Cornell University Library The original of tliis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924075702351 924 075 702 351 c FROM THE THROTTLE TO THE PRESIDENT'S CHAIR A^ Story of America/n Hail/way Life EDWAED S. ELLIS, A. M. AUTHOK OP "LOST IN SAMOA," "TAD; OB, GETTING ETEN WITH HIM," " DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI," ■' LOST IN THE WILDS," "UP THE TAPAJOS," ETC. NEW YORK THE MERSHON COMPANY PUBLISHERS Copyright, 18158, by THE MERSHON COMPANY. CONTENTS. eady for the run by the engineer who assumes charge. Most of this preliminary work was done by Bob, who rose early, rubbed and oiled his machine, got steam up, and had everything prepared for Matt Fields in ample time. The latter had barely brought the Hercules to a halt when Montague pushed his way through the crowd to the engine. Bob was nearer to him, and had only time to identify the young man when he handed him the all im- portant letter. "There's something which concerns you, sir," he re- marked, in his supercilious way. Bob took it without a word and thrust it into his pocket, while Matt, who had not observed the act, came from the other side of his engine and stepped upon the platform, TO THE PRESIDENT'S CHAIR. HI pleasantly greeting the young gentleman, who walked be- side him as they left the station. " There is hut one opinion about what you did the other night," remarked Montague, who seemed anxious to pro- pitiate the grim engineer. "What do you mean?" saked Matt, quite certain, how- ever, to what he referred. " The way you knocked that log off the track down at Dead Man's Hollow." "X didn't do it; it was the Hercules. She happened to hit it right; that's her style, you know." " But it was a powerful piece of work ; you must have made some very fine calculations." "I don't know as I did," replied the engineer, to whom this kind of talk was anything but pleasant. Montague persisted in adding more extravagant compliments, and finally bade Matt an effusive good-by. The latter walked a block in the darkness and then looked back as if in quest of the young man. He was not in sight, and the engineer shrugged his shoulders. "If he knew — if anyone knew the real reason why Matt Fields didn't stop the Hercules that night, he wouldn't be so free with his compliments. The fact was I didn't intend to run into the log, but — but — but — I suppose it must aU come out some day!" CHAPTER XXI. A BLtTNDBE. LLOYD MONTAGUE WORTHLEY was in a jubilant mood. Things were moving just to suit him. Bob Lovell was discharged, and he on his way to pay his re- spects to Miss Evelyn Walbridge, youngest daughter of the president of the Irondale and Ofalca Railway Company. 112 FROM THE THROTTLE Her father was very wealthy, and Montague — well, he felt warranted in believing that he was the favored one among the many suitors for the hand of the beautiful heiress. Why did Montague Worthley feel such hatred toward Bob Lovell? Because one was mean and the other noble. Young Lovell had proven his superiority over Montague in every respect from their earliest boyhood. There is some- thing in this human nature of ours which resents the supe- riority of others. We are inclined to feel that they have no right to be our betters, and to dislike them for that very reason. Montague Worthley looked a long way ahead. A shock of alarm passed through him when he learned that Bob Lovell had entered the service of the company, even though it was in the humble capacity of fireman. He remembered how easily that boy had distanced him at school and in all athletic sports, and he knew that in any kind of race be- tween them, where fair play was shown, Bob Lovell would win. Who would think that a fireman could outrun the only son of the superintendent of the road in the struggle for pro- motion? And yet such things have been done. Por^further particulars read the history of the presidents and ofScials of the leading railways of our country. Montague dreaded a competition with Bob, even though the latter began at the bottom of the ladder and the former well toward the top. What he feared might not be prob- able, but it was possible; and you will understand, there- fore, why he was so relieved^when he reflected that Bob was ruled off the course altogether. In other words, he had been discharged, and competition was out of the ques- tion. Montague was attired in the most fashionable clothes of the season, and it cannot'be denied that he made a good appearance. His shapely feet were inoased in patent TO THE PRESIDENT'S CHAIR. 113 leathers, over which skeleton rubbers were drawn, for it was icy and slippery on the streets ; his small hands were covered with amber-hued kids ; his necktie was' irreproach- able, his silk tile faultless, and the glimpse of his linen showed it to be like snow, well setting off the two carat diamonds which shone just below his neck. He threw back the collar of his ulster as he entered the fashionable drinking place known as the Hole in the Wall, and, walking to the tables at the rear, where the latest files of sporting papers lay, sat down and ordered a fancy drink. The young"man did not forget that he was about to pay his respects to a fastidious young lady, and it was hardly the thing to go into her presence with the odor of ardent spirits about him. But Montague was plentifully supplied with cloves, sassafras root, and that sopt of thing. Besides, he did not intend to do more than sip the fluid in the nar- row necked vessel at his elbow. His chief errand in this saloon was not that which led so many into the corrupting place. He wanted to brace himself for the momentous interview with Miss Walbridge, for, though he was not yet ready to propose the all impor- tant question, on account of her youth, yet, he meant to give some pretty plain hints in that direction — enough to "draw her out," as he expressed it to himself. When an ardent lover is confident of standing within an hour or two before the eyes of his adored one, it would be very strange if he did not feel nervous. Besides this, Montague had several letters in his pockets, to which he wished to give further thought. He had read them all, but several would bear a second or third reading. Accordingly, after touching his lips to the flavored poison in the glass, he slid his left hand under his right shoulder, where he carried in an inner pocket his most pre- cious missives. He drew out half a dozen, and, flinging 114 FROM THE THROTTLE them on tlie table before him, began sorting them in the search for a particular one. The next moment an imprecation escaped him. Before him lay the envelope directed to Robert Lovell — just as he had written it less than an hour before in his father's ofBce. Snatching it up, he tore the seal, hoping the mis- take he dreaded had not been made. But there was the curt notification to the young man that his services for the company terminated the next day. "Well, I'm blessed!" muttered the young man (except that his expletive was much stronger than the one I have given) , " if that isn't a little ahead of anything yet. How- ever, I can send the right letter to-morrow — only it's in- fernally provoking to make such a blunder as that. If the govenor finds it out, he will laugh, and say that fate had in- terfered " Montague Worthley almost fell to the floor. He had re- called that he handed a letter to Bob Lovell, which mani- festly was the wrong one, but What letter was it ? Well might the astonished young man ask himself the question, for among his missives was one which he would not have fall into other hands for the entire worth of the I. & O. corporation. "If it's that letter, I'm ruined! " he gasped, as the coM beads of perspiration formed on his forehead, and he hastily gulped the contents of the glass to prevent himseK from fainting. Then he began a desperate search through every recep- tacle in his clothing. As a person will do at such times, he examined them over and over again and looked into the places where it was impossible the article should be. He stooped and peered under the table, snatched up the newspapers on the stand and glanced beneath them, shook his hat as though it were hid in the lining, and then hastily TO THE PRESIDENTS CHAIR. 115 shuffled what letters he had, in the weak hope that the one he wanted was insinuated among them. It was gone! Beyond all question, Montague had com- mitted the unspeakably stupid blunder of handing it to Bob LoveU, instead of the one meant for him. What rendered it the more exasperating was that the missive bore no re- semblance in appearance to the one intended for the fire- man. It passed all comprehension how the mistake was committed. But it was done, and, it was characteristic of Montague Worthley that, when no doubt ,'was left, he resumed his seat, and, for several minutes, made everything blue around him. So intense indeed was his gnawing disgust that he drew the attention of others, who wondered without inquir- ing its cause. The spasm of furious chagrin having passed, he was seized with a mortal dread of the consequences to himself, unless the missing letter was recovered without delay. "What will LoveU do after reading it? " he asked, with an awful sinking at the chest. " He is such a high-toned, Sunday school sort of fellow, that, when he sees the letter isn't directed to him, he will refrain from reading the con- tents — Oh, pshaw ! " How idle to rely on any such hope as that ! Montague bounded to his feet, and, without looking to the right or left, dashed out of the Hole in the WaU, and started up the street in the direction of Bob Lovell's house. It was not very late in the evening, and he was confident of finding the young man at home. No thought now of Miss Evelyn Walbridge. The sweet question which so agitated the bosom of the young man but a short time before must remain unanswered until a more convenient season. Important as that subject was, it could bear no comparison with the one that was hurrying him along the street. 116 FROM TEE THROTTLE He had kicked off the skeleton rubbers -when he entered the Hole in the Wall, intending to thrust his feet into them before coming out ; but in his excitement he forgot them, and was hurrying over the icy pavements with no thought of the risk he was running. "That telegram of Hem Oxx's was blown right into Lovell's hands, and, as if that wasn't enough, I must turn over to him the very letter that will give me dead away. There is some deviltry about this, which — ^thunderation ! " Just then Montague's two feet shot up in air, his hat flew off, and he came down with a bump, that he was sure must have caused a bulge on the other side of the earth. He heard snickering across the street, and picking himself up, moved along so gingerly that he escaped further mishap. Tes ; Bob Lovell was at home and answered the knock at the door. Without any salutation, the nervous Montague began. " I'm afraid I made a mistake this evening and handed you the wrong letter ; I'll give you the right one to-mor- row. Let me have the one you have ; of course you saw it was not directed to you, and no gentleman under such cir- cumstances would read the contents. I don't know what you did, but hurry up and let me have it." "The hour is so late that I can't give any time to busi- ness to-night. You will have to call round in the morning, and then I will see what I can do for you." And Bob Lovell shut the door in the face of the insolent youth. CHAPTER XXII. AX INTBEBSTING LETTEE. HAD Bob Lovell's gentle mother overheard the conversa- tion, brief as it was, between her son and Montague Worthley, it is more than likely she would have chided TO THE PBESIDENT'S OH AIR'. 117 Mm for his brusqueness; but Bob was following the course he had laid out for himself some time before. He had shown favors and kindnesses without number to the young man, only to be repaid with snubs and^meannesses which made his blood boil. Since Montague refused all overtures, Bob accepted the conditions : it should be war, and he would never bow to save himself from discharge. He knew several of the officials on the Inverwick and Quit- man road, and he had been told that he could have a situation whenever he chose to ask for it. But to enter their employ would take him from his loved mother and sister most of the time, or compel them to move to some other place, and he dreaded the change. Bob did not need the hint he received from Twomey that Montague was using the incident of Dead Man's Hollow as a pretext to secure his discharge. It was known that Hematite Oxx had instituted suit against the company, and Montague insisted that the luxury of young Mr. Lovell came altogether too high for them to enjoy. When, therefore, he handed the envelope to Bob with the remark quoted, the fireman did not doubt that it was a notice of his discharge. He would not please Worthley by reading it in his presence, and thus it came about that the recipient remained as ignorant for a time as did the sender that the missive was not the one intended for him. Bob was angry through and through. He felt that he had been made the victim of the dislike of the most despicable person in the whole State; but, with the grim heroism which was a part of his nature, he went through all his duties without glancing at the paper in his pocket. Making his way home, he still_ declined to look at it until it was time to go to his room. He had said nothing to his mother, and decided not to tell her until morning. When at last she and Meta had kissed him good-night and withdrawn to their rooms, leaving Bob, as they sup* 118 • FROM TSE THROTTLE posed, to read the newspaper, he withdrew the letter from his pocket. It was then that his second surprise came. " Helloa ! the letter isn't sealed. Yes, it has been, but was opened; how's that? " He did not notice the superscription, but drew out the sheet and read the following : New Yokk, December 7, 18 — . Dear Flamm : It was a slip the last time, but we'll fetch her when we load up and fire again. We have our eye on the Wells & Fargo,- but we shall have to lay low till it blows over. The next time we will chain the log down to the track, won't we, Flamm ? Keep your eyes peeled and you can count on us every time. How's the arm 1 Help Hem all you can. He's true blue. Quiz, Mystified and wondering. Bob read this note through several times. Then he looked at the envelope, and saw that it was mailed in New York, and directed to "L. Montague Worthley, Esq." Then it was that light broke upon Bob Lovell. " He has given me the wrong letter," and throwing baok his head, he laughed so heartily that his mother called down to learn the cause of his merriment. Bob replied that he was reading something which amused him, and the good mother, glad that her boy was in such ^fine spirits, wooed slumber again. After his mirthfulness Bob felt serious, for there was a grave side to the matter. Not only was the letter a con- fidential one, but it ^unmistakably connected Montague Worthley, son of the superintendent, with the men who attempted to rob the Night Express a short time before. The direction on the latter showed that it was intended for this young man, while the contents referred to the fail- ure some nights before at Dead Man's Hollow. This ref- TO THE PRESIDENT'S CHAIR. 119 «rence was too direct to be explained on any other hypoth- ■esis. " Can it be that Montague has any connection with those criminals?" Bob asked himself, immediately adding: " I hope it isn't as bad as that; there isn't a meaner fel- low living than he, but it would break the hearts of his father, mother, and sister. Let me see," added the^roung fireman, who was now thinking fast, " Montague has been away for a couple of weeks; he comes back with an injured arm; I wonder^whether it was done by that bullet, which I sent at a venture from the cab the other night ! " This was a daring presumption, and Bob hoped that he had made a mistake. Much as he despised young Worthley, he found it hard to believe he was an actual criminal, one strong ground for such disbelief being his well known cowardice. Bob sat silently meditating over the matter, when the ring of the door knocker startled him. "It is he, come for his letter," was the correct conclusion of the youth as he hurried to answer the call. Had Montague Worthley possessed any tact, he could have extricated himself from the bad hole into which he had stumbled through his own carelessness. He ought to have made a courteous request for the letter, and then, out of gratitude, secured the recall of Bob's discharge. Had this been done. Bob would have met him half way, and, though his sense of right would. have impelled him to warn the youth of the awful peril in which he was placed, yet he never would have betrayed him. But you have learned of the insulting form in which Montague made his demand. Bob refused him, and going back to his room, decided that, inasmuch as Providence had placed such an effective weapon in his hand, he would hold it for emergencies. The incident naturally filled the young man's mind t6 120 FROM THE THROTTLE the exclusion of anything else. All dispostion to sleep was gone, and, although the hour had become quite late, he called to his mother that he was going out for a while. She replied, "Very well," for she was one of those happy parents who have no fear of trusting their boys anywhere and at all times. Bob had no clear purpose in venturing forth into the crisp, wintry night, except that it would cool his brain and enable him to think with more clearness. Besides this, per- haps he felt some curiosity to know what had become of Montague Worthley. He was not likely to go directly home, and might come back to Bob's house. The enterprising town of Ofalca contained about six thousand inhabitants, and was furnished with most of the conveniences and luxuries of modern cities. As a conse- quence, when Bob left his own doorstep, he walked over good flagging, from which, except here and there, the snow and ice had been removed. The fact that he was on the lookout for young "Worthley caused him to survey the almost deserted street more closely than at any other time. "My gracious! I believe that is he!" he whispered, before he had taken a half dozen steps. The hour was so late that hardly anyone was visible, but by the aid of,^the lamp,"he saw the figure of a man, dimly outlined in front of the house on the other side of the street. "If it's Montague, let him make the first advance," was the conclusion of Bob, as he sauntered in the direction of the main street. Keeping a sharp watch over his shoulder, he was not sur- prised to discover the perpon following him, though he made no move to cross to the same pavement. The young fireman allowed this to continue for^ several blocks, when, at the first crossing, he passed to the other TO TBE PRESIDENT'S CHAIR. 