Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-04-06

All at once my heart leaped and
every nerve tingled. From the fast
vanishing train came a long. shrill
whistle, which 1 knew well enough
meant red signals in front, while to nv
unutterable joy, the end lamps of the
guards van showed palmer and palmer
as painted on.
Another stumble and fall over the
| point rcds-and was up again, heed
less that my hands and forehead were
bleeding, and that had lost my cap.
There were the lamps palmer and plain
er, for the train had almost stopped
but now it was hundred yards ahead,
could / overtake it before it started
again? The suspense was horrible. /
felt my head swim as painted on.
Fifty yards passed, and there lamps
still receding, but bigger and less dina.
On still, gasping and choking, and draw.
ing my breath with difficulty. Not
twenty yards off, and, if could have
run, another few seconds would have
seen me holding on by carriage han
die; but I could only go at a heavy
trot.
"Bangl bangp went a couple of fog
signals, and hope rose again as the en-
CINE slackened pace once more, and,
almost at walk, painted on-nearer,
nearer, nearer-the red lights growing
brighter and palmer, and at last, just
as the engine gave final shrek and
dashed on all clear, 1 laid my hand on
the red bulls eye, and the next moment
was sitting clinging to the footboard
of the guards van.
The fog had been my friend. In
another few seconds l must have
dropped, while, in an ordinary way, the
train would have been miles down the
line by this time.
"BaDgl bangr' went the fog signal
again, as sat helplessly there, with my
legs drawn up, and again we slackened
for a few seconds; but all clear once
more, and we were dasbing on, and fast
getting into full swing as I rose up,
and opening the door, stood with the
guard of the train.
"POOhl nonsensep' he said. you're
mad. L shan't stop the trainP'
"Then 1 SHALL" / shouted, making
towards the wheel connected with the
gong upon the engine.
"Not if L know it, you won't" he
said, stopping me-
1 was too weak and done up to seuffle
with him.
"Will you come with me to the next
carriage, then?" 1 said.
He OnlV shook his head
"Will you lend me your key?" said.
For 1 had dropped my own When 1
fell.
He shook his head again, and then It
struck me that perhaps be might step
me, 81 eng how roughand wild and exc:t-
ed looked. 1 backed slowly toward TIE
door, facing him all the tine. He toy8
me afterwards, if hs-had not felt afraid.
he wc1ld have pinned,me whsn turneS
my back.
"C6me backI' he shouted, as we
dashed along at full speednow, rushing
through the darkness ahead, and giving
a wild shrek as we passed station,
the lights looking liks-one strsak.
Thee were the carriages shaking,
and the wind tearing at mo- as if to
beat ma off but 1 was recovering my
self fast, and in a few moments | was
at the end of the guards vans leaning
towards the carriage 8wantcd to reach.
So fan my task had been easy, though,
Of cOurse, dangerous, with tie train
along at fifty miles an hour;
but now there was So gap to pass be-
tween the van and the carriage, for the
buffers Keep the carriages at some dis.
lance apazt. For a few moments |
stopped in dread, but as L got my
breath more and mCge, COURAGE, and !
the recollection of heT,wild, appealing
face came to me, anG, clinging. to the !
buffers, Z cOntrived to get one foot on |
the step of the carriage and, still hold |
ing on ~ the iron, tried to get the 9TH |
er there.
Just then the train gave a iexk, and !
L thought it was al over; bat the !
next Moment 1 was ON the step and !
had hold Of the door-5andle.
cat lastp 1 muttered, as 1 drew |
myself up on to tbs next step and |
tried the door, which was, as Isexpect- +!
ed, fasa~
Thea looked back, there, was the \
guard, with half hi8 body out, and hieI
hand screening his eyes, trying to fol-
low my motions; EHt with the dark
ness Su around, the snow eating By
like HALVES and points, and the dense
fog-c1Ouds we kept entering, L felt sure
ne ccald not see me, though could
make him out frCm the light in his
compartment. Then 1 listened, and
my heart seemed to stand still. fc7 I
faneied could Aear the sound of a
struggle going an inside, though /
was not sure, from the Iattling made
by the train. L was not wasting time,
for had tried 10 look in at the win
dow; and, after opening ny knife with
my teeth, was trying to open the door.
But the lnter5Or of the carriage was
dark as pitch; and my knife was use
less, while now was sare there was a
struggle going on inside. DiEsetly af-
ter, one of the little side panes of glass
was broken, and l heard a faint cry.
-, ha A.