Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1898-07-28

! to rob train settled a question Of
love. For few moments it looked as II
there would be no room left in life for
love affairs or anything else; but the
end was better than the beginning.
Were you ever fired upon BY outlaws?
had such an experience In the fall
Of 1893. | was on train bound for the
territory. We were in southwestern
Missouri in q comparatively well-set-
tied region when our car windows were
shattered by bullets.
The most intense moments Of lie are
of short duration. think it could not
have been more than 40 seconds from
the time the firing began until we had
pulled out ahead and left the bandits
n the rear
When the first bullet struck the win
dow in front OF the car there was live
~ rush for the protection of the car
seais. Then other bullets ratified into
the car. which woald have looked de-
serted II there hed Glanced TO bean OBJ
server, bu. there wasn't. Fvery
mothers son of Us was hiding between
the seats
There was sound at the forward
door. the conductor and brakeman
came in. dragging two men after them.
These prisoners were tightly bound and
Eagged. They had evidently been
marked. but their 9isguises bad been
pushed away from their faces. They
wo. heavy leather belts from which
weapons had been extracted. Both the
conductor and the brakeman carried
pistols, which we afterward learned
had oeen captured from the train rob-
bers. Their own weapons they had
passed over 10 the engineer and fire
man
Almost before the door could be
closed upon the newcomers we had
passed beyond the range of the bullets
from the men outside, and our engineer
was running ct 90 miles an hour.
"Danger'e overl" announced the con
ductor, shortly. Come and help fes-
ten these men to the seats"
There was a scramble and several
heads peeped over the backs Of the
seats. Three or four of tho men sprang
into The aisle and hurried toward the
prisoners. After they were securely tied.
the conductor explained how the at
tempt 10 rob the train had failed.
Because OF the vigilance of the train
crew the robbers, who had secreted
themselves on the train, we're captured.
When the engineer had arrived at the
place where the train was to be stopped
IN order that the gang might board the
train and assist IL the robbery, the ex-
gineer had steamed ahead. The baf1ied
men on the ground had fired their guns
into the train for very recklessness
and spite.
When we arrived at the next station
we reckoned up the casualties. The
fireman had been slightly wounded, the
door Of the express car was full of bull,
lets, and three windows in our car were.
broken.
Besides the supply Of bullets and
broken glass, we had two Of the high
waymeD. They were turned over to the
authorities, and the passengers re-
turned TO the contemplation Of a pretty
little romance which was developing uu-
der their eyes.
A fresh-faced girl sat in one of the
| rear seats of the car. She was about %,
l Imagined Her manner was dignifad
and reserved, and she seemed to know
quite well what was going OF. When
we left sedalie those Of US who had
liked to steal an occasional glance at
this pretty girl noticed that she seemed
| embarrassed and confused.
As | turned In my seat, after looking
back toward her, noticed a squarely-
built young man standing IN the aisle.
He seemed oblivious to everything and
everyone but her. Ii few moments he
seemed to have come TO decision. for.
he walked stralght toward her, and.
shook hands with her
I knew Robert Barclays father, and
the young man had often visited at my
houae. lie was about 30, good business
mnn and n determined one. The girl
had required all his attention.
settled myself in my seat after he.
had sat down beside the girl AS diSi
daughters saying about young barclay
few weeks before. II seemed that he
had had business 10 transact in one Of
the larger towns In southwest Missouri
few months before this, and whilo
there he had fallen In love with pretty
Alice Clay. She had not been Indifferent
10 him, but when he had asked her 10
marry him, told him that she was en-
gagged TO Mark Conway, one Of the
young men who lived near her home.
Robert had accepted her decision
without CON menr, but at the same time
he resolved not o give her up. He knew
young Conway, and did not like him.
SO sure was he that Conway was not to
be trusted that be had exacted promise
Of Alice that she would not marry with
IN i year Inclined TO look with favor
upon Roberts suit. and yet bound to
Conway bg ties Of old family friendship.
and childhood engagement, Alice had
consented without aeruples. She had
expected for years to marry Mark Con-
" uy. and perhaps If this imperious
wong stranger had not interfcred, she
yopN not have doubted that she loved
her OF sweetheart.
Bare ay had confided his love affair
TO INV sympathetic daughters, and had