Los Angeles herald., 1892-12-25
A WICKED THOUGHT.
DID IT MAKE A CRIMINAL OF HIS
NEWBORN CHILD?


An Impressive Story Told by Veteran
Engineer of an Eventful Midnight Run.
A Fateful Telegram and the Feeling 1t
Aroused I'm the Man.
A group of locomotive engineers sat
around table in pleasant and secluded
St. Paul resort few evenings since quietly
slipping beer from the large stone mugs
that have become so popular in recent
years and related some of their peculiar
experiences when in charge of the throttles
of the great iron monsters traversing the
region between here and the coast. Some
of the tales were exciting. Some of them
weird and ghostly, and occasionally a
bright little episode crept into the conver-
sation. Finally tall, fine looking engi-
neer, whose countenance betrayed the bat
tie of perhaps fifty years or more, removed
his unlighted cigar stump from his mouth
and related story that produced a pro-
found impression on all who were seated
about that primitive German banquet
board.
II was running No. on western rail
road twenty years ago." he said, when
something happened that has kept me
guessing ever since. You fellows may not
believe it, but it is the solemn truth as
sure as l am q foot high. l had been lay
ing off for a week on account of the illness
of my wife, and did not take my run until
satisfied that she was doing we'll and had
the assurance of the doctor to that effect
The night left was feeling rather de-
pressed in spirits, and somehow was not a
bit surprised when fifty miles out the con-
ductor handed me a telegram from my
little girl which read Come back. Nam
ma is worse. She needs you.' Hastily
replied: Send me word of her actual con-
dition at c.. Don't delay. If absolute
ly necessary for me to return will do so.'
well, all the way to C-I was in an
agony of suspense. found no telegram,
and somehow felt relieved ON the idea that
no news was good news But could not
shake off that feeling of depression, and it
seemed to intensity. looked in my pocket
for that telegram in order to see if 1 had
read it correctly. I couldn't find it. 1t
was gone, and the fact worried and nettled
me good deal. 1 soon forgot it, however,
in attending to my work. The night was
clear, and we were running at good rate
of speed sat in the cab looking ahead
and half in a dream.
Suddenly something shot across the
track like flash of lightning. What it
was never did know, but instantly my
thoughts went back to the telegram and
my sick wife at home. Whether that OBJ
ject that crossed the track was responsible
or not, don't know, but all at once grew
nervous and shaky. The fireman noticed
it and asked me what the matter was, but
put him aside with some evasive answer
All the while he kept looking at me, how
ever, and it finally worked me up to such
pitch that turned on him and cried, above
the roar of the train, Keep your eyes off
me or I'll kill your He shrank back half
frightened, and told me afterward that
was temporarily insane at that time.
81 looked out. We were going at a
frightful rate of speed Unconsciously
had pulled the lever out farther and in
creased the speed of the train to about sixty
miles an hour ahead of schedule. An in
slant later the bell rang and l revers 81
the lever. The train came to stand.
still The conductor came forward with
a white face and inquired, For Gods
sake, Joe. what's the matter with youp
A little while longer and we would
have plunged into the west bound train. 7
We ran little ahead to side track, and
within minute No. thundered past. 1t
was a narrow escape, and / closed my eyes
when thinking what might have been. l
got down with the oil can and walked to
the side of the engine.
when about to fill the cups | noticed a
piece of paper futtering on one of the
wheels. | reached out, took hold of it, and
was about to crumple and throw it away,
but something arrested my attention and
l opened it up. l turned perfectly white
when | saw it was addressed to me and
read: Come back. Mamma is worse She
needs you.' 1t was the last straw. NY
feelings made me weak as a child, and
when | clambered into the cabagain it was
with difficulty that was able to start the
engine. WE'LL to make a long story Short
| called the conductor and told hin, /
would go as far as the next station. l re-
lated the circumstances, and instead of
laughing he only looked grave and said
nothing.
"At the stop, to my surprise, he came for
ward and said: Joe, you had better stop
here and take No 6 back. telegraphed
for man to finish the rum Dazed, and
hardly knowing what I did, waited one
hour for No. 6, and almost before knew
it l had reached home. Almost running,
hurried to the house. 1t was nearly MORN
ing, but lights flashed before my eyes as
came up. Everything seemed astir.
staggered against the gatepost, for was
weak with nervous dread. Finally, mus
tering all my courage, l opened the door
and went in."
The silence was oppressive, when Joe
stopped and gulped down his beer. Every
body around the table waited eagerly for
the continuation of the story Deliber-
ately wiping his mouth Joe continued:
What did l find when went in? you
are ali asking yourselves Well, not what
you expected. My wife was not dead, but
had just given birth to as handsome a lit
tie fellow as you ever laid eyes on. My,
but was proud, and stopped down and
kissed them both with more emotion than
had shown in years. Well, am not as
happy now as was then. When the boy
grew up he exhibited tendencies of wild
ness. When nineteen years of age he ran
away. | have never seen him since. I
never can see him again"
"Oh, you don't know; he will come back
again some day." said one.
Never" said old Joe almost fiercely; che
can't"
"Why not?" asked one little more nervy
than the rest.
Because" replied the old man sadly,
"he was hanged in Montana three months
ago for horse stealing knew something
u e. H.