The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-08-23

She desired to start Tor home as 500
as No. o passed, SO as not to alarm he
parents by any unnecessary delay
She had been inside but moment o
two, when her attention was attracts
by slight noise at the window.
Imagine her surprise, upon turnin
around, to see a man standing at tn
open window, with his gun. which wa
resting upon the window-sill, aimed di
rectly at her
'It's mothers dream," she said t
herself; but not muscle moved to shoy
that she was surprised.
''Say, little GAL" said the man at tn
widow, where is the station agent?"
ssHe is not here, sir. He went ava,
some time ago"
Where top demanded the man
grufay.
''He went to Keeley's Bar. with sup
plies for the coTpanys men," replies
Ethel, and added. in an uudcrtone: "Bu
that was long time ago"
when is the lightning express due?
"In thirty minutes said Ethel, a
she glanced at the clock above her ia
ther's rude desk.
"Well, we want to board her. Car
we do SOP"
mo. sir: they do not stop here for
water
Cant you hag herr
'sNo sir
"Why not?"
"We have orders not to flag No. un-
| less there is danger ahead"
''Then there will be danger ahead, y
said the rufian, as he turned his back
to Ethel, and, addressing the men, said:
''Get to work lively, men, and take up
a couple of rails; the express is going
to stop here tonight, and don't you for
get it.''
Ethel glanced through the window,
/ besides the spokesman, making five in
all, as her mother had dreamed.
Quick as thought, she turned and
sprang through the open door; there
was a clatter of a horses feet upon the
hard ground, and an instant later the
white pony dashed around the corner
of the pump-house and was of with the
speed of deer.
Bang "Bang" Bang" rang the
report of firearms in rapid succession.
The men had discovered her fight, but
in their haste had shot wide of the
mark.
"Bang!" Bang" ''Bangw "Bang!''
rang out second volley from the re-
peating rifles. The bride rein dropped,
as Ethel threw up her hands and fell
forward on the pony's neck, limp and
apparently lifeless. The frightened
animal, seeing he was free to go where
he chose. dashed headlong down the
bank into the gulch below and disap-
peared from view.
q guess that red-headed imp of
girl won't give Us any further trouble"
remarked one of the men.
you're right" said another, ''she's
fixed all right enough.
Had the speakers stood where they
could have seen what was taking place
down in the gulch, they would soon
have discovered their mistake, for no
sooner had the pony reached the bot
tom than Ethel arose direct in the sad
die, gathered up the reins and re-
marked:
"a pretty good trick for red-hcaded
girl to play. When they thought me
dead they ceased firing; otherwise l
might have been killed. Looking at
her tiny watch, a present from her
father, she added:
six miles and only twenty-five min
utes in which to make it. Now, Snow
flake. fy!''
Loosening a rawhide from the pom
mel of the saddle. she lashed the pony
into run. One, two, three, four miles |
are passed. The tender-hearted girl, |
who under ordinary circumstances
would not think of beating her pony, |
used the lash without mercy, urging
him to his utmost speed.
Finally exhausted, her hand dropped |
to her side, and when she again raised |
it she saw that it was covered with
blood
'Whym she exclaimed. 81 must have
been hit after all. Yes, my skirt is
soaked with blood, and, come to think |
1f it. did feel singing pain in my
thigh when the men fired; but what of |
It? We must reach Placer City in time,
should it kill US both"
At last the station was in sight. |
Only short half mile and she woul d |
be at the end of her journey. But, |
alas. The wind bore sound to her
,ar that fairly froze the blood in her
veins, a long, shrill whistle, the ex-
Dress calling for a clear track. Ethel
hut her teeth tightly and piled the
ash with all their strength.
Faster, Snowflake, faster, faster.
Oh! Heaven help u.s." she exclaimed.
rhe pony groaned at every jump, yet
he urged him to go faster Already
he could see the headlight on the rap
dly approaching engine. II glowed
n the gathering twilight like the eve
# fiery demon. Would she be too
ate?
On came the fiery monster. The
ace was an unequal one-an iron
lorse, propelled by steam as hot as fire
md water could make. and an Indian
)ony. running q race upon which de-
,ended many lives. On came the iron
tced, its grim driver all unconscious of
he fact that he was carrying the un-
passengers and the half
million dollars, which the express mes
enger was 50 carefully guarding,
traight into the hands of band OF
Would she be too late?