Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-08-22

You've done WELL" he said. Il
think we can reach Rawdon in time"
Ned assented. and we then repaired
to the telegraph Office, where mes
sage was Immediately sent to the con-
ductor of the down train at Rawdon.
in these words
up train Just arrived; shall It
waltz"
A minute passed before the answer
came. when the instrument clicked
forth the simple word NO"
The time allowed for stoppage had
elapsed. and the words once more
sounded
"All aboard"
As we moved out Of the station Ned
whispered in my ear
You'll now see what term fast
travelling We make Rawdon in TWEEN
ty minutes"
How far?" asked.
Thirty miles,"
"All right" said I, nonchalantly.
Ned evidently expected his assertion
would have surprised me, but 1t didn't;
and he turned away. | did start,
however, when | glanced at the indl-
Gator and saw the hand trembling at
$50!
Good heavens!" exclaimed to my
self. 1.-THE boiler will burst, and we
shall be blown to atoms, II nothing
worse should happen"
shall never forget that ride. II the
rate of speed at which we had prev
iously travelled was great, that from
Quincy was appalling. chung to ths
seat for support, the engine swayins
SO much thaul otherwise could not
have retained it.
I worked myself, influenced by a
strange thrill Of excitement, and dash
ed in shovelful after shovelful OF coal.
| felt-I lived-breathed in the Mora"
| was an agent in the movement. |
needed not the danger, only desired
more speed. wished to 60 faster
faster-faster.
"Oh, heaven!"
Will the remembrance OF the WORDS
ever leave me? How they fell upon
nv ears-with what intensity of feel
ing. Ned's face was blanched-whiter
than ever saw face blanched before
his features distorted. | looked ahead,
and my trembling lips repeated the
cry. There upon the track, not half
mile before us, was the down train
which had just appeared around
slight cusve.
| was powerless to actrfroaen to the
spot.
Not so Ned. He was calm In an in.
slant, and his work was accomplished
In a tiths Of the time 1t takes me to
record it. My first impulse was to
spring from the engine, but he stopped
me.
"Stay!" he commanded, hoarsely.
"They have one car; we have two.
We have twice as many passengers as
they. If we collide at this speed all
will be killed. Heaven forgive me!
| will do it,"
OWNED his intention Immediately.
He would put on such speed as to run
through the other train, and by that
means save those on ours. shud-
dered, but had no time then for re-
Election on the morality Of the proceed
cedure. TWO large orleans stood in
the cab, and Ned dashed them into
the fire-box. All this, Of course, oc-
cupied not an instant In the execution.
The Mora" strained and sprang
forward. the increae in speed Icing
quite perceptible. We neared the ap-
nroaching train with frightful rapidly.
The incidents Of twenty years crowd
ed into a single second. | commended
NV soul to the eternal Father and
closed my eyes. =. .
Ned stood grimly at his post, behind
him the fireman with his hands clasp
ed.
The crisis came. A harsh, grinding
crash. the crushing Of heavy IRON
work. the rending Of timDers, shIieks
groans, and all was over.
Something struck me- | was only
stunned, however, and soon my con-
seriousness returned. But oh! what
a scene met my gaze! ! shudder now
IN recall 1t, and yet all was strangely
still save the cracking Of flames and
the hurrying to and fro.
I arose from the snow. where | had
been laid for dead.
The Mora" stood alone upon the
track the two cars behind 1t having
heen thrown off, but they were not
damaged. The down train had been
literally smashed to pieces, and OF the
human souls that had been abroad but
ten had escaped instant death.
And Ned-where was heY
I hurried I'D to the Nora and
found her badly broken up. The fire.
man was there, safe like myself, bu.
ha said Ned had been struck upon the
tearing away of the cab and killed.
poor fellow!' | uttered, God for
v,ve him for what he has done"
OF course, all that skill and kindness
could do was done for the sufferers,
while the bodies Of the dead were re-
moved for interment. Ned's funeral
occurred on the following day, his
mother, the fireman. and myself being
he only attendants.
The message sent to Rawdon, by a
,,ranee perversion of the telegraph,
had been made to read :,
.'Up train Just arrived. Shall you