The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1896-01-03

& said as plainly a
though he had spoken, II was no
asleep, ladies and gentlemen-jus
thinking!" and he took a quick sur
vey of the Pullman car, in which, at
ter an absence of eighteen years, he
was being whirled back to what his
fellow ranchers on the great plains OF
Western Texas called the estates. d"
There were only few through pas
sengers, and they did not interest
him.
The oncoming train-boy did, or al
least the pile of ruddy-cheeked apples
in one corner of the basket he carried
did.
Iswow!" muttered Eben, rubbing
his eyes, s'Those look like the sheep
fold apples that used to grow on the
old farm. How little Annie Davis and
l.
He stopped very suddenly, and his
bronzed face grew stern and grave.
It was the first time that name had
passed his lips in all the years of his
exile.
''Apples, sir?"
1t was the train-boy who asked the
question, for his quick eye had seen
whittier the burly passengers glances
were directed, and he held up tempt
ing specimen of the fruit.
''They are delicious eating, sir-the
most delicious Of favors-can recon-
mend them. Two for five cents."
Recommend them, do you?" said
Eben, quizzically.
"Yes, sirree!''
eat 'em YOURSELF"
II might say that was raised on
those apples. sir. They grow on our
place. l live mile from Talbot, toe
next station beyond-get off there and
take the westbound express back to
Clinton. Have some, sir?'
'srhey look nice" said Eben, medi-
tatively. "What variety are they?'
"We call 'em the sheepfold ap-
ples?'
'sWhat?"
The exclamation came with such
su5aenness that the boy started back
and glanced at his prospective custom
er apprehensively.
Eben had sprung from his seat, and
his sinewy fingers were clutched about
the lads arm in wise like grip.
e'Say that again!' he cried, ssNot
sheepfold apples9"
"lhat's what [ said," answered the
boy, recovering his courage after one
glance at the Texans good-natured
e. ssO,1- ,,1oaca dan 4 Grin NV arm,
SO tight. It hurts"
sOh-ah-forgige mel I forgot
myself" stammered Eben; and he
sank back in the seat again. "But
that name and the sight of those ap-
pies carried me back great many
years, to people and place that l.
He did not finish the sentence, for
there was sudden jar, a grinding
wrench that seemed to twist the long,
straight car to spiral, and Eben, the
train boy, the basket OF fruit and con-
fectionery, the car seats, Eben's two
valises and a confused mass of broken
timbers and bent rods and glrders
were crushed together in an nlistln-
guishable mass of wreckage.
The New York and Chicago Limited
had Jumped the track, owing to a de-
fective rail, and the six cars compos-
ing the train had = tumbled over a
steep bank, and lay a wreck in the
rocky ravine at its base.
Eben Hallett was momentarily
stunned by the shock, but he speedily
recovered himself, wormed his way
out from under the debris that was
piled upon him, and crawled through
shattered window of the car,
'sThat was a close shave!' he ex-
claimed, recovering his wonted cool
ness as soon as he discovered that,
with the exception of few scratches
and slight cut on the back OF his
hand, he was uniniured. ''Gracious
me-the apple boy!'
With the instructive chivalry of 6
brave man, he had leaped down upon
the car again, upon finding that he
was unhurt, eager to render assistance
20 his less fortunate fellowpassengers,
VINO were moaning with pain or shout
ing with terror under the heap Of
wreckage.
The first sight that met his eyes as
he peered through the window was tbs
face of the train-boy, half bidder
among the debris.
It was white as death, and Eben':
heart throbbed sympathetically ans
sorrowfully.
''Those seats pin him down." he
muttered. "I'll soon have him out
Hope he isn't dead"
He seized hold upon the wreckage
and exerting his giant strength, soor
had enough of it removed to be able te
lift the boy in his arms.
Tightly clutched in one Of the lad!
hands was sheepfold apple.
Pushing the body through the win
dow, Eben crawled out, and taking NJ
his burden again, carried it to the side
of the ravine, where there was pile
OF dead leaves.
He noticed that the boys right les
hung limp and distorted, and he lalt
him down very tenderly.
For moment be bent over the DO.
and aiehtenel out the broken limb
A feeble moan issued from the whit
lips.
"Thank the fates! He lives - criet
Eben; and he rushed back to the Worl
of rescue