The Washington herald., 1914-10-11
Light ENGINE.


LIGHT ENGINE.
Toward the close of that summers day II was
le whim Of that arch-manager Of theatricals whom
call Fate to stage an anticlimax IN the midst
a vast and hilly expanse of desolate middle west
country-a rude and rugged disk Of earth which
asted no human tenancy within the circle Of its
r-hung horizon and was bsected, not neatly, rath-
irregularly, by the flowing double line Of steel
lbons which marked the railroads right Of way
n the old Santa Fe trail
10 much for the stage: the light effects were
vided exclusively by the crimson and purple and
gold Of portentous sunset; the properties en-
ployed were simply a special train and what is
known light engine.
It was the engineer Of the light engine who start
ed the trouble After bringing his monster to .
full pause he turned upon his passengers and
not without plausible excuse-violently indicted Mr.
Alan Law for abuse of his and his hreman's trust
fulness. This the said fireman (elimbing forward
over the tender) vigorously applauded.
They had been engaged, both gentlemen assert
ed vigorously, for nothing more dangerous than a
quick run across the prairies in furtherance Of the
unspecifed plans Of Mr.. Alan Law and his compan-
ion, Miss Judith Trine After starting out, they
had wickedly and maliciously been bribed by the
said Law to put on speed and catch up with the
special. in order that he might rescue from the
latter young woman, his bridetobe and the sis
ter Of Miss TTfne
But-and here was the grievance-they hadn't
bargained to be shot at with pistols. And pre-
cisely that outrage had been put upon them during
and subsequent to the moment Of rescue
It was unhappy Mr.. Barcus who precpitated the
affair. This gentleman was suffering from severe
sprain to his Of decent pride In the service
of Miss Rose Trine and her betrothed, Mr.. Law,
Barcus had blackened his face and hands to the
, hue Of ebony and had garmented himself in the
gsrb Of Pullman porter, surrendering himself to
fIgoflr n I'D fhn al
suffering their insolence and scorn without q muir.
mur but with the tides Of wrath mounting ever
higher in his bosom.
And now, when at length he had won his free
dom from that ignominious servitude, it was only
to be sworn at ana vilifed, q common Niger, by
railroad hands!
1t was the fireman Ito be JUST who brought the
row to focus by a sighting reference to that
"shiftless and misbegotten dinge."
He repented quite promptly. Mr.. Barcus jumped
for his throat with below Of rage. The fireman
slipped the cab platform, trod nothing, and
went over backwards taking Mr.. Barcus with him
to the ballast
At almost the same moment Mr.. Law, attempt
ing to restrain the engineer from going to the
sistance of his fellow-worker, ducked in under q
vicious swing for his chin, grappled with his foe,
tripped him up-and went with him to the ground
on the opposite side Of the locomotive from that
occupied by Mr.. Barcus and the fireman.
For the next several seconds he was very busy
indeed keeping his face out Of the ballast The
gineer was a heavy man, but active and infuriated
He fought like demon unclaimed. It was all very
exciting. Mr.. Law was even beginning to enjoy It
when he heard a woman shrek. At the same in
slant revolvers began to pop.
Mr. Law released his foe almost as quickly as he
was released. Both rose one man, to fnd Judith
Trine beside them, little smile Of excitement
playing round her lips as she looked up the track
and watched the special slow down to q stop
several persons on the back platform plying busy
triggerfngers all the while.
As these last threw open the platform gates and
dropped to the-basst, still perforating the air with
many bullets, Mr. Law, Miss Judith Trine and that
late bellgerent the engineer turned simultaneous
ly and sought the rear Of the tender.
On the opposite side they found Rose Trine and
Mr. Barcus standing uncertainty above the body Of
the fireman, who, it appeared had stunned himself
In falling and remained insensible
The appearance of Law and Judith from behind
the tender, closely pursued by the engineer, who
was In turn closely pursued by gentlemen with
revolvers stirred Barcus and Rose to action. Alan
passed him at a round pace pausing only long
enough to seize Rose and drag her with him toward
the special Judith flung him phrase Of we'll
meant advice in passing:
Come along, you simpleton-unless you want to
be shot down where you stand!"
Mr. Barcus acted on that advice, as Immediately
as resentfully Judith Trine was little before him
at the steps Of the Pullman: Mr.. Law had already
assisted Rose aboard Mr. Barcus ungraciously
gave place to the lady: his ngrained chivary
Iy strained by bullets that kicked among the bal
last round his feet.
Mr.. Barcus heaved heartfelt sigh, sat down
heavily on a camp chair. and mopped his heated
brow, watching the lights Of the locomotive drop
swiftly back into the cleaning.
IF any of those guys" he assured Mr.. Law pres
emily. could hit barn door with gatling gun at
twenty paces-well, wouldn't be proving myself
the giddy ass am by sticking to your ill-starred
fortunes. There wouldn't be any to stick to, be-
cause you'd have been snufed out long, long ago