Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1888-10-05

more coal. lie sdlu, AHItN IL III
The fields and houses began TO fly
past half seen. We were nearing Dunn
freme, the next station. Markley'
eye went from the gage to the face OF
the time-piece and back. He moved
like an automaton. There was little
more meaning in his face.
More" he said without turning his
eye took up the shovel-hesitated.
"Markley, do you know that you
are going at the rate of about sixty
miles an hour
Coal
was alarmed at the stern cold rigid
ity of the man. His pallor was be
coming frightful. | threw in the coal.
At least we must stop at Dumfreme.
That was the next halt. The little
town approached As the first house
came in view, the engine rent out It's
shrieks of warning, it grew louder and
louder as we went.
We dashed into the street, up TO the
station, where 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 field
again. The speed now became breath
less. the furnace glared red hot. The
heat. the velocity, the terrible ner-
vous strain of the man beside me
seemed to weight the air. | found
myself drawing stertorous breath like
one drowning.
| heaped in the coal at intervals as
| he bade me. ! did it because l was
oppressed by an odd sense of duty,
which | never had in my ordinary
brain work. Since then ! have un-
derstood how it is that dull, ignorant
men without u spark of enthusiasm,
! show such herOism as soldiers, tiremen,
and captains OF wrecked vessels 1t Is
this over -powering sense of routine du-
| tv. It's finer thing than sheer BRAY
cry in my idea. However, ! began to
think that Markley was mad, labor
ing under some frenzy from drink, al
though | had never seen him touch
liquor.
He did not move hand or foot, ex-
cept in the mechanical control OF his
engine, his eyes going from the gage
to the time piece with n steadiness
that was more terrible and threaten
ing than any CLEAN of insanity would
have been. Once he glared back at
the long train sweeping after the en-
gine with headlong speed that rock
ed it from side TO side
One could imagine that he saw hun
dreds of men and women in the car
riages, talking, reading and smoking,
Unconscious that their lives were in
the hands of one man, whom | now
strongly suspected to be mad. | knew
by his look that he remembered their
lives were in his hands. He glanced
at the clock.
Twenty minutes he muttered.
Throw in more coal, Jack, the fire is
going out
did it. Yes, | did it. There was
something in the face OF that man
could not resist Then | climbed for
ward and shook him by the shoulder.
"Markley,n / shouted, you are run
ming this train into the jaws Of death.
Il know il, he replied, quietly.
Your mother is aboard this train.
"Heavens.' He staggered to his
feet. but even then he did not remove
his eyes from the gauge.
Make up the fire he commanded,
''and push in the throttle valve"
81 will not do it,"
Make up the fire, Jack, very qui-
etly.
Il will not You may murder your
self and your mother, but you shall
not murder me.
He looked at me. His kindly gray
eyes glared like those Of wild beast.
But he controlled himself for a mo-
ment
II could throw you off this engine
and make short work Of you, he said
But look here, do you see the station
yonder?'
/ saw faint streak against the sky
about five miles ahead.
Il was told TO reach that station by
six o'clock, he continued. THE eX-
press train meeting us is now due. |
ought to have laid by for it at Dunn
freme / was told TO come on. The
track is single one. Unless ] can
make the station in three minutes, we
shall meet in yonder hollow"
Somebody's blunder," said.
Yes, think So
| said nothing | threw on coal; II
| had had petroleum | should have
thrown it OH. But ! never was calm
er in my life. When death actually
stares a man in the face it often
frightens him into composure. Mark
lev pushed the valve still further. The
engine began to give a strange pant
ing sound. Far off TO the south l
could see the bituminous black smoke
of a train / looked at Markley in
ouiringly. He nodded. 1t was the
express. / stopped to the fire.
No more" he said.
| looked across the clear summer
sky at the gray smoke Of the peace
full little village, and beyond that at
black line coming closer, closer, across
the sky. Then turned TO the watch,
in one minute more-well, | confess |
sat down and buried my face in my
hands. | don't think / tried 70 pray.
Y rhDn-I,f Q of rno rafrlaH