The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1893-04-05

rau "a follows:
"From Austin too Nv. g., Oelwein.
Number -Four Night Limited went
down at Big Stowe Bridge. Fifth
aud Aixtli trestc washed out. Seven
ty-iivc killed. ''k. C.'
read aud rcrcad this till my own
writing looked strange TO me as II lay
on the desk. aud then glanced at the
clock. 1t was a quarter to one. Num-
Der -Four was due at WcstSaic at half
past two. So the message was scntan
hour aud a quarter before the train
woud reach the place of the wreck!
At that minute the piercing whistle
Of locomotive broke upon the night
air glanced at the window anG saw
the rcd light of an approaching train
somc fifty yards away. Throwing on
my coat aud picking up my lantern,
madc my way to the platform, saying
aloud:
"Thc bridge was all right last
nighL 1t is surely all right now"
| stood long time waiting for the
train TO pass by. Numbcr--l.imi-
ted stopped at Westgate, but it came
no near aud it made no sound. Then
| saw that it was going at full speed
through country with which was
not familiar. The faithful engineer
stood iu his cab, with his hand OF the
throttle. guiding through the darkness
the human freight TINT was trusted TO
him for safe delivery; and the fire.
num. in the shadow, looked out with
a paIid face. They crossed streams
and halted at stations; the bell rang
aud the whistle echoed, but there was
no rumble of wheels.
BY aud by began TO recognize the
stations as they came to thcm. There
wa, the New Hampton depot, with the
passengers crowiing about the steps,
and friends meeting and parting ut the
door of the ear. The conductor
walked out with his traiu-ortcrs in lis
hand The maii-pouclc, were cN-
changed. aud the phantom train went
Oh again.
Next came Fredericksburg, then
Summer, and thcn--O terrible fatc!-
could hear the humming roar and
the pantiuo of the eng inc; | could see
the turbulent waters of the Big Stowe
lashing the approaches of the long
bridge. Tho train was slowing up to
cross it. | held my breath. 1t was
ia the center of the great structure.
The engineer was calling for brakes.
could hear the escaping steam; and
the next instant it had plunged head
long into the black, scclhinS mass OF
water bcncath!
dropped on my knees and gave,
not Il scream, but the widest yell that
ever came from mortal lips. A mo-
mcnt later, | was fully awake, lying
on the Office floor. where had fallen
during my nightmare.
Some limo elapsed before | could
determine That it was all II dream.
turned up my lamps, examined tn
little instrument that had clicked OF
the warning message, looked for
copy of it on my desk, and at last re-
solved that, rs | had ample tim', |
would go out to Stowe and examine
the bridge before Number -Four wa
due. IT everything was right, no on'
on the trip need ever know of my
dream.
1t was but the work of II momcn
to ret out my tricy Gle and light up th'
hcam- lamp, and | was soon whirlin.
away toward to the river. The storn
had passed, leaving II bank of copper
: colored clouds in tile east and Tia,
moon shining dimly in the far wcs'
AS | drew nearer the hoarse voic
of the Big Stowe became roar, an'
found the track covered with wafer
The tricycle. had TO be abandoned, an'
continued my way on foot lhrougI
still deeper waters till l reached tn
! bridge. passed easily over the frs
| four treaties, aud was angry TO fin,
that | had such faith in the mysteriou
message that was expecting DANCE
5 ia the itlh aud sixth. When stoppe
= aud swung my lantern out ahead o
4 me, its CLEAN, aided by the moon
I light. showed me thiriy-iwo feet o
! raii vibrating TO aud fro over yawu
i ing chasm, where the mad water