The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1900-11-17

two minutes. That's her coming %:
the track now" "a
I rushed into the waiting room fof,
my "compagnonsde voyage" seized 5hei5
unceremonisously BY the arm and hur.
ried her into the train shed, explaining
as I went.
In q minute We were on the loco.
motive and In another the throttle was
open and we sped along the line.
The girl, who. incidentally told me-.
that her name was Jane Losly,
thanked me p~rofusely for my kindness.
She became cheerful again at the pros
pect Of reaching her father without
delay and we soon became quite conf
Dental. Our other fellow travellers
were the engineer, a young fellow OF
thirty and a gray-haired fireman. They
were too engrossed in their duties to
pay much attention to us, and we were
left to u own devices.
Travelling on a locomotive is not as
luxurious as in q Pullman car. 1t IL
not the kind OF travelling M would
select for a pleasure jaunt. The SCOT
dust. cinders, odor, heat are all objec'
tionable and uncomfortable, but ]
must confess that with all these dis.
abilities It was a most enjoyable trip
for me.
Firstly, I knew that I would cir
cumvent Griggs and reach town ahead
of him. I scented victory and wa
elated accordingly. Secondly l wal
travelling with a most charming girl
whose bright eyes and fascinating con.
%versation made me forget the annoy
ances of the trip and converted the
cab of that grimy engine into a YER
table paradise. We sat on a bench
where there was just o for two.
In fact we had to sit rather close In
order not to incommode the engineer,
and SO we were soon in sympathy with
one another.
Miss Losly 0 o told me all abou,
herself, her family, her pursuits. Hell
mother was dead, her father a pros.
porous merchant in Burkesville. She
had been visiting relatives in Hanni.
bal when she received news Of her
fathers accident, a fall from his
wheel. Whether it was serious or moi
she could not tell. I cheered her and
led her to hope for the best.
On we few! Over bridges and cul.
verts, around curves. through high
walled cuts, over steep embankments
past struggling houses, through yer.
dant farms, along glistening rivers. Ut
steep Misunderstanding, swaying like
an infants cradle from side to side al
we rushed along on our mad course
The stoker piled on the sooty fuel
Every time he opened the furnace
door a heat as of hades burst out ir
our direction and the air became
lurid. Great streams Of smoke were
belched out by the chimney and blew
into our faces. Showers Of cinders fell
about us and filled our eyes. ears. nost
and mouth. BY the time we had trav.
eled an hour, we we've scarcely recog'
nizable, so covered with SCOT were we
But we smiled and were glad in each
others society.
Still onward in orr exciting chase!
There was no stop until we reached
Burnette, and there we wired for 8
clear track. At the next station, Ce'
darton, we passed the local train
which had stopped there for water.
got a glimpse, of Griggs sitting at 6
window. He was smiling. no douba
with glee at the ease with which h,
had outwitted me. When next W.
met the smile had vanished. BY the
time we reached Owassa Jane and
were the best Of friends. We nigh,
have known each other a lifetime. He,
favorite authors. were mine. She
played the piano and knew all the
pieces I most admired. She coult
speak With me in my favorite Ian.
guage, French. She had all the traits
virtues, accomplishments ! longed fol
in a girl. She was beautiful and ami.
able besides. Nothing was wanting
she was perfect And I was in Eden.
I blessed the loss OF my train and the
gain Of q locomotive.
At last. after three hours ride, We
pulled in at Burkesville.
Jane. after giving me her address
and asking me to call, got into a cab
and drove home to her father. I went
to the hotel. scrubbed the dirt, and