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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/23180-0.txt b/23180-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7ec1af6 --- /dev/null +++ b/23180-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1360 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Denver Express, by A. A. Hayes + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Denver Express + From “Belgravia” for January, 1884 + +Author: A. A. Hayes + +Release Date: October 24, 2007 [EBook #23180] +Last Updated: March 15, 2018 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DENVER EXPRESS *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +THE DENVER EXPRESS + +By A. A. Hayes + +From “Belgravia” for January, 1884 + + + + +I + +Any one who has seen an outward-bound clipper ship getting under way, +and heard the “shanty-songs” sung by the sailors as they toiled at +capstan and halliards, will probably remember that rhymeless but +melodious refrain-- + + “I'm bound to see its muddy waters, + Yeo ho! that rolling river; + Bound to see its muddy waters, + Yeo ho! the wild Missouri.” + +Only a happy inspiration could have impelled Jack to apply the adjective +“wild” to that ill-behaved and disreputable river which, tipsily bearing +its enormous burden of mud from the far Northwest, totters, reels, +runs its tortuous course for hundreds on hundreds of miles and which, +encountering the lordly and thus far well-behaved Mississippi at Alton, +and forcing its company upon this splendid river (as if some drunken +fellow should lock arms with a dignified pedestrian), contaminates it +all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. + +At a certain point on the banks of this river, or rather--as it has +the habit of abandoning and destroying said banks--at a safe distance +therefrom, there is a town from which a railroad takes its departure, +for its long climb up the natural incline of the Great Plains, to the +base of the mountains; hence the importance to this town of the large +but somewhat shabby building serving as terminal station. In its smoky +interior, late in the evening and not very long ago, a train was nearly +ready to start. It was a train possessing a certain consideration. For +the benefit of a public easily gulled and enamored of grandiloquent +terms, it was advertised as the “Denver Fast Express”; sometimes, with +strange unfitness, as the “Lightning Express”; “elegant” and “palatial” + cars were declared to be included therein; and its departure was one of +the great events of the twenty-four hours in the country round about. A +local poet described it in the “live” paper of the town, cribbing from +an old Eastern magazine and passing off as original the lines-- + + “Again we stepped into the street, + A train came thundering by + Drawn by the snorting iron steed + Swifter than eagles fly. + Rumbled the wheels, the whistle shrieked, + Far rolled the smoky cloud, + Echoed the hills, the valleys shook, + The flying forests bowed.” + +The trainmen, on the other hand, used no fine phrases. They called it +simply “Number Seventeen”; and, when it started, said it had “pulled +out.” + +On the evening in question, there it stood, nearly ready. Just behind +the great hissing locomotive, with its parabolic headlight and its +coal-laden tender, came the baggage, mail, and express cars; then the +passenger coaches, in which the social condition of the occupants seemed +to be in inverse ratio to their distance from the engine. First came +emigrants, “honest miners,” “cowboys,” and laborers; Irishmen, Germans, +Welshmen, Mennonites from Russia, quaint of garb and speech, and +Chinamen. Then came along cars full of people of better station, and +last the great Pullman “sleepers,” in which the busy black porters were +making up the berths for well-to-do travelers of diverse nationalities +and occupations. + +It was a curious study for a thoughful observer, this motley crowd of +human beings sinking all differences of race, creed, and habits in +the common purpose to move westward--to the mountain fastnesses, the +sage-brush deserts and the Golden Gate. + +The warning bell had sounded, and the fireman leaned far out for the +signal. The gong struck sharply, the conductor shouted, “All aboard,” + and raised his hand; the tired ticket-seller shut his window, and the +train moved out of the station, gathered way as it cleared the outskirts +of the town, rounded a curve, entered on an absolutely straight line, +and, with one long whistle from the engine, settled down to its work. +Through the night hours it sped on, past lonely ranches and infrequent +stations, by and across shallow streams fringed with cottonwood trees, +over the greenish-yellow buffalo grass near the old trail where many a +poor emigrant, many a bold frontiersman, many a brave soldier, had laid +his bones but a short time before. + +Familiar as they may be, there is something strangely impressive about +all-night journeys by rail, and those forming part of an American +transcontinental trip are almost weird. From the windows of a night +express in Europe or the older portions of the United States, one looks +on houses and lights, cultivated fields, fences, and hedges; and, hurled +as he may be through the darkness, he has a sense of companionship and +semi-security. Far different is it when the long train is running over +those two rails which, seen before night sets in, seem to meet on the +horizon. Within all is as if between two great seaboard cities; the +neatly dressed people, the uniformed officials, the handsome fittings, +the various appliances for comfort. Without are now long dreary levels, +now deep and wild canyons, now an environment of strange and grotesque +rock-formations, castles, battlements, churches, statues. The antelope +fleetly runs, and the coyote skulks away from the track, and the gray +wolf howls afar off. It is for all the world, to one's fancy, as if +a bit of civilization, a family or community, its belongings and +surroundings complete, were flying through regions barbarous and +inhospitable. + +From the cab of Engine No. 32; the driver of the Denver Express saw, +showing faintly in the early morning, the buildings grouped about the +little station ten miles ahead, where breakfast awaited his passengers. +He looked at his watch; he had just twenty minutes in which to run the +distance, as he had run it often before. Something, however, traveled +faster than he. From the smoky station out of which the train passed +the night before, along the slender wire stretched on rough poles at the +side of the track, a spark of that mysterious something which we call +electricity flashed at the moment he returned the watch to his pocket; +and in five minutes' time the station-master came out on the platform, a +little more thoughtful than his wont, and looked eastward for the smoke +of the train. With but three of the passengers in that train has this +tale especially to do, and they were all in the new and comfortable +Pullman “City of Cheyenne.” One was a tall, well-made man of about +thirty--blond, blue-eyed, bearded, straight, sinewy, alert. Of all in +the train he seemed the most thoroughly at home, and the respectful +greeting of the conductor, as he passed through the car, marked him as +an officer of the road. Such was he--Henry Sinclair, assistant engineer, +quite famed on the line, high in favor with the directors, and a rising +man in all ways. It was known on the road that he was expected in +Denver, and there were rumors that he was to organize the parties for +the survey of an important “extension.” Beside him sat his pretty young +wife. She was a New Yorker--one could tell at first glance--from the +feather of her little bonnet, matching the gray traveling dress, to +the tips of her dainty boots; and one, too, at whom old Fifth Avenue +promenaders would have turned to look. She had a charming figure, brown +hair, hazel eyes, and an expression at once kind, intelligent, and +spirited. She had cheerfully left a luxurious home to follow the young +engineer's fortunes; and it was well known that those fortunes had been +materially advanced by her tact and cleverness. + +The third passenger in question had just been in conversation with +Sinclair and the latter was telling his wife of their curious meeting. +Entering the toilet-room at the rear of the car, he said, he had begun +his ablutions by the side of another man, and it was as they were +sluicing their faces with water that he heard the cry: + +“Why, Major, is that you? Just to think of meeting you here!” + +A man of about twenty-eight years of age, slight, muscular, wiry, had +seized his wet hand and was wringing it. He had black eyes, keen and +bright, swarthy complexion, black hair and mustache. A keen observer +might have seen about him some signs of a _jeunesse orageuse_, but his +manner was frank and pleasing. Sinclair looked him in the face, puzzled +for a moment. + +“Don't you remember Foster?” asked the man. + +“Of course I do,” replied Sinclair. “For a moment I could not place you. +Where have you been and what have you been doing?” + +“Oh,” replied Foster, laughing, “I've braced up and turned over a new +leaf. I'm a respectable member of society, have a place in the express +company, and am going to Denver to take charge.” + +“I am very glad to hear it, and you must tell me your story when we have +had our breakfast.” + +The pretty young woman was just about to ask who Foster was, when the +speed of the train slackened, and the brakeman opened the door of the +car and cried out in stentorian tones: + +“Pawnee Junction; twenty minutes for refreshments!” + + + + +II + +When the celebrated Rocky Mountain gold excitement broke out, more than +twenty years ago, and people painted “Pike's Peak or Bust” on the canvas +covers of their wagons and started for the diggings, they established a +“trail” or “trace” leading in a southwesterly direction from the old one +to California. + +At a certain point on this trail a frontiersman named Barker built a +forlorn ranch-house and _corral_, and offered what is conventionally +called “entertainment for man and beast.” + +For years he lived there, dividing his time between fighting the Indians +and feeding the passing emigrants and their stock. Then the first +railroad to Denver was built, taking another route from the Missouri, +and Barker's occupation was gone. He retired with his gains to St. Louis +and lived in comfort. + +Years passed on, and the “extension” over which our train is to pass +was planned. The old pioneers were excellent natural engineers and their +successors could find no better route than they had chosen. Thus it was +that “Barker's” became, during the construction period, an important +point, and the frontiersman's name came to figure on time-tables. +Meanwhile the place passed through a process of evolution which would +have delighted Darwin. In the party of engineers which first camped +there was Sinclair, and it was by his advice that the contractors +selected it for division headquarters. Then came drinking “saloons” + and gambling houses--alike the inevitable concomitant and the bane +of Western settlements; then scattered houses and shops and a shabby +so-called hotel, in which the letting of miserable rooms (divided from +each other by canvas partitions) was wholly subordinated to the business +of the bar. Before long, Barker's had acquired a worse reputation than +even other towns of its type, the abnormal and uncanny aggregations of +squalor and vice which dotted the plains in those days; and it was at +its worst when Sinclair returned thither and took up his quarters in the +engineers' building. The passion for gambling was raging, and to pander +thereto were collected as choice a lot of desperadoes as ever “stacked” + cards or loaded dice. It came to be noticed that they were on excellent +terms with a man called “Jeff” Johnson, who was lessee of the hotel; and +to be suspected that said Johnson, in local parlance, “stood in with” + them. With this man had come to Barker's his daughter Sarah, commonly +known as “Sally,” a handsome girl, with a straight, lithe figure, fine +features, reddish auburn hair, and dark-blue eyes. It is but fair to say +that even the “toughs” of a place like Barker's show some respect for +the other sex, and Miss Sally's case was no exception to the rule. The +male population admired her; they said she “put on heaps of style”; but +none of them had seemed to make any progress in her good graces. + +On a pleasant afternoon just after the track had been laid some miles +west of Barker's, and construction trains were running with some +regularity to and from the end thereof, Sinclair sat on the rude veranda +of the engineers' quarters, smoking his well-colored meerschaum and +looking at the sunset. The atmosphere had been so clear during the day +that glimpses were had of Long's and Pike's peaks, and as the young +engineer gazed at the gorgeous cloud display he was thinking of the +miners' quaint and pathetic idea that the dead “go over the Range.” + +“Nice-looking, ain't it, Major?” asked a voice at his elbow, and he +turned to see one of the contractors' officials taking a seat near him. + +“More than nice-looking to my mind, Sam,” he replied. “What is the news +to-day?” + +“Nothin' much. There's a sight of talk about the doin's of them faro an' +keno sharps. The boys is gettin' kind o' riled, fur they allow the game +ain't on the square wuth a cent. Some of 'em down to the tie-camp wuz +a-talkin' about a vigilance committee, an' I wouldn't be surprised ef +they meant business. Hev yer heard about the young feller that come in a +week ago from Laramie an' set up a new faro-bank?” + +“No. What about him?” + +“Wa'al, yer see he's a feller thet's got a lot of sand an' ain't afeard +of nobody, an' he's allowed to hev the deal to his place on the square +every time. Accordin' to my idee, gamblin's about the wust racket a +feller kin work, but it takes all sorts of men to make a world, an' ef +the boys is bound to hev a game, I calkilate they'd like to patronize +his bank. Thet's made the old crowd mighty mad an' they're a-talkin' +about puttin' up a job of cheatin' on him an' then stringin' him up. +Besides, I kind o' think there's some cussed jealousy on another lay as +comes in. Yer see the young feller--Cyrus Foster's his name--is sweet on +thet gal of Jeff Johnson's. Jeff was to Laramie before he come here, an' +Foster knowed Sally up thar. I allow he moved here to see her. Hello! Ef +thar they ain't a-coming now.” + +Down a path leading from the town past the railroad buildings, and well +on the prairie, Sinclair saw the girl walking with the “young feller.” + He was talking earnestly to her and her eyes were cast down. She looked +pretty and, in a way, graceful; and there was in her attire a noticeable +attempt at neatness, and a faint reminiscence of bygone fashions. A +smile came to Sinclair's lips as he thought of a couple walking up Fifth +Avenue during his leave of absence not many months before, and of a +letter many times read, lying at that moment in his breast-pocket. + +“Papa's bark is worse than his bite,” ran one of its sentences. “Of +course he does not like the idea of my leaving him and going away to +such dreadful and remote places as Denver and Omaha and I don't know +what else; but he will not oppose me in the end, and when you come on +again--” + +“By thunder!” exclaimed Sam; “ef thar ain't one of them cussed sharps +a-watchin' 'em.” + +Sure enough a rough-looking fellow, his hat pulled over his eyes, half +concealed behind a pile of lumber, was casting a sinister glance toward +the pair. + +“The gal's well enough,” continued Sam; “but I don't take a cent's wuth +of stock in thet thar father of her'n. He's in with them sharps, sure +pop, an' it don't suit his book to hev Foster hangin' round. It's ten to +one he sent that cuss to watch 'em, Wa'al, they're a queer lot, an' +I'm afeared thar's plenty of trouble ahead among 'em. Good luck to you, +Major,” and, he pushed back his chair and walked away. + +After breakfast next morning, when Sinclair was sitting at the table +in his office, busy with maps and plans, the door was thrown open, and +Foster, panting for breath, ran in. + +“Major Sinclair,” he said, speaking with difficulty, “I've no claim on +you, but I ask you to protect me. The other gamblers are going to hang +me. They are more than ten to one. They will track me here; unless you +harbor me, I'm a dead man.” + +Sinclair rose from his chair in a second and walked to the window. A +party of men were approaching the building. He turned to Foster: + +“I do not like your trade,” said he; “but I will not see you murdered +if I can help it. You are welcome here.” Foster said “Thank you,” stood +still a moment, and then began to pace the room, rapidly clinching his +hands, his whole frame quivering, his eyes flashing fire--“for all the +world,” Sinclair said, in telling the story afterward, “like a fierce +caged tiger.” + +“My God!” he muttered, with concentrated intensity, “to be _trapped_, +trapped like this!” + +Sinclair stepped quickly to the door of his bedroom and motioned Foster +to enter. Then there came a knock at the outer door, and he opened it +and stood on the threshold erect and firm. Half a dozen “toughs” faced +him. + +“Major,” said their spokesman, “we want that man. + +“You can not have him, boys.” + +“Major, we're a-goin' to take him.” + +“You had better not try,” said Sinclair, with perfect ease and +self-possession, and in a pleasant voice. “I have given him shelter, and +you can only get him over my dead body. Of course you can kill me, but +you won't do even that without one or two of you going down; and then +you know perfectly well, boys, what will happen. You _know_ that if you +lay your finger on a railroad man it's all up with you. There are five +hundred men in the tie-camp, not five miles away, and you don't need to +be told that in less than one hour after they get word there won't be a +piece of one of you big enough to bury.” + +The men made no reply. They looked him straight in the eyes for a +moment. Had they seen a sign of flinching they might have risked