Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1896-09-24

tried TO slip under car of one Of 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
"A tramp had travelled thousands OF
miles. curled UP over the spinning
wheels or stretched out on the platform
between the engine tender and the mail
car Mike was only 10 years old, but
he had seen nearly every State in the
country, and knew all of the large
cities intimately.
This morning Mike felt that he had
encountered n streak OF bad luck. Ev-
erv time he Slipped under y car the
brakeman or conductor caught him
and hauled him out with rough hands
and rOugher language. But Mike was
used to this sort of treatment, and took
II as matter of course
The afternoon was well along toward
evening when the weSt-bOund limited
express came around the curve. and the
engine stopped under the huge goose
neck pipe which served to pass the
water from the reservoir to the tank
of the tender. Mikes keen, bright eyes
watched every movement of the train
crew. although he appeared to have no
interest in the train, its crew or pas
sengcrs. 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 second was fattened out on the
platform between the mail car and the
engine. There he was safe until the
next stop, unless the fireman saw him,
for there was no door to the platform
from the car.
For an hour the train sped over the
smooth rails, through farm lands and
past towns and villages. rounding
curves and coasting down grades. 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 deep cut the engine whistle
gave two sharp blasts. and the grind
ing of the brake shoes on the wheels
told Mike that the engineer had applied
the air brakes.
Something's wrong" said Mike to
himself when he felt the car shiver
and Jump under the pressure Of the
powerful brakes. Hes givin' her all
the air she'll stand"
He did not dare to swing out and
look ahead for he knew that the con
ductor and every brakeman on the train
were doing that and he would be seen.
He was well acquainted with the cOun-
try, and knew that there was no town,
side track. water tank or stopping place
within ten miles of the cut The train
slowed up with jerks, and, just as it
came to a standstill. Mike jumped from
bushes
lie glanced toward the engine and
saw on the track, not fifty feet from
the pilot n pile of ties on the rails. At
the same instant he heard n pistol shot.
and then from the bushes on both sides
of the track Il score of men rushed to.
ward the train. Two of them. with re-
volvers in their hands, sprang into the
engine cab.
The engineer seized long handled
monkey wrench and the fireman grasp
ed an iron bar, hut before they could
use them they We're shot down and
thrown from the cab. Hoarse shouts
and pistol shots mingled with the
screams of women and the yells of
men. Half dozen of the train robbers
attacked the heavy side doors of the
express ear, and others entered the
passenger cars and sleepers with re-
volvers in their hands.
The men who We're trying to break
down the door of the express car with a
sledgc hammer called to the messenger
inside to open the door. but they re.
ceived shot from rifle which sent Il
bullet through the heavy oak. 1t struck
one OF the robbers, and he fed to the
ground.
Bring that dynamite" shouted ono
Of the men.
Mikes heart seemed to rise in his
throat. but he did not dare leave the
bushes. In few minutes there was
a loud report, and Mike saw that the
door was shattered. The messenger
was struck down, and in short time
the train robbers had rolled the express
safe out of the ear and carried II into
the woods.
All of this time the two men who shot
the engineer and fireman remained ~
the engine cab. The engineer had fall.
en- near Mikes hiding place. He was
Groaning with pain, and Mike crept 10
him.
Are you killedY asked Mike. 81
amt no rohher. am Il tramp and was
riding ON the platform"
NO." said the engineer. 81 am not
ln,A I on, shot tlr,p,,h ia, r,,, ,,,1