, 1884-02-12

Lhey wore 10 do. n
al hope, boys, said Sinclair, Hthat we arr
going to put this gang tonight where they
will make no moro trouble. Lieut.. Halsey
will bear the brunt of the fight, and it only
remains for you to stand by the Interest,"
committedt 10 your care. Mr.. Express Agent
what help do you wantT' The person adj
dressed, a good-natured giant, girded with a
cartridge bolt, smiled as he replied:
swell, sir, I'm wearing a watch which the
company gave me for standing of the James
gang in Missouri for half an hour, when we
hadn't a ghost of a soldier about. I'll take
the contract, and welcome, to hold this for
alone"
"Very well, +" said Sinclair. "Foster, what
progress nave you nader
"Major, I've got ten or fifteen as good men
as ever drawed a bOad, and just rOd-hot for q
fight"
"That will do very well. Conductor. give
the trainmen the rifles from the baggage-caI
and lot thom act under Mr.. Foster. Now,
boys, l am sure you will do your duty. That
Is all"
From the next station Sinclair t~elegraphed
sail ready" 20 the superintendent. who was
pacing his office in much suspense. Then he
said n fow words TO his brave but anxious
wife, and walked to the rear platform. On
it were several armed men, who bade him
$780, dhA ohhC0 Nhoh ~ Auh wa
going to begin" Walking through the train,
he found each platform similarly occupied,
and Foster going from ono to the other. The
latter whispered as he passed him:
HMajor, l found Arizona Joe, the scout, in
the smokin' car, and nos on tho front plat
form. That lets me out, and although ]
know as well as you that there amt no
danger about that rear sleeper where the
madam il, 1 amt a-goin' to be far of from
her" Sinclair shook him by tho hand; then
he looked Mt his watch. 1t was half-past
8. He passed through tho baggage aud
express cars, finding in the latter the agent
sitting behind his safe, on which lay two
large revolyers. On the platform car hs
found the soldiers and their commander, sit
ting silent and unconcerned as before. When
Sinclair reached the latter and nodded, he
rose and faced the men, and his fine voice
was clearly heard above the rattle OF the
train
Company, 'tentionl' The soldiers straight.
ened themselves in a second.
"With ball cartridge, loadi" 1t was done
with the precision OF n machine. Then the
lieutenant spoke. in tho same clear, crisp tones
that the troops had heard in more than on,
fierce battle.
@Men,n said he, ain a few minutes the Perry
gang, which you will remember, are going to
try to run this train Off the track, wound and
kill the passengers, and rob the cars and the
United States mail. 1t is our business to pre-
vent them. Sergt. Wilson" Ia gray-haired
non-commissioned officer stood up and
saluted), II am going on the engine. See thai
my orders are repeated. Now men, aim low
and don't waste any shots" He and Sinclair
climbed over the tender and spoke to the en-.
CINE driver, who received the lows with great
nonchalance.
"How are the air-brakes workingf' asked
Sinclair.
"F~irst-rate."
"Then if you slow down now, you could
stop the train in q third of her length,
couldn' your
EASY, if you don't mind being shaken up
a bitF'
aThat is good. How is the country about
the -xth mile-posts'
dead level, and smooth"
"Good again. Now, Lieut.. Halsey, this Is
a splendid headlight, and we can see a long
way with my night glass, 1 will have a."
Eighth mile post just passed" inter.
rupted the engine driver.
"Only one moro to pass, then, before We
ought to strike them. Now, lieutenant, l I'M
dertako to stop the train within a very short
distance of the gang. They will be on both
sides OF the track, no doubt; and the ground,
as you hear, is quite level. You will best
know what to do"
The officer stepped back Sergeant"
called he, do you hear me plainlyf
ayes, sir"
"Have tho men fix bayouets. When the
train stops, and l wave my sword, let hall
jump Off each side, run up quickly, and form
line abreast OF the engine-not ahead"
Jack" said Sinclair to the engineer driver,
lis your hand steadyf" The man held it up
with a smile. 4Good. Now, stand by YOU
throttle and your air-brake. Lieutenant,
better warn the men to hold on tight, and
tell the sergeant to pass the word to the boys
on the platforms, or they will be knocked of
by the sudden stop. Now for a look aheadlF
and he brought the binocular to his eyes.
The great parabolic headlight Illuminated
the track a long way in advance, all behind
it being of course in darkness. Suddenly
Sinclair cried out:
"The fools have a light there, as 1 am a
living man; and there is a little red one nearer
US. What can that bel All ready, Jack
By heavensl they have taken up two rails.
Now, hold on ALI Stop herl"
TIL engine-driver shut his throttle valve
with a jerk. Then, holding hard by it, he
sharply turned a brass handle. There was a
fearful iolt-a grating-aud tho trains way
was checked. The lieutenant, standing side
wise, had drawn his sword. He waved it,
and almost before he could get of tho engine,
the soldiers were up and forming, still in
shadow, while the bright Light was thrown
on a body OF men ahead.
Surrender, or you are dead meuI' roared
the officer. Curses and several shots were
tho reply. Then camo the orders, quick and
sharp:
"Forwardi Close upl Double quickl HALT
FmEp
1t was speedily over. Left on the
car with the men, the old sergeant had said
"Boys, you heart It's that - Perry
gang. Now don't forget Larry and Charley,
that they murdered last year." and thers
had come from the soldiers a sort of fierce,
subdued growl. The volley was followed by
q bayonet charge, and it required all the
officers authority to save the lives even OF
those who threw up their hands Large as
the gang was loutnumbering the troops, well
armed and desperate as they were, every one
was dead, wounded or n prisoner, when thu
men who guarded the train platforms ran up.
Tho urgeon, with professional coolness,
walked up to the robbers, his instrument
case under his arm
"Not much for me to do here, lieu tenant, y
said he. That practice for Creedmoor il
telling on the shooting. Good thing for the
gang, too. Bullets are better than rope, and
a Colorado jury will give them plenty OF
that"
Sinclair had sent a man to tell his wife that
all was over. Then he ordered a fire lighted,
and the rails relaid- The flames lit a strange
scene as the passengers fiocked up. The
lieutenant posted men to keep them back.
ais there a telegraph station not far ahead,
SinclairP asked he. "Yesi All right" He
drew a small pad from his pocket, and wrots
q dispatch TO the post commander.
"Be good enough to send that for NO." said
he, "and leave orders at Bankers for the
night express eastward to stop for us, and to
bring a posset to take care of the wounded and