The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-12-26
THE RUNAWAY ENGINE
BY LLEWELLYN LORD

'ather was one Of those hard.headed
men who take pride IN the fact that
,hey never change their minds
Then I'm going away, said l. Ges-
perately.
Where?" She asked. Her incredu-
lous tone maddened me-
You think ii an idle threat Nell
but unless you decide by this day
week to become my Wife, either with
Or without your fathers consent | will
so to the farthest place In the world
Ito New Zealand
Her eyes filled with tears She be-
seeched me TO have patience but
refused
When the week was up she stIll was
obdurate, and | made all my arrange
ments to 80 to New Zealand Her
father was glad to see me so, l be-
lieve
/ Nell was at the station the day
left, Once more | pleaded with her
but in vain, She loved me. but she
could not believe that any happiness
would come TO our marriage unless
she obtained her fathers blessing.
1t happened that the train was late.
We waited at the station with other
passengers, including her mother and
father | think the old man had come
down 10 be sure Nell did not weaken
ami go away with me the last minute,
But began to think that his adorable
daughter was as obdurate as her ia:
Their
As we waited on the platform for
the train that was to bear me away
from the girl loved switch engine
pulled up on one of the farther tracks
and my wandering eyes noticed that |
the engineer and fireman left the To- |
connective alone while they went into |
the restaurant for their dinners
oh VIII" murmured Nell, in my |
ear q always lraye wanted to get in |
an engine Do you suppose they would |
care if we should look at that one
while the man is away2'
Yes, they would be sure TO care.
I said. gloomily. Besides, it is
against The rules for passengers to be
on the tracks.
Couldn't YOU get permission for rs
to look at it," she asked
Come on, Wen not ask for permits
sion" | said. 1t occurred to me that
the engine cab would give me an op-
portunity for one final and tender
good-by
We went to the locomotive and in
spected its drivers and cylinders, and
at last | helped Nell INTO the cab.
She looked at the quivering mon
ster with little ordinations OF delight
and amazement.
I'm going to make 1t whistle" she
cried. darlngly as she climbed upon
the engineers seat. If they arrest
us and send us to Jail, then you cant
go away
She seized hold Of the lever and
gave ii jerk Instead Of whistling
he engine coughed
She laughed like a pleased child.
why it's moving. she cried
So It was. saw the engineer run
ling from the restaurant door and
wildly waving his arms
oh I cant stop IT, cried Nell. in
hsmay looked a her and saw that
he was pulling and pushing at all
he levers within reach. Presently she
struck the whig,lns apparatus. and
he engine gave two short, sharp
Whistles the starting signal
We ran off the siaetrack 10 the main
inc and the switch engine was pick
ne up speed amazingly. Nell was
bout TO leap ont. when I caught her
md held her
III is 700 late for that" I said as
lresscd her On my arms, She chung
o me in fright As ] looked back to- d
ward tho station ! saw her father was
haking his fist
Don't YOU know how TO stop IT, .
yiH2" she sobbed
No. indeed But don't be fright I
ned They will telegraph ahead and
lear the track for ms, and &C. will stop J.
shen the steam dies down" I
Isn't it dreadml," she exclaimed. .
Father and mother will think We d
re running away They will believe C
did Il on purpose"
Didn't you2" asked innoccntlv. s
You know didn't she declared. o
from my arms. S
EFT looks much Ike Won are running )
way with me, ! said IF You are.
can't help n. can ~"
You are ridiculous" she laughed. d
ANY way. won can't start 10 New Yea Il
and to-day r
Unless Won 20 with me" said 7. D
BY this time the engine was going d
o rapidly and the racket was 50 5,
reat that we could not converse. I
lade Nell Sit on the engineers seat Il
nd 10 De- sure that she did not fan "
az 7 held my arm about her waist 81
There was a crowd Of people lined
p al the first station to- see MS 30 By II
nd now . had no further fear Of a col
sion. The train dispatcher would "a
p sure 70 clear the track. I saw bv h
be- gauge hat The steam was dying ri
ut and after NC had passed the third 81
.sti0n the engine ran pcrceptiblr b.
lower Dr. stopped dead sull on the
1t~kirfs of Chcrfydslc 81
] helped Nell from The engine am OF