121 Bide and, facing about, walked directly toward Me "shadow." The latter did not check his progress or try to avoid him. Determined to give him a chance to speak, Bob loitered until they came face to face under the lamplight. Then, to his amazement, he discovered that it was not Montague Worthley, but Hematite Oxx, and that he meant to ex- change some words with him. CHAPTER XXni. SOWIKG GOOD SEED. BOB LOVELL might have felt some misgiving about meeting Hematite Oxx face to face, at this late hour, in the deserted street, but for the pleasant words the man had spoken to him that morning. As it was, he made him a half-military salute as they met under the lamp, and said, " Good-evening, sir." " How do you do ? " replied Oxx, extending his hand ; " I left the hotel on purpose to see you." " I am at your service. Will you walk back to my home ? We will be alone." The individual hesitated a moment, and suggested that they go to the hotel, but that was a considerable distance away, and he accepted the invitation. Accordingly they wheeled, and a few minutes later were seated in the sitting room of Bob's house. The latter turned up the gas, and, stepping to the foot of the stairs, called his mother in a moderate tone. There was no answer, proving that she was asleep. As I have said, she was not troubled by any fears that her boy would go wrong when not under her eye. Hematite Oxx threw off his ulster, and at Bob's invitation continued his cigar, which he was about to throw into the blazing grate. He offered one to the youth, who smilingly 122 FROM THE THROTTLE declined, with the remark that he had not yet acquired the habit. " Well," said his visitor, flinging one leg over the other and settling back in his rocking chair, " I wanted to see you on rather particular business. I don't claim to be a saint, but I'll be hanged if there aint some things I won't do." Bob wondered what he was aiming at, and observed : " I am sure there are a good many things you wouldn't do." "I don't know about that," said his guest, gently draw- ing at his cigar and looking into the glowing coals. " It would be better if there were more. I forgot to say to you this morning that I received my revolver, which you sent round to my room." " I ought to have sent it sooner, but it slipped my mind." " It was all in good time. I suppose you have heard about my suit against the company." "I have been told that you have brought suit for damages." " So I did, but it is settled." " I didn't know that." " Tes, I made them a proposition this afternoon, which I learned a little while ago would be accepted. They give me a liberal sum, and have done what I demanded." " You were quite fortunate," said Bob, who still failed to see what his visitor was hinting at. " I suppose you know the condition on which I agreed to accept a sum considerably less than I first asked ? " " I do not." " It was that you should be discharged from the employ of the company." Bob's heart gave a quick throb, for like a flash he saw and understood a great deal of recent events. TO THE PRESIDENT'S OH AIR. 123 " Haven't you received notice ?" asked Oxx in surprise. " Montague Worthley walked down to the station this evening as we came in, and handed me a letter, which he said would interest me. I have no doubt he meant to give me a notice of my discharge, hut he made a strange mistake^ and passed over an envelope which contained another letter altogether. He called here a while ago to get it back, but I concluded to hold fast to it for the present. It makes mighty interesting reading, and, if he persists in persecuting me without a cause, I may be able to turn it to account as a.- means of defense." Hematite Oxx did not try to hide his astonishment. He- suddenly sat bolt upright in his chair, and holding his cigar between thumb and forefinger, stared at the youth, while a single muttered exclamation passed his lips. He was about to speak, but repressed the words, and, settling back, rocked vigorously, and puffed as though his cigar was on the point of expiring. " Lovell," said he a minute later, " the meanest thing T ever did was to tack that condition to my proposal. It was- suggested to me by another party, but it isn't necessary toi mention his name." " No, for you and I know there is only one person in the "United States who would think of it." Hematite Oxx laughed as though the remark pleased him, and hastened to say : "I agree with you. I didn't think much of it at the time, and when a certain party asked, as a personal favor, that I would make the demand, I consented. After he was gone, I got to thinking it over, and the more I thought the meaner I felt. I finally made up my mind to send a second communication to the superintendent, withdrawing the de- mand, and I had begun writing it, when what should be brought to my room but a message from Superintendent Worthley, asking me to call at his house that evening I" 324 FROM THE THROTTLE It was Bob's turn to be surprised. He suspected what was coming, but it was almost too good to be true. " Have you called ? " ■"I have," replied Oxx, with a smile, "and I found the old gentleman at home. He was sitting alone in his library and expecting me. It was plain to see there was something on his mind, and it didn't take him long to make it known. He said he was so troubled over your discharge that he couldn't rest. He had'sent for me to talk the matter over, and to learn whether I couldn't be induced to withdraw the condition. He offered me five hundred dollars from his own pocket if I would do so. You ought to have seen him open his eyes when I shut him off at that point and told him I had already made up my mind to do what he wanted. It was on my tongue to let him know that the whole thing was the work of his son, but I was afraid of hurting his feelings, and I said nothing on that point. He insisted that I should take the money he offered, but I re- plied that one infernally mean thing a day was all I could stand. Then he wheeled right round to his desk and wrote a note which he said would be delivered to you the first thing to-morrow morning. Seeing how pleased he was, I offered to place it in your hands this evening, and here it is." Hematite Oxx, while speaking, had fished out an envel- ope from the pocket of his coat, and flirted it toward Bob, who deftly caught it on the fly. The words were few, but to the point : JtOBERT LOVELL, ESQ. Mt Dear Sib : The communication from my office of to-day, notifying you of your discharge, is recalled. Tou will consider it un- dent, and continue your duties as heretofore. Very respectfully, Cavam-y Woethlet, Supt. "It was very kind in you, Mr. Oxx, to do this," said Bob in a tremulous voice ; "I hardly expected it." TO THE PRESIDENT'S CHAIR. 125 " Don't mention it," replied the caller, with an impatient wave of his hand. " I'm disgusted enough to kick myself to think I ever consented to such a thing." " I am sure you will agree with me, Mr. Oxx, that it pays to be just and charitable to all." " I admit that it does in this case." "Yes, and in all others," Bob hastened to say, anxious to sow a few grains of good seed on the soil which cannot be said to have been very promising. " The career of some people seems to disprove the old saying about honesty being the best policy, but there is a reward higher than anything the world can give." The visitor was silent. He was unaccustomed to such language, but he felt its truth, and his not unhandsome face became more thoughtful, as his eyes remained fixed on the glowing grate before him. " Yes," he said with a faint sigh, " my father and mother taught me that, but, when I went out into the world, it seemed to me they were wrong. Rascality, dishonesty, meanness, appear to [be the qualities which succeed in this world. And yet, after all, you are right." "It is hard to submit to many of the trials which meet as at every turn. Montague Worthley has no just grounds for disliking me, and yet the object of his life seems to be to injure me. It has been hard more than once to prevent myself from throwing all restraint to the winds and thresh- ing him within an inch of his life " " It's a pity you don't do it." " It will be a greater pity if I do. If he persists in hia wrong-doing, he is sure to sup sorrow. I have been re- strained more than once by my sympathy for his folks. You know what a good man his father is. If he learned what I could tell him about his son, it would break hi» heart. I hope he will never know it. I hope Montague 126 FROM THE THROTTLE will not be led so far astray that he cannot retrace his steps before it is too late.'* These were daring words, as Bob Lovell meant them to be. Convinced as he was that the man before him was one of those who were leading young Worthley along the downward path, he made this appeal to his better nature in the hope that he would listen to the voice of conscience, which was not yet dumb. It is well that we know when we have said enough. The best intentioned persons often destroy the good they have done by overdoing it. When your shot strikes home, stop and let the wound rankle. Hematite Oxx had finished his cigar, but he sat for several minutes silent and thoughtful. Then he turned and looked searchingly at the youtli, who '.elt a certain embarragsment under the fixed stare. "Well," said he, with a singular touch of sadness, "yon are a remarkable young man. I shall not forget what you have said." " I pray you may not," replied Bob, helping on his ulster ; " everyone builds for himself, but make not the mistake of building for this world instead of for eternity." The Tiext morning Bob had finished his early meal, had kissed his sister and mother good-by, and had just left his own door on his way to tlie round house, where the Her- cules was awaiting attention, when he found himself face to face with Montague Worthley, who was walking rapidly to- ward him. The countenance of the young man was flushed, and it was evident he was in anything but an amiable mood. " I'll take that letter now," he said brusquely, stopping ehort in front of Bob, who looked up in surprise. " Hallo, Flamm, is that you ? " he called out in return. A hot glow mounted to the face of young Worthley, who TO THE PRESIDENT'S CHAIR. 127 drew out the right letter from his pocket, and handed it to Bob with the remark : " That is the one I meant to give you ; we will trade." " I don't know that I care about receiving yours," replied the fireman, declining to take the missive. " It is from the superintendent and is meant for you. You will find its contents interesting." " I might have found them so last night, but another has reached me that is still more interesting." " What do you mean ? " asked Montague, in angered amazement. " Read for yourself." As he spoke. Bob handed the communication of the night before to him, and he read it with wrathful astonishment. There could be no mistaking the handwriting and the im- port of its contents. His countenance grew pale, and he uttered an imprecation. " I'll see Oxx about this. What can be the matter with him?" " Nothing at all ; your father saw him last night, and it was arranged between them. I don't think you are smart enough, Flamm, to upset their agreement." " What do you mean by calling me ' Flamm ? ' " " Have you never been addressed by that name ? " " Never, until you had the impudence to apply it to me." " Who, then, is ' Flamm ? ' " " I never heard of the person." " Ah, then the letter which you handed me was not in- tended for you. Probably you stole it from the ownei-, and since you have no claim upon it, I will keep it until 'Flamm ' presents himself." It cost Montague Worthley a great efi'ort to prevent his temper from breaking all bounds. He would have liked to assault Bob Lovell and take the missive from him, but he was too certain of the result of such an attempt. 128 FROM THE THROTTLE He saw that despite his precaution the cool Bob was get- ting the best of him at every turn. But he must have the letter at all hazards. His manner changed, and with an insinuating smile, he said in tones that were meant to be persuasive : " Come, Bob, what's the use ? It isn't fair to treat me that way. You never were so rough on me before. I'll be awfully obliged to you if you will let me have the letter." This abrupt change of front did not deceive the young fireman, but he choose to suppress some of the rasping words that clamored for utterance. " Why didn't you speak that way in the first place ? Now,'Tague, if I let you have the letter and say nothing about it, will you cry quits with me ? " " Of course I will ; it's a bargain." " And you'll stop bearing down on me so hard ? " " Of course ; we'll shake hands over it and let by-gones be by-gones. There are some things in the letter which look odd to one that doesn't understand them, but really. Bob, they don't mean anything." The soft, effeminate hand of young Worthley was thrust impulsively into the hard palm of the fireman of the Her- cules, and the pressure and saluting could not have been more hearty. When it was over. Bob Lovell drew from his pocket the envelope that had caused all his mental misery and passed it to Montague. The latter glanced at the superscription, to make sure another mistake had not been made, and then hastily shoved it into the inner pocket of his coat, beneath his ulster. Words cannot express his relief when he felt that the comprornising letter was once moi'e in his possession. Hastily bidding Bob a curt good-by, he wheeled about and almost ran down the street. " If I ever make another such a blunder, I'll blow ont TO THE PRESIDENT'S CHAIR. 129 my own brains, but if I do blunder like that again it will be proof that I haven't any brains to blow out. As for Lovell, I guess it will be wise to let up for a while ; I've been pushing him a little harder than is wise, but I hate him more than ever before, and I'll even up matters before long. He wants to be an engineer on our road, but he never shall. There won't be any trouble in fixing things 80 that he will stumble into a hole where he will be buried, and Til do it ! " The eyes of the young man flamed with passion as be muttered this threat. There could be no doubt of his earnestness. He entered his own home a few minutes afterward and joined his parents at breakfast. A casual question or two brought out the truth of what he suspected : Hematite Oxx had called the evening before, while he was away, and spent considerable time with his father in the library. There was no trouble to read the meaning of that^ interview. When alone in his room for a few minutes before going- to the oflSce, Montague drew out the envelope which had_ dispelled all sleep for the night previous. " I'll wind up this part of the business," he muttered^ withdrawing the folded sheet from within ; " I'll burn this and caution the boys to be more careful in writing me — great Scott ! " The sheet which he produced and unfolded was blank. There was not the mark of a pen upon it. Bob Lovell had baffled him again. 130 FROM THE THROTTLE CHAPTER XXIV. BOB LOVELL AT THE THEOTTLE. BOB LOVELL had cause to feel grateful over the out- come of the recent events. Despite his distrust of Montague Worthley, he knew his own situation as an employee of the Irondale and Ofalca Railway Company was more secure than ever. Matt Fields mounted the engine at the round house and brought the cars into the station, where they waited ten minutes for the baggage and express matter to be taken aboard and for the passengers to assume their places for the journey westward. " All aboard ! " called Twomey, in response to the " Right here ! " from the brakemen ; and then, with a wave of his hand he added to the expectant engineer, " Go ahead ! " The Hercules, in response to the slight jerk on the lever, gave a resounding puff, and the ponderous drivers began slowly to revolve. There was no sand coursing through the curved pipes upon the rails, and no slipping. Matt (although he did not always do it) had that art of the accomplished engineer who knows how to start his train without the'disagreeable jerks and jolts we all,have felt. The engine moved so slowly that President Walbridge, who was on the train, looked out of the window and asked the superintendent at his side : " Did you know we are moving ! " " No — is that so ? So we are — ^but that is because we have a master at the lever." The puffs grew faster, as the pace of the Hercules rose, until when they were almost running togethei', they sud- denly ceased, and the next instant came out of the smoke- TO THE PRESIDENT'S CHAIR. 131 stack faster than ever, though so faint that they were hardly perceptible. That was because Matt had applied the "cut off," by which, as I have already shown, the steam in the cylinder follows the piston head only a part of the way, ■darting in on the other side so quickly that the speed rapidly rises to a high point. The run to Ivondale, more than a hundred miles away, was fairly begun, and the Hercules seemed to snuff with pleasure like the racer, when he bounds across the plain. Only at rare intervals did the engineer look at his watch, for he was so accustomed to the movement of his engine, and so familiar with every point of the road, that he knew whether he was gaining time, falling behind, or holding his own. Dead Man's Hollow was due five minutes before ten, the distance being thirty-five miles from Ofalca, which point was left precisely at nine in the morning. Since the Hercules could not strike her regular gait until after wind- ing her way over a series of switches, extending for an eighth of a mile from the station, and since there were one or two other points where it was necessary to hold up, it will be admitted that the Day Express was scheduled to make good time. Matt took out his watch the moment he swept far enough around the long curve in the woods to catch sight of the trestle-work of Dead Man's Hollow. As he had done be- fore, he smiled and held the timepiece so that Bob could see the face. The latter nodded pleasantly, for they were on time to a second. Just then Matt shut off steam, and applied the air-brakes with such vehemence that every car took that peculiar, shuddering movement which is felt when the stoppage is 60 rapid thait all the passengers bump against the seat in front, look anxiously in each others' faces, and ask what the trouble can be. Bob glanced ahead, and saw a man standing in front 132 FHOM THE THROTTLE of the trestle-work holding a flag ; but it was white, not red, indicating there was no danger. " It's all right ! " he shouted to the engineer, who in- stantly released the brakes and quickly recovered the sweeping pace. " Confound him ! " muttered Matt angrily, " why did he show the red flag first ! " and he shook his head at the man, as they thundered by him and upon the bridge. He was the " boss " of a gang of laborers repairing the track, and had no business to delay unnecessarily the ex- press or mail. .He ran the risk of discharge by doing so. The trip was about half finished, when Matt asked Bob to take a turn at the throttle. Brief as had been his ser- vice on the road, he had already guided the Hercules a goodly number of miles, so, without the least hesitation, he assumed the place vacated by Matt, and rested his hand on the lever. " Hold her about where she is," said the engineer ; " she is doing well enough." Matt took a look at the furnace, tested the steam gauges, and finding everything working right, seated himself on the left, where Bob was accustomed to sit, when not at work, and carefully noted how the youth handled the engine. He could not but admire the performance. The lad car- ried a fine timekeeper, the gift of his father, and after run- ning a few miles he glanced at it, instantly returning it to its place. The next minute he shut off steam to an almost imper- ceptible degree, soon resuming it as before. Matt smiled. The Hercules was running slightly too fast, being about a half-mile further along the road than she ought to have been. The fireman had drawn on the rein until the right pace was struck. When the Junction was descried in the distance, both TO THE PRESIDENT'S CHAIR. 