Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-11-06
After some minutes passed in conver-

get this express The Superintendent
Of the Portland and Ogdensburg helped
you to it, didn't he, on account Of that
affair up IN the mountains Tell US
about il"
"Yes, yes" spoke up several who had
overheard the conversation. Let US
hear the story by all means"
"Well, boys said Bob, as he bit of
. generous chew, and deposited the qpid
! lovingly in his cheek, it amt much of
q story. and it'll make you laugh, for you
will think me spooky like. Howsomever.
it's true as Gospel, and if Dan was here
he'd say so, too.
Twas when was running 49 on the
Portland and Ogdensburg road. which
hadn't been agoin' more'n couple Of
years. You may perhaps be acquainted
with the line. She runs through the
White Mountain Notch, and is built right
on the side of the hills How they ever
had the spunk TO start such road beats
me, for at first sight it seems next TO
hopeless to get around some Of them
sharp curves, TO say nothing Of the big
up-Rrades. Near Crawford's is that
spider-h like Frankenstein trestle, you've
heard 30 much about, where the track
spans chasm eighty feet wide, and one
hundred feet deep. Strong enough, |
suppose, but it makes man feel skittish
to 20 over it for the first time. Well,
my good luck is all owing to that trestle.
We lived in Portland, then, Nell and /.
She is my wife, and we was as happy as
could be. The only drawback was that
every other night had to take the late
express up to Fabyan's and come back
next day on the accommodation. Nell
used TO be afraid TO have me 90, particu-
larly as the road was new and accidents
would happen spite of all we could do.
| kept telling her it was safe enough. and
the pay was good, so I'd better stick to
my place for awhile anyway, though, to
tell the truth, didn't like the route, 1t
was so awful gloomy like. No big towns
to 20 through, only now and then little
village, and they would be as dark and
quiet as a graveyard, when we struck
'em at night Summers it wasn't so
bad, but winters was awful. Well. one
night in January. when it was my turn
to stay in Portland, the Superintendent
sent for me and said;
"'Bob, there's party Of Directors as
wants 70 get through the mountains to-
night, and they're going to start about
ten o'clock. Ill have to send special,
but | haven't an engineer that | can
trust. Now, it's your night off, | know,
but If you will pull the throttle for
them fellows, I'll make it all right with
you
,, "'well, says |, III go, Of course but
it's going to be bad night on the noun
tsins.
That's so, Bob says the Super, but
know that l can rely on you, and
them Directors say they must 90 through,
anyhow.
80 | went back to our little cottage
and told Nell as how I'd got to 60. She
took on very queer like, and seemed dis
tressed to have me away, though she d
never acted like that before.
Its an awful night, Bob, says she,
cant they send some one else don,
like to have you 60.
"'Nonsense, says |, the storm won't
hurt me, and l will be back again to.
morrow. The Super has promised to dc
the square thing, and it will come out
all right.
"She seemed little reassured, and
got out my great coat and mutiier, and in
'em prepared to start out.
"'Well, Bob,' says my wife, If you
must go. why you must, but,' she added
thoughtfully, and there was the queeres'
look passed over her face, be careful Of
that Frankenstein trestle.
81 scarcely heard what she said, bu
bidding her goodbye was soon on m!
way to the round-house. 1t was wilt
night and no mistake; seems to me
have never seen it blow harder or snow
faster. Once or twice had to turn m,
back to the blast to keep from blowing
over. Well, l was soon on board m!
machine, and backing into the station
hitched on to the two cars which wer
to make up the train. AS ten o'clocl
approached, the Directors began to ar
rive, pompous looking men they were
, with plenty of money and Telling all thei
Importance.
".Them fellers. says l to myself, fee
their steam pretty well l don't suppos
they'd look at an engineer.
3 Dan Smith, my fireman, was on tn
watch for the conductors signal, and whe