The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-11-03

windows from the flight She had, there
fore, only to think Of the door.
Quickly she reloaded the revolver she
had already emptied. Then she placed
her fashlight on the windowsill so that
she could observe what was happening out
side
Crash! came a heavy body against tho
door outside. The defences placed within
by Miss Vensel held good. Aiming calm
ly, she fired once through each panel of
the door, judging that she would have a
good chance of hitting one or more of the
men in that way.
As she could not see the man or men
outside, it was not surprising that she
did not hit any of them. But her action
had the effect of convincing them that the
other side of the door was not safe place.
She heard a shuffling noise outside. Her
asSailants we're crawling on all fours to
avoid being shot through the door.
She heard the shuffling pass. down the
stairs. Then for a few moments there was
silence Stella ventured to peer out OF
her window and caught a glimpse Of the
men at the bottom OF the tower.
She fired again at them, sending five
shots from one revolver. She had now
fred ten shots Sheltering themselves
behind a wooden fence and the corner
of the tower, the bandits fred again and
again at her window
Lie still and don't move a hand or
was the command one of them yelled up
at her window.
Then, peering over the edge of her
window sill, Stella saw them move away
from her tower They had decided that
they would not be able to carry out the
crime they had come there to commit II
they spent any more time fighting the
brave tower operator.
Stella VenseI had then won the first part
of her battle. She had driven the bandits
from her tower.
But what was the object of these des-
perate criminals, for which they risked
their own lives so recklessly? At first
she thought they had come to attack her.
but their actions quickly made her change
her mind.
Kneeling on the floor and pcering over
the window sill. she saw them still at
work on the track a short distance to
the north of the tower She heard the
thud of ties rolling on the track and
in a flash she knew that train wrecking
was their object In a few minutes a
fast freight train was due carrying ammu-
milton for the armies in Europe.
Stella Vensel turned to her table, threw
open all the wires and repeatedly flashed:
Train wreckersl Rush help"
These words few over all the south
western system of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road Company. For moment, which
seemed like hours to Stella Vensel, there
was silence
Then came dots and dashes which
meant: Hold on! Help coming!" These
messages came from several operators in.
Guiding one only a few miles away.
The bandits were going on with their
work, confident perhaps that they lrad
scared the brave girl into helplessness.
She lighted her flash and peered out in
the darkness again. She could see that
hey had just placed two '1ore ties cross
wise on the track. They had now built
formidable barrier which would certainly
wreck the train.
A shot from the bandits struck the
frame of the window. Stella Vensel ex-
inguished her lamp.
How many men might be wrecked on
he approaching train, What munitions
Of essential importance to cur armies
night be lost
These thoughts flashed through the
mind of the devoted and conscientious
-irl.
Why had not the fusillade of shots
'rought help before this?