Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1894-04-20

monty ntF, anu lIcIt WIS SURF 10 DC IrOu-
bic, although John had added, in his de-
sire to be fair that she was always sorry
for it afterward, which remark, to his CON
fusion, had turned the smile into n laugh.
He wondered what SO thought of the
new man. Not much evidently, for she
was losing time, which she had no bust
ness to do on that section of the road
Still, it might be the fault of the new man
not knowing when TO push her for all she
was worth and when to case up. All
these things go to the making up of time
Still, it was more than likely that old &c.
like Gilpin's horse, was wondering moro
and moro what thing upon her back had
got. "He'll have trouble, " muttered John
to himself "vhcn she finds out.
The conductor came in again and sat
down beside the engineer. He said moth
ing, but sat there sorting out his tickets,
while Saggart gazcd out of the window.
Suddenly the engineer sprang to his feet
with his eyes wide open. The train was
swaying from side to side and going at a
great speed
The conductor looked up with smile.
"Old So" said he, lis evidently going
to make up for lost time. ="
"She should be slowing down for cross
ing the G. and NJ. line" answered the en-
ment later 'We've gone across the G. and
NJ. track on the keen jump"
The conductor jumped to his feet. He
knew the seriousness of such thing. Even
the fastest expresses must stop dead before
crossing on the level the line of another
railway. 1t is the law.
Doesn't tha5 jay in front know enough
to stop mt n crossing?"
ut ism t that" said Saggart. "IIe knows
all right. Even the train boys know that.
Old SO has taken the bit between her teeth.
She's running away with him. He can't
stop her Where do you pass No. to-
nightY'
"At Pointsville"
"That's six miles ahead. In five minutes,
at this rate we will be running on her time
and her track. She's always late and
won't be on the side track. l must get to
&c."
Saggart quickly made his way through
the baggage car, climbed on the express
car and jumped on the coal of the tender.
He cast his eye up the track and saw glim-
mcring in the distance, like faint, wa
vering star, the headlight of No. 8. Look
ing down into the cab he took in the sit
uation at glance. The engineer, with
fear in his face and beads of perspiration
on his brow, was throwing his whole
weight on the lever, the fireman helping
him John lcaped down to the floor of the
cab.
''Stand asidcr' he shouted, and there
was such ring of confident command in
his voice that both men instantly obCyCd.
Saggart grasped the lever, and instead
of trying to shut off the steam flung it
wide open. No So gave a culver and a
jump forward.
"You old fiend" muttcrcd John be-
tween his clinched teeth. Then he pushed
the lever home, and it slid into place as if
there never had been any impeachment.
The steam was shut off, but the lights of
Pointsville flashed past them, with the
empty side track on the left, and they were
now flying along the single line of rails
with the headlight of No. 6 growing bright
er and brighter in front of them.
'Reverse herl Reverse her!" cried the
other engineer, with a tremor of fear in his
voice.
"Reversc nothing" said Saggart. "She
will slide 10 miles if you do. Jump if you
are afraid"
promptly.
'Save yourself" said Saggart to the
fireman. "Thcre's bound to be q smash. "
"I'll stick by you, Mr.. Saggart, " said
the fireman, who knew him. But his hand
trcmbled
The airbrake was grinding the long
train and sending shivcr of fear through
every timber but the rails were slippery
/ with the frost and the train was still GO
ing very fast. At the right moment John
reversed the engine, and the sparks flew
up from her great drivers like n catherine
wheel.
brace yourself" cried Saggart. mo.
is backing up thank GOd!'
Next instant the crash came. Two head
lights and two cowcatchcrs went to fin
ders, and the two trains stood there with
horns locked, but with no great damage
done except shaking up for lot of pan
ic stricken passengers.
The burly engineer of No jumped
down and came forward, his mouth full OF
oaths.
what do you mean, running on oul
time like this? Hello is that you, Sag
CART? l thought there was a new man on
tonight l didn't expect this from you.
Its all right, Billy. 1t wasn't the new
mans fault. He's back in the ditch with
a broken leg ] should say, from the way
he jumped. Old ST is to blame. She goI
on the rampage. Took advantage of the
The conductor came running up.
GLOW is it?' he cried
Its all right. No. SO got her nost
broke, and served her right, that's all
Tell the passengers there's no danger ant
get 'cm aboard. We're going to back III
to Pointsville. Better send the brakeman
to pick up the other engineer. The ground I
hard tonight and he may be hurt. "
"I'm going back to talk To the presi
dent" said the conductor emphatically
"He's in condition of mind to listen t.
reason, judging from the glimpse got o
his face at the car door IA moment ago Ell
ther he reinstates you or l go to gathering
tickets on street car. This kind of thing
is too exciting for my nerves"
The conductors interview with the pres
ident of the road was apparently satisfac
tory, for old No. SO is trying to lead II bet
ter life under the guidance of John Sag
gart.-Detroit Free Press.
An Experienced Salesman.
Its strange can't find something t.
suit you, said the dog store manager
after he had disnlaVpd 90 varieties of hand