The Ordway new era., 1916-05-12

Whatever was to be done. she must
do IL and It must be done in haste.
Running through the freighthouse she
espied coil of rope. 1t suggested
something-though at the instant she
could not have told what. But she
caught 1t up on the instructive Inn.
pulse and ran out on the track. The
cars, flaming in the distance, were
coming down the long grade. A tele'
graph pole standing Just above the
| station put wild idea into her head.
| If she could pass the rope above the
burning car, it might help the en-
gineer to escape from the top. Try
ing her skill as n plainswoman. she
ran a moose and cast the rope. lariat-
like, at the top of the pole.'
In her nervous haste she failed,
| again and again, to drop 1t over the
| cross-bar No rope was ever so stin,
| clumsy and intractable and the cars
were fast rolling nearer. But re-
| straining her fears she kept trying
and at last, in spite of everything. she
| landed the big moose over the pole and
| bar. Across the track grew hedge
of tall blue-gum trees. To the near
est of these Helen ran, and as fast
as she could, climbed the tree. the
loose end of the rope hung over her
neck and shoulder. Gaining branch
high enough. and using all her
strength, she drew the rope taut. With
few half hitches she made 1t fast
around the tree and tried It with her
weight.
The flaming cars. in spite Of all that
Storm had been able to do. contin-
, ued to gather speed down the Signal
grade. The engineer found himself
in ticklish dilemma. For a jump
, his chances now were no better than
If he stuck to the car. and he saw
? nothing for 1t but to stick. Only. he
;, hoped nightly for something to turn
. his way. He was fast approaching
r the station. From the gumtree hedge
s he saw what seemed branch waving
r violently. Then he perceived 1t was
n more than that, it was someone try
J. ing to signal him-a woman-and she
z was climbing hand over hand out on
" cable stretched across the track.
n But he could understand even less
s than he saw of what she meant to
a do. Overcome by flame and smoke
just before the cars neared the hedge
d he sank down on the deck. But Helen
.e would not give up. Clinging as best
III she could to the cable, she waited fol-
i'd him to pass under her Enough ol
i'd consciousness remained to Storm ir
* the fury of the fire to enable him tc
le realize as he came close that it wal
er Helen on the cable trying to save
,e his life. AS he swept under her h,
d. raised himself. She clutched biindl,
,g at him, and holding on in desperation
er managed to drag him from the top O
nd the burning car.
he The agent, returning from the cam
ed with Rhinelander. saw the blazing run
he away: and. amazed, saw Helen hang
he ing from her cable and striving will
I'M falling strength to hold her heav,
lly burden.
de He ran toward her, snatching a ia,
rd paulin from pile Of cement bags a
he he passed them on the platform, an
to with Rhinelander reached the hedR
On In time to break Storms heavy IA
into 1t when Helen let him 60. "A mt
d." ment later she, herself, dropped q,
ter hausted into the canvas.
lin Below the station deafening a,
plosion shook the solid earth.
rd. sartled the two construction camp
IND A new and sudden name shot 40 fet
all up into the air and dense clouds /
on black smoke billowed above wher
Ing the powder cars had stood. seasrv
the glanced ~ Spike ~ they stood 1
Ady gether. Over toward the station II
nan mon were carrying Storm into Il
y waiting room. and seagrus, .comis
ny over. Joined them. Inside. he =
bending over the uncouscious 8
ne esns~. strstched On the nooe. 4 -
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