The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-03-16

Arthur Munroe had quilted the ear
riage to look after the luggage, and the
only soul in the runaway train was
poor Milly. Munroe had not quilted
the train minute when loud shouts of
alarm arrested him
What Is it? What's the NATTER" he
asked, facing round, with = horrible
suspicion that Bastxble had attacked
Milly.
s'T' London express has run awayr'
cried porter.
Good heavensl She'll be into tho
Bingham train at Lifsordr' cried an
other.
And Milly was alone IN the train!
Yet did not Munro lose his presence Of
mind. Flying to tho end of the plat
form, he jumped upon the engine Of
| the local. and without word to driver
or stoker seized the regulator. Before
ne could open it the driver stopped
him.
Hold on, sir-hold oni Bill. unlock
the train
In a minute Bill had leaped down, un-
booked the engine from the train, and
was back again on the engine plate
just as she began to glide out Of the
station.
But they lost nearly as much time
by the stoppage as they gained by
the tightening of the load, for the runa-
way had got almost a miles start by
the delay.
slow far to Liford?" shouted Nun
70, frenziedly.
''Six miles"
Wrenching the shovel from tho
stoker he proceeded to feed the fur
mace with all an experts skill; but
though the engine was going now at
rate which MADE it rock and pitch
violently, they had not sighted the
runaway yet. Suddenly she slowed
down, and Munro looking up saw the
steam shut off.
"Wha.? Why?'' he shouted
'Lifford distance. replied the driver,
pointing to the signal IAN up by
tl,isl We should only pile up the smash
now"
Then Munro lost all heart and hope,
and sank in a heap on the engine plate,
hiding his face in his hands Mean
| while the driver had nearly got her
under control as he came In sight of
the station
got the Bingham train into siding only
Just in time. AS they glided past the
platform the station master shouted:
''They have wired to Bentham Box to
switch her into stop blocks at that sid
ing" That was, of course, to wreck the
train against the block.
Munro heard, and starting up like
mailman he wrenched open the regu-
lator to the full shouting only: my
wifei my wife!''-all he could artfcu-
late for the moment Presently, when
they had got again into swing he cried:
''Aiy wife is in the carriage next to the
engine!"
There's Bentham banki' shouted
back the driver. encouragingly.
Benthana bank is a steep gradient
where the seven-foot driving-wheels
of the express would need drivers
skillful coaxing and sanding to keep
them from slipping at every revolu.
ton.
by Heavens! we'll do It If she keeps
the rails!" shouted the driver, as they
shot through Thornley, tunnel like
bullet through its rif3ed barrel
All three men were now on the look.
out. In less than a minute they would
sight Eentham bank, and II the runa-
way had topped it she would be match
wood in second. The incline at the
r1u ctn L
ascent at this, and to go down it under =
full head of steam meant a pace OF
ninety miles an hour into the siding
and against the stop blocks at the bot
tom.
Il told yout" shouted the driver, En-
citediy, as they sighted the runaway
half up the bank before them. But
Munro did not hear him. He was al
ready at the smoke-box of the rocking.
reeling engine, having run along its
boiler, holding by the rail
Steady. sir, steady! Hold on hard!
We're into herr And, indeed, they
struck the runaway with the smart
shock of a mild collision The driver
hurried after Munro and gave him a
steadying hand across the touching
buffers Of the engine and train; and
then, as Munro put the brake hard on
IN the guards van, the driver stopped
and managed with wonderful GOODNESS
and hardness to hook on the engine to
the runaway.
Reverse her, Bill" he shouted 70
the stoker. Meanwhile Munro walk
ing along the footboards and holding
by the hand raids. reached the carriage
In which his bride WAS
'Oh! Arthur" she cried, when she
saw him, Il got such fright
thought you were loft behindr'
He broke into q scream of almost
hysterical laughter as he hurried on to
the runaway engine. There was little
difficulty or danger in getting on to it
and shutting Off the steam now. since
the train began to feel the backward
pull of the reversed engine behind; and
Mlly was saved.
Il thought you had gone mad. What
made you laugh ike that, Arthur" she
asked.
AT your being driver, stoker, guard
and passengers of the London express
knowing it; and also. sup
pose, in the reaction from the most hor-
rible half hour of my life-on my we'd
ding day. 1t was that brute's doing"
he added, more to himself than to her.
land nell get ten years for it,
As matter OF fact Basta bic got
tenth of that NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. a sew
enth OF what he'd have got had he
forged bill