The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1893-04-27


compl I'D by the eloud b1nt over II
next county. near the head Of Hackberl
Greek. II was nesrly ten o'clock vh,
! the message vent clicking BY. and keaI
, ley. who hsd been nursing an aebir
tooth sill day, remarked TO Hen. who ",
pls lag the violin loudly, u shut out Il
sound Of the rushing r.iu Dispstcher
telling them TO 10 out for an east honn
special tbst leaves Hamii,on at l04'
That means IL ;26 when II passes here.
B ,u nodded aud went on with biz tun,
Presently the train dispatcher was h ssr
ca ling q. That was Giddings, the s,'
tion just beyond, wh,re the railroa
bridge spanned Hack berry Greek
What is the condition OF bridge 3sl
the message ran.
The opera or at Giddings present.
clicked back the answer.
Bridge 3Sl is 0. X Water high bu
not dangerous.
Meanwhile Ksanleys tolih grew mor
painful till is victim did littls but wall
the floor aud ansthematiz, the offending
molar
II it don't ease up soon. he SAID, presen
tIy, II tramp over to the settlement ane
have it out, ste rm or no storm.
lpith his violin ior company little BeI
scsicsly felt lonely. He wondered presep
| ly If it were not time for X aanley's rel
tufn. Suddenly the sender began 10 click
furiously: II. Il Il, Hamilton call.
Then came the message Bridge 3sl ia
down. Fot Gol's sake hold the special
The cloud burst had done its work. Ben
glanced qackIy at the coek. The hands
indicated fraction OF minute less than
LEG Ihe special was on time, and, ev'
en as Ben turls1, there came the fash OF
the head ight through the st,rm that
drowned the noise o ofthe engines approach
No time even to take the rcd lantern
from the cuddy and light it,
Little Ben remsmb,rsd d aiterward how,
even in the intense excitement Of the moi
ment, il had flashed through his mind
how useless the eflo Is OF the frightened
operator at Gi ldings had been 10 tele
graz hing to Hamilton, when he might
have known that the special had passed
there half an hour before.
The engine gave 10 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 ut Hack
berry Creek. Tue he'd ,bt seemed
abreast OF him as be flulg open the door,
and, with mighty spring on bis crutches
threw bimself ont 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 fash, the little cripple ras'
ed HE night crutch, and, with the rapidi-
ty almost cf Tightening. hurled it, lsncel
fashion, at the window OF the engine cab,
Just as it fiashed past him. Then he slip
ped and f. II hesdlong on the wet platform.
Passing just above the back OF femsn, as
be bent 10 open the furnace door, the
crutch struck the engineers shoulder
with force that made bin cry out. His
quick perception took 10 tho situation.
and he knew that somt thing serious had
caused theirain tobe signaled 10 that mani
ner Soon tie train came TO q stsndstill.
Then ii backed up 20 the little depot, and
the enpineer cruich 10 hind. descended
hurriedly irom the cab. He found the
owner OF the cfutch crawling to his feet
y ith a face much paler than usual The
story was 20 u told aud then it was retold
n tn, pa ln car. where The conductor
speedily carried Lutte Ben
In the cab the engineer snii TO the
primy fireman, BIZ, it almost makes me
o mystlt to have my life saved
by such weak psls Ii tie fellow. an
or pple at that II oigh not numerous,
he passengers 10 the pArlor car we're geui
srous, and the sum Of moaey they dropped |
into the hat, passed by o white bearded |
man wLom they called SeDa or, WAS
,oodly ONE.
Then when little n had bsshfnlly ex
5ressed his gratitude, be asked. timidiy.
I any one present could tell bin where TO
10 to obtain the coy,tsd musical educs.
ion. The story OF bis topes had to be
old, aud when be was done, the wLi.ei
man cleared his throat 10 q man
Ter thst toanded tuspici jusly as il be
vas oil oAinp b-ck sob Then be took
Sen into the littIedept t.snd the two talked
srnestly together.
When Kespley returned muddy and wet
,ut minus tue scliig tooth, be was aston
shed to see the special standing 10 froni
i The depot. and Senstor Hicks aud little
B 10 10 earaest conveis alton in the flee.
Tbs old senator did not app.ar 10 reco sui'
u kesnley.
50 you are the agent. young mau, be
aid Allow me to conRrutu s,e you upon
our good judgement 10 seiec lag 30 eli.
/ nj 81 asshtsnt Nos let me introduce
ny recent, engaged private secretary vi
will accompany me shsn tile specisl
caves.
And, spoke Bsu. esg' rig, be says ! shall
AVE Tie best ieseh,r be eau hnd, snd all
he time | ~sni 10 study.
S 0 tbe special left 70 rs.ura TO Hsmil
on, and y it IL wept iit le Bel.
Gtol-bysl Gpos-byel tbe cripple cali
a from tbs rsee ling psrlor car. and
Kesnley answered With ms cLanicsl isrsi
sell.
Then be sal 10 the little Office and stared !
noodily 81 the fire fer lone time.