The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-12-02

Day for being foolish. You JUST ge,
up in your seat and run us ahead tic
Turner'S bridge and stop there That's
all WE'LL trouble you. to do: We don't
want your money, watches, or anything
else. We're after. bigger stakes to.
night" - @}'.> s.
whats the scheme?" asked Dick. as
he took his seat. We've no valuables
aboard. You must have stopped the
wrong train" -: g.
20, guess not" said the other,
quietly. you've the Superintendent
on board, and that's what we're after.
Reckon the company wouldn't stop at
twenty thousand to get him back safe
and sound"
Like flash the whole plan went
through the engineers mind. He re-
called having read a day or two be-
fore, as they took water at mail town,
of band of outlaws that, with head
quarters on the United States side,
were plying their business in this ter
ritory. A mounted policeman had gone
in quest of them single-handed, and as
he had failed to return it was feared
that foul play had befallen him. Now
this nefarious gang had used their vic
tim for a stop-signal, and actually pro-
posed to kidnap the superintendent
Well, they were going to fail, he told
himself as he opened the throttle.
1t was but a short distance to Turn.
er's bridge, and Dicks brain was work
ing like mad as they sped along. Grad.
ually he notched the reversing lever
forward, closing the throttle little to
hold down the speed. In his left hand
he fumbled a heavy wrench. Harry was
on the tender getting coal. Suddenly,
and as if by accident, Dick lurched for
ward, falling from his seat. AS he went
with his right hand he jerked the
throttle wide open, and the iron mon
ster darted forward like a spirited
steed from it's masters whip; with his
left hand he smashed the water glass.
In an instant the cab was full OF
steam and water. Two revolver bull.
lets flattened themselves against the
boiler. On his hands and knees Dick
crawled away from the furnace door
taking his share of the scalding water.
It's an engineers duty to be parboiled
if necessary.
Cropping along the cab floor, at the
doorway his hand fell on a felt boot
Firemen don't wear felt boots, so il
couldn't be Harry. Dick raised his
wrench and struck with all his might
where he supposed the body would be-
He fancied he heard the choking groan
as the resistance gave way and the
foot slipped from the cab.
But with the other outlaw he was
less successful. Scarce had they STUN
bled together when wiry fingers closed
about his throat, and Dick knew it was
life-and-death struggle. The men
swayed in each others arms; the hiss
ing steam, the scalding water, the rush.
ing, swinging locomotive, forgotten in
that last vital contest for mastery. Sud-
denly, above the din came the hollow
roar of Turner'S bridge, and at the
same moment the struggling men
swung outward, slipped, and dashed
downward into the darkness.
An hour later they picked him up,
stiff and palHd, but still alive. His
bed of soft snow had saved him alike
from death by falling, and, from revenge
from the check-mated outlaws, who had
searched for him in vain. What be-
came of his two passengers he never
learned-but the superintendent was
safe.
Henderson, said the superintend-
ent, a week later, II want to do the
right thing with you. You've been off
ing to give you No, on the -- line.
It's the best run on the system. High
est pay, short and regular hours, and
home every night"
II am deeply grateful" said Dick,
but IL can't take it,"
II know" said the superintendent.
that it's no proper return for your
sacrifice, but it's the best I have to
offer just now. As soon as can do
better, will"
Its not that, sir, not that. But the
fact that have decided to quit engine
driving for good"
why Henderson,"
'It's like this. I like the business,
but my nerves gone. Every danger
signal would now raise that pallid face
with the cleaning, sightless eyes, Ugh!
Yes" he added with a pathetic mourn
fulness in his voice, II am a broken
man."
The superintendent sat for some
minutes. in deep thought. II have
it," he at last cried, with the eagerness
of school-boy: II have it! We are
opening a division terminal at Bay
front, bills and forest behind, rolling
prairie away to the south. Take your
wife and family out there, buy an acre
or two Of land, and build up your home
in peace. The company will give you
position as locomotive inspector, with
a salary of twenty-five hundred. What
do you say?"
''It's done," answered Dick, quietly.
Engineers learn to make quick de-
cisiOns