The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1883-10-25

and screaming along their sides in the
dead O. night. This time it was worse
than ever The storm had let loose all
the evil spirits in the air. The wind
swept down the valley with roar that
could be heard above the rush of the
train. 1t whistled and yelled at the
cab windows, and blew the rain and
sleet so hard agin the winder frame i
could scarcely see the short distance i!
by the headlight. The great trees
rocked to and fro and seemed to hold
out their arms in warning. 1t was 8
solemn place for any one, and Ifelt il
particularly as l had this awful eight
of anxiety on my mind that had beer
agrowin' stronger and stronger each
minute.
"Well, we had passed Bartlett's.
goin' through there at pretty GOOD
jog, when ike flash of lightning the
parting words of my wife came back tc
me: Be careful of that Frankensteip
trestler
THAT set me to thinkin'. Could this
be a preSentment of some disaster?
Was there anything the matter with the
bridge?
Nonsense, says I, I'm natural
born fool. If anything was wrong the
train two hours ahead would have found
it out and signaled me at Bartlett's. III
think of it no more, but tend to bust.
ness
but in spite of me, 'be careful of the
Frankenstine treStle. kept comm into
my head; even the wind seemed to
shrek it. l pictured to myself broken
rail and the yawning gulf on each side.
What terrible accident it would make:
what a frightful chasm in which to
plunge. Then remembered Nell, and
the queer look that came over her face
when she gave me that singular eau
ton: BE careful of the Frankensti
trestle.' We was a nearin' the bridge,
sure enough. On the up grade 49, was
making alb ut twenty miles an hour.
and in less than ten minutes he would
be over the bridge, Or | caught my
breath, for at that moment those warn
ing words flashed into my mind once
more.
elf I'm ever to be cured of such
stuff, says l to myself, 'now'S my
chance What could Nell know about
the bridge? I'll put her across at full
speed.
"A tall white birch that stood on
spur of the mountain was the landmark
which showed me that we was acomin'
to the straight piece which led across
the bridge. 1 put my hand on the
throttle to open the valve, when i
"Well, gentlemen, L don't suppose
you'll believe me, but as true as I'm
standin' here, my wife's voice whis-
pered in my ear 8 not that one, Bob, the
6raker
alt gave me such start that before
l knew what l did | had opened the
Westinghouse for all she was worth,
and the train came to standStill in less
than two lengths. Not wa.tin' to an
Swer any questions 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 a thing was
out of place, every rail secure, and the
bridge was as sound as when first put
up.
Idiot cried 1, SO much for your
foolish nonsense. This freak will cost
You your job"
81 could see the lights of the con-
ductor and brakeman, who had with
lumber of passengers come out to see
what was the matter. How the boys
would laugh, thought. / should new
or hear the last of it. l was sneakin'
back to the cab, when l came to the
switch of a short siding that had been
laid, on which to run gravel cars. 1t
warn't very long track, not more than
a hundred odd feet, and ended within a
couple of yards of the precipice. Motto
in somethin' peculiar, | held up my
lantern and found a 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!
4 tell you, boys. it made my hail
stand on end. In two minutes that
gone off that cliff, and not one would
have lived to tell about it,
whats the row, Bob?' says the
conductor
Grow enough, says I, look at that
switch. [ reckon [ pulled her up just in
time.
'.Great Heavens exclaimed fat di.
rector who was standing by. where
does that track lead top
"'To the other world says 1, 'anG
we came almighty near maxim the
trip"
"'Well, you never see a more CRATE.
full set of men. They made up purse
of five hundred dollars on the spot, and
when we got to Fabyan's they tele.
graphed 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 anC
chain, the President of the road, who
happened to be among 'em, making
neat speech. 1 tell you peep into the
jaws of death will put rich and poor
men Oh the same level. nothing like ii
to take the bigness out of them.
"'Well, the boys all made lion o:
me when 1 got back to Portland, anc
Nell never seemed so glad to see me
That nights work was the making o.
me. for the Super gave me a good show
and finally got this job. never tolC
the boys why stopped the train, for ]
knew they would laugh at me, and J
don't know as told my wife for a long
time. One day, however. she came to