Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-04-25

road which was supported by the tres
ties had, OF course, gone into the
ditch also. And the waters rushing
madly through the ditch were threat
ening to break away the banks, which
! would mean greater damage to the
railroad.
We'll, now, how am to get across
that stream?" Herbert questioned him
self. I don't like swimming, for the
water is cold, besides being full OF
dangerous driftwood, caught all along
the banks. But-what am I talking
about? Go home and let the train come
along without warning? guess not"
And Herbert turned his face in an
other direction. going full speed over
the railroad track
4 1t was about noon, SO Herbert
Judged by the sun. The train was due
at that point at 1880. He had an hour
and half. He could reach the house
of the section hands before that time
and they could signal the train as it
came along.
But he had calculated without think
ing twice as he said to himself half an
hour later. The draw" or railroad
ditch which he rad left behind him
wound about in such way that tho
railroad crossed 1t second time two
miles further on And the second
crossing had also been weashed out.
Here was dilemma How should he
get across? The section hands were
quartered two miles further on, and
to reach their place he must cross this
swollen stream. And there was but
one way to do it. He must swim. It
was dangerous undertaking, but
Herbert could not allow thoughts OF
personal danger to detain hi. in his
duty. But suppose the section, men
had already been there and seen the
wire already to the train officials at
the station five miles away. And why
should he. Herbert, risk his life by
swimming the stream If the section
men had already attended to their
duty?
He was on the point of returning to
his own home when shrill whistle
came on the air. 1t was the train. and
it was whistling as it drew close to the
section hands houses. Herbert bent
his ear to the ground. In another min
ute he would know what to do in the
matter. He heard the rumblng OF
the heavy train as 1t flew along the
steel way. 1t must have passed the
section hands quarters without stop
ping, for the rumble did not cease for
an instant. Instead or doing SO, 1t
had increased in sound and speed. No,
| the train had passed the section houses
without warning from the men placed
there to keep watch over the road.
Herberts mind was instantly made
hat. he threw himself into the turbu-
lent water that rushed SO madiy
through the deepbanked ditch. The
| stream was not wide, but it was Il
perilous time for Herbert, and when
he at last reached the opposite bank
and drew himself out of the water by
catching hold of some weeds and grass
he was all but exhausted Then. drip
ping and barefooted, he ran along the
railroad track towards the coming
train.
1t was only a few minutes till the
train came in sight around the foot Of
steep hill. 1t was coming at high
speed, and Herbert flew toward it,
waving his arms madly and crying out
Stop! stop" But fearing that the
engineer might not understand the
signal he pulled off his gineham shirt,
shirt, doing so as he ran, and waved it
wildly over his head.
The train began to slow down very
quickly. Passengers thrust their
heads from the windows. A few seq
onds later the conductor and engineer,
|
sengers, were on the ground, talking to
Herbert, whose breath was now quite
! gone.
From special coach, which was at
! tached to the rear of the train, came
the president of the road; with his
several high officials. When it was
| learned that Herbert had saved the
train from a terrible wreck their words
Of thanks and praise knew no bounds.
Here, little man, give us your ad .
Dress" said the president Of the road.
You shall be amply rewarded for this,
/ tell you. Swan the swollen ditch
and ran barefooted and dripping with
cold water, in the teeth Of this April
wind. to save US? Well, / call that the
act Of a real hero"
week later Herberts reward came
to him while he and his parents wera
at dinner. 1t was brought by a spec
1al messenger, and 1t was of nature
to make Herbert's mother weep for
very JOY, and his father to pat him
on the back and say. You deserve Il
all. my little son. for you ran ter
poor unsuspecting passengers on that
train. You deserve 1t all, boy. And
now You can go to college-not one
year, but as many years as are needed
for you to get your education. And
thank the good man-the president Of
cur little railroad-for remembering
your act of heroism, and for so rich
ly rewarding you for It,"
But for few moments Herbert
could not speak for the emotion which
choked him. Then he said: And you.
momsey and dad. shall share my good
luck. would not be happy other
wise"
! And that day there were three very
happy persons in the little farmhouse
of Jones, wife and son. And the two
elder ones declared there was not n
Drawer or nobler boy in all the world
than their little Herbert, to which the
whole neighborhood agreed.
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