Los Angeles herald., 1908-01-19

Rob had never been in 50 large place be-
fore, and he looked with awe upon the two
and three-story wooden houses that surround.
| ed the square where most of the business Of
| the town was transacted.
Inc buildings became more scattering as
| they proceeded up the hill, and then, on
| ahead he saw another cluster of buildings, a
cio G4a OF white smoke rising from their midst.
There's the station" shouted Tom Fitch,
an, there's an engine. Don't We see the
smoke a-comin' up?
! It was wonderful revelation to Rob. As
the patient horses plodded onward, he saw
gated iron, the stores. another tavern flank
ed by. brown stable, and then the horses
turned abruptly to the right, and the rail-
road station was close at hand.
long building comprised the freight house
and the passenger depot, while beyond this
number of other buildings for storing hay
potatoes and grain stood.
Rob was obliged to exert his puny strength
to the utmost in handling the punches of
shingles, and after the job of unloading was
finished Tom ran over upon the platform be-
side the track.
Come over here" he called, though Rob
was 10th to follow.
But his curiosity overcame his sense of
prudence, and he went and stood beside Tom
Fitch.
1t was about time for train to depart,
and number of passengers were in the lit
tie waitng-room, or standing upon the plat
form which ran beside the track for some
little distance from the station.
A gentleman and lady, with two little chill
dren, just then came out of the waiting groom
at is nearly time for the train to CO." said
the gentleman, while the children ran up
and down the platform in the bright winter
sunshine.
As they turned at the extreme end of the
platform, one of them slipped and plunged
6eadIong down upon the track A cry of
horror went up from the passengers, for at
this moment, only short distance away, an
engine and tender was backing swiftly in. to-
ward the station, beside which three or four
The little girl, apparently injured severely
by the fall, lay helplessly upon the track,
while midway between the Mortified group Of
men and women omen and and me ths screaming cp"d
ooh, my baby! my baby!" cried the young
mother, clasping her hands over her eyes, to
shut out the awful spectacle, while the father
stood spsllbound, poweriess to save the little
| life so precious to him.
| On came the locomotive like. some huge
! black monster, now close upon the child. =
But see! A youthful form has bounded
down from the platform, a boy,sh, figure i
straining every nerve as 1T dashed forward
with the utmost speed toward the rapidly
Il is Rob Archer, look of determination
in his Write face as he braves death to res
cue the helpless child.
ooh, he is too late!" groans the father, as
Rob throws himself apparently beneath the
wheels of the tender, and then the engine
thunders alongside the platform, and stops
with discordant, grating sound.
With eyes dilated with anguish, the man
bastens forward to view the mangled re-
mains of his beloved child. But from beneath
The edge of the platform crept Rob Archer,
holding the little girl tightly clasped in his
The reaction from grief to Joy almost de,
nrived the mother of life, as they thronged
around the child and her brave young res
| cuer. ,,oy i, L.
father, while the mother was sobbing over
i'f mot great DEAL, replied Rob, who wa, was
rubbing his arm as though there was rather
an nnpleasant sensation in that. region;
"Do YOU work about the railroad? said
the gentleman, looking at the rough garments
VI .e No sir sir; this is the first engine I ever
saw" answered Rob- II work down in the
village. and must be going" -,
"Tfold on" said the man, fumblng in his
pocket 81 want to reward you for your
heroism" Til. "a - th;s
instant the conductors CAN aboard" caused
the passengers to hurry into the cars