Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1913-02-06
A Flight
By CARROl. II. PIERCE.

the Il, L. and G. railroad, | was sit
ting on the cab seat one day waiting
for signal to pun out when | saw
young couple come running down
through an alley that led straight t.
the engine The train was a long one
and where they came up were not
very likely to he seen beyond the bag
gage and express cars The man car,
ricd suit ease and the woman hand
bag, On reaching the platform he dart
cd n glance back where persons were
getting into the train, then. looking up
at me, said hurricdly;
Say, engineer, will you let us ride
with you uwhilcW
couldn't Its contrary to positive
orders"
Would n hundred dollars repay you
for the risk you would runY'
mo, nor Il thousand"
He looked mighty crcstfallen. cast
ing glauccS 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 we
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 Il trumped up charge,
We've just been married, and Henry IL
trying 10 get me out of the old villains
clutches. lie will not suppose us to
be on the locomotive and so we can
escape"
She pleaded SO passionately that she
quite upset me, In order to gain time
told them to go round to the other
side OF the engine, where they were
much less likely 10 be seen. They did
so, and the fellow said
III you'll take us In Wen get Off at
the first stop you make, II we are
captured my wife's guardian will have
Der arrested. II we can get beyond
the state line he'll have TO get requisl
ton papers. and that will give me
time to get n lawyer"
Meanwhile the pretty young wife
was looking up nt me appealingly
through tear dimmed eyes, while her
husband was hdgetlng about IA
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
IL came down heads" by this !
mean to describe that mental process
by which man will make up hiS
mind In Il hurry on n 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
a young couple like you. but IL | do the
chances are that I'll get myself dis
charged, and then what'll dor
you can just draw on me-" said th.
groom. "till you get another job"
l didn't count on 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 door with their backs
against the seat opened the throt
tie. and we began to roll slowly on
the rails The two youngsters were
SO pleased that they Rugged each other.
"You stay Just where you are down
on the floor there. II any one should
see you md 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 takingY
asked the groom.
Not bit OF It. The only excuse !
OF my heart excited by your story. |
don't care to put myself In worse
jeopardy by taking bribe."
] made very few stops, the first be.
ing half an hour out, where there was
draw bridge and all trains were re.
CURED to stop before going over II.
told the young fellow about II and sug-
gested that II would be good place
for him and his wife TO leave the train
He asked me II lot OF questions about
the location and whether there was
anything behind which they could
skulk TIL the train passed on. told
him that there were houses lining n
paved street beside the track ! would
pull up beside one Of them. the couple
could get Off and make dash for the
rear yard. but they must lose no time
for II any one interested In capturing
them should come out on the train ms
soon as II stopped he would be looking
out for them In case they should
leave IT,
Well. when we came to the bridge
pulled up where the couple could make
bee line through narrow space be.
tween two houses. Before getting
down the girl threw her arms about
my neck and gave me IA 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
signal 10 hold on. and In few minutes
the conductor came forward with
constable and asked II | had seen "A