Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1901-07-05
DEVILS OWN"
A Story Of a Station
Agent.
By CHARLES DONALD MACkAY.


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 %pretentious Of which was the
"h0tel and lunchroom." About 100
yards down the track from this popu-
lar resort at train time" stood n low,
one roOmed building, the station,
Toms St. Helena.
To an energetic, ambitious young
man, socially inclined, Wellsville was
well nigh lntolerable, but Tom had
hopes and made the best Of It. He had
removed his belongings from the 'ho-
ter' to Mrs. Jordan's coy little cottage.
where he made himself at home. He
found Miss Jordan a charming COM
panlon and years ahead of the viii
lage 10 every way" Nevertheless the
uneventful days would drag, and the
hights-well. after the $50 ''aocommo-
datlon" pulled out until / 1:10, when
the west bound express" dashed past,
one might as we'll have been stationed
IN the middle Of the Great Sahara At
least 80 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
ed aboard the baggage car OF the com.
ing train. He was not overload Of
work, but this meant the stopping OF
the express, the latest newspapers and
good reading for several days. To sig
pal the express was an event.
Taking a last look at the lights, he
entered the station and slammed the
door after him as II 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 blinked and
fickered-
well, OF all the God forsaken"-
The door opened suddenly, and two
men stepped into the room. followed
by a third.
Hands up-QuIckr' the foremost
cried.
In less than two minutes Tom was
bound. gagged and lying helpless be-
hind the partition In the baggage end
Of the room.
Hes safe. Where's Jimf" asked
the man who had spoken before.
Down to the sldln," came the an
bwer. "Set the white light"
Tho door closed quickly after them.
Out OF Toms bewilderment and con-
fusion came the question, What did It
meant Robbery There was nothing
worth the risk at the station, and the
men had gone.
"set the white light" That meant
the express would not stop.
Down to the siding" The blind sid
ing. an eighth Of q mile beyond the
station by the sand hllll 1t ended In
fhs gravel bank.
The terrible truth flashed across his
mind. He turned cold. Great beads
head. Twenty-Blx, with It's living
freight, was to be switched on TO the
siding at full speed.
AS tho horror OF II rushed upon him
Tom strained at the cords that bound
him hand and foot with a strength be
Y dreamed no possessed. II wal
useless. The work had been done we'll
He looked quickly at the clock-l0:41
In 20 minutes more the train would bC
due. Az he turned the knots Of th'
gag pressed Into the back Of his head
Bearing heavily upon them. unmlndfu
OF the pain, he moved his head. forcing
his chin downward. They gave. They
moved. Again he tried and again. un
ali at last the handkerchief slipped 4
mis- neck.
Help, helpl TowLsendi Bili Helpi
he cried. But his voice was lost In thu
mOckIng howl Of the wind. and be real
ICED that the effort was strength vast
ed and time lost
Again be looked ct the c~lOck-only p
minutes remained. How fast the sec
onds fowl Twenty Ave
The sharp click. click. click, from tn
other side Of the partition caught BIZ
earn telegraphic message. Twenty
six 20 minutes late"
Thank God. q delayT
FOrty-four minutes nova gain o
-. TIE train. due al 1I:10. would no
arrive until 1880. Townsend relieves
him az e. TOO latei Too later rush
ed through his mind 10 he giared q
4he clock. Then the light Of hope fair
y blazed ~ his eyes.
BE gumpeF before, when be hai