Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-02-11

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called her, that he was always we'll
pleased to have her drive his favorite
horses.
Dolly took her miles easily this
morning. She was not inclined to show
off her wonderful gift Of speed when
there appeared to be no special occa-
sion for it. They reached the station,
three miles away, in twelve minutes
Mr.. Colder found he had only time to
purchase his ticket before the heavily
laden passenger train came rushing in.
Dorothy remained seated in the wa
gon, facing the track, and close to the
end of the station platform. She waved
a goodbye to her father as the train
pulled out, and her little handker-
chief received an answering salute
from a car doorway.
Hardly had the last car cleared the
station platform when the station agent
rushed out of the little telegraph and
ticket Office, his hair flying in the wind
and the paller Of great fear upon his
face. He shouted wildly to the fast
receding train.
"stop! Stop! Oh, stop, for God S
sake I" he screamed. "a rail is gone
from the Beaver Brook Bridge"
But trainman who had been stand
ing upon the rear platform, at that
moment turned away and closed the
car door without having heard a word
of the cry or seen the signal to stop
with which the agent accompanied 1t.
"They are going to destruction
The station agent groaned and wrung
his hands. "Some tramps were seen
removing a rail on the bridge just be-
yond the curve around Shattuck Hill.
They telegraphed to the next sta
ton, but the message got here three
seconds too late" He sat down, weak
and faint, upon baggage truck.
Dorothy had heard every word dis
tinctly. Like flash the whole situa-
tion was made clear to her. Like a
fash she turned Dolly's head down
the highway that ran almost parallel
with the railroad track for four level
miles.
Co Dolly, go /" she cried, in
tone the intelligent horse understood
well. Dear Dolly, goI' And Dol
ly went.
The accommodation train that had
lust left the station was running at
schedule rate of about twenty miles
an hour-a mile in three minutes.
The road, though parellel with the
track, was concealed from it for the
first two miles by young growth Of
wood Four miles away the highway
crossed the railroad track, and there
after lay far away from it. Just be-
yond the crossing was sharp curve
about the base of a small bill, and then
came Beaver Brook Bridge. Dorothy
knew if the train were to be saved, 1t
must be warned before reaching the
crossing; and it had considerable
start.
As Dolly Cos feet struck the hard
clay of the highway, she squared
herself for action. Her long, muscu-
lar body settled in the shafts as she
struck the stride that had won her the
admiration of many lover Of horses.
The clay road was in perfect order
but there were no spectators Of that
wonderful first two miles fight, either
to applaud or to hold their breath lest
it might be in vain-that supreme ef-
fort of Dorothy Colder and Dolly Go
When the great horse swept out Of
the fringe of woods, her driver cast
an anxious glance ahead. Through
the wooded road they had flashed at
nearly the highest speed that driver
would dane to venture over four
mile course. Whether there was a
possibility of overtaking the train
would be shown when the fringing
woods were past, for it could then be
told whether the horse had gained
upon the train, or lost.
Out into the clear country the light,
slim wagon swept, and Dorothy saw
that the distance between pursuer and
pursued was a little less than it was
when Dolly had turned her nose to-
ward the race for life-or death, per-
haps.
Faster, Dolly, faster r. and Dolly
responded with heightened stride,
always trotting with the exact move
ment Of a machine. Scattered trees
and fence-rails hurried backward in
swift procession. The dust from the
highway arose in a flying cloud far
| bab;nJ tho little road wagon The