Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1871-04-27

with therotherrrWe had a short,
furious fght5oni thecplatform,
then rolled off into a pileofcross.
ties just as the train, in obedience
to my signal, rolledaaway. Il ido
not think the conductor heard the
I engine whistle or knew the train
had gone, $50 busy was hesstrying
/ TO lick me.lyI was toe much for
him, though l had not tasted food
for three or four iduyss past. 1
suppose fever and the fury qf;d,t
lspair lent melstrength, for l got
him under me, there on the cross,
ties, and thumped him till he
bawled for help. By this time
the train was roaring but faintfy
in the distance. II let him up and
he gazed around. e-2 is1@ 5Ts'-2i
"Wh-where's my train e. said
he. - @.'A -. =
"D5n't you hear it?" I asked,
seating myself on a cross-tie, in
an almost breathless state.
"What in thunder; Ding that
engineer T. What on earth made
himleave me? III report him to-" :"
"0h!' don't get too blustery,"'
said l., interrupting him, II gave
the engineer the signal just as
you clinched me-" s'0'a
"Did you pull the bell-rope?'
"Yes, SIR" .'' a-''
"The nation you did, What
for ?" ra3 eai - 'ig3s7t .aer
"0h |! just for fun" i replied,
scowling at him out of the cor
ners of my eyes. s'a9 sailMt
"Forfan.! and how much is it?"
be asked H. bslai5s'uuen sbas
Between quart and a half a
gallon,' / replied. s,a ise
"Have to walk of least ten
miles through this internal old
swamp" muttered. II
"B-tter two of US than one !"
"But, ding it T! my train! ]"
"Just so p said I..'tBa
"They may not miss me for
fifty miles.
"Nor me.n AZ 81 a|
"Nor you +! Ding yout Who
are you anyhow ?"
"No NATTER said. /, "you'd
better have let me alone" i
"But ding it., man, I must obey
orders. The road master would
have reported me for dismissal if
Id "a let you off without the
money! r'ih ith5 ltEl,J
sand now he'll report you for
deserting the train"
"No; III hurry up TO the next
station and telegraph my. situa
tion." "a ~ ,EHaJf y h.utI
| "By no means, said /. ~ : :
"Why not?'
"l'll not allow yon.S
"You won't p 80 p E
"That will not!'' said /, en-
phatically, drawing from its hid
ing place underneath my coat-tail,
h huge Colts revolver. The con-
ductor's face turned to just the
color of the moonshine. ogrg1s
| "Don'tknl me- 7 he suggested, q
was only obeying orders, indeed !
was, sir" yfITyefr.e.
Maybe you'd like to pray a
little?"
9'iPrayi Good hesvensl You're
not in earnest p hAit is
"Oh, if you don't want to
pray" ,"qsaid /, cooking my pistol
and examining the cap. Fee".aI
He went down on his knees
and prayed quite fervently. Just
as he finished 7 heard the train
coming back at full speed. IA,
t'Dine'dif they amt a back
ing down (! They've missed me T.
he cried, springipg to his feet.
"They'Il never find Won" said /.
avery easy" " said he, "FlI wave
my hat"
-'s'Not at-all, II rejoined.
"Why not? I'lllet you ride to"
] "Isdo not care to ride" | inter
rupted slet's take little stroll in.
to the swamp"
/ stWhat for2" he asked tremblingly.
H. "Oh, just to, avoid being seen" /"
Irepiied. Is iasa,,1ge4 e
"For Lords sake!" he cried.
! "Move ahead I" / said, and SO !
! drove him back into thicket swamp
a few hundred yards.
/ @New you gust open your
mouth" I remarked, as the train
trundled slowly past with lights
hanging out on every side, "and
I'll puta ball down your throat =
He kept very quiet and we
could plainly hear the. excited
voices of the passengers and train
hands as they were borne along al
a constantly lessening speed. Fin.
!, ally the train was brought to a
i, stand'still aNhalf mile below. AT
ter remaining :here awhilci it came
q -.. =.