The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-07-31
Felt Whole Responsibility.

/ felt as though the entire RESPONSE
bility rested on my shoulders: 1t oc-
CURED to me that the whole affair
had been bungled. They had not
planned 1t out enough.
Suppose the old man won't stop the
~train?' the question popped out. Andy
laughed in my ear.
Then they'll have &c. get a new man
at the pump house, he confided,
This put a crimp in me. ! had not
men without any particular grudge, but
to murder in cold blood as a matter Of
business-I'd have given anything on
Gods green earth to be off the Job.
Who's got a match?" Jake chirped
as merrily as though he sat in his own
dining room.
For Gods sake, you're not going to
strike a match here, are your" Even
| the hoarse whisper seemed to boom
through the silence, Jake struck the
match, covering the light with his coat.
He took out his watch, 1t was just
11:10. Fifteen minutes and the train
would roll In.
Footing Lost on Trestle.
The massive iron bridge all but
| crashed to pieces as I put a light foot
on its beams, The tall girders heaved
together. In a panic, I lost my footing
Andy snooped his hand down and
grabbed me up as though l were a
Kitten.
Our plan was to stop the train on the
middle of the bridge to prevent the
passengers from getting out. We would
stall these cars on the ~trestle; the ex-
press would halt at the tank. We could
rifle it and make a getaway before any
alarm could be sent.
Andy gave the orders.
Bob, go bring the old man down and
drag a red light along.
GTaln ,tNt, ND Dill aaf ~ tkaA 1tIN
"A and l will take the right. We need
all the men tonight The express is
sure to be guarded"
As Bob sauntered off, I wondered II
I would ever see him again, He came
back, chugging the old man in the back
with his six shooter and ribbing him as
he came.
Don't fall on his gun, Bub, or some
one will do a slow walk tomorrow"
The old fellow was chattering with fear.
BE easy, lad; be easy, be easy he
kept repeating like a magpie. II amt
a-going to kick a rucus; be easy"
Locomotive Takes Water.
Suddenly there came a rumbling and
a singing of the rails. Andy and l
flopped to our sides. A light like a
great eve flashed through the timber.
The, engine chugged viciously, heayed,
whfstled for the tank and stopped.
Stopped of its W accord for water
before 1t even got to the bridge! | got
ringy from head to foot and was rolling
In the grass when a shot banged out
and a man swinging a light jumped off
the train. It vas the conductor. He
dashed right past me. | never thought
to stop him. Andy ran past and fired.
/ came. too, then and began running
and screaming up and down the tracks.
Bill and Jake were firing and hollering
on the other side like an army OF
maniacs.
Keep 1t up; that's it." Andy yelled
to me.
l did. Two or three passengers
started to the steps. l fired In the air.
They ducked. The fun was getting hot
and furious. ! was as happy as a
drunkard.
And then the engine began to heave
and the train pulled out. l was afraid
of nothing. / wanted to run after it
and kick 1t goodbye. / felt like bel
lowing, l wanted everyone to know |
had stuck up a train and done 1t won
derfully.
The hush seemed to swallow us I'D.
Out Of the darkness ! could feel Andy