The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-04-12

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was heard calling &C." That was
Giddings, the station just beyond, where
the railroad bridge spanned blackberry
Creek
"What is the condition of bridge
3Sl?' the message ran.
The operator at Giddings presently
clicked back the answer:
"Bridge 3S1 is o. X. Water high
but not dangerous"
Meanwhile Keanley's tooth grew
more painful, till lis victim did little
but walk the floor and anathematize the
offending molar.
IF it don't ease up soon," he said,
presently, "I'll tramp over to the set
Element and have il out, storm or no
storm"
Soon, the pain not abating, he donned
his rubber coat and boots and started
away in the darkness and storm.
With his violin for company little
Ben scarcely felt lonely. He wondered
presently if it were not time for Kean-
ley's return. Suddenly the sender be-
gan to click furiously: oh. II. H.
Hamilton call.
Then came the message: Bridge
3S1 is down. For Gods sake hold the
specially"
The cloud burst had done its work.
Ben glanced quickly at the clock. The
hands indicated fraction of a minute
less than 1926. The special was on
time, and, even as Ben turned, there
came the flash of the headlight through
the storm that drowned the noise of the
engines approach. No time even to
take the red lantern from the cuddy and
light it.
Little Ben remembered afterward
how, even in the intense excitement of
the moment, it had flashed through his
mind how useless the efforts of the
frightened operator at Giddings had
been In telegraphing to Hamilton, when
he might have known that the special
had passed there half an hour before.
The engine gave no call for brakes,
and Ben knew that no stop would be
made there and that the train would
rush on to destruction at the wrecked
bridge at blackberry Creek. The head
light seemed abreast of him as he flung
open the door, and, with a mighty
spring on his crutches, threw himself
out on the platform of the little depot.
There was no use or time to signal, and
there seemed nothing to do but to let
the train rush on to wreck. Then, like
a flash, the little cripple raised his right
crutch, and, with the rapidity almost of
lightning, hurled it, lance fashion, at
the window of the engine cab, Just as
it flashed past him. Then he slipped
and fell headlong on the wet platform.
Passing just above the back of the fire.
man, as he bent to open the furnace
door, the crutch struck the engineers
shoulder with force that made him cry
out. His quick perception took in the
situation, and he knew that something
serious had caused the train to be sig
nailed in that manner. Soon the train
came to standstill. Then it backed
up to the little depot, and the engineer,
crutch in hand, descended hurriedly
from the cab. He found the owner of
the crutch crawling to his feet with a
face much paler than usual. The story
was soon told, and then it was retold in
the parlor car, where the conductor
speedily carried little Ben.
In the cab, the engineer said to the
grimy fireman: "Bil, it almost makes
me ashamed of myself to have my life
saved by such weak, pale little Teller,
an cripple at that" Though not
numerous, the passengers in the parlor
car were generous, and the sum of
money that they dropped into the hat,
passed by white. bearded man whom
they called "Senator," was goodly
one. Then, when little Ben had BASH
fully expressed his gratitude, he asked,
timidly, if any one present could tell
him where to go to obtain the coveted
musical education. The story of his
hopes had to be told, and when he was
done, the white-b bearded man cleared
his throat in manner that sounded
suspiciously as if he was choking back
tie depot, and the two talked earnestly
together.
When Keanley returned, muddy and
wet but minus the aching tooth, he was
astonished to see the special standing
in front of the depot, and Senator
Hicks and little Ben in earnest CONVEX
sation in the office. The old senator
did not appear to recognize Keanley.
so you are the agent, young man,"
he said. "Allow me to congratulate
you upon your good judgment in select.
ing so efficient an assistant. Now let
me introduce my recently engaged pri-
vate secretary, who will accompany me
when the special leaves"
"And," spoke Ben, eagerly, "he
says | shall have the best teacher he
can fnd, and all the time want to
study"
Soon the special left to return to
Hamilton, and with it went little Ben.
" Goodbye Good. bye ~ the cripple
called from the receding parlor car, and
Keanley answered with mechanical
farewell.
Then he sat in the little office and
stared modify at the fire for long
time.
"How lonesome it is without him!'
he said, " l loved that little cripple,
think"
Then the sounder began to click from
Hamilton, and the message came,
" Goodbye, old fellow. Little Ben"
Then Keanley sat listening to the
falling rain for long time.
Three months later he was surprised
at seeing Senator Hicks and little Ben
alight from train at the faded station.
Young man." said the senator,