The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-05-27

his limbs relaxed, and he fell helpless
upon the bench built against the side OF
| the little cab.
A lurid triumph filed the eyes of Mark
| Maldon. He flung the bottle out of the
window, and seized the handle that gov
erned the movement of the locomotive.
II have owed you long debt, Joe,"
he shouted above the roar OF the wheels,
"and now l can pay it with compound
INTEREST," You took everything from me,
and made me what am, and now fate
gives to me my revengep
! Joe was incapable Of moving, but his
senses in some respects still remained.
| "What are you going to doW he gasped.
"You shall see."
| Tie wretch pulled the lever, and the
engine leaped suddenly as horse
bounds when pricked with spur. Every
pound OF steam she could bear with safe
| ty from instantaneous explosion was put
| on, ana the train dashed toward at light
ming speed.
Remember Clear Spring sidingw
gasped Joe.
IL shall remember to pass it'll" yelled
Mark, with demoniac joy, above the clat-
ter and crashing oil the machinery. II
looked into your home tonight, Joe
Thurston, and saw your happiness, and
then l asked myself where was my
home, and where was my happinessl !
saw your wite-the woman loved, and OF
whom you robbed me. 1t was comfort
able refection-all that love and peace
ior you, all the shame and despair for
mel My chance to get even came be-
fore dreamedof You are in my pow
er now, and I'll use it. We both die TO-
night"
He stooped, and seized Thurston's
| watch.
"Every minute brings us nearer to
deatn. Ha, ha! We are at Clear Spring
already" he cried, glancing out; "but
we don't stop. No, no! We go on till
we smash into the express, and be ground
to atoms"
This horrible design seemed to sober
Joe somewhat. He at least compre-
hended it.
my God, Mark. have mercyp be cried.
"rhink OF my poor wife. Reverse the
engine, or we are lost"
II do think OF your wife, and that
nerves me to go TO my death smiling and
| Ijoyously. because you go with me-" re-
turned the fend. 'MOre steam, more
Steam if we blow up! What care ?"
He turned to the coal-tender. There
was flash in his face, report rang
out, and he tottered, and dropped down
among the wheels. something not
spurted upward-Dlood--and the train
jolted.
/ A woman clambered down from among
revolver In hand.
"You, Jenniep moaned poor Joe, ''or
| is it iancy?"
"It is /, Joe. 1 distrusted that man,
YOU remember, and before the train lett,
| armed myself and sprang on TO the last
car. You made sucn speed that have
been all this time getting here. was
not used toTunnlng along the roofs, you
know, and leaping from one Car 10 an
other; but here 1 am, just in tine."
'God bless you, darling; but fear it
is too late. Where is my watch"
THAT villain took it with him, when
he dropped under the wheels. what is
10 be doneW
"We must 60 on Just as we are going
now. 1t we can't reach Apsley Junction
before the express we are lost"
And svill they tore on through the
murky night, plunging deathward every
second.
Jennie looked steadily ahead.
IL see a'lantern, Joe."
GA lanternw he cried, trying to rise.
.sIts the switchman at Apsley juno
tion."
Az Inc edulo AubtduI bobu A6dEu Lue
weird and ominous scream OF whistle.
sIt Is the express approaching at the
other end" shouted Joe, with the sudden
energy OF despair.
.sIf we have two minutes in our favor
we are saved! What is the color of the
lantern, Jennie, darlingW
"Red, and he waves it up and down.
He is running across the track,p
"Sound tue whistle four timesr ~
screamed Joe. vt iB the signal to
switch us Off,"
She knew now. Three shrieking blasts
and long continued vail The watch
man had set his lantern down. One
ginute.
over the rails they jumped, and were
sale on the .siding! With rusty groan
the watchman closed the switch. A
fash and yell, and Express No. " had
passed.
Both trains were secure. Two min
utesl
kiss me, Joe-no danger now," she
whispered. He caught her just in time,
tor she had tainted. Already he had re-
yersed the engine, and the train was
standing still.
The old watchman came hobbling
over.
"You whistled in the nick Of time" he
! croaked, TREMENDOUSLY. "rherewas only
two minutes between you and eternity,
my manV
"Two minutes" said Joe, sand a
woman's loving heart"
| nd that waR