Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1898-11-09

But lO0kl Midway the long rise tne
speed of the runaway engine suddenly
slackens.
what does 1t meanf She never
-ould a died ont in that time" shout
u an old yard man.
Excitement winged their feet. Wher
the foremost runners reached the place
the smoking engine stood still on mel
track, Quivering In every steel CLAD
nerve, her great wheels still whizzine
round and round amid q flight Of rer
sparks from beneath.
"Who did It? Who stopped herr
The engineer, staggering from tint
cab, with the pallid face Of the fireman
behind him, pointed, without speaking
to where a little, pale-faced. crooked
backed boy had sunk down, pantins
with exertion, beside the track.
At his feet a huge oil can lay over
turned and empty.
The crowd stared at one another,
open-mouthed. Then the truth flashed
upon them.
He oiled the trackv'
"Hurrah for Crooked Joew
Hinglng him from shoulder to shoulder,
striving with each other for the honor
of bearing him, and 80, in irregular
tumultuOus, triumphal procession, they
brought him back to the depot and Sc
him down among them.
Pass that hat, pards" cried one.
1t had been pay day, and the saved
engineer and fireman dropped in each
their months wages. Not a hand in
all the throng did not delve into
pocket. There was the crisp rustic OF
bills, the chink of gold and silver coin.
"Out with your handkerchief, Joe
Your hands won't hold 1t all! Why,
young one, what-what's the matter?
for the boy, with scarlet cheeks and
burning eyes, had clinched both small
hands behind his back-the poor, twist.
ed back laden with its burden Of de
fsrmity and pain.
"No, no." he cried, In a shrill, high
voice. Don't pay me! Can't you See
what it's worth to me, once-5ust once
in my life-to be a little use-ike othe'
tolksr'
|
his office He laid his hand on the boys
head. Joe" he said, I'VE couldn''
pay you If we wished. Money doesn't
nay for livesl But you have saved us
a great many dollars besides. Won''
you let us do something for your
You can't. you can't! nobody can!
The child's voice was almost a shrek
1t seemed to rend the air with the pent
I'D agony Of years. There's only one
thing in the world I want, and nobody
can give me that. Nobody can make
me anything but Crooked JOe!'
The superintendent lifted him ani
! held him against his own breast.
MY boy" he said, in his firm, gentle
tones, you are right. None OF us car
do that for you. But you can do II
yourself Listen to me! Where is thu
quick brain God has given you and tht
brave heart? Not in that bended bach
of yours-that has nothing to do witt
them. Let us help you to a chance
only a chance to work and to learn
and it will rest with you yourself to say
whether in twenty years from now, II
you are alive, you are Crooked Joe o.
Mr.. Joseph Bryan
| Visiting in @ not long ago,
! friend said to me:
Court Is in session. You must g
with me and hear Bryan
The court room was already crowded
| at our entrance with an expectant audi
ence When the brilliant young attor
ney rose to make his plea l noticed
with a shock of surprise that his nobl'
head surmounted an undersized ant
misshapen body. He had spoken bu
five minutes. however, when l had Ut
terly forgotten the physical defect; IL
ten, was eagerly interested. and there
| after. during the two hours speech
held spellbound by the marvellous elo
! ;xyf 90 ;s.ir Sn