The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-12-15

Ihefe was al answering snort from
the engine, which crowned the cry of
the baLied woman, and the train moved
out.
The locomotive was of the Mother
Hubbard type, with Sne engineers cab
well forward over lie tremendous boil.
er. AS soon as he wis under way Carl
helped SUSIE over to the other side of
the boiler and then glued his eyes to
the track ahead.
1here were ten miles at slow speed
as they dropped down the side of the
mountain, but once the eight was
passed it would be clear running
Meanwhile it would take all of his care
to hold back the train and keep from
gong INTO the eight at such a speed
That the engine would leave the track.
They had gone half of the distance
and were running through the cutting
when Il loOsened stone fell from the
side and crashed through the window
and struck Carl full upon the head He
fell back stunned, and as he did so the
lever was thrown over, and $50 bound
ed ahead under full head of steam.
With a scream OF terror Susie climbed
over the boiler again and stopped over
her almost unconscious lover, endeav-
oring TO Stanch the flow of blood that
made line across his face. With
trembling hands he forced her away.
"The eight Running away. Stopr'
he gasped.
In flash she graSped his meaning.
The engine under full head of steam
was bounding down the side Of the
mountain straight toward the dreaded
figure eight. 1t was impossible for tie
fireman to climb over to the cab at the
speed they were going. She must act
quickly if she would save them.
In her rides in the cab she had
learned the use of the various levers
and cocks, and once or twice Carl had
let her hold the throttle along a straight
stretch. Now she grasped the throttle
and pulled it over. She knew that to
attempt to check the speed too sudden
ly would be as bad as to let it continue.
With white face and set teeth, she
worked at the throttle until the speed
gradually slowed. and just as the
eight came into sight she realized
that at last she had the powerful en-
CINE under command
She brought the machine to a stop,
nn1 Adams
Serves you rightr' he shouted as he
sped along the track. Got Cabling
with your sweetheart and let the en-
CINE get away from you. Fine sort of
engineer to be trusted with the special.
You'll be on the carpet for this in
He came to a stop as he climbed into
the cab and at a glance comprehended
the tableau he saw there. He knew
something of Carts story, and Jim told
him the rest while Susie, all uncon-
scious of the sensation she had made,
bent over the form of her lover.
When at last she had brought him
back to consciousness and stepped to
the door of the cab to go in search of
water she found the entire party stand
ing beneath her.
1t was Gordon, the president, who
broke the silence.
Young woman" he said severely, ''it
is against the rules of this road for Wis
itors to ride on the engines. l shall
have to ask you to come back into my
private car. The fireman says he can
run the engine and Adams will fire for
him, SO as soon as we move Wilbur
back there we will go on. might add
that we have discharged Wilbur for
violation of orders. but on account of
his wife to be we are going to make
him division superintendent OF course
he broke the rules, but l, for one, am
rather glad of it."
With an impulsive gesture, Susie
sprang forward and planted a kiss di-
rectly beneath the grizzled mustache.
80 am l" she said quietly.