The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-09-30
a LITTLE RAILROAD STORY.
Small Boy by n Train Talks
To the Typewriter Girl.

Down under the Virginia-avenue viaduct.
where three or four railroads do their
switching. an accident happened the other
day. A slender, pale-faced boy, seven or
eight years Of age, attempted TO catch the
guard rail of a rapidly-moving locomotive,
but missed his grasp and fell under the
grinding wheels. A dozen trainmen saw the
accident and signaled the engineer to stop.
The boy was tenderly drawn from beneath
the wheels and carried into one of the
freight depots. The little fellow was not
dead, and the accident might have been
worse. His right arm was torn and man.
gled. and, although he was suffering the
most acute agony, he was brave and man
fully kept back the tears of pain when
some one attempted to examine his man.
gled arm. An ambulance cali was sent to
the City Dispensary. but the arrival of the
physician was delayed for more than an
hour. 1t was evident from the first exami-
nation made by the trainmen that the in
JuTed arm would have to be amputated,
and a dozen willing hands set about to
make the lad comfortable until a physician
would come with the ambulance. The noise
and hustle incident TO the accident attract
ed the attention OF the force of office clerks
on the second floor of the depot, and with
the usual curiosity of her sex the pretty
girl who presides at the typewriter inquired
what was going on below. Some one told
her that it was a matter of trivial interest.
n boy had been run down by an engine
and badly hurt. perhaps. The girl listened
Ter a moment to the tramp OF feet below
and then caught the sound of a moan.
I'm going down there" she said. rising
abruptly from her machine and leaving a
nalI-copled letter. As she started for the
door a half-dozen men intercepted her.
You must not 80 down there" they said.
That's no place for a woman. There are
none but men down there and. besides, the
boys mother has been summoned"
We'll. I'm going down anyway" she ex-
blue EYES For I gf tnaW t 41 anger ! won IN her
needed. Until that boys mother comes, I'll
be a mother to him"
tne men saw determination and grit i'm
TIE glrfs face and interposed no further
objection Catching up a towel as she left
the room the young woman tripped down
stars. Gathering her dainty skirts about
her she boldly walked up to the crowd of
men who stood about a bundle of RAGS and
bruised flesh that lay on the floor. Every
man in the crowd uncovered his head as the
girl approached and politely made way for
hef. she didnt scream or evince the slight
est INDICATION OF swooning at sisht of the
paid lace and bleeding arm of the sufferer.
On the contrary she knelt down beside his
rude pallet and taking one of his blood
nrmly Srasped the towel and proceeded to
wipe the blood from his face. a fart smile
passed over the suffering features as the
little fellow looked upon the ministerinr
angel at his side. Then, for the first time
since the accident, he began to cry. Clutch
ing the girIs hand ne piteously walled:
As dDUUI I0lS.
Will YOU? She don't know that / plav on
the tracks and don't want her to find out
now L got hurt The girl attempted TO
pacliy him but he continued to depiore the
accident solely upon his mothers account
rIhaliy the boy lapsed into quietude and
IL seemed that he would sleep under the
cOol tOuch or the womanly hand. a few
minutes before the arrival OF the ambulance
tne little sufferer aroused again and, with
an effort, was able to speak.
say, do you think I'm going to die 7' he
the face of the girl. :"
ON: no. my poor boy. you won't die"
She repiied with a culver of the ljps that
set the men to wondering how long She
WOult stand the scene. 'YOu will get waIi
because the doctors will be here soon" She
continued. and this will only be a lesson
tracks" i"inoau
y don't know about that retu-ned Tho
little fellow. Il have been a pretty bad how
anu I'm not Mt to die now.' He Law auiet
closer. ;" Sill oo"h
say. won't you pray for me; please do.
won't your he asked with a sob She
looked into the pleading eyes and turned
aNay Ior a moment Perhaps she breathed
a slent prayer. but she did not speak. The
suHerer grew calm again and the ambu-
rance ratified up to the doorway. The hov
hoIced the preparations 10 take him away
ana again turned TO the young woman at
Won't you kiss me. Just once. no
pIeaded, and the girl taking him up in her
olms without a thought of his blood-soaked
garments, pressed her lips to his paIlid face
pain. He was taken to the dispensar ~ snd
ssoOd the opera ton like a veteran while
the Slrl went w stairs. swooned twice and
cfieo the rest OF the afternoon.
The BootbIacks' Bnrrair.
There We d 80 -