The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1895-05-01

Chalmers and return within twenty
minutes"
We walked into the great temporary
shed where the new and beautiful en-
gine stood, ready to run off at the
| command of its master.
81 dare not be so long absent from
my post at this hour, Mark"
"Pooh, man, there's no danger.
You must go with me-"
"But 1 cannot, Mark"
He put his lantern on the ground
and then sprang erect.
"You shall, Morg Grenoblel" he
| cried, and before could answer him,
he dashed me to the earth and planted
his knees on my breast.
"Not a word out of you, Morg," he
said, fierc ely, producing rope. 'Tll
tell you what I'm going to do. You
know we were discussing the conse-
quence attending the rush of mad
dened engine down the grade. reck-
| on L won't go TO Chalmers, but will
send you clear to the bottom of the
grade"
Mark Moore, you are mad, said.
"Would you murder me in cold blood
and Others who are coming up on the
IL. 10 passenger?"
"Yes," he said coldly.
1 might have resisted, but resistance
would have availed me nothing, for 1
was constitutional!y weak while he was
lion.
"Now for the ride to death" he
cried, lifting me up and bearing me
into the little engine room.
Again 1 pleaded for mercy; but as
well might 1 have pleaded to stone,
for he met my prayers with taunts.
"What will it profit you, Mark" I
asked, 'to wreak your vengeance on
me? The hounds of justice will run
you to earth, and you will suffer for
your crime"
"What care r."
"There!" he slid, at last, Us he
closed the furnace door. Everything
is ready for your ride. You'll go
right through Stockton; but reckon
you won't have time to stop to speak
to loving Liura. Goodby, Morg;
write when you get to the foot of the
grade"
The engine was moving and he leap
ed off.
"May heaven have mercy on your
soul, Mark Moorel" l shouted after
him.
The grade between Wayburg and
Chalmers was quite steep, and before
1 reached the little town the speed of
the Red Bird and its tender seemed to
rival that of the telegraph.
The towns, with their glimmering
lights, appeared and were gone in a
fash
The manner In which / was bound
permitted me to look out of the win
dow
did so, and Stockton, the home of
my wife, greeted me with its many
lights.
Ahead, 1 saw many people waiting
for the IL. 10 passenger.
The next moment was carried past
them.
1 saw their astonished faces, and
heard piercing shrek.
1 recognized the voice as my wife's.
There was one hope for me-just
one.
Perhaps the operator at Stockton
had telegraphed down the grade, and,
thus warned, the coming train would
switch, and save its passengers from
death.
Looking out, I saw far ahead the
glaring headlight of the southern
train.
To me it looked as though it stood
on my track. Evidently the train had
not been warned.
Suddenly heard man shout,
''Stand back |" and then. crash all
was dark
els he injured much?" somebody
asked.
Sympathizing faces bent over me,
aud surgeon was examining my
wounds.
The ties stopped the engine" saic
the surgeon. ''We received tele
gram from Stockton, informing us
that the new engine was rushing dowr
the grade. The southern train was
switched off upon it's arrival here, and
we set to work to pile innumerable tie'
| - 4