The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1893-01-12
FOR FINE JOB PRINTING
COME TO THE RECORD OFFICE

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 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
81 can save him!n she cried. She
sprang for her engine and climbed into
the cab.
''Rose! Roser' roared Joe in dismay.
Rose turned her white face toward
him imploringly. "Be at the switch,
Joe, and listen fer my signals as you
value Dawes life" she cried Then she
pulled the throttle valve out to its full
extent. The engine shivered all over,
and at fiftytwo 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,
and still not divert disaster from Dave.
The whistle of the A shrilled out an I'M
earthly screech continually, to warn
even the birds from fiuttering too neal
the messenger of life.
The engine rocked from side to side
at the dizzy rate of speed. Fer the first
time the odor Of hot oil made Rose feel
faint. She hung half out of the cal
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 few the "A to meet it. Nearer
and nearer came the runaway. Wher
she could plainly see the shape Of the
approaching engine she closed the throt
tie with rush that made the A trem
BILE. She reversed her engine, and a
little less than twenty-five miles an houl
began running away from the runaway
Slowly. almost imperceptibly, it gainet
on her brave engine. A horrible feal
took possession of her that 1t was com
ing too slowly, and that they both woul(
reach Dawes train before she stopped tn,
runaway. She changed the speed an(
let the engine gain on her faster
81 can signal for the siding if l fail,
thought Brier Rose. "Joe will obey m,
signal" But she shuddered.
In sight of Weeping Willow at last
The "A whistled frantically. Rose sig
nailed for clear track, and only trail
length apart the A and the runawa
few past the little station platform
crowded with every man, woman an
child in town.
Joe understood her plan now. Fl
bounded into the station, frenzied wit
excitement, telegraphed to Red Vale
what Brier Rose was doing, and the
from sheer nervousness he squeeze
Foxy until he yelped wildly.
Out Of sight of Weeping Willow an
Dawes train in the distance. Neart
and nearer came the runaway. The 4
snorted in defiance Of being caugh
Rose braced herself for the shocl
Crash! came the cowcatcher Of the rul
away into the unprotected rear of IL
gallant A. Rose had loosened her hol
and the conclusion flung her to the foo
with her soft cheek against the cab sea
Faint with her fall she gathered he
; self together and shut off the stear
,, Then, with the nose of the runaw,
viciously pushing the "A, Brier Ro
crept like cat over the tender, dow
, over the trembling engine, and on h
: hands aud knees she crawled over to Il
,, runaway, up along the boiler side in
. the cab and crashed the throttle sh
' when the "A was within cars leng
: Of Dawes train.
= When she came to herself she was
the Red Valley station. Dave was ben
ing over her and calling her name wi
. trembling lips. She opened her ey
: and smiled into his face.
> "Oh. Brier Rose, how could you do il
7 he whispered, with shudder.
- II did it for you, David--for you.
a Boston Globe.