Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1898-06-30


quietly out Of the door, then scuttled |
over the plain to the place where the
little river fell over the crest. of slight |
hill and then dashed under the railroad |
bridge. AS Johnnie thought might be
the case, the bridge was as much of a |
wreck as the little one was. The rails
were twisted and lay like jackstraws
among the jumbled wood Johnnie
heard the distant sigh again, and his
heart beat wildly. What could he do?
In few minutes the express would
come. Suddenly he thought of the red
light under his pillow. Taking a full
breath, he ran home. He heard the
sigh again, but no nearer. cit hasn't
started! It hasn't started!" he thought.
There's still time, still time!" In a
minute he was again in his room, and
hand. It seemed ages to him. He
heard the faint sound again, but nearer
this time. ooh, it's started God help
me!' he gasped, as he fled out into the
thinning darkness again. He did not go
to the bridge, as you may suppose, but
ran at full speed up the track toward
the sound, for well he knew that the
express couldn't stop short of half
mile at the least. On, on he sped. At
last the right distance was reached.
And now the whistle sounded clear,
some way down round the bend. John
ME put the light in the middle of the
track and struck a match on the rail,
but the rail was wet from the rain and
the match hickered and went out.
Nearer and nearer came the thunder
and shrill sounds. Johnnie gasped and
struck another match on the case of
the red light. This time he was success
full. He touched the match to the pow
der. There was sputter, then another
sputter, and then big flare of red
arose and spread up and over the plain,
just as the headlight of the locomotive
rounded the curve.
Waving wildly, Johnnie sprang back
from the track. To his joy he heard
the air brakes >scrape and the steam
escaping. The great train passed on,
but at a lessened rate of speed. After
it our young hero ran pell-mell. He
saw the sparks belching out Of the
engines chimney, and saw that the
train had stopped near his home.
When he came up to it, he found the
men walking about with lanterns, and
asking what was the matter. Imagine
their amazement when a small boy of
ten explained all to them. Think of
the cheers that rang out in the gray
air! and of how the question, put by
one conductors: 'What's the matter
with Johnnie Duckworth?" was an
swered with a roar: 'HE's all right"
Mrs. Duckworth was awakened by the
snorting locomotive, and heard the
cheers, in which she seemed to dis
tinguish her sons name. Johnnie saw
first a light in his mothers room, and di-
rectly there was light in the parlor and
the front door opened. He called feeb-
lily, ''Mother!" for. the terrible nervous
strain he had been under was beginning
to tell upon him. Some of the men heard
his. little cry, and gently raised him
on their shoulders and carried him to
her, cheering and cheering again. Many
of the men passengers went along with
them. They mounted the steps, and
then in short word or two told what
had happened, for their little rescuer
needed care. "Mr. Duckworth over
again" had tainted. Several of the men
stayed with the anxious mother, and
the others went away and stood at a
distance waiting to hear news of the
boy. Soon tidings were brought that
he was all right, and then another long
cheer rent the air. Johnnie heard it
and smiled at his mother, who was
hugging him and crying and laughing
at the same instant.
The section gang was summoned and
the bridge repaired in two or three
hours.
Johnnie was well enough to be taken
out on to the piazza to see the express
steam away with everyone leaning out
of the windows or standing on the plat
forms waving and shouting to him and
his mother.
While the repairs were being made
Mrs. Duckworth received gentleman
after gentleman. They made every
kind of grateful offer to the proud
mother, but she refused them all with
quiet dignity, saying that her son had
but done his duty, and he would be
repaid for having done so, a very long
time off, she hoped, when he should
reach the terminus where his father
was already. They appreciated her
feeling, and .honored her too much to
insist. Nothing, however, prevented
the nresident, of the road who was in
formed of Johnnie's bravery, from see
ing that he had a splendid start in the
railroad business he so much loved, and