the +issue, but there was none. With muttered curses, they slunk away. +Sinclair shut and bolted the door, then opened the one leading to the +bedroom. + +“Foster,” he said, “the train will pass here in half an hour. Have you +money enough?” + +“Plenty, Major.” + +“Very well; keep perfectly quiet and I will try to get you safely off.” + He went to an adjoining room and called Sam, the contractor's man. He +took in the situation at a glance. + +“Wa'al Foster,” said he, “kind o' 'close call' for yer, warn't it? Guess +yer'd better be gittin' up an' gittin' pretty lively. The train boys +will take yer through an' yer kin come back when this racket's worked +out.” + +Sinclair glanced at his watch, then he walked to the window and looked +out. On a small _mesa_, or elevated plateau, commanding the path to the +railroad, he saw a number of men with rifles. + +“Just as I expected,” said he. “Sam, ask one of the boys to go down to +the track and, when the train arrives, tell the conductor to come here.” + +In a few minutes the whistle was heard and the conductor entered the +building. Receiving his instructions, he returned, and immediately on +engine, tender, and platform appeared the trainmen, with _their_ rifles +covering the group on the bluff. Sinclair put on his hat. + +“Now, Foster,” said he, “we have no time to lose. Take Sam's arm and +mine, and walk between us.” + +The trio left the building and walked deliberately to the railroad. Not +a word was spoken. Besides the men in sight on the train, two behind the +window-blinds of the one passenger coach, and imseen, kept their fingers +on the triggers of their repeating carbines. It seemed a long time, +counted by anxious seconds, until Foster was safe in the coach. + +“All ready, conductor,” said Sinclair. “Now, Foster, good-by. I am +not good at lecturing, but if I were you, I would make this the +turning-point in my life.” + +Foster was much moved. + +“I will do it, Major,” said he; “and I shall never forget what you have +done for me to-day. I am sure we shall meet again.” + +With another shriek from the whistle the train started. Sinclair and +Sam saw the men quietly returning the firearms to their places as it +gathered way. Then they walked back to their quarters. The men on the +_mesa_, balked of their purpose, had withdrawn. + +Sam accompanied Sinclair to his door, and then sententiously remarked: +“Major, I think I'll light out and find some of the boys. You ain't +got no call to know anything about it, but I allow it's about time them +cusses was bounced.” + +Three nights after this, a powerful party of _Vigilantes_, stern and +inexorable, made a raid on all the gambling dens, broke the tables and +apparatus, and conducted the men to a distance from the town, where they +left them with an emphatic and concise warning as to the consequences +of any attempt to return. An exception was made in Jeff Johnson's +cases--but only for the sake of his daughter--for it was found that many +a “little game” had been carried on in his house. + +Ere long he found it convenient to sell his business and retire to a +town some miles to the eastward, where the railroad influence was not +as strong as at Barker's. At about this time, Sinclair made his +arrangements to go to New York, with the pleasant prospect of marrying +the young lady in Fifth Avenue. In due time he arrived at Barker's with +his young and charming wife and remained for some days. The changes +were astounding. Commonplace respectability had replaced abnormal +lawlessness. A neat station stood where had been the rough contractor's +buildings. At a new “Windsor” (or was it “Brunswick”?) the performance +of the kitchen contrasted sadly (alas! how common is such contrast +in these regions) with the promise of the _menu_. There was a tawdry +theatre yclept “Academy of Music,” and there was not much to choose in +the way of ugliness between two “meeting-houses.” + +“Upon my word, my dear,” said Sinclair to his wife, “I ought to be +ashamed to say it, but I prefer Barker's _au naturel_.” + +One evening, just before the young people left the town, and as Mrs. +Sinclair sat alone in her room, the frowsy waitress announced “a lady,” + and was requested to bid her enter. A woman came with timid mien into +the room, sat down, as invited, and removed her veil. Of course the +young bride had never known Sally Johnson, the whilom belle of Barker's, +but her husband would have noticed at a glance how greatly she was +changed from the girl who walked with Foster past the engineers' +quarters. It would be hard to find a more striking contrast than was +presented by the two women as they sat facing each other: the one in the +flush of health and beauty, calm, sweet, self-possessed; the other still +retaining some of the shabby finery of old days, but pale and haggard, +with black rings under her eyes, and a pathetic air of humiliation. + +“Mrs. Sinclair,” she hurriedly began, “you do not know me, nor the like +of me. I've got no right to speak to you, but I couldn't help it. Oh! +please believe me, I am not real downright bad. I'm Sally Johnson, +daughter of a man whom they drove out of the town. My mother died when +I was little, and I _never_ had a show; and folks think because I live +with my father, and he makes me know the crowd he travels with, that I +must be in with them, and be of their sort. I never had a woman speak a +kind word to me, and I've had so much trouble that I'm just drove wild, +and like to kill myself; and then I was at the station when you came in, +and I saw your sweet face and the kind look in your eyes, and it came +in my heart that I'd speak to you if I died for it.” She leaned eagerly +forward, her hands nervously closing on the back of a chair. “I suppose +your husband never told you of me; like enough he never knew me; but +I'll never forget him as long as I live. When he was here before, there +was a young man”--here a faint color came in the wan cheeks--“who was +fond of me, and I thought the world of him, and my father was down on +him, and the men that father was in with wanted to kill him; and Mr. +Sinclair saved his life. He's gone away, and I've waited and waited for +him to come back--and perhaps I'll never see him again. But oh! dear +lady, I'll never forget what your husband did. He's a good man, and he +deserves the love of a dear good woman like you, and if I dared I'd pray +for you both, night and day.” + +She stopped suddenly and sank back in her seat, pale as before, and +as if frightened by her own emotion. Mrs. Sinclair had listened with +sympathy and increasing interest. + +“My poor girl,” she said, speaking tenderly (she had a lovely, soft +voice) and with slightly heightened color, “I am delighted that you came +to see me, and that my husband was able to help you. Tell me, can we not +do more for you? I do not for one moment believe you can be happy with +your present surroundings. Can we not assist you to leave them?” + +The girl rose, sadly shaking her head. “I thank you for your words,” she +said. “I don't suppose I'll ever see you again, but I'll say, God bless +you!” + +She caught Mrs. Sinclair's hand, pressed it to her lips, and was gone. + +Sinclair found his wife very thoughtful when he came home, and he +listened with much interest to her story. + +“Poor girl!” said he; “Foster is the man to help her. I wonder where he +is? I must inquire about him.” + +The next day they proceeded on their way to San Francisco, and matters +drifted on at Barker's much as before. Johnson had, after an absence of +some months, come back and lived without molestation amid the shifting +population. Now and then, too, some of the older residents fancied they +recognized, under slouched sombreros, the faces of some of his former +“crowd” about the “Ranchman's Home,” as his gaudy saloon was called. + +Late on the very evening on which this story opens, and they had been +“making up” the Denver Express in the train-house on the Missouri, “Jim” + Watkins, agent and telegrapher at Barker's, was sitting in his little +office, communicating with the station rooms by the ticket window. Jim +was a cool, silent, efficient man, and not much given to talk about +such episodes in his past life as the “wiping out” by Indians of the +construction party to which he belonged, and his own rescue by the +scouts. He was smoking an old and favorite pipe, and talking with one of +“the boys” whose head appeared at the wicket. On a seat in the station +sat a woman in a black dress and veil, apparently waiting for a train. + +“Got a heap of letters and telegrams there, ain't yer, Jim?” remarked +the man at the window. + +“Yes,” replied Jim; “they're for Engineer Sinclair, to be delivered +to him when he passes through here. He left on No. 17, to-night.” The +inquirer did not notice the sharp start of the woman near him. + +“Is that good-lookin' wife of his'n a-comin' with him?” asked he. + +“Yes, there's letters for her, too.” + +“Well, good-night, Jim. See yer later,” and he went out. The woman +suddenly rose and ran to the window. + +“Mr. Watkins,” cried she, “can I see you for a few moments where no one +can interrupt us? It's a matter of life and death.” She clutched the +sill with her thin hands, and her voice trembled. Watkins recognized +Sally Johnson in a moment. He unbolted a door, motioned her to enter, +closed and again bolted it, and also closed the ticket window. Then he +pointed to a chair, and the girl sat down and leaned eagerly forward. + +“If they knew I was here,” she said in a hoarse whisper, “my life +wouldn't be safe five minutes. I was waiting to tell you a terrible +story, and then I heard who was on the train due here tomorrow night. +Mr. Watkins, don't, for God's sake, ask me how I found out, but I hope +to die if I ain't telling you the living truth! They're going to wreck +that train--No. 17--at Dead Man's Crossing, fifteen miles east, and rob +the passengers and the express car. It's the worst gang in the +country, _Perry's_. They're going to throw the train off the track, the +passengers will be maimed and killed--and Mr. Sinclair and his wife on +the cars! Oh! my God! Mr. Watkins, send them warning!” + +She stood upright, her face deadly pale, her hands clasped. Watkins +walked deliberately to the railroad map which hung on the wall and +scanned it. Then he resumed his seat, laid his pipe down, fixed his +eyes on the girl's face, and began to question her. At the same time +his right hand, with which he had held the pipe, found its way to the +telegraph key. None but an expert could have distinguished any change in +the _clicking_ of the instrument, which had been almost incessant; but +Watkins had “called” the head office on the Missouri. In two minutes the +“sounder” rattled out “_All right! What is it?_” + +Watkins went on with his questions, his eyes still fixed on the poor +girl's face, and all the time his fingers, as it were, playing with the +key. If he were imperturbable, so was _not_ a man sitting at a receiving +instrument nearly five hundred miles away. He had “taken” but a few +words when he jumped from his chair and cried: + +“Shut that door, and call the superintendent and be quick! Charley, +brace up--lively--and come and write this out!” With his wonderful +electric pen, the handle several hundreds of miles long, Watkins, +unknown to his interlocutor, was printing in the Morse alphabet this +startling message: + + _“Inform'n rec'd. Perry gang going to throw No. 17 off track + near --xth mile-post, this division, about nine to-morrow + (Thursday) night, kill passengers, and rob express and mail. + Am alone here. No chance to verify story, but believe it to + be on square. Better make arrangements from your end to + block game. No Sheriff here now. Answer.”_ + +The superintendent, responding to the hasty summons, heard the message +before the clerk had time to write it out. His lips were closely +compressed as he put his own hand on the key and sent these laconic +sentences: “_O. K. Keep perfectly dark. Will manage from this end_.” + +Watkins, at Barker's, rose from his seat, opened the door a little way, +saw that the station was empty, and then said to the girl, brusquely, +but kindly: + +“Sally, you've done the square thing, and saved that train. I'll take +care that you don't suffer and that you get well paid. Now come home +with me, and my wife will look out for you.” + +“Oh! no,” cried the girl, shrinking back, “I must run away. You're +mighty kind, but I daren't go with you.” Detecting a shade of doubt in +his eye, she added: “Don't be afeared; I'll die before they'll know I've +given them away to you!” and she disappeared in the darkness. + +At the other end of the wire, the superintendent had quietly impressed +secrecy on his operator and clerk, ordered his fast mare harnessed, and +gone to his private office. + +“Read that!” said he to his secretary. “It was about time for some +trouble of this kind, and now I'm going to let Uncle Sam take care of +his mails. If I don't get to the reservation before the General's turned +in, I shall have to wake him up. Wait for me, please.” + +The gray mare made the six miles to the military reservation in just +half an hour. The General was smoking his last cigar, and was alert in +an instant; and before the superintendent had finished the jorum of +“hot Scotch” hospitably tendered, the orders had gone by wire to the +commanding officer at Fort ------, some distance east of Barker's, and +been duly acknowledged. + +Returning to the station, the superintendent remarked to the waiting +secretary: + +“The General's all right. Of course we can't tell that this is not a +sell; but if those Perry hounds mean business they'll get all the fight +they want--and if they've got any souls--which I doubt--may the Lord +have mercy on them!” + +He prepared several despatches, two of which were as follows: + + Mr. Henry Sinclair: “On No. 17, Pawnee Junction: This + telegram your authority to take charge of train on which you + are, and demand obedience of all officials and trainmen on + road. Please do so, and act in accordance with information + wired station agent at Pawnee Junction.” + + To the Station Agent: “Reported Perry gang will try wreck + and rob No. 17 near --xth mile-post, Denver Division, about + nine Thursday night. Troops will await train at Fort ----. + Car ordered ready for them. Keep everything secret, + and act in accordance with orders of Mr. Sinclair.” + +“It's worth about ten thousand dollars,” sententiously remarked +he, “that Sinclair's on that train. He's got both sand and brains. +Goodnight,” and he went to bed and slept the sleep of the just. + + + + +III + +The sun never shone more brightly and the air was never more clear +and bracing than when Sinclair helped his wife off the train at Pawnee +Junction. The station-master's face fell as he saw the lady, but he +saluted the engineer with as easy an air as he could assume, and watched +for an opportunity to speak to him alone. Sinclair read the despatches +with an unmoved countenance, and after a few minutes' reflection simply +said: “All right. Be sure to keep the matter perfectly quiet.” At +breakfast he was _distrait_--so much so that his wife asked him what was +the matter. Taking her aside, he at once showed her the telegrams. + +“You see my duty,” he said. “My only thought is about you, my dear +child. Will you stay here?” + +She simply replied, looking into his face without a tremor: + +“My place is with you.” Then the conductor called “All aboard,” and the +train once more started. + +Sinclair asked Foster to join him in the smoking compartment and tell +him the promised story, which the latter did. His rescue at Barker's, he +frankly and gratefully said, _had_ been the turning point in his life. +In brief, he had “sworn off” from gambling and drinking, had found +honest employment, and was doing well. + +“I've two things to do now, Major,” he added; “first, I must show my +gratitude to you; and next”--he hesitated a little--“I want to find that +poor girl that I left behind at Barker's. She was engaged to marry me, +and when I came to think of it, and what a life I'd have made her lead, +I hadn't the heart till now to look for her; but, seeing I'm on the +right track, I'm going to find her, and get her to come with me. Her +father's an--old scoundrel, but that ain't her fault, and I ain't going +to marry _him_.” + +“Foster,” quietly asked Sinclair, “do you know the Perry gang?” + +The man's brow darkened. + +“Know them?” said he. “I know them much too well. Perry is as ungodly a +cutthroat as ever killed an emigrant in cold blood, and he's got in +his gang nearly all those hounds that tried to hang me. Why do you ask, +Major?” + +Sinclair handed him the despatches. “You are the only man on the train +to whom I have shown them,” said he. + +Foster read them slowly, his eyes lighting up as he did so. “Looks as if +it was true,” said he. + +“Let me see! Fort ------. Yes, that's the --th infantry. Two of their +boys were killed at Sidney last summer by some of the same gang, and the +regiment's sworn vengeance. Major, if this story's on the square, that +crowd's goose is cooked, and _don't you forget it!