The Bossier banner., 1892-03-17

short time before midnight, aud TWEEN
ty minutes later the lightning express
thundered down the steep grade at the
rate OF mile minute, fairly shaking
the little frame depot on it's founda-
tlons. At Lyman, two miles above,
the two trains mct-the one reaching
the place first s:ae tracking until the
other one passed.
AS there was no night operator at
Benning, and no important trains
stopped during the night Hugh was at
liberty. to close up the office and 90
nome at ten o'clock, but he was quite
nighthawls, and usually remained at
his post until after the hands of the
clock marked the hours of the old dav
OFF and began with it's long fingers to
count the minutes of the new.
On this particular night he was 50
wrought up on account of the treat in
store for him that he found it impossi-
BILE to study or even become much in
terested in the new novel that lay with
lis leaves only partially cut on his Of
fee table
How long he sat there, sleeping or
day-dreaming, he scarcely could tell.
1t must have been over an hour, how
ever, for it was long after the clock
had struck eleven when he was startled
by stealthy step close by his side Be-
fore he had time to speak or change
his position heavy hand was laid on
his shoulder and harsh voice Kissed
in his ear: Don't scream or try to es-
cape if you don't want to make the
acquaintance of this exhibiting the
handle of a revolver. SIT is the other
end that is dangerous, though, but if
you obey orders you have no cause to
be alarmed. Here are my pals" as
two dark-faced, evil-looking men
stepped boldly in at the open door,
''We don't wish to harm you, young
ster, but we want money, and by flag
ging the next train, No. s, you will
help us into fortune, as we have some
knowledge concerning the valuable
it carries"
"Why. that is through train: it
never stops here, never!" gasped Hugh.
do you reckon we'd axed for your
help if we hadn't known that?" sneered
one of the other men. 1--WE have no
| time to fool, and if you don't help us
| we'll fix you and take business into our
own hands. What do you say? VIII
you stop the train or not?"
81 can't I dare notr' exclaimed
Hugh. ''Do you think would betray
| my trust in that shameful manner?'
81 told you the cub hadn't sand
enough to stand up in q job like this
said the third man. ''Better a-gagged
him at first and it would have been
| over. There is no use in making con-
| fidents of such cowardly spoolzs as you
| find down in these Virginia swamps."
81 believe in doing everything in n
square and honest fashion," returned
the man who had made the first as
sault
Talk about honor among thieves"
retorted the little, bald-headed man,
'but if we are goin' to grab ourselves
rich we can't stand here arguing any
longer" glancing at his expensive
timepiece.
you're right" exclaimed the first
rogue, as he placed gag in poor,
frightened Hugh's mouth. This done.
the unfortunate fellow was tied hand
and foot, and then, helpless as he was,
| the rope that bound him was made fast
to the little iron safe, the danger Ian
tern was swung out in the darkness
and the cowardly rutfians hurried away
! to secrete themselves, expecting to hop
on the express car as soon as the train
came to standstill, and by fair or
foul means shut the mouth of the ex-
| press agent, secure the booty coveted
and made their escape unobservcd
when the train slowed up at the sta
| ton above. The first part of their
plan worked admirably, and when the
train stopped one of the gang in the
garb of section hand ran up to the
conductor, exclaiming, breathlessly;
| "A bowlder rolled down on the track,
and as none of the other men were in
calling distance l was afraid l could
not get it off in time and so had the
danger signal swung out. But it is all
right now," pointing to huge rock by
the side of the track.
| Neither the conductor nor engineer
suspected treason, and in few min
utes the train was again in motion, the
disguised rogue hopping on the ex-
press-car platform on the opposite side
of the train from the station, as it
passed the place where he stood
Not seeing the Benning operator, ac-
cording to arrangement, Frank Rey
nolds stepped off the train and into the
little waiting-room, where light was
dimly burning. Hearing groans some
where in the neighborhood she ven
tured into the Office, where poor Hugh
was lying bound hand and foot. lie
had succeeded in forcing the gag
partially out of his mouth, and just as
the train started off his efforts to make
her understand the situation became
clear and sent her to the instrument to
flash the news to the station above.
The message was brief but startling:
sLook out for robbers on express car No. s
Send assistance 10 Benning by next train
| Operator badly used up
She waited few minutes, and then
back over the wires came:
| All right You will have assistance very