The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-05-03
THE TUNNEL.

iaIJhIuineSS as servant Oh the company.
His enemies said the most powerful micro
scope could have discovered no other.
While he bad not friend among the
hands, 3heir dislike was not an open one.
His strength was shown to be almost phe-
nomeBal. He had once knocked down
horse with blow of his fist.
James Wainwright and Bill BlackfOrd as
fireman and engineer of the same locomo-
tive, had kept up the necessary or conve-
nieut appearance Of friendship, until it was
whispered about that Jane Conrad had
chosen Wainwright for her husband chat
was to be-" Then Bill Blackford knit his
brow and crunched his teeth together with
an oath. 1t was no secret that he had
waited on" Jane himself.
After that, the men hardly spoke a word
to each other. For miles on miles, day af
ter day, they sped along the iron road, and
scarcely looked into each others eyes.
When Backford did glance at Wainwright
it was a malignant scowl.
One day, engine No. b ran into freight
train. No serious damage was done. Il
was found. however, that at the time of the
accident, Blackiord, the engineer, was un-
! der the influence Of LIQUOR.
He was reduced from his position to that
/ of fireman. He would have been discharged
/ altogether but for his long and faithful
! services to the company.
james Wainwrigh5 was promoted to his
/ position engineer. Hearing of it, Bill
/ Blackford'S scowl deepened, and his black
/ eyes snapped fire.
! 1t was a winters night, colo and clear.
/ Several of the railroad hands were seated
| around the 81 iation fire; among tbem Vain
| wright and BlackfOrd.
The east track needs repairing in the
! long tunnel" said the supervisor, land ;he
workmen have all gone home. What two
among you will volunteer to attend to the
| matter?''
On the instant james Wainwright an
| swered
/ Il sir -
Immediately Bill Blackford added:
| "And me, too, sir ~
| More than one turned quickly and won
deringly toward the latter. 1t was not this
mans custom to be obliging. One man
drew Wainwright aside, and said
"Blackford doesn't love you Jim.
wouldn't go into that tunnel alone with
him, If | was you. Let me go in your stead.
He's got nothing against me-"
''Nousense - said ;he other, ''TheTe is
no danger and even if there were, do yen
suppose I'd let him know was afraid of
him 10y backing Out?'
One or two men, as the volunteers start
ed off together, proposed to go with them,
but Blackford said, in a dogged way
Don't need no help"
In more civilized manner, Wainwright
echoed him, and The men fell back
1t was full ten minutes walk to the
mouth of the tunnel, but when they had
reached it. neither had spoken word
Now Blackford asked
Which side is il Oh ?''
Fast"
{ "W here -
'About the middle of the tunnol''
''AIl right. Come on
Into the darkness they plunged. They
each carried n light, but the impression o
such place is always one of intense black
ness.
1t was their object, if possible, to do the
job before the train, due there in half al
hour, shOuld reach the spot.
No word was spoken after those few a
the mouth of the tunnel. They worked
, silently and swiftly. An observer nigh
have noticed that Blackford struck the raj
vindictively, and smiled as the sparks flew
, 1t was flushed, and just then the rumbl
of the coming train was heard.
, Between the tracks which bad just beer
. repaired-the one on which the cars woult
: ! pass and the wall he distance was only tw
: or three teet. Uncomfortable, indeed, t
: stand there as the train passed.
3 Wainwright was about 10 step on to th
other track. when Blackford caught hin
10y the wrist.
!. !. Stay on this side - he Missed.
. ''What FOR ?' asked Wainwright littl
D startled.
! because want you to. want to kno,
= what it feels like to stand here; but | ain
going to do it alpne."
You can make the experiment if yo
= please. As foI me, shall stand in the Sd
!, fest place, answered the oiher; and with
= sudden jerk he released his wrist.
. But on the instant the gigantic BlacI
- ford caught him round the waist: and mu
= tered in his ear:
y ''Steal tile girl love, will you? Worr
= Yourself IN nay position engineer, yU
: hound : IN fix you -
: There was ho mistaking the hate gil
u tering in the Villains dark eyes, nor til
( meaning of the words he had just uttered
His purpose was to hold WainwrigI
- there until the train was Upon them, the
> to throw his victim in its way. The Oht
- understood now why this man had been
: ready to accompany him. Perhaps lie LA
= been waiting for such an opportunity f,
e months. Wainwright could see, by the dii
. light of their lamps, that there was su
: len murderous resolution in the man 5 fac
'Bill Blackford, would you kill me -
"No the train will do that -
DO you not fear to do such thing ?''
is ''No y thundered Black ford. ''Yc
- slipped and fell as you weie crossing Il
a tack and the train struck you
T. Yes, that was The Story the murder
their heads, aud even name their suspi
L. ions, they could prove nothing.
1t was useless To cry for help. The on
answer would he the mocking echo fro
the tunnels walls.
Struggle? Aye, struggle and resist
~ might ul the last moment, but what ava
would his strength be against that of th
giant?
I'd The rumble of the train was grOwiI
louder. lu d few minutes 1t would De up'
I'd them.
James Wainwright, by quick moveme
j. released his right arm, and struck wild
Ell at the other but the villain caught the
scending blow, aud with a laugh, piuon
en- the arm again 10 the victims side.
Aud now the train had entered the tu
lis mel. The engines flaming eye sent a fie
stream of light along the track. Th
were right la the path, but Bisckft
quickly stepped toward the wall, still ho
~ ing Wainwright where the train wol
strike him.