_ I say, you must give +me a hand in.” + +“Foster,” said Sinclair, “I am going to put responsibility on your +shoulders. I have no doubt that, if we be attacked, the soldiers will +dispose of the gang; but I must take all possible precautions for the +safety of the passengers. We must not alarm them. They can be made to +think that the troops are going on a scout, and only a certain number +of resolute men need be told of what we expect. Can you, late this +afternoon, go through the cars, and pick them out? I will then put +you in charge of the passenger cars, and you can post your men on the +platforms to act in case of need. My place will be ahead.'' + +“Major, you can depend on me,” was Foster's reply. “I'll go through the +train and have my eye on some boys of the right sort, and that's got +their shooting-irons with them.” + +Through the hours of that day on rolled the train, still over the crisp +buffalo grass, across the well-worn buffalo trails, past the prairie-dog +villages. The passengers chatted, dozed, played cards, read, all +unconscious, with the exception of three, of the coming conflict +between the good and the evil forces bearing on their fate; of the fell +preparations making for their disaster; of the grim preparations making +to avert such disaster; of all of which the little wires alongside of +them had been talking back and forth. Watkins had telegraphed that he +still saw no reason to doubt the good faith of his warning, and Sinclair +had reported his receipt of authority and his acceptance thereof. +Meanwhile, also, there had been set in motion a measure of that power to +which appeal is so reluctantly made in time of peace. + +At Fort ------, a lonely post on the plains, the orders had that morning +been issued for twenty men under Lieutenant Halsey to parade at 4 p. m., +with overcoats, two days' rations, and ball cartridges; also for +Assistant Surgeon Kesler to report for duty with the party. Orders as to +destination were communicated direct to the lieutenant from the post +commander, and on the minute the little column moved, taking the road to +the station. The regiment from which it came had been in active service +among the Indians on the frontier for a long time, and the officers and +men were tried and seasoned fighters. Lieutenant Halsey had been well +known at the West Point balls as the “leader of the german.” From the +last of these balls he had gone straight to the field, and three years +had given him an enviable reputation for _sang-froid_ and determined +bravery. He looked every inch the soldier as he walked along the trail, +his cloak thrown back and his sword tucked under his arm. The doctor, +who carried a Modoc bullet in some inaccessible part of his scarred +body, growled good-naturedly at the need of walking, and the men, +enveloped in their army-blue overcoats, marched easily by fours. +Reaching the station, the lieutenant called the agent aside, and with +him inspected, on a siding, a long platform car on which benches had +been placed and secured. Then he took his seat in the station and +quietly waited, occasionally twisting his long blond mustache. The +doctor took a cigar with the agent, and the men walked about or sat on +the edge of the platform. One of them, who obtained a surreptitious +glance at his silent commander, told his companions that there was +trouble ahead for somebody. + +“That's just the way the leftenant looked, boys,” said he, “when we was +laying for them Apaches that raided Jones's Ranch and killed the women +and little children.” + +In a short time the officer looked at his watch, formed his men, and +directed them to take their places on the seats of the car. They had +hardly done so when the whistle of the approaching train was heard. When +it came up, the conductor, who had his instructions from Sinclair, had +the engine detached and backed on the siding for the soldiers' car, +which thus came between it and the foremost baggage car when the train +was again made up. As arranged, it was announced that the troops were to +be taken a certain distance to join a scouting party, and the curiosity +of the passengers was but slightly excited. The soldiers sat quietly in +their seats, their repeating rifles held between their knees, and the +officer in front. Sinclair joined the latter, and had a few words with +him as the train moved on. A little later, when the stars were shining +brightly overhead, they passed into the express car, and sent for the +conductor and other trainmen, and for Foster. In a few words Sinclair +explained the position of affairs. His statement was received with +perfect coolness, and the men only asked what they were to do. + +“I hope, boys,” said Sinclair, “that we are going to put this gang +to-night where they will make no more trouble. Lieutenant Halsey will +bear the brunt of the fight, and it only remains for you to stand by the +interests committed to your care. Mr. Express Agent, what help do +you want?” The person addressed, a good-natured giant, girded with a +cartridge belt, smiled as he replied: + +“Well, sir, I'm wearing a watch which the company gave me for standing +off the James gang in Missouri for half an hour, when we hadn't the +ghost of a soldier about. I'll take the contract, and welcome, to hold +_this_ fort alone.” + +“Very well,” said Sinclair. “Foster, what progress have you made?” + +“Major, I've got ten or fifteen as good men as ever drew a bead, and +just red-hot for a fight.” + +“That will do very well. Conductor, give the trainmen the rifles from +the baggage car and let them act under Mr. Foster. Now, boys, I am sure +you will do your duty. That is all.” + +From the next station Sinclair telegraphed “All ready” to the +superintendent, who was pacing his office in much suspense. Then he +said a few words to his brave but anxious wife, and walked to the rear +platform. On it were several armed men, who bade him good-evening, and +asked “when the fun was going to begin.” Walking through the train, he +found each platform similarly occupied, and Foster going from one to the +other. The latter whispered as he passed him: + +“Major, I found Arizona Joe, the scout, in the smokin' car, and he's on +the front platform. That lets me out, and although I know as well as you +that there ain't any danger about that rear sleeper where the madam is, +I ain't a-going to be far off from her.” Sinclair shook him by the hand; +then he looked at his watch. It was half-past eight. He passed through +the baggage and express cars, finding in the latter the agent sitting +behind his safe, on which lay two large revolvers. On the platform car +he found the soldiers and their commander sitting silent and imconcerned +as before. When Sinclair reached the latter and nodded, he rose and +faced the men, and his fine voice was clearly heard above the rattle of +the train. + +“Company, 'ten_tion!_” The soldiers straightened themselves in a second. + +“With ball cartridge, _load!_” It was done with the precision of a +machine. Then the lieutenant spoke, in the same clear, crisp, tones that +the troops had heard in more than one fierce battle. + +“Men,” said he, “in a few minutes the Perry gang, which you will +remember, are going to try to run this train off the track, wound and +kill the passengers, and rob the cars and the United States mail. It +is our business to prevent them. Sergeant Wilson” (a gray-bearded +non-commissioned officer stood up and saluted), “I am going on the +engine. See that my orders are repeated. Now, men, aim low, and don't +waste any shots.” He and Sinclair climbed over the tender and spoke to +the engine-driver. + +“How are the air-brakes working?” asked Sinclair. + +“First-rate.” + +“Then, if you slowed down now, you could stop the train in a third of +her length, couldn't you?” + +“Easy, if you don't mind being shaken up a bit.” + +“That is good. How is the country about the --xth mile-post?” + +“Dead level, and smooth.” + +“Good again. Now, Lieutenant Halsey, this is a splendid head-light, and +we can see a long way with my night glass. I will have a----” + +“--2d mile-pole just past,” interrupted the engine-driver. + +“Only one more to pass, then, before we ought to strike them. Now, +lieutenant, I undertake to stop the train within a very short distance +of the gang. They will be on both sides of the track, no doubt; and the +ground, as you hear, is quite level. You will best know what to do.” + +The officer stepped back. “Sergeant,” called he, “do you hear me +plainly?” + +“Yes, sir.” + +“Have the men fix bayonets. When the train stops, and I wave my sword, +let half jump off each side, run up quickly, and form line abreast of +the engine--not ahead.” + +“Jack,” said Sinclair to the engine-driver, “is your hand steady?” The +man held it up with a smile. “Good. Now stand by your throttle and your +air-brake. Lieutenant, better warn the men to hold on tight, and tell +the sergeant to pass the word to the boys on the platforms, or they will +be knocked off by the sudden stop. Now for a look ahead!” and he brought +the binocular to his eyes. + +The great parabolic head-light illuminated the track a long way in +advance, all behind it being of course in darkness. Suddenly Sinclair +cried out: + +“The fools have a light there, as I am a living man; and there is a +little red one near us. What can that be? All ready, Jack! By heaven! +they have taken up two rails. Now _hold on, all!_ Stop her!!” + +The engine-driver shut his throttle-valve with a jerk. Then, holding +hard by it, he sharply turned a brass handle. There was a fearful +jolt--a grating--and the train's way was checked. The lieutenant, +standing sidewise, had drawn his sword. He waved it, and almost before +he could get off the engine the soldiers were up and forming, still in +shadow, while the bright light was thrown on a body of men ahead. + +“Surrender, or you are dead men!” roared the officer. Curses and several +shots were the reply. Then came the orders, quick and sharp: + +“_Forward! Close up! Double-quick! Halt!_ Fire!”... It was speedily +over. Left on the car with the men, the old sergeant had said: + +“Boys, you hear. It's that ------ Perry gang. Now, don't forget Larry +and Charley that they murdered last year,” and there had come from the +soldiers a sort of fierce, subdued _growl_. The volley was followed by a +bayonet charge, and it required all the officer's authority to save the +lives even of those who “threw up their hands.” Large as the gang was +(outnumbering the troops), well armed and desperate as they were, every +one was dead, wounded, or a prisoner when the men who guarded the train +platforms ran up. The surgeon, with professional coolness, walked up to +the robbers, his instrument case under his arm. + +“Not much for me to do here, Lieutenant,” said he. “That practice for +Creedmoor is telling on the shooting. Good thing for the gang, too. +Bullets are better than rope, and a Colorado jury will give them plenty +of that.” + +Sinclair had sent a man to tell his wife that all was over. Then he +ordered a fire lighted, and the rails relaid. The flames lit a strange +scene as the passengers flocked up. The lieutenant posted men to keep +them back. + +“Is there a telegraph station not far ahead, Sinclair?” asked he. “Yes? +All right.” He drew a small pad from his pocket, and wrote a despatch to +the post commander. + +“Be good enough to send that for me,” said he, “and leave orders at +Barker's for the night express eastward to stop for us, and bring +a posse to take care of the wounded and prisoners. And now, my dear +Sinclair, I suggest that you get the passengers into the cars, and go on +as soon as those rails are spiked. When they realize the situation, +some of them will feel precious ugly, and you know we can't have any +lynching.” + +Sinclair glanced at the rails and gave the word at once to the conductor +and brakemen, who began vociferating, “All aboard!” Just then Foster +appeared, an expression of intense satisfaction showing clearly on his +face, in the firelight. + +“Major,” said he, “I didn't use to take much stock in special +Providence, or things being ordered; but I'm darned if I don't believe +in them from this day. I was bound to stay where you put me, but I was +uneasy, and wild to be in the scrimmage; and, if I had been there, I +wouldn't have taken notice of a little red light that wasn't much behind +the rear platform when we stopped. When I saw there was no danger there +I ran back, and what do you think I found? There was a woman in a dead +faint, and just clutching a lantern that she had tied up in a red scarf, +poor little thing! And, Major, it was Sally! It was the little girl that +loved me out at Barker's, and has loved me and waited for me ever since! +And when she came to, and knew me, she was so glad she 'most fainted +away again; and she let on as it was her that gave away the job. And I +took her into the sleeper, and the madam, God bless her!--she knew Sally +before and was good to her--she took care of her and is cheering her up. +And now, Major, I'm going to take her straight to Denver, and send for a +parson, and get her married to me, and she'll brace up, sure pop.” + +The whistle sounded, and the train started. From the window of the +“sleeper” Sinclair and his wife took their last look at the weird scene. +The lieutenant, standing at the side of the track, wrapped in his cloak, +caught a glimpse of Mrs. Sinclair's pretty face, and returned her bow. +Then, as the car passed out of sight, he tugged at his mustache and +hummed: + + “Why, boys, why, + Should we be melancholy, boys + Whose business 'tis to die?” + +In less than an hour, telegrams having in the meantime been sent in +both directions, the train ran alongside the platform at Barker's; and +Watkins, imperturbable as usual, met Sinclair, and gave him his letters. + +“Perry gang wiped out, I hear, Major,” said he. “Good thing for the +country. That's a lesson the 'toughs' in these parts won't forget for +a long time. Plucky girl that give 'em away, wasn't she? Hope she's all +right.” + +“She is all right,” said Sinclair with a smile. + +“Glad of that. By the way, that father of her'n passed in his checks +to-night. He'd got one warning from the Vigilantes, and yesterday they +found out he was in with this gang, and they was a-going for him; but +when the telegram come, he put a pistol to his head and saved them all +trouble. Good riddance to everybody, I say. The sheriff's here now, +and is going east on the next train to get them fellows. He's got a big +posse together, and I wouldn't wonder if they was hard to hold in, after +the 'boys in blue' is gone.” + +In a few minutes the train was off, and its living freight--the just +and the unjust, the reformed and the rescued, the happy and the anxious. +With many of the passengers the episode of the night was already a thing +of the past. Sinclair sat by the side of his wife, to whose cheeks +the color had all come back; and Sally Johnson lay in her berth, faint +still, but able to give an occasional smile to Foster. In the station on +the Missouri the reporters were gathered about the happy superintendent, +smoking his cigars, and filling their note-books with items. In Denver, +their brethren would gladly have done the same, but Watkins failed to +gratify them. He was a man of few words. When the train had gone, and +a friend remarked: “Hope they'll get through all right, now,” he simply +said: “Yes, likely. Two shots don't most always go in the same hole.” + Then he went to the telegraph instrument. In a few minutes he could have +told a story as wild as a Norse _saga_, but what he said, when Denver +had responded, was only--“No. 17, fifty-five minutes late!” + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Denver Express, by A. A. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/23180-0.zip b/23180-0.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5ad3127 --- /dev/null +++ b/23180-0.zip diff --git a/23180-h.zip b/23180-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9fef832 --- /dev/null +++ b/23180-h.zip diff --git a/23180-h/23180-h.htm b/23180-h/23180-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2c30340 --- /dev/null +++ b/23180-h/23180-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1597 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + The Denver Express, by A. A. Hayes + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Denver Express, by A. A. Hayes + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Denver Express + From "Belgravia" for January, 1884 + +Author: A. A. Hayes + +Release Date: October 24, 2007 [EBook #23180] +Last Updated: March 15, 2018 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DENVER EXPRESS *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <div style="height: 8em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + THE DENVER EXPRESS + </h1> + <h2> + By A. A. Hayes <br /> <br /> From “Belgravia” for January, 1884 + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + Contents + </h2> + <table summary="" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto"> + <tr> + <td> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> I </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0002"> II </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0003"> III </a> + </p> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + I + </h2> + <p> + Any one who has seen an outward-bound clipper ship getting under way, and + heard the “shanty-songs” sung by the sailors as they toiled at capstan and + halliards, will probably remember that rhymeless but melodious refrain— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “I'm bound to see its muddy waters, + Yeo ho! that rolling river; + Bound to see its muddy waters, + Yeo ho! the wild Missouri.” + </pre> + <p> + Only a happy inspiration could have impelled Jack to apply the adjective + “wild” to that ill-behaved and disreputable river which, tipsily bearing + its enormous burden of mud from the far Northwest, totters, reels, runs + its tortuous course for hundreds on hundreds of miles and which, + encountering the lordly and thus far well-behaved Mississippi at Alton, + and forcing its company upon this splendid river (as if some drunken + fellow should lock arms with a dignified pedestrian), contaminates it all + the way to the Gulf of Mexico. + </p> + <p> + At a certain point on the banks of this river, or rather—as it has + the habit of abandoning and destroying said banks—at a safe distance + therefrom, there is a town from which a railroad takes its departure, for + its long climb up the natural incline of the Great Plains, to the base of + the mountains; hence the importance to this town of the large but somewhat + shabby building serving as terminal station. In its smoky interior, late + in the evening and not very long ago, a train was nearly ready to start. + It was a train possessing a certain consideration. For the benefit of a + public easily gulled and enamored of grandiloquent terms, it was + advertised as the “Denver Fast Express”; sometimes, with strange + unfitness, as the “Lightning Express”; “elegant” and “palatial” cars were + declared to be included therein; and its departure was one of the great + events of the twenty-four hours in the