Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1891-10-15
LANCE ELLIOTTS IDEA.


the tears angrily from his eyes with a
feeling Of shame, though there was no
one near to $50 his wet cheeks and quiv-
ering lip "Cowardl To be crying at
my agol"
With his elbows resting on tho iron
brake wheel and his head between his
hands, Lance stood thinking sadly of his
unhappy lot. He was only fourteen
years old, but for nearly two years he
had earned his living in various ways.
He had blacked boots, run orrands and
held horses. More than once he had gone
supperless to bed, and very often tho bed
had been a hsyloft or cowshsd Now,
however, he was regularly employed
selling papers on the express train which
left Woodstock at $50 every evening
Though he was earning fair wages con-
sidsring his age, he was growing more
and more dissatisfied every day. for he
saw no prospect Of improvement
Mr.. Bascom, the conductor, to whom
Lance had confided his troubles, had
said, "The thing. my boy, is to do your
duty In whatever position you are placed,
and let the rest take care of itself
But Lance was not content with this
lit seems TO me-" he had answered
"just the difference between walking on
level ground and climbing up pair o.
stairs"
Tonight he had sold all his papers for
the trip and had gone out upon the rear
platform OF the train where ha could be
alone. The rapid motion OF the express
seemed to sooths his troubled thoughts
and he stood IA long while Watching the
lights along the tracks as they flashed
by and were lost in the dariSnsas behind
AS he gazed dreamily before him,
gradually a dim perception OF something
unusual or ont OF place among the ia
miliar objects along the road grew upon
him At trs, he could not make out
what it was. bat IN another moment he
understood. 1t was new light and one
that he had nsvor sssn before.
But what chiefly puzzled Lance was
the position OF the light II seemed to
be directly in the center of the line Of
rails upon which the express WIS travel
ing. 1t could not be a signal lantern,
for it was too high IN tbs air Le. .Les
there waS no signal at that part Of the
road
As hs continued 10 watch tho strange
object with growing wonder, he sud
denly became aware that the light was
In motion. More than that, it was fol-
lowing the express! As tho train swept
around curve tho light vanished, only
10 appear a moment later, showing that
Ii, too, had come around tho curve.
Lance had already guessed what it
waa, but be was afraid to believe his
own eyes II 1t should be that lie felt a
cold chill creep over him.
While he was confusedly trying to
think what he ought to do the door of
the car opened, and Mr.. Bascom, the
conductor, stepped ont upon the plat
form. Without waiting FOR him to speak
Lance caught him by the sleeve, and
pointing to the light behind exclaimed:
''Looki Look! Do you know what
that is2-
Mr.. Bascom shaded his eyes with his
hand and gazed earnestly at the light.
Then, without a word. he turned and
hurried back through the train.
In another moment the engine Of the
express sounded shrill warning whistle,
and Lance felt the train suddenly in
crease It's speed. Presently Mr.. Bascom
accompanied by one of the brakemen
was back on the platform beside Lance
again.
Both men examined the light, which
had meantime drawn much n-arer with
swung the red lantern he carried sev
eral times
That is No. 20," said Nr Ba-com
"shs was standing on the sidIl;at Rich
field as we passed"
What does she mean Ly fuin"ing
usi" asked the brakeman. "Ani why
doesn't she answer our signals
Because" said Mr.. Basco.u. ,a".r l.
no one on board 10 see or hear them
"A runaway" exclaimed the h.aSe
man.
"Just that" replied the conductor
III has happened before. They have
run her ont on the track ready t. take
her train, and somehow she has got
started"
this conversation, understood II per,
fsctly. The light behind them wns the
headlight OF engine No. 20. He TOO
had seen 1t on the side track ~ tho ex-
press passed. As Mr.. Bascom had said
after the express had gone Lr this en
gins had drawn out upon the l:ain track
ready TO take it's train. which was not t.
start until half an hour after the cx
press, and in some unknown manner had
rot started under \ full head Of sleam
with no one on board to guide il
Engine No. 20. - Lance knew. wa.
one Of the most powerful engines on the
road. and Vt WAS running free. whereas
the express engine WAS drawing six
heavily loaded ears Cules, something
could be done to stop the runaway. il
must soon catch up with the express
The express should have stopped at
acserly, but thsrs was no time for that
noss; and as thu train roarrl by Lance
caught a glimpsa of white pstonished
faces, waving arms Sui Bas.;ug lights
Then all vns swallowed e lArsu.ss
Again
BY th!s vms the passengers oi tho eI
press had ls.rssd ~ thsir danger, and
were in . s,ate ~ panic ths, the utInos,
efforts OF ths ,rsinmon, themselves pale
with alarm. could quell Mr. Bsscom
seemed par.lyzsd with CONSERVATION,
and unable to think ~ any mssus OF
sverting the cstastrophs
n.Il -, ~htap.l ka xx.a bi.pa.f