Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-08-01

his wife from loneliness TO real pro-
vision against robbers. Sallie had long |
possessed instructions what TO do in 1
case she received such a message. |
This one was so unexpected that she |
thought for a moment that Tom was |
instituting a trial practice, but she /
knew he would not do that and at |
once called the station on either side !
of W.. giving Toms message. Replies |
came at once, assuring her that as
sistance would be sent her husband as
soon as possible. Then she heard q
message stopping the 1913 train Tom
had been waiting for at the next sta
ton west From time to time she
was asked if she had heard anything
more from her husband. but she was
obliged to reply that she had not
She suffered terrible anxiety and
begged tc know what they were doing
for his relief They assured her that
the 10 o'clock train would arrive on
time and those on 1t would be prepar-
ed to offer every assistance. This only
half comforted her. She was about
to click the news to Tom when 1t oc-
Cured to her that the robbers might
have an operator with them, who
would understand the message. In
deed. Tom and she had often talked
over such a contingency and had
agreed that she had better send him
no message except to answer his first
call This had led Tom to think that
any one capturing his Office could hear
Sallie's warning message, and he had
arranged a cutoff that would prevent
tho ranlfQS
Meanwhile the man covering Tom
had motioned him to throw up the
window sash. Tom did so, and the
robber stepped in from the platform,
followed by two others, both masked
and armed. They asked Tom for his
red light, and one of their number
took it out and placed it on the track.
One man kept Tom covered every mo-
ment, forcing him to stand at a dis
lance from the telegraph instrument.
There was no operator among them,
and they did not require Tom to send
decoy messages. In fact, they would
not have dared trust him to do this.
They, watched him so closely that he
had no opportunity to send another
message than the first
Before the arrival Of the train the
| robbers bound Tom hand and foot and
laid him on the station floor as far as
| possible from the telegraph instrument.
| Then they all waited till they heard
! the rattle Of the train, when they
went out, ready for fight, station'ng
| themselves at distances from one an
other equal to the length of a car.
| When the train pulled up and they
! 70 rA a
men stood on each platform. Every
man on seeing this armament turned
and fed without a shot. But they
were followed and all captured.
Meanwhile Sallie was waiting in her
bedroom to know whether her hus-
band was alive or dead, her baby
| sleeping peacefully. She watched the
| clock and heard the train come into
the station, but no shooting. The few
minutes between its arrival and the
| clicking of his instrument that fol-
lowed were n terrible suspense. 1t was
Tom who called and announced that
he was unframed.
He was frightened at receiving no
reply for some minutes. Sallie had
tainted.
The next day man was sent out
from the railroads general office to
! investigate the occurrence. He report
ed that $4,000 was in the express car
of the train which bad been saved by
| Toms foresight ana ingenuity. He
also mentioned that Tom had warned
the company of the dangerous posi-
ton Of the station, that he had ap-
piled for the apparatus used, had been
refused and had put it in at his own
| expense. The president made the fol
lowing Endorsement on the report:
Bring the man VINO has displayed such
ability to this Office and advance him as
rapidly as possible.
The same day the fourth vice presi-
dent was notified that his resignation
would be accepted.
a few days later a man arrived with
an order for Tom to turn over the
station to him and to report himself
at the general Office. The little fam
! lily packed their belongings and went
| to Kansas City. Tom reported him
self to the superintendent
What did l tell you, young man?
told you to make a beginning. Your
foresight
Foresight be hangedr' interrupted
Tom. 81 wanted that apparatus to
keep Sallie from being lonely"
my boy" replied the superintendent
impressively, don't make a fool OF
yourself. You are to go to the presi-
dent, and when be applauds you for
your strategic eye and wonderful gift
OF preparing for emergencies look wise
and say nothing"
Tom took the superintendent ad-
vice and is now fourth vice president
of the road