country round about. A local poet + described it in the “live” paper of the town, cribbing from an old Eastern + magazine and passing off as original the lines— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Again we stepped into the street, + A train came thundering by + Drawn by the snorting iron steed + Swifter than eagles fly. + Rumbled the wheels, the whistle shrieked, + Far rolled the smoky cloud, + Echoed the hills, the valleys shook, + The flying forests bowed.” + </pre> + <p> + The trainmen, on the other hand, used no fine phrases. They called it + simply “Number Seventeen”; and, when it started, said it had “pulled out.” + </p> + <p> + On the evening in question, there it stood, nearly ready. Just behind the + great hissing locomotive, with its parabolic headlight and its coal-laden + tender, came the baggage, mail, and express cars; then the passenger + coaches, in which the social condition of the occupants seemed to be in + inverse ratio to their distance from the engine. First came emigrants, + “honest miners,” “cowboys,” and laborers; Irishmen, Germans, Welshmen, + Mennonites from Russia, quaint of garb and speech, and Chinamen. Then came + along cars full of people of better station, and last the great Pullman + “sleepers,” in which the busy black porters were making up the berths for + well-to-do travelers of diverse nationalities and occupations. + </p> + <p> + It was a curious study for a thoughful observer, this motley crowd of + human beings sinking all differences of race, creed, and habits in the + common purpose to move westward—to the mountain fastnesses, the + sage-brush deserts and the Golden Gate. + </p> + <p> + The warning bell had sounded, and the fireman leaned far out for the + signal. The gong struck sharply, the conductor shouted, “All aboard,” and + raised his hand; the tired ticket-seller shut his window, and the train + moved out of the station, gathered way as it cleared the outskirts of the + town, rounded a curve, entered on an absolutely straight line, and, with + one long whistle from the engine, settled down to its work. Through the + night hours it sped on, past lonely ranches and infrequent stations, by + and across shallow streams fringed with cottonwood trees, over the + greenish-yellow buffalo grass near the old trail where many a poor + emigrant, many a bold frontiersman, many a brave soldier, had laid his + bones but a short time before. + </p> + <p> + Familiar as they may be, there is something strangely impressive about + all-night journeys by rail, and those forming part of an American + transcontinental trip are almost weird. From the windows of a night + express in Europe or the older portions of the United States, one looks on + houses and lights, cultivated fields, fences, and hedges; and, hurled as + he may be through the darkness, he has a sense of companionship and + semi-security. Far different is it when the long train is running over + those two rails which, seen before night sets in, seem to meet on the + horizon. Within all is as if between two great seaboard cities; the neatly + dressed people, the uniformed officials, the handsome fittings, the + various appliances for comfort. Without are now long dreary levels, now + deep and wild canyons, now an environment of strange and grotesque + rock-formations, castles, battlements, churches, statues. The antelope + fleetly runs, and the coyote skulks away from the track, and the gray wolf + howls afar off. It is for all the world, to one's fancy, as if a bit of + civilization, a family or community, its belongings and surroundings + complete, were flying through regions barbarous and inhospitable. + </p> + <p> + From the cab of Engine No. 32; the driver of the Denver Express saw, + showing faintly in the early morning, the buildings grouped about the + little station ten miles ahead, where breakfast awaited his passengers. He + looked at his watch; he had just twenty minutes in which to run the + distance, as he had run it often before. Something, however, traveled + faster than he. From the smoky station out of which the train passed the + night before, along the slender wire stretched on rough poles at the side + of the track, a spark of that mysterious something which we call + electricity flashed at the moment he returned the watch to his pocket; and + in five minutes' time the station-master came out on the platform, a + little more thoughtful than his wont, and looked eastward for the smoke of + the train. With but three of the passengers in that train has this tale + especially to do, and they were all in the new and comfortable Pullman + “City of Cheyenne.” One was a tall, well-made man of about thirty—blond, + blue-eyed, bearded, straight, sinewy, alert. Of all in the train he seemed + the most thoroughly at home, and the respectful greeting of the conductor, + as he passed through the car, marked him as an officer of the road. Such + was he—Henry Sinclair, assistant engineer, quite famed on the line, + high in favor with the directors, and a rising man in all ways. It was + known on the road that he was expected in Denver, and there were rumors + that he was to organize the parties for the survey of an important + “extension.” Beside him sat his pretty young wife. She was a New Yorker—one + could tell at first glance—from the feather of her little bonnet, + matching the gray traveling dress, to the tips of her dainty boots; and + one, too, at whom old Fifth Avenue promenaders would have turned to look. + She had a charming figure, brown hair, hazel eyes, and an expression at + once kind, intelligent, and spirited. She had cheerfully left a luxurious + home to follow the young engineer's fortunes; and it was well known that + those fortunes had been materially advanced by her tact and cleverness. + </p> + <p> + The third passenger in question had just been in conversation with + Sinclair and the latter was telling his wife of their curious meeting. + Entering the toilet-room at the rear of the car, he said, he had begun his + ablutions by the side of another man, and it was as they were sluicing + their faces with water that he heard the cry: + </p> + <p> + “Why, Major, is that you? Just to think of meeting you here!” + </p> + <p> + A man of about twenty-eight years of age, slight, muscular, wiry, had + seized his wet hand and was wringing it. He had black eyes, keen and + bright, swarthy complexion, black hair and mustache. A keen observer might + have seen about him some signs of a <i>jeunesse orageuse</i>, but his + manner was frank and pleasing. Sinclair looked him in the face, puzzled + for a moment. + </p> + <p> + “Don't you remember Foster?” asked the man. + </p> + <p> + “Of course I do,” replied Sinclair. “For a moment I could not place you. + Where have you been and what have you been doing?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh,” replied Foster, laughing, “I've braced up and turned over a new + leaf. I'm a respectable member of society, have a place in the express + company, and am going to Denver to take charge.” + </p> + <p> + “I am very glad to hear it, and you must tell me your story when we have + had our breakfast.” + </p> + <p> + The pretty young woman was just about to ask who Foster was, when the + speed of the train slackened, and the brakeman opened the door of the car + and cried out in stentorian tones: + </p> + <p> + “Pawnee Junction; twenty minutes for refreshments!” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + II + </h2> + <p> + When the celebrated Rocky Mountain gold excitement broke out, more than + twenty years ago, and people painted “Pike's Peak or Bust” on the canvas + covers of their wagons and started for the diggings, they established a + “trail” or “trace” leading in a southwesterly direction from the old one + to California. + </p> + <p> + At a certain point on this trail a frontiersman named Barker built a + forlorn ranch-house and <i>corral</i>, and offered what is conventionally + called “entertainment for man and beast.” + </p> + <p> + For years he lived there, dividing his time between fighting the Indians + and feeding the passing emigrants and their stock. Then the first railroad + to Denver was built, taking another route from the Missouri, and Barker's + occupation was gone. He retired with his gains to St. Louis and lived in + comfort. + </p> + <p> + Years passed on, and the “extension” over which our train is to pass was + planned. The old pioneers were excellent natural engineers and their + successors could find no better route than they had chosen. Thus it was + that “Barker's” became, during the construction period, an important + point, and the frontiersman's name came to figure on time-tables. + Meanwhile the place passed through a process of evolution which would have + delighted Darwin. In the party of engineers which first camped there was + Sinclair, and it was by his advice that the contractors selected it for + division headquarters. Then came drinking “saloons” and gambling houses—alike + the inevitable concomitant and the bane of Western settlements; then + scattered houses and shops and a shabby so-called hotel, in which the + letting of miserable rooms (divided from each other by canvas partitions) + was wholly subordinated to the business of the bar. Before long, Barker's + had acquired a worse reputation than even other towns of its type, the + abnormal and uncanny aggregations of squalor and vice which dotted the + plains in those days; and it was at its worst when Sinclair returned + thither and took up his quarters in the engineers' building. The passion + for gambling was raging, and to pander thereto were collected as choice a + lot of desperadoes as ever “stacked” cards or loaded dice. It came to be + noticed that they were on excellent terms with a man called “Jeff” + Johnson, who was lessee of the hotel; and to be suspected that said + Johnson, in local parlance, “stood in with” them. With this man had come + to Barker's his daughter Sarah, commonly known as “Sally,” a handsome + girl, with a straight, lithe figure, fine features, reddish auburn hair, + and dark-blue eyes. It is but fair to say that even the “toughs” of a + place like Barker's show some respect for the other sex, and Miss Sally's + case was no exception to the rule. The male population admired her; they + said she “put on heaps of style”; but none of them had seemed to make any + progress in her good graces. + </p> + <p> + On a pleasant afternoon just after the track had been laid some miles west + of Barker's, and construction trains were running with some regularity to + and from the end thereof, Sinclair sat on the rude veranda of the + engineers' quarters, smoking his well-colored meerschaum and looking at + the sunset. The atmosphere had been so clear during the day that glimpses + were had of Long's and Pike's peaks, and as the young engineer gazed at + the gorgeous cloud display he was thinking of the miners' quaint and + pathetic idea that the dead “go over the Range.” + </p> + <p> + “Nice-looking, ain't it, Major?” asked a voice at his elbow, and he turned + to see one of the contractors' officials taking a seat near him. + </p> + <p> + “More than nice-looking to my mind, Sam,” he replied. “What is the news + to-day?” + </p> + <p> + “Nothin' much. There's a sight of talk about the doin's of them faro an' + keno sharps. The boys is gettin' kind o' riled, fur they allow the game + ain't on the square wuth a cent. Some of 'em down to the tie-camp wuz + a-talkin' about a vigilance committee, an' I wouldn't be surprised ef they + meant business. Hev yer heard about the young feller that come in a week + ago from Laramie an' set up a new faro-bank?” + </p> + <p> + “No. What about him?” + </p> + <p> + “Wa'al, yer see he's a feller thet's got a lot of sand an' ain't afeard of + nobody, an' he's allowed to hev the deal to his place on the square every + time. Accordin' to my idee, gamblin's about the wust racket a feller kin + work, but it takes all sorts of men to make a world, an' ef the boys is + bound to hev a game, I calkilate they'd like to patronize his bank. Thet's + made the old crowd mighty mad an' they're a-talkin' about puttin' up a job + of cheatin' on him an' then stringin' him up. Besides, I kind o' think + there's some cussed jealousy on another lay as comes in. Yer see the young + feller—Cyrus Foster's his name—is sweet on thet gal of Jeff + Johnson's. Jeff was to Laramie before he come here, an' Foster knowed + Sally up thar. I allow he moved here to see her. Hello! Ef thar they ain't + a-coming now.” + </p> + <p> + Down a path leading from the town past the railroad buildings, and well on + the prairie, Sinclair saw the girl walking with the “young feller.” He was + talking earnestly to her and her eyes were cast down. She looked pretty + and, in a way, graceful; and there was in her attire a noticeable attempt + at neatness, and a faint reminiscence of bygone fashions. A smile came to + Sinclair's lips as he thought of a couple walking up Fifth Avenue during + his leave of absence not many months before, and of a letter many times + read, lying at that moment in his breast-pocket. + </p> + <p> + “Papa's bark is worse than his bite,” ran one of its sentences. “Of course + he does not like the idea of my leaving him and going away to such + dreadful and remote places as Denver and Omaha and I don't know what else; + but he will not oppose me in the end, and when you come on again—” + </p> + <p> + “By thunder!” exclaimed Sam; “ef thar ain't one of them cussed sharps + a-watchin' 'em.” + </p> + <p> + Sure enough a rough-looking fellow, his hat pulled over his eyes, half + concealed behind a pile of lumber, was casting a sinister glance toward + the pair. + </p> + <p> + “The gal's well enough,” continued Sam; “but I don't take a cent's wuth of + stock in thet thar father of her'n. He's in with them sharps, sure pop, + an' it don't suit his book to hev Foster hangin' round. It's ten to one he + sent that cuss to watch 'em, Wa'al, they're a queer lot, an' I'm afeared + thar's plenty of trouble ahead among 'em. Good luck to you, Major,” and, + he pushed back his chair and walked away. + </p> + <p> + After breakfast next morning, when Sinclair was sitting at the table in + his office, busy with maps and plans, the door was thrown open, and + Foster, panting for breath, ran in. + </p> + <p> + “Major Sinclair,” he said, speaking with difficulty, “I've no claim on + you, but I ask you to protect me. The other gamblers are going to hang me. + They are more than ten to one. They will track me here; unless you harbor + me, I'm a dead man.” + </p> + <p> + Sinclair rose from his chair in a second and walked to the window. A party + of men were approaching the building. He turned to Foster: + </p> + <p> + “I do not like your trade,” said he; “but I will not see you murdered if I + can help it. You are welcome here.” Foster said “Thank you,” stood still a + moment, and then began to pace the room, rapidly clinching his hands, his + whole frame quivering, his eyes flashing fire—“for all the world,” + Sinclair said, in telling the story afterward, “like a fierce caged + tiger.” + </p> + <p> + “My God!” he muttered, with concentrated intensity, “to be <i>trapped</i>, + trapped like this!” + </p> + <p> + Sinclair stepped quickly to the door of his bedroom and motioned Foster to + enter. Then there came a knock at the outer door, and he opened it and + stood on the threshold erect and firm. Half a dozen “toughs” faced him. + </p> + <p> + “Major,” said their spokesman, “we want that man. + </p> + <p> + “You can not have him, boys.” + </p> + <p> + “Major, we're a-goin' to take him.” + </p> + <p> + “You had better not try,” said Sinclair, with perfect ease and + self-possession, and in a pleasant voice. “I have given him shelter, and + you can only get him over my dead body. Of course you can kill me, but you + won't do even that without one or two of you going down; and then you know + perfectly well, boys, what will happen. You <i>know</i> that if you lay + your finger on a railroad man it's all up with you. There are five hundred + men in the tie-camp, not five miles away, and you don't need to be told + that in less than one hour after they get word there won't be a piece of + one of you big enough to bury.” + </p> + <p> + The men made no reply. They looked him straight in the eyes for a moment. + Had they seen a sign of flinching they might have risked the issue, but + there was none. With muttered curses, they slunk away. Sinclair shut and + bolted the door, then opened the one leading to the bedroom. + </p> + <p> + “Foster,” he said, “the train will pass here in half an hour. Have you + money enough?” + </p> + <p> + “Plenty, Major.