The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1896-06-26

anything in particular. although clio
felt quito capable Of doing the most
heroic actions she had ever heard Of.
As Madge turned up tho street she
heard the merry talk Of o group OF
girls coming toward her. Earlier IN
tho evening this would have been
pleasant; but she did not care for
their society now. To avoid them she
ran hastily down a side street And
this turnout somewhat confused her.
With the lantern swinging In her
band she ran a few squares and made
a few more sharp turns up one uufa-
miliar street and down another. Be-
fore she expected it she reached the
outskirts Of the little town, and, just
beyond, came suddenly upon the rail-
road tracks By this time it was as
dark as q June night can be. She felt
bewildered.
II don't see how the tracks came TO
run around here, she muttered. "But
I'm glad I didn't come ont near the
station, anyway |"
Madge walked along beside the track
a short distance, holding the lantern
down to examine the rails. To her
horror she found her worst fears con.
frmed. Several of the rails we're
loose, and one actually misplaced,
lying nearly across the ties
''And this is only a little piece Of
It'll" she exclaimed, tragically. The
opportunity she had longed for, to
save few hundred people from u rail-
way accident had come
Madge drew her breath hard, and
felt bold thoughts rise in her heart.
She must stay there, and, holding the
red lantern out, warn coming trains
of their danger. She struck a match,
aud after several attempts with her
shaking little fingers, lit the lantern,
and sitting down upon the grass near,
waited anxiously for the expected
train.
She wondered if there we're any
more trains that night. The town was
a retired one, and only boosted of n
couple day. She hardly knew if she
wished them to come or not She
heard several engines whistle, a short
distance of, but none of them came
that way, Occasionally she waved her
lantern, which was some satisfaction,
although the red light was not an
swered by any returning flash.
Madge waited at her post for what
seemed hours. No trains came along
that track to be saved. She began to
be little weary of the part of thank
less heroine. The ground felt cold
and damp. The place grew darker,
and sense of its loneliness began to
creep over her. Madge was growing
afraid.
At the bottom of her heart there
was q tiny conviction that there was
something wrong about this train saw
ing business She looked around ut
the group of dusky trees behind her,
and the dim hill beyond. She stood
up. II forget which road l came, :"
she thought; 'but it must be late.
Perhaps ! had better go homel"
She drew the shade over the Ian
tern, and turned around to the road.
AS she did 50, something rose up
directly in front Of her. A battered,
hulking creature, who seemed TO
spring out of the groundl
Don't screamp' said gruff voice.
''What yer dom here?"
Madge gasped, too frightened to
reply. Tramp, burglur or ogre, he
was the embodiment Of her worst
fears She trembled visibly,a and per-
haps the tramp thought she was too
"small game" to do anything but
brighten. He looked her over with 8
chuckle..
"P'raps yer waitin' for yer PAP"
"Yes!" broke out Madge. As il
the word set her free, and, without
needing the direction, she sprang past
him, and ran. Down the road she
went, and through the group Of trees,
before she stopped for breath. She