The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-05-03
PHILIPS PROMOTION.
BY l.. E. Chittenden.

friend he looked keenly at the some
what slender, but athletic figure before
him and smiled.
81 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
n lonely spot. There is cut up the
road about $50 miles. II is in the
mountains, where washouts frequently
occur. Telegraph poles wash down,
wires are broken, etc. SO il is neces-
sary to keep watchman there contin-
ually. A railroad tricycle. is fur
nished also shack where, after n
fashion, one can live. Wages, $40
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; will take
ii. j suppose there will be shooting
and fishing in plenty?"
''Yes, 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
mine"
"Thank you SIR" said Philip, grave
ly, 'but l will go at once if you
please.
SO the superintendent, well pleased
with his new watchman's pluck, fur
nished him with list of directions,
supplies nesded and passes. In the
few hours before his train left Philip
sold sq-pe jewelry and bought his sim
pie outit.
Only one train 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. II was cold, but the former
occupant had thoughtfully left box
filed with lesinous pine knots, and
Philip soon had fire cracking de-
lightfully in the rusty stove and after
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 blau-
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, aud the magnificent views all
around him were q source of endless
l delight.
"Wheu I've earned my promotion
: I'll bring his dear excel ency ou'
here" he thought. "I'll show him q
thing or two that will surprise him.
The only thing is there is nothing to
do here that will earn promotion.
However, one day, far up in the cut
he was tapping poles aud scanning the
track over n deep culvert when all al
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 hat
left his tricycle. just as the mail train
+. which had side-tracked for few min
4 utes on account of hot box, was pull
q ing out. "Whoop," said Philip, ther
whiz went rope round the brake oil
a the rear car, aud Phil aud his tricyS',
b were going down grade tied ~
q lightning mail.
II He had tied on behind freigli
u once or twice before this, and that wa
Q fun, but this beat tobogganing ant
!. everything else that he had ever hear,
I Of in the way Of speed. His iron
10 wheel did not often touch the track
n and he clung for his life.
As the mail cars opened at ths aid,
n no one saw him. "fhis means death,
he thought, "if l am thrown of, ant
!, think likely it's death Ii stay on
bat must get home before that pa
Is car comes past. Evidently this /
!. either a promotion or disgrace
there's no middle track"
N The train was slowing up-thougl
o, it never stopped-close by Phil
ID shack. Unfortunate the tricycl
ID could not slow up with equal rapidity
10 Phirs box containing knife aud pliel
it had tumbled OFF long before, and no
at the tricycle. tried to climb the rel
* car. the rope broke aud Phil flew O
ID and landed near his own shack, fol-
~ tunately in pile of balsam boughs
at while the mail car serenely procsede
y. on its way, leaving behind it wrecke
r. tricycle. and winded rider.
ell Two men who had been standing
Philips door rushed to pick him, NJ
ad and when his head stopped whirlir
IN around he looked into his fathers ey'