The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1910-01-06

La VIII kAoAO y SS4A "SAAs ~ o''sS
you AREAS the new shift hurried for
ward-.all but McArdle:: Duffy. do
you know where McArdle boards: Wei
can't spare many minutes here" !
Yes. sir; he has a room just across
the street. He's likely ready. but
doesn't know we're here ahead OF
time"
well. let him know quicker than
lightning. The rest of you swing up
to your places"
Duffy ran across the station. through
the opposite door. then circied DUN
to the rear OF the train. coming up on
the far side. In two minutes he was
standing III top OF Il car, with his hat
tilted rakishIy to u side in the man
ner that McArdle wore his. The on
ductor. hurrying back from the tele-
graph window where he had gone to
see it there We're later orders, saw the
figure with its face turned away.
..Oh. there you are. McArdie..' he
called. "All right" Then he shouted.
"All aboard!' and his baud made Il
quick halt circle i'll the ;iir. aud the
engineer. looking back. saw aud open.
ed his throttle.
1t was a night that Duffy aud all
others who walked freight trains GU
that road never forgot. An hOur' out.
and the wind became d hurricane.
sharp as needles and bitter as death.
No brakeman thought OF such a thing
as attempting To walk upright on his
cars. When it was necessary to cross
from n brake to another they went
in the only way possible, upon hands
and knees. even crawling with fingers
gripping the edges of the plank to keep
from being swept away by the wind.
Duffy was vigilant and careful that
night as he had never been before.
Every movement of a foot. every grip
Of his fingers. was made with the
thought that it might be the one which
was to hold him back from death. But
all his care. his vigilance. his tense
muscles. We're without avail. There
was a sharp grade where the ear
wheels slipped on the icy rails and
where the help OF every brake became
necessary. Duffy had set his and was
edging across a car to assist a rhilltst
81 hSASA0OA aO las 4OOl SIlpEtu 4lIie
fraction an inch. But it was enough
for the wind and u sudden furch 10
wrench him loose and send him slip
ping and rolling of the car top into the
darkness.
When they picked him up ard
brought him back the trainmen said lie
was the lnckiest man who had ever
fallen from a car top under full speed.
for he had struck upon a steep en-
bankment and slid IL hundred yards
down the snow with only II broken leg
and soiiie bruises to show for the fall.
As he had no people to notify. they
took him straight to the Elton hospital.
where he would he cared for by the
railroad. though duffy insisted that ne
should pay his owD expenses. There
was an odd look Of content on his face
as the surgeon made the examination.
It was q small price to pay for Near
dies life and Katieas happiness.
He was not much surprised the next
day to see Katie herself coming down
between the cots. her face pale and her
eyes full OF tears. or to have her sink
on her knees beside him and press her
face down close to his. Katie was
loving and impulsive. and Of course
she was grateful for what he had done.
But there was a warn glow In his
heart. nevertheless. ever for this re-
membranes.
Duffy. me own sweetheart. she
whispered ienderly. lis it that you are
NOT much hurt? Tell me for true.
darlin'. They said it was jist a broken
leg an some bruises. but maybe they
was tryin 10 make it aisy for me.
Tell me true. an how was 1t that ye
was on McArdle's run: The men say
the conductor told ye to tell him. iii,
McArdle says ye never come for him
at all. at ALL
Duny had raised himself 10 an ell
bow. Now he sank back. Katie was
excited, and she was loving and i'm
pulatysk and they had always been
zQo6 daandA