The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-12-31
ADRUMMER'S YARN

My fellow passenger drew long breath
through the cigar stump between his tn
until 1t burned like a crematory furnace
and enveloped me in haze of smoke then
ne lighted his third cigar. settled himself
back in the seat and began:
Six years ago this coming January 10
reached Spikers Station on the STA train
in the afternoon. | was travelling for
wholesale grocery firm. and was engaged
in working among the stores in this part
the State. SDikers Is little place.
Only one local train day stops here
The place consists of forlorn station,
few poor frame dwellings, store kept by
a Scotchman. saloon and a blacksmith
shop. This, you know. is asparsely settled
region. AT intervals in the broad expanse
of scrubby woods there are small farms
and an occasional ore bank or sawmill
upon which the few Inhabitants depend
for their livelihood.
Il got on the train and hurried over to
the store. AS 1t was already dark the
place was filled with loafers, rough-look-
ing fellows. who stared in a vacant way
as unpacked my sample cases and spread
the goods upon the counter. / knew the
storekeeper and had no trouble in selling
him bill, so that when l finished bust
ness with him at the end of an hour felt
amply repaid for my trouble. Then be-
night.
II found that the Pittsburg express
stopped at Schmucker's junction, three
miles up the track, and that by good.
brisk walking / would be able to eaten il
comfortably. / made arrangements to
have my cases sent on by the local train
next day and then took my leave, after
having received explicit directions to fol-
low the beaten path along the railroad.
LAS l left the store / noticed. but did
not heed. the sinister glances that three
Of the loafers who were sprawled along
the counter cast upon me.
ut was clear night; the moon was just
rising above the mountains in the east;
the air was cold and crisp and the ground
frozen hard. In few moments l passed
the last house, reached the railroad and
was reeling off rod af er rod of the hard
white path that stretched before me. /
soon arrived at the woods and was plung-
ing deep into their heart. l had Set for
myself brisk. Draclng pace and at first
felt not the slightest uneasiness at my
lonely condition, dark and forbiddng
though the woods seemed. When l had
gone about mile and half l found N.Y.
self within few yards of what appeared
to be a real wood road. that wound out
from among the trees, crossed the track
and then lost itself in the blackness on the
other side.
81 had just passed this road. when was
I q
behind me, and before ] could turn two
horny hands had seized my throat and held
me fast. l tried to cry OUT, but my effort
was stopped by firm clutch Of the strong
fingers. Then two men appeared, and in
another instant l lay helpless on the
grouGd.
"The three ruffians were big, burly fell
lows, so heavily muff1ed up that. beyond
few stray whiskers, / could make out
| nothing of their faces. ALI my efforts at
kicking and struggling proved vain. One
sat on my legs and coollY tied my feet;
another bound my arms, and then the
clutch on my throat was ioosened and l
was allowed to breathe. In fe W moments
they had taksp everything of value that /
had upon my persona watch and my
money, not much. only few hundred
| dollars.
This done, thought that 1 would be
allowed to go, but reckoned wrongly. One
seized my hands and another my feet,
and they laid me across the track. My
horror knew no bounds when / realized
what this meant. One of the brutes tied
my feet hard down to the rail. l begged
and threatened and pleaded and expostu.
lated; offered them reward for my re-
! Lease, and dire vengeance If they left me-
there, but in vain. They coolly wrapped
, the rope round and round my ankles and
under the rail. and then, fastening my
arms at the elbow. they proceeded to Sc
! CuiC NY OOQys
1.-THE tighter felt the rope drawing to
| hold me until the express freed me from
the track aud the world The more
| pleaded. The final answer was a blow on
! the mouth and the information that they
| wasn't going to have me telling tales.
Then they left me.
81 heard the rattle of wagon wheels as
they drove away. And then l was alone.
l twisted and tore and writhed In my
frantic efforts to free myself until ex-
hausted. Time passed slowly. / pictured
myself lying in pieces along the track.
AT last heard ringing in the rails,
| low, plaintive ringing that told me that
! the express was coming. In a few mo-
ments and it would be on me. l twisted
and writhed in one last desperate struggle
| for freedom. / tore and kicked until the
ropes cut deep into the flesh, and my
clothes where the thongs were grew hot
| from friction
THE ringing became louder, Euntil at
last it developed into a roar. | looked
down the track and saw the faint CLEAN
of the headlight as the engine rounded
curve. One more minutei
"Frantlcally | struggled. Nearer and
nearer came the flving train; louder aud
louder became the roar and ringing in the
rails-so loud that it drowned my wild
screams. The headlight was binding me
all was over. No, continued to sIrug-
gle. Then L felt burning sensation in
my legs-a terrible heat-and an odor of
burning clothing followed. l raised my
head and the CLEAN of a fame met nv