The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-25
HIS BROTHER
MARRIED HER.
From the Baltimore Ne.ss.

was the elder, and after the death of theiI
father he became head of the family though
only "a years of age. Frank had just left
college, where he was leader OF very gay
set, and his frivolous ways gave his quiet
brother some concern for his future. He had
no fondness for work and was inclined &c
pass his evenings smoking and drinking
around the hotels and barrooms down
town, whereas with John a very little dissi-
patton went long way.
Soon after their fathers death came the
astounding discovery that his property was
mortgaged to its full value. Johns income
was barely enough for his own needs, and
the necessity for securing some other and
moro profitable employment forced itself
unpleAsantly upon bis mind. He was en-
gagged IN the construction shops Of q large
railroad, where be had gone to learn loco
motive building. Thoroughly practical he
also studied the operation of locomotives,
and could serve either as fireman or en-
gineer.
So it occurred to him that he might Sc
cure employment in running an engine,
which would pay him at least twice as
much as he earned in the shops. Having
decided he set to work, passed an examipa-
ton and, fortunately, was quickly advanced
from = freight to a passenger locomotive,
and finally to one of the big express en-
giDes.
Frank sneered at him for the step he took.
considering that John demeaned himself by
choosing So humble au occupation
But Franks less noble nature did not al
low him to realize the responsibility
of the care OF his mother and his
sister, which also rested upon his
shoulders He continued his idle course
and drank even more than usual sup
plying himself with the money from time
totime by sketching for one Of the local
newspapers or by writing an occasional
article John did not attempt to recall him
TO sense of duty. but only reproved him
now and then for his dissipsted ways.
But this is enough by way of introduc-
zion. Now for the story.
No. S54 was JOINTS engine She looked
like a race horse with the long, thin spokes
OF her high drivers, and when John was In
the saddle she kept up her record for great
speed. She was set so high that you could
walk erect under her boiler and she had q
stumpy little smokestack to let her through
the tunnels and under bridges without
scraping.
Christmas eve came and John thought
sadly of the morrow. Frank showed no
determination co mend his ways in spite OF
frequent promises, and that evening John
knew he had an. agreement 20 go with a
party OF wild fellows to a road house near
all night John knew, and he thought of the
possibility OF result which might bring
sadness deep and long to their home.
FRANKS companions were reckless lot and
after a drinking bout would sometimes
fight. Perhaps Frank might be killed
These thoughts sped through Johns mind
while he was examining and oiling his big
engine at the end Of his run farthest from
home, preparatory to the 100-mlle ride back
again. He climbed into the cab sadly and
felt little in the humor for a hard run
against time, as he knew this was going to
be. Snow was falling. 1t was a model
Christmas eve from an artists point of
view, but TO a locomotive engineer who was
anxious TO get home early 1t was forbidding.
ShriL blew the air whistle in the cab as
the conductor pulled the cord and John
drew the throttle
"Ough-ough-oug h-ough- ough-ough
-ough-ough-ough," pulled No. S54,
throwing great clouds Of smoke from her
stack as she got under way, and her big
wheels revolved steadily faster and faster,
until the lights Of the city on the bank of
the river we're bsing left behind at the rate
or 80 miles an hour.
The tracks ahead were all white except
the four ribbons of steel which stretched
away into the frosty darkness, their upper
surfaces gllstenIng in the glare Of the head
light. The train plunged over the bridges
and through the tunnels, which seemed as
II they were pulled over the cars, instead of
the latter running through them.
John was hoping for quick run home. If
all went well he would be with his mother
and sister by 10 O'Clock, and he trusted that
he might keep Frank from the proposed
midnight carouse. The big engine rolled
along faster and faster through the country,
and the first stop, IA miles out, was reached
in fifteen minutes. Only momentary halt
was made and S54 was off again.
The next stop was little distance ahead,
and John wanted to keep his schedule
closely. A mile out he was stopped three
minutes by block signal, and then he went
on. He rose to his feet as he opened the
throttle and peered through the frosty glass
at the line ahead. His engine was soon
bounding along mile in fifty seconds. The
lost time would soon be made up. Five
miles we're done in this manner when
Bang! Bangl Bangw
Three torpedoes exploded under the
wheels, ana he saw red light close down
to the ground some distance ahead.
Drawing the rein on his huge steed John
stopped his mad flight hundred feet in
the rear of q wrecked freight train. The
cars were broken and scattered blocking
both tracks. A glance at the debris assured
him that it would be hours before he could
proceed, so as best he could he recpnciled
himself to the delay.
The passengers began to get out of the
express. They came ahead and asked all
sorts of questions. some Of them very fool
ish; got In everybody's way, and seemed
glad to see a railroad stnash-up by way of
novelty. The wreckiEg train came up and
gang of men set to work pulling the
wreckage apart and tumbling it over the
side of the railroad embankment into
meadow. A dead tramp was found between
two cars, where he had been stealing ride.
lie was young fellow, with the marks Of
vice ana crime upon a not Unlocking face.
1t made John feel sick and hopeless as he
thought Of Frank, and that such a fate
might be his brothers lot.
The big engineer turned away, wiping
tear from his eyes while the passengers
were not looking, went back and climbed
up into the cab 1t. was a warm. deep
shadow up there the only light being from
the little shaded lamp which illuminated the
faces of the clock and gauges. The air.
brake pump worked with its thug -thugW
like the breathing of some big animal
asleep. Sometimes it appeared to. John as
II the locomotive was almost alive and he
thought of the sound of the pump as its
breathing.
II was long wait. but at last, in the
middle of the night, the track was cleared
and No. 1854 proceeded. There was no neces-