The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-08-14
THE CAT sAvEpTHe TRAlN.
Brow 1t Was Done,- AZ Reasted by q
Hor.~f Youn1 Rtreman

Ezsw 1t Was Done.- AZ Reasted by the
Honest Young Fireman.
As the train was aboutto pull out Of the
Brood asress station recognized an old
friead In the engineer. He nodded to me
and jumped into the cab. Dick and I
shook hands. and he introduced me TO his
fireman, young fellow, with large, truth
full, honest eyes, and the most innocent
looking face ever saw. Perched on the
seat was a huge black cat, ugly, scraggy,
and with ground plan of fur that hooked
like a railroad map, it was 30 plowed and
cut up. Naturally noticed the cat, and
asked what it was doing there.
THAT'S a wonderful cat, said the youth
full fireman, land thereby hangs tale. Do
you want itS"
"Of COURSE"
''Weil, about week ago we-Dick and
me-Tere making the run between Philar
delphia and Trenton. It was dirty, black
night-cold and driving rain, and we
were-that is, Dick was-behfnd time, and
we were-that Is, Dick was-making her
hum for all she was worth. We-thst is,
Dick-had q clear track and the right of
way. A few feet ahead Of tbs pilot it was
as black as nothing. We were driving into
hour. l could not help thinking that if
we ran into anything we'd know more
about the other world than was ever writ
ten in books, and said little prayer that
I learned in Sunday school. The prayer
didn't seem to do me much good, and /
asked Dick If it was necessary to run SO
fast. Dick gave me look of mild con-
tempt, and thsn got on my dignity and
felt as if I'd rather like to strike something
just to change that look Of Dicks to one of
surprise This was wicked, knew, but
couldn't help it.
'SuddenIy there was an Swful crash di-
rectiy in front of me. asplintering of glass
in the cab window. and this cat came tum-
bling IN. Ny heart got right up in my
throat and thought I'd choke. saw
Dick turn pale, and, terrified as was, re-
member being glad OF 1t. He didn't lose
his head, though-Dsck never does-but
reversed the machine, and when the train
was stopped we-that is, Dick-got out to
investigate. And what do you Think
There was rail misplaced within dozen
feet of where we had stopped. The flag
man st the switch had seenit, and had sta
toned himself up the track to signal US.
He had pet cat which followed him
wherever he went. The cat was with
him as usual When he heard Us thunder
ing down upon him his lantern went out.
He laid it down to rehght it; gust Of wind
caught it and it rolled down the embank-
ment. Here was a state of things. The
fagman was quick to act, however, and
grabbing his faithful cat by the tail he
hurled it at the cab as-we ratified by. Here
is the cat that saved our train. Didn't
you, Danger"
The cat bumped it's ugly back in recog-
milton, and l looked at the frank, innocent
face of the boy. He returned the look with
wide open, truthful eyes.
Shades of Mount Vermont What a liar
that fellow isP' said Dick to me in whis-
per. 'He has the reputation Of being the
biggest liar on the road. He'd finish first
in race with Tom Ochiltree. That cat
story is his latest saved the train busi-
ness 1 saw him fish that cat out of
ditch two days ago."-Philadelphi In
Quirer.