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I M THE MASCOT, DADDY
SHE CRIED JOYOUSLY
The motor ceased with a great sob, and the car rocked to a standstill. Jim was out and staggering up the bank in a flurry of loosened stones and gravel. He rolled upon the roadbed on top, and the rails scorched his bleeding hands. Up, and over the ties, quivering with the mighty heartbeat of the coming train. His feet tripped him ; his eyes stung with their watching. Thru the tremulous, sick, dizzy world he saw it coming : a proud, self-sufficient conqueror ; a black monster hurling itself headlong to its death. Power — strength — the new train. With a last effort of will, he flung his hands on high and ran to meet it. shrieking puny defiance, like a Gulliver drowned by the giants' thunderous cries.
Men — angry, frightened, curious An outpouring of silk-hatted passengers and a group formed of bewildered trainmen.
Suddenly they took to running down the track, and the report came back that a rail had been drawn from its place.
From the observation car stepped the railroad's president, in silk hat
and frock coat, and in his arms snuggled a whisp of a girl. She was unconscious of her peril and smiled •thru tears of excitement. Then she caught sight of the laborer.
"I'm mascot, daddy!" she cried joyously; "I'm the mascot of the new train!"
"Yes," said the president, "your little girl delayed our start five minutes— God's time, for it gave you your chance to warn us."
"I meant to — I was thinkin' "
Jim broke into great sobs, straining her to his breast. Lame ! What did it matter? She was his; she was safe. He would get the money, somehow. What were two hundred and fifty dollars, anyway? Over his shoulders he jerked an explanatory thumb. "Yes, there's a rail off!" said Jim, tersely.
Then he flung back his shoulders and lifted his head to meet their eyes.
"Spike it home, quick, so's the train can be on time," he told them. "Afterward you can punish me. I did it. I'm givin' it to you straight. But dont stop to talk now. The new train's gotter pull in on schedule time."
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