Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-10-12

upon it's head, and the image was laid,
with face to the wall, in Minnie's bed.
The clothing the child had worn that
evening was put in it's accustomed place
on the rude little chair, the shoes and
stockings laid on the floor by it's side,
and Minnie put herself into stout
mining suit of Carls She looked very
much like him as she tucked up her fair
curls out of sight inside the close cap,
and, with the little lantern in her hand,
stood saying her last goodbye words to
mother.
II shall do it, mother. Never fear for
me, nor for Miss Florence, nor for faith
er. I'm going to do right, and I'll ask
God to tell me how to do it, and you
keep asking Him to take care of me and
He will Goodbye, mother! You'll be
up with the babies and let me in when |
come"
With hurried kiss on the warm
sleeping little faces, side by side in the
trundle bed, and a long clinging one on
her mothers cheek, Minnie set forth.
The snow had ceased to fall. Up above
oIC Colu CICdI SldIS WclC UWluhllHS away
with all their might to each other, and
the wind was doing it's best at mixing
up snow and stars in one binding whirl-
igig. Minnie rejoiced in the whirling
snow; it covered up her footprints near
ly as fast as they were made, and would
do wonders at concealing everything she
had to do and wished to conceal
The little lantern in her hand ready to
light, the matches in her pocket, and
brave heart under Carls heavy jacket,
gave Minnie courage.
The river twisted itself in and out
among the high hills, and by the river
ran for miles on miles the railroad, to-
ward which Minnie took her way. 1t
was bleak, lonely walk through the
snow and the night for girl of only II
years, but Johns Minnie was not afraid
for herself. Once she thought she saw
some one approaching; she left the track
and went into concealment among the
trees that skirted the river bank, but no
one appeared.
Through the night came a rush and a
roar; it was the train that Minnie knew
had passed in safety the place where the
train-wreckers meant to do their work.
The engine-driver, looking out, saw the
boy on the track in that lonely spot, and
gave whistle Of warning Minnie
quickly obeyed it and ran lightly aside,
waiting for the train to go whirring on
its way
Now l must hurry" she thought.
The other train will be along soon"
and she tried to step from sleeper to
sleeper through the snow. At last, al
most ready to lie down with weariness
and sleep, she came to the long, long
stretch of straight track where she knew
the train must see her lantern if she be-
gan to signal with it the instant the
headlight could be seen.
At the further end of the long line of
straight track there was a bridge over
the river. Minnie thought she should
surely hear the train when it thundered
through the bridge, and that would be
the minute in which she would jump up
and run and swing her lantern with all
her might, and keep on swinging it until
the train should slow down and stop
After that she did not know just what,
but she lit her lantern without fear of
any person being down upon her. for
there was not within sight either miner
cabin or lumberman S lodge. She sat
down on a rock within shelter from the
wind, which still tumbled the light snow
from side to side of the track, and
waited.
John Jansen returned to his home at
half past nine o'clock, looked, as was his
custom, into Minnie's room, into the
boys room, kissed the twins, said good
night" to his wife, and went out again,
Notwithstanding her entreaty that he
would stay at home.
Outside the cabin the great savage min
er stood and wrung his hands in vain
agony. 1t was all of no use; he had
Joined the organization of evil workers,
and he could not get out of its rule.
He knew that the words he had spoken
since the afternoon, urging delay until
another night. had caused his move
ments to be watched; but John Jansen
would have given everything he possess
ed for the power to prevent the very
thing he himself had plotted and plan
ned
1T is too late! too late!" he gasped,
as he made his way back to his friends.
Minnie grew very cold and sleepy, sit
ting still under the great rock, and the
moaning needles Of the bending pine
trees over her head lulled her drowsy
ears
This won't do at all! she said, and
springing up at the very instant the
huge headlight of the locomotive engine
dashed itself and the train after it into
the bridge.
BY the time it emerged the little sig
nal-maker was on the track, racing down
toward it, swinging the lantern around
her head, up and down, to and fro, from
side to side.
The fireman on the tender, looking
out, said to the driver:
Look out! There light ahead!
He glanced down the long line, saw
the waving glimmer of brave Minnie 5
lantern, and whistled for brakes"
Slower and slower grew the motion OF
the cars, laden with precious human
lives.
The headlight came near and utterly
blinded the lantern light that Minnie
still held
Down from the engine sprang the two
men. Up walked to meet them John $
Minnie.
"What the mischief, you boy, you, do
you mean, stopping the train in this
way?" shouted the foremost man, and
he sprang forward to sieze her arm.
'Oh!" cried Minnie, whether from
pain or fright she herself could not tell.
Il had to stop you, or you'd go off into
the river, and there wasn't anybody else
to tell
What's the matter?
The track is torn up down by the
! bend, said Minnie.
Come up on the engine, youngster
with me" said the driver.
''Oh, no, no!" gasped Minnie I'D
] ho killed. IF onyhodv shOuld find me ont