The Opelousas courier., 1889-05-18

Chicago.
Under my direction the cowboys put
it up, and though it wasn't stretched
very tight, and the poles were only |
fence-posts spliced together, il worked
as well as the main line. The instru- |
ment on my end of the line | did not
care to have in the Office, for fear that
oficious gentleman, the lineman, would
object, and so | set it up on one side OF
the big. empty freight-room.
The autumn vas now we'll advanced,
and | found that my duties, instead of
increasing, grew lighter. There were
but two freight trains every other day,
and the daily mail and express, east
and west, went through between the
hours of n and four in the morning,
SO that I had a great deal of time on
my hands. Ispent much Of 1t shoot
ing chickens with Charley-he was an
excellent shot from the saddle. though
he told me he had a time of it training
his pony to stand fire-and the rest of
the time / either read Or rode out over
the trails in the delicious Indian sum-
mer weather.
One night, about the middle of Oc-
tober, we had a terrific thunder and
wind storm, with a binding fall of rain
and hail. 1t came up after the west
bound train had left, and about an hour
before the eastern train was due. |
was awakened by the noise, and got up
to look out. The rain was falling in
torrents, and the wind shook the build
ing, while the lightning flashed inces-
sanity.
l was still looking out, watching the
furious storm, when an unusually bright
fash revealed for an instant the figures
of a group of horsemen Looping across
the prairie toward the station. | stood
still to catch another glimpse Of them,
if possible, but without success; they
had probably turned off to the left.
Shortly afterward / heard them at
the other end of the building. where
they stopped, / supposed, to seek
shelter from the storm; or possibly
they were going to take the train. It
was not unusual for passengers to come
around an hour before train time, so l
thought little of it at the time.
However, before / left the window, |
heard them tramping around the plat
form to the door, and drawing back to
one side, I waited to see them pass.
Between trains | always kept a lamp
burning, but turned down low, and 1t
shone out now through the window;
and as the men stepped into the faint
bar Of light, I got quite adistinct view
of them.
They were all heavily built. Each
one wore a yellow .'slicker" coat, and
had his SLOUGH hat pulled down close
to keep off the rain, and around each
ones face, just below the eyes, was
tsed a red s~'harvester's" handkerchief.
This struck me as unusual, and | was
puzzled for a moment. until it occurred
to me that perhaps they were worn as
protection against the hail.
A moment later they were pounding
at the door for admittance. Now, as a
rule, | did not0iilike to admit any one
so long before train-time. | some.
times had express money packages on
hand, with 40 safe to put them in. ]
once carried q package of two thou
sand dollars in my pocket three days
before the wne called for it, and so ]
was somewhat ag%prehensive at times
for my safety.
That night, however, ! had only
few dollars of M %wn and an almost
empty mail-pouch, but before opening
the door. I sang out: who's there
and what do YOU want?n
Passengers for the train," came
the answer. Were all wet, an wantel
get in out Cthe rain" j
I unlocked tie door, and thes
crowded into the j pom. In the brighter
light indoors theJ handkerchiefs tina
concealed their faces looked so mucl
like an attempt at disguise-and
| pretty good n at that-that for a mo
ment | was startled, and made a hast.
step toward the ticket-ofice. Before
could take another, however, n o
the men struck me with his fist, ant
though the blow was not a hard one
it was so unexpected that it knocked
me completely off my feet. Then tw'
of them seized me while / was down
turned me on my face, and held me
while the others bound my hand
hmly behind me. They next bouns
) my feet, and then rolled me over agail
on my back. .
Now. my chicken" said one, VIII
9 appeared to be the leader, I'VE ain
; got nothin' agin you, am won't hur
you as long as you keep quiet; bu
; sure aseyou yell or make a noise
there'Il be some shootin'.n
They seemed to be familiar with tn
soface and it's surroundings, and proba
, bly, had been there before. Two c
them picked me up and carried m
!, toward the freight-room, while anothe
: went. ahead with the lamp and opene
? the door. Here they looked aroun
for a moment, then laid me dow
: against the side of the building wit
Z an old coat under my head for a pi
low, and bidding me keep ''mum," re
, turned to the waiting-room.
Thus left alone in the dark, / bega
= to think and pretty fast, too, for / wa
thoroughly excited.
Their scheme was evident enough
; to waylay the train there and rob tn