The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-10-16
you were not going to take that man p,


"Why ?"
"I don't know. j don't feel sat
isfied"
Pshaw, Jenniel Mark never harmed
any one but himself, and he couldn't
harm me If he wanted to. / guess j
run the engine, don't L, little girl ="
"Please don't take him ?"
"And keep my train standing here
all night and be discharged tomorrow
morning? Nonsense / must clear
the track, darling. You forget that there
Is another express yet. You don t want
collision, do your Good-by, Jennie"
Take care of yourself, Joe," she
said, pale and troubled, and almost try
ing to detain him. "Don't leave your
engine minute"
He laughed.
" never do. Against the rules
A few minutes later freight No. 80 was
on its way. Joe at his accustomed post
and Mark in his old Office of fireman.
Now, what's the instructions, JoeY"
said Mark, much more cheerfully, his
spirits rising with the speed they were
making as they tore along through the
dismal night.
Well we go on hard as we can till
we reach Clear Spring, and there we
pull over to the south siding and let No.
80 express pass, and then we have the
right of way all the rest of the route.'
"After Clear Spring there is no siding
till we reach Apsley Junction, seven
miles beyond ?"
None. We wait sixteen minutes, If
necessary, at Clear SPRING" replied Joe,
decisively.
"All right. By-the-way, / haven't
had drink to-day. 1 brought flask
along" said Mark, producing the arti-
Gle and unscrewing the tor, which form
ed cup. "Take nip-cold night
won't hurt you"
Joe shook his head.
81 never touch it when I'm on
duty"
"Once and away won't hurt you,
Joe. It's good stuff, and can't do you
no harm.n
swell, perhaps one drink won't hurt
Your health |"
He drank.
Three minutes afterward he was as in
capable of exercising his faculties as if
he had swallowed quart. His brain
reeled, his sight became dim, his limbs
relaxed, and he fell helpless upon the
bench built against the side OF the little
cab.
A lurld triumph filled 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.
c. have owed you a long debt, Joe !"
he shouted above the roar of the wheels,
land now can pay it with compound
interest You took everything from
me and made me what am, and now
fate gives me my revengel"
Joe was incapable of moving, but his
senses in some degree still remained.
What are you going to do ?" he
gasped.
" You shall see."
The wretch pulled the lever, and the
engine leaped suddenly as horse bounds
when pricked with a. spur. Every
pound of steam she could bear with safe
ty from instantaneous explosion was
put on, and the train dashed forward at
lightning speed.
Remember Clear Spring siding ~
gasped Joe, hardly conscious.
shall remember to pass !" yelled
Mark, with demoniac joy, above the
clatter and crashing of such mighty
machinery. 81 looked into your home
tonight, Joe Thurston, and saw your
happiness, and then L asked myself
where was my home and where my hap
piness. saw your wife-the woman
loved, and of whom you robbed me. 1t
was a comfortable refection-all that
love and peace for you, all the shame
and despair for me My chance to get
even came before dreamed of it. You
are in my power now, and I'll use it.
We both die tonight ~
He stopped and seized Thurston's
watch.
Every minute brings us nearer to
death. Ha, ha We areat 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 atomsl'
This horrible design seemed to sober