Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1926-11-19
ROCKVILLE. MARYLAND. FRIDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 49,


spurred his horse down the mountain
way
At last he dlsmounted and, turning
the beast adrlft to Craze, waited be-
Side the rails. Terrible thoughts as
sailed him as he waited there. What
II, instead of killing Collins, he were
to place one OF the huge fallen mrs
across the rails, dlslodglng the engine
from the metals as It came swinging
round the curvef He could destroy
Collins and hundred others. sending
them to their death among the bowl
ders far below the grade, and escape
unknown in the confusion.
Was Dorothy worth the sacrifice OF
his own life In retribution2
The temptation grew stronger, until
the man shook with the agony that
assalled him At last he went toward
the tallest Of the frs, giant tree as
hard as ebony. which lay with Its
trunk projecting only few inches
from the rails. with the exercise OF
all his strength he could shift II
few inches down the incline. lie knew
that just where It lay the curve was
the most dangerous. He stopped.
Then, In the distance, he heard the
putting of the engine as she forced
her way up to the summit before de-
scendlng on the grade that led to the
siding. There was just time.
But the sight of the fiery eyes Of
the monster above him paralyzed his
mind, and he could not turn his mus
cles to the accomplishment Of the
task. And now the engine was de-
scending the grade, numbering and
screaming as she made her way toward
the siding. Larry stood still. 1t was
too late now. But It was not too late
to carry out his original purpose.
Suddenly the moving mass seemed
to stand still She swerved, reared,
and then, with scream OF escaping
steam, the engine left the metals and
toppled upon its side, followed by half
the cars, yet clinglng almost miracu-
lousy to the mountain side.
Flames burst out among the wreck
age. The screams of the injured
reached Larry's ears plainly. Entire
ly forgetful Of his purpose, the man
ran at full speed toward the scene or
the accident. Men and women lay
half buried beneath the wreckage.
Larry ran along the side of the over
turned cars, searching for Dorothy.
And he found her. She was unin-
jured, and, on her knees, she crouched
beside n man with CHASTITY wound
across his breast. Larry knew Col
Inns, though the face had been bat
tered almost out Of recognition. He
must have been killed instantly.
He touched Dorothy upon the arm,
There is nothing to do" he said. ut
| is too late"
'Yes," she answered. rising to her
feet In mechanical manner and NOV
ing away. She seemed stunned by
the catastrophe. She hardly realized
where she was.
Larry devoted hour after hour ia
aiding the injured, until the hospital
train that was rushed out from the
next station came up. Then he found
Dorothy again She was standing near
the body OF her companion, looking
uncertainty about her
"what are you going to do1" asked
Larry.
81 don't know" she answered calm
~. She seemed to have lost all power
OF feeling. go on to California, l sup
pose. You see, have my ticket"
"But what will you do there2'
"What does that matter to you
Anythlngf"
Dorothy, you said you did not love
that man." said Larry.
"Well?" she returned
dorothy, in the old days l used to
love a little girl In Wales. She was
hlghstrung and wlllful sometimes, but
she was never bad. Nobody could
have said that Of her. And one day,
after quarrel-she didn't know l
took It, but took a vow. 1t was that
/ would always protect her, against
herself even And though that was
long ago, and she Is married now, do
you suppose that makes any differ
ence? Dorothy am never going back.
I am going TO California, too. Is II
to be tOgetherT
And suddenly she was weeping upon
his neck in an agony Of shame.