The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-02-28

20 1D5. I could NOT sec tho ncccssity
for this rapid travelling.
My companions attention was again
fixed upon the road before him. Pros
emily he turned toward me and ex-
claimed cxcitedly:
''Who says that the Grant Is not the
fastest engine on the roadP"
''Moxly declared that the President
WIS faster" l replied.
Then he liedr' cried Norris. THE
President faster-we shall see. we shall
see!'
thought his manner very strange.
70 say the least OF II. But knew his
ways and said nothing. He was al
ways considered rather eccentric. Be-
sides, he was easily excited aud could
not bear to DO contrndicted. Still
there was not D. driver on tho line bet
ter ncquaintedlwith his business.
Aud. by the way, have forgotten
to say word as to his appearance.
Well. then, he was big. powerful fell
Tow. with broad. red face, and q
bushy beard. 1t was hard to deal
with such man. II lie once put his
foot down there was no getting him to
OuukC uuttt Cuuuxcu.
We we're now coming close upon
Waterford station. and had already
done about five-andstwenty miles Of
the journey. Ben's eyes were still up
on the track. 1t was all clear ahead,
yet expected to see him close the
throttle aud slow down while passing
through the station.
Rut l was mistaken. With q roar
and rush we dashed right through.
aud the next minute we were tearing
along level stretch on the other side.
More coal!" Not only the words
themselves. but the manner in which
they were uttered caused me serious
alarm. l began to suspect that some-
thing was wrong. Still. II hesitated
it might only aggravate him. so l flung
In a small quantity.
Go on--go on!'
What was to dop didn't dare to
refuse. The wild look In Norris eyes
frightened me. and went on shovel
ing in the fuel. I glanced at the
gauge. Great heavens! it marked $50!
The pressure of steam. where no cars
were attached to the engine, meant .
fearful rate of speed.
The engineers manner was strangely
altered. Instead of being silent and
moroso he was now excited and talk
alive.
That's I'll" he cried, and could
barely catch the words above tho roar
Ing Of the engine. Now we're travel
ing! Ha! ha! The President faster
than the Grant, Not likely! I'll catch
mn IN hor rot oao ~ I Annitp
Shall l ever forget those terrible
words! They actually seemed to par
alyze me. As l stood there. clinging
for support to the side Of the cab, the
awful truth flashed through my mind.
The engineer was mad! And. worse
still, he was under the dclusion that
the President was on in front. With
this insane idea in his head he deter
mined to try the speed Of the two en-
gines.
My first impulse. when had partly
recovered from the shock. was to
spring forward and grasp the revers-
ing rod. But moments reflection
showed me that this might instantly
seal my doom. Norris would have
grappled with mo. and IL 1t came to
struggle / was lost. He would fling
me headlong from the engine.
Then another thought occurred to
me. HcaveS forgive me!-but IN ust
strike him from behind in order to
save my life. looked around for
weapon. As / did so he seemed to
guess what l was at and turning
round thrust his hand into his breast.
The next moment he held revolver
toward me. while his blazing eyes
threatened instant death II did not
desist.
After that I gave myself up for lost.
Unless providence interposed on my
behalf horrible end awaited me. Up
to this / had felt the heat oppressive.
but now shivered. My hands were
cold and clammy. A band OF iron
seemed to encircle my head.
On we tore. the engine swaying
fearfully. Every moment l expected
to be blown to atoms by the bursting
Of the boiler. Norris never ceased to
rave about the race with the President.
And yet. though he was so absorbed
in his work. ho kept his eye on me the
whole time.
Then it was that an idea flashed
across me. A faint hope sprang up In
my mind. l must overcome him by
cunning; 1t was the only chance.
/ advanced to examine the indicator;
and. though my heart sank when !
saw the hand quivering Mt 250. l made
it appear rs II were delighted.
Good" l cried, 'we'll beat her yeti
But we want more coal"
made toward the tender. placed
my left hand upon lump Of coal and
struck it across the back with the
sharp edge of the shovel. The blow
left cash from which the blood flowed
freely. I gave cry and Norris in
stantly turned round.
! held up my right hand that he
might sec the blood dripping from 1t.