The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1913-02-07
A Flight
By CAROL H. PIERCE.

the r. l.. and G.. railroad. l was sit
ting on the cab seat one day waiting
for a 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 n
and where they came up were not
very likely to be e beyond the bag
gage and express cars. The nan car
ried a suit case and the woman a hand
bag. On reaching the platform he dart
ed q 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 a hundred dollars repay you
for the risk you would run?"
mo, nor a 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 al
escape"
She pleaded so passionately that she
quite upset me. In order to gain time
I told them to 60 round to the other
side Of the engine, where they were
much less likely to be seen. They did
50, and the fellow said:
III you'll take us in we'll get of ut
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
AVOhAA46 up a. uO NPPSAAAAoAJ
through tear dimmed eyes, while her
husband was fidgeting about as
though he was standing on hot iron.
Before any of us could say the
signal came. ! tipped an imaginary
cent. Heads l do. tails I don't" and
1t came down heads" BY this l
mean to describe that mental process
by which a man will make up his
mind in a 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" I said. I'D like to favor
a young couple like you. but If l do the
chances are that I'll get myself dis
charged, and then what'll do?".
"You can Just draw on me-" said the
groom, It'll you get another job"
l didn't count on this 1T all, but my
mind was already made up. and there
was no use putting them off any longer.
l put out 4 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. ] 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. If any n should
see you and report me for allowing
you to ride in my cab it would 60
hard with me-"
won't you let me pay you some
thing for the risk you are taking?'
asked the groom.
mot n bit Of it. The only excuse l
have for taking you OF is the kindness
of my heart excited by your story. l
don't care to put myself In worse
jeopardy by taking a BRIDE"
l 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. l
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 a 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 We're houses lining a
paved street beside the track. l 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 as
soon as it stopped he would be looking
out for them in case they should
leave it.
Well. when we zane to the bridge l
pulled UP where the couple could make
4 bee line through a narrow space be-
tween two houses. Before getting
down the girl threw her arms about
my neck and gave he a kiss. Then
she jumped and was caught by her
husband. and within ten seconds they
were out of sight.
Just as l was about to start l got a
signal to hold on. and In a few minutes
the conductor came forward with a
---A- -. ~ - 49,