The state herald. (Holyoke, Logan County, Colo.) 1887-1921, 1892-12-02
THE WOMAN IN BLACK.

Travelling recently from Chicago to
New York. | found In tho morning
upon crawling out OF my berth that
the train was standing stock still.
The porter told me that 1t had been
standing thus for an hour and a hall.
while had been sleeping the sleep oil
the just
| Freight train done wopsed up on
do track ahead" said the porter. Il
reckon we dom get out o hero unud
der hour or twon
dressed and peeped out and saw
VIC were alongside the platform OF a
country station. l took good
breakfast In the dining car and then
wont out 10 stroll up and down tho
platform.
Presently went to the locomotive
and stopped to admire it. There is
nothing much better to look at for
that matter than the locomotive OF
ono OF these through express trains
on the great trunk lines How 1t
throbs as 1t stands straining with
pent-up power as II impatient TO leap
away ut fearful speed!
This one was Kissing Gercely. while
the measured thud OF tho mir pump
sounded as II 1t might be the regular
breathing of sleeping giant
In the cab sat the engineer alone
waiting stopped and gossiped with
4 him moment about the engine.
Then offered HIM cigar which he
took with thanks and asked mo to
come in. swung myself into his
cab
Inc engineer-a bright. pleasant
laced man about forty years old
explained to me tho uses OF the
numerous valves and levers about
him. They were all us bright and
shining as polish could make them,
Tor tho engineer is Us proud OF his
engine as any housewife is OF the neat-
ness OF her dwelling. l glanced at
inc two shining steam gauges with
tho clock between them. and then ]
noticed what seemed to be an ordi
nary white moth mounted In n gilt
franc. hanging against the wall Of
the cab.
is that for ornamcntan asked,
pointing ut the moth.
The engineer smiled. well, pnrt.
iy FOR ornament he said. but good
deal moro for sentiment I put that
moth there because II saved my lie
and the lives OF two hundred and fifty
people rs we'll"
How In tho world could an insect
save human lives?" asked.
| sMnll I'll toll vn,, IL sos, ,.,un, o..
near The story. l reckon there's time
enough before wei re able to get out OF
this"
! settled myself in tho absent fire.
mans seat and prepared TO listen.
1T wasn't such n long time ago :"
SAID tho engineer; only year aga
las. spring. was running this yer,
ru'n. and had this very engine -oiJ
NV. My fireman was Jim Meade .
same fellow I've got now. You can
see him over there leaning up against
the telegraph Office.
Jim is good boy. but no is very
snperstitious; believes In ghostA
dreams and warnings l used TO
laugh Mt his fnncies. but don't make
us much fun OF him rs didn't
since we saw tho woman In black
ave were scheduled to leave Nj.
about ono o clock In the morning AMI
10 arrive In Sat about six. Ga
the night whom this thing took plac,
n fearful storm OF wind and rain had
been raging since early evening and
was Mt the height OF It's fury when /
started FOR the round house
1t was about midnight and the
wind seemed 10 sweep clear around
and through the building II was
terribly dismal. Jim was there and
the engine was all ready so. alter
getting my working clothes on. ] ran
tho machine down TO the station.
Cur train. tho vestibulcd limited. was
mn hour late. gave tho engine n
ororgh olling md made sure that
all was In order
AS we sat In tho cab We could
henr the storm raging outside, while
the rain dri' on by tho gusts OF wind
boat hercely against the windows
-" Its going to he bad run Frank :
Jim said. 4 wish was In s.
safe and sound
u laughed. What makes you so
terribly glum jim nsked2
" oh said he, ! Just feel creepy
somehow. Seem, like ,hers's some
thing terrible going TO happen. !
can feel II In my bones
Il laughed agnln You got III.
IL, wet coming over guess jim
snld ]. Aud tho sound OF tho wind
I'm, very encouraging. that's fact
10 Tell tho truth was little
nervous myself Notwithstanding my
an-y wny 81 treating Jim's notions
Presently our train came In. long
and heavy. consisting mainly 0f
slcepcrs II used to make mo nc..
vous 10 know that tho lives OF hun.
dreds OF my fellow mon wero In my
keeping but now think nothing OF
IT, That night was nervous Whit
II tho frightful storm had made II
swi,chman careless. or II rail Ind
been loosoncd by tho settling OF tho
track somewhere? On these fast
trans man must rely on the Wig.
ilanco OF tho cmplo 'cs; for. In order
10 make schedule time. no must run
nj such n speed that often no cannot
500 signal before he Is upon H.
but ] laughed Mt myself for my
fears Ms j bnescd down md coupled
| nt n thu t,.uie I ..t th. h.,.l.. u.I