The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-10-28

anything, and accordingly said:
81 SHALL of course, make the attempt,
Mr. McEwen, perilous as 1t is. But l
cess if had good fireman, and I-doubt
if there is such in The neighborhood. -
81 have already provided you with
one," said the superintendent. "You
must have noticed the man on he way 10
the engine-house as you entered fi5!e''
81 certainly did notice a skulkine,
hang-dog looking fellow, with a rough
cloak, peaked hat
That's the man; and he has been
specially recommended to me. from the
Cliffwood junction, as first-rate fireman
and thoroughly up in his work. Are you
satisfied 2"
''Certainly, sir.''
Allen shook the hand which was once
more extended to him, and then, without
another word, set off at swift pace to-
wards the engine>house, for he considered
every moment precious
His prejudice against the new fireman,
though he was truly most iIl-favored
fellow, with lowering brow and pecu>
liarly sinister cast of the eye, was tempo
! rarily dissipated in the most agreeable
manner fory Notwithstanding the short
time that had been allotted him, he had
the Vixen already on the outer track,
and was busily employed in throwing
aboard goodly quantityof wood and coal
"You're the new fireman, are you %
inquired Allen, springing behind the en-
CINE and pulling off his coat for hard work.
HYees, zur," said the man, very gruf-
fly, but speedily following to his position
on the iron horse. 81 bes Tom, as the
superintendent said was to fire up for Har-
per's Ferry. Coal, wood and water all
right, zur"
Young Knox sung out to the switch
man at the turning off. Twang! went
the switch, AS the engine flashed by, and
in a few moments it was whirling through
the mountains at avid rate of speed,
which Allen increased every instant, un-
til it seemed fairly to fly along the track,
while the eteep, rocky mountain sides re-
Verberated with its crashing advance.
'Hooray-hooray! shouted the new
! fireman, casting the dry fuel into the fur
mace in great quantities, and every now
and then pausing TO wave his hat over his
head excitedly. "Hooray! hooray !! now
we are going TO destruction on the short>
! cut Hurry up, ye iron devil Faster,
faster,-I tell YEP
And he again began tossing in the fuel
and raking the fire at rate which bade
fair TO make the engine red-hot in few
minutes, while the dancing speed they had
already acquired was SO furious that Allen
could with difficulty retain his feet on the
narrow platform of the rocking and reel
ing machine,
! He looked at the strange fireman at
first with more curiosity than alarm, but
soon observed, with a sinking terror at his
heart, that his eyes were ablaze with the
lurid light of unmistakable insanity. His
| whole deueanor. as he continued his wild
shouts, was that of madman. Bnt, in
this extremity, the young engineers posi-
tion WAS too critical to permit Uf any dis
! play of terror, SO he spoke TO him boldly
and harshly, ordering him to desist from
any further interference with the furnace
until receiving orders from him.
| If Allen had had any doubts respecting
| the mental balance of his fireman before,
! they were now speedily dissipated for,
with a wild laugh. he was answered by
flying billet of wood, which narrowly
missed his head.
lie had never had such terrible feel
| ing come over him as at that moment.
| The engine was going, as we'll as he could
! Judge, at a rate of fifty.eight or fifty>nine
miles an hour, and he found himself con>
| fronted on the verge Of fate by furious
| mailman with murder written In every
! lineament of his contorted face But,
! young as he was, he was prepared to sell
his life as dearly as possible, and seizing
stick of wood, instantly stood in his self
defence.
With hoarse cry, more like the infu-
riate yell of wild beast than the utter
ance of a human creature, the maniac
leaped over the narrow barrier between
them, and was upon him IN a moment
The lad met him with three terrible blows
in the face with his beudgeon, but he SEEM
ed to heed them no more than so many
taps from a feather fan. Allen then felt
himself rolled up in an embrace, which he
felt it would be impossible long to resist
But be fought with the energy of de-
spair. 1t was long afterward matter
of surprise to him that they both did not
pitch headlong off the engine during that
brief and terrible encounter. Over the
tender, against the fraiI guard, down upon
the iron floor again, they struggled and
battled like two fiends, until at length the
supernatural strength of the madman con-
quered the young engineer. The club of
the latter dropped from his neryeless grasp,
and as the maniac knelt uoon his breast,
he almost straEgled him in his bony clutch.
He then, with his fsrcely suppressed
breathing, drew strong cords from his
pocket, and bound him securely, hand and
| foot.