Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1890-04-01
THE ENGINEERS STORY.
,.,no an Account of the One Ro-
nance Of His Life.

nag running the odd Black Hand
no NJ C. e. l.. railroad-let me see.
!. ,s,s inst sixteen years ago. IL you
travelled on that road in those days
aoubt YOU remember the ''Old Black
cbe was fine engine an NJ. Baldwin
..,ont-ap ght-wheeled driver, and I
,arod her as a seaman loves his craft, or
mrfman his horse that wins him the
..ce had run on the road for three
cars and was perfectly familiar with
,hol,ne from one end to the other.
About six months previous to the time
=, which | write an accident occurred
IN the E. creek trestle, ten miles east
&c The trestle was six hundred feet
IN length. and the greatest depth was
near the west bank, sixty-two feet.
The station man had fallen from the
,,ostle after the night train had passed,
and from appearances, when found next
morning. had been instantly killed.
The next night after the accident as
vas stepping on the foot board ran
the night express the superintendent
Of the road came to me and told me in a
tow hurried words that he wanted to
Mace an old man and a young girl on
nv engine, and he wished me to make
some pretext TO stop inst at the E. creek
trestle and let them off without letting
the conductor know they had been on
the train, and at the same time he en-
ioined on me perfect secrecy and forbade
me asking any questions whatever.
This strange proceeding on the part
oithesuperintendent puzzled me greatly.
He was man of about fifty years Of
age, and well known as thorough bust
ness man. and one of unspotted integ-
rity, and by far the largest stakeholder
in the road.
Why he should place those parties on
my engine and desire to keep it secret
from the conductor, who, like myself,
was only an employe of the company, |
could not for my life imagine.
There was large crowd in the depot
at the time, as is usually the case in
large cities, and he passed the parties
up to me without being observed.
Time was up. the bell rang. and the
train moved out into the darkness.
After trying the gauges and arrang-
ing things about the engine, sat down
opposite my two passengers, and took a
survey Of their persons
The man was perhaps sixty years old.
hair and beard as white as snow, broad,
square forehead, sharp gray eyes filled
With energy, and an indescribably sad
expression of countenance that bespoke
deep sorrow
His form was light, yet well-propor-
toned, and his movements quick and
nervous
The girl was perhaps sixteen or seven
een years of age, with eyes as black as
night and a well-poised head covered
with shining coils of hair of the same
sable hue.
She resembled the old man in the
general contour Of form and feature. and
no doubt they stood in the relation of
parent and child, and as her face par
look OF the same sad expression it was to
@presumed she was sharer of his sor-
rows Whatever they might have been.
AS Ten miles on an express train, run
Jung al full speed, is short ride, and |
anew we were nearing the +. creek
1eSIie' rose to my feet and placed my
uAna on the lever of the Unbelievable.
Ny companion seemed to understand
"e movement perfectly. The old man
vast sharp glance at me and then at
~e GIRL adjusted his cloak, and peered
out INTO the darkness.
'ieh smut OIL the steam with one
snoVe of the lever, whistled down
OShes and then commenced series
SNORT sharp toots, as though to
HgnVen some animals off the track.
iHe tfaln slowed up and in moment
uore stood still. The conductor Jumped
Wv a' one side of the train, and came
inward with his lantern, and my pas
singers got off at the other.
assisted the girl to alight. and as her
warm hand rested one moment in mine
'u,ill IKE that caused by an electric
ua'nlne ran through my veins. She
pressed my hand, and left in my grasp
s'H"ll card which | hastily thrust into
~! puChct,
ne Ola man wrung my hand, and
ness, -''' WY 0A IA
ran forward on the track: in a mo-
n sa' turned and came back; met the
nuuctor Just ahead of the engine; told
haa, thought saw something on the
~, out that all then seemed right.
"'s satlsfed him, and In a moment
e 'he train was on its way.
we passed slowly over the trestle
t,a, iet on steam, and brought the
mat in under such speed that we would
Noa 'iine at l., thirty miles ahead
ON :. 'ooA the card from my pocket, and
was penciled, in small, delicate
v i"u' Mention this to no one, and
viii be your friend"
fri, turned the card over and over, but
NO., was all, and could do nothing but
n,,." Sr and surmise with regard to the
so.i PICTURED In my mind all sorts o.
con,s and trains of circumstances thai
M tUaiu have brought such an event about
nv purpose.
ma, returning to c. the next night
Ia 'ne superintendent on the platform
inn oNeo at me in an anxious inquir
no15 %shher' knew his meaning, anC
Inv nj mat all was we'll, and passed
INTO the office.
At N next week | was much surprise,
waros i'lhg almost double pay, which
cor. continued almost as long as
' Taed on the road.
and went on for about six months
butI eouiu get no clew to the mystery
noa."' arlably kept sharp lookout a