The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-08-22

more terrible and threatening than any
CLEAN 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 lives were all in the hold of
one man, whom / now strongly sus-
pected to be mad. / 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, / did it. There was
something in the face of that man l
could not resist. Then ! climbed for
ward and shook him by the shoulder.
Markley," l shouted, "you are run
ming this train into the jaws of death"
81 know it," he replied, quietly.
Your mother is aboard this train"
HeavensW 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."
will not"
"Make up the fire, Jack" very
quietly.
/ will not. You may murder your
self and mother, but you shall not MUIR
der me-"
He looked at me. His kindly gray
eyes glared like those of wild beast,
httt ha vol cd -,
could throw you off of this en-
sine and make short work of you," he
said. " But look here, do you see that
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 due now.
ought to have laid by for it at Dunn
IRENE. | was told to come on. The
track is a single one. Unless l can
make the siding at the station in three
minutes, we shall meet it in yonder
hollow"
Somebody's blunder?" / said.
Yes, think sou
l said nothing. / threw on coal; if
l had had petroleum l should have
thrown it on. But 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,
painting sound. Far off to the south l
could see the bituminous black smoke
of train. l looked at Markley in
quiringly. He nodded. 1t was the
expressl l stopped to the fire.
Ono more" he said.
/ 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 l turned to the watch. In one
minute more-well, / confess / sat
down and buried my face in my hands.
l don't think tried to pray. l had a
confused thought of mangled, dying
men and women, mothers and their
babies.
There was a terrific shrek from
the engine against which / leaned.
Another in my face. A hot, Kissing tenn
pest swept past me. looked up. We
were on the siding and the express had
SOhS w. ~ SiaSOu Jul Chu SuI Ill
passing. In sort of delirous Joy /
sprang up and shouted to Markley. He
did not speak He sat there immova-
BILE and cold as a stone. ! went to the
train and brought his mother to him,
and when he opened his eyes and took
the old lady's hand in his 1 turned
away.
" Yes, gentlemen, l have been in
many railway accident, but have al
ways considered that the closest shave
/ ever had"
What was the blunder ?"
=" l don't know. Marley made light
of it ever afterward and kept it secret,
but no man on the line stood so high in
the confidence of the company after
that as he. BY his GOODNESS and nerve
he had saved hundred lives. "-Er-
change.