The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-01-07
BRAVE TED BURTON
~ G. w. Downing in Locomotive Firemen's Magazine

So Ted felt pretty safe, though he
covered and shook with. excitement.
Never were minutes so long before. 1t
seemed as if he had been there for
hours when in the distance he heard the
roar of No. 3. He also heard voices,
and knew the men were coming near
er. He wished he had two good legs,
but that could not be helped. When
he saw the headlight he arose. still
| cautiously, and started toward the
train, swinging his light and going as
fast as his one leg and a crutch would
permit.
Behind him there was silence for
moment, then voices broke out into
! curses and a pistol ball whizzled over
his head. Another and another, and
then he felt singing pain in his arm.
The light fell, and as it fell 1t seemed
as if several red-hot knives pierced his
body land then he knew no more.
Short as the warning had been, how
ever Watchful eyes had seen it. The
train came on more slowly and stop
ped, after running through the open
switch, with the pilot sticking out over
the pile of ties. Signals had been sent
;; to the guardians Of the gold, and the
Would-be robbers met a repulse so ef-
fectual that they disappeared as II by
magic.
WHO warned us?" asked Tom Col.
den.
whoever he was. they shot at him"
| replied the engineer. 1--WE must find
! him if We can"
So once again Tom Golden lifted
Ted Burton's senseless form, and when
the depot was reached he carried him
! into the waiting room. Doctors were
with him in a few moments and Tom
stayed until Ted's blue eyes opened and
| he whispered, Betty"
Then he went over to the night OPP
orators office. Miss Burton rose when
he entered. He spoke bluntly.
| They tried to wreck No. 8, Betty"
"Oh. Tom! Was any one hurt?'
| Eyes; the fellow who warned us was
shot, but he saved the train and the
! gold.''
Poor fellow! Who was he?"
| Betty come here
An odd tone in his voice made her
go toward him quickly, but she did not
take his outstretched hand.
WHO Was he. Tom?"
| "Teddy,'' he said quietly.
| Teddy" she repeated, my Ted
shot? Toni"
Her face was white and she did not
refuse the support of his arm.
He shall never go home that way
again. she cried, and he answered,
No, dear, he never will
TON! Tom! what do you mean? Is
he dead? Where is he? Oh, Teddy,
Teddy"
She seemed almost crazed, but Tom
still held her. His voice quoted her.
Hush, Betty. Teddy is not dead, but
he is dying and wants you. Gomez
She moaned, but >let him lead her
over to the waiting. room. Teddy smil-
ed at them. His talking was done in
whisper. IT,: -
Il saved him for, YOU" he said, as
Betty laid her white face beside his.
my Ted, my darling" she groaned
Hush, Betty. s.a1Tom, comfort her
She's going to MAXI u" with you. Fol
! my sake;''' hi" added, as Betty I pushed
away TOMS hand: :, =
| oCIIy, LUZ 4eU'S sake forgive my
thoughtless jealousy" pleaded Tom
softly, and Teddy added Please Sc
Betty yielded.
Tell mamma good-by for me- Kiss
me, Betty" r."
She kissed him. He closed his ewes
and there was silence in the room
Tom held her hand and the group by
the window waited. Suddenly Ted's
eyes flashed wide. open and a glad
cry burst from him. "Oh' Dad!" he
said and then lay still.
They buried him with great cere.
mony. All the railroad mems lodges
and ladies' auxiliaries marched behinc
the boy they had all known and loved
The plain casket was covered with
flowers, and only the sweet face with
that last glad look on it was to b,
seen. Mrs. Burton was too i'll to fol
low her son to his grave, but befor,
> many weeks she was laid beside him
and Betty was alone
No, not alone. for Tom Golden mar
t ried her and took her away wher
} Ted's "hoodoo 962" would never be see
| by her. And today, when Tom cam
f in from his trip over the L. p. & O
e Betty stood in the doorway with Ted
= dy Golden in her arms waiting to WEI
d come him.