The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-04-08

Garth, are you going with me on
the FIyawayy"
mo, thank ye," said ]; II get enough
Of that sort Of thing in every day
life. ] am 20 do a little swell busi-
ness tonight, and take passage in a
palace ear. Want TO rest my back.
Goodnight 10 you, and hold her well
in going round Rocky Bottom Curve.
The roads little shaky."
'Yes, sir" responded Kirke, and he
swung himself into position on the Fly.
away.
The bell rang; ] scrambled into my
compartment on the Pullman, and felt
horribly out Of place among the silks
and brOadclOths and smell Of musk;
but j was in for a Grst-class ride, ana
made the best OF il 50 cffectualIy that
five minutes after Gibson, who now
fancies he owns all creation because
he has a silver badge on his breast
with Conductor" on il. had shouted.
"All aboard" ! was sound asleep.
What occurred In other quarters 10
affect the fateof Kirke's train learned
afterwards.
Old Whatcly, the superintendent Of
the road, as | guess have already
said, had n country residence in Leeds,
on mountain spur, which commanded
view Of the surrounding country for
more than score Of miles. The line
Of the railway could be distinctly seen
in each direction for fifteen miles. and
Whatcly was wont 10 say that his
lookout was more To the safety OF
trains, than all the telegraph wires on
the road.
Whately was rich old buffer, kind
enough in his way, but sharp az fer
ret in looking after the road hands,
and determined that every man should
do his duty.
He had but one child, daughter;
ana Floss Whatcly was the belle Of
the county, She was brave, beautiful
and spirited and more than once when
her father had been away had she as
sumcd the responsibility of directing
the trains, and she had always ac-
quilted her self with credit.
Old Whatcly was very proud OF her,
as he had right to be. and kept all
the young fellows at distance, until
ii was said that he intended keeping
his daughter single til the Car of all
the Russias came on TO marry her
This night in November old Whate-
ly and Floss were out on the piazza
of their country home peeping through
the gloom and fog for the signal lights
| OF the GOlosha train, which was near
/ ly due. .ta,s.ar"
IT'S strange il doesn't come in
sight" said Whately, laying down his
| nightglass in disgust 1T is hard on
to 10 now. They ought to show their
light round Spruce Pond 10y this time"
"Hou tclcgraphcd them, father? You
let them know the pay train was on
the road" asked Floss.
"ro be sure And good heavens,
There is the headlight ON the pay train
now See! Not ten miles away. and
running like the deuce, as it always
doesr'
He pointed with trembling finger
down TO the valley forge. where, far
away, mere spCCk in the gloom.
could be seen n bright light, scarcely
moving, hut those anxious watchers
knew that il was approaching al
lightning speed.
Father and daughter looked nj each
other. The truth was evident For
some reason the train from GOloSha
was ten minutes behind time, and il
could not reach the siding at Deering''
Cut until the pay train had passed be
yond the signal track. And then
/, Why. there would be- another "hor
ror" for the morning newspapers undeI
the head of appalling Disaster ant
few more homes would he made e
mourn.
Father and daughter looked at cacl
other in dismay.
"Selim can do IT," said Floss quick
ly
, NO. girl. 1t is too far, and to-
risky replied the old superintendent.
Yes, father; and IL | can rcac
y, Leeds in five minutes before the trai
= yes. two minutes-all will bc wei
!, DO not stop me, father" as he laid III
hand on her arm.
. But you must not go, 1t is dark an
, dangerous! No, Floss"
, 81 shall 20. father! Sclim know
only me. and you could not ride hin
10 | have ridden ON darker nights. An
|. he is the only horse in the stable. Don
# you remember? The others were sci
5. TO town yesterday
Before old Whateiy could stop h,
il she had ordered the hostlor To sadd
m Sclim. and she was already buttonin
on her riding habit with nervous iii
n. gers.
y The horse came paving 20 the doc
". Floss sprang into the sadie. lean,
no down and kissed her fathers forchea
n. Pray heaven TO spare me" 81
cried. hoarsely, and touching h
no horse with her whip. he bounded dow
the sharp declivity.
en- IL was raining steadily now. and O
Tor gloom was intense. but Selim was us
mr.. 10 the road. and the rider was cot
or. ageous. She urged him at the top
i'd. his speed. up hill and down h
nd through Pine Valley, over lulpit III
aud then she struck upon the smoo
n road. which stretched away to- Lee,
sly az least mile and straight as an .
ind row.
our She could see the headlight OF {
ere pay train far down In the valley d
ain tinctly now. and 10 her excited fan