Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-10-19

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while the two remaining ones
hurried further down; but one
more effort and the car was upon
them. The first obstacle was
whipped out OF the hands of the
strong man who held it and the
car rushed on to the second with
hardly lessened force. Again the
barrier was brushed aside, but this
time the speed of the old wreck
was perceptibly less. By the time
the fifth obstruction was reached
the newcomer was able to Chamber
aboard aud throw the child into
the arms of bis companion, but be-
fore he had time to save himself
the old truck had regained some
thing of it's momentum and was
plunging on toward the preclplce'
I 4
"Well, the man jumped as they
reached the edge, Just before bis
vehicle shot over into the air, but
lie had very little time to choose
his ground, and so landed, as luck
would have it, on the only heap of
stones in sight. The others picked
HIM up for dead and carried him
up to the settlement, where the
miners held a regular wake over
him. But he came to life IN the
middle of the iestiv-the Obse-
Quies, l mean-and found that he
was only crippled for life.
"The miners-fOlks not easily
moved, we're enthusiastic about
the affair, and gave such testi-
monials as they could to show their
gratitude and appreciation. One
of these expressions took the form
of q souvenir, signed by every
man in the place, and stating in
very grandlloquent language what
the poor fellow had done. His
quick wit seemed to them more
wonderful than his courage and
devotion, in a community where
neither quality is unusual at all.
"The man who takes his own
life in his hand every dav, and has
frequently to fight for the life OF
some companion values 'brainy'
action. In the box with the testi-
monial was a purse of fifty dollars
and a curious old gold cross, that
had been treasured by the brother
of the lad who was saved as his
one piece of 6nery. On it was
rudely engraved these words.
"Given by the miners at the
Notch to the man who risked his
life for a child
"That was all. The poor fellow
W ent away and would have been
forgotten, only that the old miners
told the story sometimes to their
children"
The prisoner was looking out OF
the window. The conductor
rustled around as though ashamed
of the interest he had shown in the
story-a story which 'he did not
doubt was pure fiction. Only the
brakeman gave way to his sym
patby, and asked whether the man
had ever been found.
"Not that | know Of" replied
tue detective.
"And was you the boy what he
sayed?"
81 was the kid
"And you never heer'd tell what
became of the man what would
you do if you shu'd come acrost
him some times % Evidently the
brakeman had an imagination
which was trying to assert itself.
"Oh! I'd try TO even the thing
up somehow. | suppose common
decency would demand that. I'd
treat him as well as 1 knew how
"LoOk here" said the prisoner
turning from the window with an
apparent effort to change co nver
sation which for some reason haC
not seemed to interest him-"looA
here, old man, I've got little
keepsake that your story lust re
minded me of, and if could get a.
it I'd ask you to take charge OF i
for me tlll-till this thing is over
If you'll put your hand in there
and pull out that bit of ribbon
so"
The conductor almost jumped
out of his seat. "Blamed if it aim
the cross that you've just beer
telling about he shouted.
A month later the detective was
undergoing cross-examination by
the conductor aud brakeman.
ayes, he was a bad lot. Oh
yes, he didn't have a leg to stanC
upon. The facts were all as cleal
as day. All true about the cross
aud the rest of it 2 Just as true al
gospel. What had he been doing
Throwing bombs the last thug
Punished Well, to tell you th'
truth, they won't be apt to punish
him till they catch HIM again,
guess. Fact is, he got away iron
me somehow that sam night
Who, met Oh, no, I'm not on tn
force any more; Eve beer