The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-08-21
THE MASTER ENGINEER.
By Mary Talbot Cambell.

By Mary Talbot Cambeil. Author of "A Celestial Garment" Tow ra@ aesd' s,c rhe Coming or io-Mor ..Bess, do you want that thriller Q yours tonight? Just say the word an it's a go-sort of preliminary wedding trip. you know"
 heart, hts homely, loveable face alighi with eager expectation. On the pay roll he was James Gerald, Engineer;' but his tntimates wrought his cheery nature into a nickname which struck
 You don't mean ride on your en- gine7"
 Sure thing! I've got orders to take old 40' down tlle High Line division oi the c. & S. far as Como. to pull the passengers up grade tomorrow. Now I've got you here at Boreas for the day. we couldn't ask better chance Bein' one O the highest roads in the on to 12.000 feet at pretty lively gait. like the fellow in the Latin book when he got started for--you know
 70. Sunny. can IF
 A freckled face of fresh, Western Eirlhood was lifted excitedly, as Bessie Morgan clasped her hands about tLe railroader's arm. her feminine mind busy with the proprieties.
 .sft's up to you Bess. said you could and we'll make you queen O the cab"
 "siIly, mean is 1t proper?"
 Now, little woman, the tracks clear So don't be calling red light ahead when it's all white running for the wedding. It's no fault O mine we aint married. But won't fireman Goodie' German chaperon us equal to any petticoat highflyer? Course you'll be welcome to sleep whats left O the night with cousin Jennie. at Como, an you can Eo on down to Denver with the regular in the morning.
 You know. Sunny, I actually wish we were married 'cause-
 s'Now you're going some. Bess. But there's the license an we've hardly got time to couple up before
 Down breaks. sir I meant just for tonight" and she drew away rokuish-
 But when wedding trains are made up it's for a long run. girl. You can't of agin' without somebody bein. !. rocked. No, tie ups a tie up. an if we run at all it's on the same track-an' plum to the Great Home station
 70. Sunny"
 70. Honey"
 "Don't be funnyl But I'll try short run with you tonight and-then we'll
 T wish you'd take through ticket, Bess, but I'll try living a night at a time, for tonight; an some day you'll flag my train, an then All aboard for HappinessY Wear your oldest for cinders. We pull out at s:l5
 And you don't think people will say
 aD~drat people. It's just you an me an 'Goodie. an who's to know? You'll strike Denver with the swells on the regular-an' I bet it'll be tame after the ride I give you. But If Is you. Bess. I'd make up my mind what's right for me, an then open my throt- tie an run 'cordin' to my own sched- ule, whizzin' through such sooty mind ed folk like the lightning express through cattle. Give 'em warning toot for right O way. an p'raps few einders left in their eyesn keep 'em from lookin' for dirt in yours"
 Laughing, sBess blew him a tanta- lizfng kiss sas she hurried away to prepare for the evenings adventure.
 A clear Colorado night glinting with stars saw an eager little figure with close fittink cap and exhilaratinS heart beat lifted into the cab of NO. 40. Safely installed at the fireman's win Cow, Bess found the thin mountain air strangely inadequate tos satisfy, her breathless expectation.
 She knew that ''No. T." another help CT on tho steep grade. was to follow, and behind that an extra train. On '7' was an engineer. Bud Wilson, new to this narrow gauge, sky-seraping line. and a veteran Fireman, Scott.
 Sunny remarked casually: "Pd rath- CT have the greeny ahead O me though he's a good man alright But he ain't used to runin' so near heaven, with a slick slide stretching away in nasty curves clean to the other place.
 Bess was glad of the bracing air at the window; for the oil, soot and swell tering reek of the boiler, together with the scorching. breath of the fire-box, made her pant with more than excite ment.
 Goodie German with embarrassed interest and rough courtesy handed her a ball of cotton waste, saying.
 It beats a handkerchief on these runs an comes in handy for a sweat rag if nothkn' else; but we use 'em turn about for towels an wash rags too"
 Thank you so much. It's all so in- teresunS. 1 feel as il l were in a new W orld with no end of wonders all about me"
 Goodie grinned with pleasure, his face standing out like a ruddy tableau as he fed his chunks of coal to the gaping naw of the firebox and Sun ny jumped aboard.
 Hello there," was the lovers brief ereting as he stepved to the enkine drivers box. An arm. sleeved in the denim, waved the signal and a cry "An right" rang out. A whistle shrieked an echoing wall down the heights while with the deafening clam or of the bell Bess felt a titantic throb.
 Hold hard. little girl. Mind your head an eyes We're off"
 She saw his strong hand reach for the throttle, opening 1t with delft gen tleness and through the almost ca . ressing action Bess knew her first rival in NO. 4O" The great black throat cleared itself with guttural hoarseness as the monster of iron and steel moved. answering to his touch like some mighty steed as 1t glided ponderously forward.
 Tn the shadow haunted cab, dark ness eloomed save within the radius of a small lantern showing both steam and water guage and the dial of the chronometer.
 As smoothly they cleft the nights mystery, coodie fed the fire. flooding inc place with a ruddy glow as well as blistering heat. Looming to ex- aggerated proportions. the girl saw her lover, master of this leaping quiv- artr1 forca his eyes unsWervin riy to