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

| crowd of messengers hurried into the cut
swav. and a moment later stood by the
| bowlder.
SIT is a big mornings work you have
done. my lad," the conductor at length
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 it9"
| So Bonnie briefly told his story.
81 was going to work for Field & SWIM
burne down at Scottsville this morning at
| 9o'clock, and left our cabin back here a
couple of miles to go there. When l got
here / saw the rock and knew l ought to
stay to give you warning. though | s'pose
l have lost my place by it" he added re-
/ gretfully.
"How is that9" asked tall. finely dress
ed gentleman standing by.
"Why, Mr.. Swinburne said l was to be
there on time" answered Bonnie. cor else
they should hire some other boy"
The conductor now decided that, with
enough men and proper tools, the obstruc-
ton could be removed in an hour or two at
the farthest, and dispatched messenger
to the village for them. He also advised
the passengers to return to the cars and
make themselves as comfortable as possible
during the delay.
Then a gentleman spoke up enthusiast
tically:
Let us make up a purse for the lad.
Here is five dollars toward it."
A hat was passed among the passengers,
and few minutes later the gentlemen an
nounced:
1--WE have got hundred dollars Now
where is the boy?"
He could not be found, but brakeman
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 eff 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 else was
engaged. But in this he was disappointed,
for as he entered Mr.. Swinburne's office
that gentleman looked up at him and curt
ly said:
"You are too late, sir; l engaged another
lad half an hour ago. Learn next time to
be punctual at the appointed hour"
Poor Benniel Without Offering 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-
nent 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," he said, "aren't
you the boy that stopped the train?"
Eyes, sir" promptly responded Bonnie.
"Well," he went on, there is a gentle
man up at the cars that wishes to see you"
Wondering what could be wanted of him,
Bonnie went up to the train, clambered
into the parlor car and asked;
"Is there man here who wants to see
me?"
Eyes, SIR" exclaimed a gentleman, drop
ping his paper and springing to his feet.
eve all want to see you. We want to
thank you for your unselfish conduct this
morning, and give you this roll of bills, as
a token of our appreciation of your act"
And he handed Bonnie the money.
81 didn't expect nothing" said Bonnie
modestly and ungrammatically. II didn't
just like to see the train busted up"
eve can 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 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, said:
II would rather a son of mine should do
his duty, even if it forced US to beg, than TO
have secured the best position by dishon-
orable act"
But the good flowing forth from Bennie's
unselfish act did not end here The very
next morning, as he was cutting wood at
the door, gentleman rode up and asked;
'Are you Bonnie Waters?"
Eyes, sir" replied the astonished boy
"Well, here's letter was asked to leave
here" said the man, handing it to him.
1t bore the name of Field s. Swinburne," |
and read:
SCoTSvILLE, Ky.
Mr.. Bonnie Waters:
DEAR SIR-Mr, Field, of our firm, was upon |
the train you so bravely warned Of its danger
yesterday, regardless Of your loss. We have
decided that we have place in our store for a |
boy hike you; and we will furnish your mother |
a tenement in the village rent free, and allow
you at first five dollars a week l trust YOU .
viii be magnanimous enough to overlook my /
objectionable curtness of yesterday; for had /
you explained the cause Of your delay, we /
should have hired you then and there At
your earliest convenience let US know your de- |
ciSion- Respectfully yours,
GEORGE A. SwINBURNE.
Firm of Field & Swinburne.
Bonnie and his mother have already |
moved into their comfortable home at the /
village, and he is busily at work in the |
store. He studies hard evenings, and hopes |
to thoroughly master the business he has |
entered. He says;