The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1892-06-24
PROMOTED BY MY HEEL.

"OIr. Ransom, please tell us how it
is, that you are holding such re-
sponsible position and you not yet
thirty years old?"
This question was asked by one o.
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.
"Well," replied the superintendent,
a good looking young man of twenty
six or there abouts, "if you will have
the patience to listen, will narrate
briefly how my heel caused my pro-
motion, and was the means of saving
many lives"
olive years ago was station agent
and operator at Hamlin, on thisroad.
The depot was the only building at
Hamlin; consequently | had to do
my own cooking and sleeping in the
depot, gettingmy supplies from Rands,
q place OF about five hundred inhabit-
ants, eight miles up the railroad.
at was about 10 o'clock on hot,
sultry night in August. There did not
eeem to be breath of air stirring,
The windows were up and the doors
were thrown open. No. 80, the fast
mail, had to be reported before
could get goodnight from the dis
patchers and retire,
II had pulled off my shoes and had
nothing on my feet but my stockings
AS l was idly leaning back in my
chair, my feet propped up on that in
strument table, and lazily drumming
on the key with my heel, I heard q
slight noise behind me. Before
could turn around to ascertain the
cause, a mans harsh voice RANG
out:
"Move an inch and you are dead
man., and at the same moment | felt
the cold mu2zle of q revolver pressed
against my head.
"PuU your hands behind your
back and look straight before
YOU commanded the same voice
sternly.
81 obeyed with alacrity.
"Niy hands were 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 in o discordant
laugh.
ole evidently thought it very amas
ing didn't.
"'Come on, boys he yelled, I've
got this kid fast
"After q moment three or four
men-as well as | could Judge, with
my back to the door-walked in.
"'Hal ha! cap'n, you've got him
have your" and they all laughed
roughly.
"TJim," said the man addressed as
captain, have you got that spike lift
err"
"You bet has, from one OF the
men.
"The captain then turned and adj
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 edone before you
can give any alarm. We intend
and here the mans voice became alb
solutely iendish-'to take up two
rails on that trestle out there. Let
me see, the fast mail is due here at
"My God! man. | broke in, with
horror, surely you don't intend tt
wreck the fast mail? Think OF thu
lives that will be lost if it runs off al
that trestle! and great beads Of colo
Precipitation stood out on my fore
head, as | grasped the full horror o
the situation.
1.-THE trestle referred to was about
one hundred yards north ofthe depot
and spanned very wide but shallow
creek, fully seventy-fve feet below.
knew if No. 80 jumped the track OF
that trestle it meant death to every
person on board.
"'Jim, cried the captain, "you re
main here and keep your eye on tina
fellow; if he moves, kill him; the re
mainder Of you come on and let's ge
to work
"Then all except jim followed tn
captain out, and soon l heard tn
metallic clink OF the crowbar, as i
drew the spikes from the rails.
"0hl what could be donel