The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-04-27

sions when -..othing he could DO would
nlollify her, and there was sure to be trou-
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 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 ali she
was worth and when to ease up. All
these things go to the making up of time.
Still. it was more than likely that old Sc,
like Gilpin's horse, was wondering more
and more what thing upon her back had
got "He'n have trouble, muttered John
to himself, "when 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 gazed out of the window.
Suddenly the engineer sprang to his feet
with his eyes wide open. The train was
swaving from side to side and going at
great speed.
The conductor looked up, with smile.
cold S6,'' said he, lis evidently going
to make up for lost time
"She should be slowing down for cross
ing the G. and M. line, " answered the en-
gineer "Good heavens!'' he cried mo-
ment later. ''We've gone across the G. and
M. track on the keen jumpP
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 that jay in front know enough
to stop at a crossingT
cit ism It that !" said Saggart. He knows
all right Even the train boys know that.
Old Sc has taken the bit between her teeth.
She's running away with him. He can t
stop her Where do you pass No. to-
night9"
x.sAt Pointsville"
stThat'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. must get to
So"
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-
mering in the distance, like faint. wa
vering star, the headlight of No. 6. Look
ing down into the cab, he took in the sit
uation at a 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 leaped down to the floor of the
cab.
"Stand aside!' he shouted, and there
was such ring of confident command in
his voice that both men instantly obeyed.
Saggart grasped the lever, and instead
of trying to shut off the steam flung it
wide open. No. SO gave culver and a
jump forward.
"You old fiend,' muttered John be-
tween his c1inched 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 herl'' cried the
other engineer with tremor of fear in his
voice.
s'Reverse nothing" said Saggart. "She
will slide 10 miles if you do. Jump if you
are afraid
The man from the branch line jumped
promptly.
"save YOURSELF said saggart to the
| fireman. s'Thcre's bound to be smash. u
''I'll stick by you, Mr.. Saggart, " said
| the fireman, who knew him. But his hand
| trembled.
! The airbrake was grinding the long
train and sending SILVER 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 few
up from her great drivers like catherine
| wheel.
Brace yourself" cried Saggart. ''No.
is backing up, thank God!''
Next instant the crash came. Two head
| lights and two cowcatchers went to film
| 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 oil
| oaths.
| "What do you mean, running on oul
time like this? Hello, is that you, Sag
CART? I thought there was a new man OF
tonight didn't expect this from you. >
tits all right, Billy. 1t wasn't the new
mans fault. He's back in the ditch with
broken leg, I should say, from the way
he jumped. Old SO is to blame. She got
on the rampage Took advantage OF the
greenhorn.
The conductor came running up.
''How is itS" he cried.
"It's all right. No. Sc got her nose
broke, and served her right, that's all
Tell the passengers there's no danger ano
get 'em aboard. We're going to back III
to Pointsville. Better send the brakeman
to pick up the other engineer The grounds
hard tonight, and he may be hurt"
''I'm going back to talk to the presi
dent said the conductor emphatically
"He's in a condition of mind to listen tx
reason, judging from the glimpse I got O.
his face at the car door moment ago. Ell
Their he reinstates you or I go to gathering
tickets on street car. This kind of thing
is too exciting for my nerves"
The conductor interview with the pres
ident of the road was apparently satisfac
tory, for old No. Sc is trying to lead bet
ter life under the guidance of John Sag
gart.-Detroit Free Press.
| Col