Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1885-04-25

the boys took short cut across the
fields.
A brook flowed along between the
boys and their destination but they
utterly ignored bridges and stepping
stones. They conld cross at any
place they chose, it only being neces-
sary, for this purpose, to roll their
trowsers o little higher and wade
in.
"What's that roaring, Jack :" ask
ed Dan, when their merry chatter
had ceased for moment, and the
space was filled with a rumbling,
rushing sound.
'1t's the creek" cried Jack, max
ing sudden, impetuous start for the
place where the creek used to be.
ats the biggest kind of a river
now," he called back to Dan, who
reached his side moment later.
"Well," said Dan," who didn't
mean to have his pleasure spoiled by
such an insignificant circumstance,
"we can go cross on the railroad
bridge-can't we?"
"Course we can !" said Jack, stout
ly.
"Who cares if IT is most a mile
further?"
The boys turned away from the
noisy creek, which, as Jack said, "was
the biggest kind of a river"
At least it was the noisiest kind of
q one. They soon came to the rail-
road track.
The creek at this place wound
about considerably, and there would
be long walk on the track before
the boys could reach the bridge.
"Mother'd be frightened to death
if she knew that we were on tho
track" said Dan.
"Guess we can take care of our
selves" replied Jack. clark! l
hear the train a-comin' now. It's
lucky we amt Oh the bridge"
"It's coming from behind u.s." said
Dan. "Let's get up on this big stump
close by the track, and show the folks
our lantern"
He would not call it a jack-o'-lan-
tern. 1t seemed like giving the big
gest share to his brother.
"I'll bet a dollar their eyes'll stick
out when they see it," chuckled Jack.
"Maybe they'll think it's a ghost"
They had scarcely got themselves
in good position when the night ex-
press came laundering down toward
them.
Jack held the jack-o'- lantern aloft
and waved 1t to and fro, the better to
attract the attention of the people on
the train.
''They're stopping the train, "cried
Jack, in great surprise. 'They want
to get better look at it,
Sure enough, the great engine puff
ed and wheezed and snorted as though
terribly frightened at the two little
boys and their jack lantern and
finally came to "stop" quite near
them.
"What's wrong?" exclaimed the
conductor, coming up to the boys.
"Nothing, Sir, but we thought the
folks would like to see our jack-o'-
lantern" said Jack, proudly. "We'll
let you take it in for 'em to look at,
if you want to"
At which generous offer the con
ductor was impoLte enough to say
very harsh and disrespectful things
at their wonderful lantern.
He was just about to wave his Ian
tern as signal for the engineer to
ego on," when shrill little shout
was heard down the track, when {
hatless boy came running toward the
train, waving his arms in the great
est excitement.
"The bridge is gone! the bridge ii
gone!" he shouted, and the conductor
heard HIM just in time to prevent the
train from starting.
1t was Tom Jones, but there was
no time for him to examine and adj
mire the jack-o' lantern just then
Even Dan and Jack forgot all abour
it, and left it ON the stump, while
they joined the crowd from the train
who went forward to examine tn,
place over the creek where the bridge
had been.
The heavy rains and the sudder
rise of water in the creek had WASHED