Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1878-08-22


AS soon as the engine driver and
his mate were recognized, they were
warmly welcomed, for they were fa-
yorites. Many drinks were tender
ed for their acceptance, and declin'
ed on various pleas, till at length
one man declared the Britisher want
ed to fix an insult on a free-born
citizen. He offered Seth and Tom a
glass apiece, saying:
"What's up, mate ? Twore off,
eh -
"For this evening"" replied Seth,
"but as I'd rather drink than fight
just now, I'll take your treat. So
the men each took the proffered
glass, but scarcely tasted it /; and
soon afterward Seth, fearing that
inkling of his intended mission
might leak out, beckoned to his fire.
man to follow as soon as possible,
and then left the saloon. He lit "A
cigar, climbed up into the "cab" of
his engine (all American locomotives
are protected and closed in), and be-
gan to smoke.
He smoked in comfort for about q
quarter of an hour, then he felt
queer" "These is stronger cigars
than usual" he muttered, and lie
threw it from him. But the oppres
sion on his brain became heavier ;
he felt very sleepy now.
II think III haYe nap it's only
about 0 O'Clock. l must there's
an hour yet. l wonder where Tom
is. It's my opinion Tom will drink
too much Or"
His train of thoughts was sud
denly interrupted All at once it
flashed upon him that he himself
hal been "drugged" in the saloon
"That's it /; what a laundering
idiot | am - He essayed to rise,
but felt quite bewildered. He made
hopeless attempts to stand upright,
)ut could do nothing. He was as
useless as child, but, worse than
all, he was conscious of his inability
to do his duty. Ten O'Clock rang
out. He struggles to his feet. His
head was spinning around, his feet
were heavy as leaden weights. He
opened the sliding door, but ere he
could descend a blow from behind
sent him flying into space-a splash,
and down sc sank into a large pond
containing a quantity of surplus
water for the locomotive tanks.
At the same moment three men
climbed up on the engine and, with
a low but hearty chuckle, started it
out from the siding.
81 think we did that neat" said
the shortest of the party. "I didn't
listen to the boss for nothin' this
time. The specie train will run af-
ter all, you see. Oh they couldn't
catch me teipping. No, sir -
THE Savage will do the bridge, l
SUPPOSE said another. Hes to
work on the up line, isn't he P"
"Aye, only on that side. Ye did
that Britisher pretty, 1 must say.
He and Seth was kinder cautious
too"
IL mixed it strong," said the 9TH
er, with savage laugh. "Did you
settle the signals, abe ?''
"Aye telegraphed ourselves on
special, and then cut the wires and
smashed the instruments. We're
clear low to hartford City. What s
that ? he added, hastily, as the en-
gine lurchei for second and then
lifted.
"Only the points. We're out
now. We can run easy, 1 s'pose.
She won't bust, I hope. Here goes. -
The speaker, who knows very lit
tie about engine driving, turned on
the steam and away they went. He
turned his head for a moment.
"There's something moving yonder;
they've found Seth, likely"
But this portion of the gang of
desperadoes had met their match in
English Tom Atkins. Tor a mo-
ment or two he had been overcome
by the drugged whisky, but a simple
and very effective remedy cured
him at the cost of a few moments
sickness. Creeping along the
ground, for he could not walk, he
conceived the idea of following these
men so he held the points open
and sent the ''bravoes" away into
the night on the up line. He pro-
posed to give the alarm and follow
ION the down metals)with a superior
force. But fate was drawing the
fugitiyes to destruction. The up
line was cut at the bridge.
''Lend a helping hand, mate. I'm
drowndiR' - This is what Tom
heard as he crawled rather thai
walked across the metals to seek as
sistance.
''Seth-Seth Martin /; what's hap
! pened to you -