Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1878-01-24
THE TUNNEL.

mics sid the most powerful micro
scope could have discovered no 9th
tr.
While lie hai not 4 tieud among
the hauds, their dislike WAS not Nh
open oAe. His strength WAS kaown
10 be almost phrnomenal. lie had
cnce Knocked dowa a horse with a
blow Of his list.
James Wainwright aud Bill Black
ford, aS Ore nan ans. engineer "f The
same locomotive, had kept up the
necessary or convenient apped. arcr
Of friendship, unlillt was whispered
about that Jane G0aa:d q nad chosen
Wainwright for her husbaud that
WIS 10 he." Theu Bill Backfnrd
knit his Mow, aud c,u cllel his
teeth together wlta au oath. 1t
was no secret that Le had waited
Oh" Jane MG.seN.
After that, t.,c inen hardly spoke
word TO each o.4!er. For miles on
miles, day after das, taey SD along
the Loa :oad, and scarcely looked
into each ot,.ei's eyes. When
Blackf0rd did glance at Wainwright
il ~as with a mali .slaiC sco"l.
One day, engine N. 32 run to
freight trdi,i. NJ serious damage
was done. Ii Was flGnd, hoNever
that, at the time If Tie ccIden',
Blacklopl, engineer, Wees Under The
iutilance of liqlm.
Hewas reduced from dis position
otilat OF ftelAua. lie would nave
been discouraged altoyetner out Tor
his long tnithtIl service 10 tic cJn-
rany. -a4S SA &>--.aa
James Wainwright was promoted
1otfs posnIGiA AAs engineer. Hear
ing of it Bib BlAcEfmd's sc1"l deep.
.ened, and lis black eyes Strapped
five. TT IF s- ..- ,s-
IL was Waters night, cold aud
clear. Several of the railroad hands
were seated ruuud the station fire ;
among item Wainwright an1
B.ackfcrd.
lie east track needs repairing
in the long tuuGel,' said the super
YiSor, Ind tlIe Wvrksuol have all
gone home. what two among You
viii volunteer 70 attend to Tie mat
ter -
On the instant james Wainwright
answered
a, alr -
Immediately Gill Fla ,kfurd added:
And me, too, sir -
More than one turhed quickly
AID wouderingly toward the Latter.
IL was not this ina1'5 custom 20 be
o1liging. One man drew Wal
wright aside, and said:
'.BiachfoId dusen'l love you, Jim.
l wouldn't 60 into that tunnel alone
with him, il l was you. Lat Inc g
in your stead. He's get nothing
against me-"
''Eonselst - said the other.
''Tber, ls nc danger and even if
there were, d. yJu suppose rd lit
him kn0w-that | Was afraid of hin.
By backing olt -
Que or tao nnn, as Il volunteers
started off t.getheI, proposed To o.
with theul, but B.aukfJrd said, III 4
dog2td way /:
''Dou't.need no help" r--
IN moIe CIVILIZED banner, VAN
wright echoed him, and the .ueu fell
bacl-. 4-er #.
It was full ten MINUTES walk To
the mouth of tie tunnel, but when
they had ptached it, neither bad
spoken word. Now Backfol d
asked
"Which side Is it on2
East"
',Nbtre ?n Frere~.r -
"About TIE middle OF the tun.
oei.'
"Au right. Come on"
Into the daikness they plunged.
They each carried Il light, but the
imlressiSh # such a place is always
one of intense blackuess.
II was their Object, il possible, t.
do TIE job befole tue train, due
there il half an hour, should reach
tie spot. II.
No word was spoken after thest
few at the mouth Of tlre tunnel
They worked silently and swiftly
An observer might have noticed
that Dlachfold struck the Iail viii
tiictively, and SMILED as the spark
6sI ".
+r 1t was fni he'd, md just then th
rumble OF the coming train wa
beard.
Between the track Ehich they ha,
Just repaired one on which tiI
cars would pass and the wall, th
distance Was only two or three feet
! 1FsepmfortahIe, indeed. to s:anf