The Lamar register., 1895-10-05

He thrust the seSoha iheSsasS Sf "
he spoke.
for half minute.
There was diSnay and utter perpiex-
ity In the expression OF his face as
he looked at the telegram aud the long
train behind him. His lips moved as Y
he were calculating chances, and me-
eyes suddenly quailed as he saw deAth
Mt the end OF the calculation was
watching him with considerable curtos-
ity. / ventured to ask him what was
the matter, and what he was going TO
do.
TIN going to obey" he said, eurtly'
The engine gave a long shrek Of hoF-
ror that made me start hs II II were
Narkleys own voice The next Instant
We Slipped out Of the station and dashed
through iow-lying farms at speed
which seemed dangerous to me
put in more COAL said Markley.
1 shoveled in more. but took time
I'VE are going very fast Markiey.
He aid not answer. His eyes were
fxed on the steam guage. his lips close
shut
More coal he said.
threw It in The fields and houses
began to fiy past half-secu We were
nearing Durreme. the next station
Markley's eyes went from the Euage to
the face Of the time-plece and back
He moved like an automaton. There
was little more meaning in his face
More he said, without turning his
eye.
/ took up the shoyei-hesitated.
.sMarkley. do you know you are going
at the rate OF sixty miles an hourT-'
"Coal!''
/ was alarmed at ths stern. cold rigid
ity OF the man His pAiloF was becoming
frightfui l threw ia the coal Al least
we must stop at DufrcTne. That was
the next halt The little town was ap-
preaching. As the first house came into
view the engine sent its shrisks or warn
ing; 81 grew l0uder-still louder
We dashed over the switches. up TO
the station where group Of passengers
waited. and passed Il without the halt
OF an instant. catching a glimpse Of the
appalled, faces and the waiting crowd,
Then we were In the nelds again The
speed now became literally hreathiess.
the furnace glared red hot The heat
the velocity, the terrible nervous strain
OF the man beside me seemed TO weight
the air. / found myself drawing long.
stertorous breaths. like one drowning
1 heaped in the coal n, Intervals a.
he bade me did u because I was OPP
pressed by an odd sense OF duty which
/ never had In my ordinary brsin-work-
Since then I have understood how Il is
that duh. ignorant men. without a spark
OF enthusiasm. show such heorism as
soldiers. hremen. ard captains Of wreck
ed vessels.
II is this overpowering sense OF
routine duty. It's finer thing than
sheer bravery. in my idea However
began to think that Markiey was mad
--laborfns under some frenzy from
drink. though l had never seen him
touch liquor
He did not move hand or foot. sI-
cept in the mechanical control Of his
engine. his eyes going from the gauge
to the time-p piece with a steadiness that
was more threatening than any CLEAN
OF Insanity would have been Once he
glared back at the long train sweeping
after the engine with headlong speed
that rocked IL from side to side
One could imagine he saw hundred
men and women In the cars, talking
eading, smoking. unconscious that
their lives were all In the hold of one
man. whom | now suspected to be mad
! knew by his look that he remembered
that their lives were in his hand He
glanced at the clock,
Twenty miles he muttered. Throw
on more coal Jack; the hre is going
out.
l did IT Yes. did IT. There was
something In the face Of that man
could not resist Then climbed forward
and shook him roughly by the shoulder
'Markley." l shouted. you are run
ming this train into the jaws Of deathr'
Il know it," he replied, quietly.
Your mother is on board"