The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1892-01-14


On and began with itsIcng Angers TO
couus the minutes 81 ths nssV
On this particular night he was 90
| wrought up on account Of tho trent in
store for him that he found II impossi-
Bile to study or even become much in
terceted in tho now novel that lay with
Its leaves only partially cut on his. Of
fee table.
How long he sat there, sleeping or
day-drcaming, he scarcely could tell
It must have been over an hour, how
ever, for II was long after the clock
had struck eleven when,he was startled
by stealthy step close by his side. Be-
fore he had time to speak or change
his. position; o heavy hand was laid on
his shoulder and harsh voice Missed
in his ear: Don't scream or try to es-
cape If You don't want to make the
acquaintance Of this" exhibiting the
handle of n revolver. ''It is the other
end that is dangerous, though, but II
you obey orders you have no cause to
be alarmed. Hero arc my pals" as
two dark-faced, cvil.looking men
stepped boldly in ut the open door.
1--WE don't wish to harm you, young
stcr, but we want money, and by flag.
ging the next train, No. 8, you will
help MS into fortune, rs we have some
knowledge concerning the valuables
It carries"
why, that is through train; it
never stops here, ncveri'' gaspcd Hugh.
do you. reckon we'd axed for your
help If we hadn't known thatp" sneered
one of the other men. "We have no
time to fool. and If you don't help US
we'll 1x you and take business into our
own hands. What do you say? Will
you stop the train or not?"
81 can't dare noti'' exclaimed
Hugh. do you think would betray
my trust in that shameful manner2"
II told you the cub hadn't sand
enough to stand up in q job like this"
said the third man. "Bctter a-gagged
him mt first and it would have been
over. There is no use in making con-
fidents of such cowaraly spooks as you
find down in these Virginia swamps."
II believe in doing everything in a
square and honest fashion," returned
the man who had made the first as
sault
Talk about honor among thieves"
retorted the little. bald-hcaded man,
"but If we are goin' to grab ourselves
rich we can't stand hero arguing nny
longer" glanciny at his expensive
timepiece.
You're right" exclaimed the first
rogue, as he placed a gag in poor,
frightened Hugh's mouth, This done,
tho unfortunate fellow was tied hand
and foot, and then, helpless as he was,
the rope that bound him was made fast
to the little iron safo, the danger lam
tern was swung out in the darkness
and the cowardly rufiians hurried away
to secrcte themselves, expecting to hop
on the express car as soon as the train
came to standstill, and by fair or
foul means shut the mouth of the ex-
press agent. secure tho booty coveted
and made their escape unobserved
when the train slowed up at the sta
tion above. The first part of their
plan worked admirably, and when the
train stopped one Of the gang In the
garb of q section hand ran up to the
conductor, exclaiming, breathlessly;
IA bowlder rolled down on the track.
and as mono OF the other men were in
calling distance was afraid I could
not get it of in time and SO had the
danger signal swung out. But 1t is all
right now," pointing to huge rock by
the side Of the track.
Neither the conductor nor engineer
suspected treason, and In few min
utes the train was again in motion, the
disguised rogue hopping on the ex-
press-car platform on the opposite side
| OF the train from the station, as it
passed the place where he stood.
/ Not seeing the Benning operator, ac-
cording to arrangement, Frank Rey-
nolds stepped off the train and into the
little waiting-room, where light was
dimly burning Hearing groans some
| where in the neighborhood she ven-
tured into tho Office, where poor Hugh
was lying bound hand and. foot. He
had succeeded in forcing the gag
partially out of his mouth, and Just as
the train started OFF his efforts to make
her understand the situation became
clear and sent her to the instrument to
flash the news to the station above.
The message was brief bnt startling:
'Lools out for robbers on express car No 8
| Send assistance 10 Denning by next train.
| Operator badly used up"
She waited few minutes. and then
back over the wires came:
'All right You will have assistance very
soon."
With this assurance she went back
to release Hugh, still a prisoner in the
inner Office. The poor fellow had been
roughly handled and before he was
free tainted sew eral times from the loss
of blood. He was still unconscious
when the train stopped few minutes
later with surgeon and the assistance
promised on board. They brought the
good news of the capture OF the train
robbers, b.. Hugh was too weak to
pay much attention to the conversation
that night.
Hell be all right by morning" I"
| said the doctor. cOnfideDtlv brt he