Middletown transcript., 1891-07-23
passing tha the station.
Butt I Zen. w With ,,.,5as q roar

and the mex we were tearing
through lei on the other
side
More coal pnly the words
themselves, bJ Aanner in which
they were uttered, caused me serious
alarm. I began to suspect that some.
thing was wrong. Still, if I hesitated
it might only aggravate him, SO. |
flung in small quantity.
$50 on-go on y
What was l to do I? / didn't dare
to refuse. The wild look in Norris
eyes frightened me, and | went on
shoveling in the fuel. | glanced at
the gauge. Great heavens 1t mark
ed 230. This pressure of eteam,
where on cars were attached 10 the
engine, meant fearful rate of speed.
The engineers manner was strange.
| ly altered. Instead of being silent
and morose he was now excited and
talkative.
"That's i'll" he cried, and I could
barely catch the words above the
roaring of the engine. Is Now we're
travelling /! Ha Ha The President
faster than Grant? Not likely! I'll
catch up to her yet, see if don't!'
Shall ever forget those terrible
words! They actually seem to para
lyze 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 delusion that
the President was on in front. With
this insane idea in his head he deter
mined to try the speed of the two
engines.
My first impulse, when | partly re-
covered from the shock, was TO spring
forward and grasp the reversing rod.
But a moments reflection showed me
that this might instantly seal my
doom. Norris would have grappled
with me, and if it came to a struggle
/ was lost. He would fling me head
long from the engine.
Then another thought occurred to
me. Heaven forgive me but |
must strike him from behind in order
to save my life. I looked around for
a weapon. As I did so he seemed to
guess what, l was at and turning
round thrust his hand into bis breast.
The next moment he held revolver
toward me, while his blazing eyes
threatened death if I did not desist.
After that / gave myself up for
lost. Unless Providence interposed
on my behalf a horrible end awaited
me. Up to this I had felt the heat
oppressive, but now / shivered. Ny
hands we're cold and clammy. A
band of iron seemed to encircle my
head.
On we tore, the engine swaying
fearfully. Every moment | expect
ed to be blown to atoms by the burst
ing of the boiler. Norris never ceas-
ed to rave about the race with the
President. And yet, slough he was
too absorbed in this work, he kept his
eye on me the whole time. !.
Then it was that an idea flashed
across me. A faist hope sprung up in
my mind. I must overcome him by
cunning, it was my only chance
advanced to examine the indica-
tor, and though my heart sank when
l saw the hand quivering at $50, |
made it appear as though | were de-
lighted.
Good" i cried, we'll beat her
vet But we want more Goa"
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 4 gave cry and Norris
instantly turned round.
held up my right hand that he
might see the blood dripping from it.
Then I stood with my back toward
him and pretended to bind up the
wound. But ! only wrapped a hand
kerchief round it and quick as light !,
ming drew out my pocket-book. [
tore away the leayss which were writ
ten on, and placing the book upon my
knee scrawled these words across the
first page:
Driver mad, wire, grease rails"
Then holding it in my injured hand
I thrust it under my jacket and re-
turned tn the encineer,s side.
We were now rapidly approaching
Weston, but knew that Norris dill
not intend to stop. And I was right.
He blew long whistle, as if to startle
the officials, and the engine shot
through the station like a rocket.
But had managed to drop my
pocket-book at the side of the track.
did not dare to look back or make
the slightest sign to the Weston Off
-cials. If I had done so / certainly
would have got a bullet through me.
Still fancied l had caught glimpse
of man hurrying forward to where
the book had fallen.
The suspense was terrible. Even if
they noticed the pocket book, they
might not be able to understand what
was written inside for it may be i'm
agined that under the circumstances
the scrawl was barely legible.
I had made up my mind what to
expect. The next station was Red
Fork, but fifteen miles further on.
was sure the track would be clear as
far as this place, but once past it we
might encounter an up train at any
moment.
If the Weston people discovered my
message they would wire at once to
, Red Fork, and there would be time
enough for the officials at that sta
tion to grease portion Of the rails
before we came on the scene. Should
this be done on any sort of an incline
the wheels would slip on the track
and the engine soon come to stand
still. It was with such piece of
road just outside of Red Fork station.
But lift turnedsout otherwise, and we