The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-20

me worse. 1 struck second match, and a
third, and with a fourth got the lamp on
the dispatchers table lighted as Blackburn
answered the superintendent Something
serious has happened he replied to Bucks.
81 sent lap orders at / o'clock for Number
and the Irving special
Buck stared at him.
Instead of making a meeting point at
O'Fallon's L sent 1 an order TO run to
O'Failon's and ordered the special to run
to Salt Rocks against l.
''Why, my God" exclaimed Bucks, that
will bring them together in-the Peace
canyon-Blackburnl Blackburn Black
burnt he cried, tearing off his stormcoat.
He walked to the table, seized the order
book and steadied himself with one hand
on the chair; | never saw him like that.
But it looked as If the horror long averted,
the trouble in the Peace river canyon, had
come. The sleet tore at the old depot like
a wolf. and with the sash shivering, Bucks
turned like an executioner on his subordi-
nate.
What have you done to meet it?'' He
drew his watch, and his words came sharp
Where's your relief? What have you
done? What are you doing? Nothing?
Why don't you speak? VIII you kill the
two trainloads of people without an effort
to do anything?"
His voice rang absolute terror to me;
1 looked toward Blackburn perfectly help
less.
Bucks there will be no wreck he an
swered steadily.
BE no wreck Numbered Bucks, tower
ing in the dingy room dark as the sweep
of the wind. BE no wreck? Two pas
senger trains meet in hell and be no wreck?
Are you crazy?'
The dispatcher's hands clutched at the
table. NO." he persisted steadily, II am
not crazy, Bucks. Don't make me so. 1
tell you there will not be a wreck"
Bucks, uncertain with amazement stared
at him again.
blackburn, if you're sane I don't know
what you mean. Don't stand there like
that. Do you know what you have done?'
The superintendent advanced toward him
as he spoke; there was a trace of pity in
his words that seemed to open Blackburns
pent heart more than all the bitterness.
Bucks he struggled. putting out a hand
toward the chief, Il am sure of what
say. There will be no wreck. When I saw
what had done-knew it was too late to
undo it, begged God that my hands might
not be stained with their blood Sweat
oozed from the wretched mans forehead.
Every word wrung its bead of agony. Il
was answered" he exclaimed with a
strange confidence, there will be no wreck.
I cannot see what will happen. L do not
know what but there will be no wreck, be-
lieve me or MOTT is So"
His steadfast manner staggered the SUI
perintendent. L could imagine what he
was debating as ne looked at Blackburn
wondering, may be, whether the mans
mind was gone. Bucks was staggered; he
looked it, and as he collected himself to
speak again the hall door opened like an
uncanny thing and we all started as Cal
lahan burst in on u.s.
whats so?' he echoed. whats up
here? What did it mean. Blackburn?
There's been trouble, hasn't there?
What's the matter with you all? Bucks?
Is everybody struck dumb?''
Bucks spoke. There's lap order out
on 1 and the theatrical special, Callahan.
We don't know what's happened" said
Bucks, sullenly. Blackburn here has gone
crazy-or he knows-somehow-the won't
slowly and bewilderedly. Its between
O'Fallon and Salt Rocks somewhere. CAL
lahan, take the key" he cried of a sudden.
There's a call now. Dispatcher. Don't
speak; ask no questions. Get that mes
sage" he exclaimed sharply, pointing to
the instrument "It may be news"
And it was news; news from Ames sta
ton, reporting that the Irving special in
at 1852 a. m.-out at 1:54. We all heard it
together, or it might not have been be-
lieved. The Irving special, eastbound
safely past Number /, westbound, on a
single track when their meeting orders had
Tapped! Past without word Of danger
or of accident, or even that they had seen
Number 1 and stopped in time to avoid a
collision? Exactly; not a word; nothing.
In at 81; out at 81. And the actors hard
asleep in the berths-and on about its bust
ness the Irving special-that's what We got
from Ames.
Callahan looked around. Gentlemen,
what does this mean? Somebody here is
insane. 1 don't know whether it's me or
you, Blackburn. Are you horsing me?" he
exclaimed, raising his voice angrily. IF
you are want to say 1 consider it a
damned shabby joke"
Bucks put up a hand and without a word
of comment repeated Blackburn's story
just as the dispatcher had told it. I'm any
event there's nothing to do now; it's on
us or we're past it. Let wait for Num-
Der / to report"
Callahan pored over the order book
MAY be-" he asked after a while, "didn't
you send the orders right and copy them
wrong in the book, Blackburn"
The dispatcher shook his head "They
went as they stand. The orders Tapped
Callahan. Wait till we hear from Number
L. / feel sure she is safe. Watt
Bucks was pacing the floor. Callahan
stuck silent to the key taking what little
work came, for / saw neither Of the chiefs
wanted to trust Blackburn at the key He
sat, looking, for the most part, vacantly
into the fire. Callahan meantime had the
orders repeated back from Ames and Rose
bud. 1t was as Blackburn had said; they
did lap; they had been sent just the
order book showed There was nothing for
it but to wait for Rosebud to hear from
Number /. When the night operator there
called the dispatcher again il brought
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