The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-10-20
How Jean | eterault
Cot His Start
By LOUISE THORNTON

| USUAL TO those OF tTeUct1 descent IN the
| Dominion. He decided to leave the lit
| tie patch Of ground his farther worked.
| with u view TO entering a more exalt-
| ed career But whit could the boy
do? He had bnt little education and
WAS only fifteen years old. True. he
was big and strong for his age. but
what is physical strength in the worlds
battle? intellect even In plny body
is often its superior.
The Teteranlt tartn was near the
railroad. and dean would have liked
some position with the company, but
of brakeman on gravel train. Be-
sides. the conductors and others en-
! pl0yed by the road told him that even
II he found employment as railroad
man he would grow gruy in the serv-
Ice with but meager salary.
The railroad ran through cut near
the Teterailt farm. and on the knoll
through which it passed was walnut
tree. One October day Jean. taking
bag. went to the tree. climbed it and
began to gather nuts Re had nearly
filled his bug when he heard voices
approaching. and several men came
and stood under the tree. talking with
one another. Jean kept quiet and lis
tened. From whit the men said he
gathered that they were intending to
stop train due in short time and
rob the express car.
man who was evidently In charge
assigned the positions. One was to 60
In the direction from which the train
was expected and flag it. SO that 1t
would come to halt In the cut. An
other was to tackle the engineer and
kill him If necessary: another was to
look out for the conductor. while the
leader was to rob the express car.
Jean. If the men had gone far enough
away from the tree to permit him,
would have descended and run through
wood that skirted the track ahead
of the man who was to flag the train
and given warning. There was
bend in the road that would have rem
dered this quite ensy. But the men
did not go away. and when the train
was beard in the distance all put on
masks and got their weapons In readi-
ness for fight.
When the train came to stop the
express car was directly beneath the
tree In which Jean was lodged. He
saw a man call on the engineer and
fireman to come out of the cab. and
the order was obeyed. They were
marched toward the rear of the train
where they could not get back into
the engine The leader of the gang
was endeayoring to get into the real
door OF the express car. which had
been locked lean noticed TINT there
was not person between this robbei
and the locomotive. 1t occurred to him
that he might scramble down to the
locomotive. get aboard and pull the
train on But this would proba bly,
avail nothing. II he could first I'M
couple the express car SO as to leave
the passenger cars he might carry the
robber away from his supporters.
The scheme was fascinating. Jean
drew three or four long breaths. a
resolution was forming within him-a
resolution which might mean his
death. There was no time to lose
The chief r0bber was calling to one
OF bis men IN the rear 10 go into the
wood and get a piece OF timber with
which to butter down the door of the
express car Some OF the passengers
had thrust their heads out of the car
windows. They would see him run
down to the train. but the robbers
were occupied
Dropping from the tree. he rolled
down the deciivity crawled under the
express car and wriggled on his stom.
ach 10 the rear end The old fashioned
coupling was then still In use. and
Jean wntching his opportunity when
the robi,fr above him was engaged
reached up and removed the pin. Then
scuttling rHpidly under the car to Its
front end he climbed up to the plat
form and over the rear end Of the
tender.
Jean, having lived beside the railroad
all his life. had picked up some knowl-
edge about how to run a locomotive.
He at least knew how to start and
| how to stop one. He opened the throt.
tie rather suddenly. and the locomotive
and express car started with jerk
The robber on the rear end of the
car. finding himself moving away from
the rest Of the train and his compan
| ions. was puzzled to know what to do
While he was hesitating he looked
down on the ground to note the speed
and thought he could jump of and get
to the engine. BE tried ii and succeed.
ed. but had Just caught the rail to
swing himself up when blow from
nm iron poker caused him to release his
hold. and he dropped TO the ground.
Owing to his condition and the speed
! the engine had acquired he did not
think 1t best to try again Jean had
the express car with the treasure in It.
and that WIS all lie could do Those
lie had left must take care Of them
selves. The robbers. seeing what they
~.