The Irish standard., 1906-10-13
-0C
A FOOL FOR LOVE
By FRANCIS LYNDE
AUTHOR OF "rHs oRAFrERs" Rro
IS -
copyright. 1905. b. up. Lippinco.t co.,

Eyes. BY gum! and that means all
night" growled the conductor.
There was stir in the gathering
throng Of half-alarmed and all-curious
passengers. and a red-faced, white
mustached gentleman. whose soft
southern accent was utterly at varl-
ance with his manner, hurled a ques-
ton bolt-like at the conductor.
"All night, you say, sch? Then we
miss Duh Denver connections. 2"
You can bet to win on that" was
the curt reply.
| "Damn!" said the red-faced gentle
man; and then in lower tone: 81
beg your pahdon, my deah Virginia: 1
was totally unaware Of your pres
ence.''
| Winton threw of his overcoat.
| If you will take bit Of help from
an outsider, I think we needn't wait
for the wrecking car" he said to the
dubitant trainmen. Its bad, but not
as bad as 1t looks. What do you
say?"
| Now, as everyone knows, 1t ia not
in the nature Of operative railway men
to brook Interference even of the help
full sort. But they are as quick as
other folk to recognize the man in esse.
as we'll as to know the clan slogan
when they hear it. Winton did not
wait for objections. but took over the
command as one in authority.
Think we can't do it? I'll show
you. Up on that tank, one of you,
and heave down the jacks and frogs.
Well have her on the steel again be-
fore you can say your prayers"
At the hearty command, churlish
reluctance vanished and everybody lent
a willing hand. In two minutes the
crew OF the Limited" knew it was
working under master. The frogs
were adjusted under the derailed
wheels. the jack-screws were braced to
lit and push with the incest accuracy,
and all was ready for the attempt to
back the engine in trial. But now the
engineer shook his head.
Il amt the artist to move her gently
enough with all that string o. dinkeys
behind her." he said unhopefully.
MOI" said Winton. Como up into
the cab with me and III show you how"
And he climbed to the drivers footboard
with the doubling engineer at his heels.
The reversing-lever went over with a
slang; the air whistled into the brakes;
and Winton began to ease the throttle
open. The steam sang into the cylin-
ders. the huge machine trembling like
living thing under the hand of master.
Slowly and by almost imperceptible de-
srees the life of the pent-up boiler pow
or crept into the pistons and out through
the connecting-rods to the wheels. With
the first thrill Of the gripping tires Win
ton leaned from the window to watch
the derailed trucks climb by half Inches
up the inclined planes Of the frogs.
At the critical instant, when the en-
tire weight of the forward half of the
engine was poising for the drop upon the
rails, he gave the precise added impulse.
The big ten-wheeler coughed hoarsely
and spat fire; the driving wheels made
quick half-turn backward; and cheer
I SAOHi IuC OlIlOOhClb uudL hcu IIIe llLIlo
triumph Of mind over matter
Winton found Miss Carteret holding
his overcoat when he swung down from
the cab, and he fancied her enthusiasm
was tempered with something remotely
like embarrassment. But she suffered
him to walk back to the private car be-
side her; and in this sudden retreat from
| kho ~ nkf0 \ I, ii, 4,
comments of his fellow-craftsmen.
"You bet. he's no prentice" said the
fireman.
mot much!" qloth the engineer.
Hes an all-'round artist, that's about
what he is. Shouldn't wonder If he was
the travelin' engineer for some road
back in Gods country"
"Travelin' nothing!" said the con-
ductor. More likely he's train mas
ter r p'raps bigger boss than that.
Call in the flag, Jim, and we'll be get
ling move"
Oddly enough. the comment on Win
tonsdid not pause with the encomiums
Of the train crew. When the Limited"
was once more rushing on it's way
through the night, and Virginia and he.
cousin were safely in the privacy of their
state-room, Miss Carteret added her
word.
do you know, Bessie, / think 1t was
Mr.. Adams who scored this afternoon?"
she said.
How SOP" inquired la petite Bisque,
who was too sleepy to be overcurious.
II think he took rise out Of me, as
he puts it. Mr.. Winton is precisely all
the kinds Of man Mr.. Adams said he
wasn't"
| CHAPTER III.
| II was late breakfast time when the
| Transcontinental Limited" swept
around the great curve in the eastern
fringe of Denver. paused for a register
Ing moment at yard limits" and went
Gathering in ovaS the switches to come
to rest at the end of it's long westward
run on the in-track at the Union depot.
Having wired ahead to have his mail
meet him at the yard limits registering
=