Desperately, the boys tried to warn the engineer about the damaged track ahead!

Mary E. Thomas.  Developing Comprehension in Reading.  4. 
J.M. Dent & Sons (Canada) Ltd, Toronto, 1957.  

The illustration is by Jerry Lazare.  During World War II, the Canadian government passed the  War Exchange Conservations Act, which prohibited "non-essential mail."  This included the importation of American comic books, creating an opportunity for Canadian illustrators to fill the void.  Lazare was one such artist who began his professional career working for Bell Features.  You can read more, and see more of his work, at Today's Inspiration and at Comic Book Daily.  His contemporary work is available on his website.