The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1902-02-14

me, and it was ruined. and my facs
was as black a. any Topsy you ever
saw. What made II more horrible
was that the passenger going south
whistled just as I descended from the
loft. and not knowing my fase was in
such q horrid condition. l gathered up
my train mail and went out on the
platform, and such a guying as the
train men gave me! There was a grin
ming face at every car window ~ the
train pulled by. Oh. dear! what q
fright found myself when l looked in
my mirror!"
AS we sat in the office during the
evening chatting she grew more and
more vivacious and jolly, and eur 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 II
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"
"oh, dear! My usual luck!' she said.
Il seldom find q train on time when
| want to go anywhere"
Are you then SO anxious to termin-
ate what has been to me q most de-
lightful visit?" l asked.
"Oh. no. I assure you I have en-
joyed it fully as much as yourself, but
l fear I will become tiresome to you
with my senseless chatter"
felt like assuring her that a life
g spent In her society would not
~ me. The time sped swiftly un-
Il the grey shades of evening began
to gather. and I lighted the ONCE lamp.
No. 4 was reported safely over the
track, and would reach Red Rock about
3 o'clock. .
Excusing herself a moment to 70 to
the cooler in the freisht-room for q
drink OF ice water, Miss Rankin passed
from the room, and had scarcely disap-
peared ere I 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.
Git away from that table, young
Teller, an don't you make q move lords
that Telegraph till the train comes, or
it'll ind a piece . baggage var it amt
locking fur. How soon Is she due?"
/ am not naturally a coward, but this
harsh Transformation from q blissful
dream of love to the very precincts Of
death unnerved me, and confess I was
thoroughly frightened. Then anne
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
flor 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 q washout below Guth-
RE. and may not be here for several
hours yet" I replied. "Ill ask about
1 made . move toward the telegraph
table. hoping By q word to warn the
dispatcher. hut halted at the ominous
clicking Of . pistol.
mo. you don't" the leader said. IF
you want that pale hide o your'n tat
tooed with cold lead, you jest make
another break like thatl Yer lynn
about that train, an we're agoin' to
camp right var with you till it comes,
fur VI have business with 1t. Sit
down on thaA bench"
~ could bat obey. The mental tor
turs I endured was terrible, not only
through fear of Miss Rankin's return
to the once. but through the knowl-
edge that IN attempt was to be made
to rob the train. and the lives Of good
mon might be sacrificed defending the
property entrusted to their care. How
could the robbers be frustrated! II
could but reach the key ana fash the
Train robbers" and sign my
pfice call. the dispatcher would hear
Ind understand; for in those troublous
days the ksen-eared night guardians of
tho company's interests were aver on
the alert Tor such intelligence. For
half an hour I weighed the matter OF
! desperate attempt In my mind. l had
lost fear Of my charming visitors safe
y. feeling eatisned by her absence that
the had heard the robbers and was con-
cealed In the freight room, or had es-
capped BY the back deor and gone -
tho section house for hid. But what as
distance could come from there? 1
knew there was not = hrsarn in the
house. and the section men
would seek safety in Night at the first
that / was in the hands OF
The DaItons.
It ct last deternined to make one des-
psrats attempt to warn the train-dis-
and thus gave the train from
robbery. ! did not believe the villains
would shoot. and felt that although
hey might use Ne roughly for my at
Tempt. my duty to the company de-
handed that ! Should make 1t and meet
he consequence
Waiting until I heard the dispatcher
respond to = report Of the belated train
PrmA NH hvA go e$o%l~>. A>1>-