Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-09-15

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her
You can't catch me-" she said.
Eyes, ! can"
But the little witch evaded Laurence's
pursuit, leaving laughter behind her.
Here, here!'' she said.
And, rushing to the track, began to
cross it.
Don't go there, darlingr' said her IA
her.
Il was very dark; the pointsman could
hardly see his daughter.
"You can't catch me-" repeated the child.
"Come-come here" said the father
Look for me-" answered the child.
"Alicel Alicel don't play there any more
l shall be angry! Come here!''
"Oh, you say that because you can't
catch me''
Come back! will give you cake"
That isn't true; you haven't one. You
want to make me come back"
YES, l don't want you to stay there.
The express train is coming"
oh, shan't let you catch me! The
train has gone by"
There is mother"
Instead of replying, the child said, "Run
after me, papa, run!''
Laurence saw there was nothing to be
done but to run after her and take her out
of danger. He rushed toward the place
where he heard her voice 1t was dark and
Alice escaped him still. His alarm in
creased. At any instant the whistle of the
oncoming train might he heard, and Lau-
renee redoub,ed his appeals
His voice was hoarse with fright: the
fatal moment approached, and still the
child laughed aud repeated, you can't
catch metz
Now the whistle sounded The lugubri-,
Gus call paralyzed the poor man, and he
lost his head completely. The train would
have two victims if he iii! not regain his
composure. Two victims! 1t would be a
catastrophe with incalculable conse-
quences; for train was stopping at the
station a little way ahead, and if the ex-
press was not turned off there must invari-
ably be a collision.
Laurence shook off his torpor
"Alice!' he cried, in laundering tones
Here, papa" And the child continued
TO give sharp little calls, which mingled in
the roar of the approaching engine.
The instinct of duty, rather than will,
urged Laurence toward the points He
seized the instrument which ought to turn
the train.
No" he exclaimed, Il must save her!
Alice-Alice. where are you:' and his ewes
sought TO pierce the darkness
The man, with hair on end, thought of
throwing himself before the huge iron
monster.
But one chance remained-that Alice
was not on the track over which the train
must pass He looked again-he saw her
Sine was there standing on the very track
the train must take if he altered the points
II the iron tempest did not take its true
course, the child was saved. The train
would go on to crash against the one at
the station. What matter! Alice would
be alive! All this went through his mind
like lightning. They would be killed and
wounued-tventy families in despair-but
Alice wouId be safe and sound There
would be an inquest. He would be con-
demned TO prison, dishonored, ruined! But
his daughter, his little Alice, would live
and be happy. All, how quickly one can
think in such terrible momentsl
The train came laundering on, but it
could not be seen on account of a sharp
curve in the road. There was still time to
save Alice, but the child would not stir
1t seemed to her father that she waited for
the train with an air of defiance.
Alice" he repeated, in a voice stran-
gled by fear-"Alice, come here! You will
kill me!'
Suddenly the advancing lights of the en-
CINE appeared. The train was upon him
it was here. The man felt his whole being
shake. Hewas bewildered-could see moth
ing.
Thought did not stop, however, but trav.
eled faster than the train. He recalled in
a second his honorable life; he had always
sacrificed everything to duty He saw in
the station the frightful accident he would
have caused, and heard the cries Of the
wounded, the last gasps of the dying. The
problem was before him-Lis daughter or
others; There was no alternative without
IA miracle.
With astonishing promptitude the senti-
ment OF duty became most powerful, and
he seized mechanically the hands of the
iron bar. The stoical paintSman at this
moment was uppermost. and effaced the
father He pushed, hardly knowing what
he did, and the express train crossed the
points.
On, on it went, and he could see it pas
sing before the station, going by as If it
were happy to escape a danger. and disap-
pearing in the darkness.
Duty had been strongest. Stupefed,
staggered, speechless, Laurence was rooted
TO the spot, holding still the cursed handle
which had helped him to kill his child.
Nov" he said, ''it is my turn to die"
The other train was about to pass. He
stepped forward, crossed his arms and
awaited it. The whistle sounded. the
heaving engine pulled. Bewildered, think
ing of nothing, there he stood. But that
instant a burst of laughter sounded be-
hind him. He turned, wild with hone.
ON. naughty papa lie won't play with
Alice" said the most beloved of voices
Tue child was ciinging to him. Lau-
renee did not seek to know how the child
came there alive. He seized her and fled
with his treasure into his little cabin.
Then he put her on the ground before tie
lamp aud looked at her He could not
bear SO much JOY, and fell fainting beside
his daughter, who in her tarn screamed
with terror.
AT this moment Celine arrived She
heard her child's voice and fastened her
steps. Then, becoming impatient, she
called, Affect
The child ran TO meet her, crying, Nam
ma. mamma, am frightened.''
What is the matter?'