Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-12-20

It's OF no use gong back; ~ must be
close at hand, and then, when we've
found out what the trouble is, We'll
have nap at Lone Tomb, and take
the morning train for Silver Bow
We shall fetch up in time for break
fast"
What ticks me-" the red-bearded
miner blurted out, why some Of
them Lone Tomb fellows amt found
their way here before this"
''They hadn't any reason to-" OBJ
served another miner, who carried
very conspicuouslv two six-shooters.
"as the accidents happened up their
way. But do any of you know what
the time is?"
There was an immediate pulling out
and examination of watches, and then
several voices chOrused:
Half after 3. )"
II didn't think it was SO late as that;
let us push on, boys"
The gloom which had hung over the
party like pail during the earlier
part Of the march gave away to light
ness of spirit and POPULARITY. The ter
rible fate which had probably befallen
seventy or eighty human beings was
apparently lost sight of for the mo-
meRt. Whisky TASKS received atten-
ton, Cigars and pipes were lit, while
various theories were advanced to &C
count for the nOn-appearance of the
missing train. One man suggested
that it was taking journey through
the air attached to special balloons;
another that it had been blown up
with dynamite by Nihilists; third
that the track had caved in and thai
''67" was running through a private
tunnel of It's own. The red-bearded
miner seemed to think that the train
saw the sheriff coming and had run
into the woods to get out of the way
You may joke away, gentlemen
as much as you please, but in my
opinion it's no joking matter" SAID
the ticket agent, glOomily. Here is
this single track. That train left Lone
Tomb at 500 o'clock, and it hasn't
got as far as this yet, and it is now
nearly o'clock. Where can 1t be?
There are no precipices over which ii
could tumble. We don't know what
horrors may be in store for us. I'm
almost sorry [ didn't go back; this
long and anxious tramp has played
me out. )"
1t was the dark hour before day
light, rendered doubly gloomy by the
high rocks on each side The track
curved sharply here as it entered the
narrow gorge with the natural arch
of bowlder. No disaster to train
had taken place on this spot. The
track, the ties and everything We're
found to be in perfect condition. The
detention, from whatever cause, must
have occurred near Lone Tomb. The
mystif1ed and tired searchers became
absolutely desperate with disappoint
ment. The air grew cold and a light
rain began to fall. The walking, too,
was difficult, owing to the thicket on
both sides Of the track, the tangled
underbrush and felled trees.
eve shall soon know the worst, :"
said the Sheriff, who had been a sol
der, but we may as we'll do the right
| thing up to the handle. Well form
an extended line, so that we can cover
some of the ground in these woods,
although [ don't see very well how a
train could get there, anyway"
The line was formed as suggested
just as the faint streaks of dawn ap
peared. The ground was carefully
examined. the prickly branches of the
underbrush tearing the clothes Of sew
eral of the party. Now the track
again turned abruptly, and then came
open and very level country, with
wooded purple hills in the distance,
looking shadowy in the gray dawn.
The regular march was once more
adopted. There was no longer any
conversation; everybody felt ex
hausted. Suddenly there was a loud
cry. 1t was a shout of unmistakable
joy.
''Hurrah I see her. I see the light
the headlight of Tiernan's locomo-
tive"
"Where!" all asked at once.
''There, right ahead on the track,
as straight as you can look" answer
ed the red-bearded miner, who had
made the discovery. ''What the
blooming blazes can he be doing
there?" he added.
I'll be shot if can see any head
light"
''Why, Sheriff, you can't help see
ing it, . said the ticket agent Just
follow my finger.
ooh! I've got it now"
Everybody saw 1t and felt elated in
consequence. The long tramp was
forgotten. The light doomed larger
each minute through the gray morn
ing mist. The party no longer walk
ed hurriedly; their object was achiev-
ed. There would they find the train
still on the track, without having been
rifed by the James boys It was
probably some trifing accident to the
locomotive that Tim Herman was
waiting to repair. The whole crowd
could now run back with Conductor
Jim Harris to breakfast at Silver Bow,
and what splendid joke was this
hunt for ''67." 1t would be in all the
newspapers and written up by pro-
fessional humorists and cause no end
of fun. The now light-hearted way