdue. Could it be stopped?
Oh, That it might bc lato enough to
give him time to try! lie spr;.ng for
ward with Il wild absorbing energy.
lie knew that in the guards vn,,
there should be Il bundle OF ilags-rc.l,
green and whitc-for use in emeryell.
cics, and these, to be esaccessful,l he must
have. Rushing past tll.curri.tycin front
OF the one he had lcnl,cd from, and
round The frame OF the luggage-van-
now lying aero ss both lines IL complete
wreck-he camo upon the guard, who,
strange to say. had escaped death,
and WIS then stnne,,ny-nn arm brok-
Ell, q loot crushed and his face cut-in
the act OF hnndin: his flags to ;tn
elderly man Of military bearing.
Grnnarl waited ior no instructions or
regucsts-lic knew ;ls well ns nny Of
iicial could tell him what WAS to he
done, and minutes were too precious
to bc wastcl-but. snatching the flags
from the old gentleman with II hasty
"Givc them to mo. can runf;lstcst!"
l.o bounded Off up the line on his mo-
mentous errand.
The down train was not yet in
sight. There WAS still u chance OF
stopping her in time.
The flag was firmly tied up rs IL
parcel. together with y box OF dcton,l-
tors. Granard found to his annoy
ance, that he had no knife with him;
and. t,,s as he would, he could neither
break or undo the stout cords which
bound them together. After running
about q hundred yards he overlook
u passenger running in the same dircc-
tion, whom he Mt once recognized us
tho man he had Just elected IRON the
carriage.
"I.end mo yonrknitc!" he cried hasti-
ly. The man replied with m ejacula-
tion which showed he had evidently
not yet recovered from his fright.
"Your knife to cut this" Granard
roared, as lie ran beside him.
"\Vhnt mercy We weren't killed"
simpercd the lunatic. Granard grip
pei his arm viciously. and shook him
till lie realized the situation and hand
cd out his knife. 1t was the work OF
but % few seconds to cut the cords
ana return tho knife; then throwing
away the green and the white tllgs.
Granard sprans ahead, now full OF
stronger hope that he might get dis
tancc enough between himself and tho
wreck to enAbl" the coming express to
stop.
IIc was soon clear OF the deep, curv-
oil cutting in whicl, the disaster had
occurred, and passed on to Il long cm-
bankmcnt, from which a wide stretch
OF country could be viewed. lie look
cl anxiously in the direction OF tho
line, and presently cspicd amongsone
distant trees Il thin streak OF steam.
evidently issuing from I'm advancing