The Press., 1912-02-14

fore me looked black and heavy as II
they had been stone. There were tele
graph poles beside the track, and il
seemed to me as l approached Their
shadows that was about to en-
counter the trunk of a fallen tree
They faded In rapid succession, but the
approach of every shadow was like
the falling of a sledgehammer on my
nerves.
II had gone seventy miles and was
on time when suddenly a big block
of solid stone doomed up ahead. ]
reversed, whistIed down the brakes
and came to a full stop. But neither
knew when 1 stopped nor for a few
moments after whether had escaped
the peril, for was so benumbed with
fright that my senses refused to act
As soon as was conscious that the
machine was at rest l took another
look ahead. There was the block ]
had seen, but as far distant as it had
been when 1 discovered it. I jumped
down and ran ahead. I couldn't see
the obstacle, for my own shadow con-
cealed it. Nevertheless did not reach
it. l stepped aside, and there it was
ahead. l ran forward a bit and, not
reaching it, returned and examined
my headlight. There on the glass
directly before the light was a tiny
moth.
''Summoning all my resolution to dis
regard these phantom obstacles, put
on full speed, and when l came to q
straight bit OF road l shut my eyes
that I might not see and be racked
by them. Again the old iron swayed
and groaned and wheezed and pulled
and spit fire and smoke till 1 entered
upon the last ten miles between me
and my destination. Then suddenly
there was a crash, and bit Of splin-
tered glass struck me in the face. I
supposed that at last the catastrophe
had come.
But, no. The cowcatcher had
thrown up a chicken or some other
object that had broken the lamp of the
headlight. The lamp continued to
burn, however, though unprotected,
since I had reversed as soon as the
crash came. However, 1 knew 1t
would not keep lighted under speed,
and l felt that after all had been
blocked. But just as l was about to
give up hope 1 saw light ahead, and
presently a locomotive bore down on
us, slowing up as it came. It had
been sent out by the commander at
L., who was hard pressed to learn If
we were nearing him.
1--WE managed to get this other head
light in position on my locomotive,
and again l pushed forward. From
this point now and again we could
occasionally hear the faint booming of
guns and as we drew nearer the rattle
of musketry. The moon was at the
full. Evidently the Confederate COM
mander was determined to crush his
enemy before the arrival Of reinforce
ments, and the Federal officer was
fighting against time.
Il did not know at what moment
the latter might give way, and, al
though the road was as rough and as
crooked as any part L had passed over,
drove the machine as rapidly and as
recklessly as before. l approached our
men from the rear, though they were
being flanked, which we were made
aware of by a sudden fire into our
train.
''The commander Of the troops had
hauled through pulled the bell cord
and when had come to a halt or
dered his men out of the train. They
drove back the Confederate f1ankers
and Joined the main body.
'The arrival Of re-enforcements
caused the Confederates to withdraw,
and the place was saved.
"As soon as my work was over l
tumbled over on the cab floor. My
fireman picked me up, and revived
very shortly I know what an impor-
tant victory had achieved and want
ed to go right back and tell the gen.
eral all about it. But instead Of that
l went to bed.
1.-THE next morning was all right
and took a train back, passing over
the route l had traversed the night
before and smiling at the phantom OBJ
structfons that had filed me with
horror the night before. AS soon as
arrived an, aid-de-camp told me to
report in person to the general, and l
went to his tent.
"He put. out his hand to me, just as
If had as many stars on my shoulder
rs he had himself.
you've not only saved this army
from a retreat he said, but have
saved the force at L. from capture,
besides preventing the loss of all this
territory we have been months in &C.
quiring. l shall recommend you to
the governor of your state for a COM
mission, and 1 wish you at once to
take personal charge Of the running
Of trains.'''