The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-02-18

what I'd doif Il was main anger Of dis
tanch I'd stick up d train; I'd blow
de; express car and make hard dollars
where YOU guys gen wind. :. &
Later on, 4 q deputat Ion waited on
Bud. They stood on one esschewed5
mesquite twigs and ;clrcumlocnteds for
they hated to hurt his feelings. Bud
foresaw their business, and made IL
easy for them. Bigger risks and,
larger profits was what they wanted.
The suggestion Of sPiggy's about
holding up a train had 5,ilred their
Imagination and sincreased their ad.
miratlon for the dash and holiness OF
the instigator. They were such sim.
pie. artless and scustom.b bound bush
rangers that they had never before
thought Of extending their hat bits be.
yond tie running on OF live stock and
the shooting OF such o. their acquaint.
ances as yentured to interfere.
Bud acted ION the level agreeing,
to take aSsubordlnate place 10 tho
gang until Black Eagle should have
been given a trial as leader. ,45;i 5s..s II
After great deal Of Generalization.
studying Of timetables and discussion
Of the country's topography! The time
and place for carrying out their new.
enterprise was decided upon. At that
time there was asfeedstuff famine In
Mexico and a cattle famine In certain
parts of:the United States, and there
was a brisk international trade. Much
money was being shipped along tho
railroads that connected the two re
publ!cs. It was agreed that the most
promising place for the contemplated
robbery was at Espina, "a little sta.
tlon on the l. & G. N, about forty
miles north Of LAREDO, The train
stopped there one minute: the coun.
try around was wild and unsettled;
the station consisted OF but one house
in which the agent lived. M \
Black Eagles band set out. riding
by night Arriving In the vicinity OF
Espina they rested their horsea all
day In a thicket a few miles distant.
The train was, due at Espina at
1880 p. m. They could rob the train
and be well over the Mexican border
with their booty BY: daylight the next
morning. il a. ~ ss.. 81 (
To do Black Eagle Justice. he ex.
htbited no signs OF finching from the
responsible honors that had been con-.
ferred upon him. 1f.'7itlt
He assigned his men 10 their re.
spectlve posts with discretion and
coached them carefully as to their
duties. On each side Of tho track
four;o Of the band were; to lie concealed
in the chaparral. n Gotch:Ear Rodgers
was to stick up the station agent.
Broncho Charlie was to remain with
the horses, holding them in readiness.
At a spot! where It was calculated the
engine would be when the train
stopped. Bud King was TO lie hidden
on one side. and Black Eagle himself.
on the other The two would get the
drop on the engineer and sfiremen..
force them to descend and proceed
to the rear. Then the express scar
would be looted. and the escape made.
No one was to move until Black Eagle
gave the signal by firing his revolver,
The plan was perfect: q; II. y
At ten minutes to train time, every,
man was at his post eEectually con.
cealed by the thick chaparral that.
grew almost to the rails. The night
was dark and elowerinc.. with a enc
drlzzle falling from the flying gulf
clouds. Black Eagle crouched behind
q bush within five yards OF the track.
Two six.shooters were belted around
him. Occasionally he drew a large
black bottle from his pocket and
raised It to his mouth. S 3:s:
A star appeared far down the track
which soon waxed into the headlight
of.the approaching train. It came on
with an increasing roar; the engine
bore down upon the ambushing des..
peradoes with glare and a shrek
like some. avenging monster come to
deliver them to Justice. Black Eagle
aattened himself upon the ground.
The engine, contrary to their. cal.
eulatlons.' instead of stopping: between
him and Bud Kings place OF conceal.
ment. passed fully forty yards farther
before It came to a stand. Is u; q
The bandit leader rose to his feet
and peered around the bush. His
men all lay quiet. awaiting the signal.
Immediately opposite Black Eagle was
q thing that drew HIS attention. n In.
stead Of being irregular passenger
train 1t was a mixed one. Before
him stood a boy ear the door OF
which. by some means. had been left
eighty open. Black Eagle went up
to II and pushed the door farther
open. An, odor came forth--a dapp.
ranciS familiar. musty, Intoxicating.
beloved odoi. stirring strongly al old
memo les Of happy days and travels.
Rlac.' Eagle smiled at the witching
smell az the returned wanderer smells
tof the rose thatttwines his boyhood' 8
cottage home, Nostalgia seized him.
He put his hand inside. Excelsior,
dry. sprlcgy. curly. rott, cnticing, GOV.
cred the floor. Is Outside the. drizzlo
had turned to a chilling rain.
t$3 The train bell changed. The bandit
chief unbuckled his beltp and rapt rs