The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1906-02-02
TWO IN THE
CAB
By CLARA TAYLOR
Copyright, 1905, by E. C. PARCELS


Far down in the valley headlight
cleaned, and Carl Wilbur turned to bis
fireman.
Here she comes, JIM" he an
nounced.
Something's the matter" declared
jim; shes running"
That's what We'll be doing in half
an hour" laughed Carl. Its not often
that we have the honor of pulling the
president and whole board of directors.
The old girl will have to do us proud
tonight"
lie glanced affectionately ut the huge
locomotive pantlng on the siding. II
was one of the newest on the division,
and with the five cars making up the
presidents special it would be better
than a mile minute most Of the way
after the eight" had been passed.
The Haven section was on the south
slope Of the divide, and once i'll drop
ping down the grade they had to make
n complete figure eight in order to
make the turn properly about the spur
of Mount Diavolo. Carl was lost In
speculation as to just how far he could
extend the leyiathan, and not until Jim
leaned out from the platform in front
of the firebox did the latter realize
that Carl was facing toward the ap-
preaching train.
Il was talking about SUSIE" he
laughed. Wondered why you called
her the old girl"
Carl faced about just as a slip Of a
girl in faded print dress came run
ming down beside the track. He has
tened toward her with cry. Her face
wore the look OF some hunted creature.
II can't stand it any longer, Carl, y
she painted as she half stumbled, half
threw herself into his arms. II want
you to take me away"
Next week, dear" he soothed, as he
pattcd the curly head resting upon his
shoulder Bear it for week until
can get my layoff, and well slip Off to
Haven and get married. You can wait
that long, can't your
Go back there" the girl shuddered
''She would kill me, Carl"
ITS not as bad as that, Is it?' be
asked For answer she drew back the
tattered sleeve from the slender white
arm. Three livid welts told their OWL
story Of stepmother's abuse.
Did she strike you?" he asked
smothering an oath.
''She found out about that ride In the
cab last week, and she said she would
kill me-" Even the recollection Of that
awful scene brought the tears afresh.
Carl turned to Jim. IF this was the
regular rum" he said, Il could get Bax
ter to take her in the car, and 1t would
be all right. We could get married In
Haven without a license. and then
could defy Mrs. Hammond"
Baxter must be in Haven by now
objected Jim. "Sixty-seven Is the first
train out in the morning. Amt you got
a friend who'd take her in?"
Not one" groancd Carl. Wen have
to take her in the cab"
Remember what Caddon told you
last week." reminded Jim. Told you
then that the next time you let her
ride in the cab he'd lay you Off"
Il don't care" protested Carl. "I'll
take her out of the way of that fiend
If / never handle throttle again"
Susie, who knew Carl had got into
trouble for letting her ride on the en-
CINE with him, looked up protestingly
''Pll stay, dear, she said quietly. I'm
not afraid. Maybe some one will take
me in"
Carl thought of the terror In which
Mrs. Hammond was held in the town
and shook his head, but, deTpite his
urging, Susie shook her head. She was
trembling with fright, but she would
net let her lover get into trouble. He
had been ten years working for the
passenger run. This one trip would
spoil it all.
She was still protesting when the
special came painting up the grade, and
the two heavy engines were uncoupled
and run on to IL siding, while $50 pulled
leisurely down to take the train. She
walked down the track beside the en-
coupled on.
Adams was waiting at the telegraph
window for his orders from the dis
patchcr, and now he came toward the
engine. "All right" he shouted as he
handed up the yellow tissue. 'Clear
track all the way to Haven. Not going
to take her, are you? he added as his
glance fell upon the girl.
Ii was Susie who answered that she
was not going, and Adams turned to
ward the rear of the train.
lie had just given the signal to pull
out when down the road came the
Swaying figure of woman crazed will
anger. One glance told Carl that II
was Mrs. Hammond, and without O
word he reached down to where Susie
was standing and with powerful jerk
lifted her into the cab, while at the
same moment he threw over the lever
There was an answering snort from
the engine, which drowned the cry OF
the baffled woman, and the train moved
out
Hubbard type, with the engineers cal
well forward over the tremendous boil
CIR. AS soon as he was under way Car
helped Susie over to the other side OF
the boiler and then glued his eyes tc
the track ahead.
There We're 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 1t would take all of his care
to hold back the train and keep from
going into the eight" at such speed
that the engine would leave the track.
They had gone half of the distance
and were running through the cutting
when loosened stone fell from the