The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-05-17

! over at her from the center OF the bridge,
and called out with smile:
Couldn't you get any more flowers than
those2 If had time to go to the pond, you
should have as many as you could carry
| Polly smiled back at him, aud then began
to watch him as he made ready to turn the
great bridge back into place for the train to
pass over. His hand was already on the
crank. when a rope dangling over the rail-
ing of the bridge attracted his attention.
As he tried to pull it in, it seemed to be
caught underneath. Polly watched him
lean over to get better hold, when, to her
great horror, the piece of railing to which
he was holding gave way.
There was sudden scream, and great
splash in the water. But before the waves
of the swiftly flowing river closed over him,
Polly heard the cry,
"The trainl--the hagP'
Poor little Pollyi She was so alarmed
for the poor mans safety that for some mo
ments she could think ofnothing else, and
ran backward and forward wriDging her
hands in despair. As he arose TO the sur
face she saw that he made frantic gestures
to her, and pointed up the road from which
the train was to come He seemed to keep
himself above water with very little effort,
and Polly saw with Joy that the accident
had been observed by the occupants of the
vessel. The man in the water struck out
toward the boat, and Pollycould hear shouts
and cheers from the men on board.
All st once she was startled by the far-of
whistle of the approaching locomotive.
In moment she understood the
meaning of the fagman's gestures. She
looked at the open space and then at the
bridge. In FIVE minutes or less the train
would come dashing into that terrible
chasm. Polly's hair almost rose on her
head with horror. 1t was as much as she
could do to keep her senses.
There must be some way to avert the aw-
full calamity. She ran swiftly along toward
the rapidly approaching train. Lying on
the ground Just by the small wooden house
where the fagmsn generally sat, Polly saw
a red flag. She remembered having heard
that this flag was used in a case of danger,
or when there was any reason for stopping
the cars. She did not know whether there
was yet time, but she seized the flag and
few wildly up the track.
"0h, my papal oh, my mammal che
cried; "they will fall into the river and be
drownedi What shall / dor" and Polly
waved the flag backward and forward as
she ran.
Then came the train around the curve
She could see the white steam putting from
the pipe, and could hear the painting of the
engine.
Il know they'll run over me, but if NAM
ma and papa are killed, | don't care Ia
i've" she said to herself, as she approached
the great black noisy engine.
When it was about 800 feet away from
her, she saw a head thrust out OF the little
window by the locomotive, and then, with
a great putting, snorting, and whistllng, il
began to move slower and.slower. until at
last when it was aimos1 On Polly, it stop
ped entirely.
All the windoy IRE alive with heads
and hands. The bgers screamed and
waved her off theItack. She stepped of
and ran close up to the side of the engine
and gasped out, "The bridge is open. and
the man has fallen into the river. Please
stop the train or you'll be drowned"
The engineer stared in amazement, as
we'll he might, to see a small girl with q
flushed face, hair blown wildly about, and
four lilies pinned in her belt, waving the red
flag as though she had been used to tagging
trains all her life.
At that moment another remarkable fig
ure presented itself to the astonished eyes
of the passengers. A man, dripping wet,
bruised and scratched as though he had
been drawn through briers, came tearing
toward the cars, stumbling and almost fall
ing at every step. AS he reached little Pol
2, he snatched her up and covered her
with kisses.
"You little darling" he cried, "do you
know what you've done2 You've saved
the lives Of more than hundred people,"
Polly, nervous and excited, began to cry
Il One after another the passengers came hur-
rying out the train and crowded around
her, prsising and kissing her, until she wa;
quite ashamed, and hid her head upon the
kind Asgman's shoulder, whispering
"Please take me away and find mamma anc
papa"
Almost the last to alight were Polly,
parents. "Why, it's our PolIyl" they both
exclaimed at once.
The draw was now being closed again
and the conductor cried, Gall aboardl' The
passengers scrambled back TO their seats
again. Polly's father took her into the cal
with him, and now she looked calmly at the
people as they gathered around, and an
swered politely all questions put to her, but
refused the rings, chains, bracelets, and
watches that the grateful passengers pressed
her to accept as tokens of their gratitude for
saving their lives.
AT last Polly grew tired of so much
praise, and spoke out: Really 1 don't de-
serve your thanks, for l never once thought
of any one but papa and mamma So keep
your presents for your own little glrl:.
Thank you all the same.
Those that heard her laughed, seeing
they could do nothing better for her than to
let her remain unnoticed for the short dis
lance she had to go.
When Polly was lifted out of the car, and
stood upon the steps of the station while her
father looked after the luggage, the passen-
gers threw kisses and waved their haDdker-
lchiefs to her until they were out of sight.
A few days afterward Polly was astonish.
ed at receiving beautiful ivory box con.
tanning an exquisitely ensmelled medal
with these words engraved on it:
Presented to Polly Gardner, whose cour
age and presence of mind saved hundred
ives"
Not That Kind of n Member.