Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-04-06
CIT tpTER III.

Rushing westward through the night.
the great train was indeed going for
all she was worth. Twenty-Five miles
away lay tho foothills. There began
the tortuous up hill climb to the high
plateau at P0wnee, 40 miles Of twist,
turn, tux and pull, that il the earlier
days Of the road were never attempted
without two engines. Now the mani
moths like 1S3 scorned even II pusher.
But tonight she had TO haul an extra
sleeper and an extra coach, both crowd
ed, the latter packed with recruits, the
former with joyous party Of eXcur-
sionists, bound for the Pacific coast. 1t
WAS swift, smooth running along the
flats Of the broad valley. dotted here
and there, AZ it was, with farms and
ranches ard traversed over the old buff
falo ranges by great herds Of horned
cattle. This crisp. moonless. starlit
night all the western world was dark
and still but for the clank and rush Of
the flashing monster with its long,
dimly lighted train.
The lonely occupant Of the smoking
compartment, gazing silently out upon
the nCrthwHrd heavens, had forgotten
to k, p alive the tiny fire of his cigar,
and ii had died unnoticed between his
long, white, Slender fingers. \ glance
at the handsome watch he drew from
his waistCoat pocket told him it was al
most o'clock as, after brief stop at
some unknown, almost unseen station,
the train rolled on again. The porter
lad come in to ask some question about
how he would have his pillow, front or
Lack and was told it made no differ
cnce. Would the gentleman like one
here in the smoking room: No, he
would turn III presently. Call him in
plenty of time for Butte. Then the pOr-
ter tiptoed of to the rear of the heavily
curtaincd aisle and curled himself up in
vacant section, leaving the stranger
to his thoughts
And that these were sad there could
be no doubt whnteyer. His face as i
sank into repose looked white and
drawn in the dim light of the over
hanging lamp. Once or twice as he
gazed out upon the waste Of darkness
his eyes seemed to ill, his lip to culver
with strange, strong emotion. once lie
bent forward covered his face with
both hands and leaned his elbows Oh
his knees, then suddenly started, pulled
himself together, "braCed up, as he
perhaps would have expressed it, thrust
the moist end of the cigar between his
teeth, found it cold and unresponsive,
tossed it away, arose, gave himself "A
shake took the flask from his ulster
pocket and passed through the doorway
to the layatory where were the ice wa
ter tanks and started despite himself.
a haggurd face fattcued against the
glass Of the forward doorway was peer.
ing in at him--a face that was instant
ly withdrawn.
This was before the days Of vestibuled
cars. Selling the doorknUb and laying
his flask on one Of the basins, the young
fellow quickly let himself out upon the
platform and glanced about him, There
on the lowest step, olinging to the hand
rail, cringed and covered the figure of
man who turned his head and gu2ed
piteously, pleadingly up at the tall
stranger. a tramp beyond doubt, and
shivering wretch he was, for the night
air WAS sharply cold a powerful hand
was laid upon the shoulder Of the
crouching figure and heayed it up, and
the poor creatures teeth Chartered as he
made some inaudible plea
Il can't hear you, said the man in
twoeds. "Come in here. You're half
frozen. And he would have led him
into the sleeper, but found that the
snap latch was set-that he had locked
himself out. Still clinging to his pris-
oner, he led on into the rear door OF tho
day coach ahead, The lights were burn
ing blear and dim. The passengers, curl
ed or sprawled about their seats, were
sleeping as best they could. A brake
mans lantern lay ON the floor at the
head of the aisle, and the brakeman sat
in forward seat half doing, wholly
unconscious Of the addition to the car
load.
Stealing ride, SUPPOSE" said our
traveller presently "Wherel' you try
ing to get to?" And with shrug of his
shoulders he glanced pityingly at his
quaking captive.
"To Pawneo- half way over the
range" was the shivering caSwer,
GIVE got sick wife there and was
beating my way as well AZ l could -
But the poor fellow gave it up. Cold
and misery and hunger were too much
for him. Tho train was slowing up