The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-05-18

Inc tram OF passenger-cars was on
the main track (the engine still being
detached) and the people were hurry
ing in, most of them coming direct
from the theaters and other places of
amusement. Inside of the cars and in
the depot there was a good deal of lest
ing ana gayety between acquaintance
meeting on their way home, the train
beng a local one and running only
through suburban villages.
Just then, short distance I'D the
track, there was hiss and a cry, and
a voice shrieked out in horror: q" A run
away train on the main track! A run
away train on the main track! Passen-
gers in the depot! Out of the cars!-
out of the carsr'
A runaway freight-train was on the
track! The fireman had started it for
the purpose of taking it into the freight
depot. By some accident, before it had
lett the main passenger track, the man
mad stumbled as he was at his work.
and had nearly fallen upon the ground.
Halt-stunned, he had jumped up. but
could not catch the moving engine.
which was gaining speed every second,
and had shrieked out his warning.
ltso happened that the switch-tender.
through fright, or from some unex-
planned cause, did not move his switch
IN season to run the train off the main
track, and now the huge machine, with
It's train behind, was rushing toward the
traln IN the depot with speed that
promised fatal disaster.
The few officials who were near had
time but to gasp with horror. At the
moment when the cry of danger was
shrieked out upon the night air, Dick
Knight was attaching his engine to his
passenger-train. From the cars and
platform rose yell of frantic terror,
IN which Saulter's voice was highest.
Death seemed rushing upon the people,
who had not time to get out of the cars
before the driving train would be upon
them.
The officials in the depot watched
Knight with blanched faces.
He'll be crushed to atomsr' NUT
tered one stout old man, standing bv
Dr. Pomeroy.
But Dick had put steam upon his en-
CINE. Apparently he did not think of
leaving his post. There he stood with
his hand on the lever, calm and deter
mined.
His huge machine sprang forward.
1t met the coming locomotive with a
crash that threw both monsters up
ward, as if they had risen to wrestle
and throw each other. Then Dicks
engine was thrown one side, but the
force OF the runaway train was over
come, and the machinery of the engine
so injured that all movement was
stopped. Dick was hurled senseless
several feet from the place of the coils
ion.
The stout old man and DR.. Pomeroy,
with all the other men in the depot, ran
to Knight, picked him up and carried
him into the waiting-room, where he
was left with the physicians.
"Well, WE'LL" said the old gentle
man, impatiently, as Dr. Pomeroy came
out, how is twill he live?"
81 think so. God forbid that should
have to take him home dead to his old
fatherr'
y, & Yen lJ'ees'4lhiiyo s'n,sr"I owe him?''
and his voice broke. "My little girl
is aboard that train"
DIR. Pomeroy told Knights story
briefly, informing the old gentleman
that he was thoroughly educated, but
that he looked upon any work as better
than dependent idleness.
"He's the true grit, sirr' was the an
mated reply. There's no work so
humble that a man cannot show the
best qualities of manhood in it, as we
have seen tonight. 1t is not the dar-
ing courage l approved in him so much
as the presence of mind, the keen eye,
to see what to do and how to do it. Re-
quest Mr.. Knight, if you please, to call
on me at ten Tomorrow" he said to
the statiOn-master.
"Who is that?n asked Fred Saulter,
breathlessly, of the official.
1.-THE President of the road. Dick
Knight, if he lives, has an open road to
fortune now, and he deserves it,
Fred Saulter crept into the car to 90
home. His lavender gloves were
soiled, and the wired rose in his but
ton-hole was falling to pieces with a
sickly, decayed smell. Life itself was
sickly and decayed, he thought, with a
yawn, and he threw the wilted rose out
of the window. Yes; and to all con-
ceited, etfeminate natures like his it is
likely to prove what Saulter's magma
ton pictured it that night. -RebeccG
Harding DaUiS, IN Youths Companion.