Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1897-08-07


were at hand.
Bring it out, Andy!" cried Bill
Thomas, who evidently had already
sampled the contents of the locker.
Boys, it'll be treat for you"
At that moment they caught sight of
the girl.
Hey what you doin' up there,
Bricktop?" demanded Mcguire, hurry
ing forward. Then he saw the Jug
sitting between the rails and the case
of bottles in the girls hands. He
sprang forward with an oath.
drop that!" he yelled, as he sprang
up the steps.
Il have,' she told him, calmly, and
sent the bottles crashing down upon
the jug.
You little spitfire!" he shouted, seiz-
ing her by the shoulders, while the
others stood aghast. What have you
been doin'?"
I've just split yer fun for We to-
day, MIR. Andy Maguire!" she replied,
with satisfaction. Every one of ems
busted, an I'm glad of it. So now you
can let go of my arm-you hurt"
I'll hurt you worse than this,"
growled the angry man, pitching her
off the steps.
what she had done.
You little wretch!" he exclaimed
from the car platform. You'll rue
this. Boys, she's split every drop
A groan rose from the thirsty men,
But you'll pay for this, miss" de-
cIared Mcguire, shaking his fist at her
That's burglary, that's what Dustin
that locker is! I'll send you down to
the super in the mornin' an see what
he'll have to say about it. I've got the
money for the tie camp in that locker,
an b'lieve you was after it,
But Meg had run into the house and
did not hear him. The choppers went
grumbling away.
..See here, Andy" said Bill Thomas,
soberly, what dye want to send the
gal down to the super for?'
They'll know the locker was broken
into at the repair shop, won't they ?"
demanded Mcguire. AN likely it'll get
to the super's ears
well. what of it?''
IF 1 tell the trut' We'll lose our Jobs.
won't we?-every last one of US. I'll
say the gal was after the money. Ii
the super knows we brought that stuff
up here, we might as well leave b'fore
we're asked"
But it's tough on the gall objected
Bill.
Its tougher on US if we're found
out. Don't be fool, man. Remember
to look out for yourself first. I'll send
her down in care of Adams the first
thing in the mornin'.'
The first accommodation train down
was tagged Monday morning, and poor
little Meg was bundled aboard in tears
and placed in the conductors charge,
breaking open of the caboose locker,
with orders to deliver both to the SUI
perintendent of the division at War
ner's Mills.
Meg, with the fear of some terrible
unknown punishment for her crime be-
fore her fearful eyes, pressed her wet
face to the window of the rear coach of
the accommodation for what might be
her last glimpse of the junction. She
saw the weather-Stained cabin that had
been all the home she could remem-
Der, with trembling, white-haired
Daniel standing by the switch before
the door. The switch was open, for
the freight engine was steaming slowly
down off the side track, preparatory to
backing up to the waiting flats on the
branch. She saw Bill Thomas at the
the brake wheel on the rear of the ca
booSe.
Suddenly something happened. The
long line of fat cars Jared and be-
gan to move. She saw Bill clutch the
wheel and throw his whole weight
upon it in an endeavor to wind it up;
but the brake rod must have snapped,
for the next instant he was dashed
from his foothold by the recoil of the
wheel, and she saw him fall from the
moving train. In moment the ca
boose was over the switch and its
wheels struck the main track. Meg
sprang up with a scream and rushed
to the rear door. The conductor fol-
lowed her, fearing that the girl would
try to throw herself from the steps.
But when he saw the caboose be-
hind them he understood her excite
ment- Not man appeared on the run
away train, which, having cleared the
switch, was gaining speed with every
revolution of the wheels. A rear-end
collision seemed inevitable.
The conductor reached for the bell
rope and signaled the engineer full
speed.
run for the forward cars! there's
wild train behind us!" he shouted, and
drove the messengers like frightened