West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-08-17


had been listening To their conver-
sauon, and who noted their prepara-
tions.
Alter communicating with some ac-
complice, this mysterious individual
left the saloon and made his way towards
the signal box, which stood some dis
tance down the line.
AS soon as the engine driver and his
mate were recognized, they were warmly
welcomed, for they were favorites. MANY
drinks were rendered for their accent
ance, and declined on various pleas. tin
at length one man declared the Britisher
wanted u fix an insult on n free-born
citizen. He offered Seth and Tom a
glass apiece, saying:
What's up, mate? Swore OIL ELI -
For this evening" replied Seth
but as I'd rather drink than fight lust
now, I'll take your treat" 30 the men
each took the profiered glass, but
scarcely tasted it; and soon afterwards
Seth, fearing that some inkling of his
intended mission might leak out, beck
oned To his fireman 10 follow as soon as
possible, and then left the saloon He
IN cigar, climbed up into the cab" of
his engine. and began to smoke.
lie smoked in comfort for about a
quarter of an hour, then he felt "queer.
These is stronger cigars than usual
he muttered, and he threw it from him.
But the oppression on his brain be-
came heavier; he felt very sleepy
now.
- think I'll have a nap; it's only
about nine o'clock. ] must; there's an
hour yet. | wonder where Tom is. It's
my opinion Tom will drink too much
His train of thought was suddenly in
terrupted All at once it flashed upon
him that he himself had been drugged"
in the saloon.
That's 1t; what laundering idiot
aml' He essayed To rise, but felt
quite bewildered He made hopeless at
tempts to stand upright, but could do
nothing. lie was as useless as a child !;
but, worse than all, he was conscious of
Instability to do his duty Ten o'clock
rang out. He struggled 10 his feet. His
mead was spinning round, his feet were
heaVy as leaden weights. He opened
the sliding-door, but ere he could de-
scend blow from behind sent him flv-
ing into space-a splash, and down he
sank into large pond containing a
quantity of surplus water for the loco
motive tanks.
AT the same moment three men
climbed up on the engine and, with a
low but hearty chuckle started il out
from the sliding.
| think we did that neat" said the
shortest of the party. al didn't listen
to the boss for nothin' this time. The
specie will run after all, you see. Oh!
they couldn't catch me now trimming
No, sirl"
The Savage will do the bridge, / sup
pose" said another. He's to work on
the line, isn't hep
Aye, only on that side. Ye did that
Britisher pretty, ! must say. He and
Seth was kinder cautious, too"
| mixed it strong" said the other,
with savage laugh. Did you settle
the signals, AbeP
Aye; telegraphed ourselves on
special, and then cut the wires and
smashed the instruments We're clear
now to hartford City. What's that?
he added, hastily, as the engine lurched
for second and lifted.
Only the points. We're out now.
We can run easy, | s'pose. She won't
bust, l hope. Here goes
The speaker, who knew little about
engine driving, turned on the steam and
away they went He turned his head
for a moment. "There's something
likely"
But this portion of the gang of desper-
ADDE'S had met their match in English
Tom Atkins. For a 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. ne
conceived the idea of following these
men, 80 he held the points open and
sent the bravoes" away into the night
on the line. He proposed 10 give the
alarm and follow ION the down rails)
with a superior force. But the fate
was drawing the fugitives to destruc-
tion. The up line was cut at the
bridge
Lend hand, mate, I'm drownin' %
This Is what Tom heard as he crawled
rather than walked across The metals 10
seek assistance.
Seth-Seth Martin: what's hap
pened 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 fix them yet"
Tom, who was rapidly recovering.
lent all the assistance he could and
then the dripping driver, quickly wiring
ing 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
in steam by now for the class traffic
Wen fire her up and run them down
We may save the specie yet. Hurry
down to the signal-box while ] get out
the engine"
Tom hasteued away rs desired but
soon came back with the intelligence
that the box was empty and the wire
cut
We daresn't say a word now" said
Seth. What fools we were 10 take
them drinks Now, Tom, shove in some
wood while / oil the cranks. I'll leave
word for the foreman; we must trust
him."
All these preparations were made
almost a. quickly as they are here de-
scribed. In ten minutes the engine was
ready, and as noiselessly as possible the
great locomotive was brought out Of the
shed, but tender first
% Movor n, frI ~ s,.gI G.t. II 49, r..