The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-12-11

II wish had red nag, ana Ia stop
the train easy enough"
Then his eye fell on his scarf. 1t was
large, and of a bright red color. The
next moment he had cut a long stick and
stretched It's scalf to its widest capacity
over one end, forming wide flag. He
now hurried down the track toward the
coming train, moving the scarf to and
fro as he had often seen the flagmen do.
On came the train. Now it 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 he jumped
from the track.
The cars shot by him, but came to a
standstill near the curve. The engineer
sprang from his cab, asking:
"Well, my boy what is it?'
'Just around the curve and you'll see
for pourself," answered Bonnie.
The engineer, fireman, conductor and
crowd of passengers hurried into the
cutaway and moment later stood by
the bowlder.
sit is big mornings work you have
done, my lad" the conductor at last
said. Had we come around that curve
and stove full force into that rock, there
would have been terrible work here.
How came you to discover it?"
So Bonnie briefly told his story.
81 was going to work for Field &
Swinburne down at Scottsville this morn
ing at clock, and left our cabin back
here couple of miles to go there. When
l got here saw the rock and l knew
ought to stay to give you warning,
though spose have lost my place by
it," he added regretfully.
How is that?" asked a tall, finely
dressed gentleman standing by.
"Why, Mr.. Swinburne said was to be
there on time" answered Bonnie, 'or
else they should hire some other boy"
The conductor now decided that, with
enough men and proper tools, the OBJ
struction could be removed in an hour
or two at the farthest, and dispatched a
messenger to the village for them. He
also advised the passengers to return to
the cars and make themselves as COM
Portable as possible during the delay.
Then a gentleman spoke up enthusiasts
tically:
'Let us make up purse for the lad.
Here is five dollars toward it."
A hat was passed among the passen-
gers, and few minutes later the gentle
man announced:
1--WE have got hundred dollars. Now
where is the boy?'
He could not be found, but a brake
man finally said:
81 saw him go off toward the village
with the man the conductor sent down
there"
He'll be back this way by and by
likely as not" said the conductor If
not it can be left at the Scottsville depot
for him."
1t was true Bonnie had fastened off to
the village, hoping he might even yet
reach the store before some one was en-
gagged. But in this he was disappointed,
for as he entered Mr.. Swinburne's Office
that gentleman looked up at him and
CURLY said:
"You are too late, sir; l engaged an
other lad half an hour ago. Learn next
time to be punctual at the appointed
! hour"
Poor Bonnie! Without Offering a word
of explanation, he left the store and hur-
ried off home. He had no heart to look
elsewhere for work that day at least. He
knew he had done right, that his mother
would approve of his course. Still, he
could not get over the great disappoint-
ment that had come to him. What in
the world should they now do for bread?
AS he reached the cutaway he found
the men busy blasting the bowlder to
pieces, and he paused TO watch them.
While he stood there the conductor
caught sight of him.
Look here, youngster," ne said,
"aren't you the boy that stopped the
train?"
Eyes, SIR" promptly responded Ben
ME-
"Well," he went on, there is gen.
tleman up at the cars that wishes to see
you"
Wondering " hat could be wanted of
him Bonnie went up to the train, clam
bered into the parlor car and asked:
''Is there a man here who wants to see
me?'
Eyes, sir" exclaimed a gentleman,
dropping his paper and springing to his
feet. 1--WE all want to see you. We
want to thank you for your unselfish
conduct this morning, and give you this
roll of bills as token of our apprecia-
ton of your act' And he handed Ben
ME the money.
II din't expect nothing" said Bonnie
modestly and ungrammatically. 81
didn't just like to see the train busted
up"
"We can we'll afford to give this money
to you," replied the gentleman kindly,
"for some of us would have doubtless
lost our lives but for you, and had the
overturned cars taken fire in that cut
none of us could have escaped"
With joyful heart Bonnie now FASTENED
home. Nor was his joy any less when
his mother, after listening to his story,