The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-06-16

once, put his bOdy was found, mangled beyond recognition, lying on the track in the morning. There was no escape; and with such passing thoughts I dis missed the matter and concentrated my attention on the work in hand,
 Suddenly I was startled by an ejacu- lation of horror from my mate.
 Look, Ben," he shouted, his eyes starting out from his head, as he gazed Into the dim light which surrounded the train like haze, "the fool will kill him self"
 l turned, and though I prided myself on my steely nerves, the sight that met my eyes sent cold thrill down my back, and made me lean against the brake for support.
 The man had swung himself out of the end of the carriage, and was en- deavoring to work his way in face of the terrible backdraught toward us. Every moment expected to see him torn from his precarious hold and dashed to pieces on the lines, but with the tenacity of a leech he clung to the handle of the door, while he leaned for ward to grasp some new support. Sud- denly distant roar burst on our terri fled ears. My mate turned, his face as white as milk, and the precipitation standing on his forehead.
 "Merciful powers!" he screamed in a harsh, discordant voice, "the up mail! Heaven have mercy on him" and he hid his face with his hands, as with a deafening shriek we flew toward each other and crashed past In the darkness but above the din l fancied I heard the wild scream of terror as the wretched man realized his horrible peril. It was full minute before I could turn my | throbbing head to look behind. | With feeling of sickness that was new to me, peered through the gloom. Thank God!" I calculated fervently, as the blood rushed through my veins | once more. There, with his body 1 pressed flat against the oscillating sur face, still stood the man who had been | so near to an awful death. Slowly he moved his head in our direction, and with an expression of grim resolution | he pulled himself together. With bated breath we wondered what he would do next. As far as we could see his way was stopped, but, undeterred, he stead jed himself and reaching forward felt round the corner of the coach.
 Unexpectedly his hand encountered one of the steps by which the men mount to the roof, and though we could not see his face distinctly, we fancied he set his lips in terrible smile of ac- complished purpose, as he clutched it and, with despairing effort, pulled himself to the end of the footboard and round into comparative safety on to the couplings between the tender and the coach
 By Jove!" Bill exclaimed, when at last, the tension removed from his nerves, he could speak. He's good plucked 'un, and no mistake; but | what's his game, I wonder?" | "The madman is coming on to the en- | zine" I burst out excitedly, divining his intention, as I saw his head appear | for a brief instant above the coal, | Anyhow, we can't see him commit suicide without raising a hand to stop him. he returned, and began to scram- ble over the coal, where I saw him pre- sently stoop down and grasp the man, dragging him with an almost superhu- man effort on to the tender, where he sank down utterly exhausted.
 Coming forward, my mate threw open the stoke hole with the intention of re- plenishing the fire, and the ruddy glow from the raging furnace within lit up the tender from end to end. Good heayens!" I calculated, as my gaze met the haggard face of the res- cued delinquent. Ernest Devalr' and my nerveless hand fell from the pol ished lever.
 "Ben!p he gasped, wonderingly, ihs wild eyes encountering mine, as he struggled toward us.
 My lips refused to frame the ques- tions that unanimously arose to them, and my mate silently handed me his can.
 "Take drink" he said, curtly, land pull yourself together"
 I compiled readily. The cool draught brought me around somewhat, and resumed control of the engine.
 Now, MT. Deval," I shouted hotly. perhaps you will be good enough to explain the meaning of the little game me tell you, if you think you've fur thered your chances to escape, you're wrong"
 "Yes, mate," Bill sternly remarked, "you haven't done lot for yourself by coming here"
 "Ben! he at last jerked forth, gasp ing for breath, his bloodshot eyes wan dering round the cab and into the dark ness as we flew along. "Ben-Ive been @ fool-you saw the detective on my track-he's in the train now-Ive been betting-and, you know--the books at the office-found out this morning-Ive fled for my life-but you'll help me give them the slip, Ben?" and the shivering wretch fell down helpless and clasped my knees
 Don't talk nonsense, man." I an- swered roughly; what you ask is an impossibility. My duty as a servant of the company is to hand you over to the authorities who will be waiting for you at Crewe; besides, your own sense should tell you there is no place to hide a child here"
 "Oh, yes," added my mate, grimly, you're every bit as bad off as if you was sitting on them comfortable cush- ions in the carriage there. I wouldn't give much for your chance"
 But you can help me if you like," he screamed, his eager face upturned, and the hunted expression of a wild animal at bay In his eyes. "Slow up the train