The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-15
Ry WALLACE SCREWS. JR.

s BY WALLACE SCREWS, JR
 One Sunday afternoon in the early part pk January, Ms a Louisville and Nash
 le pMsssense train agasin was pesn Cal aAfan was the conductor in charge or the train with Engineer John Cox The train was No. q through n, psssenser scra ger at fifteen minutes after 9 o'clock at night. Engineer Cox's locomotive was engine 2t4 now in use on the Owensbero divis- son of the Louisville and Nashville as the ii1 The machine was, stearnins splendid. ay and her easy running and speed that day have great bearing on this story.
 It was raiping-there was not the slightest douih of this fact. even to the prejudiced mind of man who nao Seen habitually dry for months. In sheets and ropes the water came down, and at intervals there would De gray oughly disagreeable day is seldom seen.
 This was the condition of things when the train pulled up at the little stauon ! Of Brooks Gap, thirteen miles south ot Birmingham. Genuine rivulets were dashing down the sides of the great rocks lining the approach to the Ba- Srowing dark by this time-414 1t was when the train stopped ct the Gap-and the flare of the engineers hambeaux as he oiled up his machine, ana the iain,; tarI only enhanced the dreary desoiation o, rhe little mountain station, and showed water, water, water.
 Only two passengers boarded the tram. two men muffled up in overcoats ana wearing immense black slouch hats or the sombrero or Texas vintage. They se- aected a seat near the front ena oI the the smoking car. There was nothing so un- usual about the couple as to excite sus- picion, for the style of dress they ar fected was very com non in that noun rain region. At Tacoa, four miles further on wher the train stopned and Conduc- tor Callahan went out to the station, the two men followed him closely. .watchine aaim Nike hawks when he stepped into the
 The Conductor did not notice the intent look of the two men, but Engineer Coz did and at the first opportunity he told sshe conductor that he was sure thal there was something crooked about tn! two passengers. As the train pulled oul Of Tocoa and Conductor Callahan walked were just settling themselves in theil seat, and a big. ugly-looking Coit re volver was on the cushion between them Hastily they tried to conceal II, put II was too late. The conductor had caugh1 d glimpse of it. and this fact, together with the generally suspicious air abou them, clinched the matter of Engiheel Cox's theory with him. The two mer had tickets to Montgomery, so he de, cided to notify the authorities here anc let them deal with the men.
 Helena was the next stop. a mile or sc further on, and the conductor sauntere6 aeisurely to the telegraph office, and taking a blank that the dispatcher handed him. wrote the words: "To the Chief r He didn't write any more just then. how ever. It was not altogether convenient For, feeling something cold on his cheek he glanced around and found himsel staring into the mouth of the big Colt revolver he had. noticed on the sfiokin' ear seat. Behind the gun steei-like, de termined pair or eyes glanced over tn barrel with an air that looked as if the, might let the business end of that gun ret busy on exceedingly small provoca lion. said the owner of the eyes end of tn gun.
 afWell. suppose have right to senC q message to my Chief Dispatcher haven't I?' said Conductor Callahan.
 Finish 1t, then, and let's see wha you are going to say" said the man. and taking a fresh blank, the conducto wrote:
 gro the Chief Train Dispatcher, Mont Eomery." and completed the messag with something relative to his train.
 Needless to say, when this message wa received in the Chief Dispatcher's offlc here it was torn up with a muttered in precation and Whats the matter wit Callahan now?" Little did the boys si ting at their tickers in the warm, con 3ortable room in Montgomery dream ths this fictitious messaoe was all that pr, vented human soul from being hurle into the presence of its Maker. Call; hans wits had saved Callahan's If