The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-05-09
"a IFrom Dickens Once a Wosk.l
Following n Phantom.

|. FOLLOWING n PhantOm.
It seemed the act of a madman to run
now, for the red lights were some dis
tarse ahead, and gradually growing
dim and bury amid the fog; but
through the thick snow l ran painting
on, with my breath coming shorter and
heavier, and a hct burning sensation at
the chest, while il seemed that could
taste blood, though my mouth was dry
and het.
All at once my heart leaped and ey-
cry nerve tingled. From the fast van
1 ishiug train came long shrill whistle,
which / knew well enough meant red
Esignals in front, while to my unuttera-
bic Joy, the end lamps of the guards
van showed palmer and palmer as
painted on.
Another stumble and fall over the
point rods-and was up again, heed
less that my hands and forehead were
bleeding, and that / had lost my cap.
There were the lamps palmer and plain
or, for the train had almost stopped;
but now, hundred yards ahead, could
overtake it before it started again ]
The suspense was horrible. i felt my
head swim as painted on.
Fifty yards passed, and the red lamps
still receding, but bigger and less dim.
Ion still, gasping and choking and
fdrawiug my breath with difficulty.
Not twenty yards off-and, if | could
have run, another few seconds would
have seen me holding by a carriage
handle; but l could only go at heavy
trot. 100.
"Bang! bsngw went couple of fog
signals, and hope rose again as the en-
CINE slackensd pace snce more, and, al
most at a walk, l painted On-nearer,
nearer, nearer-the re1 lights growing
brighter and palmer; and at last, just
as the engine gave a final shrick and
dashed on all clear, laid my hand on
the red bulls eye, and the next moment
was sitting clinging to the foot board OF
the guards van.
The fog had been my friend. In an
either few seconds must have dropped;
while, in an ordinary way, the train
would have been miles down the line by
this time.
"Bang! bangw went the fog signals
again, and sat helplessly there, with my
| legs drawn up, and again we Stacked
! for a few seconds, but all clear once
more and we were dashing on, and fast
getting into full swing as rose up, and
opening the door, stood with the guard
| of the train. :.
"Pooh! nonsensep he said. you're
mad. / shan't stop the train"
"Then SHALL" shouted, making to-
wards the wheel connected with the
gong upon the engine. 10. :
"Not if know it, you won't, lie said,
stopping me. 80.
L was tso weak and too done up to
scuffle with him.
"Will you come with me to the next
carriage, them" said.
He only shook his head.
"Will You lend me your keyi" said;
for dropped my own whom I fell.
He shook his head again, and then it
struck me that perhaps he might stop
me, seeing how rough and wild and ex-
cited looked. | backed towards the
door, facing him all the time: He told
INC afterwards, if i had not felt afraid
lie would have pinned me while i turn
ed my back.
But didn't turn my back, and the
next moment was on the outside, on
the long step, clinging to the door han
die, with the guard leaning out aud
watching me.
"Come back" he shouted, as we dash
cd along at full speed now, gushing
through the darkness ahead, and giving
wild shrek as we passed station,
the lights looking like one streak.
There were tie carriages shaking, and
the wind tearing at me as If to beat me
off; but / was recovering myself fast,
and in few moments | was at the end
of the guards van, leaning towards the
carriage l wanted to reach.
So far my task had been easy, though,
of course very dangerous, with the train
dashing along at fifty miles an hour;
but now there was a gap to pass between
the van and the carriage, for the buffers
keep the carriages at some distance
apart. For a few moments / stopped
in dread, but, as got my breath more
and more, courage and the recollection
of her wild appealing face came to me,
and, clinging TO the buffers, centrived
to get one foot on the step of the car
riage, and, still holding on by the iron,
tried to get the other there.
Just then the train gave jerk, and l
thought il was all over; but the next
moment L was on the step, and had hold
of the door handle.
"At last" muttered, as drew my
self up on the next step and tried the
door, which was, as expected, fast.
Then / looked back. There was the
guard, with half his body out, and his
hand screening his eyes, trying to fol-
low my motions; but, with the darkness
all round, the snow cutting by like
knives and points, and the dense fog
clouds we kept entering, felt sure he
could not see me, though l could make
him cut from the light in his compart-
ment. Then listened, aud my heart
seemed to stand still; for l fancied /
could hear the sound ofa struggle 60
ing on inside, though was not sure,
from the rattling made by the train. !
was not wasting time, for had tried
to look in at the window; and, after
opening my knife with my teeth, was
trying to open the door. But the in
terror of the carriage was dark as pitch,
and my knife was useless, while now
was sure tnere was struggle going on
inside. Directly after, one of the little
side pases of glass was broken, and /
heard faint cry.
Idashed In the door window in an in
stant, emitting my hands with the thick
glass, aud then, beating out the loose
pieces, made place for entrance, and
had half my body in before felt myself
seized by some one who tried to force me
back. - ~ +, - = ,-,-
Two hands held me by the throat,
while ] grasped the door with one hand,
half in and half out Of the carriage. My
blood was up. I had hold of my unseen
enemy by the collar, and ! dug my
knuckles into his neck as held on for
life like q dog. a
Ihad the advantage of him there, for,