The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-04-20

Rookae conductor opens coal heap His heart began keeping

coal heap. His heart began keeping time
with the exhaust as he gazed speechlessly
into the muzzles Of as many siS-shooters
Mckenzie, irrltated b. his assistants mac
tivity, turned to give orders when one OF
the masked trio stepped up and said
Handle that throttle steady, old man,
and be careful what You are about Down
The road four miles is the old convict spur
you know the place. Pull UP there SLOW
and man will step out and shoot, You
stop; hear
Mckenzie took in the situation at
glance He mechanically shut of some OF
the steam and began 10 think at a rate
faster than the train was going, He well
remembered tho convict spur and rad
many times covered the four miles from
the station in almost as many minutes II
anything was 10 be done it must be done
in hurry, so turning in his scat he said to
the robber spokesman:
"Al right: but unless you want call
from the train you had better let the fire.
man steam up. Now the whole train Is
yours so II you VIII stand out OF the way
we will get along alright"
With this speech be started the lazy
cock" sending stream of water into the
boiler that he knew was a killer 10 all
the steam it contained He yelled to the
fireman to "get 'er hot" which caused
that worthy do begin working as he never
did before. Just a mile had been made
during the conference Mckenzie saw the
steam go up rapidly while the robbers held
on to the cab and watched the proceedings
with great interest The steam began to
pop as they completed the third mile so
/ Mckenzie gradually pulled the throttle
! back and yanked open the furnace door,
! lighted up the cab as bright as day. In
Z AN instant the robbers eyes were fastened
on the roaring fire, and. apparently for
1 getting the object OF their trip, gazed at
1 It for over 4 minute. This blinded them
when they went to look out When the
train rounded a curve masked man hove
/ in sight beside the convict spur. As quick
as a flash the cylinder cocks began 10
make racket, as did everything else from
the whistle TO the watergauge Hines took
the curve beautifully Another pull al
the throttle and the engine shot by the
place better than a mile minute SO that
nothing was heard above the din. When a
mile further the robber trio came to and
demanded that the train be stopped,
"Didni you hear shot, you old devll?'
they charged Mckenzie
Mary shot: you don't suppose I would
have been fool enough not to obey six
shooter order do you?" he replied. They
cursed their luck and disappeared.
Mckenzie was the recipient Of odngratu.
ia,ions from both the express and rail
road companies,
About two weeks later a stranger walked
up 10 McKenzie's engine az Morgan. Texas
and. handing him letter, quickly made
his escape. II ran:
I'VE know who you are ana how yol
j fooled us. Look OUT"
{ Somewhat Irriiated Mckenzie with en-
CINE 10 pulled out. IN week he received
another letter Of the same import through
] the mail at Temple 2nd a month after,
! wards third one came telling him he wa
? a marked man. Not long after the recep
! OF the third letter some one stepped IRON
4 behind tree In the vicinity whero tn
/ robbery was attempted and fred at Me
! Kenzic sitting IN the cab. He stopped tn
S train. took Winchester from his box AM
4 prowled through the woods for halt an hou
b looking for tho asssilant but without sue
Q cess
e Mckenzie bad no moro Interruptions