Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1878-02-28

tals IeiiOW, oansley, DuC nave taKel
so keen an interest in his tempers ant
drinking-bouts. You would not b
likely to honor any of us with sucl
attention.
"No. have something else to do
was absolutely idle then. Blakel,
and his family for the time made uI
my world. As for the friendship
this was an exceptional man, both a.
to integrity and massive hard sense
The knowledge that comes from book.
counts with me but for little, COM
pared with the education given BY
experience and contact with facts fol
forty years. Twas honored by the
friendship of this grimy engineer
Bnt the question Of his sobriety that
day was serious one. A man in
charge of a train with hundreds ol
souls aboard, 1 felt ought to be sober.
particularly when was shut up in
the engine with him.
"Just as We started a slip of pape,
was handed to him, which he read
threw down.
''Do you run this train by tele-
graph?' asked, beginning to shov-
ell vigorously.
"'Yes. No more COAL
"'Isn't that unusual!'
eyes. There are two special trains
on the road this afternoon.
sis it difficult to run . train by
teleghraph?' l said presently, sim
ply to make conversation. Staring
In silence at the narrow slit in the
gloomy furnace or out at the village
street, through which We slowloy
passed, was monotonous.
"'No, not difficult. I simply
have to obey the instructions which
receive at each station
'''But if you should happen t.
think the instructions not right?"
"Happen to think! "I've no busi
ness to think at all! When the trains
run by telegraph the engineers are
so many machines in the hand of on,
controller, who directs them all from
central point. He has the Who'll,
road under his eye. If they dom
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 rail
way manT'
eyes dryly.
~ took the hint and was dumb.
ssWe were out of town now
Blskely quickened the speed of tn
engine. 1 did not speak to him
There was little for me to do, and
was occupied in looking out at tn
flying landscape. The fields wer'
covered with deep fall of snow, ant
glanced Whitley by, with a strange
unreal simmer. The air was keei
and cutting. Still the ride was tame
I was disappointed. The excitemen
would by no means equal dash on ,
spirited horse. / began to think
had little to pay for my grimy hands
and face, when we slowed at the mex
station. One or two passenger
came aboards the train. There was
the inevitable old lady with bundles
alighting, and the usual squabbl'
about her trunk. i was craning my
neck to her, when the boy ran along
tide with the telegram.
ssThe next moment l heard $
smothered exclamation from Blakely
"'Go back, said he to the boy,
Tell Sands to have the message re-
peatcd. There's mistake
1.-THE boy dashed off, AMI Blakele,
sat waiting, coolly polishing a bit oi
the shining brass before him. Back
came the boy.
"'Had it repeated. Sands is rag
ing at you. Says there's no mistake
and you'd best get on thrusting the
second message up Il.
"Blakeley real it, and stood hest
tating for half minute. nevel
shall forget the dismay, the utter per-
plexity that gathered in his lean face
as he looked at the telegram, and al
the long train behind him. His lip'
moved as If he we're calculating chan
ces. aud his eye suddenly quailsd, 81
II he saw death at the end OF the cal
culation.
"swhat's the matter? What art
you going to dor I asked.
"'Obey.'
"The engine gave long shrek o
horror that made me start as if it wer
Blakeley's own voice. The next in
stant we rushed out Of the station
| and dashed through the low-lyinI
farms at speed which seemed dan
gerous to me.
"sPut in more coal, said Blakely
Il shoyeled it in.
"'We are going very fast, Blake
ley ventured.
| she did not answer. His eye
we're fixed on the steam gauge; hi
lips closely shut.
/ 6 ssMore coal!'
ST threw it in.
.sThe fields and houses began
lfiy past but half seen. We were me-
Sunbury. Blakeley's eye went fro
tie gauge to the face of the timepie'
! and oack. He moved like an aut