Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1924-02-06
Discovered the
We shout
By JAMES BLACK
rs s,+s !. ~ = !. 80
w. 1923. Western Newspaper Union)

w, 1879. w estelu ESeNSpdpeT OHloH.)
COAPY SAM, seated on the ground,
~ watched the freight train disap-
blanched off from the main line. He
had just been thrown off with consid-
cradle violence. And he had only COW
cred few miles
Anyway, wasn't bound fer Gosley,"
he soliloquized as he nursed his
bumps. IF I'd have known it wasn't
goin' to follow the main line wouldn't
have boarded her. Jest feller's
luck
With which soliloquy Soapy Sam
certained that no bones were broken,
he started off along the main track
which he had thought the freight train
would take.
ITS kinder queer how hard human
nature is" Sam SoliloquiZed.
And he sighed as he plodded on. He
was trying to make his way to the
rich corn lands about hundred miles
to the west. A fellow hobo had told
him of fabulous race that lived
there, generous and hospitable. In
that happy land wOodpiles were prac-
tically unknown, and all the dogs were
tOolhless. AS matter of fact, he had
been stringing Sam, but Sam had new
er had the advantage Of an education,
and he believed every word of 1t.
The moon was shining brightly and
Sam, proceeding along the tracks,
heard and presently saw a foaming
river.
He shuddered, for he had consti
terror and exterior application, How
ever, there was nothing to do but cross
the bridge.
The bridge? There was no bridge.
A freshet had carried 1t away. The
tracks ran straight into vacancy.
II wish it'd been on the other line"
reflected Sam, thinking of the freight
train.
And suddenly he remembered that
the hobo at the station had told him
vi ihC SAHiNcS tIut Nouiu eo
ing past early that evening toward the
land of his dreams.
The express would be along soon.
And it would drive straight along the
tracks into the water Into the water !!
Sam shuddered with horror at the
thought of 1t.
And the next moment he was run
ming back along the tracks as hard as
he could go, in the hope Of intercept
ing 1t.
Already he could hear the train in
the distance. He stripped off his
ragged coat as he ran, and waved it.
The world had treated him rough, but
no man who was a man could. stand
by and see the death Of trainful of
passengers-in water.
And now the train came into sight.
bearing down on him, monstrous
mechanism that made the earth trem-
Bile. 1t was now or never. Sam stood
in the middle of the parallel track and
waved his coat.
His yells were drowned in the roar
of the engine, but his frantic waving
attracted the attention of the engine
driver.
1t seemed to Sam that he had failed.
AS he leaped back, he saw the monster
go roaring by him, drawing its train
of cars, lit cars crammed with pas
sengers. His heart sank into his
boots There seemed no diminution of
speed.
But then, gradually the roar of the
monster changed into grinding
sound. The train was coming to a
stop. Sans heart rejoiced.. He had
saved them from a hideous death
No need to question Sam. The dis
aster to the line had already been dis
covered by the time he came limping
up beside the engine.
'Put it there, son." said the engine
driver extending a horny hand. You
saved the train and | guess it won't
be forgot"
well, I guess not" said a spec
tacled passenger. Come, chip in,
boys"
Within few minutes Soapy Sam
found himself In possession of more
money than he had ever had In his
life-nearly two hundred dollars.
"Anythin' more we can do for you,
SOM demanded the engine-driver
some time later. when the bridge had
been repaired.
"Why, I'd kinder like to ride on the
cars as far as the corn belt" answered
Sam. 81 understand the dogs amt
got no teeth to speak of thar"