Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1903-03-19

stopped under the pipe 1 saw some
step quickly out of the shadow OF
b tank and approach the engine.
thinking 1t to be some belated pas
senger, l gave the matter no further
thought, but turned my head and
looked back to where Nick was busily
engaged with the water pipe.
Suddenly l felt a light touch on the
arm. l whirled quickly about and
saw standing beside me in the cab
the figure of a woman
What do you want?" l asked in
sudden surprise. Passengers are
not allowed on the engine. It's strict
ly against orders, madam"
Il know it," She glanced nervous
" about. But you must let me go
this time"
She stepped quickly back into the
shadow so that my fireman might not
see her.
To say that I was startled by her
sudden appearance and strange re-
quest would be expressing it mildly,
u before l could reply she lifted the
edge OF her veil and there, in the
dlm, uncertain light of the gasoline
torch, L saw the bright eyes and
pretty face of Grace Henderson.
why, Miss Henderson," I man.
aged to gasp, you surely cannot
mean it,"
Yet, to tell the truth, I sincerely
hoped she did, for, deep down in nv
heart, had a secret admiration for
the girl with her sweet face and gem
tie manners. Hitherto l had always
oeen content with the smile or cheery
word she often gave me when she
came to the depot with her father.
NOW the prospect of having her so
near me and talking with me seemed
to lift me to the very top shelf of
earthly bliss.
Il must really go, Mr.. Haskell"
she went on quickly. 81 know that
1t must seem strange and unusual to
you, but when one is in danger.
strange things sometimes must be
done to escape, you know
She smiled bewitchingly up into my
face as she spoke.
"What-in danger?" l cried, in sur
prise.
Yes, in the greatest of dangers,
n that is why 1 ask you to let Ire
go with you-to escape this danger
which threatens me-" she said.
sweetly..
AS she spoke she raised her great
brown eyes to mine and rave me a
look that scattered my prudence. I
was very happy.
Il would give my life to protect
you, if you need it," I ventured to
say.
| could not see her face, for she
had turned it away. Frightened at
what l had said, / began to mutter
a hasty apology.
Don't" she whispered. IF YOU
mean what you say, prove it to me
now, by letting me go with you. l
dare not stay here"
What else could I do under the cir
cum%stances?
When Nick came clamorinp bacl,
over the coal into the cab / caught
a glimpse of the look of wonder and
astonlshment in his face as he saw
Grace, who was perched demurely
upon my seat. 1 gave him a quick
nod, then slowly opened the throttle.
we started out on our wild night
ride-for what L did not know.
Out over the switches, where the
signal lights cleaned feebly and
showed a clear line ahead, across the
and into the country we
plunged, gaining speed at each turn
OF u six-foot driving wheels, until
seemed as if we were almost flying
through the inky darkness.
Accustomed as 1 was to high speed
on the road, / was almost nervous
myself as we tore along, and | began
to shut Oft the steam a little. | was
thinking of Grace then, and life had
never seemed half so sweet. AS the
speed began to slacken a trif1e in re-
spouse to my touch, 1 slowly opened
the throttle another notch, and, like
a race horse under spur, the engine
leaped forward.
Past houses, through the fields,
over bridges and through towns and
hamlets we. flew. All the time [ stood
to Grace, one hand upon the +,
throttle, the other grasping the re- !
lever. Nick, fully alive to the !
situation, sounded the whistle and Z
'ang the bell loudly as we approached :
md passed through a place of any !
iind and at every crossing. :
L did not dare even to look at the y
sirl perched upon my leather cush- =
seat beside me, for all our lives .
life-depended upon my vigil :
d
Sometimes I spoke to her, only a '
word, and she would grasp the side :
II the cab as she leaned forward to .
eply close to my ear; and sometimes :,
ler hand would reach out and invol- !.
lntarily she would grasp me timidly \
y the arm as we flew over some ).
ough stretch of the track. but O :
gord from me now and then seemed l.
o reassure her. ;,
At length, in making the long curve r
his side OF R L suddenly caught
he CLEAN of the red light on the E.
Ear OF the passenger train. So fl
bruptly had we came upon it, that O
l had not been fully on the lookout q
here certainly would have been n
SIS coach upon that road, and very pi
Kelly several lives lost. But | was n
Specting it and was prepared. 81
Nick grasped the whistle and be- Ii
to foot loudly. 1t was heard and al
.scognized, for there was no other te
.histle quite like it on that division. IL
hen, nc doubt wondering what could re
ave sent No. ~ down after them,
ley began to slacken up, came to a I'll