133 Bob and Matt were on the alert. Although accustomed to come to a stop before reaching the crossing, it was neces- sary to halt a quarter of a mile east of the regular station, unless the signal to keep on was displayed. It was this signal which the engineer and fireman were looking for. As Bob approached, he shut off steam and gently applied the brakes, so as to hold the train in hand, in case he was obliged to stop. While in the very act of throwing the brakes with their whole force against the wheels, Matt looked quickly across and called : "There it is!" Bob nodded, jerked'open the throttle, and the Hercules galloped down to the station, where she was reined up with a skill that Matt Fields could not have surpassed. It was at this point that Bob turned over the engine to its rightful master, and never was his heart sadder than when he did so. A growing suspicion in his mind had become conviction, and he could have shed tears of genuine sorrow and grief. CHAPTER XXV. BOB AT HOME. THE Day Express never made a more admirable run than on that wintry morning, when she drew up at Irondale, not a second behind time. It was the same at every station, though the halts were few. Both the presi- dent and superintendent walked forward to the engine and complimented Matt Fields on his performance. " Not that there is any special call for commendation," explained the superintendent, " for the reports show that it is the rule with you." " The Hercules is the best engine on the road," replied the 134 FBOM THE THROTTLE modest engineer, feeling as though he would like to pat the neck of the iron horse, if it had only possessed a neck to caress ; " but then Bob Lovell ran a part of the way." " Under his eye," the blushing fireman hastened to add. " He is rather young to be trusted with the running of a locomotive," said the president, " but you were really the director." " He don't need much direction," said Matt ; " and I wouldn't be afraid to trust him with an engine." " His time will come," was the pleasant remark of the leading officer of the road, as he bade the employees good- by and walked away with the superintendent. The result of the kind remarks that had been made to Bob Lovell was to make him magnanimous. He had re- solved that morning to keep the compromising letter of Mon- tague Worthley, not with any idea of using it wrongly, but to hold it as a sword of Damocles over the head of the unscrupulous youth. But, although convinced of the treacherous disposition of his enemy, Bob reflected that he had as yet received no proof of it, and was not likely to receive it for an indefinite time to come. Besides, he believed the truth of what his mother had said so many times to him : he had but to do right and leave the rest to Heaven. When, therefore, the Hercules drew up at the Ofalca station that evening and Montague Worthley was seen standing on the station with his face paler than ever. Bob concluded not to keep him in suspense. " Do you know you made a bad mistake this morning ? " asked the youth the moment the fireman stepped off the engine. "What was that?"- " You gave me the right envelope, but no letter was in- side." " Tou don't tell me ! " laughed Bob, taking his coat from TO THE PRESIDENT'S CHAIR 135 the box on his side of the cab, and hastily examining his pockets ; " it must be here. Ah, I think that's it." ' Montague's hands trembled as he nervously opened the folded piece of paper handed him. " Yes, that's right," he said, after a glance at the hand- writing, and without another word he turned on his heel and hurried ofiE. " You are welcome to it," muttered Bob, stepping back and holding himself ready to run the engine to shelter, after passengers, baggage, and express parcels were on the platform. No young man could have had a more delightful home than the young fireman of the Hercules. His mother was an educated lady of natural refinement, and the mutual love of herself and children could not have been more tender and perfect. Small as were her means, she was able, with the help of her noble son, to give Meta, her daughter, the best educational advantages Ofalca afforded. Meta was as bright and popular as her brother, and though only three years younger than he, she held her place at the head of her classmates in the Ofalca Young Ladies' Seminary. Among the attendants of that admirable institution were Effie Worthley, the sister of Montague, who was about the same age as Meta. She was a beautiful girl, and possessed something of her brother's disposition, and, but for the fact that she found herself so often in need of the assist- ance of Meta, which was always cheerfully given, she would have treated her with such patronizing airs that the proud Meta would have rebelled. The next best pupil, and in some respects the equal of Meta, was Evelyn Walbridge, the youngest daughter of the president of the Irondale and Ofalca Railway Com- pany. She was a few months older than Meta, and was a brunette of striking loveliness, not only in face, feature and 136 FBOM THE THROTTLE form, but in manners and disposition. She was inclined to be mis'chievous, but with it all was so kind-hearted, so brimming with good nature, and so affectionate, that the teachers, while compelled to scold her, loved her all the more. One of the most charming characteristics of Evelyn Wal- bridge was her unconsciousness of her superior social posi- tion and her affection for Meta Lovell. The friendship between these two girls was trusting and unselfish. There never was a gathering at the stately mansion of Mr. Wal- bridge, where young folks were present, that Meta was not the first of the invited. It was out of Meta's power to give anything like the entei'tainments she attended, but that did not prevent Evelyn from being a frequent visitor at the humble home. She frequently took tea with Meta, and sometimes spent the night with her. Mrs. Lovell was such a lovely woman that Evelyn often told her that she was as much an attrac- tion to her as was the daughter, while Bob was the finest young fellow in town. She was fond of teasing and making him blush, for she declared it made him look really handsome. He ac- cepted her sweet persecution philosophically, but never allowed his feelings to tempt him to anything like pre- sumption. He treated her witli the utmost circumspection and respect, not believing she could entertain any other than sisterly feelings toward him. When he found, however, that Montague Worthley had .turned his eyes in that direction, a strange pang went through Bob's heart. He wondered whether Evelyn could ever bring hei'self to listen to young Worthley's suit. If she did, he could no longer feel that respect which was part of his being. But he resolved that he would not allow himself to think of so painful a subject. It was on Saturday that the president and superintendent TO THE PRESIDENT'S CHAIB. 137 took the ride I have described, and, as was Matt Field's practice, he exchanged with a friend, who ran the train from the Junction to Ofalca and back the following Mon- day morning. By this means Matt was able to spend Sunday at home, the Express slowing up to let him off and picking him up at the same place on the return trip. Sunday was a delightful day with Bob Lovell. It was spent almost invariably in the same manner. Like his mother and sister, he was a member of the leading church, which they attended together in the morning, unless the weather was very stormy, in which case the brother and sister went alone, for there could be no weather tempestu- ous enough to keep them within doors. Bob had been a teacher for several years in the Sunday School, while Meta was a member of a Bible class. Beside this, the young man took a prominent part in the temperance meetings held in the most wretched part of the town. Bob sang well, and could make an excellent address, and these gifts were often called into use. But for the fact that he was not at home until quite late during the week, most of his nights would have been employed in a similar manner. Perhaps it may not interest you to learn about Bob Lov- ell's home life : you may find more entertainment in reading of the adventures which befell him in riding upon or in running the Hercules (and I have more stirring incidents to tell you than have yet been related), but after all, it is the home life which is the real test of a person's character. If you want thoroughly to know a boy, visit him at home, and study his life there. If he is respectful, obedient, and loving to his parents ; if he is kind, affectionate, and unselfish to his brothers and sisters ; if he is thoughtful of the feelings of others ; if he prefers his home to any other place ; if he wishes the company of some members of the household when he goes out ; if the enjoyment of himself is secondary to that of ©thers — why that young man is 138 FROM THE THROTTLE safe, and, if he lives, fortune and happiness are as sure to come' to him as is the darkness to flee before the rays of the rising sun. Now, I don't pretend to say that Bob Lovell was a per- fect youth. He made his mistakes, as do all persons of his years, and his hasty temper sometimes led him to say and do things which were better left unsaid and undone. But he was building upon a firm foundation ; his character was founded on right principles, and the president and su- perintendent of the railroad were not the only ones who predicted good things of him. He read and studied. Meta often wanted his opinion on subjects that were discussed at school, and he intended to be able to converse intelligently about them. .He would have been proud could she have surpassed him in this respect, but he meant she should struggle hard to secure that place. As for mother, neither could hope to get beyond her^ She had had every advantage in her younger days, and the keen minds of her children were inherited from her. We would have enjoyed the sight, all of us, could we have seen those three in the cheerful sitting room, discussing some knotty question in moral philosophy, some problem in higher mathematics, some new discovery in physics, or the utter- ances of some ambitious philosopher or investigator in the realms of speculation, who had just found out that the whole system of Christian theology was a delusion, that the most learned and best men that had lived for eighteen cen- turies were fools, and that his own "system" was destined to reconstruct the universe in general and make everything lovely. It would have been entertaining, I say, to listen to these discussions, but I shall have to leave them to your imagina- tion, and proceed with a history of the career of the single male member of the little group. TO THE PRESIDENT'S CEAIB. 139 CHAPTER XXVL ONE MORNING IN MAT. THE birthday of Evelyn Walbridge came in the month of May, the season of fragrant flowers, of bright skies, and the most charming of all weather. The parents of the girl were indulgent to their children, and, since Evelyn was the youngest, she was the special pet, or " baby," of the family, as her father insisted on viewing her. He declared that, like the rest of his children, they could never grow too old to sit upon his knee, to tell him all their troubles, and to meet him with a kiss when he stepped across his own threshold. The affection between the members of that household was of the most touching nature. Evelyn knew that a plot was on foot to give her a hand- some present, but with all her ingenious questioning and sly investigations, she was unable to learn what it was. None of the president's children was forgotten on such occasions, but they generally managed to obtain an inkling of what was coming, as is the rule at such times. But, as I have said, Evelyn was entirely in the dark until the delightful spring morning dawned and she came downstairs to receive the mock chastisements which every member of the family insisted was due her on her birthday. She saw nothing in the nature of a present as she moved about the house, though her bright eyes took in everything, but the significant looks and smiles on the faces around her left no doubt that something was on the carpet. The surprise came when she was asked to the front door, where, just outside the gate, stood a beautiful black pony attached to a gem of a phaeton. 140 FROM THE THROTTLE " They are yours ! " said her father, who, like all the rest, was not less happy than the astonished girl. Evelyn jumped up in the air, and clapped her hands with delight. Then her arms were around her father's neck and she was smothering him with kisses, and declaring him to be the best father, not only in the United States of America, but in the whole wide, wide world. When the burst of excitement was over, she ran down the graveled walk, unfastened the pony, sprang into the car- riage, and was off in a cloud of dust. She took a spin of half a mile, and returned as radiant as a sunbeam. Of course each sister had to ride with her after breakfast, the father and mother declining until some more conven- ient season. Then the spirited pony was put in the stable to be given a rest until the afternoon. Meanwhile, a message was sent to Meta Lovell to be ready at two o'clock to take a ride with the joyous owner of the prize. " Papa told me that Prince is a mettled animal, and that I must use great care in driving him. Just as though there was a possibility of an accident with me holding the reins ! " And the expression on the face of the president's daugh- ter showed the scorn she felt that such an idea could have entered the head of her parent. Meta assumed a similar expression, and it was a full fourth of a minute before Evelyn could recover her voice. "Well, I mean to find out how much go there is in Prince. Thei-e isn't any chance to let him out while in town, for I don't want to be arrested for fast driving on my birthday, so what do you say to trying the turn- pike?" " It will be grand, " replied Meta, her eyes snapping with anticipation. " I think it will be lovely ; we will have a splendid road, with two or three miles as hard as a floor, broad enough to TO THE PRESIDENT'S CHAIR. 141 give us elbow room and afford a chance for the other steppers to save themselves by getting out of our way — and, Meta, weHl let Prince out. " " There's only one thing, " said Meta, after they had gone a short distance, " a part of the turnpike runs along the railroad track, and if we happen to meet a train " " We'll run a race with it, " broke in Evelyn, with a laagh. " I would enjoy it, but " " It would be better than the chariot race at Barnum's. Oh, now, Meta, why are you trying to frighten me ? You know you will enjoy it as much as I do. " The turnpike to which Evelyn had made reference extended a little more than five miles westward from Ofalca. Beyond that point it became so broken and rug- ged that the majority of the company decided it wouldn't be right to charge toll, or i-ather they decided that the people wouldn't pay it if it was charged. The turnpike was older than the railroad, and a grave complaint was made that for a full half-mile the two high- ways ran nearly parallel, and were of the same level, the turnpike crossing the track at an acute angle. An inevitable consequence of this state of things was that there had been numerous runaways, and one or two serious accidents. There was much discussion over the remedy, but no action was likely to result for a long time to come. Those who held the reins over the most spirited pacers generally managed, so far as they could, to avoid the dangerous portion of the road when the regular trains were due. It was early in the afternoon when Evelyn Walbridge reached the turnpike on the westerly side of the town and started Prince on a brisk trot. She had decided to let the pony step off at a lively gait for about three miles, when they would turn about and put him through his best paces on his return. 142 FROM THE THROTTLE " What is the hour now ? " Her friend glanced at her chatelaine and replied that it lacked a quarter of three. " There are no regular trains due for an hour," remarked Meta, who had the time table of the road in her brain ; "so we won't run any risk from them. There may be a coal or freight train or some extra, but the chances are slight." " Bob isn't due till evening ? " " No ; it will be nine o'clock by the time he passes over this part of the road." " I wish he would come along now" said Evelyn, turning her sparkling eyes on her friend. "Why?" " I would like to run him a race." " Why, Evelyn, what can the best horse do against a lo- comotive, and you know the Hercules is the swiftest engine on the road ? " " I have heard father say that. Of course Prince couldn't equal it in speed, but then I think lie could make that engine hurry," added the girl, whose pride in her steed could not be kept down, as he struck a swift pace of his own accord. " We may come out here some morning and give the Hercules a trial." " No ; I shan't do that, for Bob's engineer would be mean enough to beat us, and both would wave their hands and laugh as they went sailing by." The road crossing was shortly reached, and as Prince was brought to a walk, the girls looked up and down the track for any trains. None was seen, and they drove on at a merry rate, happy as happy could be. TO THE PRESIDENT'S CHAIR. 143 CHAPTER XXVII. AT THE TUENPIKB CEOSSING, IN the nature of things, a locomotive must run down and eventually wear out, like an ordinary horse. Every en- gine, therefore, has to take its turn in going temporarily out of service for repairs, which may ocoupy^several days, weeks, or months, according to the state of health of the iron steed. The Hercules had been limping for some time. Her valves were leaking, there was considerable lost motion in the valve connections, and, since the two wanted turning off pretty badly, it was decided to " shop " her. In running to the shops. Matt Fields had orders to meet the west bound freight at the siding, a few miles out of Ofalca, and it was easy for him to keep ahead of the after- noon accommodation, which was not far behind the Her- cules. This, as you will observe, gave a free run to Ofalca, but the passenger train would be on the heels of Hercules, pro- vided it was on time and the latter did not step lively. Matt decided it would be perfectly safe to run into Ofalca ahead of the accommodation, and, after a careful examina- tion of his engine, he decided to do so. " She would stand another week's run," he remarked to Bob, as he climbed into the cab, after inspecting every part of the machinery ; " so we'll pull her wide open and let her whizz." During the few months that had passed since Bob ran the Hercules part of the way to Irondale, with the presi- dent and superintendent among the passengers, the fire- man had become fully acquainted with the make and run- ning of the locomotive, and Matt Fields was not far from right when he said Bob Lovell was the equal in skill of any engineer on the road. 144 FROM THE THROTTLE And during that period, too, Bob had learned the truth of a distressing suspicion which had entei'ed his mind for the first time on that same run. He kept his own secret, and never hinted it to Matt Fields himself. The latter must have suspected that Bob had discovered it, but he, too, held his lips sealed, though the anxious expression on his honest countenance left no doubt of the anguish he suffered. The result of this singular state of things was the deter- mination on the part of Matt Fields that he never would hold the throttle of the Hercules unless Bob Lovell was in the cab with him. The latter expected Matt to invite him to take charge of Hercules after leaving Jigtown, but he did not. It may have been that in the brisk run before him he wished to stand where he could observe every throb of the engine's heart, and hold himself ready to check its progress on the instant he detected any disordered pulsation. With no train to draw, Hercules required comparatively little attention from the fireman. The coal which he shoveled into the furnace at Jigtown, while Matt was ex- amining the engine, was sufficient to last to Ofaloa, and no more oiling was necessary. So all Bob had to do was to sit in his place on the left of the cab, ring the bell as they ap- proached the crossings, and watch for obstructions. A wild engine, as it is sometimes called, is peculiarly exposed to danger, since it runs out of schedule time, and, though its v/hereabouts may be known to the officials and employees of the road, its appearance is unexpected to others. You may have observed, too, that a locomotive moves more smoothly when drawing two or three cars than when going alone. The load acts in the nature of a balance wheel, and prevents that violent jolting and swaying seen when the engine is plunging forward with nothing besides its tender. TO THE PRESIDENT'S CHAIR. 