Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-10-18
the meantime | will dress myself

doctor, young man, who was
comparatively new in the pro-
fesslOn.
Give me a description of your
chIid's condition, so that [ can
take the necessary remedies with
me; in diptheria cases one must
use all possible despatch. You
live here in town.
No, DOCTOR aswered MatterD;
and with hurried breath be told his
story.
You say the train does not re.
turn till the mOrningF said the
doctor rather impatiently. why,
then, did you call me at this time
OF night7 What do you expect me
to do in the meantlmeP
Come with me, dootorp cried
Mattern, great beads of perspira
tlOn starting out on his forehead.
You can save my child If you only
will. AT the station stands my
locomotive under steam; it you
will come with mo l will take you
to my home IN an hours time, and
my boy will he saved
ARE you msdI Now, at the dead
of night, when everyone is asleep,
without signals or Information Of
any kind at the stations to be
passed, you intend to run your
locomotive for twenty-five miller!
Why, mau, at the nrst inter
mediate 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 morning, and as taat is mine,
you need have no fear about com
ing with me-
But the crOssingsare 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
NO, no, know every inch Of the
ground, and shall exercise the
greatest care when we come to the
crossings. And besides, whe
would be out 10 weather like thisr
But what you propose dong is
against all rules and regulations;
you will lose your position, besides
beng responsible for all that may
happen
what do 1 care for that If |
could only save my child! You can
do this for me If you only will. On
my knees L beg ofyOu to como with
mt! Oh, have pity on mev
The doctor yielded.
Like some wild spirit of the
night the solitary engine sped
through the stormy darkness. Mat.
tern had not awakened his fire.
man for the reason that be did not
wish to create any unnecessary
excitement in the engine house.
When the doctor hid taken his
place Mattern threw a can OF oil
on the fire IN order to put the en-.
CINE in quicker motion, and they
were soon flying along at a fearfnl
speed, which was only lessened as
they passed the first station, which
they did without accident, as the
switches were turned in the right
direction.
The doctor sat down in a corner
and tried to finish his broken nap
and Mattern divided his attention
between keeping up the Ere and
regulating the speed Of the engine.
Had DR.. SArdo any idea uf 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 destination.
While bending down to hts work
Mattern suddenly felt the engine
give jerk. A terrible cry follow
ei. MAttern sprang up aud looked
, about him. By the light OF the
engine he could see that they had
Just passed a railroad crossing.
/ Tne next moment theI were again
flying along in the darkness and
. storm.
. What was thatp asked the doc
. tor, who had been rouSed out OF
J his sleep.
? 'Ob, nothing-yery likely
stone or other substance that be
J. came fast between the rails, an
D swered Mattern, with choking
;. breath. 'In a few minutes VI
. shall be there
He slacksned the speed OF thu
p engine, but he did it mechanically
! as if in a dream. That fearful CT