The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-11-09

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"
Il can" spoke up Nettie Sam
taught me how TO run an engine. It's
down grade for the first forty miles. /
We can run By gravity most Of the
way, and by then steam viii be up. /
The fires are banked"
Westhan turned 10 her eagerly.
You think you CAM" he asked.
Il 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 engi- /
neer's wife should know something
about engines. Your porter can fire
for me-"
Westhau turned TO her eagerly.
"See that the line is clear he said |
1.-THE train cannot have left the juno.
ton. If it has not, order 1t 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 car had been backed up to the
/ station platform, and an old freight
! car had been added to give balance TO
4 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 a veteran.
Once the first drop was crossed the
grade was lighter, and Nettie increased
the speed. Steam was coming up fast
now, and as she watched the gauge
she realized that when they should
need 1t there would be steam in plenty.
They swung down past the foothills.
out upon the 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 exhilaration 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
Westhall came out on the front plat
form and passed note to the porter.
With a glow of pride Nettie read the
order to run on TO Pressville and real
tied that she had the right of way over
the main Hne-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,
where there was a hospital, and she
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.
Nettie climbed out of the cab as the
stretcher was lifted from the presi-
dents car. Westhal stopped moment
on his way across the platform.
you can get your trousseau ready,
he said. If your teacher is as good
an engineer as you, he is slated for a
passenger run. I win 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 the old freight engine
. was slowly climbing the grade Nettie
patted Sans hand as it grasped the
> throttle.
Il can't ride with you on the main
: line" she said regretfully. I'VE shall
l miss old SIG"
But the main line leads to matri
: mony," he reminded as he kissed her.