Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-02-14

with the main line wires and the con-
ductor called up Helen In the office at
Las Vegas. In a few words he told her
what had happened, and while Rhine
lander and the deputies listened around
him, he asked what she could do to
help them out of their predicament
Helen understood the necessity for
prompt action. But how she asked her.
self as she looked anxiously from the Of
flee window up and down the yards. TO
help them quickly7 Her eye lighted on
the little roundhouse away down at the
lower end of the yard.
Resting within the friendly shade OF
it's north wall she espied the crazy old
yards switch engine. known irreverently
among the switchmen as Soda Water
! SAL Soda Water Sal took her disreput-
pble nickname from the fact OF its mis-
fortune in being crusted white a good
part of the time with alkall
The excited girl dashed at the top of
her speed down the platform and across
the yard TO rouse the crew and get them
TO carry her TO Rhinelander. But though
Soda Water Sal stood as peaceful as an
old Dobbin munching her MONDAY repast,
the switching crew was nowhere to be
found. Beyond doubt. Helen felt, they
were all down town. eating their dinners.
and to find them quickly was out OF the
question. She called out a few times,
hardly hoping for a response, and none
met her ears. There was steam up, and
without loss OF time Helen climbed into
the cab. and. opening the throttle, gave
Sal steam A venerable mare. struck. IN
the midst Of her lunch, with whip.
could not have been moro startled than
the old engine at Helen's summons. Soda
Water Sal started and trembled. Helen
touched her heels again. The old ma
chine let out an asthmatic wheeze. sput-
tered, coughed and with an uneven Jerk
started forward.
Certainly no such sight as she made
was ever before seen on the main line
of the Copper Range Tidewater. II
Soda Water Sal had been dancing a two
step on the rails, she could not have
plunged and cavorted more wildly than
she did as Helen. pushing her to a
pace undreamed Of in her long and peace
full yard career. achieved a miracle OF
speed with her.
Up tho line. RhineIander. the deputies,
the train crew and the engineer and fire.
man OF the stolen engine surrounding the
marooned coach, searched the horizon
vainly for a sign OF assistance. The con-
ductor. the moment after he had raised
Helen on the wire and told OF their plight
out between stations on the main line,
had not boon able 10 get another word
from the Las Vegas office. In his i'm
patience ana excitement Rhinelander had
taken over the telephone and used
his best endenvcrs 10 make himself hoard
by Helen. The suspicion came TO him that
Seagrue. with some unsupported deviltry.
mad succeeded in cutting off even wire
communication from the helpless rescue
party. But as he dropped the receiver in
despair, a shout arose among tho dep
uties. and looking down the far perspect-
i've OF the long tangent that separated
them from Las Vegas. Rhinelander's
men saw a faint line OF smoke on the
horiSon II grew rapidly more distinct and
spread blacker and heavier. An engine
was bearing down upon them. Tho rail-
road men were nonplused. None of them
could recognize in the distance the
shambling gait OF the queer flyer. and
Soda Water Sal was we'll upon them be-
fore they realized II was she. Mono the
less hearty. however, was her welcome.
and when the expectant thrOng made out
Helen's face at the cab window a chorus
OF shouts went up 70 greet hor.
With her hair in the wind ana her
eyes burning with excitement. the white
faced girl brought the astonished old
machine to a stop close 10 the coach.
Rhinelander and the conductor ran 10
greet her. Few words were needed In
explanation. few were lost Coupling the
coach ahead OF the switch engine and
hustling the deputies aboard. the con
ductor. from the rear platform, gave
Helen her signal. Helen opened the throt-
tie again and away went Soda Water
Sal, pushipS the loaded coach up the
line ahead. TO Soda Water Sal a coach
was a mere toy--a plaything: indeed. she
felt as II size were only now coming into
her own when she had something IN her
hands TO push. And without showing the
slightest appearance of strain. Soda Water
Sal ate up the miles ahead of her Hike city
blocks and got within sight OF seagrue' 8