Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1890-05-31
THE SOUTH-BOUND TRAIN.

1t was 9 oclook and Mabel Claire, the
pretty, young telegraph operator, sat at
the instrument. her hand on the key,
waiting to send the last message before
quitting the office for the night.
Mabel was very seldom detained as late,
but an excursion train had gone down
the road that morning, and was now
waiting at Ewing's, below the turnout
till it received the signal that the way
was clear. The south-bound express was
due in twenty minutes. When that
passed Mabel would signal the excursion
lists to come on.
1t was a responsible and confining 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 acci-
dent due to neglect on her part had ever
occurred.
Now she kept looking at the clock
thinking the hands had never moved so
slowly before. She was weary, sitting
in the close little office all the long, hot
hours of that summer day, and she wished
for the train. Besides, there was some
one on the train she wanted particularly
to see.
Frank will be on the lookout for me,
she said, land will wave his hand-per-
haps 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 pro-
motion to the responsible post of engin-
eer on the south-bound. Every other
day she saw him, but for two seconds, as
the train whizzed by; the south-bound
never stopped at the insignificant little
station of Redding.
They had been engaged a long time,
and now this promotion of the young
man enabled them to see in the near fu-
ture the consummation of their hopes.
AT $50 the Station-master would come
in and the office would close for the night.
How still everything was. 1t had
never seemed so lonesome before. 1t was
quiet, peaceful little station in among
the Bald hills. as they We're called and,
though often feeling the loneliness of the
position, Mabel had never had the least
fear.
Mabel at last stopped looking at the
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 deep silence of
the summer night but the rustic of a leaf
in the breeze or the distant call of the
whipoorwill.
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 hair, and torn,
disordered garments, glaring wildly at
her.
The scream froze upon Mabel's lips, and
the blood seemed to CONCEAL in her veins.
Before she could utter sound the appa-
rition, without moving his eyes from her
face, advanced towards her.
"Sit still, he commanded, as Mabel
attempted to rise. "Move at your peril,
utter sound, and these hands will choke
the breath out of you.
And he extended long, horny-tipped
talons, which looked as if they could
| well execute Sucn Unfedu.
Paralyzed with fright, Mabel did not
stir, but gazed with terrified fascination
at the intruder. He drew up chair close
| to hers, and in front of the instrument
"Move your hand, girl !" he said. 81
shall manage this instrument tonight. 1t
is long time since felt the key, but my
right hand has not forgotten any of its
cunning. No, nor my ear its quiclness.
And his bony fingers commenced tc
manipulate the key.
All at once Mabel realized that she was
in the presence of a madman, and per
sonal fear was for the moment swallowed
up in the still greater terror of the mis-
chief which would be wrought by his
| control of the instrument. She with
drew her hand and found voice to expos
tulate.
DO not touch the key, entreat you,
she said. 1T is not time yet to sigma
Ewing's, and if wrong message were
sent "a fearful collision might ensue."
The maniac laughed delightedly.
"Hurrah :" he cried. lis the very
thing | want to see! a grand. gIori
Gus sight, girl, to see those iron beasts
lock horns, paving and tearing up tho
earth, bellowing forth smoke and fire
see them rush through these long trains
scalding burning, smashing the silly
simple folks that trusted in them. IIur
rah what a holocaust we'll witness
What rivers of blood will flow !"
His eyes glared at Mabels with the eX