Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-10-23

fireman was here, he could run the en-
CINE. but he has gone with Timmons.
There is no one here who can run an
engine"
II can" spoke up Nettie. Sam
taught me how TO run an engine. It's
down grade for the first forty miles.
We car run by gravity most Of the
way, and by then steam will be up.
The fires are banked"
Westhall turned TO her eagerly.
You think you cam" he asked.
II have run the old engine" she an
swered confidently. Il am going to
marry Sam some day when he gets a
main line run, and he said an engl-
neers wife should know something
about engines. Your porter can fire
for me-
Westhall turned TO her eagerly.
"See that the line Is clear" he said.
THE train cannot have left the june
! ton. If 1t has not, order It to remain
there"
Nicholas hurried in to the telegraph
instrument. and presently its clicks an
nounced that the track was clear. Net
tie climbed into the cab and took her
seat on the engineers side. The negro
porter came after her and under her
instructions began TO make up the fire
| BY the time the rest OF the hunting
party arrived with the injured man the
private ear had been backed up TO the
station platform, and an old freight
car had been added TO give balance to
the train.
Young Westhall was scarcely put
aboard when the signal was given,
and, throwing over the throttle, Nettie
moved the train slowly out on the main
/ track.
For the first five or six miles the
track dropped sharply down the side
Of the mountain, and she used little
steam in the cylinders. She knew the
road as well as the path from her
home TO the station, and she swung
the light train about the sharp curves
with The skill OF veteran.
Once the first drop was crossed the
grade WIS lighter, and Nettie increased
the peea Steam was coming up fast
now, : she watched the gauge
she II at when they should
need il nd be steam in plenty.
They ; down past the foothills,
out upon tie plain and she threw open
the lever The old freight engine that
was the sole motor power of the
branch line was not capable of better
than thirty miles on the level, so she
felt thrill of exhilaratlon as the crack
engine of the line skinned over the
rails responsive to her slightest touch
on the throttle She was almost sorry
when at last the junction came IN
sight. but as they crossed the bridge
Westhal came out on the front plat
form and passed a note to the porter
With a glow of pride Nettie read the
order to run on to Pressville and real
lied that she had the right of way over
the main line-the main line which
meant so much TO her.
Don't stop at the Junction" the or
der ran. You have a clear track and
can handle the engine"
The main line was strange to her but
she knew that there were but one or
two small towns before Pressville.
] Muf4f NHtlt NdN a iAOTlilNdls anu NA4t
did not slacken speed until they came
in sight OF the yard. Then she slowly
picked her way over the switches and
into the station. where an ambulance
was already waiting
Ncttie climbed out or the cab as the
stretcher was lifted from the presi-
dents car. Westhall stopped a moment
on his way across the platform.
You can get your rousseau ready
he said. III your teacher is as good
an engineer as you, he Is slated for "a
passenger rum / will have the special
run YOU back to the junction. where
the branch train Is waiting for YOU.
While the dusk closed down on the
mountain and Che old freight engine
was slowly climbing the grade Netlie
patted Sans hand as it grasped the
throttle
II can't ride with YOU ON the main
line. She said regretfully. eve shall
miss old 31G"
"But the main line leads 10 matri-
mony." he reminded as he kissed her