The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-01-07

train until could get aboard. The signals miscarried, alas, and I arrived breathless and foot-sore on the spot Where the train had been, only to see its rear lights disappearing around bend in the road. Slowly I returned, stumbling in the dark over sleepers and Jagged rocks, until my poor feet, with only thin-soled slippers to pro- tect them, were painfully cut and scratched. We reached our train as the engineer finished taking water, and started again on our long chase.
 "A half hour later was again sum moned to the front platform; again the train stopped and again plunged into the darkness to overtake my train, Again l returned footsore and weary, for the train had pulled majestically away within five hundred feet of me.
 As we again returned, to, our train the conductor discussed for a minute the chances of our overtaking that runaway sleeper. 'Tom,' said he to the engineer, do you think you can catch up to her at the next station?' I'm all most sure of it, he replied to my inti- nite satisfaction. She has hot box so Pm sure to catch her. My heart leaped at that word, hot box, for It meant a delay for the train ahead.
 "The race then became intensely ap- sorbing, and my heart throbbed with every half stroke of the engine. I could have taken hold of that lever and risked my life in throwing the throttle wide opene Anything to catch that train. Suddenly I was called to the lat l,x, tn nruir1pr. 'Now's your chance, old man; we'll catch her sure. He raised his lantern, gave some sort of signal, when-joy! joy!-it was returned from the plat form of my train ahead. He sees us; you're all right said he. to me, em- phasizing his utterance with a slap on the back that fairly took my breath, On the station platform was the cap tain of my train, and was introduced to him as a passenger whom he had left at Columbus. "Step up lively, sir" said the captain, and I did-as lively as my shaking limbs and throbbing heart would permit. I now stood on the rear platform of my own sleeping car. I turned toward my friends-the conductor and engineer of my train, No 2-withf the most heartfelt prayer I ever uttered, May God bless you Neither of them needed me, for my train was moving off again, and hope that the Dispenser of all blessings has granted my prayer. Step this way said the captain, leading me to the end of the sleeper DO you know this man?' he asked of the porter. Oh, yes,' responded that worthy; he is the t.. r crawled into my berth, the sorest and saddest individual that ever existed.
 T took one peep at my travelling companion, in berth No. g, before final ly retiring. There he was, sleeping the sleep of the just. Little he knew how I had spent my night and part of the morning, and I tell you that was glad to be there looking at him, and, hap- pier still, to know that he would not have to be the bearer of bad news to my friends and relatives in Baltimore. I rested for two hours, and it took all of that time to quiet the wild beatings of my heart after my thrilling experi- ence.
 "As we neared Pittsburg, left my berth for the wash-room to put my toilet in order, when my friend made his appearance with well, how did you spend your night?
 "Oh, tip-top,' responded. deter mined to keep him ignorant of my ad- venture until later on. Then came the captain, calling for tickets, and as he reached me he extended his hand, with the remark: How do you feel by this time? You had hard time of it last night Of course, my friends curiosi- ty was aroused, and I told him the sto- ry, exacting promise that he keep it profoundly secret. I must say that he kept his promise for fully two years. One day, while entertaining few friends I related the story of man who lost his train by being too fond of his pipe and my wife remarked: Poor man! You ought to sympathize with him, for it Is very like what you could be guilty of yourself This was the story he told yesterday morning as the chimes from St. vincents steeple were greeting the Christmastide.-Baltim American.