Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1889-03-21
THE TRAIN R0BBER.
Icy J.. u. WELDON.

John Warner sat by his Geographic
table, a tritle pale, perhaps, but in no
way disturbed by the extraordinary
situation. The stranger, who wore a
1ide-brimmed hat and Mas dressed in
| die rough costume of frontiersman,
leaned over the counter, his right
elbow resting on it, which enabled him
to hold heavy six-shooter without a
tremble. The six-shooter covered"
Warner The following was the con-
versation that ensued:
What time does the night express
pass"
Shes due in about half an hour, but
is over an hour late.
"An hour late, eh?"
Yes, besides she doesn't stop here.
You'll have to &c to Bloomviile if you
want to take the express
But if you telegraphed to Bloom
vile for her to stop here she'd stop,
aouldn't she?"
NO, she wouldn't"
Hasn't she ever stopped here?"
Once or twice"
| What made herr"
Orders from the train dispatcher"
Where does he live?"
Center City"
We'll then, the messages from Center
City to Bloomville must pass through
this office, mustn't they?"
"Of course.
All right. Then you could send a
message from here that the Bloomyille
| folks wouldn't know but what it came
from Center City, couldn't you?"
Il could, but | won't"
"Oh, wouldn't You? Not if | asked
you? Well, young man, I'll he plain
| with you. If you dat send Just what
! tell you to, Ill send couple of bull
lets through you. We've torn up the
track Just around the bend, so the
tram1l stop anyhow, and there'll be an
eternal smash Nov, We don't want to
bother anybody. We Just want GER
tain package that's in the express ear.
We know its 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 the train you will per
haps kill fifty people and get shot your
self. If you do, the folks in the sleep
ing-car will never know anything's out
Of the way, and we will have the CASH
'rithout any bother. Savey?"
Il understand. Let me think mo-
ment."
We'll, hurry up. There's no time to
lose"
rs the track torn up nov, or are you
going to do it if don't stop the train?"
The tracks torn mp now"
~All right. I'll stop the express
Now, look here, young fellow, l
want You to understand this: If you
try any fcolishness you won't catch us
and you'll get shot yourself. Nobody
can come here, for my friends are round
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. want you to understand
the fix you're in. We all have fast
horses, and even if you brought a regi-
ment 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.
l don't want any monkey business"
The operator turned so sharply round
on him that the other instinctively raised
his revolver little.
viii You oblige me by keeping your
cussed mouth shut? I'll start when
get ready, and don't you forget it. I'm
running this machine, and don't you for
get that. If you don't like it, shoot and
he hanged to you, and then do your own
tclegraphing."
That's the way to talk" cried the
desperate, with admiration. THAT'S
business. Darned if ever heard a man
talk like that with gun pulled on him.
You go right ahead, and if you do this
thing square we'll whack up on the
swag. It's rather tiresome standing
here, so I'll just take this chair inside. |
/ won't interfere"
All right said the operator; make |
yourself at home"
Then he turned to the table and be- |
gan telegraphing.
"klick-a-klick. khck-a-klick, klick-a-
kick, klick-a-klick," went the instru-
ment rapidly.
What's that?" said the desperate, |
forgetting his vow of non-interference |
If moment before. 1T seems to be
all the same thing"
1T is. 1 am calling the police at |
Bloomville.-
"klick-a-klick, klick-a-klick- chuck"
There, I've got 'em. Now, don't |
interrupt me. I'll tell you what is
said when I'm through"
The outlaw leaned forward with a |
puzzled expression, and doubtless
wished he knew as much about tele-
graphing as he did about shooting.
rs Stevens there?' asked the in
strument at Bloomville. Tell him
Warner wants him."
There was pause, and then the in
strument at the lonely way station
answered.
Warner rapidly ratified ont the fol-
lowing message
tms snanty Is IN possession OF
villain who has pistol pointed at me
while 1 work. l expect it is the Zama
County gang that is round the place
They are going to rob the express. I'm
supposed to be telegraphing orders for
it to stop here. Now, can't you make
up special there and get the sheriff
and strong posse to come down and
gather in the gang?"
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 be-
hind IL YoIYAhaye il and make Il look M