145 In reply to Matt's inquiring -wliistle, the brakeman of the freight waved his hand to signify that all was right, and, with slightly diminished gait, tlie Hercules rattled over the switches to the smooth track beyond, where she quickly attained high speed. Something like four miles of straight track stretched toward Ofalca, and Matt determined that his engine should come to a halt at the shops within the five succeeding minutes. Bob Lovell was still sitting on the left, with the bell cord idly grasped in his motionless hand, which rested on his hip, while he gazed over the country, sweeping so rapidly behind him. His eyes were fixed on nothing in particular, for the scene was too familiar to awaken special interest. He gave a gentle pull at the bell as they approached the turnpike crossing, but was looking to the left instead of ahead, w^hen he heard Matt Fields exclaim : " Good Heavens ! they will be killed ! " Glancing at the engineer, he saw him instantly shut off steam and apply the brakes with such rigidity that the wheels were instantly locked and the Hercules slid forward like a sleigh over the snow. The suddenness and awfulness of the danger must have upset Matt Fields, who was generally cool-headed. The violent application of the brakes produced scarcely a dim- inution of speed, whereas, if he had held the wheels, as has been explained, so as to make them revolve reluctantly, the restraint would have been at the greatest point. And immediately after he did the worst thing possible, by emitting an ear-splitting screech from the whistle. The instant he uttered his terrifying exclamation. Bob Lovell glanced to the front. He saw a phaeton, in which were seated two girls, one of whom was pulling desperately at the reins, while the panic-stricken horse was making for the crossing on a dead run. 146 FROM THE THROTTLE Evelyn Walbridge and Meta Lovell were having their wish for a race with a locomotive. The pony and phaeton were some distance ahead, going at a tremendous pace along the highway, and they and the engine were rapidly converging toward the point where road and railway crossed. The speed of the Hercules of course was greater than that of the flying horse, but she was be- ginning to feel the curb of the bra]ie, and it looked as if the meeting between her and the doomed horse could not be averted. Clearly there was but one way of avoiding a frightful accident : that was for Matt instantly to loosen the brakes, and put on all steam again. This would give the engine such an advantage of speed that it would shoot by the crossing before the pony, even though on a dead run, could reach it. Bob Lovell saw what Matt failed to see, and shouted : "Qo ahead! We can heat them!" But alas ! it seemed to the veteran that there was but one thing to do, and he did it by holding the brakes in place, and emitting another terrifying blast from the whistle. CHAPTER XXVIII. A BEAVE DEED. BOB LOVELL glanced ahead again. As he did so, one of the occupants of the phaeton looked around, and the youth, with a shock beyond the power of words to de- scribe, recognized the white face of his sister Meta. Al- most the same moment he knew the other was Evelyn Wal- bridge, who, half rising in her seat, tugged with might and main at the reins, while Meta partly rising also beside her added her strength. But Prince had taken the bit in hia TO TEE PRESIDENT'S CHAIR. 147 teeth, and their efforts added to, rather than detracted from his terrible pace. It was then that Bob Lovell lost his coolness for the mo- ment. Instead of appealing again to Matt to drive the Hercules forward, he jerked open the door in front of his seat, and ran rapidly to the front of the engine. "When he started, there was no defined object in his mind : it was the result of instinct, rather than reason. Before reaching the front and pausing on the cross piece over the pilot, he had determined on an attempt that ninety-nine persons in a hundred would have declared simply added his own death to that of his sister and friend. The phaeton was on his side, the convergence between it and the engine being so close that hardly six feet separated them. There was a perceptible slackening in the speed of the horse, who was beginning to feel the result of his ter- rific efforts ; but alas ! the same was the case with the Her- cules, and, unless a change took place within a second or two, the animal was certain to get in front of the engine, where he must stumble, and fling himself and the occupants beneath the wheels of the plunging locomotive. Oh, why did not Matt give the Hercules steam and, free- ing the brakes, let her bound away from the carriage ? To do so, would instantly carry her beyond the horse, who would strike the level road on the other side, where he could be brought under control. Bob turned and made an agonized gesture to Matt, but his view was partly shut off by the engine, and it was use- less. Then, without an instant's hesitation, he turned again, and gathered his muscles for the great feat on which he had determined. Now, Bob Lovell, pray God to help you, and make the supreme effort of your life. A loved sister and one for whom you entertain an affection unsuspected in its fullness, even by yourself, are on the brink of death, and you are 148 FROM THE THROTTLE 4o be the instrument of their salvation, if they pre to be saved. Aye, bend your muscles, set your teeth, hold your breath and make the leap, for everything must end in the passing of a breath I Ah, how royally the brave fellow acquitted himself 1 No trained gymnast could have surpassed that thrilling bound which carried him from the corner of the engine, through the intervening space, and landed him in front of the girls. The speed of the horse and locomotive were so nearly equal at that moment, that scarcely a shock was caused by the leap, it being much the same as if engine and horse were standing still. "Now," muttered the fireman, as he seized the lines, " you will stop or I will pull your head off ! " His iron fingers were powerful, and, with one foot on the dashboard in front, he drew the reins back with a fury that must have sent the blood tingling through the veins of the mad charger. At the same time he threw most of his force in the left rein, drawing the head around until the foaming nostrils were pressed against the shaft. Prince felt that a master had him in hand, and rearing, plunging, bounding, standing almost erect, struggling to loosen the fearful grip, but still going forward, he swerved to the left with such slackened speed that Hercules slid by, while the snorting horse, all a tremble, and with his sides heaving like a pair of bellows, came to a halt with such suddenness that the occupants barely saved themselves from being thrown violently to the ground. There was a second when the pretty phaeton stood on its two side wheels, but, concluding not to go over, it settled back in place again. The Hercules went more than a hundred yards further, when she came to a standstill. Matt Fields, whose TO THE PRESIDENT'S CHAIR. 149 frightened face was thrust far out the window, paused only long enough to throw the engine out of gear, when he leaped to the ground and ran back to learn whether any- one was injured. " Young ladies, it doesn't pay to run a race with a loco- motive when it isn't pulling a train of cars." It was Bob Lovell who, having checked Prince, turned about and addressed the odd remark to Evelyn and Meta. The poor girls, realizing they were saved, were ready to swoon ; but they were too young and strong and sensible to give way, even though they felt a momentary faintness from the reaction. Prince was in such a state of excitement that h-e was liable to make off again. Before giving time to the girls to answer his jocose remark. Bob passed the lines to Evelyn, leaped to the ground, and, running forward, took the animal by the bit. Then, by patting his neck and uttering soothing words, he soon calmed his terror to such an extent that he became manageable. By the time Matt Fields reached the spot, matters had quieted down, and both girls had sprung from the vehicle. " You dear, good, noble fellow ! " exclaimed Evelyn. Stepping hastily to the unsuspecting Bob, and throwing both arms about his neck, she impressed a warm kiss squarely on his mouth. Bob felt as though it was he that had been caught under the pilot and was undergoing a crushing process. He could only gape and wonder what the world was coming to. At this juncture Meta, with eyes full of tears, put one arm about her brother's neck, and, as he drew her to him, she buried her face on his shoulder and sobbed as if her heart was breaking. " Bob," said Matt Fields, as happy as the rest over their marvelous deliverance, " I'll take charge of the horse until you get through," 160 FROM TEE THROTTLE Matt was a good horseman, and, leaving the others to themselves, he led the animal a short way down the road and back again, until he saw he had so fully recovered from his panic that the girls would have no trouble in handling him. ' The young fireman tenderly kissed his sister, who lifted her head, wiped the tears away, and looked at Eveljn. Miss Walbridge smiled, and asked : " Aren't you proud of him ? " " I always was," was the triumphant answer. " Bob isn't any better this minute than he was yesterday or a year ago." " I beg you," protested the scarlet-faced youth ; " that's enough. If I had taken time to think I wouldn't have made the jump, but as I asked you a minute ago, what's the use of trying to run a race with a locomotive ? " " I think we held our own pretty well," replied Evelyn, with the old saucy flash in her sparkling eyes. " You seemed to try to run away from us, but had hard work ; and if you hadn't turned Prince aside, he would have beaten you fairly." Bob threw back his head and laughed. Not only was he happy over the escape of the girls, but the memory of those lips pressed so ardently against his own raised his spirits to the effervescing point. " But I wasn't aware that you were the owner of such a fine turnout," said he. " I never saw this pony and phaeton before." "This is Evelyn's birthday," said Meta ; "they are a present from her father,, and Evelyn invited me to take a spin with her." " And we have spun," interposed the gay-he;irtcd girl; " I don't think I shall forget this anniversary of my natal day if I live to be considerably older." " This is a bad place to drive," said Bob, more seriously. TO TEE PRESIDENT'S CHAIR. 151 " and I hope you will take your outings somewhere else un- til Prince becomes better acquainted with the engines." " He has had a pretty good introduction," laughed Evelyn, as she approached the phaeton and stepped within, before Bob could help her, Meta immediately following. Matt passed the reins to Evelyn, saying : " Girls, you never can have a narrower escape than you've had this afternoon. It has been my luck to have the Hercules kill several persons while I held her throttle ; but among 'em all, there was not one that I looked on as so surely doomed as I thought you were when I saw your horse running away and heading for the crossing." " I would suggest that since the lesson won't be lost on you," ventured Bob, "you say nothing about the occurrence. It will distress your people unnecessarily " " Robert Lovell," interrupted Evelyn, in a high voice and with a reproving look, " do you suppose I am going to keep this secret ? Do you imagine I could if I wanted to ? And I don't want to. No, indeed ; I am going to hurry home on purpose to tell the folks. I am going to tell everybody I know. I am going to make sure that a full account is in the Banner next week. I intend to send a picture of you to one of the illustrated papers in New York. I will get Miss Bevins to let all the girls write a composition on it next week ; and maybe I can persuade Dr. Schure- man to make it the text of his sermon on Sunday. I say nothing about the occurrence ! I am ashamed of you ! Get out of the way, Robert, or I'll run over you." And waving him a gay good-by, Evelyn turned the head of Prince in the right direction, and with a twitch of the lines sent him off at a lively pace. As the wheels were bounding over the rails, the driver turned and nodded her head to the happy Bob, Meta doing the same, and they went down the turnpike at a rate which made it look as if they would reach Ofalca ahead of the Hercules. 152 FROM THE THROTTLE Matt Fields glanced at his watch. "By George," he exclaimed, "its time for the accom- modation." The two made a run for their machine, and mounted it at the moment they caught the faint whistle of the other engine down the road. The Hercules had sufficient start, however, and speedily striking her pace, she reached the shops at Ofalca all in good time. CHAPTER XXIX, THE PENALTIES AND EBWAKDS OE FAME. EVELYN WALBRIDGE was a young lady who set great store on her word. She could not pardon the deliberate breaking of a promise. From this it will be understood that her pledge to proclaim the brave deed of Bob Lovell was fulfilled in spirit and letter. The young fireman would not have been human had he not felt an occasional thrill of pleasure in hearing the sincere compliments which reached him from so many quarters, though he did think there was far more made of the act than was in good taste. The Ofalca Banner sent its reporter to interview him. The reporter boasted of an experience on a metropolitan paper, and he was sure no one could give him points in the way of pumping information from any man, no matter how I'eluctant he might be to yield the truth. The great point this young gentleman made on his vic- tims was to keep them from suspecting they were talking to a newspaper man. He contended that, by doing so, they were induced to converse more freely, and his experience taught him that he was sure of obtaining valuable infor- mation. Bob was at work in the shop, when a dapper youth in- TO THE PRESIDENT'S CHAIR. 153 troduced himself as the representative of the Provident and Metropolitan Insurance Company of New York. Having heard of the creditable exploit in which Mr. Lovell had lately figured, it occurred to them that he might like to take out a policy in their company. Before Bob could decline the proposition, his caller veered to the subject that was in his mind. He had heard so many conflicting accounts of it, that for his own satisfaction he determined to go to headquarters and learn the facts himself. Thus appealed to, Bob could not refuse to state in a modest way the truth concerning the narrow escape of his sister and the daughter of the president of the road. A few general questions followed as to his age, his relatives, and his personal history. The fireman did not answer them when they trended too close, but he was courteous at all times, and said more than he wished out of a dislike of hurting the inquirer's feelings. Bob never dreamed that the man was any other than he pretended, until the Ofalca Banner appeared a few days latter. Then, when he opened the sheet (the outside be- ing " patent matter") he received a shock that almost took him off his feet. There, in big capitals at the top of a column, appeared the following headlines : A HERO ON THE ENGINE 1 BRAVE BOB LOVELL 1 THE DARING EXPLOIT OF A EIEEMAK ! From this heading you can form an idea of the column of description which followed. It was so extravagant and fulsome that Bob felt his cheeks tingle, and he instantly determined to go away from Ofalca until the matter should blow over. He was completely mystified when the writer gave an ac- count of his interview with Bob at the shops. There were 154 FROM THE THROTTLB questions and answers of which he held not the slightest rec- ollection, and the history of the exploits of his Revolution- ary ancestors was news to him. His perplexity was partly cleared up when the reporter naively stated, toward the end of the account, that, with the purpose of inducing the diffident fireman to talk, the writer had approached him in the guise of an insurance agent. " I would like him to approach me again," muttered the indignant Bob, with flashing eyes. " My gracious ! what's that ? " To his consternation he read the following at the close of the article : " We understand that the Illustrated Gazette of the next week will contain a handsomely engraved portrait of Mr, Lovell, together with a faithful illustration of the thrilling scene, with the hero in the act of leaping from the engine Hercules, when it was running at the rate of a mile a minute. The picture will be accurate, the writer of the present article having furnished the data." I am afraid I can't do justice to Bob's emotions when he read the last lines. He boiled over. " I'll whip that fraud ! " he muttered, hastily changing his working clothes for his street attire, " and then I'll have my name in the paper again. I won't be held up to ridicule in that style. How did they get my picture for the Illus- trated Gazette ? I'll illustrate that young man." Bob had finished changing his attire, when he reversed the performance. Sober second thought came to his rescue, and he saw how ridiculous he was making himself. " It would not only be foolish, but wrong," he muttered, hanging his head, as he saw Matt and one or two others viewing him with curiosity ; " but, all the same, I wish I could go to Canada for a few months. This is becoming unbearable." Fortunately, however, for Bob's peace of TO THE PRESIDENT'S CHAIR. 155 mind the promised likeness of himself did not appear in the publication. I have made no mention of the gratitude of President Walbvidge's family to the young fireman, perhaps because that was the most interesting feature connected with the in- cident. The father called at Bob's house in person to thank him in the most fervent manner. There could be no doubt of his sincerity. The tremulous voice, the moistened eye, and the nervous pressure of the hand were eloquent of the thankfulness of the old gentleman that his " baby " had been spared to him through the daring of one of the employees of the I. & O. Within the following fortnight a small box was left at Bob's home, he learning the fact upon his return from the shops in the evening. His mother and sister had not opened it, though Meta's curiosity was roused to a high pitch by recognizing the directions as being in the handwriting of Evelyn Walbridge. Bob purposely tantalized her by insisting that the writ- ing was not hers. Instead of opening the package to find out, he was disposed to let that part of the business go while he argued the question with her. At last he consented to solve it, and display the contents to the expectant daughter and mother. After removing any quantity of tissue paper and wrap- pings, they were brought to light. They consisted of a gold watch and chain of exquisite make and workmanship. Within the outer case was engraved the following : To Robert Lovell, in grateful remembrance of Ms inestimable service in saving Evelyn, my beloved daughter, from death. May 13, 18— Cummins WALBRmoB. 156 FROM THE THROTTLE CHAPTER XXX. THE ASSISTANT SUPEEINTBNDKNT. HERCULES spent just a fortnight in the hospital. The period was in the nature of a vacation both to the en- gineer and fireman, who (although such is not the present custom) wrought in the shops until the engine was ready for duty again. Matt ran down home each evening, the train slacking up enough to allow him to step off just oppo- site his house, while he was picked up again the next morning. Where the speed of a train would cause an inexperienced person to turn a series of somersaults in the event of jumping off, a railroader will land lightly on his feet, and, after running a few paces, come to a halt without much of a jar, and with no inconvenience. The lessening of speed on the part of the Down Mail was not perceptible to the passengers, when the veteran dropped to the ground, though he could not board it while going at anything like the same rate. Matt had taken a leap from a flying engine that was traveling foi-ty miles an hour, and Bob, to whom he related the circumstance, surprised him by doing the same, neither suffering harm thereby. Of course, in these cases, the conditions wei'e favorable, and few railroad men would have done as well. While the Hercules was in the shops. Bob had his even- ings to himself, and no youth could havQ, appreciated the privilege more. He escorted his mother and sister to en- tertainments, to church meetings, and to the temperance gatherings. The latter were held twice a week, and Bob missed none. The work of such noble societies can by no means be confined to social assemblies. The weak and fallen are all around us, and the real labor is done by per- sonal interview, at their miserable homes, in the saloons, and by their bedsides. In his unobtrusive way. Bob Lovell TO THE PRESIDENT'S CHAIR. 