The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-08-22
Selected Storp.
A Locomotive Hero.

Tell you Ine story. w men was yOuln
of nineteen and lived with my parents
in Pennsylvania town l had taste
for railroading and boysh ambition to
become driver, although l had been
educated for loftier pursuits.
During my college vacation lounged
about the station almost constantly,
making friends with the trainmen, and
especially with a driver named Silas
Markley.
He was my ideal of brave, skillful,
thorough bred driver, and | looked up
to him as something of hero. He
was not married man, but lived alone
with his old mother. l was frequent
visitor at their house, and think they
both took quite a fancy to me in their
quiet, undemonstrative way.
When Markley's fireman left him
induced him to let me take his place
during the remainder of my vacation.
He hesitated for some time before he
consented to humor my boyish whim,
but he finally yielded and | was in great
glee. The fact was that in my idleness
and the overworked state of my brain
l craved the excitement as a confirmed
drunkard does liquor, and, besides, |
had such longing dreams of the fiery
ride through the hills, mounted literally
on the iron horse. So l became an eX-
pert fireman, and liked it exceedingly,
for the excitement more than compen-
stated for the rough work | was required
to do.
But there came a time when | got
my fill of excitement Mrs. Markley
one day formed plan which seemed to
give her good deal of happiness. 1t
was her sons birthday, and she wanted
to 90 down to Philadelphia in the train,
without letting him know anything
about it, and there purchase a present
for him. She took me into her con-
fidence and had me to assist her. l
arranged the preliminaries and got her
into the train without being noticed by
Marley, who, of course, was busy with
his engine.
The old lady was in high glee over
the bit of innocent deception she was
practising on her son. She enjoined
me again not to tell Silas, and then /
left her and took my place.
1t was a midsummer day and the
weather was delightful The train was
neither an express nor accommodation,
but one which stopped at the principal
stations on the route. On this occa-
sion, as there were two specials on the
line, it was run by telegraph, that is,
the driver has simply to obey instruc-
tions which he receives at each station,
so that he is put as machine in the
hands of one comptroller, who directs
all trains from central point, and has
the whole line under his eye. If the
driver does not obey to the least little his
orders it is destruction to the whole.
Well we started without mishap and
up to time, and easily reached the first
station in the time allotted to us. AS
we stopped here boy ran alongside
with the telegram which he handed to
the driver. The next moment l heard
smothered exclamation from Markley.
eco back" he said to the boy; "tell
Williams to have the message repeated;
there's mistake"
The boy dashed off; in ten minutes
he came flying back. clad it re-
peated," he shouted, Williams is
storming at you; says there's no mis-
take and you'd best get on" He thrust
the second message in as he spoke.
Marley read it and stood hesitat-
ing for half a minute. There was dis
rnay and sheer perplexity in the ex-
preston of his face as he looked at the
telegram and the long train behind him.
His lips moved as if he was calculating
chances and his eyes suddenly quailed
as if he saw death at the end of his cal
culation. l was watching him with
considerable curiosity, ventured to
ask him what was the matter and what
he was going to do.
:" Pm going to obey" he replied,
CURLY. The engine gave long shrek
of horror that made me start as if it
were Markley's own voice. The next
instant we rushed out of the station and
dashed through low-lying farms at a
speed which seemed dangerous to me.
Put in more COAL" said Markley.
/ shoveled it in, but took time.
We are going very fast, Markley."
He did not answer. His eyes were
fixed on the steam gauge, his mouth
close shut.
''More COAL" he said. threw it in.
The fields and houses began to fly
past half seen. We were nearing Dunn
IRENE, the next station. Markley's eye
went from the gauge to the face of the
timepiece and back. He moved like an
automaton. There was little more mean
ing in his face.
. More!" he said, without turning his
eye. l took up the shovel-hesitated
" Markley, do you know that you are
going at the rate of sixty miles an
hour?''
Coal"
g was alarmed at the stern, cold
rigidity of the man. His pallor was
becoming frightful. l threw in the
coal. AT least we must stop at Dunn
IRENE. That was the next halt. The
little town approached. AS the first
house came into view, the engine sent
its shrieks of warning; it grew louder,
louder.
We dashed into the street, up to the
station, where a group of passengers
waited, and passed it without the halt
of an instant, catching glimpse of
the appalled, faces and the waiting
crowd. Then we were in the fields
again. The speed now became liter
ally breathless, the furnace glared red