Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-03-21
THE CLOCK
AND A HERO.
By Charles Donald Mackay.

ON Dean was TICKET agent and teie-
graph operator for the Union Pacific
at Wellsville, settlement of not more
than few dozen scattered houses, the
most pretentious of which was the "Ho-
tel and Lunch Room" About hundred
yards down the track from this popu-
lar resort at train time," stood low,
one-roomed building, the station
Toms ST. Helena.
To an energetic, ambitious young
man, socially inclined, Wellsville was
well nigh intolerable; but Tom had
hopes and made the best of it. He had
removed his belongings from the hotel
to Mrs. Jordan's cosy little cottage,
where he made himself at home. He
found Miss Jordan a charming COM
panion and years ahead of the vile
in every way" Nevertheless, the un
eventful days would drag, and the
nights well, after the $50 accom-
mediation" pulled out until lilo, when
the west bound express" dashed past,
one might as well have been stationed
in 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
hauled aboard the baggage car of the
coming train. He was not over fond
of work. but this meant the stopping
of the express, the latest newspapers,
and good reading for several days. To
signal the express was an event.
Taking a last look at the lights, he
entered the station and slammed the
door after him, as if to bar out the
loneliness of the dripping outside
world. The last light in re hotel had
gone out long before, the wind howled
I'm the wires, the red light blinked and
eickered.
well, of all the forsaken-"
The door opened suddenly, and two
men stepped into the room, followed
by third.
Hands up-quick!'' the foremost
cried
In less than two minutes Tom was
bound, gagged, and lying helpless be-
lind the partition in the baggage end
the room.
Hes safe. Where's JIM" asked
the man who had spoken before.
Down to th' sidin'," came the an
swer. set the whit tght."
The door closed quickly after them.
Out of Toms bewildermeEt and con-
fusion came the question, what did it
mean? 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 tn sidin'" The blind sid
Ing, an eighth Of mile beyond the
station by the sand hill! 1t ended in
The gravel bank.
The terrible truth flashed across his
mind. He turned cold-great beads of
moisture stood out upon his forehead
500 with its living freight was to be
switched on to the siding at full
speed!
AS the horror of it rushed upon him,
Tom strained at the cords that bound
him hand and foot with a strength
he never dreamed he possessed. 1t was
useless-the work had been done we'll.
He looked quickly at the clock-1041-
in 80 minutes more the train would be
due. AS he turned the knots of the gag
pressed into the back of his head.
Bearing heavily upon them, unmindful
of the pain, he moved his head, fore
ing his chin downward. They gave
they moved! Again he tried, and again
until at last the handkerchief slipped
to his neck.
Help! Help! Townsend! Bill!
Help" he cried. But his voice was
lost in the mocking howl of the wind
and he realized that the effort was
strength wasted and time lost.
Again he looked at the clock-only
26 minutes remained. How fast the
seconds flew! 20
The sharp click, click, click from
the other side of the partition caught
his cara telegraphic message. "'26'
20 minutes late"
Thank Cod a delay"
Forty-four minutes nova gain of
20. The train, due at lilo, would not
arrive until 11.30. Townsend relieved
rushed through his mind as he glared
at the clock. Then the light of hope
fairly blazed in his eyes.
The summer before, when he had
long, weary night watches. twice he
oversight because his alarm had failed
him, so. to insure his call" he had
run wire from the station clock to
a bell in his room at the hotel. By
an ingenious connection. when the
hands marked 11.45 the ringing of the
bell brought him violently out of the
land of dreams. When Tom was pro-
noted to the shorter watch. and went
to live at Mrs. Jordan's. Bill Town
send, who succeeded him, fell heir To
his room and "the DEVILS own" as
Tom called the bell. The clock was an
imitation of the old-fashioped. big
faced, caseless timepeces. with weights
MI