Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-04-14

| Special ZOE. Eng 635. will run to Salt
| Rocks regardless OF No. 1.
salt Rocks, glared at the words
| and the lettC's OF the words.
I reread the first order and read again
he second. O'Fallon's for No. l. That
vas ri-ht O'Fallon's it should be for
the Special 202. of course. TO meet her
| But ia wasn't; Il was the FIRST station
east of O'Failon's lie had ordered the
special 60 ram TO. 70 was a lap order
| Ny scalp bean TO Greco. 4 lap order
| for the Irving special AMI the No. 1
| passenger. and il doomed them 10 meet
| head on somewhere between O'Fallon's
and the Salt Rocks. in the Peace river
canyon.
My mouth weut sticking dry. The
sieet outside had deepened into n hail
that beat the west glass sharper. and
the window shook again iu the wind.
l asked myself afraid TO look around.
( what Blackburn could be doing in Cal
| lahan's room. The horror OF the wreck
/ impending through his mistake began
( 20 grow on me. I know what / suf-
fered, / ask myself now what he suf-
/ fered. inside. alone In the dark.
Young as I was l realized that night
the meaning Of the career to which my
little ambition urged me- The soldier.
I the officer, the general the statesman.
/ the president. may make mistakes. do
make mistakes, that cost a life or cost
| 10000 lives. They redeem them and
live hon0red. II is The obscure dispatch
or under the lamp who for a single
| lapse pays the penalty of eternal dis
"a. "a 9 -
and from my boys heart. I'm the face OF
the error. IN the face OF the slaughter.
pitied Blackburn
Galatians room door opened again.
and Blackburn came out OF the dark
I had left the table and was standing
In front OF the stove lie looked at me
almost eagerly. the expression OF his
face had completely changed. I never
I'm my life saw such change I'm so few
minutes on any mans face. and. like all
the rest. 10 alarmed me IL was not for
me 20 speak il I had been able. and he
did not lie walked straight over to the
table closed the order book. plugged
Callahan's house wire again aud began
calling him. The assistant superintend
ent answered. and Blackburn sent him
Just these words.
you need not come down"
l heard Callahan reply with a ques
ton. "What is the mattery"
blackburn stood calmly over the KEY.
but he made mo- answer. Instead. be re-
peatcd only the words. You need not
come down"
Callahan. easily excitabIe always.
was wrought mp. "Blackhurn." he ask
ed over the wire impatlcutly. what zoo
Gods name is the mattcrg" But Black
burn only pulled the plug and cut him
out ami sunk into the chair like man
wearied
MT Blackburn" I said. my heart
humping like an injector. Mr.. Black
burnF lie glanced vacantly around:
seemed Tor the nrst time % see me. "Is
there anything" raltered. Il can dog"
Even b. the words meant nothing. the
offer must have touched him no.
Jack" he answered quietly. there
tsn't' With tho words thc han door
opened. ana Bucks. storm beaten To DIS
ulster threw Sc v.lc md stood facing
Us both The wind that swept in bc
hind him blew ont the lamps and ieft
as in darkness
"lack VIII Won light upT'
II was Blackburn who spoke 20 me
But Bucks urose iu Instantly. speaking
20 him
callahan called me over his house
wire few minutes ago. Blackburn
and told me- Co meet him here right
away. is anything wrougf' he asked
with anxiety restrained ln his tone
] struck q match. was SO nervous
that took hold OF the hot chimney OF
the counter lamp and dropped 10 smash
20 the floor No one said word. and
that made me worse I struck n sec
ond match, and a third. and with
fourth got the lamp on the dispatchers'
table lighted as Blackburn answered
the superintendent Something serl.
Gus has happened " he replied 10 Bucks
81 sent lap orders at o'clock for No. !
and the Irving special"
Bucks stared at him.
Instead OF making meeting point
at O'Fallon's / sent / an order to run
10 O'FallOu's and ordered the special
70 run TO salt Rocks against l."
'Why, my God" exclaimed Bucks.
shat viii bring them together in-the
Peace canyon. Blackburn. Blackburn!
Blackburn he cried, tearing Off his
1 storm coat He walked 10 the table.
seized the order book and steadied
! himself with one hand ON the chair.
never saw him like that. But il
looked as II the horror long averted,
I the trouble in the Peace river canyon,
| had come. The slcet tore at the old
depot Ike WOLF. and. with the sash
| shivering. Bucks turned like an exc
cutloner on his subordinate.
what have you done 10 meet itY''
| He drew his watch. aud his words
| came sharp as doom. Where's your
wreckersf Where's your relief? What
have you doney What are you doingg
Nothing; Why don't you speak? VIII
you Kill two trainloads Of people with
/ out an effort TO do auythingf"
His voice rang absolute terror 10
me. l looked toward Blackburn per
| fectly helpless.