The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-04-01

sengerh leaped from their eeatA A
brakeman caught me by the collar.
while the angry conductor pushed
through the aisle toward me.
What's the meaning OF thisi" he
shouted.
! stood dared; had not a word to
say.
Are you an idiot7" he continued.
roughly. what do you meant Don't
you know that IT'S criminal orense
to stop a train In that way. you young
jack-a-napes7"
stlll / was dumb. felt like n
drunken man. who Unexpectedly hnds
himself In the grip Of justice charged
with a motiyeless murder. remember
ing the act but wholly unable 10 COM
prehend H. Then something happened:
again ! felt the light touch on my
shoulder.
AZ that soft touch thrilled me. the
front OF the car. the car before H. the
whole train, seemed 10 melt into mist.
saw them In a shadowy outline. but
they did not impede my view. Beyond.
stretching on through the starlit snow
fields. lay the dark line OF the track.
which. at the distance OF about two
miles. swung out Of sight behind a
rocky hill. out OF sight. but not out
Of my sight: for as gaEed the hill
also seemed 20 resolve itself into haze.
and looked right through H. And
there. swiftly rounding the curye-"An
engine Is eomingl" shouted. 1T Is
running wild. In half a minute Il will
be In sight"
You're drunk" cried the brakeman.
''or crazy" and he shook me The
girls hand slid from my shoulder.
the vision vanished.
But she caught the conductors arm.
THE man Is right" she cried
Don't you see? BE quick"
The conductor started as II stunE
and his face whltened.
MY God" he CALCULATED. In an.
other instant he was standing In tho
snow by the track straining his eyes
up the llne. and we were beside him.
The conductor ran toward the en-
CINE.
"Unshaekle her. Hank" he shouted
Pull your throttle full open. Dave
and let her drive"
Almost a. he spoke the big loco
motive gave a titanic gasp and heav'
OF sudden effort. her mighty driver
spun and slipped. then caught the rails
and she started with a bound like
race horse prieked by the spur.
Now jump-for yer life. Dave
quick"
Dave swung himself OF withou
haste; n moment later he came towar
US. shaking the loose snow out OF hi
clothing.
ITS ole Thirty-three. an she
a-comln'." he remarked. "Ninety-nin
n do the trick right enough. but H.
her last run" lie gazed sorrowfull
down the track. as II after n departin
friend. shell be maxim nigh sixt
, an hour afore they Git together" b
, added. rehectively. shes about
minute an a half left. and she's
thurcrbred."
The passengers were now strcamln
out OF the cars and thronging aroun
us. We ran a little way out into n
field for clearer view. The approach
ing engine was now plainly vislbl
lighted by a trailing ponnant OF IRE
Il thundercd on TO meet rs foe. iurcl
ing and plunging In Us hoadlou
charge until Il almost leaped from q
rails.
"Morciful heavensl" cried the ri
beside me. There's a man In u
cab"
Then he's a gone goose. lady" con
mented the engineer.
Il was even So The doomed wretc
leaned FAR out from the cab. wavin
his arms In frenzy. uttoring a shire
Of oxultatlon 90 keen and vibrant thl
Il cleft is way 10 our ears thrOug
all the distance and the uproar III.
lay botweoa.
stark mad" growled Dave. "an
the best machine on the line gone
eternal smash 20 head him OF. 81
won't DO with her weight In sera
! iron"
And while he spoke the contendlr
3 engines. now speeding TO the onset ~
( black armorcd knights. hurtled 4
4 gother with all the terrific momei
A tum OF their tons Of rushing ste,
4 There was a thunderous crash rs Of
p distant avalanche. hoarse roar
A escaping steam-and In an instant
. blllowy cloud. tina; rose and spre'
d until Il seemed a mountain OF grl
o yapor. envcloped all.
shes done for" murmurod the q
e gineer.
n And the mani" cried the girl.
q The mailman had kept his appoln
o ment.
And the girl-the black-eyed. rave
i haired girl who exerted so strange
:; influence over men on that memorial
;. night What became OF herr
y My wife bends over me. and again
a feel that thrilling touch upon q
u shoulder. Il don't seem to exert a
n influence at all over you now" 3
u protests. you haven't 30 much
Il spoken to me for a whole hour. PIT
! burg Dispatch.