The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-08-19
HIS DUTY.

room for his mother, who was not strong
and found the keen air of the early spring
very trying in their rudely built cabin q
few miles out on the plains from the vii
Iage. All the time he was about this labor
of love he was thinking of the fortunate
opening likely to be his that day.
: He had been searching for something &c
do in the village, for matters were getting
serious in their little home The mother
had been sick so long, and their expenses
had been SO heavy, that the little they had
saved against time of need was now COM
pletely gone Next to nothing remained
for them to live upon; and, if possible, he
must find work of some kind to keep actual
want from the door,
So for two or three days previous to this
morning he had been looking for work, but
without success. He was either too young
or not strong enough, or they had no work
for a boy, and he had become well nigh
discouraged. The evening before, how
ever, just as be was about to give up
trying further for that day, he had stepped
into the store of Field 81 Swinburne, hard
Svare dealers, and asked if they needed a
boy He was shown into the office, where
he found Mr.. Swinburne alone.
IdJ EtuIlGlldus dllCI lLldhiI8 SOu1o III
ouiries as to Bennie's age and where he
lived, said:
Eyes, we do need boy; but Mr.. Field is
now out of town. You may come tomor-
row morning at 9 o'clock, and we will see
what can be done for you. Mind, now, and
be on time, as we shall hire the first boy
that comes along"
What wages would you be apt to pay2"
Bennie ventured to ask.
"Ohl two or three dollars a week." an
SEVERED Mr.. Swinburne carelessly. 1T de-
ponds altogether on how well you work"
So Bonnie built the fire, and busted him
self in cooking the potatoes-all that they
had for breakfast-happy at the prospect
before him, and sure that he would do his
best to earn the highest wages suggested.
On that amount he felt confident his moth
er and himself could, with proper care,
live comfortably until she was able to work
again.
The breakfast-if dish of potatoes can
be called a breakfast-once ready, he went
to the door of his mothers room and called
her
only think, mother" he exclaimed, as
they sat down at the table, 'I'm to have
work today; and if Pm worth it Pm to
have three dollars a week, and that'll be
enough for us to live on"
Eyes, indeed" responded his mother
''But l fear you are too young to under
take so much; above all, to take your long
walk after each days work"
"Oh, can stand it easily enough, mo-
ther," he asserted confidently.
When the poor little meal was finished
he brought in several huge armfuls of
wood, and arranged as far as possible for
his mothers comfort throughout the day,
and then put on his coat and started.
Here is your scarf, Bennie," said his
mother, calling him back at will be
chilly as you walk home tonight, and you
will need it,"
He laughingly took it, not realizing then
how it would be of special service to him
little later.
1t was not yet o'clock, and he had
ample time to reach the village before the
appointed hour. The most direct way was
down the railroad track, and he hurriedly
tripped over the ties, as happy as a boy
rould well be.
Within a mile of the village the track
made sharp turn to the right and entered
what was known as Henway's cut, where
Int IOdODeu idu DtGn DldSleu SOllu
rock for a number of rods As Bonnie
reached the curve be, as a precaution,
glanced along the track TO be sure the s:45
passenger train was nowhere in sight, and
then entered the cutaway
When about half way through, however,
he suddenly stopped, for in front of him
lay large bowlder which had fallen from
the cliff above, and completely blocked the
passage.
But it was possible TO Chamber over it,
and Bonnie began TO do So Then he as
quickly got down again. The thought had
come to him that the train, No %, coming
around the curve at full speed, would not
have time TO come TO a full stop before
reaching the obstruction, and a smashup,
more or less terrible in its results, was in
evitable unless some one gave the warning.
But if he waited to warn the train of its
danger he could not reach the village at
the appointed hour, and might lose the
place. Indeed, Mr.. Swinburne had dis
tinctIy said if he was not there on time
they should hire some other boy.
There was not time enough to go on TO
the village and have some one sent to flag
the train. At least it would be a tremen-
Rous risk to do so.
The first house back, up the track. was
tull mile away, and to go there and leave
word to stop the train would also make
him late at the store.
For moment he hesitated More than
this, he actually left the cutaway an6 went
\ short distance up over the cliff toward
the highway. Then he came back to the
track and with qulyering lip sat down. He
knew 1t WAS his duty, whatever the per-
sonal sacrifice, TO stay there and warn the
train.
Il can't leave here" he resolutely said.
'even if l DO not get work and we have to
beg"
The train was late that morning, and for
nearly an hour he sat there. He knew it
must be already O'Clock, and he wondered
IL some other boy had been hired to fill the
place he had only an hour before been so
sure Of In spite of himself the great tears
would come 10 his eyes.
The low rumbling Of the train at last
reused him from the despair into which he
was fast falling. Springing TO his feet he
exclaimed:
Il wish had a red flag, an I'd stop the
train easy enough"
Then his eye fell on his scarf. 1t was
large, and Of a bright req color The next
moment he had cut a long stick and
stretched his scarf To its widest capacity
over one end, forming a wide flag He
now hurried down the track toward the
coming train, moving the scarf 10 and fro
as he had often seen the fiagmen do.
On came the train. Now il was near
enough for the engineer TO plainly see him.
The next instant prolonged whistle
which Bonnie knew meant down brakes"
rang on the air, and be jumped from the
track.