Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1904-09-17

corner of the tank, A man, running
with all his might, was almost abreast
Of the cab, overhauling the still com
slow moving engine Dan
stopped and caught up n piece OF coal
the size Of n cobblestone, braced him.
self and waited.
A moment later the striving runner
reached to catch the handSrip OK the
cab. Dan saw his face, white, set,
cruel, In the light Of the still open fire.
box door. Then with every ounce OF
his power he flung his missile straight
at the fierce visagc.
The runners face disappeared. No.
70 gasped and roared. The train gained
speed until the engineer could pull
his throttle wide.
Dan fed his fire and slammed the
furnace door shut. Then he sank down
upon the steel floor cold, trembling,
with sudden feeling Of faintness ana
nausea. The train flew on through the
night, and only when the lights
showed in the city station, twelve
miles from the scene of the hold-up,
did Ben curb her speed.
Dan had no notion of any great merit
in what he had done. He was only
glad. Indeed, his anxiety over the
ferocity of the blow he had struck
the bandit occupied his mind rather
than any idea that he had performed
remarkable deed. He hoped with all
his soul that he had not killed the
man.
But when No. 20 stopped in the great
train shed and the story was told, he
suddenly found himself hero. II
appeared that the bandits on the
nnchos warned by the cries Of thnir
companions, quickly dropped from me
train when the engine started ana
that Dams action alone had mus
Errrneu the tide against them.
The people cheered till the boy was
daZed after Ben related Dams part
IN the fight. Men and women crowded
to the engine to shake hands with him,
and showercd him with eXtravagant
compliments. Trninmen grnned at
him and Division Superintendent Gray,
who was still in his office, came down
and said things to him that made his
heart bound with pride and happiness
FOR they meant bright premise for the
future.
A posse of officers pursued the rob
bers, and in the course Of thirty-siS
hours four of them were caught
Among them was man with three
broken ribs and q cracked collar-bone,
who, the doctors said, would recover
So Dams anxiety was relieved.
1t was not till the day following the
affair that the engineer and Dan talke,,
it over privately. They mmoorning 70,
engine "s usual up To Dan it wa.
.nen embarrassing, for he feared
soHiie word from Ben in personal praise
Of his exploit. The boy was modes
enough to dread most the praise whicl
, he would most value.
, allow in the world did you think l
out, Dan" asked Ben, looking at thu
boy with mingled pride and affection
He was man little given to any dem
,, onstration of feeling, but Dams devO
, ton to him had been too marked Il
pass unnoticed, and the engineer wa
deeply affected.
II was the only one who could &c
an excuse to move" answered Dan
modestly, blushlng to the roots Of hi
hair. Somebody had to do some
, thing"
, But you knew you might get
bullet in you. Besides, / Lool
+ here, boy" he cried his big, gruff voc
, deep with emotion, 1--WE thought you
, good one from the first--even whel
you backed 80 off the rails on the Goa
dock! You're brick! Now I know
that I'd sure have got shot last nigh
: If it hadn't been for Won I'd h"V
Deen just fool enough. l believe yo1
saved my skin as well as the expires
messengers"
+ Dan turned to coal up and to cove
his confusion. "YOu saved my livin
and my chance for me once" he said
briefy.-The Youths Companion.