THE STATION-MASTER'S STORY.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1523, 19 March 1886, Page 3

THE STATION-MASTER'S STORY.

' I was station-master,' he said, c at a little place on the line between Kansas and Missouri. There were about twenty houses scattered through the fields, and the main reason for the train stopping there was to get water. I had a little shanty near the tracks, where I slept and worked the telegraph instrument.

• The express went through at about 12.20. and I was half-doz-ing in my chair one night when three men came in and asked what time the train passed. I saw at once they were border roughs of the worst type. They all wore belts holding a couple of sixshooters apiece, and had been drinking just enough to put them in that dancerous state when a man can change from funny to ugly in a second.

'Well, I pretended to pay no attention to them and presently got out my blacking kit and began to polish my boots One of the fellows strolled up while I was doing it and stuck a pistol against my head. ' Black my boots, he said. I would have liked to black both his eyes, but I swallowed my wrath and gave his boots a fine polish. He kept the pistol to my head all the time, and when it was done stuck it in his belt and walked off laughing. ' I was boiliog over. In my desk was a big Colt revolver. I secured that and waited for him. Meantime all three had gone outside, Presently my man came in and began to look at a map on the wall. When he turned around he was gazing into mr revolver. ' ' Throw up your hands,' I said. He did so instantly. 4 ' P.iy me for blacking your boots.'' '' How can I,' he asked, 1 with my hands in the air ? '

'' Tell me where your money is,' I said, 'and I'll get it.'

"In ray vest pocket,—you!' he finally replied. < I felt in bis vest pocket and took out a roll of bills. I selected a twenty and put tbe rest back. Then I discovered that 1 had an elephant on my hands. I didn't dare to let him lower his hands and I couldn't stand there and hold'him, for his companions were liable to come in at any moment Finally I backed him into a heavy closet and slammed the door. Then I jumped oilt the window and made tracks through the cornfield.

' 1 didn't return until after the train left and by that time they were gone. However, I got my full revenge by telegraphing to the next station, which was a place of considerable siee, to arrest the three. They proved to be fugitives from justice, and 1 think eventually got into the penitentiary. —The Comet.