The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1902-11-21
HOW POLLY SAVED
THE EXPRESS,

sent Hcf inc warning dlspatCh so mys-
tcriously interrupted. She knew the
operator at Pinckncy wcll-evcry night
he told her Of the approach Of her
fathers train, ana whether or not It
left his station on time.
"PincEncy quiet; can't get answer"
was the report of the wires. whats
the troublcW
Polly answered as wen as sac
could.
Her fathers train was now due. It
should he whstling checrily at the
lower bend. Polly stepped out on the
platform and pcercd up the track. Yes,
there was the familiar headlight-shc
would have known Il among n hun
drcd. Then came the whistle, Hello,
Polly" and Polly ran back into her
Warn Mercer. At that instant she
heard peculiar cracking sound that
sent her heart quivcring deep In her
bosom. Then there was the shrill
scream OF the locomotive whistle. sud
denly interrupted, as If the hand that
llNh WI lut NNfI IluI uffIl hllufh
from it's place: Polly knew IL was a
cry Of distress. 1t seemed TO say.
Help" in n long. trcmulOus wall. In.
stantly Polly dartcd outside and few
up the track. Already the express
should have thundcred past the sta
tlOn. but she could see Its headlight n
hundred yards or more away. The
train had stopped.
With hundred terrifying questions
flashing through her mind, Polly ran
on through the gloom. When she was
almost within range Of the big head.
light she saw half dozen armed men
swarming around the engine, she heard
fierce oaths, and then the engine start
ed up again. She saw I'm an instant
that IL had been cut free from the
train. In the cab window, where
her father usually stood, there was
n big, unfamiliar figure managing the
lever and throttle. Terrified, Polly
sprung to one side into n clump OF
bushes. AS the locomotive passed
her on Its way up the track she saw
that the man in the cab wore black
mask on his face. and then she knew
what had happened. she understood
why PinCkncy had tried to warn her
and failed. Robbers had held up the
train ana were preparing to rob the
express car.
For a moment Polly was torn with
doubt and terror Had they shot Lcr
father? She knew that he never would
submit To have his train captured
without struggle. Should she go
to him? Then she remembered her
station and the telegraph, and with
out moments delay she was flying
down the track toward the depot. She
would send for help TO Mercer. But
squarely In front of the little depot
the locomotive stopped and the black
masked man sprung from the cab
window and dartcd across the plat
form. Hardly thinking what she was
doing, Polly ran up on the other side,
the tireman's side Of the engine and.
raising herself up, pcercd into the
cab. She had half expected to see
her fathers dead body lying on the
floor. for she had heard much about
the terrible doings Of train robbers.
Through the cab window she could
see the robbcr sitting at her own
little desk in the depot sending n
message. Ii flashed over her all at
once that he was wiring Mercer that
the express was delayed. thus pre-
venting any alarm. The robbcr had
pushed M his mask and she saw him
plainly.
What should she do? She dared
not enter the office. and she. a mere
girl, could be of no service where the
robbers were making their attack on
the train. II only she had the little
revolver that lay I'm the drawer Cf
her desk-She set her teeth as she
thought what she would do with it.
AT that moment three shots rang
out. clear and distinct. from the de.
tached train. The man at the tclc-
graph instrument sprung 20 his feet
and ran 20 side window In the wait
ing room and looked up the track.
Now was her chance. Hardly think.
ing what she did Polly sprang to the
engineers side of the cab. threw back
the reverse lever and opened the
throttle steadily The big steel wheels
began TO turn. very slowly at first.
Farther and farther the throttle open
eel and faster and faster turned the
wheels. and yet they did not go half
fast enough 60 suit Polly. who was
now glancing fearfully over her
shoulder.
Suddenly the depot door was thrown
open and she saw the robber dartinG
up the track. lie had his pistol in
his hand. lie was pointing Il at
her and shouting for her TO stop. But
the engine was now going az good
speed. and. run as he would. the rob
ber could not catch Il. But he stopped
and fred. the bullet ripping through
the cab over above Polly's head
The engine was now tearing down
the track az full speed Polly knew
that II must be fired or IL would not
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