The Monitor-register., 1896-08-14

want to surprise father and show him
how fine she can travel In harness."
l have since thought of it, and
wondered if Providence directed his tax.
ing her that evening, knowing there was
work to do that only her flying feet
could accomplish.
We started just before sundowu, Tony
prancing along SO proudly, with her
beautifully arched neck and dainty
pointed ears, by the side of the staid old
Pilot.
On reaching Glenville, took my basket
of eggs into the store to exchange for
groceries, while Will tied the team to the
hitching rack. Then he took Clyde and
Claude with him to the station. He had
just asked the agent how long we would
have to wait for the train as stepped in
at the station door. had completed my
simple exchange at the store, and followed
Will in time to catch the answer to his
question.
About half an hour if the train is on
time" the agent said, glancing at the
clock ticking on the wall.
Then there came quick click, click,
and he turned to his telegraphic instru-
ment. 1 saw his face turn deadly white
as he rapidly read off the message.
"Listen to this: Stop the train-the
bridge is gone-word came just after the
train pulled out"
He shook as if chill had suddenly
struck him.
"Stop the trainH' he repeated, wildly.
"How can ? 1t has already passed the
last station, ten miles the other side of
the bridge, and I'm three on this side.''
had sunk down, almost unconscious,
on one Of the station-room seats; but
Wills voice, tremulous, but resolute, fell
on my ear:
"How much time have we?"
Twenty minutes and half"
replied the agent. mo horse in Glen.
vile can make it. 1t is three miles of
the worst roads in the State"
'My father and mother are on that
train. Tm going to try and save them;'
and Will ran swiftly from the station to
where he had tied the team.
Leaving the twins, all unconscious of
the danger which threatened our dear
parents, looking at the bright.colored
posters on the walls OF the station room.
l walked out on the platform.
1t was now dark; but, by the aid of
the lights which cleaned redly from the
big store-windows, 1 saw Will hastily
fling the harness off Tony; then he sprang
on her back, received red lantern from
the agents hand, and dashed off down
the street like a thing with wings.
tried to pray that he might be in time to
save the fated train; but my heart was
too heavy. AS started back to Clyde
and Claude, 1 heard the agent say to
another man who was pacing the platform
uneasily: twenty-five minutes, and only
a boy and half broken colt to save q
train full of peopler He fairly gzoaned
as he uttered the words. The other man
walked away.
Tony soon carried her rider beyond the
town to not much travelled road that
ran parallel with the railroad on the
bridge over Prairie creek.
The heavy rains had turned part of this
road into an almost impossible swamp,
but brave little Tony never faltered. She
| flew on right through mud and water, as
| II sne knew JnaE IL WAS race DeJWeBn
life and death. Twice she slipped and
almost fell head long in two very bad
washouts in the road. But, as if ashamed
of her mishaps, she gathered up her
slender limbs and pressed dauntlessly
forward. One, two miles; and then two
and half, she sped on over the muddy
course before her.
| Would he be in time? Or had the
train already gone down into the raging
waters of Prairie creek
Suddenly a sound tkAt made Willis
heart almost cease beating pierced the
night air. 1t was the shrill whistle of the
on coming train! 1t was nov near the
last crossing on the other side of the wood
that lined the banks of the stream.
Conld he reach the place where the bridge
had stood in time to stop the trainP
"Do yonr best, Tony" groaned her
young rider, husky sob in his voice.
Mud-spattered and wet with sweat as
she was, the faithful creature responded
with almost human intelligence, dashing
forward with unfiaggiDg speed.
The train was almost quarter of
mile off when Will at last reached the
bank of the stream.
Slipping quickly from Tony's foam
covered back, he climbed the clayey rail-
road embankment and held the red
lantern aloft above the seething stream
just as the headlight of the coming
engine shot into view around the curve
in the wood.
Perhaps no one would be looking ahead
and see his signal, was the torturing
thought that now took possession of him
But, joy! The speed began to slacken,
the huge wheels began to CRATE on the
wet rails, and at last the train came to 8
stand. still, almost on the very edge oi
the stream.
A general excitement among trainme1
and passengers ensued. Lanterns flashed
about in the darkness, and more than
score of men gathered on the solder
bank to learn the cause of the stoppage
Then, realizing the danger which they
had so narrowly escaped, they hurried
back to their friends in the coaches.
After Will bad called across to th'
trainmen, 1.-THE bridge is gone" h'
scrambled down the bank and wadet
back to Tony. Then, throwing bis ARM
across her neck, he let his tears fall oil
her sweat damp name.
That is the way horsemen, who hat
followed Will from Glenville as soon al
they could, found him.
SWELL, wouldn't give two straws TO
a boy as couldn't cry for joy over savin
his father and mother" one old man re
marked to young fellow, who ha,
sneeringly asked Will what he was cryinl
about.
Boats were procured, and the passen
gers who Wished to come on to Glenvill
were brought across. Wagons were thel
brought to convey them the rest OF tn
way,
Father and mother were among tbos