Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-10-24

end, and the prisoner was turned out.
This time the marshal marched him
beyond the town limits and left him.
..He has got too much sense to come
back, . reported the marshal to the
mayor.
awe may have been too hard on
him, responded the mayor. 81 some
times think he is wrong in the head. +"
"Well, it is too late TO talk about
it," said the other. And the CONVERSE
ton ended.
The tramp did not turn up again
that day nor the next. The worthy
marshal began to be worried, and the
mayor little uneasy.
Blue Rock was such a small place
that sensation was always welcome,
and the unknown prisoner had been
the talk of the town for sixty days.
sHe's hiding in the woods, and will
slip in some night and burn the town."
said one.
This idea found great favor, and
the villagers found it difficult to sleep.
On the following day there was q
railway excursion to point of interest
forty miles away, and everybody of
any consequence in the town went
along. The mayor and council, the
superintendent of the depot and even
the marshal joined the party.
The return trip was made after dark,
and the train sped along at a fearful
rate of speed. The excursionists were
all in a jolly humor and were at the
height of their festivities, when the
frightful shrieking of the locomotive
whistle startled everybody. The train
came to full stop, and among those
who rushed out were the mayor and
marshal of Blue Rock.
At the head of the train they found
the engineer and conductor talking
with a man who held one hand to his
side, from which the blood was stream
ing.
"Grcat Godl It is our trampl" ex-
claimed the marshal.
"You are right" said the mayor.
any poor fellow, what is the
matterY
The tramp fell in a fainting-fit be-
fore he could answer this question.
"You see,, said the engineer, "this
man was tramping through the woods
when he came to the track and found
two train-wreckers tampering with the
rails. Well, this tramp, or whatever
he is, jumped on the scoundrels like a
tiger. He disabled one of them, but
the other stabbed him in the side and
ran away. See, he built fire on the
track, and as soon as ] saw it ! stopped
the train"
just then several passengers came
up with the wounded wrecker, who
had been seriously injured by the
tramp.
The villain evidently thought that he
was MORALLY wounded, for he made a
full confession.
III think said the Blue Rock mayor,
"that we owe a debt of gratitude to
our preseryer. Mahy men in this fix
would not have turned over hand to
save us.
The poor tramp opened his eyes and
smiled family.
"Did YOU know we were on the
train?n asked the marshal.
"Oh, yes; saw you when you went
up the road this morning, and ] hung
about here because | saw those two
chaps acting suspiciously.
"Come now, who are you and where
is your homer" asked the marshal.
81 am a gentleman. / have forgot
ten my name and all about things that
happened years ago. | can tell you
nothing more"
"By George!" said the mayor, 81
believe he tells the truth"
eve must take him to Blue Rock
and care for him." said one of the
party. '.IIe shall have the freedom of
the town and the best there is in it,"
"Thank you," said the tramp, with
smile, ~ am satisfied now"
A spasm of pain contracted his feat
ures.
A gasp, futtering of the breath
and the unknown was dead.
Tramp or gentleman, who was he
and what lay back of his misfortunes?
These were the questions that the
Blue Rock excursionists asked each
other ON their way home.