The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1880-12-03

| oouShb otib his sluW pllc, uHu tiic wv Gil
| joyed n hearty meal Then his quick EYE
was attracted by the half-open door of box
car near.
Lets see, now" he said, going up to it,
| 'P'r'aps they've been a-keepin' one of theil
style rooms for us, George"
| He lit match and peered inside 1t con-
tanned few articles of shabby furniture, and
an old carpet rolled up in one corner.
splendid p he exclaimed. 81 knowed
they'd be a-lookin' for us, George, but I'm
blamed if | thought they'd fix up for us like
this. Quit now; don't you be a-wagging
yourself all over the keer. and a-rappin' your
tail agin the fine furnitur. Be genteel now "
Jim rolled himself and his pet in the carpet
| and both were comfortably settled for the
night, when voices were heard.
whats hereY" A man looked in, and
! then climbed up, followed by another.
Its only me and my dog" said Jim.
"Ah, room for more, guess"
Jim had thought he was going to have a
| fine nights rest; but he lay awake long, his
| thoughts going back to the little boy who had
| liked his dog, who had given him more mon
| ey than ever he had had at one time before
and who had promised him Thanksgiving
dinner. He liked the idea of going very
| much, not only for the good dinner, which
was quite an attraction to the poor hungry
little tramp but he wanted to see the nice lit
| tie fellow again, and see where he lived, and
perhaps talk more about dogs. The thought
| of giving him his dog crossed his mind for q
| moment, but was cast aside as thing impos-
sibe, the very idea producing an almost UNI
| conscious hug so fervent as to eXtort a pa
| tient howl from George.
He wished, though, that he could "slick up
| little to go to Johnny Welford's house. He
| wondered if he could get pair of second
| hand shoes for what was left of his half-dol-
| lar, and made up his mind to search among
office swccpings early in the morning for the
cleanest paper collar he could find. lie had
an indefinite hope that some good might
| come to him from this visit. Perhaps John
| ny's father might help him to something to
do. He did odd jobs now, ran errands, swept
steps and crossings, but it was his great am
| bition to get "somethin' regular" to do.
AS he lay thinking, the men who shared
his shelter were talking, but he paid little
heed to them till he heard the words "John
Welford" blooming on that train" and then
he listened with every nerve on a tension, till
his heart was filled with fright and horror at
what he heard.
He heard the whole plan. A large bowl
der lay close to the track short distance
from the junction. and crowbars were hidden
| near. The men were to wait till the watch
man had made his last patrol out that way
before the time for the passing of the train,
when they would quickly hoist destruction
into its path.
Gle sent me up for four years, but I'll send
lin up for longer than that" said the man,
with laugh and an oath which made Jim
shudder.
When the two at last left the car he waited
till they were beyond hearing, and crept eau
tously out. He knew that if they suspected
his intention they would think no more of
crushing out his life than of threading on q
worm, but he was resolved on saving that
train if he died in doing it. 1t was bright
starlight, but dark enough TO admit of his
watching the men without much danger of
being discovered. He saw them finish their
work, and hide in the bushes near. Then,
with trembling hands, but full of firm pur-
pose, he set about carrying out his plan.
Running back to the straw pile he quickly
made up bundle of it, and slipping off his
old shoes, sped noselessy along the track,
past the wreckers Just beyond the bowlder
the road made rather sharp curve, bringing
n high bank between the two men and Jim's
selected place of action, and this, he hoped,
would conceal from them what he was doing,
at least long enough to insure success.
He divided his bundle of straw, and laid a
heap on the track Then he waited and lis
tened, with his heart beating too loudly for
him to hear any other sound. He looked up
at the stars over his head. My mother is up
there somewheres p'raps," whispered the lit
tie fellow maybe she'll ask some 'un to help
me-"
AS the light at last appeared in the distance
he set match to his heap, and saw it blaze
up brightly Lighting by it the portion still
in his hand, he ran wildly forward, waving it
to and fro But the engine came steadily for
ward; would it never, neger stop? He reach
ed a short bridge over q culvert, and sprang
on the abutment at its side, still brandishing
his beacon, and scarcely knowing it, shrek
ing at the top of his voice. His hands were
bnrning, the smoke blackened his face and
took away his breath but, yes-it surely acaS
slowing The engine passed him; he listen
ed, and could hear the brakes worked by the
desperate strength of frightened men. Pas
sengers crowded out on the platform, and
saw the little figure still waving the last
sparks of his safcty-light. And then dark
form stole up to him, a cruel blow sent him
crashing against the last car, and he fell Its
wheels had not stopped moving.
Men sprang down, raised him, and carried
him into the car, where he was laid upon u
seat.
"It's the one who stopped the train-a boy.
Why did he do it?-whats the matter 2"-
The conductor had sent men forward on the
track and soon knew the terrible reason. 1t
spread through the cars like wld-fire. Wo-
men cried and tainted, and strong men turned
pale Every one knew that it might have
been his or her life which had gone out ere
now but for the boy who lay there. A wo-
man wiped the blood and smoke from his face
| with shaking hands and quick-dropping
| tears.
Presently boys clear voice cried out,
| "Johnny Welfords fathcr?-Johnny Wei
| fords father"
A tall man turned in surprise, and bent
| over him. did you call my name, my boy p
"Be you Johnny, Welfords father :"
| ayes, | am John Wexford"
"Be you a-going' home to Thanksgvin' ?"
"I-hope so"-his voice broke-"thanks to
you"
Jim smiled. II guess mother sent some
'un to help me- Where's George2" The
dog had crept close to his master, and no one
had driven him away. Hello, old feller-.
Give Johnny Wclfo1l my dog-hell know
Tell Johnny Wexford l can't-come to his
for-Thanksgivin." The voice died
away.
jim had his Thanksgiving dinner at John.
ny Welford's house, but it was a few spoons
fuls of wine, given by the white hands OF
| Johnny Welfords mother. And he was the
only guest, for there was no merry making
| in the beautiful house where the poor little
street Arab lay in the balance between life
and death. And from many other hearts in
the city went up, with fervent thanksgiving
the earnest prayer that the little life which
had been so freely offered for others might be
spared.
"And you lost your poor foot, my boy y
some one said, months after you'll have
| to go without it all your lite."
"Why, yes" said Jim with laugh, "but
bless me I'm enough sight better off with
one footn ever | was with two. Why, it's
been Thanksgivin' for me and George all the
| tiuo evor sipcn Eh old TELLER 2n-H IrDer's