St. Tammany farmer., 1903-04-25
much like an oath, and felt that my

hasty reply had cost me my position,
for Henderson was man that took
no words from any man on the road,
big Or little.
With some regret ! backed No. 27
up beside the tank, and just as l
stopped under the pipe l satf some
one step quickly out of the shadow of
the tank and approach the engine.
Thinking it to De some belated pas
senger, l gave the matter no further
thought, but turned my head and
looked back to where Nick was busi]y
engaged with the water pipe.
Suddenly felt a light touch on the
arm. 1 whirled quickly about and
saw standing beside me in the cab
the figure of woman.
"What do you want?' / asked in
sudden surprise. passengers arc
not allowed on the engine. It's strict
1y against orders, madam
81 know it," She glanced nervous
]y 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,
but before could reply she lifted the
edge of her veil and there, in the
dim,< uncertain light of the gasoline
torch, [ 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, sincerely
hoped she did, for, deep down in my
heart, / had secret admiration for
the girl with her sweet face and gen
tie manners. Hitherto I had always
been content with the smile or CHEEKY
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. II know that
it 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?" cried, in sur
prise.
'Hes, in the greatest of dangers,
and that is why ask you to let me
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 gave me
look that scattered my prudence. 1
was very happy.
Il would give my life to protect
you, if you need it," I ventured to
say.
l 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 Inc go with you. I
dare not stay here"
What else could do under the cir
When Nick came clamoring back
over the coal into the cab | caught
a glimpse of the look of wonder and
in his face as he saw
Grace, who was perched demurely
upon my seat. l gave him quick
nod, then slowly opened the throttle.
We started out on our wild night
what I did not know.
Out over the switches, where the
signal lights cleaned feebly and
showed clear 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 if we were almost flying
the inky darkness.
Accustomed as l was to high speed
on the road, I was almost nervous
myself as we tore along, and began
to shut off the steam little. I was
of Grace then, and life had
never seemed half so sweet. AS the
speed began to slacken trifle in re-
sponse to my touch, I 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
close to Grace, one hand upon the
throttle, the other grasping the re-
versing lever. Nick, fully alive to the
situation, sounded the whistle and
rang the bell loudly as we approached
and passed through place of any
kind and at every crossing.
1 did not dare even to look at the
girl perched upon my leather cush-
ioned seat beside me, for all our lives
her life-depended upon my vigi-
lance.
Sometimes I spoke to her, only a
word, and she would grasp the side
IF the cab as she leaned forward to
reply close to my ear; and sometimes
her hand would reach out and invol-
UNFAIRLY she would grasp me timidly
by the arm as we flew over some
rough stretch of the track, but
word from me now and then seemed
to reassure her.
At length. in making the long curve
this side Of RI suddenly caught
the CLEAN of the red light on the
rear of the passenger train. So
abruptly had we came upon it, that
if had not been fully on the lookout
yhere certainly would have been one
Less coach upon that road, and very