Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 179: what you’re looking at

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

170 “ Don’t be ’fraid, missis; de Lord done sent you, I knows He did,” gasped the fellow, as ifin pain. “ I’se hurt bad in yere, an’ I ain’t goin’ for to live,” he continued, as he placed his hand high up on his abdomen, and then let it travel to an opening in his shirt, from which he drew something; “ but the Lord done sent you, missis, so this nig- ger can ’fess an’ go to glory. “Tse Sam, I is—Black Sam; all de railroad boys knows Black Sam. My ole mammy, Liza, works roun’ to the station at Madrid, an’ keeps de gen’le- men’s rooms. When I war in Madrid ebenin’eafore last, she asked me for to go over an’ see ef I could fin’ her specs in Mr. Dykeman’s room, which war left open. I found ’em, an’ war just goin’ out when I hearn some one a comin’ up de steps. I got behin’ the open door, for I feared whoever it mought be, mightn’t believe what Black Sam war there for. “TI see Mr. Forsdyke, the superin- tendent’s clerk, come in, an’ arter look- in’ *bout curious, put somethin’ on the top shelf of the closet. When he done gone, I looked on the shelf an’ foun’ two passels o’ bills like this ’ere one. I only took one, leavin’ ’tother one there, an’ here ’tis.”’ The latter was so filled with pity and horror at the situation that she hardly realized the significance of the informa- tion she had just received, and mechan- ically took the dark bundle which she thrust into the bosom of her dress. Then, like a flash, she thought of the express that was due at Madrid at two o’clock, and the urgent necessity of warning it of the fallen bridge occurred to her. | Could she reach the Madrid station, and in time for the operator to get word to the express at the first station the other side of the South Bridge? But stay. Could she leave the poor, dying negro lying at her feet? It would be better to leave him to his @ THE ARGOSY. fate, she thought, than that many oth- ers should perish on the express, but fortunately the alternative was not left to her to decide. “Good by, missis, I’se_ goin’,” gasped the colored victim and Doro- thy knew, from the horrid rattle in his throat, as he completed his words, that he had drawn his last breath. Sick and faint she turned away, but still determined to make an effort to warn the express of the danger in its path. All about her were the roaring waters, tearing up great trees by the roots and hurling them into the foam- ing cataract. The hideous wind yelled about the brave young girl and seemed to dare her to proceed. She crept along in the darkness, buf- feting the whirling cyclone and driving rain, her only guide the livid flashes that flared about her every moment, and at last reached the High Bridge trestle. To cross this single tracked elevated bridge required the steadiest of nerves, even in the daytime, when all was peace and sunshine around. How could she cross it now, in that fearful darkness, by the vivid flashes of lightning that came only to blind her? What was there for her but death should she lose her footing, or be hurled from the structure by the howling wind? Then the thought of the express again and its load of human lives. Death would be the penalty of her cowardice if she should not make the effort. This thought infused new cour- age in her, for she could not be a cow- ard with so much at stake. Down on her knees the brave young girl fell, determined to do her duty or die. Down on her hands and knees she went, and began the passage of the horrid chasm, straining her ears to hear, amidst the noise of the tempest, the whistle and roar of the flying ex- press train. (To be continued.) COM OOOIK eo