Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-07-15
BY MY HEEL.


oldg
This question was asked by one Of u |
crowd Of four or five gentlemen seated |
In tho handsome private Office Of Mr.
Ransom, superintendent Of Transports.
ton Of ihaChicago and Western railroad
at Omaha,Nob.
"Wcll. ,fcplicd tho superintendent,
good loolipg young man OF twcniy-six
or theroaBouts, "if you will hayothop pa
tiencc TO listen will narratc briefly how
my heel caused my promotion aud was
the means OF saving mnny lives"
"Fivc years ago was station agent
and operator at Hamlin on this road.
Tho depot was the only building NJ
Hamlin, consequently had TO do my
own cooking and sleeping In the depot
getting my supplies from Rands, a place
Of about 800 inhabitants, oight miles up
tho railroad
at was about 10 o'clocl; on hot,
sultry night In August. There did not
seem TO be- breath Of air stirring. The
windows were up aud the doors were
thrown open 30 ~ TO admit all the air
possible. No. %. the fast mail, had 20
be reported before | could get good
night from tho dispatchora aud retire.
IL had pulled Oh my shoes and had
nothing on my foot but my stockings.
As was idly leaning back in my chair,
my feet proppod up on tho instrument
table and lazily drumming on the key
with my heel. heard slight noise be-
hind mo. Before ! could turn around
TO ascertain tho cause u mans harsh
voice rang out;
"'Moyc an inch and you are n dead
man, and ut the same moment felt tho
cold muzzlo OF revolver pressed against
my head.
"'Put your hands behind your back
and look straight before YOU command.
cd tho same voice sternly.
~ obeyed alacrity,
"My hands were seized roughly mud
bound securely TO tho back Of the chair.
"'Now, nay beauty, guess you won't
do much moro teleglphiug tonight
and no broke out into discordant
laugh.
"FIo evidently thought it amusing. l
didn't.
"Como on, boys. no yelled. I've got
this kid fast;
"Aftor n moment three or four men.
us well as conld judge with my back
TO the door, walked In.
"'ila! hal cap'n, you've got him, have
youy aud they al laughed roughly.
"'.lim,' said the man addressed as cap
tain. have you got tho spike lflcrY
"'You bet has from one of the mon.
"Thc captain then turned aud I'D.
dressed me.
"'Young man, no harm is intended
you II you keep perfectly quiet. Doubt
less your curiosity is very much aroused
as TO our intentions. Well, Il can do no
harm 60 cnlighten you. as tho mischief
will DO done before you can give any
alarm. We iniond'-and here the man's
voice became absolutely hondish-'tc
tako up two rails on that trcstlo 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 wrccl
the fast maili Think of the lives tina
will be lost II it runs or ut that trcstlcl
and great beads Of cold Precipitation
stood out on my forehead rs | graspet
the full horror of tho situation.
"'rho trostlo referred to was about l0l
yards north Of the depot, and spannel
very wide but shallow creek, fully sew
enty-fiyo feet below. knew II No. 3
jumped the track ON that trcstlo 1t mean
death TO every person ON board.
"'Jim,' cried the captain, 'you romai,
hero and keep your eye ON this fellow
II lac moves kill him. Tho remainder o
you come and let's get TO work
"Then all except Jim followed tn
captain out and soon heard tho metal
lie clink Of the crowbar M It drew til
spikes from the rails.
- "Oh, what could DO done.
'My hands were bound So that | coul
not reach the key, aud even II tried III
outlaw behind me would send bullc
crashing th:o-g.. my brain. How coul
/ warn tho crew Of No. 20 OF tho i'm
pending danger
"Tho station ton miles above Rands r,
ported No 32 on time. Soon it would L
at Rands. Never did time pass so quickly
1t was now 1887 o'clock and No, Z
must be coming into Rands. Suddeul
an inspiration flashed through mo III,
an electric shock. Why could II,
warn No. 39 with my heel? In my lie
sure moments had amused myself 1
learning 10 send with my foot, nev,
dreaming that It would over be an II,
vantage 10 me.
81 quietly pushed open tho key wit
my heel and called n three or fot
times MS fast as possible, when was Il
terrupted by the desperate,
"What air you wigglmg your TO,
about on that table forF
"'Aly foot has become crampCd, r
inaining IN one position so long, +
piled, as carelassly az could, althoug
my heart was in my throat.
"Im so sorry N said sarcasticall
commenced calling Il again, It WI
now 1870 o'o,ocl, and No. 80 must ha,
left Rands.
100 late! Too late. Oh, my Go,
the agony vi those moments was ter
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