Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1914-05-28

OF the window and Thinking sravely.
There wasa long stbp by and by. and
the stranger spokejof 1t.
YES" agreed the ex-engineer, I'VE
ought to be out Of here. This is Cor
don Junction. and the st. Louis train
Is In ahead of us."
The conductor presently came
hustling into the car.
Lucky you're aboard. Billy" he
said. hopping his brow. Jimmie Dale
has just taken sick in the cab, and
you'll have to pull US in to the end
OF the division. I'll report to head
quarters that you're In charge"
There was no vehement outburst Of
refusal. such as the stranger had ex-
pected. Instead. the ex-engineer sat
silent for some time, moistening his
lips alternately with a curious, slow
deliberation.
You know where we are. don't you.
Murphy?" he finally returned. and
the conductor gave a smile OF under
standing indulgence. Cant Jimmie
last until we pass the Edsarville
SNA 'S' NOh hSE III
from there"
Last" repeated Murphy. He's in
the baggage car on cot now, with q
doctor that we got out OF the Cincin-
natl sleeper. Acute gastritis. he calls
it, Nothing to it. Billy-you1l have to
forget that old affair and take the
throttle.
Without word the ex-engineer
arose. and, compressing his lips,
walked out of the car and toward the
engine. The stranger noticed that as
he went he was swapping the fingers
OF each hand alternately.
1t was an engine OF a new type. but
the man who climbed into 1t had been
for nearly ten years in the shops Of
the road. and he knew every lever
every cock. every device that con.
fronted him. Slowly he opened the
steam way. slowly the ponderous
wheels began to revolve. and all at
once the old tingle came back into
his finger tips. into his hand, into his
arm, into the muscles OF his back, into
his entire body. Once more, as Il
Sathercd speed, he WAS part and par
eel OF his engine; the breeze that
came In Mt tho cab windows swept
across his face and rufiied his sriz-
zled hair; the rock and the sway of
the big machine struck him with a
keen sensation az OF one homesick
but returned home
Little by little he "let her out" and
they spun past farmhouse and fields
and hills. past woods and marsh and
sandy waste. through rocky cut and
across bridge and trestle and culvert,
over brook and creek and sluggist
river. There came upon him an ex.
hilaration AS if he had tasted OF new
wine. Even At the head OF tho grade
leading down to the Edgarville curve
he seemed to be half drunk with the
Joy of 1t all, and bllthely he called
across the cub 10 the green fireman.
We're al! right this morning. my
boy; the semaphore is clear-clear as
crystal"
They were just nearing the signal
tower when suddenly he gave a
scream that set his fireman aquiver,
and. throwing himself upon his lever.
he reversed. With all his might he
grlpped the steel handle. staring
straight ahead with horror-w idened
eyes and tightly clenched jaws. for
his face gone as white as his hair.
lhe momentum was too great to al
low the train to be stopped at the
tower. but with u jerk it came to 4
standstill at tho field Iust ba\ord the
curve.
The conductor and the stranger
were the iirst TO come running on
ahead. to find the engineer In the
empty field. limping painfully with his
hahd upon his back and bending over,
hrst To one side ard then to the other.
talking; and each time he stretched
trembling hand to where both arms
or the semaphore. the red aud the
white, hung straight down in the sun.
light.
I can't find the little girl that locks
like my Elsie!" he complained, as
they approached him. Then lie slow
ly raised his head and met their
glance; his eyes were wide set. and
there was in them the wild light which
no man, having once seen. can ever
forget
1t wasn't my fault" he exclaimed
piteously. pointing his trembling hand
toward the signal tower The sema.
phore was clear-clear as a CRYSTAL,
Look"
'nr0N- yriul,t