The train stopped and there was silence; then came
sounds of cars being coupled—and meantime
Samuel was kicking and beating upon the wall.
He was almost exhausted and in despair—when
suddenly from outside came a muffled call—“Hello!”
For a moment he could not speak. Then “Help!
Help!” he shrieked.
“What’s the matter?” asked the voice.
“I’m locked in,” he called. .
“How’d you get in?”
“They locked me in by accident. I’m
nearly dead.”
“Who are you?”
“I was riding in the car.”
“A tramp, hey? Serves ye right! Better
stay there!”
“No! No!” screamed the boy, in terror.
“I’m starving—I’ve been
here for days. For heaven’s sake let me
out—I’ll never do it again.”
“If I let you out,” said the voice, “it’s
my business to arrest you.”
“All right,” cried Samuel. “Anything—but
don’t leave me here.”
There was a moment’s silence. “Have
you got any money?” asked the voice.
“Yes. Yes—I’ve got money.”
“Don’t yell so loud. How much?”
“Why—what?”
“How much?”
“I’ve got eighty dollars.”
“All right. Give it to me and I’ll
let you out.”
Frantic as he was, this staggered Samuel. “I
can’t give you all my money,” he cried.
“All right then,” said the other.
“Stay there.”
“No, no!” he protested. “Wait!
Leave me just a little.”
“I’ll leave you five dollars,” said
the voice. “Speak up! Quick!”
“All right,” said Samuel faintly.
“I’ll give it to you.”
“Mind! No nonsense now!”
“No. Let me out!”
“I’ll bat you over the head if you try
it,” growled the voice; and the boy stood trembling
while the hasp was unfastened and the door was pushed
back a little. The light of a lantern flashed
in through the crack, blinding him.
“Now hand out the money,” said the stranger,
standing at one side for safety.
“Yes,” said Samuel, fumbling with the
pin in his waistcoat. “But I can’t
see to count it.”
“Be quick! I’ll count it!”
And so he shoved out the wad. Fingers seized
it; and then the light vanished, and he heard the
sound of footsteps running.
For a moment he did not understand. Then, “Give
me my five dollars!” he yelled, and rolled back
the door and leaped out. He was just in time
to see the figure with the lantern vanish among the
cars up the track.
He started to run up the track and tripped over a
tie and fell headlong into a ditch. When he scrambled
to his feet again the long train was beginning to
move, and the light of the lantern was nowhere to
be seen.
Samuel’s money was gone, but he was suffering
too keenly from hunger and thirst to worry about it
for more than a minute. Then the thought came
to him—he was here in a lonely place at
night, and the train was going! If he were left
he might still starve.
