Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1878-06-20

OF you and our little baby. Elt''-an
t'ie sudden fire that kindled within hin
made the muscles of his arms as iron
r "but let any skulkers beware how the
cross my path Or seek to wreck nv train
Les, Mate, my dear little one. will b
, careful rs never befure, and If the coward
ly, insane wretches attempt any outrae
they will find they have aroused Lon il
John Malc1ni."
70 lieaven! keep them quiet and MAX.
all upon the road your friends. JOHN
NO one who belongs TO the road vii
seek to modest me, Mate. You can depcn,
J, upon that. 1t Is not railroad men fear
they have no sympathy with mob law. |
left 10 themselves, though strikiig fol
wages sufficient tor their needs, all would
be quiet and orderly. No. it is not thev
it is the loa.ing. miserable, WORTHLESS.
iramps. and the thieves, that would rather
steal than work, even when they have 4
good chance. that have made all the tro,l-
ble. But | must be going; it is high time
l WAS on my engine. Heaven bless YOU
and keep your little heart rs brave as you
have made nlne!'
Another kiss-another, and yet another
and he turned sadly away from his loved
home to face 4 combination of DANGERS
that well might have appalled, one even as
brave rs he. DISCONTINUED mutterings like
the h;Ii-smothered thunder OF human pas
sion reached his ears us he clboWed his
way through the crowd to where the en-
CINE already stood putting and kissing. as
though it WAS anxious to be off and crush
out all opposition beneath its ponderous
wheels.
Are you going out tonight. John -
asked Il friendly voice as lie was nearing
the depot.
"Ies"
We'll. good luck. old fellow; but keep
a sharp lookout tor misplaced switches,
and distractions on the track
Join Malcom stopped. drew tie sleeve
of his shirt quickly over his eyes to clear
them of tears that We're tie very reverse of
unmanly, and grasping TIE hand of his
fellow engineer, whispered under his
breath:
III Anything Should liappe,l to Inc. If
should be Killed. promise me that you and
the boys viii take good care Of my wife
and child
Il pr0m;sc-sWear it, Jo,:n-and will
keep NY word as | know you would DO
for me. But wish you wasn't going out
tonight. l don't like the way things
look"
sotiiUuuus Iias got 70.
and it shall never be said That John Nal
com was driven from the road. or forced
to back out from running by a lot of mis-
cradle thieves and vagabonds.'
One word more. John. Are you arm
ell -
No; never carried Il weapon in my
life : never even thought of needing
one
''Ihcn take mine. Hope you won't have
10 use it. but il might save your life
Every chamber is loaded. and the vrctches
that are causing our honest strike to he
t;iilare, ana be carsei. give it to them,
john as if they were so many silakes.'
With the revolver ready for instant use,
John Malcolm hurried forward. The SURG
ing and infImlted crowd made little room
for iim to pass. They knew him. and di-
vined his purpose, and no one had any,
thing particular against him, yet he would
be sacrificed rs quickly to the wild unreal
son OF the sans culottes as if he had been
their most bitter enemy. lie would try to
run through train they has! stopped, and
that was enough for them.
But if brave John Malcolm was not fool
hardy. neither did he wish to have blood
Upon his hands. He realized that strategy
might save himself, the engine and cars.
and all on board, where defiance would
precipitate ruin. So. when the lantern of
the conductor signaled him to '.yo ahead"
he looked at the sen OF human faces crowd
ed around and blocking the track, the wav-
ing of defiant and clerthed hands. listened
to the tumtltumous outpourings of malice,
and appeared to hesitate. Then, as if hav-
ing made up his mind not to attempt the
desperate task of forcing IA way. he rang
the bell and slowly backed the train. giving
all to understand that he had abandoned
going, and laundering cheers rang from
the mass of human throats. But it was
not so. Before any could recover from
surprise at the unexpected res,4i. betor;
amy could realize the true situation. tie
engine WAS reversed. the throttle thrown
wide open, swift heatlway gained, and will,
bell ringing and whistle screaming. the
train shot passed the mob and whirlel up
on It's way out into the darkness and out
OF the way OF immediate danger. The eX-
element that followed was next to terrible
Never could Il more angry set Of men have
been found. They yelled. stamped wore.
shook their fists in impotent rage, and
vowed the most iiendish vengeance. Light
ming whispers flew along the line and told
tile story to brave John Malcolm, but lie
only smiled.
They'll have time to cool down before
we get ic!l,' he said to the fireman, ..and
don't think there is anything to fear.
But hope my wife won't hear it. Any
how, al we have 10 do now is to attend to
business and look ont for breakers ahead"
The run was made in safety. The return
began. \ few miles distant from the end
Of the journey was culvert, srannin a
deep and rocky rayine-the most danger
ous place of all on the road. as il came i'm
mediately upon the rounding of sharp
curve. and with the view consequently CON
fined TO a very limited space. The night
was excessively tempestuous and dark. \
thick, heavy mist arose from the neighbor-
ing river, and covered everything with
pail. 1t was SO dense that the headlight
had scarcely briliianey enough to penetrate
il.
''If anything is wrong ut Iron Gulch,"
IS the place IS known, God help us and
i'll on board said the engineer to the fire
man.
s,SlOW I'D. John and ilmn off and III