Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-07-06

Down where I've been studying, they
wouldn't let me build nv engine 20 MAKE
this expsrimen. with So and here his
VOICE fell 70 3 horrsd whisper again j
came away secretly the other Eight. and
now-ha hs, na,-Tve got good engine
of nv own, Speed, speed. speed is what
we want, By and BY we'll be ready foi
the tangent; then infnity, and then oui
fortune Is made forever.'
Il saw ths, hope was fast disappearing
His intention plainly was 10 put the en-
zine 20 her highest speed, and send Us
whizzirc over an emhankment n the first
short curve We hsd gore nine miles 81
ready. although only thirteen minutes had
elarsed since we left H. nerved my
self for a final effort.
"sCome.' said /, your secret Is won
derful one. and now that / know II, | will
give you all NV help 70 carry out your
plan. But you have overlooked one i'm
| portant point The tangent which viii
| quickest bring US to what We are after
infnity-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-
ciple involved, take q position upon the
DUtsilE Oi the eUSsl4E, diu give LIZ s.lC
signal 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 mep
".That shan't,' said, fervently. as he
| opened the window, and made move
ment as if TO pass out upon the running
| board.
my heart beat high again, bat this
time with hope and anticipation. Once
outside, he would be at my mercy long
| enough for me 10 whistle down brakes,
shut off steam, and reverse the engine.
Alas, suddenly be turned, slamming
the window, and then, glazing upon me
like a demon, he Missed:
You've betrayed me! What did l
tell your"
II trerabled with horror
9" Come, come, said no | haven't.
Go ahead. See! there's the curve just
ahead Hurry, be quick, or the chance is
gomez
al say you've betrayed M, and I'm
going to Kill you l heard you whisper
my secret a moment ago" and he came
toward me with all the frenzy and savage
cruelty OF a maniac.
as Now thought /, 'one last struggle
for life or DEATH and mastering all my
force, / struck him fearful blow with my
clenched fist upon the forehead.
"Still he neared me- | felt his long,
bony hands in my hair. staggered. |
fell backward; my head struck against
something hard, my eyes grew dim, and |
lay insensible."
The narrator paused for moment, and
passed his great rough hand across his
forehead, as if to drive away the terrible
memories his story had recalled. His
companions, mute with eager interest, only
drew themselves nearer as he resumed
Il couldn't 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, between
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
countenance, his long hair floating In the
wind behind, his eye glancing eagerly out
ahead, his lips muttering words to me in
coherent and meaningless. Now and then
ne would dance, aud clap his hands with
fiendish JOY, then settle quietly down
again to his sullen mutterings.
"The rate Of speed at which we were
moving was absolutely frightful-not less,
| should think, than mile minute-and
| feared every instant the crash would
send me, mailman, engine, everything,
whirling to perdition.
As 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 H.
| The brakeman could not some Of them
come to rescuse me? Had not our wild
speed, our neglect of the usual stoppages,
told those on the train that something was
certainly wrongP And why, then, did
they not come to see what IT was? Surely
an end must soon come Of this horrible
affair, in some way or another.
"Heavensl of a sudden l remembered
a circumstance, the thought of which
chilled me to the very bones, and well
might make mo cry out in expostulation
and terror to the terrible being before me-
We were rapidly approaching P
bridge, spanning 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. l had
in my pocket at that moment copy of q
telegraphic order from the Division Su
perintendent, stating that the westward
bound track on the bridge would that
morning be taken up for repairs, and di
recting all trains to switch off on ap
preaching the spot, and cross on the east
ward bound track.
In moml mt all the horror Of the i'm
pending disaster broke upon me. Should
this maniac persist in his mad purpos,
only ten minutes longer, he and l, and al
Of us, would be precipitated headlons
downward through the air, crashing
through the timbers, cars and engine will
us, to be dashed to atoms upon the pitt
less, Jagged rocks below. Oh, how
prayed In that moment for forgiveness fo
all the wickedness Of the past Will
what unspeakable tenderness | recalled
, the parting words of those dear one
whom might never see again, and how
inwardly asked God to watch over then
after / was gone. / wondered whethel