'2 TLIK TIMES, NEW 11L00M FIELD, 1A., AUGUST 13, 1878. A RAILROAD STORY, TWO or ttiree of m hands lounged out of the club one night Into Bantley'i olllce, to find out the news coining In by cable, which the sleeping town would nut hear until the paper would be out to morrow. Pantley was editor of the Courier. He was scribbling away at driving speed, his hat on, an unllghted .Agar in his mouth. " Vou're at It late, Ben." " Accident on a Western road. Hlxty II Ives lost," without looking up. We seized the long white slips which lay coiled over the table and rend the f dispatch. "Tut, tut!' 11 Infamous I" " No body to blame, of course." "i Ml you the oflloers of the road where euch an accident Is possible .slioiiOdbe tried for murder!" cried Fcr trers. iSantley shoved his copy to the boy and lighted his segar. " I think you're wroiur, Ferrers. Instead of being aUtrtied at bucIi casualitles,I never travel ti a railway that I am not amazed at the scarcity of them. Just think of it. Thousands of trains running yearly on each, with but a minute to spare be twecn safety and destruction, the safety if these depending on conductors, tele graph clerks, brakesmen, men of every grade of intellect, their brains subject to every kind of moods and disease and "tempers; the engineer takes a glass of liquor ; the conductor sets his watch half .-a minute too fast; the flagman fulls :Hkep, and the troln is dashed Into ruin. 1 1 ie not the accident that is to be won dered at ; it is the escape that Is miracu lous !" We bawl all dropped Into seats by this time. The night was young, and one after another told some story of adven ture or danger. Presently Santley said : " There was an accident which occur red on the Philadelphia and Erie road, a few years ago, which made me feel as I do In the matter. I happened to be an eye witivess to the whole affair." " What was it, Ben?" ' Iifs rather a long story " "Xo matter. Goon. You can't go liome until your proof comes in, any. how." " Xo. Well to mnke you understand, about five years ago I had a bad break down night work, hack-writing and poor pay. You know how fast it all wears out the machine. The doctor talked ef diseases of the gray , matter of the brain, etc., and prescribed, Instead of -iuediein absolute reBt and change of scone. I would have swallowed all the 'nostrums in a drug-shop rather than Juive left the office for a week. "' I'.U take country board and send in ary editorials," I said. " No ; you mu9t drop ofllce and work utterly out of your life for a month at least. Talk and think of planting pota toes, or embroidery anything but news papers and politics." Well, I obeyed. I started on a pedes triati tour through Pennsylvania, stud ied oil stock in Allegheny county, and ate sauerkraut in Berks. Finally I brought up footstore and bored beyond bearing in Williamsport. While there, I fell into the habit of lounging about the railway station, studying the con struction of the engines, and making friends with the men. The man with whom I always fraternize most readily is the skilled mechanic. He has a de gree of common sense a store of certain facts which your young doctor or poli tician is apt to lack. Besides, he Is ab solutely sure of his standing ground, aud bas a grave self-respect which teaches him to respect you. The professional lad just started on his career is uneasy, not sure of his position ; he tries to climb perpetually. I tell you this to ex plain my intimacy with many of the of ficials of the road, especially with an en gineer named Blakely. This man attracted me first by his ability to give me the information I wanted in a few direct, sharp words. Like most reticent men, he knew the weight and value of words. I soon be came personally much interested in him. He was about forty, his hair streaked 'with gray, with a grave, worn face, "which hinted at a youth of hardships and much suffering. However, Blake ly bad found his way to the uplands at last. Three years before he had married a. bright, cheerful woman. They had -one child a boy. He had work and good wages, and was, I found, high in lhe confidence of the company. On one -occasion, haviug a Sunday oft", he took anemp to Jersey Shore, where his wife and boy lived. He was an exceptionally mUent man, but when with them was Swpuloug and light-hearted as a boy. In ls eyes Jane was the wisest and Surest of women, and the boy a wonder of iutdilect. One great source of trouble to him ms, at I found, that he was able to eee them but once