The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-11-10

any noise.
Still | was unable to accomplish h
anything, for it was impossible to get
out, and was on the point of COM
posing myself in my old position,
when slight ''spiz z" followed hy
a bright spark, attracted my attention
to the south side of the room 1t was
the instrument on the private lire,
affected by lightning-a common &C
cOrrence in all offices during thunder
storms
quietly stepped up to it and tri.'d
the circuit. 1t was all right, thou b
the rain made such a noise on the
roof that [ could hardly hear the
sOunder L was not probable that ]
could get an answer from Charley at
that time of the night, but, as my on
ly resource, 1t was worth trying. So
| started III, making his call, Oh"
"Ch-ch-ch." l ratified; and pre-
sently, to my surprise, the circuit was
opened end the response came:
Itch"
Then | talked to- HMM my ex
citement a great deal faster than he
could tabe and he interrupted me
with slower"
Ii | said, call your father"
Not home, came the answer: "all
hands gone out to round up a bunch
of cattle stampeded by the storm"
"Ii-ii-n," / answered, stopping
to reflect. Then went anead again !:
Can you ride over to the west cut
and signal the train to stop?"
Yes; what for?"
Get lantern and put a piece of
thin red flannel around it if you can
Swing it across the track when You
see the headlight aud keep it up until
they stop. Tell the conductor there
are eight men here waiting to rob his
tram. Be quick about it."
20. X. BY George This last by
way of expressing his surprise, l sup
pose, and then the ticking stopped.
now began to feel that the roughs
would be foiled, though. of course, it
depended on Charley. But it was
something that Just suited him on his
pony, lantern in hand, tearing across
the prairie as though a band of Co
manches was after him
Meanwhile | thought it best to take
my old position against the wall, to
avoid any suspicion, should the rob
bers grow Inquisitive SO | lay there
and waited and waited-the time
seemed fairly to drag along-until
felt certain that the train was due.
Bnt it did not come, though the move
ments of the roughs convinced me
that L had guessed aright-it was
probably little overdue by this time
and they We're getting restless Pre-
sently one OF them opened the door
and looked in.
Say, operator, is that train on
tlme?' he asked.
Yes" L replied, they were on
time the last | beard them reported
about 2 o'clock"
tie retired again, and for about ten
minues all was still Then above the
noise of the storm a far away whistle
sou lded family. Next there was a
hurried movement in the outer room
the roughs We're crowding out up
on the platform.
he tram was now qnite near, and
presently drew up to the station with
a rumble and roar and kissing of Air
brakes. Almost Instantly I heard the
command, Hands up" followed by
the reports of four or five revolvers
and the sodnd of scuffing on the
planks, which, however. was soon
ended, and then a veritable babel of
voices and the noise of many feet on
the platform.
L dashed ont through the waiting
room to see how things had gone aid
soon found the conductor.
Hello. Leith, is that YOU? We
have prevented that robbery this time
thanks to your warning | bCrrow.
half dozen revolvers flom the pas
sengers and called for volunteers, so
when We pulled in there were II men
on the platform ready for business.
We've got the robbers in the baggage
car-come along and see 'em"
They were a hard looking set of
,neD. Two of them lay Cn the floor,
wounded, though not seriously.
About this time Charley made bis
appearance with his crutches, clad
only IN pair OF trousers and a red
| flannel shirt, one sleeve of which he
had torn off to draw over the lantern.
He was wet through aad through
bis hat was gone. and altogether
he looked SO forlorn, that the
passengers, who were profuse in their
sympathy and praise, began to make
up purse for him.
After the train had left, | found
HIM IN the waiting room aud here we
| discussed the affair, aud tried to
| think bow much we should charge
the express company for the use oi
our private line 4 few days later
more joke than anything else, We
sent in a bill for $50, which was
promptly paid, with many thanks fol
what they called our prompt action