Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-30

effect on Tom, for he sprang OF at
swift gallop. but showed no disposition
to become unruly. Nan did not turn into
the road, but took the short cut across
the hills. After she had gained the rail-
road track she followed 1t, going on
and on as fast as Tom could galop,
toward the oncoming train. whose whistle
and rumble she now heard in the dis
tance. Then she dismounted and held
Toms bride rein, fearing lest he be-
come frightened ns the train should come
into view. Pretty soon a black speck
appeared coming round the base of hill.
Tom snorted, his eyes dilated and he
gave one plunge forward and was free
from the little hand that restrained him.
Like the wind he was Off homeward,
kicking his heels In the air and neigh
Ing In a frightened way. But Nan paid
no heed to Tom now. He might GO
where he pleased, for she had a duty of
Importance to perform. Quickly stripping
off her apron she ran right to the edge of
the railroad tracks and began to wave
1t frantically In the air. The engineer
looking from his window saw the child
and understood that she was signaling
him to stop. As quickly as he could
he brought the train to n standstill,
which was not till it had drawn down tho
1t took only few minutes for Nan
to explain that the bridge across the
gully was afire. The engineer took the
child on the train and went slowly
towards the bridge. Turning curve
they came upon it, smoking and partly
burned. The train came to a standstill
and all the trainmen, as well as the pas
sengers, nlighted. When 1t was discovered
by the latter what had brought about the
sudden stop on the prairie, admiration
for Mans heroism was made manifest by
an old gentleman saying:
Fellow passengers, I'm for showing
how much we appreciate what this little
girl has done by taking up a collection for
her. Had 1t not been for her we would
all have gone to our death, for owing to
the position of the bridge our engineer
could not have seen 1t till too late to
slacken his speed. So, to the bottom OF
AS he finished speaking the old gentleman
took a twenty dollar bill from his pocket
and placed 1t In Mans apron which he
then passed round to receive the liberal
contributions that poured into 1t.
"Oh, SIR" faltered Nan, ~ don't want
no pay. done 1t to save your lives
not for pay, SIR"
BLESS the child r. said a dear old lady.
ALLOW me to give something, too." And
Sue pidCeu Boiu piece III Ndu dpEou
that was still going the round Of the pas
sengers.
And then the engineer came back to
report that some tramps had been cooking
on a camp fire built in the shade of the
bridge and that the FIRE had followed some
bits Of dry grass and had caught the bridge
and had slowly, and without fame or much
smoke, eaten through the timberH ''We'n
have to thank this little Miss fer our
lives" he added.
Then everyone pressed round Nan, shak-
ing her hand and saying fine things to
her in praise of her heroism, for she had
explained how she had ridden a "half-
broke COLT to the place, but that the colt
had taken fright at the train and had run
away-probabIy going home Then the
train was pushed back to the station 1t
had just left short time before the ac-
cident and Nan, her apron carefully
wrapped round the precious burden it held.