The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-11-28
RACE FOR A WIFE.

sold man Smith, that's Moilie's father,
didn't like me near as well as he did Jim,
but seein that Nellie preferred me wasnt
earin much about hor dnd's opinion. IL
wasn't no use for us to try 20 get spliced
in Columbia, for everybody knew that
her father had ordered her not 20 be seen
with me, so the only thing for Us to do
was to watch our chance and 60 OF on the
quiet TO some place along the line l
thought 10 over for several days and got
the whole thing In shape. told Mollie to
) rome down TO the roundhouse about
o'clock one night, and would take her
o little ride on my engine. She afraidf
Well, / guess you don't know her. Why,
che had run the machine herself many
time.
81 had given tho hint TO Jack, my fire.
tnan, and he was on hand when backed
out on the main track, loavin Jim's en-
gine In the roundhousa Mollie was walt
in, and she jumped ON tho tank like an
engineers sweetheart ought to do. Just
ps we were pullin out Jim oame around
the corner. His eyes opened, / toll you.
Where you goin, BillP he shouted.
"'Just out for a little ride, / remarked
soolly, putin Mollie on the box In front
of me so had TO put my arms around her
so reach the levers. / saw Jim gasp and
rtart on a run toward Mollie's house,
where he knew her father was.
"In TIVE minutes wo were spinnin, In
three hummln, and in five minutes we
wore tearin through the valley like a cy-
clone. Ii was a pitch dark night, and not
thing could be seen ahead.
"'There they come. yelled Jack before
ve had gons ten miles.
"Lookin back, we saw shower OF
sparks just visible above the tree tops.
We concluded at once that was Jim and
1ollie's dad, and that we would have to
20 some pretty tall trayolin to avoid cap
ture. Mind you, Jim carried gun. The
engines were pretty well matched, but Of
course I was somewhat nervous. Just
ahead Yves heavy grade fve miles long,
and knew IL would be a tough pull TO
gCt over ~, but once on the other side OF
the hill our chances for gettin away would
be good.
"'Do your best, Jack TO keep up steam,'
called across TO the fireman.
"Mollie was restin in my arms as quiet
ly as II we had been sittin on the hair
cloth sofa i'm her parlor, her lips half open
and tho wind BLOWN hor hair all over my
face. Mighty sweet 10 smellcd, too, but
hadn't much time 10 think about such
things then.
"All OF sudden we heard whistle,
nnd IL sounded right behind US. jump
ed with dismay and looked back. There
was Jim less than half mile away, CON-
in like q house aare. Mollie looked, too;
then her eyes fell on Jack, whose wood
was gettin low, and who had rolled a
barrel out from the back part Of the tank
and was tryin 90 bust the head In. She
Flid out Of my arms, and hold.n on to the
levers got down beside the fireman. The
first knew Of 10 was when saw her f1sh.
in out big fat hams from the barrel and
passn tbGIn to Jack, who was feedin the
furnace with 'em. l didn't stop To ask
any questions Bully for you, Jacki'
yelled as the steam gauge jumped UP
again.
Wen, that cid the business. We reach
cd the top of the grade without Jim
rainin another inch, and then we begun
20 slide downward. Great Jupiter, how
we did drop down that hill Tho noise
was terrific, and the old machine rocked
like cradle. Lookin back, saw Mollie
standin on the tank holdin on by the
brake, her dress hutterin, her hair blowin
Bnd her eyes shinin like stars. III never
forget that sight.
Il knew that as soon as Jim reached
- she top Of tho hill he'd be after us licksty
split, and l begun TO fear we couldn't
make the rifle this time, but all at once
thought struck me- shut of steam and
yelled TO Jack TO put ON the hand brakes.
Te jumped to the wheel, Molle helpin
him, and IN few minutes we had nearly
stopped.
Jump down quick, Jack, and open
the SWITCH said. I'm goin TO run NJ
the bark sidin.
A.. "a ~ A.tt
were on the sidin, the switch reset for the
main track, and then l run up in the
woods and stopped. We shut of all lights
and waited.
I'm minute or two we heard faint,
faint rumble, which changed into q roar.
Then we could distinguish the clickety
click of wheels passin over the ends OF
rails, the rattle Of machinery and the hiss
in of steam, while the putin Of the ex.
haust was SO rapid as to blend into hollow
thunder. A whirlwind of sparks became
visible, and then with a hop, skip and
jump Jim's engine passed US like streak
Of runaway lightnin, the occupants never
dreamin we were in the sidin.
we hunted up the nearest preacher
md got marrisd-me with my faco all
black and grimy and Mollie without any
hat, for the wind had blowod Il away.
Jack was witness, and let him kiss the
bride, for thought no deserved it. We
got back 20 Columbia about midnight,
and next mornin j took out the express
IS II nothin had happened.
What became Of Jimi Why, the blnm-
ed fool actually run right straight ahead
all night till he reached Charlotte the
next mornin. He was the worst surprised
.han In the state when he found we had
given him the slip. Then the superin-
tendent wanted to know what he meant
by takin out his engine without orders,
and the end of it was that Jim not only
lost the girl, but got suspended as we'll"
Chicago Post.