Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-10-05
anyone would be near enough to see.
and fish him out alive

just then his particular chum and
boon companion, Jimmie Brown, came
whstling across the bridge. As he
caught sight of the disconsolate figure
seated on the railing, he commenced
turning series of somersaults, the
final one bringing him within few
feet of his friend. and landed right
side up he emitted loud and pro-
longed war-whoop. Failing to elicit
any response to his challenge. he
stretched himself out at full length on
his stomach on the narrow railing
retaining this perllous position by eros
sing his legs underneath. and thus ac-
costed his comrade: HI. there, Jack!
what makes you SO glum!"
'Oh. nothin' particular, answered
Jack. trying to assume a careless ex-
preston. and failing miserably; 'only
me an pa had little trouble this
mornin'."
Jimmie looked his friend over care
fully and drew his own conclusions.
"Humph guess yer pa got of bet
tern you did. l saw him down town.
awhile ago. He was lookin' purity
chirk. His collar wasn't all torn OIL,
and hanging down his back.
Jack vouchsafed no reply to this
tanut except to glare savagely in the
direction whence it proceeded, while
he reached back furt vels to dislodge
the collar Will ch he felt sure was
hanging conspicuously down his back.
How this uncomfortable interview
might have Terminated, it would be
difficult to say. but just ut that mo-
ment a loud clatter OF horses hoofs,
accompanied by shouts of whoa!
whoa" startled the boys into immedi-
ate forgetfulness of their personal af-
fairs, and an instant later, pair of
plunging horses came in sight around
the corner. drawing light buggy
which conta but one occupant. a
little girl. AT the first frightened
glance. the boys saw that they were
coming directly toward the bridge.
With one bound } m ie flung him
self over the railing and cl nging with
both hands lowered himself to place
of salty on the abutment underneath
meanwhile calling on his friend to fol-
low. Come on. quick, Jack! you, II
get killed." he cried
Jack had seen at the first momen
that the child in the buggy was none
other than little Nellie Walters. the
pet and pride of the doctors house
hold. For one moment he stood par
alyZed by fear; then the natural hero
ism of the boy asserted itself, and he
ran forward to the end of the brid ge.
and stood there. waiting eagerly. All
the blood in his body seemed to be
throbbing in his head. and hun dred
thoughts went dartlng in rapid succe s.
sion through his mind. He thought
of his father and mother and won
dered if he should ever see them again.
He wished he had BEEN better boy
and he wondered if God would hear
him if he tried to pray. He whispered
tremblingly, Our Father which art in
heaven"
Just then the maddened horses
reached the bridge, and the boy braced
nerve and muscle to meet and combat
their furious strength. But. as if rec.
ognizing by some substle instinct the
spirit aroused in the bows puny fame.
thew swerved from their course.
Without moments hesitation Jack
sprang forward. and grasping them by
the brides with both hands, clung
there with desperate courage. Scorn-
ing the slight restraint, they lifted him
bod ly from the ground, and in mo-
ment more were rearing and strug.
Cling on the steep bank of the river.
the boy still hanging with strained,
bloodless fingers to their br dies.
He saw. as in a dream. the white
face of the child covering in the bug
gy. He saw men running from both
sides of the street. As one will, in
some supreme awful moment some
times take note of the smallest de-
tails Of what Is passing around them,
he noticed the tlecks of foam from the
horses mouths dropping upon his coat
sleeve. and heard between their snorts
OF fear and rage the swift swirl of the
river as it leaped over the rock below.
just an instant the struggle lasted. but
the boy slight weight thrown in the
balance held the team back from e.
struction, and saved a human life.
The next moment strong hands seized
the brides from each side. and drew
the trembling animals back from the
river. Some one lifted the little girl
from the buggy and spoke soothing
words to her. and as Jack saw the doc
tor coming through the crowd he slip
ped quietly away.
Tears stood in the doctors eyes as
he took his little girl in his arms
and listened to the account of
jacks boyish heroism and presence of
mind.
Eater in the day he. accompanied by
Thompkins, Senior, found Jack in the
woodshed. up among the rafters where
he had rugged a trapese. having bor-
rowed Norah's clothes-line for the pur =
pose-pe rforming many thrilling and
wonderful feats thereon. to the un-
bounded delight of the three younges
OF the Thompkins tribe, I'm. Trot aud
the baby.
jacks freckled face flushed painfully
from embarr ass ment when the doctor
praised his courage. and with bashful
tw st of the shoulders he said. half-m-
patiently, II didn't do nothin' worth
maxim fuss about. Psbaw. what's the
usep" after which rather ambiguous
ka .t- A ~. n