The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-08-13


watched him with keen curiosity,
wondering II 1t were possible that he
could have been drinking, as he had ac-
cused poor Jones of doing
:" 1t strikes me as odd," interrupted
Ferrers, "that you should have not
only made an intimate companion of
of this fellow, Santley, but have taken
so keen an interest In the tempers and
drinkingbouts. You would not be like
ly to honor any of us with such atten-
tion.
"No. / have something else to do. /
was absolutely idle then. Blakely and
his family for the time made up my
world. AS for the friendship, this was
an exceptional man, both as to integrity
and massive hard sense. The knowl-
edge that comes from books counts with
me but for little, compared with the
education given by experience and con-
tact with facts for forty years. / was
honored by the friendship of this grimy
engineer But the question of his So
briefly that day was q serious one. A
man in charge of train with hundreds
of souls aboard, 1 felt ought to be sober,
particularly when 1 was shut up in the
engine with him.
Just as we started slip of paper was
handed to him, which he read and
threw down.
Do you run this train by telegraph p
/ ngIy oil hnf nFnfVa 10 Ia, al
vigorously.
Yes. No more coal"
"Isn't that unusual ?"
=" Yes There are two special trains
on the road this afternoon"
Is it difficult to run train by tele-
graph ?" said presently, simply to
make conversation, as staring in silence
at the narrow slit in the gloomy furnace
or out at the village street, through
which we slowly passed, was monot-
onous.
"No, not difficult. 1 simply have to
obey the instructions which receive at
each station.
But if you should happen to think
the instructions not right ?"
"Happen to think I've no business
to think at all When the trains run
by telegraph the engineers are so many
machines in the hands of one control
Ter, who directs them all from o central
point. He has the whole road under his
eye. If they don't obey to the least tit
tie their orders, it is destruction to the
whole.
You seem to think silent obedience
the first and last merit in railway
man p
" Yes" dryly.
1 took the hint and was dumb.
We were out of town now. Blakely
quickened the speed of the engine. L
did not speak to him. There was little
for me to do,and was occupied in look
ing out at the flying landscape. The
fields were covered with deep fall of
snow, and glanced whitley by, with
strange, unreal shiMrher. The air was
keen and cutting. Still the ride was
tame. was disappointed. The excite
ment was by no means equal to dash
on spirited horse. 1 began to think
had little to show for my grimy hands
when we slowed at the next station
One or two passengers came aboard the
train. There was the inevitable old lady
with bundles, alighting, and the usual
squabble about her trunk. was craning
my neck to hear, when the boy ran
alongside with the telegram.
The next moment L heard smother
exclamation from Blakely.
SEQ back" said he to the boy. "Tell
Sands to have the message repeated
There's mistake"
The boy dashed off, and Blakely 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 go on,'' thrusting the second mes
sage up.
Blakely read it, and stood hesitating
for half minute. never shall forget
the dismay, the utter perplexity that
gathered in his lean face as he looked at
the telegram, and then at the long train
behind him. His lips moved as if he
were calculating chances, and his eye
suddenly quailed, as if he saw death at
the end of the calculation.
What's the matter? What are you
going to do ?" / asked.
"Obey."