Connecticut western news., 1885-06-24
MY WIPES EXPLOIT.

Woo e OClCSAopA 0PCANVOA obAIAOAOA 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 pre- tentious town of Paris, upon the di- rect road to D..
 Deering was by no means a model residence. Still there was a school and timid little blue-eyed woman had come from Vermont to teach 1t, How long an unprotected woman might have lived in Deering I 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 a pretty cottage nearly quarter of mile from the telegraph station since our marriage With this necessary introduction I come to the story of that October night, and the part my blue-eyed Alice, only eighteen and afraid of her own shad- ow, played in 1t.
 I was in the office at about half past seven o'clock, when one of the city officials came in, all hurried, saying:
 Stirling, have you been over to the embankment on the road to-dayp"
 "No, have not"
 "It was 8 special Providence took me there, then. One of the great masses of rock has rolled down direct ly across the track. It will be as dark Rs wolfs mouth tonight, and if the midnight train comes from D. there will be horrible smashup."
 "The midnight train must stop at Paris, then," replied. "I will send message"
 "Yes. That is what stopped in for. The other track is clear, so you need not stop the train to D." N,"All right, sir" -.... l.. z l was standing at the door. seeing my caller down the rickety staircase, when Alice came up with my supper.
 "Any messages to-day2" my wife asked.
 "One from D. for John Martin"
 "John Martinr' Alice cried; ''the greatest rufian in Deering. What was the messagep"
 Midnight train"
 "Was that all lw
 "That was all. Mir. Hill has just been in here to tell me there is huge rock across the track at the embank- ment, SO shall stop the midnight train at Paris"
 She went into the dressing-room, taking no light, but depending upon the candles burning in the office. I was rising from my seat to send the telegram, when the door opened, and four of the worse characters in Deer ing, led by John Martin, entered the room. Before I could speak, two threw me back in my chair, one held a revolver to my head and John Martin spoke:
 "AIr. Hill was here to tell you to stop the D. train, You will not send that message. Listen. The rock is there to stop that train-put there for that purpose. There is half a millio1 in gold in the express car. Do you understand P'
 I trembled for Alice. Not a sound came from the little room as I was lied, hand and foot, to my chair, bound so securely that could not move Ii was proposed to gag me, but finally concluding that my cries, if made any could not be heard, handkerchief was bound over my mouth.
 The door of the wash room was clos. ed and locked, Alice still undiscovered then the light was blown out, and th' ruffians left me, locking the door aftel them.
 There was long silence. Outside could hear the step of one of the mel pacing up and down, watching, rubbed my head against the wall be hind me. and succeeded in getting tn handkerchief on my mouth to fsl around my neck. ! had scarcely ac