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[HOW HECTOR SAVED THE TRAIN.]
SECOND-PRIZE STORY.
BY S. O. RITTENHOUSE.
"When may I hear the story?"
"Well," replied Walter Preston, the genial station-master at Springdale, "it happened several years ago. I could tell you many more wonderful stories than this, concerning Hector, in which he displayed almost human intelligence. The only remarkable thing about this story lies in the fact that a number of human lives were placed in a position of deadly peril, and that all were saved—not in any wonderful manner, but, nevertheless, saved by Hector.
"When we first moved here we lived a mile down the track in the only house near the station at that time. Hector was my only companion while on duty, and in all these years he has never failed to accompany me, night or day, in sunshine or in storm. He is one of the best dogs I ever saw. I have never been able to make out his breed, but that is of small importance to me.
"Since the company put in their new system of signals there have been but few accidents, but before that they were of frequent occurrence. When I came here the road had only a single track, and the signal-station was put in as a matter of precaution, owing to the dangers arising from the heavy grades, dangerous curves, and many deep cuts.