The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-10-02
ing of. for she was running at a good

up and through the snow and the dark
l recognized the landmark, and knew
we were nearing the water tank, where
Johnny's girl lived. Just ut that mo-
ment the train gave frightfui Jerk
ana saw the engine 20 rearing In air,
ana about hundred feet ahead
saw a lantern swing wildly in the air
and go down. l went fat on the car
anu hung there for dear life. We
stopped In ten or twenty yards and
swung off the car like mad. Great
| God l thought, IF that WAS johnny
| Something made me feel that he
lad gene under the wheels. and when
crawled ahead few cars there l
found him, lying all white and still
lie was too much stunned to say u
word. We picked him up and started
| to carry him to the houSc-where Jcn-
ny lived. l saw that the wheels had
gone over both legs over one near the
thigh and the other below the knee.
| My, but lie WAS Il game lad, for all the
torture of carrying him up the hill
| couldn't wiring Il word from him. We
| Knocked 1T the door and said one OF
the boys had got hurt-tnat the engine
had jumped the track. \ white little
face came to the door and looked at
It's moment. and then Us soon as she
| saw he and my face Jenny shricked
| out. It's Johnny! Bat she didn't
faint or cry. nor say another word.
We just carried him in and put him on
| the bed and she took charge OF him
/ one of the boys rode over to get IL
| doctor. but when he came hc SAW ut
| once that 1t was no use. 1t WAS only
question OF how long Johnny cowld
survive the shock. He lay there very
| quietly, and finally when the doctors
| examination was finished. he said: "lS
there any show. old man."
II couldn't reply, but he knew as l
turned my head away what the an
swer was. Johnny was quiet for a
moment and then pulling Jcnny's hand
with his own weakly. he said in
husky voice: Little girl. want TO 20
home. And that he insisted IN all the
| rest OF the night. We didn't think
that he'd he alive by morning. But lie
was, and we decided TO put him OH
board the morning express. The
wreckinG train had thrown the engine
out of the road and cleared the track,
and when the express came down we
tagged her and took Johnny aboard
All Jenny would tell us was that his
father lived in New York But she
gave the conductor an address for n
wire.
I'VE didn't think that he would last
the journey, and about half way ,lown
he suddenly clutchcd Jcnny's aand
hard onI thnn ln tG
little girl threw herself upon him sob
bing as if her heart would break. but
it didn't do any good. Poor johnny
was gone"
Joe paused 4 moment and locked
into the fire
"Well," >" he said, "to cut it short. when
we got into Jersey City Johnny'S IA
ther was there. 1t didn't take more
than glance at his clothes and his
portiy bearing TO tell me that he was
r!ch man. IIc sDrang into the car
ana would have pushed me ont oc tn.
road l know who he was. and held
on to him. and | said: Wait Il mn
ute. Johnny waS pretty badly hur:.'
He grabbed IL" like Il wise and said.
in sci voice, Can hc live: l shook
my head. and he gaSpci. Is hr--'
Il LED him over To where the bow
lay. but he didn't want to see him.
He looked very hard at the little girl
who sat there SobbinG. and said. slow
ly, is this Jenny And then he took
her very quicay in his arms and kissed
her
81 went to tie funeral the next day.
That was til" day before Christmas. |
The old mans lair had turned white. |
and his face was rs lined and rigid |
rs though h" was mounting n scof- |
fold. He was twMty years older than
| IN" morning | Sawlim first: 1t seems
| that Johnny had been brought IN
| like most boys. 20 ave all the money
| he wanted. !ic Gotvild and in with ,
| fast gang. and. - tt to curb him. his
father, who was awralthy banker.
| got him place in a>;lovc is coshior
| JOhnny's allowance WSn't enough. and
he made il UP out or IL cash drawer.
| When it was diScorcd his father
made up tn" am"unfand then sent
Johnny adrift. He nr'r spoke 10 him
afterward. and when ,hnny. after
! years good service OIthc road IN
| pcalcd TO him for mO'y enough to
get married on the Oldham returned
the letter. I found it inohnny's coat
| pocket thc morning W" to- him home"
| The train Whistlrd for station and
".ior." grabbing his lan.a. csc,nrJ
ini" III" night aml the fang snow.
New York lirrrlh