St. Landry democrat., 1893-08-05

Arthur GkdnTO DhO Quipteu esio tot
rage to look after the luggage, and the
only soul in the runaway train was poor
Millv. Munro had not left the train
minute when loud shouts Of alarm ar
rested him.
"What is it? What's the mattera" he
asked, facing round, with horrible sus-
picion that Bastable had attacked Mllly::
TT London express has run away!
cried porter.
"Good Heavensl She'll be into the
Bingham train at Liiford!' cried
another.
And NIilly was alone in the train! Yet
did not Munro lose his presence CT MIND.
FLYING to the end CT the platform, he
Jumped upon the engine OF the local, and
Without q word to driver or stoker seized
the regulator. Before he could open 1t,
the driver stopped him.
"Hold on, sir-hold on! Bill, unlock
the train!'
In a minute Bill had leaped down, un.
hooked the engine from the train, and
was back again on the engine plate just
as she began to glide out of the station.
"Express!' shouted the driver, point
ing to the runaway. "Couldn't catch
her up wi load like that on, chucklng
his thumb behind toward the train they
had been detached from.
But they lost nearly as much time by
the stoppage as they gained by the light,
ening of the load, for the runaway had
got almost miles start by the delay.
GLOW far to Lifford2' shouted Munro
frenziedly.
"Six miles,
"My wife-my wife!" he moaned, in
blank despair.
Wrenching the shovel from the stoker,
he proceeded to feed the furnace with
all an experts skill; but though the en-
CINE was going now at q rate which
made it rock and pitch violentl y, thsy
had not sighted the runaway yet. Sud
denly she slowed down, and Munro
looking up saw the steam shut of.
"What2 Why's" he shouted.
Clifford distance replied the driver,
pointing to the signal. 'All up by
thisl We should only pile up the smash
now"
Then Munro lost all heart and hope,
and sank in q heap on the engine plate,
hiding his face with his hands. Mean
while the driver had nearly got her
under coutrol as he came in sight of the
station.
All clear! A wire from Worston had
got the Bingham train into siding only
just in time. As they glided past the
platform the stationmastcr shouted;
''They have wired to Bantham Box to
switch her into stop-blocks at that sid.
ing" That was, Of course, to wreck the
train against the blocks.
Munro heard, and starting up like a
mailman he wrenched open the regulator
to the full. shouting only "My wife! my
wife .'-all he could articulate for the
moment. Presently, when they had got
again into swing he cried: my wife 10
in the carriage next the engine!'
"There's Bentham Bank.' shouted
back the driver, cncouragingly.
Beutham Bank is a steep gradient
where the seven-foot driving wheels of
the expl ess would need drivers ski|ful
coaxing and sanding to keep them from
slipping at every other revolution.
'.Bv Heavens. we'll do it if she keeps
the rails" shouted the driver, as they
shot through Thornley, Tunnel like bull
let through its rihed barrel.
All three men were now on the look
out, In less than minute they would
sight Bentham Bank, and if the runaway
had topped it she woul be matched in
second. The incline at the other side
was nearly as steep as the assent at this,
and to 60 down it under full head of
steam meant pace of ninety miles an
hour into the siding and against the
stop-blncks at the bottom.
II told you " shouted the driver ex-
citedly, 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 nard!
We're into her = And, indeed, they
struck the runaway with the smart shock
Of a mild collision. The driver hurried
after Munro, and gave him steadying
hand across the touching buffers of the
engine and train; and then, as
Munro put tho 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 to the
stoker. Meanwhile Munro, walking
along the foot boards, and holding by
the hand rails, reached the carriage in
which his bride was.
ooh, Arthur" she cried when she
saw him, 81 got such fright. thought
you were left behind.'
He broke into scream Of almost
hyaterical 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 back
ward pull of the reversed engine behind;
and Milly was saved.
Il thought you had gone mad. What
made you laugh like that, Arthur" she
asked
cat your being driver, stokcr, guard
and passengers of the London express
without knowing it; and also, suppos',
in the reaction from the most horrible
half-hour of my ifc--on my wedding
day. 1t was that brutc's doing,' he
added, more to himself than to her, sand
he'll get ten years for it.
AS matter of fact Bastable got a
tenth of that punishment-about sew
enth of what he'd have got had he forged
BILL New York Storiettes.
Curling Hair by Heat.
Hair docs not nece: sarilY curl when