in three 'weeks. It was necessary for the child's health ta keep them in the country air, mid, indeed hacould not afford to have them elsewhere; but this separated him from them almost wholly. Jane was In the habit of coming with Charley dowu to certain point of the road every dny, that Blakely might see them as he dashed by. Aiid when 1 found out this habit, It occurred to me that I could give Blakely a great pleasure. How often have I cursed my meddling kindness since. January 2.3th was the child's birthday. I proposed to Mrs. Blakely that she and Charley Bhould go board the train which her husband drove, unknown to him, and run up to Harrlsburg, where he had the night off. There was to be a little supper at the Lochlel House. Charley was to appear in a new suit, etc. Of course the whole affair was at my ex pensea mere trifle, but an affair of grandeur and distinction which fairly took Jane'B breath. She was a most In nocent, happy creature; one of those women who are wives and mothers in the cradle. When Blakely found her she was a thin, pale little talloress a machine to grind out badly-made shod dy clothes. But three years of marriage and petting of Charley had made her rosy and plump and pretty. The little Highland suit was bought complete, to the tiny dirk and feather, and very pretty the little fellow looked in it. I wrote down to order a stunning supper, to be ready at eight. Jane and the boy were to go aboard the train at Jersey Shore, a queer little hill village near which they lived. Blakely ran the train from Williamsport down to Har rlsburg that day. His wife being in the pussenger car before he took charge of the engine, of course he would see and know nothing of her until we landed at Harrlsburg at seven. I had Intended to go down into the smoking car as usual, but another fancy, suggested I suppose by the originator of all evil, seized me. No need to laugh. Satan, I believe, has quite as much to do with accidents and misery and death as with sin. Why not V However, my fancy, diabolical or not, was to go down on the engine with Blakely. I hunted up the fireman, and talked to him for an hour. Then I went to the engineer. "Blakely," I said, "Jones (the fire man) wants to-night off"." "Off I O, no doubt! He's taking to drink, Jones. He must have been drinking when he talked of that. It's impossible." I explained to Blakely that Jones had a Bick wife, or a sweetheart or some thing, and finally owned that I had an unconquerable desire to run down the road on the engine, and that knowing my only chance was to take the fire man's place, had bribed him to give It to me. The fact was that In my idle ness and the overworked state of my brain I craved excitement as a confirm ed drunkard does liquor. Blakely, I saw, was angry and exceed ingly annoyed. He refused at first, but finally gave way with a grave civility, which almost made me ashamed of my boyish whim. I promised to be the prince of firemen. 'Then you'll have to be treated as one, Mr. Santley," said Blakely, curtly. " I can't talk to gentlemen aboard my engine. It's different from here, on the platform, you'll remember, I've got to order and you to obey, in there, and that's all there's of it." " O, I understand," I said, thinking that it required little moral effort to obey, in the matter of shoveling coal. If I could have guessed what that shovel ing was to cost me I But all day I went about thinking of the fiery ride through the hills, mounted literally on the iron horse. It was in the middle of the afternoon when the train rushed into the station. I caught a glimpse of Jane on the pas senger car, with Charley .magnificent in his red and green plaid, beside her. She nodded a dozen of times and laughed, hid behind the window, fearing her hus band should see her, Poor girl I It was the second great holiday of her life, she had told me, the first being her wedding day. The train stopped ten minutes. It was neither an express nor an accommoda tion train, but one which stopped at the principal stations on the route Selins grove, Sunbury, etc. I had an old patched suit on, fit, as I supposed, for the service of coal-heaver ; but Blakely, when I came up, eyed it and my hands sardonically, He was in no better tern per,evldently, with his am ateur firemen than he had been in the morning. " All aboard!" he said, gruffly. " You take your place there, Mr. Santley. You'll put in coal just as I call for it, if you please, and not trust to your own Judgment." His tone annoyed