The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1891-10-30
IN THE RACE.
BY PAUL GRANT.

A large picnic started out fror
Daleville, going 10 Freehill spring
where, besides the spring, iher
was grove, bdndstand and {
dancing platform.
Half the village went, as is tn,
way with villagers when on pleas
ure bent.
A long train of coaches slo0d
ready to take them, aud The rail
road officials had put John Mckee
in charge Of The human cargo, for
though young man, he was reck
oned as one of the best engineers
on the road; careful, cool, and
quick witted qualities much priced
by railroad officials in this day OF
heavy damages. He had need of
all these good qualities before the
day was out, as will presently be
told.
Mckee had been looking forward
for some time to this picnic. Dale.
VILE was his native place, and he
had an engagement TO escort one
of the village beauties to it. He
had been halfway engaged to her,
but that was off now, dandy
drummer coming in between them.
Dazzled by his finery and airs,
Jenny considered him quite a
feather in her social, village cap,
and Mckee was very sore about IT.
Of course the railroad officials
did not know of all this when they
selected him for the run, railroads
taking no stock in love affairs.
Mckee now stood in his working
clothes, and watched The crowds
as they arrived and disappeared
in The train. His keen ewes soon
spied out Jenny, escorted by the
dressy drummer. AS he leaned
out OF The window Jenny saw him.
She turned away her head and |
talked to his rival faster than ever. |
''All aboard - shouted the con.
ductor.
Mckee laid his hand on the
throttle, and the engine gave
vent to an splitting scream.
He envied The thing. He wished
ne could scream too. Then he
started of.
They passed through Tanton
without stopping. On a siding
here was an engine all steamed
Up, waiting to take out a train as
Don as it was made up. A mile
# two beyond The town Mckee
alled at water station. As The
hirsty engine drank, The engineer
umped out and peered about TO
ee il all was right.
The gay picnicers called to each .
ther from The windows, laughing
nd Joking, whilst some ofthe BOYS
slt obliged TO get out and stretch !
leir legs.
Amid The din asd clalter the
'aichful engineer heard n strange 1
oise, and, looking up the road, he
wv the engine they had left on
le siding laundering down on d
rem. Somebody had fooled with {
,e switch, and somehow the h
lrottle had gotten open, and i'll
lie temporary absence Of The crew h
le engine felt it incumbent on il
join the picnic parry. Another q
oment and IT would be on them. Il
Mckee sprsng on his engine, S
rev the throttle wide open, and, b
aving some of his crew and pas
myers behind, started off as fast b
he could with his human
eight. h
The engine behind ran along at
moderate pace, as though, unin. 81
ted, it felt some hesitation in h
lining The pleasure seekers. But h
'ery moment this hesitancy les
ned, and its speed increased. Il
Faster and faster il came down "
! the long train, whose engine, b
Se a thing of life, struggled and Il
rainec 10 bear it out of danger. p
The sstonished passengers, when p
e train so suddenly started off, b
what was the matter. b
me pulled The bellcord, some
oGted: ''Slop! Stop. The con- Il
lctor. the boy are left behind" al
10 their remon- b
RANGES, Mckee increased his
eed every minute. n
Then some Of the passengers j.