Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1908-191?, 1909-10-05

Jen of Culver's Jump
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By Robert Gilbert Welsh

NlSltHCt upon lnt SeCTtNN OF lutlI az
tachment But this grew insignificant
in the presence OF a graver trouble.
An elopement was what SAINT began
70 plan. on her part, she longed for
a local wedding with all the neigh
bors present and the circuitrider on
hand to perform the ceremony, which
was to be followed by supper and
dance. For weeks she pleaded for
this, the realization of many day
dreams. but SAINT was firm in his re-
fusal by clumsy inuuendoes he tried
TO point her to the true state of ar
fairs: but his was an awkward mind
with a limited range of expression,
and hers was an honest little soul
unschooled and unsuspecting.
II 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
duh 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 flakes, 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 thunder
of the train. "go back an help EN-.
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 over
the low coal-cars.
whats the matter?" she cried.
IT'S 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 we're sliding on the
slippery rails. He could not stop the
train!
Jen's voice reached him.
Amt there no way to slack up?"
"Yes. If we had Pete. But / can't
make him hear"
What dye want him for?"
''To poke the sand-box out there. 1t
must be clogged up!"
"Will that save us?"
"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 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 poe
ket of his jumper and raised 1t 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.
I'm 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
clung 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 puss 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
II 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 brave little woman" he
said.
Il did 1t for the kid" she answered.
II did II for himi"
Fifteen minutes later the freight
sped into the Hollow and stopped at
| the ghabhV liftla staffon CO... ,o.-oa