Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1892-08-14
THE ACCIDENT.

fhiFpAl Ihtascu lIlIhilpii u NftieNs htu-
row. to be SURE. hat of great and unu-
sual beauty The sides and crests Of
the surrounding hills were dotted with
the pretty cottages Of suburban resi-.
dents. but the country was not yet 50
closely settled as To have lost all pict-
uresqueness and, although the houses
were neat, they were simple, and the
lawns. though well kept, We're still un
disfigured by brlzen or east iron statu
airy The neighborhood had not yet /
reached that stage in its development |
where its new houses were built upon |
uninteresting plans furnished ready |
made to rural carpenters by enterpris. !
ing publishers. Nor had its occasional
churchyard yet lost all sense of rest and
peace. Simple gravestones there were,
but no pretentious monuments But
even here death slyly took his victim
unawares or stood forth to tight boldly
for his own as he pleased
1t was here that many years before
John Dorsey had mad> ~ himself
home, and 1t was here that he was
now about TO die.
There had been an accident II was
a very slight one and its cause was al
most ridiculous John Dorsey, the con
ductor Of the sleeping car train, had
been the only one hurt. lie, however
although fatally injured, suffered al
most no pain and was entirely conscious
of his surroundings and condition. lie
had, indeed, stated his belief that he
was about TO die long before the doctor
had been able to ascertain the charac-
ter of his injuries or to form any opin-
ion of the probable result. His in
sistance upon this even annoyed the
doctor.
Dorsey" lie said, you must not
speak so. You are too young to die.
and we shall save you"
AS soon as could be after the acct
dent Dorsey had been carried TO a
neighboring house, and DIR Irwin had
been sent for by men on the train who
had known OF the intimate friendship
which existed between tie two. This
friendship was of earlier date than Dor
sey's connection with the railroad, and
that seemed to Dorsey's fellow EN-
ployes to have begun almost ages
before
Although Dorsey had been always az
frank and candid as a man well could
be In reference to all his later life, in
regard to his earlier past he was singu-
larry reticent Among his fellows there
had always been considerable specula.
ton as TO what his youth had been.
Some who had known OF his intimacy
with DIR. Irwin, and of his ability 70
meet upon terms of personal equality
the high officials of the road, and of
their regard for him, believed that he
had been an old college friend Of the
doctors, and that some accident of fate
had made him IA working railroad man
while the doctor had secured his profes-
sion. Others less charitable or with an
unhappier experience OF the world, and
puzzled by the reports Which reached
them of the repeated refusal of Dorsey
to take other positions higher and more
remunerative, believed that he must
have committed some crime, and was
therefore careful not To expose himself
TO too bright light.
As matter of fact, he and the doe
tor had been classmates, but after their
graduation they had lost sight of each
other for few years while DIR. Irwin
pursued his studies in various foreign
hospitals. Upon his return from abroad
he had heard of the death of Dorsey's
wife and child lie had looked Dorsey
up and expostulated with him upon his
selection of a vocation. But Dorsey
was silent as to the reasons for his
choice and quietly persistent in his de
termination not To change his work II
he could help it
But as frequently as he could Dorsey
would visit the doctor and stay with
him as much as possible, and their
early friendship had grown and ripened
Tom, Dorsey said to the doctor al
most upon his arrival, II am glad they
sent for you, but you cannot do any
thing
As time went on the doctor reluctant
ly began to believe that Dorsey was
right-that his recovery was impossible.
Deeply ms the doctor was grieved he
was annoyed. too, to feel that his skill
would be of no avail 10 his old friend.
why did you follow such an in
fernal business he asked, hupatiently.
Don't, Tom. Dorsey replied Don't
call it that"
And why should you be the only
one to be hurt r
WAS the only onef' Dorsey asked.
Yes
That Is strange. maybe" Dorsey
said, and then his calinness. which had
been so remarkable, deserted him, but
only for a minute.
What caused the accidentP' he
asked DO they known
Yes" the doctor replied, and lie
told of the little land slide which the
engineer had seen almost in time, but
not quite, and the engine Ind run inta
with barely enough force 70 Jar the
train it's length. We suppose, he
added, that you must have been shak
en- between two cars In some way"
"Wil h hurt me to taIkf Dorsey
asked.