The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1888-12-27
osEYrxo ORDERS.


s---~--~
Well. gentlemen. n ron vish uill tell
you the story. When ] ~As youth OF
niss.esn. snd lived si,h my parents IN .
Penasyir.pis ,ova. l bad taste fof rail-
rcsdins, snd bo,ish ambition 70 become
. driver. although I had been educsssd to
Ioi,isr pusaits
Daring my college vsosiion l loanged
about the station slmost constantly. max
inx friends With the train men. and especi-
ally 9th driver named Sils Marley.
became much attached 70 this mao. Dot
witisispdisg he vs forty years old sod
By no means . socisbls islIo~.
lie xm my ideal OF brave. st'liful
thoroug b bred driver. and ! looked up ~
him - something Of brave hsea
vss not married. bat lived III slenn
his old mother. 80 fFeqoe
70 their hooss, asd think o1
: iassy V - 10 shsir qsisl
~.
49, SnskIq Z = ~ ht1
| 49, - y ~ ~ -
ths rsosisdss u ~ vnSssios.
satsd come tine bssoss be eoos6 ~
my boyish wbiu. but be hnslly yieJ1
and l usa 10 great sles q
The fact vas that in my idleness and
the overworked state Of my brain. ! crsv-
cd excitement - drunksrd does liquor.
and, besides bad such longing dreams
OF the fiery ride thro' the bills mounted
literally on the iron horse. 30 ! became
an expert fireman. and liked il exceeding.
", for the excitement more than compen-
stated for the rough work was required
10 do.
But there came time when | got my
all Of excitement. Mrs. Msrkley one day
formed plan which seemed to give her 9
good deal Of happiness. 1t was her sons
birthday, and she wanted to go down to
Philadelphia in the train without letting
him know anything about it, aud there
purchase present for him, She took me
into her confidence and had me assist her.
/ arranged the preimiDaries and got her
into the train without being noticed by
Markley, who, OF course was busy with bis
engine.
The old lady was in high glee over the
bit OF innocent deception she was prsctic.
log on her son. She epjoined me again
not to tell Silss, and then left her and
took my place.
It was midsummer day and the wes
ther was delightful The train was neither
an express nor 40 sccom m odstion. but Que
that stopped at the principal stations on
the route. On this occasion, % there were
two specials on this line, it Was run by
telegraph, that is, the driver has simply to
obey instructions which he receives ct
each station. so that he is but as o machine
in the hands OF one controller, who directs
all trains from q central point, and has the
whole line under his eye. II the driver
does not obey to the least title his orders.
1t Is destruction TO the whole.
Well, we started without mishap and on
time, and easily reached the station in the
time allotted TO us. As we stopped bere
boy ran slongside with the telegram which
be handed to the driver. The next mo
ment I heard . smothered exclamation
from Msrkley.
Go back. be said TO the boy. and tell
Williams to have the message repeated |;
there's mistake.
The boy dashed of; in ten minutes be
came flying back. Had it repeated, be
shouted. williams is stormipg at you, he
says there is no mistake. and you bad best
20 on. He thrust the second message in
ss he spoke.
Msrkely read il and stood hesitstiug for
half minute. There was dismay and
sheer perplexiiy 10 the expression OF bis
face As be looked at the telegram and the
long train behind him.
His lips moved as II be were calculating
chances. and bis eye suddenly quailed ss
II he saw death It the end Of the cslculs-
| ton,
Iwss watching him with considerable
curiosity. l ventured to ask him what
Was the matter, and what be Was going 10
do.
am going 10 obey, he replied curtly.
The engine gave long shrek of hor
ror tbst made me star. ss II it we're Mark
ley's own voice, The next instant we
70 she'd out OF the station and dashed
through the low.lying farms at = speed
which seemed dangerous to me
Put on more coal, said Markley.
i Ishoveled il 10. but took time.
We are going very fast. Marley.
He did not snsver. His eyes wero fixed
on the engine. bis mouth close shut
Morsl he said. without turning his eyes.
l took up the shovel : -hesisa,ed.
Markley. do you ksow that you arc go
ing ., the rate Of about sixty miles 30
hour?
Coal
l was alarmed st the stern. cold rigidityI
Of the man. His psilor was becoming
frightiul.
threw 10 the coal. Al least We must
stop at Dumfrene. That was the next
halt The little town approached. As
the first house came 10 view. the engine
sent on. its shr,eks Of warning. I. grew
louder and louder - We vent.
We dashed into the street, up to the
station. where . group Of passengers sait
ed. and passed 1t without the halt Of an
instant. catching glimpse Of the appalled,
faces and the waiting crowd.
Then We we're 10 the fields again. The
snesd nov herato brestblass tha fueuscH