Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1907-03-28

you on Your runs"
"Whyy" asked Helm.
"oh, with all these hold-ups ON the
road Il would be mighty easy TO lose
your money" replied the sheriff. in,
differently,
Jim ilared In minute. Robbed
nothing, he snorted, did you ever
near OF No II being robbedg II they
Try Il therell be something doing. /
promise YOU"
Griggs shifted his tobacco and
looked long and quizzieally at the
young man, Well" he said, you'd
best be prepared. They have got
nearly every other train on the run.
Ana you'd best keep your own money
In the bank"
lie turned away and Helm forgot all
about the interview in the eestaey OF
Bertha's presence.
some days later he started ON his
regular run TO Kansas City. and was
taking tickets and eursing the fate
which was TO keep him two days from
hottstown and his divinity, when his
eyes suddenly met those OF Bertha
Griggs, He started back in surprise.
"oh. I'm just running up TO Kansas
City for few days" she said.
After taking up the tickets he re-
turned TO the chair car and seated
himself by her side and plunged into
the hopeless small talk which is so
important to lovers, but so idiotic TO
everybody else.
Suddenly she leaned over and said
to him in tense tones:
Don't stop at the Millville siding.
Mr.. Helm"
He laughed indulgently. I'VE
must" he said, mo. passes us
there"
oh, but you must not. she replied.
with white face. Your train is to
be robbed there. Don't ask me how
know, but ! know. and that is why
| came"
He looked into her eyes keenly for
an instant, and then bounded TO his
feet. In five minutes every train
man and express messenger had re.
ceived the warning and Helm started
through the cars explaining the situa-
ton and calling for volunteers. Now
II may be easy TO make a train load
OF Americans. taken by surprise, hold
up both hands at the mouth of re-
volver and submit to being robbed.
but give them a moment to think and
prepare and 1t is different matter.
Headed by a tall Kentuckian. who
pulled his revolver, carefully examined
II and announced that he was ready
for small argument with bandits.
the male passengers rallied with what
weapons they had, and when Mill
vile was reached there was formid.
able army prepared for any trouble
which might happen.
II happened, too. No sooner had No.
4 whizzed by than a man in a mask
leaped to the cab of the engine while
two other men, also masked. leaped
| toward the express car and three
others ran toward the passenger cars.
The man who assailed the engine
went down face forward before he got
fairly out of the shadows. One of
those who approached the express car
also plowed up the ground with his
face, while the other, tall man with
dark hair dropped his hand which
l kzl he nf
turned rapidly and ran for the cover
of the pile of ties from which came
rattle of shots. Two of the men
attacking the passenger coaches went
down to instant death, while the third,
by hard sprinting, managed to reach
the barricade of ties.
In the meantime the engineer had
pulled the throttle and the train
moved swiftly from the switch and
along the cleaning rails of the main
track.
The Kansas City papers the next
morning made Jim Helm out to be a
hero, and to show their appreciation
the railway officials made him divis-
| ion superintendent instanter.
A week later there was a wedding
at Bottstown, at which the father Of
the bride appeared with one hand in
a sling and gave his daughter away.
And nobody saw the keen glance
which passed between the young SUI.
perintendent and his tall black-haired
father-in-law, Sheriff Griggs. of Bolts
county,
There we're no more train robberies
in those parts and everybody lived
happily ever afterward.