The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-05-21

Nv
Icorr COMPANY ~
cne next Morning It was dropped off at
Trinidad.
The moment No. arrived climbed
into the presidents special, that was
the last car on the train, and introduced
myself to Mr.. Cullen, whom, though an
official of my road, had never met. He
seemed surprised at my presence, but
greeted me very pleasantly as soon as 1
explained that the Missouri Western
Office had asked me to do what could
for him and that was there for that
purpose His party were about to sit
down to breakfast, and he asked me to
join them. Sowe passed into the dining
room at the forward end of the car,
where was introduced to "My son, :"
Lord Rallies" and Captain Ack-
land. " The son was a junior copy of
his father tall and fine looking; but, in
place of the frank and easy manner of
his sire, he was so very English that
most people would have sworn falsely
rs to his native land. Lord Rallies was
a little, well built chap, not half SO
English as Albert Cullen, quick in man.
ner and thought, being in this the OPP
posite of his brother, Captain Ackland,
who was heavy enough to rock ballast
roadbed Both brothers gave me the
impression of being gentlemen, and
both were decidedly good looking.
After the introductions Mr.. Cullen
said we would not wait, and his remark
called my attention to the fact that
there was one more place at the table
than there were people assembled. I
had barely noted this when my host
said, Here's the truant, and, turning,
I faced lady who had just entered.
Mr.. Cullen said, "Madge. let me intro
duce Mr.. Gordon to you" My bow was
made to girl of about 20, with light
brown hair, the bluest of eyes, fresh
skin and fine figure, dressed so nattily
as to be to me, after my four years Of
western life sight for tired eyes. She
greeted me pleasantly, made a neat lit
tie apology for having kept us waiting,
and then we all sat down.
1t was very jolly breakfast table,
Mr.. Cullen and his son being capital
takers and Lord Rallies a good third,
while Miss Cullen was quick and clever
enough to match the three. Before the
meal was over L came to the conclusion
that Lord Rallies was in love with Miss
Cullen, for he kept making low asides
to her, and from the fact that she allow
ed them, and indeed responded, I drew
the conclusion that he was lucky beg
gar, feeling, confess, little pang that
title was going to win such q nice
American girl.
One of the first subjects spoken of
was train robbery, and Miss Cullen, like
most fasteners, seemed to take great
interest in it and had any quantity of
questions to ask me-
Eve left all my jewelry behind, ex-
cept my watch" she said, "and that I
hide every night. So really hope we'll
be held up, it would be such an adven-
ture.'
"There isn't any chance Of it, Miss
Cnllen," I told her, "and if we were,
you probably wouldn't even know that
it was happening, but would sleep right
through it. "
Wouldn't they try to get our money
and our watches?" she demanded.
told her no and explained that the
express and mail cars were the only
ones to which the road agents paid any
She wanted to know the way
it was done; so described to her how
sometimes the train was tagged by a
danger signal, and when it had slowed
down the runner found himself covered
by armed men, or how gang would
board the train, one by one, at way sta
tons, and then, when the time came,
steal forward, secure the express agent
and postal clerk, climb over the tender
and compel the runner to stop the train
at some lonely spot on the road. She
made me tell her all the details of such
robberies as 1 knew about, and, though
had never been concerned in any, l
was able to describe several, which, as
they were monotonously alike, confess
[ colored up bit here and there, i'll an
attempt to make them interesting to
her. ] seemed to succeed, for she kept |
the subject going even after we had left |
the table and were smoking our cigars
in the observation saloon. Lord Rallies
had lot to say about the American
lack of courage in letting trains con-
tanning 20 and 80 men be held up by |
half a dozen robbers.
Why" he calculated, "both my
brother and have double express with
us, and do you think we'd sit still in
our seats? No. Hang me if we wouldn't
pot somethingp'
"You might" / laughed, little
nettled, confess, by his speech, 'but
I'm afraid it would be yourselves.
cav, you fancy resistance impossi-
ble?'' drawled Albert Cullen.
"It has been tried, answered, land
without success. You can see it's like
Ill surprises-one side is prepared be-
fore the other side knows there is dan
ger. Without regard to relative num-
Ders, the odds are all in favor of the
road agents. F"
But / wouldn't sit still, whatever