Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1916-10-12


scene. Her father, his friend Rhine
lander, young Seagrue, the Signal sta
tion operator, the tug captain and the
train passengers crowded the observa-
tion platform looking at her and the
shaken-up fireman.
The flagman could hardly raise the
step cover quick enough to release
Holmes so that he might get down TO
his daughter. He,knew all-the oper-
atcr had told the story. He caught
his daughter in his arms with show
er of misty reproaches. What" he
cried. Have you lost your mind?
Are you mad?" Helen's eyes fell be-
fore her fathers anger. She was a
dutiful girl Don't you know what
danger is? Have you no sense OF
fear?' he stormed. She raised her
eyes and paused an instant; then she
asked, shyly: Where was | to get it,
father"-she looked queerly up at him
from you?"
"Gammon!" he clustered, edging
away from the subject, beaten. Who's
this boy?" he demanded, pointing to
the grimed and disfgured fireman.
whats your name?"
storm, General Holmes-George
Storm, fireman." responded the boy,
unmoved.
What were you sticking like a
leech to a runaway engine for-why
didn't you go back with the rest of
the crew." demanded the head of the
road severely.
Storm met the assault calmly. II
thought I might be able to get the
air pump going" he countered.
did you do it?" asked Holmes, with
sarcasm.
I'D have done il if I'd had time"
persisted the somewhat dismantled
fireman. 81 guess" he added calmly.
looking back at the mess of cars, Il
needed a couple OF days more"
"No matter. Storm" declared
Holmes. secretly pleased, you're all
right"
Il should think as much" cried
Helen, breaking through her reserve.
IF you had many men like that"
Amos Rhinelander took the scene
in with an abundance OF satisfied hui
NOR. He was a big, wholesome fell
low. Beside him stood Seagrue, ST.
lent and Observant Both before and
after her father introduced him, he
scrutinized Helen a long time With
his introduction, he ventured some
thing OF compllment-tried, as 1t
were, for a moment, to take the stage
and seemed to await confidently an
appreciation of his remark.
But Helen, whether confused by her
muchwilted plight, or engrossed by
the recollection OF her adventure,
could hardly notice his effort to be
agreeable. Storm had started back to
his engine. Her father was helping
his daughter back to the observation
platform. From IL Helen looked stead
lily back at Storm, now standing down
the track I'm the midst of the wreck
age. The passenger engine sounded
four sharp blasts to call in the flag
man. Storm looked around; the pas
senger train was moving ahead. He
saw in the group on the rear platform
one figure-that of slender girl. In a
wet jockey costume, a smile lighting
her face as she looked toward him.
She was lifting her hand in a good-by.
He started, touched his hand to his
bruised forehead and waved back her
greeting. Beside Helen stood Sea-
grue. He did not seem pleased with
her attitude and dropped an ironical
remark i'm her ear. This one she
quite plainly heard and understood:
Very gratifying" he smiled, TO find
a presidents daughter so very clever
And" he added softly, she seems TO
take a real interest in engine menf"
Helen looked deliberately around nj
him-but whatever may have been her
thought, she made no reply.
(TO BE CONTINUED)