The Savannah morning news., 1901-06-16


John, and-I know he is a desperate
man. You must be very careful"
That was all she would say, but it was
enough to send Mccartney of with his
heart afre; also with firm determine
tion to lay the whole matter before the
superintendent at the first opportunity.
So much he owed to himself, to the COM
pany, and to those whose lives he held
in his hand on the arrow-fight bursts of
the fast mail.
But the climax came nrst as climaxes
are wont to come When Mccartney
reached Grand Butte on his return trip
the superintendent was away, and Mac
went west again the following day, with
the fast mail hours late, a stiff head
wind blowing a gale to make 1t still la
ter, and everybody swearing at the tan
gle the delayed train with despotic rights
was bound to bring about on the divi-
sion.
1t was a day Of petty disasters. First,
a hot-box under one of the mail cars be-
gan to kill time Then a freight train
jumped the iron on the main line and
threw the mail still farther off, with a
three-hour wait while the wrecking crew
was picking up the remains. Last of all,
the 5T slipped an eccentric, and though
Mac and his firemen worked like madmen
to set it, another hour went to the bad.
Taking it all in all, Mccartney did as
we'll as the best man on the division could
have done under like hard conditions, but
1t was long past dark when the fast mail
thundered into the deep mountain valley
where Lone Pine nestles at the end of
the Mountain Division.
Two miles each of the station, when
Mccartney was getting the last possible
wheel-turn out of the 507 in final squirt,
red glare sprang up between the rails
less than hundred yards in front, light
ing up the frowning mountains and turn
| ing the foaming torrent at the track
| side into a river of blood.
Mccartney flung himself upon throttle
and airbrake like a man possessed, and
| the big flyer groaned and heaved and
| buckled, coming to a stand with the
| sputtering Bengal light fixing beneath
| her machinery.
Now, what in hell" He did not fin
| ish the objurgation. Instead, he whipped
/ in good time to catch Phemie when she
stumbled and would have fallen. What
is 1t. Phemie, dear? Are you hurt?"
She shook her head. mo, not-not
| hurt" she painted. And then: He's set
| ting trap for you, and II ran all the
way"
WHO is setting a trap for me?"
Bart Logan. I saw him doing some
thing to the switch just opposite our
| house. I had no lantern, So got some
| of Benny's Christmas fireworks and ran
Oh-h-h! was so afraid 1t wouldn't turn
| out to be a red light, after all. And, John,
| that was a green flag you ran down on
| Jack Mountain. The section foreman told
| IA story to save himself. heard all
| about 1t on the wires this morning"
He put her up into the cab without
| word and was slowing her on his box
| seat when the mail conductor came en-
| gine-ward, ring piteously at this new
delay. Mccartney explained in a whisper
ed sentence. and the big conductor climb
| ed to the footboard.
| "All right he said go on, and when
you get to the switch. give her the air
sort O. sudden and I'll drop of and nab
| him. Howdy, Miss Phemie!'
When the switch in front Of the agents
| cottage came in sight IL showed q white
| light, as 1t should. But when the 5o7 was
| almost upon 1t, II turned blue and then
| red, and four pairs OF eyes saw It, Ma
| cartney had the train well under control,
and at the critical moment he checked its
flight, and the big conductor leaped from
the gangway fair upon the shoulders OF a
| man who was holding a piece OF stained
| glass before the yellow eye OF the switch
lamp
Mccartney ran on to the station. LIFTED
Phemie down from the cab. and turned
| lis engine over to the hostler before he
back home, Pheme?"
She nodded, and they walked up the
| track together. Halfway to the winking
switch they met the conductor of the
| mail.
"Confound his picture, he got away
from me after ALL and broke for the hills
But / guess he took you color-biindness
along with him. Mac, shall report ill.,
or win your"
you report It," said Mccartney, 'Tu
| tell the old man all about 1t, first chance
I get"
The conductor went on toward the sta
ton, and when they were alone again.
Mccartney said: What made you run
so? We're you afraid some of Uncle Sans
mail-boxes hight get smashed?"
"of course" she snapped, How can
| you ask?"
II didn't know. But-o. Phemie. girl.
now he's out of the way. won't you give
| me just little grain Of a show?'
She laughed softly and slipped her arm
in his; this, though they were fairly at
the cottage gate. Cant you come In and
let me get you cup OF coffee and some
thing to eat? Supper is all over long ago
at Mrs. Rafiey's."
NO" he said stubbornly; mot till you
give me my answer"
90" with little stamp OF her foot. ct
wouldn't be as dense as a man for any,
thing in the world! What do you want
me TO say?"
Say yes"
But can't give you a little show, as
you put it."
why cant your"
Because I gave you all there was TO
give a long time ago-only you were color
blind and couldn't see IL. Now will YOU
come INF"
And he went, stumbling beside her IN a
new bhndness--the blindness OF love I'M
denied that saw no light save that In the
brown eyes that were laughing I'D into
his.
Lady 60 departing servanO-''vvh1t
shall say In your referenceY'' ser,,an,