The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-07-20

might leak out, beckoned 70 bis fireman y
follow as coon a. possible, and then left
the saloon. Helit 4 cigar. climbed up into
the 1cab9 Of his engine (all American
locomotives are protected and cloeed In h
and began 70 smoke. ''T.
BE smokedip' comfort for quarter
Of an hour, then he felt @queer." These
10 stronger cigars than usual, he mutter.
ed, and he threw Il from him. But the
oppression on his brain became heavier
he felt very sleepy now. .I
think I'll hayea nap; tie only about
9 o'clock. ] must; there's an hour yet.
l wonder where Tom Ia. Its my opin>
ion Tom will drink too much Or"
His train Of thought was suddenly
interrupted. All at once it hashed upon
him that be himself had been "druggtd"
In the saloon ,-.-. O.
"ThatS Il; what q laundering idiot l
amp he essayed to rise, but felt quite
beWildered. He made hopless attempts
10 stand upright, but could do nothing.
he was "a useless as child; but, worse
than all, be Wa conscious Of his ipabll.
ity 70 do his duty. Ten O'Clock rang out.
He struggled TO his feet. His head was
spinning round, bis feet were heavy a.
lsaden weights. BE opened the gliding.
door, but ere he could descend blow
from behind Rent him lying into space
q splash, and down he sank into alarge
pond containing quantity Of surplus
water for the locomotive tanks.
Al the same moment three men climbed
up on the engine and, with low but
hearty chuckle, started 1t out from the
aidings. 49,. at17 No "d ~
II think We did that neat,n said the
shortest OF the party. u didn't listen
10 the boss for nothin' this time. The
specie train will run after all, you zee,
Oh! they couldn't catch me tripping.
No, siTi
"The Savage will do the bridge, / sup.
pose said another. "Hes to work on
The up line, isn't hef
FAYE, only on that side. Ye did that
Britisher pretty, / must say. He and
Seth was kinder cautious. too"
II mixed II strong" said the other,
with savage laugh. add you settle
the signals, Abe1"
-Aye; telegrsphed ourselves on special,
and then cut the wires and smashed the
Instruments. We're clear now 10 Dart.
ford City. What's thatr he added,
hastily, rs the engine lurched for second
and lifted. ar 4aaE
"only the points. We're out now.
We can run essy, s'pose. She won't
bust hope. Here goes"
The speaker, who knew little about
engine-driyipg, turned on the steam and
away they went. He turned his head Tor
moment. There's something noveiDg
yonder; they've found Seth, likely.
But this portion Of the gang Of des.
peradoea. had met. their match in Eng lish
Tom Atkins. For q moment or two he had
been overcome by the drugged whisky,
but asimple and very effective remedy
cured him at the cost OF few moments
sickness. Creeping along the ground. for
he could not walk, he conceived the idea
Of following these men so he held the
points open and sent the ebravoes" away
into the night on the up line. He pro
posed TO give the alarm and follow ION
The down metals) with superior force.
But fate was drawing the fugitives to
destruction. The up line was cut At
the bridge.
"Lend a hand, mate, I'm droWndin' :"
This Is what Tom heard as he crawled
rather then walked across the metals to
seek assistance. i.
astth-se. Martin; what's happened
to youf'
aThem varmint tossed me in here when
I was bali stupid, bot the water has done
me good. Help me out, Tom and we'll
fix them yet" =
Tom, who was rapidly recovering, lent
all the assistances he could and then the
dripping driver, quickly wringing the
water from his cloths, said, when his mate
had told him what be had done
aDon't breathe q syllable TO mortal
man. | know Bob Franklin's engine Is
in steam by now for thescross traffic.
Well FIRE her up and run them down.
We may save the specie yet. Hurry
down TO the signal,box while 1 ges out
the engine"
Tom hsstened away AZ desired, but
soon came back with intelligence that the
box was empty and the wire cut.
1--WE darsen't say word now" said
Seth. "Whatfools We were TO take them
drinksl Now Tom, shovel in some wood
while ! oil the cranks. I'll leave word
for the foreman; we must trust him"
All these preparations were made
almost as quickly as they are described.
In len minutes the engine was ready,
and "a noisele.sly as possible the great
locomotive was brought cut Of the shed,
bot tender first.
aNeyer mind" said Seth when Tom
objected. aWs can run about rs quick.
Now, are ye ready?
The foreman came up at that moment.
III 70 do succeed" he said. "your Tor
tunes are made. II you fail / wouldn't
answer for your lives. Take my revol.
yer," he added, land be off,
Seth thanked him, adding gloomily.
uIf we fail, we'll never come back alive.
For us 10 be hocused with Bourbon
Is disgrace enough. 20 'fias
A whistlel The foreman opened the
points and the engine sped away on the
down line in full pursuit Of the des.
per ADDE'S 10 save the specie train II pos.
sible.
aws'vs no head.lightP exclaimed
Tom, suddenly. / ;rF
$50 much the better; We don't want
TO advertise ourselves tonight. There
Is a aash Of something; guess we'll
have q storm. n-.-s--es 1-..s- -'s-., s.--s,s
The remark was not uncalled for. The
CLEAN Of lightning every now and then ap.
psared 10 rest upon the steel handles and
Clint along the rails. There was moan.
Ing sound 10 the air, feeling Of oppres.
sion, while occasionally heavy plash OF
rain would drop upon the roof Of the
"cab " In which the men iourneyed.
They absolutely few along the track.
Over the apparently boundless prairie
the line was laid. Not station for miles.
A few watering places at intervals along
broke the level character Of the prospect
when the filful lightning lit up the sur
roundings. Pitch dark overhead except
when the flashes came; and the only light
below the rapidly moving glare Of the
furnace FIRE on the "roadh ffg-
ats past eleven said the driver. We
ought TO have pulled them up. We've
run this thirty miles In the bali hour.
Tha,ais RnfTalo creek he added. "a they