Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-07-05
A Modern Knight
and Maiden

BY ELLA MAY BUNNELL
Copyright. 1875, by Ruby Douglas

cd sturdy yOulg fellow strobe eagerly
toward the kitchen door.
"Of course Come in" responded a
vo.ce cheerIly. and Fhl entered, tax
mc iii Of the workaday life and
lls iu with him.
ua, Is il. rhilt' the girl asked
.g .sokn- into the Young mans
troubled eyes.
think / must be tired tonight" he
ans ...s3 eyasively He attempted TO
-..... lea~suriIsIy. \ firm little hand
a.y.y .ufortably into his
but that isn't ALL" she per
TOD
Well Mary, I'm wondering when we
.... rt. going % get married. I've
ug apriu- 10 master the railroad
I.. bur there Is nothing settled
$50 a. .ar future, and mine Is an alarm
all salary" Phils voice
Ipatheiirully discouraged. Per
{ should have gone into some of
.. aud stayed there" he concluded
d0ubufully.
-Nu Phil" protested the girl. you
wouldn't have been satisfied with add
iHg up columns of figures all day or
going over rusty papers There is
place somewhere among the railroad
workers. where you are going to do
your b,-t work. Fhil dear
u iGt got an order tonight" Phil
responded. 'tU 20 and bring down a
special from SgTiHgdale tomorrow.
Each day wonder what next"
Mary looked up into his face. Fair
knieht-tole," she Chanted gayly, 1t
may r. tomorrow that you'll win your
spurs 60 forth 10 conquer, for your
lads : sake"
-Bl.~- your heart, Mary" he muir
INJURED as he caught and kissed her and
then left the room.
Tie engine l9lil took possession of at
Spriu-dale next morning puffed and
glistgueI in the sunlight The young
u.a.4's eyes grew keen and piercing.
aud his heart byat tumultuously. while
his hand rested firmly on the throttle.
The rails shOne like silver ribbons in
the sun. and the train was soon speed
luC over the track Gradually PhiFs
spirits rose. The beauty OF the day
for the dew was still on the fields and
Tie world about seemed alive and
happy and the pounding Of the engine
hlled him with the JOY OF life.
Ihii laughed in,oluntarily as he look
eI out OF the cab window 10 see the
children ia high glce at IA game of tag
one station aftcT another he entered
on time Ia tie minute Every other
thought than his Immediate work was
far from him. although Mary was al
ways IN his subconsciousness. At the
last station before his home a glimpse
of a light. girlish figure made Mary
seem esI5eCIauE near Tor moment
The girl had Mary's grace and airiness
a. she spranE on 10 a car platform,
but even the feeting vision made Phil
smile happily. and again the train Gid
81 oct ~ the station, and In few
minutes il had slowed up. and Phirs
trp was ended. Another man would
take the train on
Phil almost patted the throttle as the
train came 20 stop. and it was with
regret that be would give up the en- /
.iu- a beauty" he thought, "and
guess Im on time" he smiled.
he saw visiting railroad official ap-
pear az the station door, noddiug with
apparent satisfaction as lac looked at
his watch The man peered Curiously
into the engine cab. but he suddenly
drew back ln horror and others were
trausuxed by what they saw. Not a
man moved or spoke. They seemed
helpless before some awful sight.
PHI read his danger In the hOrritied
cOuUteuauces 10y the station. lie saw
the panorama spreading out before
him through a yell OF smoke, but he
felt powerlcss. The engine was on
IRE Something clutched his throat TO
choke him lie felt hot breath
against his cheek Red points darted
out al him from an indefinite some
where lie heard "A quick, gurglinG
TEMPEST Of sounds Was 1t the wiudt
b., wondered. lie thought it was, but
he didn't care.
Then something seemed to snap. Per
haps il was the expression on a face
De saw ia ima -inatiuu that d.d il. lie
whispered. Mary" and Sprang with
ali his strength for the opening out Of
the cab. A. he leapcl from the burn
ing cab. which was an angry. surging
tlrcatelliu- mass. new life came To
him. Tie began 10 understand. His
mind worked rapidly and with preci
sion As be turned nstanIaneously to
ward the coaches back Of the engine
be saw Il all just what might happen
at every second Two thousand gallons
~ Oh were Ga tank AZ the rear OF
TIE cab.
He gathered himself together for the
plunge drew IN long. deep breath
held hl- head down. with his hat press
"a against his face and returned TO the
cab lie had gone with hand out
stretched for the throttle He felt
thankful that II was not necessary for
him % see. he could feel and knew just
where "a press the throttle most surely
Ia Tire moment iu which h. had discov-
erred the oil tank De had uncouplcd the
coaches. and when. blinded with smoke
and flames. hc felt and pressed the
throttle the burning thing Spraug away
aud ~ perhaps 10 safety for those I'm
the coaches @un souls or more
The next minute seemed hours. Phil
was conscious ~ just one purpose-to
60 away ftom the coaches. for he
knew that The tank ~ on would cN
piDie or burn itself out He leaned far
forward pressing onward. hu, the en-
Eiue seemed 10 crawl His hfcuih came
hard through cliuch,d teeth: his eyes
were set Oh "a spot ahead. but he whis-
per,d Mary"
suddenly tie engine shuddered and
stopped Phifs hand was still on the
throttle. He scarcely knew that he had
stopped the engine He felt a great.
eXuitaut tov for the coaches We're far
behind With great difficulty be flung
himself toward the open air Falling
staggering forward he felt himself
seized bN a zen arms