The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1894-02-02

!
Imagine her surprise. upon turning aroun'
to see man standing at the oren window
with his gun, which was resting upon tn
wis1Ow ell, aimed directly at her.
Its mothers dream!" she said to herself
hut not muscle moved to show that she wa
surprised
"Say. little GAL" said the man at the win
dow. "where Ia the station agent?"
"He is not here. sir. he went away som'
time ago."
"Where tor" demanded the man gruffly.
"He went to Keeley's Bar, with supple
for the company's men," replied Ethel, anC
3, added. in an undertone, "but that was lona
3. time ago"
"When IL the lightning express due?'
Elm 80 minutes" said Ethel, as she glanced
at the clock above her fathers rude desk.
"Wel, we want to board her. Can we do
% so?'
"No, STR. They do not stop here for water.
Cant you flag her?'
mo, sir"
"Whv not?"
ave have orders not to flag No. unless
there is dan er ahead"
"Theu there will he danger ahead" said the
ruffian as be turned his back to Ethel, and ad.
dressing the men said: "Get to work livelv,
men, and take up couple of rails The tx.
press is going to stop here tonight and don't
you forget II !"
Ethel glanced through the window, and
sure enough, there were four men besides the
spokesman. making five In all, as her mother
had dreamed.
Qaick as thought, she turned and sprane
through the open door there was clatter Of
h'rse's feet upon the hard ground, and an
instant later the white pony dashed around
the corner of the pumphouse and was of With
w. .B sp1s' Bang, "Bsng!p rang the re.
port of firearms In rapid succession. The
men had discovered her fli.ht. hut In their
haste bad shot wide of the mark.
Bang y "Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!" rang
out second volsv from the repeating rifles.
| The bride rein dropned. as Ethel threw up
her hands and fell forward on the pony's
neck limp and apparently lifeless. The fright
ened animal seeing he was free to 90 where
| be chose, dashed headlong down the bank In
to the guch below and disappeared from
view.
II guess that redheaded imp of girl won't
give US any further trouble," remarked ole
of the men.
r ,'.c' ssGst, said another "she'' fixed
Had the speakers stood where they could
have seen what was taxing place down 10 the
xulcb they would soon have discovered their
mistake, for no sooner had the pony reached
saddle. gathered up the reins and remarked |
"A pretty good trick for redheaded girl
to play When they thought me dead. they |
ceased firing; otherwise might have been
killed !" Looking at her ttny watch. q present
from her fatber, she added:
"Six miles ana Onl, % minutes IN which to
make 1t. Now Snowfl Ike. flv."
Loosenng q rawhide from the pommel OF
he saddle, she dashed the pony into run.
One, two. three, four miles are passed. The
ter der hearted pirI. who under ordinary cir
cumstances would not think of beatinl her
pony. used the lash without mercy, urging
him to bis utmost speed.
Finally. exhausted her hand dropped to her
side, and when she again "a sed 1t she saw
That 1t was covered with blood.
hit after all. Yes. my skirt 10 soaking with
blood, and come to think Of II did fee,
.tsneing pain n nv thigh when the men fred
bu, what Of I'll! We must reach Placer City
In time should Il kill US both !"
At last the station was In sight Only sI
short half mile and she would b. At the end
Of her journey. But. alas the wind bore .
sound to her ear that fairly f.eze the blood
press calling for q clear track. Ethel shut her
teeth tightly and piled the lash with all her
strength.
"Faster, Snowflake, faster. faster! Oh!I
Heaven help Us" she exclaimed. The pony
groaned at every step. yet she urged him to 90
faster. Already she could see the headlight E
on the rapidly approaching engine. 1t glowed
In the gathering twilight Ike the eye of !
nerv demon. Would she be too late? ;
On came the fiery monster. The race wa.
=
by steam a. hot as fire and water could make,
and indian ponv upon which depended :
many lives On came the Iron steed, its grim r
drive all unconscious of the fact that he was .
carving the unsuspecting passenger and the \
$500, 600 which the express messenger was so :
guarding, straight into the hands Of :
q band of train robbers. :
Would she be too late? q
Made DESPERATE by the thought, Ethel lean
ed forward and buried her white teeth deep =
Into the neck Of the pony. Made furious bv Il
the pain. the almost exhausted animal leaned I,
forward, staggering as he ran. A moment !,
more and they we're at the station. Without q
v aiting to stop, Ethel slid from the pony's =
back; then her lev gave way beneath her, land n
The fell to the ground.
A fireman on freight recognized Ethel and a
IAN to her assistance. 3
"Ob, don't mind me, but flag No. o." she II
Zasped, and none too soon, for she could hear -
he roar Of the popderous train and the rapid II
clicking sound on the rails, caused by the =;
irving wheels pa" ing over the rail functions. q
vas at least two rods nearer destruction. -
Then the engineer whistled for brakes, and ~ :,
be knew that the train was saved y,
When the train had stopped, Ethel told her q,
tory to the wondering people who had gath h,
red about her, after which the conductor or. ~
erred her carried to the baggage car. but she g.
efused. savtng: g,
mo. / will not 90 without Snowflake o. o.
Gan right. little GIRL" replied the conduct. ~ ~
r. 1.-THE pony shall 20 too" ~
SO they took both horse and rider into the :,
aggsge car, where bale OF mattresses was a,
astily broken open and one procured for the .
tile sufferer to lie upon. and roll of bau
els. belonging to one David Carson Of Dead
lan's Gulch. but more commonly known a.
Dare Devil Dave" was brought forward TO
rive a. pillow. The owner of the blankets ri
'as there IN person, kneeling on the floor be-
de her.
"Poor little girl" be said, as be wiped the =
'srs from bis eyes with the back Of hts hand.
This IL more than l can stsnd." His hugh
anne shook with sobs rs be picked up her
sp. and turning to the bystsnders, said, EEL
W citizens. let ne do something"
The miners gave literally. Both bills and
I'm were tosse into the cap. One miner =
a small leather bag, containing r
'uple of ounces of gold dust. Nor was
avid Carson the only man that wept for the
little sufferer Tears coursed
'wn manv sun bronEed cheek unused to n
ch q visitor. aud not one of them, rough ~ no
ey we're, but would willingly have taken IF
y place and borne the pain In her stead, nm
ere such thing possible A few moment, -,
ter. the man from the gulch again knelt be. 'eu
Re Ethel, and D. be placed her cap upon the was
'or beside her sid: "Here. little girl, tbis -
~ make you feel better. It's to buy yop | e
" gown" which remark plainly went to =
ow his ignorance regarding the value of pea
ess goods. He bad collected enough money ye
purchase fsir sized dry goods store. IF
hen the doctor thst bad been sent for ar =.
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