St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1900-06-16
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j ! THE RED SIGNAL
NHn. CLARA Dorr IArn
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AURRY up . bit Of supper, moth.
.I err cried ! Robert Douglas.
we've got news Of wreck and I've rot
20 go down with q clicker."
But Robert, Il was going to have hot
mumns, and they're not light vet.
f&oaIe- two hours early
Des piece Of bread, then, and
somes scsldneat- Pm sorry for the
m133tI emit wait.y ss -
Tx, tssoss. safa sAlE2 Donglas,
2a1k-and laying add sAer knitting.
hap7enned Aanand tn besidxs.' =
bat the Aoys win besrsdy
nh IN hsifs = mpst y on
sAand-saUghl" $50
And he shrugged his shoulders, rs If
IN anticipation of the cold, hard task
before him, as he followed his mother
from the coy sitting-room into the
pantry.
Give me whatever there is ready
ne said, and I'll put crust in my
pocket We may be out pretty much all
night
What was the accident?" she asked,
moving BACK and forth as she placed
the things upon the table.
A broken axle and big freight gone
tosnash. It's in bad place, too. down
IN the THREAD valley, where the road is
very crooked" &
I'm afraid it's going to snow
II know it is-it's showing already.
But you know it grows warmer when it
begins to snow
Not with q northeast wind like
this 4 Va ~ -.
Don't you worry, mother. I'll wrap
up well. and I'm tough as bear" he
said, laughing gayly.
His ruddy face, clear eyes and wiry
figure bore out his assertion. But it
was quite as much his CHEEKY courage
that gave him strength asit was hard
ness of muscle or stoutness of frame.
I'n make you q good cup of tea, Rob-
ert," said Mrs. Douglas, as he sat down
to what seemed to her cheerless meal,
q cup of tea being to her the very es-
sence Of comfort. @#+.4-.
"Oh, never mind; this is all right, -
he answered, heartily, as he helped him
self with the eager and undiscriminat-
ing appetite of youth.
But in few minutes steaming and
fragrant cup was beside his plate.
"Dont' be anxious if I'm not back
till morning he said. 'sI'll ask Tom
Carpenter. to stop in on his way home
to give you the latest news. Good-by,
mother" as he rose from his chair to
60. Cook yourself good supper, and
have Anna Olds come and stay with
you, 20 you won't be lonesome"
Mrs. Douglas watched his free, young
step rs he went down the walk to the
railway station, which was very near,
-ahdsins full sight.
NO mother has a better boy" she
said to herself, as she wiped the tears
that were sure to fill her eyes whenever
Robert left her for more than his usual
daily absence.
The house where Robert and his
mother lived was very humble, yet
c0zy, clean and attractive. His small
wages as an assistant telegraph opera
tor was all they had to live upon, but
his mothers prudence and his steady
tpdusAry made thai sufficient for their
Inprctentfous wants. ~N "a =
When Robert got to the station, he
found the wrecking train about to
start. He was to open and operate an
additional telegraph Office at or near
the scene Of the disaster, for the pur-
pose of working trains past the OBJ
struction.
The accident had happened IL miles
or more away, at point where the
road followed the tortuous winding Of
che river Thread. The bluffs along
the line there were very steep. and
there were several bridges across the
noisy and turbulent little stream. There
could hardly have been worse place
for an accident, as the approaches
either way were around sharp curves.
When the rescue train, with its pom
dcrous appliances for hosting and pry-
ing and lifting, had reached the spot,
1t was Roberts duty to climb tele-
graph pole, make the necessary attach
ments with wires and stamps, and to
establish his Office ut its foot.
He improvised rude shelter with
some rails and blanket, made chair
for himself with few stones heaped to-
ecther, set up his instrument, and was
ready for duty.
1t was Saturday night, and but few
trains except the regular night ex-
press were running.
The road had double track along
that division, and the disabled freight
was on the right hand, or the one taken
by the down trains, while the relief cars
were on the up track. When one Of the
up trains was due. this one would
switch OF and let it pass.
Robert Kept up communication with
the nearest stations at either hand,
end the work Of opening the road went
on very satisfactorily. ~
IT promised to be less difficult than
had been At first apprehended, and it
began to look rs if by midnight both
lines would be clear.
A snowstorm had set in with blind
ine;fufy. Tie men who were actively
at work did not mind it so much; but
Robert. seated at his industrious little
instrsnent, seemed likely to he bur
IL j under the weight Of the damp. heav-'
ily-falling fakes ~ r
The night express was due at one
clock. Before that time the last bit
of breakage had been removed, and
Nhen Robert got the signal, IL miles
away, that the express waited, his or
ders were: LET her come in" He
-Axshed-the answer back with great
sense cf relief that his tedious, benumb-
lnx nikht's task was about ended.
He was just preparing to pack his
faytrument. and to get his other traps
together, reedy for the start home
-hen ne heard terrible crash. He
.ould see q hurried moving Of lights
through the thick veil Of snow. and
could hear excited voices calling and
yociferating.
Presently one Of the men came run
ming tsshin win = breatlless: "Hold
n. exDress 1t Hawley!"