The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1892-05-20
LANCE ELLIOTTS IDEA.

AAA4NOL Ll1II1Ol ~ Lula
"To be just like this or something like
1t all my life, hardly able to read Of
write my own name, always to be poor
ignorant drudge? Lance Elliott dashed
the tears angrily from his eyes with 6
feeling of shame, though there was nc
one near to see his wet cheeks and quiv.
ering lip. Coward To be crying al
my ager
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 fourteen
years old, but for nearly two years he
had earned his living in various ways.
He had BACKED boots, run errands and
held horses. More than once he had gone
supperless to bed, and very often the bed
had been hayloft or a cowshed. Now,
however, he was regularly employed
selling papers on the express train which
left Woodstock at $50 every evening
Though he was earning fair wages con-
sidering his age, he was growing more
and more dissatisfied every day, for he
saw no prospect of improvement.
Mr.. Bascom, the conductor, to whom
Lance had condded 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
at seems to me-" he had answered,
''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 something
unusual or out of place among the ia
miliar objects along the road grew upon
him AT first he could not make out
what it was, but in another moment he
understood 1t was a new light and one
that he had never seen before.
But what chiefly puzzled Lance was
the position of the light. 1t seemed to
be directly in the center of the line of
rails upon which the express was travel
ing. 1t could not be signal lantern,
for it was too high in the air; besides
there was no signal at that part of the |
road.
AS he continued to watch the strange |
object with growing wonder, he sud
denly became aware that the light was
in motion More than that, it was fol-
lowing the express! AS the train swept
around curve the light vanished, only
to appear moment later, showing that
it, too, had come around the curve.
Lance had already guessed what it
was, but he was afraid to believe his
own eyes If it should be thatl He felt a
cold chill creep over him.
While he was confusedly trying to
think what he ought to do the door of
the car opened. and Mr.. Bascom. the
conductor, stepped out upon the plal-
form. Without waiting for him to speak
Lance caught him by the sleeve, and
pointing to the light behind exclaimed:
Look! Look! Do you know what
that is?''
Mr.. Bascom shaded his eyes with his
hand and gazed earnestly at the light
Then, without a word, he turned and
hurried back through the train.
In another moment the engine of the
express sounded shrill warning whistle,
and Lance felt the train suddenly in
crease its speed. Presently Mr.. Bascom,
accompanied by one of the brakemen,
was back on the platform beside Lance
again.
Both men examined the light, which
had meantime drawn much nearer, with
evident alarm. Then the conductor
swung the red lantern he carried sew
eral times.
THAT is No. g." said Mr.. Bascom
"She was standing on the siding at Rich
field as we passed.
"What does she mean by following
us?" asked the brakeman. And why
doesn't she answer our signals?"
Because. said Mr.. Bascom, there is {
20 one on board to see or hear them"
A runawayr' exclaimed the brake .
man
Just that" replied the conductor I
1T has happened before. They have
run her out on the track ready to take
her train. and somehow she has got Q
started"
Lance, who had listened attentively to s
this conversation, understood it per-
Iectly. The light behind them was the
headlight of engine No. g. He, too
had seen it on the side track as the ex-
press passed. AS Mr.. Bascom had said !,
after the express had gone by, this en- !
zine had drawn out upon the main track :
ready to take its train, which was not to ;,
tart until half an hour after the ex, !,
press. and IN some unknown manner had :,
got started under a full head of steam. :
with no one on board to guide it. J,
Engine No. 20. as Lance knew, was =
me Of the most powerful engines on the ;.
'oad. and it was running free. whereas :