This promise of mine was ill-advised. I hurried up the track to the station, only to find it locked and deserted. It was not the principal station of the town, being one of the half-dozen smaller ones strung at short intervals along the line. In all probability it would not be opened until a few minutes before train-time. As I knew the outcoming train would stop at that station, and thus give me a chance to warn the engineer of the obstruction ahead, I did not feel particularly alarmed at not finding the agent at once. Still I was conscious of some nervous uneasiness while awaiting his arrival. At last he came leisurely across the street, jingling his keys as he walked. As soon as he stepped foot upon the platform I went to 'him and began to tell my story. I had not proceeded far with it ere he interrupted me with a startled ejaculation. “Great Scott! The White Mountain express!” “What? What do you mean?” I gasped, “New train--put on yesterday--passes here on the way in at ten-ten, and it's more than that now!” he exclaimed in staccato, as he hastily unlocked the station door, and, putting in his hand, seized a red lantern that had been sitting ready lighted on the floor within. He did not waste any more time with me, but rushed along to the end of the platform, and then began to run with all his might down the track. I succeeded in following him at not too great a distance, although I was turning sick and giddy with all sorts of horrible apprehensions. Visions of a frightful wreck photographed themselves on my brain, the shrieks of the dying sounded prophetically in my ears, and in the midst of it all I was selfishly deploring the fact that I should be called on to pay the damages--at least to Antaeus--and wondering if I could contrive to get a hardware discount off the market price of steam-rollers. The crossing was still hidden from us around a curve when a shrill whistling broke upon my startled ears. “T-o-o-t!--t-o-o-t! Toot! toot!” The agent uttered an explosive invocation to the Deity, and added in tones of despair: “We're too late; she's onto us!” Still we staggered mechanically forward, until suddenly, with a cry of warning, the agent sprang aside, and the express went thundering by. “See here, young man,” my companion exclaimed angrily, “if this is a put-up job----” “But it is not!” I interposed with indignant protest. “I don't understand it any better than you do. Certainly I left Ant--the roller sprawled across both tracks.” “Well, I guess it ain't there now,” dryly remarked the agent, watching the rear lights of the fast-receding train, until they were swallowed up in the glare of the “local's” head-light. “I must run back,” he added, recalled to a sense of his duties. “You take this lantern and go and see if the outward track is clear. Stand between the rails and swing the lantern if it ain't. I'll tell the engineer to go slow and be on the lookout.”