Wichita eagle., 1889-05-19
FOILED BY A GIRL.

there had been the heroine of a thrilling
adventure with train robbers, and curl
osity and love for the brave induced me
to call on her to tell me the story. When
Invent to her house / was welcomed by
handsome lady about 30, and in re-
sponse to my earnest request for this one
chapter of her life she related the follow
ing:
"In 1873, when but girl of IS, left
my home in Omaha and came out here
to fill the lonesome position Of night op-
orator at small station on the Pacific
railway in this territory. 1t was dreary,
desolate spot in the midst Of desert
The only buildings at the station, apart
from the depot, were q section house oc-
cupied by track foreman and few
Chinese laborers, water tank and a coal
shed. The day operator and agent, a
mere boy, slept at the section house,
about two hundred yards distant, so that
during the long, dreary night Twas alone
in the depot.
"No. 4 express train, bound east, was
due at 2:15 in the morning, but it never
stopped unless signaled, and as this was
the only train during the latter part of
the night you can imagine my lonely sit
uation upon the desert wild. | had my
books and guitar for companions, and
passed much of my time reading, and
when the doleful howlings of the wolves
were borne to my ears from the dist mt
sand hills would pick up my guitar and
endeavor to drown their cries with music
and song.
Zone night, shortly after midnight,
as 1 sat at my table reading late novel,
l thought heard shuffiing footstep on
the station platform; but as it was not
repeated concluded it was but wolf
more daring than his cowardly fellows,
and I resumed my book. A few mo-
ments later heard low knocking at
the door, which 1 always kept locked,
and strange feeling came over me-
During my several weeks stay at the
station had never had visitor, and
the sudden knock, so low, and yet so
startingly 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 I reasoned that it might be some
tramps desiring shelter. While 1 sat
there in alright, the knock was repeated
louder than before, and mastering all
my courage approached the door and
asked:
"'Who's therer
ga gruff voice replied:
"'A traveller who desires to take the
east bound train
1T was my plain and unmistakably
duty to admit him, and with trembling
fingers I drew the bolt.
Instantly the door was pushed vio-
lently open, and l sprang back to the
table and sank into my chair in terror,
when seven burly men, wearing cloth
masks on their faces and armed to the
teeth, entered the Office. One Of them,
evidently the leader, walked to me and,
pointing a large revolver TO my head,
said in a low. firm voice:
"'Gal, we don't want to hurt you, but
if you make suspicious move or scream,
or give any alarm, so that any o the
men in the section house kin hear you,
I'll spile the looks O that pretty face
with bullet. Be quiet and sensible,
and behave yourself, and yer shan't be
hurt. Whar's yer red signal lamp?
"'What would you do? gasped.
"'None o your business. We don't
want to hear any unnecessary back talk,
nor no impertinent questions, Whar's
the red lamp
4 fhrItl 90
when the truth burst upon me that I
was in the hands of band of desperate
train robbers, whose evident intention
was TO signal the train and rob the ex-
press car ct my station. What could 1
DO? 1t was yet three hours until the /
train was due, but could not elude nv
captors to arouse the section men, and
knew by the ugly gleam in the leaders
eyes, through the holes in bis mask, that |!
if made the least outcry he would not |
hesitate 10 carry out his threat and muir /
Ger me. l knew they could find the !
lamp easily by searching for it, and in /
trembling voice told him it was hang
ing just inside the door of the freight |
room. One Of the men got it, and after
examining it to see that it was in order,
the rough band took seats to await the
incoming OF the train
The leader lit his pipe, and, looking
at me steadily for few moments. said:
Young gal, when that ar train toots
her whistle we've got some work for you.
An official duty, as you might cali it.
You must go out thar on the platform
an signal the train to stop and take On
some first class passengers. An, lookee
here, if you make a suspicious move, or
don't swing the red lamp III the proper
way, we'll just ventilate that graceful
body with bullets, an jump on our horses
and sit. Do you understand
"a desperate resolve had been taking
shape in my bewildered brain. Irep!ied
that l fully understood him, and with a
piteous cry, oh, you will make a rnur-
derer of Iner / threw my arms and nv
head down upon the table and began to
cry and sob as if my heart were breaking.
Had he seen my face he might have no
uced total absence of tears. l was cry
ing for a purpose.
When my arms dropped upon the
table / allowed my hands to fall upon
the Grnature of the telegraph instru-
nent, 50 that l could prevent it from
rcEing, while my right hand rested upon
the key. Sobbing, so that any slight
reach the robbers, opened 1t and slowly
made the telegraphic characters: