The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-16

IdptlSl CHAPEL
SO through the night the train sweeps on.
The smoker smokes. the drinker drinks.
the mother soothes her infant to rest. the
father stretches himself and snores. man
pictures the wife he loves and signs with
pleasure that each hour shortens the dis
lance between them by fifty miles. woman
thinks sadly Of the husband TO whom she
Is returning and vaguely hopes he will be
little kinder, the slender girl who shades
her face in the corner thinks of the strang-
ers to whom she is going. the absconding
bank cashier thinks of the people he has
left behind. And so the train sweeps on.
Presently out of the murky sky comes a
vivid binding streak of flame. followed by
a peal OF thunder which shakes the very
earth to such degree it seems as though
the train must leave the metals.
Il thought we should get 1T. George"
said Jack Armstrong. philosophically.
That was about the warmest clap ever
heard I'm my life.'
I'VE shall soon run through it." replied
the fireman. land then a fellow will be
able to breathe which is more than I've
felt could do since came on tonight"
He fell to and finished coaling up the en-
CINE as he spoke and then he wiped the
ihOtStu1c lTOIl MS pdluO race.
You look bit peaky, George" said the
driver. Pull yourself together It's the
thunder. You'll be as fresh as a daisy in
ten minutes. Godl what a fash!'
He started back. unnerved in spite of his
iron will and strength as the very heavens
appeared to open, and a fiery serpent
seemed to flash across their faces, sue
ceeded by defamation even more start
ling than the preceding one.
The fireman looked back
''It hasn't touched one of the coaches,
has it," he asked anxiously, seeing a light
shoot up in their rear.
The driver turned and looked. They
were running along dead straight track
of considerable length, about ten miles
from their first stopping-place. and behind
called his attention.
THAT last flash has fired something"
he said, getting up on the tender. by
gum, George. that was a narrow squeak
for US. That's the house at the crossing
in flames; another foot or two and we
The sentence was never completed. At
that moment another horrible fash darted
| from the heavens, passed across the ten
der. lighting up burly Jack Armstrong s
face with CHASTITY glare, and then he
| fell at the feet of his mate, a horrible
shriveled mass. his face distorted and
agonized, his flesh charred and black, his
clothes smoking and seeming ready to burst
into a blaze.
The fireman stood for an instant pet
rified; then seizing his jacket he dashed
it over the burning man and extinguished
the flames. Jack, jack, he cried lifting
the coat and raising one of the PROSTATE
mans hands. ''Are you hurt? Are-you-
oh, God. he is dead--and i"
He staggered back against the valves of
the engine. his eyes staring with horror.
his face setting in rigid glare, his hand
OH his heart.
"Dead!'' he gasped "And I-what is the
matter with me? I'm going numb-I can t
breathe-it didn't strike me. Oh, my heart!
My Cod my heart. I'm dyingi The shock
has killed me, Mary-wife-the chill
His words stopped suddenly. A violent
spasm of pain contracted his features, his
lips were blue, his eyes rolled toward the
steam valve and the lever, which stood at
rearly full on. He made a superhuman eff
fcrt to raise his hand. then suddenly stiff
fened where he stood and died.
The tightening played. the thunder rolled.
the clouds broke, and the rain descended
in torrents on the two dead men. And still
the train swept on.
At the first stopping-place of the Carlisle
express ten or a dozen passengers stood
waiting for the train due in few minutes.
The storm had broken and ragged over the
town two hours ago. and now it had passed
away and the air Of the summer evening
was cool and refreshing.
The mail cart drove up, and the baskets
containing the mail bags We're duly depos-
tied on the edge of the platform in the ac-
customed spot. A commercial traveller with
his cases of samples leisurely strolled in,
his tickets between his teeth, counting his
change and looking for a threepenny bit for
the boy who had carried his bag.
The stationmaster in uniform passed
along the platform with word here and a
direction there, and looked at his watch.
Mice and cool now the storms over"
the commercial observed casually, as the
stationmaster paused near him.
"Thank goodness answered the station
master. his eye glancing up the line with a
professional keennesss. Going by the ex-
press?'
Eyes, as far as Crewe. She" Cby which
he designated the express) is about due,
isn't she?
I'm about four minutes" replied the Of
fetal ..Hullo," he exclaimed, starting
hastily. and his calm and collected manner
changing to one of perplexity and alarm
..Hullo.' he repeated, what the
rswhat's the matter?" asked the COM
mercial, stopping in the act of lighting his
briar.
Matter? Why here she comes round the
bend at full speed, and she's, neither
whistIed nor been signaled. Hi. there,' he
shouted to a porter, who was dropping on
the platform leisurely, to cross to the other
platform. ''look out!''
T,he man looked, turned hastily to regain
| the platform, missed his hold. and fell back
on the line as the express came laundering
| through.
whirr a roar, wild clamor from the
waiting passengers who saw the porter
fall. and then the train had passed like a
phantom into the darkness.
The stationmaster stood for an instant
like a man petrihed, and then looked after