The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-09-21
VOLUME 26.1

night, say at the rate offorty miles an hour
before being obliged to stop for coke and
water?"
"About seventy miles, sir"
'About seventy miles, Just so. Really,
these steam monsters seem to be one OF the
most wonderful inventions of this or any
previous age" and as he said these words
he mounted coolly on the engine. Then
felt more certain than ever that he must be
a director or some great railway functionary
while the slim gentleman with the dispatch
box, standing SO quietly on the ground,
beating his chest with one hand to keep
himself warm, was propably clerk OF
amanuensis.
No sooner had the stout gentleman clam
bered up beside me, than he commenced an
other rapid cross fire of questions, and made
me explain to him the method Of working
the engine. l showed him how to start her,
how to stop her, how to put on the brake,
and sound the whistle. He expressed HIM
self as being immensely gratifed; and when
his list Of questions we're exhausted, called
to the slim gentleman to get up beside us,
in order that he might explain to him some
more interesting point than common.
The slim gentleman, still holding the dis
patch-box carefully, had hardly complied
with this request, when the bell sounded
which summoned me to the station, and
at once started the engine.
1--WE will ride as far as the station with
you;" said the stout gentleman, watching
me attentively.
The ordinary programme of proceedings
was as follows: On hearing the bell, to run
the engine slowly forward to the second
pointsman's box, where a man was in walt
ing to turn her on the main line, after run
ming on which few yards. she was re-
versed, and run back, tender first, into the
station, taking up Sam Preston at the first
poiutsmans box on the way in.
On the present occasion, as soon as |
heard the bell, sounded my whistle as a
notice to pointsman number two; and on
seeing his green light exhibited, ran the en-
| CINE forward over his points till we were on
the main line. | was just about to reverse
the engine, for the purpose of running back
into the station, when the stout gentleman
spoke to me.
''How far is it from here to the junction
where the line to Rppinghurst separates it
self from the north line?'
"About half mile, sir?'
''And what means has the pointsman at
| that junction Of distinguishing one set of
trains from the other, or of knowing on to
which line they ought to be turned?"
His tables inform him at what time each
train ought to arrive or depart; i'll addition
to which, all engines going north give two
distinct whistles, while those going north to
Rippinghurst and other places, whistle three
times before reaching the junction, and
thus notify to the p4intsman which route
it is intended they should take
Just so;two whistles when you go north,
and three wi hen you go south. LIE moment
est grgaee!" Scarcely had the stout gentle
man, who was standing behind me, uttered
these words, when felt myself seized sud
denly round the throat with an iron grippe,
while my head was wrenched violently
back, and the next moment became iuSen
sibie. Had such mode of attack been
known in those days, | should certainly
have said had been garrotted.
When l came to myself, | was lying on
my back among the coke in the tender, with
my overcoat put under my head by way CT
a pillow. | staggered to my feet feeling
very dizzy and faint, and with a choking
sensation in my throat that was far from
agreeable. The Firehy was taring along at
terrific pace, with no train behind her;
going, too, not south to Rppinghurst, but
along the main line to the north, as | saw
when looked around, for the night was
fine, and the stars shone brightly; and
was familiar with every turn and feature of
the landscape. Melinghall was ten miles
| away, and two stations had been passed al
ready. | had but just time to make these
observations when the stout gentleman
turned to address me.
Getting round again, perceive, " said
he; ''you will be all right in another quar-
ter of an hour. Here take dram of this
brandy; you will find it improve you won
derfully. You will, am sure, forgive me
the little rudeness perpetrated few min
utes ago. Necessity compelled me to act as
l did. You are better already,I see And
now | will yield up my post of driver to you
having every confidence in your ability to
conduct me and my friend safely to our
journeys end"
"And where may that be?" asked I,some-
what suIlenly. ''Ihis is not the road to
Rippinghurst.
Just so. 1t is the line to the north on
which we are travelling-I whisted twice
at the junction, according to your instruc-
tions-aDd it is northward | wish to 90. My
| friend and | were too late for the mail; we
could not afford to wait for the next train,
which, in fact, does not start till six to-mor-
| row morning; so were compelled in this
rude and violent fashion, to invent special
| for ourselves"
Fool that was! how egregiously had al
| lowed myself to be deceived! had actually
! taken on of these men for that awful per
| sonage, a railway director; whereas the two
OF them were probably nothing better than
! a brace OF swindlers. With what dire pun
ishn,ent | should be visited when got back
to MelllDgshail, | burst not Just then pause
to contemplate. 1t was true that | was be-
ing carried away against my will; but | had
been wrong III the first place, III allowing a
a stranger 10 get on TO the engine, and so
render 1t possible for any one to usurp the
command placed temporarily in my hands,
The mail would be delayed, and when it
was discovered that had absconded with
the engine, they would put me down as
lunatlc at once. But few minutes more
would bring us to Fallowdene station, at
which place would stop and give the two
strangers into custody and prove my inno-
cence at the same time
| 'S 0"i' VI '''it'S may seeHl IL pleaSdllU
| game to you," | said turning to the stout
stranger; but it's deucedly unpleasant for
me. You've delayed the mail, and run
away with the engine-stolen it, in fact.
end laid yourself open to an indictment for
felony But we shall be at Fallowdene IN
three minutes, and then you will have an
opportunity of explaining to some one high
er in authority than me, the meaning Of
your singular conduct, for don't intend to
drive you any further"
Your nGjUete, my young friend, is really
amusing" said the stout stranger, with a
grim laugh. Understand, once for ALL
that |, aud not you. am master of the situa-
ton; and that it is for you to obey my or
ders implicitly. Refuse to do SO, or attempt
to play any FOOLS tricks with the engine,
and will scatter to the winds what little
brains YOU possess, and scrunch vour homes