The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1894-06-09

The ram was beginning to fall then,
and the wind shook the light frame
building in such . fierce way q to
cause him to shiver. While he stood
by the window, watching the threaten
ing clouds, vivid fash of lightning re-
vealed for an instant troop of horse
men galloping across the prairie in the
direction of the station.
Thinking they were belated cowboys
caught in the unexpected storm, he
paid no further attention to them, but
after another look at the approaching
cloud went back to the stove, where q
bright fire was burning. and as it was
| still an hour till train time he took up
book, turned the night-lamp higher,
and lazily stretched himself on the cot
| to read.
He had read only q few pages when
above the roar of the thunder and the
beating of the rain and hail against the
window he heard the chatter of horses
feet. A moment later heavy footsteps
on the platform outside reached his
ear, and, before he had time to con-
lecture what the unusual disturban &c
at that hour of the night meant there
came loud knocking at the outer door.
Thinking they were people from q
distance to wait for the train, he in
quired. more from habit than suspicion:
"Who is there?"
Passengers to take the midnight
train" was the quick response. "We're
vet to the skin and half-frozen Let
us in without delay" and the impatient
moving of feet outside confirmed the
statement
Without moments hesitation Jack
drew back the heavy bolt and threw
the door open, when in crowded half q
dozen rough-loolxing men muf1ed to
the ears in furs and wooden comforters.
Not liking their appearance. the
young telegrapher was about to re-
enter his Office so as to put lock be-
tween himself and them, but before he
had succeeded in carrying out the
thought suggested he was seized
by one of the stalwarts and hurled I'M
tremendously to the floor. Then while
two of the number held him down the
others busted themselves in binding his
hands and feet
Thinking they had come for the pur-
pose of tapping the safe, Jack felt re-
lieved that there was only one dollar
and few cents there. Sometimes he
had considerable money in charge, and
only that day he had delivered a pack
age of gold W a ranchman, but now
he wondered how the robbers would
feel when they learned how much
they had risked for one dollar and six
cents He supposed, of course, that
they would 90 through his pockets in
search of the key Of the safe. bu. they
didn't; instead, they carried him into
the freight room and laid him down
against the side of the building, with
the injunction to keep mum, II he
valued his bacon"
For awhile after they had disposed OF
him all was still in the waiting-room;
then he heard them moving about eau
tiously, he thought
Notwithstanding the predicament he
was in himself he smiled grimly at
thoughts of their chagrip when the
contents of the safe should be revealed
to them. "Why. it won't pay for the
powder it will take to blow it OPEN"
he muttered. under his breath
His soliloquy was interrupted by one
of the men opening the door and in
curing: Say, youn2ster, is there
anything we've got to do to that train
to get it to stop?"
Hang the red lantern out. of course.
you ninny," replied one Of his rous b
companions ''I've been around rail-
roads enough in my time to find out a
thing or two" Then. pushing past
the first speaker, he held the light
above his head and demanded of Jack:
us the train on time, sonny?"
1T was at ten o'clock" answered
Jack, and then, with wild hope in his
heart, he added: "Let me loose and I'll
find out"
mot much, my hardy" responded
the rough, in a grating voice. Let
you at that Internal instrument and
you'll send the train through like
| lightning and so cheat us out of that
pile of gold we're after No. sir; we're
not the green gamins you take us for.
that's sure"
Jack shuddered as the door closed
behind the bold speaker.
He understood now why they had
not asked hi m for the key of the safe.
1t was not the paltry sum that might
be found in little country depot they
were after. They intended to rob the
train, and since the rogue had made
known his business it occurred to him
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