The Portland daily press., 1888-09-28

| of clouds that hung above.
The superintendent of the pipe line had
just returned from an impromptu hospital
where the wounded had been domiciled
when Talbot met him. His story was
quickly obtained and three minutes after the
young reporter was interviewing the suffer-
ers in the hospital. 1t was II rs when he
had finally secured his facts in full, and was
| ready to start for the telephone station
which he knew to be located at the gas COM
| pany's Office.
''They amt no use goin' fer that tele-
| phone," said an old workman to whom he
had been talking, as he started OF.
| mo use? What's the matter with ftp"
| Talbot exclaimed, in dismay.
"Well. she's busted. Wire snapped in two
when the gas went off,
Talbot's jaw dropped. After all. was he
to be defeated at the very moment when
| success seemed sure9 1t looked that way,
| and for an instant his heart stood quite STILL
"How far is it to the nearest telegraph
| station?" he asked.
'Six miles o. the worst roads you ever
see." was the discouraging reply.
! Talbot thought moment. 1t was IL 80
o'clock. BE must reach the telegraph sta
| ton by o'clock to be in time for his paper.
1t seemed scarcely possible that the horses
could be forced six miles further, but it was
the only resort.
| 81 shall CO." Talbot said, as he shook the
old man by the hand and turned away.
| In going back to where the horses were
standing, he was forced to pass through the
wrecked portion of the town. To save time
he turned from the road and took short cut
across the ruins. He had reached a remote
corner and had barely reached the shed
under which the horses were resting, when
feeble cry attracted his attention. He
stopped. The cry was repeated. he thought
| of his work, of the Importance of utilizing
| every moment if he would reach the tele-
graph station ON time. but he hesitated only
an instant. Then, climbing over the piles of
debris that lay all around him, he made his
way to the spot whence the cry came. There
was no want of light, for the burning gas
dispelled the darkness ana penetrated the
very heart of the ruins. Under a pile of
boards and rubbish, in a spot where he had
been overlooked by the searchers, an old
man lay. He was only Hungarian pipe
| lire worker, but he was human being, and
even though time was as precious as life
itself, to Talbot, he must be rescued 1t
was hard work pulling away the heavy tim
bers that held the old man down. They
were crossed and wedged in so as to be
almost immovable. Some of the smaller
ones were pulled out first, however, and
then the big ones came easier. At last they
were all removed. The old man had tainted
again. He was evidently very badly injured.
Each succeeding moment grew more prec-
ious than the last to the young newspaper
man, but the goodness in his heart held him
to his duty. A crowd of men was working
in distant part of the burned district. The
main portion of the population was gathered
about the hospital nearly half mile away.
Talbot called to the workmen several times
for help, but he could not make. himself
heard above the roar of the gas.
''I'll have to carry the old man out myself,
l guess" he said as he raised the uncon-
scious form to his shoulders and staggered
out of the ruins and down over the hill. A
dozen willing hands relieved him of his bur-
den, and without stopping for explanations
or thanks, Talbot turned from the place and
ran like deer to where the horses were
standing. More than quarter OF ali hour
of precios time had been lost in his work of
mercy, and now it seemed that nothing but
miracle could get him over those terrible six
miles in the time 1t commanded The guide
was sleeping on a pile of straw when he
reached the shed. A vigorous shake brought
him to his senses.
''Yer doan' git dis niger or dat horse no
mo- ternight, boss" he growled, rubbing the
sleepiness out of his eyes with his knuckles.
Reckon know wen Pse had 'nough, an
tole yer right here amt agoin'."
"You must go. If you don't go I'll break
you in two! Do you hear me?"
Talbot was desperate. He raised his whip
as he spoke, and the negro, seeing the look
of unflinching determination in his eyes,
turned with curse and climbed into the
saddle. A few minutes later the tired ami
mails were again houndering over the rocky
roads.
A mile out, the horse whichITalbot was
riding fell. 1t was utterly exhausted. The
other was quite as far gone and could not
cover more than half mile at farthest.
81 tole yer it warn't no use" the guide ex-
claimed with triumph in his voice. 'Youse
done killed de bosses, boss, and amt done
no good n0h0W, he said.
Talbot didn't stop to argue "You take
care of the horses" he said.
Without waiting for an answer, he threw
his wet and heavy overcoat across the saddle
and started off on foot at brisk trot. 81
used to think that being raised in the coun-
try was disadvantage" he muttered to
himself as he picked his way along the edge
of the road. 'But / rather guess my back
woods training will help me out on this
rum"
But 1t was hard travelling even for
country boy and before the first mile was
covered the mud witch accumulated on his
feet and legs at every step was as heavy as
lead. At one place massive oak tree that
had been blown down, lay in such position
as to completely block the road, and the
young traveller was forced to make detour
through field Again a landslide barred
his passage. Still, in the face of all difficult
ties he struggled on. Two miles were
passed. His step was commencing to lag.
1t seemed impossible that he could 60
further, but when his YEARLY limbs prompted /
him to stop he clinched his teeth and re-
newed his efforts. Up hill and down through
"NSNo uhA uSAooo hOluSs hUW UP w hhOCo
in water, now tripping and sprawling at full
length in the Shiny mud, or rolling over an
unexpected embankment, he forced his way
until at last, just as his brain was commenc-
Ing to reel, light not more than quarter of
mile ahead sent thrill to his heart He
gathered all his strength for final effort
and bounded forward. Five minutes later
he burst into the telegraph Office and before
the started operator had time to think
dropped into chair and grasped pad of
blanks.
Il want = send = press - message" he
gasped, without waiting to answer questions
regarding his appearance. Thousand words
at least"
As he spoke his nervous hand was writing
with rapidity that could not have been
tainpd under normal circumstances Tho