The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-02-04

inP the Nccus out OF the potatoes ana
cabbages.
"'There "a throuble below!' ex-
claimed Jimmy--'throuble enough be-
low. An the traclS-bad luck to 1T
have gone down out OF sigh; into the
river. An the river itself, as il most nj
ways does whin it gifts in such tan
thrum, Is roarin' an foamn', wild IFS
big chunks Of ice a-piln' up! An all
the tonne IL coomes creepin'
on an creepin' on. till be
lave in my heart 1t will COON in an
warm itself by the fire wild the ovid
woman an me. An the telegraph
poles--bad cess to 'em!-hiy' laid thin
selves down straight 10 rest beside the
roadbcd an il amt so much TO be won
dered AZ. for they hiy' been stardin'
there summer an WHITTIER. rain an
shoine, liver since my ovid woman an
me COON to this country
The telegraph wires were down
somewhere, we knew. The operator had
found il out an hour before. The cx-
press passenger going north would wait
AT Nosueh for the outgoing south, until
half-past seven, when il would come on
unless telegraphed to remain where ii
was until further orders. 1t was seven
o'clock now. and rs black an evening rs
ever hung over n roadbed thick with
danger. The men had TO decide for
| themselves what to do. and they had
to be quick about IT, The two conduc-
tors, the two engineers. and the station
agent held bit of council.
"'We had better leave our trains here
and run our engines down to the rise
and see how il looks said Jacob Wilcox.
the engineer of the passenger train.
"There were no contrary minds, and
soon Wilcox's engine-the Arcturus--
and our engine-Little Giant-were
coupled together and run cautiously
down the two miles to the submerged
bit OF track.
"'Mither Hughes--hiven bless herr
hears us comm screamin' along said
Jimmy An there she be, swingin'
her lanthern that looks no bigger from
here thin star. as faithful as your very
own mithers to look af.her you. b'ys;
an she loves livery wan of yez for the
smoiles yez hiv' gin TO a friendless ovid
couple, far away from country an
kim
"Sure enough, there was the little old
woman. with a blanket over her Shout
ders, and the broad. white-cap border
hanging limp and dripping about her
wrink,cd face. Wilcox jumped off his
engine, thanked her and Jimmy for
their watchfuhoss and thoughtfulncss,
and told them to go up the hill TO the
shanty and get themselves dry and
warm. and to keep bright fire and
light. for there was no telling what
call might be made upon them be-
fore morning. The headlights of the
two locomotives cleaned across the
black rising water, and showed the
white sand of the roadbed beyond.
".Runnng through there viii be
risky business said Engineer Wilcox
but | am going TO try H. There is no
other way Better one man killed than
score or more. and in 20 minutes that
express Will be along here, full drive'
Jump off. Johnny. We need not both
OF us risk our lives.
".Let me go. Wilcox spoke up John
Swift. quickly. You have family, and
know Of no one who would shed tear
il should go under. You know j can
run the Arcturus the three miles from
here 10 Nosuch well enough. But l
shall come out all straight. 1t is the
25th of the third month. Come, now. get
right OFF,
Jacob Wilcox thought of his wife
and little ones at home, and as the
stout. pucky young fireman took him
by the shoulders he said. gravely:
"I'm not in the least afraid 10 trust
(, you. johnny and swung himself down
off the footboard.
"'Run back there. Luther' shouted
the intrepid young fireman TO my engi-
neer. I've got full head II steam On,
and want good start
Backing up the road few rods, he
stopped the Arcturus, waved his cap
back a, us. and, pulling open the i!rot-
tie. the engine-which was the fastest
on the road-dashed down the track
plunged into the black water. and
while every man of us held his breath
il emerged on tine other side and then
rushed on into the night around the
Rock curve and out Of our sight
ut was risky piece of business.
| repeated Wilcox. as he came on board OF
, our engine. The track has settled In
the middle. and il the old machine had
not been going fast believe it would
have tipped over
1--WE steamed back to the station, rar
our locomotive into the roundhouse ant
I went into the waiting-room in the pas
senger depot TO dry our wet clothing
to refresh ourselves with hot coffee a.
. the restaurant and to await further de
. velopments.
"In about an hour Jimmy came wheel
ing in again, weather-beaten and drip
. ping.
Sure he said. an IL be bad lucl
now, an nothin' ilse! Yez had beer
: gone not very long at all. at all, an mi
! ovid woman an me we heard an engine
I scream, an we looked out, an what d.
We think? We seen the Arcturus COON