Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1889-12-07

the car In search OF the conductor?
Should / scream and pull the rope?
Inspite ofall my terror, one thought
chung to me above all others; that If
possible, | must hold every nerve I'M
der iron control, and not betray my
self, for the little | had heard would
surely make the men dangerous COM
panions FOR one woman travelling
alone.
All this went through my mind much
quicker than have written it. The
window behind me was opened.
Ipulled my veil more closely about
my face, and leaned my head against
the casing, for was too much un-
strung to sit upright. | clenched my
hands, bit my lips, and closed my
eyes. Suddenly there was a sharp re-
port OF pistol and an unearthly yell
almost in my very ear. | believe |
was too paralyzed with terror to
move muscle.
A brakeman opened the door.
whats up here?" he shouted.
"Only shoot'n' at a jack rabbit"
was the ready lie, with which he was
answered.
still leaned against the side of the
car, faint and weak. My tormentor
breakman closed the door.
"She's safe enough That yell would
have raised a man dead week. Give
It's your plans and let's settle up"
Then began an earnest discussion.
| After the first Jew sentences nv Tears
were forgotten.
The course or the road changing,
the sun became somewhat annoying
where | sat; in the most common
place manner possible ] changed my
seat so that | faced the speakers. |
did this for the deliberate purpose OF
practicing the mean trait Of caves
dropping.
al b'Iieve could do the whole train
alone" the loudest villain said.
He took an enormous bite from
plug of tobacco, and generously Offer
ed the remainder to his companion.
Several of the latter's front teeth
were gone, and he gnawed and pulled
in vicious way to get his share, but
was finally obliged to take out his
knife, with which he took OFF liberal
slice.
Then followed the well laid plan to
rob the Overland train q few miles
out of Redtield, lonely little station,
few hours ride beyond the city. One
of their cOniederates would meet them
at the city where the Overland stopped
for an hour, and one was already
| aboard the threatened train, to take
observations, and would report to the
others at their meeting place.
Before we reached the next station
their conference came to an end.
"Evervthing's settled so fur, NUNS
the word now" the loud man said
as wedrew near the station.
"Yesi it's settled as far as your
wickedness can settle it," | thought;
'but there may be q higher power
that will overthrow your plans"
My great desire was now to secure
an interview with the conductor, for
| could do nothing alone. When he
came in | smiled in my most captivat.
ing manner, and motioned him to O.
seat, opposite me, however, and with
his back to the consDirators. | was
afraid his countenance would betray
his surprise at the revelation | was
about to make.
He seated himself, and | wrote hasti-
ly:
"Take me someplace where | can
speak with you alone. have some
| thing OF the utmost importance to
tell YOU"
The jolting OF the train made the
words almost illegible, but / was very
impatient at the length OF time he
puzzled over them.
| | was about to snatch the writing
away and explain more fully, when he
raised his eyes with o. look which
brought the blood to my face.
took the tablet from HIM rather
urgently and wrote again:
Withhold your unmanly suspicious
until you hear what | have to say.
Make haste! and do as | wish before
we reach the next station" for knew
it would be necessary to use the tele-
graph there.
He still looked puzzled and some
what ashamed, and wrote briefly:
Come into the palace car and we
can be alone"
arose, and summoned to my face
| the most innocent expression | could
assume. had the greatest difficulty
depressing shudder as | passed the
two horrible looking men on my way
out.
| kept my eyes fixed resolutely on
| the floor, lest by the fleetest passing
glance l might betray my aversion,
and arouse their suspicious.
followed the conductor silently in
to the drawing room coach.
When we were alone in the little
compartment, l burst out with my
story, forgetting for the moment the
role had assumed.
Good heavens!" he exclaimed.
"Ar'n't you dumb"
mo, nor deaf, either" l answered,
laughing in spite OF myself, at his
| dazed expression.
Then | began again, and with more
conference and less vehemence, related
all that / had heard.
My nearer was startled and surpris-
ed at first, but his GOODNESS soon re-
| turned. He thought it best to 60
back to my place, so as to divert all
suspicious.
He was to prepare q telegram to
send from the next station, to the
sheriff in the city, (which was FORUM
ately the county-seat) where We were
| to meet the Overland. He was to
ask the sheriff to have a number OF
deputies in readiness, and to give him
a slight-bint OF the plot, advising the
utmost secrecy.
We both agreed that it would be
| foolish to arrest the two consplrators
until there was sure case against