Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1897-08-18

heilO, 1Olly, uuQ IOllJ IT'LL DaSh
into her office much relieved and sat
down to warn Mercer. At that in
slant she heard peculiar cracking
sound that sent her heart quivering
deep in her bosom. Then there was
the shrill scream of the locomotive
whistle, suddenly interrupted, as if
the hand that had drawn the lever
had been struck from its place. Polly
knew it was a c:y of distress. 1t
seemed to say "Help" in a long,
tremulous wall. Instantly Polly
darted outside and flew up the track.
Already the express should have thun-
dered past the station, but she could
see its headlight hundred yards or
more away. The train had stopped.
With hundred terrifying questions
flashing through her mind Polly ran
on through the gloom. When she was
almost within range of the big head
light she saw half-dozen armed men
swarming around the engine, she
heard fierce oaths, and then the en-
gine started up again. She saw in m
instant that it had been cut free from
the train. In the cab window, where
her father usually stood, there was
big, unfamiliar figure, managing the
lever and throttle. Terrified, Polly
sprang to one side into q clump Of
bushes. As the locomotive passed her
on its way up the track she saw that
the man in the cab wore black mask
on his face, and then she knew
what had happened She understood
why Pinckney had tried to warn her
and then failed. Robbers had held up
the train and were preparing to rob
the express car.
For moment Polly was torn with
doubt and terror. Had they shot her
father? She knew that he never
would submit to have his train cap
tured without struggle. Should she
so to him? Then she remembered her
station and the telegraph, aud without
a moments delay she was flying down
the track toward the depot e''' F" "'"'''"
send for help to Mercer.
il front of the little depc
tive stopped and the b
man sprung from the cab w
darted across the platform.
aFellffifrlk iirTgHspfrat. she was doir
ran up on the other side, the
side of the engine, and,,faisin
up, peered into the cas-:
half expected to see her faith
body lying on the floor, for
heard much about the terrible
of traia-robbers.
Through the cab window she could
see the robber sitting at her own little
desk in the depot sending G message.
Itfashed over her all at once that he was
wiring Mercer that the express was
delayed, thus preventing any alarm.
The robber had pushed up his mask
and she saw him plainly.
What should she do? She dared
not enter the Office, and sne, q mere
girl, could be of no s'rvice where the
robbers were making their attack on
the train If only she had the little
revolver that lay in the drawer of her
desk-she set her teeth rs she thoush Int
what she would do with it.
At that moment three shots rang
out, clear and distinct, from the de-
tached train. The man at the tele-
graph instrument sprung to his feet
and ran to side " 'ndow in the wait
ing-room and looked up the track.
Now was her chance. Hardly think
ing what she did, Polly sprung to the
engineers side of the cab, threw back
the reverse lever and opened the
throttle steadily. The big steel wheels
began to tu"n, very slowly at first.
Farther and farther the throttle opened
and faster and faster turned the
wheels, and yet they did not go half
fast enough to suit Polly, who was
now glancing fearfully over her
shoulder.
Suddenly the depot door was thrown
open and she saw the robber darting
up the track. He had his pistol in
his ha1d. Ht as pointing it at her
and shouting for her to stop. But the
engine was now going at good speed,
and, run rs he would, the robber
could not catch it, But he stopped
and fired, the bullet ripping through
the cab cover above Polly's head.
The engine was now tearing down
the track at full speed Polly knew
that it must be fired or it would not 60
far, and so, leaving the throttle open
she spraug to the coal pit, flung open
the fire hole, and with the heavy shovel
in her small white hands threw in load
after lead of coal When she returned
to her place she could see the first
signal light of Mercer already blinking
into view. She pulled down on the
whistle cord and the engine shrieked
its distress.
Five minutes later Polly strained at
the heavy reverse lever, turned hard
T. on the air-brake and brought the
great iron horse to sudden stand
still. How she ever managed to
stammer the story she never knew,
(! but in few minutes the engine was
headed back with half dozen armed
men aboard of her. Behind them
came another load of men on switch
engine and two men were racing up
the street of Mercer calling the alarm.
They heard firing before they
reached Kane Creek, but it ceased
soon aftcrward. The robbers had
gone. They had taken with them
much plunder from the passengers,
but they had not been able to get into
the express safe, although they were al
work drilling it open when relief came.
From the time that the engine
stopped Polly was missing. When the
rescued and excited passengers and
express messengers began to crowo
around aud inquire the Mercer mel
remembered her. \ party of then
sent out TO find the girl who ha(
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