The Red Cloud chief., 1898-08-05

wiped my perspiring face with my
smutty hands. When | climbed down
again you should have seen me! had
that morning put on a white summer
dress mamma had Just sent down to
mo. and 1t was ruined. and my face
was as black as any Topsy you ever
saw. What made 1t more horrible
was that the passenger going south
whistled Just as l descended from the
loft, and not knowing my face was In
such a horrid condition. ] gathered up
my train mail and went out on the
platform. and such a guying as the
train men gave me! There was q grin
ming face at every car window as the
train pulled by. Oh. dear! what a
fright I found myself when l looked in
my mirror!"
AS we sat in the office during the
evening chatting she grew more and
more vivacious and jolly. and u mer-
ry laughter rang Out In marked con.
trast to the usual stiffness which pre-
vailed about the dreary station. We
"Nht W upptl at III SNNtfoh hceoN'
and on returning she went at once to
the key and asked the dispatcher II
the train then nearly due was on time.
mo. 4 delayed by wash-out below
Guthrie" came the reply. Cant say
how soon track will be repaired"
"Oh, dear! My usual luck!" she said.
81 seldom find a train on time when
l want to go anywhere!"
Are you then so anxious to termin-
ate what has been to me a most de-
lightful visit?" I asked.
"Oh. no. l assure you / have en-
joyed it fully as much as yourself, but
/ fear l will become tiresome to you
with my senseless chatter"
l felt like assuring her that a life
time spent in her society would not
weary me. The time sped swiftly un'
til the grey shades OF evening began
to gather. and l lighted the Office lamp
No. 4 was reported safely over the
track. and would reach Red Rock about
9 o'clock.
Excusing herself a moment to go tC
the cooler in the freight-room for 6
drink of ice water. Miss Rankin passed
from the ROOM, and had scarcely disap
peared ere l heard heavy footsteps oil
the platform, and a moment later tn
, front door was thrown open and fou
masked men entered and covered M
with MISUNDERSTANDING revolvers.
Cit away from that table, younl
, Teller, an don't you make a move t'ord
that Telegraph till the train comes. o
it'll find a piece o baggage var It ain
looking fur. How Don Is she due?"
am not naturally a coward, but thi
harsh transformation from a blissfu
, dream OF love to the very precincts G
death unnerved me, and confess I wa
!, thoroughly frightened. Then cam
the thought that Miss Rankin wcul
, return in q moment, and what indie
\ mites might not be offered her by thes
:, members Of the notorious Dalton gan
q (for such I knew them to be); crue
reckless men who had less regard Il
4 women than for dumb brutes whic
carried them to places OF safety aft'
a their lawless raids.
:, THE train Is past due now. but hi
q been delayed by a washout below Gutl
RE, and may not be here for sever
hours yet," / replied. "Ill ask abo'
her."
= made a move toward the teiegraI
= table, hoping by a word to warn IL
- dispatcher. but halted al the omino,
clicking Of a pistol.
e mo, you don't" the leader said. "
- you want that pale hide O. your'n Ia
;. tooed with cold lead, you Jest mai
y another break like that! Yer lyi
- about that train, an we're agoin'
y. camp right var with you till 1t come
- fur we have business with 1t. S
:. down on that bench"
:. could but obey. The mental to
y, ture I endured was terrible, not on
through fear OF Miss Rankin's retul
:. to the office, but through the know
edge that an attempt was to be ma,
:, to rob the train, and the lives Of 60,
;. men might be sacrificed defending Il
property entrusted to their care. He
=. could the robbers be frustrated?
| could but reach the key and fash Il
~ words, "Train robbers" and sign n
~ office call, the dispatcher would he
~ and understand; for in those trouble
days the keen-eared night guardians
=. the company's interests were ever
- the alert for such intelligence. F
:" half an hour l weighed the matter
q desperate attempt In my mind. l h
lost fear of my charming visitors sai
-. ty. feeling satisfied by her absence tn
she had heard the robbers and was CO
u" cealed in the freight room, or had
capped by the back door and gone
al the section house for aid. But what
ny sistance could come from there!
knew there was not a firearm In I
or section house, and the section m
would seek safety in flight at the d
au intimation that l was in the hands
ie the Daltons.
II at last determined to make one d
Vs. perate attempt to war; the train-d
patcher. and thus a v the train FRI
III, uNbka.u Ala .4s AzItnx. tha ella