Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1893-03-31

Tor an east bound special that leaves
Hamilton at 1910. That means IL: 20
when it passes here"
Ben nodded aud went on with his
tune. Presently the train dispatcher was
heard calling &C" That was Giddings,
the a.ion just beyond, where the rail
road bridge spanned H&c,berry Creek
"What is the condition of bridge
3SI2" the message ran.
The operator at Gidiings presently
clicked back the answer:
Bridge 3Sl is o. X. Water high but
not dangerous.
The cloud burst had not yet oc
Cured.
Meanwhile keanley's tooth grew more
painful, till its victim did little but
walk the floor and anathematize the Of
Tending molar.
"lf it don't ease up soon," he said,
presently, "I'll tramp over to the settle.
ment and have it out, storm or no
storm"
Soon, the pain not abating, be donned
Mo luOOCl NOAI duu uODlS duh bLhl lCI
away in the darkness aad storm.
With his violin Tor company little Ben
scarcely felt lonely. He wondered pres
emily if it were not time for Keanley's
return. Suddenly the sender began to
click furiously: Al. H. 1.-THE
Hamilton call.
Then came the message:
"Bridge 3S1 is down. For Gods
sake, hold the special"
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, aud, even as Ben turned, there
came the fash 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 ard
light it.
Little Ben remembered after ward how,
even in tue intense excitement OF the
moment, it had flashed through his mind
how useless the effort of the frightened
operator at Giddings had been iu tcle-
graphing 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. Tne headlight.
seemed abreast OF him as he flung
open the door, and, with mighty
spring on his crutches,, threw himself
gu. 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
flash, the little cripple raised his right
crutch, and, with the fapidity 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 Dire.
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 III the
situation, and ne knew that something
serious had caused the tram to be sig
nailed in that manner. Soon the train
came to a standstill Then it backed up
to the little depot, and the engineer,
crotch in hand, descended hurriedly
from the cab. He found the owner OF
the crutch crawling to his feet with
face much paler than usual. The story
was SOON told, and then it was reto!d in
the parlor car, where the conductor
speedily carried little Ben.
In the cab, the engineer said to the
grimy fireman: "Bill, 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 paror
car we're generous, aud the sum OF
money that they dropped into the hat,
passed by a white bearded man whom
they called "Senator, was goodly one.
Then, when little Ben had bashfully
expressed his gratitude, he asked,
timidly, if any one present could tell
him where to 90 to obtain the coveted
musical education. The story Of his
hopes had to be told, and when he was
done, the while. bearded man cleared his
throat in a manner that sounded sus-
piciously as If he was choking back a
sob. Then he took Ben into the little
depot, end the two talked earnestly to-
gether. -,
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 conversation IN
the office. The old senator did not ap.
pear to recognize Keanley. =.
$50 you are the agent, young man, y
he said. "Allow me to congratulate you
upon your good judgment in Sc ectlng SO
efficient an assistant. Now let me in'
troduce my recently engage private
secretary, who will accompany me when
the special leaves"
The old man laid his hand clre'slngly
on Ben's shoulder.
"And," spoke Ben, eagerly, che says
shall have the best teacher he can find,
and all the time | want to study!'
Soon the special left to return to
Hamilton, and with it went little Ben.
"Good. byel Good-byel" the cripple
called from the receding parlor car, and
Keauley answered with a mechanical
farewell.
Then he sat in the little office and
stared moodlly at the fire for long
time. -,
SHOW lonesome it is without him J.
he said, al loved that little cripple, l
think"
Theu the sounder began to click from
Hamilton, and the mess sage came =.
"Good.by, old fellow. Little Ben.
NH Ua.-Iou ,at I;otaninn TN the fall.