Year: 1877

keys and acted for ine. But there was
no thought of that


I drove leisurely over, enjoying the
ride much, for the mare, Fanny" was
in excellent spirits, and the air was clear
and bracing.


I had delivered the dispatch, received
a brief word of thanks, and was already
turning homeward, when the director
came himself toward the paling, calling
out to me by name.
I reined up.


"There is some mistake here, Jen-
nings," he said, with some excitement,
waving the dispatch. 'This should not
nave been sent to me, but to our agent. %
| On rehection-'' He knows the contents.
[ suppose?'


On reflection, I couldn't say, and SO
stated.


"Then go back to your post at once
and give it to him. A special train of
excursionists for Hampstead Beach will
pass at $50. Look out for it 70


He turned leisurely and sauntered up
the walk toward the no Use. while with
a word [ started the mare into a trot.


A special train at half-past 9


I drew taut rein with my right hand,
and took my watch from my pocket with
my trembling left.


Nine twenty-five! Three miles of
straight road-less. perhaps, a quarter
of a mile of detour TO the station, when 1
should reach the track-and the main
line open to me westward for the pas
sage of the mail! Three miles, and
eight minutes in which to accomplish
it


In my youth I had known something
about horses, and that knowledge did
not fail me now. I dfew out the long
whip-seldom used-and touched the
mare quietly on the flank.


How can 1 describe that ride?


I have been where charger met
charger iii the swirl and dust of battle,
and men and horses have gone down to-
gether, but in that there was fellowship





can fifty describe the fierce emotions of
that solitary ride against time, where
hundreds of innocent Hves-all uncon-
scious of the peril toward which they
were speeding trembling in the
balance.


recall now the tempest which swayed
my shrinking soul, as. outwardly calm
and rigidly erect with every muscle
strong as steel, held the mare firmly
up to her work, and, by voice and touch,
electrified the noble animal with almost
human consciousness Of the necessities
and peril of the occasion.


Trees, houses, fences, gardens some
times men, staring III wildeyed astonish-
ment-few past ii one unbroken fight
My hat was off, my hair and beard
streaming in the wind my lips COM
pressed, save when emitting low cries of
encouragement to the noble mare and
thus I reached low rise of ground COM
manding a view of the line for mile OF
more on either hand.


Up to this moment, from the time I
had drawn taut rein and glanced at my
watch, this point had been the objective
goal for which was riding.


If [ could reach it before the whistle
blew at the crossing below, there would
be hope. IF not, 1 shuddered at the
alternative.


I recalled afterward, and many times,
how thought of my dream-a long line
of switches swept across me then !
how my eyes, for the first time, swerved
from their steady gaze at my horses
head, and flashed a glance up and down
the whole visible line for the coming
special


Not sight-thank God!


Stay there is smoke on the horizon.


But there is no stay in the wild rush of
our onward course. With as unfinching
nerve as when she started, the gallant
mare stretches away down the gentle de-
clivity, while every moment the distance
lessons, and the on-coming train gets
larger and noisier as it nears us.


[ stand up in the wagon urge to
1 shout, but my voice is beyond my
control. Ha Joy unutterable I am
seen


A whistlc-the agent runs out with a
red fag-two whistles Down brakes !
The train is saved, and comes to halt
not dozen yards from the open switch.
1t was time


(Tine-as they say in the racing calen-
dar-seven minutes and a half. This I
confirmed afterward.)


I complete the last quarter of the de-
tour to the station more leisurely, but
am in time to receive from the arms of
the agent my sleepy little girl, whom he
had snatched from the shadow of that
misplaced switch, where she was lying
fast asleep, with her golden curls direct
ly on the rail.


That dream again Shall I ever be
thankful enough


am an older man now, and have other
and higher interests in railroads, but pot
in that line. That experience was too
much for me. I left soon after, and my
fortunes greatly improved.


My golden-haired little darling is now
a woman, and happily married, and has
little darling of her own, just beginning
to walk


And if you would like to see the gal
liant mare Fanny, that won the race
AGAINST time. and an affectionate place