The Russellville Democrat., 1889-02-28

accidentally. Accordingly l rolled over and over until my feet touched the opposite wall, and then sitting up with my back toward the corner, l f4t for the blade with my hands.
 To my great satisfaction l found 1t, got the cord across one of the teeth, and carefully sawed it back and forth.
 In a moment my hands were free, and then I loosened my feet. l then took of my shoes. This done was able to pove about without making any noise.
 Still was unable to accomplish any thing, for it was impossible to get out, and was on the point of composing myself in my old position, to avoid another knock-down, should the roughs look in, when slight ''spiz-z-z, " fol lowed by a bright sparkle, attracted my attention to the south side of the room. It was the instrument on the private line, affected by the lightning "a common occurrence in all offices during thunder-storms.
 I stepped up to it quickly and tried the circuit. It was all right, though the rain made such a noise on the roof that l could hardly hear the sounder. It was not probable that 1 could get an answer from Charley at that time of night, but as my only resource it was worth trying. So started in, making his call, ''Ch."
 "C-h-c-h-e-h," rattled; and pres- ently, to my surprise. the circuit was opened and the response came:
 'I-i--c-h."
 Then l talked" to him.-in my ex- citement great deal faster than he could take, and he interrupted me with ''slower"
 "I-i," said, ''cau your father"
 Not home" came the answer; ''all hands gone out to round up bunch of cattle stampeded by the storm"
 "I-i-i-i-i-i." I answered, stopping to reflect Then 1 went ahead again:
 Can you ride over to the west cut and signal the train to stopg'
 "Yes; what for?"
 Get lantern and put piece of thin red flannel around it if you can. Swing it across the track when you see the headlight and keep it up till they stop. Tell conductor there are eight men here waiting to rob his train. Be quick about it.n
 70. K. By George!'' This last by way of expressing his surprise, 1 sup pose, and then the ticking stopped.
 now began to feel that the roughs would be foiled, though of course it all depended on Charley. But it was something that just suited his nature. I could imagine him on his pony, lan- tern in hand, tearing across the prairie as though band of Comanches was after him.
 Meanwhile, thought it best to take my old position against the wall, to avoid any suspicion, should the rob- bers grow inquisitive. So lay there and waited and waited-the time seemed fairly to drag along I felt certain that the train was due. But it did not come, though the move- ments of the roughs convinced me that I had guessed aright-it was probably little overdue by this time and they were getting restless. Presently one of them opened the door and looked in
 Say, operator, is that train on time?" he asked.
 Yes" l replied, "they were on time the last heard them reported about two o'clock.
 He retired again, and for about ten minutes all was still. Then above the noise of the storm a far-away whistle sounded faintly. Next there was hurried movement in the outer room the roughs were crowding out upon the platform.
 Isprang to my feet and stood against the side of the building next the track, and by putting my ear against the boards 1 could hear the distant rumble of the train, now fast nearing the sta tion. l tried to imagine where the roughs had placed themselves. Prob ably around the corner of the building, ready to rush out. revolvers in hand.
 The train was now quite near and presently it drew up to the station with a rumble and roar and hissing of air brakes. Almost instantly hoard the shouted commando: Hands up" fol- lowed by the reports of four or five revolvers and the sound of scufliing on the blanks, which. however, was soon ended, and then veritable babel of voices and the noise of many feet on the platform.
 dashed out through the waiting room to see how things had gone and soon found the conductor.
 "Hallo, Leith. is that you? We have prevented that robbery, this time, thanks to your warning. I borrowed half dozen revolvers from the pas sengers and called for volunteers, so when we pulled in there were twelve ness. We've got the robbers in the baggage-car - come along and see 'em."
 They were a handbook ing set of men. Two of them lay on the floor wounded, though not seriously.
 About this time Charley made his appearance on his crutches, clad only in a pair of trousers and red flannel shirt, one sleeve of which he had torn of to draw over the lantern He was wet through, his hat was gone. and altogether he looked so forlorn that the passengers, who were profuse in their sympathy and praise, began to make up purse for him.
 After the train had left, found him in the waiting-room and here we dis cussed the affair. and tried to think how much we should charge the ex- press company for the use of our prl-
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