Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-03-14

thlng were found to be in perfect con.
dition. The detention, frem whatever
cause, must have occurred noar Lone
Tomb. The mystiiled and tired search
ers became absolutely desperate with dis-
appointment. The air grew cold and a
light rain began to fall. The walking,
too, was diilcnlt owing to the thickets on
both sides of the track, the tangled IN.
derbrush and felled trees.
1--WE shall soon know the worst" said
the sheriff, who had been soldier, "bu,
we moy Us well do the right thing up to
The handle. Well form in extended line,
| so that We can cover some Of the ground
in these woods, although I don't see very
well how = train could get there any.
way"
The line Was formed. az suggested, Just
go the faint strenks OF dawn appeared.
Tho ground was carefully examined, the
| prickly branches OF the underbrush tear
ing the clothes Of several Of the party.
| Now the track again turned abruptly,
| and then came open and very level coun.
try, with wooded purple hills in the dis
lance, looking shNdowey In the dim, gray
dawn. The regular order Of march was
once more adopted. There was nc longer
any conversation everybody felt exhaust
ed. Suddenly there was n loud cry. II
wHo shout OF unmistakable JOY.
Hurrah see her. I see the light
the headlight of Tiernan's locomotive"
Where 2" all nsked at once.
There, right ahead on the track, as
straight ns you Gnu look" answered the
red-bearded miner, who had made tho
discovery. "What the blooming blaaes
can he be doing there ?" he added.
I'll be shot il can see any blamed
why, sheriff, you can't help seeing
it., said the ticket agent, "Just follow
my finger"
ooh I've got it now"
Everybody cav it and felt elated in
consequence. The long tramp was for
gotten. The light doomed larger each
minute through the gray morning mist.
The party no longer walked hurriedly ;
their object was achieved. There would
they find the train still on the track, with
our having been rifled by the James boys
It was probably some trifing accident to
the locomotive that Tim Herman was
waitirg for daylight to repair The whole
crowd could now run back with Conduc-
tor Jim Harris to breakfast at Silver Bow.
Aud what splendid joke was this hunt
for '67.' It would be in all the newspa-
pers and written up by professional hui
morlsts and cause no end of fun. The
now light-hearted wayfarers walked brisk
" on. They "spurted' little, as there
was some distance yet to go before COM
ing up to the cleaning headlight. Indeed,
the outline of the tram could not be dis
tinguished clearly IN the early morning
darkness, the misty atmosphere making
the light on the open and level country
appear nearer than it really WAS.
Well, boys" the sheriff said, "this
may be the lust time may have occasion
to address you as body. / think we all
ought to be proud Of our work. We've
stood the rain, the cold and the tramp
without hinching, aud I'll see that the
Atkinson, Topeka and Santa Fe takes
care Of US"
Lets get it over as soon % , ssible.
What aye Shy to run?" su.- led the
ticket agent. We've been walking all
tho time"
"GOod?' was the response from dozen
husky Threats.
"a run be it, then - exclaimed the
sheriff Forward! Double quick r.
The whole party set off toward the
az ~ ~ ASu rhle VI speed Inc now
damp earth resoundad with the quick,
measured step of the courageous little
band. The headlight waa at hand An
other couple Of hundred yards and they
would reach it. The runners breathed
hard, but there would be rest in q minute
or two. Hurrah the red bearded miner
is the first to disappear in the mist ah cad
OF the others. He must be on the train
ny this time. The sheriff is good sec
ont There was deep growl Of disap-
polntmcnt, The light from the fixed kero-
sene lamp with bright reflector threw its
rays over the excited men nnd the bare
railroad track, and they looked up and
read by the faint daylight the legend,
Lone Tomb, above the platform Of the
station.
NorE. The question Is, what became
OF the los! train The author docs not
kuJw.