Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1892-01-23
COOKS STORY.

OOOA ~ NJ OxG1
We were sitting In the sun on the
south side of the Montana Union de-
pot, in Butte, when Jim told the story.
There was tremor in his voice and a
moisture in his eyes that marked how
deeply his feelings were moved by the
tale chance remark led him to tell.
Every one who knows Jim Cook-and
who doesn't know the rugged engin-
eer, one of the oldest men in the
Union Pacific service?-knows that
his heart is built in proportion to his
massive frame. Touch him right,
and no woman could be more tender;
rile him and no grizzly could be more
fierce. Jim has seen exciting times
in the service of the Union Pacific,
and his mind is stored with reminis-
oences of the early days of transconti-
mental railroading.
We had been chatting in a ram
bling, desultory way Of snow-bound
trains, when the subject was sudden
sy shifted and 1 happened to men
ton the robbery of a Northern Pa
dflc train near Fargo. Jim's manner
changed instantly.
He had been leaning forward. rest
ing his elbow on his knees and sup
porting his chin with the palms Of
his hands. Now he sat bolt upright;
his eyes flashed and his whole manner
seemed to indicate that his brain was
cDnceiving flood of eloquence his
tongue could not fashion into words.
One could see tragedy in his face, but
the next minute the expression
changed to one of pity. Then he be-
gan to talk. I wish an adequate idea
Of his manner of telling it could be
given with his story. He seemed to
see the thing he was describing.
'.Hold up said he, II never was
shat doesn't call up the ghost of poor
Charlie White to haunt me. Charlie
was an express guard in the early
days A pluckler little man never
breathed. He had been a telegraph
operator in Frisco before he got on
our run, and knew him first rate.
Knew his wife, too, for he was mar
ded-a little pink and white wax
doll sort of woman who looked like a
saint. We had long runs in those
days Our division-Charlie changed
with me-extended from Frisco to
b" Give forgotten the station
saamed by Jim.)
tOne afternoon-we left at 2:2O-
as we were pulling out of the depot
at Frisco Igot the bell. As I brought
her to standsI saw the Wells-Fargo
man run up to the express car and
hand Charlie square tin box with a
grip handle. Looking back as she
got her head again l saw the express
agent make motion to Charlie.
Leaning half out the door Charlie
slapped his belt and smiled.
"Just beyond them saw something
else-two rough-looking, bearded men
swinging up one after the other on
the rear platform of the last car.
Then 1 thought nothing of it; after
ward I knew they had been shadowing
che express agent.
GAIL afternoon I had an uneasy
feeling. Every engineer is a bit
superstitious, /. suppose, and I re-
member that I wondered if my I'M
casiness wasn't premonition of bad
luck. We ran along without mishap
during the early evening, but when
We stopped to take water about o
o'clock I caught sight of dark figure
stealing along in the shadow of the
express.
ssI called to Tom, my fireman, to
sec who it was, but when he turned
it was gone. This didn't bother me
much at the time; it might have been
\ brake or the conductor, but l hadn't
noticed any lantern.
awhile we were tearing away again
At pretty good pace 1 suddenly
caught clicking sounding like the
putting on of brakes. 1t was trifie
up grade at that point and I hadn't
called for 'em. Telling Tom to keep
going as she was, 1 climbed back over
the tender to see what was the
matter.
ssJust as got to the rear I noticed
= widening gap between the tender
and the express and realized that we
were uncoupled and that the bell rope
had been cut; at the same moment
I saw one Of the bearded men stand
ang at the brake-wheel Of the express
He had me covered with a six
shooter.
ssAs I clambered back to the cab I
heard q shot; then half dozen of
them in quick succession. Road
.agentsr Tom yelled in my ear as I
it6ok the lever. I brought her up as
quick as could and held her steady
70 run. forward or backward as circum-
stances might decide.
The train had almost come to 4
Atnadsttll, when I saw CLEAN Of