The Arizona sentinel., 1888-07-14
"Put in more Coal" said Markley.

 shut,
 More coal" he said. I threw it in.
 The fields and houses began to fly past half seen. We were nearing Du- 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 meaning in his face.
 'Morei' he said without turning his eye. I took up the shovel-hesitated
 ''Markley, do you know that you are going at the rate of sixty miles an hour2n
 'Coali'
 I was alarmed at the stern. cold rigidity of the man. His pallor was becoming frightfui. l threw in the coal. At least we must stop at Du- 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 d group of passengers waited, and pissed 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 literally breathless, the furnace glared red hot. The heat, the velocity, the terrible nervous strain of the man beside me seemed to weight the air. l found myself drawing long stertorous breaths like one drowning.
 1 heaped in the eoal at intervals as he bade me, I did it because I was op- pressed by an odd sense of duty, which never had in my ordinary brain work, Since then 1 have understood how it is that dull, igrefant men, without a spark ef enthusiasm, show such hero ism as soldiers, firemen and captains of wrecked vessels. It is this over towering sense of routine duty. It's a finer thing than sheer bravery, in my idea. However, began to think that Markley was nad-laboring under some frenzy from drink, though had never seen him touch liquor.
 He did not move hand or foot, except in the mechanical control of his engine, his eyes geihg from the gauge to the tir19-piece with a steadiness that was more terrible and threatening than any gleam of insanity would have been. Once he glared back at the long train sweeping after the engine with head long speed that rocked it from side to side.
 One could imagine he saw hundreds of men and women in the carriages, talking, reading, smoking, unconscious that their Ives were all in the hold of one man whom 1 now strongly sus- pected to be mad. 1 knew by, his look that he remembered their lives were in his hand. He glanced at the clock.
 Twenty miles," he muttered. ''Throw on more coal, Jack; the fire is going out"
 did it. Yes, I did it. There was something in the face of that man l could not resist. Then 1 climbed for ward and shook him by the shoulder. ''Markley," shouted, ''you are run ming this train into the jaws of death. J
 'I know it," 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.
 ''Maze up the fire" he commanded, and pushed in the throttIe-valve.
 ''I will not"
 "Make up the fire, Jack" very quietly.
 "I will not. You may murder your self and mother, but you shall not mur- der me-"
 He looked at me. His kindly gray eyes glared like those of a wild beast. But he controlled himself moment.
 ''I could throw you off this engine and make short work of you," he said. But look here; do you see the station yonder?"
 I saw a faint streak against the sky about five miles ahead.
 'I was told to reach that station by six o'clock, 5 he continued. ''The ex- press train meeting us is due now. l ought to have laid by for it at Du- irene. I was told to come on. The track is single one. Unless l can make the siding at the station in three minutes, we shall meet it in wonder hollow"
 Somebody's blunder?" I said.
 ''Yes, 1 think sO."
 I said nothing. 1 threw on coal; if 1 had had petroleum should have thrown it on. But l never was calmer in my life. When death actually stares man in the face, it often frightens him into the most perfect cOmpOsure. Markley pushed the valve still further. The engine began to give a strange panting sound. Far off to the south could see the bituminous black smoke of train. I looked at Markley inquir- ingly. He nodded. It was the express! I stopped to the fire.
 ''No more, he said. I looked across the clear summer sky at the gray smoke of the peaceful little village, and beyond that at black line coming closer, closer, across the sky. Then I turned to the watch In one minute more-well, 1 confess I sat down and buried my face in my hands. don't think I tried to pray. 1 had a confused thought of mangled, dying men and womer-mOthers an their babies.
 There was a terrible shriek from the