The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1900-11-23

Two minuts fhat's III v s l a. ID
tho track nov. = asz S
1srushed' into the waiting room for
my 'compagnon de voyage = Iseissd her
unceremoniously ~ the arm ana hur-
ried her into the train shed, explaining
as I went. IN SIS i, A 7fssg
IN a minute we were on the loco
motive and in another the throttle was
open and we sped along the line. q
The girl, who incidentally told me
that her name was Jane Losly,
thanked me profusely for my kindness.
She became cheerful again at tho PROS
pect OF reaching her father without
delay and we soon became quite conf
Dental. Our other fellow travellers
We're the engineer, a young fellow Of
thirty and gray-haired fireman. They
We're too engrossed In their duties to
pay much attention to us, and we were
left to our own devices.
Travelling on a locomotive 10 not as
luxurious as in q Pullman car. It is
not the kind Of travelling one would
select for 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. l knew that I would cir
cumvent Griggs and reach town ahead
OF him. scented victory and was
elated accordingly. Secondly was
travelling with 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 YER
liable paradise. We sat on bench
where there was just room 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 soon told me all about
herself, her family, her pursuits. Her
mother was dead, her father q pros
porous merchant in Burkesville. She
had been visiting relatives in Hanni-
bal when she received news Of her
wheel. Whether it was serious or not
she could not tell. cheered her and
led her to hope for the best. ::
On VIC flew! Over bridges and Gull
verts, around curves, Through high
walled cuts, over steep entertainments,
past struggling houses, through YER
dant farms, along glistening rivers, up
steep Misunderstanding, swaying like
| an infants cradle from side to side as
we rushed along on our mad course.
The stoker piled on the sooty fuel.
Every time he opened the furnace
door heat as of hades burst out in
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 filed our eyes, ears, nose
and mouth. BY the time we had trav-
eled an hour, we were scarcely recog-
nizable, SO covered with SCOT were we.
But we smiled and were glad In each
others society.
Still onward in our exciting chase!
| AACAC was AO sup uAIA VIC 4CdCAcu
Brunette, and there we wired for a
clear track. At the next station, Ce-
darton, we passed the local train,
which had stopped there for water.
got glimpse of Griggs sitting at a
window. He was smiling. no doubt
with glee at the ease with which he
had outwitted me. When next we
met the smile had vanished. BY the
time we reached Cwassa Jane and l
We're the best of friends. We might
have known each other lifetime. Her
favorite authors were mine. She
played the piano and knew all the
pieces I most admired. She could
speak with me in my favorite Ian
guage, French. She had all the traits
virtues, accomplishments / longed for
in girl. She was beautiful and ami
able besides. Nothing was wanting
she was perfect. And I was in Eden.
blessed the loss Of my train and the
gain of 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 cab
and drove home to her father. went
to the hotel. scrubbed the dirt and
! IL