Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1913-02-21
different.

different.
Feeling pretty fine, l see," some
one remarked to him as he hooked
his engine to the Meteor, southwest
from st. Louis.
mo name for it," he grinned in re-
ply. We'll fly today. Might be some
one waiting for me at the other end"
And they did fly. Chalmers opened
up and took the whole run at record
speed. But this was in that same
evil period of 1907, and there was
compound curve at Rollo, Mo-, that
lay in wait for him. When he left
the rails his speed was SO great that
the engine was flung right over back
ward and rested close beside the bag
bago car, setting it afire. All in
minute, from whistling love song to
the girl he expected to greet at the
end of the run, he found himself fac
ing a slow roasting.
He felt as if he had the whole
train across his knees, and, twisting
himself, he could see that the broken
door Of the baggage car held him
pinned down to the roof of the cab.
The flames were breaking out close
to him, and his chances looked slim
Harry Prescott, the dining-car con-
ductor, was first to see his danger.
but the door was jammed fast
Get an AK, Harry" he groaned.
Cut my legs off at the knees. It's
my only hope"
Prescott made jump for the first
car, which lay on the side in the ditch,
but could not get at the ak in its
rack on account of girl who had
her knees pinched between the last
two seats. He took in the situation
IL an instant, showed his shoulder I'M
der the broken seat-end, released the
girl. seized the AK with one hand, took
her by the arm with the other, and
pulled her into the open.
He did it incidentally, not even
looking at the girl, but, as people will
90 hn a state OF great excitement, he
called 20 hear as he ran:
Sorry l can't help you, but l got
10 cut Fred Chalmers legs off"
She had fallen in q heap, too
bruised to stand, but at his words
she jumped to her feet and hobbled
of excitedly after him toward the en-
CINE And, as she ran, she began to
sob.
Don't cut his legs off! Don't do it,
please. He's my Harry; I'm going to
meet him today, and he can't walk
without legs"
Prescott neither heard nor saw her,
but as he reached the engine he found
Chalmers leaning back full length to
avoid the flames. His trousers were
half burned, and even his coat was
catching fire. There was no time to
waste. Prescott raised the AK and
| Chalmers closed his eyes.
But the ak did not fall. The girl
had seized it. Prescott swung around
as much to avoid the flames as to
face her; and she, pointing to the
blazing door, cried:
Lift it off, can't you? Lift it off,
tell you! Didn't you lift it off me-"
1t was no time to argue, and she
held the AK with all her strength
Lift ii off," she cried again. It's
loose"
Chalmers heard the voice just as he
was sinking into Inconsistencies,
and instinctively raised himself up.
He was too much astonished at see
ing the girl to realize what happened
thel; but, Involuntary raising his
legs, the weight gave way, charred
end of board fell across his feet, and
Prescott, quick to see the chance,
seized him by the arm and pulled him
free from the cab.
81 wanted to ride with you. Harry,
without you knowing it" the girl
whispered to him. Providence must
have made me take this train
Koncae Citv