Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-11-06
md the yawning gulf on each side. What


a terrible accident it would make; what
q frightful chasm in which to plunge.
Then remembered Nell, and the queer
look that came over her face when she
gave me that singular caution Be care
full Of the Frankenstein trestle.' We
was a-nearin' the bridge, sure enough,
On the up grade 40 was maxim about
twenty miles an hour, and in less than
ten minutes she would be over the bridge
Or. I caught my breath, for at that
moment those warning words flashed into
my mind once more.
"'lf | am ever to be cured of such
stuff, says | to myself, now is my
chance. What could Nell know abou,
the bridge' l will put her across at full
speed
"A tall white birch that stood on a
spur of the mountain, was the landmark L
which showed me we was s-comin' to the
straight piece which led across the bridge.
l put my hand on the throttle to open the
valve, when
"Well, gentlemen, don't suppose
you will believe me, but as true as I'm
a-stAnding here, my wife's voice whis-
pered in my ear 9 Not that one, Bob, the
brake
"It gave me such start that before |
knew what did had opened the West
inghouse for all she was worth, and the
train came to a stand-still in less than
two lengths. Not waitin' to any ques-
tons from Dan, grabbed my lantern
and rushed Up the track to the bridge and
walked along the middle plank until |
reached the other side, and then back
again. Not thing was out Of place ev-
cry rail secure, and the bridge was as
sound as when first up,
"'Idiot = cried l, so much for your
foolish nonsense This freak will cost you
your job
II could see the lights Of the conduc-
tor and brakeman, who had with mum.
Der OF passengers come out to see what
was the matter. How the boys would
laugh, thought. | should never hesr
the last Of it. Twas sneakin back to tie
cab, when came to the switch Of q short
siding that had been laid, on which TO
rIn gravel cars. 1t wasn't very long
track, not more than hundred odd feet,
and ended within couple of yards Of the
peecipice. Noticin' somethin' peculiar,
held up my lantern and found q large
tree that had just blown down and fall en-
against the switch rod, breskin' the ias.
TENN and THROWN the rails Of the main
line into the siding
q tell you, boys, it made my hail
stand on end. In two minutes that whole
train and them directors would a.gone OF
that cliff, and not one would have lived
to tellabout it
".What's the row, Bob, says the con-
ductor.
"'Row enough says /, look at tha
switch. reckon | pulled her up just II
time.
"'Great Heavens exclaimed fat di.
rector who was standing by. 'Wher'
does that track lead to ?
"'To the other world says 1, 'ane
we come almighty near maxim the trip.
"Well, you never see more grstefu
set of men. They made up purse o
five hundred dollars on the spot, snt
when we got to Fabyan's they telegraph
ed the Super as how l was to stay will
them during the excursion, and / wen
to all the sights in Montreal with then
just as though had been one Of the reg
ular party. Not content with that, the.
gave me an elegant gold watch and
chain, the President Of the road, VIII
happened to be among them, making
neat speech. l tell you a peep into tn
jaws of death will put rich and poor mel
on the same level, nothin' like it to tax
the bigness out of EN-.
"Well, the boys all made lion OF mi
when | got back to Portland, and Me-
never seemed so glad to see me. Tha
nights work was the making Of me, 70
the Super gave me a good show and fin
ally ! got this job. I never told tn
boys why stopped the train, for knew
they would laugh at me, and l don
know as told my wife for long time
One day, however, she came to me an
says:
".Bob, had queer dream about yo
the night of that affair at the Franken
stein. dreamed was on the engin
with you somewhere. and we was agoir
at frightful rate. Way in the aistanc
saw what seemed to be big gulf, an
you thought by gettin' good headway yo
coull jump it. l knew, of course, 20
couldn't, so when you started to open th