The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-04-25

would have to be hung outside the sta
tion, and no time should be lost in putting
| IL there.
| Perhaps the burglar has pals guard
| ing the building. and if | open the door /
| shall be overpowered and the Office will
| be i'm their hands. That would mover do.
They must not know that anyone is here
Thus / argued nervously to myself.
Then a happy thought struck me. I
remembered that one of the lantern
brackets wasn't more than two feet from
| the front window, which was close be-
side me and overlooked the platform.
| BY lowering the window at the top could
| probably reach 1t.
Taking advantage OF every rush and
sweep of the wind ! managed TO raise the
shade and open the window without MAX
ing a noise likely to alarm my lawless
visitor. Nobody was to be seen on that
side Of the place and the signal was
quickly made fast 10 the bracket.
In few minutes the freight will stop
| opposite the office and the conductor and
engineer will bang on the door for their
orders. | can tell them my predicament
| in jify and the rascal won't dare 10
| tackle three Of US
quite satisfied with this reasoning I
| shut the window softly and fixed the
shade so that the lantern might not be
llluNtu tlllHtiS rum view lest any
| one should disturb it,
THAT done. l returned to the key and
| took the order from the dispatcher. The
lamp was too low for me to see plainly,
but II seemed unwlse to increase the
light. AS it was, things looked much bet
ter for me than they had short time be-
fore and II all went well there was a
good prospect OF the county Jail having
another inmate.
AT any rate, took courage.
by the body of the order learned that
the conductor OF 252 was Frank Hender-
son. a strong. COura gpous, manly fellow.
who had seen me with Ed and had sever
al times slowed up his train TO let me off
near my home
4" Just wait till Henderson gets hold of
YOU YOU - j thought almost
aloud. grating my teeth and shaking my
clenched fist in the direction of the ticket
window.
Perhaps fifteen minutes had now elaps-
ed since / first discovered the burglars
presence. During that time operations at
the window had been active in spells last
ing two or three minutes, after which
things were quiet for little while, which
suggested that my man was trying TO de-
wise an easier means of effecting an en-
trance.
What can be keeping the freight so
long?' l wondered. 1t must be close on
to half past /.
Il looked at my watch
Great heavens! 1t was ten minutes
to 5.
Il nearly fell out of my chair. The
truth flashed to my mind that the pound
ing had aroused me from sound sleep and
that two hours had passed in what SEEM
ed to no more than twenty minutes.
"'No. 252 must have gone by over an
hour ago and who knows what terrible
disaster has resulted from my careless
ness!'
"Northbound freight No. 253 and south
bound freight No. 252 were scheduled in
the time table to pass each ten miles be-
low Hampton, but that night 252 was
little late out of Portsmouth and the dis
patCher had planned TO cross them at
Seabrook. five miles north of their regu-
lar meeting place.
such were the instructions in the or
der held.
MY terror at realizing the destruction
and loss of life that might already have
ensued from my criminal stupidity dis
PEELED for a brief time all thought of
what was going on twelve feet behind
me.
Not in YETI inquired the dispatcher
Not yet l replied. fully conscious of
my uncertainty, but fearing to acknowl-
edge 1t.
Attracted by a strange ray of light.
looked around and saw that the ticket
window had been raised, the shade pushed
aside. and dark lantern was being used
to search the office.
THE extreme western end of the office
where ] stood, could not possibly be seen
from the waiting-room. Hence, as the
thief would doubtless think the place I'M
Al ali,
the iron guard smashed in.
mo. 252 left sly tthe nearest night sta
ton north of Hampton, six miles away
at lis. For Gods sake, don't let it get
by you,' urged the dispatcher, excitedly.
at was necessary to invent a response
7 heard talking outside, and recognized
Henderson's voice.
putting one foot on the table, / jerkl
ed open the window and leaped out.
"In less than twenty seconds thereaft-
er Conductor Henderson. Engineer Cole
Brakeman Kelly, each carrying lantern
and myself marched into the women's
waiting-room. We found part of the
glass in the door cut away, ard the
fastening removed.
Mr.. Thief Vas all prepared to mako
his exit but the sudden arrival of fouD
obstinate-lookng spectators made hin,
conclude that it was better to surrender.
mo. 252 was standing Just above the
station, and at the engineers signal his
fireman pulled down to where we stood.
"'Get in there commanded Henderson
to his prisoner, pointing to the caboose
Well take care of YOU And he obeyed
at climbed back through the window,
repeated the order to headquarters with
the proper signatures, received the dis
patchers Endorsements and 252 went on
Her delay had been caused by swapping
draw bar on an up grade, and having