Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-07-04

him Of sliding down hill He kept
the fires low, and the engine slipped
along of its own weight, gathering
momentum as it went until it almost
few. To-day he stood watching the
track before him. as No. 147 sped over
the rails. admiring, half unconscious
ly, the wonderful panorama spread
out before him, and thinking. quite
consciously, of little blue-eyed girl
he had left at the East wondering how
soon he might have a home for her in
the West Then he thought Of No.
147, with how much distrust he had
undertaken her, and how pleasantly
she had disappointed him. He felt
in perfect sympathy with her
now-sure that she would respond
to his touch. confident that he
could always guide her. 1--WE un-
derstand each other, don't we, my
beauty" he said, half aloud.
The locomotive whizzed along.
Looking up above him, he could see
the other engines. apparently not far
away, but he knew that miles of tort
uous, twisting track lay between them.
And below was the most unfathOmable
abyss. One deviation from the track,
and he would go crashing down into
its depths. to certain destruction. He
was nearing the cabin now. Two
more sharp turns and it would come
into view, and he would slacken his
speed for a moment that he might
have word with his little girl.
''She is sweet child" he said hall
aloud to himself, ''she makes re think
of Bessie" And now he turned the
first curve. The turn was a sharp one,
the grade very steep and as he came in
sight of the track beyond he saw the
little girl of whom he had just been
thinking. lying. apparently asleep on
the track, scarcely stones throw be-
fore him.
To reverse his engine. to put on the
full power of the brakes, to whistle
the danger signal loudly. all this was
but the work of an instant. but he
knew only too well that it was useless,
that before the engine could possibly
be stopped he would be upon the
child.
The noise awakened her. She raised
her head, and turned a frightened. be.
wildered face toward him. He was SO
near he could see the whites of her
eyes. He thought he heard her speak.
He closed his eyes He could not see
his engine pass over and mangle
that little form. and even in that
moment of agony he was conscious
of hundred different things. OF
wondering how he could ever meet
the mothers eye. when he had killed
her child. Of how old Mike would
exult, and say: Il told We so," and
then there came crash and a thud,
and he knew no more.
When he came to himself he was
lying on his own bed, in the board
ing house. at the entrance to the pass.
His mother sat beside him, and
Tommy Burns, one of the firemen,
was at the window. He felt strange
~, he tried to move his right arm,
but it was useless. Then he lifted |
his left arm to his head, and found it |
covered with bandages. His mother
hastily intercepted his motions.
There, there, DEAR" she said, Its
q sSrhf L homa <o1 -
she put spoonful of something to his
lips Weakly obedient, he obeyed,
but gradually memory asserted itself,
and he could not keep quiet.
What was it?" he asked. Il killed
q child. didn't I?'
mo, DEAR" said his mother. tom
my knows just how it happened; he
will tell you, if you feel strong enough
10 hear it."
He made gesture of assent. and
Tommy came from the window to the
bedside with that sheepish air which
strong, well men often wear, and be-
gan:
The little kid is all right" he said,
though No. 147 meant to kill her fast
You see. just before you got
20 her. there was a broken rail. Don't
know how it happened. Gurus about
t. Track walker was over there not
IN hour before, an says 1t was all
light. Wall, it was there, any how.
and No. 147 want lookin' out
or it, an it was too much for her.
She pitched off'n the bank, and she
oiled over an over, more'n thou
'and feet, clean to the bottom of the
'anyon. An there she'll be to the day
If judgment, for she's tore all to
pieces. an serve her right, too.
You was pretty well bunged up.
Arm broken and head cut up-an' so
hey fixed up a bed for you. an
brought you right along on the train
An We tellygruffed for your mother to
'ome an take care of you, an she got
lere that night You've been purity
lick. Had a fever an was out en-
'our head. an raving about the little