Nevada County picayune., 1889-01-30

Friday came and John made haste to get his chores done early, so that he would not be late in going to Mir. ] Markley's. But there seemed more than usual to do that evening. and it was almost dark before he got started on his way.
 In going to Mr. Markley's, John had to 60 down a valley and through ! q dense wood. cross the Montour railroad. and, after going up another valley and ocross a few fields, he would be at his destination.
 He had arrived at the railroad. It was quite dark now, and short dis lance above where he crossed. he heard a noise as If great logs were being hurled down hill. He was considerably frightened. bnt he made up his mind that he would sec what was the matter. He ran ID the road, and in the dim light. he coald make ont that logs and stwafs were being rolled down the down the hillside, and heaped upon the railroad track There was q sharp curve just below the place, and John knew immediately that the in tention was to wreck the train.
 He stood few minutes consider ing what he had better do, when he heard a voice.
 "Hal ha! I'll finish them now. I'll send them to perdtion, ha, ha, And oh, it will be glorious to hear the shrieks and the groans of the mangled and dying Yes, Tll send them to eternity! Ha! ha! And on the fast line, too. Ha, hal"
 John listened breathlessly. "A crazy man." he said, aud he was bent on throwing train down an embankment.
 And then his heart stood still. as he remembered the time. It could be no more than ten minutes until the down express would come thund- ering along. And what frightful place for a train to be thrown off. The embankment was fully fifty feet in height.
 "Yes," said the madman, "Tn send them to perdition. And oh. what glorious sight it will be when the ears go over! I shall dance and laugh and shout over the magnific- ent smash"
 What could he do? The nearest station was fully two miles away. He could not run there in time to save the train, He could not raise warning flag, as it would not be seen in the darkness. It would be usc- less for him 10 shout, as his voice could not heard be above the roar of the train.
 Thinking of the awful destruction of life that must come, if nothing was done to avert 1t. he started up the road as fast as he could run. He would have shouted, even though he knew it to be useless, but he sud- denly thought of the madman, and feared to attract his attention.
 What would he dos The thought came to him again, and. almost in frency he said, II must do some thing.
 "A fire, I'll make fre," It seemed to come to him like an in spirailon. And have matches Oh how fortunate"
 A few days before, Mir. Vernon had set John to cleaning up an old fence row, and he had taken some matches with him so he could burn the brush after it had been gathered in piles, John still had a few matches in his pocket
 "How fortunate.' he again ex- claimed, almost wild with excite ment.
 Hark the train Is coming. The low rumble of wheels conld be heard, and John knew he must hasten, or it would be too late.
 He hastily gathered some brush alongside of the railroad. then, with . despainng cry, he said: ''Oh, it IS too late the wood is wet; it will not burn!"
 He threw the brush down on the track, snd. hastily thrusting his hand into his pocket, he pulled out the matches. One, two, three, four only four matches.
 He strikes one on the iron rail, il bla2es up, he applies it to the wood