Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-12-12

we rushed out OF the station and dashed
through the low-lyng farms, at a speed
which seemed dangerous to me-
"' Put in more coal. said Blakelcy.
q" | shoveled it in.
80 We are going very fast Blakelcy,' ]
ventured.
" He did not answer. His cy e was fixed
on the steam gauge; his lips closely shut
{" More coal
81 threw it in.
"The fields and houses began to fly past
but half seen. We were nearing Sunbury.
Blakeley's eyes went from the gauge to
the face of the time-piece and back lie
moved like IN automaton. There was little
more meaning in his face,
60 Moren without turning his eve.
:" Bhkeley! We're going Uery fast
We're going ut the rate of sixty miles an
hour
So Coal
I" | was alarmed ut the stern, cold rigidi-
ty of the man. His palor was becoming
frightful.
" threw in the coal
" At leas', we must stop in Sunbury. He
bad told me that was the next halt.
:" The little town approached, As the
first house came into view, the engine
sent its shrek of warning; it grew louder,
louder. We dashed into the street. up the
station, where group of passengers wait
ed, and passed it without the halt of an
Instant. | caughta glimpse of the appalled,
faces of the waiting crowd. Then we were
in the field again.
"Ihe speed now became literally breath
less; tine furnaces glared red hot The
heat the velocity, the terrible nervous
strain of the man beside me, seemed to
weigh the air, found myself drawing
long stertous breaths, like one drowning.
heaped in the coal ut intervals, as he
bade me.
- I'd done nothing of the kindn inter
rupted one of the listeners. The man
was mad
{" did it because was oppre ,scd by an
odd sense of duty, which never had in
my ordinary brain work | had'taken this |
mechanical task on myself, and | felt Il |
structure upon me to 90 through with it at
any cost know now how it is that dull, |
Ignorant men. without spark of enthnsi- |
asm, show such heroism sometimes, as
soldiers, engineers, captains of wrecked
vessels. 1t is this oyerpowering sense of
routine duty. It's finer thing than sheer
bravery, to- my notion. However, began |
to be of your mind, Wright that Bakelcy |
was mad, aborng under some sudden |
frenzy from drink, though | had never
seen him touch liquor.
g He did not move hand or foot except |
in the mechanical control of the engine,
his eyes going from the gauge to the time
piece, with stcadness, that was more
terrible and threatening than any CLEAN Ct |
insanity could have been. Once he glanced |
back ut the long train, sweeping after the
engine, wilha headlong speed, that rocked |
it from side TO side. You could catch
glimpSes Of hundreds of men and women
talking, reading, unconscious that their
lives We're all in the hold of one man.
whom | now strongly suspected to be mad.
| knew by his look that he remembered
their lives were in his hand. He glanced
at the clock.
80 Twenty miles he muttered. Throw
on the coal Jones. The fire is going out
Il" | did it. Yes l did it, There was
something in the face of that man, that
could not resist, Then | climbed forward
and shook him by the shoulder.
'Blakeleyn | shouted, you are running
this train into the jaws of death
a. know it, quietly.
"' Your wife and child are on it.
" My Godn
" He staggered to his feet. But even
then, he did not move his eye from the
gauge.
"' In minute
90 Make up the fire, he said, and push
ed in the trotte valve.
al will not
"' Make up the fire, Mr.. Santley,' very
quietly.
"' will not. You may murder your
self and your wife and boy, but you shall
not murder me-
g He looked at me. His kindly gray
eyes glared like those of IL wild beast. But
he controlled himself in moment.
- could'throw you out of this door
and make short work of it. Bullock
here; do you see the station yonder9'
II saw thin whip of smoke against the
sky. about five miles in advance.
49, was told TO reach that station by six
o'clock. The express train meeting us is
due now. ought to have laid by for it at
Sunbury. was told to come on. The
track is single one. Unless can make
the siding at that station in three minutes,
we will meet it yonder in the hollow
g. Somebody blundered?'
49, Yes, think so.'
- And you obeyed9'
" He said nothing. l threw on coal If
| had had petroleum, would have thrown
it on. But was never calmer in my life.
When death has II man actually by the
throat it sobers him.
"3lakely pushed in the valve still far
Their The engine began to give strange
painting sound. Far off to the south |
could see the bitumnous black smoke of
train.
Il looked at Blakely, inquiringly. He
nodded. 1t was the express.
:" | stopped to the fire.
"' No more, he said
/" looked across the clear, wintry sky,
at the gray mouth of the peaceful little
village, and beyon |, that black smoke
coming closer, closer, across the sky. Then
turned to the watch.
=" la one minute more
Gentlemen, confess sat down, and
buried my face in my hands. | don't
think tried to pray. had confused
thought of mangled, dying men and
women, mothers and their babes, and, {
vaguely of IL mercifnl God Little Charlie
with his curls and pretty suit {
There was terrific shrek from the en-
gine, against which | leaned. Another in q
my face. A hot tempest swept past me.
:" | looked up. We were on the siding, d
and the express had gone by. The hind
most cars touched in passing.
- Thank God! You've done it. Blake /
ley! Blakeleyn | cried. {
But he did not speak He sat there i'm
movable, and cold rs u stone. l went to
the cars, and brought Jane and the boy to
him, and when he opened his eyes and took
the little woman's hand in his, came |
away.
An engineer, named Fred, who was at a
the station, ran the train into Harrisburg. c
Blakeley was terribly shaken, But we ,
went down and had our little feast after
all. Charley at least enjoyed it,"
What was the explanation?' A blunder '
of the director Or the telegraph operatorP"
Il don't know. Blakeey made light OF {
it afterwards, and kept the secret. These I
railway men must have strong esprit de t
corps.
"All know is. that Bakeley's salary |
was raised soon after, and he received that t
Christmas II very handsome testimonial II