The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1904-07-14

phore that was to simultaneously move
the switch and signal the engineer OF
the coming express that the track was
clear. She pulled 1t over. but II did
not slip into its accustomed notch. ln-
stead. II flew back as II fired from a
catapult. and struck her stunning
blow on the chest. 1t knocked her on
her feet and for moment she lay
there; but the Importance OF clearing
the track for the coming express pre-
vented her losing consciousness. That
idea that was burning into her brain.
She knew II 1t was not In the proper
place an awful catastrophe would oc-
eur within few minutes.
She dragged herself TO her feet and
grasped the lever aagin. Sharp pains
shot through her body. Her brain
reeled. but she held on TO the lever and
slowly moved IL over TO the right
place. and heard the click as II reached
the ratchet that held IL.
| She glanced from the window. The
headlight OF the locomotive was In full
view. u stream OF black smoke pouring
from the stack and fre grinding from
the driving wheels as the great motor
came on. swaying with its long train
OF passengers behind. One look showed
that the track was clear. that the sig
nal was In its place, The hong whistle
OF the engineer showed her, too. that
he had seen the signal.
A mist swan before her eyes She
turned again 10 the instrument Mt the
little table. and. almost fainting from
pain. moved the switch that connected
her with Blsnford.
Send help TO Templeton. am |
hurt Wa" The message dribbled |
or In an unintelligible fass OF dots |
and dashes, but fortunately II was UNI
derstood by the operator at Blapford.
for as she was trying TO make clear
what had happenedn she sank pneon.
scious on the floor OF the lofty switch
Ing tower.
There she was found. lying - n
dead half hour later. Tenderly she
was carried 10 an express Wagon aud
made as comfortable as possible on
blankets. and brought To her boarding
house.
The physicians who attended her
said she was severely hurt internally.
The lung tissue had been bruised but
there was no evidence OF internal hem
orrhagc. and they had strong hopss OF
her recovery.
Mrs. Ashby was In her elegant II.
brary reading the letters the post had
brought On the table beside her were
several magazines. and a copy OF the
paper.
After reading her letters she took
up the paper. The bold type OF a
lengthy articles heading caught her
attention: Colonial express saved by
girl Miss May Watson ,
struck by semaphorc lever In switch. 7
ng tower at Tcmpleton last night Al. !
most unconscious she puts IL IA place. 1
md collision with freight Is avcrted" .
Mrs. Ashby's face grew grave and Z
pale and the lines that time and care :
lad imprinted thereon became more q
distinct. ,
The colonial exprcss7 Why. that b
vas the train that Howard had a
akenr' n
Eagerly she read the article She II
aw the glowing account OF the brave 9
IRIS heroic deed. In her tremor aud IS
xcitement. the paper dropped from b
er hands. A possible scene OF the Z,
wfui disaster pictured itself In her a
lind. She saw the flying express v
rash with impetuous velocity Into the "
'ng freight. derailIng ears and piling
lem an unacceptable mass OF de- 70
ris- She heard the terrible cIang Of u
on against iron. the horrible kissing n
escaping steam. and the dull grind OF
*. crushing. splintcring OF wood. The nj
Iteous shrleks and groans OF the n
oundcd and dying rang In her ears. N
nj there among the bruised and man q
ed bodies was the boy she loved b.
18th almost ldolatrous devotion.
But instead the express had been l.
wed by brave girl She n hirellng. Is
w-born. the daughter OF a black
NTH. had done this,
For nearly an hour Mrs. Ashby
alked up and down the room in agi. "a =,
ton. A multitude OF thoughts rushed =, ~
rough her excited brain. Presently -
10 sunni ioned servant. -
Tell Thomas 10 have the carriage y.
readiness Mt one-thirty." she said to -
g maid who answered her summons. -"
Toward Ashby was returning home. -,
g had been absent four months. 90
hen he left home he intended 20 be t,o
ne only few weeks. but his restless o,
irit demanded continued change OF
enes. - his absence had been pro on
nged.
When autumn drew near he became cal
ed OF rowing life. aud FASTENED In,
mewaHl Az he bcheId familiar or
enes fiom the car window as the
hin sped through his native State he no
allied low dear the old home and its IN.
sociatlGns were to him In,
1t was n short drive from the sta. me
IN to the Ashby residence. When an,
g carriage entered the spacious pla
ounds he saw his mother coming no
rooa fl,a In tpn o.. .pof,x,ro H.. l