The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-01-11
A QUICK Run.


had been educated for loitier pursuits.
During my college vacation lounged
about the station almost constantly, max
ing friends with the trainsmen and cspe.
cially with an engineer named Silas Mark
ley. | Became much attached to this man,
notwithstanding he was 40 years old and
Iy no means u sociable fellow.
When Markley's fireman left him, in
duced him to let me take his place during
the remnant of my vacation. So became
TN amateur fireman and liked Ii exceed
ingly, for the excitement more than COM
pensated for the rough work l was requir-
ed to do But there came a time when |
hot my I'll of excitement.
Mrs. Markley one day formed plan
which seemed to give her good deal of
happiness 1t was her sons birthday, and
she wanted to go down to Philadelphia in
his train without letting him know any
thing about it and there purchase a pres
ont for him. She took me into her conf.
cence and had me to assist her.
1t was u midsummer day, and the wealth
or was delightful The train was neither
an express nor an accommodation, but
stopped at the principal stations on the
route. On this occasion, as there were
two specials on the line it was run by tel
egraph.
We started without mishap and easily
reached the first station in the time allot-
ted to us. AS we stopped there the boy
ran alongside with the telegram, which he
handed to the driver The next moment
heard smotEered exclamation from
Markley.
go back, " he said to the boy, land tell
Williams to have the message repeated.
| There's a mistake"
The boy dashed off. In ten minutes he
came flying back. Had 1t repeated, - he
painted civilians Ia storming at you.
Says there is no mistake-and you'd best
get on" He thrust the second message up
as he spoke.
Markley read it and stood hesitating for
half q minute. There were dismay and ut
ter perplexity in the expression of his face
as he looked at the telegram and then at
the long train behind him. l was watching
him with considerable curiosity. / ven
tured to ask him what was the matter aud
what he was going to do.
'I'm going to obey" he replied CURLY.
! The engine gave a long shrek of horror
that made me start, as if it were Markley's
own voice. The next instant we moved
out of the station and dashed through low
lying farms at speed which seemed dan
gerous to me.
put in more COAL said Markley.
l shoycled it in, but took time.
"Moro coal, he said. threw it in.
The fields and houses began to fly past
half seen. We were nearing Dufreme, the
next station. Markley's eye went from the
gauge TO the face of the timepiece and back.
"Morep' he said without turning his
eye. / took up the shovel-hesitated.
"Markley, do You know we are going ut
the rate CT go miles an hour?''
"Coalr'
] was alarmed at the stern, cold rigidity
of the man. At least we must stop at
Dufreme. He told Inc that was the next
halt The little town approached. AS the
first houses came into view the engine sent
its shrek of warning; it grew louder,
louder.
We dashed up to the station, where u
group of passengers waited, and passed it
without the halt of an instant, catching a
glimpse OF the appalled, faces of the wait
ing crowd Then we were in the fields
again.
heaped in the coal at intervals, as he
babe me. l did it because was oppressed
by an odd sense of duty, which l never
had in my ordinary train work.
He did not move hand or foot, except in
the mechanical control of his engine, his
eye going from the gauge to the timepiece
with steadiness that was more terrible
and threatening than any CLEAN of insan-
ity would have been.
Twenty miles, " he muttered. "Throw
ON more coal, Jack. The fire is going out. -
did it, Yes, l did it. There was
something in the face of that man that
could not resist Then / climbed forward
and shook him by the shoulder.
"Markleyp shouted. "You are run
ming this train into the jaws of deathp'
Il know it,, he replied quietly
"Your mother is aboard the train"
He staggered to his feet. But even then
he did not remove his eyes from the gauge.
make up the fret he commanded and
pushed in the throttle valve.
IL will not. "
81 could throw you off this engine and
make short work of you, he said. "But,
look here DO you see the station yonderi
l was told to reach that station by q o clock.
The express train meeting us Is due.
ought to have laid by for it at Dufreme
was told to come on. The track is single
one. +"
said nothing threw on coal. If /
had had petroleum l should have thrown
1t on. But never was calmer in my life.
Markley pushed the valve still farther. The
engine began to give II strange painting
sound. Far off to the south / could soc
the bituminous black smoke of u train.
l looked at Markley inquiringly. He
nodded 1t was the express!
l looked across the clear summer sky at
the gray smoke of the peaceful little vii
lago and beyond that black line, coming
closer, closer, across the sky.
In one minute more-well, l confess
sat down and buried my face in my hands,
l don't think l tried to pray.
There was terrific shrek from the en-
CINE, against which l leaned, and another
in my lace. A hot, Kissing tempest swept
past me.
l looked up. We were on the siding,
and the express had gone by. 1t grazed
our end carriage in passing.
Yes, gentlemen, have been in many a
railway accident, but l have always con
sidered that the closest call l ever had
What was the blunderY
don't know. Markley made light Of
it and kept it Il secret, but no man in the