The Washington times., 1901-07-14

! Jdth' Sdll lIle bOgt Jdck
He looked out of the window as he
! spoke. I'VE are just passing Ketorah."
he said wen strike that tough bit of
| road in a minute or two. You'll notice
| the bumpin' all right
so you get no vacations?" said the
stranger. IAN work and no play make
! Jack Manning duh boy
| The train boy laughed.
Guess l amt Especially dull" he said.
! Besides, I'm going to get what may be
a good. long vacation right away. This
/ road has got through with train boys:
| they're all laid off. This is my last trip.
Your last trip?" echoed the stranger.
| Scarcely had the words left his lips when
! the car gave a sudden lurch and careen-
| ed. There was a savage bump or two,
| and then. with mighty crash, the car
rolled over High arose choxus of shrill
! shrieks and the air-was filed with blind
| ing dust.
When the train boy got back his dazed
senses he found himself crawling up the
| bank of the ditch. There was bump on
his head. a cut across his ear. and one of
| his ankles was wrenched. He looked
/ ground as he wiped his grimy face.
The train had been ditched and it was
a bad wreck Ahead he could see the
white cloud of steam that told of the en-
gine's position. The tender was piled
above It, and behind that came the bag
gage and express ears and the four pas
| senger ears. crushed against one another
| or lying battered and shattered along the
ditch like so many broken toys.
"Jacki" called voice. The quiet man,
with his head and shoulders projecting
from a window. was calling him. Here,
4 70, IL NH, ,off
down by something
The boy mounted the side of the crush
ed car. and with a steady pull drew the
quiet man out MY arm is twisted" said
the latter, as ne looked about. "or could
have helped myself" He gazed around
and gave a little groan. Then 1t seemed
to Jack as If his manner suddenly chang
ed. He straightened up and his eyes
sparkled.
We must have help at once. Do you
know where we are2,s
"The next stop Is caldwell, bout three
miles ahead. answered Jack
And HammersJurg lis nine miles be-
yond that" said the quiet man. They
can. make up a relief train there" He
felt of his injured arm, and twinge ran
through him. He turned to Jack.
Get down into the car and bring up my
bag" he said. with swift abruptness.
Jack quickly ciambered up through the
window, and a moment later passed up
the han6bag.
'He-e." he suddenly called "here's
grandma-and she's an right" Almost
as he spoke the head of the lady appeared
above the opening, and with a strong pull
from the quiet man s-sound arm and with
Jacks help below she was quickly drawn
through.
She was a brave old lady. and though
she trembled little her voice was firm.
There is shady place under the trees
on the bank there" she said as she look
ed about. Have the hurt brought up
there. l viii do what 1 can for them.
have had experience as a nurse"
Il hope to have help here very soOn.''
said the quiet man. Then he turned to
the boy. Climb that telephone pole there
and cut three wires on the lower arm.
Have you anything to do the cutting
within"
Yes, sir" replied Jack I've got
1ackknife that will do anything"
The boys leg was sore and his head
hummed and throbbed. and it was hard
climbing, but he managed to reach the
bar A moment later the severed wires
fell. and the quiet man had drawn Il tele-
graph instrument from his bag and was
sounding them AS Jack reached the
ground he heard the rapid clicking.
The quiet man presently arose.
AN engine with doctors will leave CaId-
wei in fifteen minutes, he said, "and a
relief train viii be made up at once at
Hammershurg.
yes. sir" said Jack. What next?"
Are you hurt?' cried the quiet man as
he stared at the boy.
only scratch, sir" He flung his coat
aside. ''Waitin' orders, sir he said.
Go d lwn the line and tell the trainmen
TO report TO me here at once. We must go
at this work in an orderly way
who shall 1 say sent me?"
Manager Robbins !
The boy whistled as he sped along.
The new general manager" he muir |
INJURED, and he's a corier. too"
Then followed hours of the hardest work |
the boy had ever known. He was the |
managers right-hand man. his messen-
ger, his lieutenant, his devoted aide. his |
faithful clerk Through all these scenes !
of suffering and toll the boy never fall !
tered. The old woman got at him and !
bandaged his head and begged him to |
rest, but he shook his bandages at her |
and hurried back to the side of the quiet |
man. The quiet man was man of steel, |
who. with one arm dangling by his side, |
gave his orders and sent dispatches and |
kept ever watchful eye on all that was
done.
And then when nights shades had fall
en- and meTciful GOODNESS had come with |
the setting OF the sun. and the second re-
lief train was about to leave and the |
track repairers and the wrecking crew
were at work the quiet man turned to the |
boy and gripped his shoulder.
wen, my lad" he said with dry sob.
we have done what we could. please
God He looked at the lad. You have
found me hard master" he said.
You are just my style" said Master
Jack, a little brol<enlY
Come" said the quiet man. we can
go now" He leaned on Jacks shoulder
as they walked toward the train. He was
tired and faink ni'And remember" he
added with little smile. that vacation
is indefinitely postponed %
"AII right. sir said Jack.-W. r.. Rosse
In the Cleveland Plain Dealer.