The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-03-18

Suggested Fred Rodman. who was
standing on the platform. '.rn keep
your sled for you. Or, see here, just
Slip the rope through this iron ring on
the rear car"
Phil did as he was hidden. and leav-
ing his sharp-shooter tied with q slip
knot, went into the express Office.
The man in the express Office had
never heard the proverb concerning
So place for every things" or, if he
had, knowing it was not among the Ten
Commandments, felt under no obliga-
ton to heed it. He remarked that
somebody had said something about
some skates being somewhere" and
went fumbling among boxes and
bundles. exclaiming, alternately, Hi!
here they be-" and ''Ho! no, they
At last, just as he laid his hand on q
queer looking package, and was next
to sure that here were the skates, the
engine bell rang, there was q slight
scurry outside, and the train began to
move.
Phil was out of the depot in flash.
"Stop!' he cried; but the locomo-
tive paid no heed.
Slowly past the platform glided the
cars, pulling ''Chain Lightning be-
hind.
Almost before he knew what he was
doing, Phil had thrown himself on the
sled and grasped' its rope. To his
horror the slip-knot suddenly frightened,
and 'Chain Lightning was firmly
fastened. Every moment the train
quickened its speed.
l should not dare to tell the rest of
this story. were it not true. l am not
making it up" 1t really happened.
The sled hung on the car. Phil Sulli-
van chung to the sled. Do you suppose
he would lose "Chain LightningP"
Not he.
Faster and faster-faster and faster
still-dashed on the train. Over the
sleepers bounded "Chain Lightning"
To this side, to that, it swayed madly.
Pills grasp never slackened. On they
rushed. Phil dared not roll off the sled
now lest he should be killed. 1t seemed
no less certain death to stay on.
The engine gave short, painting
breaths, as if it were, frightened, itself,
at the trick it was playing the boy.
A kindly tree stretched out limb,
but tried in vain to rescue Phil. The
sled bounded far less now as the train
whizzed along. The runners were half
an incn from the ground. Held by its
strong rope, the sharp-shooter was like
a small tail to a big kite. Cinders flew
the cars flew" Chain Lightning"
flew-Phil flew. q am telling you the
truth.)
1t seemed to our friend as if he had
been rushing through space ever since
he was born. 1t seemed as if he had
come millions of miles. Would this
awful ride never end? Phips fingers
were numb, so tightly did they clasp
"Chain Lightning's" edge. He saw
stars before him.
" Chain Lightning" was knocking the
sleepers once more. 1t might have oc-
Cured to Phil that he could hardly bear
this sort of travelling much longer had
not his brain been too dizzy to do much
Presently, after another small eterni-
ty, with final shrek the LOCOMOTIVE,
drew up in the city depot.
An hour later Philip Sullivan entered
the paternal mansion. Never word
did he say in regard to the black-and-
blue spots which dotted him from head
to foot, not yet did he feel it necessary
to mention that every bone in his body
had an especial and separate ache. :
81 thought might as well go into
town." he remarked, carelessly.
{" Here's your music, Kate. Your
skates will probably come Tomorrow.
"Well. you are DEAR" began Kate,
looking up from her crocheting. But
before she could finish there came q
loud ring at the door bell. and in rushed
Fred ROdman. As he caught sight
of Phil, his eyes and mouth opened
wide. and he stared for full minute.
At last, ''Arn't you dead?" he
gasped. H' 'f..s
''Phor' said Phil, loftily. "rve as
much right to be living as you, sill"
''Wel1, neverr' said Fred. "I was
over to the post-office when the whistle
blew, and came out just in time to see
you of, and 1 raced most of the way to
the city after you, and then turned
round and raced back to tell your
folksr'
<"Phor' said Phil. again.
We will pass over any family discus
sion of the incident; but within an hour,
one-half the boys in town were relating
to the other half the story of Phil Sulli-
vans ride. To be sure the versions
differed, and to this day some of the
ads little out of Pills own circle are
he went to town on the cow ?
catcher. and other some believe that he
rode all the way under car, sitting on
, brace between the wheels. 70
But that evening Phil, much bruised
and battered, yet whole in every limb,
told to select few the full particulars
Of his journey; and the facts Of the case
are as have here narrated them
Mary Densel, in Wide-AUaEe.