Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1890-08-23

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orders. The road-master would have
me reported for dismissal if I'd a let
you off without the money"
%And now he'll report you for desert
ing your train"
mo; I'll hurry up to the next station
and telegraph my situation"
"By no MEANS" said L
why not?"
I'll not allow you.
"You won't?"
THAT will mott" said I, emphati-
cally, drawing from its hiding-place
underneath my coat-tail, huge Colts
revolver. The conductors face turned
to just the color of the moonshine.
Don't kill me" he suggested, Il was
only obeying orders, indeed 1 was.
sir"
Maybe you'd like to pray little?"
"Pray? Good heavens! You're not
in earnest?"
"Oh, if you don't want to pray" said
I. cooking my pistol and examining the
cap.
He went down on his knees and
prayed quite fervently. Just as he
finished 1 heard the train coming back
at full speed.
"Ding'd if they amt backing down +!
They've missed mew he cried, spring
ing to his feet
They'll never find you," said I.
very easy" said he, "fll wave my
hat"
"Not at all, rejoined.
"Why not? I'll let you ride To-"
II do not care to ride" he inter-
rupted; "let's take a stroll into the
swamp.
What for?" he said trembling.
ooh, just to avoid being SEEM" re-
piled.
%For heavens sake!" he cried.
Move ahead!" 1 said, as drove him
back into the thicket swamp few
hundred yards.
Now you just open your mouth, I
remarked, as the train trundled slowly
past with lights hanging on every side,
"and I'll put ball down your throat"
He kept very quiet, and we could
plainly hear the excited voices of the
passengers and train-hands as they
were borne along at a constantly less
ening speed. Finally the train was
brought to a stand-still half a mile be-
low. After remaining there awhile it
came putting slowly back, the men
running along beside it, beating the
woods few yards in either direction.
Meanwhile was not idle. l bound
the conductors hands and feet with his
suspenders and gagged him with my
handkerchief. In this condition I sat
him down against the root of a large
pine-tree, and throwing my overcoat
across my arm, left him there. As
soon as 1 got out of sight of my pris-
oner, took off my small coat and
turned it. It was small flannel sack
made to be worn either side out. It
was black on one side and white on the
other. hastily put pine-knot In my
cap and threw it into pond near by,
and put on soft hat which I had been
carrying in my pocket This hat was
white and very broad-brimmed. now
fastened to the vicinity of the railroad
track, and as the train with its excited
attendants began to pass 1 coolly joined
the crowd of persons who walked beside
the cars.
singular what's become of him." I
remarked to the man nearest me.
"Tarnation queer, indeed" was the
reply.
Hes sloped with the money" said
putting fat man on my left. "bet my
boots on that"
"That's my notion" said /.
"Yes, yes" continued the fat man ap-
provingly, "that's it 'xactly. I know
conductor out in Texas to do this very
same trick once"
%You did,"
yes, sir, and he never has been
found"
"IndeedI"
$50, sure's the world, and they said
he had a pile of money on hands,
too"
Real sharp villain, wasn't hep"
"Wss that, sure!"
Hist, listenl Who's that?"
Help! helpl helpp roared voice
down in the swamp.
Everybody halted to listen.
~Helpl helpl"
Its the conductors voice" yelled
! brakeman, and forthwith everybody
rushed into the swamp. In a very lit
tie time we had found my man, who
had managed to spit out his gag.
helped to unite him.
How the dickens came YOU in this
fx?' said I in an assumed voice, help
ing him to his feet.
Ding if I can tell you; must "a been
the devil. Great big black fellow sit
ting on hind platform. Asked him for
ticket; said had none. Asked him for
money, said had none either. Stopped
the train and went to kick him of.
Ding scamp pulled the bell-rope and
clutched me like blazes. Took me
down in the swamp and tied me. Pistol
two feet long. Ding if 'twasn'tI"
Well, after everybody had congratu-
lated the conductor we all went back
to the train and got aboard. l took
seat near the hindmost car.
Hoot! hooti yelped the whistle, and
away we sped. I leaned back in nv
seat and soon fell asleep. Everybody
was excited and talking but me. Fact
Is was exhausted.
Ticket, check"
Someone punched me in the ribs. II