The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1898-08-13
Alice Clay's Love Affairs

THIS il the story OF now an attemp'
to rob a train settled a question OF
love. For few moments it looked as 1t
there would be no room left in life for
love affairs or anything else; but the
end was better than the beginning.
Were you ever fired upon by outlaws?
1 had such an experience in the fall
of 1898. was on train bound for the
territory. We were in southwestern
Missouri in a comparatively well-set-
tied region when our car windows were
shattered by bullets.
The most intense moments of life are
of short duration. think it could no;
have been more than 40 seconds from
the time the firing began until we had
pulled out ahead and left the bandits
in the rear.
When the first bullet struck the win
dow in front of the car there was live
w rush for the protection of the car
seats. Then other. bullets ratified into
the car, which would have looked de-
serted II there had CHANGED to be an OBJ
server, but there wasn't. Every
mothers son of us was hiding between
the seats.
There was a sound at the forward
door, the conductor and brakeman
came in, dragging two men after them.
These prisoners were tightly bound and
gagged. They had evidently been
masked, but their DISCUSSES had been
pushed away from their faces. They
wore heavy leather belts from which
weapons had been extracted. Both the
conductor and the brakeman carried
pistols, which we afterward learned
had been captured from the train rob
bers. Their own weapons they ha,
passed over to the engineer and fire
man.
Almost before the door could b.
closed upon the newcomers we hat
passed beyond the range of the bullet
from the men outside, and our enginee,
was running at go miles an hour.
Dangers over!" announced the con
ductor, shortly. "Come and help fas
ten these men to the seats"
There was a scraYble and severs
hSuNS PSNHCo ONNA tnC OoNhS VI III
seats. Three or four of the men spran,
into the aisle and hurried toward tn
prisoners. After they were securely tied
the conductor explained how the at
/ tempt TO rob the train had failed.
Because of the vigilance of the trail
crew the robbers, who had secrete,
themselves on the train, were captured
When the engineer had arrived at tn
place where the train was to be stoppe
in order that the gang might board tn
train and assist in the robbery, the e,
gineer had steamed ahead. The battle
men on the ground had fred their gun
into the train for very recklessnes
and spite.
When we arrived at the next static
we rcckoned up the casualties. Tn
fireman had been slightly wounded, tn
door of the express car was full of bu
let's, and three windows in our car wei
broken.
BESIDES the supply Of bullets an
broken glass, we had two of the hiQl
: WoY1hen. They were turned over to Il
authorities. and the passengers r
turned to the contemplation of pref
little romance which was developing u
der their eyes.
A fresh-faced girl sat in one of Il
rear seats of the car. She was about :
imagined. Her manner was diguii,
and reserved, and she seemed to kno
quite well what was going on. VIII.
we left Sedalia those of us who h,
liked to steal an occasional glance
this pretty girl noticed that she seem
embarrassed and confused.
As turned in my seat, after loohil
back toward her, noticed SQUARED
built young man standing in the ais
He seemed oblivious to everything a
everyone but her. In few moments
pesprd 70 Aayc gone to Z decision. 1