New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-05-02

heapeQ IN The coal at intervals, as
he babe me. / did it because | was
oppressed by an odd sense o. duty,
which [ never had in my ordinary
brain work. Since then / have under
stood how it is that dull, ignorant
men, without a spark of enthusiasm,
show such lleroism as soldiers, fire.
men, and cap salns OF wrecked vessels.
1t is this overpowering sense Of rou-
tine duty. It's a finer thing than
sheer bravery in my idea. However,
I began to think that Marley was
mad-laboring under some frenzy
from drink, though l had never seen
him touch liquor.
He did not move hand OF foot. ex-
cept IN the mechanical control of his
engine, ms eye going from the gauge to
the timepiece with asteadiness 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 O. headlong speed that rocked it
from side to side.
One could imagine he saw the hun
dreds of men and women in the car
riages talking, reading, smoking, I'M
conscious that their lives were all in
the hold Of one man whom I now
strongly suspected 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.
s"Throw on more coal, Jack, the fireis
gong OUT
l did it. Yes, did it. There was
something in the face Of that man I
could not resist. Then I climbed for
ward and shook him by the shoulder.
"Markley," | shouted, you are run
ming this train into the jaws of
DEATH
81 know it," he replied, quietly.
'9our mother is aboard the trainW
Heavens" He staggered to his
feet. But even then he did not move
his eyes from the gauge.
MAKE up the fire" he commanded,
and pushed in the throttle valve.
II will not"
"Make up the fire, JACK. very quiet
ly.
II 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 a wild beast.
But he controlled himself in a mo-
ment.
Il could throw you off this engine,
and make short work of you," ne
said. But, LOOK here; do you see the
station yonder?"
| saw faint streak against the skv
about five miles ahead.
u was told to reach that station
by six O'clock" he continued. "The
express train meeting us is due now.
| ought to have laid by for it at Du-
IRENE. was told to come on. The
track is a single one. Unless / cam
make the siding at that station in
three minutes, we shall meet in yon,
der hollow"
Somebody's blunder?' Said.
eyes, think 500
| said nothing. | threw on coal; ii
l had had petroleum L would have
thrown it on. But [ never was calm.
er in my life. When death actually
stares a man in the face, it often
frightens him into the most perfect
composHre. Markley pushed the
valve still further. The engine began
to give q strange painting sound Far
off to the south could see the bitumi-
nous black smoke of train. look
ed at Markley inquiringly. He nod
ded. 1t was the express! I stopped
to the fire.
"No more" he said.
Hooked across the clear summer
sky at the gray smoke Of the peaceful
little village, and beyond that black
line coming closer, closer, across the
sky. Then l turned to the watch. In
one minute more-well, / confess I sat
down and buried my face in nly
hands. [ don't think I tried to pray.
| had a confused thought of a mass
OF mangled, dying men and women
mothers and their babies.
There was q terrific shrek from the
engine, against which I leaned. An
other IN my face. A hot, kissing tenn
pest swept past me. looked up. We
were on the siding and the express had
gone by It grazed our end carriage
IN passing. In sort Of delirious
JOY lsprang up and shouted to Mark
ley. He did not speak. He sat there
immovable and cold as n 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 turned away
Yes, gentlemen, I have been inc
many a railway accident, but / have
always considered that the closest
call ever had
What was the blunder2"
| don't know Markley made light
OF itever afterward aud kept it a Sc
cret, 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 a hundred lives.
Preaching Under Difficulties.
A curious case of the pursuit OF