The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1901-07-05

wiped my perspkins face with ny
smutty hands. Whom I climbed down
again you should have seen me! had
that morning put on white summer
dress mamma had just sent down to
me, and 1t was ruined, and my face
was as black as any Torsy you ever
saw. What made it more horrible
was that the passenger going south
Whistled just as descended from the
loft, and not knowing my face was in
such a horrid condition, gathered up
my train mail and went out on the
platform, and such guying as the
train men gave me! There was,a grin
ming face at every car window as the
train pulled by. Oh, dear! what a
fright found myself when looked in
my mirror!"
AS we sat in the Office during the
evening chatting she grew more and
more vivacious and jolly, and our mer-
ry laughter rang out in marked con-
trast to the usual stiffness which pre-
vailed about the dreary station. We
went to supper at the section house,
and on returning she went at once to
the key and asked the dispatcher If
the train then nearly due was on time
mo. 4 delayed by wash-out below
Guthrie" came the reply. Cant say
how soon track will be repaired"
ooh, dear! My usual luck!" she said.
II seldom find a train on time when
I want RI onvu,hnr.sD
"Are you then so anxious to termin-
ate what has been to me a most de-
lightful visit?" 1 asked. a
"Oh, no. assure you I have en-
joyed it fully as much as yourself, but
I fear will become tiresome to you
with my seEseless chatter"
felt like assuring her that a life
time spent in her society would not
weary me. The time sped swiftly I'M
til the grey shades of evening began
to gather, and lighted the office lamp.
No. was reported safely over the
track, and would reach Red Rock about
8 o'clock.
Excusing herself moment to 70 to
the cooler in the freight-room for a
drink of ice water, Miss Rankin passed
from the room, and had scarcely disap-
peared ere 1 heard heavy footsteps on
the PLATFORM, and moment later the
front door was thrown open and four
masked men entered and covered me
with murderous-looking revolvers.
cit away from that table, young
Teller, an don't you make move lords
that Telegraph till the train comes. or
it'll find piece O. baggage var it amt
looking fur. How soon is she due?"
am not naturally coward, but this
harsh transformation from a blissful
dream OF love to the very precincts of
death unnerved me, and confess I was
thoroughly frightened. Then came
the thought that Miss Rankin would
return in moment, and what indig-
mites might not be offered her by these
members Of the notorious Dalton gang
(for such I knew them to be); cruel,
reckless men who had less regard for
women than for dumb brutes which
carried them to places of safety after
their lawless raids.
"The train is past due now, but has
been delayed by washout below Guth-
RE, and may not be here for several
hours yet," I replied. "I'll ask about
her."
made move toward the telegraph
table, hoping by word to warn the
dispatcher. but halted at the ominous
clicking of a pistol =,
:'No, you DON'T" the leader said. eff
you want that pale, hide o. your'n tat
tooed with cold lead, you jest make
another break like that! Yer lynn
about that train, an we're agoin' to
camp right var with you till it comes,
fur we have business with it. Sit
down on that bench"
could but obey. The mental tor
ture 1 endured was terrible, not only
through fear of Miss Rankin's return
to the Office, but through the knowl-
edge that an attempt was to be made
to rob the train, and the lives of good
men might be sacrificed defending the
property entrusted to their care. How
could the robbers be frustrated? II
could but reach the key and flash the
words, Train robbers" and sign my
office call, the dispatcher would hear
and understand; for in those troublous
days the keen-eared night guardians of
the company's interests were ever on
the alert for such intelligence. For
half an hour weighed the matter of
desperate attempt in my mind. had
lost fear of my charming visitors safe
ty, feeling satisfied by her absence that
she had heard the robbers and was con-
cealed in the freight room, or had es-
capped by the back door and gone to
the section house for aid But what as
sistance could come from there? l
knew there was not a firearm in the
section house, and the section men
would seek safety in flight at the first
intimation that was in the hands of
the Daltons.
It at last determined to make one des-
perate attempt to warn the train-dis-
patcher, and thus save the train from
robbery. did not believe the villains
| would shoot, and felt that although
they might use me roughly for my at
temnt nv dutv tn tho oon,panv DO