The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-02-29

station on branch road, bought lhelf
tickets and waited restlessly for the
train The agent was next In an
instant He had just finished read
ing an account OF the hold-up Of an
agent on another line not far dis
tant He was a shrewd fellow, and
noted the strange manner Of the
couple and their evident desire to es-
cape observation.
'Ill keep my eye on them" he
said to himself, as he peered through
the little window of the ticket Of
fice. He could dimly discern the
ahadowy figures behind the stove
The dusk of an early winter twilight
was fast descending The man stood
in front Of his companion as II to
shield her, and SO far as the agent
could judge in the fiickering light Of
the station lamps they we're well
dressed. But that's nothing unusual
IN these days, the rogues all look re-
spectacle" he muttered. "A fellow
can't always tell when he's liable to
be gagged and drugged by the most
innocent looking parties" he mused,
while the perspiration slowly began
to gather as a vision OF being swooped
down upon BY these two, the man
strangling him into submission, the
woman holding chloroform to his nose
and the safe being ransacked before
help arrived--went sailing athwart
his mental horizon. The click Of the
instrument made him jump convul-
sively
"AhI Just as ! expected" was his
inward exclamation as this message
flashed over the wire:
'Detain suspicious-acting pair II
they come your way. Man and wom-
an. Notorious pickpockets. Slipped
through our fingers about an hour ago,
supposed to be in your vicinity. Man
tall, light hair and eyes; woman rath-
er slight, brown hair and delicate
features, dressed in suit Of navy blue.
Both appear refined. Officers arrive
on 1880"
It was nearing seven, and the man
had purchased tickets for the 7:3O-
the very train the authorities were
coming on.
So far as he could make out the
descriptions he had received tailed
exactly and he felt sure Of his game.
The stranger impatiently consulted
his watch abo1t every two or three
minutes as he GCnyersed in subdued
tones with his companion who seemed
nervous and excited.
do you think they viii suspect
which way we have come?" she whis-
pered.
We'll. we have outwitted them, any
way. They can't oyertake us now"
he said
4 wish we we're wen on our way"
Don't get nervous It win soon
be over 1t is almost train time,
and then we viii be out of their
clutches whether they suspect we
have taken this road or not They
couldn't possibly get here before we
are off. he assured her
oDid you get what you wanted?a
in the mans low tones.
Hardly, I had to act so quickly
that stuffed what could in my coat
pocket then made dash for lib
erty"
The suspense seemed interminable
to the rigid agent. AT last the low
rumble Of the approaching train loos-
ened the tension. He waited until
he could see the cleaning headlight
in the distance. Nearer and nearer
It came penetrating the darkness. 70
40 apparent haste he stepped out
upon the platform AS the door swung
to after him he grasped the handle
firmly, hanging on like grim death, ex-
pectlng an onslaught from inside,
which was not long in coming. AS
the train rolled into the station, the
perspiring agent putting almost as
vigorously as the engine, felt
quick jerk from the inside. Ordlnar.
ily the stranger could have worsted
aim at one wrench, but in extreme
moments strength is given US. SO the
young athlete. pulling, swearing,
struggling to get out. yowing ven.
geance and demanding the meaning
of this outrage" yainly fought for
egress while his companion mounted
q bench and tried to open a window.
The officers Of the law bounded
from the train before It came to a
standstill and rushed to the exhaust.
ed station agents relief.
rye got en-, he exulted hoarsely,
releasing his grip on the door which
swung open suddenly. The young
couple inside darted swiftly onto the
platform. only to be confronted BY
their triumphant jailer and several
burly officers, while the sight Of the
rapidly vanishing train met the mad
dened gaze Of those nov astounded
prisoners.
g spotted EN- the minute / set eyes
On emf cried .he agent giving vent
10 hiH pent-up excitement
The girl who was exceedingly pret-
y, clung in terrified amazement %