Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-05-23
My Wife's Exploit.

was telegraph operator stationed in
the little town of Deering, upon the
line or the Pacific railroad, between
the cities of D. and G -. Six
miles further west was the more pre-
tentious town of Paris, upon the direct
road to D..
Deering was by no means model
residence. Still there was school and
a timid little blue-eyed woman had
come from Vermont to teach it.
How long an unprotected woman
might have lived In Deering L can only
guess, for Alice Holt had been in
Deering 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 a quarter of mile from
the telegraph station since our mar
riage.
With this necessary introduction 1
come to the story of that October
night and the part my blue-eyed Alice,
Is. and afraid of her own shadow,
played in It.
O'Clock when one of the city officials
came in. all hurried, saying:-
"Stirling, have you been to the en-
mo, / have not"
"It was a special Providence that
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 o-night, and if
the midnight train comes from D.
there will be horrible smashup'"
"The midnight train must stop at
Paris, then" replied. 81 will send
message
"Yes. That is what 1 stopped in
for. The other track is clear, so you
need not stop the train to D."
"All right, SIR"
was standing at the door, seeing
my caller down the rickety staircase,
when Alice came up with my supper.
ANY messages to-day?" my wife
asked.
lone from D. for John Martin "a
"John Martini" Alice cried; ''the
greatest ruffian in Deering. What was
the message2"
Midnight train.''
"Was that all?''
"That was all. Mr.. Hill has just
been in here to tell me there is huge
rock across the track at the embank-
ment, so i shall stop the midnight at
Paris"
She went into the dressing-room,
taking no light, but depending upon
the candles burning in the Office. 1
was rising from my seat to send the
telegram, when the door opened and
four of the worst characters in Deer
ing, led by John Martin, entered the
room. Before L could speak, two
threw me back in my chair, one hold
ing a 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 message. Listen. The rock
is there to stop that train-put there
for that purpose. There is half mill
lion of gold in the express car. Do
you understand"
I trembled for Alice. Not a sound
came from the little room as 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 1 made any, could not be heard, a
handkerchief was bound over my
mouth.
The door of the washroom was closed
and locked Alice still undiscovered, ,
then the light was blown out, and the
ruffians left me, locking the door after
them.
There was a long silence. Outside I
could hear the step of one of the men
pacing ND and down, watching. 1
rubbed my head against the wall be
hind me. and succeeded in getting the
handkerchief on my mouth to fall
around my neck. had scarcely &C