San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-08-10

Afterward the first thing she could
remember about IL, voice seeming TO
como from her dreams said: "Tain't
likely she's left here alone, and asleep;
too"
NO." responded another evil voice,
"the old mans probably around some
where-but," in lower tone. "come
on, let's go along. The down train'n
be along, and we'll lay 'em out"
Mike was wide-awake enough now,
but she had presence of mind in her
small body, and realized that safety lay
in keeping still.
"How fur is il up there?"
Ssh! Keep mum. Do you want to
knock the hull thing in the head, and
yourself, toop" and then the girls quick
oned hearing caught the sound of
heavy footsteps passing by the window
and on up the track. '
Mike waited until she couldn't hear
the footsteps, and then cautiously
turned and looked out of the window.
There they were-two miserable looking
tramps fastened up the track. She
recognized them at once us two men
who had been discharged from con-
struction train that had been at work
4
down the road. What should she do! Oh !!
if she could send for her father? But
there was no one anywhere near, and
besides, by the time he could get
home it might be too late-for it was
evident that the desperate wfetches
were bent upon revenging themselves
of their fancied wrongs upon the inno-
cent. She looked at the clock. Half
past Al She ran out and looked around
the lonely station. No one living in
sight. She called once, feebly-but
where was the. use. If she sent for
her father she had no tangible explain
alton to give or real reason to make
him hurry home-only she was sure
there was harm coming to the down,
train--that long, crowded express filled
with mountain tourists. But she must
do something. ~ !MET #Q#
The men had disappeared around q
slight bend in the track. Mike ran in.
locked up the Office, snatching hat
from nail in the corner, and then hur-
ried up the track until she arrived at the
slight curve. Then she made haste
more slowly" for there were the men.
Stepping behind clump of bushes she
watched them. They had stopped and
were doing something, she could not at
first see what, to the track. Pretty soon
up came rail, and in minute more
was thrown down a steep ledge within
four feet of the track--where the whole
train must be precipitated in less than
an hour if something could not be done
to warn them. Mike saw it all now
and for moment stood, her eyes dilated
with horror, while she saw the scoun'
drels shake their fists toward her way
and heard an imprecation. Then they
passed on and Mike, grown cold in the
sudden extremity, turned and stepped
toward the depot.
The rail had been removed on curve
which was shaded on the west side by
high bank so that at half-past five it wal
quite dusk there, and, as the trains al
ways came in on down grade, they
came at full speed. So Mike though
J, "I'm so glad I came, for now Ill hurr!
and telegraph to Stratford before tn
train comes by, and then we'll see, MI
Tramps, how your little scheme come
out" .-It" at r-
She reached the office and looked a
the clock. Five minutes to five ant
the train left Stratford at SOB. Well
, eight minutes was plenty OF time II sh
could "raise" Stratford. She graspe'
g: the KEY. "Sd-sd-sd," clicked the in
strument. Never before was there s
: impatient an operator on that line. Wit
her eyes on the clock which SCENE
, then, if ever, to say, "forever-never-
never-forever," she kept up the Cal
, Somebody on the other side "brok
| her" twice, but she gave all the DANCE
|, signals she could think of and kept OF
: The moments kept on-oue, two, three
fonr fve-slovly pealcd the old clock