Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-02-26

Kusty's neck. and the only sounds TO De
heard we're the patter of rain on the
roof of the motionless freight car and
the regular breathing Of IT'S three urea
occupants.
An hour later Two men, carrying IAN
terms and wearing rubber coats that
qlistened with the wet. came along and
naused before the freight car One o.
them consulted way bill Yes, this
i ~ he said: "No. pol, corn meal Tor
Harrisburg. Six sacks 10 be left at
Arden. That's all right. SHUT hef
IN. Joe. TWAS mighty careless OF those
fellows TO leave the door open.
Here Joe pushed the door to with
slam. II fastened with spring loch.
and the men with the lanterns walked
away to lock up the rest OF their Train
A little later an engine came rolling
softly along the wet track TO where the
car stood. There was a bump. a rattle
of coupling pins and links. swinging
of lanterns. and the car was drawn
away. past the multitude OF little red.
and green. and yellow lights twinkllng
through the rain and darkness like big
6re-fies and marking the switches.
The car was hauled and pushed hither
and thither. and others were attached
to it. until at length long train was
made up. The great locomotive painted
eager to be of. and its hot breath made
little clouds Of feecy steam that were
edged with flame by the glow from its
onen-moutbed furnace The brakemen
we're at their posts on the slippery tops
OF the cars: the caboose at the rear end
of the train looked warm and comfort
able Two red lights, shining like
angry eyes, were hung in position ON its
sides near the rear end.and freight train
No IS was in readiness for start
The conductor came from the train
dlspatcher's Office with thin sheet OF
yellow paper, on which were written
his orders. in his hand
"No tramps on board tonight are
there. Joe?" he said TO his head brake
man.
"No. sir. not sign OF one. I've
looked carefully everywhere. Its too
wet for 'em to travel. I reckon"
"All right Let her 60"
Then the conductor swung his gleam-
ing lantern. the engine-driyer pulled
the throttle. and freight No IS moved
slowly out into the darkness. Its first
stop was at Arden. where 1t was to side
track and await the passing of the New
/ York limited. Here, too, were 70 be left
six sacks OF meal.
As Brakeman Joe unlocked and pushed
open the door of the car No. 90i. and the
I light Of his lantern flashed into It's dark
interior, it fell upon something that
caused him 70 start and exclaim'
Great Scott The tramps are travel
/ ing after all. and here they are. A dog.
tool Well, IL that isn't cold cheek"
| Brakeman Joe did not love tramps
/ His regular work was hard enough.
| goodness knows: and when. in addition
1 70 IL. he mad TO make thorough exami-
nation of the whole train at every stop
ping place, peering by the light OF his
| lantern between and underneath the cars
for tramps who might be stealinga ride.
he felt that he had good cause to dis
like them. Sometimes he had hard
tussles before dislodging them from
their perches and roosts, and many an
! ugly blow had he received while per-
forming this duty He had therefore
learned to deal very promptly not to
say roughly. with this portion Of the
/ travelling public whenever he found
them on or in the cars under his charge
On this particular night be had made
sure as be thought before starting that
there was not a tramp on the train. and
had In consequence been anticipating q
comparatively easy trip. And here was
a whole nest Of them snugly slowed
away in car No. col A dog, tool IL
was aggravatng, and, under the eireum-
stances, it is not to be wondered at that
he hustled them out without much re-
gard to their feelings.
Both Arthur and Uncle Phin had
been suddenly awakened. and greatly
alarmed. when Brakeman Joe first
slammed and locked the door OF the car
in which they had taken refuge from the
storm. They had a confused idea that
they had been asleep, though tor how
long they could not tell. and now they
could no longer see the lighted clock
above the railway station II might
even be midnight and time for their
train TO come along. for all they knew.
They shouted and kicked against the
locked door. and Rusty barked, but all
in vain The conductor and Brakeman
Joe bad walked away before these
noises began. and there was no one else
TO hear them.
Then the engine came and pushed and
pulled the car about. until they had not
the slightest idea OF the direction in
which they were moving. II might be for
ward or backward. east or west, for all
they could tell. Nor was their situation
improved when the train, of which car
No. POI finally formed part, pulled ont OF
the railway yard, and started on It's long
journey. They had no idea which way
il was going, and Arthur could have
cried as he reflected that they might be
travelling in exactly the opposite direc-
ton from that they wished 70 take. and
might be carried hundreds Of miles be-
fore their car door was again unlocked.
As he could not do this. because be was