The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-09-30

engine, his eyes going from the gauge
to the timepiece W tn a steadiness tba
was more terrible and threatening than
any CLEAN of insanity would have
been. Once he glared back at the lES1
train sweeping after the engine wi S9
headlong speed that rocked it from side
to side. One could i'm agine be saw hun
dreds of men and women in the car.
riages talking, reading, smoking, uncon-
scious that their lives were all in the
hold Of one man whom | now strongly
suspected to be mad. | knew by his
look that he remembered their lives
were in his hand. He glanced at the
clock.
"Twenty miles," he muttered.
"Throw on more coal, Jack, the fire is
going out"
l did. Yes, l did it. There was
something in the face of that man l
could not resist. Then climbed for
ward and shook him by the shoulder.
Markley," l shouted, "you are run
ming this train into the jaws of death :"
Il know it," he replied, quietly.
"Your mother is aboard this train"
Heavens!" He staggered to his
feet, but even then he did not remove
MS eyes from tne guage.
Make up the fire." he commanded,
and push in the throttle valve"
1 will not"
Make up the fire, jack" very
quietly.
81 will not. You may murder your
self and mother, but you shall not MUIR
der me-"
He looked at me. His kindly gray
eyes glared like those of wild beast
Bat he controlled himself 10 a moment
81 could throw you off this engine
and make short work of YOU" he said.
"But look here, do you sac the station
yonder?"
saw faint streak against the sky
aRout five miles ahead.
g. was told to reach that station by
six O'clock" he continued. "The eX-
press train meeting us is due now. |
ought to have laid by for il at Dunn
IRENE. l was told to come on. The
track is a single one. Unless | can
make the siding at the station in three
minutes, we shall meet it in yonder
hollow"
Somebody's blunder?" 1 said.
Yes, think So"
said nothing. l threw on coal; if
had had petroleum 1 should have
thrown it on. But 1 never was calmer
in my life. When death actually stares
man in the face it often frightens
him into the most perfect composure.
Marley pushed the valve still further.
The engine began to give a strange,
painting sound. Far off to the south l
could see the bituminous black smoke
of a train. l looked at Markley in
quiiiugly. He NODDED. 1t was the
express! l stopped to the fire.
No MORE" he said.
| looked across the clear summer
sky at the gray smoke of the p aceful
little village, and beyond that of b ack
line coming closer, closer across the
sky. Then turned to the watch. In
one minute more-well, | confess l sat
down and buried my face in my hands.
don't think | tried to pray. l had a
confused thought of mangled, dying
men and women, mothers and their
babies. There was terrible shrie k
from the engine against which | leaned
Another in my face. A hot, Kissing
tempest swept past me. l looked up.
We were on the siding, and the ex-
press had gone by. 1t grazsd our end
carriage in passing. In a sort of de-
lirious joy | sprang up and shouted to
Marley. He did not speak. He sat
there immovAb!e and cold as stone. |
went to the train, and brought his
mother to him, and when he opened
his eyes and took the cd lady's hand
in his, l turned away.
Yes, gentlemen, | have been in many
railway accident, but have always
considered that the closest shave | ever
| had.
" What was the blunder?"
don't know. Markley made light
it of it ever afterward, and kept it a
secret, but no man on the line stood so
high in the confidence of The company
after that as he. By his GOODNESS and
nerve he saved hundred lives.-Er.
chance.