Year: 1877

of its trip and was turned off upon siding


She turned once more to look after the re-
treating freight train. 1t was in full view
climbing the grade on the great curve.


Suddenly she put up both hands to shade
her eyes, and leaned forward on the switch
frame What had happened? Two tiny
pufs Of steam rose from the engine. 1t was
the signal to stop. Ha&I =.


All the train has parted! Faint and fal
away came the short, sharp danger whistle
A single car had broken loose from the train
and had been left behind. 1t was standing
alone on the track. ..... -...-.... ..


No! 1t was moving backward. 1t was be-
ginning to roll down the grade. 1t was NOV
ing faster and faster. There was man upon
it-her lover. .... ...,.


Involuntarily she spread out her arms and
let them fall to her side three or four times 10
succession-the signal to put Cd the brake.


elbow foolish He cannot see me, and
She leaned against the switch frame and
shook with fear and agony. -.


The brake was broken. .


Swifter and swifter rolled the disabled car
1t was coming down the track, gaining speed
at every rod. e.


She sprang to the middle of the track and
tried to shout to the engineer of the train at
the station. She made the motions to back
down out of danger. Her tongue Glove to the
roof of her mouth, and her cry became an ar
ticulate moan.


Onward came the car. She could see her
lover upon it, frantically waving his arms
from right to left What did it mean Her
brain seemed to be On fire. She could do
nothing but gaze on the advancing car in dumb
horror. .. ... sff,


All! The passengers! Could she not save
them? -.


With violent wrench she opened the switch
again and stood holding the bar in both
hands. Better so-better one life lost than a
dozen. Her feet seemed bolted to the ground.
She must stay and see him killed, and by her
own hand. ... ... -. .


The rails began to murmur with the tread
of the advancing car, now rushing ifurlously
onward to destruction. ..... .l.-...- =. -,


Ali Why had she not thought of it be-:
fore? 49,, ...,......- .....yi! .-....., -..-.s,


The cross over switch Could she reach it
in time she might save him. She snatched
the key from the switch and ran with frantic
speed up the line. She never knew how she
opened the switch. ....o& .. .. .... :.


With means and cries she threw herself
across the line and began to run down the
other side. Could she reach that switch be-
fore the car :? Its roaring rang in her ears.
Painting, with almost bursting bosom, she
reached the switch, opened it, and stood cling
ing to it as the car came laundering over the
viaduct.


She looked up at her lover upon the car
He had seen and understood the change in
the switches. His car, helpless though it was,
would cross over to the down track and roll
harmlessly along the level line till its force
was spent. He was saved, and by her ready
wit and skill. The passengers in the train
were also saved.


Great heaveusl What's that2 The ex-
press! The down express was coming!


All was vain. He was lost. She saw him
throw up his arms in despair. The very plan
she had devised to save him would be his des-
truction. Better far to have thrown him of
upon the siding as she had intended. Now
he would meet more dreadful death, and the
destruction would include scores of lives in
stead of dozen.


All this flashed through her mind like
lightning. She felt her knees give way be-
meath her, and she clung to the switch in des'
pair. She shut her eyes to hide the coming
disaster. . ..4.


Hark! The whistle on the express. They
had seen the imminent collision and we're
doing their best to avert it. ..... ..a


She, too, must do something. With
bound she sprang to the next switch, tore 1t
open and stood painting and moaning beside
it, with the bar in her hand. She must save
the train even if she buried her lover under
the splintered wreck Of the car. .,.....


Onward came the car, laundering over the
viaduct and just ahead of the train. 1t turn
ed quickly at the switch, crossed over and
shot past her into. the siding. He had one
look at her upturned face. It was full of
love and helpless misery. She was sending
him to certain destruction-to save the ex-
press train. ....... ..


The instant the car passed she closed the
switch and sprang back again to the other
switch and closed it, just in time to see the
express train sweep past in safety.


In an instant the bel pless car ran into the
freight house with an awful, splinteriDg crash.
The express pulled up opposite the station,
and in moment a crowd OF people ran
shouting and frantic up the line. Some of
them had seen the whole performance and
knew what it meant, but for the majority Of
them it was tragic mystery.


They found Lydia upon the ground by the
switch, and with the keys still clutched in
her hand. What had she done? What had
happened to her?


She could not answer. Nature had merci
fully taken away her senses. They took her
up tenderly and carried her to the station,
and laid her upon seat in the waiting room.
The passengers of the two trains crowded the
room and offered every aid, for in some
vague manner they began to understand that
she was the creditor to the value of all their
lives. She had paid for their safety with
costly sacrifice


The freight train backed down to the cross.
over switch, and the engineers of the three
trains met and began to examine the positions
of the switches. A number of men also
came from the express train, and among them
was the one who seemed in authority. He,
too, examined the line carefully, and the en-
glneers explained the Hatter 10 nlln, anu lis'
tened to his remarks with becoming defer
ence.


The little room in the station was packed
with people, idlers and others, and they could
with difficulty bring him in.


NO." said one of the ladies who we're try
ing to restore the girl. ut may be too great
shock for her. She must aot see him yet. !"


make way there, gentlemen. The super
intendent of the road is here.'


The crowd moved slightly, and the super
intendent advanced into the room. He took