The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-03-31

denly his hand closed like wise upon
the rear railing, his body swung out
and Writhed for few moments in
midair, then his feet caught. and he
drew himself in by sheer force of mus
Gle and nerve to the same croucling
position he had occupied ON the Pull
man forward.
inside the car the other man was
now tearing the letter into the most
minute fragments. as if striving to
annihilate lis contents When the
pieces We're too small for further re-
duction they swept through the open
window and We're scattered thinly
over half Il mile of the roadbed The
man rose and g.anced about the ear.
1t was almost empty. and the other
passengers We're buried in papers or
books. He turned back quickly. open
ed the door, and with Il light spring
threw himself from the train. but not
to the ground! Just as he sprang, the
tramp flung himself out suddenly. with
no44ing but his left hand grasping the
rail. AS the two bodies came together
the tramp's right arm closed like a
steel band around the other. while the
weight of it bore them down. down.
until their legs almost swept the mock
ing rails of the road5ed.
Not many men-not one in a thou
sand-could have sustained such
weight in such position. swinging
from side to side under the motion of
q train going at fifty miles an hour,
but gradually, little by little, the left
arm contracted and drew them up, up
and in until finally, with u last desper-
ate effort, they were both crouching
upon the rear platform, white, gasping,
too exhausted to stand or speak
The we'll dressed man recovered first
The horror was still in his eyes, but
with it was something more. Perhaps
that instant in midair, with death in
front, had made him see more clearly;
perhaps his miraculous rescue had
made possible the greater rescue from
| himself As be rose staggeringly the
tramp's arm went ont in feeble protest,
but hand fell upon the arm gently.
mo need of that now, my friend"
the still white lips whispered II am
awake and in my right mind. l shall
never attempt anything like that
again"
The train began to slacken. and at
that moment the door opened and the
conductor came out. They We're pass
ing over short piece of road where
repairs were being made, and slow
| speed was necessary. The conductor
nodded to his passenger, but seemed
surprised at his disheveled appearance.
| Then his gaze fell upon the tramp. and
his face darkened.
"You here" he exclaimed, after be-
ing put off once too? And, from the
looks of this young man, you have
been up to more than stealing a ride
this time. T.
There was a sudden jerk, which in
timated that the train was about to in
crease its speed. The conductor caught
the tramp by the shoulder and with a
| quick twist sent him from the train.
The passenger uttered an angry cry
of remonstrance and tried to stay the
act, but too late AS the train gath
cred Roadway they saw the tramp go
plunging and staggering down a steep
, embankment, at the bottom OF which
he righted himself and waved his hand
cheerfully at the receding train.
| Five minutes later the young man
! was back in the car, two seats from
the end. still dazed and white. Sud-
denly the door at the forward end
opened, and a girl entered, holding a
paper In her hand. She came straight
to him.
Robert, what does this awful thing
about you meanT she exclaimed. 81
suppose you have seen the paper"
He was holding to the back Of the
seat for support, his face drawn and
J haGgard.