The National tribune., 1892-08-18

! tled-up taunts fell rapidly upon her ears, he
! cheeks and lips growing scarlet. For once he
ready tongue failed her. Small need to ash
then. what they meant. Too well she knew
/ But was her suhjagation apparent in such
| triae? And SO soon? And Dave as yet hat
said nothing. Emboldened by her silence
| they went further.
What does he say about it?'
The shamed crimson leaped to her very tenn
pies and receded. leaving her face pitifuily
| white. Her wounded pride now painted FOL
/ but one thirr-a way out. Probably he knew
/ it. too She saw him coming down the street
DO you love him? Say, Brier Rose do yor
| love Dave?" cried the one farthest from hel
whip.
Her courage came back at Dawes approach
and the spell of her unwonted silence was
broken.
"Do I love him?" she cried, looking him
fairly in the face. " / come nearer to hatin
himi"
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
grie7ed look in Dave Comstock's blue eyes kept
pace with her.
That night Joe fdgeted around, unable tc
decide whether or not he should speak to Dave
about the occurrence Of the afternoon. Dawes
genial smile and CHEEKY hopefulness were gone.
He sat with his face buried in his folded arms.
Joe coughed noisily and said nothing. Dave
looked down at his poor MANNED foot.
Joe, do Won know that little baby 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 l couldn't move. I've never
seen Brier Rose smile at me that way. If had
saved her perhaps she would. Do you think
so, Joe?
At home. Rose was thinking of the story of
Dawes bravery in the wrecked train, Of the
lives he had saved. of his defense of her.
And to-day 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 sid
ing, waiting to go back to Horseshoe for the
midnight express.
Old Bryan was up in crowd Of men in front
of the pos;office. Brier Rose watched him anx-
iously. 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 hand rail with black, OIL
sodden cloth. She touched the engine as if she
loved it. Every part of il shone like the sun.
Every valve worked with precision. Every
screw WAS secure Joe laughed to see her fling
a shovellul of coal into the furnace like born
fireman.
His own machine called his attention from
the Al. Then Rose heard him cry out. aud,
spriuging down, she rushed into the station.
"A runaway engine coming this way!" he
said hoarscly. spite work of discharged
engineer. 80 one on her-going % miles an
hour-s single tfack-Dave's train only going
15-the "a and that ore car on the only siding
between here ard Red Valley. My God"
Where is t?" cried Brier Rose.
"It broke away FROM Horseshoe Gap. Mes
sage 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 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.
81 can save him" she cried. She sprang
-
Rose. Rose." roared Joe in dismay
Rose turned her white face toward him i'm
ploringly. Be at the switch, joe and listen
for my signals, as You value Dawes life, q" she
cried. Then she pulled the Unbelievable cut
to its full extent. The engine shivered all
over, and at y 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 en-
CINE. Between them was Bricr Rose, with just
a chance OF safety.
She knew that a looscned rail or any OBJ
struction would harl her to her doom, aud still
not avert disaster from Dave. The whistle Of
the Al shrlied out an unearthly screech con-
tiLually 10 warn even the birds from fiuttering
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 leel 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 distance
Larger and larger grew the black speck on the
track. Faster and faster flew the "A to meet
il. Nearer and nearer came the runaway
approaching engine she closed the throttle with
q rush that made the Al tremble. She re-
yer5ed her engine, and at little less than %
miles an hour began running away from the
runaway
Slowly, almost imperceptibly, it gained on
her brave engine. horrible fear took pos
session oil her that it was coming too slowly
and THAI they both would reach Dawes train
before sac stopped the runaway. She changed
the speed aud let the engine gain on her faster.
81 Can signal for the siding if fail T" thought
Brier Rose. Joe will obey my signal" But
she shuddered.
In sight of Weeping Willow al last. The "A
whistled franticaiiy. Rose signaled for a
clear track, and only train length apart the
al and the runaw, = 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, tel
egraphed to Red Valley what Rose Brier was
doing; 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 al 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 gal
liant ii. Rose had loosened her hold. and the
ccncassion flung her to the floor, with her soft
cheek against the cab seat.
Faint with her fall she gathered herself to.
ge;her and shut off the steam. Then with the
nose OF the runaway yiciously pushing the A,
Bfier hose cTept like cat over the tender,
down over the trembling engine, and on her
hands and knees she crawled over to the runa-