JACK AND JOAN ON THE RAILWAY

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12423, 17 April 1926, Page 16

JACK AND JOAN ON THE RAILWAY

Jack and Joan were twins. They were very venturesome, and jr/herever one went the other followed. One Saturday they had had an unusually dull day, and Joan expressed’blunt disapproval of her brother’s games. “We haven’t had one real excitement,” she said. "It will soon be bedtime.” . 1 They,were standing at a window which overlooked a railway siding, where some trucks were being shunted. “I’ve thought of a real thrill,” Jack cried suddenly. He ran downstairs with Joan at his heels, and, dashing out into the garden, was down at the end and over the fence in a winking, and clambering into a truck at the end of a long goods train. Joan didn’t find this very easy, but she managed to follow. “But supposing it goes off, Jack,” she said. “Then we go, too,” chuckled Jack. “You wanted some real excitement, didn’t you?” Before Joan could reply there was a bang and a jar as the engine backed and was attached, and in a few seconds the train, was pulled slowly out on to the main line, where-it soon got up speed. - “We’ll escape at the next station,” said Jack, trying to sound braver than- he felt. He had not expected the train to go off so quickly, and had intended to jump put before it started. “Goods trains never go very fast,” he added, “and they stop everywhere. I’ve got some money. We’ll come back by passenger. We shall be home again before they have missed us.” But, aias! the train didn’t go slowly, nor did it stop! It went faster and faster, and the wind whistled round their heads as they passed station after station. They stood up as they swept, past platforms, but there seemed no one about to see their frantic waving. At last they gave it up and sank do.Wn in a corner. Just as the tears were mounting to Joan’s eyes and Jack felt a nasty lump rising in his throat, the train began to slow up, and finally stopped at a little wayside station. Jack jumped up and shouted to the guard as he stepped out on to the platform. To Iheir surprise he came sauntering up with a broad grin on his face. “Had a nice ride?” he asked, pleasantly. The twins gasped, and their eyes opened wide with astonishment. “Oh! I saw you get in at Meadowdale, though you didn’t see me,” the man said. "I thought as you warded a ride you should have one. I suppose you know that you are 30 miles away? I guess, moreover, you’ve been punished enough. Here’s the cash for your return fares. Hop over to the bther platform; there is a train back in a few minutes. I sent word by one of the yardmen to your home. Expect you’ll find someone waiting for you at Meadowdale.” ' Jack and Joan arrived home looking crestfallen, glad that the I ’day wag over.