The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1901-06-28
ND, MORNING. 2eT
most abreast of the boy as the latter
sped by.
Halt" the man cried once more and
leYeled the revolver at the flying lad.

| most ABREAST OF the boy as the lattei
sped by.
HALT" the man cried once more and
leveled the revolver at the flying lad.
But the stroller, with a despairing
glance about him, had caught up one OF
the spikes and suddenly flung 1t with all
his force at the desperado. His aim was
sure. The flying iron caught the ruffian
squarely on the side of the head and tum
bled him down the embankment to the
very bottom. At the instant he was
struck the revolver went of. but the bull
let flew wild, and the boy sped on. The
other desperadoes, climbing behind theiI
leader, saw his sudden overthrow and
hesitated. Then they turned and scram
bled down after the bounding form of the
injured man and disappeared In the
| bushes.
The stroller watched their fight with
great satisfaction. Then he turned and
looked up the track. Far ahead he could
see the boy wildly waving the red robe
and still farther ahead was the steam
crowned black dot that he knew was the
coming locomotive. Then he heard the
shrill shrek Of the faraway whistle and
knew that the engineer had seen the sig
nal and was applying the brakes. In
moment the train had rushed BY the boy.
but its impetus was rapidly slackening.
and the huge mass of glistening iron,
groaning and painting, came to a dead
stop hundred yards from the lifted rail-
Then the boy came dashing up with his
hand outstretched.
"Have they hurt you?" he cried.
"I'm all right" said the stroller as he
grasped the lads hand. "But, say. my
boy. you're a plucky one. You never
finched when that ruffian held the gun on
the boys hand again.
81 thought sure he'd nail me-" said the
lad. "What made him missT
81 tossed him an inshoot with a rail
way spike over the ear" said the stroller
grimly. ~ guess ! haven't forgotten all
my boyhood cunning. He's down there
in the bushes with broken head"
And then the engineer came running up
followed by the conductor and the train
crew. with group Of passengers trailing
In the rear.
The trouble was soon explained. and
everybody insisted on shaking hands with
the stroller and the boy. although the
former stoutly declared that the lad was
the only hero of the affair. And the train
uduuS went OOWu eIuDhuhLueul duu
brought up the wounded wrecker, whose
comrades had deserted him and fed. And
the battered ruffian was securely Gagged
in the baggage car. and when this was
done everybody stood about again dis
cussing the incident and praising the boy
and his companion.
And presently one Of the passengers.
tall and dignified gentleman with little
-I,Is - = IL
tache. came up behind ehe stroller and
gently touched him on the shoulder. As
the stroller turned the tall man caught
his hand in a firm grip and drew him q
little way from the crowd.
Jim" he softly said.
"Why. George!"
There was a moments silence as the
two men looked in each others eyes.
Then a dull red surged across the stroll.
er's face, and he tried to draw away his
hand. But the tall man held him fast.
you're coming home. Jim" he gently
said
As the stroller hesitated and half turn
ed away his eyes caught the glance Of the
boy, and the boy smiled back at him and
nodded. 1t seemed like an answer to tn,
brothers question.
its' sdiu TIC SttOHcE Scutiys III
coming home"
"Our mother Is waiting for you." said
the tall man as he put his hand affection
ately on the stroller's shoulder. And Their
they moved a little farther away ant
stood hand In hand in earnest converse
ton. And when the boy looked their wa!
again the stroller was beckoning to him
He came forward. and the tall man too!
his hand.
"My boy" he said. In grave and kind
ly way. my brother here has favorabl!
impressed me. not only with your cour
age. hut also with your worthy ambition
to rise in the world. ! mean to help you
il you will let me. Finish your vacation
and when you return TO Chicago come n
once to my Office. | am quite sure ] cal
find a place that will suit you for tn,
present and at the same time give you al
opportunity to prove your worth and you
fitness for better things. Here is NJ.
card"
A little later. when the train steame
away. the passengers at the windows an,
on the platforms chrered the lad by tn
track side. and ON the very last platforI
Of all. the platform Of the private cal
the two brothers. side by side. waved hir
an adieu. Then. when the train had quit
faded In the distance. he turned his hap
py face toward home.-Cleveland PlaiI
Dealer