me. "It cannot re quire much judgment to keep up a fire under a boiling pot, and not to make it too hot. Any woman can do that in her own kitchen. He made no reply, but took his place in the little square box where the greater part of his life had been passed. I noticed that his face was flushed, and his irritation at my foolish whim was surely1 more than the occasion required. I watched him with keen curiosity, wondering If It were possible that lie could have been drinking, as he had ac cused poor Jones of doing. "It strikes me bb odd," Interrupted Ferrers, "that you should have not only made an Intimate companion of of this fellow, Santley, but have taken so keen an Interest In the tempers and drlnklngbouts. You would not be like ly to honor any of ub with bucIi atten tion. " No. I have something elae to do. I was absolutely Idle then. Blakely and his family for the time made up my world. As for the friendship, this was an exceptional man, both as to Integrity and massive hard sense. The knowl edge that comes from books counts with me but for little, compared with the education given by experience and con tact with facts for forty years. I was honored by the friendship of this grimy engineer. But the question of his so briety that day was a serious one. A man in charge of a train with hundreds of souls aboard, I felt ought to be sober, particularly when I was shut up In the engine with him. Just as we started a slip of paper was handed to him, which he read and threw down. 1 Do you run this train by telegraph 1" I asked, beginning to shovel in coal vigorously. " Yes. No more coal." " Isn't that unusual r-" " Yes. There are two special trains on the road this afternoon." 1 Is It difficult to run a train by tele graph V" I said presently, simply to make conversation, as staring in silence at the narrow slit In the gloomy furnace or out at the village street, through which we slowly passed, was monot onous. "No, not difficult. I simply have to obey the instructions which I receive at each Btatlon. But If you should happen to think the Instructions not right 1"' "Happen to think ! I've no business to think at all! When the trains run by telegraph the engineers are so many machines in the hands of one control ler, who directs them all from a central point. He has the whole road under bis eye. If they don't obey to the least tit tle their orders, it Is destruction to the whole. ' You seem to think silent obedience the first and lust merit in a railway man V " Yes," dryly. I took the hint and was dumb. We were out of town now. Blakely quickened the speed of the . engine. I did not speak to him. There was little for me to do,and I was occupied In look ing out at the flying landscape. The fields were covered with a deep full of snow, and glanced whltely by, with a strange, unreal shimmer. The air was keen and cutting. Still the ride was tame. I was disappointed. The excite ment was by no means equal to a dash on a spirited horse. I began to think I had little to show for my grimy hands when we slowed at the next station. One or two passengers came aboard the train. There was the inevitable old lady with bundles, alighting, and the usual squabble about her trunk. I was craning my neck to hear, when the boy ran alongside with the telegram. The next moment I heard a smother exclamation from Blakely. " Go back," said he to the boy. " Tell Sands to have the message repeated. There's a mistake." The boy dashed off, and Blakely sat waiting coolly, polishing a bit of the shining brass before him. Back came the boy. " Had it repeated. Sands is raging at you. Says there's no mistake, and you'd best go on," thrusting the second mes sage up. Blakely read it, and stood hesitating for half a minute. I never shall forget the dismay, the utter perplexity that gathered in his lean face as he looked at the telegram, and then at the long train behind him. His lips moved as if he were calculating chances, and his eye suddenly quailed, as if he saw death at the end of the calculation. " What's the matter r" What are you going to do V" I asked. " Obey." The engine gave a long shriek of hor ror, that made me start as if it were Blakely'sown voice. The next Instant we rushed out of the station, and dashed through the low-lying farms at a speed which seemed dangerous to me. " Put in more coal," said Blakely. I shoveled it in. " We are going very fast, Blakely," I ventured. He did not answer. His eyes were fixed on the steam gauge; his Hps close ly shut. " More