Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-18


tonight? Just say the word an it's go
sort of preliminary wedding trip, yod
know"
Sunny grinned down at his sweetheart.
his homely, lovable face alight with eager
expectations. On the payroll he was
james Gerald engineer but his intima.es
wrought his CHEEKY nature into nick
name which stuck.
You don't mean ride on your engine
Sure thing! I've got orders to take old
40 down the High Line division ct The
c. and S. far as Como. to pull the pas
senger up grade tomorrow. Now i've eo'
you here at Boreas for the day, We couldn't
ask better chance. Bein' one the
highest roads in the state we slide DOWN
hill from close on to 1900 feet at pretty
lively gait, like the fellow in the Latin
book when he got started for-you know.
oh Sunny, can II
A freckled face of fresh, western girl
hood was lifted excitedly, IS Bessie MGR
gan clasped her hands about the raili oai-
er's arm, her feminine mind busJ WITH the
proprieties. -
It's up to you, Bess. I said you could,
and We'll make you queen o the cab.
SILLY! / mean is it proper?
Now, little woman. the track Gear.
So don't be calling red light ahead when
it's all white, running for the wedding
It's no fault o mine we amt married But
won't Fireman ,Goodie German chaperon
us equal to any petticoat highfyer? Course
the night with Cousin Jennie at como. an
you can go down to Denver with the reg
ular in the morning..
you know, Sunny. l actually wish we
were married cause
Now you're going some. Boss. Eut
there's the license an we've hardly got
time to couple W before"
Down breaks, sir. l meant Just tor to-
night" and she drew away roguisaly.
"But when wedding trains are male up
it's for long run, girl. You can't ON
ag'in' without somebody bein' wrecked NO.
a tie-up's a tie-up. an If we -ar st all
it's on the same track-an plum 10 tie
Great Home Station
20, Sunny
80, Honey
Don't be funny, But I'll try a short run
with you tonight and-then Wei see"
Il wish you'd take a through ticket, Bess,
but I'll try living a night at time, for to-
night; an some day you'll flag my train an
then All aboard for Happiness! Wear your
Oldest buds an bring your motor goggles
for cinders. We pull out at 9.15 sharp"
And you don't think people will say
things?'
D drat people. It's just you an me
an 'Goodie' on a helper engine down to
Como, an who's to know? You'll strike
Denver with the swells on the regular-an'
l bet it'll be tame after the ride give you.
But if Is you, Bess, I'd make up my mind
what's right for me, an then open my
throttle an run 'cordin' to my own sched-
ule, whzzin through such sooty minded
folk like the lightning express through cat
tie. Give 'em a warning foot for right
way, an prapS few cinders ieft IN their
eyes'll keep 'em from lookin' for dirt in
yours"
Lauging, Bess blew him tantalizing kiss
as she hurried away to prepare for the
evenings adventure. :.
clear Colorado night glinting with stars
saw an eager little figure with close-httlng
cap and exhilarating heartbeat lifted INTO
the cab of mo 40 Safely installed at the
fremans window, Bess found the thin
mountain air strangely inadequate TO salts
fly her breathless expectation
She knew that mo. - another helper on
the steep grade, was to follow ana penino
that an extra train. On -" was an engi-
neer, Bud Wilson, new to this narrow
gauge. sky-scraping line, and veteran
fireman, Scott.
Sunny remarked casually; rather
have the greeny ahead O me-though he's
a good man all right. But he amt used to
runnin' so near heaven. with 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. SCOT and sweltering
reek of the boiler together with the scorch-
ing breath Of the fireboX, made her pant
with more than excitement.
Goodie German, with embarrassed inter,
est and rough courtesy, handled her ball
of cotton waste, saying:
ut beats a handkerchief on these runs
an comes in handy for sweat rag II
nothin' else; but we use EN- turn ABOUT TOT
towels an wash rags. too
Thank you so much. It's all so interest
ing 1 feel as If 1 were in a new world with
no end of wonders all about me-
Goodie grinned with pleasure, his race
standing out like a rudy tableau as he FED
big chunks of coal to the gaping NAV OF
the firebox and Sunny jumped aboard.
Hello, there" was her lovers brief
greeting as he stepped to the engine driv-
er's box. An arm, sleeved in blue denim.
waved the signal and a cry "All right!
rang out. A whistle shrieked an echolng
wall down the heights while with the deal
ening clamor Of the bell Bess felt titanic
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 deft gentleness,
and through the almost caressing action
Bess knew her first rival in mo. 40. The
great black throat cleared itself with gut
tural hoarseness as the monster or IRON anu
steel moved, answering to his touch like
some mighty steed as it glided ponderously
forward.
In the shadow-haunted cab darkness
gloomed save within the radius OF small
lantern showing both steam and water
gauge and the dial Of the chronometer.
AS smoothly they cleft the nights mys-
terry, Goodie fed the fire, flooding the place
with a rudy glow as Wen as d piiStci AiS
heat, Looming to exaggerated proportions,
the girl saw her lover, master OF this leap
ing, quivering force, his eyes unswervingiy
to the 'front.' firm grip fast on the steel
throttle his thought riveted on his precious
freight.
To Ress a new womanhood was born
as she dwelt on her helpnessless. relying
upon his power. With enlarged vision she
looked along the roadbed of the future, to
see the covering rails of love and trust meet
in a shining track of faith, which would
surely lead to the land of Hearts Desire,
with such a man at the throttle.
The "helper'' had the right of way to
Como, and Sunny was determined that Bess
should not be disappointed of her thriller"
as with the controlled recklessness of per-
feet mastery he gave 40. little rein
The rush of keen air, the rugged noun
tains shouldering one another against a
star-studded sky one side and what
seemed fathomless, night-filled abyss on
the other awed the girl into shy thoughts
of the great terminus.
But Goodie swung wide the door OF the
fire-box on its iron chain. and fitting ra-
vine and towering peaks blazed in the req
light of some hellish region through which
they were dashing. frantic to escape, the
fireman a captured demon making burnt
offerings Then the door slams shut anu