The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-02-13


the depot. cut out my instruments
for heavy thunderstorm, and when ]
cut it again after the storm had pass
ed, / found the wire open on both sides
of me. Fearing the trouble was in my
Office began close search for It, and.
finding the wires below all right,
climbed up the ladder TO the loft. Up
in that dark. black, dusty. sooty place
found both wires burned of by light
ming; and what time / had repairing
them II was very hot and close up
there, and had left my handkerchief
on the telegraph table, and frequently
wiped my perspiring face with my
smutty hands. When / climbed down
again you should have seen me! / had
that morning put on a white summer
dress mamma had Just sent down to
me, and 1t was ruined, and my face
was as black as any Topsy you ever
saw. What made 1t more horrible
was that the passenger going south
whistled just as / descended from the
loft, and not knowing my face was in
such horrid condition. / gathered up
my train mail and went out on the
platform, and such guying rs the
train men gave me. There was grin
ming face at every car window as the
train pulled by, Oh, dear! what
fright | found myself when / looked in
my mirror"
As we sat in the Office during the
evening chatting she grew more and
more yivacious 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,
ard on returning she went at once TO
the key and asked the dispatcher IL
The train then nearly due was on time.
mo. delayed by wash-out below
Guthrie" came the reply. Cant say
how soon track will be repaired"
"Oh, dear! My usual luckl" she said.
Il seldom find train on time when
| want to go anywhere."
Are you then so anxious to termin-
lightful visit?" asked.
"Oh, no. / assure you I have en-
joyed 1t fully as much as yourself, but
| fear / will become tiresome to you
with my senseless 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. 4 was reported safely over the
track. and would reach Red Rock about
o'clock.
Excusing herself q moment to go to
the cooler in the freight-room for q
drink of ice water, Miss Rankin passed
from the room, and had scarcely disap-
peared ere Bhea.d heavy footsteps or
the platform, and a 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 1t amt
looking fur. How soon is she due?"
am not naturally coward, but this
harsh transformation from blissful
dream of love to the very precincts of
death unnerved me, and confess was
thoroughly frightened. Then came
the thought that Miss Rankin would
return in a moment. and what indig-
mites might not be offered her by these
members of the notorious Dalton gang
ffor cuch kpauy than, 70 hal< nruoI
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-
rie. and may not be here for several
hours yet" / 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
mo, you don't" the leader said. 'If
you want that pale hide o your'n tat
tooed with cold lead, you jest maze
another break like that Yer lyin'
about that train, an we're agoin' TO
camp right var with you till it comes.
fur we have business with 1t. Sit
down on that bench"
could but obey. The mental tor
ture ] endured was terrible, not only
through fear of Miss Rankin's return
70 the Office, but through the knowl-
dye that an attempt was TO be made
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? If
! could but reach the key and fash the
words, Train robbers" and sign my
| 5ffice call, the dispatcher would hear
and understand; for in those troublous
lays the keen-eared night guardians of
The company's interests were ever on
| he alert for such intelligence For
aalf an hour l weighed the matter OF