The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1895-10-09


DO you expect me to do in the mean.
time?"
Come with me, doctor!" cried Mat.
tern, great beads of perspiration start
ing out on his forehead. "You can
save my child if you only will. Out at
the station stands my locomotive under
steam; if you will come with me will
take you to my home in an hours time,
and my boy will be saved"
Are you mad? Now, at the dead OF
| night, when every one is asleep, with
out signals or information of any kind
at the stations to be passed, you in
tend to run your locomotive for twen-
ty-tive miles! Why, man, at the first
intermediate station we should jump
the track because the switches would
be turned wrong"
Indeed, doctor, there is no danger,
believe me- At all of the stations the
switches will be turned Tor the train
that is to leave first in the morning,
and as that is mine, you need have no
fear about coming with me-"
But the crossings are not closed,
and as no one expects a train at this
time, we might be the cause of great
deal OF harm to passing teams"
mo, no, know every inch of the
ground, and shall exercise the greatest
care when we come to the crossings.
And besides who would be out in
weather like this?"
But what you propose doing is
against all rules and regulations; you
will lose your position, besides being
responsible for all that may happen" :"
What do | care for that if | could
only save my child? You can do this
for me if you only will. On my knees
| beg of you to come with me! Oh,
have pity on mc!'
The doctor yielded.
Like some wild spirit of the night
the solitary engine sped through the
stormy darkness. Mattern had not
awakened his frcmarf for the reason
that he did not wish to create any un-
necessary excitement in the engine
house. When the doctor had taken his
place Mattern threw can of oil on the,
fire in order to put the engine in quick
cr notion and they were soon flying
along at fearful speed, which was
only lcssened as they passed the first
station, which they did without acci-
dent, as the switches were turned in
the right direction.
The doctor sat down in q corner and
tried to finish his broken nap, and
Mattcrn' divided his attention between
keeping up the fire and regulating the
speed Of the engine. Had DR.. Sardo
any idea of the danger nc was in he
would not have thought of going to
sleep.
The last station was passed in safe
ty. There were only seven miles moro
to make and they would be at their
destination.
While bending down to his work
Mattern suddenly felt the engine give
jerk. A terrible cry followed. Mat
tern sprang up and looked about him.
BY the light of the engine he could see
that they had just passed a railroad
crossing. The next moment they were
again flying along in the darkness and
storm.
What was that?" asked the doctor,
who had been reused out of his sleep.
"Oh, nothing-vcry likely stone or
other substance that became fast be-
tween the rails" answered Mattern.
with choking breath. "In few min
utes we shall be there"
lie slackened the speed of the en-
gine, but he did it mechanically, as If
in dream That fearful cry almost
made his heart stand still.
lie could we'll imagine what had hap
pened. Some cart or wagon must have
been crossing at the time his engine
came tearing along in the darkness
like some spirit of evil, and no doubt
he was the cause of a terrible calami-
ty; if not, what was the meaning of
that sudden jerk, followed by heart
cry? There was the station.
Mattern could only see dimly through
the darkness, but knew the shape of
the building too we'll to be mistaken.
He stopped the engine and took the
path to his home, followed by the doc
tor.
Through the window on the second
floor he could see a light shining.
Very likely it was there his child was
lying, wrestling with death; and to
save this child he had perhaps killed
md wounded-how many others?
He groaned aloud. Slowly he dragged
his weary feet up the stairs, His wife
opened the door at his knock
His boy was still. living Mattern
saw his ashen face and heard his
rafting breath. In his ears sounded
again the awful cry that he had heard
before. His nerves, that for hours he
mad kept under control, gave way now,
that he had reached his destination,
md he fell to the floor insensible.
1t was late the next morning when
the engineer regained consciousness,
although he could not yet collect his
thoughts very clearly; racking head,
iche prevented this, His limbs seemed
and heavy as lead. In the
'oom in which he found himself. and
which he recognized rs their room, a
stiffness reigned, lie tried
10 lift his head. but in vain; he fell
back on the pillow with groaR. His
wife heard him and came in, but with
, fana M la tx,;th xuaanit,o
Ruth" he whispered.
'0h, my dear husband, how thank
lul am to see you conscious againl"
she cried
How is the boy? Is he still nlive?"
"oh, yes, thank God! Had you come