Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1888-04-20

This | repeated several times, hop
ing they might reach the ears of some
operator on the line ] slowly and dis
tinctly wrote these words, still sob
bing violently:
"WhO-hears-h,s-. .for-Hearen's-
sake-repon- to train-dispGtcher-Gt--
Laramie quick hat-I-am-m-the--
hands-of f-seren-roJbers- rho- i'll
compeI-me-to-fdg-NO.--4.-Se" Send
help-qttick
Then | signed name and Office call.
| then released the armature. and
the instrument at once clicked out:
Brace up, little girl, hear yOm II. y
III was the train dispatcher's office
call. With fierce oath the leader
sprang forward and rudely snatched
me away from the table, and asked:
Gal, what's that?'
"Only a distant Office asking for or
ders for freight train ! responded.
None O yer lyin', you little imp!
he roared. You are up to some trick!
No" replied, Il am not. If | was
doing that my fingers would be on the
instrument. Don't you see | am not
touching it, and yet it works. 1t Is
only an order to freight train down
at Medicine Bow
Keep away from that table, he
said savagely. AN if | ketch you at
any tricks, I'll choke the life out o
you"
Oh, how eagerly my ears drank in
every word the instrument clicked out!
| heard telegram to the Sheriff at
Green River, twenty miles west. ask
ing him TO arm posse Of men AT once
and get on board a special train which
would be ready for him. Then anoth-
er to the young Superintendent, who
was at Green River, telling how my
slowly written words had been heard
by the dispatcher, and asking him TO
supervise the preparations to fly to
my relief. Then a third dispatch 10
the mechanic, instructing him TO fire
up his fastest passenger engine and
couple on to caboose and wait the
superintendent orders. My heart
beat so violently that it almost took
my breath Although it seemed an
age ere heard the Green River ope-
rator call the dispatcher and say:
THE Superintendent, with Sheriff
and twenty armed men, are aboard,
and train ready for orders
The order came flying. 1t told the
engineer had clear track and TO run
at his very highest speed to within
half mile of my station, and his party
to alight. Then came the welcome re
port from the Green River Office:
Special East departed 1.15.'
oh. how my poor heart beat, and
how my every nerve tingled with ex-
citement. lis mentally figured that
the train Oh such a desperate errand
should make nearly mile minute
and reach the stopping point about
l.35.
The robber chief gave his men their
instructions. / was to be sent out
alone TO signal the train, and when it
halted the band would make rush
and board it.
Bill, you jump the engine a. soon
as she stops, an hold the engineer and
fireman under my gun. Jack, oupile
into the mail car an make the clerk
give up his registered letters, an me
an Yank an Aleck'll work the eX-
press car, while Tom an Shorty holds
the conductor and brakeman back
Do yer work quick an bold, an don't
be afeared to burn powder if necessa-
~. Thar's big haul on that train,
all we've got 10 have it.
How eagerly watched the clock,
and how slowly, how very, very slow
V the hands seemed to move. One
one twenty-five, one thir-
ty were ticked of. One thirty-fyel
would they never come?
THE men sat on the bench along
the west side of the room, facing along
the two windows on the east. j tried
to figure on how long it would require