The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-02-21

number Of miles IN given nufhDSf Of
hours and had smiled INTERNATIONALLY when
he told them an engine had her tantrums,
and that sometimes she had to be coddled
up like any other female, and that oven
when a man did his best there were COCA
sions when nothing he could do would
mollify her, and there was sure 10 be trou-
BILE, although John had added, In his de-
sire to be fair, that she was always sorry
for II afterward, which rci" ark, 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 l.isi-
ness to do on that section Of the road.
Still, 1t might be the fault Of the new man
not knowing when to push her for all she
was worth and when to ease up. All
these things go to the making up o. time.
Still, 1t was more than likely that old SO,
like Gnpin's horse, was wondering more
and moro what thing upon her back had
got. He'll have trouble, muttered John
to himself, when she finds out"
The conductor camo 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
swaying from side to side and going at
great speed.
Tho conductor looked up, with smile.
"Old &c." 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-
gineer. Good heavensl' he cried mo-
ment later. "We've gone across the G. and
NJ. track on the keen jump!n
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 crossingf"
at isn't that, E" said Saggart "He 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-
nightr
"At Pointsville.
"That' 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 tho side track. / 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.
lie cast his eye up the track and saw glim-
mering in the distance, like faint, wa
vering star the headlight of No. 0. 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 Precipitation
| 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 asidel'' he shouted, and there
was such ring of confident command in
his voice that both men instantly obeyed.
Saggart grasped tho lever, and instead
Of trying to shut off tho steam flung it
wide open. No, 81 gave q culver and a
| jump forward.
you old flend," muttered John be-
tween his clinched teeth. Then he pushed
the lever home, and it slid into place as if
there never had been any impediment
Tho steam was shut off, but the lights Of
Pointsville flashed past them, with the
empty side track on the left, and they were
now lying along the single line of rails
with the headlight of No. growing bright
cr and brighter in front of them
''Rcverse herl Reverse her' cried the
other engineer, with a tremor of fear in his
| voice
"Reverse nothing, " said Saggart "She
will slide 10 miles if you do. Jump II you
are afraid"
The man from the branch line jumped
promptly.
Save yourself" said Saggart to the
fireman. There's bound TO be a smash 4"
I'm stick by you, Mr.. Saggart, " said
the fireman, who knew him. But his hand
trenblcd,
The airbrake was grinding tho long
train and sending a shiycr of fear through
every timber but the rails were slippery
with the frost and the train was still 60
ing very fast. At the right moment John
reversed the engine, and the sparks flew
up from her great drivers like catherine
wheel.
Brace yourself, cried Saggart. mo.
6 Is backing up, thank Godl"
Next instant the crash came. Two head
lights and two cowcatchers went to fin
ders and the two trains stood there with
horns locked, but with no great damage
done except Il shaking up for lot Of pan.
&c stricken passengers.
The burly engineer of No. jumped
down and came forward, his mouth full OF
oaths.
"What do you mean, running on our
time like this? Hello, is that you, Sag,
gart3 l thought there was IL new man on
Tonight. dliIl expect tlllS from you.
Its all right, Billy. 1t wasn't the new
mans fault Hes back in the ditch with
u broken leg should say, from the way
no jumped. Old Sc is to bloruc. She got
on the rampage Took advantage of tho
grcenhorn,
The conductor came running up.
"IIow is it" lie cried.
ITS all right. No. SO got her nose
broke, and served her right, that's all
Tell the passengers there's no danger and
get 'em aboard Mere going to back VI
to Pointsville Better send the brakeman
to pick up the otherenginccr. foreground,
hard tonight, and he may be hurt"
"I'm going back to talk to the prcs
dent" said the conductor cmphatically
Hes in condition of mind to listen t
reason, judging from the glimpse got o
his face at the car doora moment ago III
ther he reinstates you or go to gathering
tickets Oh q street eur. This kind Of thins
il too exciting for my nerves.
TIE conductors interview with the pres
idcnt Of the road was apparently satisfac
tory, f5r old No So is trying to lead a hct
ter life under tho guidance of John Sng
CART. Free Press.
Patent Lawyer.
A lawyer who makes n speciality OF pat
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Office is located, was called to the farthe
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farm, III a Drpli1nipnfy IppriuU NVaa bt