The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1909-09-23

But THIS grew 1n~SlgnlncanI
In the presence of a graver trouble.
An elopement was what SAINT began
to plan. On her part, she longed for
local wedding with all the neigh
bors present and the circuit-rider IN
hand to perform the ceremony, which
was to be followed by supper and a
dance. For weeks she pleaded for
this, the realization of many day
Dreams, but SAINT was firm in his re-
fusal. By clumsy innuendoes he tried
to point her to the true state of az
fairs; but his was an awkward mind
with a limited range of expression,
and hers was an honest little soul
unschooled and unsuspecting.
It was a dreary November day
when he picked Jen up on his way
to the mines and gave his consent to
the plans for the wedding. Her Joy at
this welcome news frightened the
dull day for him, and as they waited
for the loading at the summit they
sat by the siding and discussed the
arrangements for the festivities with
a light-heartedness that had not been
theirs of late. She watched him as
he oiled the Streak.
Presently they started down with
the IL empty freight-cars. The fur
ry Of snow had increased and now fell
in big, damp fakes, which melted as
they reached the ground. Wet and
shiny in the. late afternoon light, the
winding rails stretched before them.
The train slipped along with a speed
that made SAINT uneasy. He glanced
back and noticed with some relief
that the men were busy tightening
their brakes.
"Pete," he called above the thundsr
of the train, "go back an help 'em.
Put the brakes down hard!"
There was a note in the command
which caused Jen to glance up quick
ly. Something she read in his set
face confirmed her fear. She saw the
darkness and the storm swallow the
fireman as he clambered back ove7
the low coal-cars.
whats the matter?" she cried.
TITS all right, little woman" an
swered~ SAINT, his hand on the levers,
his eye scanning the track ahead.
He turned to the engine again and,
cutting off the steam, applied the air.
brakes. For a moment they could not
realize the truth. Then it broke upon
them. The wheels sliding on the
slippery rails. He could not stop the
train!
Jen's voice reached him.
"Afn't there no way to slack up?"
"Yes, If we had Pete. But 1 cant
make him hear"
what dye want him for?"
ITO poke the sand-box out there. It
must be clogged up"
will that save u.s."
"Mebbe."
"Who cares?" she cried. Lets go
smashin' down to Kingdom Come to
gether. l amt been sure O. you some
how. But this way I am sure!"
Molly" he groaned.
Jen faced him.
Who's Molly?" she demanded.
The words choked him. Then he
whispered hoarsely. "My wife,"
where is she?"
"In New York"
For a moment a fury seized her.
She caught the ferrule from the poc-
ket of his jumper and raised it to
strike him while they stood there
swaying.
It'll be hard on the poor kid" he
said absently. "He was fond O. me-"
The uplifted hand fell and the an
ger died out of Jen's face. A strug-
+, gle, brief as it was poignant, swept
over her.
"Ill save yer for him!" she cried,
and before he realized her intention
she climbed out through the little win
dow on her perilous way to the sand.
box. The fury of the snow choked
and blinded her. The downward
plunge of the train brought her to
her knees on the running-board and
would have flung her off. Madly she
chung with bleeding hands to the icy
rail that ran along the boiler, and,
praying and sobbing, she worked her
way on, inch by inch. An eternity
seemed to pass before she reached the
sand-box. There, still clinging to the
rail with one hand, she flung back the
lid with the other. Her cropping fin
gers told her that the box was nearly
filled with clogged sand. She loosened
it with convulsive movements. She
waited a moment. Yes, there was a
%slackening of speed. They were al.
ready on the much dreaded tangent.
but the sand was sitting down on the
wheels and track-the train was un-
der control!
Presently she found herself back in
the cab, with SAINT bending over her.
you're a brave little woman" he
said.
II did it for the kid" she answered.
II did it for him."
Fifteen minutes later the freight
sped into the Hollow and stopped at
the shabby little station. SAINT leaped
out and helped a white, nerveless fig
ure down. He laid one hand on her
arm timidly.
"Jon won't ver nevar FORGIVE NJ o.,