Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1916-06-09


and since he did not, she was sufi-
GENTLY piqued to profess an interest
in Seagrue she was far from feeling.
The tennis games were finished and
the guests making ready to go. Helen
was about to start from the courts her
self when Storm, coming up, spoke
abruptly to her. But he was too proud
and Helen was too disdainful. He
could not bring himself to speak furth-
er about the unfortunate incident and,
incensed by his attitude, Helen, when
she extended her hand as he said
gOod-by, slipped his ring from her fin
ger and gave it to him in shaking
hands.
Flushed with humiliation, he turned
away. This was not quite what she
had expected; but it was too late now
to recall her precipitateness, and, pre-
tending not to care-although she did
care a great deal-she started for the
station with Seagrue to see her guests
safely on the train.
At Signal station Perkins, the agent,
was taking an order from the dis.
patcher:
Train No. will wait at Feely juno.
ton for Extra 1908 until 1910 p. m.
Helen's guests were arriving to take
the local. The agent tossed the mes
sage to one side and resumed his work.
A bevy of pretty girls appeared at his
window. One Of them tapped on the
pane and asked what time it was. Per.
kins, always gallant, told them and
walked out on the platform to answer
further questions.
The local that day carried half q
dozen box cars, with two coaches
hooked on the hind end for the Signal
passengers. When the train pulled in,
Storm, with Spike and the tennis
guests, boarded it. Seagrue, having
driven up by machine, remained,
greatly pleased with the situation.
The train drew away from the station
and the agent returned to the office.
Seagrue and Helen walked down the
platform.
The moment Perkins reached his
desk his eyes rested On the flimsy;
he had forgotten to give the meeting
order for No. 8. He dashed out of
doors, shouting vainly after the disap-
pearing train. Seagrue stopped him,
whats the matter?'
Perkins was hardly able to speak:
II overlooked an order. Unless we
stop the local. she will crash into
Number Eight at the Junction.
Helen, who understood the emer.
gency better than Seagrue, caught her
companions arm: eve must catch
that train" she cried, cor there'll be a
terrible accident"
what do you mean-catch it," de
manded Seagrue. I'm no Splinter"
I'm the machine-the machine, :"
cried Helen. Don't lose an instant
We may be too late
Seagrue, whose mind did not work
as quickly, lost precious moment in
asking questions. Then agreeing to
two hurried to the house, boarded
Seagrue's car and started rapidly down
the highway after the local.
After crossing the hill north of the
village of Signal, the highway parallels
the railroad for some distance The
local engineman, intent only on main.
tanning his schedule, was numbering
along at fairly good speed, when he
saw the fireman on the other side of
the cab leave his box and walk back
into the gangway. A motor car oc'
cupied by man and women and driv.
en- rapidly along the road, was over
taking the engine. The fireman sur.
missed they were giving the train a
race-not an unusual thing along that
particular tangent. But these racers
waved frantically at him. Thinking
they were testing, the fireman waved
back in turn.
eve never can stop them!" cried
Helen. THAT man thinks we're fool
ing. You must run ahead of the train,
and get over on the other side where
We can reach the engineer"
With terrific burst of speed, the
motor car pulled ahead of the fast
moving engine and taking the track
like hurdle, crossed to the right side
of the engine. For one inoNlent the
lives in the motor car hung narrowly
in the balance; the hind wheels
missed the pilot by only the fraction
of a second. Helen tried to cry out
her warning to the engineer But he,
mistaking her intent as the fireman
had done, grew angry at what ap
peared to him crazy JOY ride. He
refused to listen or look any longer
toward the motorists, but waved them
CONTEMPORARY off, calling them round
ly for their idiocy and sitting down
again to his throttle.
Half mile beyond where Helen and
Seagrue were now speeding, the rail.
road and the highway part company
abruptly and all hope of making the
engineer stop came to an end. AS the
train pulled away from the road, the
motor car was halted and Seagrue and
Helen got out. Helen felt keenly dis.
tressed, but of a sudden she remem.