Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1909-10-08

cautiously for one of his boots and
hred 1t at the soldier, and fell asleep
again, only to wake moment later
and leap from the locker.
who did that?" he shouted. "Who
put that snake in my bed? Dick
Haynes told you to do that, the white
livered Missourian."
1t began to dawn upon me now that
he was talking at me, and in order to
justify myself and to try and quiet
the unfortunate conductor I climbed
down the steps and stood before him.
The walls of the way-car were pa
pered with pictures of prize-fighters
and play-actresses in scanty apparel.
and just over the little desk hung a
rusty old saber. Jack" said l. In
stantly he took his eyes from the
front door, where they seemed to be
held by some strange spell, and glared
at me.
why, damn you'll" said he deliber-
ately, Il thought put you of at Sha-
wanna"
That was what he had been doing,
In his mind, at the back door.
Now he came towards me, lowering
his head like bull going to war. He
came by short, shutting steps, and as
he advanced l retreated towards the
front door, hoping to make my escape
in that way to the top of the train.
When Farley had reached the middle
OF the car he made lunge for the old
saber, and l. divining his move, turned
andSseized the handle of the door,
only to find that it was fastened by
spring lock, the mechanism of which
could not make out at once.
CHANGING over my shoulder, l saw
the mad conductor swing the saber
and advance. was never much of a
fighter, and somehow 1 dreaded and
pitied this man more than / feared
him, or had feared him up to that
time. I regarded him with something
of that vague horror with which an
able Indian looks upon another who
has been scalped. But now I had my
choice to fight or fly, and 1 flew.
Ducking under his uplifted arm, l
passed by him and ran up the steep
steps to the cupola, the wild conduc-
tor hacking at me as 1 climbed.
AS I passed Farley in the car gave
a yell that echoed in the hills, and
that yell was my salvation. The rear
brakeman heard it and came leaping
over the tops of the cavorting cars
just as I reached the roof of the way
car, with the wild conductor at my
heels. Now could no more make time
over the top of that train than could
fly to the summit of the highest noun
tain range, and I knew it. could not
walk, under ordinary circumstances,
on the top of a moving train, but what
was l to do? Farley was after me. I
leaped to the top of the last load and
lit all right, but at that moment we
hit curve, and to save myself |
dropped to the roof and grabbed the
foot-path that runs along the tops of
freight cars. Just here the conductor
and the rear brakeman met, and see
ing Farley fourishing the saber the
brakeman engaged him, much to nv
relief. All over the top of that car
and back to the cupola of the way
car they fought like fiends, while 1 lay
hugging the toe-path referred to
above.
Presently l could see Farley, with
superhuman strength, working the
brakeman towards the edge of the |
car roof. Clearly it was my duty to
go to the assistance of the brakeman.
but as got to my feet we found an
other curve and I was slammed down |
near the margin of my
car. l tried again and again to get |
to my feet, but in vain. Now the two |
men were struggling at the very edge |
of the way-car, and if they went down
they would fall, the Lord knows how
far, before they would find the bottom
Of the gorge. Putting forth his utmost |
strength, the big brakeman succeeded
in freeing himself from the conductor.
Farley lifted the saber, which he still
held, but before he could strike the
brakeman's big fist was between his
eyes and the conductor lay at full
length on the top of the car.
When the brakeman had lowered
him to the floor of the caboose he
came over and picked me from my
perch and helped me back.
OF course Farley was discharged,
out to my dying day l shall never for
get the experience had with him.