Marion Marlowe on the Prairie, or, A Thrilling Ride Across Kansas — page 25: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

MY QUEEN. Marion had overcome her weakness and stepped. forward quickly. “Keep, her just as she is till I tell yer,’ said the engineer, as he leaned out of the window and scanned the horizon. The brave girl looked ahead. The fire was advancing, ‘It was rolling toward them like a sea of flame. thought of the cowboys. Suddenly there came a jérk of the bell rope over her head, and the engineer's hand fell upon her own, which was resting upon the throttle. The train was stopped so quickly that it _ nearly threw her off her feet; as it was, she ‘was jammed violently against the doctor's shoulder. A minute passed, and still there was no other signal. The engineer stood with his hand upon the throttle and a look of wonder on his features. | Suddenly a pistol shot rang out from the train behind them, and then a voice roared from one of the coaches: “Start her quick, engineer! 4°? ’ Diazes! The engineer still stood like a graven image. He was anxious to go, but the bell rope still dangled and he was not in the habit of obeying a stranger's orders. _ What had happened in the train that they should stop at such a time? — = And go. like It was a question which not one of the _ anxious occupants of the cab could answer. The engineer and fireman stared at each other. Neither had recognized the voice and _ both were speechless. They wasted no words, but stood ready for action. “Quick! Get a move on up there!” called the voice again, and this time both the doc- Se facieton. “Oh, do start, quick!” cried Marion, wildly. “Something awful must have happened! Quick, engineer! There is some good reason why we should hurry!” — _ She was so excited that she put her hand _ ©n the throttle as she spoke, but the engi- _ neer’s hand closed over hers instantly. _ “I take orders from ther conductor—no _ one else,” he said, sharply. She shuddered as_ she. tor and Marion recognized the voice of Bert 2H There was another pistol shot, and another cry from Bert. “The bell rope is cut, but, for God's sake, go forward and get to a station as quick as you can! "Is ‘there no one in that cab to take an order?” Marion turned her back upon the distant glare so that the wind could carry her mes- Sage: “I’m here, Bert, and J'}] start her!” Her voice rang out like the notes of a bugle. As she turned to the throttle again she saw that her words were possible. Dr. Brookes had whipped out the revolver that Ajax had given him, and both the en- gineer and the fireman were “covered” by it. The next second the great locomotive gave a fearful bound, then shot ahead like an iron meteor. ' There was grim, terrible danger before ‘them, but the young girl’s courage did not falter. Five cars filled with human beings. depended upon her deed. She determined to do her best to obey Bert's orders, and as they dashed madly on to meet the coming sea of flame her white hand alone rested upon the iron throttle. CHAPTER XII. THE RACE WITH DEATH. ‘On and on they went, with the strong cur- rent of air through the cab/~vindows blowing notter and hotter. The great sea of flame was sweeping to- ward them now, and Marion caught glimpses of dark spots upon the prairie which she knew instinctively must be animals fleeing before the conflagration. A half-hour passed, with the’ doctor stand- ing lke a grim sentinel, but the engineer was smiling as good naturedly as ever. “IT reckon yer doin’ ther right thing,” he had said, “but ef I’d er done it ‘thout orders, ther thing would er been different. I'll keep my eve on ther gal, tho’ she don’t much need it.”’ The sky had darkened and night was com- ing on. The prairie would rape been bathed in gloom were it not for the y gird li Connicbookceeom