Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1906-08-09

Phil read his danger in the hor-
rifed countenances By the station.
He saw the panorama spreading out
before him through veil of smoke,
but he felt powerless. The engine
was op FIRE. Something clutched his
throat to choke him. He felt hot
breath against his cheek. Red points
darted out at him from an indefinite
somewhere. He heard quick,
gurgliug tempest Of sounds. Was it
the wind? he wondered. He thought
it was, but he didn't care.
Then something seemed to snap.
Perhaps it was the expression on a
face he saw in imagination that did it.
He whispered. MARY" and sprung
with all his strength for the opening
out of the cab. As he leaped from
the burning cab, which was an angry,
surging, threatening mass, lew life
came to him. he began to under
stand. His mind worked rapidly and
with precision. AS he turned instan-
taneously toward the coaches back OF
the engine he saw it adjust what
might happened at every second. Two
thousand gallons of oil were in a tank
at the rear of the cab.
He gathered himself together for
the plunge, drew in a long, deep
breath, held his head down, with his
hat pressed against his face, and re-
turned to the cab. He had gone with
hand outstretched for the throttle. He
felt thankful that it was not necessary
for him to see; he could feel and knew
inst where to press the throttle most
surely. In the moment in which he
had discovered the oil tank he had
uncoupled the coaches, and when,
blinded with smoke and flames, he
felt and pressed the throttle the burn
ing thing sprang away and of-per-
haps to safety for those in the coaches
200 souls or more.
The next minute seemed hours.
Phil was conscious of just one pur-
pose-to get away from the coaches,
for he knew that the tank of oil would
explode or burn itself out. He leaned
far forward, pressing onward, but the
engine seemed to crawl. His breath
came hard through clinched teeth;
his eyes were set on spot ahead, but
he whispered, MARY"
Suddenly the engine shuddered and
stopped. Phil's hand was still on the
throttle. He scarcely knew that he
had stopped the engine. He felt a
great, exultant joy, for the coaches
were far behind. With grea4 Difficult
ty he flung himself toward the open
air. Falling, staggering forward, he
felt himself seized by dozen arms.
Did he dream what followed? A
pair Of strong young arms were around
his neck, and his face was being bath
ed in something cool and wet. He
felt the tense silence and wanted to
break it. The one word he heard was
"Phil |" which sounded like caress,
a sch and prayer. Then he opened
his eyes-to smile family into Mary's
dear face bending over him.
"Mary2" he whispered question:
ingly.
"Yes, DEAR" she replied. ~ came
in from the last station on your train,
and l intended to skip away quickly,
but 1 wanted to ride with you in the
cab Just once" Her voice trembled.
Phil turned his face to the wall.
The railroad official looked down on
the fair head kindly. "a doctor will
be here at once" he assured her, "but
l think he is all right anyway" He
wished he might comfort the girl.
A half hour later Phil lay on the
couch in an inner Office. Mary's fin
gers wandered lovingly through his
singed hair. His eyebrows were burn
ed, and he looked pale and worn, hut
be was rallying rapidly.
"You see, Mary" he said softly,
"your face was before me all the time.
1t was really you who saved the
train" As Mary was about to pro-
test the railroad official interl upted,
looking at Phil.
"You are the man I've been look
ing for. I've had my eyes on you for
some time, and I've seen now what
you can do in an emergency. When
1 saw you look toward the coaches
few minutes ago, then rush into the
flames, also saw that young woman"
The official faltered. Though she
never wavered. she was white, her
lips moved, and l knew that she
prayed for the man in the cab The