"Well, 1 wish No. 9, was up as this is just the night for
a slide or washout" said May with a worried look.
So the time passed. The college man had forgotten all
about his "Math," "Constitutional," and that flunk in
"Thermo" and was now busy at.work under a new instruc
tor, which however did not bother him like the' work he had
left behind. Midnight came and went, the trains came
closer and closer, N;lhile the storm raged unabated. Finally
a "through" freight swung around the curve from the South
and carne to a stop. The conductor stumped up the stairs
and entered, bringing with him a part of the storm and a
gruff welcome "Good Morning, Miss.".
Just then she held her linger up warningly while she
listened to the wires. ''No. 9, passed "XR" forty minutes
late" site said.
The conductor then remembered what he had come for.
'Tell the 'Old Man' something tried to yank our cab and
the whole string behind it, down here in the narrows. I
have my whole train with me. Think it was something
clown, for sure, but couldn't see anything."
The message was soon going over the wires as the big
freight called in the flagman and went puffing away. A
moment later "No. 9" was reported in the block from "RV"
and just a moment too late was the message sent to "RV"
to hold it. Just too late, for scarcely was the message off
when all the busy instruments gave a sputter of agony and
ceased their "talking". May jumped to the switch board
and . commenced to shift the plugs. Suddenly she gasped
"No..9—in the river—Phil!" and sanl into her chair. A
second later she opened her eyes and found Grinwal bending
over her. "Ol►, lam all right" she assured him with a little
nervous laugh, and began to call the town in the opposite
direction.
No trains were due and the minutes seemed like hours.
The girl stood at the big windows and stared down the
tracks. Suddenly with a cry site threw the window up,
'lle La nee