The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1906-06-21
A Modern Knight
and Maiden
By ELLA MAY BUNNELL
Copyright, 1905. by Ruby Douglas

I
ed, sturdy young fellow strobe eagerly
toward the kitchen door.
"Of course. Come ill.," responded a
voice cheerlly, and Phil entered, TAX
Ing a bit of the workaday life and
/ hustle In with him.
what Is 1t, Philt" the girl asked
gently looking into the young mans
troubled eyes.
II think l must be tired tonight" he
answered eyasively. He attempted to
smile reassuringly. A firm little hand
stole comfortably into his.
Yes, but that isn't ALL" she per-
sisted
/ well, Mary, I'm wondering when we
/ are ever going to get married. I've
been attempting to master the railroad
! business, but there Is nothing settled
as to the future, and mine is an alarm
ingly small salary" Pills voice
/ sounded pathetlcally discouraged. Per
haps | should have gone into some of
fee and stayed there" he concluded
doubtfully.
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 a
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 Sprlngdale tomorrow.
Each day wonder what next"
Mary looked up into his face. Fair
knight-to-be," she chanted gayly, at
may be tomorrow that you'll win your
spurs. Go forth to conquer, for your
| lady's sake"
BLESS your 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 pulled and
glistened in the sunlight The young
mans eyes grew Keen and piercing,
and his heart beat unanimously, while
his hand rested firmly on the throttle.
The rails shone like silver ribbons in
the sun, and the train WAS soon speed
ing 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 inyoluntarily 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
! Ia,
thought than his immediate work was
far from him, although Mary was al
ways In his subconsciousness. At the
last station before his home glimpse
of n light, girlish figure made Mary
seem especially near for Il moment
The girl had Mary's grace and airiness
as she sprang on to a car platform,
but even the feeting 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 Pills
trip was ended. Another man would
take the train on.
Phil almost patted the throttle as the
! train came to Il stop, and 1t WAS with
regret that he would give up the en-
CINE. "A beauty" he thought, and
guess I'm on time" he smiled.
He saw visiting railroad official ap-
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 We're
transiixed 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 lie 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 to
/ choke him. He felt hot breath
against his cheek. Red points darted
out ut him from an indefinite "some-
where He heard quick, gurgling
! tempest of sounds. Was it the wind?
! he wondered. lie thought it was, but
/ he didn't cure.
Then something seemed to SNIP. Per
! haps 1t WIS the expression on a face
he saw III Imagination that did it, He
whispered MARY and sprang with
all his strength for the opening out Of
! the cab. As he leaped from the burn
! ing cab which WAS an angry surging,
| threatening mass, new life came to
| him. He began to understand. His
mind worked rapidly and with preci-
sion. As he turned instantaneously to-
ward the coaches back of the engine
! he saw 1t adjust what might happen
| 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 press
| ed against his face, and returned to the
cab lie had gone with hand out
stretched for the throttle. He felt
| thankful that it was not necessary for
him to see; he could feel and knew Just
/ whore TO press the throttle most surely.
In the moment In which he had discov-
cred the oil tank he had uncoupled the
coaches, and when blinded with smoke
and flames, he felt and pressed the
throttle the burning thing sprang away
and ofr-perhaps to safety for those In
the coaches, 200 souls or more.
The next minute seemed hours. Phil
was conscious of Just ono purpose-to
get away from the coaches, for he
knew that the tank of oil would ex-
plode or burn itself out He leaned far