Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1898-07-07

foreman of a section only a few miles
from the Chicken and Bread town. AS
the foreman was married man, he and
his family lived in town, Dan bunked
alone in the section house. It was an
humble job for the former engineer, but
it was better than nothing.
One night in January Dan was reused
from his sleep by some one pounding on
the section house door. .-
who's that?' he growled, sleepily.
Its mel"
have thrilled him through and through.
''ln minute" he shouted.
Hurriedly dressing, he opened the
door and stepped out into the night. 1t
was cloudless, but the force of Texas
"dry norther' was raging.
"Good Lord, Grace!" he shouted.
"You oughtn't to be here. This winds
enough to give you your death. Whew,
but it is biting! And, besides, you
oughtn't to have come here to my house
by yourself, way in the dead of the
night"
IT came because wanted to see you.
I'm in trouble. an I've needed you aw-
full. Why haven't you come to see me
lately?"
IL never knew you was needin'
me-" faltered Dan.
"Folks have been saying such awful
things about me- sobbed Grace. "They
pretended like asked you to come to
the saloon just on purpose TO get you
fired, so that maybe Ben could get your
job. Even pa talks that way. You don't
believe l done it on purpose, 60 you,
DAMP"
Dan merely shuffled his feet uneasily.
I'D do heap fur you, Grace, but I
amt telln' no lies for nobody. What do
you want with me?"
This reply was spoken, not stcrnly,
but in so manly, straig htforward tone
that all Grace's hypocrisy failed her. In
stead of sobbing convulsively, as she
had at first thought of doing, she mere
ly said:
''Dan, you and me never was fitted for
each other. You know that
1--WE knowed for long time we was
different.''
well, I know I'm not good enough
for you to wipe your feet on" cried the
girl, giving way to tempest Of genuine
tears, very different from those she had
been planning only few moments be-
fore. II want to marry Ben, because he
amt no better than I ami, and because
because love him. Pa swears he'll kill
us both if /, ever have anything more to
do with him. He swears have treated
you like a dog-an' have. Pa and
had such a racket tonight, that
wouldn't go home again under no cir
cnmstances. I'd die first! Ben's pu]lin'
all extra tonight. 1 would have ar
ranged TO meet him at the depot and run
off with him, but know pail be there
With his Winchester, so that's no 60
His train'll be along in few moments
now, an want you to signal him down
so as / can get on and go off with him.
That's what I've walked these miles over
this lonesome prairie to ask you to do
''Ee wouldn't stop if l was to signal
him." said Dan. "He'd think was
wanting to do him4up know him we'll
enough to know that"
There was the merest trace of emo
ton in Dams tone as he spoke.
''Dan, for Gods sake stop him in some
way. beg you by-by the love you
have for me-"
Just then light cleaned out on the
darkness away to the southwest. 1t
was the headlight of No. is. just leav-
ing town. Dan gazed in silence for a
moment. Suddenly he exclaimed:
Grace, I'll try it. If the extry's a
heavy one I'll make it all right; but for
your sake I'd try it if it was the cannon
ball express. Stay right where you
are. If she%stops here, hop on quick: il !:
She don't stop herey you may know it
amt my fault. God bless you'll"
He started down the track in clumsy
run towards the approaching train
He knew the track well. and he paused
when had reached the head of a long
grade up which No 16 was ow making
its way. 1t was by no means steep
grade, but it was about as steep as any
on this part of the Denver. Then he
stepped to one side Of the track.
II guess she'll be goin' about as slow
here as anywheres," he muttered. Then
he steadied himself for the spring.
Grace was standing by the deserted
section house watching the approach
ing train with heart that almost stood
still as she watched. The train was
only short one, and No. l6 Numbered
by It at the top Of it's speed. Ben stikes
was in the cab, but he little thought
that the girl he loved was standing
there in the darkness and the wind as