Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1898-02-24
KNOWN BY THECLICK

graphed me that he would go with me for
days shooting. liked nothing better
than a days outing with Tom, and
quickly licked back word that he could
rely on me next Tuesday, as that was my
day off.
The following day there came message
through Omaha that the United Express
would ship $12, 600, 900 in bullion over the
road to Sioux City the next Monday night
and that the train would pass through my
station, Rocky Forks, at S:15 in the even.
ing. telegraphed back that understood
it, and then opened up the instrument and
asked Tom If he had received his message
yet. He said that he had and would look
for the train II minutes earlier at Dismal
Point.
That day and next passed in my usual
way. Sunday was uneventful and would
have seemed long except for the constant
ticking of the instrument, which was kept
busy sending messages about the impor-
tant shipment to be made the next day.
Monday evening at 1880 looked at my
watch. "The train will soon be along"
said. 81 guess I will call up Tom and see
If he knows where it is -
called up Dismal Point, and Tom an
swered.
1.-THE express train is one station up the
road" said he, "and is ahead of time. It
will wait here five minutes. I'll let you
know as soon as it leaves here. Tomor-
row.
There was sudden pause in the tick
ing, and then strange hand sent the
message, "That is all. /"
called up Tom again, but he did not
answer. I kept calling, but no response
came, and I thought that the wires had
become entangled.
waited for the express with its $12,-
5000 in bullion until SIS, but it did
not arrive. Then telegraphed up the road
to Tom, but there was no answer. I wait
ed five minutes longer and telegraphe6
again. but still no response.
The wires must be down." said.
walked cut upon the platform and
looked up the road To my surprise saw
in the distance an engine coming toward
me, slowly swinging down the track. As
it came nearer saw it was empty, and as
it passed mo boarded it.
Reversing the engine started back up
the road. Invent, with such fire as could
get up, back to. Dismal Point. Here, in
front of the station, stood the express car,
rif1ed of its contents. Across one of the
trunks the express messenger lay dead.
The engineer and fireman were SO badly
stunned that at first thought they, too,
were killed, but after some time brought
breath back into the life of the former.
He, poor fellow, was too dazed to speak,
and lifted him into the car, thankful
that he was alive.
When I stepped into the little station
where Tom always sat, an awful sight met
my eyes. There, sitting at the instrument,
with his back to the door, was my old
friend, dagger sticking through him and
fairly pinning him to the table. I grasped
the wooden handle and pulled it out with
all my strength, only to receive his cold
body in my arms.
Well, they never found out the robbers
of the train. The engineer had been struck
from behind and could remember nothing.
and after waiting only long enough to see
my old friend buried I resigned my posi-
ton at Rocky Forks and struck out again.
But on Toms grave, back in the woods at
Dismal Point, put a shaft of wood and
on it carved these words: Living, will
pursue you to the end of the world; dead,
I will come back to you.''
Below it put Tom IS name and age and
vowed aloud the oath that had there
written to find the murderer of poor Tom
Brown.
Three years later found myself station.
ed at New Ellsworth, suburb of New
York. i was in charge of private wire Of
the Pacific Telegraph company, which com
municated with all parts of the new world,
and / was proud to be an operator in its
employ.
My duty here in part was to transmit
the private messages of the higher officials.
never liked the president of the COM
pany, though he lived in the handsomesi
house in the place and treated me with
uniform courtesy. He had cold, uncer-
tain manner that did not seem to be wor-
thy of trust. Certainly should not have
put up my millions into his hands.
One night when he did not reach home
his wife came down to the telegraph office
and asked me If I had heard from him. ]
was forced to tell her no. This happened
frequently, and one evening when he had
been late and she had made three trips in
her carriage to the telegraph office he said
to me, Tomorrow will have a private
wire put in my office in Pine street, and
when am detained l will telegraph you,
and you can send a message to my wife. ;"
The next day the wire was put in, but
as the president came home promptly that
night it was not used. But on tho follow
ing day at s o'clock got telegram from
him telling Inc that he would not be hons
until s O'Clock and ordering me to SEND
word to his wife l did SO by the station
messenger.
An hour later there came another mes
sage from the presidents office. It wa.
that he would be detained still later anG
telling mo to send word home to tina
effect.
Is that allf" asked,
The message came back in short STAG
cato notes:
That is ALI" leaned back in M,
chair cold and faint, for the hand was tn,
same that had sent me the message on tn,
night poor Tom Brown was killed.
The next day I came to the city on {
leave of absence to investigate the life O
Anson Tryson, president Of the Atlanti,
and Pacific Telegraph company. fount
that three years before he had been a la
borer on the Sioux City railroad, with no
dollar to his name, and that his sudde1
rise had been the talk Of Wall street.
Well, did not let it drop there, but
hunted down the case until proved tina
Anson Tryson, with gang of accom-
plices, had robbed the express train tina