The Washington critic., 1889-01-24

touching it, and yet il works. 1t Is only
an order to freight train away down Mt
Medicine Bow
keep away from that tablsy he said
savagely. An IL / ketcn YOU at any
tricks I'll choke the life out of YOU.
"Oh, how eagerly my ears drank in
every word the instrument clicked out !
| heard telegram to the sheriff of Green
River, twenty miles west, asking him to
arm posse of men at once and get on
board special train which would be
ready for him. Then another to the
young superintendent, who was at Green
River, telling him how slowly written
words had been heard by the dispatcher,
and asking him to supervise the prepara.
tions and fly to my relief. Then third
dispatch to the master mechanic in.
structing him to fire up his fastest passen-
ger engine and couple on to a carriage
and await the superintendent orders.
My heart beat so violently that ii almost
took my breath away. II seemed an age
ere / heard the Green River operator call
the dispatcher, and say:
"'The superintendent, with sheriff
and twenty armed men, arc aboard, and
train ready for orders.
"The order came flying. 1t told the
engineer he had q clear track, and TO run
at his very highest speed TO within half
mile of my station, and with his party
to alight Then came the welcome re-
port from the Green River Office:
Special east departed 1:15.'
"Oh, how my poor heart beat, and
how my every nerve tingled with ex.
citement. 1:15-I mentally figured that
the train, on such desperate errand, 4,
should make nearly a mile minute,
and reach the stopping point at :36.
The robber chief gave his men their
instructions. | was to be sent alone to
signal the train, and when it halted the
band would make q rush and board the
train.
"Bill, you jump on the engine as soon
as she stops and hold the engineer and
fireman under your gun. Jack, you pile
into the mail car an make the clerk give
up his registered letters, an Yank an
Alleck I'll work the express car, while
Tom and Shorty hold the conductor and
brakeman back. Do your work quick
AN bold, an don't be afeard to burn
powder if necessary. Thar's o big haul
on that train an we've got to have it.
"How eagerly | watched the clock,
and how slowly, how very, very slowly
the hands seemed to move-1:21, 1:25
and 1880 were licked off; 1856! Would
they never conner
"The men sat on the bench along the
west side of the room, facing along the
two windows on the east. / tried to
figure how long it would require for the
men to walk to the depot from the stop.
ping place. Perhaps even then they were
surrounding the station, and might hear
q knock at the door any instant. Would
there be fighH Oh, horrible thought
In few moments might sec
men shot down before my face, and
might myself be killed. almost
tainted with fright. The blood seemed
to freeze in my veins, and | grasped the
chair or | would have fallen to the floor
1:4O! There came fearful crash o.
glass, and the black muzzles of perfect
cloud of rifes1 were thrust through thu
window and pointed directly at the rob
bers Then voice cried out:
Men, throw up your hands l an
the sheriff, and in the name of the law
demand your surrender. Make but ;
move. and IN order my men to fret
eyer little catl' hissed the leader
glaring at me savagely as the band sud
denly held aloft their hands. Then tn,
| SuCTlll ullu tuTc6 uleH cllltTcu uIlu ulo
armed and handcuffed the robbers, anC
| saw the superintendent looking at me
and heard him say: What debt l ow'
you, my brave girl, and then fell faint
ing into his arms.
"When l regained consciousness wa
lying in my room at Green River, wit
several ladies around me, and was toll
that seven days had elapsed since tn
| Af ha rAhha~c / o,,T Ia.
from brain fever, brought on by the ter
had been unconscious for that long pc
cred on the border between life an
bedside several times every day ,cheerin
doing all in his power to alleviate m
sufferings.
II finally recovered and was calle
into court to testify against the desperat
gang. I shall never forget their fierc
glance towards me as l told how ha
entrapped them, or how, in spite of tn
Judge and court officers to prevent it, th
crowd cheered me as left the stanC
The men were sent for long terms to a
Eastern prison, and / never have hear
of them since"
"And did the company reward you fc
saving the train?" l asked.
"Well, only slightly. Corporation
have no souls, you know. But r.
vengcd myself on the superintendent
manner"
'In what way?"
81 married him." she replied wit
charming smile.
|