Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-06

died with his hand on the throttle. Little
TRAVIS head sank into his arms on the
on the throttle with the feeling that 1t
had a right to be there; he was not tall
enough and broad enough for the train
service: he must be a boy crying oranges
to the few passengers or he must give up
life on the train. 1t almost seemed to lit
tie Trav that he would be giving mp life
itself ii he gave up the train. And vet
how could he keep on doing boys work!
Think of growing into an old man q!
doing boys work! The Mexicans might do
it and be content, but not a Texan, not a
fellow whose father had stood six feet
five in hts stockings and who had dicl on
the road He gave gasping sob and look
ed up suddenly.
The fast engineer was regarding him
kindly, and the sun had come out IN the
heavens and there was no dust blowing
anywhere. The boy went to work again,
feeding the engine fire vigorously, looking
far ahead along the track of the narrow
gauge. Then he drew in his BREATH started
back from the fire and cried out sharply,
Look at the bridge!'
Yes, there was something unusual about
the bridge, a side piece had blown off in
the storm, a particular side piece that
meant the bridge was ready to give way
in the center. The train was travelling st
a wonderful speed; 1t would be impossible
to stop before reaching the bridge. The
fast engineer pressed his lips tightly to-
gether. The bridge was not a long ore,
and 1t stretched only over a gully, but the
depth of the gully seemed a terrible thing
to the fast engineer as he deity reversed
the engine.
A fierce determination showed itself In
little Travis face. shining out LUMINOSITY
from his dark eyes. You're to jump" he
cried to the fast engineer.
John Smith looked at the boy 'dumbly:
then he half laughed.
you've got a family" said little Trav,
and his voice was the voice of a man. You
must think Of your family
opp
fast engineer.
"Yes and leave them people to me. may
be able to save 'em; you don't know how"
He seemed suddenly to have grown strong.
There was weight in the hand he laid upon
the engineers arm and mastery rang in
the voice that babe John Smith Jump
The fast engineer. scarcely knowing what
he was doing, only realizing that the train
was getting nearer to that ugly gully
turned at the boys bidding and jumped.
Suppose the engine cleared the bridge, the
freight cars would break through sooner
or later and drag the people down to their
doom. The fast engineer stood beside the
track and called himself hard names.
"And I let a boy do it." he cried mock
ingly; "a little bit of Teller, no bigger'n
a Mexican"
came transfxed upon the engine as 1t
stopped right in the middle of the bridge.
He saw the slight figure of the boy emerge
quickly from the cab. step upon the back
the back of the engine. and understood
that he was pulling out the coupling pin.
The first freight car stood firm upon the
track on the brown pr airie. The boy raised
himself from his STOPPING position; the
coupling pin was In his hand; all lives had
been saved. The fast engineer, running
forward, gave tremendous cheer, just as
little Trav lost his balance, and Instead of
springing forward went back and down,
down, down with the engine as 1t shattered
the condemned bridge and turned about in
the gully. The passengers came piling out,
wondering and clamorous.
It was the fast engineer who gave them
the details of the wreck, but not until
fierce working had gone on down IN the
ugly gully, not until he had uncovered and
got safe in his arms the body Of little
TRAY. Then he turned with blazing eyes,
angry with the whole of Texas, furiously
angry with himself and the great strong
people Immediately surrounding him.
Eyes, I'll tell you what has happened"
he cried loudly. THE Marry Gage has
given way at last. 1t were condemned
before a fool of railroad president rode
over 1t and it's given way at last. And
thar you all stand, safe to an eyelasil and
not saved by the enginair, who ought
a-knowed how to do 1t, but didn't; you've
ben saved by little Trav. He weren't dig
enough to wear the blue coat and buttons
Of a brakeman on the Marry Gage, not
tall enough and broad enough fer that: he
were only big enough to take a six-footer
by the shoulders and shove him Of his
own engine: only big enough to sop the
engine in the place O. danger and stand
hisself In the place o. danger, while he took