Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-10-21

tAl'-SNN from TtpteTN. IN all perhaps
twenty seconds passed. The man adj
vauced n step and placed the muzzle
of the revolver against the agents
cheek.
It's twenty-five minutes late" said
jim,
"What?"
Jim repeated what he had said. Had
the train been on time it would have
been due in ten minutes. \ holdup
at or near the station was undoubted-
~ intended. and this lapse of time was
not reliShed by the masked man. He
was Joined by two more men. also
masked, and. having ordered the agent
away from the instrument. they held
a conference. Then the one who had
entered first turned to Jim and was
about TO say something when be saw
lantern Of red glass sitting beside
the operating table.
"Oh, there 1t is" he said, and. taking
up the lantern. he put a lighted match
to the wick. Pulling a silver watch
from his pocket, he glanced at it and
remarked to the others that they were
obliged to wait half an hour Then he
said:
"One OF you will have to take care
of this young man"
Cant We put him out of the way"
suggested one of the others. There's
| only three of US to do the job. and we
| can't spare man for that. Can't we
| lock him up somewhere?"
/ He glanced about and, seeing the stair
way leading to Jim's room above,
/ seized the lantern and ran up with it.
In few minutes he returned and told
! the others that there was room on
the second story to hold the operator
( If they could make 1t safe Then he
hunted about till he found hammer
and some nails and. returning. securely
nailed the windows. Jim was put in
the room and the door nailed so firm
ly that he could not possibly open It,
At this Jim was delighted Not fear
ing to be interrupted, he seized his tele-
phone instrument But, hearing the
! men below, he paused. Had he not
better wait till they had gone out?
No. They would go out only to stop
and rob the train, and that would be
receiver with his bedclothing. he called
Kitty.
What is it,"
Robbers. who are going to hold up
the westbound express. Take Ian
tern and run as fast as you can by
the road-don't light the lautern-to
the trestework The woods will screen
you. Light the lantern and stop the
train"
There was a quick step on the stairs,
and some one stopped at the door.
Those below had evidently heard
sounds and had come up to see what
they meant But they had nailed up
the door and couldn't get in After
listening a few minutes the man went
f>down again.
| Jim knew that his wife had time to
reach the place he had indicated, where
she was not likely to be observed by
the robbers, for he could still hear
them downstairs and concluded that
they would signal the train from the
station. AS the time passed and he
still heard them moving about below
he gathered confidence He stood look
ing at his watch till it was nearly time
for the train to arrive, then heard the
men 20 out together.
There was an anxious wait for Jim,
nailed up as he was. for another TWEEN
ty minutes, not knowing whether Kitty
or the robbers had succeeded. Then
came ring at his telephone bell.
as 1t you. Kit" he asked.
| hn Of
ing for breath.
Did you stop emp
Yes"
"Well?"
''They went back two miles to G.. to
get some firearms"
what elseT'
That's all know"
Good for you. little girl. Our for
tune is made"
Why"
"Thls train carries treasure. You
have saved it. | can ask for better
position"
When Jim was let out of his prison
he learned that after getting an addi-
tlonaI supply of arms the train had
come on, been signaled to stop, had
obeyed the signal and when the rob-
bers advanced to kill the express
messenger they had been received by
a vOlley. One robber WIS killed out
right aud the two others were badly
wounded.
Jim was relieved from his station
and ordered to report at the general
offices Of the road. There he was in
formed that he might have his choice
OF several important stations The ex-
press company sent for the woman
who had signaled the train and pre-
scented her with check for 5000. TO
her husband they also gave 81 600. In
the express car OF the train that was
to have been held up was $4,000 in
currency.
James Doughty Is now division SUI
perintCudert of n telephone company.
and his son j. d student In college.
Oct. FL in American
History.