The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1906-06-06
A Modern Knight
and Maiden
By ELLA MAY BUNNELL
Copyright, le5, by RUBY Douglas

"Mary, are you thereT' sounded
from the halfway rs broad shoulder
ed, sturdy young fellow strobe eagerly
toward the kitchen door
"of course. Come in." responded
voice cheerIly. aud Phi entered, tax
Ing Il bit of the workaday1 life aud
hustle In with him
What Is 1t. PhIli" the girl asked
gently, looking into the Young mans
troubled eyes
Il think | must be tired tonight" he
answered evastVely. lie attempted to
smile reassuringly. firm little hand
/ stole comfortably into his.
Yes, but that isn't ALL" she per-
sisted
We'll, Mary I'm wondering when we
are ever going to get married. I've
been attempting to master the railroad
business but there Is nothing settled
as to the future. and mine Is an alarm
lngly small salary" Phlfs voice
sounded pathetleally discouraged. "Per-
haps should have gone into some of
flee and stayed there" he concluded
doubtfully.
M. Phil" protested the girl. ''you
wouldn't have been satisfied with add
Ing UP columns of figures all day or
going over rusty papers. There il
place somewhere among the railroad
workers where you are going to do
your best work, Phil dear"
Il Just got an order tonight" Phil
responded, ITO go aud bring down
special from Springdale tomorrow
Each day wonder what next"
Mary looked up into his face Fair
knight -to-be." she chanted gayly, lit
may be tomorrow that you'll win your
spurs. Go forth to conquer, for your
lady's sake
Bless your heart Maryl" he muir.
INJURED rs he caught and kissed her and
then left the ROOM
The engine Phil took possession of at
Springdale next morning puffed and
glistened In the sunlight The young
mans eyes grew keen and piercing.
and his heart beat unanimously, while
his hand rested firmly Oh the throttle.
The rails shone like silver ribbons in
the sun. aud the train was soou speed
Ing over the track Gradually Pills
spirits rose. The beauty of the day
for the dew was still on the fields und
tho world about seemed alive and
| happy and the pounding Of the engine
filled him with the JOY of life.
PIN laughed inyoluntarily as he look :
ed out of the cab window to see the
children la high glee ut game of tag.
one station after another he entered
on time To the minute Every other
thought than his Immediate work was
far from him, although Mary was III,
ways IN his aabconscousness. At the
last station before HIS home IA glimpse
of tt light. glrlish figure made Mary
seem especially near for moment.
The girl had Mays grace and airlness
as she sprang on 10 II car platform.
but even the lleetihg vision made Phil
smile happily, and again the train GID
ed out of the station. and Ia Il few
minutes 1t had slowed up. and Phll'S
| trip was ended. Another man would
take the train on.
I'hll almost patted the throttle as the
train came to II stop. and IL was with
regret that he would give up the en-
glne ~ beauty" he thought, "and
guess I'm on time" he smiled.
lie saw visiting railroad official up
pear at the station door, nodding with
apparent satisfaction as lac looked ut
his watch. The man peered curiously
into the engine cab but he suddenly
drew back In horror, aud others were
transtixed by what they saw. Not II
man moved or spoke. They seemed
helpless before some awful sight
Ihil read his danger Ia the Mortified
countenunces by the station. lie SAW
the panorama spreading out befors
| him through veil OF smoke, but he
felt poweress The engine was on
fire Something clutched his throat To
choke him, He felt II hot breath
against his cheek tied points darted
| out at him from an indefinite some.
where" lie heard quick. gurgling
tempest OF sounds. Was 1t the windf
he wondered. lie thought II WAS, but
he didn't care.
| Then something seemed to snap. Per-
! haps 1t was the expression on face
he saw In Imagination that did 1t. He
whispered, Mary" and sprang with
all his strength for tho opening out OF
the cab. As he leaped from the burn
ing cub. which was an angry. surging,
threatening mass, new life came to
him He hogan 10 understand. His
mind worked rapidly and with prect-
sion. As he turned simultaneously to-
/ 4 al p
he saw ii all just what might happen
at every second Two thousand gallons
Of oil were Ia a tank ut the rear OF
| The cab
lie gathered himself together for the
| plunge, drew IN long. deep breath.
| held his head down, with his hat press
ed against hES face, and returned to the
cub. He had gone with hand out
stretched for the throttle He felt
thankful that II was not necessary for
him 10 see: he could feet and knew just
where to press the throttle most surely.
! IN the moment In which he had discoY-
cred the oil tank he had uncoupled the
coaches, aud when, blinded with smoke
and flames. he felt and pressed the
throttle the burning thing sprang away
and off perhaps 10 safety for those In
! the coaches, 200 souls or more.
The next minute seemed hours. Phil
was conscious of Just one purpose-to
! get away from the coaches, for no
knew that the tank OF oil would ex-
pl1de or burn itself out. He leaned far
| forward pressing onward. but the en-
CINE seemed 10 crawl. His breath came
hard through ellnehed teeth; his eyes
were set on a spot ahead. but he whls-
pered, MARY"
Suddenly the engine shuddered and
stopped. rhifs hand was still ON the
throttle. He scarcely knew that he had
stopped the engine. He felt great.
exultant JOY, for the coaches We're far
behind. With great difficulty he flung
himself toward the open air Failing,
staggering forward, he felt himself
seized By u dozen arms.
Did he dream what followed? A pair
Df strong young arms We're around his
neck aud his face was being bathed in