157 sowed seed whose whole harvesting will never be known until the judgment day. Few, except the individuals them- selves, were aware of the number whom he persuaded to sign the pledge, and none besides the lad knew of the sacri- fices he made out of his moderate wages, to help some starving wretch, groping for light, and striving to break from the fearful enemy within him, which was dragging him down to wretchedness and ruin. I must not forget to mention a trait in my hero which is as rare as it is admirable in one so young. I refer to his tact. Many a well-meaning youth defeats his good pur- poses by his manner of approach to his seniors. In his en- thusiasm, he forgets the chasm of years between him and those whom he is seeking to help ; but the latter do not forget it. Bob never failed to show a deference in address- ing his elders, which disarmed resentment on their part. But in no instance was his tact more strikingly displayed than in his deportment toward Evelyn Walbridge. How few would have had the manhood and self-command to avoid taking advantage of the footing he gained by his daring exploit ? Had you been in Bob's shoes, would you have found excuses for declining the warm invitations to call at the Walbridges' home at any time ? "Would you have persistently avoided taking the rides in the phaeton, to which he was invited by the young lady ? Would you, in going to and returning from your daily duties, have failed to pass the mansion where you knew the sweetest girl in creation was waiting to wave you a salutation as you Trent by ? Of course none of us would have turned back on such pleasures, but then we are not the fireman of the Hercules, and we never performed such an exploit as did Bob LovelL I think if Bob had put his thoughts into words they would have been- something like this : " I adore Evelyn more than she suspects ; the sight of her bright face, sparkling eyes. 158 FROM THE THROTTLE and radiant smile, thrills me ; it would be happiness to go to her home and spend hours in her company ; I would be proud beyond compare to be seen beside her in her phaeton, but her father is president of the Irondale and Ofalca Rail- road. He is rich and aristocratic ; but he is a gentleman, and his gratitude leads him to invite me to his house, when but for that motive I would not be asked to go there at all. I am only a fireman, working for small wages. Perhaps, one of these days, I may be something more ; possibly I may climb into some place where I shall stand on a social plane nearly level with hers. I will wait till then, and what may happen," he added with a strange thrill, " who shall say ? " It is quite possible that with all his tact and penetration Bob Lovell never realized one truth : the course which lie pursued was the one of all others calculated to deepen the regard and affection of Evelyn Walbridge. It would not have been hard for him to cool her esteem by pushing his attentions. But she knew why he blushed when they occa- sionally met, as they could not help doing ; she understood the cause of his absence from her splendid home ; she comprehended the reason of his modestly keeping in the background. It caused her a certain pain because it was so ; but at the same time it drew him nearer to her. Her admiration for him was deepened, and, could she have had her wishes, she would have persuaded some magician, with the touch of his wand, to transform the humble home of the fireman into a palace of gold, and proclaim Bob king of the whole country. And where, all this time, was Montague Worthley ? You must not suppose that he has been forgotten or that ■we can do without him. I wish I had something pleasant ■^0 tell about him, but it is not so. The shock of the mistake he made in handing the wrong TO THE PRESIDENT'S OHAIB. 15» letter to Bob Lovell subdued him for a time. He realized the frightful nature of the blunder, and could never under- stand how he forgot himself to such an extent. When at last the letter -was destroyed by his own hands, he breathed freely. He knew that Bob Lovell had read the missive, whose writing was a piece of strange recklessness, but he had not shown it to anyone, and he held no fear of what the fireman could do, so long as the letter had passed out of existence. Montague's envious hatred of Bob had intensified, be- cause of the repeated advantages the latter obtained over him ; but young Worthley had learned some wisdom during^ the few months, and the policy he fixed upon was that of waiting. " By and by," he thought, " I shall have solid footing with the company, and then we shall see what we shall see." Thus matters stood when the rescue of Meta Lovell and Evelyn Walbridge was effected by Bob. Montague Worthley was the only one in all Ofalca whose cheek did not tingle with pride that such a noble young fellow was born and still lived in that town. He ground his teeth with fury that the fates had given this fellow the oppor- tunity to perform such a remarkable exploit. " Where was Matt Fields," he snarled, " that he didn't save the girls ? Why must it happen that this grimy fire- man should be on hand to set everybody talking about him ? I don't believe the thing was done in the way it was told. I could have done it myself had I been there ; but, confound it, I aint there when the chance presents. Why couldn't it have been someone else than Evelyn ? " he de- manded with another spasm of furious envy. " But," he continued, following out his train of thought, " what will it all amount to ? She is rich, aristocratic, and she knows I am the same, and I have told her how much I 160 FROM THE THROTTLE admire her. No ; there can be nothing serious there ; so I will wait, wait, wait." At the next meeting of the board of directors of the I. & O., Superintendent Worthley stated that his duties were increasing so rapidly that he felt the need of assist- ance. True, his son was already rendering valuable service in his office, but he was only a clerk without real authority. He would therefore ask that Montague should be officially declared the assistant superintendent of the I. & O., with authority to act as superintendent in the absence of Mr. Worthley. Therewere nine directors present at this meeting,and three of them objected to conferring so much authority on one so young ; but the others reminded them that Montague had the benefit of a training under the eye of his father, who expected to hold his office for many years to come, and who had no intention of delegating his authority to any extent that could cause possible injury to the interests of the road. The minority were not convinced, but one of them con- sented, out of regard for the father, to cast his vote as was desired by the majority ; and thus it was that Lloyd Mon- tague Worthley became in fact the assistant superintendent of the Irondale and Ofalca Railway Company. This promotion of his bitter enemy was a fact which boded ill for Bob Lovell. CHAPTER XXXI. " GOOD BY, HERCULES ! " IT was near the close of the month of May, when the physicians that had been so carefully doctoring the Hercules in the hospital pronounced her fully recovered and ready to resume her duty of pulling the Express over the Irondale and Ofalca Railroad. TO THE PRESIDENT'S CHAIR. 161 It was the custom for Matt Fields, at such times, inas- much as the repair shops were at Ofalca, the eastern termi- nus of the line, to hack up to the station on the morning he resumed duty, and make fast to the Day Express ; hut it was thought advisable to take the engine over the road in order to break her in, and, proceeding at a moderate pace to Irondale, begin his regular run with the train from that point eastward. "The fact is," said Matt, with a troubled look, "lam worried about Jack. " " "What is the matter with him ? " " I don't know ; he has been out of sorts for two or three days, but I am hopeful that it is nothing serious, though the doctoi- doesn't give me much satisfaction. " "Why don't you lie off for a while and stay with him ? " " I shall, if he doesn't improve ; I will get off, as we go down to-day, and let you run to Irondale alone. Get Tom Foster to fire for you when you start with the traiti to-night. You can be on the lookout for me, and, if every- thing is right, I will be at the place to join you. If I aint there, you will know Jack is worse, and will run through. " " Do you think the company will be satisfied to have me take charge ? " " The superintendent suggested that I should do just as I have proposed to you, and that, too, when he knew Dacres, the oldest engineer on the road, could be got. " " Very well ; give yourself no uneasiness about the Night Express. Even if Jack is improved, which I hope may be the case, you had better stay at home until to-morrow. " " I think I will do so, " said the grateful Matt, climbing into the cab and starting the Hercules on the one-hundred- and-five-mile run to Irondale. Something of theold thrill came over Bob, as it must Lave done with Matt as well, when he seated himself on the box 162 FROM THE THROTTLE in the cab, and, looking down the familiar track, watched the rails sweep under the engine as it rapidly increased its speed. The Hercules ran magnificently. She was like a racer which has been resting so long that she snuffs with delight and fills her lungs with the invigorating air as she bounds across the country. It seemed as if there was a joyous ring in the screech of the whistle, awaking the echoes among the woods, and notifying the world that " Richard was himself again. " When the turnpike crossing was reached, the pace was about thirty miles an liour. Matt looked across at Bob and both smiled ; tlie thought of what had taken place there two weeks before was in the mind of each. Just below, the Hercules was obliged to back upon the short siding to make way for a belated coal train that ■was creeping eastward. The directors of the I. & 0. were already discussing the project of laying two tracks, and it was certain to be done before long, but for the pres- ent, there was but the single line, with all its inconveni- ences, even though the steel rails and roadbed were first- class. Fortunately the coal train was nearly on time, and when it was out of the way the Hercules bounded out on the main line again with a clear run to Jigtown, be- yond Dead Man's Hollow. The splendid piece of machinery sped along at an easy gait. Bob admiring her working as much as did the engineer. The fireman was on his seat looking out, when a glance at the steam gauge over the boiler showed that the Hercules needed food. Bob, therefore, slipped down from his seat, drew open the furnace door, and threw in some coal. He had just finished his work when he observed that Matt had applied the airbrakes to the engine and tender just suffi- ciently to cause the wheels to revolve reluctantly, thus TO THE PRESIDENT'S CHAIR. 163 offering, as I have already explained, the greatest resistance to its progress, much greater than would have been the fact had the drivers spun backward or stood motionless while the engine slid forward. Bob looked quickly out of the window in front, wonder- ing what it meant. They were close to the trestle-work over Dead Man's Hollow, the place which seemed destined to play forever an important part in the history of the Her- cules. The pole of a red flag was thrust into the ground at the side of the track, more than a hundred yards to the eastward, and, though Matt applied the brakes, he had al- ready passed it, and, despite all the Hercules could do, she was sure to run upon the trestle-work, the very place Matt was warned to shun. A number of men were working on the timbers, and were loQking up in wonder at the approach of the engine at such speed. It was impossible to stop the Hercules, as I have said, be- fore running upon the trestle-work, and Bob's heart rose in his mouth ; but among the workmen was one of those rare persons who had the presence of mind to do the one thing that prevented the engine from plunging into the gulch, far below. A rail was out of place, but he quickly and coolly adjusted it, and drove the two spikes necessary to hold it long enough to save the locomotive. He was hammering the last spike at the moment the truck of the Hercules, with greatly decreased speed, ran upon it. Since there was a slight curve, the enormous weight of the engine would have knocked the rail loose had it been going faster. As it was, the steel rail remained firm, and Matt, seeing that every- thing was clear, did not stop or say a word to the mystified boss and workmen, but drew open the throttle and con- tinued across the trestle at a higher pace. As Bob resumed his seat, he glanced stealthily at the en- gineer. He, too, was on his box, his left hand resting on the lever, while he seemed to be scrutinizing the rails with 164 FROM THE THROTTLE the closest attention. He did not look at Bob, and no word passed between them. The run was to Jigtown, where the operator informed them the track was clear to the siding just beyond Matt's home, which, as will be recalled, was the place where the Night Express lay, waiting for the Evening Mail on the oc- casion described in the opening chapter of this story. Bob kept his seat as much as he could during the rest of the run, and made sure he was on the lookout whenever possible. No signals were displayed, and Matt pushed on until his own little cottage appeared on his left. Then the Hercules went slower until the wheels ceased to revolve. When she was motionless, the engineer stepped down from his place and made way for Bob. " You understand the arrangernent," he said ; " you will run to Irondale and take Foster for your fireman." "And shall I hold up for you when I come back ?" " No ; you needn't do that." " You will stay at home to-night ? That's right, but I trust you will find Jack better. Ah ! there's the little fellow now ! " A boyish shout came from the direction of the house, and turning their heads whom should they see but Master Jack Fields, on the front porch, swinging his hat and shouting as if he would split his throat. " He doesn't look like a very sick boy," remarked Bob, with a laugh. The father's eye kindled and he smiled. " I don't think he is any worse, but all the same. Bob, you needn't hold up for me." " Very well ; you are entitled to stay at home. I will take you aboard as we go down to-morrow morning." "No, you won't." " When, then, will you resume charge of the Hercules ? " « Never 1 " TO THE PRESIDENT'S OHAIR. 165 Bob stared at the engineer in astonishment. He thought he was jesting, but one look at tiiat earnest face left no doubt of his sincerity. " What do you mean. Matt ? " " What I say. I shall never again run a train over this road ! " Bob -wanted to speak, but he knew not what to say. He pitied bis friend from the bottom of his heart, but he could not comfort him. He looked away and remained silent. " Shall I tell you the reason, Bob ? " " No ; I know it. Matt." "You learned it to-day ? " " I learned it weeks ago." *' Am I not doing right ? Is it not my duty ? " " Yes, no one can deny that ; I feel as sorry as you, but your position is too responsible to think only of yourself. You will speak to Mr. Worthley ? " " I will see him to-morrow ; I will take the morning line up, and tell him the whole truth." " That is the true course ; you are too valuable a man to let go." " Well, good-by. Bob, for the present," and Matt added in a quavering voice, " Good-by, Hercules." Then letting himself down from his engine he hastened to meet his young Jack, who had become so impatient that he was run- ning and tumbling to get into the arms of his parent. Bob started the engine down the road, and then glanced back. Matt had caught up his dimpled child, and, tossing him high in the air, held his arms outstretched to receive him as he descended, while the affectionate mother stood smiling and viewing the scene. 166 FROM THE THROTTLE CHAPTER XXXII. STAETLING NEWS. BOB LOVELL pushed along at a rattling pace, after leaving the Junction, until he came in sight of the last telegriiph station before reaching Irondale. The I. & O. at that time was not run on the excellent block system now prevailing on our leading roads, which reduces the danger of accidents to the minimum, yet such care was displayed in the management that the percentage of killed and in- jured was unusually low. The telegraph station, of which I have made mention, was about seven miles from Irondale, the western terminus of the line, the location of these offices being at very irregular distances along the road. Bob had rounded a curve, and was bearing down upon the little station, when he discovered that something extra- ordinary had taken place. There were no passengers there, but the operator was on the small, narrow platform, acting like a wild man. He was leaping up and down, running back and forth, and indulging in excited gestures. Ap- parently he was shouting, but of course Bob could not catch anything he said. " What can be the matter ? " muttered the mystified fire- man, who decided that the quickest way to learn was to hasten to the station and halt. The operator, a nervous young man, ran to the end of the platform to meet him, and before the engine could stop he leaped upon it, narrowly escaping falling under the wheels in the excess of his ardor. " What's up," asked Bob, " to set you so wild ? " " What's up ? " gasped the other ; " the mischief is to pay ; Number 3 left Irondale a few minutes ago, and is coming up the road at the rate of a mile a minute." TO THE PRESIDENT'S GHAIR. 167 « What's the cause of that ? " " A stranger got aboard and started her out of the shops. Nobody knows who he is ; he will be here in a minute or two ; just think if I hadn't got word until after you had passed ! " " But you did, so what's the use of thinking about it ? Where's your dispatch ? " The operator produced the crumpled piece of blue paper on which he had written this message, received just before from the office at Irondale : Shifting engine Number 3 left at ten minutes past two, and is going up the road at her highest speed ; a stranger is on her ; turn the switch so as to ditch her." Bob Lovell looked at his watch. " It's only a quarter-past two ; Number 3 can't run a mile a minute, and she won't reach here for five minutes." "My gracious ! that's short enough time ; run back out of her way, and I will turn the switch so as to ditch her." " But that will destroy the engine and kill the man on it." " It can't be helped ; small pity for him ; he had no business to take the risk, but it's too bad to lose the engine, for this is an ugly place to ditch her." Bob Lovell was thinking fast and hard. "Where's the down train ? " " It left the Junction on time — that's two o'clock." " She's due at Wolf Gulch at half -past ; send a dispatch there for the conductor to wait until he receives word from you. Is there anything on the road between the train and us ? " " I aint sure ; there may be a freight. But, Bob," added the other, nervously whipping out his watch, "time is passing. Numbers will soon be here ; what's to be done ?" " Do what I told you, but don't ditch the engine ; let the switches alone." 