Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1902-12-05

The first train due was freight at
0 O'Clock. This train would sidetrack
at BriStow for the express bound east.
He had brought a red lantern, and this
he managed to secure to a 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 n
dozen different times in returning over
that mile of track Bert was blown fiat
or clear off the track into the ditch,
Even with the gale ut his back ii took
him as long to 20 as ii 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.
\ surprise awaited him as he opened
the door. Sitting ut the table, with
his head on his arms and apparently
asleep, was the tramp Of the afternoon.
The instrument was calling "B r."
as if lives depended on an instant an
swer, and Bert had to reach over the
sleeping mans shoulder to reply, In
a minute came this message from
Clairsvillc:
"What the dickens is the matter
with you? Are there any more emp
ties on the way"
"What do You mean:' Bert asked.
Il mean that | have ditched 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 vacate the
chair, but he did not move. The 4
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. Clairsville
had received word of the runaways
and ditched them to prevent a smash
up with the express.
1t was no ghostly telegram that had
been sent in Bert's absence. The in
jured 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 empties. He had
made his way down to the station 10
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 OPP
orator but such was the case. He had /
sent the message through in good .
shape and saved the road a 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 We're
cold.
The inquest was held at ClairSville,
and the verdict was heart disease.
aggravated by q 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 a wonderful
hing. He was nameleSs. homeless and
,riendless, and the railroad company
lad no sentiment and no gratitude
The poor bruised body was laid in n
lauper's grave unmarked and uncared
or and only Bert Brt wn stood beside
he last resting place of Bristow Sta
ions hero.