Francis Lynde

“ There was a cash-registering interruption, and when Josephine came back, the mellow chime of the incoming train was vibrating in the air.
"That's me," said Jebb, sliding down from the high stool. "So long, little woman; be good to yourself," and he was gone. ”

“ A compound is delicately responsive to skillful driving; "woman engines" they called them on the D. and U. P. when they first came in; and when it came to getting the final wheel turn of speed and efficiency out of the sensitive mechanism, Jebb had few equals and no superiors on the Canyon Division.
From time to time Gifford would see the great white beam of the electric pick up a semaphore in the void ahead; and instantly he would hear the clear tones of the young woman on the opposite box crying, "All clear, John!" ”

“ If sudden peril should spring up in the black-walled chasm, could she be quick enough to see and act through the nerves and muscles of the man at her side? It was hers to dare, and she braced herself for the trial. ”

“ A fifteen-minute make-up's never been made before on the uphill run!"
Jebb nodded absently and helped Josephine down from her cramped seat, lifting her in his arms when he felt how helpless she was. When they stood on the platform together, Josephine saw the superintendent hurrying toward them. Mr. Upham's first word was for the breaker of records.
"Good man, Jebb! You've wiped out all the old scores on this run," he said, in hearty commendation. Then, more hurriedly, to Josephine: "You are in time, though Dr. Wester, who is here with me, says the man can't live more than a few hours. ”

“ A "Pacific type" one-hundred-and-ten-ton compound, pulling a heavy train uphill on a quick card, does not give its fireman much time for reflective side issues. None the less, on this night of velvety skies and spitting raindrops, Gifford, Jebb's understudy, saw things not connected with his proper business of keeping the steam-gauge index at two hundred pounds pressure. ”

“ The unconnected things centered in the singular behavior of the big man humped on the right-hand box. On the new card the "Flyer" made few stops and was practically given the right of road. Station after station the signals stood at "Clear"; each an unwinking eye of white with the red below it. Gifford, swinging rhythmically back and forth between tender and fire door, saw Jebb crouch and grip throttle and air-brake lever as each pair of signals sprang out of the darkness ahead ”

“ By this time the main line was clear for Jebb to pull down and couple to his train. Opening the starting valve of the compound, he gave the engine steam ahead. A yardman stood at the switch, and the eye of the signal light flicked from the main track "white" to the stub track "red" to let the 1013 out. The compound was halfway down the stub when Jebb suddenly leaned forward to stare at the switch light. Josephine saw, and caught his hand as he was about to jam the throttle shut.
"It's all right, John," she said steadily. ”

“ Miss Josephine been givin' him the back of her hand?"
Stevens, the fat boss machinist, wagged his beard. "'C'n search me," he offered. "Bloodgood and some o' the others lay it on the new time card. Jebb's been on the carpet, with 'Little Millions' dancing on his collar, twice for not makin' his schedule with the 'Flyer.'"
Larkin, the second machinist, removed his pipe to say: "I hain't got much use for a runner that's lost his sand. ”

“ He never knew till that awful minute when he thought the 1013's headlight had gone out!"
"Ha!" said the superintendent; "that's better. I don't like to see a woman cry. But you've got to be disciplined, both of you," he went on in a fine affectation of rage. "You're discharged from the hotel department, Miss Barton—and you'll be reëngaged in the capacity of trained nurse at the same salary from the moment when you can legally call yourself Mrs. Jebb. ”