The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-24
A BIG YARN.

=
in the afternoon. I was travelling for
wholesale grocery firm and was engaged
in working among the stores in this part
of the state. Spikers is little place. Only
one local train day stops there. got
off the train and hurried over to the store
AS it was already dark, the place was
filled with loafers, rough looking fellows,
who stared in a vacant way as I unpacked
my sample cases and spread the goods up
on the counter. I knew the storekeeper
and had no trouble in selling him bill,
so that when finished business with him
at the end of an hour felt amply repaid
for my trouble. Then I began to look
about for a place to spend the night.
II found that the Pittsburg express
stopped at Schmuoker's Junction, three
miles up the track, and that by good, brisk
walking would be able to catch it COM
fortably made arrangements to have
my cases sent on by the local train next
day and then took my leave, after having
received exploit directions to follow the
beaten path along the railroad.
CAS- left the store noticed, but did not
heed, the sinister glances that three of the
Ioafers who were sprawled along the coun-
ter cast upon me.
sit was a clear night The moon was
Just rising above the mountains in the
east. The air was cold and crisp and the
ground frozen hard. In few moments
passed the last house. reached the rail
road and was reeling Off rod after rod of
the hard white path that stretched before
me- soon arrived at the woods and was
plunging deep into their heart. I had set
for myself a brisk, bracing pace, and at
first felt not the slightest uneasiness az
my lonely condition, dark and forbidding
though the woods seemed, but as 1 pro-
ceeded deeper and deeper, until looking
behind me I could make out nothing down
in the woods, heard the sound of wheels
I stopped and listened. 1t became louder
and louder, as if the vehicle was approach
ing near me, and then began to die away
and soon was lost in the noise of leaves
and limbs.
''When I had gone about I = miles,
found myself within few yards Of what
appeared to be a wood road that wound
out from among the trees, crossed the
track and then lost itself in the blackness
on the other side. I had just passed this
road when I was startled by the sudden
sound of football behind me, and before
I could turn two horny hands had seized
my throat and held me fast. tried to cry
out, but my effort was stopped by firm
clutch of the strong fingers. Then two
men appeared, and in another instant
lay helpless on the ground.
1.-The three ruffians were big, burly fell
lows, SO heavily muff1ed up that, beyond a
few stray whiskers, 1 could make out
nothing of their faces All my efforts at
kicking and struggling proved vain. One
sat on my legs and coolly tied my feet, an
other bound my arms and then the clutch
on my throat was loosened and was al
lowed to breathe. In a few moments they
had taken everything of any value that
had upon my person-a watch and my
money, not much, only few hundred
dollars.
'This done, I thought that I would be
oil TO- Int, oil
seized my hands and another my feet, and
they laid me across the track. My horror
knew no bounds when realized what this
meant One of the brutes tied my feet
hard down to the rail. 1 begged and
threatened, pleaded and expostulated, Of
fered them a reward for my release and
dire vengeance if they left me there, but in
vain. They coolly wrapped the rope round
and round my ankles and under the rail,
and then, fastening my arms at the ell
bows, they proceeded to secure my body.
1.-THE tighter I felt the rope drawing to
hold me until the express freed me from
the track and the world, the more plead
ed. The final answer was q blow on the
mouth and the Information that they
'wasn { goin to have me tellin tales Then
they left me.
II heard the rattle of wagon wheels as
they drove away, and then 1 was alone.
twisted and tore and writhed in my frantic
efforts to free myself until exhausted.
Time passed slowly. I pictured myself
lying in pieces along the track.
AT last 1 heard a ringing in the rails,
low, pIaintiye ringing that told me that
the express was coming. Only few mo-
ments, and it would be on me. I twisted
and writhed in one last desperate struggle
for freedom I tore and kicked until the
ropes cut deep into the flesh, and my
clothes where the thongs were grew hot
from friction.
1.-THE ringing became louder until at last
it developed into roar looked down
the track and saw the faint CLEAN of the
headlight as the engine rounded a curve.
One more minutel
Frantically I struggled. Nearer and
nearer came the flying train. Louder and
louder became the roar and ringing in the
rails SO loud that it drowned my wild
screams The headlight was binding me.
All was Overl No; 1 continued to strug
gle. Then I felt burning sensat ion in
my legs, terrible heat, and Odor of
burning clothing followed. I raised my
head, and the CLEAN of a flame met my
eyes. There was q sudden flash, and in an
instant my feet were enveloped in fire.
realized it then-the friction of the thongs,
in my tremendous struggles, had set fire
to my trousers
Suddenly, almost miraculously, the
ropes Embossed. They had burned off, and
my feet were free raised myself on my
back and waved my blazing legs in the
air. There was a whistle for down brakes,
Earring of the rails as the wheels slipped
over them. The headlight was right over
me, binding me by its brilliancy, but too
latel I felt the cowcatcher's nose gently
rub my back, and then it stopped. I was
saved
1.-The whole train crew and all the pas
sengers rushed up. In a few seconds the
fire was extin guished, and was carried by
kind hands into one of the cars. All, that