San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-07-11

without q spark OF enthusiasm, show such
heroism as soldiers, fremen and captains Of
wrecked vessels II Is this overpowering
sense OF routine duty. It's finer thing than
sheer bravery, In my idea. However, be
gan to think that Markley wns mad-labor-
ing 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
q steadiness that was more terrible and
threatening than any CLEAN Of insanity
would have been. Once be 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 hundreds Of men
and women II the carriages, talking, read
ing, smoking. unconscious that their ives
were all in the hold of one man whom now
strongly suspected to be mad knew by his
look that he remembered their lives were In
bis 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 some
thing In the face.of that man could not re-
sist Then climbed forward and shook him
by the shoulder. Marley" | shouted,
'you are running this train into the jaws of
death"
~ know it." he replied, quietly.
"Your mother Is aboard this train"
"ReavensP
He staggered to his feet. But even then
he did not remove his eyes from the gauge
make up the fire." he commanded, and
pushed in the throttle valve.
II will not"
snake up the fire, Jack, +" very quietly.
81 will not You may murder yourself
and mother, but you shall not murder me-"
He looked at me. His kindly gray 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 yonderT'
saw a faint streak against the sky about
Eve miles ahead
81 was told to reach that station by 6
o'clock" be continued "The express train
meeting US is due now. / ought to have laid
by for it at Dufreme. was told to come on.
The track is a single ona Unless l can make
the siding at the station in three minutes We
shall meet it in yonder hollow"
Somebody's blunder7" l said.
"Yes, think So"
said nothing. threw on coal; If had had
petroleum should have thrown it on. But
never was calmer in my life. When death
actually stares a man in the face it often
frightens him into the most perfect compos
ure Markley pushed the valve still further
The engine began to give strange painting
sound Far off to the south | could see the
hituminous black smoke Of a train Hooked
at Markley inquiringly. He nodded. 1t
was the expressl stopped to the fire.
mo more" he said
looked across the clear summer sky at the
gray smoke of the peaceful little village, and
beyond that at a black line coming closer,
closer, across the sky. Then turned to the
watch In one minute more-well, confess
sat down and buried my face in my hands.
don't think l tried to pray. | had a con-
fused thought of mangled, dying men and
women-mothers and their babies.
There was terrible shrek from the en-
CINE, against which leaned. Another in my
face A hot, Kissing tempest swept past ME.
looked up. We were on the siding, and the
express had gone by. 1t grazed our end car
riage in passing. In sort Of delirious joy
sprang up and shouted to Markley. He did
not speak. He sat there immovable and cold
as stone went to the train and brought
his mother to him, and when be opened his
eyes and took the old lady's hand in his
turned away.
Yes, gentlemen, have been in many a
railway accident, but have always consid-
cred that the closest shave ever had.
What was the blunderP
don't know Markley made light of it
ever afterward and kept it secret, but no
man on the line stood so high in the conf.
dence CT the company after that as be- By
his GOODNESS and nerve he had saved hundred
lives