The state herald., 1889-07-05
A WESTERN HEROINE.

tihek0 nu0 Ocen Sne heroine Ol q thrill
Ing adventure with train robbers, and
curiosity aud lovo for tho brave Undue.
ed me TO call on her to toll NE the
story. When I went TO her house l
was welcomed by handsome lady Of
80. and In response to my earnest re-
quest for this ono chapter Of her life
she related the following true tale:
Ia 1873, when but n girl OF 1S, l left
my home la Omaha and came out hore
u I'LL tho lonesome position Of night
operator at II small station on the Pa
CHIC railway In this territory. It was
dreary, dcsolate spot, in the midst OF
o desert.
The only buildings at the station,
apait from the depot were section
house, occupied by track foreman
and a few Chinese laborers, water
tank, and coal shed. The day oper-
ator and ngent, mere boy, slept Mt
the section house, about 200 yards dis
tant, SO that during the long, dreary
night was alone in the depot.
No. cxpress train, bound east, was
due at 2:l5 In the morning, but IL never
stopped unless signalcd, and as this
was the only train during the latter
portion OF tho night you can imagine
my lonely situation upon the desert
wild. had my books and guitar as
companions and passed much of the
time reading, and when the doleful
howlings OF the wolves were borne to
my ears from distant sand hills would
pick up my guitar and cndcavor to
drown thoir cries with music and song.
Tho superintendent OF the division,
a buoyant, light-spirited young gcntle-
inan, came over the road at frequent
intervals and cheercd me up with
promises OF better position when a
vacancy should occur. He often found
me on the very brink Of despair al.
most on the point OF resigning my
position and returning to my humble
home and the mother who depended
on my salary for tho necessaries of
life; but his promises, his genial con-
versation and words OF encourage
ment drove away the gloom, and !
came IN look for his visits with n
sense Of tho kcenest pleasure. be-
gan 70 regard him with a sistcrly af.
fection, he WIS 70 kind and tender and
s0licitOus for my welfare md comfort
Ono night shortly nfter midnight,
us sat al my table reading n late nov.
cl, thought l heard shuffiing foot
step on the depot platform, but US It
was not repeated concluded II was
but n wolf more daring than his cow
ardly fellows, and l resumed my book.
A few moments later heard n low
knocking ut the door, which / always
kept locked. and strange feeling
came over me. During my several
weeks stay ut tho station had mover
had visitor. and tho sudden knock,
SO low, yct so startlingly clear In the
stiffness Of the night, caused my form
to tremble and my cheek TO blanch.
My first thought was OF Indians.
and then l reasoned that 1t might be
some tramp desiring shelter. While
sat there In alright, the knock was
repeated louder than before. and. mus
tering all my courage, l approached
the door and asked:
who's thcrepn
A grufr voice replied:
"A traveller who desires to take the
cnstbOund train"
II was my plain and unmistalsable
duty 70 admit him. and with trembling
fingers drew the bolt.
Instantly the door was pushed vlo.
lently open and sprang back TO the
table and sank into my chair In terror.
when seven burly men, wearing cloth
masks and armed TO tho teeth, entered
the office. One OF them. evidently the
leader, walked up TO me, and pointing
large revolver at my head. said In u
low. firm voice;
'Gnl, we don't want TO hurt you, but
II you make II suspicious move. or
screrm. or give any alarm, so that my
o. tho men In tho section house kin
hear you, I'll spilc the looks o. that
pretty fnco with II bullet. BE quiet
nnd sensible, md behave yourself and
you shan't bc hurt. Whar's your rcd
signal lamp"
"What would you dopn gaspcd.
"Nonc o. your business. We don't
want TO hear any unnecessary back
talk nor no impertincnt questions.
Whar's tho red lampp"
A chill Of horror swept over mo
when the truth burst upon me that I
win In tho hands OF band Of dcsper-
ate truin-robbcrs whose evident intcn-
tion was 10 signal tho train and rob
tho cxprcss-car ut my station.
What could doP II was yet three
hours until the train wns due. but !
could not cludc my captors 10 arouse
tho section men nnd ] knew by the
CLEAN In the lenders eye through the
holes In his mask that II made the
least outcry he would not hesitate 10
carry out his threat mud murder mo.
knew they could find the limp
cuslly by searching for II and In II
trembling voice told him II was hang
Ing lust inside the door OF tho freight
room. Ono of tho men got II md after
examining II 10 soc that II wns In order
tho rough band took seats 10 nwnit tho
incoming Of the train.
Tho leader III his pipc and looking
nj mo stcadlly for few moments
said:
"Young gal. when that mr. train toots
her whistle wc'vo got some work for
you---an Official duty as you might call
H. You must 70 out thnr on tho plat
form nm signal tho train IN stop nm
tAko on some flrst.class passengers.
An. iookcc here, II you make n
suspicious move or don't swing tho rcd
lamp In tho proper way we'll Just
vcntllnte that graceful body with
bullets an Jump on our horses an git.
DO you undorstandP'
A desperate resolve had boon taking
shn,,s In my bcwildcred brain. re.
piled that fully understood him aud.
with . pitcous cry. "Oh. you will mnlsc
murderer Of mci' throw my arms
and my hoad down upon tho table and
began 70 cry md sob as II my heart
were breaking. Had hc sccn my faco
he might have noticed n total absence
Of tsArs WAS crying for purpose.
When my arms dropped upon thv
taNfs ! allowed my haudS 70 fall upon
Ne armature Of tho telegraph instru.
usst % tAst ! could prevent u from