West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1899-01-05

said we would not wait, and his remark
called my attention TO the fact that
there was one moro place at the table
than there Were people assembled. L
had barely noted this when my host
said, "Hele's the truant, and. turning,
I faced lady who had just entered.
Mr.. Cullen said. "Madge, let me intro
ducc Mr.. Gordon 10 you " Ny bow was
made TO a girl of about go. with light
brown hair. the bluost Of eyes, fresh
skin and fine figure, dressed so nattily
as TO be TO me, after my four years of
western life, sight for tired eyes. She
greeted me pleasantly, made n neat lit
tie apology for having kept us waiting,
and then we all sat down.
1t was very jolly breakfast table,
Mr.. Cullen and his son being capital
J takers and Lord Rallies n good third,
while Miss Cullen was quick and clever
enough to match the three Before the
meal was over came TO the conclusion
that Lord Rallies was in love with Miss
! Cullen, for ne kept making low asidos
10 her. and from the fact that she allow
cd them, and indeed responded, drew
the conclusion that he was lucky beg
| gar, feeling l confess, little pang that
a title was going TO win such u nice
| American girl.
One of the first subjects spoken of
was train robbery, and Miss Cullen, like
most easterners, seemed to take great
interest in it and had any quantity of
! questions 10 ask mo.
I've left all my jewelry behind, ex-
cept my watch, she said, land that
hide every night. So really hope we'n
be held up, it would DO such an advcn-
ture. "
''There isn't any chance of IL, Miss
! Cullen, told her, land if we WERE
| you probably wouldn't even know that
it was happening, but would sleep right
I through IT, "
'Wouldn't they try to got our money
and our watches?' She dcinandcd.
told her no aud explained that the
! express and mail cars were the only
ones to which the road agents paid amy
attention. She wanted TO know the way
it was done; so described TO her how
sometimes the train was Tagged by
danger signal, and when it had slowed
down the runner found himself covered
| by armed men, or how gang would
bossrl the train. ono ~ ono. mt way sta.
steal forward, secure the express ngcnt
and postal clerk. climb over the tender
ard compel the runner to stop the train
at some lonely spot on the road She
made me tell her all the,details cf such
robberies as knew about, and, though
had never been concerned In any,
was able TO describe several, which, as
they were monotonously alike, / confess
| 4 IL. i "A
attempt TO make them interesting to
her / seemed TO succeed, for she kept
! the subject going even after we had left
tho table and were smoking our cigars
in tho observation saloon Lord Rallies
had a lot TO say about the American
lack Of courage in letting trains con-
tanning 20 aud 30 men DC held mp by
half a dozen robbers
Why he calculated, "both my
brother and have double express with
us, and do you think we'd sit still in
our seats? No. Hang me If we wouldn't
pot somethingP
you might" laughed, a little
nettled, confess, by his speech, "but
I'm afraid it would be yourselves. "
Jaw, you fancy resistance impossi.
ble?'' drawlod Albert Cullen
1T has been tried, " answered, "and
without success. You can see it's like
| all surprises-one side is prepared be-
! fore the othor side knows there Is dan
| ger. Without regard TO relative num-
bers, the odds are all ia favor of tho
road agents T"
But wouldn't sit still, whatever
the odds, Z" said his lordship. And no
EnRlishman would. "
"Well, my lord, I" said, II hope, for
your sake then, that you'll never DO in
hold up, for I should feel about you
as the runner Of locomotive did when
the old lady asked him If IL wasn't very
painful 70 him TO run over people. Yes,
madam, he sadly replied. There is
nothing that muses. an engine mp 80.
/ don't think Miss Cullen liked Lord
Rallies comments ON American courage
any better than did, for she said:
Cant you take Lord Rallies and
Captain Ackland into the service Of the
X. and A., Mr.. Gordon, as q special
gumdY'
'Tho X. and a. has mover had rob.
bory yet, Miss Cullen" " / replied, "aud
/ don't think that II ever viii have
why nOt?' she asked
explained TO her how The canyon a
the Colorado TO tho north and tho dis
tanco Of The Mexican border 70 tlic south
made escape 30 almost desperate that
the road agents preferred todcvote their
attentions 70 other routes. "If we were
boarded, Miss Cullen, said, "yonr
jewelry would be as safe ~ it is in Chi
cagO. for the robbers would only clean
out the express ard mail cars But If
They should 20 far forget their manners
as to take your trinkots I'd agree TO re-
turn them 70 you inside If one week"
THAT makes II all the jollicr." sho
cried eagerly. I'VE could have the fun
Of tho adventure and yet not lose any
thing Can't you arrange for IL, Mr.
Gordon?"
I'D like toplease yOu, Mics Cullen,
! said, land I'd like to give Lord Rallies
"a chance 10 show us how 90 handle fhogo