Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-02-12

~
track. The fireman, had started it for
the puprose of taking it into the freight
depot. BY some accident, before it had
left the main passenger track, the man
had stumbled as he was at his work.
and had fallen nearly upon the ground.
Half stunned, he had jumped up, but
could not catch the moving engine,
which was gaining speed every second,
and had shriekcd out'his warning.
1t 50 happened tbat Che svitcp.tender,
through fright or some unexplained
cause, did not move liy switch to run
the tran off the main track, and now
the huge machine, with its train behind,
was rushing toward the train in the de-
pot with speed that promised fatal DIS
aster.
The new 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 the
passenger train. From the cars aud
platform rose a yell Of frantic terror, in
which Saulter's voice was the 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 atoms y mutter'
cd one stout old man, standing by Dr.
Pomeroy.
But Dick had put steam upon his
engine. Apparently he did not think
of leaving his post. There he stood
with his hand on the lever, calm and
determined.
His huge machine sprang forward. II
met the coming locomotive with a crash
that threw both monsters upward, as i
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
buried senseless several feet from the
place of the collision.
The stout old man and Dir. Pomeroy,
with all the other men in the depot,
ran to Knight, picked HIM up and car
ried HIM into the washing.rOOm, where
he was left with the physicians.
well, we'll, said the old gentleman,
lmpatiently, as DIR. Pomeroy came out,
how IS he: will he live?'
L think so. God forbid that I should
have to take hm home dead to his old
fathern
You know him then? Who is he:
Why, do you know what l owe him?'
and his voice broke. Ny little girl is
aboard that train
DR.. Pomeroy told Knights story
briefly, informing the old gentleman
that he was thoroughly educated, but
that he looked upon any work as better
than dependant ldleness.
He's the true grit, SIR was the ami
mated reply. There's no work SO
humble that he cannot show the bes'
qualities ofmanhood in it, as we have
seen tonight. It's not the daring cour'
acc I approve in him so much as the
presence of mind, the keen eye. to see
wha. to do and how TO do it. Request
Mr.. Knight, if you please. to call on me
at ten tomorrow. he said to the station
master.
who is that% asked Fred. Saulter
breathlessly. of the official.
THE president of the road. Dick
Knight, if he lives, has an open road to
fortune now, and he deserves it,
Fred. Saul!er crept into the car to 60
home. His lavender gloves were soiled,
and the wired rose IN his button-hole
was falling to pieces with sickly, de-
cayed smell. Life itselfwas sickly and
decayed, he thought. with yawn, and
he threw the wilted rose out Of the win
dow. Yes and to all concelted effemi-
nate natures like his, it is likely to prove
what Saulter's imagination pictured II
that niGht.