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well; keep perfectly quiet and I will try to get you safely off.” He + went to an adjoining room and called Sam, the contractor's man. He took in + the situation at a glance. + </p> + <p> + “Wa'al Foster,” said he, “kind o' 'close call' for yer, warn't it? Guess + yer'd better be gittin' up an' gittin' pretty lively. The train boys will + take yer through an' yer kin come back when this racket's worked out.” + </p> + <p> + Sinclair glanced at his watch, then he walked to the window and looked + out. On a small <i>mesa</i>, or elevated plateau, commanding the path to + the railroad, he saw a number of men with rifles. + </p> + <p> + “Just as I expected,” said he. “Sam, ask one of the boys to go down to the + track and, when the train arrives, tell the conductor to come here.” + </p> + <p> + In a few minutes the whistle was heard and the conductor entered the + building. Receiving his instructions, he returned, and immediately on + engine, tender, and platform appeared the trainmen, with <i>their</i> + rifles covering the group on the bluff. Sinclair put on his hat. + </p> + <p> + “Now, Foster,” said he, “we have no time to lose. Take Sam's arm and mine, + and walk between us.” + </p> + <p> + The trio left the building and walked deliberately to the railroad. Not a + word was spoken. Besides the men in sight on the train, two behind the + window-blinds of the one passenger coach, and imseen, kept their fingers + on the triggers of their repeating carbines. It seemed a long time, + counted by anxious seconds, until Foster was safe in the coach. + </p> + <p> + “All ready, conductor,” said Sinclair. “Now, Foster, good-by. I am not + good at lecturing, but if I were you, I would make this the turning-point + in my life.” + </p> + <p> + Foster was much moved. + </p> + <p> + “I will do it, Major,” said he; “and I shall never forget what you have + done for me to-day. I am sure we shall meet again.” + </p> + <p> + With another shriek from the whistle the train started. Sinclair and Sam + saw the men quietly returning the firearms to their places as it gathered + way. Then they walked back to their quarters. The men on the <i>mesa</i>, + balked of their purpose, had withdrawn. + </p> + <p> + Sam accompanied Sinclair to his door, and then sententiously remarked: + “Major, I think I'll light out and find some of the boys. You ain't got no + call to know anything about it, but I allow it's about time them cusses + was bounced.” + </p> + <p> + Three nights after this, a powerful party of <i>Vigilantes</i>, stern and + inexorable, made a raid on all the gambling dens, broke the tables and + apparatus, and conducted the men to a distance from the town, where they + left them with an emphatic and concise warning as to the consequences of + any attempt to return. An exception was made in Jeff Johnson's cases—but + only for the sake of his daughter—for it was found that many a + “little game” had been carried on in his house. + </p> + <p> + Ere long he found it convenient to sell his business and retire to a town + some miles to the eastward, where the railroad influence was not as strong + as at Barker's. At about this time, Sinclair made his arrangements to go + to New York, with the pleasant prospect of marrying the young lady in + Fifth Avenue. In due time he arrived at Barker's with his young and + charming wife and remained for some days. The changes were astounding. + Commonplace respectability had replaced abnormal lawlessness. A neat + station stood where had been the rough contractor's buildings. At a new + “Windsor” (or was it “Brunswick”?) the performance of the kitchen + contrasted sadly (alas! how common is such contrast in these regions) with + the promise of the <i>menu</i>. There was a tawdry theatre yclept “Academy + of Music,” and there was not much to choose in the way of ugliness between + two “meeting-houses.” + </p> + <p> + “Upon my word, my dear,” said Sinclair to his wife, “I ought to be ashamed + to say it, but I prefer Barker's <i>au naturel</i>.” + </p> + <p> + One evening, just before the young people left the town, and as Mrs. + Sinclair sat alone in her room, the frowsy waitress announced “a lady,” + and was requested to bid her enter. A woman came with timid mien into the + room, sat down, as invited, and removed her veil. Of course the young + bride had never known Sally Johnson, the whilom belle of Barker's, but her + husband would have noticed at a glance how greatly she was changed from + the girl who walked with Foster past the engineers' quarters. It would be + hard to find a more striking contrast than was presented by the two women + as they sat facing each other: the one in the flush of health and beauty, + calm, sweet, self-possessed; the other still retaining some of the shabby + finery of old days, but pale and haggard, with black rings under her eyes, + and a pathetic air of humiliation. + </p> + <p> + “Mrs. Sinclair,” she hurriedly began, “you do not know me, nor the like of + me. I've got no right to speak to you, but I couldn't help it. Oh! please + believe me, I am not real downright bad. I'm Sally Johnson, daughter of a + man whom they drove out of the town. My mother died when I was little, and + I <i>never</i> had a show; and folks think because I live with my father, + and he makes me know the crowd he travels with, that I must be in with + them, and be of their sort. I never had a woman speak a kind word to me, + and I've had so much trouble that I'm just drove wild, and like to kill + myself; and then I was at the station when you came in, and I saw your + sweet face and the kind look in your eyes, and it came in my heart that + I'd speak to you if I died for it.” She leaned eagerly forward, her hands + nervously closing on the back of a chair. “I suppose your husband never + told you of me; like enough he never knew me; but I'll never forget him as + long as I live. When he was here before, there was a young man”—here + a faint color came in the wan cheeks—“who was fond of me, and I + thought the world of him, and my father was down on him, and the men that + father was in with wanted to kill him; and Mr. Sinclair saved his life. + He's gone away, and I've waited and waited for him to come back—and + perhaps I'll never see him again. But oh! dear lady, I'll never forget + what your husband did. He's a good man, and he deserves the love of a dear + good woman like you, and if I dared I'd pray for you both, night and day.” + </p> + <p> + She stopped suddenly and sank back in her seat, pale as before, and as if + frightened by her own emotion. Mrs. Sinclair had listened with sympathy + and increasing interest. + </p> + <p> + “My poor girl,” she said, speaking tenderly (she had a lovely, soft voice) + and with slightly heightened color, “I am delighted that you came to see + me, and that my husband was able to help you. Tell me, can we not do more + for you? I do not for one moment believe you can be happy with your + present surroundings. Can we not assist you to leave them?” + </p> + <p> + The girl rose, sadly shaking her head. “I thank you for your words,” she + said. “I don't suppose I'll ever see you again, but I'll say, God bless + you!” + </p> + <p> + She caught Mrs. Sinclair's hand, pressed it to her lips, and was gone. + </p> + <p> + Sinclair found his wife very thoughtful when he came home, and he listened + with much interest to her story. + </p> + <p> + “Poor girl!” said he; “Foster is the man to help her. I wonder where he + is? I must inquire about him.” + </p> + <p> + The next day they proceeded on their way to San Francisco, and matters + drifted on at Barker's much as before. Johnson had, after an absence of + some months, come back and lived without molestation amid the shifting + population. Now and then, too, some of the older residents fancied they + recognized, under slouched sombreros, the faces of some of his former + “crowd” about the “Ranchman's Home,” as his gaudy saloon was called. + </p> + <p> + Late on the very evening on which this story opens, and they had been + “making up” the Denver Express in the train-house on the Missouri, “Jim” + Watkins, agent and telegrapher at Barker's, was sitting in his little + office, communicating with the station rooms by the ticket window. Jim was + a cool, silent, efficient man, and not much given to talk about such + episodes in his past life as the “wiping out” by Indians of the + construction party to which he belonged, and his own rescue by the scouts. + He was smoking an old and favorite pipe, and talking with one of “the + boys” whose head appeared at the wicket. On a seat in the station sat a + woman in a black dress and veil, apparently waiting for a train. + </p> + <p> + “Got a heap of letters and telegrams there, ain't yer, Jim?” remarked the + man at the window. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” replied Jim; “they're for Engineer Sinclair, to be delivered to him + when he passes through here. He left on No. 17, to-night.” The inquirer + did not notice the sharp start of the woman near him. + </p> + <p> + “Is that good-lookin' wife of his'n a-comin' with him?” asked he. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, there's letters for her, too.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, good-night, Jim. See yer later,” and he went out. The woman + suddenly rose and ran to the window. + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Watkins,” cried she, “can I see you for a few moments where no one + can interrupt us? It's a matter of life and death.” She clutched the sill + with her thin hands, and her voice trembled. Watkins recognized Sally + Johnson in a moment. He unbolted a door, motioned her to enter, closed and + again bolted it, and also closed the ticket window. Then he pointed to a + chair, and the girl sat down and leaned eagerly forward. + </p> + <p> + “If they knew I was here,” she said in a hoarse whisper, “my life wouldn't + be safe five minutes. I was waiting to tell you a terrible story, and then + I heard who was on the train due here tomorrow night. Mr. Watkins, don't, + for God's sake, ask me how I found out, but I hope to die if I ain't + telling you the living truth! They're going to wreck that train—No. + 17—at Dead Man's Crossing, fifteen miles east, and rob the + passengers and the express car. It's the worst gang in the country, <i>Perry's</i>. + They're going to throw the train off the track, the passengers will be + maimed and killed—and Mr. Sinclair and his wife on the cars! Oh! my + God! Mr. Watkins, send them warning!” + </p> + <p> + She stood upright, her face deadly pale, her hands clasped. Watkins walked + deliberately to the railroad map which hung on the wall and scanned it. + Then he resumed his seat, laid his pipe down, fixed his eyes on the girl's + face, and began to question her. At the same time his right hand, with + which he had held the pipe, found its way to the telegraph key. None but + an expert could have distinguished any change in the <i>clicking</i> of + the instrument, which had been almost incessant; but Watkins had “called” + the head office on the Missouri. In two minutes the “sounder” rattled out + “<i>All right! What is it?</i>” + </p> + <p> + Watkins went on with his questions, his eyes still fixed on the poor + girl's face, and all the time his fingers, as it were, playing with the + key. If he were imperturbable, so was <i>not</i> a man sitting at a + receiving instrument nearly five hundred miles away. He had “taken” but a + few words when he jumped from his chair and cried: + </p> + <p> + “Shut that door, and call the superintendent and be quick! Charley, brace + up—lively—and come and write this out!” With his wonderful + electric pen, the handle several hundreds of miles long, Watkins, unknown + to his interlocutor, was printing in the Morse alphabet this startling + message: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + <i>“Inform'n rec'd. Perry gang going to throw No. 17 off track + near —xth mile-post, this division, about nine to-morrow + (Thursday) night, kill passengers, and rob express and mail. + Am alone here. No chance to verify story, but believe it to + be on square. Better make arrangements from your end to + block game. No Sheriff here now. Answer.”</i> +</pre> + <p> + The superintendent, responding to the hasty summons, heard the message + before the clerk had time to write it out. His lips were closely + compressed as he put his own hand on the key and sent these laconic + sentences: “<i>O. K. Keep perfectly dark. Will manage from this end</i>.” + </p> + <p> + Watkins, at Barker's, rose from his seat, opened the door a little way, + saw that the station was empty, and then said to the girl, brusquely, but + kindly: + </p> + <p> + “Sally, you've done the square thing, and saved that train. I'll take care + that you don't suffer and that you get well paid. Now come home with me, + and my wife will look out for you.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh! no,” cried the girl, shrinking back, “I must run away. You're mighty + kind, but I daren't go with you.” Detecting a shade of doubt in his eye, + she added: “Don't be afeared; I'll die before they'll know I've given them + away to you!” and she disappeared in the darkness. + </p> + <p> + At the other end of the wire, the superintendent had quietly impressed + secrecy on his operator and clerk, ordered his fast mare harnessed, and + gone to his private office. + </p> + <p> + “Read that!” said he to his secretary. “It was about time for some trouble + of this kind, and now I'm going to let Uncle Sam take care of his mails. + If I don't get to the reservation before the General's turned in, I shall + have to wake him up. Wait for me, please.” + </p> + <p> + The gray mare made the six miles to the military reservation in just half + an hour. The General was smoking his last cigar, and was alert in an + instant; and before the superintendent had finished the jorum of “hot + Scotch” hospitably tendered, the orders had gone by wire to the commanding + officer at Fort ———, some distance east of Barker's, and + been duly acknowledged. + </p> + <p> + Returning to the station, the superintendent remarked to the waiting + secretary: + </p> + <p> + “The General's all right. Of course we can't tell that this is not a sell; + but if those Perry hounds mean business they'll get all the fight they + want—and if they've got any souls—which I doubt—may the + Lord have mercy on them!” + </p> + <p> + He prepared several despatches, two of which were as follows: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Mr. Henry Sinclair: “On No. 17, Pawnee Junction: This + telegram your authority to take charge of train on which you + are, and demand obedience of all officials and trainmen on + road. Please do so, and act in accordance with information + wired station agent at Pawnee Junction.” + + To the Station Agent: “Reported Perry gang will try wreck + and rob No. 17 near —xth mile-post, Denver Division, about + nine Thursday night. Troops will await train at Fort ——. + Car ordered ready for them. Keep everything secret, + and act in accordance with orders of Mr. Sinclair.” + </pre> + <p> + “It's worth about ten thousand dollars,” sententiously remarked he, “that + Sinclair's on that train. He's got both sand and brains. Goodnight,” and + he went to bed and slept the sleep of the just. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + III + </h2> + <p> + The sun never shone more brightly and the air was never more clear and + bracing than when Sinclair helped his wife off the train at Pawnee + Junction. The station-master's face fell as he saw the lady, but he + saluted the engineer with as easy an air as he could assume, and watched + for an opportunity to speak to him alone. Sinclair read the despatches + with an unmoved countenance, and after a few minutes' reflection simply + said: “All right. Be sure to keep the matter perfectly quiet.” At + breakfast he was <i>distrait</i>—so much so that his wife asked him + what was the matter. Taking her aside, he at once showed her the + telegrams. + </p> + <p> + “You see my duty,” he said. “My only thought is about you, my dear child. + Will you stay here?” + </p> + <p> + She simply replied, looking into his face without a tremor: + </p> + <p> + “My place is with you.” Then the conductor called “All aboard,” and the + train once more started. + </p> + <p> + Sinclair asked Foster to join him in the smoking compartment and tell him + the promised story, which the latter did. His rescue at Barker's, he + frankly and gratefully said, <i>had</i> been the turning point in his + life. In brief, he had “sworn off” from gambling and drinking, had found + honest employment, and was doing well. + </p> + <p> + “I've two things to do now, Major,” he added; “first, I must show my + gratitude to you; and next”—he hesitated a little—“I want to + find that poor girl that I left behind at Barker's. She was engaged to + marry me, and when I came to think of it, and what a life I'd have made + her lead, I hadn't the heart till now to look for her; but, seeing I'm on + the right track, I'm going to find her, and get her to come with me. Her + father's an—old scoundrel, but that ain't her fault, and I ain't + going to marry <i>him</i>.” + </p> + <p> + “Foster,” quietly asked Sinclair, “do you know the Perry gang?” + </p> + <p> + The man's brow darkened. + </p> + <p> + “Know them?” said he. “I know them much too well. Perry is as ungodly a + cutthroat as ever killed an emigrant in cold blood, and he's got in his + gang nearly all those hounds that tried to hang me. Why do you ask, + Major?” + </p> + <p> + Sinclair handed him the despatches. “You are the only man on the train to + whom I have shown them,” said he. + </p> + <p> + Foster read them slowly, his eyes lighting up as he did so. “Looks as if + it was true,” said he. + </p> + <p> + “Let me see! Fort ———. Yes, that's the —th + infantry. Two of their boys were killed at Sidney last summer by some of + the same gang, and the regiment's sworn vengeance. Major, if this story's + on the square, that crowd's goose is cooked, and <i>don't you forget it!