The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-07-04

ming to him with breathless: Hold
the express at Hawleyi"
My orders we're TO let her come on"
he replied.
"But hold her, hold her, for heav-
ems sakel A derrick has fallen right
across The track!"
"Click, click" went the little in
strumont under Roberts active fingers.
Hold the eXpressl"
"She started i've minutes ago." came
instantly back.
There was no time to be lost. Robert
did not wait. He seized q red lantern
and started up the road. lie must
meet the express as far away as pos
sible. for in those days there were no
air-brakes, and it would take some dis
lance for the train to slacken speed
and come to halt, since it would, of
course, be running at full speed.
The snow was still coming down in
binding sheets; it seemed as If the
storms fury had increased, if that were
possible.
Not a line Of rail was visible, but only
the softly-heaped ridges where the
wheels of the last train had outlined
the track.
Robert set out with frantic energy,
blowing his way through the damp
masses, struggling over the uneven
surfaces of the ties, and slipping and
foundering to such degree that it
seemed as if he made no progress at
all.
His lantern shed such a faint CLEAN
that he was afraid, no matter what his
effort, the engineer would not be able
to see it--a mere spark through the
whirling snow that enveloped it.
He had started none too soon, for,
with his senses painfully strained, he
was certain he felt the first faint vi
brations of the on-coming wheels. 1t
was like a spur he did not need, for he
was already putting forth his utmost
strength.
1t was indeed the vibration sent
along the hidden rails, for presently he
heard a distant, muffied rumble as the
train crossed bridge. Inches seemed
of value in this crisis, and he plunged
forward as many more steps as he
dared before taking a stand to make
his despairing signal.
Nearer came the train, flying along
at throbbing speed, and now almost
upon him, its painting breath echoing
from the deep sides of the rocky cut
at either hand. Then its great head
light CLEANED vaguely upon him like
pale moon.
Robert swung his lantern in wide,
slow circle at first, and then faster and
faster, as the engines glowing eye be-
came mole and more distinct.
There was no answering whistle.
They did not see it.
He leaped over the rail into a ditch
alongside, and from that scrambled to
the opposite bank, screaming and fling
ing his arms wildly about as if his puny
voice could be heard above all that
roar.
No answer yet
The full rays of the headlight were
on him, and the engine nearly abreast,
when with a final vehement swing he
let go the handle of his lantern and
hurled it headlong into the window of
the engineers cab. AS he did so he
sank helpless upon the ground.
In second there was a terrific shrek
of the whistle, and Robert could hear
the grinding of the brakes. That he
was not too late, that the train would
be saved, were his last thoughts as he
became unconscious.
Presently he became aware of NOV
ing lights about him, of voices and of
somebody trying to lift him up and
stand him on his feet,
wake up, Robertl What's the mat
ter? Where's your lanternP" said a
kindly voice.
1t was Sandy Odds, the fireman.
Was it all dream? No, for the snow
still fell, and he was chilled and wet
and weary.
THE expressP" he gasped.
"She stopped with the tip Of her
nosejust at the derrick" was answered,
in the same questioning tone.
"Why-why didn't she whistler"
asked Robert, fit to cry from exhAus-
ton, and still dazed and excited.
Sandy shook him little and tried
again to get him on his feet
"She did But try to stand up, Rob
ert. We want to be getting home"
AS soon as Robert had staggered for
ward few steps, the life seemed
to return to his limbs. He refused to
be carried, but let comrade assist him
at either side.
"You spoiled that cab window, Rob
ert," said Sandy, "and the engineers
got black eye, too. You needn't say
anything, but it's my private opinion
that he was asleep"
81 whirled my light till saw they
weren't going to pay any attention to
it, and then slung it at them" said
Robert.
I'VE know you did. The engineer al
lowed he saw thl light, and that when