1 68 FROM THE THROTTLE " What will you do ? Have a butting match with her ? " " I am going to try to save Number 3, and the miserable fool that is on her." "How?" "There's no time to explain; step off, for your duties are here ; one of these days I will sit down and give you the full history. Keep cool and send the telegram I told you, and send others to the Junction and to every point between, warning all trains to get out of the way." As the nervous operatOT made a break for his little cab of an oflSce, it struck Bob Lovell that, more than likely, if he sent any messages at all, he would get them wrong, and add to the frightful peril by complicating it. But the fireman could not afford to give him thought ; he had his own hands full, as you will admit. It doesn't take much to upset the mental balance of some persons. This may be because they have not much of a mental load to upset, but if there ever was a lunatic, it was the telegraphist who had just left Bob and plunged into his diminutive office. Hardly pausing to drop into his seat before the clicking instrument, he rapped out the following message : Turn the switch so as to catch Number 3 on the rebound and all will be well. Yours very respectfully, Sam. This dispatch went in to the main office at Irondale, where, as may be supposed, it created consternation. The office at the Junction and each intermediate point received the following specimen : Hercules sprung a leak on outward voyage — expects to blow up — look out for the pieces when they come down. Thine own, Sam. TO THE PRESIDENT'S CHAIR. 169 Perhaps you can imagine the sensation caused by these wonderful dispatches. "I hope I've got things in shape," muttered the distraught operator, feeling a misgiving that some of the recipients of his messages might not " catch on " to them. " At any rate, I've done my duty," he reflected, " and nobody can blame me — halloa ! what's that ? " A sudden and rapidly increasing roar broke upon his ear, and he dashed out upon the platform to gain a better view than he could from his own window. To the westward, and distant only a few hundred yards, was a mass of dust and smoke, like the thunderous mouth of a volcano. It streamed away in' the distance, as if it were the tail of a comet which was bursting through space with inconceivable speed. Hardly had the operator time to identify the approaching monster as Number 3, when it dashed by the platform, as it might have done if shot from the mouth of a giant colum.biad. The terrified glance which the youth cast at it, while frantically holding on his hat with both hands and dreading that he would be swept off his feet by the terrific swirl which almost blinded him, led him to fancy he saw a man standing in the place of the engineer, with his hand on the throttle, while his glance was fixed on the track ahead of him. By the time the clouds had cleared sufiiciently to allow him to see the engine, it was far up the road, leaning to the right, as it whizzed around the long curve and quickly vanished from sight. " I think there was another engine here a few minutes ago," muttered the bewildered agent, staring at the trail of dust and smoke in the air, which marked where Number 3 had vanished, " but — ah ! I recall it was Bob Lovell with the Hercules just come out of the shops j what's become of 170 FROM THE THROTTLE him ? I can't see anything of him or his engine ; it must be they were run over." And the young man dashed to the upper end of the plat- form, and, standing on tip-toe, peered up the road in search of the fragments, which failed to materialize. " That's odd," he muttei-ed, taking oflf his hat and scratching his head, as some folks do when puzzled ; " it must be that Bob slipped by and turned out of the way for Number 3. I'm blessed if I can get head or tail to it anyway I " CHAPTER XXXIIL THE KUNAWAT. MEANWHILE what was Bob Lovell doing ? The situation was this : the shifting engine known as Number 3 was one of the fastest of its kind. That class of locomotives are built more for strength than speed, though the one in question could cover ground at a lively pace, but of course was no match for the regular passenger engines. Number 3 bounded away from Irondale so unexpectedly that it was impossible to prevent it. The engineer had left it for a minute or two, and was returning, when he observed a stranger climbing into the cab. The engineer shouted to him to keep away. The man gave no heed, and disappeared from sight for the moment. The indignant engineer broke into a run, muttering, " I'll give that chump a h'ist with my boot that will keep him away from Number 3 for the rest of his natural life — confound it ! " To his amazement the engine began moving away from him. " The infernal fool has opened the throttle," exclaimed TO THE PRESIDENT'S OH AIR. 171 the engineer, increasing his speed and calling again to the man. A head was thrust out of the cab window, and looked tauntingly back at the pursuer, who was wrathful enough to shoot him, had he possessed a gun. He bent all his energies, however, to running, hoping to reach his engine, before it gained too much start ; but that class of locomo- tives speedily acquire a rapid pace, and, before half the distance was covered. Number 3 was drawing swiftly away from the panting engineer. Others had witnessed the startling incident, and, as the engine rattled over the switches, and upon the main track, the engineer made all haste to the telegraph office and notified the operator of what had taken place. On the instant, a message was sent along the road, which set the first telegraphist wild, though he retained enough sense to impart an intelligible account to Bob Lovell of the alarm- ing crisis that had suddenly arisen. It so happened that President Walbridge was in the ofiice at the time, and it was at his dictation that the order was telegraphed to ditch the runaway engine, his dread being that it would meet some of the trains, if allowed to pass the first telegraph station. Nobody knew just where the Hei'cules, with Bob Lovell at the throttle, was, for, as has been explained, he was running on the time he could catch from the other trains, it being his duty to give them all a safe berth. Now, it is with Bob that our present interest lies, for it may be said he held the key of the situation. Let me remind you that forty miles stretched between Irondale and the Junction. If the runaway was permitted to keep on, a fearful disaster was certain, for if there were no freight or coal trains on the main track, the afternoon accommodation would have left the Junction before the runaway arrived at that point. 172 FMOM THE THROTTLE The message of the panic-stricken operator at the most could only confuse matters, but the people in the main office at Irondale did not go daft. Fortunately they had already sent warning all the way to Of alca. They expected that the agent seven miles out would follow orders, and prevent the runaway from passing, by ditching it, but with the commendable object of taking every precaution, they notified each accessible point. By and by, when the terrified youth regained in some degree his self-command, he telegraphed to Irondale that the runaway had passed like a whirlwind on its way east- ward, but Bob Lovell was ahead of it with the Hercules, and probably would butt it off the track before Ofalca was reached. This message, instead of giving the assurance the sender hoped, added to the dismay in the Irondale office, and President Walbridge received a painful shock. The tele- gram was incomprehensible, and for the succeeding half hour all the offices along the line were overrun with mes- sages that made confusion worse confounded. Bob Lovell, with that rare presence of mind which was natural to him, and of which you have already received proofs, formed his plan of action, and started to put it into execution within three minutes after the alarming tidings were communicated to him. Looking down the road, he could see nothing of the run- away, and he began backing toward the Junction. " All I ask now," he said to himself, " is that the road to the Junction is clear. There is going to be a fight between Hei-cules and Number 3, and I'll pin my colors to the Her- cules every time." It is a dangerous thing for a locomotive to run backward at a high rate of speed. There being no pilot at the rear, a slight obstruction is sufficient to derail it. A cow, or horse, or a tramp is quite sure to play serious mischief TO THE PRESIDENT'S CHAIR. 1V3 \ritli the ponderous macMneiy, and an engine, therefore, when retrograding must do so at a moderate speed and with a vigilant lookout. Besides this, as you will see, it is impossible for the engineer to make use of his sand box, which can only deliver the grains in front of the spinning drivers. But unfortunately there was no time for the Hercules to swing around and head the other way. The runaway was almost upon her and the chances must be taken. Reflect for a moment on Bob Lovell's situation. He was alone and obliged to watch the state of water in the boiler, see that there was enough coal in the furnace, keep guard of the rear of his engine for obstructions (which, after all, might appear in the form of a freight or coal train), and besides all this, the real, terrible danger itself was sweeping down upon him like a cyclone from the front. After starting the engine backward, he stepped down from his place at the lever and threw in half a dozen shovel- fuls of coal. The speed rapidly increased and she was soon dancing along at the rate of thirty miles an hour. At every curve, or whenever a crossing appeared. Bob let out a resounding blast from his whistle and set the bell ring- ing, but did not slacken his pace. He knew his gait was slower than that of Number 3, ■which, although a shifting engine, was capable of running much faster than others of its class. Striking a stretch of straight track, he saw the white posts which supported the warning sign at a crossing, and the whistle screamed again, followed by the ringing of the bell. To his disgust, he observed a farmer's wagon bearing slowly down toward the track, at a rate which insured its simultaneous arrival with that of the Hercules. The horses were on a lazy walk, and the farmer, holding the lines, sat so low that only the top of his dilapidated straw hat was visible. 174 FROM THE THROTTLE The Hercules awoke the echoes with her whistle, but the snail-like progress of the team continued, and the man gave no sign of hearing the warning cry. He was either deaf or asleep. Bob glanced the other way. The runaway was not yet in sight and he applied the brakes. He could retard the speed considerably, but it was impossible to stop before reaching the crossing. While the pace was slackening, the Hercules emitted a series of short, sharp toots, such as are used to scare cattle off the track, but it was not worth while to ring the bell, since there was no possibility of that being heard, if the whistle remained inaudible. Did ever a team of horses move so slowly ? It really looked as if when one of the lazy nags raised a foot he held it suspended a few seconds before depositing it on the ground again, while the wagon, whose fore-wheels were between the rails, appeared to have made up its mind to stay there. " He deserves a shakingup," said Bob to himself, "and I would serve him right to take off a wheel or two, but it may not be any funnier for me than for him." He saw he must strike the wagon. He was still travel- ing at a swift pace and it could never clear the track in time. Toot-toot-toot-toot went the whistle, and, when within a hundred feet of the ci'ossing, the old farmer, the top of whose whip could be discerned sloping over his shoulder, suddenly turned his head and looked down the road. It is not necessary to say he was startled. He shot up to his feet, brought down the whiplash with full force on the haunches of one of the horses and shouted : " Ge-up thar ! Don't you see the old boy is comin' ? " The beast which received the stroke of the whip paid no more attention than if it were a straw. There was a slight flirt of the tail, and neither animal moved faster. TO THE PnESIDEATS CHAIR. 11 5r Tlie- husbandman was still berating, lashing and jerking the lines, when the corner of the tender struck the hind ■wheels and sent most of the spokes flying a dozen rods in air. The abrupt sinking of the rear of the wagon, and its violent wrenching, caused the owner of the team to lose his balance, and he was considerably jarred. He was not hurt, however, and scrambling to his feet, he stared about him till" he got his bearings, and muttered : " Wal, I'll be consarned if that aint the cheekiest thing I ever seed yet ; and here comes another of the critters, but he's aiming head first and I'm out of his path, thank goodness." The old gentleman spoke the truth. Bob Lovell looked down the road and saw the runaway engine thundering after him, at great speed and less than two hundred yards distant. CHAPTER XXXIV. THE HEECULES AKD NUMBER 3. BOB LOVELL paid little heed to the indignant farmer, for just beyond him he caught sight of the runaway approaching at a speed of which he never supposed a shifting engine capable. It looked as if she would be wrenched to pieces by the fierceness of her gait as she plung'ed like a meteor toward him. The first thought that came to the fireman was that the man who was running^ the engine knew something of the business. Through the glass he caught a glimpse of his face, and he fancied he recognized him, but it was not the time to assure himself on that point. A hasty sweep of the track in the other direction showed nothing in the way, though the range was not extensive. Without a second's hesitation. Bob gave the Hercules more 176 FROM THE THROTTLE steam. She responded instantly, as she always did, and backed away from her furious assailant, with a velocity that would have made it bad for any person or animal on the track and probably still worse for the Hercules herself. What mad whim impelled the man at the throttle it would be hard to sayj but at sight of the other engine recoiling from him, he seemed to be seized with a frenzy to sliatter it to pieces, and he applied every ounce of steam at command. But Number 3 was already doing its best and her pace could not be increased. Bob occasionally cast a furtive glance behind him, but his attention was fixed on the runaway, and he was graduat- ing the pace of the two. Instead of running as fast as the other, he went slightly slower, so that his pursuer, as he may be called, slowly crept upon him. Nearer and nearer he came, until the bumper struck the beam of Hercules, and the engines were in contact. The instant Bob felt the slight jar and saw them touch- ing, he devoted his energies to bringing the Hercules to a standstill. " Now butt all you wish, and see which is the stronger," he muttered with grim humor. But the task of the Hercules was harder than Bob sus- pected. He could make no use of the sand box to increase the friction on the track. Every grain that he let down on the rails would help Number 3, and do the Hercules no good. To his dismay he observed, as he peered over his own engine, a yellow stream issuing from each of the long black curved pipes in front of the driving wheels of Number 3, and pouring out in such profusion that it was spilled on both sides of the rails. This confirmed what Bob had suspected : the stranger knew something about running locomotives. The Hercules and Number 3 looked like a couple of vast animals that had TO THE PRESIDENTS CHAIR. Ill locked hoi-ns, and the former, while still struggling fiercely to prevent it, was being shoved backward with a power it could not resist. Had the advantage been anywhere near equal, the Her- cules would have accomplished what Bob wanted to do — that is, brought Number 3 to a standstill from its sheer inability to push harder than the finer engine, though con- structed specifically for that purpose. The youth was not long in perceiving that though he might make the task a hard one for Number 3, yet he could not check her. Had the man at the throttle been an igno- ramus, the engine would have begun to show signs of weakening by this time, but he was getting out all there was in the locomotive. Furthermore, could Bob have been insured twenty miles of clear track behind him, he would have persisted in blocking the progress of the other, and compelled it to succumb before passing the distance named. But besides the task in front of him, he was in an anguish of dread that in sweeping around some curve they would crash into a train bearing down from the other direction. There was but one possible thing to do, and that was desperate enough to amount almost to suicide. It was to climb upon the other engine, and take forcible charge of the throttle himself. I say it was a desperate recourse, but Bob Lovell did not hesitate to try it. He concluded that a man who was dar- ing enough to run away with a locomotive, would not shrink from attacking him, with the fury of a tiger, if he inter- fered. He still held his place with his hand on the throttle, and was glaring out of the window, as if to dare the youth to show himself. Naturally, as the two engines faced each other, the engin- eers were on opposite sides; but Bob, having set the lever at the proper point, opened the door and began making hia way along the Hercules toward Number 3. He had picked 178 FROM THE THROTTLE up a shovel at first, but concluded he could do as well with- out any other weapons than those with which nature had furnished him. " If he comes out on the engine to attack me, I think I can get the best by throwing him off, for he doesn't know how to balance himself as well as I do, but he may wait." Bob hoped to deceive the other as to his intention. If he could do so he might steal a march, and get into the en- gineer's cab without detection. Then the struggle would take place where the two stood on equal footing. He was impelled to the fearful efEort by observing the piston rods of Number 3 darting back and forth with such slightly diminished speed that, as matters stood, this queer flight and pursuit was likely to continue for a mile or two. If any serious obstruction should appear up the road, Bob had the recourse of jumping ofE, which he would have done the moment it was necessary. He endeavored, while moving along the right side of the Hercules, to act as though he had found it necessary to do something with the machinery. Stepping upon the pond- erous piece of timber extending across the front of the en- gine, to which the pilot is fastened, he moved across to the bulky bumper of Number 3, and reached the narrow plat- form alongside the boiler, used by the fireman in passing round his engine. He was now in front of the engineer's cab. The man holding the fireman's place on the other side, was peering out in front, and doubtless wondering what had become of the fellow, whom he had observed sink from sight between the two engines, but who was a long time in reappearing. The footway on each side of the boiler had never been intended for any such purpose as that to which it was now put, and it stood so high that Bob feared it was impossi- ble to keep out of sight, even if he lay flat and dragged himself forward. Nevertheless, he tried it. Time was im- TO TEE PRESIDENT'S CHAIR. 