Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-01-17

ming backward with tender ahead-tc
watch for tho first glimpse Of our
chase. Looking back toward the sta
ton could see the two red balls at the
masthead, which prevented all trains
from following us. and shouted the fact
to the engineer. A nod was the reply,
he had already seen them.
We few over the rails. The roll
and jar OF the engine were so great
that an upright position could be
maintained only by firmly planting
ones feet among the coal. and the exc
cution Of balancing feats that would
do credit to Blondin at Niagara.
Finally, as we turned curve, caught
sight of the runaway making the best
of its time toward Portland.
Now came the more exciting part
Of the chase. was surprised that our
engineer did not sound his whistle, to
attract attention of the trainmen to
the chase and cause them to stop, but
refrained from making any sugges-
tions, reasoning that he must know his
business best.
Looking into the cab I noted the
startled face of the lady. yet wearing
an expression of pleased excitement as
the wild engine approached the train
which held her darling, and the
engineer with body half out of the cab
window while his hand still retained
its grasp upon the throttle. giving now
and then slight pull thereat, urging
still faster his flying steed.
On and on we rushed, until in hard
ly more time than it takes to tell it we
were close behind the train, and the
engineer now standing in the cab,
bidding me keep sharp lookout
ahead, slowed the pace of his engine
to correspond with that of the train,
and with marvellous skill brought
train and engine close yet closer to-
gether until gently, so gently as to
cause no shock whatever, our tender
rubbed against the platform of the last
car of the train.
Then, alarmed at the sudden appear
ance Of the engine, out upon the plat
form came conductor and brakeman
of the train. into whose outstretched
arms it was my proud privilege to
consign the mother-whom had first
assisted to climb over the coal in the
tender-still grasping firmly in one
hand the baby's bottle of milk, which
bod I,oor tho ipunoouf no ,,so If On y,,,,oh
anxiety and effort.
So the train with mother and babe
reunited. moved away from us. The
engineer stopped the locomotive and
reversed, and then we watched the
train until it disappeared in the dis
lance. Number twenty-three relieved
of its charge rolled lazily back down
the long grade to the station, where we
were received with much enthusiasm
by the crowd there gathered.
We had overtaken the train six miles
from our starting point, and placed our
passenger on board while running at
full speed without accident. It was a
dangerous thing to do, and as the en-
gineer remarked afterward to the
captain himself, who had hunted him
up to reward him: "'Twas a thing
did not do. nor would l undertake
again, for money, but you see some
times a fellow takes chances on the
spur of the moment he'd shrink from
when cooler"
l remember now how deeply anxious
was the engineer for fear the company
would drop him from the rolls on &C
count of his breaking the rule which
allows no train to leave the '.yard
limit" without orders. The fear was
not well founded, however, as he is
running upon the Maine Central to-
day.-HolnaGn D. WdLdron, in Youths
Communion.