The Dickinson press., 1891-10-10
.n.sy,, w,pn the continuous shrek o,

wnisulo WIN Vie continuous shrek OF
a demon, and the occupants ofthe cab
wrapped from veiwi a cloud ofsteam.
Some hundred yards beyond the de-
pot the track took a sharp upward
grade, from which it descended again
to strike the bridge across a narrow
but deep and rocky gorge.
Men looked after the flying locomo-
tive and then at each other with
blanched faces.
"Thsy 'regone! Amiraclecan't save
'em," said one, voicing the wordless
terror OF the rest. 'lf they don't fly
the track on the upgrade they'll go
down as soon as they strike the
tresle."
The crowd began to run along the
track, some with q vain instinct OF
helplessness, Others moved 10y that
morbid curiosity which seeks to be
Sin at the death"
But look! Midway the long rise, the
speed OF the runaway engine suddenly
slackens.
"What does it mean? She never
could a died out IN that tlme!'
shouted an old yardman.
1ASi' ~ NillSCo III iNSN.
the foremost runner reached the
place, the smoking engine stood still
in her track, quivering in every steel
clad nerve, her great wheels still whiz-
zing round amid q flight OF red sparks
from beneath.
"What did it? What stoppedher?"
The engineer, staggering from the
cab, with the pallid face OF the fire
man behind him, pointed without
speaking to where Il little palefaced,
crooked-hacked boy had sunk down,
painting with eNrrtion. beside the
track. AT his feet a huge oil can lay
overturned and empty.
The crowd stared, one ut another,
open-mouthed. Then hetruth flashed
upon them.
He oiled the track
"Bully for crooked joe"
"Three cheers. lIurra.hurra! hurra!"
They caught upthe exhausted child,
f%inging him from burly shoulder to
shoulder, striving with each other for
the honor OF bearing him. and so, in
irregular, tumultuous, triumphal pro-
cession they brought him back to
the depot and set him down among
them.
"Pass the hat, pards.!" cried one.
1t had been pay day, and the saved
engineer and fireman dropped in their
months wages. Not u hand in all the
throng that didnot delve into Il pock-
ct. There was the crisp rustic OF the
bills, the chink OF gold and silver coin.
"Out with your handkerchief, Joe!
Your hands won't mold it all. Why
young Observation-Disclosures the mat
ter?"
For the boy with scarlet cheeks and
burning eyes, had clenched both small
hands behind his back-the poor,
twisted back laden with its burden OF
deformity and pain.
"No! no." he cried in q shrill high
voice. "Don't pay me. Can't you see
what it's worth tome, once-iius once
in all my life-to he OF little use-like
other folks?"
The superintendent had come from
his office. He had his hand on the
boys head.
"Joe," he said, eve couldn't pay
you if we wished. Money doesn't pay
for lives! But you have saved us u
great many dollars besides. Won't
you let us do something for you?"
"You can't! You can't! Nobody
CAM" The child's voice was a shrek.
1t seemed to rend the mir with the
pent-up agony OF years. There's only
one thing in the world l want, and no
body can give. me that. Nobody can
ever make me anything but Crooked
The superintendent lifted him and
held him against his own breast.
"My boy" he said in his firm, gentle
tones, "you are right. Noneof us can
do that for you. But you can do it
for yourself. Listen to me. Where is
the quick brain God gave you and the
brave heart? Not in that bent back
OF yours-that has nothingto do with
them! Let us help you to a chance
only a chance to work and to learn
and it will rest with you, yourself, to
say whether in 20 years from now, il
you are alive, if you are Crooked Joe
OF 'Mr. Joseph Bryant"
Visiting in c. not long ago q
friend said to me:
"Court is in session. You must &C
with me and hear Bryan"
The court was already crowded at
our entrance with an eXpectant audi
ence. When the brilliant young at
torney ros to make his plea,
noticed, with q shock OF surprise, that
his noble head surmounted an under
sized and misshapen body. He ha6
spoken but five minutes, however
when ! had utterly forgotten thu
physical defect; in 10, | was eagerly
interested, and thereafter, during tn,
two hours speech, held spellbount
by the marvellous eloquence which il
fast raising him to the leadership o
his profession in his native city.
"a wonderful mani" said my friend
as we walked slowly homeward. Thel
he told me the story OF Crooked Joe.