The Argosy, Vol. XI, No. 21 — page 15: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE ARGOSY with each one of his hands thrust through the spaces be- tween the bars. He hurriedly began fingering the laces of his shoe, for he was almost sure, that with that covering off, he could withdraw his imprisoned foot. Whether it was from the nervous excitement or the per- verseness that sometimes seems to possess inanimate things in time of suspense, he could not find the ends of the laces for many valuable seconds. And when he did grasp them and gave them a pull, the slip knot, in which they were tied, failed. The strands were drawn into a hard knot, wnich he could not hope to unravel before the fast approaching train would be upon him. Dash glanced apprehensively toward the gleaming head- light, the rays of which had almost reached him now. It seemed to grow larger, even as he watched it, and to glare ina horribly pitiless manner. It is truly remarkable with what incredible rapidity the thoughts will-travel when «© person isin deadly peril. Even as he glanced toward th approaching train. Dash's brain passed in review all his young life, not omitting even some trifling incidents he had entirely forgotten. With an effort he threw off the stupor that seemed to be coming over him. Suddenly he thought of his knife to sever the laces of his shoe ; but, even as he reached down in his pocket for it, he felt sure he would not find it, as the tramps had very likely taken it. When his fingers closed over the coveted blade, therefore, he even felt grateful to the heartless marauders, and a glow of returning hope suffused his veins. With a calmness that he often wondered at afterward, Dash opened the large blade of the knife, and, reaching down, slashed along the instep of his shoe with a vigor that not only severed the laces, but penetrated the flesh as well. In the excitement he did not even notice the wounds he had inflicted, and quickly wrenched off his foot covering. Just as he did so, the ergine of the rapidly nearing train gave two long and two short blasts of the whistle tor. the crossing. With a mighty pull, Dash forced his foot through the bars, leaving his sock, and much of the skin from his ankle, in the operation. Weak and exhausted from pain and his exertion, he had just time to crawl and half roll to one side of the track, when the train shot by with a rattling roar and a rush of air that seemed almost strong enough to draw him under the whirling wheels by its suction. A whirling cyclone followed tn its wake, but the red signal lights on the rear car soon grew smaller, twinkled,. then dis- appeared, and the noise of the fast moving cars died away in the distance. Dash remained perfectly still for a few minutes to recover from the severe strain he had been under, and, as he did so, he sent up a fervent prayer of thanksgiving for his deliver- ance. ‘I‘hen he made an examination of his foot and ankle, as far as possible, in the darkness, and raised himself p- right to test if they were still in a condition to perform their dufy. Though they were considerably bruised and swollen, and the skin torn away clear to his ankle bones, he found he could walk tolerably well. ’ The next thing to do was to decide where he was to go, for he did not want tospend the night out of doors, especially in his weak and bruised condition. Judging from the time that had elapsed between leaving Deckerton and when his train stopped and called for the fagman, he calculated he could not be more than four or five miles from that place. He knew that the next station beyond was fifteen miles from Deckerton, and therefore he was nearer the latter point. He replaced his damaged shoe and looked around for his 33D cap but it could not be found. The tramps had no doubt carried it off for some reason. He found the remains of his lantern, which had been jerked from his grasp when he stumbled into the cattle guard ; and, taking it with him, he started along the middle of the track in the opposite direc- tion to that which he had been going when trying to catch the train. He was obliged to limp considerably, and his progress was necessarily slow. Several trains passed him, guing in the opposite direction, and another one overtook him in the first half hour that he struggled along. He wuuld have signaled one of thein to stop had he had the means to light his lantern, even though now it had no globe. As it was, he shouted wildly to one and waved his lantern about his head, but it was of no avail. He resumed his tramp with many misgivings, for his foot now began to pain him more, and the ankle joint felt stiff and sore. ‘‘ If this is a specimen of some of a flagman’s experiences,” he thought, ‘‘ ['m glad I am not permanently.in the business ; but 1 expect I’ve got more than usually falls to their lot this trip.” It did indeed seem that his exciting and trying adventures were following one another fast since he embarked on a rail- road career, and especially since his departure as a flagman on the Pacific Express. ‘*But I suppose I'll be glad to get anything to do after this,” he continued reflectively, as he thought of his penni- less condition. *‘ And I'd just like to get my hands on those cowardly tramps.” With many a suppressed groan of pain he continued to limp forward, on what seemed to him an’ endless journey. Another half hour had passed, when he stopped for a rest, and noticed a dark object lying close up to the end of the ties. He at first thought it was really a new tie that had been deposited there for repairs to the road. But a nearer inspection revealed that it was a man, and a drunken one at that, judging from the fumes of liquor that arose from his person. ‘‘ Poor fellow !” was Dash’s mental exclamation, with a feeling of pity and disgust. ‘‘ A foot nearer, and he would be under the wheels. What will I do with him?” He shook the fellow vigorously, but it produced no sign of consciousness. ‘* Well, if he can't walk, I can’t carry him, that's certain,” muttered Dash ; ‘‘ and all I can do is to roll him a little fur- ther from danger.” He proceeded to do so; and then, thinking the fellow might have some matches, with which he could light his lamp, he examined the pockets in the unconscious man’s vest. He found some, done up in a piece of paper, ard scratching one of them on the sole of his shoe, he prepared to apply it to the wick of the lantern. As the flame flared up, he glanced toward the prostrate man. ‘He instantly recognized him as the ringleader of the tramps who had robbed him, and was so astonished that he let the match burn out without using it. ‘“ Well, if this doesn’t beat me!" exclaimed Dash. “I wonder how he got in this beastly shape so quick, and where his companion is. Maybe he’s got some of my property. I’m in luck if he has.” Feeling justihed in doing so, under the circumstances, Dash proceeded to examine the rest of the helpless one’s pockets. His search was rewarded by bringing forth the chain and locket charm belonging to his watch, and some money in silver and bills. ‘Though he was morally certain the latter was his, he returned it to the man’s pocket, and conniclaooks COLL