The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-09-30
Selected Storm.
A Locomotive Hero,

w ell, IL you WISH IL, L II
tell you the story. When was youth
of nineteen and lived with my parents
in Pennsylvania town, had a taste
for railroading and boy ish ambition
to become driver, although | had
been educated for loftier pursuits.
During my college vacation | lounged
about the station almost constantly,
making friends with the trainmeu, and
especially with a driver named Silas
Marley l became much attached to
this man, notwithstanding he was forty
years old, and by no means a sociable
fellow. He was my ideal of brave,
skilful, thoroughbred driver, and |
looked up to him as something of
hero. He was not married man, but
lived alone with bis mother. l was
frequent visitor at their house, and |
think they both took quite fancy to
me in their quiet, undemonstrative way.
When Markley's fireman left him
induced him to let me take his place
during the remainder of my vacation.
He hesitated for some time before he
consented to humor my boyish whim,
but he finally yielded and l was in
great glee. The fact was that in my
idleness and the overworked state of
my brain l craved the excitement as a
confirmed drunkard does liquor, and,
besides, l had such longing dreams of
the fiery ride through the hills, mounted
literally on the iron horse. So | be-
came an expert fireman, and liked it
exceedingly, for the excitement more
than compensated for the rough work |
was required to do.
But there came time when l got my
fill of excitement. Mrs. Markley one
day formed a plan which seemed to give
her good deal of happiness. 1t was
her sons birthday, and she wanted to
go down to Philadelphia in the train
without letting him know anything
about it, and there purchase present
for him. She took me into her conf
derce and had me to assist her. | ar
ranged the preliminaries and got her
into the train without being noticed by
Markley, who, of course, was busy with
his engine.
The old lady was in high glee over
the bit of innocent deception she was
practising on her son. She enjoined
me again not to tell Sias, and then l
left her and took my place. 1t was a
midsummer day and the weather was
delightful. The train was neither ex-
press nor an accommodation, but one
which stopped at the principal stations
on the route. On this occasion, as there
were two specials on the line, it was
lun by telegraph; that is, the driver has
simply to obey instructions which he
receives at each station, so that he is
put as machine in the hands of one
comptroller, who directs all trains from
central point, and has the whole line
under his eye. If the driver does not
obey to the least title his orders, it is
destruction to the whole. Well, we
started without mishap and up to time,
and easily reached the next station in
the time allotted US. AS We stopped
here, 10y ian alongside with a tele-
gram which he handed to the driver.
The next moment | beard smothered
exclamation from Markley.
go back" he said to The boy; "tell
Williams to have the message repeated;
there's a mistake"
The boy dashed off; in ten minutes
he came flying back. "Had it re-
reated," be shouted, Williams is
storming at you; says there's no mis-
take, and you'd best get on" He thrust
the second in as he spoke. Marley
read it and stood hesitating for half a
minute. There was dismay and sheer
perpleXity in the expression of his face
as he looked at the telegram and the
long train behind him. His lips moved
as If he was calculating chances, and
his eyes suddenly quailed as if he saw
death at the end of The calculation.
was watching him with considerable
curiosity. | yentured to ask him what
was the matter, and what he was going
to do.
I'm going to obey" he replied
curly. TIE engine gave long shrek
OF horror that made me start as if it
were Markley's own voice The next
instant we rushed out of the station
and dashed through low-lying farms at
speed which sc emed dangerous to me
Sc Put in more COAL" said Markley.
| shoveled it in, but took time.
4" We are going very fast, Marley"
He did not answer. His eyes were
fixed on the steam engine, his mouth
close shut.
"More COAL" he said; threw it in.
The fields and houses began to fly
past half seen. We were nearing Dunn.
irene, the next station. Markley's eye
went from the gauge to the face of the
timepiece and back. He moved like
an automaton. There was little more
meaning in his face.
"More!" he said, without turning
his eye. took the shove
Marley, do you know you are
going at the rate Of sixty miles an
hour"
"Coall"
l was alarmed at the stern, cold
rightly of the man. His pallor was
becoming frightful. / threw in the
coal AT least we must sop at Dunn.
IRENE. That was the next halt. The
little town approached. AS the first
house came in view, the engine sent its
shrieks of warning; it grew louder
louder. We dashed into the street, ur
to the station, where group of pas
sengers waited, and passed it without
the halt of an instant, catching q
glimpse of the appalled, faces and the
waiting crowd. Then we were in the
fields again. The speed now became
lu IL