Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-06-23
''she won't be her inside OF half

with satisfied smile
'"There, if that doesn't do the work
TIM mistaken" he muttered in an
undertone. sT don't think Arthur
could find fault with it.
It was only natural that the idea of
securing promotion should stimulate
the boys imagination, and that he
began to plan for the future. Tipped
back in his comfortable chair, he
thought of the time when he might
become superintendent of the
division, and probably in time general
passenger agent, and even president,
of the road. Then, with big salary
and a private car, he would be his
own master and support his mother
in the style she deserved.
A wave of compassion for other
boys and poor station agents swept
over him. He would make an innova-
tion in the management of the road.
He would visit every station at cer-
tain times and personally inspect the
record of the agents. Then, where
good service warranted it, he would
make promotions, and not keep deserv-
ing employees in one place for a long
time.
1t was pleasant to think of the
gratitude the men would feel toward
him, and in his dreams he posed as
benefactor to the deserving poor on
the road with considerable grace and
condescension. 1t was an added
satisfaction to know that he had worked
20 %ho
highest, and that he was familiar with
all the discouragements and dissap-
pointments of the various employees.
In the midst of his dreams he heard
the shrek of an engine, but it
seemed more like the echo of dream
than reality. 1t took some moments
for Ray to bring himself back to prac-
tical thoughts.
Suddenly he dropped his feet from
their perch on the d SIX with bang,
and jumped from his chair with the
startled exclamation:
''The express is coming"
1t was indeed the whistle of the ap-
preaching express that had sounded
SO far away in his dreams, and now he
could hear the roar and rumble of the
train as it bore down upon him at the
rate of fifty miles an hour.
In an instant the telegraphic order
to hold the express at Jamesport
flashed across Rays mind. That
order had not yet been countermanded,
and the express was down upon him
without any signals to stop her.
The boy turned deathly pale as he
sprang to his feet and rushed for the
door, Just as he reached the plat
form of the station the express gave
utterance to another shrill whistle and
flashed by the small depot like hur-
ricane. In the strong suction of wind
that followed in the wake of the fly
ing train Ray lost his hat, but, un-
mindful of that, he stood as if petri-
fed by the awful catastrophe which
his negligence had caused.
The express was rushing on to it's
doom, carrying with it probably
several hundred people. Ray was
helpless to avert the terrible calamity.
The track was torn up between the
two stations, and it would do no good
to telegraph on to the Junction. The
harm was already done, and no earthly
power could save the train.
Ray staggered into the Office. Every
particle of blood had left his face. He
felt weak and helpless. Burying his
face into his hands, he gave vent to
sobs that shook his frame. Before
him was his petition for promotion.
The sight of it brought revulsion of
feelings. and he took it up and tore
it into shreds.
eff it hadn't been for that I would
have attended to my duty" he NUT
tered.
Then the cold rerspiration bioke
out upon his forehead as he again
realized the horror of his situation.
He was a murderer hundred times
over; in all probability the train was
already wrecked, and scores of
mangled, bleeding corpses were crying
to heaven against the perfidy of the
man who had so suddenly launched
them to their destruction.
"Oh, God. help mer' the boy cried,
in his utter helplessness.
Under the strain it seemed as if he
would lose his mind, and he rose from
his seat and paced back and forth in
the narrow office.
81 must do something" he said,
finally. ''I'll face it all and telegraph
to the Junction for wrecking train.
shall not try to excuse myself"
He seated himself at his desk again
and seized the knob of the ma chine,
but before he could call up the opera
tor at the Junction message for him
came ticking over the wires:
'Release the express. Track all
clear. E. Il. T."
For an instant the boy could not
comprehend the full import and mean
ing of this message to him. Then, as
it dawned upon him, the revulsion OF
| feeling was too much for his strength.
He dropped back into his chair, and
for an instant it seemel as if he lost
consciousness.
When he recovered himself he
| wall a1 unctaadilv toward tho 1oor