The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-01-03

"You may joke away. gentlemen, az
much as you please, but in my opinion
it is no joking matter" said the ticket
agent gloomily. Here Is this single
track. That train left Lone Tomb at
$40 o'clock and 1t hasn't got as far as
this yet and 1t Is now nearly o'clock.
Where can 1t bep There are no preci-
pices over which 1t could tumble. We
don't know what horrors may be in
store for us. I'm almost sorry l didn't
90 back; this long and anxious tramp
has played me out"
1t was the dark hour before daylight,
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 boul-
ders. No disaster TO train had taken
place on this spot. The track, the ties
and everything were found to be in
perfect condition. The detention from
whatever cause must have occurred
near Lone Tomb. The mystefed and
tired searchers became absolutely des-
perate with disappointment The air
grew cold and 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.
I'VE shall soon know the worst,
said the sheriff, who had been soldier,
"but we may as we'll do the right thing
up to the handle. Wen form in ex-
tended line, so that we can cover some
of the ground In these woods, though !
don't see very we'll how a train could
get there anyway"
The line was formed as suggested
just as the faint streaks Of dawn APP
peared. The ground was carefully ex-
amned, 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
ed purple hills in the distance, looking
shadowy in the dim, gray dawn. The
regular order of march was again taken
up, There was no longer any CONVEX
sation; everybody felt exhausted. Sud-
denly there was loud cry. 1t was a
shout OF unmistakable Joy.
''Hurrah! | see her. see the light
the headlight of Tiornans locomo.
tive"
"Whcre?" 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
bazes can he be doing there" he
added.
'Tll be shot ii I can see any blamed
headlight
why. sheriff, you can't help seeing
it, " said the ticket agent, Just fol-
low my finger"
"Oh' I've got it now"
Every body 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
walked hurriedly; their object was
achieved. There they would find the
train still on the track, without having
been riHed by the James boys. 1t was
probably some tritling accident to the
locomotive that Tim Herman was wait
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 a splendid joke
was this hunt for 81" 1t would be in
all the newspapers and written up by
,1,afo,s,rro1 ku,,x4r;otn n~I
end Of fun. The now light-hearted
wayfarers walked briskly on. They
''spurted' little as there was still
some distance to 20 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 1t really was.
well, boys" said the sheriff, "this
may be the last time ] may have to ad-
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 e. Santa Fe takes
care Of US.
Lets get 1t over as soon as possible.
What I've say TO run?" suggested
the ticket agent We've been walk
ing all the time"
Good" was the response from a
dozen husky threats.
"a run be it, them" exclaimed the
sheriff. Forward! Double quick.
The whole party set off towards the
light at high rate Of speed. The 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 minute or 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 a good second. There was &
deep growl of disappointment. Tn.
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 ant
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 tramp The author doe
not know. Manhattan Magazine.