The St. Johns herald., 1898-05-14
SA WE'D THE TRAIN.
Es3 F sI s s3 Es3 E3 EE3E E:
H#3 HMI
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should De WhiSLuy Cleerily at the
 lower bend. Polly topped out on the
 platform and peeret up the track. Yes
 there was the famiiEr headlight. She
 would have known t among a hun.
 dred. Then came the whistle, Hello
 POllyw all Polly ran pack into her
 office mucA relieved and sat down to
 warn MerCer. Al that instant she heard
 a peculiar cracking sound that sent
 her heart Quiyering deep il her bosom.
 Then there was the sbrl s,ream of the locomotive whistle, suddenly interrupt i ed as if the hand that hal drawn the lever had been struck from its place.
 Polly knew it was 8 cry of distress. It seemed to say "Help" in a long, i tremulous vail Instantly Polly dart ed outside and flew up the track. All ready the express should have thun- dered past the station but she could see its headlight a hundred yards or
 more away.
 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 q dozen armed men swarming around the engine, she heard | fierce paths and then the engine start ed up again. She saw in an instant that it had been cut free fromth train. In the cab window, where her father usually stood, there was l big, unfa- miliar figure managing the lever and throttle. Terrified Polly sprang to one side into a 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 unders rood why Pinckney had tried to war her and failed. Robbers had held up the train and were pre- pairing to TO- the express car.
 For a moment Polly was torn with ! doubt and terror Had they shot her father? She knew that he never would submit to have his train captured with out a struggle Should she go to him? Then she remembered her station and the telegraph, and, without moments delay. she was flying down the track toward the depot She would send for help to Mercer, but s1uarely in front of the little depot the locomotive stopped, and the black masked man sprang from the cab window ard darted across the platform. Hardly thinking what she was doing, Polly ran up on the other , side-the firemAn'S side of the engine lei, ..f int cab. She had half expected to see her fathers dead body wing on the floor, for she had heard much about the ter rible doings Of train robbers.
 Through the cab window she could see the robber sittg g at her own little desk in the depot sending a message. It flashed over her Ill al once that he was wiring Mercer that the express was delayed thus prey 4nting any alarm. The robher mad pushed up his mask, and she saw him pIainly.
 What shouIJ she do? She dared not enter the ofHee. aul she a mere girl, could be of no service where the rob bers were making their attack on the train. If only she lad the little revol- yer that lay n tn. drawer If her desk! She set her teeth as she fought what she would do with t.
 At that moment tbree shots rang out, clear and isll1ct from me detached train. The man at the talegraph in- strument spran4 ro his feet and ran to a side window u the waiting room and looked up the track
 Now was her chance Hardly think ink what she did Polly sprang to the engineers cab, threw back the reverse lever and opened the throttle steadily. The big steei wheels began to turn, very slowly at frs Farther and far tber the throttle opened and faster and faster turned the wheels. and yet they did not go ha'f faS- enough to suit Polly, who was now glancing fearfully over her shoulder.
 Suddenly the depot door vas thrown open, and sEe saw the r0bber darting ur the track. He had a pistol in his hand. He was pointing it at her and shouting for her to stop, but the engine was now going at good speed, and, run as he would, the robber could not catch 1t, but he stopped and fired, the bullet ripping through the cab over Polly's head.
 The engine was now tearing down the track a full speed. Polly knew that it must be fired or 1t would not go far, and so, leaving the throttle open. she sprang to the coal pit. flung open the tirehole, and with the heavy shovel in her small whl.e hands threw in load after load Of coal. When she returned to her place she could see the first sig nal light Of Mercer already blinking into view. She pulled down on the whistle cord and he engine shrieked its distress.
 Five minutes later Polly strained at the heavy reverse lever. turned hard on the airbrake and brought the grear iron horse to a sudden standstiIl. How she ever managed to stammer the story she never knew, but in a few minutes the engine was headed back With a half dozen armed men aboard of her. Behind them came another load of men on a switch engine and two men were racing up the street Of Mercer calling the alarm.
 They heard the firing before they reached Kane Creek. but it ceased soon The robbers had gone. They had taken with them much plum der from the passengers. but they had not been able 10 get Into the express