Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-09-19

tfdl1luS alOng Denlnd GHo Li9HGnlnS'
But Macleod refuses to run her un-
less / consent to his conditions.
Frank, why can't you take the old
Lady into B-?"
Tll do it with all the pleasure in
life" oH s
Carew's face frightened at once.
"What a lucky thing it is you
chanced to be on the train,' he said.
Il should have been entirely at Macs
mercy if it hadn't been for you. Come
on; there's no time to be lost"
followed him through the long
train to the engine, and entered the
little inclosed compartment where
Macleod sat among his screws and
valves and dials, like some magician
Of old surrounded by the abstruse i'm
plemerts of his art. How like home
this tiny place appeared TO me! 1t
seemed almost as if the Lady Frank
lin" shot more swiftly over the track
as stepped upon her. Macleod in
clined his head stifly in answer to my
greeting. He was a tall, spare
Scotchman, with deep-set blue eyes
thatched with shaggy brows, and hair
already thickly sprinkled with gray,
though he could scarcely have been
more than forty years old. His face
was cold and repulsive, and his man.
ner forbidding in the EXTREMIST de-
gree. Moreover, he had a way ex-
ceedingly unpleasant to the spectator,
of continually looking over his shoul-
der with a sort of spasmodic motion,
as if he had suddenly seen or heard
something close behind him. AS |
threw myself down beside him he
pointed to the place beyond.
Sit there, if you please, Mr.. At
water"
I wondered, but complied, and
Carew spoke pleasantly.
Well, Macleod shall we put on
steam and drive her ahead p
"No, Mr.. Carew," said the Scotch
man coldly and firmly. Either " we
run out on the side track three miles
ahead, as | have explained, or | leave
the engine"
But why are you so determined y
| asked.
Il don't conceive it my business to
answer any of your questions, Francis
Atwater," said Macleod, " bat | have
no objection to crafty your curiosity.
I am /" so determined" because l see
danger-dangerr
How? =? and where ?"
"You practical engineer, and ask
where is the danger on such "a night
as this, with the "Lightning Express
close behind. and we twenty-five min.
utes after our time p Boy, do you
know that we are responsible
not only for A twat ter and
Carew and John Macleod, but for al
the passengers on this train? Dc
you want the sin of murder on your
soul ?"
He spoke in a sharp voice that was
almost a scream.
That is not the question" said
Carew, "and all nonsense besides
Isn't the light hung out behind, and
can't you tell when we are gaining OF
losing time? Once for all, will you
or will you not do your best to gain
time and keep ahead of the Light
ming ?"
"No; | will not!" he answered
sullenly.
"Very well, here is a substitute
that will. Make room for Mr.. At
water r
"He can do as he pleases," said
Macleod, stiffly, rising to yield me
his place. "I wash my hands of the
whole thing, now and hereafter. Bear
witness, Carew and Atwater that ]
protest against this rash and fool
hardy thing ?"
Not a word more did he utter, but
sat down silent and rigid as a galvan
lied corpse, watching me with his
deep-set eyes until the very conscious
ness of the steady surveillance made
me uncomfortable. Uncomfortable
but not nervous. | never, in the
whole course of my life, was more en-
tirely in possession Of all my facul
ties, or more composed than at thai
moment, as | mechanically examined
screws and valves and satisfied my
self as to the correctness OF every de
tail. All was right; Macleod was q
good engineer if not an agreeable
companion.
"Now, then, my " Lady," l said tc
myself, "we'll see if you keep up al
your pluck!'
| turned to give some directions tc
the fireman, and when | was about
to sit down Macleod seized my arm
"Not there! | tell you not there.
And why not there ?" [ demand
ed, with a momentary fear crossing
my mind that the man was deranged
because another already occupies
the place." he cried in the shrill
shrieking voice he often used wher
much excited. death is passenger
on this train with US, and Death sits
there CHASTITY and still No, know
you don't see him; but second sight
is gift in the place | come from, and
| see him. l would have warded of
his fell errand, but you-you and thai
cursed Carew wouldn't let me. Now
go your own mad, reckless way, and
see where it will bring you. And
remember Frank Atwater, that it is
not your own worthless life thai
hangs in the balance but the lives o.
all who travel on this train"
Argument with a man In his excited
/ C.. of l1,, f111x,