Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-10-26
ONE WINTER NIGHT.

When read Of adventures, there comes
20 my mind my encounter with a notorious
outlaw by the name OF Ed Dalton. Fof
years he had robbed mail coaches and way.
laid and murdered travellers who were be-
lated and so unfortunate as to meet him.
was employed by the Northern Pacific
railway as telegraph operator. It was 10
the latter part Of the winter that the most
terrible storm broke upon that section Of
the country that was ever known. The
wind blow q strong gale from the north
west, and the air was full Of snow.
All trains were late, and had found nd
time to leave my oifice and take an expresi
package OF &, 900 to the bank for safe keep
ing. The station was crowded and our safd
small. 30 that usually deposited the com.
pany's money in the bank, not liking to
risk it in the office had an order from the
dispatcher not TO go 10 bed till after No.
had passed. This was the western bound
limited, due at Cameron at 1880.
II was lonely night, Tho wires hummed
and sobbed In the wind as though they
could not Withstand the fury Of the storm.
i had fniahed my work and was slttinl
half asleep near the stove, which was well
filed with coal aud red as cherry, when
sensation Of some impending danger took
possession Of me Trying to shake It off, /
walked TO my desk, threw open the key and
asked the operator on the might trlckD at
Hudson how No. 4 was.
ION time" clicked the instrument I'm re
ply, and / stirred the fire, turned the blaze
OF my lamp higher and sat down again.
For 10 or 20 minutes ! sat listening to the
monotonous click so musical TO the operu
tors ear, when / became conscious gom1
one was looking through the window, and
thought of the express package flashed
through my mind. At the same instant
crashing OF glass was followed by gruft
voice saying:
Move and you nre dead manp'
did not stir, but l realized that wni
looking straight into six shooter. While
was wondering how could save the mon.
ey, the robber broke out the rest OF the win.
dow pane and crawled In over my desk.
Oh, for some way to reach my trusty
bulldog" which was lying in full siRhs
under the ticket window Useless wishi
Ordering me to rise, the ruiilan calmly took
my chair and proceeded TO warm his chilled
members before cleaning out" the office,
all the while keeping his revolver pointed
at my head. CHANGING around, he spied my
pistol, and coolly put II In his pocket. As
he arose he said;
We'll, now am ready for business.
will just trouble you for that little package
with the red seals that IS In your safe"
was desperate enough to say anything,
and broke into loud, harsh laugh as he
finished.
WAS ever anything more luckyr'
cried, and my voice sounded like u croal,.
why my tiend, have been waiting for
chance 70 rob the express company for n
month aud ~ -. 81.
package we will divide the contents and
skip together"
He looked at me a moment with skep.
teal sneer
"Boshl Don't talk stuff Whatever You
do, be quick about it, and look little out
that you play mo no trick or I'll finish
you"
turned the combination and drew the
safe door open, muking up my mind to
throw myself upon him II he moved his re.
volyer away for an instant. 1t did not
seem likely that opportunity would favor
me, but as / took the money from the safe
and handed 1t Ia him he lowered his
weapon
The critical time had comel II / should
fail to oyerpower the fellow, IL meant death
for me.
sprang upon him with the strength of a
mailman, and so unexpected was the move.
ment that we both went sprawling on the
floor the revolver disoharginG itself HARM
lessly us we fell. The robber soon struggled
to his feet, and lifting mo completely from
the floor forced me through tho ticket win.
dow. '
But had wrestled often while at college.
and W. crashed through the glass whirl-
ed him around, throwing my left foot back
of his In such way that the next instant
found him on his head In corner. Wild
with excitement. pinned him to the floor,
pulling my OLD bulldog" from his pocket
and changing the situation by placing the
muzzlo against his temple.
Lie still, my friend,n l painted, "or it
will be worse for your
At that very moment heard the famil.
lar whistle of No. 4, which was approach
ing the station, but would not stop unless
Signgled. / was master of the situation
now. could stretch out my left hand and
touch the signal board and with u loud
cry OF triumph that sounded strange and
savage In my own ears turned IL. Iheard
the airbrakes and escaping steam, and then
the train cameto full stop. Directly after
the Office door opened, and the conductor
came swinging his lantern and expecting
his train orders.
| suppose he understood the tableau be-
fore me, but that was all knew for some
time.
When / became conscious OF what was
going on around me, they had my robber
bound hand and foot, and an eager crowd
stood round my chair, praising my bravery
and oongratulating me on saving the largo
sum OF money and capturing the holdest
robber west OF Cameron, the famous Ed
Dalton,
Was IL bravery Sometimes l think IL
was foolhardiness, but 1T paid me well, for
both railway and express companies re.
warded me generously In money and ad.
vance Of position, Archie Eggleson.
Tho uapexSnv Sxsta.a