The morning call., 1895-01-05
THEIR PRIVATE LINE.

Jack English was tcket-agent, baggage-mas.
ter and telegraph operator at the little station
called Ranchman's Center. 1t was a new sta
ton, far out on the prairie, fully half a mile
from the nearest human habitatlon, but, being
situated in the midst of wide belt OF excellent
grazing country. already did more business
than many places on the road boastlng OF sew.
eral hundred Inhabitants.
There were TWO freight trains day each
way, the through and local, the latter of which
carried passengers. Then there were the TWO
accommodations going In opposite directions,
and the daily express and mail east and west,
which passed through the lonely place between
the hours of 10 and II at night.
AS the last tratn--the east-bound express
passed he locked up the station and crossed
the prairie TO the little cottage half mile
away, where his mother ana Sister Lizzie Kept
pleasant home for him.
Lizzie was a bright active girl Of IA, but with
all her intelligence and industry she was an in
veterate coward. She was afraid OF everything,
ana often made herself miserable by imagining
danger when none existed.
When Jack took charge of the Office down
at the crossing she announced her determina-
tion OF studying teieeraphy. JACK assured her
that the art was as full of electricity as thun-
derstorm, of which she stood in morI al dread,
but she persevered IN her effort n0twitbstand-
Ing, and in lew weeks could manipulate the
Instrument so as to receive and SEND messages
as correctly II not guile as speedily as her
teacher
Pleased with her progress the brother secured
two secondhand instruments and a coil of wire
aud put up line from the house To the station,
30 that she might have practice without having
to walk TO the Office during the cold weather.
Fearing that the officiOus ineman might OBJ
jeet 10 the instrument on his end OF the line
being In the office Jack put it up Oh one side OF
the big empty freightroom and here when the
weather was not TOO cold he spent many
lonely half hour In conVersing with sbe little
sister at home.
One night about the middle of February
there was a terrific thunder aud wind storm,
with binding fall OF rain and hail, very un-
usual thing at that season of the year. II came
up suddenly about IL o'clock, after the west
bound train had passed ana an hour before the
eastern one was due.
Above the roar of the thunder and the beat.
ing of The rain and hail against the window Jack
heard the catIer OF horses feet A moment
later there came loud knocking at the outer
door.
Thinking they were people from distance
to walt for The train, he Inquired, more from
habit than from suspicion, "WhO is there?"
PA sSengers to take the midnight train,"
was the quick response. Were wet TO the
SKIN and halt frozen"
Without a moments hesitation Jack drew
back the heavy bolt and threw the door open,
wheE In crowded half dozen roughlooking
men muffied 10 the ears in furs and WOODEN
c0mforters.
He was seiZsd by one Of the stalwarts aud
hurled unceremonously 10 the floor. Then.
while two OF the number held him down, the
others busted themselves in binding his hands
and feet.
He supposed, Of course, that they would 60
through his pockets in search OF the key OF
the safe, but they didn't; instead, they car
ried him into the freightroom and laid him
down against the side OF the building, with
the injunction TO keep mum II he valued MS
bacon"
His thoughts were interrupted by one of the
men opening the door and inquIring:
SIS The train on time, solny?"
"It was at 10 o'clock" answered Jack, ana
then, with wild hone III his heart, he added:
"Let me loose and I'll find out"
mot much, my hardy" responded the rough.
"Let you at that Internal instrument and you'd
send the train through like lightning, and so
cheat US out Of that pile of gold we're after"
He understood now why they had not asked
him for the key TO 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
ness he could accomplish nothing.
Just at that instant an oppoTtune flash 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 few vigorous jerks
soon SET him free. It required but a moment
more to whip out his knife and cut the cord that
bound his feet.
Lizzie was a sound sleeper. but bis one hope
was bat she might have been awakened by th6
storm and so be made available as an assist
ant His conjecture was correct, and almost
Immediately the circuit was opened and the
response came.
Then, as rapidly as possible. be made known
the situation at the station and asked IL she
would 20 down TO the cut, quarter OF a mile
distant, and signal the train. The reply was in
the affirmative, and there was no indeclslon in
it. either.
Then he flashed back:
"Put piece OF thin, red flannel around the
lantern, go down TO the deep cut and swing
fha
train rounds the curve. Keep IL up until you
are sure it has been seen, and when the train
stops go to the conductor with the news have
told you"
''All right" returned Lizzie. cpl be OF In
side OF three minutes" and, coward though she
was, she kept her promise.
II was still laundering in the distance, and
every fash of lightning made her shrink and
cover as If wounded by the glaring sheet of
IRE. But in spite of her terror she did not
slacken her speed, and reached the depot lust
as the headlight Of the approaching train be-
gan 10 glImmer around the curve beyond.
Faithfully che delivered the message COM
mitied to her and then fell falnting at the con-
ductor's feet.
AS soon as Jack was sure that Lizzie would
carry out his instructions be wrapped the cord
loosely round his hands and feet again ana
lay down in his old position, not wishing to
excite suspicion In he breasts Of the robbers.
should they take it into their heads tc pay
him another visit before the arrival OF the
train.
Through the window he could see that the
red lantern had been swung into position,
and after little he heard them pacing rest
.lessly up and down the platform, as though
growing impatient. The clock in the Office
had struck II at least twenty minutes before
far-away whistle announced the approach of
the train.
Immediately there was cessation oF the
monotonous tread outside, and few minutes
later. with rumble and roar and Kissing OF
the airbrakes, the train drew up TO the station.
The next moment the command of "Hands
up!' was followed by the report OF several
revovers, fired simultaneously, aud Jack,
throwing aside bis cords, rushed out just in
time 10 see his half.doZen midnight visitors
marched in the baggsge-car at the point of
dozen revolvers leveled at their heads.
Jack locked the station, and as the two
walked home together they agreed to say moth
ing about their experience to their moh her until
che was well aud strong again.
Consequently the first intimation she had Of
the dang-r trey bad braved came week later
IN The form Of check for 5000 from the rail-
road company. yable TO Jack anu Lizzie.
Engilsh-for the use Of their private line cap.
turing the rODbers.-Chcago News.
The clever housewife never complains