The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1870-12-22


break the train. L shall be compelled to
put on the carriage behind the guards
van"
To this we raised no obi ction, as the
one important question was to get to
M with the required relief. The
extra carriage was quickly hooked on
and duly screwed up, and tail lamps put
upon it. The cases of gold were put In
upon one of the seats, and 1 took my
place opposite them, wishing my friends
good night. The train began to move
rather slowly, when | caught sight OF
two men OF about equal height, who
hurried from waiting room across the
platform toward the train.
"This way, gentleman" said the
guard, opening the door of q compart-
ment behind that which occupied, but
i'll the same carriage. Where we were,
the station was somewhat dark, but just
as they were getting in, the light OF the
guards lamp fell upon them, and was
struck with the fact that, not only were
they of the same height and build, but
they were dressed jnst in the same way,
and that way was precisely that OF the
man against whom jostled outside the
bank. 1 conld not tell why, but l felt
uneasy, and had it not been too late, as
we were already out of the station and
going rapidly through tunnel, l should
have got the porter to go with me to
NJ. l reasoned with myself that,
after all, l was quite safe. was locked
in on each side, and the motion Of the
train would as effectually prevent any
one from reaching me as it would hinder
me from reaching the guard. Reason as
[ would, however, l felt more and more
uncomfortable, and l determined that,
at the first stoppage, l would get some
alteration made. | little knew where
my first stoppage was to be; little did |
think Of the nature of those who rode
behind me, or of the doom that hung
over me. Suddenly thought the thun-
der of the train became fainter, and the
motion Of the carriage less rapid. While
[ was trying to solve this matter, the car
riage seemed to stop, and then to move
again. l looked out. Good heavens
the train was a considerable distance
ahead, and l was being rapidly carried
back toward W. Faster and faster
sped the carriage Oh its return, and more
terrified did become. The motion of
the carriage became as swif; as it had
been when behind the mail-nay, even
switzerland my heart sank within me,
my very knees shook under me and my
hair Sc, med to bristle with the terrible
suspense of those moments, while big
drops of cold sweat fell from my face
On, on we sped, and then the motion be-
gan to slacken. Good God what
should do The carriage stopped; II
click as if a key in the door near which
| stood, moment, and the light of the
carriage lamp fell upon the face saw
outside the bank. The man or fiend
pointed pistol at me. l drew back a
step, and was seized from behind my
assailant had entered from the opposite
door. The one with the pistol advanced
across the floor of the carriage; made
one frantic grasp at him, saw him raise
the butt-end of his weapon, and then ]
felt dizzy, and in attempting to grasp
his arm tainted away.
When l came to myself, l was lying
on the floor of the carriage, too weak to
move; the doors were open, and the bit
ter storm beat in upon me in all its
winter fury. l could not quite realize
my situation, all seemed confused and
muddled. Only remembered that l
ought to have been at M, but that
some terrible violence had prostrated
me. Presently heard the whistle of an
engine, as if coming from M, ami,
confused as I was, knew the fate which
awaited me if in the storm the advanc-
ing train should be upon me ere the
driver noticed my carriage. made a
desperate attempt to rise, but in vain.
The shrill whistle sounded again, sti
nearer, and this time it was answered by
another of deeper tone from the oppo-
site direction, and l caught, in lull OF
the storm, the sound of wheels of the ap-
preaching engines. l became sick with
horror, and closed my eyes in dread
Then the advancing engines whistled
again and again, and, o Joy! l could
tell that they went slower, and then
stopped. Then l lost all consciousness
once more. When l again became SEN
sible, l felt myself sitting up, and some
One holding me. felt too, that the
carriage was in motion. l opened my
eyes, and found myself with Mr.. Will
mot and the cashier. The porter of the
bank and tho station master of W
were also there. tried to speak but
could not. l made a motion with my
hand, to try to make them comprehend
that l could not speak.
He wants something to drink" said
Mr.. Wilmot. "Has any one got some
Drandyl'
No one had, but in a few minutes
more we were at W, and was taken
INTO the refreshment room and placed
under the care of surgeon. Under the
Effects of warmth and stimulents | soon
revived sufficiently to give an account
0t what had happened, so far as l under
stood it. The station master stated it
as beyond doubt that the men who at
lacked me were prepared with care
FULLY considered plan, which they had
put too well succeeded in carrying out.
They had evidently got along the foot
board of the carriage, and, when as
steep incline, they had undone
.he couplings, SO that the carriage ran
back on to the level. Their place had
oeen we'll chosen. as it was in a very
onely part of the country, and far from
any station. The fact that the turnpike
road approached the line at point
some three hundred yards from where
1he carriage stopped, had possibly facil-
t ted their escape. i was unable to ac-
count for the arrivA of the two engines,
which evidently came to search for the