Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-12-24
A MAD REVENGE.

Comstock.
was II telegraph operator aud was sta
toned at Wayburg, "a station 20 miles from
Stockton and at the terminus of the then
D. G. and G. r. railway.
Returning from our honeymoon, l left
my wife in Stockton and proceeded to
Wayburg, intending to remain at my old
post until relieved, which thought would
be in a few days, as my offered resignation
had been accepted at headquarters. Tho
engineer on the "up' train was Mark
Moore, a rather handsome young fellow,
who had been my rival for the hand of the
woman 1 called my wife.
When the train stopped at Moreland's, l
alighted from the passenger coach and
walked forward to the engine. Mark was
busily engaged oiling the machinery.
GLOW are you, Morgan?" he said as he
espied me and held out his hand. His
disappointment seemed to have left him,
and he was very pleasant. 'Going to
Wayburg?'
Eyes"
"Just get in with me, then" he said.
l replied that l would do so, and when
the train moved away l was occupying a
seat in the engine, chatting with the en-
gineer.
"One hardly notices the ascent, but the
descent is an entirely different thing. /
was thinking, Morgan, what "a terrible
thing it would be if an engine with full
power on were to become unmanageable at
the top of the grade and dash away.
"And if a man bent on revenge were to
place a fellow creature bound III the en-
CINE, what a terrible death he would has
ten to with almost lightning rapidity!"
The following night was dark and tenn
%pestuous, and l alone occupied the sta
ton, watching the little machine before
me. That day a new engine had arrived,
and Mark Moore had been put in charge
of it. From 2 o'clock in the afternoon to
81 saw him moving about the engine.
Until 10 l watched the little machine.
Then Mark opened the door and stepped
into the small apartment.
care you receiving a dispatch, Nor
GAM" he asked.
"No, Mark. Why do you ask?"
because if you are not l wish you
would leave the CHECKERS a bit and come
and look at my Red Bird by lantern light.
am going to run down grade to Chal-
mers, reverse the engine and II back,
The train will not be due here for an
hour, and I can go to Chalmers and re-
turn within 20 minutes"
We walked into the great temporary
shed where the new and beautiful engine
stood, ready to run off at the command of
its master.
81 dare not be SO long absent from my
post at this hour, Mark"
Pooh, man, there's no danger. You
must go with me-"
"But l cannot, Mark
He put his lantern on the ground and
then sprang erect.
"You shall, Morg Grenoble9" he cried,
and before l could answer him he dashed
me to the earth and planted his knees on
my breast.
"Not a word out of you, Morg, he said
fiercely, producing a rope. "I1l tell you
what I'm going to do. You know We
were discussing the consequences attend
ing the rush of a maddened engine down
the grade. I reckon / won't go to Chal-
mers, but will send you clear to the bot
tom of the grade"
"Mark Moore, you are mad" I said.
would you murder me in cold blood and
others who are coming up on the lilo
passenger"
"fYus,.. 1Io sssi,1 ct,!dly,
l might have resisted, but resistance
would have awaited me nothing, for I was
constitutionally weak, while he was q
lion.
"There!' p he said at last as he closed the
furnace door. Everything is ready for
your ride. You'll go right through Stock
ton, but I reckon you won't have time to
stop to speak to loving Laura. Goodby,
Morg. Write when you get to the foot OF
the grade"
The engine was moving, and he leaped
off.
MAY heaven have mercy on your soul,
Mark Moore!" I shouted after him.
The grade between Wayburg and Chal-
mers was quite steep, and before l reached
the little town the speed of the Red Bird
and it's tender seemed to rival that of the
telegraph.
The towns with their glimmering lights
appeared and were gone in a flash.
The manner in which I was bound per-
mitted me to look out of the window.
did SO, and Stockton, the home of my
wife, greeted me with it's many lights.
Ahead l saw many people waiting for
the 11:10 passenger.
Inc neAU IlOlIlCIu ! Was CthEIlOSt pAoU
them.
1 saw their astonished faces and heard q
piercing shrek.
1 recognized the voice as my wife's.
There was one hope for me-just one.
Perhaps the operator at Stockton had
telegraphed down the grade, and, thus
warned, the coming train would switch
and save it's passengers from death.
Looking out, 1 saw far ahead the glar-
ing headlight of the southern train.
To me it looked as though it stood OIL
my track. Evidently the train had not
been warned.
Suddenly I heard a man shout, "Stand
backl' and then, crash! all was dark
"Is he injured much?" somebody asked
Sympathizing faces bent over me, and
surgeon was examining my wounds.
"The ties stopped the engine, said the
surgeon. ave received a telegram from
Stockton informing us that the new en-
CINE was rushing down the grade. The
southern train was switched off upon its
arrival here, and we set to work to pile
innumerable ties on the track, which
thank heaven, checked your mad career. ;
Telegraph to Stockton" I said, "to my
wife,"
1t seemed as though every bone in my
body was broken, and l cannot tell how
ever survived through the prostration thai
followed.
But l did, to find my hair r~ivaling TIN
spotless purity of the snow and crows fee
OH my youthful forehead.
My rival was never tried, for the thirt
day following his arrest he was conveyed
to an asylum, a hopeless maniac. Tx
change.
In Disgrace.