The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-12-03
yarl enginos ateamed wildly away, tho

switches closing behind them.
The main track was barely clear when
40 came in sight, swaying from side to
side, her wheels threatening 10 leave
the track at each revolution. She passed
the depot like 4 meteor, her bell clanG-
ing with eyary leap oil her piston, the
steam escaping from her whistle with
tho continuous shrek Of a demon, and
the occupants OF the cab wrapped from
view in a cloud of smoke.
Some hundred rods beyond the depot
the track took n sharp upward grade,
from which it descended again to strike
tho bridge across marrow but deep and
rocky gorge.
tive and then at each other with blanch-
cd faces.
"They're gonel A miracle can't save
'cm," said one, voicing the wordless tor
ror Of the rest. "If they don't fly the
track on tho upgrade they'll 20 down US
soon as they strike the trestle!'
The crowd began to u along the
track, some with n vain instinct OF help
fulness, some moved by that morbid
curiosity which seeks 10 DO sin at the
DEATH"
But lookl Midway the long rise the
speed Of the runaway engine suddenly
slackens.
"What does it mean? She
couldn't a died out in that time!"
shouted an old yardman.
Excitement winged their feet. When
the foremost runner reached the place
the smoking engine stood still on the
track, ouivering in every steel-clad
nerve, her wheels still whizzing round
and round amid n flight OF red sparks
from beneath.
"What didit? Who stopped her"
The engineer, staggering from tho
cab with the pallid face of the fireman
behind him, pointed, without speaking,
to where q little, pale-faced, crooked
backed boy had sunk down, painting
with exertion, beside the track.
At his feet a huge oil can lay over
turned and empty.
The crowd stared, one at another,
open-mouthed. Then the truth flashed
upon them.
"Ho oiled the track!"
"Bully for Crooked Joel"
They caught the exhausted child,
flingIng him from shoulder to shoulder,
striving with each other for the honor
OF bearing him, and SO, in irregular,
tumultuous, triumphal procession they
brought him back to the depot and|set
him down among them.
"Pass the hat, pards!" cried one,
1t had been payday, and the saved
engineer and fireman dropped in each
their months wages. Not a hand in all
the throng that did not delve into n
pocket. There was a crisp rustic Of
bills, the chink Of gold and silver coin.
"Out with your handkerchief, Joe!
Your hands won't hold it ALL Why,
young one, what's the matter??" for
tho boy, with scarlet cheeks and fam
ing eyes, had clinched both small hands
behind his back-the poor twisted
back laden with its burden OF deformlty
and pain.
mo! MOI" he cried, in n shrill, high
voice. Don't pay me! Can't you SEQ
what it's worth to me. once-Just once
in my life-to be a little use-likc other
folks?"
Tho superintendent had como from
his office. He laid his hand on the
boys head.
Joe" he said, 1--WE couldn't pay you
if we wished. Money doesn't pay for
lives! But you have saved US a great
many dollars besides. Won't you let
us do something for your"
"You can't! You can't! Nobody
can!" The child's voice was almost q
shrek. 1t seemed to rend the air with
tho pent-up agony OF years. There's
only one thing in the world | want, and
nobody can give me that. Nobody can
ever make me anything but Crooked
Joel"
The superintendent lifted him and
held him to his own breast.
"My boy" he said, in his firm gentle
tones, you are right. None of US can
do that for you. But YOU can do it
yourself. Listen to mel Where is the
quick brain God gave you and the
brave heart? Not in that bent back ef
yours-that has nothing to do with
them. Let us help you to a chance. Only
a chance to work and learn-and it will
rest with you, yourself, to say whether
in twenty years from now, il YOU are
alive, if you are Crooked Joe, or Mr..
Joseph Bryan"
Visiting in C.. not long ago, a
friend said to me:
Court is in session. You must go
with me and hear Bryan"
The courtroom was already crowded
at our entrance with an eXpectant audi
ence. When the brilliant young attor-
ney rose to make his plea l noticed
with n shock of surprise that his noble
head surmounted an understood and
misshapen body. He had spoken but
five minutes, however, when l had ut
terly forgotten the physical defect; in
ten 1 was eagerly interested, and there
after, during the two hours speech,
held spellbound by the marvellous elo-
quence which is fast raising him to the
leadership Of his profession in his n a
tive city.
"a wonderful mani" said my friend,
as we walked slowly homeward. Then
he told me the story of Crooked Joe.
uoodis Corsoporillo stonda OF fha baod