Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1895-11-05

head down on the table and began to
cry as if my heart was breaking. Had
he seen my face he might have noticed q
total absence OF tears was crying for
purpose
When my arms dropped upon the ta-
bic, ] allowed my hand to fan upon the
armature of the telegraph instrument,
SO that could hold it to prevent it
from ticking. while my right hand rest
ed upon the key. Sobbing, so that any
slight clicking the key might make
would not reach the robbers, Lapened it
and slowly made the telegrapnic char
acters:
n E Z p
These I repeated several times, hop
ing they might reach the ears of some
operator on the line. I slowly and dis
tinctly wrote these words, still sobbing
violently:
-hears-this-fo -heaven's-
sake-report-to - -dispatcher-
at Laramie ck-that- I-aln--in
-the-hands- = of = seven = robbers
who-will- compel - me- to-fag-
No. Send help-quick. I"
Then signed name and office call.
released the armature and the in
strument clicked out:
Brace-up-little-girl-I-hear-
you'll
81. was the train dispatcher's call.
With fierce shout the leader sprang
forward and rudely snatched me away
from the table and asked:
Zeal, what's thaty''
"only a distant Office asking for or
ders for freight train" !" responded.
None o. yer lyin, you little imp,
he roared. eyer up to some trick. +"
mo, - I replied, 81 am not If 1 was
doing that, my fingers would be ON the
instrument. Don't you see I am not
touching it, and yet it works. It is only
an order to freight train away down
at Medicine Bow.
keep away from that table, he said
savagely. s'And if ketch you at any
tricks Ill choke the life ont o. you.
oh, how eagerly my ears drank in ev-
cry word the instrument clicked out /
heard telegram to the sheriff at Green
River, 20 miles west, asking him to arm
posse of men at once and get ON board
special train which would be ready
for him. Then another to the young SUI
perintendent, who was at Green River,
telling how my slowly written words
had been heard by the dispatcher and
asking him to supervise the prepara-
tions to fly TO my relief. Then u third
dispatch to the master mechanic, in
structing him to fire up his fastest pas
senger engine and couple on to a car
riage and await tho superintendent's or
ders. My heart beat SO violently that it
almost took my breath away. 1t seemed
an age ere heard the Green River op-
orator call the dispatcher and say:
"The superintendent, with sheriff and
90 armed men, is aboard, and train
ready for orders.
The order came flying. 1t told the en-
gineer he had clear track and to run
at his very highest speed to within half
mile of my station and with his party
to alight. Then came the welcome re-
port from the Green River office:
Especial east departed :15.
Oh, how my poor heart beat, and how
my every nerve tingled with excitementl
One ffteeni 1 mentally figured that the
train ON such desperate errand should
make nearly mile q minute and reach
the stopping point about 1 30.
The robber chief gave his men their
instructions. I was to be sent ont 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 II work the express car, while
Tom and Shorty hold the conductor and
brakeman back. Do yer work quick and
bold and don't be afeared to burn pow
der, if necessary. Thar's big haul ON
that train, and we've got to have it. +"
How eagerly watched the clock, and
how slowly, how very, very slowly, the
hands seemed to move. One twenty-one,
20 and 1:3O were ticked of. One
thirty-fvel Would they never come?
One fortyi There came fearful crash
of glass, and the black muzzles Of a per-
feet cloud of rifles were thrust through
the windows and pointed directly at the
robbers. Then voice cried out:
MEN, throw up your handsl am
the sheriff, and in the name Of the law
demand your surrender. Make but
move, and I'll order my men to fire -
Eyer little catp' Missed the leader,
glaIirg at me sayageIy as the band sud-
denly held aloft their hands. Then the
sheriff and three men entered and dis
armed and handcuffed the robbers, and
i saw the superintendent looking at me
and heard him say, ttWhat 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 dayshad elapsed
since the capture of the robbers. was
suffering from brain fever brought on
by the terrible strain I had passed
through and had been unconscious for
that long period.
finally recovered, and when called
into court to testify against the desperate
gang 1 will never forget their fierce
glances toward me as 1 told how had
entrapped them, or how, in spite Of the
efforts OF the judge and court officers TO
suppress it, the crowd cheered me as I
left the stand. The men were sent for
long terms to an eastern prison and I
have never heard of them since. %
"And did the company reward you
for saving the train s,,
''well, only slightly. Corporations
have no souls, you know But revenged
myself on the superintendent in a man
uer.s
In what ways''
II married him, . she replied, with