Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1901-08-23
THE DEVILS OWN"
A Story of a Station
Agent.
By CHARLES DONALD MlCEAY.



Tom Dean was ticket agent and tele-
graph operator for the Union Pacific at
Wellsville, n settlement OF not more
than a few dozen scattered houses, the
most %pretentlous Of which vas the
''hotel and lunchroom." About 100
yards down the track from this popu-
lar resort at train time" stood 3 low,
one roomed building, the station,
Toms st. Helena.
To an energetic, ambitious young
man, socially Inclined, Weilsville was
%yell nigh intolerable, but Tom had
hopes and made the best OF it. He had
removed his belongings from the 'ho-
tel" 10 Mrs. Jordan's cozy little cottage,
where he made himself at home. He
found Miss Jordan a charming com
panion and years ahead of the vii
lage IN every way" Nevertheless the
uneventful days would drag, and the
nlghts-well, after the $50 "accommo-
dalton" pulled out until 11:10, when
the west bound express" dashed past,
one might as well have been stationed
II the middle of the Great Sahara. At
least so Tom said many times.
One raw, gusty December night just
before the holidays Tom with much
pleasure piled the three cases billed
through to Omaha on the truck and ran
them down the track, ready TO be haul
cd aboard the baggage a OF the com
ing train. He was not overload oil
work, but this meant the stopping oil
the express, the latest newspapers and
good reading for several days. To sig
nal the express was an event.
Taking a last look at the lights, be
entered the station aud slammed the
door after him as if to bar out the
loneliness Of the dripping outside
world. The last light In the hotel had
gone out long before the wind howled
in the wires, the red light bllnked and
dickered-
''Well, OF all the God f%orsaken"-
The door opened suddenly, and two
men stepped into the room, followed
by a third.
Hands up-QulckW the foremost
cried.
IL AEon Anah wv ilhANN LOAA was
bound. gagged and lying helpless be
hind the partition In the baggage end
OF the room.
Hes safe. Where's Jim?" asked
the man who had spoken before.
Down to the sidln." came the an.
swer. set the white light"
The door closed quickly after them.
Out OF Toms bewilderment and con.
fusion came the question, What did n
meant Robbery There was nothing
worth the risk at the station, and thu
mon had gone.
set the white light" That mean
the express would not stop.
Down to the siding" The blind sid
log. an eighth of a mile beyond tn
station by the sand hinI 1t ended Il
the gravel bank.
The terrible truth dashed across hi
mind. He turned cold. Great bead
Of moisture stood out upon his fore
head. T~wenty-slx, with its liyinI
freight, was to be switched on to tn
siding at full speed.
As the horror OF It rushed upon hin
Tom strained at the cords that boun
him hand and foot with a strength b
neve dreamed he possessed. II wa
useless. The work had been done wei
lie looked quickly al the clock-10:4l
In 20 minutes more the train would b
due. AS he turned the knots OF tn
gag pressed into the back OF his head
Bearing heavily upon them. unmindfr
Of the pain, he moved his head, forciD
his chin downward. They gave. The
moved. Again he tried and again. M
III ut last the handkerchief slipped I
his neck.
Help, help! Towi4sendl Bill Help
he cried. But bis voice was lost In tb
hooking howl OF the wind. and be rea
ICED that the effort was strength was
ed and time lost.
Again be looked az the elOck-Only 2
minutes remained. How fast the Sc
onds fowl twenty-five
The sharp click. click. click. from u
other side Of the partition caught b
cara telegraphlc message. Twenty
six 20 minutes late"
Thank God. a deIayP
FOrty.four minutes nova gain 4
20 The train. due nj 1I:10. wonld D'
arrive Until 1890 Townsend relieve
him NJ r. 'ToO latei Too later TusI
ed through his mind as be glareo 4
the clock. Then the light OF hope fai
5y blazed IN his eyes.
Tho summer before, when be ha