The herald. (Smyrna, Del.) 1870-1871, 1871-04-15

tho bell-rope with the other. We h@o
a short, furious fight on the platform
then rolled off onto a pile of cross-ties
just as the train, in obedience to my sig.
nal, rolled away. ] do not think the
conductor heard the engine whistle OF
knew the ears had gone, so busy was he
trying to lick me. was too much fol
him, though / had not tasted food fol
three days past. l suppose fever and
the fury of despair lent me strength, foi
I get him under me, there on the cross
ties, and thumped him till he bawled
for help. BY this time the train was
roaring but faintlyIin the distance. /
let him up and he gazed around.
"Wh-where's my train ?" said he.
"Don't you hear it 2" I asked, seat
ing myself on cross-tie, in an almost
| breatbless state.
"What in thunderl Ding that engin-
eer Whit on earth made hina leave
me? I'll report him to-"
"Oh don't get too blustery," said I
interrupting him, II gave the engineer
the signal just as you clinched me.''
"Did YOU pull the bell-rope2"
"Yes, SIR" t4t ru 4a
"The nation you did What for ?"
"oh just for fun" replied, scowling
at him out of the corners of my eyes.
"For full ahd how much is it?" he
asked. n
Between quart and a half-a-gallon,'
replied.
"Haye to walk at least ten mile S
through this internal old swamp" he
h1uttered.
"Better two of us than one -
''But, ding it my train!'
"Just so r. said 1.
"They may not miss me for fifty
miles"
"Ror me-"
"Nor you Ding you! Who are you'
anYhow?"
mo matter" said :, "you'd better
have let ME alone"
"But, ding it man, I must obey or
ders, The road-master would have re
ported me for d.smgs. al ifI'd 'alet You
Off without the moneyp'
"And now he'll report you for desert
ing your train"
mo; I'll hurry up to the next station
and telegraph my situation"
"By no MEANS" said L.
.'Why not?"
''I'll not allow you."
"You won't? nn.s
"That I will not % said I, emphati
cally, Craving from its hiding place un-
derneath my coat-tail, a huge Colts re-
velver. The conductors face turned to
just the color of the moonshine.
Don't. kill me-" he suggested, "I was
only obeying orders, indeed was, sir"
Maybe you'd like to pray little?"
"Prayl Good heavens! You're not
in earnest2"
"oh, if you don't want to pray" said
7, cooking my pistol and examining the
cap.
He went down on his knees and pray
ed quite fervently. Just as he finished |
heard the train coming back at full
speed.
"They'd ifthey amt backing Gown!
They've missed mel" he cried, spring
ng to his feet. a5e.f,+.i...t. i
"They'll never find You," said I.
every easy" SAID he, an wave my
,at."
"Not at all" rejoined.
"Why not2 I'll let you ride to"
81 do not care to ride" interrupted,
let's take little stroll into the
"What for ~ he asked tremblingly.
"oh, just to avoid being seen,'' re-
lied.
"For lords sakep' he cried.
"Move aheadr' said, and SO drove
i'm back into the thicket swamp a few
undred yards. 81 soa
"Now you just open your MOUTH ! y
emarked, as the train trundled slowly
asst with lights hanging out on every
ide, 'and I'll put ball down your .
nroAtp
He kept very quiet and we could plain
2 hear the excited voices of the passen
ers and train .hHnds asthey were borne t
long at constantly lessening speed S
inally the train was brought to stand |
i'll half-mile below. After remain Z
lg there awhile it came slowly putting t
ack, the men running along beside it It
eating the woods a few rods in either (
rectioni Io
Meantime Twas not idle. bound the b
hands and feet with his sus a
'nders and gagged him with my ham 4
srchief In this condition. sat him L
'wn against the root of large pine tree Il
i'd throwing my over. coat across my a
m, left him there. AS soon as I got p
It of sight of my prisoner took off T
y small-coat and turned it. It was a
nall flannel sack made to be worn |,
ther side out. 1t was black on one G.
lie, white on the other, hastily put Il
pine knot in my cap and threw it into c.
pond hard by, and put on soft hat N
lich I had been carrying ii7my pock- p
This, hat was white and very broad P
immed. ] nov hastened to the vicin- a
: of Tire railroad track and as the train 81
th its excited attendants began to s.
IS eoolly Joined the crowd Of PERSONS ca
40 walked beside the cars. mao asia la
'Singular what's become ofhim," I cc
marked to the man nearest me. d,
'Tarnation queer, indeed" was the Sc
ply. N