The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-09-21

I selected one of the plugs. by ex-
traordinary good luck Il fitted without
any further shaping to speak OF. and
in less time than IL takes to tell had
driven IL firmly home. A little packing
and a smear of black lead over the
place, and I defied anyone to detect It.
The whole operation had not taken
more than about four minutes, and at
its completion quietly opered q door
and stepped into an empty compart-
ment. A moment or two later the en-
gine backed on to the train, and COM
menced to blow Up" the vacuum.
TO my great relief. the joint stood
the ordeal well. for the guards whistle
blew and we were speeding northward
without anything untoward having
happened.
The next hour passed as patiently
as I could under the circumstances,
and shortly before reaching Taniworth
took good pull at my brandy flask to
steady my nerves for what was to fol-
low.
A brief stay at that place, and once
more we were on our way. The Criti-
cal moment had come. ] got out Of the
carriage onto the foot board. Nobody
who has never tried this on an express
train can have any idea of what it
means.
had to cling with might and main
TO Withstand the fierce current of air
created by the rushing of the train.
and for the first few moments deadly
sickness possessed me, and dared not
move.
But II would be successful l must
regain my nerve quickly, for this was
child's play to what l had set myself
to do. Holding on with one hand, 7
managed to take anothec pull at the
brandy, and gradually the dizzy sem
sation departed, and become more
accustomed to my novel situation.
Now for the ordeal. Gently l low
cred myself until l lay fiat along the
board, and although there was then
more physical discomfort through the
strain being all on one arm, my head
was better and the draught was less
fierce.
had made two little scratches on
the pipe just above the plug, and, lean
ing over, I soon discovered these by
the aid of my tiny electric lamp.
had calculated things to a nicely.
When employed on the line I had many
times worked a slip carriage and had
a pretty accurate idea as to how far
the train would run when had admit
ter air into the break pipe by the re-
moval of the plug. You do not, OF
course, need telling that the brake is
applied by letting air into the pipe.
Those few seconds seemed an eter-
nifty. All the time there was the risk
that a signalman might see and then
the game would be up, and l should
get fifteen years for my pains. ] knew
the line well and watched field after
field slip by until l thought we never
should arrive at the point j had fixed
upon as the one at which to withdraw
the plug.
We were getting nearer now. An
other three minutes-two-one-N 1
leaned over and gave the wood a sharp
push. The air rushed in with a gurg-
ling around. and then came the sharp
burr-r-r of the brakes on the tires.
AS had expected. the driver instant
ly preceived the drag and applied his
own brake, and we pulled up not twen-
ty yards from the spot had selected.
l dropped on to the ballast. listened
intently a second, and then walked
with stealthy feet to the van.
Again my judgment mad proved re-
liable, your rarely find a guard get
out of his van on the offside-the habit
of jumping on to the platform is too
strong. He had descended, and l could
hear his footsteps going away from
where I stood The messenger had his
head out of the window, looking after
ahe retreating guard.
Noiselessly I opened the off door Of
the van, and before he realized what
was happening had one hand to his
mouth to prevent any cry. and with
the other held handkerchief. which 1
had previously saturated with the an
aesthetic, to his nose. 1t was all so
sudden that he could offer no resist
ance. The chloroform did its work
speedily, and in second or two he was
insensible.
A very slight search gave me what
was after. and I slipped through the
hedge and down the road with the ex-
ulting knowledge that I had done one
of the neatest bits of work in my ca
reer.
/ Had Braggs carried out his share OF
the contract? I gave the agreed signal
softly. Clear on the still night came
the reply, and very shortly l was in