The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1896-01-24
A BROKEN COUPLING.

II want to speak to you moment, Jim
Come to the other end of the van. Bette
for these not to hear us" said my mate
indicating by the direction of his glanc
our two fellow travellers.
His words were almost drowned In tn
noise Of the train, but it was easy to SO
from his manner that something wa
amiss. We were together in charge of
train of "a wagons running from Elm
field colliery down to the main line
was the underguard, and consequent,
subordinate to Frank Applegarth, Hi
daughter, lass Of about 10, and a com
panion of her own age were travelling will
us, They had missed the usual passenge
train, and notwithstanding the regula
tions to the contrary, we had both though
there would be little harm in giving then
a lift" home, as Frank phrased 1t. Ant
lucky for us 1t proved that we did so
Probably it saved both our lives. and Ger
tainly it was the means Of procuring mt
the best wife in the world.
The wind whistled past the deep sides OF
the cutting through which we were rush
ing, and flakes of snow were finding Their
way into the van by ventilator and win.
dow and crevices, not 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 before that the
van was swaying more than usual-and it
was rickety enough, In all conscience, on
ordinary occasion-but l only set 1t down
to our driver making up little lost time.
''We are travelling at a great pace"
answered.
"At a dangerous pace, )" was the reply as
the van gave lurch that almost threw us
off our feet. CHATS the first curve ON the
level" he added, ''Just try If you can
make out the engine 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 leaned with
half my body outside, seeking to catch a
glimpse of light ahead.
81 can make nothing out" said as
unbuttoned my jacket and shook it clear
of snow.
"Neither could 1, and fear we have
broken away. 1 only wish knew how
many wagons are left with us in front"
Here my countenance must have be-
trayed the hororr | 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 some
thing is wrong. 1t will be time enough to
1earr hon, hnvN Al
and we are past help"
"What is to be done?" 1 asked, not so
much expecting an answer as because
felt must say something.
"We can do very little. If Harry
that was our driver-"knows what has
he may back upon us and stop
us before we come to High bank though
at the rate we are going that will be risky
enough. Otherwise he can do nothing but
go on to the next station to warn them
there. Ten to one we don't keep on the
rails as we run down the bank. We must
try to make out II we have any wagons
left. If he has but few, Harry Is sure to
notice that something has gone wrong"
We returned to where the two girls were
sitting. had seen Mary Applegarth every
day almost that l had worked with her
father, now a matter of four or five years,
and without noticing her much. She was
only a slip Of girl when first knew her,
and suppose 1t was with seeing her so
that she had grown to the verre
Of womanhood without my being aware
If it. 1t might be- too, that the danger in
which we were placed and which she real.
zed as If intuitively added in a moment
Years to her life, as great dangers are
.akt s,,no aotA 60 do A q
With an added interest that now regarded !
Ter as she sat seeking to calm the fears of
he girl beside her, who was giving way |
% terror she did not seek to conceal.
"You and your friend" said Apple |
garth to his daughter, who, amid other |
was watching our every |
movement, will keep quite still here,
While Jim and Iput things straight In the
ront of the train"
"Is there going to be an accidentp l |
IN sure something has gone amiss.'
mo; 1 hope not-at least nothing but !
What we can put to rights"
The road on which we were travelling
vas fairly level one, with easy gradients,
ne part alone excepted. That part began
ONE ten miles from the colliery whence
We had started our journey, and could we
nut arrest our speed before reaching it all
night yet be well. 1t consisted of two
known respectively as the High
ank and the Low bank, both very steep,
With gradient of l In rs, and separated
y some two miles of level line. A little
Vay from the bottom Of the last was
neeting station, where trains coming in
pposite directions used to pass each other
y means Of a siding. All being well, 1t
7as into this siding our train had to run,
nd there remain until the last sup" pas
enger train had passed 1t on its way to
.lmfleld.
With few more hopeful words to his
aughter Applegarth took his lamp In his
and, and, signing to me to take mine
nd follow him, clambered with great diff
Guilty on to the first truck. Our speed
ad continued to increase and IL seemed
J II we were to be both thrown of on to
Do line. We managed to reach the brake
andle and put 1t hard down, as hard as
o both together were able to do. We did
he same with the other ten trucks, when
he oscillation was too much for us, and
owly and laboriously we made our way
sck to the comparative safety Of the
lard's van.
Our speed had slackened a little with
ie brakes put down. but again it began
to accelerate, and IL was with a
ckening feeling at the heart that re- |
gned myself to all the helplessness and
,pelessness Of our situation. Should we !
gin TO descend the bank at our present