Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-10-25
ONE WINTER NIGHT.

outlaw by the name Of Ed Dalton. For
years he had robbed mail coaches and way
laid and murdered travellers who were be
lated and 80 unfortunate as TO meet him.
was employed by the Northern Pacific
railway as telegraph operator. IL was IN
the latter part Of the winter that the most
terrible storm broke upon that section OF
the country that was ever known. The
wind blew strong gale from the north
west, and the air was full OF snow.
All trains were late, and had found no
time to leave my Office and take an express
package Of s5, 900 To the bank for safe keep
ing. The station was crowded and our safe
small. so that ] usually deposited the COM
pany's money In the bank, not liking 10
risk IL In the Office. had an order from the
dispatcher not to go to bed till after No.
had passed. This was the western bound
limited, due at Cameron at 1850.
1t was lonely night. The wires hummed
and sobbed in the wind as though they
could not withstand the fury OF the storm.
! had finished my work and was sitting
half asleep near the stove, which was well
filled with coal and red IA a 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 trick" at
Hudson how No. was.
"On time" clicked the instrument In re
ply, and stirred the fire, turned the blaze
of my lamp higher and sat down agHin.
For ID or % minutes / sat listening 10 the
monotonous click so musical TO the opera
tors ear, when | became conscious some
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 q gruff
voice saying:
"Move and you are dead man.
did not STIR but / realized that was
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 crawed in over my desk.
Oh, for some way 10 reach my trusty
bulldog" which was lying In full IA 1t
under the ticket windowi Useless wish
Ordering me to rise, the rufiiau 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. Glancing around, he spied my
pistol, and coolly put it In his pocket AS
he arose he said:
We'll, now am ready for business ]
will just trouble you for that little package
Win the SttilS tidt is IN your shIt.
was desperate enough to say anything
and broke into loud, harsh laugh as he
finished
WAS ever anything more luckyW |
cried, and my voice sounded like croak.
why, my friend, l nave been waiting for
a chance to rob the express company for a
month, and If you are bound to take the
package we will divide the contents and
skip together"
He looked at me moment with a skep-
tical sneer.
"Bosh Don't talk stuff Whatever you
do, be quick about 1t, and look little out
that you play me no trick or III finish
you"
turned the combination and drew the
safe door open, making up ny mind TO
throw myself upon MIN II he moved his re-
volver away for an instant. 1t did not
seem like that opportunity would favor
rae. br' a. took the money from the safe
ana handed it to him he lowered his
weapon.
The critical time had comel " should
fall to overpower the fellow, u ulesut death
for Inc.
sprang upon him with the strength Of a
madman, and so unexpected YVES r.. move
ment that we both went spra Wing on the
floor, the revolver discharging itself harm.
lessly as we fell. The ro5ber soon struggled
to his feet, and lifting me completely from
the floor forced me through the ticket win
dow.
But had wrestled often While at college,
and as crashed throush ,4e glass whirl.
ed him around, throwing my left foot back
Of his In such IA way that the next instant
found him on his head ia corner. Wild
with excitement p.nned him to the floor.
pulling my old bulldog from his pocket
and changing the situation by placing the
muzzle against his temple.
Lie still, my friend" | painted, "or IL
will be worse for youl"
At that very moment ! heard the famil
lar whistle of No. 4, which was approach
ing the station, but would not stop unless
signaled | was master of the situation
now. could stretch out my left hand and
touch the signal board and with a loud
cry Of triumph that sounded strange and
savage In my own ears turned 1t. fheard
the airbrakes and escaping steam, and then
the train came to 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 congratulating me on saving the large
sum Of money and capturing the boldest
robber west Of Cameron, the famous Ed
Dalton.
Was 1t bravery, Sometimes / think 1t
was foolhardiness, but 1t paid me we'll, for
both railway and express companies re
warded me generously in money and ad
vance OF position. Archie Eggleson.