The Cape Girardeau Democrat., 1895-07-13

down, they'll be pouring out of Den
yer by the carload. hope they won't
make trouble here; it wouldn't take
more than twenty-five or thirty of
them to take the town and everybody
in it."
Phoebe bit the end of her penholder
and thrust out her chin in q way that
made her look very much like resolute
John Artley. II know one thing they
won't do" she said, with defiant little
nod. They won't make pa pull 2o1
unless he has orders, like they did
Mike McGaffey last spring"
The afternoon wore away without
incident, and there was nothing to re-
port until seven o'clock, when the two
sections of pol came in fairly alive with
tramps- Twenty minutes later the
time freight from Denver arrived,
bringing another contingent. The
conductors reported that there had
been no violence, but that was be-
cause the train crews had been so far
outnumbered as to put resistance out
of the question.
Norman wired full report of the
situation to the dispatcher, and while
he was waiting for instructions the
tramps began to straggle into the wait
ing-room by twos and threes. In the
absence of orders to the contrary,
train No. POI had been made up
and pulled out on the main line ready
to go east. Norman knew this, and as
neither Artley nor the conductor had
come in for orders, he began to get un-
easy.
You go over to the boarding house,
Phoebe, and stay with Mrs. Hannah"
he said. This is no place for you to-
night"
please let me stay" pleaded Phoebe.
'They won't hurt me, and l should go
crazy over there by myself, and not
knowing what was happening to you
and pa. Besides, I'll be good deal
safer here with YOU"
Norman was going to insist, but the
wire called him. He answered and
took the message rapidly:
Hold POI for orders. Use all means
to prevent tramps from seizing train
or engine. Special with sheriff's posse
will reach you about eight-thirty
p. m"
Phoebe heard the message as it
clicked through the sounder, and
looked at the station clock. 1t was
now nearly eighth the men would
only keep quiet for half an hour!
1t was a vain hope. Two minutes
later there was scuffie on the platform,
and Artley and the conductor were
dragged into the waiting-room. One
of the tramps-a big, burly fellow
with red whiskers and flaming eyes
acted as spokesman.
"You shet up" the spokesman was
saying to her father. You hain't got
nothin' to say about it. Wen you git
orders you'll pull that train, r We'll
chuck We into yer own fire-box. See?"
Phoebe heard the threat in wild-eyed
horror.
Norman for five minutes ratified
away at the key, writing an endless
string of unmeaning dots and dashes,
to fill up time. Then the red-bearded
man interrupted him.
Gimme that timetable" he said,
pointing to the sheet hanging over the
operators desk.
Norman hesitated, obeying finally
at the point of a pistol. The man ran
his grimy finger up and down the col
umns of figures until he found what he
wanted.
Its all right, boys; we don't need no
orders. Fust meetin'-points fifty
miles down the road. Mister lightnin'
singer, you come out from behind
there-we1l take you long, an then
you won't be gittin' a switch turned
ag'in' US at the fust side track"
Norman held back and tried to gain
more time by arguing the case, but the
pistol came into play again, and he
had to go, without SO much as word
to Phoebe, who was pale with indigna-
tion and fright.
When Norman surrendered, the man
spoke again: Now then, git move
on that ingine-driver, an we'll 60"
Phebe's first impulse was to rush out
after them to plead for her fathers
life; then she suddenly remem-
bered that the special train was
coming from the east. Supposing her
father yielded; or, what was more
likely, supposing they put him on the
engine and made him responsible for
his life and theirs, while one of their
number ran it? Phoebe threw herself
down at the table and began to call
the first station east of Orival with
frantic eagerness. If she could only
raise the operator at Little Butte in
time to have them warn the sheriff's
special!
Again and again she wrote "lu"
''lu," signing 'oj' at every fourth rep
etition, but there was no answering
break, and the angry voices on the
platform grew louder and more threat
ening. At last, knowing that death
messages take precedence of all others,
she wrote ''Geth'' "deth' "deth" be-
tween the signatures, and then the op-
erStor at Little Butte broke in and an
swered. Phoebe began to tremble
nervously through her message, but he
broke in again:
West bound special passed here five
minutes ago." was what came clicking
back; and then she knew that if pol
left Orival there would be collision.
The mere thought of it made her sick
and faint, and the lights in the Office
seemed to be going out. Then she
L