The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1872-09-06

fallen when the engines touched?
began to fear the worst, and to call
wildly in the vain hope he might hear,
but the whisper Of the wind was the
only reply. 1t was impossible that he
could have gained the foot plate Of the
other locomotive and escaped instant
death had he fallen the engine would
have killed him. Thus argued, and
after time mechanically filled a pipe
and, taking the lamp, began to oil the
cranks. Looking at my watch, found
we had been running for thirty min,
utes, and at such pace that | knew
the up mail could not be far distant
and that Landerville was only few
miles OFF. So ran gently head again
aud had not proceeded far when sud
den "lift" of the engine nearly threw
me down. stopped and descended
At the side of the track lay body hor
ribly disfigured. The cow.catcher had
struck him, and dragged him along
An ndefinable sensation of fear took
possession Of me. Was that Abel after
all?
1t was too awful. ! managed, how
ever, to turn the corpse upon its back.
The features were indistinguishable, but
| by my lanterns light l recognized
Abel's cap tightly clasped in the dead
mans hand.
staggered against the engine, and
| now the excitement was over, sobbed
like child. The passengers in the
train we had left, the up mail. all were
forgotten, until reverently placed the
body upon the engine. The silence was
terrible. persevered till covered the
sible; and as l sat down upon the en-.
CINE rail fancied | heard distinct
rattle of an approaching train. l rose
and listened attentively. After pause
a whistle, long though very faint, broke
the stiffness. l stood ready to run if
occasion demanded it, when agsin the
whistle rose, this time loud and clear,
and after dying away in long, wailing
sound, suddenly ended in three sharp,
quick notes. My heart leaped to my
throat-this was Abel Storer's signal.
With trembling fingers l replied. In
a few moments dark object loomed in
front, and Abel's "hallo'' was ringing
in my ear. In two seconds more l was
beside him.
Don't wiring mans arm Off" he
cried, I'm rather DONE"
"Good heavens, how did you escape?"
l said.
"Td a toughish bout of it," Abel re.
piled, but by gosh I've won."
81 fancied you we're shot," said l.
Look here's" and taking him to his
own engine ] showed him the body
which still lay there in all its CHASTITY
reality.
"Shot," he laughed, in no way affect.
ed by the sight; no sir. That's the
coon pipp'd in the skull; he grabbed
my cap, too; ] may as well have it
agin, guess" So saying, he reli we'd
the dusty head covering from his late
antagonists grasp, and calmly brushing
it, continued: Eyes, you see when the
engines closed leaped on the step, and
ported this fellow at once-didn't you
hear the shot?"
said had heard a noise, but fan.
cied it was a steam.pipe which had
given way.
"No," said he, "that was my first
fire. These Injuns had but one der.
rick between them, and this fellow was
going to use it in my favor, but lucki.
ly stopped that. The other tried a
knife on my skin, but he was soon
plugged. Then l had to 60 to Lander
vile to give information, and was re-
turning tor you when saw your head
lamp, and whistled accordingly-that's
ALL"
ais the other unfortunate man
dead 2" asked.
"Not he," replied Abel; ~ only
shot him in the shoulder-but he'll
lose his arm, reckon. We'd better be
going, and see about the passengers
now, l think"
We then coupled the engines, and
leaving the dead undisturbed on one,
mounted the other. On arriving at
Bunkum City we told our tale, the
mangled body of the 6libuster bore
grievous testimony, and after deten-
ton Of rather more than an hour the
passengers we're dispatched on their
journey. Upon their return to head
quarters we were specially thanked,
and otherwise more substantially re.
warded. Abel was promoted to com.
Portable permanent berth in New York
city. while was made fan engine dri.
yer, with the highest scale of pay, in his
stead.
What befell me in my new appointment
my readers may perhaps be informed
upon future opportunity.
The Amende Honorable.
The gentle editor of Western ex.