Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-05


water in the glass Alma released the air. threw the
reverse lever forward and opened the throttle
couple of notches. Slowly the great drivers began
to revolve and the heavy express reluctantly began
to move.
Now, Mr.. Fireman, cried Alma, as the train
began to gather speed under a wider throttle, If
you do your duty We'll be in Denver at half past
eleven. But you've got to keep that needle up to
there and she indicated the 2Io mark on the
gage.
an already griny shirt-s1eeve tried to shout his
thanks " If we make it. he yelled above the din
of the clanlng machinery and the roar OF the more
and more rapidly revolving wheels, + be under
everlasting debt of gratitude to you You don't
know how much it means to me.
mo do not" she said; but l do know how
much it may mean to the poor fellow stretched out
in the beggage-car to get to a hospital There is
life to be saved, sir Did you suppose was dong
this for your?
1t was well deserved snub, and Gilbert felt its
justice. But he speedily realized that firing
western express locomotive on pretty steady up
grade under the direction of exacting engineer,
and at the time maintaining polite CONVEX
sation, was a physical impossibility; and besides,
the engineer herself concentrated her whole
attention upon her work.
Faster and faster the giant engine swept on,
ree1ing off mile after mile at its topmost speed,
the telegraph poles flying by like pickets
eastern fence, the landscape merged IN Gllbert's
eyes into long, blurred, nondescript streak.
Never had he dreamed of a monster with such
yoracious appetite. It's constant demand to be
fed filled his soul with dismay. Dizzy from the
unaCCuSCO1neQ nOtlOn CnOkeQ ana nan DnIueQ
with coal dust, and streaming from every pore, it
seemed to him that he had been shoveng for hours,
when the busness-like engineer brought the train
to a smooth and easy stop at Orchard, after run
of eighteen miles Asea matter OF fact he had been
at work for just thirty-three minutes.
The conductor came forward and enthusiastically
wrung Alma s hand He had sent his despatch to
Denver, and in five minutes he received orders to
proceed to Platteville forty-ive miles beyond and
thirty-four miles from the terminus, whittier
relief crew would be sent to meet him. During the
wait at Orchard Fireman Gilbert, under expert
instruction. took water, and between that point and
Platteville the made without stop.
When Gilbert descended from his perch at the
little depot at Platteville make way for his pro-
fessional successor he realized that the day
almost saved. 1t quarter after ten, and
with a regular engineer and fireman in an hour and
a quarter Stiff board despite his boasted
physical fitness he hmped toward his car with
Alma at his side he a sight for the gods. Alma
herself was by free from the stains of
coat and oil but she was well nigh spotless by com
pariSon with him.
If he expected further to cultivate the acquaint-
of Miss Lorraine the completion of these
arrangements he doomed to disappointment.
pulled into the station at Denver at eleventwenty,
and before he could shake off the pestiferous
reporters who instantly boarded the and
seized upon him she had disappeared in the crowd.
Gruffiy repulsing the
gatherers, Gilbert rushed to the
cab stand but she was nowhere to
be seen. He accosted a cabby
and demanded to be driven i'm 80
nediately to the Majestic Build
ing. The driver, who had been
H. eagerly soliciting other arriving ~
'M passengers, looked him