The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-02-23
Yes. No more coal.

/ NO IuOIt COdl.
as Isn't that unusual?'
Z" Yes. There are two special trains
on the road this afternoon
80 Is it difficult to run train by tel
egraph? | said, presently, simply to
make conversation. Staring in silence
at the narrow slit in the gloomy fur
mace or out at the village street, through
which we slowly passed, was monoto-
| nous.
No, not difficult. [ simply have
to obey the instructions which receive
at each station
But if you should happen to think
the instructions not rightP
80 Happen to think! I've no bust
ness to think at all! When the trains
run by telegraph the engineers are SO
many machines in the hand of one con-
troller, who directs them all from a
central point. He has the whole road
under his eye. If they don't obey to
the least title their orders it is destruc-
ton to the whole
"'You seem to think silent obedi-
ence the first and last merit in railway
man.
So Yes, dryly.
" | took the hint and was dumb.
1--WE were out of town now. Blakeley
| quickened the speed of the engine. |
did not speak to him. There was little
for me to do, and l was occupied in
looking out at the flying landscape.
| The fields were covered with deep
fall of snow, and glanced whitley BY,
with strange, unreal simmer. The
air was keen and cutting. Still the
ride was tame. 1 was disappointed.
The excitement would by no means
equal dash on a spirited horse. l be-
gan to think had little to pay for my
grimy hands and face, when we slowed
at the next station. One or two passen-
gers came aboard the train. There
was the inevitable old lady with bun
dies, alighting, and the usual squabble
about her trunk. | was craning my
neck to her, when the boy ran along
side with telegram.
1.-The next moment | heard smoth-
cred exclamation from Blakeley:
go back said he to the boy. Tell
Sands to have the message repeated.
There's a mistake
1.-The boy dashed off, and Blakeley
sat waiting, coolly polishing bit of
the shining brass before him. Back
came the boy
"' Had it repeated. Sands is raging
at you. Says there's no mistake, and
you'd best get on, thrusting the second
message up.
Blakeley read it, and stood hesitat-
ing for half minute. l never shall
forget the dismay, the utter perplexity
that gathered in his lean face as he
looked at the telegram, and at the long
train behind him. His lips moved as
if he were calculating chances, and his
eyes suddenly quailed, as if he saw death
at the end of the calculation.
'What's the matter? What are you
going to dol? asked.
50 Obey.' ..
"The engine gave long shrek of
| horror, that made me start as if it were
Blakeley's own voice. The next instant
we rushed out of the station and dashed
through the low-lying farms at speed
which seemed dangerous to me.
"' Put in more COAL said Blakeley.
Il shoveled it in.
COVE are going very fast, Blakeley,'
| ventured.
He did not answer. His eyes were
fixed on the steam gauge; his lips close
ly shut.
"' More coalr
g threw it in.
1.-The fields and houses began to fly
past but half seen. We were near Sun
bury. Blakeley's eye went from the
gauge to the face of the timepiece and
back. He moved like an automatsn.
There was little more meaning in his
| face.
"' Moren without turning his eye.
~ took up the shovel-hesitated.
"' Blakeley! We're going gerry fast.
We're going at the rate of sixty miles
an hour
"' Coaln .
81 was alarmed at the stern, cold
rigidity of the man. His pallor was be-
coming frightful.
81 threw in the coal.
''At least we must stop at Sunbury.
He had told me that was the next halt.
"The little town approached. As
the first house came in view, the engine
| SCllu Ouu lIo IGN VI Wal II SIcW
louder, louder. We dashed into the
street, up to the station, where group
of passengers waited, and past it with
out the halt of an instant | caught a
glimpse of the appalled, faces of the
waiting crowd. Then we were in the
fields again.
1.-The speed now became literally
breathless; the furnace glared red-hot
The heat, the velocity, the terrible
nervous strain of the man beside mt
seemed to weigh the air. | found my.
self drawing long, stentorious breaths
like one drowning. | heaped in the
coal at intervals, as he bade me-
"rd have done nothing of the kindr
interrupted one of the listeners. 1.-The
man was mad.
81 did it because | was oppressed by
an odd sense of duty, which | never had
in my ordinary FRAMEWORK. Ihad taker
this mechanical task on myself, ano
| felt structure upon me to go through
with it at any cost. | know now how
it is that dull, ignorant men, without {
spark of enthusiasm, show such heroisn
sometimes, as soldiers, engineers, capt
aims of wrecked vessels. 1t is this over
powering sense of routine duty. 1t is {
finer thing than sheer bravery, to my