The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-01-10

q uAIl0 lEOLu Cu0 HOUSE, no Tall way
crossed it upon q stone piered bridge.
On the banks Of the river Robbie
spent many happy hours in the COM
panv OF farmers son, who was an
ardent disciple Of good old Izaak Wal.
ton. and who knew all the deep pools
where lurked the wary sunfish and the
| spotted ''gogcled-eyes." The farmers
son was also skillful oarsman, and
kept little boat convenient to the
bridge. He frequently rowed Robbie
across the stream, and before the
summer had ended Robbie had
learned to guide and propel the boat
with almost as much skill rs his pre-
ceptor.
The cheated term" passed. The
lovely autumn weather, with it's haze
Of Indian summer. gave way to tho
| icy blasts of winter. Cold, dreary
months followed. but spring came
once more. with odorous breath and
her hands filled with flowers.
Then the gardening was renewed
and the vegetable basket began again
to make its daily journey to the viii
lage.
One night in May terrible storm
arose. The wind howled and shrieked,
| the thunder bello we'd and the rain
came down in torrents.
Mrs. Hilton felt compelled to visit
the village the next morning, and. al
most before it was fairly light, she
set out on loot for the house of 8
neighbor who, she knew, in tended to
drive into the village at an early
! hour.
Robbie andsTommy were left in care
of the premises, with many cautions
as to how they should conduct them
selves during her absence.
Shortly after sunrise Robbie went
down toward the river, q view OF
which could not be had from the
house because of intervening trees.
He was curious to know how high the
river had risen during the night.
The drift upon the shore showed
that it had been quite high, but it was
again within it's banks and was rapid
ly falling. What was his horror, how
ever, to discover that one of the piers
had been undermined and that the
bridge was twisted far out of position
and seemedon the poi Mt OF falling in
to the river.
He shuddered as he rea lized what
would Dol the result should train at.
tempt to pass over the tottering
structure.
His first thought was that the train
from the village was almost due, and
he hoped toward the house with all
the speed he could muster.
"Get pole and some kind OF red
rag, Tommy" he shouted. as he came
within speaking distance.
But he had no sooner given the
command than a doubt as to the COR
rectness OF that first thought assailed
him. Had not the train from the east
passed, and was it not one from the
west that was due. Shaken by this
uncertainty, he knew not what course
to follow. If he placed himself in q
position to stop the train from the
east, might not the one from the west
crash into the river? And if he crossed
the river for the purpose of tagging
the train from the west, might not the
one from the east be hurled to de.
strucoion? The belt of timber inter-
posed so that he could not take a
position that would enable him to
flag whichever train approached.
Then away out OF the fearful diem
ma came to him as if by Inspiration.
Tommy had returned with q pole and
and square OF red flannel.
run into the house again, Tommy,
and see if you can find another piece
| of flannel like this!" he commanded,
steadying himself on his crutch, as,
| vvifh Tram b1iv0 E,,rorc ho %;ol %h~
square of flannel to the pole.
Tommy came back almost instant
".
Had to tear of'n the new piece ma
bought last week." he explained.
Robbie scarcely heard, he was so
excited and agitated.
"Now come with me, Tommy" he
said, as he fastened the second square
| of flannel to pole; and he stumped
away toward the railway, dragging
the poles after him.
''The bridge is down, Tommy, and
if the train is not stopped the people
will all be killed. You must stand
right here in the middle Of the track,
and when the train comes in sight
wave that as hard as ever you can!'
Tommy understood, and, al
though his baby face paled little
and his eyes gathered startled light,
he promised compliance and took
his position bravely in the center OF
| the track.
Robbie waited only long enough to
see that he was obeyed, and then
hurried away toward the river. This
he crossed in the boat. Then he
hobbled up the slippery railway
fill and planted his flag where it
could not fail to be seen by a coming
| train.
He had not been there more than
five minutes when he heard the rum
BILE and roar Of the lightning express
as it turned the grade q mile out
from the village and bore down to.
ward the bridge.
The sound drew an involuntary