Semi-weekly independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-08

| take you to my home 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 at
the stations to be passed, YOU intend
| TO run Your locomotive for twenty-five
miles. Why man, at the first inferno
| date station we should jump the track
because the switches would be turned
wrong"
Indeed. Doctor. there is no danger,
believe me. At all of the stations the
switches viii be turned for the train
that is to leave first in the morning,
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 at this
time, we might be the cause of great
deal OF harm TO passing teams
No no, l know every inch of the
ground. and shall exercise the greatest
And, 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 hal'Ien.'
What do l care for that if J could
only save my child? You can do this
for me if YOU only will. On my knees
beg of YOU to come with me. or 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 lie did
not wish to create any unnecessary eX-
| element in the cnGine house. When
tie Doctor had taken his place Mat
tern threw Il can Of oil on the are in
order to put the engine III quicker mo-
ton. and they we're soon flying along
IT fearful speed. which was only les
sencd as they passed the first station,
which they did without accident, as the
switches were turned in the right dircc-
ton.
The Doctor sat down in 4 corner and
tried TO finish his broken nap, and Mat
tern divided his attention between
keeping up the fire ant regulating the
speed Of the engine. Had DR.. Sardo
any idea % 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-
tiraiion.
While bending down to his work Mat
tern suddenly felt the engine give Il
jerk. \ terrible cry followed. Mattcrn
spranS mp and looked about him. BY
the light of the engine lie could sec
that ihcy had just passed railroad
crossing. The next moment they were
again flying along in the darkness and
storm.
What was there" asked the Doc
tor who had been reused out Of his
sleep.
"Oh. nothing very likely a stone or
Other substance. that became fast be-
tween the rails" answered Mattern,
with choking breath. in Il few min
uies we shall he there"
lie S.ackcncl the speed of the engine,
bat lie did 1t mechanically, as if in Il
dream. That fearful cry almost made
his hear, sand still.
lie could well imagine what had hap
pencd Some cart or wagon must have
been crossing at the tin G his engine
came tearing along ia the darkness like
some spirit Of evil. and no doubt he was
thc cause Of a terrible caiamity; if not,
what was tie meaning of tina. sudden
Jerk. followed 10y II ,artrcnding cry?
There was thc station. Mattcn could
only sec dimly through the darkness
but knew thc shape OF the building too
well 10 bc mistaken. lie stopped the
cngine and took the path TO his home,
followed liy the Doctor.
Through the window or the second
floor lie 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 aud wound
ed-how many others:
lie groaned aloud. Slowly lie dragged
lis weary feet up the stairs. His wife
opened the door at his knock.
Ills boy was still living. Mattern
saw his ashen face and heard his rat
thing breath. In his ears sounded again
the awful cry that lie had heard n
short time before. His nerves that for
hours he had kept under control. gave
way. now that he had reached his des-
tination. and he fell to the floor insen-
siblc.
Ii was late the next morning when the
engineer rcgained consciousness, al
though he could not collect his thoughts
very clearly; rackinS headache pre-
vented this. Ills limbs seemed immoy-
able and heavy as lead. In the room
in which he found himself, and which
he recognized rs their living ROOM a
deathlille Stiffness rcigned. lie tried TO
lift his head, but in vain; he fell back
on the pillow with Il groan. His wife
heard him ana came in, but with face
pale with weeping.