The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-05-10

H - Il P
These / repeated several times,
hoping they might reach the ear of
some operator on the line l then
slowly and distinctly wrote these
words, still sobbing violently: -.
Who hears - this-for-Heav-
EMS sake - report - to-train-dis-
patcher-at-Laram -qUick-that-
--am-in-the-ha hands-of-
robbers who -cOmpel--me-to
-Send-help-quic
&" Then l signed name and Office
call
q. II released the armaturo and the
instrument clicked out:
-" Brace NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
-yOu-H.' ..-- ------=--
III was the train dispatcher's call.
With fierce shout the leader sprang
forward and rsdely snatched me away
from the table, and asked:
"'Gal, what's that? -
".OnIy q distant Office asking tor
orders for q freight train re-
sponded-
None Of yer lynn, you little imp
he roared- Yer up to some trick
NO replied, L am not. II
were doing that my fnge would be
on the instrument Don't you see
am not touching 1t, and yet 1t works
II is only an order for a freight train
away down at Medicine Bow 70,
Keep away from that table, he
said, savagely. AN II / lxctch you
at any tricks I'll choke the life out OF
YOU Is 49, ~. :.
"Oh, how eagerly my cars drank in
every word the instrument clicked
ovt- 1 heard a telegram TO the sher-
| if 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 10 the young superintendent,
I who was at Green River, telling him
how my slowly written words had
been heard by the dispatcher, and ask
ing him 10 supervise the preparations
10 fly 10 my RELIEF. Then a third dis
patch 10 the master mechanic INSTRUCT
ing him TO fire up his fastest passen-
ger engine and coaple on to a carriage
and await the superintendent orders
My heart beat so violently that it al
most took my breath away. II
seemed an age ere I heard the Green
River operator call the dispatcher and
say: - - .--.-.-...
> - TIE superintendent, with sheriff
md twenty armed men are aboard, and
train ready for orders .-....>z.-s -.
2 The order came flying. 1t told the
enginesr he had a clear track and TO
run at his very highest speed to With
in half mile Of my station, and with
his party to alight. Then came the
welcome report from the Green River
Offices: .----.
Especial east departed 1:15.'
'Oh, how nay poor heart beat, and
how my every nerve tingled with eX-
element, I:15-I mentally figured that
the train on such a desperate errand
should make nearly mile q minute,
and reach the stopping point at 1886.
The robber chief gave his men
their instructions. l was to be sent
alone to signal the train. and when 1t
halted the band would make rush and
board the train. --,-.--.--.---- -,
''.Bll, you jump on the engine as
soon as she stops and hold the engi-
neer and fireman under your gun.
Jack, you pile into the mail car an
make the clerk give up his registered
letters, an Yank an Aleclz'Il work the
express car, while Tom an 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 a big haul on that train, an
we've got TO have it ,..r-,
'How eagerly 1 watched the clock.
and how slowly, how very. very slowly
the hands seemed to mOve-l:21, l:2j
and l:SO were licked of; 1885! Would
they never come? -
:, The men sat on the bench along
the west side of the room, facing along
the two windows on the east. / tried
20 figure how long it would require
for the men TO walk TO the depot from
the stopping place. Perhaps even
then they were surrounding the sta
ton, and 1 might hear u knock at the
door any instant. Would there be {
fight? On. horrible thought! In ;