The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-02-01

I'm sure I don't know" he said. at isn't
due now, is it? Hadn't you better let me help
you out OF thatE'
The man shook his head. "No. no. he cried.
the express Is due presently, and if It isn't
Tagged it VIII come around the curve ahead
and run into this wreck. Is there a man around
to run up the track and flag it?'
Walter looked UpaHd down the track. 1t was
q lonely place miles 1t seemed from any settle
mcnt, and not person could be seen. His own
heart began to beat more quickly.
NO" he said, there isn't any one.
" Then you'll have TO 60" said the conductor.
Were ali smashed up here. First the engine
went off the track, and that broke up the cngi-
neer and fireman: and while the brakeuen
and | were getting our wrecking tools out Of
the caboose, something ran into US from be-
hind, and broke US up too | suppose it was
'wild-c4tf or else there would have been some
body around
Walter nodded MS head eyes" he said.
q it was a wildcat, and guess the engineer of
that came to grief too. But is there anything
can do for you before l go?"
The conductor uttered an exclamation of
pain.
"Oh, do go ahead" he said. "Don't mind
me; there are only half dozen of US here. and
thereIl be five hundred people in the express.
Well hold ont, guess, till you get back and if
we dOn't-Say, young fellow, Just take down
mywife's name, viii you? It's 3irs. James'-hc
"What was that? ~ he asked.
Walter listened, while his face grew pale.
Far away up the track sounded the faint note
of a locomotive whistle.
Rum cried the conductor. "Never mind
me. There's red flag lying on the track. Go
as far as you can, for its down grade, and the
train will be coming like the wind"
Before the conductor vas through Walter
had snatched up the flag and hurried Off lie
had not realized before how shaky his limbs
were, nor how faint be was from lack Of food
but as he ran past the overturned engine Of
his own train, and around the curve that lay
ahead, it was as much as he could DO to keep
from falling down. lie felt as if he were
going to faint What if he gave out before the
train came and the engineer did not see him.
With one arm he grasped a telegraph pole. while
with the other he continued more and more
feebly to wave the signeI. Nearer and nearer
came the train, but before it reached him Wal
ter's strength had given way. He dropped at
the foot of the pole, and the engineer. as tho
train dashed by, looked down from the cab win
dow on a boys still form pillowed on a red flag.
Among the passengers on the express that
day was the president of the railroad-Blr.
WatsOn-who, with his wife, son, and party Of
friends occupied a hotel car at the rear of the
train. They were running at the highest speed
when 9Ir. Watson suddenly felt the pressure Of
the air-brakcs upon the wheels; and Hiram,
who was looking out of the window. perceived
at the same moment mOtionlesS figure lying
by the side of the track.
"Oh, papa." ne cried, "I believe we've run
over sOmebody!"
Mr. Watson started hurriedlv for the rear plat
form, followed by Hiram, who could with diff
Guilty be kept from jumping off when the train
stopped, and before it began to back down. In
moment, however, 1t was moving slowly back TO
the spot where the engineer had seen the boy,
while Hiram waited in fever Of impatienee
on the platform steps At the first glimpse of
the red flag, before the cars had stopped, he
jumped OH and made haste to the telegraph
pole, where the figure lay. He could see az
once that the boy had not been run over, and as
he knelt by the mOtiOnless form the dark eyes
opened and looked up questioningly into his.
is the train safc:" the boy asked, family.
Hiram nodded.
"Oh yes it's all right" he said; "and Wen
take you right into our car"
The other breathed a little sigh of relief.
There's smash up just ahead" he murmur-
ed. Tell the conductor to go SLOW"
Then he closed his eyes, while Mr.. Wat
son and one or two other gentlemen, VINO
had meanwhile come up, lifted him in
their arms and carried him on board the car
Here. however, while the train moved slowly
ahead, Mrs. WatsOn's mInistration restored
him to consciousness. if not to strength.
1T was awfully silly in me to go and faint"
he exclaimed apologetically, as soon as he could
speak. but, you see, l ran pretty hard, and
then had not eaten anything since yesterday
noon"
But don't understand" said Mrs. Watson.
"DOn't you live around here ?"
He laughed little neryously. ooh no." he
said; " I'm a sort of stOwaway. l got locked
up in the freight-car at Wentworth last night
We live in Wentworth, and my father is Judge
Carlisle. If the collision hadn't stove hole
in the car, I'd be in there now"
And bag IL
soberly.
Walter turned pale again. "The wreck lies
across both tracks," he said. " If you had
kept on, you would have run into it. There
are half a dozen men buried in it now, sir ~"
turning to Mr.. Watson. Everybody in the
train was smashed up but me. And the con-
ductor wouldn't let me stop to pull him out
He began TO give me a message to his wife, but
he wouldn't even finish that, because he heard
the train coming. Here we are now, sir
the train slowed up. and finally came TO a stop.
" Please let me get out. I'm all right now, and
[ want to tell that conductor / wasn't too late"
1t was not long before the train hands were
hard at work extriCating the injured men,
none of whom, happily, were seriously hurt.
How they escaped death no one could tell, but
no one suffered more than a few bruises or q
fractured limb, which time would easily repair.
To Walters great delight, the conductor recog-
nized him at once
an ne StllU, rs cordially as J1e pain or MS
wounds would allow, you're the boy that
saved the express. Well, l guess Mr.. Watson
won't forget it."
Walter turned red.
g ! only did what You told me-" he said.
"Well, you did it right" said the conductor,
as he limped away to the express. Not every
body would rave had sense enough 70 do that.
Only l don't sce where you dropped from Just
at that moment
The boy laughed.
ooh. l live at Wentworth" he said. Z" / WAS
q passenger on your train. You locked me up
in that Blue-liue car yOnder.'
A look of amazement spread over the mans
face.
Locked up in the car. were you? And
then brought 10 this place on purpose 20 flag
that train. Well, l call that Providentinl. Be
cause if it hadn't been for you. you know, that
express would have been q total wreck RS
paused for moment rs IL the Providence were
more than he could take in. Well he added,
heartily, IN never forget 10, and / guess tho
company won't either.
And the company did not. A few days after
Walter got home, and when the excitement Of
his departure and return had passed away, he
received by express q little parcel and by mail
an official letter from the railway company.
The parcel when nc opened 1t, disclosed
beautiful gold watch, while the letter, which
was signed III. :. Watson. President" begged
him TO accept the watch from the directors o.
the company in recognition of his services in
dos fbs