Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-01-20
THE EXPRESS TRAIN.

BY THE AUTHOR OF 1.-THE SECOND LIFE,
Two or three of US had lounged out Of
the club one night, into Sankey's office,
to find out the news coming in by cable,
which the sleeping town would not hear
until the paper would be out tomorrow.
SantIey was editor Of the Courier. He
was scribbling away at driving speed, his
hat on, an unlighted cirgar in his mouth
"You're at it late, Ben"
"Accident on Western road. Sixty
lives lost" without looking up.
We seized the long white slips which
Law coiled over the table, and read the
dispatch.
'sTut, tut"
"Infamousv
"Nobody to blame, of course
Il tell you the officers of a road where
such an accident is possible should be
tried tor murdern' cried Ferrers.
Sanity showed his copy to the boy, and
lighted his cigar "Ithink you're wrong,
Ferres. Instead of being startled at such
casualties 1 never travel on q railway
that am not amazed at the security OF
them. Just think of it. Thousands OF
trains running yearly on each, with but
struction, the safety of the trains depend
ing on conductors, telegraph clerks,
brakesmen, men of every grade of intel
lect, the brains subject to every kind of
moods and disease and tempers. The
engineer takes glass Of liquor; the con-
ductor sets his watch half minute too
fast; the fagman falls asleep, and the
train is dashed into ruin! 1t is not the
accident that is to be wondered at; it is
the escape that is Miraculous
We all had dropped into seats by this
time. The night was young, and one
after another told some story of adven-
ture or danger. Presently Santley said,
"There was an incident which occurred
on the Erie road few years ago, which
made me feel as do in the matter-I
happened to be an eyewitness to the
whole affair"
''What was it, Benz
otis rather long story"
home until your proof comes in, anyhow.
''No. Well, to make you understand,
about five years ago had bad break
downright work, hack writing and poor
pay. You know how fast it all wears out
the machine. The doctor talked of ais
eases of the gray matter of the brain, ETC.,
and prescribed, instead of medicine, alb
solute rest and change of scene. would
have swallowed all the nostrums in a drug
shop rather than have left the office for a
week.
'I'll take country board and send in
my editorials said.
Ono; you must drop office and work
utterly out of your life for month, at
least. Talk and think of planting pota-
toes, or embroidery-anything but news
papers and politics.
'Well, l obeyed. I started on ped
estrian tour through Pennsylvania, stud
led oil stock in Allegheny County, and
ate sauer-kraut in Berks. Finally /
brought up--footsore and bored beyond
bearing-in Wllliamsport. While there,
[ fell into the habit Of lounging about
the railway station, studying the con
struction Of the engines, and making
friends with the men, The man with
whom always fraternize most readily is
the skilled mechanic. He has degree
OF cOmmon-sense.a store Of certain facts
which your young doctor or politician is
apt to lack. Besides he is absolutely
sure Of his social standing ground, and
has grave selt-respect which teaches him
to respect you. The professional lad just
started on his career is uneasy, not sure
of his position; he tries to climb perpetu-
ally. I tell you this to explain my in
timacy with many of the officials on the
road, especially with an engineer named
Blakely.
''This man attracted me first by his
ability to give me the information l want
ed in a few direct sharp words Like
most reticent men he knew the weight
and value of words. l soon became per-
sonally much interested in him. He was
about forty, his hair streakcd with gray,
with grave worn face, which limited at
youth Of hardship and much suffering.
However, Biakeley had found his way to
the uplands at last. Three years before
he had married bright, cheerful woman.
They had one child-a boy. He had
work and good wages, and was, I found,
high in the confidence of the company
On one occasion, having Sunday off, he
took me up to Jersey Shore, where his
wife and boy lived. He was an excep-
tionally silent man, but when with them
was garrulous and light-hearted as a boy.
In his eyes Jane was the wisest and fair
est of women, and the boy wonder of in
tellect. One great source of trouble to
him was, as found, that he was able to
see them but once in three weeks 1t
was necessary for the child's health to
keep them in the country air, and, in
deed, he could not afford to have them
elsewhere; but this separated him from
them almost totally. Jane was in the
habit of coming with Charley down to a
certain point Of the road every day,
that Blakely might see them as he dashed
by.
"And when l found out this habit, it
occurred to me that could give Blakely
great pleasure. How often have /
cursed my meddling kindness since.
January 25th was the child's birthday. |
proposed to Mrs. Blakely that she and
Charley should board the train which
her husband drove, unknown to him, and
run up to Harrisburg, where he had the
night off. There was to be little supper
at the Lochiel House. Charley was to
appear ina new suit, etc., etc. Of course
the whole affair was at my expense-a
mere tritle, but an affair of grandeur and
I;.@;oot;or ,rb;,h fo;,I,, 4ool,