West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1888-09-27

approaching, moving up and down
quickly, as though the man who car
ried it was running with all his might.
"'Of course, reversed and whistled
down the brakes in an instant: and il
wasn't half a minute, maybe, before we
came to standstill, with the light now
almost upon us. And almost before we
were fully stopped, jumped down and
ran ahead to meet IL, and learn what
was the matter.
IL was some rods ahead yet, and I
could still see il swinging from side TO
side, as though the person bringing il
had now slackened his pace to a walk.
Z" "A second later IL seemed station
airy, and seemed to be waiting for me to
come up. AS / came close upon IL. you
may imagine my establishment to find it
set down Ia the middle Of the track, and
not a soul TO be seen anywhere around.
spoke, and then called aloud and
then shouted, but got no response. And
before this, had not heard any sound
or football And when, moment later,
Che conductor and some of the train men
camo up with lights, we searched out,
and could not find any traces Of the per-
son who seemed TO have left IL there.
"'Then we went on down the road
and there we found the bridge gone.
AS we approached. your dog commenced
bowling, and we found him on the edge
Of the embankment, and inferred that
you had fallen down the embankment.
We searched at once, and found you al
most dead, though / am very glad to
say not quite that"
THAT was the way Joe told me the
story. And when he had finished, I
lay there thinking it over for some time.
At last / said
Joe, how could it have got there
the lanternP
''Joe shook his head.
can't tell, said he. 'All know
about it is, that it was there. and IL
saved the train. But I'm sure it wasn't
done by any human handp
II thought 1t over some moments
longer. did not believe in ghosts, or
spirits, or anything of the SOFT. Some.
body or something living must have
taken the lantern from the spot where I
dropped il as | fell down the embank.
ment, and carried it up the track to the
place where Joe Varnish first found it.
And all at once was sure had solved
the enigma.
" Joe, said !. Il have itp
Z" How is THAR he asked.
GO There were three of us that went
down, and found that bridge gone,
said /.
"Three1' repeated he, more mystiied
than ever.
Yes, said l. Myself, the lantern
and the dog. Now / could not have
taken the lantern up the track. And it
couldn't have taken itself up there
Therefore, it must have been the third
one Of us-don't you seer
''Joe stood q moment pulling over IL
Then his face broke into broad smile.
and he nodded his head:
" : Yes. he said, at length 'Yes, 1
see
The Old fiagman ended his story, and
looked up at Harry and me as we stood
there, not quite comprehending even now
just how it all happened.
What don't you sec, eitheri" asked
he, and he laughed heartily to himself.
for moment. Then he put his fingers
to his lips, and gave a shrill whistle.
The next instant largo bla k dog
came bounding down the road, and came
to the old flagmans side. His master
laid his hand atfectionateiy on the black,
curly head, aud looked up at Harry and
me once again.
II IL make you acquainted with Sig"
said he. "Signal is his full name. I've
called him by it ever since that night.
1t was Sig that carried the red light up
the track" Youths Companion.