The Colfax chronicle., 1890-10-04

cending hill, then descending abrupt
~ to the right crossing the track at q
sharp curve, whence it bore of toward
the few glimmering lights of the village,
situated on q hill half mile west Of
the railroad. l walked rapidly along,
and descended the hill to cross the
track. Hardly had / taken the first step
on the plank crossing, when the heel OF
my shoe, by some unlucky chance, sank
tightly into the space between rail and
timber, and was thrown heavily to
the ground.
Although shaken up considerably,
was not badly hurt, and attempted to
rise at once; but my foot was firmly
held, and only partially succeeded in
doing so. / now turned my attention
to freeing myself from my uncomfort-
able position, thinking it An easy mat
ter that could be accomplished by q
simple turn of the foot. To my con-
sternation found it absolutely impos-
possible to draw my foot away, so se-
curely was 1t wedged between the rail
and plank.
began to grow excited, and twisted
and pulled my foot recklessly and vio-
lently until nearly exhausted There
was no result except that my ankle be-
gan to pain me from the rough treat
ment, and felt that 1t was beginning
to swell.
To escape from this trap, found
must take the matter more coolly. By
strong effort at self-command l be-
came calm again, and began to consid-
er the best way out of the fix. Consult
ing my watch, which had an illumin-
ated dial. found it was twenty min
utes past eleven. No train would pass
till after one, and this was the one
wanted to catch at the Junction. There
fore ! need not worry lest should be
run over; l had plenty Of time. Yet
from the pain in my ankle feared l
could not reach home as early as had
intended.
went systematically to work, and
tried to pull my foot out Of the shoe.
Failure. Again and again endeavored.
Dead failure. My foot was badly swol-
len.
A happy thought flashed through my
mind. and almost shouted with joy.
Jubilant at the prospect of deliyerance
felt for my pocketknife. Horrors! it
was gone But no. Almost miraculously,
it seemed to me. my hand at that in
slant touched 1t lying on the ground,
where it had slipped when fell. With
a thankful heart l opened its only
blade.
then cut deeply into the plank where
it held my heel. But in my eagcrness
overestimated the strength Of the
knife, and before l had taken off a
shaving, to my infinite dismsy and
alarm, the blade snapped off short,
leaving the useless handle clutched In
my grasp
now became thoroughly desperate.
reproached myself again and again
for not having been wise enough to cut
of the shoe. But it was too late now,
for the broken blade, even If could
have used that, was away down in a
crevice where my fingers could not
reach it.
called wildly for help.
ssYoucan't getout youcan't getout!"
said commiserating voice.
i started up. BAIL it was only frog.
"Youcan't getout, youcan't youcan't
youcan'tv' croaked the sympathetic
creature.
This was depressing. Fool, fool,
fool, foolv' hooted an owl from the
wooded hill behind. And the frog sub
sided.
Again and again my aSonized voice
rent the dark with screams for help.
No one came or answered, and at last.
hoarse and exhausted, sank down in
despair.
All became still again, save for the
drumming Of the telegraph wires over
head, which to my startled Imagination
seemed like the sound Of spirit voices
warning me of doom. For some time /
lay there in a sort of stupor when
"Bo-loom:''
l reused up again. 'Bo-loomw It
was striking twelve from the clock in
the tower. Then for the first time the
full terror of my situation impressed
itself fully upon me, and I chilled with
fear. Each stroke sounding out with
relentless precision seemed to even
hasten the time when the fast express
would sweep round that curve, rush past
and away, and leave me there MANNED
and bleeding, to die, no doubt alone
before the dawn.
Despair gave me mightier strength
than hope, but unguided by reason.
Again l put forth almost superhuman
efforts to escape. Ny foot was badly
sprained, but I felt no pain. / was
frantic with fear, and writhed in the
dust like demented creature.
O! it was dreadful to be held there
without any hope Of rescue, fancying
heard the horrible crunching of the iron
wheels passing over my anklel
My brain was on fire. uttered shrek
after shrek. Would no one come?
Only the echoes answered. A terrible
calm camc over me, and burst into .
paroxysm of uncomfortable, mirthless