The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1892-08-11

village came laundering along and we
stepped to one side while 1t passed
my gracious, Joe, did you notice
how that train shook us up?v exclaimed
AL, after 1t had passed. 1T really
seemed TO me as though the ground
trembled. After all, perhaps Uncle Hi
is right about there being no bottom to
this swamp"
''Oh, nonscnselr l interrupted sharp
~. Lets go over and see how the old
gentleman's getting on"
The fire had died out In the stove, the
hearth was unswept, and the scanty
furniture was scattered about in great
confusion, although Uncle Hi was al
ways very neat about his bachelor
housekeeping. At the farther end of
the room was the old mans bed and as
we entered wild-eyed figure sat up
among the pillows and stared at us. 1t
was Uncle Hi, but SO terribly changed
that he was hardly recognizable. =
His gray hair and beard were matted,
the latter sweeping the breast of his
soiled night-shirt. His face was ashy-
gray. excepting where spot OF red
glowed bright on either cheek. His
eyes were Withholding and rolled rest
lessly. Both AL and sprang.forward
| to his bedside.
'I'm-so- -glad you've-come, boys,
he said feebly, catching his breath be-
( tween each word.
'tWhy, howlong have you been sick,
| uncle. and what's the matter?" ! in
quired, striving to straighten out the
bed clothes while AL went to work to
build fire.
''its-been-been coming on several
days. ! didn't get out-to-look at the
track but twice last night Isis it all
right" he managed to gasp.
'.It's all right, uncle" ] replied, as
cheerily as possible. Don't try to
talk, but lieSStill. Wen have some
thing warm for you in jiffy." Then
TO AL in a lower tone / said: Zone OF
us must go at once for DR. Price. Il be-
tzlieYe= peer4eld fellows get pnett-
mon a."
llgo,- declared Al, at once. Sim
no good around where anyones sick, -
and he hurried into his coat again.
"Hear them shriek-here them
Shrek, he would say, starting wildly
| up in bed. They'll all go down to-
gether in the Bottomless Pitt Oh, why
wasn't there to warn themp'
| And then he would try to spring out
of bed and go to warn the train, which,
in his dclirium, he saw about TO plunge
into the swamp. ! could hardly hold
him while soothcd him as best could.
Half hundred times before my chum
returned made believe run out at the
| old mans instigatien to stop the train.
When Al did return Uncle Iii was cas-
Ter, but much weaker, too, l could
plainly see. AL reported that DR. Price
was away from home, but would re-
turn in an hour, and he had left word
for him to come down at once.
"Its dreadful night outside" de-
clared my chum with a SILVER. 'It's
black as Egypt and the winds blowing
great guns. DO you think he's very
bad?" he added in lower tone, inclin-
ing his head toward the bed.
II don't believe he'll last long" re-
piled, and am not ashamed to say that
there was choke in my voice as said
the words We all loved Uncle Hi.
AL remained silent and we both sat
gazing at the tea kettle which had com
menced to sing upon the stove. Uncle
Hi had dropped into state between
waking and sleeping, and was not de.
lirious.
joe" at last heard him whisper
from the bed.
! sprang up at once and went to him.
Take my-lantern-there in the
corner-and-and look at-the track"
II reckon the tracks, all right
uncle" said. ! saw that-hc- Wi as per-
fectly sensible, and that there would
be no use in trying to fool him.
do as tell you, Joe" he exclaimed,
ard his voice for the moment grew
firmer. ~ have feeling that all is
not right. In ten minutes the express
from the northis due, and suppose that
track should be washed away"
"I'll go, Joe," said AL, who had come
to the bedside, looking with plying
eyes at the poor old man.
"If anyone has got to go out I'll go, :"
| said, decidedly, putting on my coat.
tits my turn"
Hurry, Joe, hurry cried Uncle Hi,
sitting up in bed, and could see that
he was gro.ing delirious again.
seized the lantcrprar plunged out
into the storm. AT first | had intended
to only stay outside the door for a few
moments, for the storm was something
awful to face; but something seemed to
impcl me to go forward along the track.
Perhaps it was the earnestness with
which the old man had begged me to
go, End, being unable to shake off the
feeling, started to cross the Bottom
less Pit.
+ had not gone ten feet when sank
into the earth up to my knees, and the
pale CLEAN of the lantern showed me
that the water completely covered the
rails. ! staggered to my feet, pushed
on few steps farther and sank in
again. could feel that the rails were
bent and twisted. and that one was
sunken considerably below the other
The water had risen, Waashed the
foundation out from under the ties, and
the road was completely wrecked!
The express is due in ten minutes"
This was the thought which nerved
me on There was not an instant to
lose. must cross the swamp and
warn the train before it plunged to de
struction.
Swinging the lantern as l. ran, and
stumbling over the uneven ties, some
times sinking almost to my waist in the
quicksands, ] persevcred until the
swamp was crossed and / reached the