Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1900-03-29
LAURIE STOPPED THE TRAIN.

Laurie, what shall / DO? My
boy is dying " exclamed George
Walcut, as boy Of sixteen catered
the small room where the operator
sat before telegraph instrument.
The merry whistle ceased sudden
| ~, and the bright face Of the boy
grew pale because Of the evident
distress.of his friend.
ooh, George, what will you dor"
questioned the boy breathlesslS.
"Do, Laurie? Why, will 90
home, if the b & 0. goes to stieks."
was the decided reply. Then he
added, quickly: "But it won Z do,
Laurie. for you must take my place.
! am quite sure you can run the Of
fee during the night-l03 is due
in five minutes; will 20 on it, and
after | am on my way, you can wire
Shoemaker Of the change. Laurie,
you must take my place ~
A CLEAN Of qualification shone
from the dark eyes Of the boy, as
the operator expressed this conf
dence in him, and he lifted bis head
prosdly. even while be was little
doubtful as to the wisdom Of the
arrangement.
81 guess | can, George" he said,
brayely, yet with the tone rather Of
one who meant, 81 guess can {. 3"
"Of course you can, Laurie, but
you will have TO be careful aud
watchful There aTa no extras,
and you know oil about the regular
trains. II / do not come back in
the morning some one will take
my place. Thank God that 1913 is
on time Now don't get nervous,
my boy you arc able for The work. "
A loud, clear whistle echoed aud
re-echoed through the rayines, "a
the train approached then Il SLOW
Cd mp, aud ia few moments the
engine rolled out It's heavy volume
Of amoks and oinders, aud vas Of
again, leaving Laurie alone.
Il was no insignificant expression
to say that the boy was alone, for
the telegraph Office, a little l2siG
room, was situated at a dangerous
point on the road, some distance
from the nearest village, aud, even
in the light OF day, il was Wild
and lonely spot, bat the gloom Of
night made il a place to be dreaded.
Laurie Van Pelt was tho Qgly sou
OF widow who lived 10 village
seven miles away. and be was learn
ing telegraphy with the operator st
Midway, the name given TO the Of
Zee over which George Walcut pre-
sided.
With long breath which might
have meant great or nothing al Oh,
Laurie turned from the door, aud
throwing open the instrument, be
telegraphed 1903 on time. lie was
going to tell the train dispatcher
all about the trouble Of bis friend ,
and that he had been left in charge
of the Office, when he remembered
how strict he was, and how any IT.
regularity on the line always an
noyed him, aud he decided to say
nothing about it until morning, at
least. lie had no fear Of being
questioned, for be often sent mes
sages when the operator was there.
The hours, to the lonely boy,
dragged YEARLY by. The shadows
on the wall had taken every fsntas-
tic shape imaginable, each one more
distorted and fr:ghtful than the
last, until the little nickle clock on
the table told the hour OF two. At
this moment loud burst OF thun-
der startled him with the assurance
that a storm was gathering, TO add
to the desolation Of the hour and
place. lie rose from the table,
aud crossed the room to the window
looking eastward. His bright light
reached out to trestle which span
ned wild, rocky gorge, and be
could hear the water dashing down
over the rocks, as if the pressure Of
Niagara was above it. With a
shudder, he turned to the opposite
window. where he conld see switch
stretching away in the distance,
with a glimmering switch light at
the end. Some wild animal crept
I