The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1876-01-06

"There! the second one!" cried
Julius, as q r.pOrt exactly like the
first fell upon his ears. ''That means
stop"
eff you're running this train I want
to see your commission of authorityp'
said the mad engineer.
81 am not running it, replied the
youth, quite calmly. "You know the
code of the road as well, perhaps bet
ter, than do. You know all about
the fog signals. The first means run
slower, the second, stop, the third,
stop at all hazards-there's danger
ahead!"
"What's that you're trying to tell
me?'' roared Nixon. Course your fog
signalsl You sha'nt dictate to mo be-
cause you've got your sweetheart with
you tonight. Now keep your mouth
shut. or"
He never fni,hfd the threat, but
laid his band Oh heavy wrench, and
looked daggers ct the youth.
The last word had scarcely left the
engineers lips when the third and
last fog signal bounded more distinct
than the others. The wheels had
crushed the cap on the iron rails;
but John Nixon paid no heed to it.
'He's crazed with drinkI'' said
Julius, moving back toward Hetty Nc
Farland, "and he's driving the train
right into some terrible accident. TIE
rains may have swept that river
bridge away; we must be very near it
now.''
The minute that followed was one
of agony
At the end thereof, the engineer
threw open the furnace, and turning
to his fireman said:
Wood! woodl and be quick about
it tOo!'
Julius was leaving the cushion,
when Hetty suddenly sprang to her
feet, and drew a small revolver from
her pocket.
"Stop the trainl' she cried, point
ing the weapon at John Nixon's
head; ''you will not obey the fog sig
nails; you must obey me or die!"
The drunkard dropped the wrench,
and stared aghast into Hetty's flash
ing eyes.
The new situation seemed to be sob
ering him,
"Stop the trainl'' she repeated, "and
stop it at oncei"
He put his hand on the lever, and
still looking at her he obeyed the
command.
The speed of the train diminished,
and it soon stood still on the track.
Then was heard the rushing Of mad
voices, and the shouts of men.
81 feared it!'' cried Julius; ''the
bridge over the river is gOne!'
John Nixon stood erect with his
hand on the lever, and almost sober.
! ''Go and tell Bradley" Hetty said to
Julius who disappeared.
| A moment later the conductor, fol-
/ lowed by several passengers and men
in their shirtsleeves, appeared at the
engine.
''I thank God for such women as
you, Hetty," he said. owe are within
twenty feet of the bridgeless abut-
ment. An instant more and we would
have been in the foaming tOrrenti'
! Hetty Mcfarland breathed a thank
full prayer, and saw John Nixon re-
| moved from his post.
The danger was over. A woman's 8
! ffrmness had saved the train and its
precious freight.
| 1t seems that few minutes prior to
the explosion of the alarm caps the
bridge had been carried away by the
high waters, and the signals were put
down to warn the train.
"It's the pistol you gave me julie.
/ Mother thought I might be safer
with it, and made me bring it along"
The train had to back many miles,
for the river of course could not be
crossed, and valuable time was lost.
But the loss was nothing compared to
the gain.
John Nixon was discharged, and be-
! came a confirmed inebriate. The old
habit eventually slew him.
Julius Baird took his place, and il
the wedding that shortly followed was
a quiet one, the presents were magni-
ficent. They came from Governor
Knox and the railway company.