The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1912-09-04


on burning wastes with eyelids cut
or bound down within reach of rat
tlesnakes, subjected TO every misery
that human deviltry could devise.
Ashton had brought his fellow pas
sengers to a state of ecstatic excit-
ability, and, like many recounter OF
burglar stories at night, had tuned
his own nerves to high tension.
The violent stopping OF the train.
the heart-shaking yeIls and shots out
side, found the passengers already apt
to respond without delay to the ap-
peals OF fright. After the first hush
of dread, came the reaction to panic.
Each passenger showed his own
panic in his own way. Ashton whirled
round and round, like a horse with
the blind staggers, then bolted down
the aisle, knocking aside men and
women. He climbed on a seat, pulled
down an upper berth, and, scrambling
into IL, tried to shut Il on himself
Mrs. Whitcomb was so frightened that
she assailed Ashton with fury and
selling his feet, dragged him back in
to the aisle, and beat him with her
fists, demanding that he protect her
and save her for Sammy's sake.
Mrs. Fosdick, rushing out of her
stateroom and not finding her lus-
cious-eyed husband, laid hold OF jim
mic Wellington and ordered him to
go to the rescue of her spouse. Mrs.
Wellington tore her hands loose, cry
ing: LET him go, madam. He has a
wife of his own to defend"
Jimmie was trying to pour out dy-
ing messages, and only suffering, for
getting that he had put his watch in
his mouth to hide it, though its chain
was still attached to his waistcoat
Anne Cattle, who had read much
about Chinese atrocities to mission
aries, gave herself up to death, yet re-
joiced greatly that she had provided
timely man to lean on and should
not have to enter Paradise a spinster,
providing she could manage to con-
vert Ira in the next few seconds, be-
fore 1t was everlastingly too late. She
was begging her first heather to join
her in a gospel hymn. But Ira was
roaring curses like a pirate captain in
hurricane, and swearing that the
villains should not rob him OF his
bride.
Mrs. Temple wrung her twitching
hands and tried to drag her husband
to his knees, crying:
"Oh, Walter, Walter, won't you
please say q prayer?-a good strong
prayer?"
But the preacher was so confused
that he answered: What's the use OF
prayer in an emergency like this?"
'Walter!" she shrieked.
I'm on my va-vacation, you know"
he stammered.
Marjorie was trying at the same
time to compel Mallory to crawl under
a seat and to find place to hide
Snoozleums, whom she was warning
| not to say a word. 'Snoozleums. I'M
| derstanding only that his mistress
was in some distress, refused to stay
| in his basket and kept Offering his
services and his attentions.
Suddenly Marjorie realized that
Kathleen was trying to faint in Nal
lory's arms, and forgot everything else
in determined effort to prevent her.
After the first blood-sweat of abject
fright had begun to cool, the passen-
| gers came to realize that the invaders
were not after lives, but loot. Then
came panic of misery effort to con-
| ceal treasure.
Kathleen, finding herself banished
from Mallorys protection, ran to Mrs.
Whitcomb, who had given Ashton up
as hopeless task.
What shall we do, oh, what, oh
what shall we do, dear Mrs. yelling.
TONI" she cried.
Don't you dare call me Mrs. Well.
ington!" Mrs. Whitcomb screamed;
then she began to tiutter. But we'd
better hide what we can. i hope the
rah-rah-robbers are ge-gentlemen-
men,"
She pushed a diamond locket con-
tanning a small portrait of Sammy in
to her back hair, leaving part OF the
chain dangling. Then she tried to
stuff large handbag into her stock.
ing.
Mrs. Fosdick found her husband at
last, for he made a wild dash to
her side, embraced her, called her his
wife and defied all the powers OF Ne
vada to tear them apart. He had a
brilliant idea. In order to save his
fat wallet from capture. he tossed II
through an open window. 1t fell al
the feet of one Of the robbers as he
ran along the side of the car. shoot
ing at such heads as were put out OF
windows. He picked 1t up and dropped
1t into the feed-bag he had swung al
his side. Then running on, he clam
bered over the brass rail OF the OBJ
servation platform and entered the
- L. H.. -