The Washington times., 1894-11-11

He tells me that TWO short blasts in the whis-
tie code mean go ahead. and three, back. He
looks out along the line and by the land
marks-now a cut, now a bit of woodland,
now tall tree-tels just where we are.
TO HOLD UP THE TRAIN.
We are passing dark and lonely bit of
road. 1t occurs to me that it would be the
easiest thing in the world to hold up the train.
With revolver in each hand, one person
could capture both fireman and engineer.
Were you ever held up?n asked the
engineer.
NO, was the answer, "but it would be
easy enough to do. I should stop the train
at any signal-a lantern or torch waved
across the track, for I couldn't afford to take
the risk of an accident. I'd be at the mercy
OF any man with revolver, for am not
armed. Neither is the fireman. In fact, not
a man of the trans crew carries a gun. l
don't know how easy it would be to go
through the train, but two men could have
things all their own way in this engine. You
see can't see far enough ahead to tell what
sort of a person it is who signals me. and
l have orders to stop when signaled'
DO you believe in haunted engines?" ask
The engineer, who, like ali passenger en-
gineers, is man of a great deal Of intel
ligence and common sense, laughs.
INC" " he says, II don't. Some people say
engineers are haunted, but don't think they
are. Engines have moods, though Some
times a new engine will make good time on
her trial ip, and then when you'd naturally
expect her to do even better, she sulks and
won't make near the time. Temper, some
people cali it. but suppose it is really some
fault of construction
We pound along for while without speak
ing, the engine fairly jumping Then the
engineer says:
"The worst thing man has in this business
is running over people. I've killed a number
of people in my time. l tell you it's awful.
1t takes all the nerve out OF man and makes
him sick ran over woman once. 1t was
on a bridge. She hadn't taken more than
half dozen steps on the bridge when We
struck her. l rang the bell and whistled, but
she was watching train on the other track.
We threw her into the river, but think the
engine killed her.
l shuddered, but the engineer went on.
RAN OVER LITTLE CHILD.
"She was drunk. 1t isn't go bad to run
over grown folks Common sense ought TO
teach them to keep out of the way. But once,
not long ago, one day ran ever little child.
He was playing on the track, and 1 didn't see
him till we came around the curve right onto
him. 1 whistled, but he just looked at the
engine and stood still. He was looking
straight at me when l struck him. He was a
little fellow, and he looked just like my little
boy at home It's things like that that break
q man down"
Just there we catch sight of band of light
way off to the right. "Thats Washington. -
says the engineer, drawing the back of his
hand across his eyes. l am glad enough not
to have to look at the track ahead, where
every second l expected to see the tiny figure
of child at play.
The city lies in q hazy cloud of light, and ]
think of the lines
"sees in heaven the lights of London
"Flaring like a dreary dawn"
The lights grow more distinct, forming
themselves into regular lines. All at once
they are reflected in water. On we roar
seeming to be going straight into the water
but just as we about to plunge in peril
ously narrow bridge appears. 1t seems too
frail to hold all that heavy train, for we are
pulling two coaches, a parlor car, sleeper,
dining car, and combination baggage and
smoking car. However. 1t does hold US up,
and in another minute we are running slowly
through Washington. I am ringing the
bell, and now can hear it, and the engineer
tells me that old railroad men know tie diff
ferent engines 6y the sound of the bell.
BROUGHT TO A sTANDsTILL.
The darkness is alive with lights-greer
lights on the ends Of freight trains, rec
lights, white lights, and as we get down init
the city the street lamps swing past mo
ment more and the engineers hand, will
| nias bssids it TO helR. has brought the trail