Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1921-07-29
How Esther Eo;led
a Holdup
BY WILLIAM FALL
g. 1874. western Newspaper Union. }


duty here. you know"
yes. but at night and all by your
self l should think you would die
with lonesomeness.n
What With your dear brother
Paul TO think off Why. Nettie, Just
imagine 1.-THE may be a passenger
on the very train l 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 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 It's 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
lieved 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 1908.
~, ~.
phore was set for clear tracks. Half
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 shock.
Very suddenly the trap door In the
floor was given great push, as IL
from mans strong shoulder. Esther
had taken the precaution to bolt 1t.
She heard a muffied ejaculation of
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
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 cuti" she gasped,
white and trembling and almost over
come
Within fifteen minutes the Night
Flyer was due.
"Train robbers !" breathed Esther,
aghast what shall / do?"
She imagined the Night Flyer at
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 slgnall Surely the Night Flyer
would take some heed of this circum-
stancel
A second rapid suggestion came to
her mind, and she ran for corner
where big bundle of red fire signal
fuses lay.
Carrying these to the table, she Sc
lected one. Drawing the screen from
the lamp, she fiared the end of the
fuse and gave 1t 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, a figure heroic as the train
came to 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 fled, 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 a young man from the Vest
Esthers lover When the Night Flyer
resumed its run, Paul Reynolds came
back tc 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 reward for her
heroic efforts In saving the Night
Flyer.
ESaak Gains DArfar4