Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-03-27
OVER THE WIRES.


and it was with feeling of disgust that l
alighted at the little station of D, where
l must wait five hours for the train to take
me to the city. There was no one in the
station but the station master, and as misery
loves company we were soon on friendly
terms.
AS the evening wore on I occupied my
self in examining the railway maps and in
finishing a novel which purchased that
afternoon on the train. AT about II o'clock
] heard the dull and laborious puff of
freight engine approaching in the distance.
Louder and louder the noise became, until
suddenly with glare from the headlight
the great locomotive thundered by the lit
tie window, and in moment the heavy
train rolled away in the direction from
which had come few hours before.
Silence again fell upon us. Wecontinued
our talk, interspersed now and then with
moments of quietness, broken only by the
frequent clicking of the telegraph instru-
ment on the table under the window. At
last finished my novel and once more sat
idly tossing about my watch charm. The
station master was sitting opposite me, with
his feet on the edge of the telegraph table,
while he carelessly ran over the columns of
newspaper. Twas on the point of making
some remark, when suddenly there came
sharp clicking of the instrument. My COM
panion sprang to the table and answered the
call. Instantly l saw that something un-
usual had happened. AS the little brass
key clicked off the message / saw the sta
tion masters face grow white then livid.
He rose quickly from the chair, placed his
hands over his eyes and almost shouted:
my Godl What have done"
sprang to his side asking him what
was the trouble. He rudely pushed me
away, and with look which l shall never
forget fairly yelled: Don't speak to me!
Don't speak to mel" Then he sank into the
chair with his hands convulsively grasping
the arms. But it was only for moment
Quickly gathering himself, he drew up to
the table, and then followed some of the
most exciting moments that have ever ex-
perienced.
Wondering what it all meant, yet realiz-
ing that something must have occurred in
which he was an important actor, closely
fixed my eyes upon him. No sound save
the spasmodic ticking of the machine and
the heavy breathing of its operator was
audible. He sat bolt upright in his chair,
his left hand on the arm, his right busy
with the key. His eyes were riveted on
the table before him. For minute he was
busy with his message, and then silence.
And what silencel Not muscle moved;
not sound could be heard. Even the
agents breathing had stopped. He watched
his machine with the gaze of lynx. l
stood behind him, my heart throbbing with
anxiety and fear.
AT last after a silence which seemed ages
the machine began to click. watched him
while the message came forth from the
wires Itwas evidently a satisfactory reply,
for he did not appear more agitated. Then
the machine stopped. He rose from his
chair and came toward me. 1t needed no
words to tell me that he had suffered dur
ing those five minutes Great drops of
sweat rolled down his cheeks. His hands
shook through anxiety. Placing them both
on my shoulders, he addressed me thus in a
hurried and impassioned voice:
II don't wonder that you're surprised
Heaven knows that | was awfully fright
ened-but listen. got orders this after
noon to stop the freight train which Just
went by here on our turnout. l was to de
tain it until the Boston express should ar
rive and then allow it to go on but some
how or other / forgot the order, as you
know, and didn't think about it till few
minutes ago.
soon after 1t went heard from B,
two stations above here, saying that the ex
press had just left there for this station.
You see it doesn't stop at A, the one
between here and B. That message re-
minded me of my mistake and now the eX-
press and freight had both been running
toward the same station. If the express
had arrived there first and left before the
freight got there, or they had not received
my message, then-then"-
He paused in his rapid talk and said in
a awful ynipa. ANIbpp thara'1 hnya haaY,
collision, and I'd be to blame, but God
knows that didn't mean to forget to obey
that order" said he impulsively. There
was only one thing to be done-telegraph
to A, telling them to hold over the
train that had arrived there first That ]
did. For five minutes, as you saw, l wait
ed in mortal agony for the answer to that
message. 1t came just now. Said that
neither train had arrived, and that they'd
hold over the one that got there first. So,
thank Godl l was not too late and that
everything is all right"
He sank into a chair and folded his arms
on his breast. Hardly had he done this
when the ticker began again. He read the
message, and then, as the clicking stopped
he bowed his head on his hands and sobbed
aloud. The message was; "Have stopped
express here. Will hold over as directed"
The Boston train reached D half an
hour late by reason of the stop over at A.
Bidding my friend good night, who was
now completely calmed down, l boarded
the sleeper and soon went rolling toward
life and civilization.
Two weeks later l came across country
paper from the vicinity in which my ad
venture with the ticket agent took place,
and / noticed this article.
Much to the surprise of his friends Mr.
John Huss, the popular and trusted station
master of D., last week resigned his po-
sition and has now, we learn, removed to
New York. We wish him much success in
his new quarters Herman Babson in
Amherst Literary Monthly.