The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-05
How She Saved the Express

II was a desolate looking place, that
station on the Northern Pacific rail-
ROAD can't now understand how l,
girl OF 20, could have filed the position
OF night operator there But 1 did. and
my being there resulted in an important
change In my life 1t freed me from the
necessity of earning my own living
The place being so exposed, 1 kept
revolver in my Office. under a lounge
on which often rested when not busy.
confess that / never thought 1 should
use II, even If an unarmed man were
coming to murder me. 1 always han
died It as 1 would a viper that would
sting me. / often thought what 1 would
do If some villain should come along to
interfere with me. but as / could not
screw up my courage even in fancy 10
shoot him, 1 didn't see how 1 would be
likely to do it in reality.
One night trouble came, sure enough
Two men stepped into the sttion, and
without a word one of them came 10
me and ordered me away from the tele-
graph instrument while the other took
up red lantern from the floor and
went out 1t was plain that the man
who had approached me intended that
I should not sound warning, while the
other was to stop the train that was due
at the station in about half an hour.
Knowing as ] did that the train carried
an express safe, 1 surmised that these
men were but two of a gang intending
70 stop the train and rob the safe.
For a few minutes l was frightened
nearly to death. 1t was only when the
man with the lantern went out and the
other quietly took a seat where he could
watch me that it occurred to me they
would not likely hurt woman unless
she interfered with their plans. From
that moment I began to think of some
trick by which might send message.
To do so openly was impossible. The
man would not let me get near enough
TO the instrument 1 began to talk TO
him.
7 know" I said, that it wouldn't do
for you to have me touch that key. and
my life would pay for doing so; conse-
quently you needn't trouble yourself to
watch me-"
I'll keep an eye on you. all the same"
he replied.
ITO show you that I have no intention
of touching the key I'll go and sit on
that lounge if you will permit me"
Go ahead" He seemed rather taken
with an idea that would remove me fur
Their from the Instrument. L got up and.
going to the lounge. sat down on it Ny
revolver was directly beneath me If
were man and quick to move and
shoot, the robber would be at my mar
cy. But a womani Great heaven, what
was 1 thinking off?
heard the key clicking a message TO
me from the dispatcher asking if the
track was clear. The man listened,
looked at the key, and, doubtless. fan
GyluS lndl IL WOulu Dt better TO cut OH
communication, went to it and placed
paper weight on it. While doing so his
back was toward me.
I can never think of the impulse that
seized me and my action at that mo-
ment without wonder It seemed that
a cyclone Of mingled rage and resolu-
ton swept over my brain and hurled
me into that Of which l was incapa-
bic. In "A second I had been bent down.
seized the revolver. cooked it, pointed
it at the man standing at the table, and
cried hercely:
Hands up"
He turned like flash. started to
grasp one OF his revolvers saw by my
eye that l was about to fire, and put
his hands above his head. Keeping my
reye riveted to his. I ordered him away