The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-06-04

Ed and had several times slowed up
his train to let me off dear my home.
"Just wait till Mcpherson gets hold
of you, you villain!" ! tho2ght, almost
aloud, grating my teeth and shaking
my clenched fist in the direction Of the
ticket window.
Perhaps fifteen minutes had now
elapsed since I first discofered the
burglars presence. During that time
operations at the window had been
active in spells lasting two or three
minutes, after which things We're quiet
for little while, which suggested that
my man was trying to devise an easier
means of efecting an entrance.
"What can be keeping the freight
so lopg?' Wondered. 1T must
,,be close on to half past L."
looked at my watch.
Great heavens! 1t was ten minutes
to3!
I nearly fell out of my chair. The
truth flashed to my mind that the
pounding had aroused me from sound
asleep and that two hours had passed
in what seemed to me not more than
twenty minutes.
"No. 252 must have gone by over
an hour ago and who knows what
terrible disaster has resulted from my
carelessnessp' ;
Notthbound freight No. 253 and
southbQpnd freight No. 252 were
scheduled in the time table to pass
each other ten miles below Hampton.
but that night 252 was little late out:
of Portsmouth and the dispatcher had
planned to "cross" them at Seabrook,
five miles north of their regular meet
ing place.
Such were the instructions in the
order I held.
My terror at realizing the destruc.
ton and loss fife that might already
have ensued from MY cfi&inal stupid
ity dispelled for brief time all
thought Of what was going on twelve
feet behind ne.
"Yot in YETI" inquired the de-
spetcher.
'Not in" replied, fully conscious
of my uncertainty, but fearing to
acknowledge it.
Attracted by a strange ray of light,
/ looked around and saw that the
ticket window had been raised, the
shade pushed aside, and a dark lantern
was being Used to search the Office.
The extreme western end Of the
Office, where I stood, could not pos
sibly be seen from the waiting room.
Hence, the thief would doubtless
think the place 'noccupied, l expected
momentarily " see the iron guard
smashed in.
"No. 252 left sly (the nearest night
station north Of Hampton, six miles
away at l.15. For Gods sake, don't
let it get by YOU" urged the des-
patcher, excitedly.
1t was not necessary to invent a
response. I heard talking outside, and
recognized Henderson's voice.
Putting one foot on the table, I
jerked open the window and leaped
out.
In less than twenty seconds there
after 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,
and the fastening removed.
Mr.. Thief was all prepared to make
his exit, but the sudden arrival of
four obstinate-looking spectators made
him conclude that it was better to
surrender.
No. 252 was standing just above
the station, and at the engineers Gig
nal his fireman pulled down to where
We stood.
"Get in there, commanded Heuder-
son to his prisoner, pointing to the
caboose. "We'll take care of YOU"
And he obeyed,
I climbed back through the window,
repeated the order to headquarters
with the proper signatures, received
the despatcher's Endorsement, and 252
went on. Her delay had been caused
by swapping a draw bar on an up
grade, and having to chain and reclaim
the cars together before the train could
proceed.
Henderson said afterward that the
fellow escaped being locked up, but
that he did not escape being pitched
off into snowdrift.
Anyhow, I never saw him again,
and that was the first and last time I
ever fell asleep while on duty.-New
York Sun.