The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1895-01-18
one of the men opening the door and

,lnqlirirg
SIS the train on time, sonny 2"
ut was at 10 O'clock" answered
Jack, and then, with a wild hope in
his heart. he added LET me loose
and I'll find out"
"Not much, my hardy" responded
the rough LET you at that infer
nal instrument and you'd send the
train through like lightning, and so
cheat us out of the pile of gold we're
after
He understood now why they had
not asked him for the key of the safe.
1t was not the paltry sum that might
be found in the little country depot
they were after. They intended to
rob the train.
He tried to loosen his hands, but in
the dark he could accomplish moth
ing.
Just at that instant an opportune
fash of lightning revealed TO him the
blessed fact that in their haste his
would-be captors had failed to draw
the knot on the cord with which his
hands were bound as tight as they
doubtless intended.
In an instant the slack end of the
loop was between his teeth and a few
vigorous jerks soon set HIM free. 1t
required but moment more to whir
out his knife and cut the cord that
bound his feet. Lizzie was sound
sleeper, but his one hope was that she
might have been awakened by the
storm and so made available as an as.
sistant. His conjecture was correct
and almost Immediately the circuit
was opened and the response came.
Then, as rapidly as possible, he
made known The situation at the sta
tion and asked itsShe would 60 down
to the cut. quarter of mile distant
and signal the train. The reply was
: in the Affirmative, and there was NJ
hesitation in it, either.
; Then he flashed back:
Put piece Of thin, red ilanne
around the lantern, go down to til,
deep cut and swing your red ligh
across the track as soon as the traiI
i rSunds the curve. Keep it up unit
you are sure 1t has been seen, anC
when the train stops 60 to the con
c ductor with the news ! have tol(
4 YOU"
"All right" returned Lizzie. al
I be off inside of three minutes" and
e coward though she was, she kept he
e promise.
= 1t was still laundering in the dist
ance, and every fash Of lightning
l. made her shrink and cover as i
c wounded by the glaring sheet of fire
: But in spite of her terror, she did no
= slacken her speed, and reached tn
I depot just as the headlight of th
approaching train began to gimme
e around the curve beyond.
= Faithfully she delivered the mes
= sage committed to her. and then iel
C fainting at the conductors feet.
q As soon as Jack was sure that Liz
u zie would carry out his instruction
be wrapped the cord loosely round hi
e hands and feet again and lay down i
l. his old position, not wishing to eXcit
IL suspicious in the breasts of the rot
L. bers, should they take it into thei
l. heads to pay him another visit bt
+ fore the arrival Of the train.
Through the window he could Sc
n that the red lantern had been swun
is into position, and after little L
e, heard them pacing restlessly up an
:, down the platform as if growing in
N patient. The clock in the Office ha
le struck twelve at least twenty nit
n utes before faraway whistle al
1t nounced the approach of the train.
Immediately there was a cessatio
b. Of the monotonous tread outside, an
ID a few minutes later, with rumb
Of and roar and Kissing of air0raltes, Il
1T train drew up to the station.
Up The next moment the command I
he Glands up" was followed by I'll
IN report of several revolvers fred STINT
e. taneously, and Jack, throwing asst
I'd his cords, rushed out just in time
ne see his half-dozen midnight visito
IS marched into the baggage car at Il
a point of . dozen revolyers leyeled
their heads.
a Jack locked the station, and as q
n two walked home together they agre,
m to say nothing about their eXperien
to their mother until she was We
nj and strong again.
'e. Consequently the first intimate
llf she had of the danger they had bray
came week later in the form OF
on check for $500 from the railroad cor
nd papy, payable to Jack and Liz
ed English-for the use Of their priva
en- line in capturing the robbers.
Whaleships nowadays kill all t
al sharks they can ret, and find IL c