Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-05-18
PHILIPS PROMOTION.
BY L. E. Chittenden,

friend he looked keenly at the some
what slender, but athletic figure before
him and smiled.
II have an opening" he said, "but
it is by no means bed of roses.'
"What is it?" asked Philip.
"Not especially hard work, but it is
lonely spot. There is a cut up the
road about $50 miles. 1t is in the
mountains, where washouts frequently
occur. Telegraph poles wash down,
wires are broken, ETC. So it is neces-
sary to keep watchman there contin-
ually. A railroad tricycle. is fur
nished; also shack where, after q
fashion, one can live. Wages, $50 q
month. Think you can stand it?"
The prospect was not alluring, but
Philip had made up his mind to accept
whatever offered itself without demur;
so he said, Eyes, thanks; 1 will take
it. l suppose there will be shooting
and fishing in plenty?"
Eyes, plenty of that, fortunately.
By the way, you will consider yourself
my guest for day or two if you would
like your father is an old friend of
NINE
'Thank you sir, said Philip, grave
ly, ''but [ will go at once if you
please"
So the superintendent, well pleased
with his new watchman's pluck, fur
nished him with Est of directions,
supplies needed and passes. In the
few hours before his train left Philip
sold some jewelry and bought his sim
pie outfit.
Only one train a day from either di-
rection stopped at his station unless
tagged. He was dropped at his new
abode just as night was closing in,
with supply boxes, gun, camera, va!ises
he had left his trunk in Topeka. He
made many journeys up to where his
little shack, or hut, literally hung on the
mountain side before his possessions
were landed on the floor of his one
room. 1t was cold, but the former
occupant had thoughtfully left a box
filled with resinous pine knots, and
Philip soon had fire cracking de-
lightfully in the rusty stove and after
a very frugal meal he was so honestly
tired that he slept as he had rarely
slept before, though on "shake-
down" of fragrant balsam boughs
covered with his great roll of blan-
kets.
Hunting, fishing and touch of the
outside world through the books and
papers mysteriously sent him supplied
him with recreation outside of his
somewhat monotonous duties in the
weeks that followed.
Fortunately Philip thoroughly loved
nature. and the magnificent views all
around him were source of endless
delight.
"When I've earned my prom notion
I'll bring his dear excel ency ont
here" he thought cpl show him
thing or two that will surprise him.
The only thing is there is nothing to
do here that will earn a promotion. z"
However, one day, far up in the cut,
he was tapping poles and scanning the
track over deep culvert when all at
once he heard voices below him. He
dropped on his face and heard distinct
ly the details OF plan to rob the pay
car which would go through in about
an hour.
Surely this was an adventure at last!
He ran back to the place where he had
left his tricycle. just as the mail train,
which had side-tracked for n few min
utes on account of hot-box, was pull
ing out. "Whoop," said Philip, then
whiz went rope round the brake on
the rear car, and Phil and his tricycle.
were going down grade tied to the
mail.
He had tied on behind a freight
once or twice before this, and that was
fun, but this beat tobogganing and
everything else that he had ever heard
of in the way of speed. His front
wheel did not often touch the track,
and he clung for his life.
AS the mail cars opened at the side
no one saw him. "This means death, {"
he thought, eff am thrown off, and
l think likely it's death if 1 stay on,
but must get home before that pay
car comes past. Evidently this is
either promotion or disgrace;
there's no middle track"
The train was slowing ur-though
it never stopped-close by Pills
shack. Unfortunately the tricycle.
could not slow up with equal rapidity.
Phifs box containing knife and pliers
had tumb!ed off long before, and now
the tricycle. tried to climb the rear
car, the rope broke and Phil flew off
and landed near his own shack, for
tunately in pile of balsam boughs,
while the mail car serenely proceeded
on it's way, leaving behind it wrecked
tricycle. and winded rider.
Two men who had been standing in
Philips door rushed to pick him up,
and when his head stopped whirling
around he look ed into his fathers eyes