The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1913-03-13
Flight
By CAROL H. PIERCE


for signal to pull out when l saw a
young couple come running down
through an alley that led straight to
the engine. The train was a long one
and where they came up were not
very likely to be seen beyond the bag
gage and express cars. The man car
ried suit case and the woman hand
bag. On reaching the platform he dart.
ed glance back where persons were
getting into the train. then, looking up
at me. said hurriedly:
Say, engineer, will you let us ride
with you awhile?"
Couldn't. It's contrary to positive
orders
Would hundred dollars repay you
for the risk you would rum
mo, nor thousand"
He looked mighty crestfallen, cast
ing glances back among the crowds Of
persons who had come to see friends
on their journeys, He didn't seem to
know what to do. Then the young wo-
man took up the matter
"Oh. do please let us ride on your
engine. My uncle is down there look
ing for me. He's my guardian, and. in
order to get my property, is trying to
shut me up on a trumped up charge
We've just been married, and Henry is
trying to get me out of the old villains
clutches. He will not suppose us to
be on the locomotive and so we can
escape"
She pleaded so passionatey that she
quite upset me. In order to gain time
told them to 20 round to the other
side of the engine, where they were
much less likely to be seen. They did
so, and the fellow said:
IF you'll Take us in We'll get off at
the first stop you make. If we are
captured my wife's guardian will have
her arrested. If we can get beyond
the state line he'll have to get requisi
ton papers. and that will give me
time to get a lawyer
Meanwhile the pretty young wife
was looking up at me appealingly
through tear dimmed eyes. While her
husband was fdgeting about as
though he was standing on hot iron
Before any Of us could say more the
signal came. dipped an imaginary
cent. Heads do. tails don't" and
it came down heads" BY this
mean to describe that mental process
nv oh xxi1 a.,
mind in hurry on a subject the two
sides of which are drawing him eager
ly. My heart favored the couple; my
orders told me to refuse them.
Really" said. I'D like to favor
young couple like you. but if do the
chances are that III get myself dis
charged, and then what'll dor
"You can just draw on me-" said the
groom. It'll you get another job"
/ didn't count OH this at all, but my
mind was already made up. and there
was no use putting them off any longer
put out hand to the girl, lifted
her into the cab, and the man climbed
nimbly up behind her. They sat right
down on the floor with their backs
against the seat. l opened the throt
the rails. The two youngsters were
so pleased that they Rugged each other
you stay just where you are down
on the floor there. If any one should
see you and report me for allowing
you to ride in my cab it would go
hard with me-"
wont you let me pay you some
thing for the risk you are taking?"
asked the groom.
mot bit of it. The only excuse !
have for taking you on is the kindness
of my heart excited by your story. !
don't care to put myself in worse
Jeopardy by taking bride"
made very few stops. the first be-
Ing half an hour out, where there was
a draw bridge, and all trains were re
CURED to stop before going over it.
told the young fellow about it and sug
gested that it would be a good place
for him and his wife to leave the train
He asked me lot Of questions about |
the location and whether there was
anything behind which they could
skulk till the train passed on. told
him that there were houses lining a
paved street beside the track. would
pull up beside one of them, the couple
could get off and make a dash for the
rear yard, but they must lose no time
for If any one interested in capturing
them should come out on the train az
soon as 1t stopped he would be looking
out for them in case they should
leave 1t.
Well, when we came to the bridge
pulled up where the couple could make
a bee line through harrow space be-
tween two houses. Before getting
down the girl threw her arms about
my neck and gave me kiss. Then
she jumped and was caught by her
husband, and within ten seconds they
were out Of sight.
Just as was about to start got a
signal to hold on, and In few minutes
the conductor came forward with
constable and asked If ! had seen
young man and woman leave the train.
adding that they were pair Of crooks,
with suit case full of stolen jewels.
i could never give away even thief,
so | kept mum. Besides, | knew that
If 1t was known / had harbored them
the bottom Of the universe would drop
out for me.
! heard afterward that the pair hRd
escaped. but the plumber was recov.
cred.