The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1912-11-15

way between the regular numbers
and Jim was obliged to remain at the
station. He was sitting at his operat-
ing table "dispatching' when he
thought he heard the station IGOR
creak. but he was too busy TO pay any
attention to it, The clicking of his in
strument went on, drowning any light
sound that might be made. Suddenly
he heard a click, not Of his instru-
ment, but of an entirely different kind.
1t came from behind him. He turned,
and there stood masked man cover
ing him with revolver.
young man." said the intruder, IAN
other touch on that key and l pulls on
this trigger. Is the westbound express
on timer"
For few moments Jim could not
find voice to reply. Then another pc
Rod slipped by, during which he was
thinking what he could do to save the
express from robbery. In all perhaps
twenty seconds passed. The man adj
vanced a step and placed the muzzle
Of the revolver against the agents
| cheek
Its twenty-five minutes late" said
Jim.
"WhatP
Jim repeated what he had said. Had
the train been on time 1t would have
been due In ten minutes. A holdup
at or near the station was undoubted
ly intended, and this lapse of time was
not relshed by the masked man. He
was Joined by two more men, also
masked, and having ordered the agent
away from the instrument. they held
conference. Then the one who had
entered first turned to Jim and was
about to say something when he saw
lantern of red glass sitting beside
the operating table.
"Oh, there 1t Is" he said and, taking
up the lantern. he put lighted match
to the wick. Pulling silver watch
from his pocket he glanced at 1t and
remarked to the others that they were
obliged to wait half an hour. Then he
said:
zone of you will have to take care
of this young man.
"Can't 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 a man for that. Can't we
lock him up somewhere"
He glanced about and, seeing the stair
way leading to Jim's room above,
Sni1 hn nd wi
In n few minutes he returned and told
the others that there was a room on
the second story to hold the operator
If they could make 1t safe. Then he
hunted about till he found a 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
too late. Covering his head and the
receiver with his bedclothing, he called
Kitty
what is itf
Robbers, who are going to hold up
the westbound express. Take n Ian
tern and run as fast as you can by
the road-dont light the lantern-to
the trestlework. 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
| 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 1t was nearly time
for the train to arrive, then heard the
men 90 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.
"Is 1t you. Kit?" he asked.
"Yes," came the voice of one gasp
ing for breath.
did you stop 'em?"
| "Yes"
"Well?"
"They went back two miles to G. to
| get some firearms"
what elser
That's all know"
Good for you. little girl. Our for
tune is made"
"Why?"
| This train carries treasure. You
have saved 1t. can ask for better
| position"
When Jim was let out of his prison
he learned that after getting an addi-
tional 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
volley. One robber was killed out
right and the two others We're 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 $1,000 To
her husband they also gave 81 900. In
the express car of the train that was