Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-05-26

q 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 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 IN the train.
At Signal station Perkins, the agent,
was taking an order from the dis
patcher:
Train No. 8 will wait at FeeIy juno
ton for Extra 1903 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 houu nf nroffp uirlS onaaoroI ~ Ifo
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 fimsy;
he had forgotten to give the meeting
order for Nc. 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: I'VE must catch
that train" she cried, "or there'1l 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 a precious m in
asking questions. Then agreeing to
what she declared must be done, the
two hurried to the house, boarded
S%eagrue's a 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 &C.
cupied by a 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 f~rantically at him. Thinking
they were testing, the fireman waved
back In turn.
I'VE never can stop themi" 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 a pulled ahead of the fast
moving engine and taking the track
like a hurdle, crossed to the right side
Of the engine. For one moment 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,
m%istaking her intent as the fireman
had done, grew angry at what ap-
peared to him a crazy joy ride. He
refused to listen or look any longer
toward the motorists, but waved them
contemptuously off, calling them round
ly for their idiocy and sitting down
again to his throttle.
Half mile beyond where Helen and
Seagrua were now SDeeding the rail-