</i> + I say, you must give me a hand in.” + </p> + <p> + “Foster,” said Sinclair, “I am going to put responsibility on your + shoulders. I have no doubt that, if we be attacked, the soldiers will + dispose of the gang; but I must take all possible precautions for the + safety of the passengers. We must not alarm them. They can be made to + think that the troops are going on a scout, and only a certain number of + resolute men need be told of what we expect. Can you, late this afternoon, + go through the cars, and pick them out? I will then put you in charge of + the passenger cars, and you can post your men on the platforms to act in + case of need. My place will be ahead.'' + </p> + <p> + “Major, you can depend on me,” was Foster's reply. “I'll go through the + train and have my eye on some boys of the right sort, and that's got their + shooting-irons with them.” + </p> + <p> + Through the hours of that day on rolled the train, still over the crisp + buffalo grass, across the well-worn buffalo trails, past the prairie-dog + villages. The passengers chatted, dozed, played cards, read, all + unconscious, with the exception of three, of the coming conflict between + the good and the evil forces bearing on their fate; of the fell + preparations making for their disaster; of the grim preparations making to + avert such disaster; of all of which the little wires alongside of them + had been talking back and forth. Watkins had telegraphed that he still saw + no reason to doubt the good faith of his warning, and Sinclair had + reported his receipt of authority and his acceptance thereof. Meanwhile, + also, there had been set in motion a measure of that power to which appeal + is so reluctantly made in time of peace. + </p> + <p> + At Fort ———, a lonely post on the plains, the orders had + that morning been issued for twenty men under Lieutenant Halsey to parade + at 4 p. m., with overcoats, two days' rations, and ball cartridges; also + for Assistant Surgeon Kesler to report for duty with the party. Orders as + to destination were communicated direct to the lieutenant from the post + commander, and on the minute the little column moved, taking the road to + the station. The regiment from which it came had been in active service + among the Indians on the frontier for a long time, and the officers and + men were tried and seasoned fighters. Lieutenant Halsey had been well + known at the West Point balls as the “leader of the german.” From the last + of these balls he had gone straight to the field, and three years had + given him an enviable reputation for <i>sang-froid</i> and determined + bravery. He looked every inch the soldier as he walked along the trail, + his cloak thrown back and his sword tucked under his arm. The doctor, who + carried a Modoc bullet in some inaccessible part of his scarred body, + growled good-naturedly at the need of walking, and the men, enveloped in + their army-blue overcoats, marched easily by fours. Reaching the station, + the lieutenant called the agent aside, and with him inspected, on a + siding, a long platform car on which benches had been placed and secured. + Then he took his seat in the station and quietly waited, occasionally + twisting his long blond mustache. The doctor took a cigar with the agent, + and the men walked about or sat on the edge of the platform. One of them, + who obtained a surreptitious glance at his silent commander, told his + companions that there was trouble ahead for somebody. + </p> + <p> + “That's just the way the leftenant looked, boys,” said he, “when we was + laying for them Apaches that raided Jones's Ranch and killed the women and + little children.” + </p> + <p> + In a short time the officer looked at his watch, formed his men, and + directed them to take their places on the seats of the car. They had + hardly done so when the whistle of the approaching train was heard. When + it came up, the conductor, who had his instructions from Sinclair, had the + engine detached and backed on the siding for the soldiers' car, which thus + came between it and the foremost baggage car when the train was again made + up. As arranged, it was announced that the troops were to be taken a + certain distance to join a scouting party, and the curiosity of the + passengers was but slightly excited. The soldiers sat quietly in their + seats, their repeating rifles held between their knees, and the officer in + front. Sinclair joined the latter, and had a few words with him as the + train moved on. A little later, when the stars were shining brightly + overhead, they passed into the express car, and sent for the conductor and + other trainmen, and for Foster. In a few words Sinclair explained the + position of affairs. His statement was received with perfect coolness, and + the men only asked what they were to do. + </p> + <p> + “I hope, boys,” said Sinclair, “that we are going to put this gang + to-night where they will make no more trouble. Lieutenant Halsey will bear + the brunt of the fight, and it only remains for you to stand by the + interests committed to your care. Mr. Express Agent, what help do you + want?” The person addressed, a good-natured giant, girded with a cartridge + belt, smiled as he replied: + </p> + <p> + “Well, sir, I'm wearing a watch which the company gave me for standing off + the James gang in Missouri for half an hour, when we hadn't the ghost of a + soldier about. I'll take the contract, and welcome, to hold <i>this</i> + fort alone.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well,” said Sinclair. “Foster, what progress have you made?” + </p> + <p> + “Major, I've got ten or fifteen as good men as ever drew a bead, and just + red-hot for a fight.” + </p> + <p> + “That will do very well. Conductor, give the trainmen the rifles from the + baggage car and let them act under Mr. Foster. Now, boys, I am sure you + will do your duty. That is all.” + </p> + <p> + From the next station Sinclair telegraphed “All ready” to the + superintendent, who was pacing his office in much suspense. Then he said a + few words to his brave but anxious wife, and walked to the rear platform. + On it were several armed men, who bade him good-evening, and asked “when + the fun was going to begin.” Walking through the train, he found each + platform similarly occupied, and Foster going from one to the other. The + latter whispered as he passed him: + </p> + <p> + “Major, I found Arizona Joe, the scout, in the smokin' car, and he's on + the front platform. That lets me out, and although I know as well as you + that there ain't any danger about that rear sleeper where the madam is, I + ain't a-going to be far off from her.” Sinclair shook him by the hand; + then he looked at his watch. It was half-past eight. He passed through the + baggage and express cars, finding in the latter the agent sitting behind + his safe, on which lay two large revolvers. On the platform car he found + the soldiers and their commander sitting silent and imconcerned as before. + When Sinclair reached the latter and nodded, he rose and faced the men, + and his fine voice was clearly heard above the rattle of the train. + </p> + <p> + “Company, 'ten<i>tion!</i>” The soldiers straightened themselves in a + second. + </p> + <p> + “With ball cartridge, <i>load!</i>” It was done with the precision of a + machine. Then the lieutenant spoke, in the same clear, crisp, tones that + the troops had heard in more than one fierce battle. + </p> + <p> + “Men,” said he, “in a few minutes the Perry gang, which you will remember, + are going to try to run this train off the track, wound and kill the + passengers, and rob the cars and the United States mail. It is our + business to prevent them. Sergeant Wilson” (a gray-bearded + non-commissioned officer stood up and saluted), “I am going on the engine. + See that my orders are repeated. Now, men, aim low, and don't waste any + shots.” He and Sinclair climbed over the tender and spoke to the + engine-driver. + </p> + <p> + “How are the air-brakes working?” asked Sinclair. + </p> + <p> + “First-rate.” + </p> + <p> + “Then, if you slowed down now, you could stop the train in a third of her + length, couldn't you?” + </p> + <p> + “Easy, if you don't mind being shaken up a bit.” + </p> + <p> + “That is good. How is the country about the —xth mile-post?” + </p> + <p> + “Dead level, and smooth.” + </p> + <p> + “Good again. Now, Lieutenant Halsey, this is a splendid head-light, and we + can see a long way with my night glass. I will have a——” + </p> + <p> + “—2d mile-pole just past,” interrupted the engine-driver. + </p> + <p> + “Only one more to pass, then, before we ought to strike them. Now, + lieutenant, I undertake to stop the train within a very short distance of + the gang. They will be on both sides of the track, no doubt; and the + ground, as you hear, is quite level. You will best know what to do.” + </p> + <p> + The officer stepped back. “Sergeant,” called he, “do you hear me plainly?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Have the men fix bayonets. When the train stops, and I wave my sword, let + half jump off each side, run up quickly, and form line abreast of the + engine—not ahead.” + </p> + <p> + “Jack,” said Sinclair to the engine-driver, “is your hand steady?” The man + held it up with a smile. “Good. Now stand by your throttle and your + air-brake. Lieutenant, better warn the men to hold on tight, and tell the + sergeant to pass the word to the boys on the platforms, or they will be + knocked off by the sudden stop. Now for a look ahead!” and he brought the + binocular to his eyes. + </p> + <p> + The great parabolic head-light illuminated the track a long way in + advance, all behind it being of course in darkness. Suddenly Sinclair + cried out: + </p> + <p> + “The fools have a light there, as I am a living man; and there is a little + red one near us. What can that be? All ready, Jack! By heaven! they have + taken up two rails. Now <i>hold on, all!</i> Stop her!!” + </p> + <p> + The engine-driver shut his throttle-valve with a jerk. Then, holding hard + by it, he sharply turned a brass handle. There was a fearful jolt—a + grating—and the train's way was checked. The lieutenant, standing + sidewise, had drawn his sword. He waved it, and almost before he could get + off the engine the soldiers were up and forming, still in shadow, while + the bright light was thrown on a body of men ahead. + </p> + <p> + “Surrender, or you are dead men!” roared the officer. Curses and several + shots were the reply. Then came the orders, quick and sharp: + </p> + <p> + “<i>Forward! Close up! Double-quick! Halt!</i> Fire!”... It was speedily + over. Left on the car with the men, the old sergeant had said: + </p> + <p> + “Boys, you hear. It's that ——— Perry gang. Now, don't + forget Larry and Charley that they murdered last year,” and there had come + from the soldiers a sort of fierce, subdued <i>growl</i>. The volley was + followed by a bayonet charge, and it required all the officer's authority + to save the lives even of those who “threw up their hands.” Large as the + gang was (outnumbering the troops), well armed and desperate as they were, + every one was dead, wounded, or a prisoner when the men who guarded the + train platforms ran up. The surgeon, with professional coolness, walked up + to the robbers, his instrument case under his arm. + </p> + <p> + “Not much for me to do here, Lieutenant,” said he. “That practice for + Creedmoor is telling on the shooting. Good thing for the gang, too. + Bullets are better than rope, and a Colorado jury will give them plenty of + that.” + </p> + <p> + Sinclair had sent a man to tell his wife that all was over. Then he + ordered a fire lighted, and the rails relaid. The flames lit a strange + scene as the passengers flocked up. The lieutenant posted men to keep them + back. + </p> + <p> + “Is there a telegraph station not far ahead, Sinclair?” asked he. “Yes? + All right.” He drew a small pad from his pocket, and wrote a despatch to + the post commander. + </p> + <p> + “Be good enough to send that for me,” said he, “and leave orders at + Barker's for the night express eastward to stop for us, and bring a posse + to take care of the wounded and prisoners. And now, my dear Sinclair, I + suggest that you get the passengers into the cars, and go on as soon as + those rails are spiked. When they realize the situation, some of them will + feel precious ugly, and you know we can't have any lynching.” + </p> + <p> + Sinclair glanced at the rails and gave the word at once to the conductor + and brakemen, who began vociferating, “All aboard!” Just then Foster + appeared, an expression of intense satisfaction showing clearly on his + face, in the firelight. + </p> + <p> + “Major,” said he, “I didn't use to take much stock in special Providence, + or things being ordered; but I'm darned if I don't believe in them from + this day. I was bound to stay where you put me, but I was uneasy, and wild + to be in the scrimmage; and, if I had been there, I wouldn't have taken + notice of a little red light that wasn't much behind the rear platform + when we stopped. When I saw there was no danger there I ran back, and what + do you think I found? There was a woman in a dead faint, and just + clutching a lantern that she had tied up in a red scarf, poor little + thing! And, Major, it was Sally! It was the little girl that loved me out + at Barker's, and has loved me and waited for me ever since! And when she + came to, and knew me, she was so glad she 'most fainted away again; and + she let on as it was her that gave away the job. And I took her into the + sleeper, and the madam, God bless her!—she knew Sally before and was + good to her—she took care of her and is cheering her up. And now, + Major, I'm going to take her straight to Denver, and send for a parson, + and get her married to me, and she'll brace up, sure pop.” + </p> + <p> + The whistle sounded, and the train started. From the window of the + “sleeper” Sinclair and his wife took their last look at the weird scene. + The lieutenant, standing at the side of the track, wrapped in his cloak, + caught a glimpse of Mrs. Sinclair's pretty face, and returned her bow. + Then, as the car passed out of sight, he tugged at his mustache and + hummed: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Why, boys, why, + Should we be melancholy, boys + Whose business 'tis to die?” + </pre> + <p> + In less than an hour, telegrams having in the meantime been sent in both + directions, the train ran alongside the platform at Barker's; and Watkins, + imperturbable as usual, met Sinclair, and gave him his letters. + </p> + <p> + “Perry gang wiped out, I hear, Major,” said he. “Good thing for the + country. That's a lesson the 'toughs' in these parts won't forget for a + long time. Plucky girl that give 'em away, wasn't she? Hope she's all + right.” + </p> + <p> + “She is all right,” said Sinclair with a smile. + </p> + <p> + “Glad of that. By the way, that father of her'n passed in his checks + to-night. He'd got one warning from the Vigilantes, and yesterday they + found out he was in with this gang, and they was a-going for him; but when + the telegram come, he put a pistol to his head and saved them all trouble. + Good riddance to everybody, I say. The sheriff's here now, and is going + east on the next train to get them fellows. He's got a big posse together, + and I wouldn't wonder if they was hard to hold in, after the 'boys in + blue' is gone.” + </p> + <p> + In a few minutes the train was off, and its living freight—the just + and the unjust, the reformed and the rescued, the happy and the anxious. + With many of the passengers the episode of the night was already a thing + of the past. Sinclair sat by the side of his wife, to whose cheeks the + color had all come back; and Sally Johnson lay in her berth, faint still, + but able to give an occasional smile to Foster. In the station on the + Missouri the reporters were gathered about the happy superintendent, + smoking his cigars, and filling their note-books with items. In Denver, + their brethren would gladly have done the same, but Watkins failed to + gratify them. He was a man of few words. When the train had gone, and a + friend remarked: “Hope they'll get through all right, now,” he simply + said: “Yes, likely. Two shots don't most always go in the same hole.” Then + he went to the telegraph instrument. In a few minutes he could have told a + story as wild as a Norse <i>saga</i>, but what he said, when Denver had + responded, was only—“No. 17, fifty-five minutes late!” + </p> + <div style="height: 6em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Denver Express, by A. A. Hayes + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DENVER EXPRESS *** + +***** This file should be named 23180-h.htm or 23180-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/3/1/8/23180/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Denver Express + From "Belgravia" for January, 1884 + +Author: A. A. Hayes + +Release Date: October 24, 2007 [EBook #23180] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DENVER EXPRESS *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +THE DENVER EXPRESS + +By A. A. Hayes + +From "Belgravia" for January, 1884 + + + + +I + +Any one who has seen an outward-bound clipper ship getting under way, +and heard the "shanty-songs" sung by the sailors as they toiled at +capstan and halliards, will probably remember that rhymeless but +melodious refrain-- + + "I'm bound to see its muddy waters, + Yeo ho! that rolling river; + Bound to see its muddy waters, + Yeo ho! the wild Missouri." + +Only a happy inspiration could have impelled Jack to apply the adjective +"wild" to that ill-behaved and disreputable river which, tipsily bearing +its enormous burden of mud from the far Northwest, totters, reels, +runs its tortuous course for hundreds on hundreds of miles and which, +encountering the lordly and thus far well-behaved Mississippi at Alton, +and forcing its company upon this splendid river (as if some drunken +fellow should lock arms with a dignified pedestrian), contaminates it +all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. + +At a certain point on the banks of this river, or rather--as it has +the habit of abandoning and destroying said banks--at a safe distance +therefrom, there is a town from which a railroad takes its departure, +for its long climb up the natural incline of the Great Plains, to the +base of the mountains; hence the importance to this town of the large +but somewhat shabby building serving as terminal station. In its smoky +interior, late in the evening and not very long ago, a train was nearly +ready to start. It was a train possessing a certain consideration. For +the benefit of a public easily gulled and enamored of grandiloquent +terms, it was advertised as the "Denver Fast Express"; sometimes, with +strange unfitness, as the "Lightning Express"; "elegant" and "palatial" +cars were declared to be included therein; and its departure was one of +the great events of the twenty-four hours in the country round about. A +local poet described it in the "live" paper of the town, cribbing from +an old Eastern magazine and passing off as original the lines-- + + "Again we stepped into the street, + A train came thundering by + Drawn by the snorting iron steed + Swifter than eagles fly. + Rumbled the wheels, the whistle shrieked, + Far rolled the smoky cloud, + Echoed the hills, the valleys shook, + The flying forests bowed." + +The trainmen, on the other hand, used no fine phrases. They called it +simply "Number Seventeen"; and, when it started, said it had "pulled +out." + +On the evening in question, there it stood, nearly ready. Just behind +the great hissing locomotive, with its parabolic