The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-10-30


struck three, and Lettie started to
her feet.
sits time for me to make The rounds
of the section" she said, and mo-
ment later Baxter saw her 1.-the form,
wrapped in stout, dark cloak, dis
appear over the brow of the hill to-
ward the tracks.
As he looked back, he found Dolby
watching him intently. When he
caught his eye, the cripple leaned
forward and touched Baxter's knee.
There isn't a pluckier girl be-
tween st. Paul and Montana buttes,"
he said; "even if | do say it who
shouldn't"
II don't see how she can manage
the section" replied Baxter.
"That's what l say" exclaimed
Dolby; "it's wonderful" and his
pinchcd face lighted up with smile
that was beautiful to see. at would
go hard with us all if it wasn't for
Lettie."
"How did a girl happen to be
appointed to such place, anywayp
"She deserved it too" Dolby ans
wered energetically; "she deserved
it. There amt many people that
know the facts excep' the superin-
tendent. He knows, and he says
Lettie can be keeper as long as she
wants to.
course you remember the big
blizzard that we bad last winter-the
one that showed in Evansburg and
Brockton and Collinville, and killed
all the cattle on the Puddin' Bottom
ranch. Well, it struck the Craigie
country, too. Came up over the hill
from back of the house early in the
morning and long before ten o'clock
there wasn't fence to be seen in the
county. Lettie's mother said better
not 'go down to the cut. She was
afraid l might get lost. But I'd been
at Cragie's off an on for more'n
eight years, and l though I'd seen
the worst the weather could do. So
went down the hill, and before l
was ten rods from the house the
snow had wiped it out, and all |
could see were the whirling drifts
and the path for dozen feet ahead
of me. And when l reached the cut
there wasn't any cut there. 1t was
filed to the top with snow. | wond-
cred what the limited bound down
for Cragie would do. 1t was pretty
sharp and cold when l reached the
track this side of the bridge, and |
had to get down on my hands and
knees and crawl along from tie to tie
just like baby. l was strong in
those days, too, only the wind and
the snow was SO terrible that |
couldn't stand up. And first thing
| knew | had crossed the bare knoll
at the bridge approach and there l
was hanging over the edge of the
embankment like bat to a rafter.
Slipped before | knew it.
"'You're done for, Dolby said
to myself, when | saw how little held
me from falling into the chasm 1t
was one hundred feet to the bottom,
and Jagged rocks all the way down.
But | had glit, if do say it, and |
hung there like grim death, with the
wind kicking and beating me about
like dead limb. l knew we'll enough
there would be no one to help me,
and that | couldn't help myself; but
still l hung there. A man doesn't
like to be dashed to pieces on aledge
of rocks unless it becomes absolutely
necessary.
Pretty soon | heard the limited
squealing down the cut. | knew
that Jim Crosby, the engineer, was
laundering in the snow. | said to
myself that if Jim succeeded in root
ing through with his engine l might
be saved, but l knew well enough
that he wouldn't succeed. 1t would
take four engines and two rotary
plows to drive a tunnel during such
blizzard. And there she squealed
and shrieked for hours, it seemed to
me, while my hands and arms grew
as numb as clubs.
And Lettie-what was she doing
all this timer When the snow COW
cred the woodshed and began to
creep up on the windows, che was
frightened. I'm afraid father III
never get back she told her mother
i heard all about it afterward-
and her mother, who's always been
fidgety and nervous like, began to
walk up and down and wiring her
hands, not knowing what to do.
Twelve O'Clock came, and then one.
Lettie started up and said: Mother,
Pm going out to see if l can't find
| fatbarb md in anita of all her rnOthar