The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1899-01-05

VI At ~ AAakts III hC 49,
ney at once. without even stopping for
dinner.
He had passed the third-mile post
when he reached the tunnel.
All" he said aloud. Here Is the
tunnel OF which she warned me. | won
der how long 1t Is? What a Ounce | was
not to ask! 1t does look like a tlcklish
place, that's a ~fact-small. one-traek
affair. don't half like the idea of go
ing through It. Wonder II Id have
made 1t If I'd taken the road? Well, it's
too late now-Tm In for lt!'
He had CROPPED along for about a
quarter OF a mile, feeling his way care
fully by the wall. Not a thought Of any
actual danger had entered his head
so full Of his fair bride-tO-be-untll sud
denly a duh rumble struck his ears,
and caused him to wonder whence the
sound proceeded. Another instant and
there flashed across his brain the horri-
BILE reality. A train was coming. from
which direction he could not tell. but
certainly coming, and If the tunnel
proved much longer the fact was UNI
denlable that he should he crushed be-
meath The iron monster there alone in
the darkness. and no one would know
his fate. He listened, laying his ear TO
The rail; 1t was coming In the rear. He
quickened his steps-hc ran-ran as
rapidly as he dared for fear of a mis-
step which would hinder instead of ad-
vance his ends.
Now the roar comes nearer; he can
imagine the train as 1t is tearing along,
carrying death to him. He thinks each
individual hair Is standing OF end. The
| sweat pours down his face. and still
this darkness, still this louder roar Of
the engine as 1t comes steadily nearer
and nearer, and his strength is nearly
exhausted.
At last a CLEAN Of light greets him
at the farther end Of the tunnel. o.,
what hope 1t inspires! He thinks OF
| the races he has won at college, and
determines 10 take a fresh start. Yes,
he will run as IL running Il race, and
forget the huge monster behind him
which seems to parslyze his limbs and
prevent all motion; he Will run. run
he must win-hOw terrible the result II
he does not! He thinks OF Lula. his
sweetheart, his wife that was TO have
been. Shall he ever see her again?
The light ahead grows more and
more distinct, but his strength is going,
and the train behind is rushing on fast;
1t seems quite close now: he can almost
Feel its breath upon him; still he runs.
Another momen and he will have
gained or lost-whlch? He must make
that short space! What a thing It Is.
this being face to face with death! He
cannot hold out much longer; he feels
he must lose-and what then? But no
he will make II more effort. He
clears the tunnel. leaps from the track.
and falls headlong down the bank on
the side. %saved-but unconscious, while
the heavily loaded freight train passes
by.
But the engineer had seen him jump,
and not being able to ascertain wherh-
er he had peel struck by the COW
catcher or not, stopped the train aud
went back in search of him; aud when
Duke Carlton ~regained consciousness
lie was lying on a seat in the depot In
the village for which he had started
some hours before.
He was not seriously injured. His
fall had but stunned him. and in an
hour he was quite ready to proceed on
his journey, a little pale. it is true. and
shaky in the lower extremities, but
otherwise rejoicing that he had sue
ceeded In his quest. and would be in
time for his wedding, with thirty min
utes to spare.
Duke Carlton does not believe In the
theory that n persons hair turns white
in a night from sudden fright or sor-
row, for his W raven locks show not
II trace of silver; and surely no one ever
had a more terrible fright or u narrow
er escape than did he on his wedding
day. when he ran a race for his BRIDE
Chicago Tribune.