The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-01-06


Hicks, excepting the fact that her
aging father was
only a flagman at tS2
The railroad cross "a ~
ing, and he was ~
rather forlorn b
+ !: !: q: !: !: !: !: ! !"
figure in his shah ~
by coat with its b X
one empty sleeve. Mnu.Na
At any rate four M. IkL8V9
or five of the girls y III EIVN
who attended the ~ AUr
village school evil "a SZM
IDENTIFY considered AIA q
q: !: ]: 4. /:
it obligatory to 3R "
ignore Bessie in XVI
heir recess "
games, judging lN\MA ~
from the sights x MlNN
they thrust upon ETN
her. ssH>SIS'
! However, Bes- L(h ~
i. & !. !. T: !. !
sizes department ~ NM- Z
was something to \ + ENN
be emulated with Il WIZ
profit; moreover, n -
she was an apt hNC-
pupil; and even in IT MN
school yard may r. N/////1
be found goodly W//z4I
perc n ag e of WIN
young people to WIZ
whom qualities of
heart and mind appeal before mere ex.
ternals.
"Shucks!' calculated Lena White,
Edna Larkin needn't consider her.
self so superior to Bessie. She's way
below her in class always is, dear
knows; besides, she hasn't half her
good manners"
The four or five best dressers" had
most exclusive time of it, so it was
not the fiagman's little girl who had
cause to complain of loneliness, by
any means.
With the older children at school,
the tots at home were sometimes per-
mitted to play in a neighbor's back
yard. They required watching, too,
sometimes more than they got, for the
straying instinct is particularly strong
in some wee ones.
That this was true of at least two
playmates, the small maids in question
were to demonstrate soon, for. hand
in hand, they managed to elude their
elders, and were heading straight for
the "wailwoad track" as Dotty pro-
nouEced it.
The screecll of locomotive whistle
was sufficient to prevent Dotty's COM
paniOn from venturing further, so
Maizie prudently turned back in the
direction Of home.
The next minute there was a tiny
white-garbeG figure in the very mid.
die of the track right above the watch
box of the old fagman.
The child, bewildered by fright, was
uncertain which way to go to get out
VI eiiN way vi tIC oISoullskS Iidlu.
1t took but another moment for the
flagman to comprehend the little ones
peril, and in the same moment he was
racing from his box with the engine
well nigh at bis heels
Leaping on the track with the grim,
belching monster horribly near him,
he had barely time to seize the half.
paralyzed toddler by the back of her
clothing, and to swing her aside with
his one arm, before the train whistled
by on its thunderous path.
A few pedestrians who had wit.
messed the spectacle groaningly turned
away their heads to avoid seeing the
mangled body OF the helpless baby.
Great was their relief. great as was
their anlazement, when their dazed
eyes could assure them OF the truth.
that the almost-yictim had ESCAPED
any worse injury than few bruises!
Excitement ran high among the
group OF spectators, and while one
who recognized the child was taking
her to her home, the little knot was
presently augmented by the pupils
from the school house.
Who's hurt? What's the matter?"
demanded the newcomers, in alram.
Couldn't be our Dorothy. could it,"
almost screamed Edna Larkin, without
waiting for full account. Her fear.
winged feet never halted until they
bore her to her home.
Then she isn't injured. They told
the truth. Oh! | thought"
YES" interrupted the neighbor who
had carried in the object of solicitude,
her escape was miraculous; but even
more So was the escape of her res.
cuer. A Drawer deed never was per.
formed than his, and physically han.
dicapped as he was, too"
Her rescuer? | never waited to"
"Flagman Hicks" announced Mrs.
Larkin, I've just been told. Such
heroism as his can be repaid never!
TO him We owe the life of our pet"
Edna went to her room where she
might weep unseen. The debt was too
much for words!