Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-03
An Original EIopement
A Short story BY W. II. ROYCE

line ahead. across the bridge and into the
country we plunged, gaining speed at each
turn Of our six-foot driving wheels. until
It seemed as II we were almost flying
through the inky darkness.
Accustomed as was to high speed on
the road. l was almost nervous myself as
we tore along. and l began to shut of the
steam a little. l was thinking Of Grace
then, and life had never seem half so sweet.
As the speed began to slacken a trife in
response to my touch. / slowly opened the
throttle another notch, and, like a race
horse under spur. the engine leaped for
ward.
Fast houses, through the fields, over
bridges and through towns and hanlets
we few. All the time l stood close to
Grace. one hand upon the throttle, the
other g~rasping the reversing lever. Nick.
fully alive to the situation, sounded the
whistle and rang the bell loudly as we ap-
preached and passed through a place OF any
kind and at every crossing.
l did not dare even to look at the girl
perched upon my leather cushioned seat
beside me, for all our lives-her life--de~
pended upon my vigilance.
Sometimes ! spoke TO her, only a word,
aud she would grasp the side Of the cab as
she leaned forward to reply close to my
ear, and sometimes her hand would grasp
me timidly by the arm as we few over
some rough stretch Of the track, but a
| word from me now and then seemed to re-
assure her.
At length in making the long curve this
side of RI l suddenly caught the
CLEAN of the red light on the rear Of the
passenger train. So abruptly had we come
upon it that if l had not been fully on tie
IT, ----H -
one less coach upon :hat road and very
likely several lives lost. But | was ex-
pecting 1t and was prepared.
Mel grasped the whistle and began to
toot loudly. 1t was heard and recognized.
for there was no other whistle quite like it
on that division. Then, no doubt wonder
ing what could have sent No. p down after
them, they began to slacken up, came to a
dead stop and waited for us to come up
cautiously.
We'll what's the matter?' calculated
Davis as he came around the end Of the
last car when I leaped down from my cab.
1 made no reply. for l did not know. but
handed him the note thas Henderson had
given me to deliver to him.
He took it. hastily tore it open and
stepping to where the full glare OF my
headlight fell upon the track, proceeded to
read 1t.
81 don't know anything about it," he ex-
claimed suddenly. Here, Ned, see what
you can make out Of this. l don't know
what he means. l haven't seen her."
He handed the note TO me. Holding it
where the light fell upon it, l read:
Conductor Charles Davis, No. 81: My
daughter. Grace Henderson, has left home
and have reason to think she is on your
train. If so, send her back by the bearer.
JACOB
Division Superintendent.
think that / must have given a more
forcible exclamation than had Davis when
l read the note, for now it was half plain
to me.
There's something queer about this |
said sic WY, as l passed back the note. "Ls
she aboard your train now?'
us she aboard my train now?" he re-
peated in surprise. mo. she is not, and II
she was I'd not make her go back to that
old skinfiint unless she wanted to. She is
not a girl to leave homs without some
along to where she wanted to so and keeI
my mouth shut. THAT'S 'tust about what
ia do" -
All right, then, Charlie" l said slowly
for l had been thinking very fast. "IU just
put her aboard your train now and send
her along. She's up here in my cab"
Davis looked at me a moment in surprise
then puckered up his lips into a prolonged
whistle. then told him, In as few word:
as possible. how she happened to be there
and without a word HI ,opened Henderson,