Los Angeles herald., 1892-09-18

like hawk.
whats Bryan's run.
Horseshoe to Powder erik. She knows
every inch of the track and siding And
I wisht you could see her handle the
critter. She knows all Bryan does, and
she's heap site quicker calc'latin than
the old man. It's wuth while to see her
oil and clean the machine. She goes
over it spry as kitten"
"She's handsome" said Dave simply.
"Humph! Handsome is as handsome
does" observed Joe grumpily. "She is
cold as ice and hard as a rock. It's my
belief that she amt got no heart same
as other wimmin And sassy? Lorr'
In spite Of what he had heard, or per-
haps because of what he has heard, all
things, even the melancholy town itself,
grew rose colored to Dawes sunny eyes.
With his unfailing cheerfulness he
waited hopefully for news of his ap-
pointment at Red Valley, and lowered,
as if fascinated, around engine A.
Neither the boys nor old Bryan were
slow to notice this, the latter having ac-
cepted such attentions periodically from
all the young men. 1t was SO inevitable
a proceeding that up to the time of the
Middletons dance they paid no attention
to it.
But that night something extraordi-
nary occurred.
The next day, as Brier Rose rode
down the street on her hardy little pony,
the boys gathered around her eagerly,
notwithstanding the fact that she had
stout little whip in her hand. They had
something new and strange to tease her
about.
''Brier Rose" called out Jim as she
drew rein, ''you don't care nothin about
dancin, do your
"You'd ruther set all the evenin,
wouldn't you, now?"
'D'you like the name O. Dave, OF do
you reckon you'd rather have Com
stock'
Rose looked from one to the other as
the bottled up taunts fell rapidly upon
her ears, her cheeks and lips growing
scarlet. For once her ready tongue
failed her. Small need to ask them
what they meant. Too well she knew.
But was her subjugation apparent in
such trife? And so soon? And Dave
as yet had said nothing. Emboldened
by her silence, they went further.
"What does he say about it?"
The shamed crimson leaped to her
very temples and receded, leaving her
face pitifully white. Her wounded
pride now painted for but one thing-a
way out Probably he knew it too.
She saw him coming down the street.
"Do you love him? Say, Brier Rose,
do you love Dave" cried the one farthest
from her whip.
Her courage came back at Dawes ap-
proach, and the spell of her unwonted
silence was broken.
"Do l love him?" she cried, looking
him fairly in the face. 81 come nearer
to hating himr'
She turned her horse sharply, and the
blows the boys had expected fell on her
fiery little pony. He craned his neck
and went up the street on dead run,
but fast as Rose flew the grieved look in
Dave Comstock's blue eyes kept pace
with her.
That night Joe fidgeted around, un-
able to decide whether or not he should
speak to Dave about the occurrence of
the afternoon. Dawes genial smile and
with his face buried in his folded arms.
Joe coughed noisily and said nothing.
Dave looked down at his poor MANNED
foot.
"Joe, do you know that little baby l
saved from the wreck had brown eyes
like Brier Rose? remember the baby
smiled when held it out to the men.
You know my foot was caught and
couldn't move. I've never seen Brier
Rose smile at me that way. If I had
saved her perhaps she would. Do you
think so, Joe?"
At home Rose was thinking of the
story of Dawes bravery III the wrecked
train, of the lives he had saved, of his
defense of her.
And today in return she had Knocked
him. Aye, if the look he gave her spoke
truly, she had cut him to the heart.
Tears-tears in the eyes of Brier Rose!
The position of telegraph operator at
Red Valley was given to Dave Comstock.
The afternoon freight, heavily loaded,
had just pulled clumsily out of the
Weeping Willow station with Dave on
the rear platform of the way car.
The A having come down on the rear
of the freight as second engine now stood
on the siding waiting to go back to
Horseshoe for the midnight express.
Old Bryan was up in crowd of men
in front of the postoffice. Brier Rose
watched him anxiously. AS long as he
kept away from the Owl she felt easy.
He knew she was watching him. He
also knew that she would not hesitate
to come after him if the Owl proved too
strong an attraction. Therefore he kept
away.
She trod fearlessly along the side of
the boiler, rubbing the handrail with a
black, oil sodden cloth. She touched
the engine as if she loved it. Every part
of it shone like the sun. Every valve
worked with precision. Every screw
was secure. Joe laughed to see her
fling shovelful of coal into the furnace
like born fireman.
His own machine called his attention
from the A. Then Rose heard him cry
out, and springing down she rushed into
| the station.
"a runaway engine coming this wayr'
he said hoarsely. 'Spite work of dis
| charged engineer. No one on her
| eroinr tuontv-fiva yp;1ac on bour- a