Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1893-04-15
A HEROIC GIRL.

Mrs. craig tore open the misSlye.
{. She only wants you to b. ready Il
go to Niagara Falls with her wher
she arrives here on her way t. New
York-that's ALL" And Mrs. Craig
folded the letter and triei 20 appear
u! concerned.
"To Magyar Falls It's the
grandes. thing that ever happened
"Of course you'll let me 60 p
said Sue, releasing her hold and star
ing at her mother as If there Nigh,
be, after al, possibility of disap
peintment.
:" Yes, Sue," said Mrs. Craig, pat
ting her daughter fendly on the back
you shall 90, busJJust on one con-
diiion, and that is that you viii new.
er Brighten US again as you did yes
terday by going through he all
road tunnel or crossing the trestle
at the end of 1t by yourself.'
Ill promise. And IN keep my
promise, too, mother. That WON'T
be hard.n
Very well. You know the dan
ger. lfyou should be caught in
there when q train is coming, dom,
know what would become Of you
Father and | are going over to Mrs
Houston's to stay all afternoon, and
we want you to dc the tagging ii
any may be required. There are
only two expresses before I o'clock
and we will be home by that time. "
Mr.. and Mrs. Craig went on their
visit and Sue was left by herself in
charge of the tunnel watchhouse.
She could see right straight through
the long black hole, and catch 9
glimpse of ths distant mountain
peaks beyond and she sat in the lit
tie door and gazed in that direction
full hour after her parents had gone
tor thither lay Niagara Falls 2OC
miles away. So intent we're her
thoughts on the promised journey
that she forgot everything else and
failed to take. note Of anything a
round her.
Once, for the moment she wal
dimly conscious Of strange sound
as Of distant crashing timber, but
she gave it no immediate heed, il in
deed she heard it at all. But aftel
few seconds more she seemed tt
wake up and become conscious thai
something had happened.
She prang quickly from her chat
and ran across the track. Beyond
the farther mouth of tie tunnel
which was cut through a small hill
the railroad branched into two lines
the one turning south into q valley
and the other Immediately crossing
a long trestle, visible from the watch
house and then skirting the opposite
mountain side towards the east. TIL,
junction was known as the Fox Tun
mel Y, the southern line was cal]et
the Valley Fork, and the eastern tn
Trestle Fork.
For full minute after she ha,
crossed the track she did not ute
another sound. She stood as on
transfixed. Then all at once sh
sprang forward and looked again
Yes, the trestIe has slippedl" Oh
gasped, turning white as a sheet
land the trains are both due here il
the next ten minutes-the southern
express first and then the EASTERN
and both are coming this way through
the tunnel
Her knees tremblcd and she SHOOT
like leaf.
81 knowi The southern expires:
comes first Ill stop it as it get
through to this side OF the tunnel
and it can run back then and war;
the eastern express of the danger
But, suppose the first train should
be late. They are never more thar
five minutes apart"
She wrnng her hands again ant
again, striving in vain to solve tn
problem. She returned 10 the watch
house and looked at the clock.
"There is no more time to waste
There is but one way must tr,
to get through the tunnel before th
first train comes. lift oyertakes nj
while I am in there-but l can ge
into one of the manholes. Some
thing must be done !"
She heard q faint whistle far away
down the Valley fork, which strength
ened her resolution to act. She rush
ed into the house, got out the DANCE
flag and the next moment had disap
peared into the mouth OF the dark
damp hole. The sudden chilIines
seemed to cool her heated brain, AM
she grew more composed and strong
er. She flew along over the ties a
fast as her nimble feet would carr,
her, but her swiftest movement ar
peared hardly equal to a snail's pac
now. On, ON she sped into the DARK
ness, with the light from the farthe
end streaming into her eyes. A
first all was still, save the echo G
her own footsteps, but when she ha
crossed half the distance shs heard
low, onimous rumbling, whose mean
ing she knew only to well. 1t wa
the sound of the southern expires
laboring up the Valley Fork not