Los Angeles herald., 1906-07-29

~ANaA9~ was suddenly reused to the tact tha'
the repairs to the trestle-work were
very nigh completed. =,
| The main injury was the displacement oil
several heavy tmbers, resulting IN the SINK
| ing of the framework as already described.
No heavy weight having gone upon the struc'
ture, further damage had not resulted, and,
under the intelligent guidance OF the over
seer. it was speedily restored to its original
strength.
Not until the men began lifting the hand.
cars from the track, and one ran east and
another west to remove each red flag, did
Jarvis awake to the fact that the road was
"open" once more
"And here l am two miles from Merton'"
he fairly easped. an have to miss the train,
My gracious! There it comes uow!
The Identical train which had backed from
the trestle-worl< the night before TO Merton
was seen approaching from the west, 1t be-
gan to slacken its speed while a good dis
tance away, for though the signals means all
right the engineer was extremely careful.
1t was plain that he would move over the
chasm very slowly
As he came nearer, the heads of the driver
and fireman were thrust from the cab, and
the platforms and windows were full of pas
sengers, all interested, as never before, in the
wooden bridge.
Just as the engine passed Jarvis, he turned,
and hastily walked toward the west along the
embankment- He did not wish to be no.
ticed, for he was sure that many who had
seen him before were on the train
In this, however, he was mistaken. When
the cars were backed to Merton the night
before, superintendent Dunbar opened tele-
graphic communication with Des Cartes, and
with the night express, lying on the turn
out. The result was that those passengers
who desired to remain in Merton were given
accommodations, while the rest were taken in
vehicles to the westward Of the unsafe trestle-
work, where, leaving the highway, they walk
ed to the railroad and boarded the train
awaiting them on the other side.
This might have been accomplished by
bringing the mail train to the point, but one
method was about as inconvenient as the
other
The man who left the letter of Superintend.
ent Dunbar stepped from a vehicle which
stopped in front of the gate, and which con-
tanned the superintendent, his son, and num-
ber of passengers. Thus it was that those
parties, including Others, were not on the
train which now neared, with such caution,
the repaired trestle bridge
Before the rear of the last car came opposite
Jarvis, the locomotive was half over ,the
bridge, and the driver being satisfied with the
appearance OF everything gave the engine
more steam. 1t started forward with n ierl
and rapidly increasing puffs but the boy did
not hesitate to catch hold of the railing of
the rear platform, and swing himself aboard
though he was considerably wrenched by the
act
Those of the neighbors and spectators who
noticed the performance of Jarvis concluded
that, as matter of course he was irving to
steal ride, and the boss of the repairerH
shouting to the conductor, pointed to where
the youths shapely legs were seen clambering
up the steps.
The employee was faithful to the company
and did not intend that it should be swim,
died out of fare.
The conductor, properly enough, was on the
alert, too, and Jarvis had scarcely taken his
seat when he approached him.
Your ticket, pleaseW
Jarvis Brinton was one of the American
youths who are prompt to accommodate them
selves TO circumstances. He was dressed in
his best attire. He looked we'll was naturally
quick witted, and was secure in the friendship
of the superintendent Of the road; SO he be-
gan to feel that SO long as he conducted him
self properly he was in no danger of suffering
indignity
There was a vein of mischief in his dis
fumbling through his pockets, and seeing that
the conductor did not recognize him, he finally
looked up, with half pleading look:
"I didn't buy any ticket"
Then pay your fare or III put you off the
train" said the official, curtly, with his hand
half raised to pull the bell-cord.
"Well, now" said Jarvis, with twinkle
in his eye, 81 want to say that i didn't buy a
ticket, that aS shan,s at pa pay my fare. and that
The conductor was speechless with astonsh-
ment and anger, but he was able to grope for
the bell-rope over his head, and proceeded 10
do so, when Jarvis, feeling that the Joke had
gone far enough, handed the pass sent him
10y the superintendent