The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-10-10

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"You say the train does not return
till the morning?' taid the doctor
rather impatiently. "why, then, did
you call me at this time of night?
What do you expect me to do in the
meantime?"
''Come with me, doctor J" cried
Mattern, great beads OF perspiration
starting out on his forehead. "You
can save my child il you only will.
At the station stands my locomotive
under steam; il you will come with
me | will take you to my home in an
hours time, and my boy will be
saved"
"Are you mad2 Now, at the dead
OF night, when everyone is asleep,
without signals OF information of any
kind at the stations to be passed, you
intend to run your locomotive for
twenty-five miles! Why, man, at the
first intermediate station we should
jump the track because the switches
would be turned wrong"
"1ndeed. doctor, there is no dan
ger, believe me. At all of the stations
the switches will be turned for the
train that is to leave first in the morn
ing, and ns that is mine, you need
have no fear about coming with me. "
"But the crossings are not closed,
and as no one expects train at this
time, we might be the cause of great
deal of harm to passing teams" "
"No, no, | know USery inch OF the
ground, aud shall exercise the great
est care when we como 60 the cross.
ings. 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. y
"What do care for that il | could
only save my child? You can do this
for me il you only will. On my knees
| beg of you to come with mel Oh,
have pity on mel'
The doctor yielded.
Like some wild spirit of the night
the solitary engine sped through the
stormy darkness. Mattern had not
awakened his fireman for the reason
that no 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 quicker motion, and they were soon
dying along at fearful speed, which
was only lessened as they passed the
first station, which they did without
accident, rs the switches were tirned
in the right direction.
The doctor sat down in corner and
tried to finish his broken nap, aud
Mattern divided his attention between
keeping up the fire and regulating the
speed OF the engine. Had DIR. Sardo
any idea of the danger he was in he
would not have thought of going to
sleep.
The last station was passed in safety.
There were only seven miles more TO
make. aud they would be at their des-
tination.
Wfae bending down to his work
Ma, N suddenly felt the engine give
4. IA, 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 rail
road crossing. The next woment they
were again flying along in the dark
ness aud storm.
"What was that?" asked the doctor,
who had been reused out of his sleep.
ooh, nothing-very likely stone
or other substance that became fast
between the rails" answered Mattern,
with choking breath. Sin n few
minutes we shall be there"
He slackenel the speed of the en-
gine, but he did it mechanically, as if
in dream. That fearful cry almost
made his heart stand still.
He could well imagine what had hap
pened. Some cart or wagon must
have been crossing at the time his en-
gne came tearing along in the dark
ness like some spirit of evil, and no
doubt he was the cause of terrible
calamity; If not, what was the mean
ing Of that sudden jerk, followed by n
heartrendlng cry? There was the
station. Mattern could only SEQ dimly
through the darkness. but knew the
shape of the building too well to be
mistaken. He stopped the engine and
took the path TO his home, followed
by the doctor.
Through the window on the second
floor he could see light shining. Very
likely it was there his child was lying,
wrestling with death and to save this
child he had perhaps killed and
wouuded-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
rattliug breath. In his ears sounded
again the awful cry that he had heard
short time before. His nerves, that
for hours he had kept under control,
gave way, now that he had reached his