Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1874-05-27
What did it mean There was

Never shall / forget the sensation
that ran through my veins at that
thought. The crown Of my head
seemed to literally lift up. Then
why, I could never explain--I
ran back, siezed Maudie, and after
wards hurried to the signal-box.
Rapidly l ascended the steps to
the "look-out." tried the door
1t was fastened on the inside and
what sight met Inc within through
the glass!
John, sound asleep, his head on
his arm!
Calling to him loudly, I shook
the handle. He did not stir. All
was silent, save for the monotonous
tick of the clock, beating out the
the fatal minutes, above his head.
I dared not delay. / dashed in the
glass-put in my hand-turned the
key, and entered. Even this did
not arouse him.
"Johnw I called, shaking his
shoulder "what is the matter
with you! Wake up! It's eleven
the express is coningT
He breathed heavily, but made
no sign. What was the matter
with him = His appreared no nat
ural sleep. In my alarm at the fly
ing moments, fond mother as l was,
I forced Maudie to cry hoping
that might awaken him. 1t did.
Slowly he looked up heavily but
only to sink back to sleep. At the
same moment, / heard in the dis
tance the faint whistle Of the ex-
press train. 1t was coming and
Henshar mail had not yet passed.
The terror Of a whole life was con-
densed in those few minutes. The
collision John had foretold had
come at last. All my efforts to
arouse him were futile. ! stood
alone, the trains rushed to their
fate. I saw the awful sight in my
dream realized; l saw men, wom-
en-, children, in one fearful heap,
amid broken carriages. My brain
reeled; 1 turned sick. Then the
intensity of my fright apparently
cleared my brain.
Why should not save theml
As the question occurred, the
whistle of the advancing mail
sounded. Looking right and left,
l perceived the glowing lights of
each engine coming nearer, and
nearer, for the line was clear. /
waited no more. / recalled what
John had told me, and turned tho
signal lantern for the express train
to slacken speed. Eagerly, breath
lessly watched. Had / after all,
made mistake? Yes-the lights
still approached! No-they had
stopped!
The next moment the signal-box
was shaken to its base by the rush
Of the mail train beneath it. I
watched it fly off in the distance,
turned the light, heard the Wynn
ing express in its turn whirl under
me, and knew as fell insensible to
the floor, that nearly two hundred
people had been on tho brink Of
the grave, and-that l had saved
them.
My baby's cries, however, soon
recalled my senses, when, fetching
water, l dashed it over John, and
at last brought him to. / shall
ever remember his look when told
him what had occurred. He could
not believe the mail train had pass
ed; but l proved it to him beyond
a doubt.
81 can't make it out, JMe," ho
exclaimed. al have not the slight
est recollection of going to sleep.
In fact, was doing all / could TO
keep awake, 1t must be my cold"
"What is that p asked, abrupt-
ly pointing to q glass,
"Part of tumbler of beer Dick
Malin left me-" he answered.
i saw it all. The beer had been
drugged to work our ruin. John
wouldn't hear Of it.
There being no more trains, We
went home, taking the beer with
me.
"John," said when there, "I'm
going to show I'm right about Rich
ard Malin. SeO - And before he
could prevent me, / had drank the
contents Of tho glass.
A quarter of an hour after, was
in as dead sleep as he had been.
But this act had destroyed any
proof we had against Richard Ma
lin. who. however. confirmed our