coal !" I threw It In. The fields and houses began to fly past but half seen. We were n earing Sunbury. Blakely's eye went from the gauge to the face of the timepiece and back. He moved like an automaton. Thero was little more meaning In his face. " More 1" without turning his eye. I took up the shovel hesitated. : "Blakely! We're going very fast. We're going at the rate of sixty miles an hour." "Coal." I was alarmed at the Btcrn, cold rigidi ty of the man. His pallor was becom Ing frightful.. I threw In the coal. At least we must stop at Sunbury. He had told me that was the next halt. The Utile town approached. As the first house came In view, the engine sent out Its shriek of warning ; It grew louder and louder. We dashed into the street, up to the station, where ft group of passengers waited, and past It with out the halt of an InRtant. 1 caught a glimpse of the appalled faces of the wait ing crowd. Then we were In the fields again. The Bpeed now became literally breathless, the furnace glared red-hot. The heat, the velocity, the terrible ner vous strain of the man beside me, seem ed to weight the air. I found myself drawing long stentorlous breaths, like one drowning. I heaped In the coal at Intervals, as he bade me. " I'd have done nothing of the kind," interrupted one of the listeners. " The man was mad." I did it because I was oppressed by an odd sense of duty, which I never had in my ordinary brain-work. I had taken this mechanical task upon myself, and I felt a stricture upon me to go through with it at any cost. I know now how it is that dull, Ignorant men, without a spark of enthusiasm, show such heroism sometimes, as soldiers, engineers, cap. tains of wrecked vessels. It Is this over powering sense of routine duty. It Is a finer thing than sheer bravery, to my notion. However, I began to be of your mind, Wright, that Blakely was mad, laboring under some sudden frenzy from drink, though I had never seen him touch liquor. He did not move hand or foot, except in the mechanical control of the engine, his eye going from the gauge to the timepiece with a steadiness that was more terrible and threatening than any gleam of insanity would have been. Once he glanced back at the long train sweeping after the engine, with a head long speed that rocked it from side to side. You would catch glimpses of hun dreds of men and women talking, read ing, smoking, unconscious that their lives were all in the hold of one man, whom I now strongly suspected to be mad. I knew by his look that he re membered their lives were In his hand. He glanced at the clock. "Twenty miles," he muttered. " Throw on the coal, Jones. The fire is going out." I did It. Yes, I did it. There was something in the face of that man that I could not resist. Then I climbed for ward and shook him by the shoulder. " Blakely!" I shouted, " you are run ning this train into the Jaws of death." "I know it," quietly. " Your wife and child are on it." " My God!" He staggered to his feet. But even then he did not move his eye from the gauge. " In a minute " " Make up the fire," he said.and push ed in the throttle valve. "I will not." " Make up the fire, Mr. Saniley," very quietly. " I will not. You may murder your self and wife and boy, but you shall not murder me." He looked at me. His kindly gray eyes glared like those of a wild beast. But he controlled himself in a moment. " I could throw you out of the door, and make short work of you. But look here; do you eee the station yonder V" I saw a thin wisp of smoke against the sky, about five miles in advance. "I was told to reach the station by six o'clock. The express train meeting us is due now. I ought to have laid for it at Sunbury. I was told to come on. The track is a single one. Unless I can make the siding at that station in three min utes, we will meet in the hollow." " Somebody blundered V" " Yes, I think so." "And you obeyed ?" He said nothing. I threw on coal. If I had had petroleum, I would have thrown it on. But I never was calmer in my life. When death has a man ac tually by the throat it sobers him. Blakely pushed in the valve still far ther. The engine began to give a queer panting sound. Far off to the South I could see the bituminous black smoke of a train. I looked at Blakely inquiringly. He nodded. It was the express. - I stooped to tue fire. " No more," he said. I looked across the clear, wintry sky at the gray smoke of the peaceful little village, and beyond, that black line coining closer, closer, across