Amador ledger., 1905-10-13

thsy would not suspect the room was
occupied, she crept under the bed.
Already man was ascending a
ladder, and soon the three were in
the room. When they found the door
Hooked, they carried on converse
tion that caused Mary to smile in
spite of her fear.
"That teacher must have gone out
!. to the Ridge, or she'ud slept in
II this room. Peterson and the woman
sleep down stairs. and the hands in
this here next room. Well give'em
a good smell out of this bottle, and
L then relieve 'em of their dough.
! Speaking of dough, Pm hungry as a
bear. Wonder if they have any grub
cooked?"
"l'm glad we didn't have to deal
with that 81 I1%a' ddnea a'an." spoke up
Fs,een varv we'll tonight after the
woIcomo I'm gave her,
Afto, Jme debate, the men de-
soondoa IRE ladder. In short time
Sbo ho. I'd muffled footsteps on the
-. about five minutes after some
,onaoi went down less quiet, and she
Ln it was useless then to call tor
= Zip. Chloroform was doing its
FORK. and for many hours, perhaps,
the inmates of the section house
would be as dead
Gathering courage, Mary crept
from under the bed and list
ened. Leaning out OF the win
dow, she listened again. light was
shining from the kitchen window. 1t
took but few moments to descend
the lader the robbers had left stand
ing. Keeping we'll in the shadow,
she saw her advisers of the previous
day washing down the food she had
prepared for the section mems lunch,
with liberal draughts from couple of
TASKS which graced the center of the
| table.
Mary looked about her; not a house
could be seen. She stole over to
the tool house. On the track stood
the hand car. Oh, if she we're only
mani She pushed it; the car
moved.
Ten miles away at the foot of
long grade nestled Thomas, the
county seat. Perhaps she could reach
it in time for help She looked up:
the stars seemed to be encouraging
her. Looking ahead she shuddered,
the way was so long and lonely.
Pusnlug the car ahead of her, she
walked several yards, then stepped
upon it and began to pump. 1t was
so heavy at first she almost gave up
in despair. Soon it began to gain
momentum; faster and faster it went
down the slope. Counting the
"truck. :" .truokn of the wheels as
they passed from one rail to another,
she knew she was gaining speed at
rapid rate. Every part OF her was
alert. She listened fur the sound of
train which might rush down upon
her from behind, and strained her
eyes for glimpse of light ahead.
Her arms we're going up and down so
rapidly she felt sure they would soon
lose their power and she would drop.
The question with her now was not,
Could she reach Thomas? but, Could
she stop when she reached the place?
The light in the operators window
could oe seen quite plainly. Some
where on the Car she knew there was
brake. She felt around as much as
she could with her feet but could
not find it. Clinging to the bars,
she crept to the opposite side, facing
the rear. Instantly the Car began to
slacken its speed. One foot accident
ly rested on the brake
The night operator was nodding in
his chair when the door opened and
Mary, bare headed and shoeless,
rushed into the room. ''Go for the
sheriff, quick! Tell him to get two
or three men to help him and go to
tRidgeway. There is handcar at the
door; they can use that. Please,
don't ask any questions now''
Although weak and trembling with
hard work and excitement Mary IN
sisted on going back to the section
house..
The robbers felt secure. They had
blaced the handcar upon the track in
older to leave at a moments warn
'ns' Drink, however, was their un
uoinig. When the sheriff with his
'nree deputies placed the handouts
upon hem, they scarcely knew what
asleep.
Inc lea der Tim Hayes, was the
first to discover his captivity, Look
ing at Mary, he said:
"Where did you come from?''
with the exception of an hour or
two l have been in the house since
yesterday afternoon.
Which part of the housh we're YOU
in?''
The other two, coming to their
selses, were listening.
The fact is |, didn't sleep very
wei last night, and when you came
lno the house l was under the bed.
vas ashamed of my cowardice, and
WIN you were comfortable l tnnk