Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1882-06-29
"Hayr' and with the word Ben and


back with their arms full of dry hav,
from little shed they had remembered
seeing short distance up the hill.
I'VE had better go beyond the fallen
rock. and then. when we see the train
coming. Wen set fire to the hay" said
Joe, as they hurriedly divided the hay
into several small bundles.
They had just started up the track.
when there came a sound which made
them stop. 1t was a faint whistle, far
away around the curve.
- The train is coming now and. be-
sides, our light won't be seen from
around the berd:' cried Ned, as the
boys stood staring blankly at one an
other. for at last they fully realized the
danger.
"SOme of us must cross the bridge
and signal them from the other side of
the river" said Joe.
1.-The ties are cut from some places,
and we should have to jump the gaps.
Men We're setting blocks under the rails
when ] came past there this evening;
they were then going TO leave the gaps.
and replace the ties tomorrow" said
Johnny.
There won't be time to climb down
and up the banks. and cross on the little
foOt-bridge, nor 20 swing across the
gaps by holding to the rails" said Bob,
his voice shaking as he talked.
There were boards laid lengthwise
across. I'll 90 over on Them cried
Johnny. remembering that he had seen
men wheel gravel, from the hill on the
other side, along the whole length Of
the bridge, on u narrow path made of
two boards; and he determined to cross
by it. mounted on his wheel; there was
not time for running.
"Get ont all your handkerchiefs, tie
'em together, and put them in this
pocket. Give me some matches, Davie
here, in my mouth. Hurry! hurry!"
he went on, his fingers trembling as he
loored his own handkerchief around a
bundle of hay, so as to carry it on his
arm and leave both hands free.
"You mustn't gor' ''You III be
killed." ''You can't cross on 'emr'
they cried, trying TO dissuade him while
yet they went on doing as he told them.
1t was perilous undertaking; but the
need was urgent-not second was to
be lost! As Johnny reached the bridge,
he felt like giving up; but the thought
of what would happen if he should not
60, gave him fresh courage.
Tell 'em at home that tried to do
the best l could, if he shouted, but
a choke in his voice would not let him
finish. And he was off.
The loose boards ratified and shook as
the wheels spun over them, and where
the ties were out they seemed to bend
beneath the weight. Johnny could
him, but he did not dare to look down.
When he was half way over, he could
hear the roar of the train as it echoed
back from the hills, and he was almost
afraid too look toward the turn of the
track, for fear he should see the head
light of the engine cleaning around the
curve.
If he could only get over in time,
Faster and faster spun the wheels,
and faster and faster beat Johnny's
heart, as he reached the end of the tres
tle-work, and turned the bend.
The headlight of the coming train
shone bright and clear up the track.
"Oh, why do they go SO fast?' said
Johnny to himself, as he stopped, and
leaped from his bicycle to light his sig
nal. He crouched down beside the
track and struck match against the
rail; but his hand shook SO that the
head of The match flew off. The next
one burned, and he sheltered the flame
between his hands until the hay and
handkerchief were in a blaze. 1t
seemed long time to Johnny, but it
really was only moment until he was
up and away again. on run along the
track, waving the flaming bundle back
and forth.