The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1878-03-15
He glanced at the clock.

He glanced at the clock.
Twenty miles, he muttered. Throw
on coal, Jones. The fire is going out
Il did it. YES, did it. There was
something in the face of tha: man that
| could not resist Then l climbed for
ward and shook him by the shoulder.
'Blakeley" shouted, you are 1un-
ming this train into the jaws of death
al know it, quietly.
Your wife and child are on it,
"'My God,'
"He staggered to his feet. But even
then he did not move his eye from the
gauge.
"'In minute
Make up the fire. he said, and
pushed in the throttle valve.
"I will not
Make up the fire, Mr. Stanley very
quietly.
al will not. You may murder your
selfand your wife and boy, but you shall
not murder me-
HE looked at me. His kindly gray
eyes glared like those of a wild beast.
But he controlled himself in a moment.
81 could throw you out of this door,
and make short work of it. Bullock
here, do you see the station yonder?
Il saw thin wisp ofsmoke against the
sky about five miles in advance.
/ was told to reach that station by
six o'clock. The express train meeting
us is due now. | ought to have laid by
for it at Sunbury l was told to come
on. TIE tracks, single one. Unless |
can make the siding at that station in
three minutes We will meet it yonder in
the hollow
Somebody blundered?'
"'Yes, / think so."
"'And you obeyeG?'
"He said nothing. 1 threw on coal
If had had petroleum, l would have
thrown it on. But / never was calmer
in my life. When death has man &C
tually by the throat it sobers him.
"Blakeley pushed in the valve still
further. The engine began to give
strange painting sound. Far off to the
south | could see the bituminous black
smoke of a train.
81 looked at Blakeley inquiringly. He
nodded, 1t was the express.
Il stopped to the fire.
No more he said.
81 looked across the clear, wintry sky
at the gray smoke of the peaceful little
village, and beyond, that black line COM
ing closer, closer, across the sky. Then
l turned to the watch.
"In one minute more -
Gentlemen, | confess l sat down
and buried my face in my hands. l.
don't think tried to pray. Ihad a con-
fused thought of a mass of mangled, dy-
ing men and women, mothers and their
babies, and vaguely of a merciful God.
Little Charley with his curls and pretty
suit
"There was a terrific shrek from the
engine against which leaned. Another
in my face. A hot tempest passed me.
81 looked up. We we're on the siding
and the expresstad gone by. The hind
most cars touched III passing.
THANK Col You've done it, Blake
leyp l cried.
But he did no. speak He sat there
immovable and cold rs stone. / went
to thelcars and brou hit Jane and the
boy to him, and when he opened his eyes
and took the little wOman's hands in his
came away.
AN engineer named Fred, who was
at the station, ran the train into Harris
burg. Blakeley was terribly shaken
But we went down and had our little
feast, after all. Charley, at least, enjoyed
it.n
What was the explanation? 4 blum
der of the director or the telegraph ope-
rator?"
Il don't know. Blakeley made light
oft afterward and kept the secret.
These railway men must have a strong
esprit de corps.
"All know is that Blakeley's salary
was raised soon after, and he received
that Christmas very handsome 'testi-
monial for services rendered. from the
company"