headlight and its +coal-laden tender, came the baggage, mail, and express cars; then the +passenger coaches, in which the social condition of the occupants seemed +to be in inverse ratio to their distance from the engine. First came +emigrants, "honest miners," "cowboys," and laborers; Irishmen, Germans, +Welshmen, Mennonites from Russia, quaint of garb and speech, and +Chinamen. Then came along cars full of people of better station, and +last the great Pullman "sleepers," in which the busy black porters were +making up the berths for well-to-do travelers of diverse nationalities +and occupations. + +It was a curious study for a thoughful observer, this motley crowd of +human beings sinking all differences of race, creed, and habits in +the common purpose to move westward--to the mountain fastnesses, the +sage-brush deserts and the Golden Gate. + +The warning bell had sounded, and the fireman leaned far out for the +signal. The gong struck sharply, the conductor shouted, "All aboard," +and raised his hand; the tired ticket-seller shut his window, and the +train moved out of the station, gathered way as it cleared the outskirts +of the town, rounded a curve, entered on an absolutely straight line, +and, with one long whistle from the engine, settled down to its work. +Through the night hours it sped on, past lonely ranches and infrequent +stations, by and across shallow streams fringed with cottonwood trees, +over the greenish-yellow buffalo grass near the old trail where many a +poor emigrant, many a bold frontiersman, many a brave soldier, had laid +his bones but a short time before. + +Familiar as they may be, there is something strangely impressive about +all-night journeys by rail, and those forming part of an American +transcontinental trip are almost weird. From the windows of a night +express in Europe or the older portions of the United States, one looks +on houses and lights, cultivated fields, fences, and hedges; and, hurled +as he may be through the darkness, he has a sense of companionship and +semi-security. Far different is it when the long train is running over +those two rails which, seen before night sets in, seem to meet on the +horizon. Within all is as if between two great seaboard cities; the +neatly dressed people, the uniformed officials, the handsome fittings, +the various appliances for comfort. Without are now long dreary levels, +now deep and wild canyons, now an environment of strange and grotesque +rock-formations, castles, battlements, churches, statues. The antelope +fleetly runs, and the coyote skulks away from the track, and the gray +wolf howls afar off. It is for all the world, to one's fancy, as if +a bit of civilization, a family or community, its belongings and +surroundings complete, were flying through regions barbarous and +inhospitable. + +From the cab of Engine No. 32; the driver of the Denver Express saw, +showing faintly in the early morning, the buildings grouped about the +little station ten miles ahead, where breakfast awaited his passengers. +He looked at his watch; he had just twenty minutes in which to run the +distance, as he had run it often before. Something, however, traveled +faster than he. From the smoky station out of which the train passed +the night before, along the slender wire stretched on rough poles at the +side of the track, a spark of that mysterious something which we call +electricity flashed at the moment he returned the watch to his pocket; +and in five minutes' time the station-master came out on the platform, a +little more thoughtful than his wont, and looked eastward for the smoke +of the train. With but three of the passengers in that train has this +tale especially to do, and they were all in the new and comfortable +Pullman "City of Cheyenne." One was a tall, well-made man of about +thirty--blond, blue-eyed, bearded, straight, sinewy, alert. Of all in +the train he seemed the most thoroughly at home, and the respectful +greeting of the conductor, as he passed through the car, marked him as +an officer of the road. Such was he--Henry Sinclair, assistant engineer, +quite famed on the line, high in favor with the directors, and a rising +man in all ways. It was known on the road that he was expected in +Denver, and there were rumors that he was to organize the parties for +the survey of an important "extension." Beside him sat his pretty young +wife. She was a New Yorker--one could tell at first glance--from the +feather of her little bonnet, matching the gray traveling dress, to +the tips of her dainty boots; and one, too, at whom old Fifth Avenue +promenaders would have turned to look. She had a charming figure, brown +hair, hazel eyes, and an expression at once kind, intelligent, and +spirited. She had cheerfully left a luxurious home to follow the young +engineer's fortunes; and it was well known that those fortunes had been +materially advanced by her tact and cleverness. + +The third passenger in question had just been in conversation with +Sinclair and the latter was telling his wife of their curious meeting. +Entering the toilet-room at the rear of the car, he said, he had begun +his ablutions by the side of another man, and it was as they were +sluicing their faces with water that he heard the cry: + +"Why, Major, is that you? Just to think of meeting you here!" + +A man of about twenty-eight years of age, slight, muscular, wiry, had +seized his wet hand and was wringing it. He had black eyes, keen and +bright, swarthy complexion, black hair and mustache. A keen observer +might have seen about him some signs of a _jeunesse orageuse_, but his +manner was frank and pleasing. Sinclair looked him in the face, puzzled +for a moment. + +"Don't you remember Foster?" asked the man. + +"Of course I do," replied Sinclair. "For a moment I could not place you. +Where have you been and what have you been doing?" + +"Oh," replied Foster, laughing, "I've braced up and turned over a new +leaf. I'm a respectable member of society, have a place in the express +company, and am going to Denver to take charge." + +"I am very glad to hear it, and you must tell me your story when we have +had our breakfast." + +The pretty young woman was just about to ask who Foster was, when the +speed of the train slackened, and the brakeman opened the door of the +car and cried out in stentorian tones: + +"Pawnee Junction; twenty minutes for refreshments!" + + + + +II + +When the celebrated Rocky Mountain gold excitement broke out, more than +twenty years ago, and people painted "Pike's Peak or Bust" on the canvas +covers of their wagons and started for the diggings, they established a +"trail" or "trace" leading in a southwesterly direction from the old one +to California. + +At a certain point on this trail a frontiersman named Barker built a +forlorn ranch-house and _corral_, and offered what is conventionally +called "entertainment for man and beast." + +For years he lived there, dividing his time between fighting the Indians +and feeding the passing emigrants and their stock. Then the first +railroad to Denver was built, taking another route from the Missouri, +and Barker's occupation was gone. He retired with his gains to St. Louis +and lived in comfort. + +Years passed on, and the "extension" over which our train is to pass +was planned. The old pioneers were excellent natural engineers and their +successors could find no better route than they had chosen. Thus it was +that "Barker's" became, during the construction period, an important +point, and the frontiersman's name came to figure on time-tables. +Meanwhile the place passed through a process of evolution which would +have delighted Darwin. In the party of engineers which first camped +there was Sinclair, and it was by his advice that the contractors +selected it for division headquarters. Then came drinking "saloons" +and gambling houses--alike the inevitable concomitant and the bane +of Western settlements; then scattered houses and shops and a shabby +so-called hotel, in which the letting of miserable rooms (divided from +each other by canvas partitions) was wholly subordinated to the business +of the bar. Before long, Barker's had acquired a worse reputation than +even other towns of its type, the abnormal and uncanny aggregations of +squalor and vice which dotted the plains in those days; and it was at +its worst when Sinclair returned thither and took up his quarters in the +engineers' building. The passion for gambling was raging, and to pander +thereto were collected as choice a lot of desperadoes as ever "stacked" +cards or loaded dice. It came to be noticed that they were on excellent +terms with a man called "Jeff" Johnson, who was lessee of the hotel; and +to be suspected that said Johnson, in local parlance, "stood in with" +them. With this man had come to Barker's his daughter Sarah, commonly +known as "Sally," a handsome girl, with a straight, lithe figure, fine +features, reddish auburn hair, and dark-blue eyes. It is but fair to say +that even the "toughs" of a place like Barker's show some respect for +the other sex, and Miss Sally's case was no exception to the rule. The +male population admired her; they said she "put on heaps of style"; but +none of them had seemed to make any progress in her good graces. + +On a pleasant afternoon just after the track had been laid some miles +west of Barker's, and construction trains were running with some +regularity to and from the end thereof, Sinclair sat on the rude veranda +of the engineers' quarters, smoking his well-colored meerschaum and +looking at the sunset. The atmosphere had been so clear during the day +that glimpses were had of Long's and Pike's peaks, and as the young +engineer gazed at the gorgeous cloud display he was thinking of the +miners' quaint and pathetic idea that the dead "go over the Range." + +"Nice-looking, ain't it, Major?" asked a voice at his elbow, and he +turned to see one of the contractors' officials taking a seat near him. + +"More than nice-looking to my mind, Sam," he replied. "What is the news +to-day?" + +"Nothin' much. There's a sight of talk about the doin's of them faro an' +keno sharps. The boys is gettin' kind o' riled, fur they allow the game +ain't on the square wuth a cent. Some of 'em down to the tie-camp wuz +a-talkin' about a vigilance committee, an' I wouldn't be surprised ef +they meant business. Hev yer heard about the young feller that come in a +week ago from Laramie an' set up a new faro-bank?" + +"No. What about him?" + +"Wa'al, yer see he's a feller thet's got a lot of sand an' ain't afeard +of nobody, an' he's allowed to hev the deal to his place on the square +every time. Accordin' to my idee, gamblin's about the wust racket a +feller kin work, but it takes all sorts of men to make a world, an' ef +the boys is bound to hev a game, I calkilate they'd like to patronize +his bank. Thet's made the old crowd mighty mad an' they're a-talkin' +about puttin' up a job of cheatin' on him an' then stringin' him up. +Besides, I kind o' think there's some cussed jealousy on another lay as +comes in. Yer see the young feller--Cyrus Foster's his name--is sweet on +thet gal of Jeff Johnson's. Jeff was to Laramie before he come here, an' +Foster knowed Sally up thar. I allow he moved here to see her. Hello! Ef +thar they ain't a-coming now." + +Down a path leading from the town past the railroad buildings, and well +on the prairie, Sinclair saw the girl walking with the "young feller." +He was talking earnestly to her and her eyes were cast down. She looked +pretty and, in a way, graceful; and there was in her attire a noticeable +attempt at neatness, and a faint reminiscence of bygone fashions. A +smile came to Sinclair's lips as he thought of a couple walking up Fifth +Avenue during his leave of absence not many months before, and of a +letter many times read, lying at that moment in his breast-pocket. + +"Papa's bark is worse than his bite," ran one of its sentences. "Of +course he does not like the idea of my leaving him and going away to +such dreadful and remote places as Denver and Omaha and I don't know +what else; but he will not oppose me in the end, and when you come on +again--" + +"By thunder!" exclaimed Sam; "ef thar ain't one of them cussed sharps +a-watchin' 'em." + +Sure enough a rough-looking fellow, his hat pulled over his eyes, half +concealed behind a pile of lumber, was casting a sinister glance toward +the pair. + +"The gal's well enough," continued Sam; "but I don't take a cent's wuth +of stock in thet thar father of her'n. He's in with them sharps, sure +pop, an' it don't suit his book to hev Foster hangin' round. It's ten to +one he sent that cuss to watch 'em, Wa'al, they're a queer lot, an' +I'm afeared thar's plenty of trouble ahead among 'em. Good luck to you, +Major," and, he pushed back his chair and walked away. + +After breakfast next morning, when Sinclair was sitting at the table +in his office, busy with maps and plans, the door was thrown open, and +Foster, panting for breath, ran in. + +"Major Sinclair," he said, speaking with difficulty, "I've no claim on +you, but I ask you to protect me. The other gamblers are going to hang +me. They are more than ten to one. They will track me here; unless you +harbor me, I'm a dead man." + +Sinclair rose from his chair in a second and walked to the window. A +party of men were approaching the building. He turned to Foster: + +"I do not like your trade," said he; "but I will not see you murdered +if I can help it. You are welcome here." Foster said "Thank you," stood +still a moment, and then began to pace the room, rapidly clinching his +hands, his whole frame quivering, his eyes flashing fire--"for all the +world," Sinclair said, in telling the story afterward, "like a fierce +caged tiger." + +"My God!" he muttered, with concentrated intensity, "to be _trapped_, +trapped like this!" + +Sinclair stepped quickly to the door of his bedroom and motioned Foster +to enter. Then there came a knock at the outer door, and he opened it +and stood on the threshold erect and firm. Half a dozen "toughs" faced +him. + +"Major," said their spokesman, "we want that man. + +"You can not have him, boys." + +"Major, we're a-goin' to take him." + +"You had better not try," said Sinclair, with perfect ease and +self-possession, and in a pleasant voice. "I have given him shelter, and +you can only get him over my dead body. Of course you can kill me, but +you won't do even that without one or two of you going down; and then +you know perfectly well, boys, what will happen. You _know_ that if you +lay your finger on a railroad man it's all up with you. There are five +hundred men in the tie-camp, not five miles away, and you don't need to +be told that in less than one hour after they get word there won't be a +piece of one of you big enough to bury." + +The men made no reply. They looked him straight in the eyes for a +moment. Had they seen a sign of flinching they might have risked the +issue, but there was none. With muttered curses, they slunk away. +Sinclair shut and bolted the door, then opened the one leading to the +bedroom. + +"Foster," he said, "the train will pass here in half an hour. Have you +money enough?" + +"Plenty, Major." + +"Very well; keep perfectly quiet and I will try to get you safely off." +He went to an adjoining room and called Sam, the contractor's man. He +took in the situation at a glance. + +"Wa'al Foster," said he, "kind o' 'close call' for yer, warn't it? Guess +yer'd better be gittin' up an' gittin' pretty lively. The train boys +will take yer through an' yer kin come back when this racket's worked +out." + +Sinclair glanced at his watch, then he walked to the window and looked +out. On a small _mesa_, or elevated plateau, commanding the path to the +railroad, he saw a number of men with rifles. + +"Just as I expected," said he. "Sam, ask one of the boys to go down to +the track and, when the train arrives, tell the conductor to come here." + +In a few minutes the whistle was heard and the conductor entered the +building. Receiving his instructions, he returned, and immediately on +engine, tender, and platform appeared the trainmen, with _their_ rifles +covering the group on the bluff. Sinclair put on his hat. + +"Now, Foster," said he, "we have no time to lose. Take Sam's arm and +mine, and walk between us." + +The trio left the building and walked deliberately to the railroad. Not +a word was spoken. Besides the men in sight on the train, two behind the +window-blinds of the one passenger coach, and imseen, kept their fingers +on the triggers of their repeating carbines. It seemed a long time, +counted by anxious seconds, until Foster was safe in the coach. + +"All ready, conductor," said Sinclair. "Now, Foster, good-by. I am +not good at lecturing, but if I were you, I would make this the +turning-point in my life." + +Foster was much moved. + +"I will do it, Major," said he; "and I shall never forget what you have +done for me to-day. I am sure we shall meet again." + +With another shriek from the whistle the train started. Sinclair and +Sam saw the men quietly returning the firearms to their places as it +gathered way. Then they walked back to their quarters. The men on the +_mesa_, balked of their purpose, had withdrawn. + +Sam accompanied Sinclair to his door, and then sententiously remarked: +"Major, I think I'll light out and find some of the boys. You ain't +got no call to know anything about it, but I allow it's about time them +cusses was bounced." + +Three nights after this, a powerful party of _Vigilantes_, stern and +inexorable, made a raid on all the gambling dens, broke the tables and +apparatus, and conducted the men to a distance from the town, where they +left them with an emphatic and concise warning as to the consequences +of any attempt to return. An exception was made in Jeff Johnson's +cases--but only for the sake of his daughter--for it was found that many +a "little game" had been carried on in his house. + +Ere long he found it convenient to sell his business and retire to a +town some miles to the eastward, where the railroad influence was not +as strong as at Barker's. At about this time, Sinclair made his +arrangements to go to New York, with the pleasant prospect of