The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-08-01

sprang up to kiss the cloud. and as the
astonished engine driver and his mate
watched. they beheld wave and cloud
meet.
The entire mass of vapor seemed
whirling now. growing funnel-shaped
like a cycione;, and the waters of the
lake rose to meet it so that, as they
gazed they beheld the birth of veri-
table water-spout. The ribbons OF
mist joined in a single column. and.
writhing still more furiously. swept
across the lake on a course almost
parallel with the express. Near the
base of the spout the lake boiled as
though in an overheated pot. the
spray cast off from the waves floating
to leeward like steam.
Cutler stretched out his hand to
thrown over the lever His first
thought was to retard the trains speed
and let the waterspout pass on ahead.
Yet another glance at the whirling
phenomenon assured him that it was
aiming to cross the trestle some dis
lance ahead-just where the spider
web rails passed the mouth of a third
great lake. The gale would doubtless
sweep the spout into this other body
of water: but when 1t struck the tres
tIe what would happen?
Beyond this point of threatened col
Iision was the solid ground and safety for
the mail. Already the engine driver could
see the signal tower through the sudden
darkness which had fallen upon the day.
If he retarded the train and allowed the
spout to sweep on ahead. there was dan
ger of its wrecking the trestle at the
point Of contact and leave it impossible
for the mail. He could not delay the
train. remembering who was behind
him.
Yet at the thought, his heart contract
ed. There was somebody else back there
besides the postoffice department official.
Suppose harm should come to the train
and to the car in which Milly Prosser
rode-R he drove the mail on in its race
with the WaterSpout? The thought shook
Cutters confidence in himself.
The waves slapped over the trestle.
their curling tongues Of foam tapping
hungrily acros the gangway Of the loco
motive. They dashed against the coaches.
roof high. How frightened Milly must be
back there in the observation car Should
he go on. and run into the extreme dan
ger of collision with the waterspout.
which seemed aimed directly for the en-
trance of the other lake. or should he
fail in his duty and retard the speed OF
the mail? If the spout wrecked the tres
tie they might be delayed for hours.
1t was the old, old fight between love
and duty. God help her if that thing
strikes us.'' muttered the engine driver.
His hand frightened on the lever and the
next instant the machine leaped ahead
with accelerated speed. He would race
the waterspout for the mouth Of the in
let. hoping to cross the latter and
ASNNiA liz SAOAO ~ piANf @AANNN VI tAAS
monster
The spout was still little in the rear
of the flying train; but Cutler observed
that 1t was gradually drawing nearer to
the trestle. Those long ribbons of steel
on their skeleton framework seemed to
attract the whirling pillar OF water:
Would old 81 be able to draw the long tail
of cars completely ahead of the spout?
The locomotive was now making her best
speed. He could not get another ounce
out OF her. Fate must play his hand
out.
The shore was already near; the great
lake was narrowing to its junction with
the inlet. And then, as though endowed
with intelligence and aware that its prey
was escaping the whiriing cloud changed
its course. 1t darted down upon the
trestle with seemingly accelerated speed.
The driver and fireman felt the impact.
The spout struck the train between the
last parlor ear and the observation coach.
The vestibule was smashed in and der
LUCE Of water flooded both cars knee high
Tons upon tons of water descended on the
car roofs. pouring in cataracts into the
lake. The whole trestle seemed TO rock
under the blow. The waterspout had
collapsed upon the tail of the flying train.
Fortunately the car wheels chung to the
rails. No "a rushed on. drawing the
entire train out of further danger; and
as it left the trestle for solid ground, the
deiuge burst from the wrecked cars as
Cutler damned his lever down. put the
air to her. and whistied for brakes In
window and looked back. The trestIe
had plainly sagged at the spot where the
waterspout struck 1t, and even as he
leaped up and fairly covered the rails
over which the mail had passed but the
moment before
McElwelI the conductor. ran forward.
"All right. Nobody hurt. and only lit
tie water. Cutlerut he shouted. Then.
glancing at his watch: And. by Jove.
old man. you've picked up those few min.
utes we lost The general manager win
be pleased at this,
But that wasn't what Inspired the
tremulous smile, on the engine drivers
IiDs as the grooming train started again