The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-06-16

tomaton. There was little more mean
ing in his face.
"Morep he said, without turning his
eye. I took up the shovel-hesitated
"Markley, do you know that you are
going at the tate of sixty miles an
hour?"
"Coalp
L was alarmed at the stern, cold rigidity
of the man. His pallor was becoming
frightful. threw in the coal. At least
we must stop at Dufreme. That was the
next halt. The little town approached.
As the first house came into view the en-
CINE sent its shrieks of warning; it grew
louder-louder.
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 ap-
palled faces and the waiting crowd. Then
we were in the fields again. The speed
now became literally breathless, the fur
mace glared red hot. The heat, the veloc-
ity, the terrible nervous strain of the
man beside me seemed to weight the air.
I found myself drawing long stertorous
breaths like one drowning.
I heaped in the coal at intervals as he
babe me. did it because was oppressed
by an odd sense of duty, which I never
had in my ordinary brain work. Since
then have understood how it is that dull,
ignorant men, without spark of en-
thusiasm, show such heroism as soldiers,
firemen, and captains of wrecked vessels.
1t is this overpowering sen SO of routine
duty. It's finer thing than sheer brav-
cry, in my idea. However, I began to
think that Marley was msd-lsboring
under some frenzy from drink, though I
had never seen him touch liquor.
He did not move hand or foot, except
in the mechanical control of his engine,
his eyes going from the gauge to the time
piece with a stesdiness that was 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 headlong 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 1 now strongly suspected to be
mad. knew by his look that he remem-
bered 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, 1 did it. There was some
thing in the face of that man could not
resist. Then I climbed forward and
shook him by the shoulder. "Markley,"
I shouted, "you are running this train
into the jaws of DEATH"
IL 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.
SNAKE up the fire, he commanded, and
push in the throttle valve.
II will not"
"Make up the fire, jack" very quietly.
II will not. You may murder your
self and mother, but you shall not muir
der me-"
He looked at me. His kindly grey eyes
glared like those of wild beast. But
he controlled himself moment.
81 could throw you off this engine and
make short work of you," he said. But
look here; do you see the station yon-
der9"
I saw faint streak against the sky
about five miles ahead.
81 was told to reach that station by
O'clock" he continued. "The express
train meeting us is due now. I ought to
have laid by for it at Dufreme. I was
sold to come on. The track is single
one. Unless can make the siding at
the station in three minutes, we shall
meet it in yonder hollow"
"Somebody's blunder?" I said.
eyes, think So"
/ said nothing. I threw on coal; il I
had had petroleum should have thrown
it on. But I never was calmer in my
life. When death actually stares a man
in the face, it often frightens him into
the most perfect composure. Markley
pushed the valve still further. The en-
CINE began to give strange, painting
sound. Far off to the south I could see
the bituminous black smoke of train.
I looked at Marley ipquiringly. 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 peaceful little
village, and beyond that at black line
coming closer, closer across the sky.
Then 1 TUNED to the watch. In one
minute more-well, confess sat down
and buried my face in my hsnde. 1
don't think tried to pray. had con-
fused thought of mangied, 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 tempest
swept past me. 1 looked up. We were
on the siding, and the express had gone
by. 1t grszed our end carriage in pass
ing. In sort of delirious JOY sprang
up and shouted to Marley. He did not