Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-11-05
LANCE ELLl0TTS IDEA.


write my own name, always TO be u poor,
Ignorant drudgcr Lance Elliott dashed
tho tears hngrily from his eyes with a
feeling Of Shame, though there was no
one near TO sec his wet checks aud quiv-
tring lip. Coward To be crying at
my ago"
With his elbows resting on the iron
brake wheel and his head between his
hands. lance stood thinking sadly Of his
unhappy lot. lilo was only fourteen
years old, but for nearly two years he
had earned his living In various wayG
He hAd BACKED Luols. run crrands and
held horses. Morc than once he had gone
supporless to bed. aud very often tho bed
had been n hayloft or a cowshed. Now,
however, be- was regularly employed
selling papers on the express train which
LEFT Woodstock nj 0.DO every evening.
Though he was earning fair wages con-
ridcring his aPe, he was growing more
and more dissatisfied every day, for he
cav no prospect OF improvement.
Mr.. Bacon, the conductor. TO whom
Lance had conilied his troubles, had
said. The thing, my boy, Is to do your
duty In position you are placed.
aud let the rest take care Of itself."
But Lance was not content with this
at seems 10 me no had answered.
''iusi the difference between walking on
leycl ground and climbing upa pair OF
stnirs.-
Tonight he bad sold all his papers for
the trip aud had gone out upon the rear
platform Of the train where no could be
alone. Tho rapid motion of the express
seemed TO soothc his troubled thoughts.
aud he stood a long while watching tho
lights along tho tracks ~ they flashed
By and were lost In the darkness bohiud
A. be gnzed dreamily before him
gradually dim perception OF something
unusual or out Of place among the a.
miliar objects along tho road grow upon
him. At int ho could not make cut
what Il was, but in another moment he
UNDERWOOD. 1t was new light aud one
that hs had never seen before.
But what CHIEFLY puzzled Lance was
tho position OF the light. IL seemed TO
be- directly In the confer Of the line Of
rails upon which the express was travel
ng. 1t could not be n signal lantern,
Tor II was too high In tho air; besides
there WAS no signal at that part Of tho
road.
A. no continued 10 watch the strange
object with growing wonder, he sud-
denly became aware that tho light was
la motion. More than that, It was fol.
lowing the oEprgssl As tho train swept
lround curve the light vanished, only
10 appear u moment later, showing that
Il, too. had come around the curve.
Lance had already guessed what II
was. but no was afraid 10 believe his
own eyes II II should be thatl lie felt "a
cold chill creep over him.
While he was confnsodly trying TO
think what he ought 10 DO the door o.
the car opened, and Mr.. Bascom. the
conductor. stepped out upon tho plat
Ioun. Without waiting Tor him to speak
Lance caught him by the sleeve, aud
pointing TO the light behind exclaimedi
"Looh Lookl Do you know what
that isY'
Mr.. Biucom shaded his eyes with his
hand aud gaxei earnestly at the light
Then. without word. no turned aud
hurried back through tho train.
In another moment tho engine Of the
express sounded n shrill warning whistle,
aud Lance felt the train suddenly In.
srrass It's speed. Presently MIR. Bascom,
accompanied by one OF the brakoinon.
wis back on the platform beside Lance
xgain.
Both men examined the light, which
had meantime drawn much nearer, with
evident alarm. Then the conductor
swung tho red lantern he carried SOW
tral times
THAT is No. co. said Mr. Bascom.
"she was standing On the siding at Rich
held IA wo passed"
"WhAt does she mean by following
nay asked the brakeman. "And why
doesn't she answer our signals"
"Becauso." said Mr. Bascom, "thore Il
no one on board TO see or hear them"
"a runawayT' exclaimed the brake
IMAM
Just that" replied tho conductor
alt has happened before They have
run her ont ON the track ready 10 taxi
her tu.in. and somehow she has go
started"
isANANt " AZ AAtAA AlnNNiNl NhAiNNANNAN ~
this conyorsatiun. understood Il per
fcgtly, Tho light behind them was TN
headlight OF engine No. 20. 10. TOO
had seen II on the side track ~ the OK
press passed. As Mr.. Dascoin had said
hfior tho express had gone by, this en-
CINE had drawn out upon the main tract
ready 10 take itH train, which was not q
start untll half an hour after tine eS
press, aud Ia some unknown manner has
got started under "A full head Of steam
with no onr on board TO guide IL.
Engine M. 20, IA Lance knew, wa
one Of the most powerful engines on tn
road, aud Il was running free, wherea
the emress ougns was drawing II
heavily loaded cars Unless somothin
could bo dono 10 stop tho runaway,
must soon cntch up with the express.
The express should have stopped 4
Beverly, Int there WIS no time for thi
now, aud as tbs train roarad by Ian,
caught glimpse OF white astonisho
faces. waving arms and flashing light
Then all was swallowed In darkne
ag,in
by this time tho passengers Of the 81