The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1895-11-19

story.
"You say the train does not return
TIL the morning." said the doctor
rather lmpatiently. "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!'' erie
Mattern, greut beads of PRECIPITATION
starting out on his forehead. "You
can save my child if you only will.
AT the station stands my locomotive
under steam; if you will come with
me L will take you to my homo in an
hours time, and my boy will be
saved
"Are you mad? Now, at the dead
OF night, when everyone is asleep,
without signals or Information of any
KIND ut the stations to be passed. yon
intend to run your locomotive for
twenty-five miles Why, man, at the
1lrst intermediate station we should
Jump the track because the switches
would be turned wrong"
Indeed, 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 rs that is mine, you need
have no fear about coming with me.
But the crossings are not closed,
and as no one expects train Mt this
time, we might be the cause OF great
deal of harm to passing teams"
"No, no, | know every inch of the
ground, and shall exercise the great
est care when we come t. the cross.
inSs. Aud 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
1 beg of you to come with mel Oh,
have pity on me |"
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 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 quicker motion, and they were soon
lying along Mt fearful speed, which
was only lessened as they passed the
first station, which they did without
accident, rs the switches were turned
in the right direction.
The doctor sat down in corner and
tried to finish his broken nap, and
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. and they would be at their des-
tinatIon.
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 rail
road crossing. The next woment they
were again flying along in the dark
ness aud storm.
"Wbat was that?" asked the doctor,
who had been reused out of his. sleep.
"Oh, 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 slackened the speed of the en-
CINE, but he did it mechanically, as if
in a 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-
CINE came tearing along in the dark
ness like some spirit of evil, and no
doubt he was the cause of terrible
1lamlty; If not, what was the mean
,ng OF that sudden jerk, followed by
heurtrending cry? There was the
station. Mattern could only see dimly
through the darkness, but knew the
shape of the building too well to be
mistaken. lie stopped the engine and
took the path to his home, followed
by the doctor.
Through the window on the second
floor Inc 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 and
wounded-how many others?
He groanol aloud Slowly he
dragged his weary feet mp the stairs.
Ills wife opened tho door at his
knock
HIS boy was still living. NIattern
saw his nshcn face aud heard his
rettiing breath. Ia his cars sounded
again the awful cry that ho had hoard
u short time before. His nerves, that
for hours ho hal kept under control.
gtyo way, now that he had reached his
destination, aud he fell 10 the floor in
sensible.
1t was late tho next morning whom
the engineer regaucd consciousness.
although ho could not yet collect his
thoughts very clearly IN racking head.
ache prevented this. His limbs
seemed immovnblo and heavy as load.
In tho room in which ho found him
self, and which ho recognized rs their
living room, dcathllko stllnags
rwgued. Hc trio To- liu his head.
but in vain; nc fell back or tho pillow
with grocn. His wife heard him