Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1914-10-12
LIGHT ENGINE.


Toward the close OF that summers day It was
he whim OF that arch-manager OF theatricas whom
call Fate to stage anticlimax in the midst
o vast and billy expanse Of desolate middle west
country rude and rugged disk Of earth which
boosted no human tenancy within the circle OF It's
'ar-fung horizon and bisected, not neatly, rath
irregularly. by the flowing double line of steel
ibbons which marked the railroads right OF way
the old Santa Fe trail.
So much for the stage: the light effects we're
provided exclusively by the crimson and purple and
.old OF a portentous sunset the properties en-
oyed simply a special train and what Is
nown a light engine.
Il was the engineer OF the light engine who start
ri the trouble After bringing his monster to
ull pause, he turned upon his passengers and
rot without plausible excuse-violently indicted Mr..
Alan Law for abuse OF HIS and his fremans trust
ulness This the said fireman (climbng forward
,ver the tender vigorously applauded
They had been engaged, both gentlemen assert
"a Vigorously for nothing more dangerous than
uic run across the prairies in furtherance OF the
Inspected plans OF Mr. Alan Law and his compan.
en- Miss Judith Urine. After starting out, they
rad vckcdly and malicously been brbed by the
said Law to put speed and catch up with the
special. in order that he might rescue from the
after young woman, his bride-tobe and the sis
or Of Miss Urine
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 or rescue
II was unhappy Mr.. Barcus who precpitated the
affair This gentleman was suffering from severe
spran to his sense Of decent pride In the service
of Miss Rose Urine and her betrothed, Mr.. Law
Rarcus had blackened his face and hands TO the
hue OF ebony and had garmented himself in the
garb Of a Pullman porter. surrenderng himself 20
humiliating service to those aboard the special
suffering their nsolence and scorn without muir.
muir. but with the tides OF wrath mounting ever
higher in his bosom.
And Vhp at hfc froo
dom from that ignominious servtude. It was only
10 be sworn at and vilihed, as common Niger, by
railroad hands, ......t
Il was the fireman Cto be JUST who brought the
row to focus by a sighting reference to that
"shftless and misbegotten dinge"
lie repented quite promptly. Mr.. Barcus jumped
for his throat with a below Of rage. The fireman
slipped on the cab platform, trod on nothing, and
went over backwards taking Mr.. Barcus with him
10 the ballast
At almost the same moment Mr.. Law attempt
ing to restrain the engineer from going to the as
sstance or his fellow-worker, ducked in under
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 bus,
indeed keeping his face out OF the ballast. The en-
gineer was a heavy man, but active and Infatuated
He fought like demon unclaimed Il was all verl
exciting Mr. Law was even beginning to enjoy !
when he heard woman shrek. AT the same IN
slant revolvers began to pop.
Mr.. Law released his foe almost as quickly as h
was released Both rose one man, TO find judith
Urine beside them, a little smile OF excitemen
nlaving round her lips as she looked up the tract
and watched the special slow down TO stop
several persons on the back platform plying bus
tr'ggerfngers all the while.
As these last threw open the platform gates ant
dropped to the ballast stil perforang the afr will
MANY bullets. Mr. Law Miss Judith Urine and tina
late belligerent the engineer turned simultaneous
" and sought the rear Of the tender
On the opposite side they found Rose Urine ant
Nr Barcus standing uncertainty above the body o
the fireman, who, Il appeared, had stunned himsel
In falling and remained insensible
The appearance OF Law and Judith from behin'
the tender, closely pursued by the engineer, whit
was in turn closely pursued by gentlemen will
revolvers, stirred Barcus and Rose to action Alal
passed him at a round pace, pausIng only lonl
enough to seize Rose and drag her with him towarl
the special. Judith flung him phrase of well
meant advice in passing:
Come along. you simpleton-unless YOU want I
be shot down where you standi"
Mr.. Barcus acted on that advice as imned,atsl
as resentfuy. Judith Trine was little before hir
at the steps OF the Pullman: Mr. Law had alread
assisted Rose aboard. Mr. Barcus uneraciousl
gave place 10 the lady: his ingraned chivalry sor
~ strained by bullets that kicked among the bs
last round his feet
Mr. Barcus heaved a heartfelt sigh sat dow
heavily a camp chair and mopped his heat
brow, watching the lights Of the locomotive DR.
swiftly back into the cleaning
IF any Of those guys" he assured Mr. Law DIT,
emily could lift barn door with gatling gun
twenty paces-well. wouldn't be proving mys
the giddy ass am by sticking to your ill-starr
fortunes. There wouldn't be any to stick TO-
you'd have been snuffed out long lone p