Marion Marlowe on the Prairie, or, A Thrilling Ride Across Kansas — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

perhaps they are not the same as they are in Kansas.” The doctor leaned forward as she was speaking and looked sharply at the engineer, who had the field glass to his eyes and was scanning the horizon. There was something in the grimy fellow’s face that he could not understand, and at last he too leaned for- ward and peered out over the prairie. Marion was gazing straight ahead, with her whole soul in her work. It was simply delightful to be controlling the great engine. Dr. Brookes made one more effort to speak cheerfully before he allowed himself to be depressed by the look upon the engineer’s face. As he peered sharply around, he put hisehand upon her shoulder. “Tl get you a civil service certificate when we get back to New York, Marion,” he said, jokingly. “You are almo-t an expert engi- neer already!” Marion turned her head to make laughing reply, but before the words left her lips a cry from the engineer stopped her. “Look ahead thar, Jim!” he called, sharply, to thg fireman. “Thet thar red glow ain’t sunset by a powerful sight! Ther prairie’s on fire, an’ we’ve got ter run fer it!” CHAPTER XI. MARION OBEYS ORDERS. Marion’s hand dropped from the throttle with a frightened cry, but even in this first moment of peril it was not of herself that she was thinking. “Oh, what will they do? The poor people we saw on horseback!” she cried in horror. “They will be burned to death! Nothing can prevent it!” “Unless they have the luck to start a back fire in time,” said the doctor, eagerly, but a shake of the engineer’s head stopped him. “Ther wind’s wrong fer thet thar,” he said, almost sharply. “Thar ain’t no hope fer them an’ it’s er question ef+ we'll weather ag “How far is it to Dodge City?” Dr. Brookes asked the question anxiously, but neither the engineer nor the fireman heard him. A moment passed in breathless silence. “There’s miles of wheat fields ahead of us,” MY QUEEN. said the engineer at last. “And the grass is dry asa bone. I told Jim it would go before spring! Well, it’s a blazin’ fer fair, now. Thar won’t be much left of it!” Marion bit her lips and strained her eyes. There was no mistaking the red glow now, for a low, filmy cloud was hovering over the horizon. | Dr. Brookes moved involuntarily and put one arm around her, but his face had paled aiso as he thought of their danger. . In that awful moment, Marion revealed her wonderful strength of character. She did not lean upon the arm that encircled her so tenderly, but stood bravely erect, her head bent forward as if prepared to meet whatever should come upon them. It was a fearful sight, even for those who were familiar with it: that dull red glow, creeping so silently, yet so swiftly, and before long the first touch of its hot breath would fan their cheeks—the whole atmosphere of the prairie seemed -to be growing warmer. Dr. Brookes leaned from the window as the engineer drew in his head, but there was no ray of hope in any direction.. It was a single-track road, so there was no going back, and to stand still and wait would only be folly. He looked on grimly as the fireman heaped his fire. It meant a ride for life or death through the sea of flame that was approach- ing. | “Oh, doctor! .Do you suppose they know?” cried Marion, suddenly. “The oth- ers, I mean! Oh, poor little Ruby! How it will frighten her!” She was still thinking of the others, but the doctor thought only of her. Still, he must try to calm her fears, if possible. “The conductor and trainmen must have seen it by this time,’ he answered, with his eyes on the distant glow. “For, see, it is spreading in every direction! We shall be able to see the flames in a minute.” Almost as he spoke a long line of red, dart- ing flame appeared on the horizon. Tt was a weird, wonderful sight, but tt chilled the blood in their veins as they gazed tupon it. The engineer released his hold on the throt- tle and reached for thech;ite svove) <S colin