Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1867-05-30

train to engine, and entered the little
inclosed compartment were Mcleod
sat among his screws and valves and
dials, like some magician Of old sur
rounded by the abstruse implements
of of his art. How like home this
tiny place appeared to me (! 1t seemed
almost as if the LADY Franklin" shot
more swiftly over the track as step.
ped upon her. Mcleod inclined his
head stiffly in answer to my greeting
He was tall, spare Scotchman, with
deep-set blue eyes thatched with shag-
gy brows, and hair already thickly
sprinkled with gray, though he could
scarcely been more than forty years
old. His face was cold and repulsive,
and his manner forbidding in the ex-
tremest degree. Moreover, he had a
way exceedingly unpleasant to the
spectator, Of continually looking over
his shoulder 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 suddenly pointed to the place be-
yond.
"sit there, if you please, Mr.. Atwa-
ter"
wondered, but complied, and Car
ew spoke pleasantly.
"Well, Mcleod, shall we put on
steam, and drive her ahead 2"
mo, Mr.. Carew," said the Scotch
man, coldly and firmly. Either we
run out on the side track three miles
ahead, as have explained,o | leave
the engine"
"But why are you so determined ?"
l asked
81 don't conceive it my business to
answer any of your questions, Fran
cis Atwater," said Mcleod, "but l
have no objection to crafty your
curiosity. am so determined be-
cause | see further than you or Mr..
Carew here, and see danger--dan-
ger p
"How? and where 2"
"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? Boys, do you
know that we are responsible not only
for Atwater and Carew and John
Mcleod, but for all the passengers Oh
this train Do you walt the sin of
murder on your soul 2"
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
or losing time ? Once for all, will you
or will you not do your best to gain
time and keep ahead of the Light
ning p"
"No F.; l will not !" he answered,
suIlenly.
every well, here is substitute
that will. Make room for Mr.. Atwa-
ter ~
"He can do as he pleases," said
Mcleod stiffly, rising to yield me his
place. 81 wash my hands Of the
whole thing, now and hereafter
Bear witness, Carew and Atwater,
that l protest against this rash and
foolhardy thing p
Not word more did he utter, but
sat down silent and rigid as a galva-
nized corps, watching me with his
deep set eyes until the very con-
seriousness of that steady surveillance
made me uncomfortable. Uncomfor-
table, but not nervous. | never in
the whole course of my life, was more
entirely in possession of all my facul-
ties, OF more composed than at that
moment, as l mechanically examined
screws and valves and satisfied my
self as to the correctness of every de-
tail. All was right Mcleod was
good engineer if not an agreeable
companion.
"Now then, my Lady," l said to
myself well see if you keep up all
of your old pluck y
| turned to give some directions to
the fireman, and when l was about to
sit down Mcleod seized my arm.
"Not there | tell you not there p
"And why not there W deman-
ded, with momentary fear crossing
my mind that the man was deranged.
because another already occupies
the place." he cried in the shill, Shrek
ing voice he often used when much
excited. "Death is passenger on
this train with, ,us and death sits there
ghastly and still ! No, know you
don't see him but second sight is a
gift in the family | come from, and |
see him.-I would have warded off his
fell errand, but you-you and that
cursed Carew wouldn't let me- Now
go on your own mad reckless way
and see where it will bring you. And
remember, Frank Atwater, that it's
not your own worthless life that
hangs in the balance but the lives Of
all who travel on this train"
Argument with man in in this
excited frame of mind would have
been but folly. l sat down without
a word, smiling in spite of myself
and resumed my intent supervision
of the engine while Mcleod sat silent
ly by with folded arms.
Never did the Lady franklin
show finer mettle than On that night
The machinery was perfect, the cranl
we'll oiled the heat steady and intense
The fireman worked in concert will
me, fully comprehending my inten
tions, and the Lady" rushed oveI
the rails like a living, breathing thing
"How are you getting along
Frank ?" asked Carew, coming for
, ward with his lantern, as we left ou
. | first Stonninp Dlapa