Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-09-09

Message is from Prairie City. It's
already passed Prairie City, headed
straight for here LIS bound to catch
Dave before his train gets to Red VAL
ley"
Rose turned white to her very lips.
She 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.
Il can save him!" she cried She
sprang for her engine and climbed into
the cab.
"Bose! Rose roarod Joe in dismay
Rose turned her white face toward
him imploIia sly. BE at the switch,
Joe, and listen for my signals as you
value Dawes lifer' 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
a chance of safety.
! She knew that a loosened rail or any
obstruction would hurl her to her doom,
] and still not divert disaster from Dave.
The whistle Of the A shrilled out an UNI
earthly screech continually, to warn
even the birds from fluttering 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 Rose 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.
lance. Larger and larger grew the
black speck on the track. Faster and
faster flew the A to meet it. Nearer
and nearer came the runaway. When
/ she could plainly see the shape of the
approaching engine she closed the throt-
| tie with a rush that made the Al trem-
/ BILE. She reversed her engine, and at
! little less than twenty-five miles an hour
began running away from the runaway.
Slowly, almost imperceptibly, itgained
on her brave engine. A horrible fear
took possession Of her that it was com
ing 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.
81 can signal for the siding if | fail,
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 runaway
few 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, and then
from sheer nervousness he squeezed
Foxy until he yelped wildly.
Out of sight Of Weeping Willow and
Dawes train in the distance. Nearer
and nearer came the runaway. The A
snorted III defiance Of being caught.
Rose braced herself for the shock.
Crash! came the cowcatcher of the run
away into the unprotected rear of the
gallant "A. Rose had loosened her hold,
and the conclusion flung her to the floor,
with her soft cheek against the cab seat.
Faint with her tall she gathered her
self together and shut off the steam.
Then, with the nose of the runaway
viciously pushing the "A, Brier Rose
crept like cat over the tender, down
over the trembling engine, and 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 Al was within cars length
of Dawes train.
When she came to herself she was in
the Red Valley station. Dave was bend
ing over her and calling her name with
trembling lips. She opened her eyes
and smiled into his face.
ooh, Brier Rose, how could you do it,
he whispered, with a shudder.
II did it for you, David-for YOU
Boston Globe.