Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-04-05

LIE AIM ClOSGlJ LINE a
STEEL BAND AROUND THE OTHER.
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 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 its 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 glanced about the car.
1t was almost empty, and the other
passengers were buried in papers or
books. lie turned back quickly, open
ed the door, and with light spring
threw himself from the train, but not
to the ground! Just us he sprang, the
tramp flung himself out suddenly, with
nouiing but his left hand grasping the
rail. AS the two bodies came together
the tramp's right arm closed like n
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 q thou
sand-could have sustained such
weight in such a position, swinging
from side to side under the motion of
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 well dressed man recovered first.
The horror was still in his eyes, but
with 1t 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 he rose staggeringly the
tramp's arm went out In feeble protest,
but hand fell upon the arm gently.
mo need Of that now, my friend"
the still white lips whispered. 81 am
awake and in my right mind. I 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 ut his dishcveled 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 IL ride
this time. r.
There was u 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
uSL, UuI lUO litlG. itb lllC lISlllI Billl-
cred Roadway they saw the tramp go
plunging and staggering down a steep
embanknent, at the bottom of which
he righted himself and waved his hand
cheerfully ut 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 meanY' she exclaimed. ~
suppose you have seen the paper"
lie was holding to the back of the
scat for support, his face drawn and
haggard.
mo, you needn't show 1t to me, Hell
EN-" he answered. II have not seen the
paper, but know what 1t contains. 1t
is true. l only discovered it myself a
5hort time ago. l was given my mail
as we left the hotel and slipped it into
my pocket. did not read 1t until left
you and your mother and came back to
the observation car just now. 1t was
all in letter from my partner"
The giia looked Mt him, her lips trem-
bling, but she smiled II know 1t Is not
true, Robert" she declared positively,
mot a word of 1t. have known you
ever since we went to school together,
and you are utterly incapable of