The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-29

since We lett IL. nerved myself for
final effort.
"'Come,' said l, your secret is a won.
uerful one, and 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
inhnlty-muSt be directed from point as
near as possible to the base OF the cone.
That point we cannot discern, unless you,
with your superior insight into the prin-
clples involved. take position upon the
outside of the engine, and give me the sig
nal when to send her off,
The idea seemed to strike him.
"'Good better! bestr he exclaimed
clapping his hand, and shaking mine.
But mind, don't take your eyes off mel
"That l shan't,' said, fervently, as he
opened the window, and made movement
as if to pass out upon the running board
"My heart beat high again, but this
time with hope and anticipation. Once
outside, he would be at my mercy long
enough for me to whistle down brakes,
shut off steam, and reverse the engine.
"Alas suddenly he turned, slamming
the window, and then, glaring upon me
like demon, he hissed:
"'You'ye betrayed me! What did tell
youp
81 tremblcd with horror.
"'Comc, come,' said; no, I haven't.
Go ahead. See! there's the curve just
ahead: Hurry, be quick, or the chance is
gonem
so say you've betrayed me, and Pm
going to kill you! heard you whisper
my secret moment agon and he came
toward me with all the frenzy and savage
cruelty Of a maniac.
Now thought |, 'one laststruggle for
life or death ? and, mastering all my force,
struck him fearful blow, with my
clenched fist, upon the forehead.
"Still he neared me. l felt his long,
bony hands in my hair. staggered. |
fell backward; my head struck against
something hard, my eyes grew dim, and |
lay inscnsible.'
The narrator paused for moment, and
passed his great rough hand across his
forehead, as it to drive away the terrible
memories his story had recalled. His
companions, mute with eager interest, only
drew themselves nearer, as he resumed:
II couldn's have lain there half an hour
for, when | came to. the first object that
met my view in the distant landscape was
the white tower of the Methodist Church
IN N. | was lying on my side, be-
tween the engine and tender, with my
head half over the edge
Weak and exhausted from loss Of blood,
which was still flowing from the wound
upon my head, | lay there, helpless and
hopeless. My eyes wandered to where
the mailman was still standing. | saw
him, with heightened wildness on his coun-
tenance, his long hair floating in the wind
behind, his eyes glancing eagerly Uut ahead,
his lips muttering words to me incoherent
and meaningless. Now and then he would
dance, and clap his hands with fiendish
joy, then settle quietly down again to his
sullen muttcrings.
''The rate of speed at which we were
moving was absolutely frightful-not less,
| should think, than mile a minute-and
| feared every instant the crash which
would send me, ,nadman, engine, every
thing, whirlng to perdition.
Gas each moment my faculties grew
stronger, began to realize in all its force
the horror of my situation. What if he
should discover in me signs of returning
life ? He would, without doubt, throw
me from the train, or dash my brains out.
Meanwhile, where was the conductor
Perhaps he had been left behind at II -.
The brakemen-could not some of them
come to rescue me ! Had not our wild
speed. our neglect of the usual stoppages,
told those on the train that something
was certainly wrong? And why, then,
did they not come to see what it was !
Surely an end must soon come to this hor-
riblc affair, in some way or another.
"Heayens! of sudden | remembered a
circumstance, the thought of which chilled
me tony very bones, and well might make
me CRY out in expostulatIon and terror to
the terrible being before me. We were
rapidly approaching P Bridge, span
ming the awful chasm through which, far
below, the T River leaps and plunges,
IN three successive falls, to the quiet level
of the valley below. | had in my pocket
at that moment a copy of a telegraphic or
der from the Division Superintendent, sta,
ting that the westward-bound track on the
bridge would that morning be taken up for
repairs. and directing all trains to switch
off on approaching the spot, and cross on
the eastward-bound track.
In a moment all the horror of the i'm.
pending disaster broke upon me- Should
this maniac persist in his mad purpose only
ten minutes longer, he and |, and all Of US:
would be precipitated headlong downward
through the air, crashing through the tim,
hers. cars and engine with us, to be dashed
to atoms upon the pitiless, jagged rocks
below. Oh, how prayed in that moment
for forgiveness for all the wickedneSs oil
the past! With what unspeakable tender
ness | recalled the parting words Of those
dear ones whom might never see again,
and how | inwardly asked God to watch
over them after was gone. wondered
whether they would ever find us, or would
ever know the real cause of the eatastro'
pbe. Eagerly watched the familiar land