The Washington critic., 1890-02-22

wrench herself free, or to drag her captor
with her OF the truck Her foot stumbles
against the iron rail and both man and girl
fall PROSTATE before the advancing engiue.
rs though the Internal regions had
opened TO cngulf them, glare, a scorchiug
heat, rush OF escaping steam, one thrill oil
kcenest pain, and Mabel knew no more.
Before the engine had fairly stopped
Frank Ray was on the ground. He had
recognized Mabel, and seen her fall in the
grasp OF the firce-lookiug man.
Spfinging from the engine he dashed
up to her as the pilot passed over the white,
huddled heap. A shrek that might have
walked the dead burst from his pallid lips
81 have murdered herlh he moaned.
And with frantic efforts he seized her
white dress. 1t was wedged In the wheels.
All was darkness and confusion.
The men brought their lanterns. Then
they saw streams of blood flowing from un-
der the engine, saturating the white dress
forming q rivulet by the side of the road.
Strong men turned sick. Franks brain
rcelcd.
sBack the engine!" he called wildly;
then staggered up to obey his own order.
I Slowly the wheels made two revolutions,
and again the engineer leaped down where
his victims lay. The man had fallen near
est the engine. a wheel had passed over
him. He vas quite dead and horribly man
gled.
Mabel-was she dead9 Was she iniurel
The young engineer seized her with trem-
| bling hands, while his heart stood still.
"She breathesl She 10 not dead!'' he
cried, as, kneeling on the track, he clasped
| the blood. stained form to his bosom. 'Some
watcrl Quickn
And as in twinkling the water was
brought, he bathed. her face and held 1t to
| her lips.
/ Ix,ts,, . -. ,,,a,, 90 ,,ot,, NTnba1 o,o,,ol
| her eyes. The strange faces around, the
lurid light from the engine, her own bloody
! garments, would have sent her back to un-
consciousness, but the loved face bending
| SO anxiously over her called her back to
| life.
"Are you hurt, my darling2'' asked the
sgonized lover. "Ob, God! to think came
so near killing you!"
"My arm. Frank. think IL is broken;
but, oh, you are savedl You all are saved,
thank Godl'' looking around at the crowd
of passengers
"My little heroine" murmured Frank;
and taking her In bis arms he carried her
into the sleeping-car.
1 The remains of the poor mailman were
gathered up and cared for, and the track
being cleared of It's horrible obstruction
the train proceeded to the station, where
the excursion train, just arrived, had been
stopped.
The unfortunate man was recognized as
lunatic who had escaped some days be.
fore from neighboring asylum. He had
once been an expert telegrapher, and it wa:
thought that over-application and an un
usually responsible and confning position
had unsettled his mind.
''Mabel, you shall quit the business from
this time forth forevermore," said Frank
when this mans history had been tolt
them. at might produce the same effect
upon you, and don't want lunatic for {
wife,
And Mabel-poor, wounded, unnervet
little thing readily promised.
as Mabel could take her arm out of a sling
the young couple were made happy by
check for $4,000, presented by the Director
of the road; also remembrance from th'
passengers on the south bound train tha
ever-memorable night Erchdage.