Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1892-10-21
BY MY HEEL.


"a that you are filling such a respon-
sible position, and you not yet thirty
years oldp'
This quest on was asked by one of
a crowd Of four or five gentlemen
seated in the handsome private Office
OF Mr.. Ransom. superintendent OF
transportation Of the Chicago and
Western railroad at Omaha Neb
We'll replied the superintendent
a good looking young man OF twenty
ty-six or Whereabouts. iii you will
have the patience to listen | will mar
rate 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
Hamlln. consequently | had to do my
own cooking and sleeping in the de-
pot getting my supplies from Rands.
a place OF about 500 inhabitants eight
miles up the railroad.
1t was about ten o'clock on n hot
sultry night ia August There did
not seem TO be n breath OF air stirring.
The windows were up and the doors
were thrown open so rs TO admit all
the air possible No. SO. the fast
mail had TO be reported before could
get good night from my dispatchers
and retire.
Il 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 in
strument table and lazily drum T.ing
on the key with my heel. l heard
slight nose behind me- Before |
could turn around to ascertain the
cause a n ans harsh voice rang out:
&" Move an inch and you are dead
man. and at the same moment l felt
the cold muzzle OF a revolver pressed
against my head.
Put your hands behind you.
commanded the same voice sternly.
Il obeyed with alacrity.
my hanls were seized roughly
and bound securely to the back Of the
chair.
- Now. my beauty. guess you
won't do much more telegraphing to-
night and he broke out into a dis.
cordant laugh.
He evidently thought it amusing.
! didn't
- ONE on boys he yelled. I've
got this kid fast
After moment three or four men.
as we'll as 1 could Judge with my back
TO the door. walked in.
'Hal ha! cap'n. you've got him
have youP and they all laughed
roughly.
Jim. said the man addressed as
captain, have you got tho spike
lifterP
You bet 1 has from one OF the
men.
Tho captain then turned an ad-
dressed me.
Young man. no harm is intended
you il you keep perfectly quiet
Doubtless 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 alb
solutely fiendish-to take up two
rails on that trcstle out there Let US
see the fast mail is due here at
My God! man. l broke in with
horror. surely you don't intend to
wreck the fast mail? Think of the
lives that will be lost II it runs of at
that trestler and great beads OF cold
Precipitation stood out on my FORE
head as / grasped the full horror OF
the situation.
The trestle referred to was about
100 yards north OF the depot and
spauned very wide but shallow
creek fully seventy-five 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 re-
main here and keep your eye on this
fellow. II he moves kill him. The
remainder OF you come and lots get
to work
Then all except Jim followed the
captain out and soon / heard the me
talic clink OF the crowbar as it drew
the spikes from the rails.
.Oh. what could be done!
My hands we're bound so that
could not reach the key. and even il
tried the outaw behind me wou Il
send bullet crashing through my
brain. How could warn the crew
OF No 32 OF the impending danger.
The station ten miles above Rands
reported No 30 ON time. Soon II
would be AT Rands. Never did time
pas. so quickly. 1t was now 1887
o'clock and No. SO must be coming
into Rands. Suddenly an inspiration
flashed through me like an electric
shock. Why could not warn No. 32
with my heelP In my leisure mo-
ments had amused myself by learn
ing TO send with my foot never dream
ing that it would ever be an advant.
age to me.
Il quietly pushed open the key
with my heel and called n three or
four times as fast as possible. when
was interrupted by the desperate.
What air you wiggling your foot
about on that table for?'
My foot has become cramped re-
naming in one position so long '"
rapiied carelesslv "a could nlthouOh