Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1905-04-20

denly his hand closed like a wise upon
the rear railing, his body swung out
and wrlthed 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 crouching
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 It's contents When the
pieces were too small for further re
duction they swept through the open
window and were scattered thinly
over a half a mile OF the roadbed The
man rose and glanced about the car.
1t was almost empty. and the other
passengers were buried in papers or
books. He turned back quickly, open
ed the door, and with a light spring
threw himself from the train, but not
to the ground! Just as he sprang, the
tramp flung himself out suddenly. with
noIhing but his left hand grasping the
rail. AS the two bodies came together
the tramp's right arm closed like
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 roadbed.
Not many men-not one in a thou
Band-could have sustained such a
weight in such a 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 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 stn in his eyes, but
with it was something more. Perhaps
that instant In midalr, with death in
front, had made him see more clearly;
perhaps his miraculous rescue had
made possible the greater rescue from
himself. AS he rose staggeringly the
tramp's arm went out In feeble protest,
but a hand fell upon the arm gently.
mo need OF that now, my friend"
N1C wL4AA N6lGE lARc dLl
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 were pass
ing over a short piece OF road where
repairs were being made. and slow
speed was necessary. The conductor
nodded TO his passenger, but seemed
SURPRISED AZ his dfsheveled appearance.
Then his gaze fell upon the tramp and
bis face darkened.
You here" he exclaimed. after be-
ing put or once toof And, from the
looks Of this young man, you have
been up to more than stealing a ride
this time. r.
There was a sudden jerk, which in
timated that the train was about to in
crease It's speed The conductor caught
the tramp by the shoulder and with
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 headway they saw the tramp go
nlunRing and staggering down stean
SmDankment, al Tne DoItOm OF winch
NE righted himself and waved his hand
cheerrully 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 meanf" she exclaimed. Il
suppose you have seen ia paper"
He was holding to the back Of the
seat fer support, his face drawn and
hag@ard.
No. you needn't show it TO me. Hell
en," he answered II have not seen the
paper, but know what it contains. IT
Is true. | only discovered it myself a
short time ago. | was given NV mail
as we left the hotel and slipped il into
nay pocket. did not read it until | left
you and your mother and came bacI, +,
the Ohse~--"+'0" Cur inst now II ,ras