The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-11-24

into my head; even the WIND seemed to
shrek it. pictured to myself brok-
en- rail and the yawning gulf on each
side. What an accident it would make!
what 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 careful of the Frankenstein trestle.
We was a nearin' the bridge, sure
enough. On the up grade 49' was
making about twenty miles an hour,
and in less than ten minutes we would
be over the bridge or. caught my
breath, for at that moment those warn
ing words flashed into my mind once
more.
eft I'm ever to be cured of such
stuff, says | to myself, 'now's my
chance. What could Nell know about
the bridget I'll put her across at full
speed.
"A tall white birch that stood on a
spur of the mountain was the land
mark which showed me that we was
acomin to the straight piece which led
across the bridge. | put my hand on
the throttle to throw open the valve
when
We'll, gentlemen, l don't suppose
you'll believe me, but as true as I'm
standing here my wife's voice whis
pered in my ear, not hat one, BOB. The
6rdker
ut gave me such start that before
knew what did | had opened the
Westinghouse for all she was worth,
and the train came to standstill in less
than two lengths. Not waitin' to an
swer any questions from Dan, grabbed
my lantern and rushed up the track to
the bridge, and walked along the mid
die plank until reached the other side,
and then back again Not thing was
out OF place, every rail secure, and the
bridge was rs sound as when first put
up!
"'ldiotn cried |, so much for your
foolish nonsense This freak will cost
YOU your job.
Il could see the lights of the conduc-
tor aud brakeman, who had with a num-
Der of passengers come ont to see what
was the matter How the boys would
laugh, | thought. should never hear
the last of it. was sneaking back to
the cab when ! came to the switch OF
short siding that had been laid on which
to run gravel cars. 1t warn't very
long track, not more than hundred
odd feet, and ended within couple of
yards of the precipice. Noticin some
| thin peculiar, held up my lantern
and found large tree that had just
blown down and fallen against the
switch-rod, breakin' the fastening and
thrown the rails Of the main line into
the siding.
a tell You, boys, it made my hair
stand on end. In two minutes that
whole train and them directors would a
gone off that cliff, and not a one would
have lived to tell about III
WHATS the row, Bob?' says the
conductor.
Row enough, says |. Look at that
switch. | reckon pulled her up just
in time.
"'Great heavens" exclaimed fat d-
rector who was standing by Where
does that track lead TOP
ITO the other world, says !, and
we came almighty near maxim the
trip
well, You never see more grateful
set Of men, They made up purse of
$500 on the spot, and when We got to
| Fahyan's they telegraphed the super
as how was to stay with them during
the excursion, and | went to all the
sights in Montreal with 'em just as
though had been one of the regular
party Not content with that, they
gave me an elegant gold watch and
chain, the President Of the road, who
happened to be among EN-, making
neat speech. tell you peep into the
| jaws of death will put rich and poor
men on the same level; nothing like it
to take the bigness out of them.
well the boys all made lion of
me when got book to Portland, and
| Nell never seemed so glad to see me.
That nights work was the making of
me, for the Superintendent gave me a
good show, and finally got this job. |
never told the boys why stopped the
train, for knew they would laugh at
me, and don know as told my wife
for a long time. One day, however,
she came to me and says:
bob, had queer dream about
you, the night of that affair at the
Frankenstein. | dreamed | was on the
engine with you somewhere, and we
was agoin' at a frightful rate. Way in
the distance | saw what seemed to be a
big gulf, and you thought by gettin
good Roadway you could jump it. |
knew, of course you couldn't, so said,
Not that one, the brakeH then | woke
up
II told her then the whole story and,
gentlemen, whenever j hear a similar
yarn and I've heard a number of 'em,
| don't turn up my nose and say, Non
sensen There's more in ones feelings
than most people thinks for, leastwise,
minding my feelings saved my neck
that night on the Frankenstine trestle.
There comes the express; goodnight"