Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1895-11-23

These / repeated several times, hop.
ing they might reach the ears of some
operator on the line. j slowly and
distinctly wrote these words, still sob
bing violently:
"Who--hears- this-for-heaven's
sake sake-report-to-train-dispatch-
er-at-L Laramie-quick- that-I-
AMIN - the - hands % of-seven-
robbers-who-will- compel-me-to
flag Notwithstanding quick" !"
"Brace-up-little-girl -I-hear
-you.-H."
II. was the train dispatcher's call.
With a fierce shout the leader sprang
forward and rudely snatched me away
from the table and asked:
"Gal, what's that"
Only a distant office asking for
orders for freight train" responded.
"None o yer lyin, you little imp"
he roared. Yer up TO some trick."
No" replied, Il am not. If |
was doing that, my fingers would be
ON the instrument. Don't you see |
am touching it, and yet it works. 1t
is only an order to freight train away
down at Medicine Bow"
Keep away from that table," he
said savagely. "And if ketch you
at any tricks I'll choke the life out o
you
Oh, how eagerly iny ears drank in
every word the instrument clicked out !.
| heard telegram to the sheriff at
Green River, 20 miles west, asking
him to arm a posse of men at once and
get on board special train which
would be ready for him. Then another
to the young superintendent. who was
at Green River, telling how my slowly
written words had been heard by the
dispatcher and asking him to supervise
the preparations to fly TO my relief.
Then third dispatch to the master
mechanic, instructing him to fire up
his fastest passenger engine and couple
on to carriage and await the superin-
tendent's orders. My heart beat SO
violently that it almost took my breath
away. 1t seemed an age ere | heard
the Green River operator call the dis
patcher and say:
"rhe superintendent, with sheriff
and 90 armed men, is aboard, and
train ready for orders"
The order came flying. 1t told the
engineer he had clear track and 10
run at his very highest speed to within
half mile of my station and with his
party to alight. Then came the well
come report from the Green River
office:
Special east departed LIS"
Oh, how my poor heart beat, and
how my every nerve tingled with ex-
element, One iifteen | mentally
figured that the train on such des-
perate errand should make nearly a
mile minute and reach the stopping
point about l.35
The robber chief gave his men their
instructions. / was to be sent out alone
to signal the train, and when it halted
the band would make rush and
board it.
"Bill, you jump on the engine as
soon as she stops and hold the engineer
and fireman under your gun. Jack,
you pile into the mail car and make
the clerk give up his registered letters,
and Yank and Aleck'll work the ex-
press car, while Tom and Shorty hold
the conductor and brakeman back.
Do yer work quick and bold and don't
be aieared to burn powder, il necessary.
Thar's big haul or that train, and
we've got TO have il"
How eagerly | watched the clock,
and how slowly, how very. very slowly,
the hands seemed to move. One twen-
ty-one, 1.25 and 1.30 were ticked off.
One thirty.iive Would they never
come? One forty. There came a
fearful crash of glass, and the black
muzzles of a perfect cloud of rifles
were thrust through the windows and
pointed directly at the robbers. Then
II voice cried out.
"Men, throw up your hands am
the sheriff, and in the name of the law
demand your surrender Make but a
move and I'll order my men to fire.
Yer little cat = hissed the leader,
glaring at me savagely as the band
suddenly held aloit their hands. Then
the sheriff and three men entered and
disarmed and handcutied the robbers,
and saw the superintendent looking
AT me and heard him say, What a
debt | owe you, my brave girl" and
then | fell fainting into his arms.
When | regained consciousness,
was lying in my bed in my room at
Green River, with several ladies
around me, and was told that seven
days had elapsed since the capture OF
the robbers. was suffering from
brain fever brought ON by the terrible