Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1898-07-22

again you should nave seen me! l haC
that morning put on a white summer
dress mamma had just sent down tC
me, and it 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 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 grin
/ ming face at every car window as the
train pulled by. Oh. dear. what a
fright | found myself when looked in
my mirror"
AS We sat in the Office during the
evening chatting she grew more and
more vivacious and jolly, and our mer-
ry laughter rang out in marked con-
trast to the usual stiffness which pre-
vailed about the dreary station. We
went TO supper at the section house.
and on returning she went at once to
the key and asked the dispatcher if
the train then nearly due was on time.
NO. 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
Il seldom find train on time when
| want TO go anywhere"
Are you then so anxious TO termin-
ate what has been to NE a most de-
lightful visit?" / asked.
"Oh, no. I assure you l have en-
joyed 1t fully as much as yourself, but
| fear | will become tiresome to you
with my serseless chatter"
| felt like assuring her that a life
time spent in her society would not
weary me. The time sped swiftly I'M
til the grey shades of evening began
to gather, and l lighted the office lamp
No. was reported safely over the
track, and would reach Red Rock about
8 o'clock
Excusing herself a moment to go TO
the cooler in the freight-room for
drink of ice water, Miss Rankin passed
from the room. and had scarcely disap-
peared ere | heard heavy footsteps on
the platform. and a moment later the
front door was thrown open and four
masked men entered and covered me
with murderous- looking revolvers.
Cit away from that table, young
Teller, an don't you make r owe lords
that Telegraph till the train comes, or
it'll find piece @ baggage var it amt
looking fur. How soon is she due?"
am not naturally a coward, but this
harsh transformation from a blissful
dream of love to the very precincts of
death unnerved me, and confess | was
thoroughly frightened Then came
the thought that Miss Rankin would
return in a moment, and what indig-
mites might not be offered her by these
members OF the notorious Dalton gang
tfor such | knew them to be) cruel
reckless men who had less regard for
women than for dumb bruteS which
carried them to places of safety after
their iawless raids.
The train is past due now, but has
been delayed by a washout below Guth-
RE, and may not be here for several
hours yet" l replied. III ask about
her"
/ made a move toward the telegraph
table, hoping by word to warn the
dispatcher. but halted at the ominous
clicking of pistol.
No. you don't" the leader said. IF
you want that pale hide O. your'n tat
tooed with cold lead, you jest make
another break like that Yer lynn
about that train, an we're agoin' to
camp right var with you till it comes
fur we have business with it. Sit
down on that bench
could but obey. The mental tor
ture 1 endured was terrible, not only
through fear Of Miss Rankin's return
to the office. but through the knowl-
edge that en- attempt was to be made
10 rob the train, and the lives of good
men might be sacrificed defending the
property entrusted to their care. How
could the robbers be frustrated? II
| could but reach the key and flash the
words. Train robbers" and sign my
Office call, the dispatcher would hear
and understand; for in those troublous
days the keen cared night guardians of
the company's interests were ever on
the alert for such intelligence. For
half an hour I weighed the matter of
a desperate attempt in ny mind. had
lost fear of my charming visitors safe
ty, feeling satisfied by her absence that
she had heard the robbers and was con-
cealed in the freight room. or had es-
capped by the back door and gone to
the section house for aid. But what as
sist2nce could come from there?
knew there was not a frearm in the
section house, and the section men
would seek safety in flight at the first
intimation that | was in the hands of
| the Daltons.
1t at last determined to make one des-
| perate attempt to warn the train-dis-
patcher, and thus save the train from
robbery. did not believe the villains
would shoot, and felt that although
they might use me roughly for my at
tempt, my duty to the company de-
/ \