Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-07-19

to try. With big lump In his throat
he scrambled up the steep pathway at
the side of the bridge. Hardly had he
gotten up the little incline before he
was drenched to the skin by the down.
pouring rain. But Bobby didn't mind
that, and out over the creek he start
ed. The rain was now at his back and
carefully he stepped out to where the
props had fallen away. 1t was only
few feet across to solid footing. but
would the rails and ties hold him and
could he ever get over that black gurg-
ling water below. Bobby decided that
the only way was to run. Stepping
back a few steps he shut his eyes. and
clenchlng his fists, with his head down,
he ran straight for the broken place,
stepping on every second tie. lie was
barefooted. didn't weigh much. and in
moment had cleared the terrible tres
tie. Once across Bobby sped down the
track like frightened deer, and was an
eighth of a mile from the bridge before
he began to think how he would stop
the train. Now he could hear 1t com
ing and he ran on. AS he ran he
thought, and in jiffy had dashed his
old straw hat to the side OF the track,
and pulled off over his head, an old
red sweater that city boy har given
him the summer before. A minute
more and the big express train swung
into view around sharp curve half
! mile below. Bobby's knees shook, but
with all his might he swung t. sweat
er wildly above his head.
Engineer Payne, with face glued to
| the cab window, against which the
rain was beating tiercely. caught sight
OF a small boy way down the track
waving something frantically above
| his head. A few more revolutions of
the big drivers and with sharp ex-
clamation and sudden movement. the
engineer threw the reverse lever, set
the air brakes and with a grinding Of
the WHEELS on the sanded rails and a
| few short, sharp jerks the long train
come to sudden stop, while many n
passenger was jerked out OF n comfort
able position. and several hundred
dishes We're smashed into smithereens
in the dining car.
| Bobby, now that the train had stop
ped almost opposite to him, sank down
into the grass beside the big engine
and began to mop the rain and per-
! spiration from his face, feeling very
much as he did the first line he tried
to walk after having the measles.
whats the matter, boy" called En-
| gineer Payne. sticking his head out Of
! the window In no very good humor.
for he feared he had been fooled.
The bridges washed out" gasped
Bobby in trembling voice.
What. Indian creek brldge?" ejac-
ulated the now frightened train man.
Just then Conductor Leland came
along, holding an umbrella In front OF
! him. What's wrong?" he said. r.
engineer told him.
Jump on the steps herr. boy" sal,
the conductor. Engineer, pull up to
the bridge slowly"
A few minutes more and the train
men had learned the truth. Their
faces blanched. when they saw the
rails and ties hanging, unsupported,
over the swirling water. Then the
train backed down back to Jenkins
Vile. Conductor Leland escorted Bob
by down through the cars, and ex-
planned to the passengers that but for
the bravery of that wet, bedragled,
barefoot boy, they would all or Lnem
have been in the bottom of Indian
creek by that time There was sus.
picious tremor In the conductor voice
as he made the explanation, for he was
thinking of curly headed boy and a
winsome little girl at home.
There were q good many cheers CIV
en- for Bobby and while the women
cried and kissed Bobby's wet cheeks,
the men took up a collection, and the
big travelling man who handed 1t to
Bobby told him that he would near
from the passengers again, later. AT
Jenkinsville Conductor Leland tele-
graphed west to warn all east bound
! trains and then sent special mes
sage to the companys headquarters,
in which he must have said something
nice about Bobby, for In a couple OF
| hours long telegram came back from
| General superintendent Johnston, OF
| the road, saying that he would settle
accounts with Master Briggs, In person,
on the coming Fourth Of July at Jen-
| kinsville, and IL that town wished to
hold a celebration in honor of its hero,
why the Great eastern would furnish
the fireworks.
And so 1t came about that Jenkins
Vile celebrated. The superintendent
was there and kept his pledge. Never
were such fireworks seen, in that part
of New York state. Bobby rode in the
carriage with the superintendent and
his little daughter, and on the platform