The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1878-02-08

| thieves that steal rather than work,
even when they have good chance,
that have made all the trouble. But
I must be going; it is high time L
was on my engine. Heaven bless
You, and keep your little heart as
| brave So You have made mine?
| Another kiss-another and yet
another-and he turned sadly away
from his loved home to face COM
bination of dangers that we'll might
have appalled, one even as brave as
he. Disconnected mutterings like
the half suppressed thunder of hu-
man passions reached his ears as he
elbowed his way through the crowd
to where the engine already stood
painting and Kissing, as if anxious
TO be off and crush out all opposi
ton beneath its ponderous wheels.
Going out tonight, John p asked
friendly voice as he was nearing
the depot.
yes
well, good luck. old fellow; but
keep a sharp lookout for misplaced
switches and distractions on the
track
John Malcolm stopped, drew the
sleeve of his shirt across his eyes to
clear them of tears that were the
very reverse of unmsnly, and grasp,
ing the hand of his fellow engineer,
whispered under his breath:
III anything should happen to me,
if 1 should be killed, promise me
that you and the boys will take care
of my wife and child
Il promise-swesr it, John-and
will keep my word, as l know you
would do for me. But I wish you
wasn't going out. l don't like the
way things look
Nor I. But somebody has to go,
and it shall never be said that John
Malcolm was driven from the road,
or forced 10 back out from running
by a lot of miserable thieves and
vagabonds.'
One word more, John. Are you
armed?'
No; l never carried a weapon in
my lite-&dn't even think of need
ing one
Then take mine. Hope you
won't have to use it, but it might
save your life. Every chamber is
loaded, and the wretches that are
causing our honest strike to be
failure, and be cursed! give it to
them, John, as if they were SO many
snakes.'
With the revolver ready for in
slant use, John Malcolm hurried
forward. The snrging and infuris-
ted crowd made little room for him
to pass. They knew him and di-
vined his purpose, and no one had
anything particular against him, yet
be would be sacrificed as quickly to
the wild unreason of the sanscu-
lottes as if he had been their most
bitter enemy. He would try to run
through train they had stopped,
and that was enough for them.
But if brave John Malcolm was
not fool-hardy, neither did he want
blood upon his hands. He realized
that strategy might save himself,
the engine and care, and all on
board, where defiance would pre-
cipitate ruin. So, when the lantern
of the conductor signaled him to go
ahead he looked at the sea of hu-
man faces crowded around and
blocking the track, the waiying of
defiant and clenched hands, listened
| W LhO vi
malice, and appeared to hesitate.
Then, as if having made up his
mind not to attempt the desperate
task of forcing a way, he rang the
bell and slowly backed the tr ain,
giving all to understand that he
had abandoned going, and thunder
ing cheers of victory rang from the
mass of human throats. But it was
not SO. Before any could recover
from surprise st the unexpected re-
suit, before any could realize the
true situation, the engine was re-
Versed, the throttle thrown wide
open, swift head way gained, and the
bell ringing and whistle screaming,
the train shot by the mob and whirl-
ed on it's way out into the darkness
and out of the way of immediate
danger. The excitement that fol-
lowed was next to terrible. Never
could a more angry set of men have
been found. They yelled, stamped,
sWore, shook their fists in impotent
rage and vowed the most fiendish
vengeance. Lightning whispers
few along the line and told the sto-
ry to brave John Malcolm, but he
only smiled.
They'll have time to cool down
before we get back he said to the
fireman, Il don't think there is any
thing to fear. But / hope my wife
won't hear it. Anyhow all we have
to do now is to attend to business
ard look out for breakers ahead
| The run was made 10 safety. The
return began. A few miles distant
from the end, of the journey was q
culvert, spanning a deep and rocky
ravine-the most dangerous place OF
all on the road, as il came immedi-
ately upon rounding a short curve,
and with the view consequently
confined to q very limited space
The night was excessively tempest
uons and dark. A thick, heavy
mist arose from the neighboring
river, and covered everything as
with a pail. 1t was so dense that
the headlight had scarcely brillian-
cy enough to penetrate it.
ST anything is wrong st Iron
Gulch, as the place is known, God
help us and all on board said the
engineer to the fireman.
SLOW up, John, and Jump of, and
I'll run over alone. j have no wife
or child to mourn for me-, was the
generous response.
'Neverl If John Malcom has to
go down, it will be doing his duty.
should never dare to look my
brave and dear little wife in the
face again if turned coward. But
thak you, Tom, from the very bot
tom of my heart. There are few
who would make such an Offer
the engineer glanced at his watch
and saw that be had no time to
waste IL he would make important
connections. The loss OF but half q
dozen minutes would cost perplex-
ing and expeniYe delay to numer-
Gus passengers. He thought of his
often boast that he was never behind
time, and putting on still more
steam, dashed forward to face dan
ger, and If il was to be so, die at bis
post
New, Tom he said, keep sharp
lookout, and be ready for any.
thing
sAil right. Great Godi q woman
with child standing directly owe,
the culvert, and wildly waving al
back
1t was too late to stop with Ger.
tsinty. But, half blinded, dizzy with