Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1892-06-24
LANCE ELLIOTT'S IDEA.

i
like it all my life, hardly able to read
or write my own name, always TO be
Door, ignorant drudge :" Lance Eli
| OFT dashed the tears angrily from his
ewes with q feeling Of shame, though
| there was no one near to see his wet
cheeks and quivering lip. Coward I!
To be crying at my age!'
With his elbows resting on the iron
brake wheel and his head between his
hands, Lance stood thinking sadly OF
his unhappy lot. He was only four
teen wears old, but for nearly two
wears he had earned his living in va
rious WAYS. He had blacked boots,
run errands and held horses. More
than once he had gone supperess to
bed, and very often the bed had been
a hayloft or q cow-shed Now, how
ever, he was regularly employed sell
| ing papers on the express train which
| left Woodstock at $50 every evening.
Though he was earning fair wages
considering his age, he was growing
more and more dissatisfied every day,
for he saw no prospect of improve
ment.
| Mr. Bascom. the conductor, to whom
Lance had confided his troubles, had
said The thing, my boy, is to DO
YOUR duty in whatever position you
are placed. and let the rest take care
of itself"
But Lance was not content with
this HIt seems to me- he had an
swered, Just the difference between
walking on level ground and climbing
up pair of stairs.
Tonight he had sold all his papers
for the trip and had gone out upon
the rear platform of the train where
he could be alone. The rapid motion
of the express seemed to soothe his
troubled thoughts, and he stood
long while watching the lights along
the tracks as they flashed by and
were lost in the darkness behind.
As he gazed dreamily before him,
gradually dim perception Of some
thing unusual or out of place among
Se familiar objects along the road
.ro, upon him. At first he could not
make Nut what it was, but in another
-. ne understood. 1t was new
- -, 'e that he had never seen
before. ,.1o1
But the thing that chiefly puzzled
rancs was the no %tian of the light.
1t seemed to be direc Wy ~ 'ne C'n'ei
of the line of rails upon w.'F'f' 'he eN-
press vas travelling. 1t "0"''P 10 ~
a signal lantern, for it was 10" hiRn
in the air; besides, there was No ~
nal at that part OF the road. 49,
As he continued to watch the
strange object with growing wonder
he suddenly became aware that tiie
light was in motion. More than tha''
it was following the express !! AS Tue
tain swept around curve the iiSht
vanished, only to- appear moment
later, showing that it, too, had come
around the curve.
Lance had already guessed what IL
was, but he was afra id to believe his
own eyes. II il should be thHt he
felt cold chill creep over him.
While he was confusedly trying 10
think what he ought to do, the door
of the car opened, ard Mr. Bascom'
the conductor, stepped out upon the
platform. Without waiting for him
to speak, Lance caught him by the
sleeve, and pointing to the light be-
hind, exclaimed:
Look Look ! Do you know what
that is e
Mr.. Bascom shaded his eyes with
his hand, and gazed earnestly ut the
light. Then, without word he
turned and hurried back through the
train.
In another moment the engine OF
the express sounded shrjll, warning
whistle, and Lance felt the train sud
denly increase its speed Presently
Mr.. Bascom, accompanied by one OF
the brakemen, was back on the plat
form beside Lance again.
Both men examined the light, which
had meantime drawn much nearer,
with evident alarm. Then the con
dustor swung the red lantf III he car
ried several times.
That is No. &C." said Mr.. Bascom.
"She was standing on the siding at
Richtiald as We passed"
What does she NEAR by following
us p asked the brakem an. And why
doesn't she answer our signals :"
Because" said Mr. Bascom, there
is no one on board to see or hear
them
"a runaway - exclaimed the brake
man.
Just that, ;" replied the conductor.
ut has happe ned before. They have
run her out on the track ready to
tske her train, and somehow she has
got started"
Lance, who had liste ned attentive
" to this cor ivsrsation, understood it
perfectly. The light behind them
was the he adlight Of ell gine No. 20
He, too, hi I'd seen it on the side track