Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-07-27

loon close by, whittier they were |
followed by a man who had been
listening to their conversation, and
who noted their preparations.
AS soon as the engine driver and
his mate were recognized, they
we're warmly welcomed, for they
were favorites. Many drinks were
rendered for their acceptance, and
declined on various pleas, till at
length one man declared the Brit
isher wanted to fix an insult on a
free-born citizen. lie offered Seth
and Tom a glass apiece, saying:
What's up, mate? Swore of,
eh?"
"For this evening"" replied Seth,
/" but as I'd rather drink than fight
just now I'll take your treat" So
the men each took the proffered
glass, but scarcely tasted it; and
soon afterward Seth, fearing that
some inkling of his intended mis-
sion might leak out, beckoned to
his fireman to follow as soon as
possible, and then left the saloon.
He lit cigar, climbed up into the
"cab" Of kls engine (all American
locomotives are protected and closed
! in), and began to smoke.
He smoked in comfort for about
a quarter of an hour; then he felt
Fqueer." "These is stronger cigars
than usual" he muttered, and he
threw it from him. But the OPP
preston on his brain became heav-
ier; he felt very sleepy now.
81 think I'll have nap; it's
only about 9 o'clock. l must
there's an hour yet. l wonder
where Tom is. It's my opinion
Tom will drink too much or"
His train of thought was sud,
denly interrupted. All at once il
flashed upon him that he himself
had been "drugged" in the saloon
"That's it what a laundering
: idiot l amp He essayed to rise
but felt quite bewildered. He mad,
hopeless attempts to stand upright
but could do nothing, lie was a
useless as a child; but, worse thai
all, he was conscious of his inabil
ity to do his duty. Ten o'clocl
rang out. He struggled to hi
feet. His head was spinning round
his feet were heavy as leadel
/ weights. He opened the sliding
t door, but ere he could descend
, blow from behind sent him fyin
into space-a splash, and down b
sank into a large pond containin
a surplus Of water for the locom(
? tive tank.
, At the same moment three me
climbed up on the engine and, wit
n a low but hearty chuckle, started
= out from the siding.
81 think we did that neat" sal
the shortest of the party. Z"
a didn't listen to the boss for nothil
n this time. The specie train wi
!; run after all, you see. Oh ! the
n couldn't catch me tripping, N,
o sirE'
. "Thc Savage will do the bridg
1 suppose" said another. "He's
: work on the up line, isn't he?"
v "Aye, only on that side. Ye d
|. that Britisher pretty, l must sa
,e He and Seth was kinder caution
o too"
. 81 mixed it strong," said IL
+. other, with a savage laugh. cd.
you settle the signals, Abe?"
le "Aye; telegraphed ourselves {
3 special, and then cut the wires an
,. smashed the instruments. We
,e clear now to Dartiord City. What
as thatf" he added, hastily, as Il
# engine lurched for a second al
ye lifted.
N "0nly the points. We're o
: now. We can run easy, | s'po
. She won't bust, l hope. Here goei
I The speaker, who knew lit
v. about cngine-driVing, turned on t
steam and away they went, ]
,. turned his head for momeI
#. ''There's something moving 70
% der; they've found Seth, likely"
. But this portion of the gang
he desperadoes had met their mat
in English Tom Atkins. For
IF. moment or two he had been ov,
nd come by the drugged whisky, b
,ie a simple and very effective RENE
cured him at the cost of few II
er ments' sickness. Creeping alo
the ground, for he could not wa
if he conceived the idea of follow
re. these men, so he held the poi
open and sent the "brayoG' aN
ID into the night on the mp line.
proposed to give the alarm and
er; low (on the down metals) with
superior force. But fate was dra
a ing the fugitives to destrueti
di. The up line was cut at the brid
ere m.end a hand, mate, Pm droy
t." din /" This is what Tom heard
ad he crawled rather than wall
to across the metals to seek ass
Ydy ance.
he "Seth-Seth Martin; what's h
to pened to you?"
n a nThem yarmint tossed ME