Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-01-03
BRATTLEBORO,

pie opened windows and ran to the
platforms. The fireman came trot-
ting back and the conductor hailed
him.
Whats up, Billy?"
I'VE hit him just as we left the cut;
he was walking right down the mid
die"
whats the matter?" asked one of
the passengers.
" Killed a man." said the conductor
laconically. "At least, | guess So"
The train was backing now up the
track and the brakeman on the rear
car could be seen running ahead with
his little red flag. He did not look
to the left or right, and disappeared in
the cut. Mr.. Lothrop, who was stand
ing on the platform, felt sickish. The
train ran along slowly and smoothly,
and the river Tapped in within few
feet of the embankment. Suddenly
the brakes were applied again and the
train stopped. Some people went
farther up the track and, much against
his first inclination, Mr.. Lothrop de-
scended from the platform to the
ground. He could see nothing but
the little crowd gathered along the
heads thrust from the windows. He
walked to the river-bank-only a pace
or two-and there paused and gasped.
On little strip of sandy beach lay
the body of man, dead He was big
and young, and his face was unscarred.
Animated by some impulse, Mr.. Lo-
throp gave a shout and jumped down
beside him, and then he gasped again
,,,;t in
in the water beside the dead man was
a child's Noah's Ark, the camels, and
leopards and rabbits dancing in the
little waves that broke upon the beach.
An empty cornucopia extended from
the breast-pocket of the mans coat.
But the crowd had now gathered on
the embankment overhead.
Come. bear a hand here, some of
you" cried the conductor, who had
jumped down and bent for a second
over the body. We've got to put him
in the baggage car. Help me- he
won't hurt you, What are you afraid
Of?
But no one moved.
Here, young man, you give us a
lift"
The conductor was addressing Mr..
Lothrop. He felt his head swim
ming. but he would have obeyed had
not just at this moment, the fireman
and one of the brakemen hurried up
to help. The body was handed up the
bank and placed on the floor of the
baggage car.
Lothrop stood on the shelving, sandy
bank. To save his life he could not
take his eyes off the crushed Noah's
Ark. and the little bobbing wooden
animals dancing in the water. For
some reason he bent quickly and gath
cred them. A small and very naked
doll with a china head he discovered
also. and picked it up with the rest.
Just as the train was moving he hur-
ried up and placed the things he had
found in the baggage car. No one
seemed to see anything strange in his
actions. The baggage man pointed at
the broken toys and shook his head
sadly. Somebody said something
about christmas" and the train
started 1t was too late for Lothrop
to run forward and regain his seat in
the smoking car. so he swung on to the
platform and the baggage man let him
enter.
who do you suppose the poor fell
low is?" asked one of the train hands.
Il don't know" responded the other.
phillips said he'd put it off at the
next station; he probably belongs
there"
Hes a dago, think" interrupted
/ the baggage man.
Mr.. Lothrop did not join in the con
( versation. A sensation he had never
/ felt before was yelling up within him
/ He had forgotten about himself. The
| suggestion of the Christmas season
/ and the poor little Christmas gifts, mad
caused thoughts that were new and
paralyzing. His sentiments and i'm.
agination had been around. His
/ pity was so great that it was as over
/ towering as the first awakening of a
passion. He could think of nothing
else but the fact that somewhere some
body was waiting for the man that had
been, whose earthly part lay covered
with the bit of rough sacking on the
floor of the car.
The train slowed up at the next sta
ton. There was a hurried consuta
tion between the station master and
the conductor, and the body was lifted
out and placed on a baggage truck
When the train started Mr.. Lothror
stood on the platform. Why he had
stayed he could not have explained
He had not been able yet to get the
idea of the waiting ones out of his
mind-those people who lived some
where and did not know. 1t seemed
to him as if something were directing
him to stay and try to help. He did
not combat this feeling. he did not rea
son it; he simply stayed.
The Coroner convened his little
court in the baggage room. A GROVE
of curious loungers had come to the
station and the jury was picked from
among them. Mr.. Lothrop stood il
the corner of the room. He had moi
looked at the dead man since he hat
first seen him. The toys were mo-
brought in evidence. There seemed
to be nothing but idle curiosity among
the onlookers; the verdict was prosaic
Nobody knew the man.
Unknown man killed on railway
track" pronounced the Coroner
But why was he unknown? Surely
somebody was waiting. Somebody
would miss him. Somebody would
never be told what had become of him
Lothrop spoke to the station master
Aren't they going to find out whC
he is?"
Don't think they'll take mucl
trouble" said the station master
They may, but them things happier
every day"