The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-07-17


II bet that crasy conductor 10 at
tackled with an epilettic fit."
But there was no disputlng the
command. The engine was reversed.
the air brakes set, the sand run out
and every effort made to pull the
iron horse. as II were. back on its
Launches.
The grinding. squealing. Jolting,
shook the train like an earthquake.
The shrieking OF the whistle froze the
blood like woman's cry OF "Mur-
der!" In the night. The women among
the passengers echoed the screams.
The men turned pale and braced
themselves for the shock OF collision.
Some OF them were mumbling pray
ers. DR.. Temple and Jimmie yelling
ton. with one idea In their dissimilar
souls. dashed from the smoking room
to so to their wives.
Ashton and Wedgewood. with no
one to care for but themselves. seized
windows and tried to fight them open.
AT last they butlged sash and knelt
down to thrust their heads out.
II don't see beastly thing ahead"
said Wedgewood, except the heads
of other fools"
Were slowing down though" said
Ashton. "she stops! We're safe.
Thank God" And he collapsed into
u chair. Wedgewood collapsed into
another. gasping: "Whatevah are we
aafe from. I wondah?"
The train-crew and various passen-
gers descended and ran alongside the
train asking questions. Panic gave
way to mystery. Even DR.. Temple
came back into the smoking room to
finish q precious cigar he had been at
work on. He was followed by Little
Jimmie. who had not quite reached
his wife when the stopping of the
train put an end to his excuse for
chivalry. He was regretfully mum
bling:
TT would have been such a good
saansh TO shave my LIES wife,
mean MY don't know what mean"
He sank into q chair and ordered q
drink; then suddenly remembered his
vow. and with great heroism. rescind-
ed the order.
Mallory, finding that the train was
checked just before he reached the
conductor, saw that oficiaPs bewil.
dered wrath at the stoppage and had
fearsome intuition that Marjorie
had somehow done the deed. He h-r.
ried back to the observation room,
whore he found her charging up and
down. still distraught. Ec paused at
. safe distance and said:
Tho train Las stopped. my dear
Somebody rang the bell"
Il guess somebody did," Marjorie
answered. with Q proud toss of the
head. Where's the CONDUCTOR"
He's looking for the fellow tha,
pulled the rope"
You 60 tell him to back up-and
slowly, too"
mo. thank vo-'" said Mallory. He
was brave Young man, but he was
not boarding the conductors OF stop
pod expresses. Already the conduc-
tors 7oice vas heard In the smoking
room. where 10 appeared with the
rush and roar Of Bashan bull.
Well" he beloved, which one OF
you guys pulled that roper"
1T was nobody here, SIR" DR.. Tenn
pie meekly explained. The conductor
transnxed him with q baleful glare /:
II wouldn't believe q gambler on oath.
I bet you did It."
Il assure you. SIR" Wedgewood in.
terposed. "he didn't touch 1t. was
heah."
The conductor waved him aside and
charged into the observation room,
followed by all the passengers In an
awestruck rahble. Here. too, the
conductor thundered: who pulled
that rope? Speak up somebody"
Mallory was about to sacrifice him.
self to save Marjorie. but she met the
conductors black rage with the WITT.
ering contempt Of young Queen: Il
pulled the old rope. Whom did you
!, suppose?"
The conductor almost dropped with
apoplexy at finding himself with no
body TO vent his immense rage on.
but this pink and white slip. "You!"
he tulped. well. what in Say. In
the name of-why. don't you know It's
penitentiary offense to stop a train
this way?"
Marjorie tossed her head a little
higher. grew a little calmer: What
do care? I want you to back up"
The conductor was reduced to q
wet rag. q feeble echo: Back up
the train up?"
Yes. back the train up" Marjorie
answered. resolutely. "and go slowly
Till tell you 10 stop"
Tho conductor stared at her q mo
mNnt. thea ~sisied on Mallory: SAY.
what In hell's the matter with your
wife?''
MQllnru