Smyrna times., 1906-06-27
By ELLA tMAY BUNNEEE.
Copyright, 1885. by Ruby Douglas

flee and stayed there" he concluded
dOJbtfully.
NO, 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 is q
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 and bring down a
special from Springdale tomorrow.
Each day l wonder what next"
Mary looked up into his face. Fair
knight-tG-be," she chanted gayly, "it
may be tomorrow that you'll win your
spurs. Go forth 10 conquer, for your
lady's sake"
BLESS yOnr heart, Nary he muir
INJURED as 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 iR
the sun, and the train was soon speed
ipg over the track Gradually Pills
spirits rose. The beauty of the day
for the dew was still on the fields and
the world about seemed alive and
happy-and the pounding of the engine
filled him with the joy of life.
Phil laughed invOluntarily as he look
ed out of the cab window to see the
children in high glee at 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 al
ways in his subconsciousness. At the
last station before his home a glimpse
of Il light, girlish figure made Mary
seem especially near for q moment.
The girl had Mary's grace and airiness
as she sprang on to car platform,
but even the ieeting vision made Phil
smile happily. and again the train glid
ed out of the station. and in a few
minutes it had slowed up, and Phil's
trip was ended. Another man would
take the train on.
Phil almost patted the throttle as the
train came to Il stop. and it was with
regret that he would give up the en-
gine. "A beauty" he thought, "and
guess I'm on time" he smiled.
He saw a visiting railroad official APP
pear at the station door, nodding with
apparent satisfaction as he looked at
his watch The man peered curiOusly
into the engine cab, but he suddenly
drew back in horror, and others were
transtiXed by what they saw. Not a
man moved or spoke. They seemed
helpless before some awful sight.
Phil read his danger in the Mortified
countenances by the station. He saw
the panorama spreading out before
him through a veil of smoke, but he
felt powerless. The engine was on
fire. Something clutched his throat tC
choke him. He felt hot breath
against his cheek. Red points darteC
out at him from an indefinite "some
where" He heard a quick, gurglini
tempest of sounds. Was it the wind
he wondered. He thought it was, bu
he didn't care.
Then something seemed to snap. Per
haps it was the expression on a fac,
= he saw in imagination that did it. II,
whispered Mary" and sprang witt
all his strength for the opening out o
the cab IS he leaped from the burn
ing cab. which was an angry, surgine
threatening mass, new life came t
n him. He began to understand. Hi
~ nj rr~f4I
4 sion. AS he turned 'nstantaneously tc
. ward the coaches back of the engn
he saw it all-just what might happe
n at every second. Two thousand gallon
= OF oil were in tank at the rear @
n | the cab.
He gathered himself together for tn
4 plunge. drew in a long, deep breatl
held his head down. with his hat pres
ed against his face, and returned to th
:, cab. He had gone with hand on
q stretched for the throttle. He fe
thankful that it was not necessary fl
him to see; he could feel and knew jul
where to press the throttle most surel
4 In the moment in which he had disco
i' cred the oil tank he had uncoupled IL
&c coaches, and when, blinded with smol
, and flames. he felt and pressed IL
- throttle the burning thing sprang ava
y. and off-perhaps to safety for those
ee the coaches. 200 souls or more
The next minute seemed hours. Pl
was conscious of just one purpose
get away from the coaches. for
knew that the tank of oil would e
/. plode or burn Itself out. He LEANED f
y forward. pressing onward. but the Q
gtne seemed to crawl. His breath car
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