Mower County transcript., 1871-07-06
VOLUME ".

hr knew how t. handle the engine almos
as well as did myself. | jumped to ny
feet and third time he leaned forward t
reach the throttle lever.
90 For Gods sake, stop her! I exclain
ed. Who arr your
"' Mc?' he answered, with quiet laugh
I'm Il practical engineer, working in tht
interests of science I've studied for wears
and years, and years. and now want tt
luakc all experiment.! Don't interrupt
mel!
He gave me another look, full of wilC
dctermlnation, and then burst into a fit o.
hilarious laughter
she II do better, better, better, by and-by
Now-shc tiics'
I" lie gave the throttle lever another
jerk; the engine shot away faster thar
ever, and trees, telegraph poles, fences
and houses went by like lightning.
"For q moment sunk down upon my
scat in utter despair. To measure strength
with the madman was, saw, simply sui
certain destruction to myself, and probable
destruction to the train and all on board
OF it. But one possible chance Of regain
and that would require all the nerve and
GOODNESS had in me. l must draw him
into conversation, and watch for my op
portunity to gain advantage, either of his
crcdulity or his vanity, sufficiently to in
duce him to give me his place Once
there, | must trust to Providence and
my own courage to prevent further mis-
chief
l scanned him closer than ever for q
moment or two. lie seemed to have en-
tlrely forgotten my presence; now jump
ing up, and laughing and clapping his
hands; now letting more steam on; now
looking eagerly out ahead, and murmur.
ing: Better, better, better still!'
My heart was humping against nv
chest. as said:
SO You seem to understand your bust
ness pretty, well, anyhow, my friend Been
long at it?'
He looked at me, looked away again,
but did not answer.
80 see you arc good, practical engi-
neer, as you say, I continued. How
long have you hten in the business?'
go Years, and years, and years, I tell
out Pegasus, the winged steed. / who
gave that fellow, 1carus, the wax wings
but he flew too near Old Sol, and they
melted and let him down into the water.
Ila! ha! ha!'
~ wish only had your experience at
1t, said l !; what team we'd make to-
gether, pulling in the cause of science, eh {?
g. A new light, an expression Of un-
speakable delight, lighted up his face IS,
catching my words, he turpcd toward me
and, looking me full in the face, answered,
but no longer abstractedly:
"' Ar, You for science, tOO?'
SO Science, every inch of me! said I.
mine with fervor which sent tingle to
my very collar bone. 'Hurrah for
science. You're the man I've been search.
ing for with u lantern these thousand
years. You can help me. But and he
tinctly that could hear every word and
can you keep u secrct?'
Certainly [ CAM l replied, while sort
OF creeping horror stole over me, as felt
his not breath upon my face.
80 You swear you CAM lie continued,
looking ilquiringly into my face
"' I swear l can!' said 1, with a des-
Because he grated out, between his
teeth, If thought you meant to betray
me, I'd tear your tongue out!'
"'Never fear one man of science be.
traying another answered, with sickly
attempt at bravery. I'm your man!'
90 Well, then, mind what say said the
mailman, apparently reassured, and pull
ing from his coat pocket a bunch of dirty
papers, scrawled all over with lead pencil
marks. Here's my secret, the result of
five hundred years hard study. To you,
as friend of science, I will impart it.
But remember your promise!'
by this time l felt terribly uneasy
not only in apprehension of my strange
companions intentions, but on account Of
the alarming rapidity at which we were
moving. The madman was crafty enough
to keep his position upon the foot board,
and l saw there was no hope Of stealing a
march upon him in that direction.
Now, you see,' he went on to say, "a
intinity,' and he held up one of the soiled
scrawls before me, pointing out the marks
upon it with his long, craw-like fore
finger; 'and infinity is what? Do YOU
know? No; but you shall. Do 1 know?
Yes; and, in the cause of science, I am
going to show you. Speed, in locomotion,
tends toward infnity. lntinity is unknown.
The higher the speed, consequently, the
greater the proximity to the unknown.
Down where I've been studying, they
wouldn't let me build my engine to make
this experiment with. So and here his
voice fell to horrrd whisper again, Il
came away secretly the other night, and
ho bo Io n .r,><>,l
of my own! Speed, speed, speed is What
the TANGENT then infnity, and then our
fortune is made forcver!'
g saw that hope was fast disappearing.
His intention plainly was to put the en-
CINE to her highest speed, and send us
over an embanknent at the first
short curve. We had gone nine miles al
ready, although only thirteen minutes had
elapsed since we left H. l nerved my
self for ~ final effort.
"Come,' said I, your secret is 8 won
ucrtul one, ana now that know it, will
give you all my help to carry out your
plan. But you have overlooked one i'm
portant point The tangent which will
quickest bring us to what we are after
nc directed from point as
That point we cannot discern, unless YOU,
with your superior insight into the prin-
ciple involved, take a position upon the
outside Of the engine, and give me the
signal when to send her off,
The idea seemed to strike him.
"' Good better! best! he exclaimed,
clapping his hand, and shaking mine.
But mind, don't take your eyes OF mc!'
"' That shan't,' said, frrvcntly, as he
opened the window, and made move
ment as if to pass out upon the running
5oard
my heart beat high again, but this
lime with hope and anticipation. Once
outside, he would be ut my mercy long
enough for me to whistle down brakes,
shut off steam, and reverse the engine.
"Alas! suddeny y he turned, slamming
the window, and then, glaring upon me
like a demon, he hisscd:
e" You've betrayed me! What did
tell you?"
| trcmbltd with horror
"Comr, come said; mo I haven't.
Go ahead. See there's the curve lust
ahcad. Hurry, be quick, or the chance is
gonc!'
al say you've betrayed me, and I'm
going to kill you! heard you whisper
my secret moment ayO!' and he came
toward inc with all the frenzy and savage
cruelty of a maniac.
"Now,' thought I, 'one last struggle
for life or DEATH and mastering all my
force, struck him a fearful blow with my
fist upon the forchcnd
"Still he nearcd me. l felt his long,