Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1898-11-11

switches closing Denlnu theHi
The main track was barely clear
when 40 came in sight swinging from
side to side. her wheels threatening 10
! leave the track at each revolution.
| She passed the depot like meteor her
! bell Changing with every leap of her
piston. the steam escaping from her
| whistle with the continuous shrek OF a
demon, and the occupants of the cab
wrapped from view in a cloud OF
| smoke.
| Some hundred rods beyond the depot |
the track took Il sharp upward grade.
| from which IL descended again to strike |
the bridge across narrow but deep
and rocky gorge.
Men looked after the flying locomo-
tive and then at each other with
blanched faces.
They're gone, A miracle can't save
EN-" said one, voicing the wordiess
terror of the rest. If they don't ny
the track on the up grade. they'll SO
down as soon as they strike the tres
tie"
The crowd began to run along the
track. some with vain instinct OF
helpfulness. some moved by that NOR
bid curiosity which seeks to be ''in n,
the death"
But look! Midway the long rise the
speed Of the runaway engine suddenly
siackens.
What does It mean? She nevei
could "a died out In that time" shout.
ed an old yard man.
Excitement winged their feet. When
the foremost runners reached the place
the smoking engine stood still Oh hci
track, quivering in every steel clad
nerve, her great wheels still whizzing
:, round and round amid q flight OF red
+ sparks from beneath.
Who did it? Who stopped her|
:. The engineer staggering from the
: cab. with the pallid face Of the fireman
8 behind him, pointed. without speaking,
# to where a little, pale-faced. crooked
!. backed boy had sunk down, painting
n with exertion, beside the track.
il At his feet huge oil can lay over
n turned and empty.
The crowd stared at one another,
III open mouthed. Then the truth flashed
d upon them.
m He oiled the track"
"Hurrah for Crooked Joe"
i. They caught the exhausted child
ii finging him from shoulder to shoulder
striving with each other for the honor
al of bearing him, and so, in irregular
no tumultuous. triumphal procession. the!
al brought him back to the depot and Sc
or him down among them
M Pass that hat, pards" cried one.
his 1t had been pay day, and the savet
engineer and fireman dropped In eacl
,v their months wages. Not hand II
-. all the throng did not delve into
ID pocket. There was the crisp rustic o
M bills, the chink of gold and silver coin
nh out with your handkerchief, Joe
81 Your hands won't hold 1t all! VIII,
young one, what-what's the matterg
H., for the boy, with scarlet cheeks an
M burning eyes, had clinched both sma
>, hands behind his back--the poor. twls
no ed back laden with It's burden of d
NV formity and pain.
~ NO, no." he cried, In a shrlll. hig
,sa voice Don't pay me. Can't you st
wa what it's worth to me, once-just one
nc in my lfe-to be little use-like oth'
md folks.
an The superintendent had come fro
his Office He laid his hand on the boy
Of head Joe" he said, I'VE couldI
her nay YOU If we wished. Money doesr
| pay for lives But you have saved
the great many dollars besides. WoI
you let us do something for your
M you can't. you can't! nobody can
Iis The child's voice was almost a shire
-, 1t seemed to rend the air with the pei
,,i. up agony OF years. There's only o
,a thing in the world want, and nobo
~. can give me that. Nobody can ma
- me anything but Crooked Joe"'
m The superintendent lifted him a
.,n held him against his own breast
,,, MY boy" he said. In his firm, gen
tones you are right. None OF us c
H., do that for you. But you can do
oaa Yourself Listen to me. Where is
,a,.s quick brain God has given you and
.,s brave heart? Not in that Blended bs
I. of yours-that has nothing to do w
- them Let as help you to chanc
only Il chance to work and TO lear
and il will rest with you yourself to
! vi whether in twenty years from now
" you are alive, You are Crooked Joe
w MIR. Joseph Bryan"
nifty , xo
ches N'S!''hs !" "o' "
,,.d- friend said TO me-
,,.r Court is in session. You must
h,.. with me and hear Bryan"
rforc Inc 'ou'' ioo'i ""e
ming III our rn,i '"' w" u" g.
ence. When the brilliant young at
.o,or ney rose To make his plea | mott
~ no with a shock of surprise that his M
, thu head surmountcd an understood
mt, misshaprn body. lie had spoken
.liing hNe ".'""'es' nv"
,,,v. terly forgotten the physical defect
, t,ra ten, | was ga gerly Interested. and tn