El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-09-27
FAITHFUL DAN.

distressed voice. you see, there amt
any other way to send her. and her moth
er expects her sure, and she'll be at the
station to take her off, and she'll be a
real good girl and not trouble you one
bit. Won't you, Bessie?''
Say, I'll kinder keep an eye on the
kid, il that's all you want" Dan said
awkwardly to the women. Don't know
much about children, but 1 guess some of
the women will tend to her" He gave
an inquiring glance at the conductor.
"All right; I'm willing. Jump aboard,
will you? We're late now" And the
conductor waved his hand.
Dan seized the child and placed her
lightly on the platform, and the train
began to move. He listened to the part
ing directions of the two women and
threw back the silver half dollar one of
them tried to slip into his hand with a
toss of his head as he shouted, 81 amt
no porter, and I'm a-doin this TO 'blige
you"
Then he took her into the car and left
her to amuse herself with the rolls of
lozenges while he made n trip through
the other cars.
By the time he got back she had made
friends with lady across the aisle. who
offered to share her berth with the child.
and before the afternoon was over she
was playing games all over the car, and.
to Dams intense amusement, she insisted
on eating supper with the man who had
made the greatest fuss over his berth.
but who. Bessie insisted, looked just
like grandpa"
He slept soundly. for the day had been
q tiresome one. but after awhile he began
TO dream. He thought that Bessie had
chewed gum till she grew smaller and
smaller and finally was nothing but n lit
tie sugar image. which he was about to
eat. when
Crash,
Dan was awake now. In an instant he
was rushing toward the sleeper.
There was n second crash. and n tear
ing sound, and the end OF the car was
torn off, and 4 cloud of steam rushed in
and about him.
The shock threw him off his feet. but
he crawled on He must reach the sleep
err. There was Bessie; he had promised
70 take care of her. 1t seemed ages be-
fore he reached the platform. Overturned
on the track before him was the sleeper.
The dim gray light of the early morning
just showed its outlines. Further than
that he could not see.
He could hear cries inside. and through
one of the windows head was thrust.
With his heels he broke the glass of the
window nearest him; then he crawled on
to the next and next, breaking each in
turn, until finally he reached the fourth.
This was where Bessie was.
Here he crawled in, but there was no
one in the berth.
1t was lighter now. The sun must have
come up very quickly.
Then a smell of smoke revealed the
cause. The broken lamp at the end Of
the car had set the bedding on fire.
Through the broken windows people
were rushing, men and women, and there
were groans and shrieks on all sides.
Suddenly from beneath n pile of cloth
ing he saw n tiny hand thrust ont, and he
heard n stifled cry.
Eagerly he pushed aside the heavy
blankets and pulled the child out. By
the light of the flames. now rapidly near
ing them, he could see how white she
looked, and her eyes were closed.
Could he be too late?
He tried to climb out of the window,
but the seat on which he stood, broken
by the crash, fell beneath his weight, and
he was thrown back into the car. He
struck heavily, and there was sharp
pain in his head and little Bessie almost
fell from his arms.
He seized the broken bell rope that hung
from its rings, and, placing the child on
his back. bound the cord around and
around, thus binding her tightly to him.
Then he tried a second time to gain the
This time there was n hand
held down to help him, and in n moment
he felt the soft grass beneath him, and
there was sudden movement of the lit
tie body pressed close to him.
Then there was terrible whirring
sound in his ears, and the blacklist night
seemed to settle over everything, and he
became unconscious.
News of the disaster travelled fast, and
when the train bearing the wrecked pas
sengers drew into Detroit there were
hundreds of anxious friends inquiring for
dear ones. Strong men were crying and
faces were white with horror as they lis
tened to the story of the dreadful COLI
sion.
In one corner. faint and weary, sat n
sad faced mother, while her husband
wandered hither and thither in vain
search for their child.
"a little girl with blue eyes?" repeated
one OF the passengers after him.
Let me see there was one, but-here, |
porter, perhaps you can tell the gentle
man." And the passenger FASTENED away.
There was one child killed, sir" the
porter replied slowly 81 hope it amt
yours. I'm sure. Just step this way, |
please"
He turned to do so. with tears binding
his eyes. but tiny hand caught hold OF
his coat and n childish voice cried. /
Don't run away, papai Amt you glad
TO see Bessie?"
Il told the ladies I'd see she got to you
safe" Dan explained they were being
driven to Bessie's home.
Even now his head was dizzy, and there
we're queer pains running through his
body.
YES" cried Bessie, with n happy
augh, as IL recalling some pleasant time.
1T was an awful funny going to sleel
IN those funny boxes with curtains. Ther
woke I'D and was under q great big