The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-03-03


hurried off, He had not realized before
how shaky his limbs were, nor how faint
he was from lack of food; but as he ran
past the overturned engine of his own
train, and around the curve that Law
ahead, it was as much as he could do to
keep from falling down. He had not
failed to take in the conductors last
warning. The express was the fastest
train on the road; it would be running
over forty miles an hour, and he must
meet it far enough way from the wreck
to give it time to check its tremendous
momentum and come to full stop,
Once more he heard its whistle in the
distance Presently it would be thunder
ing down upon him. On he ran as fast
as his trembling legs would carry him,
until, turning curve, he could see the
thread of smoke far down the narrowing
track. Walter unfurled the flag and
waved it over his head. His heart
thumped up and down in his breast, his
legs shook SO that he could scarcely stand,
and it was all that he could do to hold
the flag in his nervous fingers. He 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 telegraph pole, while with
the other he continued more and more
feebly to wave the signal. Nearer and
nearer came the train, but before it
reached him Walters strength had
given way. He dropped at the foot of
the pole, and the engineer, as the train
dashed by, looked down from the .oaR.
window on boys still form pfliofVcd'
on red flag.
Among the passengers on the express
that day was the President of the railroad
Mr. Watson-who, with his wife, son
and party of friends, occupied a hotel
ear at the rear of the train. They were
running at the highest speed, when Mr..
Watson suddenly felt the pressure of the
r-brakes upon the wheels; and Hiram,
who was looking out of the window,
perceived at the same moment motion
less figure lying by the side of the track.
20, papan' he cried, 'Ibelieve we've
run over Somebody
I Mr.. Watson started huniedly for the
rear platform, followed by Hiram, who
could with difficulty be kept from jump
ing off when the train stopped, and before
1t began to back down. In moment,
however, it was moving slowly back to
the spot where the engineer had seen the
boy, while Hiram waited in fever of
Impotence on the platform steps. At
the first glimpse of the red flag, before
the cars had stopped, he jumped off and
made haste to the telegraph pole, where
the figure lay. He could see at once
that the boy had not been run over, and
as he knelt by the motionless form the
dark eyes opened and looked up ques-
tioningly into his
lis the train safe?" the boy asked,
family.
Hiram nodded.
"Oyes; it's all right" he said; ''and
We'll take you right into our car"
The other breathed little sigh of
relief.
There's smash-up just ahead" he
murmured. Tell the conductor to go
slow"
Then he closed his eyes, while Mr..
Watson and one or two other gentlemen,
who 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
ministrations restored him to conscious
ness, 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 l had not
of roxvfhipor paCfo,.1oxy -
''But don't understand" said Mrs.
Watson. Don't you live round here?,.'
He laughed little nervously. 30
no." he said; 'I'm sort of stowaway.
got locked up in the freight car at
Wentworth last night. We live in Went
worth, and my father is Judge Carlisle
1.-THE collision hadn't stove hole in the
car, II be in there now.n
"And where would we be?" asked
Hiram, soberly.
Walter turned pale again. "The
wreck lies across both the tracks," he
said. If you had kept on, you would
have run into it. There are half dozen
men buried in it now, sir'-turning to
Mr.. Watson. Every 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 message to
his wife but he wouldn't even finish
that, because he heard the train coming.
Here we are now, sir''-as the train
slowed up. and finally came to stop.
please let me get out. Pm 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 in
jured men. none of whom, happily, were
seriously hurt. How they escaped death
no one could tell, but no one suffered
more than few bruises or a fractured
limb which time would easily repair.
To Walters great delight, the conductor
recognized him at once.
"Ah, he said, as cordially as the pain
of his wounds would allow, you're the
boy that saved the express. Well, ]
guess Mr.. Watson won't forget it."
Walter turned red.
II only did what you told me-" he
said.
"Well, you did it right" said the
conductor, as he limped away to tn,
express. mot everybody would have
had sense enough to do that. Only
don't see where you dropped from JUS
at that moment
The boy laughed.
go, | live in Wentworth" he said
81 was passenger on your train. Yor
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