the sky. Then I turned to the watch. In one minute inore . Gentlemen, I confess ; I sat down and burled my face in my hands. I don't think I tried to pray, I had ft confused thought of a mass of mangled, dying men, and women, mothers and their babies, and, vaguely, of a merciful God. Little Charley with his curls and pret ty suit There was a terrific shriek from the engine, against which I leaned. Anoth er in my face. A hot tempest swept past me. I looked up. We were on the siding, and the express had gone by. The hindmost cars touched in passing. " Thank Ood I You've done it t Blake ly!" I cried. But he did not speak. He sat there Immoveable, and cold as stone. I went to the cars and brought Jane and the boy to him, and , when he opened his eyes and took the little woman's hand in his I came away. An engineer named Fred, who was at the station, ran the train Into Harrls burg. Blakely was terribly shaken. But we went down and had our little feast after all. Charley, at least, enjoy ed It." "What was the explanation? A blunder of the director, or the telegraph operator V" " I don't know. Blakely made light of It afterwards, and kept the secret. These railway men must have a strong esprit de corps.1' All I know Is that Blakely's salary was raised soon after, and he received that Christmas a very handsome " testi monial for services rendered," from the company. VEGETINE I Will Try Vegetine. Ho Did, AND WAS CURED. , Dblawarr, O., Feb. 16, 1878. Mr. H. It. Stevens: Wear sir 1 wish to give you this testimony, that you may know, and let others know, what Vegetine has done lor me. About two years ago a small sore came on my leu; It soon became a large Ulcer, so troublesome that I consulted the doctor, but I got no relief, glowing worse from day to day. I suffered ter ribly: 1 could not rest day or night; I was so re duced my friends thought 1 would never recover; I consulted a doctor at Columbus. I followed his advice: It did no good. I can truly say 1 was dis couraged. At this time I was looking over my newspaper; I saw your advertisement of Vegetine, the "Great Blood J'liritler" for cleansing the blood from all Impurities, curing Humors. Ulcers, &o. I said to my family, I will try some of the Vegetine. Before I bad used the first bottle 7 began to feel better. I made up my mind I had got the right medicine at last. I could not sleep well nights. I continued taking the Vegetine. I took thirteen bottles. My health Is good. The Ulcer is gone, and I am able to attend to business. I paid about four hundred dollars for medicine and doctors before I bought Vegetine. I have recommended Vegetine to others with good uo uess. I alwayskeep a bottle of It In the house now. It is a most excellent medicine. Very respectfully yours, K ANTIIOM. Mr. Anthonl Is one of the pioneers of Delaware, O. He settled here In KM. He ( a wealthy gen. tlemen.ot the firm of F. Anthonl & Hons. Mr. Anthonl is extensively known, especially among the germans. He Is well known in Cincinnati. He is respected by all. Impure Br-ooa In morbid conditions of the blood are many diseases; such as salt-iheum, ring-worm, bolls, carbuncles, sores, ulcers and pimples. In this condition of the blood try the Vegetine, and cure these affections. As a blood purifier It has no equal. Its effects are wonderful. VEGETINE Cured Her. Dorchester, Mass., June 11.' Dr. Btevbsb: Dear Sir, I feel It my duty to say one word in regard to the great benefit I have received from the use of one of the greatest wonders of the world; it Is your Vegetine. I have been one of the greateit sufferers tor the last eight years that ever oould be living. I do sincerely thank inytlod aud your Vegetine for the relief I have got. 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Stevens: Dear Sir, I have told Vege tine for a long time, and and it gives most ex cellent satisfaction, A. B. DE Fl K.ST. M. D., liaileton, Iod . VEGETINE Prepared H. R. STEVENS, Boston, Mass. aug Teeetlue Is Sold by all Dm grists. J. M. 0 IB via. J. H. Gravis. J. M. GIRVIN & SON., -FLOUR, GRAIN, SEED & PRODUCE Commission Merchants, No. 64 South (.'t, St., BALTIMORE, MD. We will pay strict tttentlou to the sal of all kinds of Country J'roduce aud remit the amount promptly. . 45 lvr. J. M. GIRVIN & BON. MEN'S Wl r Don't you want somecheap nniiiui jauisinu ctUHS T f you do, dou'l fall to ex. amine the splendid assortment for sale by p. MOHTIMEK. You can suit yourself in style and prlc.
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