Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1857-03-05
to downright murnuring.

expected that he was gong TO remOnStrate
with me from my backwardness. In fact,
I began to have strong temptations to pull
off my uniform for every anxious eye was
fixed upon the glazing badges which mark
ed me as the chief officers of the train.
However, this stranger was middle-aged
man, tail and stout with a face Of energy
and Intelligence. His eye was black and
brilliant-so brilliant that I could not for
the life of me gaze steadily into it-and his
lips, which were very thin, seemed more
like polished marble than human flesh. His
dress was black throughout, and not only
set with exact nicely, but was scrupulously
clean and neat.
GU want an engineer, understand, %
he said in low cautious tone, at the same
time gazing quietly about him, as though
he wanted no one to hear what he said.
II do," I replied. s'My train is alrea-
dy. and we have no engineer within twenty
miles of this place."
s.Well, sir, am going to Bromberg-I
must go-and [ will run the engine for
youp'
Hap I uttered, care you an engi-
neer? 2"
Il am, sir-one of the oldest in the coun-
try and am now on my way to make ar
rangements for great Improvement [ have
invented for the application Of steam to a
locomotive. My name is Martin Kroller.
IF you wish, will run as far as Bromberg;
and [ will show you running that is run
ning!'
Was I not fortunate ? [ determined to
accept the mans offer at once, and sol told
him. He received my answer with a nod
and smile. l went with him to the house,
where we found the iron-horse in charge OF
the fireman, and all ready fer the start
Kroller got upon the platform, and I fol-
lowed him. had never seen man betray
such peculiar aptness amid the machinery
that he did. He let on the steam in an in
slant, but yet with care and judgment, and
he backed up to the baggagecarriage with
the most exact nicely. I had seen enough
to assure me that he was thoroughly &C
quainted with the business, and felt COM
posed once more. gave my engine up to
a new nlan: anu then fastened ssEEeJ tosthe
Office. Word was passed for all the passen-
gers to take their seats, and soon afterwards
I waved my hand to the engineer. There
was a puf-a groaning of the heavy axel-
trees-a trembling of the building-and
the train was in motion. [ leaped upon the
platform Of the guard-carriag and IN few
minutes more the station house was far be-
hind u.s.
In less than an hour we reached Dirsham,
where we took up the passengers that had
come-on the Konigsberg railway. Here I
went forward, and asked Kroller how he
liked the engine. He replied that be liked
it very much
s'But," he added, with strange spark
ling of the eye, ''wait until / get my i'm
provement, and then you will see travelling.
By the soul of the Virgin Mother, sir, [
could run an engine of my own construc-
ton to the moon in four and twenty hours -
I smiled at what I thought his faint en-
thusiasm, and then went back to my station.
AS soon as the Konigsberg passengers were
all on board, and their baggage-carriage at
tached, we started on again.
As soon as all matters had been attended
to connected with the new accession Of pas
sengers, [ went into the guard carriage and
sat down. An early train from Konigs-
berg had been through two hours before
reaching Bromberg, and that was at Little
Oscue, where we took on board the western
mail.
Chow we go!' uttered one of the guard,
some fifteen minutes after we had left Dir
sham
ssThe new engineer is trying the speed, .
[ replied, not yet holding any fear.
But ere long [ began to be fearful he was
running little too fast. The carriages be-
gan to sway to and fro, and I could hear
ordinations Of fear from the passengers.
'sGood heavens!" cried one of the guard,
coming in at that moment, sswhat is that
fellow doing? Look, sir, and see how we
are going"
I looked at the window, and found that
we were dashing along at speed never be-
fore travelled on that road Posts, fences,
rocks, and trees, few by in one undistin-
guished mass, and the carriages now sway
ed fcarfully. [ started to my feet, and
met a passenger on the platform. He was
one Of the chief owners of our road, and was
just on his way to Berlin. He was pale
and excited.
.'Sir," he gasped, lis Martin Kroller on
the engine %
eyes," told him.
''Holy Virgin didn't you know him p
"Knoww repeated, somewhat puzzled,
''What> do you mean? He told me his
name was Kroller, and that he was an en-
gineer. We had no one to run on the en-
CINE, and
s'You took hinaP' interrupted the man
GOOD heavens, sir, he is as crazy as man
can be He turned his brain over new
plan for applying steam power. saw him
at the station, but did not recognize him, as