The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-02-08
A CATASTROPHE.
But II Was Averted by a Wonder
full Pet Kitten.

fuI Pet Kitten.
AS the train was about 10 pull out OF
the Broad street station, says writer
in the Philadelphia Inquirer, ! recog-
nlzed an old friend In the engineer.
He nodded TO me and 1 jumped into
the cab. Dick and shook hands and
he introduced me TO his fireman. a
young fellow with large, truthful,
honest eyes. and the most innocent
looking lace / ever saw. Perched on
the seat was huge black cat, ugly.
scraggy. and with a ground plan OF
fur that looked like a railroad map, II
was so plowed and cut up.
Naturally noticed the cat and asked
what IL was doing there.
That's wonderful cat." said the
youthful fireman. land thereby hangs
tale. Do you want it,"
''Of course"
well, about a week ago we-Dick
and me-were making the run between
Philadelphia and Trenton. IL was n
dirty. black night--cold aud driving
rain. and we were that Is. Dick was
behind time. and we were that is.
Dick was-making her hum for
all she was worth. We-that is,
Diclx-had q clear track and the right
OF way. A few feet ahead OF the pilot
IL was blick as nothing. We were
driving into chaos at the rate OF sixty
miles an hour. / could not help think
ing that II we ran into anything we'd
know more about the other world than
was ever written ia books. and said
little prayer that / had learned in
Sunday school. The prayer didn't
seem to do me much good. and | asked
Dick IL IL was necessary 10 run so
fast Dick gave me "a look OF mild
contempt. and then | got on my digni-
~ and felt as II I'd rather like 10
strike something just to change that
look OF Dicks 70 one OF surprise.
This was wicked, l knew, but /
couldn't help it,
suddenly there was an awful crash
directly in front OF me. a splintering OF
glass in the cab window. and this cat
came rambling in. My heart got right
up in my throat aud | thought I'd
choke. | saw Dick turn pale, aud,
terrified as / was. remember being
glad mt IT, He didn't lose his head.
though-Dick never does but re-
versed the machine, aud when the
train stopped we-that Is, Dick got
out 10 investigate. And what do you
thinkP There was n rail misplaced
within dozen feet OF the place where
we had stopped. The ilagman at the
switch had seen IL and had stationed
himself up the track TO signal us. He
had a pet cat which followed him
wherever he went The Il was with
him. as usual When he heard us
laundering down upon him his Ian
tern went out. He laid IL down to re-
light IT, A gust OF wind caught IL and
IL rolled down the embarkment. Here
was state OF things. The hagman
was quick TO act, however, aud grab
bling his faithful cat by the tail he
hurled it at the cab rs we ratified by.
Here Is the cat that saved orr train.
Didn't you. Danger?"
The cat bumped its back In recogni-
ton. aud | looked AT the frank. inno-
cent face OF the boy He returned the
look with wide-open, truthful eyes.
Shades OF Mount Veruoni What n
liar that fellow is" said Dick TO me in
whisper ''He has the reputation OF
being the biggest liar on the road.
He'd finish first la a race with Tom
Ochiltree. That cat story Is his latest
saved the tram business. / saw him
fish shat cat out OF the ditch few day 5
ago"