Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1878-07-31

IN h What : tkunderinr idiot
3sss5 6oGUUdsto IN. hut Ell quit
1SGUS he made h0peless attempt
enutand upsieht but could do nothina
il3e W1sas u1elss - ! child; but, worn
tAAns0 ~ wAaconeofDns Of bin inabilit
~ ~ IT. duty. Ten o'clock rang oui
e stsNeEled . hi feet. His head vi
e1leAihg Tunnd, his lest were heavy
l10l&6on NodtGhtA Hoa0pemed - slidins
4pot, hi - BE could descend 4 blo'
hon behind sent him lying into space
IA9pla6A md down he rank into . lara
I'D consolidating : quantity Of surplI
water TOR the locomotive tankst
Az theaame moment three men climbe
up on the engine, and, with q low bu
10y ehnekle starred It out from Ii
4 { think "a did that neat" said til
ahortest Of the party. ~ didn't liste
70 The boz for nothin' this time. I'll
spccic train will run after all, you se,
OH they couldn't catch me tripping
"Ths Savage will do the bridge, / sur
pose aid another. "He,s TO work Of
the up line, knit hefn
.Aye, only:on that side. Ye did tina
Britiahef pretty, ] must say. He an,
Seth was kinder cautious, too"
mixed IL strong" aaid the other
with I savage laugh. "Did you settl
the signAlA Abe?"
"Aye; autographed ourselves on spe
cial, and then cut the wires and smashe,
the instruments. We're clear now t,
hartford City. What's that" he add
ed, hastily, - the engine lurched for ,
second and lifted.
"Only the points. We're out 0
We can run easy, / s'p0se. She won,
bust, / hope. Hero goes"
The speaker, who knew little abou,
engine-driving, turned on the steam, anc
away they went. He turned his head fol
: moment "There's something movins
yonder. They've found Seth, likely. :
But this portion of the gang Of despe.
rad0cs had met their match in English
Tom AtkinA For 3 moment or two he
had been overcome by the drugged
whisky, but : simple and very effective
remedy cured him at the cost of a few
moments sickness. Creeping along the
ground, for he could not walk, he con
ceivcd the idea OF following these men,
20 he held the points open and cent the
"bravoes" away into the night on the
up line. He proposed 10 give the alarm
and follow Ton the down metals) with a
superior force. But fate was drawing
the fugitives to destruction. The up line
cut At the bridge.
LEND hand, mate, I'm drowndin'!"
This II what Tom heard as he crawled
rather than walked across the metals to
seek assistance.
"Seth-Seth Martin; what's happened
to your
"Them varmints tossed me in here
when ! was half stupid, but the water
has done me good. Help me out, Tom,
and we'll 6y them yet"
Tom. who rapidly recovering, lent all
the aHistance be could; and then the
dripping driver, quickly wringing the
water from his clothes, said, when his
mate had told him what he had done
Don't breathe a syllable to mortal
man. ! know Bob Franklin's engine ia
steam by now for the cross traffic.
We may save the specie vet. Hurry
down 70 the signal-box while / get out
the engine"
Tom FASTENED away as desired, but
soon returned with the intelligence that
the box was empty and the wire cut.
We daresn't say q word, now,'' said
Seth. "What fools we were to take
them drinks Now, Tom, shove in some
wood while ! oil the cranks. I'll leave
word for the foreman; we must trust
All these preparations were made al
most o. rapidly al they are here describ-
I'd. In ten minutes the engine was
ready, and rs noiselessly ~ possible the
yreat locomotive was brought out of the
he'd, but tender irt.
"Never mind" said Seth when Tom
objected. 1--WE can run about as quick.
Now, are ye readyf'
Ihe foreman came up At that moment.
If We succeed" he said, "your for
;unes are made. If you fail, / wouldn't
tnswer for your lives. Take my revolt
ser, and be off," he added.
Seth thanked Rim, adding ploomily. |
IF we FAIL" we'll never return alive.
For us to be hocussed with Bourbon is
disgrace enough"
A whistle! The foreman opened the
points and the engine sped away on the
1own line in full pursui. of the des-
peradoes to save the specie train if pos
,ible.
We've no head lamp" exclaimed
rom, suddenly.
$50 much the better; we don't want
. advertise ourselves tonight. There's
! nash OF something; guess we'll have a
The remark was uncalied for. The
yleam Of lightning every now and then
appeared to rest upon the steel handles
md CLINT along the rails. There was a
moaning sound in the air, a feeling of
oppression, while occasionally a heavy
OF rain would drop upon the roof
the "cab" in which the men jour-
They absolutely few along the track,
lver the apparently boundless prairie
ne line was laid. Not a station for
niles. A few watering places at inter.
rails alone broke the level character of
he prospect when the lightning lit up the
urrOundings. Pitch dark overhead
kept when the flashes came; and the
My light below the rapily moving glare
the furnace FIRE on the road.
Its past eleven" said the driver.
We ought to have pulled them up.
We've run this thirty miles in the half
our. There's Buffalo Creek" he added.
. they skimmed past.
well, then, hartford il only another
hirty, and the trcstle siding on top of
be cutting isonly twenty-five"
I'VE must pass them at the curve. be-
Halo! look out, mind the hand
mp"
Tom turned the Tide and looked ahead.
eth shut Off steam.
There they arel Lucky we are run
tender foremost, or they would
ave seen Our fire. Well wait on them
till they get ON to the ~trestle
arve. Then we'll wire in and drop
Steady, mattel" {
The engine came silently to a stand
Ill. The gentle hiss Of the steam. |
hich was just raising the valves, was ,
Q only audible sound. Broad flashes a
sheet lightning lit up the heavy
asann NJ ofns.A knk .4 i