Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1900-03-29
ITO operator, Milway Side
track extra until 101 arrives.

LAWN eAtia dutll Ab1 at4tfths
G. II s. p
A great lump Of aismay came
into the throat Of issnrie. as he
com pretended the Responsibility
which had been forced upon him
through the absence 81 the opera.
tor. He understood ipss what Tie
result would be shou Ike make d
mistake. Il woinu ebe wreck Of
both trains at the most dangerous
point on the Il. & 0.
As he opened the door to hang
out the red light, gust OF wind
aud rain almost lifted him from the
floor but, bending his head to the
blast, ho pashed on and out into
the storm He secured the lantern
70 the post, then returned to the
Office, aud took his position BY the
window where he could watch the
signal light
Every moment seemed to add
fury to tho storm, and bis little
room rocked to and fro. likcasmall
boat at the mercy Of the waves.
Soon, ia q luil Of the tempest, a
low, distinct rumbling. unlike the
voice Of the elements, came to the
ear Of Lunrie, and BIO knew that q
train was approaching, but az yet
he could not distinguish whether It
was coming from the east or west.
Again the storm burst forth with
renewed violence, aud, TO his con-
sternation, he saw the post, which
upheld bis signal light, lifted from
its position and dashed TO the
ground, instantly breaking the Ian.
tern into fragments.
II was a moment OF thrilling hor-
ror to Laurie. What should be do?
He flung open the door, with his
lantern in his hand, not having any
definite purpose in his mind. sud
sprang out into The storm. lie
listened again, and con- pretended
that the regular tssiu - esmibg
hrst. What II il bad not been or.
dered to stop? II vas on time,
consequently had the right Of way I;
aud it often occurred that but one
train received orders to stop.
The facts were, that the train
dispatcher bad telegraphed the
nearest stations both east aud west
relative 60 the meeting Of the trains
al Midway but the operator had
been fast asleep when l0l dashed
past hia station, aud had failed TO
deliver bis order; consequently, the
conductor Of TIE regular train knew
nothing at all of an extra on the
road OF course, Laurie did not
know this; be ouly realized that his
signal light Was broken, and be
feared the worst As he stood like
one stricken and helpless, a long
aud loud whistle from the engine
Of the regular train told him that
il had no intention OF stopping,
aud quick "a thought, he decided,
if possible to run the train upon the
siding for just beyond the switch
the track curved around preci-
pice, aud an accident at that point
would be a sudden 40 awful death
to all.
The switch was but short dis-
lance away, but the wind and raia
were against him, and his progress
was slow. The rumbling Of many
wheels grew louder each instant,
and be plunged ahead with tremb-
ling desperation. At last BE switch
was reached, and, with his lantern
on his arm, be held tightly to the
post with one hand. while with the
other he sought to unlock and throw
the switch. With an effort that
strained every muscle OF that young
form, he threw the lever, just as a
great eye OF light came out upon
the bridge, and the train moved in
on the siding. 1t baing wild
place and a stormy night, the engi-
neer was on the alert, and, as the
engine rolled by him, Laurie waved
his lantern and shouted, " Stop
Stop !" with oil the strength of his
voice.
The engineer caught the word,
and quickly brought his train under
control, and, as the last car entered
the siding. the headlight Of the ex-