of battles, but has finally been captured by the enemy. You are fighting
to regain possession of the animal with the chances of success and
failure about equally divided, but you have an opportunity, during the
battle, to slay this horse, thereby removing the remotest chance of ever
having it for yourself again, to say nothing of the wickedness of the
act,--would you do it?"

"I should say not."

"And yet, I venture to say," said the prisoner, "that there is no love
for a living thing that is not human, to equal the love of a locomotive
engineer for his engine. To say that he would wilfully and maliciously
wreck and ruin the splendid steed of steel that had carried him safely
through sun and storm is utterly absurd."

"But what was it, Mr. Moran, that you said about the train going in the
ditch?"

"I have a little motto of my own," said the engineer, with his quiet
smile, "which makes the delay of an express train inexcusable, and I was
repeating it to George, as I had done scores of times before. It is that
there are only two places for an express train; she should either be on
time or in the ditch. It may have been rather reckless advice to a new
runner, but I was feeling a mite reckless myself; but, above all the
grief and disappointments (for the disgrace of my fireman's downfall was
in a measure mine) arose the desire that Blackwings should not be
disgraced; such is the love of the engineer for his engine."

The old engineer had shown much feeling, more than was usual for him to
display, while talking about his engine, and the reporter was impressed
very favorably. "This has been most interesting to me," said the
journalist; "and now I must leave you to your book, or to your bed,"
and then the two men shook hands again and parted.

* * * * *

It was almost midnight when a closed carriage stopped at the general
office of the Burlington Company, and the man who had been representing
_The London Times_ stepped out.

The Philosopher, who was still on duty, touched his cap and led the
visitor to the private office of the general manager.

"By Jove, Watchem," said the railway man, advancing to meet his visitor,
"I had nearly given you up--what success?"

"Well," said the great detective, removing his heavy coat, "I have had a
talk with Moran. Why, I know that fellow; he is the hero of the
celebrated Thorough-cut train robbery, and he ought to be wearing a
medal instead of irons.