Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-07-11
BY MY HEEL.

poo.U-Oiip anu JOu iiOb yct blllIbJ years
old?"
This question was asked by one of
crowd of four or five gentlemen seated
in the handsome private office of Mr.
ton of the Chicago and Western railroad
at Omaha, Neb.
"Well," replied the superintendent,
good looking young man of twenty-six
or thereabouts, "if you will have the pa
tience to listen will narrate briefly how
my heel caused my promotion and was
the means of saving many lives"
"Five years ago was station agent
and operator at Hamlin on this road,
The depot was the only building at
Hamlin, consequently had to do my
own cooking and sleeping in the depot,
getting my supplies from Rands. place
of about 500 inhabitants, eight miles up
the railroad.
''It was about 10 o'clock on hot,
sultry night in August. There did not
seem to be breath of air stirring. The
windows were up and de doors were
thrown open so as to admit all the air
possible. No. 80, the fast mail, had to
be reported before could get good
night from the dispatchers and retire.
81 had pulled off my shoes and had
nothing on my feet but my stockings.
AS was idly leaning back in my chair,
my feet propped up on the instrument
table and lazily drumming on the key
- with my heel, heard a slight noise be-
hind me. Before could turn around
to ascertain the cause a mans harsh
voice rang out:
Move an inch and you are a dead
man. and at the same moment felt the
cold muzzle of a revolver pressed against
my head.
"'Put your hands behind your back
and look straight before you,' command
ed the same voice sternly
II obeyed alacrity.
MY hands We're seized roughly and
bound securely to the back of the chair.
"'Now, my beauty, guess you won't
do much more telegraphing tonight,
and he broke out into a discordant
laugh.
"He evidently thought it amusing.
didn't.
Come on, boys he yelled. I've got
this kid fast
"After moment three or four men,
as well as | could judge with my back
to the door, walked in.
"'Ha! ha! cap'n, you've got him, have
youT and they all laughed roughly.
Jim, said the man addressed rs cap
tain, have you got the spike lifter2'
"'You bet has, from one of the men.
"The captain then turned and ad-
dressed me.
"'Young man, no harm is intended
you if you keep perfectly quiet. Doubt
less your curiosity is very much aroused
as to our intentions. Well, it can do no
harm to enlighten you, as the mischief
will be done before you can give any
alarm. We intend'-and here the mans
voice became absolutely fendish-'to
take up two rails ON that trestle out
there. Let us see, the fast mail is due
here at
"'My Godl man. broke in with hor-
ror, surely you don't intend to wreck
the fast mail? Think of the lives that
will be lost if it runs off at that trestler
and great beads of cold perspiration
stood out on my forehead as | grasped
the full horror of the situation.
"The trestle referred to was about 100
yards north of the depot, and spanned a
very wide but shallow creek, fully sew
'enty-fve feet below. | knew if No. 80
jumped the track on that trestle it meant
death to every person ON board.
"'Jim,' cried the captain, you remain
here and keep your eye on this fellow.
If he moves kill him. The remainder of
you come and let's get to work
"Then all except Jim followed the
captain out and soon heard the metal
lie clink of the crowbar as it drew the
spikes from the rails.
"Oh, what could be done
'My hands were bound SO that could
not reach the key, and even if tried the
outlaw behind me would send bullet
crashing th:osgh my brain. How could
[ warn the crew of No. 32 of the inn
pending dangerl
s'Ihn station ten miles ah0vp Hands