Omaha daily bee., 1901-01-31

plain, and the big flyer was pitching and
rolling as only a high framed camel back
can when it is turned loose under the
hand OF a man whose nerve Is all that II
should be.
For the first few heart-reuding miles Of
1t Priscilla was frankly terrified. For this
cause she shut her lips tightly. knowing
that II she opened them 1t must be TO
scream. Then by slow degrees the terror
Of it slipped into admiration for tho calm
eyed young fellow at her side. the man
who was responsible for all this pande-
moniac rush and roar and demon -clatter.
Just here she had a glimpse of the ideal
manhood, the something which Is above all
education and refinement, and is apart from
either, the thing which is able to stand in
its own strength and which has called the
woman at all times and tongues in COM
mandings not TO be denied
AS for Harry. apart from a warm glow
of triumphant satisfaction. born OF the
nearness OF her. it is to be feared that he
was more Of the engineer than the lover
just then. The mail schedule was reck-
lessly fast, and 1t was a point OF honor
among the men to make its time-to make
up the time when 1t was late. Hence,
Harry was pretty well occupied in get
ting the last possible whee-turn Of speed
out OF the 1913; and when the chattering
exhaust deepened to a steady roar, and
the endless line OF telegraph poles became
a reeling procession past the cab window
he was still coaxing the big flyer with
added little jerks Of the throttle.
II was on the great fll on Dunn noun
tain that the end came. At this point the
{. CIR. rounds the western slope on a
leVel grade. turns the northern shoulder
on long curve with a slight descent. and
then pitches sharply down to cross a 1 600
toot-deep ravine on the huge fill What
Harry saw on turning the shoulder OF the
mountain aged him ten years in half MS
many seconds Just beyond the center OF the
MI was the passenger train which he had
been gradually overtaking-and IL was
standing still Three car-leugths in its rear
a displaced rail broke the double line of
shining steel. And 100 yards nearer a flag
man was racing up the grade, making
frantic signals to the onrushing mail
Nhat there was TO be done was done
instantly and tc little purpose. In the turn
ing OF leaf Harry had the 1919 in the re-
verse motion and had given her the air
Ihen he realized that the 1019's demon
was once more IN possession. Something
was wrong with the air brake and # failed
TO respond With quick yell Of warning to
MS fireman he gave the whistle signal
which calls for the application Of the brake
by tho train crew, and the result OF this
was immediate and logical with the
sudden checking OF the train brought about
When every mail clerk in the five cars
Jumped for the cords OF the automatic -
the coupling between the engine and the
nearest car snapped with a report like n
pistol shot Then. freed OF the train drag
the demoniac 1919 shot away ioyously for
the plunge at the broken rail regardless
alike or reversed steam and Harry's frenzIed
enorts to make the driver brakes take hold
He desisted when he saw IL was no use
and looked up into Priscilla's face with a
smile that Tor all her icy terror she saw
and remembered.
She's going to kill u.s." he said coolly.
but II you love me as much as I do Won
well fool her and go together"
She was too terrified to sneak. but her
answer was In her eyes and in a quick
out-reachng of her arms to him. He saw
ana understood, and at the catching of a
breath snatched her from the box, backed
out OF the cramped cab to the running board
ana leaped with her out into space when
the broken rail was no more than a short
car length away.
IL was the rear brakeman of No. who
witnessed the subsequent events.
say, II looked to me like she was hittin'
II a mile minute when she struck the
break, but | guess ] was some ratified She
lsted up on one side when she found the
rail- gone, give grunt, and went rollin'
down them there thousand feet o. dump
with her drivers a-spinnin' in the back
gear like Fourth o. July fireworks.
NO. there wasn't much left o. her worth
plckin' up when she landed 'mongst the
rocks at the bottom o that gulch, you bet.
Ana when we'd all swalered once r twice
we looked to see what had come o. Harry
and his girl. Say, they wasn't hurt no
more'n ] was--n'r half so bad scairt The
dirt train d been workin' on their side o.
the dump. and it was all soft and slidey-
like where they hit IL.
Harry helped the schoolma am I'D. and
they stood and looked down at what was
left o the 10 The girl sort o. shivered.
but Harry he Jest laughed and said, I
told 'em I'd smash her IL she ever tried TO
XIII me- and | guess I've done il right.
Ana she didn't get the mail mr. she didn't
get us. Old man Bence II give me thirty
days for it, on genraI principles. / s'pose.
but don't care, Prissie. II you don't. I'll
put In the time gon' back home with YOU
and gettin' acquainted with your folks "
ANA that is precisely what he did