The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1891-06-04
Ten Minutes to Twelve.
CONTINUED irom First Page. J

Continued from First Pase.l
/ back Of his head and focus through
| the opposite window his opinion would
have been fully borne out by the dilapi-
/ dation of the buildings near the station.
/ the stretch of broomsedge and sassatras
I covered land around, and the joyous i'm
/ providence of couple of negro bows
who, with apples TO sell and trainful
| OF possible customers at hand, suffered
/ themselves 10 he seduced into inatten-
/ ton to business by dog fight
Declared from this additional evil
/ Sence, there WAS still enough within the
! sick mans range of vision to produce a
| feeling of discouragement which, in a
well man, fresh from different con-
/ ditions. might haze developed into ex-
ASPIRATION.
Even the roads are as bad as ever"
| he unused, glancing along the track
which led across the low grounds to the
| broad opening on the willow fringed
| bank of the river.
In an instant his attention was ar
rested by boat nearing the bank-a
| long. Elnwieldy. fat bottomed affair,
presumably the ferryboat-guided and
| propelled by q couple of negroes with
! long poles. In the end of the boat near
est the shore sat man on horseback
His reins were gathered up, his body
bent slightly forward, and his knees
| clamped the sides of his horse Even
| from distance there was an alertness,
an eager precipitation, perceptible in his
| air and attitude.
That fellow wants to make the train, "
quoth the passenger occupying the seat
| just behind DR.. Royal. He can't.
though-without wings. They must be
about through watering. Great Scott!
what jump! Standing jump, too.
I'll bet hat that's fox hunter"
He'll get left.''
'No. he WON'T
Here he comes-pelting.
"There goes the engine-cOnfound it,"
These and other comments flew about
the car, and every neck was craned for a
better view.
AS the boat neared the bank the horse
.nan had lifted his steed, touched him
with the whip, and cleared the remain.
ing feet of water at a bound. The horse
staggered and slipped, his hind legs
splashing into the water, but recovered
himself with the vigOr and address of an
animal used to rough scrambling, and
laying back his ears and stretching his
limbs, raced forward toward the sta
ton and the train. Excitement thrilled
through the car. All the windows on the
| 10, I Il,
were thrust out with the faces set in one
direction. Explanations, conjectures
contradictions and offers of bets passed
freely; the passengers on the eventless
side stood in the aisle and bent forward
striving to peer over the shoulders OF
their more fortunate companions. Fifty
hirty-ffteen-one more effort
and he would make it! In their eager
ness the men hung far out of the win
dOws and prepared to cheer.
The engine was getting up steam
vibrating and twitching; the conductor
unwilling of the excitement, waved hi
hand to the engineer; the cars We're il
motion-he had been left behind! he hat
} missed it, after all.
By no means. There he stood on tn,
rear platform, swaying with the motion
of the train and gazing back to wher
his horse stood. like a statue, in the mid
die of the track. How had he managed
it? Everybody questioned everybod,
else, and a man who stood with his fac
fattened against the glass of the enc
[ door supplied the information that it ha,
been "a regular circus"
AS the train moved the horse hat
bounded on the track close behind it
, the rider had thrown himself from tn
, saddle, caught the handrail, and, wit
a swerve and spring worthy Of his quad
rumanous ancestors, had landed himsel
on the step of the platform. 1t had bee
a reckless thing to do, rash and fool
hardy: but the success of the feat az
( peared to modify its risk in the minds Q
the spectators and leave room for moth
, ing but admiration Of its agility. Tha
, is, everybody applauded except the in
quisitive lady whose imagination ha
been set working along accident line
. earlier in the day, who observed wit
) asperity that "men might consider tina
sort CT thing fine and spirited, but it wa
not. 1t was idiotic foolishness. and il
q legitimate reward should be cell and
straight jacket
= The horse, satisfied with his inspet
ton of the retreating train, WINNIE
: loudly, kicked up his heels as one VIII
= exults in past proves, and trotted dow
the embankment toward the stalk field
oblivious alike of duty and the allurin
calls and whistles of the negro advan,
IL ing toward him from the ferry. I'll
train rounded q bend, and the gentl
man on the platform turned and trie
l. the handle of the car door, It W.
locked, as the passengers had discovere
N to their annoyance quite early in the az
ton, and by the time the conductc
came along and opened it matters ha
relapsed into a normal condition in tt
car, and the newcomer was allowed
h find himself a seat without other con
lg ment than curious glances.
He was a muscular, broad shoulders
w man, with clean shaver face, blu
gray eyes. a brown mustache and clo
> cut hair. His clothes were trim and s.
to, his figure, his linen was above r
n proach and his hat the regulation struc
n ure with which fashion had crowned tt
male populace; but there was that abol
Nv him, whether in the capable look of tt
If hand and forearm, the alert glance ar
decisive movements. or all taken
gether, which caused the beholder, il
~ voluntarily. to strip from him civilize
10 accessories, invest his sturdy frame wit
flannel and corduroy, clap pistol in Il
he rear pocket of his t&users, horse b
Ike tween his knees, and set him on pra
RE with lariat on the saddle peak,
storm growing along the horizon. az
"a an unruly bunch Of cattle close at han,
~ The mans whole atmosphere suggeste
action and ability to cope with physic
q forces.
N, The place he selected was directly b
hind that occupied by DR.. Royal, and