The San Francisco call., 1896-08-30
work Of checking the pouches. He told

them ere several hundred thousand dol
lars going to the United States Treasury.
"I'll keep my eve on that pouch, tell
you," laughed Brand, and Alexis eye
opened wide at the idea of so much money
so near him. The next afternoon they
arrived at Pittsburg and the mail for
Washington was transferred to another
car. Aieck was sorry TO part with Brand,
but found his new acquaintance very
pleasing fellows lie saw the registered
pouch with the treasury money in 1t
slowed away beside the registry clerks
rack. That pouch seemed like an old
friend, and he felt that he almost had
personal interest in its safe delivery.
That night the train was running down
the eastern slope of the Allegheny Noun
tains, swinging around the curves at
lively rate. Aleck was still awake, curIed
up on his pile OF sacks in the registry
clerks end of the car, wondering how
many pensions could be paid out of the
money in that registered pouch. Then
there was a sudden jarring under the car
and terrible crash. The lights went out
and Aleck felt himself rolling over and
over. with mail sacks under and above
him. There was an awful stiffness for
moment: then the silence was broken by
groans and cries of pain. Aleck tried to
raise himself, but found both legs pinned
down by a great piece OF timber. He
could see nothing for few minutes; but
presently, through the twisted mass OF
wreckage above he saw the light OF lam
tern and heard voices.
"Helpl help! Here I amp shouted
Aleck.
The ring of an ak and the sound of crash
ing timber told him that help was coming,
and in five minutes more hole had been
made above him. A man passed down to
him a saw. with which he soon severed
the beam that held him. Scram bling out.
he found himself on Top of the ruins of the
mailcar and the baggage-car. The engine
and two cars had jumped the track and
rolled down a steep embankment, but the
breaking of the coupling had kept the re-
mainder of the train on the track. The
engineer and fireman were badly hurt, and
every man in the baggage and mail cars
had been bruised and scratched; but, for
tunately, all had been dug out of the
wreck.
1t was none too soon, for the wreck had
taken fire, and one end was now blazing
briskly. While the passengers and train
men were grouped around Aleck, who was
the last one taken out, the registry clerk
came up to them crying: "Oh, where is
that registered pouch with the treasury
money? There is $500, 900 in that wreck
Like a flash it came to Aleck that the
pouch was pear him when the car rolled
rv :sL ha
into the hole from which he had inst
emerged, and in d moment was cropping
for the pouch.
1t was not so dark down there now, for
the burning wreckage. not twenty feet
away. cast ruddy glow through the mass
of twisted iron and splintered wood. By
this light he finally saw the pouch beneath
heap of sacks, and began tugging and
hauling at the pile. He heard the crowd
above shouting to him to return, and saw
the flames licking up the 1nfiam mable
wreckage close at hand. At last he
loosened the pouch, and in another mo-
ment had clam bered out of the hole, drag
ing the bag after him.
The Postmaster-G General at Washington
boy who were standing before him. The
men had bandages around their heads;
their faces were scanned with court plaster,
and the boy had strips Of court plaster
upon both hands and across the bridge of
his nose.
$50 this is the boy who saved the regis
tered pouch, is it?n said the Postmaster
General, looking kindly at Aleck.
s'That's the boy" replied the registry
clerk, who then related the details of the
story, and told of their arrival in WASH
ineton that morning upon the relief train
sent to the wreck. The great man listened
attentiveiy, and seemed much interested
in the account OF Alexis scramble after
the treasury pouch.
But how did this boy happen to be in
the postal carp" he asked. Then Aleck
in straightforward manner told his story,
from the time he had resolved to get his
uncle's pension, and in simple language
pictured the trouble hanging over the
Nebraska ranch. 'sAnd now I've come to
Washington to try to find some one with
influence to help our pension case along"
said he in conclusion.
You shall have it, my boy" said the
Postmaster-General,a and he took Alexis
hand in his own and pressed it warmly.
Then he told his messenger to call his car
riage and drove with Aleck to the Pension
Bureau, where they were Immediately
shown into the presence of the Com
missioner of Pensions. There Aleck had
to tell his story over again to the Com
missioner.
"And now, Mr.. Commissioner" said the
Postmaster-General," 81 ask you to take up
this pension case as favor to me. This
boy has saved the Government $500, 900,
ana it is as little as we can do to help i'm
in this way"
The Commissioner said he would be glad
to do so, and promised to have Mr.. Jeni-
fer's claim examined at once.
That same night Alex left for home.
A ak,