The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-01-03

of the ground in these woods, though l
don't see very well how train could
get there anyway"
The line was formed as suggested
just as the faint streaks of dawn ap-
peared. The ground was carefully ex-
amined, 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 wood
shadowy in the dim, gray dawn. The
regular order of march was again taken
up. There was no longer any conver-
sation; everybody felt exhausted. Sud-
denly there was Il loud cry. 1t WIS a
shout of unmistakable Joy.
''Hurrah! | see her. | 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" answered
the red bearded miner who had made
the discovery. ''What the blooming
blazes can he be doing there" he
added.
'.rll be shot if can see any blamed
headlight" ."
"Why, sheriff, you can't help seeing
it, said the ticket agent. ''Just fol-
low my finger
ooh! I've got it now"
Every body saw it and felt elated in
consequence. The long tramp was
forgotten. The light Ioo,ned larger
each minute through the gray morn
ing mist. The party no longer
walked hurriedly; their CHI was
achieved. There they would find the
train still on the track, without having
been rifed by the James boys. 1t was
probably some tritling accident to the
locomotive that Tim Herman was watt
ing for daylight to repair. The whole
crowd could now run back with con-
ductor Jim Harris to breakfast and Sill
yer Bow. And what splendid joke
was this hunt for ''67.n 1t would be in
all the newspapers and written up by
professional humorists and cause no
end of fun. The now light-hearted
! wayfarers walked briskly on. They
''spurted'' little as there was still
some distance to 90 before coming up
to the cleaning headlight. Indeed the
outlines of the train could not be dis
tinguished in the early morning dark
ness, the misty atmosphere making the
light on the open and level country ap-
pear nearer than it really was.
'.WeH, boys" said the sheriff, ''this
may be the last time l may have to adj
dress you as body. l think we all
ought to be proud of our work. We've
stood the rain, the cold and the tramp
without flinching, and I'll see that the
Atchison, Topeka q Santa Fe takes
care of us.
Let get it over as soon as possible.
What dye say to a run?" suggested
the ticket agent. '.We've been walk
ing al the time"
Good" was the response from a
dozen husky throats.
"A run be it, then!' exclaimed the
sheriff: Forward! Double quick
The whole party set off towards the
light at high rate of speed. Then now
damp earth resounded with the quick
measured tread of the courageous little
band. The headlight was at hand.
Another couple of hundred yards and
they would reach it. The runners
breathed hard, but there would be rest
in q minute OF two. Hurrah! the red
bearded miner is the first to disappear
in the mist ahead of the others. He
must be on the train by this time. The
sheriff is Il good second. There was 6
deep growl of disappointment. Tho
light from the fixed lamp of kerosene
with bright reflector threw its rays
over the excited men and the bare rail
road track, and they looked up and
read by the faint daylight, the legend
'Lone Tomb,' above the platform o.
the station.
r, B. VALENTINE.
NoTE.-The question is, what be
came of the train? The author doe
not know.-ManhGttG11 Nagdzi11e.