Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1921-10-06
How Esther Fooled
a Holdup
BY WILLIAM FALL
Q, 1921, western Newspaper UnloI

you are not afraid, Esther?'
mot a particle, Nettie. Why should
1 be? This is not my first time on
duty here, you know"
Eyes, but at night and all by your
self l should think you would die
with lonesomeness."
What! With your dear brother
Paul to think Of? Why, Nettie, just
imagine it-he may be passenger
on the very train | send speeding to
the city at midnight"
Esther Manning mounted the iron
ladder leading to the track tower,
half mile from the nearest house
Of a small scattered settlement.
Her father had been dispatcher at
Tower 10 for fifteen years, and before
that In other employment with the
Central Northern. The night shift,
with its chill mists and tiresome
treadmill system, had been hard
ship to old Mr.. Manning. He was par
ticularly indisposed this particular
evening, and Esther had insisted on
acting as his substitute.
She was engaged to Paul Reynolds,
who had been for year in the West
and was expected home daily. His
sister had accompanied Esther to the
tower. The latter waited till Bruce
Vallette, the day operator, was re-
lleved by Esther. Then the two walked
away, leaving Esther alone at her post
of duty in the gathering dusk
Esther had only the Night Flyer to
take care of, due at u :03.
She looked to see that the west sema-
phore was set for clear tracks. Half
a mile distant where the big curve
began was the east semaphore. She
noted that the go-ahead white light
showed.
Esther reused from her day dream
reverie with something Of a shock.
Very suddenly the trap door in the
floor was given a great push, as If
from mans strong shoulder. Esther
had taken the precaution to bolt it.
She heard a mufiled ejaculation Of
disappointment. Warned-more, alarm
ed-Esther sprang up quickly and
threw the tin shade over the lamp on
the operators table.
She ran to the window and glanced
down. 1t was just In time TO see a
lurking form steal from the tower base
and stink over behind the cattle pens.
Here he was joined by two men. A
startled cry escaped Esther's lips. The
white clear signal was not visible. 1t had
been changed to the red stop signal.
Esther sprang to the semaphore levers.
1.-The wires are cut" she gasped,
white and trembling and almost over
come.
Within fifteen minutes the Night
Flyer was due.
Train robbersT breathed Esther.
aghast. what shall 1 dof
She imagined the Night Flyer at
the mercy of lawless, armed bandits.
/ Esther summoned all her innate
bravery and good sense. In one cor
ner Of the tower room stood repeat
ing rifle. She threw up a west window,
took aim at the semaphore, and fired.
No result. Again-and there was
a crash. She had shot out the white
light signal! Surely the Night Flyer
would take some heed Of this circum-
stancel
A second rapid suggestion came to
her mind, and she ran for a corner
where a big bundle of red fire signal
fuses lay.
Carrying these to the table, she Sc
, iected one. Drawing the screen from
the lamp, she flared the end Of the
fuse and gave it a fling. 1t landed
kissing and sputtering, amid the loose
hay near the cattle pens. In an in
slant the mass burst into flames.
Bang-bang-bang! A hail of bull
lets from the revolver Of the man left
on guard ratified across the crashing
windows of the tower. Then he dart
ed down the rails in search Of his
companions.
Up dashed the Night Flyer. Esther
was down from the tower, rifle in
hand, figure heroic as the train
came to a stop and its crew surroun'
ed her. In an instant an armed party
was made up, proceeding to the east
semaphore to investigate the situation
at that point.
The baffied bandits had fed, but
preparations were discovered to hold
up the train in true wild western fash,
ion-the train which carried in its
express car over half million in cur
rency.
The leader of the Investigating group
was young man from the West
Esther's lover. When the Night Flyer
resumed its run, Paul Reynolds came
back to the tower to greet the brave
girl soon to become his wife.
The railroad company did some.
thing more than pension old Mr. Man.
ming. They sent Esther substantial
wedding present as 4 reward for her
heroic efforts in saving the Night
Flyer.