Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-02-23
Railway Match"
or a Runaway Car

or a Runaway Car.
II want to speak to yoU a momeni
jim Come to the other end Of the
van; better for these not to hear lis.
said my mate. indicating by the direc-
ton of his glance our two fellow-trav-
elers.
His words were almost drowned in
the noise of the train, but it was easy
to see from his manner that something
was amiss. We were together in
charge of a train Of twenty four wagons
running from Elmfeld Colliery down
TO the=eain line. l was the under
guard, and consequently subordinate
to Frank Applegarth His daughter.
a lass of about IS, and a companion OF
her own age, were travelling with us.
They had missed the usual passenger
train, and Notwithstanding the regula-
tons to the contrary, we had both
thought there would be little harm in
giving them a lift" home, as Frank
phrased it. And lucky for us it proved
that we did so. Probably it saved
both our lives, and certainly it was the
means of procuring me the best wife
in the world, says writer in London
/ Tit-Bits.
The wind whistled past the deep
sides of the cutting through which We
were rushing, and fakes of snow were
finding their way into the van by ven
tilator, and window, and crevices, not
a few in number. My companion wore
a troubled, anxious look as | rose to
follow him.
do you notice that?" he asked,
when we were out of hearing distance
| of the others. 1t had struck me be-
fore that the van was swaying more
than usual-and it was rickety enough
on ordinary occasions-but | only set
it down to our driver making up little
lost time.
I'VE are travelling at a great pace"
I answered.
AT a dangerous pace was the re-
ply. as the van gave a lurch that al
| most threw us off our feet That's
/ the first curve on the level" he added
Just try if you can make out the en-
/ CINE lights"
| tried my best but it was useless.
/ The night was intensely dark, and, to
add to the difficulty binding blasts
/ of snow and sleet drove full in my face
as | leant with half my body outside,
seeking to catch a glimpse of light
ahead.
q can make nothing out" I said. as
I unbuttoned my jacket and shook it
clear Of snow
Neither could I, and I fear we have
broken away. I only wish l knew
how many wagons are left with us in
front
Here my countenarce must have be-
traved the horror | felt, for he hastily
added:
Don't look like that. man; the girls
are watching us. and I'm mistaken if
Mary does not already suspect that
something is wrong 1t will be time
enough TO alarm them when 1t comes
10 the worst. and we are past help
"Wbat is to be done?" | asked, not
co much expecting an answer as be-
cause l felt I must say something.
I'VE can do very little. II Harry -
that was our driver-"knOws what has
bappened. he may go back upon us
and stop us before we come TO High
Ronk though at the rate we are going
Thai will be risky enough. Otherwise
he can do nothing but go on to the
nevt station to warn them there. Ten
IN one we don't keep on the rails, as
,ve RIM down the bank. We must try
tn make out if we have many wagons
left If he has but few. Harry is sure
10 notice that something has gone
wrong.
We returned to where the two girls
were sitting. / had seen Mary Apple
/ garth every day almost that | had
worked with her father, now a matter
/ Of four or five years. and without no
ticing her much. She was only a slip
of girl when / first knew her and
suDpOse il was with seeing her so fire.
ouently that she had grown TO the verge
F of womanhOod without my being aware
of il. It might be, too, that the danger
in which we were placed, and which
she realized as if intuitively, added in
I q moment years TO her life, as great
T dangers are sometimes said TO do. Any
v-av If was with al added interest that
7 now regarded her, as she sat seeking
~ calm the fears OF the girl beside her,
who was giving away to terror she did
not see.. 20 conceal.
you ard your friend" said Apple
I oor4b 10 his daughter, who amid other
r-eoccunations, vas watching her every