The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-05-21

| near oi, because railway tnau'S life
isn't of much account, and il ones killed
they can eaaii y get another. At any
rate, that's why we were told TO take
, tho excursion back.
I'VE didn't like 1t. It's very .awk
ward, you see, sir, when you are on
strange line, because you don't know
| exactly when to look for the signals
nor where the curves and inclines
come. However, it had to be done
and so we backed down in good time
and waited Tor the signal. Just abou,
two minutes before VIC were duo tC
start. you went up the platform, and
saw you and the young lady get into
one oI the carriages. didn't know
seemed strangely f.,miliar. and was
wondering who you we've, when sud
denly ho saw you and gave Il great
| start, aud the blood rushed into his
face. Then he looked vt mo with such
an appealing, miserable look. that |
felt quite scared.
"Bill,' he said. in Il hoarse whisper,
it's them I knew in minute who
you were then, but didn't like that
look: IT. was just ns though he was
going mad. However, there wasn't
much time to think Of it. for just then
the signal was given and we were OF
the station in fine style, until, Just as
we got on the single line, VIC saw this
goods train slipping along toward us
at u fearful rate down the incline, and
knew that in two minutes at most
thcre'd be Il smash. She was long way
OIL, hut, then. you see. q goods train
has no brakes, and VIC hadn't any worth
speaking Of.
lt'n awful, sir, when thing comes
to you like that, just when you are
least expecting it. You feel choked
thing, and don know W hat it is Hugh
turned of team and whistled. whilo [
screwed down tho brake until hoard
the wheels grinding on the rails, but
we both know that we could never stop
in time, or, il We could, the goods train
would be smashing into us before We
could reverse.
Suddenly Hugh srrang on the tender,
yelling out like mad: Bill, she's in,
she's in -
81 didn't know what he meant, but
| saw him fling himself over the back
of the tender. in front OF the carriages,
and IL few seconds after heard tbs
clnnk of iron and knew ho had un-
lipkcd the couplings. How he did it,
sir don't know. He must have laid
himself over the buffers somehow and
leaned over, lifting tho heavy links.
In ten seconds he was back, shout
ing madly: "Off with the brake,
man. oil with the brake | began to
understand what he wanted to do, and
unscrowed the brake : and then, under
Il full head Of steam, the engine left the
carriages behind. Bill, ho shouted.
Jump or, jump Off m" OF course.
wouldn't. and said so. He didn't stop
to arguo, hut turned to attend to the
lever, pushing it as far open as it
would go, still shouting. Jump OF
jump OFT -
II thought OF my little ones at homo,
sir and all in a twinkling like Il flash
Of lightning. ! saw them fathcrless
and my wife weeping bitterly for me
and, for an instant, thought of jump
ing on. But it was only for an instant,
for even rs the thought came, some
thing told me my duty was to stop.
And there stopped. and now I'm glad
7 Sid.
Bill. he cried, turning to me with
wild light OF triumph in his eyes,
Bill, we shall save the passenge
and Jennie and Jim: Don't you see,
| lad, no" it will be? We shall stop the
goods train by throwing it of the line !:
and the carriages are nearly stopped
! uow-loOk ] glanced behind. The
train OF carriages was Il hundred yards
away and slowing down rapidly: the
| passengers were saved.
In silence, save for the painting OF
! the engine, we gripped each others
! hand an1 waited. Oh, that waiting
felt nay hcard-my heart thump,
! ing like the engine itself | tried t
| pray, but my brain was in whirl.
! longed for the tension to cease for the
y .
train rcappeared round the curvo
on. but instantly we heard the sharl
whistle and know they were doing
| their best to stop. | saw Hugh glance
! quickly from the goods train to the
! . .rrihgcS, and his eyes lit up once
more with q great, triumphant Joy u,
he gaAcd up to the sky; then, before
could say a word, or lift finger, he
seized hold OF me. and crying. ITS
your only ch@nce, lad y lifted me clear
of the engine and swung me on to the
bank. | remember falling and hear
ing dull crash, a fearful scream, an(
then all was silent.
t ,rling from mo to the crushed figure
under the engine. He gave his life
for you"
Then kncoling down, he took Hugh:
cold hand into his own, and tendery
carcssed it, the tears--no shame tt
him--rolling down his checks, ant
said:
"God bless thee, Hugh, my best ant
only friend. Goodbye ~ and walked
slowly away.
Richmond Star: On the 30th o.
next month Richmond will witness the