The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-10-28
SAVED THE EXPRESS.

a
the many passenger trains which pulled
up at the tank. He was an adept at riding
on the trucks, and IN his two years as
tramp had Travelled thousands of miles.
The afternoon was well on toward even
ing, when the west bound limited express
came around the curve, and the engine
stopped under the huge goose necked pipe
which served to pass the water from the
reservoir to the tank Of the tender. Luck
was with him this time. AS soon as the
Kissing cylinders sent the first Jets of white
steam over the bitches Mike sprang from
the ties and in q second was fattened out
on the platform between the mail car and
the engine.
For an hour the train sped over the
smooth rails. Mike sat at ease on the
steps, caring nothing for the hot cinders
which rained down when the fireman fed
his hungry charge with coal. just as the
train passed through q deep cut the engine
whistle gave two sharp blasts, and the
grinding Of the brake shoes on the wheels
told Mike that the engineer had applied
the airbrakes.
Something's wrong" said Mike to
himself, when he felt the car shiver and
jump under the pressure of the powerful
breaks. " He's givin her all the air she'll
stand -
The train slowed up with jerks, and just
as 1t came to a standstiH Mike jumped
from the steps and dived into a thick
clump of bushes
He glanced toward the engine and saw
on the track not so feet from the pilot a
pile Of ties on the rails At the same in
slant he heard pistol shot and then from
the bushes on both sides of the track a
score of men rushed toward the train.
Two of them, with revolvers in their
hands, sprang into the engine cab
The engineer seized long handled mon
key wrench, and the fireman grasped an
iron bar, but before they could use them
they We're shot down and thrown from the
cab. Hoarse shouts and pistol shots min
gled with the screams of women and the
yells of men. Half dozen of the train
robbers attacked the heavy side doors of
the express car, and others entered the
passenger cars and sleepers with revolvers
in their hands.
The men who were trying to break
down the door of the express car with
sledge hammer called to the messenger in
side to open the door, but they received a
shot from a rifle which sont a billet
through the heavy oak. 1t struck DIG Of
the robbers and he fell to the ground.
Bring that dynamiter' shouted one of
the men.
Mike s heart seemed to rise in his throat,
but he did not dare leave the bushes. In
q few minutes there was a loud report,
and Mike saw that the door was shatter-
ed The messenger was struck down, and
in a short time the train robbers had roll
ed the express safe out of the car and car
ried it into the woods.
All Of this time the two men who shot
the engineer and fremen remained in the
engine cab. The engineer had fallen near
Mixes hiding place. He was grooming
with pain, and Mike crept to him.
Are you killed. asked Mike. 81 amt
no robher. am a tramp, and was riding
on the platform.
4 H.
killed. I am shot through the arm, and
1 guess my leg is broken
just then one of the robbers, who SEEM
ed to be the leader, cried out: There,
some of you fellows throw those ties of
the track.
''Get good look at that fellow, wills
pered the engineer to Mike. Look at
him good and hard, so you viii know him
again. Look at all of them. They tagged
me in the cut and had to stop. y
Mike singled out the leader and mental
" photographed every feature of his face,
his clothing and hat
BY this time the ties were thrown into
the ditch, and the leader, giving q shrin
whistle, yelled to the two men in the cab:
Give her steam and jump.
Do you know anything about an en-
gineg' asked the engineer of Mike.
Mike nodded. q know how to fire and
I know how to use the air, said he.
give her every bit Of air.
Mike darted from the bushes and catch
ing hold of the railing swung himself to
the lower step of the front platform AS
he did this the two men in the engine
sprang to the ground One Of them saw
Mike.
Come out of that, . he cried, and with
a quick motion he loveled his revolver and
fred
Mike felt something hot across his cheek
and then his face as though some one had
drawn redhot iron across his skin. He
put his hand to the place, and when he
drew it away it was covered with blood.
The engine Duffs were coming faster and
faster, and the train was gathering speed
rapidly. Mike swung himself out from
the steps and looked back and saw the two
men disappearing in the woods Then he
clambered over the tender and in a few
minutes was in the cab.
The train was rushing along at full
speed, and the locomotive rocked and
swayed like boat III a storm. He looked
ut the steam gauge as soon as he reached
the cab It showed 125 pounds Of steam
Next he looked at the water glass and saw
that there was plenty Of water in the boiler
He seated himself on the green cushion
which spread over the engineer bench
The throttle valve was wide open, and he
pushed IN tho lever until the locomotive
sensibly lost speed. Then he pulled the
reversing lever back a few notches, and
the huge engine was under control
He made up his mind to run to the next
town, and after 20 minute ride he could
just sec the smoke of a factory in the place.
shout behind him caused him to look
back He involuntarily lowered his head,
for on the roof of the mail car were two
mail clerks, a brakeman and the conductor
of the train, each pointing a revolver to-
ward his head.
Don't shoot, he cried, ''I am no train
robber. am only dong what the engi-
neer told me to do - And he reached for
the whistle cord and sounded the station
whistle