Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-06-27

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loudly in her ears. ttt|Ett
She began to feel anxious, as they
were evidently coming at a high rate
of speed, and not approaching as care
fully a. their order had instructed
them; she also had not heard the whls-
tie which is always sounded by trains
when approaching station, and this
omission increased her fears that
something was wrong.
But she was given no time for fur.
ther reflection, as the train now
dashed around curve not hundred
yards distant, running at full speed
Lily flew oIt and stood between the
rails swinging her hand lamp wildly
across the tract and shouting at the
top of her clear voice. But no atten.
ton was paid to her signal, the train
coming madly on, with such rattle
and clash that it drowned the sound of
her voice.
The roaring rushing train was now
upon her, and she barely had time to
spring from the track and escape with
her life. With a rafting crash and an
awful rush of air the Kissing, throb-
bing monster sped swiftly past her,
while the clapg, clank of the car
wheels passing over loose sylice near
by was SO rapid that it resembled the
rapid hammering on the anvil in a
blacksmith shop.
For moment Lilly was unnerved
and bewildered, but suddenly arousing
herself to action she rushed into the
Office, and seizing piece of firebrick
THAT did duty for a stove leg, she
turned and hurled'it through the win.
dow of the caboose that was just pass
ing. An instant later the red lights
in the rear end of the train had disap-
peared around a curve in the cut, and
the rattle of the runaway train quick
| ly lessoned in the distance.
Lily's heart throbbed painfully and
she was seized with q sudden fit of
shivering, which most persons Of deli
cate organizations are subject to when
under great excitement. AS soon as
she had somewhat recovered she went
into the Office. and calling the train
dispatcher, who answered at once, she
said:
No. % passed at full speed and No.
2l not vet arrived! ..E
l MY Godl' telegraphed back the dis.
patcher as swiftly as his frightened
fingers could form the letters, the
crew must be asleep. They will strike
in that cut and pile up fifty feet high!
Heavens! This is horrible!'
Lilly then went on to explain that
she had attempted to awaken them by
throwing brick through the caboose
window and on hearing this the dis.
patcher opened his key without wait
ing for her to finish and said excited
| ly: |.-
Run to the east end of the siding
and, if you see them backing up
throw the switch and let them in on
1.-THE siding. No. 81 is not due here
for five minutes, and there is chance
for them yet.'
Il have no switch key, said Lilly.
Break the lock with a hammer, 8
rock, or anything was the quick re-
ply. Run, fyv
Lily seized an old ak that was ly.
ing handy, and, with vague idea
that she might also need the red light
she took it into her other hand and
few up the track with the speed Of
the wind, at the imminent risk of fall.
ing and breaking her neck in the inky
.. darkness.
Once she stumbled and fell, and the
lantern was dashed from her hand
and went rolling along the grounc
far beyond her reach by the sudder
. impetus which her fall had given it
but without pausing to regain it she
sprang to her feet and bounded on.
The switch at the end of the siding
! was fully half mile from the Office,
and about the same distance from the
> beginning of the cut. If No. 2.
could back in on the siding in time
they would be safe but if they at
tempted to back down the main track
= past the telegraph Office they were
. liable to oe overtaken by No. 81 he
!, fore going half the distance, as, &C.
j. cording to the dispatcher's figures
! No. 81 should now be very close.
AS Lily reached the switch pail
of cleaning red lights suddenly ap
v peared around the curve in the cut
3 and she knew that the train was al
/. ready rapidly backing up, and thai
/ she had not moment to lose.
Feeling for the lock in .he dark
> ness, she then struck it several heavy
blows with the ak, which sae still re
, tanned Luckily, one of the blow
taking effect, the broken lock dropped
. to the ground. She then grasped tht
r switch lever and tried to throw i
} over, but it resisted her utmost efforts
' to move it.
, The train was now only short dis
| tance away, and with the energy O
despair she braced her feet agains
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