Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-10-18
4 SHOCKING EXPERIENCE,

H OIlUUktWu Lhi LiIlLHUlI
John Warner sat by his telegraphic
table, trifle pale, perhaps, but SEEM
ingly cool and in no ways disturbed
by the extraordinary situation. The
stranger, who wore a wide rimmed
hat and was dressed in the rough cos
tune of frontiersman, leaned over
the counter, his right elbow resting on
it. which enabled him to hold the
heavy six-shooter without a tremble.
The six-shooter covered" Warner.
The following was the conversation
that ensued:
Es"What time does the night express
pass?
''She's due in about half an hour,
but she is over an hour late"
Gan hour late, eh?''
Eyes; besides she doesn't stop here.
You'll have to 90 to Bloomville for her
if you want to take the express"
''But if you telegraphed to Bloom
vile for her to stop, wouldn't sheP'
mo, she wouldn't"
Hasn't she ever stopped here?"
''Once or twice."
"What made her?"
Orders from the train-dispatcher."
''Where does he liye?n
Center City"
''Well, then, the messages from
Center City to Bloomville must pass
through this office, mustn't they?"
"Of course"
ssAll right. Then you could send a
message from here that the Bloomville
folks wouldn't know but what it came
from Center City, couldn't you?n
Il could, but | wouldn't"
ooh, wouldn't you? Not if asked
you?" Well, young man, I'll be plain
with you. If you don't send just what
I tell you to, I'll send couple of bull
lets through you. We've torn up the
track just around the bend, SO the
train will stop anyhow, and then
there will be an eternal smash. Now
we don't want to bother anybody. We
just want certain package that's in
the express car. We know it's on this
train. We expect to have to kill the
expressman, for there will likely be
an extra man to guard that package.
It's valuable, it is. If you don't stop
that train you will perhaps kill fifty
people and get shot yourself. If you
do, the folks in the sleeping-car will
never know anything's out of the way,
and we will have the cash without any
bother. Savey?"
q understand. Let.me think mo-
ment.n
''Well hurry up. There's no time to
lose"
rs the track torn up now, or are
you going to do it if 1 don't stop the
train?"
''The tracks torn up now"
Cali right. I'll stop the express"
'Now, look here, young fellow. I
want you to understand this: If you
try any fooling you won't catch us and
you'll get shot yourself. Nobody can
come here, for my friends are around
this shanty and won't let anybody
near here"
Nobody comes here, anyhow, at
night. Or in the daytime. either, for
that matter"
'All right. I want you to under
stand the fix you're in. We have all
fast horses, and even if yon brought
regiment on that train they couldn't
catch us. and YOU would have few
bullets in you before got on my
horse"
Il understand"
''All right again. Then go ahead"
The operator put his hand on the key,
but sat there thinking and did not
press it.
Now, see here; you hurry up there.
| don't want any monkey business.
Nt,n -. nl Oh, ri
around on him that the other instinc-
lively raised his revolver little.
"Will you oblige me by keeping
your cussed mouth shut? Til start
when l get ready, and don't you forget
it. I'm running this machine and
don't you forgetthat Ifyou don't like
it shoot and be hanged to you, and
then do your own telegraphing.
That's the way to talk cried the
desperate, with admiration. That's
business. Darned if ever I heard 4
man talk like that with gun pulled
on him. You 90 right ahead and if you
do this thing square We'll whack up on
the swag. It's rather tiresome stand
ing here, so I'll just take this chair IL
side. l won't interfere. >
''All right" said the operator; make
yourself at home.
Then he turned to the table and be-
gan telegraphing.
..KlicE-a-iick. klick-a-lick, klick-a-
lick, klick-a-lick, went the instrument
rapidly.
whats that?' said the desperado,
forgetting his VOW of non-interference
of moment before. 1T seems to be
all the same thing
1T is. [ am calling the police at
Bloomville.
''Klick-a-lick, klick-a-lick-chuck. .
s'There, I've cot 'em. Now, don't
interrupt me. I'll tell youwhat is said
when I'm through"