Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1899-03-07
NEW SERIES, vol. xxxIv, NO. 10.

yond and Just here ran over a narrow
bank of earth slanting abruptly down,
on either side.
The tramp lit his lantern, and, tax
ing Off his coat wrapped it carefully
around. Then he lay down ON the ties.
fat on his face, and began to creep
slowly along, squirming and crawling
like worm
After n seemingly endless time of
creeping and feeling carefully with his
hands he felt the smooth cold steel of
the track end abruptly The rail had
been removed just at the highest point
in the gully.
New he had nothing more to do but
wait. And be killed. He wondered how
it felt to be shot. a strong desire to
get up and run took possession of him,
but he might just as well be shot saw
ing the train as now, so he lay still.
Maybe I won't be killed. 1 might
git through some way. An old no
count like me 'u'd be likely to git
through with whole hide. Anyway,
'twon't be much lost. If 'twould only
comev'
1t seemed an hour since he had lain
there; then he heard the rumbling and
the distant whoo-o-o,
and in minute the train rounded the
curve, The tramp flung his coat into
the gully and sprang to his feet, wav-
ing the lantern up and down over his
head. Five pistol shots rung out sharp
ly above the noise of the train, the Lam
tern tumbled into the gully, and the
tramp fell forward across the track. the
-
two feet of his body.
Instantly n clamor of voices arose,
the engine puffed breathlessly, lights
flashed through the darkness, the ties
were examined, the lantern, the coat
and an empty pistol were rescued from
the gully, and the tramp was lifted by
dozen pairs of hands
He is deadl" they cried. "Shot
dead Murdered by train wreczersl"
A young doctor elbowed his way
through the crowd. He was of tall,
commanding presence, and they fell
back before his authoritative voice.
Make way, therel"
He knelt down beside the tramp and
after rapid examination said: 1.-The
man isn't even seriously hurt. There is
only flesh wound in the hip. He has
tainted from fright.
Even as he spoke the tramp opened
his eyes. A young girl sat down and
took his shaggy head into her lap,
where he moved uneasily from time to
time as he told his story.
He's real hero!'' cried the girl.
"a brave, noble fellow, God bless
himi" cried another woman.
a man held his brandy flask to the
tramp's lips and another shook his hand
heartily. The tramp seemed to hardly
understand it all. He blinked at them
stupidity, but clung to the brandy flask
They carried him aboard the train,
and the engine backed slowly toward
the town, mile away, and as the
tramp reclined upon velvet cushions,
surrounded by sympathetic faces, for
the first time in his life treated rs an
equal, a man among men, strange,
new desires stirred vaguely in his
heart.
81 amt been nothin but a no count
so fur, he thought, "but I'm mighty
glad could save em all, mighty glad. "
1--WE viii make up a suitable reward
for that brave fellow, said an old gem
tleman, but the young doctor spoke up
suddenly.
"See herel That man is a fal;el His
story is the thinnest ever heard. I say
he took up those rails and waved the
train in the hope of reward, shooting
himself to give weight to the story. Do
you think of five shots aimed straight
at man only one would hit him and
inflict slight flesh wound2 And if ne
feared the wreckers why didn't he
wave the train ON the other side of the
curve? Any sane man would have done
that
This was an indisputable fact, and
the passengers began to comprehend the
whole matter.
''He says he heard the two men at
O'Clock, the young doctor went on.
''Why, he could have gone to Fords-
vile and got posse to capture them in
that timel And he says he took the
lantern from farmhouse stable. Why,
he could have gone in and informed the
farmerl Pshawl The thing couldn't be
palmer. He was after the reward. You
will be lucky if you are not sent up for
this, old fellow.
The passengers laughed or were an
cry, according to their various temper
aments, while the tramp tried to un-
derstand the meaning of the change in
their manner, but could not exactly
comprehend. Hadn't t he saved the train