New-York tribune., 1906-08-05

Visions of the speculative opportunity OF Lte-
time slipping from his grasp OF an almost acquired
fortune melting away pene9 III ms +ber csder
ations. He consulted his watch. 1t was ten
minutes after eight.
How far are we from Denver" he asked.
"A little less than hundred miles
" How long will it take to get the relief crew
here?"
Three hours, if we are lucky"
Three hours! And three hours more before we
make it with the train! Great Heavens man, I've
got to be in Denver at noon! I've got to- tell you!
I'd give hundred thousand dollars to be there.
The conductor looked at him unmOved lie had
heard belated travellers complain before He was
proof against hot air. Well, he sald, unless
you're pretty spry at walking / don't know how
you're going do it. There amt any way OF
making engine run all by itself. And, elbowlng
a path past the circle of listeners he was halfway
through the car, when a OBTAINING hand was lald
on his sleeve and wistfu face raised his at about
the level of the second button of his coat.
" If YOU find anybody to do the firing, IL
take the train in said the little girl in the black
The conductor looked at her with his mouth
wide open "YOu" he exclaimed, uncertain that
he had heard Alright You'll do WHAT"
"Oh, l know it sounds absurd" she retorted; ;
but l do it. If YOU We been long with the road
YOU must have known John Lorraine?"
What-the old master mechanic of the Denver
division? Him that afterward superintendent
of motive power' Certanly-God rest his sOul!-
what them?
I'm his daughter. I've had some experience
Sho You're not little Alma, that used to mon
kew about the rOund-hOuSe at Denver SIN or seven
years ago?-the kid that "a into the turntable
pit one time?"
I'm Alma" she said, reddening at the remem-
brance; but | was only beginner then II
this engine into anything, and | know the road
like book. Come, you'll let me, will you nOt?"
The conductor stroked his grizzled beard in per-
pleXity It's a mighty grave responsibility " he
said. We've got terribly headstrong horse pulling
this oad-yOu you manage him all right?
I've done it fifty times-nany time without
my father in the cab at all she replied. Once
took the general super from Denver to Kearney
and back again / should think if he could trust
you might
Here a situation not contemplated in the
manual. The veteran railroader fell back on his
reserve stock of horse sense. Well he said, Il
reckon if / don't Ill have the whole road tied up
before we get relief. III let YOU run as far as Or
chard, where | can wire for orders anyhow Where's
that chap that said he'd give million dollars to
pull in by nOOn Here you, you shovel coal?
Gilbert had absorbed every word of the cOlOquy
in the utmost amaZement. The girl whose weakness
he had patronizingly pited, the hunger whom
he had imagined able to take of herself,
the timid creature who had been thrown into a
faint by thunder-stOrm-she was after all, in an
emergency the superior of every the train.
She alone could the precious option He look
ed at her with a redoubled and not altogether selfish
interest. If Miss Lorraine is willing to accept
the services of so inexperienced
a fireman. | shall be proud to
do the shoveling" he replied ~
It's not the Cleanest kind of p II
work, she smilingy warned "
h r., H.