Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-12-06
CROSSING
A BRIDGE
Il Was an Important Feat
In More Respects
Than One
By r. A. mitchell

The wind howlcd: the rain came
down In torrents. All the streams were
swollen. Night came on. and the dark
ness added to the bleakness.
In farmhouse near which ran a
railroad track woman sat over
baby that was moaning and tossing
with fever Now and again she would
take the child up in her arms and ca
ress 1t. but its suferings were not d.
minished and she would put II down
with an exclamation Of despair.
A boy OF twelve stood by looking
pityingly on his baby sister lie was
sturdy little fellow and old enough TO
realize that he might lose her
"Oh. for some one to send for a doc
tor walled the mother
Can't gof" asked the boy
"You go DO you think 1 would let
you go out in such a night as this. run
ming the risk OF losing you as we'll as
your little sister? II you could 90 by
the road would send you. but you
would have to cross the railroad bridge
The wind would blow you down into
the gulf below"
i've crossed the bridge. know how
10 do il in wind can crawl"
you should not have done so even
by day The danger would be far
greater at night and on such a night
as this 1t would be frightful Besides.
II train should come along what
would you dof'
Hang on TO a tie"
The mother shuddered Beneath the
ties hundred feet below river was
boiling over rocks.
There's no train to cross the bridge
TIL 1905" continued the boy.
How do you know. Jakey;"
II know all about the trains"
This was true Jakey Summers was
much interested In the railroad. the
running OF trains. and was known to
the employees Of the company at the
station a few miles from his home.
Many a free ride had been given him
both on trains and locomotives.
81 wish | dare let you so" said the
mother but don't"
A spasm passed over the baby that
frightened her and Jakey too. The
boy went out into the kitchen. and
when his mother was not conscious OF
his presence he was standing before
her with lighted lantern
"oh. Jakey." she exclaimed. you're
not going to cross that frightful bridge
this terrible night
II can do II all right. mamma. Don't
you worry about me. Just you stay here
and take care OF Betty. I'll bring DR..
Parker back with me. He's got a car
and can come by the road, II II is ten
miles around. as quick as can get TO
him across the bridge"
The mother put her arms about him
and Rugged him. but he disengaged
himself and with a "Now don't you
worry about me. mamma" went out
into the night A gust OF wind blew
In as he opened the door. and his moth
er started up TO prevent his going, but
be pulled the door TO. and from n win
dow beside It she saw his light dis
With a prayer for him she went back
to her baby.
Jakey soon gained the track and be
gan TO walk on path beside Il toward
the bridge He had glanced at clock
before going out and saw that the time
was half past 10 II would be thirty
Eve minutes before an express train
would reach the bridge. but the bridge
was half mile away, and he must
necessarily be n long while getting
over II. For this distance he breasted
the wind. though ordinarily II would
have been easy walking on the path.
He had no means OF noting the time
and must take his chances as 10 being
on the bridge when the train passed
over IL. He trudged on as fast as he
could and was conscious OF making
pretty good time.
A gust OF wind howled through the
branches OF the trees and caused a
loud wall among the telegraph wires
above his head. When It died down.
before another gust came. he heard
the boiling waters Of the river. He
paused awe stricken. In order 70
brace his resolution he thought OF his
baby sister and his anxious mother
and. moving on a short distance, stood
at the end OF the bridge.
IL was 800 feet long. with an abut-
ment on each bank and one In the mid
die OF the river. Taking his lantern
In his left hand that he might cling
18th his stronger right. he began to
vi over the ties. After squall he
erect and made a distance Of
'orty feet before another blast
hen he was obliged 10 get
cling for dear life.
heNwas over the boiling waters,
calculated 90 strike terror into
IAN older person Bat his mind was In
tent on getting across before the COM
ing OF the train. When the wind blew