The Washington critic., 1890-02-22
IHE SnuTH-B0uND TRIM.

MAOel was very hcluom NttdlutN w. ltbc' !
but an excursion train had gone down the I
road that morning, aud whs now waiting at .
Ewing's, below the turnout, TIL u received /
the signal that the way was clear. The |
south bound express was due In twenty !
minutes. When that passed Mabel would |
signal the cXcursionists to come ON.
II was q responsible and cOnining po-
sition for one SO young and inexperienced,
and Mabel, during the ten months she held
the place, had proved herself bright and
efficient, and not the slightest accident due
to neglect on her part had ever occurred.
Now she kept looking at the clock, think
ing the hands had never moved 50 slowly
before She was weary, sitting in the
close little once all the long, hot hours of
that summer day, and she wished for the
train. Besides, there was some one on the
tain she wanted particularly to see.
Frank will he on the lookout for me-"
she said, ''and will wave his hand perhaps
kiss it in the darkness"
The thought made her smile and blush.
She hardly knew whether to be glad or
sorry at young Frank Rays recent promo
tioD to the responsible post of engineer on
the suuth-bound. Every other day she
saw him, but for two seconds, as the train
whigzed by; the south-bound never stopped
at the Insignificant little station of Red
ding.
They had been engaged a long time, and
now this promotion of the Young man en-
abled them to see In the near future the
consummation of their hopes.
AT 9:B0 the station.master would come
in and the Office would close for the night.
How still everything was. II had never
seemed 30 lonesome before. twas quiet,
| peaceful little station in among the Bald
| hills, ms they were called and, though
! often feeling the loneliness Of the position,
| Mabel had never had the least fear
| Mabel last etnaAnt,1 1nnirfnt, at ha
| clock, and, with her finger idly moving at
the key, became lost in one of those rosy
dreams which youth, especially when In
love, is prone to.
Not sound broke the silence of the
summer night but the rustic of a leaf in
the breeze or the distant call Of the whip
| poorwill.
Presently a slight noise behind her made
the girl start and look around. There,
just within the door, stood tall, gaunt
man, with wild, bloodshot eyes, long matted
beard and bair, and torn, disordcred gar
ments, elaring wildly at her.
The scream freze upon Mabel's lips, and
the blood seemed to CONCEAL in her veins.
Before she could utter sound the appari-
tion, without moving his eyes from her
face, advanced toward her.
''Sit STILL" he commanded, as Mabel at
tempted to rise.n Move at your peril, utter
o sound, and these hands will choke the
breath ont OF you'
And he extended long, horny-tipped
talons, which looked as il they could we'll
execute such threat.
Paralyzed with fright, Mabel did not stir,
but gazed with terrified fascination at the
intruder. He drew up a chair close to
hers, and in front of the instrument.
"Move your hand, grip he said. "I shall
manage this instrument tonight. 1t is a
long time since felt the key, but my right
hand has not forgotten any OF its cunning.
No, nor my ear its quicltness.
And his bony fingers commenced to ma
nipulate the key.
All at once Mabel realized that she WIS
In the presence of madman, and pers )ual
fear was for the moment swallowed up in
the still greater terror Of the mischief
which would be wrought by his control OF
the instrument. She withdrew her hand
and found voice to expostulatc
"Do not touch the key, entreat you,'
she said. "lt is not time yet to signal
Ewing's, and if a wrong MESSAGE were sent
fearful collision might ensue.'
The maniac laughed delightedly.
"lIurrah!' he cried. "'Tis the very thing
want to see! A grand, glorious sight,
girl, to see those iron beasts lock horns,
paving and tearing up the earth, believing
forth smoke and fire; see them rush through
these long trains, scalding, burning, smash
them. Hurrah! what a holocaust we'll
witnessl What rivers of blood will flowr'
His eyes glared at Mabel's with the ex.
preston of a demons, and his large whit,
teeth CLEANED through his matted mus
tache.
, The poor girl almost tainted as he drew
the horrid picture.
"But he win not know how to call th,
station" she said to herself; "they win no
, heed him.
He turned to her with sudden intelli
gence.
"What is Ewing's callg" he asked, ''ant
yonr signature! Quick-give it to M
quick!n
, A CLEAN of hope flashed over Mabel.
'Ewing's is w. she said, at random
, "aDd sign II. r. "
But even as she spoke she saw the mad
i, man reading the station calls, which sh
: had forgotten hung right over the instru
, ment.
''Do You dare to tell me lie?'' he cried
"The call is 'B.n and Reddng's is 49,
) and calling up the station he quickl
G clicked off the message.
: "Come on, come ON, the track is clear,
he cried, as he ticked the words
y He had cunning enough to stop there
Mabel glanced at the clock. The messag
had been sent ten minutes too soon. Oh, /
they would only suspect something, an
j DcS W LItlitutoui bub IO-biiC dubN
, came back: 80. X"
: The train had left the turnout now, an
: If the south.bound was on time disaster c
? some sort was inevitable.
Oh, II she could only rush out aud ca
some one, or give one loud shrek! OF
s. why did not the stationmaster drop In?
a AT her least movement the maniac, lik
- the ancient mariner, fixed her with his gill
teiing eve, and she became cold aud rigi
nc Ct anA nN1u 1Ip lu f1ra,
II But stesllhily, each time he turned ava
e those fearful eyes, she moved her cha
. slightly, getting more to his back an
= near the door. Once outside the door, sh
u might lose herself in the darkness Will
J. she ran for aid.
For the train must be warned. Oh, hea'
It Cns some one must be found and quicl1l,
II quickly, to fly up the track, and with wa
\ ing lantern stop the engine from rushing
q, its fate.
d And who was on that engine? Oh, Got
e she had actually forgotten till that momen
/. so Denumbed with a general feeling of ho
ror were all her faculties.
/ Suddenly her acute ear caught the 10
=, rumble in the distance. The madman's WI
" equally keen.
r "They're comingn' he shouted. "They'i
Is coming! Come on! Come on On 20 IL
r. grand battle Of the iron steeds llurra
1lurrahn
And as he spoke the key clicked ont u
n words. His eyes were turned away; his e
bent to his instrument.
y Swifter than the wind, sudden as Il
d lightning stroke, Mabel darted out I'll
o door. She did not run toward the static
Ie house to seek help, but straight up the raj
road track she new, right in the directiC
of the incoming train. She did not c
re aloud that would attract the madman
y her; but on through the darkness, whit
"a 1t.,., IN gI
is fed like young deer; and as she ran 81
,e tore, with frantic hands, breadth aft
.e breadth of the light summer dress 81
wore.