The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1892-09-28

His own machine called his attention
from the Al. Then Rose heard him cry
out, and, springing down, she rushed
into the station.
"a runaway engine coming this wayl"
he said hoarsely. "Spite work of dis.
charged engineer. No one on her-going
twenty five miles an hour-a single track
Dawes train only going fifteen the
A and that ore car on the only siding
between here and Red Valley. My
God"
"Where is it2" cried Brier Rose.
at broke away from Horseshoe Gap.
Message is from Prairie City. It's already
passed Prairie City, headed straight for
here. It's bound to catch Dave before
his train gets to Red Valley"
Rose turned white to her very lips.
Sh1 covered her face with her brown
hands. Only for a moment, though.
Then she flung back her head and looked
Joe full in the face.
'I can save him2" she cried. She
sprang for her engine aud climbed into
the cab.
"Rosel Rosel" roared Joe in dismay.
Rose turned her white face towards
him implorirgly. ''Be at the switch,
Joe, and listen for my signals, as you
value Dawes lifel" she cried. Then she
pulled the throttle valve out to its full
extent. The engine shivered all over,
and at ffty-two miles an hour the A,
driven by Brier Rose, leaped down the
track to meet the runaway.
There was not moment to lose. A
certain number of miles lessening every
moment, lay between the numbering
freight, with Dave on board, and the
cruel, senseless runaway engine. Be.
tween them was Brier Rose, with Just q
chance of safety.
She knew that loosened rail or any
obstruction would hurl her to her doom,
aud still not avert disaster from Dave.
The whistle of the A shrilled out un-
earthly screech continually to warn even
the birds from huttering too near the
messenger of life.
The engine rocked from side to side
at the dizzy rate of speed. For the first
time the odor of hot oil made Rosa feel
faint. She hung half out of the cab
window painting for breath and her
hands clinging crafty to the window
for support.
Suddenly she saw smoke in the dis
tance. Larger and larger grew the
black speck on the track. Faster and
faster flew the Al to meet it. Nearer
and nearer came the runaway. When
cha Optnl6 rnloinIu ha ahon of H.
approaching engine she closed the throt-
tie with rush that made the Al tremble
She reversed her engine, and at little
less than twenty-five miles an hour be-
gan running away from the runaway.
Slowly, almost imperceptibly, it
gained on her brave engine. A horrible
fear took possession of her that it was
coming too slowly, and that they both
would reach Dawes train before she
stopped the runaway. She changed the
speed and let the engine gain on her
faster.
al can signal for the siding if fall"
thought Brier Rose. "Joe will obey my
signal" But she shuddered.
In sight of Weeping Willow at last.
The A whistled frantically. Rose sig
nailed for a clear track, and only train
length apart the A and the runa.
way flew past the little station platform,
crowded with every man, woman and
child in town.
Joe understood her plan now. He
bounded into the station, frenzied with
excitement, telegraphed to Red Valley
what Brier Rose was doing; then, from
sheer nervousness, he squeezed Foxy un-
til he yelped wildly.
Out of sight of Weeping Willow and
Dawes train in the distance, nearer and
nearer came the runaway. The A snorted
in defiance of being caught. Rose
braced herself for the shock. Crash!
came the cowcatcher of the runaway into
the unprotected rear of the gallant A.
Rose had loosened her hold, and the con-
cussion flung her to the floor, with her !
soft cheek against the cab seat.
Faint with her fall she gathered her
self together and shut off the steam.
The with the nose of the runaway VIC
iously pushing the A, Brier Rose crept
like cat over the tender, down over the
trembling engine, aud on her hands and |
knees she crawled over to the. runaway,
up along the boiler side into the cab,
and crashed the throttle shut when the
"A was within cars length of Dawes
train.
When she came to herself she was in
The Red Valley station. Dave was bend
ng over her, aud calling her name with
trembling lips. She opened her eyes
md smiled into his face.
"Oh, Brier Rose, how could you do
IL" he whispered with shudder.
81 did it for you, David-for you."-
New York Press.
An UnshOrn Sheep.