The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1896-03-27
miscellaneous.
A DESPERATE RIDE.

The bell sounded for the last time.
! 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 con
sisted OF few oiras CLING 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 Deimane, to which
place they were bound, was matter
of about % miles, and Mattern arrived
there in three hours, in spite of the
darkness and disagreeable weather
In the early evening IL strong wind
had arisea, and till midnight Il perfect
hurricane ragged. As soon us the train
arrived at Delmane 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 IL little while and
then looked after the work he had
been given to do, which occupied 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 fireman permission
| to go TO the engine house and get II
| little sleep. He himself concluded to
seek IL restaurant that he had noticed
was still lighted up, where, perhaps,
| he would find cOngenial company. a.
| he was free the next day he could
| sleep then as long as lie pleased
When he came TO the station plat
form. lie met the trainmaSter ASST
tant, Mr. Roy, who said to him:
You have Just arrived i'll time. |
was going to send some one to hunt
YOU up. There is telegram here for
you"
"A telegram for me?'' asked Matteru,
looking surprised.
Yes. Just come into the waiting
room"
In moment Mattern held the dis
patch in his trembling hands.
Special. The train master at De-
name will please Inform Engineer
Matteru that his child is seriously iii.
with diphtlleria Dr.. L0ieu is absent
on IL Journey and other help 30; to
be had. Ask Mattern to bring PHI, -
stefan from DeiinHne with him When
he returns early in the morning"
my child-my poor little Charlie "
groaned the father.
There is nothing you can DO b..
wait and hope for the BEST" said Mr.
Roy philosophicalIy. Lie down AM
try to sleep for Il few hours. | shall
have TO lock up and leave you. Goo!
night | hope everything will turn
out all right" And with that he
went away.
Out in the darkness stood MatterE
The storm ragged, and the rain beat ia
his face Half past eleven Was his
boy living yet? Would medical help
be of any avail the next morning
Full well did he know the dangerous
character of the illness against whicA
science has not yet found IL remedy.
| Only by quick and prompt attention
can danger be averted.
After few minutes of deep thought
he suddenly turned and fairly ran 10
the house of DIR. Sardo and rang the
bell. The doctor appeared at an open
window above and asked the name Of
his caller.
Engineer Mattern," was the az
swer. My child has diphtheria and
is in great danger
DIR. Sardo threw the door key out Ct
the window, saying:
open the door and come up. Ia
the meantime | will dress myself
Mattern felt around in the darkness
for the keyhole, and u few moments
later stood before the doctor, Il young
man, who was comparatively new ia
the profession.
Give me a description of your
child's con iition, so that | can take
the necessary remedies with me. Ia
diphtheria cases one must use all pos
sible dispatch. You live here in
| town."
No, DOCTOR answered MatterD.
and with hurried breath he told his
story.
You say that the train does not re
turn till the morning. said the docto:
rather impatiently. why, then. di i
you call me at this time of night
| What do you expect me to do in the
meantime? p
| Come with me, doctor ~ cried Mat
| tern, great beads of perspiration start
ing out on his forehead. You can
save my child if you only will. Out
at the station stands my locomotive,
under steam. If you will come with
me, | will take you to my home III all
hours time, and my boy will be saw
| ed
! Are you Illtll NOW, DIT uedll o.
night, when every one is asleep, with
out signals or information of any kind
at the stations to be passed, you III
tend to run your locomotive for p
miles Why, man. at the first inter
mediate station we should jump the
track because the switches would be
turned wrong y
Indeed, doctor, there is 10 danger,
belieyp me Al all of the stations the
switches will be turned for the train
and as that is mine you neei have nc
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 a great
deal of harm to passing teams"
mo, no | know every inch of the
ground and shall exercise the greatest
care when we come to the crossings.
And, besides, who would be out il
weather like this p
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 l care for that if could
save nv child ? You can do this f0I
me if you only will. On my knees
beg of you to come with me. Oh,
have pity OF me y
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