The National tribune., 1894-06-21

| 1aV0rlte EafnpieS naQ Deen Q0Wn the Sna0y
street to the railroad and occasionally down
| the railroad track through "Quintar's Cut
to Rock Creek. She knew the place well.
| 1t was at the foot of short but very heavy
grade, and, as the road left the deep rock
| cut, named after the contractor who had
blasted it through, it ran over high embank-
ment and around curve to Rock Creek, which
it crossed on trestle 80 feet above the stony
| bed of the little stream. The trees in the
bottom obscured the view Of the bridge even
in daylight and at night no headlight would
show on it until it would be too late to
stop.
1t was the intersection of the street and the
railroad at the top of the grade that Polly was
straining every nerve to reach before the
| threatened train should arrive.
Down in the city Engineer Quinn had looked
over the train register and bulletin boards in
the train dispatcher's Office, and was back
where his engine was standing, just outside
the passenger shed Torch in hand he was
taking one last look at the massive machinery
before starting ON this his first passenger run.
The train was reported 10 minutes late, and
| he had in his pocket an order from the Super
intendent to make up that lost time over his
| division.
Did you fill these rod cups, Tim?" he
called to his fireman, who was busy in the cab
of the engine.
'Oi did, sor Say, Joe, did We cut out
tn driver brake?" asked Murphy
!" had to. Some one got to monkeying
with the pipe and broke the connection.
Maybe won't need it; if we do she's got a
mighty good lever and a hundred and sixty
pounds of steam, and that'H answer, /
| guess"
Hello Here she comes,'' called Joe. as
the bright headlight of an approaching train
shot iEtO the farther end of the big passenger
| station.
Get her hot, Tim Pm going to nail her
| to the cross out of here"
The engine was soon coupled to the cars and
in few minutes the huge machine was draw
ing its long, heavily laden train out of the
| depot. Joe at the throttle, yigilant and
cautious carefully watching the little vari-
colored lights on the semaphoIes, and running
slowly until the crowded confines of the city
| should be passed. All the worry and vexation
of the long wait at the station for the delayed
train had vanished, and now, with the cool
night air blowing in his face the engineer was
| filed with the exhilaration that is known only
| by those hardy fellows who drive the iron
horse; that knowledge of mastery over the
powerful machine that seems almost human
In its work; that obeys almost the slightest
| touch Soon the city is left behind and as he
nears the long curve at the outer yards and
| sees the last semaphore signals at safety -
he gives the throttle lever light pull IN
der the increased pressure the iron giant leaps
forward like a thing OF life. With his body
half out of the cab window, the little cap
pulled down close over his eyes; every nerve
and muscle i'll his athletic frame at its highest
| tension, Joe is closely watching the track
ahead for the danger that may arise at any
moment IL
Meantime how Jared it with the little
woman we left flying down the street?
Polly reached the road crossing out of breath
and trembling like leaf She stopped in
the middle of the track and listened The
train had not passed; of this she was sure;
she would have seen it from the road if it
had.
All A bright light is dancing ON the rails at
the end of the curve and now she can plainly
hear the low rumble of the heavy train on the
rails. A moment later the brilliant electric
headlight is throwing its powerful rays down
the line, and now, for the first time since she
left the house, she thinks to look at her Ian
tern and is almost frozen with horror to find
it had gone out a little glowing coal still on
the wick told it's own story:
1t was out of oil.
God help me now. What shall / do?"
cried the girl in an agony of distress, as she
held the glistening shape at arms length and
could see no sign of light within the dark
globe
On the engine Joe, as soon as he got out on
the straight track, could see something on the
crossing. A few seconds brought him near
enough to see who it was and knowing full
well it could he no trifling matter that had
brought his little sweetheart there at that
time of night, and alone, he shut off steam
and applied the air brake Then as he got
down ON the step, prepared to get off as soon
as the speed of the train slackened sufficiently,
he said to his fireman:
''Stop her, Tim, and back up for me''
Murphy had hardly Strengthened up on the
footboard when there came crash of broken
glass blow ON the shoulder from some heavy
object, and shattered red lantern lay on the
deck - at his feet.
Howly Moses Pfwhats dthat? Me
shoulders broke intirely'
A glance at the bent frame and broken
glass lying in the bright light of the open
firebox door told him, and the reverse lever
of the powerful locomotive went back with
jump, a stream of sand was pouring down on
the rails beneath the big driving wheels, and
the little Irishman at the throttle was giving
the ten-wheeler the full benefit of the 100
pounds of steam she carried
Hearing the crash as the lantern went
through the window, Quinn took desperate
chances, and as the engine cleared the cross
ing, jumped to the ground. The speed of the
train was SO great that he was unable to keep
his feet and he rolled into the ditch beside
the track. He was on his feet again in an
instant and, running back to the crossing
found Polly's slender form lying in the road;
for the first time in her vigorous young life
she had tainted.
When she opened her eyes her head was on
Joe's broad breast and the blue and gold con-
ductor, lantern in hand, was eyeing her
severely. while small but rapidly growing
crowd of passengers stood around and
wondered what had happened
Her story was soon told and as she was ON
her way back home under the protection of the
baggagemaster, Quinn went laundering down
the hill with the light engine, her cab and |
tender crowded with an armed posse recruited
from among the passengers, and led by that |
muscular little Irishman, Murphy, who |
spOrted murderous looking Winchester |
borrowed from the express messenger.
The engineer knew where to stop now, and |
as they slipped up to the end of the trestle,
they saw askulking figure make for the woods |
Murphy sent shot Or two after it, but when |
the party searched the woods in the bottom |
there was no sign Of any of the robbers to be |
found In the timbers of the bridge between |
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