The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-08-08
BEL AIR, ND, FRIDAY MORNING, AUGUST 8, 1902.

| u was III the dry season, when no rain
was expected. the temporary tracks
might he swept away. After fifteen
minutes of doubt and worry he tele-
graphcd Gainesville that he was going
to the creek and at once set out OH a
run. He had scarcely started when a
| gale sprang up in his very teeth, and
within ten minutes it was all he could
| do to make way against it at walk
| Darkness had fallen before he reached
the culvert. The bridge was gone!
The first train due was a freight at
8 o'clock. This train would sidetrack
at Rristow for the express bound east
He had brought a red lantern, and this
he managed to secure to Il pole sus-
pended over the track That would
stop the freight. and he would get
back to the station in time to flag the
express.
The wind was bowling along at the
rate of sixty miles an hour, and a
dozen different times In returning over
that mile of track Bert was blown fat
or clear off the track into the ditch.
Even with the gale at his back it took
him as long to go as it had to come.
and he was thoroughly played out
when he reached the station. Even
before he mounted the platform he
heard the instrument calling him and
realized that something was up.
A surprise awaited him as he opened
the door. Sitting at the table, with
his head on his arms and apparently
asleep, was the tramp of the afternoon
The instrument was calling "B b."
as If lives depended on an instant an
swer, and Bert had to reach over the
sleeping mans shoulder to reply In
minute came this message from
Clairsville:
What the dickens is the matter
with you? Are there any more emp
ties OH the way?"
What do you mean?" Bert asked.
Il mean that | have ditchcd the
seven cattle cars and want to know if
any others got away"
1t took some time to make matters
plain. Several times Bert shook the
sleeper and called to him to yacate the
chair, but he did not move The
O'Clock freight had brought down six
teen cattle cars and after backing
them in on the siding had pulled out
and left the switch wide open. The
section gang had passed the spot with
out noticing the switch, and when the
gale came up seven of the cars had
been blown out on the main track and
started down the road at thirty miles
an hour. The other nine would have
followed had not one of them Jumped
the track and held the rest. Gainesville
had received word of the runaways
and ditch"d them to prevent smash
up with the express.
1t was no ghoStly telegram that had
been sent in Berts absence. The in
jurod tramp who had left him that
afternoon had for some reason re
turned to the track later on. He must !
have seen the open switch and sight |
ed the runaway emptips. He had |
made his way down to the station TO
give Bert the information and, finding
him gone, had sat down TO the instru-
ment and warned Clairsville. He had |
given Bert no hint that he was an op-'
orator, but such was the case. He had |
sent the message through in good |
shape and saved the road big smash
up.
Here. wake up, wake up and shake |
hands and let me thank YOU" Bert |
shouted as the mystery was solved and |
he felt his heart growing big.
No reply broke the silence which |
suddenly and strangely impressed |
Bert. The hands he touched were
cold
The inquest was held at Clairsville. |
and the verdict was heart disease. |
aggravated by a recent injury" The
recent injury" consisted of three bro.
ken ribs. The fact that this was re-
ceived at the hands of the section boss |
was not stated. That the poor chap |
had ever managed to walk a hundred
rods the doctors declared Il wonderful |
thing. He was namclcsS. homeless and |
fricndlcSs. and the railroad company |
had no sentiment and no gratitude.
The poor bruised body was laid in Il
pauptr'S grave. unmarked and uncared |
for, and only Bert Brown stood beside
the last resting place of Bristow Sta
tons hero.