The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1891-01-20

again sent to the stOcRaQe IOf thlIty
DAYS. At last the month came to an
end, and the prisoner was turned out.
This time the marshal marched him
beyond the town limits and left him.
He has got too much sense to come
oack," reported the marshal to the
mayor.
awe may have been too hard on
nim," responded the mayor. II some
times think he is wrong in the head"
"Well, it is too late to talk about
It," said the other. And the converse
ton ended.
The tramp did not turn up again
that day nor the next. The worthy
marshal began to be worried, end the
mayor little uneasy.
Blue Rock was such q small pace
that sensation was always welcome,
and the unknown prisoner lad been
the talk of the town for sixty days.
"He's hiding in the woods, and will
slip in some night aud burn the town."
said one.
This idea found great favor, and
the villagers found it difficult to sleep.
On the following day there was a
railway excursion to point of interest
forty miles away, and everybody of
any consequence in the town went
along. The mayor and council, the
superintendent of the depot and even
the marshal joined the party.
The return trip was made after dark,
and the train sped along at a fearful
rate Of speed The excursionists were
all in jolly humor and were at the
height of their festivities, when the
frightful shrieking of the locomotive
whistle startled everybody. The train
came to a full stop, and among those
who rushed out were the mayor and
marshal of Blue Rock.
At the head Of the train they found
the engineer and conductor talking
with man who held one hand to his
side, from which the blood was stream
ing.
"Great God! 1t is our tramp" ex-
claimed the marshal.
"You are right" said the mayor.
"My poor fellow, what is the
matter"'
The tramp fell in a fainting-ft be-
fore he could answer this question.
"You see," said the engineer, "this
man was tramping through the woods
when he came to the track and found
two train-wreckers tampering with the
rails. Wei, this tramp, OF whatever
he is, jumped on the scoundrels like G
tiger. He disabled one of them, but
the other stabbed him in the side and
ran away. See, he built fire on the
track, and as soon as | saw it / stopped
the train"
Just then several passengers came
dip with the wounded wrecker, who
had been seriously injured by the
tramp.
The villain evidently thought that he
was mortally wounded, for he made q
full confession.
81 think" said the Blue Rock mayor,
'sthat we owe debt of gratitude to
our preserver. Many men in this fix
would not have turned over hand to
save U.s."
The poor tramp opered his eyes and
smiled family.
':Did you know we were on the
train?' asked the marshal.
''Oh, yes; saw you when You went
up the road this morning, and | hung
about here because I saw those two
chaps acting suspiciously.
"Come now, who are you and where
is your homer" asked the marshal.
81 am gentleman. [ have forgot
ten my name and all about things that
happened years ago. l can tell you
nothing more"
"By George!" said the mayor, 81
believe he tells the truth"
awe must take him to Blue Rock
and care for him." said one of the
party. ''He shall have the freedom of
the town and the best there is in it."
"'Thank you," said the tramp, with
smile, 81 am satisfied now"
A spasm of pain contracted his feat
ures.
A gasp, a futtering of the breath
and the unknown was dead.
Tramp or gentleman, who was he
and what lay back of his misfortunes?
These were the questions that the
Blue Rock exc. "sionists asked each
other on their way home.