The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1896-03-07
A DESPERATE RIDE,


Engineer Mattern kissed his wife,
leaped to his engine, and with a
shrill whistle the train slowly began
to move. The village it was leaving
consisted of a few struggling houses,
the homes of the railroad men, and
the road itself was used principally
for the transportation of cattle and
freight, for but few travellers passed
through this wild region
The distance to Delmane, to which
place they were bound, was a mat
ter of about 25 miles, and Mattern
arrived there i'll three hours, in
spite of the darkness and disagree
able weather. In the early evening
strong wind had arisen, and till
midnight perfect hurricane ragged.
AS soon as the train arrived at Del
name the bells gave the signal which
told the employees all along the line
that they could seek their rest, as
there were no night trains running
on that road.
Mattern rested for little while
and then looked after the work he
had been given to do, which ocou-
pied him until about II O'Clock.
Leaving the engine standing with a
low fire, as he was to return to the
village in six hours, he gave the FIRE
man permission to go to the engine
house and get little sleep. He him
self concluded to seek a restaurant
that he had noticed was still lighted
up, where, perhaps, he would find
congenial company. AS he was free
the next day he could sleep then as
long as he pleased.
When he came to the station plat
form, he met the trainmaster S as
sistant, Mr.. Roy, who said to him:
"You have just arrived in time I
was going to send some one to hunt
you up. There is a telegram here for
you"
"a telegram for me?" asked Mat
tern, looking surprised.
Eyes. Just come into tho waiting
room"
In moment Mattern held the
dispatch in his trembling hands.
Especial! The train master at
Delmane will please inform Engineer
Mattern that his child is seriously
i'll with diphtheria. DR.. Loden is
absent on journey and other help
not to be had. Ask Mattern to bring
physician from Delmane with him
when he returns early in the MORN
ing
my child-my poor little Char
liem groaned the father.
"There is nothing you can do but
wait and hope for the best" said
Mr.. Roy philosophically. Lie down
and try to sleep for few hours. /
shall have to lock up and leave you.
Good night! hope everything will
turn out all right And with that
he went away.
Out in the darkness stood Mattern.
The storm ragged, and the rain beat
in his face. Half past II! Was his
boy living yet? Would medical help
be of any avail the next morning?
Full we'll did he know the dangerous
character of the illness against
which science has not yet found
remedy. Only by quick and prompt
attention can danger be averted
After a few minutes of deep
thought he suddenly turned and
fairly ran to the house of DR.. Sardo
and rang the bell. The doctor ap-
peared at an open window above
and asked the name of his caller.
Engineer Mattern, was tho an
swer. my child has diphtheria and
is in great danger"
DR.. Sardo threw the door key out
of the window, saying:
"Open the door and come up. In
the meantime I will dress myself. "
Mattern felt around in the dark
ness for the keyhole, and a few
moments later stood before the doc
tor, young man, who was compar-
atively new in the profession.
"Give me description of your
child's condition, so that l can take
the necessary remedies with me. In
diphtheria cases one must use all
possible dispatch. You live here in
town."
mo, DOCTOR" answered Mattern,
and with hurried breath he told his
story.
"You say that the train does not
return till the morning." said 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 mo. doctor!' cried
Mattern, great beads of perspiration
starting out on his forehead You
can save my child ii you only will.
Out at the station stands my loco
motive, under steam. If you will
come with me, will take you to my
home in an hour time, and my boy
will be saved"
Are you mad? Now, at dead of
night, when every one is asleep,
without signals or information of