Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-02-13

this fellow, Santley, but have taken so
keen an interest in his tempers and
drinking-bouts. You would not be like
ly to honor any of us with such atten-
ton"
"No. l have something else to do
l was absolutely idle then. Blakeley
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
knowledge that comes from books
counts with me but for little, compared
with the education given by experience
and contact with facts for forty years.
was honored by the friendship Of this
grimy engineer. But the question of
his sobriety that day was serious one
A man in charge of train with hun
dreds Of souls aboard, felt ought to be
sober, particularly when 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 tele-
graph p asked, beginning to shovel
vigorously.
! eS. NO more coal
Isn't that unusual !"
eyes. There are two special trains
on the road this afternoon
is it difficult to run train by tele-
graph l said presently, simply to
make conversation. Staring in silence
at the narrow slit in the gloomy furnace
or out ut the village street, through
which we slowly passed, was mono
tonous.
GO No not difficult. | 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 controller,
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 destruction to the
whole"
"'You seem to think silent obedi-
ence the first and last merit in railway
mann"
| lSS, III ~
81 took the hint and was dumb.
"We were out of town now. Blakely
quickencd the speed of the engine. /
did not speak to him. There was little
for me to do, and l was occupied in
looking out ut the flying landscape.
The fields were covered,with deep fall
of snow, and glanced Whitley by, with a
strange, unreal simmer The air was
keen and cutting. Still the ride was
tame. Twas disappointed. The excite
ment would by no means equal Il dash
on spirited horse began to think |
had little to pay for my grimy hands
and face, when We slowed at the next
station. One or two passengers came
aboard the train. There was the in
evitable old lady with bundles, alighting
and the usual squabble about her trunk.
was craning my neck to her, when the
boy ran alongside with the telegram.
"The next moment 1 heard a smoth-
cred exclamation from Blakeley.
Go back, said he to the boy. Tell
Sands to have the message repeated.
There's mistake
"The boy dashed of, and Blakeley sat
waiting, coolly polishing bit of the
shining brass before him. Back came
the boy.
"'Had it repeated. Sands is raging
atyou. Says there's no mistake. and
you'd best get on thrusting the second
message up"
''Blakely read it, and stood hesitating
for half minute. never shall forget
the dismay, the utter perpiexity 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 eve
suddenly quailed, as if he saw death at
the end of the calculation.
WHATS the matter? What are you
going to dor asked.
"'Obey.'
The engine gave long shrek of hor-
rOr, that made me start as if it were
Blakeley's own face. The next instant
we rushed out of the station, and dash
ed through the low-lying farms at a
speed which seemed dangerous to me.
Put in more COAL said Blakeley.
| shoveled it in.
"'We are going very fast, Blakeley,'
ventured
'He did not answer. His eyes were
fixed on the steam guage; his lips close
ly shut.
"More coal'
''I threw it in
"The fields and houses began to fly
past but half seen. We were near Sun.
bury. Blakeley's eye went from the
guage to the face of the timepiece and
back. He moved like an automaton
There was little more meaning ia his