The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-07-22

! Show 1t is, that
you are filing such responsible po-
sition and you not yet thirty years
old?''
This question was asked by one of a
| crowd of four Or five gentlemen seated
in the handsome private Office of Mr..
Ransom, superintendent of transporta-
ton of the Chicago g. Western railroad
at Omaha, Neb
WELL" replied the superintendent, a
good-looking young man of twenty-six
or Whereabouts, IF you will have the
patience to listen, will narrate 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 Ham
lin; consequently, had to do my own
cooking and sleeping in the depot, get
ting my supplies from Rands, place of
about five hundred inha bitants, eight
miles up the railroad.
st was about ten o'clock on hot,
sultry night in August. There did not
seem to be breath of air stirring.
were thrown open, so as to admit all
the air possible. No. 80. the fast mail,
had to be reported before ] could get
good night from the dispatchers and re-
tire
~ had pulled off my shoes and had
nothing on my feet but my stockings.
AS was idly leaning back in my chair,
he ant
table, and lazily drumming Oh the key
with my heel, l heard slight noise be-
hind me. Before I could turn around
to ascertain the cause, mans harsh
voice rang out!
"'Move an inch and you are dead
man. and at the same moment ! felt
the cold muzzle of revolver pressed
against nay head.
"'Put your hands behind your back
and look straight before YOU COM
manded the same voice sternly.
IL obeyed with alacrity.
my hands were seized roughly and
bound securely to the back of the chair.
Now my beauty, l guess you won't
do much more telegraphing tonight
and he broke out into discordant
laugh.
He evidently thought it very anus
ing. didn't
Come on, boys he yelled, I've got
this kid fast
After a 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.
jim said the man addressed as
captain, have you got that spike lifterY
You bet l 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 enhghten you, as the mischief
will be done before you can give any |
alarm We intend and here the |
mans voice became absolutely nendiSh |
Ito take up two rails ON that trestle /
out there. Let me see, the fast mail is |
due here at
"God! man. broke in, with horror, !
surely you don't intend 10 wreck the !
fast mail? Think of the lives that viii /
be lost if it runs of at that trestlei"
and great beads of cold perspiration |
stood out on my forehead, as grasped /
the full horror of the situation.
The treStle referred to was about /.
one hundred yards north of the depot,
and SPAWNED a very wide but shallow
creek. fully seventy-fve feet below. 4
knew if No 80 jumped the track on
that trestle il meant death to every |
person on board.
Jim cried the captain, you remain
here and keep your eye ON this fellow;
If he moves, kill him; the remainder of
you come on and lets go to work
Then all except Jim followed the
captain out and soon heard the me-
allie elink Of the crowhsr as it drew
he spikes from the rails
''ohl what could be dohel
MY hands were bound so that I
,ocld not reach the key, and even If
.ried the outlaw behind me would send
, bullet crashing through my brain
How could I warn the crew OF No 81
If the impending danger
The station ten miles above Ran6s
exported No. Sc On time. Soon il
would be at RaBds Never did time
BASS so quickly, IL was now 1857
o'clock and No. - must be coming into
hands. Suddenly an inspiration flashed
through me like an electric shock
" by could ] not warn No - with nv
heel? In nv leisure moments had
unused myself by learning TO send
With nay foot, never dreaming that il
would ever be an advantage to me
Il quietly pushed open the key with
ny heel and called II three or four
lines as fast Is possible, when I was
uterrupted hv the daSnera2A