The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-11-17

had suddenly awakened from its long sleep
and now proposed to be railroad in earnest
W hen the conductor came through the
e train. and came along by me, asked:
"What is the matter with Gardiner this
morning go
Oh" was the reply, "he and the old man
have had blow out this morning. You see
our train never makes connecltors-passen-
gers always have to lay over, aud of course
they growl. This morning the old man
called US into the office and the whole thing
was out. Gardiner talked like a father to
them. and as he grew excited, he said it wes
criminal running the road in the condition it
was. be told them the time table, as made
up, was fast even for first class road, and
II we undertook to run it frightful accident
could not be avoided. When Gardiner said
1t was criminal to run the road as it was
Supt. Brown was very hot. lie fairly boiled
over. He declared that there was no better
road in the country, and that Gardiner was
a coward and ought to so 10 a gravel train,
and if he didn't make time he'd have him
there. too. Brown also said that in Valley
Greek, where ne lived, he had noticed that
the train always slowed and lost time enough
there to miss the connections. Gardiner re-
piled to this, that at the Creek there was a
down grade, tue bridge was unsafe, and he
than this. the track passed through the play
| ground Of the Creek school, was not fenced
/ In, and they could not so through at a rapid
! speed without dGngeT TO the children.
! Then Brown Ous5. 0l- aith an oath. that
I L parents did not want heir children run
/ over. taeT lrlst keep theIa OF the track
/ Il woaic oa gcol sljGg, nc said. TO run
/ over c2a CT two Of them, as IL would teach
/ ;Eetn lesson. OF course he didn't mean
! tbs, c~s &c vas hot you see, and did not
know hat he was saying. He added, that
| GARDENERS family lived near the track, and
that Gardeners sole reason for slowing was
to have a chance to chat with them as he
went through. This set Gardeners anger
on fire, and be then and there declared that
| he would make time, let the consequences
| be what they might, and if disaster happen
ed, Brown must assume tie responsibility
1ou see he is keeping his word, but the old
fellow feels bad u
We dashed Oh over the frail iron at a
frightful speed. You could almost hear the
bars crackle as he went. The cars surged
from east To west, forcing passenger TO fairly
cling TO their seats. Not for a second did |
leave my brake.
We were nearly down to Valley Creek on
time. As we approached the long stretch
Of down grade, | felt by the shaking that |
were really too great and then, as if his |
promise had came full upon his mind, had /
once more carefully opened the throttle |
Down the Valley we went. our rapid speed /
startling the birds, the cattle, and even the !
staid old forest trees into new and strange |
ideas. | graspcd the brake firmly the en-
gine whistled and screamed, warning all to
keep clear Of it. l held my breath. well
knowing that if we left the track it would be
to go to destruction. Suddenly the whistle
ceased. and then there came three unearthiy I
yells from it; they pierced my ears and made
them ache. How l set up the brake, for |
felt there was danger ahead. l knew this
when Gardiner suddenly reversed his engine
The shutting off, the reversing, and the
brakes set up SO tight that | feared the
chains would break. did not seem to have
the slightest effect upon the train On, on
it went, at its dangerously rapid speed. /
stretched my neck out as far as possible,
clinging nervUusy to the railing. | could
see that Brown was at his post, looking ou.
as l did, and moving his hand energetically,
while whistle and bell were uniting their
protest.
What was the matter I could not coniec-
ture, but was anxious to know. Springing
upon the iail, | made my way to the top of !
the car, and the mystery was revealed =
There, on the track, was sight that sent
thrill Of horror through me. Only few
feet ahead of US, on the track, stood mere
child-unconscious of its danger-paralyzed
so that it could not move. Just clear of the
track lay wouIan, evidently helpless. /
lookedfOr Gardiner, to see what he was doing :
ere closed my eyes to shut out the horrible
sight. The poor fellow had not been idle
Plainly seeing that he could not drive the
child from the track, and that its comparion
w hplnlaSc ba loft bic ooh cli- ,laI [
forward on the engine, on to the extreme
end of the cow-catcher, leaned over, and
while clinging with one hand, reached out
with the other. There did not seem one
chance in million to save the child-not
anxiety overcame horror, and !
looked. and shuddered as looked !
How my heart leaped into my very throat
as / saw the train dash on, but saw that as
it did so, Gardiner, with almost superhuman
effort; raised the child by its arm from the
track and clasped it to his bosom. Then he
sank down upon the cow-Catcher, faint and 6
powerless. His fireman clambered out to v
his side, and you may rest assured / was not c
long in getting to their assistance The un- i
usual noise of the steam had brought every C
person in the village out to witness the @
sigut, and as they realized it they shouted t
their 10y until their throats must have been b
aoarse. The fiteman and ] clung to Gardi- Z
her, thera was no need 70 hold the child, O
'or, though rigid and helpless, Gardiner held L
.le liJt,5 one 60 his breast with an iron grasp. i
Very soon we crossed the bridge and struck v
the up grade, where the train slowed and f
inally came to full halt, nearly in front of i
GARDENERS house. With the help of some Z
of the villagers We took by force the child i
from GARDENERS arms and carried the engi- v
1eer into the house and laid him on the bed. il
As be sank down the little life in him seem i
I'd to come back, and lie whispered: Whose I
,hild is it2' t
superintendent Browne" said neigh .
Dor, to my astonshment. t
'Is it alve2" gasped Gardner.
at is alive and weli-thsnks to your
,rayerv 7 answered and Gardner sank :,