The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1878-03-08


ing M his watch. !. What sort of q
night Is IL, Collinsp"
= SHOWS fast, sir" replied the man.
"Snows. does it,r exclaimed Berthe.
!. Better fill up the flask then, and put
half dozen cigars in my coat-pocket-
and say, Collins"
!. Yes, sir"
"Cut me couple Of ham sandwiches
while dress
In rs minutes BERTHE had received his
last instructions from Mr. Arteman, and
was bowling along the Euston road 10
the Midland station.
That immense terminus looked warm
and comfortable in comparison with
the wet and chilly night outside. The
Pullman train was at the platform,
ready to start. There were very few
passengers. BERTHE took sleeping-car
ticket, and without loss of time tucked
himself up comfortably in his berth.
The train soon started after this, and
BERTHE Tyrrel was rapidly whirled into
the land OF dreams.
But his dreams were pleasant dreams,
and II he had not been conscious Of the
penetrating cold, he would have enjoy
ed good nights rest. He shivered
and awoke The lamp was burning
dimly. The steady sswhirr" of the
fast-hying wheels told him that the train
was rushing still on through the stormy
night. Something fell on the lamp
there il was again. 1t came through
the lattice over his bed. II was snow,
. Pleasant night,- thought our trav-
eler .I'll have another nap"
Easier said than done. No efforts OF
his could induce Somnus TO pay him
second visit. The chill feeling he had
before experienced compelled him 10
put on all his wraps. Then he got up,
took sip Of brandy, and went out mp
on the platform Of the carriage to smoke.
As the train hew along the track, lit
tie snow-storms came up from all the
wheels in clouds of powdered dust.
BERTHE was fascinated Past sleeping
towns and villages, past black chimneys
rising into the murky sky from white,
unsullied roof, past close-shut windows,
meath whose sashes the yielding but re-
sistless snow wormed itself like herring
bones and hung outside in slow-dissolv-
ing flakes for King Frost to weld closer.
Past budding heap Of humanity, be-
meath the shelter Of the cmbankment,
on which the merciless, though tender
falling winding-sheet was surely wrap
ped. Past all these, and many more
sights, did the Pullman carriage rush
and scream, and yet no stopping for the
train.
But ten miles further on the trap was
laid. In deep cutting, the northern
wind and drifting cloud conspired to do
battle with the boosted power of man.
Lie closer still. ., drift, blow fiercer
still, o wind Ye wait the daring mon
ster who boasts he can outstrip the
wind, and rattle wildly over the snow
clad fields.
A roar through tunnel-Bertie had
once again turned in-the train emerg-
ed; il slackened speed; long deep
whistle. The engine stopped dead short,
and pushed up a six-foot mound of
snow, melting il for one brief half min
ute; the water dashed al It's enemy, fire,
and Kissed its vengeance in its burning
ears. The fiery foe collapsed; the
mighty monster lay embedded in the
drift, harmless a. a fettered giant, but
still noisy in its protests.
Clouds Of steam anxious 10 be free
from that fatal cutting rushed upwards
and disappeared. or, unable 70 escape,
fell in warm teardrops on the virgin
snow-white carpet The engineer let
the boiler run empty, and sent his ire
men back to the last station for assist
ance. Man was powerless against the
snow.
The soft, the gentle snow
The passengers awoke. and shivering
came one by one out at the end plat
form Of the train, asking questions and
not waiting for replies. No need to ask
what was the matter q second time. The
helpless, lighted train glowed like q
long lighthouse beneath the snow-clad
embankment. A bank in front, tun-
mel behind yawning darkly like an inn
mense hole cut in white paper, a biting
wind and driving snow told the tale All
too clearly.
showed up, Not doubt Of il. When
could assistance arrive? Were there
any ladies in the train? No ladies
only % travellers and all men
But Berthe was due at bis Manchester
office ~ o'clock this morning. X was
now about quarter to 4. He must get
on. and he expressed his determination
aloud 10 his fellow passengers.
~ will accompany you-Where are
we, guard?"
.Atween Ambergatc and Matlock--
but don't know where, though, gentle
men, exactly. Ask Ben"
Ben, the engine-driver, informed
them that they were about an hour and
quarters run from Manchester, and
added word Of caution. But BERTHE
was determined to push on and, ac
companied by two other passengers, he
1 started on his yenturous expedition.