The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-08-29
1ER.MS-BY MAIL.
ALICE'S HEROISM.

| was a telegraph operator stationed in
the little town OF Deering, upon the line Of
the Pacific Railroad, between the cities OF
D. and G.. Six miles further west was
the more prctentious town OF Paris, upon
the direct road to D..
Deerins was by no means a model resi-
dence. Still, there was school, and a
timid little blue-eyed woman had come from
Vermont to teach it. How long an unpro
tected woman might have lived in Deering
can only guess, for Alice Holt had been
there but three months when she consented
to walk into church with me and walk out
my wife. This was in July, and we had
occupied pretty cottage nearly d quarter
oil a mile from the telegraph station since
our marriage.
With this necessary introduction l come
to the story of that October night, and the
part my blue-eyed Alice, only Is, and
afraid Of her own shadow, played in it.
was in the office at about 1880 o'clock
when one OF the city officials came in, all
Hurried, saying:
STIRLING, have you been over to the em-
bankment on the road to-day?'
mo, l have not"
ut was a special Providence took me
there then. One of the great masses OF
rock has rolled down directly across the
track. 1t will be as dark as a VOLTS mouth
tonight, and if the midnight train comes
from D., there will be horrible smash
up
"The midnight train must stop ut Paris,
then," l replied, II will send IL message"
Yes, that is what stopped i'll for The
other track is clear, 50 you need not stop
the train at D.
''All right, SIR
81 was standing at the door, seeing my
caller down the rickety staircase, when
Alice came up with my supper.
ANY message to-day?" my wife asked.
Zone from D. for John Martin"
"John Martini" Alice cried; ''the great
est ruttian in Deering. What was the mes
sage?"
midnight train.'
''Was that all?''
"That was all. Mr.. Hill has just been in
here to tell me there is a huge rock across
the track at the embankment, so l shall
stop the midnight train at Paris"
She went into the dressing-room, taking
no light, but depending upon the candle
burning in the office. l was rising from my
seat to send the telegram, when the door
opened and four of the worst characters in
Deering, led by John Martin, entered the
room. Before | could speak, two threw me
back in my chair, one held Il revolver to
my head, and John Martin spoke
''Mr. Hill was here to tell you to stop the
D. train. You will not send that mes
sage. Listen. That rock is there to stop
that train-put there for that purpose.
There is Il half million in gold in the ex-
press car. Do you understand"
! trembled for Alice. Not sound came
from the little room and l was tied hand
and foot, to my chair-bound so securely
that could not move. 1t was proposed to
gag me- but finally concluding that my
cries, if | made any, could not be heard, IL
handkerchief was bound over my mouth.
The door OF the wash-room was closed
and locked, Alice still undiscovered, then
The light was blown out, and the rullians
left me- locking the door after them.
There was Il long silence. Outside | could
hear the steps OF one OF the men pacing up
md down, watching. / rubbed my head
against the wall behind me and succeeded
II getting the handkerchief on my mouth
10 fall around my neck. had scarcely sc-
this when there was Il tap on
Jhe inner door.
Robert" Alice said.
'Yes, Love- "speak low, there is a man
lnder my window.
81 am going to Paris. There is no man
lnder my window, and can get out there.
have here SIX long roIler towels knottea~
together, and have cut my white skirt into
vide strips to go in them. The rope made
10 reaches nearly to the ground. l shall
asten it to the door knob and let myself
Town. 1t will not take long to reach home,
addle Selim and reach Paris in time. Don't
ear for me-"
Nine o'clock. AS the bell of the church clock
ceased to strike rumble, II flash, told me
hat Il thunderstorm was coming rapidly.
)h, the long minutes of the next hour. Ten
,'clock The rain falling in torrents, the
hundcr pealing, lightning flashing. Alice
vas so afraid OF the lightning. Eleven
clock. The storm over though still the
light was inky black.
The midnight down train was coming
witty, surely, to certain destruction!
Where was my wife? Had the ruffians
Intercepted her at the cottage? Was she
ying dead somewhere upon the wild road?
Ter heroism was OF no avail; but was her
ife saved? In the agony Of that question
md the approaching noise OF the trian WAS
ar more the bitterness of Alice lost than
he horror OF the doomed lives it carried.
Why had let her start upon her mad err
and?
The heavy train rushed past the tele-
raph office. 1t was my express train and
lid not stop at Deering Station, but; as
istened, every sense sharpened by mental
orture, it seemed to me that the speed
lackened. Listening intcntly, l knew that
t had stopped at the enbankment, as
ear as | could judge. Not with the sick
ming crash l expected, not preceding walls
nd groans from the injured passengers,
'ut carefully. A moment more and heard
houts the crack of firearms, sounds OF
ome conflict.
What could it all mean. The minutes
we're hours, till heard key turn in the
loor OF my prison, and II moment later
wo tender arms were around my neck, and
Alce was whispering in my ear:
'They will come in d few minutes, love,
o set you free.'
"But have you been to Pariso?"
"Yes dear"
'In all that storm"
''Selm seemed to understand. He car
led me swiftly and surely. | was well
in my waterproof cloak and hood.
When reached Paris the train had not
ONE from D.
But it is here
"Only the locomotive and one car. In
hat car were i, sheriff, deputy sheriff and
wenty men armed to the teeth, to capture
he gang at the embankment. | came, too,
nd they lowered me from the platform,
ihen the speed slackened, so that | could
un here and tell you all was safen'
While we spoke my wife's fingers had first
ntied the handkerchief around my neck,
nd then, in the dark, found some OF the
nots OF the cords binding me. But was
till tied fast and strong when there was IL
ush OF many feet upon the staircase, and
n another monument light and joyful
Oices.
We've captured the whole nine" was
he good news. "Three, including John
lartin, are desperately wounded, but the
urprise was perfect. Now, old fellow, for
Ou.'
A dozen clasp-knives at once severed my
onds, and a dozen hands were extended i'll
reeting. AS for the praises showered upon
~ plucky little wife it would require Il
olume to tell half Of them.-Lhicago News.
How Shall the Railroad Enter!
The recent visit of Passenger Agent Fee
t the Northern Pacific, and the talk about
hat read building into Butte, has natur-