The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1897-08-21
SAVED BY A. :.
. Phantom

ton of the \. 4 C. =. Il. r. stood the
express. On track No. stood the eastern
mail My old mate, Tom Hatch was
engineer of the express: | was engineer Of
the mail. Tom and were like brothers.
| had been his fireman for three years, and
so !evotedly had | become attached to him,
that it was only after long deliberation,
and chiefly on account of the comforts my
| increased pay would bring to my wife and
children, that decided to leave him and
accept the promotion offered me as engineer
of the mail train.
1t was within about four minutes of
Toms schedule time for pulling out. |
was oiing my engine, when suddenly l
heard my old mates voice calling me-
Tom was leaning out of his cab, and
noticed that his face was paler than usual
and had troubled look.
Mate" he said, 81 feel queer tonight
never felt so queer in my life before
Come over here a minute, won't you?"
l went over and stood by the side of No.
90-a magnificent great machine, perfect in
construction, and one of the finest engines
on the road. She was throbbing and
pulsing, as if full of conscious life and
power and eager for the start.
Mate said Tom, in low voice,
leaning down towards me, 81 don't know
why should feel so blue, but if anything
should happen to me on this run, l want
you to promise that you will have an eye
out for Emily and the children-see that
they get their rights and all that you
know. ! should like to feel that they have
a protector. This foreboding may be
ALL"
'It's all nonsence," I cried-'or indi-
gestion Come, Tom, brace up! didn't
suppose you were so superstitious.
Tom smiled family.
''Of course it's easier for you to talk that
way" he said, 'because you don't feel as
| do Two days ago should have laughed
at the notion myself. But now-well, |
can't explain it to you, mate. Will you
promise to do what asked 2"
''Of course | WILL" l replied, warmly,
"but-"
IAN aboard - shouted the conductor,
and signalled the engineer to pull out.
Good bye, old man ~ cried Tom, as he
opened the trottle.
! $50 ool n;ubt Ton, }, ,,,moroa ~, a. ,
great drive-wheels of No. 80 began to
revolve. AS went back to my engine |
could not help wondering, with some I'M
easiness, why Toms good bye" should
have sounded SO like a knell in my ears.
Alas. | knew the next morning.
1t was terrible wreck-and nobody
seemed to know how it happened, only
that broken rail must have thrown the
engine from the track just as she was ap-
preaching the bridge, and she crashed into
the stone abutment while running at full
speed. Tom was found lying in his cab
stone dead, with his hand on the lever, and
jammed in on all sides by iron rods and
parts Of the boiler Poor, brave fellow! He
might have jumped, and saved his life, at
least as the fireman did but he stood at
his post and tried to stop the train. Beau
tiful No. 80 was smashed to bits-no
setting her to rights again, any more than
poor Tom.
"Well, as l had promised, l did my
best for Emily and the children. If had
been Toms own brother don't believe |
could have tried harder to make things
property, and what the railroad company
paid over, they got along very nicely.
Curiously enough, one of the first things
the superintendent did was to offer me
Tom place as engineer Of the express 1t
meant big pay, but big responsibility, too,
and l hestated about accepting. But
finally when they told me they would
have to look outside the system for the
proper man unless accepted, | made up
my mind to do it, and took charge of No.
go, the engine that was to replace No 90
For four months | went over Tom S run
regularly without an adventure of any
kind only never could pass the scene of
the accident at Norfolk Bridge without
seeing with my minds eye the CHASTITY,
palid face of my old chum, just as saw it
in death, when they brought my poor mate
home for burial.
One stormy night, about four months
after Toms death, when l was approaching
the fatal spot, there came distinctly to my
ears the shrek of whistle somewhere
down the track ahead. There were no
double tracks on the line at that time, and
knew from the way the sound carried
that it came from an approaching, not a
receding, train. CHANGING at my fireman,
saw by the expression Of his face that he
had heard the same sound, which could
not, therefore, be the result of my imagina-
ton. 1t was but the work of second to
reverse the engine and put on the air
brakes. The big mogul slackened speed,
and came shudderingly to a stand still