Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-08-29
DIDN'T DO NOTHIN'.

- AcLe Was uOL d SluSle empty STD
in any of the four sleepers, and at
every stop there were new demands
for berths.
Now things began to quiet down.
The passengers unbent from their dig
nifty and began to compare vacation
notes; the men betook themselves to
the smoking compartment and the
train boy ceased for while his jour
Eeys through the cars, offering his
wares of candy, gum, books and maya
zineS.
At first magazines sold pretty well
but the real demand did not come
until after they had passed Suspension
bridge, and the stop at Falsi View
station made. Then was the time to
offer souvenirs of Niagara for sale.
Indeed, Dan knew about how many
copies he could sell.
A few months experience on the
train had given him a pretty keen in
sight into the habits and desires of
the passengers
He was sorting over his books now
preparatory to one more trip through
the cars before Offering peanuts and
candy again, when the train drew up
at a dingy, dilapidated station. They
were stopping for water he knew, and
he went to the platform and jumped
to the ground.
Much to his surprise he found the
conductor in earnest conversation with
two women.
"Oh, but you must take her some
how" he heard the younger of the
women CNclaim, in a distressed voice.
you see there amt any other way
to send her and her mother expects
her sure, and she'll be at the station
to take her off, and she'll be a real
good girl and not trouble you one bit,
won't you, Bessie?"
They'll be most crazy if she don't
come" added the other woman, "an1
it will put them out dreadful, cause
they've got to start right off for Col
oradc''
A sharp whistle recalled the con-
ductor, and he put one foot on the
steps of the car and stood watch in
hand ready to give the signal.
''Say, I'll kinder keep an eye on the
kid, if that's all YOU want" Dan said,
aWlwardly to the women. Don't
know much bout children, but | guess
some of the women will tend to herr"
He gave an inquiring glance at the
conductor
'All riSht-Fm willing-jump aboard,
will you; we're late now" and the con-
ductor waved his hand.
Dan seized the child and placed her
lightly on the platform and the train
began to move. He listened to the
parting directions of the two women
and threw back the silver half-dollarI
one of them tried to slip into his
hand, with toss of his head, as ne
shouted, Il amt no porter, and I'm
doing this to 'blige you
Then he took her into the car and
left her to amuse herself with the rolls
of lozengers, while he made trip
through the other cars.
BY the time he got back she had
made friends with a lady across the
aisle, who offered to share her berth
with the child, and before the after
noon was over she was playing games
all over the car, and to Dams intense
amusement she insisted on ca .ng
supper with the man who had ade
the greatest fuss over his berth, but
who Bessie insisted, looked Just like
grandpa"
He slept soundly, for the day had
hut e. h Ia
he began to dream. He thought that!
Bessie had chewed gum till She grew
smaller and smaller, and finally was
nothing but a little sugar i'm, sc,
which he was about to eat, when-
Crash.
Dan was awake now. In an instant
he was rushing toward the sleeper.
There was a second crash, and a
tearing sound and the end of the car
was torn off, and a cloud of steam
rushed in and about him.
The shock threw him off his feet,
but he crawled on. He must reach
the sleeper There was Bessie. He
had promised to take care of her. It
seemed ages before he reached the
platform. Overturned on the track
before him was the sleeper. The dim
gray light of the early morning just
showed it's outlines Farther than
that he could not see
He could near cries inside. and
through one of the windows a head
was thrust. With his heels he broke
the glass OF the window nearest him.
then crawled on to the next and next.
breaking each in turn, until finally he
reached the fourth.
This was where Bessie was.
Here he crawled in, but there was
no one in the berth.
1t was lighter now. The sun must
nave come up very quickly.
Then smell of smoke revealed the
cause. The broken lamp at the end
OF the car had set the bedding on fire.
Through the broken windows peo-|
pie were rushing, men and women.
and there were groans and shrieks on
all sides.
Suddenly from beneath a pile of
clothing he saw tiny hand thrust
out, and he heard a stifled cry.
Eagerly he pushed aside the heavy