Year: 1868

opened the door and pushed her in and
then followed just as the train began gliding
off


This happened to be carriage Just put on.
and the compartment the gentleman entered
was locked; but he had one of the pocket
railway keys, for before the carriage reached
to where | stood, with my heart somehow
beating very strangely, saw his hand out of
the window, locking the door again. In the
momentary glance I caught, as the lamps of
the station flashed into the carriage, | could
see that there was no light inside, while two
little gloved hands pressed down the window
the man tried to draw up; and there. male
and horror-stricken, eyes starting and ilips
open, as if she were crying ''help - saw
the face ofthe young gOverness.


The time did not appear long enough to
see so much; but ! saw all that. and nv
mind seemed to keep up with my eyes and
explain it all, and | knew that there
was some internal piece of villainy on the
way.


d" What to do?" seemed rushing through
my mind, and in the agony | felt turned
all OF tremble. Telegraph to the station in
front to stop the train, which was the ex-
press, with fifty miles to run before pulling
up!-send a special engine and tender after
them? How could | do either on nv own
responsibility, and only on suspicion? Should
| 90 and report it | should have an hour
wasted in questioning. and then perhaps be
told that it was poor ground to work upon.
And what had | to advance? Nothing but
the appealing look for aid from her loved.


" Her | loyed?" Yes, knew it now ::
and knew too, that to be Of service. must
act-aet at the risk Of life or limb. thought
all this running after the train, fast gliding
along past the platform.


| had lost too much time already as |
darted along, for in a few more seconds it
would have been impossible to overtako the
fast receding carriages. There was a shout
lng behind me as | ran; one porter stood in
my way looking after the red lights, and in
passing, | knocked him over. The platform
past, and bounding along the incline at the
end, | was out in the snowy night, when
tripped over one Of the point handles and fell
heavily, uttering a cry Of despair; then was
up again directly, and running along the
rough line amidst crossing metals and rods
that threatened TO throw me every instant


1t seemed the act Of a madman to run
now, for the red lights were some distance
ahead, and gradually growing dim and bury
amid the fog but through the thick snow /
ran painting on, with my breath coming
shorter and heavier, and hot, burning sen
sation at my chest, while it seemed that
could taste the blood, though my mouth was
dry and hot.


All at once my heart leaped. every nerve
tingled. From the fast vanishing train came
long shrill whistle, which | knew well
enough meant red signals in front. while to
my unutterable JOY, the end lamps Of the
guard van showed palmer and palmer as |
panted on


Fifty yards passed and the red lamps still
receding. but bigger and less dim. On still.
gasping and choking. drawingmy breath with
difficulty. Not twenty wards off. and. if
could have run, another few seconds would
have seen me holding on to a carriage handle.
but could only 20 at a heavy trot.


.. Bang bang" went a connie of foo
signals and hope rose again. as the engine
-lackened pace one more. and. almost at a
walk | painted on-nearer. nearer. nearer
the red lights growing brighter and palmer
and at last. Just as the engine gave final
shrek, and dashed on all clear. | laid nv
hand on the red bulls eve, and the next mo
ment was sitting clinging to the footboard Of
the guard's van.


The fog had been my friend. In an
other few seconds ! must have dropped
while. in an ordinary way the train would
have been miles down the line by this
time.


" Bang bang went the fog signals
again, as I sat helpless there. with my legs
drawn up, and again we slackened for rec
ond but all was clear once more, and We
were daShing on, and fast getting into full
swing as ! rose up, and. opening the door
stood with the guard of the train.


a. Pooh nonsense :" he said. e. You re
mad | sham stop the train.


" Then ] SHALL ! shouted. making to-
ward the wheel connected with the gong
upon the engine.


e. Not if know il, YOU won ,' he said
stopping me.


was too weak and done up 10 scufle with
him.


VIII you come with me to the next ear
riage them | said.


He only shook his head.


viii you lend me your key l said
for | had dropped my own when fell.


He shook his head again, and then it
struck me that perhaps he might stop me,
seeing how rough and wild and excited
looked. backed slowly towards the door,
facing him all the time. He told me after
wards, if he had not ielt afraid, he would
have plnred me while turned my back.


But didn't turn nv back. and the next
moment | was outside on the long step,
clinging to the door handle, and with the
guard leaning out and watching me.


" Come back " he shouted, as we dashed
along at full speed now, rushing through
the darkness ahead, and giving a wild shrek
as We passed a station, the lights as looking
like one streak. There were the carriages
shaking and the wind tearing at me as if to .
beat me off; but | was recovering myself
fast, and in n few minutes | was at the end
Of the guards van, leaning towards the car
riage | wanted to reach.


So far my task had been easy, though, of
course, very dangerous, with the train dash
ing along at fifty miles an hour but now
there was a gap to pass between the van and
the carriage, for the buffers keep the car
riages at some distance apart.


For few moments | stopped IN dread,
but, as ! got my breath more and more,
courage and the recollection of her wild ap-
pealing face came to me, and, clinging to the
buffers, | contriyed to get one foot on the step
of the carriage, and, still holding on by the
iron, tried to get the other there.


Just then the train gave Jerk. and
thought it was all over; but the next mo-
ment I yyas ON the stem and had hold of tbe
door handle.


At last. | muttered. as drew myself
up on the next stem and fried the door which
was. as | expected fast Then I looked
back. There was the guard with half his
body out. and his hand SCREENING his eyes
irving to follow nv motions; hut. with the
darkness all round. the snow cutting bv like
knives and points, and the dense f6g clouds
we kept entering. | felt sure he could not
see me, though could make him out from
the light in his compartment Then listen
ed. and nv heart seemed to stand still. for
fancied could hear the sound of a struggle