Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1888-09-05

wished he knew as much about tele-
graphing as he did about shooting.
"Is Stevens there ?" asked the in
strument at Bloomville. "Tell him
Warner wants him."
There was pause, and then the in
strument at the lonely station answer
ed.
Warner rapidly ratified out the fol-
lowing message
"This shanty is in the possession of
a william who has pistol aimed at me
while | work. l expect it is the Ia
ma county gang that is round the
place. They are going to rob the ex-
press. I'm supposed to be telegraph
ing orders for it to stop here. Now,
can't you make up a special there and
get the Sheriff and strong posse to
come down and gather in the gangT
"I'll do it. There's a freight engine
here now, and I'll put the boys in
some box cars"
"No, don't do that. Make up
train of passengers. Put Pullman
on behind if you have it and make it
look as like the express train as you
can. Then send her down on the time
of the express and hold No. 8 there
till they get back"
Good idea. Now what are you
going to doi They'll shoot you"
"Can you make connection with
the town arc light and get them to
put their full current on? I'll con-
meet it in some way with the fellow
here and he'll never know what struck
him."
ave haven't time for that. We'd
have to 60 down to the dynamo Office
and get them to turn off all the city
lights and then make connections. 1t
would take too long and it would
burn out every switch board on the
circuit. But can give you all the
cell currents we have here and that
will paralyze any rough from Zama
and perhaps kill him. Anyhow, you
could get his gun before he recovered.
When you're ready just call the Office.
Ground your current and I'll send it
along on the big wire."
"Seems to take lot of telegraph
ing to stop train" said the despera.
do uneasily.
at does. You see the train is be-
hind time, and they don't want to stop
her. told them there was a special
that would pass them here. They
want to know all the particulars.
Now I'll have to move about bit. |
must cut off the wire to Center City.
If don't, they may telegraph to the
dispatcher's Office about special and
then it would be all up with u.s."
"All right, go ahead
"Well, don't let that revolver 90
off"
at never goes off till | tell it to,
then it's sure death. AS lcDg as you
act square it won't go off,"
The telegrapher went to drawer
and took out piece of wire and to
one end attached pair of scissors.
The other end he connected with the
big wire from Bloomvile. He fused
around the switch board and then
took a pail of water and said 81 must
damp down the floor, so that there
will be no dust to interfere with the
"Water won't hurt anything outside
of me" said the man; I'D hate to
try it inside, though"
Having wet the floor the operator
sat down to his table again. "Klick-
a-lick," went the instrument. Next
instant there was a binding fash of
greenish light in the room. The man
started to his feet.
Thunder" he cried, whats thatl"
you struck 1t the first time. Thun-
der somewheres.
"Tm afraid it will interfere with us.
But | think l can fix it. Hand me
hat screwdriver, quick"
The screwdriver was handed, but
all the time the pistol covered him.
The visitor was not q man To he taken
,ff his guard. Warner worked with
he screwdriver a moment and then
'aid sharply: "Gimme them scissors.
Hurry up"
The outlaw reached for the scissors
md the next instant with a yell he
'prang toward the ceiling and fell in
, heap on the floor.
Throw up your hands, you villain"
,ried Warner, pointing his own pistol
It him.
The whole gang were induced to
eturn to Bloomville with the Sheriff
hortly after.-Luke Sharp, in De-
roit Free Press.