1T9 measurably precious and events were going with a rush. The smokestack and even the framework supporting the bell were utilized, and, with a hopeful heart, Bob found himself near the front of the engineer's window, while^the man within had not discovered him. But a new difficulty appeared. To enter the cab, he must either kick in the door in front, or swing along the outside and around from the rear. It was possible to do either, but he was absolutely sure to be discovered by the man before he could complete the attempt. The youth had advanced too far to retreat, but his mis- ■ giving was never greater than when he crouched in front of the cab door, debating what to do. At this point the rise in the boiler, which was partly within and partly with- out the cab, afforded concealment. It was delicate work to make his way along the outer side of the cab, though the distance was slight, and the ledge of the window slide gave the necessary support for his hands. He decided to try the narrow door in front. This was held closed against the pressure of the wind by a thin brass hook, which a smart push would break. Bob steadied himself, and placing his right foot against the slide of the door, close to where he knew the fastening to be, he con- centrated his strength for the decisive effort. CHAPTER XXXV. THE CAPTTJKB. AT that moment, something like a shadow flitted along the other side of the boiler. Glancing thither, he saw the man was carefully advancing along the engine toward the front, by means of the footboard. With no thought of the trick played on him, he was gazing intently ahead, 180 FROM THE THROTTLE wondering what could have become of the other engineer, and doubtless suspecting that some calamity had overtaken him. This was the golden opportunity for Bob. A strong, quick pressure, and the door shot inward, the slight noise being unheard in the rush and roar of the locomotive. Bob went through as nimbly as a monkey, and in a twink- ling steam was shut off, and the brakes applied. Meanwhile, the individual who had caused all this mis- chief had succeeded in reaching the front of Number 3, where he craned his neck forward, holding fast with one hand, and looked around in quest of the missing youth. He did not see him, and was wondering what it all meant, when the sudden reversal of number 3, which was like a yielding up of the task of conquering the other, gave such a shock to both engines that the man, still leaning far outward, lost his balance, and went over the front upon the pilot of the Hercules. Bob had darted to the left side of the cab at this moment, and with a throb of the heart saw the man fall. In an in- stant he was through the open door after him, and ran at a reckless pace along the footboard, scarcely holding fast to the polished rod extending above and along it. He knew the man had not yet gone under the wheels, for he would have felt the jar caused by the horrible crunching of his body. He had saved himself by catching fast to the rods of the pilot, but looked as if he could not sustain him- self long. "Hold on a moment!" shouted Bob, carefully making his way to within reach of him. The sight of that white, upturned face was one which the youth will not forget to his dying day. It would seem as if the individual could have climbed back had he tried, but the shock was too much for his nerves, and he was afraid to stir. TO THE PBESIDENT'S CHAIB. 181 Grasping an iron support with Ms left hand, Bob reached far down with his right. "Now, take hold; don't let go, and you'll be all right!" The fellow hesitated a moment, but another encouraging word and he seized the friendly hand with a death-like grip. Bob was not rash, but steadied him carefully, and by and by got him upon the bumper above. But he was trem- bling violently, and too weak to stand. He was in a state of utter collapse. "This will do," said Bob, cheerily; "the engine will soon come to a halt, and all danger be over." Since the locomotives were striving with might and main to travel westward, and since there was left only their own momentum to overcome, the speed was rapidly reduced. But it would never do for Bob Lovell to remain where he was. Number 3 would not be content with merely standing still. She was reversed, and, as soon as the wheels ceased to revolve forward, they would start back- ward with increasing swiftness. The Hercules demanded no immediate care, since Number 3 was strong enough to hold her motionless for a time, but the fact remained, that a single fireman had two engines on his hands and both needed to be looked after. Accordingly, when the wheels had almost stopped and the noise was, slight, he asked: "Are you afraid to try it now?" "Not if you will help me." " Keep fast to my hand and slip the other along the rod here and you will be safe." The man, with much timidity and hesitation, did as di- rected, moving so slowly that by the time he stepped down in the cab again Number 3 was beginning to move back- ward. This was checked, though the Hercules still pushed hard. Bob found himself in a quandary. The Hercules required 182 FROM THE THROTTLE attention but he dared not leave Number 3, through fear that the man would seize the throttle and start her back at the same furious rate. Since that would place the Hercules behind Number 3, Bob would be almost powerless, if on the former, to prevent Number 3 dashing into Irondale at the same frightful speed that it had come thence. I have said that the young fireman fancied he recognized the face, which he saw glaring at him from the engineer's cab. He was right, for, before he left the Hei-cules to climb upon the other, he had identified the individual as Hematite Oxx, whose looks and actions showed he was crazed from drink. He had been on a spree for several days, and it was a drunken frenzy that led him to board Number 3 when he saw the engineer leave it for a few minutes. It was the same wild prompting of a disordered brain, that kept him in the engineer's place with the throttle pulled wide open, while Number 3 thundered up the road at the highest bent of which she was capable. He had once served a few weeks on another road as fire- man, which accounted for his knowledge of running the engine. But for this fact, he might have "burned" her frightfully by allowing the water to get too low, or have caused an explosion. But Bob Lovell himself could not Lave handled the runaway (though it is hardly proper to speak of Number 3 as such) with greater care. No doubt had Hematite Oxx read Bob's purpose, ^when he saw him making his way out on his own engine, he would have met him savagely and probably beat him to the ground; but a sudden shock often sobers a drunken man, and when Mr. Oxx took a header over the front of Number 3, and by a desperate clutch saved himself from being crushed, his muddled senses cleared, the delirium left his brain, and he realized where he was and what he had been doing. It was this reaction which so weakened him that, TO THE PRESIDENT'S CHAIR. 183 when lie reached the cab, he was too faint to stand. He read aright Bob's puzzled look at him and said: " Get off and go to the other engine if you want to ; I've had enough; I won't bother you any more." The fireman did not feel quite at ease, but he took the man's word, and, slipping to the ground, ran to his own engine, which he quickly threw out of gear. In an instant he was back again on Number 3. Both were now motionless, and neither had been harmed; but it was too soon to feel safe. They were on the main track, and there was no telling, from the confusion that must hi 76 been created by the multitudinous telegrams, when some train would thunder down upon them. For the first time during the flurry. Bob surveyed his surroundings in the effort to locate himself. No houses were near, but as soon as he saw where he was, he recalled that there was a siding but a short distance to the east- ward. He decided to proceed thither at a cautious gait, and, unlocking the switch, lost no time in running upon it. The Hercules being at the rear, was easily pushed by Num- ber 3 in the direction of the switch. "What a sigh of relief I drew," said Bob, in relating the incident, "when I caught sight of the switch and, look- ing back and in front, failed to see any train approaching. I jumped down, unlocked the switch, and was in such haste to run the Hercules and Number 3 on the siding, that I must have strained the shifting engine pretty badly. I got them out of the way, relocked the switch, and then felt secure ; for in whichever direction the engines ran, they must leave the rails before striking the main track." He next proceeded to bank the fires and put the locomo- tives in form for a long wait. He was resolved to stay where he was until some searching party appeared. Every- thing was so disarranged that it was dangerous to try to 184 FROM THE THROTTLE reach even the nearest point from which to communicate by telegraph. The superintendent or some of the officials, would discover by and by the points between which one or both of the engines lay, and would send out a relief party. Hours might pass before its arrival, since the utmost precaution would be taken, but friends were sure to appear and Bob felt he could afford to stay as long as any one. Accordingly, he completed his preparations for a halt that miffht last until sunset. CHAPTER XXXVL HEMATITE OXX. DURING these latter minutes, Bob seemed to be unaware of the presence of Hematite Oxx, but he cast many a sly glance toward him. The man, after being helped into the cab, sat down on the fireman's box, with his back against the board behind him, his feet extended in front, and his head bowed forward on his breast, for all the world like a dead man, or one asleep. Young as was Bob Lovell, his experience in the temper- ance work had given him an extended knowledge of the effects of liquor. When he first noticed how the man trembled, he feared he was on the verge of delirium tremens, but soon saw that such was not the fact. He had been drinking hard, until nearly delirious, but that had passed, and he was now as weak as a child. "When he observed that both engines were standing on the side track, he roused himself and looked toward Bob, who was standing below him in front of the open furnace door. "Well," said Oxx, " it looks as though I've got myself into a pretty bad scrape." TO THE PRESIDENT'S CSAIB. 183 "It might be better," replied Bob, who -wished to feel his way before bearing down too hard on the man. "How was it?" asked Oxx with a faint grin, and then, before the youth could answer, he asked, " Have you got any whiskey about you?" "Not a particle." "Well, I reckon it's about time to wind up this racket, which is a little harder than usual." "What do you remember about it?" Oxx, whose fine clothing was disarranged and soiled, and whose bloodshot eyes and inflamed face showed the terrific excesses in which he had been indulging, frowned for a few minutes, as if trying to collect his senses, and then said slowly: " Things are awfully muddled ; for the last three or four days, it seems to me, I've been drunk all the way from Ofalca to Irondale — not slighting a mile of the road." "But how about this engine? — how came you to be on Number 3?" " Let me see — I was in Irondale ; I dreamed I saw an en- gine standing by itself, and thought I would take a ride on it; I " "It wasn't a dream, Mr. Oxx — it was a reality." "Is that so?" he asked in astonishment; "yes, I suppose it is, but it seems like a dream, all of it." "When did things become real to you?" " The first awakening was when this engine gave a bump, and I pitched over the front. I tell you. Bob Lovell, there are times in a fellow's life, when he can think fast, and I did more thinking in the half a second I spent lunging over the front, and grabbing at anything that would hold me, than I ever did in a week before. I was a crazy fool up to that time, and wasn't much better then from the way I acted. If you hadn't come over to the engine and helped me up, it would have been all day with me." 186 FROM THE THROTTLE '"'I don't know about that," said Bob lightly; "all you had to do was to hold on a little while longer." "And that's just what I couldn't have done; I was so weak that I would have let go before the engines came to a halt." "Well, Mr. Oxx, all this is the result of drink; it's a better temperance sermon than I can preach to you." "I guess you are about right. I slipped into your meet- ings now and then, in Ofalca, to hear you talk; you didn't know I was there " "How often were you there?" "Three times." "I saw you on each occasion; you got behind the pillar on the left, and, since it was plain to me you didn't want to have me see you, I didn't show that I suspected you were there." " Well, I loved to hear you talk and sing, but somehow or other, I couldn't make up my mind to sign the pledge." " How do you feel now?" "I shall do so on the first opportunity." "That's this minute." From his pocket Bob Lovell drew a small book, with a lead pencil running through the loops along the edge. Within this was a printed pledge, with which, of course, you are familiar. "A pencil is as legal as ink," he remarked, passing both to the man, whose hand trembled as he steadied himself to write his signature. He hesitated a minute, but not from the cause his young friend suspected. Twice he started to write but checked himself. Then he suddenly looked up. "See here," said he, "it's easy enough to write 'Hematite Oxx,'' there, but I don't know whether it will do." "Why not?" " It is no more my name than it is yours." TO THE PRESIDENT'S CHAIR. 187 "Why not write the right one?" asked Bol/, who had always suspected the authenticity of the individual's name. "I belong to a good family, and I am ashamed to have any of my people learn what a wretch I am." "But you are about to begin a new life, which will make them proud of you." " See here," added the other with a graver face than he had yet worn, "I have just committed a serious crime for which I am likely to be punished ; I won't put down my real name until I am out of this scrape ; but I mean business and '■Sematite Oxx,'' will serve just as well as any other.. So here goes !" And controlling his nerves, he wrote "Hematite Oxx,"^ beneath the printed temperance pledge, the letters being- plainer and firmer than Bob expected to see. "There!" said he, compressing his lips and shaking hi& head, "I shall keep that pledge, if it kills me." "Little danger of its killing you ; it doesn't work that; way. It will be a hard struggle, Mr. Oxx, but with the; help of heaven you will win; you cannot fail." "I wonder what crime I have committed," he said a minute later ; "I know the courts don't accept drunken- ness as an excuse, but then did I run off with the locomo- tive, or did it run off with me? Did I steal the engine, or was it taken away from me before I could get off with it? However, what's the use of speculating in that style? The law won't have any trouble in finding a punishment for what I have done." " Did any one recognize you when you got on the en- gine?" "I cannot be sure of that, but I think not." "I wonder that while I was on the other engine you didn't jump off and take to the woods before any one recog- nized you." "But you knew me? " 188 FROM THE THROTTLE '1 suspected who you were, but I haven't told anybody." Hematite Oxx looked sharply at Bob Lovell. He caught the meaning of his remark and, rising from his seat, "was about to let himself down from the engine, with the purpose of seeking shelter near at hand; but, before his feet touched the ground, he stopped and climbed back to his seat again. "No, sir," he said firmly; "I am going to stay and take what they have for me, even if it is ten years." "It won't be anything like that, I am sure," remarked Bob, who had begun to feel some misgivings about the ad- vice he was so prompt to offer him. " To tell you the truth, Mr. Oxx, I am hopeful that your punishment will be much -less severe than you fear." ■"What reason have you for such hope?" ■*' Well, in the first place no damage of account has been >done ; you knew enough to take good care of Number 3 ; there have been no collisions and no one injured." "But I deserve no credit for that: what would have taken place but for you?" " It is true it might have been bad, but the company will be so pleased to find out how well it has all ended that when they learn you have signed the pledge, are very peni- tent, and voluntarily stayed to take whatever punishment was to come, it is impossible that they should not be merci- ful." "You encourage me," replied Oxx, plainly relieved by the cheering counsel of his young friend; "but no matter how severe they may be, I shall be happy." "And why?" "I am released from the slavery that has been my ruin. IvTever again shall I taste a drop of liquor, and to you be- longs the credit ; you may not know that the earnest words you said to me, after that affair some months ago, did a great deal of good." TO TBE PRESIDENT'S CHAIR. 189 "I really am glad to know it." "Yes, sir; a certain party, the son of Superintendent WortMey, had gone so far in a particular line, that he never could have got back again if it hadn't been for me; and 2 never would have allowed him to do so if it hadn't been for what you said to me." "I know what you mean," said Bob. At that moment the sound of a whistle Was heard. Looking to the westward they saw a locomotive coming cautiously around the curve. It was pretty well loaded with passengers, and among them were President Walbridge and two constables. They had been looking a long time for Number 3 and the Her- cules, and at last they were located. CHAPTER XXXVn. PEOMOTION. IT was on the day succeeding Hematite Oxx's experience "with engine Number 3, that an important meeting was held in the office of Superintendent Worthley, in the com- pany's building at Ofalca. While the superintendent and president were talking in low tones, young Montague, who was all suavity when the president was within sight, announced that Matt Fields, the famous engineer, was in the anteroom, and wished to see Mr. Worthley. "Bring him right in here," said the president; "he couldn't call at a better time." "Yes, my son; show him in." The next moment'the bronzed and bearded engineer of the Night Express entered the handsomely furnished room. There was always an honest deference in his greeting which pleased better than the more elaborate salutations. Still Matt hardly expected the president and superin- 190 FROM THE THROTTLE tendent of the I. & O. road to rise from their chai rs and take his hand as he came in, and yet that is what they did. After some pleasant chat about nothing in particular, the conversation drifted to the exciting incidents of the day before. "I came up this morning," said Matt, "to see Bob; but he tells me the Hercules' exhaust is a little off, and she -will have to wait a day or two before going out." "Yes," replied the superintendent; "I ordered Mr. Lovell to make a thorough examination, and, if his engine was not right in every' respect, to go back to the shop and stay till it was." "How about Number 3?" " She needs a little looking after, though injured only to a slight extent. Matt, what do you think'of Lovell's per- formance yesterday?" "It was nothing," replied the engineer. "You don't consider it much of an exploit to save a valuable engine that I ordered destroyed, in order to pro- tect other property and many lives?" was the inquiring remark of the president. " No — that is, not for Bob; it would be a mighty big thing for me, or anyone else." The dignitaries laughed at the veteran's way of putting it, and were inclined to agree with him. "We have sent for him," continued Mr. Worthley, "and Le will soon be here to give an account of himself. He is a bright young man." " There aint a brighter or better person connected with the I. & O. , and I don't except the president or superin- tendent," was the rather startling reply, which caused those officials to laugh again. " Why, there aint anything that fellow don't think of," burst out Matt with a wave of his hand. "When old Hercules tipped over on me, there stood the whole crowd TO THE PRESIDENT'S CHAIR. 