New-York tribune., 1906-08-05
SUNDAY MAGAZINE FOR AUGUST S. 1900

the register of the steam and the height OF the
water in the glass Alma released the air threw the
reverse lever forward, and opened the throttle
couple of notches. Slowly the great drivers began
revolve and the heavy express reluctantly began
Now. Mr. Fireman." cried Alma. as the train
began to gather speed under a wider throttle, If
you do your duty Vel be in Denver at half-past
eleven But YOU We got to keep that needle up to
there and She indicated the 2Io mark on the
gage
Gilbert wiping the perspiration from his brow on
an already grirny shirt-sleeve tried to shout his
thanks. If make it, he yelled above the din
and more rapidly revolving wheels, II be under an
everlasting debt of gratitude to you. You don't
know how much 1t means to me
No, | do not, she said; but do know how
much it may mean the poor fellow stretched out
in the beggage-car to get to a hospital There IS
life to be saved, sir Did you suppose l was doing
this for yOu9''
1t was well-deserved snub, and Gilbert felt its
justice But he speedily realized that hr1ng
western express locomotive on pretty steady up
grade, under the direction OF an eXactng engineer,
and at the time maintaining polite COnver-
satiOn physical impossibility; and, besides,
the engineer herself now concentrated her whole
attention upon her work.
Faster and faster the giant engine swept on,
reeling off mile after mile at its topmOst speed,
the telegraph poles flying by like pickets on
eastern fence, the landscape merged in Giberts
eyes into one long, blurred, nOndesCript streak.
Never had he dreamed of monster with such
VOraciOuS appetite. Its constant demand to be
fed filled his soul with dismay Dizzy from the
unaccustomed motion, choked and half blinded
with coal dust, and streaming from every pore it
seemed to him that he had been ShOvelng for hours
when the businesS-hke engineer brought the train
to a smooth and easy stop at Orchard, after a
of eighteen miles As a matter of fact he had been
at work for just thirty-three minutes.
The conductor came forward and enthusiastically
wrung AlmaS hand. He had sent his despatch to
Denver and in five minutes he received orders to
proceed TO Platteville, fOrtv-five miles beyond and
thirty-fOur miles from the terminus whittier a
relief would be sent to meet him During the
instruction took water and between that point and
Plattevle the made without stop.
When Gilbert descended from his perch at the
little depot at PlatteVile to make for his pro-
fesSional successor, he realized that the day was
almost saved. 1t quarter after ten, and
the remainder of the trip could certainly be made
with regular engineer and fireman in an hour and
physical fitness, as he limped toward his with
Alma at his side he a sight for the gods. Alma
herself by free from the stains of
coal and oil, but she we'll nigh spotless by com
parisOn with him.
If he expected further to cultivate the acquaint-
anCe of Miss Lorraine the completion of these
arrangements. he was doomed to disappointment.
pulled into the station at Denver at eleven-twentv
and before he could shake off the peStiferous
reporters who instantly boarded the car and
seized upon him she had disappeared in the crowd.
Grutf1y repusing the news
gatherers Gilbert rushed to the
cab stand. but she was nowhere to
be seen. He aCcOsted a cabby
and demanded be driven i'm
mediatey the Majestic Build -
ing The driver, who had been
- eagerly soliciting other arriving NV
"A passengers, looked him over 7