The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1891-11-14
The train was late that morning and for

nOur before been so sure OF. In spite OF
himself, the great tears would come 70 his
ewes.
The low rumb,ing of the train at last
reused him from the despair into which he
was fast f,llin0. SpIinging to his feet he
exclaimed:
II wish l had a red flag, an I'd stop
the train easy enough"
Then his eye fell on his scarf. Ii was
large, and of bright red color. The
next moment he had cut long stick and
stretched his scarf to its widest capacity
over one end, forming wide flag
He now hurried down the track to-
ward the coming train, moving the scarf
to and fro as he had often seen the flag
man do
On came the train; now it was near
enough for the engineer to plainly see him.
The next instant prolonged whistle which
Bennie knew meant down brakes" rang
on the air and he jumped from the
track.
The cars shot by him, but came to a
stand still near the curve. The engineer
sprang from his cab, asking:
"Well, my boy. What is it?"
Just step around the curve, and you n
see for yourself" answered Bennie.
The engineer, fireman, conductor, and a
crowd of passengers hurried into the cut
way, and a moment later stood by the
boulder.
1T is big mornings work you have
done, nv lad," the conductor at length
said. Had we come round that curve and
stove fullforce into that rock, there would
have been terrible work here How came
you to discover it?"
So Bennie briefly told his story.
II was going to work for Field & Swim.
burne down at Scotsvil this morning at
nine O'Clock, and left our cabin back here
a couple of miles to go there. When got
here | saw the rock and knew | ought to
stag to give you warning Though s'pose
| have lost my place by it, he added re-
greriuiy.
How is that p asked a tall finely Dress
ed gentleman, standing by.
why, Mr.. Swinburne said | was to be
there on time" answered Bennie, ''or else
they should hire some other boy"
The conductor now decided that, with
enough men and proper too's, the obstruc-
ton could be removed in an hour or two
at the furtheresU, and dispatched messen.
ger to the village for them. He also ad-
vised the passengers to return to the cars,
and make themselves as comfortable as
possible during the delay.
Then gentleman spoke up enthusi-
asticalIy.
"Let us make up purse for the lad
Here are five dollars towards it.
4 hat was passed among the passengers
and Il few minutes later the gentlemen an
nounced:
I'VE have got hundred dollars. Now
where is the boy?"
He could not be found; but brakeman
finally said:
II saw him go eff towards the village
with the man the conductor sent down
there
Hell 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."
ltwas true Bennie hastened eff TO the
store before some one else was engaged.
But in this he was disappointed. For, as
he entered Mr.. Swinburne's Office that
gentleman looked up at him and curtly
said:
You are too late, sir; engaged
another lad half an hour ago. Learn next
time to be punctual at the appointed
hour"
Poor Bennie! Without Offering a word
of explauat on, 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 disapDoint-
ment that had come to him. What in
the world should they do now for bread /?
AS he ed the cutaway, he found the
men busiiy blasting the boulder to pieces
and paused to watch them. While he
stood there, the conductor caught sight of
MIN.
Look here, youngster" he said
aren't you the boy chat stopped the
train2'
"Yes. sir" promptly responded Bennie,
''Well, he went on, There is IA gentle
man up at the cars that wishes to see
you.
Wondering what could be wanted OF
him Bennie went up to the train, Chamber
ed into the parlor car and asked:
''Is there man here who wants to see
me?"
"Yes, SIR" exclaimed gentleman.
dropping his paper and springing to his
feet
1--WE all want TO see You. We want to
thank you for your unseltish conduct this
morning, and give you this roll of bills as
a token of appreciation of your act. '
And he handed Bennie the money.
ii didn't expect nothing" said Bennie.
modestly and ngrammatically. Il didn't
just like to see the train b lsted."
I'VE cln well 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 over
turned cars taken fire in that cut, none oi
us could nave escaped.
With joyful heart Bennie now hasten
ed home. Nor was his joy any less when
his mother, after listening to his story
said
IL would rather son of mine should
do his duty, even if it forced Us to beg,
than to have secured the best position 10y
diShonorable act.
But the good flowing forth from Ben
nit : naselfsh act did not end here. The
very next morning, as he was cutting
wood at the door, gentleman rode W
and asked,-
Are u Bennie Waters?'
Yes, sir, replied the astonished boy,
uWnlI hpra's "A letter was asked tn