191 gaping, feeling sorry, but they warn't able to lift a finger to help me. If it hadn't been for Bob Lovell I would have been layin' there still. He was the only one in the crowd — and your son, Mr. Worthley, was among 'em — that had the brains to see there was a simple way of getting me loose." "That certainly was a clever performance," asserted the superintendent, at which the president bowed. " Then, if he hadn't catched that bit of paper," continued Matt, "that gave away the plan of the gang at Dead Man's Hollow, our train would have been robbed; and was there ever a braver thing than his climbing over the tender and attacking that fellow standing on the platform of the ex- press car? I wouldn't have done it myself, and I tried to keep him from doing it." "It was a daring thing," said Mr. Worthley, "though it came near getting us into a bad hole. But his work yesterday was finer." " Unquestionably it was," assented President Walbridge. "In my flurry I saw no way of saving Number 3, nor did any of those around me. As the only thing • that could be done, I concluded to ditch her, letting the drunken fool that ran off with her be killed at the same time. Lovell had three minutes to learn things, and in that time he formed the scheme which saved both engines, a vast amount of property, many lives, and ended in the capture of the individual who calls himself Hematite Oxx, though I don't believe there is any person in the United States with such a name. While waiting for us," laughed the president, "Lovell got him to sign the temperance pledge, and the proud scamp that was certainly mixed up in the intended robbery of one of our trains is as crying and penitent as a child." "Where is he?" "He is lodged in jail: but Lovell has made such strong 192 FROM THE THliOTTLK intercession for him, and the man seems really to he so penitent, that we have concluded not to press the charge. He will be set free in a day or two, and I hope he will be- come the thoroughly reformed man he wishes to be." "Lovell told me about him," said Matt, "and he is much interested in the chap that no one seems to know much about." "But," said the president, with a glowing face, "what do all these achievements of Lovell amount to compared with his act a couple of months ago in saving my daughter and his own sister from being run over by the engine? I tell you that was a wonderful exploit. It has never been surpassed, and I know of no incident^^that is its equal." The president could never repress his emotion when the incident was referred to, and, with a view of diverting his thoughts, Mr. Worthley asked their caller: "Do you think. Matt, that LoveU is qualified to take charge of an engine?" Matt's nose turned up in disgust. " I'm surprised at such a question, Mr. Worthley. Why, there ain't his equal on the road; as I take it, the best en- gineer in the world is him that knows right away what's the best thing to do, and who does [^it, and that'3 Bob LoveU." " You know he is only eighteen years old — too young to become an engineer according to our regulations." "But he's got a head onto him that's older than anyone of us," added the enthusiastic Matt, "and being as I've called to resign " " Fou called to resign !" repeated the superintendent, be and the president looking their astonishment; "what do you mean?" " Exactly and precisely and circumstantially what I say. I resign as engineer of the Hercules, or any other engine that runs out on the road." TO THE PBB8IDENT'S CHAIR. 193 "Why is that?" "I'm disabled; I aint fit to run an engine." "What's the trouble? Your intellect isn't tottering, so far as I can judge." "Mr. Superintendent, -Tm color blind!" The officials stared in amazement. The subject of color blindness was attracting considerable attention at that time, owing to a disaster in the West, which was said to be due to that cause alone. "How long have yon been sensible of this failing?" asked Mr. Worthley. "Well, I've had my doubts for the better part of a year; sometimes I was sure that something was wrong with my sight, and then I was sure it was the fault of the men that showed the signals, and I talked pretty rough to them. But there hain't been any doubt in my mind since the night those fellows tried to hold up our train." " What convinced you then ?" "iDo you know that for all I was complimented so much for lifting that tree off the track with the Hercules' pilot, I never meant to do it? I was never more certain in my life than I was that the red light which was held up to stop me was a white one. When the first suspicion came to me it was too late to stop. Why," added Matt, as if resolved to make out the strongest case he could against himself, "I passed a red fiag only yesterday, and by sheer good luck missed running the Hercules into Dead Man's Hollow." The officials looked grave. "Mr. Worthley," said the president, "we must have an oculist examine every engineer in our employ without de- lay. I have learned of a peril which I never suspected threatened us. I am surprised, Matt, that a serious acci- dent has not resulted because of your failing." "So am I; I ought to have resigned before, but, so long as Bob was on the engine, I felt safe. He suspected my 194 FROM THE THROTTLE eyesight was not always reliable, for he kept a sharp look- out for the signals, and many is the time I learned whether to stop or go ahead by merely glancing at him without either of us speaking." Such was the truth. Bob, as you will recall, had dis- covered Matt's sad secret, and it caused him as much dis- tress as it did the veteran engineer. He knew the risk in- volved, and he felt it was wrong for Fields to remain at the throttle ; but he could not teU him so. He determined that so long as he rode on the engine with him, he would make sure that no mistake occurred in the matter of signals ; but, if the time came for them to separate, then he would speak frankly to his friend, and tell him his views, as he had done but a short time before. It would have caused Bob Lovell much anguish, for it can be understood that it would have humiliated and almost broken the heart of the engineer. But Matt was conscien- tious, and was rapidly reaching the point where his own sense of honor impelled him to act. The narrow escape in running upon the trestle-work over Dead Man's Hollow, in the face of the danger signal, brought matters to a crisis, and no man was ever more in earnest than was he, when, before stepping off of the Hercules, he assured Bob he would never run it again. But, as both the president and superintendent declared, Matt's resignation as the engineer of the Hercules did not carry with it his severance of connection with the road. The day could never come when remunerative work was not to be found for such a capable and faithful employee. "Under the circumstances," said the superintendent, " we cannot refuse to act upon your withdrawal. It eim- plifies the situation." "How's that?" " Mr. Walbridge and I haa concluded, before you cam* in, that a fireman who has given so many proofs of his ca- TO THE PRESIDENT'S CHAIR. 195 pacity as Lovell, is just such an engineer as we want to keep in our service. We had determined to break our own rules for him as we did in first giving him employment, by placing him in charge of an engine." "Then your talk about his being too young was a joke?" remarked Matt, with a grin. " Of course ; but the problem was how to make a good place for him, for it would have been a poor reward to give him charge of a coal or freight engine. Now that you iave resigned we shall put him in charge of the Hercules; he will have the same run that you have been accustomed to make for several years past." "You couldn't do anything that would please him and me better," exclaimed Matt. "And as for you?" "Why, I s'pose I'll go into the round-house as hostler." "No you won't," the superintendent hastened to say; "you will assume duty to-morrow as round-house fore- man." "Whew!" whistled the delighted Matt; "I didn't think of anything like that; but I'll tackle it, and I guess I'll be able to hold up my end." "There can be no doubt of it," remarked the president. "The duties of looking after the engines, the engineers, and firemen on this part of the road will not be hard ; you wiU not have to run a train, and you can move your family into Ofalca,-and be with them every night." At this juncture, Montague Worthley announced that Bob Lovell was waiting outside. The assistant superin- tendent, whatever his feelings, was wise enough to hide them for the time. He merely glanced and nodded at Bob without speaking. The new engineer of the Hercules knew that the old envious hatred still rankled in the young man's breast, and the accounts between them were not yet closed, but for the present, the books were shut. 196 FROM THE THROTTLE It need not to be said that Bob Lovell received a cor- dial greeting, and that the handsome fellow was made to blush again and again because of the compliments that came from all. Not only that, but there was good news for him — the best news that he could possibly have re- ceived. The dream of his life — that of holding the throttle of the Hercules as its engineer — was a reality, and he had acquired the prerogative through his own merit and in such a way that it was as pleasing to the engineer who withdrew as it was to his successor. CHAPTER XXXVIII. THE NEW MASTEE OF THE HEECTJLES. THE dream of young Bob Lovell's life was realized at last. He was appointed engineer of the matchless Her- cules, on which he had served his apprenticeship as fireinan. The grizzled veteran Matt Fields had been stricken with that extraordinary weakness, more common than is gener- ally supposed, color blindness. Unable to distinguish the signals by which the engineer of a locomotive, who holds the lives of multitudes in his hands, is warned of danger, it would have been a crime to permit him longer to handle an engine. As Matt himself had stated, he would have resigned the hour he became aware of his affliction, but for the fact that so long as Bob Lovell was his fireman, he considered himself safe against disaster. The old engineer, however, was too conscientious to hold a situation in which, despite the companionship of his young friend, the lives of others might have been sacrificed. Accordingly, he gave up the throttle and became round-house foreman, a post more suited to him in every respect than that of engineer. The face of Bob Lovell flushed when he climbed into the TO TEE PRESIDENT'S CHAIR. 197 cab of the Hercules, and, placing his hand on the throttle lever, realized that he was now the master of the superb piece of mechanism. His fireman, Dick Conklin, was a sturdy young man, who had served a couple of years on the freight and would have been promoted but for an occasional weakness he displayed for strong drink. He was several years older than Bob, quite powerful, tall and good- natured, except when indulging in intoxicants. At such times he was apt to be morose, reserved and sometimes ugly. He had been suspended once, but manifested such real regret for his offence, thatjTie was allowed to retain his place, since Superintendent Worthley was aware that he had a widowed mother and invalid sister depending on his monthly wages. He was liked by all his associates, and the principal reason for placing him on the Hercules with Bob, was the conviction that the young engineer could do more than any one else to keep him in the straight and narrow path. "Bob," said President Walbridge, "is the Hercules in good shape?" " Perfect ; I took a little spin down the track to test her and she never worked better." " You"consider her the fastest engine on the road?" "I am sure of that." "I am glad," added the president with a chuckle, "for we have had President Horton of the I. and Q., and his secretary, at a meeting, and we are going to take them home on a special. I want you to show him that we know something about running on our line. Worthley and I have got up a little plot that we think will surprise him." Let me remind the reader just here, that the distance from Ofalca, where this conversation took place, to the Junction was sixty-five miles. The Junction was the point where the line of the Inverwick and Quitman railway crossed that of the Irondale and Ofalca. Mr. Horton was 198 [FEOM THE THEOTTLE president of the latter road, and by invitation of President Walbridge had come to Ofalca in his special car, to hold a conference on an important business in which both corpor- ations were interested. While the roads were rivals, and there had been considerable friction between them regard- ing freight and passenger rates, yet the respective heads met like warm friends, and treated each other with the ut- most courtesy. After the business of the meeting was over and the cigars were produced. President Horton began a little badinage about the speed attained on the respective roads. His company had just put on an express, which by actual test had made a considerable distance at the rate of a mile a minute. He had ridden on the train and timed it himself, so there could be no mistake. "That is a tremendous pace" he said with a shake of his head. " You hear it spoken of lightly, but there are mighty few trains in the country that attain it." "On the contrary," said President Walbridge, "I think it quite common. Hardly a day passes, in which it is not made by some of our trains." "I would rather see that than hear of it." " I will endeavor to show it to you. " President Walbridge felt the taunt of Mr. Horton, as did Superintendent Worthley, and the former resolved that he would give his guest an exhibition that he would re- member for a long time. It was the intention of the superintendent to attach the private car of Mr. Horton to the down train, dropping it at the Junction where he would strike his own line. Bob Lovell expected to make the run to Irondale, the other end of the road; but leaving that work to the engine which had been doing it while the Hercules was undergoing re- pairs, Mr. Walbridge decided that Bob should take Presi- dent Horton and his special car to the Junction. Presi- TO THE PRESIDENT'S CHAIR. 199 dent Walbridge and superintendent "Worthley would bear him company, so that including the secretary of the first- named gentleman and the conductor, there would be just five beside the brakeman. Mr. Walbridge exchanged significant looks with his superintendent, as he excused himself for a few minutes, while he went out with the purpose of arranging for the special run. That duty properly belonged to the superin- tendent, but the latter caught the idea and remained with his guest, smoking and discussing the increasing rates of speed as shown by the revised time tables of all the roads. The above will explain the meaning of the conversation between President Walbridge and Bob Lovell, who had just returned from a run of a mile or two down the road to test his engine. "Bob," continued Mr. Walbridge, his handsome blue eyes twinkling, as he placed his hand on the shoulder of his favorite young engineer ; " you understand what I mean. The first consideration of a railway company is safety,' speed should always be secondary, and, no matter how strong the temptation, I never want you to take an unneccessary risk. Always follow your own judgment, but if you think it safe, I would be pleased to have you show what the Her- cules can do. Mr. Horton has an idea that they make better time on his road than we, though we^have steel rails and as excellent a road-bed as they. Now, we are through with our business, and he is ready to return to the Junc- tion. It is two hours before the regular down train and, according to the time-table, the road will be clear to the Junction for an hour and a half. The necessary orders will be telegraphed ahead to keep it clear for that time. We wish to start fifteen minutes from now. Mr. Worthley and I will accompany Mr. Horton to the Junction." "The distance is sixty -five miles and you would like me to make it in an hour and a quarter?" 200 FROM THE THROTTLE " If you think it safe." President and engineer were gazing straight into each others' eyes as they spoke. They tried to look serious, but at the same instant both broke into broad smiles. The't/ understood each other. "I will never knowingly incur a dangerous risk," said Bob, as his smile departed, "for I agree with you that the motto of an engineer should be safety for his passengers before anything and everything else. The road between here and the Junction is the best run on the line, and the finest portion is the track beyond Jigtown." "Why so?" " For ten miles it is perfectly straight, and the grade is slightly down. I presume, Mr. Walbridge, you would like to know where Mr. Horton is to receive his lesson? "I would." "Well, I will spin along at a lively pace until after cros- sing Dead Man's Hollow, when I will spur the Hercules and get her up to her best pace at Jigtown. The first mile- post is just beyond Jigtown, and perhaps it will be well for you to ask Mr. Horton to take out his watch and note how long it takes us to strike the ten succeeding mile-posts in succession." "You understand. Bob, that you must not make the at- tempt unless you deem it safe f" "I give you my word that I never will do otherwise." "All right then; I leave everything to you, but," added the president with another odd twinkle of his eyes; "I hope your judgment will pronounce it safe." Bob was about to reply, but he was obliged to turn his head to hide the smile that would come in spite of his effort to restrain it. He grasped the situation and sympa- thized with the feelings of the two highest ofiicers of the road. Unless some unexpected obstacle prevented, he was resolved to put the Hercules to the very highest pace of TO THE PRESIDENTS CHAIR. 201 which the superb steed was capable. At the same time he was equally resolved not to violate his motto of sacrificing everything to safety. He had never been guilty of reck- lessness, and he considered it a crime for an engineer to risk the lives of those in his care by any effort to show what he or his engine was capable of doing. " Give her plenty of coal, Dick," he said to his fireman, following the invariable rule of all engineers, who refer to their engines as of the feminine gender; "we'll keep her at one hundred and thirty pounds ; give her a thorough oil- ing, for we have no more time than we need to get ready." " The old man is anxious to show what you can do. Bob," said the fireman, sharing the hopeful pride which prompted the words of the president ; " I'll do my duty, and it all de- pends on you." "I shall try to do mine," replied Bob, catching up one of the long-necked oil cans and dropping himseK to the ground, to help in putting the iron steed in order. He examined every part of the Hercules, assisting Dick, who really needed no help, and making sure that the slightest point was not overlooked. Just before the quarter of an hour was up, he backed gently against President Horton's private car, the single brakeman coupled them together, and the Hercules was ready for the race of her life. CHAPTER XXXIX. A LIVELY SPIN. THE air hose was connected, the brakes tested, and a minute later the two railway presidents. Superinten- dent Worthley and the secretary of the guest, came out on the platform, laughing and jesting with each other as they stepped on board the handsome private car. Mr. Worthley 202 FROM TEE THROTTLE was at the i ear of the procession, and he could not resist the temptation to run a few paces to the engine and say, in a hurried voice, to the handsome engineer: "You understand, do you?" " I think so," replied Bob with a smile and nod of his head; "don't time me till we strike Jigtown." Mr. Worthley ran back and stepped upon the car, so close behind the three chatting gentlemen that his absence was not noticed. The brakeman was standing on the front platform with his upraised hand grasping the bell cord, while both engineer and fireman were watching him. The instant the car door closed behind the magnates, the con- ductor nodded, the brakeman jerked his hand downward, and simultaneous with the clink of the bell in the engineer's cab, Bob Lovell twitched the lever. It was done so gently that those in the car felt no jar and were not aware they were moving until they glanced out of the windows at the side. The Hercules was blowing off steam, but as her pace increased this ceased and Bob closed the cylinder cocks, which emitted little jets of vapor during the first dozen revolutions. A few moments later, when the engine had passed beyou'' the winding switches, "he linked her up," and the pace rapidly increased. Everything joined to make an unprecedented run, though possibly the powerful engine might have travelled a little more smoothly had there been two cars instead of one be- hind it ; but the private coach was heavier than an ordinary passenger one and constituted just the right " balance" for the engine. Bob Lovell's wish was to make the sixty-five miles in one hour and a quarter. This had never been done on the- I