Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-12-08
By EMMA ARCHER OSBORNE


superintendent OF the eastern division
OF the railroad and had married Lib
bic Nelson. The wedding was only
yesterday, and now that IL was over
and they had started for the east the
villagers had time 10 revert TO the
story. The Nelson's were so proud of
their new son-in-law that they could
not restrain themselves from telling.
despite the protestations OF Libhie and
jim
Shortly after the night OF the church
concert when Casey heard Libbie Mel
son sing that song which had some
thing In IL about angels In charge"
he commenced 10 think things about
angels, and one day his Imagination
evolved an angel. or something as near
like one as he could picture. When
Casey's mental vision beheld II he
DroEc into satisfied grin. IL brought
fort! to visual observation 1t would
have appeared strlkingly like Libbie
Nelson.
Things went along quietly for two
months and then something hap
pened
While Casey was on his way TO the
yards ut Buffalo to board 300 for
me return trip an ambulance went
galloplng past him. Ambulances pass
people frequently i'm big city, and
there was nothing about this one i'm
particular 10 apprise Casey that Nat
Taylor. fireman for Bill Whalen. who
was running 500. was inside 1t was
nasty night. and Taylor had slipped
ON the icy tracks and broken IA leg.
when Casey, with a few extra min
utes on hand, sauntered into the train
dispatcher's office he found that insti-
tuition in voluble ferment. OF course
everybody was sorry for Taylor. but
fireman with broken leg was of
small concern in comparison with the
awkward situation in which he had
left them
y special. carrying the president Of
the road from New York TO Chicago
on business of vital import. was at
that moment only ten miles from the
station and coming at the rate of a
mile a minute.
Bill Whalen, one of the best en-
gineers on the road, and 500 the
pick and pride of the roundhouses
were out in the depot yards waiting to
reileve the incoming and already over
heated locomotive Whalen and 500
were ready TO couple on at a moments
notice. but no substitute had yet been
found for Taylor, ard there were pre-
cious few minutes To spare
Casey was not given long to ponder
ON the excitement Of the office. He
had no more than crossed the threshold
Wien Thompson, the train dispatcher.
Literally leaped across the room and
i:2sped him by the arm
Get out to 800 as quick as you CAMP
lie shouted Hurry! For Gods sake
hurry! Don't stop for anything! Run!
Whalen III tell you"
Casey peeled off his coat as he was
climbing into the cab. and he had
scarcely grabbed shovel and com
menced to throw coal when the special,
staining and Wheeling, crunched on
tn track alongside
Switching and coupling were matters
OF seconds only, and, although the
nj mt was intensely cold, two men
stood on the platform Of the single
coach anxiously watching proceedings.
One was large. stern visaged person.
He was restless. He chewed at his
short white mustache, buttoned and
unbuttoned his fur coat and never took
his eyes off the engine until they were
getting under Roadway.
do your best, boys" he shouted
across the tender to the men i'm the en-
CINE as they shunted on the main track
and set off. The determined mods he
received i'm reply were assuring.
Wakeful farmers and belated vii
layers were puzzled by the unusual
traveller as 800 with her single con
sort momentarily flashed on their view
like monster one eyed demon wrath.
sliding. cleaning, screeching across
country
The special had left murky Cleve-
land and haG climbed the long west
grade to the bluff land bordering the
lake. The snow bad turned to sleet.
and everything indicated that IL had
been sleeting for some time I'm that 10
cality The landscape glistened. tele-
graph poles and fences shone like crys-
tal specters. wires were thick with in
crustations. and after a distance they
were sagging. aud then some were
broken and dragging on the ground.
There's no use talking" growlcd
Wbalcn. I've got TO slow down some
"r Wen be blown into the middle Of
nowhere. Get away from this devilish
lake. then we can make up"
He eased 500 a bit Yet she puffcd
and pulled and stuck nobly to her task.
IF orders to clear the tracks didn't
get through before those wires went
down we may be all in" observed Ca
tey.
You're about right" replied Whalen
glumly. but the only thing / can do
is TO watch for signals"
And i'm n drizzling sleet like this
there might Just about as well he no
signals" continued Casey