The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1903-03-21

suddenly felt light touch on the
arm. whirled quickly about and
saw standing beside me in the cab
the figure of a woman.
What do you want?" / asked in
sudden surprise. Passengers are
not allowed on the engine. It's strict
ly against orders. madam"
II know it," She glanced nervous
ly 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 / was startled by her
sudden appearance and strange re-
quest would be expressing il 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," / 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 / 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.
II 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?" l cried, in sur
prise
Yes, 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 ner great
brown eyes TO mine and gave me a
look that scattered my prudence. l
was very happy.
II would give my life to protect
you, if you need it," l ventured TO
say
| could not see her face. for she
had turned il away. Frightened at
what | 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. i
dare not stay here"
What else could do under the cir
cumstances?
When Nick came clamoring back
over the coal into the cab ! caught
a glimpse of the look of wonder and
astonishment in his face as he saw
Grace, who was perched demurely
upon my seat. / gave him quick
nod then slowly opened the throttle
We started out on our wild night
ride-for what / 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 siN-foot driving wheels, until
il seemed as if we were almost flying
through the inl(y darkness.
Accustomed as / was TO high speed
on the road, / was almost nervous
myself as we tore along, and / began
| a.. a. 81 hn gfa 1 Nrn
thinking of Grace then, and life hac
never seemed half so sweet. AS the
speed began to slacken triile in re
Spouse TO my touch, ] slowly opened
the throttle another notch, and, like
race horse under spur, the engine
leaped forward.
Past houses, through the fields
over bridges and through towns anC
hamlets we flew. All the time l stooC
close TO Grace. one hand upon thu
throttle, the other grasping the re
yersing lever. Nick, fully alive TO thu
situation. sounded the whistle an,
rang the bell loudly as we approached
and passed through a place of an.
kind and at every crossing
l did not dare even TO look at tn
girl perched upon my leather cush
toned seat beside me, for all our live
her life-depended upon my vigi
lance.
Sometimes / spoke TO her, only
word, and she would grasp the sid
Of the cab as she leaned forward &
reply close to my ear: and sometime
her hand would reach out and invol
, unfairly she would grasp me timidl
by the arm as we flew over som
rough stretch of the track, but
word from me now and then SCENE
10 reassure her.
At length, in making the long curry
/, this side OF Il, | suddenly caugh
4 the CLEAN Of the red light on tn
rear of the passenger train. 5
abruptly had we came upon il, tina
E il had not been fully on the lool<ou
. there certainly Afould have been on
4 | Iass pnapb tnon TINT road and Vpr