The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1888-02-02


of the strong man who held it and the
car rushed on to the second with
scarcely lessened force. Again, the
barrier was brushed aside, but this
time the speed of the old wreck was
perceptibly less. BY the time the fifth
obstruction was reached the newcom-
er raj able to Chamber aboard and
throw the child into the arms of his
companion. but before he had time to
save himself the old truck had regain.
ed something of its momentum and
was plunging on towards the precipice.
swell, the ! jumped just as they
reached the edge, just before his vehi.
Gle shot over into the air, but he had
little time to choose his ground, and so
landed. as luck would have it, on the
only heap Of stones in sight. The
others picked him up for dead, and
carried him up to the settlement,
where the miners held a regular wake
over him. But he came to life in the
middle of the festiv-, the ~obsequies, I
mean-and it was found that he was
only crippled for life. .
"The miners, folks not eaeily NOV
ed, were enthusiastic about the af.
A1AIs Cblo kbfO SuC1 OSOlulOkllStI6 DIS
they could, to show their gratitude
and appreciation. One of these ex.
pressions took the form Of a souvenir,
signed by every man in the place.
1.-THE maj who takes his own life in
his hand every day, and has frequent.
ly to fight for the life of some compan.
ion, values q 'brainy' action. In the
box with the testimonials was O. purse
of fifty dollars and q curious old gold
cross, that had been treasured by the
mother of the lad who was saved. as
her one piece of finery. On it was
rude]y engraved these words:
"'Given by the miners at the Notch to
the man who risked his life for child
THAT was all. The poor fellow
went away and would have been
forgotten, only that the old miners
told the story sometimes to their
children"
The prisoner was looking out OF the
window. The conductor rustled
around as though ashamed of the in
terest he had shown in the story-a
story which he had no doubt was pure
fiction. Only the brakeman'gave way
to mis- sympathy, and asked whether
the man had ever been found.
mot that I know Of" replied, the
detective.
Sand was you the boy what he saw.
ed?"
."I was the kid"
"And you never herd tell what be-
came OF the man-what would you do
if you sh'd come acrost him some
time?"-Evidently the brakeman had
an imagination which was trying to
assert itself. .v'. -
"Oh! I'd try to even the thing up
somehow. I suppose common de.
cency would demand that; I'd treat
him as we'll as I knew how"
"Look here" said the prisoner,
turning from the window with an ap-
parent effort to change a CONVERSE
ton which, for some reason, had not
seemed to interest him-'look here,
old man, I've got q little keepsake
that your story just reminded me of,
and if I could get at it I'd ask you to
take charge of it for me till-till this
thing is over. If you'll put your hand
in there and pull out that bit of rib
bon; So"
The conductor almost jumped out
VI Ills SCdG. 1--- IL IL dlu . UQ6
cross that you've just been telling
about" he shouted. a.. :.
A month later the detective was
undergoing g. cross-examinatio by
the conductor and brakeman.
Yes, he was a bad lot-oh, yes, he
didn't have leg to stand upon; the
facts were all as clear as day. All
true about the cross and the rest of
it? Just as true as gospel. What
had he been doing? Throwing bombs
the last thing.
Punished? Well, to tell you the truth
they won't be apt to punish him till
they catch him again, I guess. Fact
is, he got away from me somehow
that same night. Who, me? Oh, no.
Pm not on the force any more; I've
been bounced Edgar Meyhew Ba-
con,in the Epoch.