Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1895-03-01

OF the ninety-ive miles we had to go,
and was sailing them along about
forty-fve or fifty miles IN hour, when
something came through the front
window of my cab, hit me square in
face and dropped into my lap. I
picked it up and know what it was the
minute touched ii; lantern, and
red one at that.
81 set my brake, pulled The sand
lover open and reversed her. She
skated along little way and then
stopped with o sudden jar. When I
got down on the ground I found she
had poked her nose under freight
caboose. If it hadn't been for that
brake and his red light, I'd split
that train wide open, and you'd prob
ably had somo other fellow in tow
now.
You see, it was this way. Tho
freight had boon running ahead of us
and Ind broke down. Tho conductor
had sent his flag out oil right, but tho
brakeman, running back over the wet
and slippery ties, had stumbled and
fell, putting out both his lanterns. He
had matches, but he was wet through,
and OF course the matches were ruined.
He Ind started to go back to the ca
boose to light his lamps when he
hoard mo whistle for road crossing q
little piece bnck. Then ho ran towards
me, got rs far rs he could, and, Just
as l passed him, fired his lantern
through the window.
Pretty good scheme that. Wasn't
it?"
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This was the story TINT photo
graphod itself on Polly's brain rs sho
stood in tho trnck of tho black mon
stcr that WIS SO rapidly nearing hor.
Perfectly cool now, she stepped to tho
sido of the track, and, witt, upliftcd
arm, braced herself to tnke, Ms shu
thought, the only chance to savc her
lover from nm awful denth.
On the engine Joe, MS soon as no
got out on the straight track, could
see something on the crossing. A few
seconds brought him near enough to
SEQ who it WAS, and knowing full we'll
it could DO no trihing matter that had
brought his little sweetheart there at
that time of night, and alone, he shut
off steam md applied the air brake.
Then, MS he got down on the step, pre-
pared to get off rs soon as tho speed
of the train slaclsened sufficiently, he
said to his freman:
''Stop her, Tim, md back up for
me-"
Murphy had hardly Strengthened up
on tho footboard when there camo n
crash of broken glass, blow on tho
shoulder from some heavy object, and
n shattered red lantern lay on the
'Ieck" Mt his feet.
"Howly Moses! Pfwhat's dthat?
Me shoulders broke intirely."
A glance mt the bent frame and
broken glass lying in tho bright light
OF the open fircbox door told him,
and the reverse lever of the powerful
locomotive went back with Jump, n
stream OF sand was pouring down on
the rails beneath the big driving
wheels, and the little Irishman mt the
throttle was giving tho ten-wheeler
tho full benefit of the 160 pounds of
steam she carried
Hearing the crash rs tho lantern
went through the window, Quinn took
desperate chances, and rs the engine
cleared the crossing, jumpsd to the
ground. The speed Of tho train was
so great that he was unable TO keep
his feet, and he rolled into the ditch
beside tho track. He was on his feet
again i'll IN instant and, running back
to the crossing, found Polly's slender
form lying i'll 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 tho
blue and gold conductor, lantern in
hand, was cycling her severely, while
small but rapidly growing crowd of
passengers stood around and wondered
what had happened.
Her story was soon told and MS she
was on her way back homo under tho
protection of tho baggagemaster,
Quinn went laundering down the hill
with the light engine, her cab and
tender crowded with nm armed posse
recruited from among the passengers,
and led by that muscular little Irish
man, Murphy, who sported murder
ouslooking Winchester borrowed from
the express messenger. The engineer
knew whore to stop now, and as they
slipped up to the end of the trestle
they saw skulking figure mako for
the woods. Murphy sent shot or
two after it, but when the party
searched the woods in the bottom
there was nc. sign of any of tho FOB
bers to be found. In the timbers of
the bridge between the rails they
found four big oak ties SO placed that
they would surely have thrown the
train to the rocks below.
What became of Polly. do you ask 2,
short time ago received copy
OF "a paper published in that con
tainod among tho marriage notices,
that of Mr.. Joseph Quinn md Miss
Polly Ward, and in another column /
found nm extended notice Of the 'oyont
that gave list Of the presents and tbs
donors thereof. Among them wore, n
check from m English carl for ono
hundred guineas, fine piano from n
San Francisco gentleman, n beautiful
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