Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1877-03-01

Whew thought l should freeze to
death in that old tank with the water
dripping and freezing around me and
IL YOU hadn't taken care of me, guess
I'd have thrown myself under the cars
and put an end to the thing. What's
the use of fighting hard times and had
luck for ever2"
swell, cheer up. You're all right
pow-that is, to the end Of my run.
Then YOU shall 80 homo with mo and
recruit a bit, and it'll go hard IT can't
manage to get you u free ride with
some of the boys to. the end OF the,
road. It's against all orders but John
Lathrop's got a heart in him and he
won't see one suffer if he can help it
not much. =.
His presence attested the truth OF
his words. He was tall, broad.shoul-
dered, deep.chested, and his face told
of goodness in every feature, and his
manner, if bluff, was hearty. In the
physical the stranger was his opposite:
Yet his frame was strongly knit, and
his muscles trained by severe and long
continued exercise until they stood out
as whip cords, strictly obeyed his will
and were rs firm rs steel, and daring
flashed from his black eyes, and was
revealed by every line about tho
mouth.
IL don't know" said he. looking at
the engineer, show am ever to pay
YOU. My life you certainly saved, and
it may bo l can do you Il good turn
some day. If the chance comes you
can depend upon my doing 1t, for l M
not one to forget a favor
81 believe it. But don't think OF
my giving you ride and bite. It's
no more than any man that wasn't a
brute would have done, and who knows
hut what either or my boy when he
grows up, may want d lift OF the same
kind.
"Your boy
Eyes, the brightest, cutest little
chap you ever saw, III show him TO
YOU tomorrow. Yes and my wife, too
Just the prettiest, dearest little wo:
, man that ever walked in two shoes.
No. Ninety-nine was running
smoothly and steadily along. 1t was
Sunday morning, and there was moth
ing in the way-not even an uv-traln
to pass until John Lathrop would I'M
couple his iron steed and put him in
the great round stable to rest and be
cleaned, for twenty-four hours. So
while the fireman kept his eyes ahead
John Lathrop seated himself, and
while keeping watch OF the steam
gauge and his eyes open, told OF his
early life under canvas, his present
home happiness, and the bright'eyed,
blithe hearted ones that were waiting
there to welcome him.
"The life of in engin eer,' he said,
"has its ups and downs the same as
any other, and is full OF danger, and
requires sharp lookout and strong
hand and quick decision know one is
never safe, and my Jennie often talks
of what narrow escapes 1--we had,
and shivers as she thinks how many
other have been killed running over
this very road.
"Why don't you give it up!'
"Well, there's al excitement about
it like and the pay is certain, though
it arn't what it ought to be, considering
the risks we have to run and how we
ever carry our lives in our hands. as
one might say. Keep sharp look
out jack ITO the lireman.) 81 re-
member we'll running over this very
same section on such y night as this
some three years ago, and going smash
through the culvert over the Big Stony
and breaking things generally. Engine
tender and half i dozen cars were
stove in and piled up together, my
fireman killed, and l was dragged out
from under the wreck, pretty badly
scalded and used up. But my time
hadn't come yet, and was upon the
| road again and.
'.Something on the track! Looks
like somebody waving a lantern, but
the sleet Is SO thick 1 can't rightly
make OUT shouted the fireman.
John Lathrop sprang to his post,
made the whistle shrek like an i'm.
prisoned and tortured fiend, reversed
the engine AID whistled on brakes.
But his trained eye instantly saw that
it would be of no use--that he could
not check the Roadway of the heavy
train in time to avert running over
| the object, be it what it might, for
the track was so narrow and walled III
by high entertainments that escape was
impossible. Besides, they were upon
the something upon the track be-
fore they were aware of it, having
| Just rounded i sharp curve.
"There is my home,' gasped John
Latbrop. pointing out into the gloom.
THE Big Stony is just ahead ,and--Oh,
NV Cod if the culvert should have
given way, and my boy have come to
! olive me warming -
Your homegrown boy = echoed
the tramp.
Great heaven! yes" and the strong
man became unnervett and robbed OF
all decision.
1T is a boy - shouted the fireman
"And may God have mercy upon Elm
I believe it is your John! -
| The passenger said Lothins. but &
wild determination flashed from his
eyes as he arose, climbed out along
the side of the monster engine--a jug
gernaut immense enough to have
crushed hundreds at a time beneath
it's ponderous wheels. Then the mid
day.like sunbeams of the headlight
streamed out and made all plain tt
him, despite the thick sleet and dark
ness.
| He saw land shiver other tina,
that produced by the cold passet
through him) boy standing directl!
ahead in the deep cut, waving Ian
tern, whose blood.red globe shone lik'
an evil eye. Though still at littl
distance, he seemed directly unde
foot and about to be dragged dow
and flevOnrpd.
HE saved my life,' muttered tn
tramp from between his tightly sc
teeth, sand I'll do as much for him il
can. Any way, l IL try land haven t any
body to mourn for me if do 6
UNDER l~.-.. ...-,f a.. r.i,-, -,
His resolution was desperate one
must be carried out with the delay Q
single moment, if at all. He swun
himself down upon the pilot, twiste
, his feet within the iron bars. and 81
; tended his body ahead as rigid as
carved from oak, and stretching hi
hands still in advance. ~.
X It was a trying situation, one RI
quiring the greatest courage-a post
: ion no one unused to feats of strengt