The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1899-11-21

He declared that he was the son of n
respectable shopkeeper, in the town.
whom L knew, and asked me to tell
ms parents the whole truth. and not
TO shield him. He said that the
thought OF what he was about to do.
and to be-to rob aud so become n
murderer, If murder became neces-
sary. had SO preyed upon him day
and night, that he was almost insane,
At times he had planned suicide.
Now, as the appointed hour for the
gang to meet drew near he had been
running about like chicken in n
storm. He had gone home to bid his
parents good-by, but had not the
courage to face them. Hurrying down
the street he saw my house, and act.
ing upon the impulse of the moment
had como to tell me, for his father
liked me, he said.
81 tried to show him that if what
he told me were true should be on the
train with armed officers to kill or
capture the robbers, aud that in all
probability he would be killed
Yes, he said, 'he knew that
but the gang had taken ap oath to
kill any man who 'peached, and if he
failed to show up on time at the
rendezvous they would go after him
and they would surely kill him, for
most of them had murdered men be-
fore
"'Well, he said, presently, L must
be off, and he held out his hand, say
ing good-by.
II put him out with faint sus-
picion that he was crazy, but it was
my duty to look after the companv's
interests, and so L concluded TO call
the Chief Of Police and tell him the
story, and ut least get his advice.
As l put the receiver to my ear I
noticed that some one was talking
over tangled wire that touched mine
at some point.
'WhatY demanded n voice, and it
sounded rs if talking directly to me,
aud then came the reply: 'Will II be
ahead of No. 3 to-night?'
81 dropped the phone, stood back
and stared ut it until my wife, who
had heard the wild story Of the bold
young robber, stepped to my side,
pcered into my face and asked the
cause of my agitation. That brought
me round. | lied, mercifully, hur-
ricdly to her, called Central and
asked who had been talking. The
middle yards, she said. / asked to
be connected. The man at the phone
said he didn't know who called
him. Somebody wanted to know if
II would be ahead Of No. 3 tonight.
L asked what answer would be given,
for had dropped the receiver when
the voice from the grave--this shade
of Jesse-had broken upon my ear.
Well, he said he had answered no,
adding the information that II, the
fast freight, which, according to the
schedule, should leave ahead of No.
3, was late.
"Now this talk of the telephone
seemed strangely coincident with the
tale of the robber, so called the Chief
OF Police, asking him TO meet me at n
certain corner n few minutes later.
then called the Sheriff, and told him
to go to the station, but to keep out
OF sight and to board the first train
pulling out through the yards. Ny
next move was to tell the dispatcher
to hold all outgoing trains until / ar
rived. I then instructed the yard
master to make up dummy No. 3,
aud sailed out to meet tho Chief of
Police.
My wife was frantic ut my leaving.
and finally / was forced to promise to
return to the house when I had sue
ceeded in starting my little army out
to fight hidden foe.
Into an empty express car we put
an empty piano box for the sharp
shooters to hide behind, lighted the
lamps dimly in the day coaches. save
in the last car. This car we left dark
TO resemble sleeper, and in it the
Sheriff, whom I now put in command,
hid the bulk Of his hastily organized
posse. A deputy sheriff aud y fear
less locomotive engineer, of duty,
were stationed in the express car with
rifles.
The Sheriff and the Chief had
been laughing at my expense, butnow
as the train wss about topull ont, and
] began 60 give final instructions 10
the traiHucu. IT. dawued upon thcm
that ! was not TO bo numbered with
the slain.
J was simply pointing tho way aud
pushing Thorn ont 20 do or die. or
both. Now they began to chat me.
J was general superintendent, getting
good pay J was my duty 20 protect
tho property Of the company and the
lives Of its patrons was willing TO
send the poor employees ont Co fight
robbers. and then return to tho quiet
Of my hearth Well, altogether, the
picture was not one that + liked.
though drawn half i'm jest
"All the while. during tho half
hour Of which we mado up the
train and arranged the details.
I noticed tiis faithful porter fol-
lowing me like n shadow. 7 wanted
him 90 go TO the house and throw g lit
Gle dust i'm the tcor.wct eyes Of my dis
iroclcd wife, but me was nowhere 10
be seen. Well, 7 would not go back ?
so 7 gavc 70 signal and stepped aboard.
We had scarcely crossed tho last
switch when in ueaEcd my shadow.
the porter with an old fashioned. muz.
zIe-loading shot gun The train ran
slowly along for little while and tho
men in the car began TO laugh ut me
again, and 1T each other, nj the porter
with the long shot gun, and the gen
crai job that some wag had put mp on
ne Presently We heard the engineer