Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1916-07-19

make his apologies to Helen.
But it was too late. Helen would
not listen to him, and, turning away
with her guests. left Storm with no
body to sympathize with him but
Spike.
Reaching the tennis courts, some of
the guests took up the play, while
others, looking back toward the scene
Of excitement, saw Helen coming over
with Seagrue and Rhinelander. Reach
| ing the courts, Helen, instead of stop
ping, passed on with Seagrue. Two
men watched them walk away with
particular interest. Spike, who seemed
deeply concerned with the awkward
situation. and George Storm, who now
began to feel the full force of Helen's
disapprobation.
For an hour she moved among her
guests. accompanied a good part of the
time by Seagrue. To tell the truth,
it was not wholly by her own desire.
AS her Indignation cooled she began
to consider that her lover had some
grounds for his ungovernable outbreak
and the exploits in which Seagrue had
| figured in the endeavor to do her and
her friends all manner of harm re-
Cured to her memory. She did feel,
however, that Storm should have made
a further effort TO tell her, privately,
he was sorry for having SO rudely
broken In on the festivities of the day
and since he did not, she was suffi-
/ n nVaf Mt a.
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 toe 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 1t 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 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 FeeIy 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 a
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 fiimsy;
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.
What's the matter?"
Perkins was hardly able to speak:
Il 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: I'VE must catch
that train" she cried. "or there1l be
a terrible accident"
What do you mean--catch it," de-
manded Seagrue. I'm no Splinter"
In 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 a precious moment in
asking questions. Then agreeing TO
what she declared must be done. the
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 woman and driv-
en- rapidly along the road, was over
taking the engine. The fireman sur.
missed they were giving the train
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.
we 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 a terrific burst Of speed. the
motor car pulled ahead Of the fast
moving engine and taking the track