The Opelousas courier., 1899-07-08
PHILIPS, PROMOTION.
BY L. e. C~hittenden.

: month, Think you can stand it?'
\ T~he'prospect was not alluring, but
Philip had made uplis mind to accept
Whatever offered itself without demur;
stShe said, Eyes, thanks; 1 will take
it. l SUPPOSE there will be shooting
an.N fishing in plenty?'
ives, plenty of that, fortunately.
by the ws,g, you will consider yourself
Iimy guAest for g day OF two if you would
Nike-xoar> father is an old friend of
.mine."
"Thank you sir,' said Philip, grave
Ny, 'but l twill go at nee if o
hplease."
So the sup erintendent, we'll pleased
with his neyI watchman's pluck, fur
Atished him with a list of directions.
l supplies needed and passes. In the
New hours. before his train left Philip
sold somejewelry and bought his sim
PIE outfit
only one train a day from either d.
rect,on stopped at his station unless
faagg>s d: He was dropped at his new
abode just as night was closing in,
with SUPPLY boxes, gun, camera ~valises
he HAY left his trunk in Topeka. He
made NAV journeys up to where his
little shaclE, or hut, literally hung on the
mountain side before his possessions
were landed o II the floor of his one
room. 1t was cold, but the former
occupant had thoughtfulIy left a box
filled with resinous pine knots, and
Philip soon hid a fire cracking de-
lightfully in he rusty stove and after
a very frugal meal he was so honestly
tired that he slept as he had rarely
slept before, though on a "shake-
down. of fragrant balsam boughs
covered with his great roll of blan-
kets.
Hunting, fishing anil a touch of the
outside world throughsthe books and
spapers mysteriously SEN him supplied
Vlim with recreation outside of kss
somewhat monotonous duties in taa
weeks that followed.
Fortunately Philip thoroughly loved
nature, and the magnificent views all
around him were q source of endless
delight.
when I've earned my promotion
I'll bring his dear excellency out
here he thought. "Ill show him a
thing or two that will surprise him.
The only thing is there is nothing to
do here tiat will earn q promotion"
However, one day, far up in the cut.
was tapping poles aud scanning the
over a deep ~culvert when all at
9lce ne heard VOICES below him. He
dropped Oh his face andheard distinct
ly the details of'2a plan to rob the nav
car which would go through in about
an hour.
Surely this was al adventure at last!
ran back to the place where he had
left lhs tricycle. just as the mail train.
had side-tracked for a few min
on account of a hot box, was pull
ing out. "Whoop," said Philip, then
whiz went q rope round the brake on
The rear car, and Phil and his tricycle.
were going down grade tied to the
lightning mail.
He had tied OF behind a freight.
OF twice before this, aud that was
but this heat tobogganing and
everything else that he had ever heard
in the way of speed. His front
wheel did not often touch the track,
md lie clung Tor his life.
As the mail cars opened at the side
10 4 saw him. ':This means DEATH"
le thought, "it L am thrown off, aud
think likely it's death ii I stay on. +.
I must get home before that pay F.,
ar comes past. Evidently this is =,
ither a promotion o a disgrace; l
here's no middle track" s
The train was slowing up-though (
t never stopped-close by Phil's I
hack. Unfortunately the tricycle.
ould not slow I'D with equal rapiiity. =,
box containing knife and pliers t
lad tumb!ed off long before, and now 6
he tricycle. tried to climb the rear !
ar, the rope broke and Phil few off t
nd landed near his W shack, for a
aaateiy in q pile OF balsam boughs, y
'hile the mai! car serenely proceeded g
y its way, leaving behind it q wrecked
and O winded rider.
Two men who had been standing in
Philips door rushed to pick him up,
nd when his head stopped whirline t,
round he looked into his fathers ewes
nd saw the western superintendent >,
near. =;
At this surprising event Philip near u
Y lost his breath again, but knowing ;.
here was no time to lose ho gasped IL
ut the plan he had overheard OF de- i
ailing the pay car and then robbing
!, and the car was nearly due now. IL
SO the two, each supporting an arm b
+ the dizzy Waterman, helped fag to
standstill the pay train, and thar, n
eng forewarned. they went cautious O,
ahead, followed by the eastern pri- ii
ate car containing several railroad
ignitaries and the pale young watch ~
ian who had wished immensely to W
anticipate in the capture Of the rob- ~
ers.
The capture was effected with neat
ess and decision, and Philip was re- o.
l.ned to his w abode, where, after a.
Entertaining his father and employer U
supper, they sat down before the
re to talk things over. tt
"I came out said Philip's father W
18th dignity, TO see how you were h'
on" s
BADLY enough without you, dad"
lid Philip, smiling. his hanl in the W
ID place, "bls ! cnu'an't c)me to see 9.
III NATL I had eaysea NY promotion. CT
on know" a,