Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-03-20

ii 1T were the echo OF the other, so nearly
simultaneously were they due at Branhill
Junction As 1 neared the track with
breath that came in short, painting sobs
and laboring pulses, | saw, as it were,
through a scarlet mist of blood, the white,
starry gleam of the signal-lamp in its ac
customed place-the "all right" token to
the engineer of the Lightning train.
Whose hand had so foully lighted that
treacherous star of doom?
AS l ran had searched for the key of
the switch-lock. 1t was safe. l sprang to
the track, hurting down the signal with
vehemence that shivered the strong glass
to thousand atoms. | thrust the key in
to the lock and unlocked the switch. Great
Heavens. the lever was immovable. The
villain had done his work completely, and
with small wooden wedge driven firmly
between the lever and the iron-frame work
of the switch had made the movement of
the former impossible. The loud shrek of
the now approaching train gave me ad-
tional strength in vain, for [ could not
move the rails Walker and Barbara Wy
cliffe had neglected no one link in the chain
of their detestable plot One instant |
stood, in the utter abandonment of despair.
In the same terrible instant the glare of
the laundering train flashed on the track
and lighted it up with painful brilliancy,
and | saw, as | knew, that the rails were
wrong While my mind seemed to give
way before the terrible doom which | had
no power to avert, IA breathless, gasplng
voice sounded close in my ear, and heavy
iron implement was thrust into my hands.
| did not see her, but knew who it was.
[ did not see the implement which | grasp
ed, but knew there was strength in it.
Reuben. Reuben, Quick, it is the
crow-bar +"
Before she had finished the words | had
formed my plan of action; [ had acted.
With powerful blow | struck the iron
rod of the switch-the thin stem which
connected the lever and the rails and which
before had moved them, but which now
prevented them from moving. single
| blow was enough. | heard the sharp
twang of the iron rod as it snapped. |
/ bounded to the side of the track. placed
the crow-bar as lever under the rail. and
was about to move the switch, with laugh
of relief, into its place, when felt both my
arms grappled from behind with a hold as
firm as steel and l was thrown violently
back, dropping the crow-bar as [ fell.
mot so fast, Reuben Eyre" Missed the
hated voice of John Walker close to my
ear. Il will be revenged yet, though
pretty Barbara has played me false
| struggled, with a strength that after
ward seemed to me well-nigh supernatural,
to free myself from his clinging grasp, but
in vain He had drawn me, suppose un-
consciously, on to the track, and | could
already feel beneath my feet the thrill and
tremble of the firm earth-a sure token
that the approaching train was nearing us.
| thought OF the unsuspecrng passengers
whose fate hung in the balance. Were
they to perish when help and rescue lay
almost within hand s-breadth of me
They talk of the bitterness of death-this
was the bitterness of life and in that mo-
ment of horrible suspense | drank the
loathed cup to the very dregs.
But help-thanks to Gods providence
was nearer at hand than had dared to
hope While strove with John Walker
herculean strength Barbara Wycliffe had,
with surprising courage and presence OF
mind. seized the crow-bar. and had forced
the rails into position. Brave girl, 1t
did not require more than woman 5
strength, but she did need at that moment
more than mans courage 1t wasn't
nerve and sinew she needed, but the heart
to do it. The train did not slacken its
speed. The engineer had failed to notice
the absence of the signal, and dashed
wildly ahead. 1t did not matter now.
The switch was all right and the danger
was past.
The danger past? Not so. Can YOU
believe that, while distinctly saw all this
saw Barbaras act, saw the rails move, saw
them rightly adjusted, saw the engineer
Enthusiastically reflected that his mis-
take resulted from his firm confidence ii
mel had never failed him before-car
you comprehend that all this time-it was
only an instant, thought was engaged il
a struggle for life with John Walker
Mind and matter were totally distinct
Mentally, | was absorbed in Barbara ;:
work; physically, | grappled with Johr
Walker. Now, the danger to the trair
past mind returned to matter, and Walker
: soon found | was more than match fol
, him. Nv first reflection was to drag hin
| and myself from the track, across which
we were struggling. 1t was the work o
an instant. Then, with a superhuman eff
: fort, | endeavored to free myself from hi
l grasp, and [ threw him violently from me
: He staggered back pace or two, vainly
n endeavoring to recover his equilibrium
/ and then fell
f Fell, great Heaven directly across tn,
iron track
o 1 made an instructive step forward t,
d save him, but Barbara Wycliffe's arm
: were clasped tightly around me, Barbara
d voice was crying out wildly,
: Reuben, Reuben for my sake "
: And in the same breath the Lightnin,
S Express rushed over the track like fer
:, serpent, and | knew that John Walker
: accounts with Time were closed forever.
e The engineer and fireman of the Ac
: commodation train, which was standing o
n the branch road, had, in the glare of tn
= locomotive, witnessed the struggle, ha
g heard Barbara's screams, and now cam
IF rushing forward. In awed silence they re
e moved the body from the track where
d lay, fearfully crushed and mangled, wit
Y glazed eyes upturned, and brow still cor
e tracted with the scowl of mortal rage
IS So the man died, and there was no livin
e soul to mourn his death.
e As the engineer of the Accommodate
e comprehended the situation and explaine
t. it to the wondering passengers, he turne
!. to me as | mechanically readiusted tn
l. switch to allow the Accommodation to pas
and said,
ID LUCKY for you, old fellow, that tf
le Lightning was five minutes behind time"
,e Five minutes behind time-and thos