marrying +the young lady in Fifth Avenue. In due time he arrived at Barker's with +his young and charming wife and remained for some days. The changes +were astounding. Commonplace respectability had replaced abnormal +lawlessness. A neat station stood where had been the rough contractor's +buildings. At a new "Windsor" (or was it "Brunswick"?) the performance +of the kitchen contrasted sadly (alas! how common is such contrast +in these regions) with the promise of the _menu_. There was a tawdry +theatre yclept "Academy of Music," and there was not much to choose in +the way of ugliness between two "meeting-houses." + +"Upon my word, my dear," said Sinclair to his wife, "I ought to be +ashamed to say it, but I prefer Barker's _au naturel_." + +One evening, just before the young people left the town, and as Mrs. +Sinclair sat alone in her room, the frowsy waitress announced "a lady," +and was requested to bid her enter. A woman came with timid mien into +the room, sat down, as invited, and removed her veil. Of course the +young bride had never known Sally Johnson, the whilom belle of Barker's, +but her husband would have noticed at a glance how greatly she was +changed from the girl who walked with Foster past the engineers' +quarters. It would be hard to find a more striking contrast than was +presented by the two women as they sat facing each other: the one in the +flush of health and beauty, calm, sweet, self-possessed; the other still +retaining some of the shabby finery of old days, but pale and haggard, +with black rings under her eyes, and a pathetic air of humiliation. + +"Mrs. Sinclair," she hurriedly began, "you do not know me, nor the like +of me. I've got no right to speak to you, but I couldn't help it. Oh! +please believe me, I am not real downright bad. I'm Sally Johnson, +daughter of a man whom they drove out of the town. My mother died when +I was little, and I _never_ had a show; and folks think because I live +with my father, and he makes me know the crowd he travels with, that I +must be in with them, and be of their sort. I never had a woman speak a +kind word to me, and I've had so much trouble that I'm just drove wild, +and like to kill myself; and then I was at the station when you came in, +and I saw your sweet face and the kind look in your eyes, and it came +in my heart that I'd speak to you if I died for it." She leaned eagerly +forward, her hands nervously closing on the back of a chair. "I suppose +your husband never told you of me; like enough he never knew me; but +I'll never forget him as long as I live. When he was here before, there +was a young man"--here a faint color came in the wan cheeks--"who was +fond of me, and I thought the world of him, and my father was down on +him, and the men that father was in with wanted to kill him; and Mr. +Sinclair saved his life. He's gone away, and I've waited and waited for +him to come back--and perhaps I'll never see him again. But oh! dear +lady, I'll never forget what your husband did. He's a good man, and he +deserves the love of a dear good woman like you, and if I dared I'd pray +for you both, night and day." + +She stopped suddenly and sank back in her seat, pale as before, and +as if frightened by her own emotion. Mrs. Sinclair had listened with +sympathy and increasing interest. + +"My poor girl," she said, speaking tenderly (she had a lovely, soft +voice) and with slightly heightened color, "I am delighted that you came +to see me, and that my husband was able to help you. Tell me, can we not +do more for you? I do not for one moment believe you can be happy with +your present surroundings. Can we not assist you to leave them?" + +The girl rose, sadly shaking her head. "I thank you for your words," she +said. "I don't suppose I'll ever see you again, but I'll say, God bless +you!" + +She caught Mrs. Sinclair's hand, pressed it to her lips, and was gone. + +Sinclair found his wife very thoughtful when he came home, and he +listened with much interest to her story. + +"Poor girl!" said he; "Foster is the man to help her. I wonder where he +is? I must inquire about him." + +The next day they proceeded on their way to San Francisco, and matters +drifted on at Barker's much as before. Johnson had, after an absence of +some months, come back and lived without molestation amid the shifting +population. Now and then, too, some of the older residents fancied they +recognized, under slouched sombreros, the faces of some of his former +"crowd" about the "Ranchman's Home," as his gaudy saloon was called. + +Late on the very evening on which this story opens, and they had been +"making up" the Denver Express in the train-house on the Missouri, "Jim" +Watkins, agent and telegrapher at Barker's, was sitting in his little +office, communicating with the station rooms by the ticket window. Jim +was a cool, silent, efficient man, and not much given to talk about +such episodes in his past life as the "wiping out" by Indians of the +construction party to which he belonged, and his own rescue by the +scouts. He was smoking an old and favorite pipe, and talking with one of +"the boys" whose head appeared at the wicket. On a seat in the station +sat a woman in a black dress and veil, apparently waiting for a train. + +"Got a heap of letters and telegrams there, ain't yer, Jim?" remarked +the man at the window. + +"Yes," replied Jim; "they're for Engineer Sinclair, to be delivered +to him when he passes through here. He left on No. 17, to-night." The +inquirer did not notice the sharp start of the woman near him. + +"Is that good-lookin' wife of his'n a-comin' with him?" asked he. + +"Yes, there's letters for her, too." + +"Well, good-night, Jim. See yer later," and he went out. The woman +suddenly rose and ran to the window. + +"Mr. Watkins," cried she, "can I see you for a few moments where no one +can interrupt us? It's a matter of life and death." She clutched the +sill with her thin hands, and her voice trembled. Watkins recognized +Sally Johnson in a moment. He unbolted a door, motioned her to enter, +closed and again bolted it, and also closed the ticket window. Then he +pointed to a chair, and the girl sat down and leaned eagerly forward. + +"If they knew I was here," she said in a hoarse whisper, "my life +wouldn't be safe five minutes. I was waiting to tell you a terrible +story, and then I heard who was on the train due here tomorrow night. +Mr. Watkins, don't, for God's sake, ask me how I found out, but I hope +to die if I ain't telling you the living truth! They're going to wreck +that train--No. 17--at Dead Man's Crossing, fifteen miles east, and rob +the passengers and the express car. It's the worst gang in the +country, _Perry's_. They're going to throw the train off the track, the +passengers will be maimed and killed--and Mr. Sinclair and his wife on +the cars! Oh! my God! Mr. Watkins, send them warning!" + +She stood upright, her face deadly pale, her hands clasped. Watkins +walked deliberately to the railroad map which hung on the wall and +scanned it. Then he resumed his seat, laid his pipe down, fixed his +eyes on the girl's face, and began to question her. At the same time +his right hand, with which he had held the pipe, found its way to the +telegraph key. None but an expert could have distinguished any change in +the _clicking_ of the instrument, which had been almost incessant; but +Watkins had "called" the head office on the Missouri. In two minutes the +"sounder" rattled out "_All right! What is it?_" + +Watkins went on with his questions, his eyes still fixed on the poor +girl's face, and all the time his fingers, as it were, playing with the +key. If he were imperturbable, so was _not_ a man sitting at a receiving +instrument nearly five hundred miles away. He had "taken" but a few +words when he jumped from his chair and cried: + +"Shut that door, and call the superintendent and be quick! Charley, +brace up--lively--and come and write this out!" With his wonderful +electric pen, the handle several hundreds of miles long, Watkins, +unknown to his interlocutor, was printing in the Morse alphabet this +startling message: + + _"Inform'n rec'd. Perry gang going to throw No. 17 off track + near --xth mile-post, this division, about nine to-morrow + (Thursday) night, kill passengers, and rob express and mail. + Am alone here. No chance to verify story, but believe it to + be on square. Better make arrangements from your end to + block game. No Sheriff here now. Answer."_ + +The superintendent, responding to the hasty summons, heard the message +before the clerk had time to write it out. His lips were closely +compressed as he put his own hand on the key and sent these laconic +sentences: "_O. K. Keep perfectly dark. Will manage from this end_." + +Watkins, at Barker's, rose from his seat, opened the door a little way, +saw that the station was empty, and then said to the girl, brusquely, +but kindly: + +"Sally, you've done the square thing, and saved that train. I'll take +care that you don't suffer and that you get well paid. Now come home +with me, and my wife will look out for you." + +"Oh! no," cried the girl, shrinking back, "I must run away. You're +mighty kind, but I daren't go with you." Detecting a shade of doubt in +his eye, she added: "Don't be afeared; I'll die before they'll know I've +given them away to you!" and she disappeared in the darkness. + +At the other end of the wire, the superintendent had quietly impressed +secrecy on his operator and clerk, ordered his fast mare harnessed, and +gone to his private office. + +"Read that!" said he to his secretary. "It was about time for some +trouble of this kind, and now I'm going to let Uncle Sam take care of +his mails. If I don't get to the reservation before the General's turned +in, I shall have to wake him up. Wait for me, please." + +The gray mare made the six miles to the military reservation in just +half an hour. The General was smoking his last cigar, and was alert in +an instant; and before the superintendent had finished the jorum of +"hot Scotch" hospitably tendered, the orders had gone by wire to the +commanding officer at Fort ------, some distance east of Barker's, and +been duly acknowledged. + +Returning to the station, the superintendent remarked to the waiting +secretary: + +"The General's all right. Of course we can't tell that this is not a +sell; but if those Perry hounds mean business they'll get all the fight +they want--and if they've got any souls--which I doubt--may the Lord +have mercy on them!" + +He prepared several despatches, two of which were as follows: + + Mr. Henry Sinclair: "On No. 17, Pawnee Junction: This + telegram your authority to take charge of train on which you + are, and demand obedience of all officials and trainmen on + road. Please do so, and act in accordance with information + wired station agent at Pawnee Junction." + + To the Station Agent: "Reported Perry gang will try wreck + and rob No. 17 near --xth mile-post, Denver Division, about + nine Thursday night. Troops will await train at Fort ----. + Car ordered ready for them. Keep everything secret, + and act in accordance with orders of Mr. Sinclair." + +"It's worth about ten thousand dollars," sententiously remarked +he, "that Sinclair's on that train. He's got both sand and brains. +Goodnight," and he went to bed and slept the sleep of the just. + + + + +III + +The sun never shone more brightly and the air was never more clear +and bracing than when Sinclair helped his wife off the train at Pawnee +Junction. The station-master's face fell as he saw the lady, but he +saluted the engineer with as easy an air as he could assume, and watched +for an opportunity to speak to him alone. Sinclair read the despatches +with an unmoved countenance, and after a few minutes' reflection simply +said: "All right. Be sure to keep the matter perfectly quiet." At +breakfast he was _distrait_--so much so that his wife asked him what was +the matter. Taking her aside, he at once showed her the telegrams. + +"You see my duty," he said. "My only thought is about you, my dear +child. Will you stay here?" + +She simply replied, looking into his face without a tremor: + +"My place is with you." Then the conductor called "All aboard," and the +train once more started. + +Sinclair asked Foster to join him in the smoking compartment and tell +him the promised story, which the latter did. His rescue at Barker's, he +frankly and gratefully said, _had_ been the turning point in his life. +In brief, he had "sworn off" from gambling and drinking, had found +honest employment, and was doing well. + +"I've two things to do now, Major," he added; "first, I must show my +gratitude to you; and next"--he hesitated a little--"I want to find that +poor girl that I left behind at Barker's. She was engaged to marry me, +and when I came to think of it, and what a life I'd have made her lead, +I hadn't the heart till now to look for her; but, seeing I'm on the +right track, I'm going to find her, and get her to come with me. Her +father's an--old scoundrel, but that ain't her fault, and I ain't going +to marry _him_." + +"Foster," quietly asked Sinclair, "do you know the Perry gang?" + +The man's brow darkened. + +"Know them?" said he. "I know them much too well. Perry is as ungodly a +cutthroat as ever killed an emigrant in cold blood, and he's got in +his gang nearly all those hounds that tried to hang me. Why do you ask, +Major?" + +Sinclair handed him the despatches. "You are the only man on the train +to whom I have shown them," said he. + +Foster read them slowly, his eyes lighting up as he did so. "Looks as if +it was true," said he. + +"Let me see! Fort ------. Yes, that's the --th infantry. Two of their +boys were killed at Sidney last summer by some of the same gang, and the +regiment's sworn vengeance. Major, if this story's on the square, that +crowd's goose is cooked, and _don't you forget it!_ I say, you must give +me a hand in." + +"Foster," said Sinclair, "I am going to put responsibility on your +shoulders. I have no doubt that, if we be attacked, the soldiers will +dispose of the gang; but I must take all possible precautions for the +safety of the passengers. We must not alarm them. They can be made to +think that the troops are going on a scout, and only a certain number +of resolute men need be told of what we expect. Can you, late this +afternoon, go through the cars, and pick them out? I will then put +you in charge of the passenger cars, and you can post your men on the +platforms to act in case of need. My place will be ahead.'' + +"Major, you can depend on me," was Foster's reply. "I'll go through the +train and have my eye on some boys of the right sort, and that's got +their shooting-irons with them." + +Through the hours of that day on rolled the train, still over the crisp +buffalo grass, across the well-worn buffalo trails, past the prairie-dog +villages. The passengers chatted, dozed, played cards, read, all +unconscious, with the exception of three, of the coming conflict +between the good and the evil forces bearing on their fate; of the fell +preparations making for their disaster; of the grim preparations making +to avert such disaster; of all of which the little wires alongside of +them had been talking back and forth. Watkins had telegraphed that he +still saw no reason to doubt the good faith of his warning, and Sinclair +had reported his receipt of authority and his acceptance thereof. +Meanwhile, also, there had been set in motion a measure of that power to +which appeal is so reluctantly made in time of peace. + +At Fort ------, a lonely post on the plains, the orders had that morning +been issued for twenty men under Lieutenant Halsey to parade at 4 p. m., +with overcoats, two days' rations, and ball cartridges; also for +Assistant Surgeon Kesler to report for duty with the party. Orders as to +destination were communicated direct to the lieutenant from the post +commander, and on the minute the little column moved, taking the road to +the station. The regiment from which it came had been in active service +among the Indians on the frontier for a long time, and the officers and +men were tried and seasoned fighters. Lieutenant Halsey had been well +known at the West Point balls as the "leader of the german." From the +last of these balls he had gone straight to the field, and three years +had given him an enviable reputation for _sang-froid_ and determined +bravery. He looked every inch the soldier as he walked along the trail, +his cloak thrown back and his sword tucked under his arm. The doctor, +who carried a Modoc bullet in some inaccessible part of his scarred +body, growled good-naturedly at the need of walking, and the men, +enveloped in their army-blue overcoats, marched easily by fours. +Reaching the station, the lieutenant called the agent aside, and with +him inspected, on a siding, a long platform car on which benches had +been placed and secured. Then he took his seat in the station and +quietly waited, occasionally twisting his long blond mustache. The +doctor took a cigar with the agent, and the men walked about or sat on +the edge of the platform. One of them, who obtained a surreptitious +glance at his silent commander, told his companions that there was +trouble ahead for somebody. + +"That's just the way the leftenant looked, boys," said he, "when we was +laying for them Apaches that raided Jones's Ranch and killed the women +and little children." + +In a short time the officer looked at his watch, formed his men, and +directed them to take their places on the seats of the car. They had +hardly done so when the whistle of the approaching train was heard. When +it came up, the conductor, who had his instructions from Sinclair, had +the engine detached and backed on the siding for the soldiers' car, +which thus came between it and the foremost baggage car when the train +was again made up. As arranged, it was announced that the troops were to +be taken a certain distance to join a scouting party, and the curiosity +of the passengers was but slightly excited. The soldiers sat quietly in +their seats, their repeating rifles held between their knees, and the +officer in front. Sinclair joined the latter, and had a few words with +him as the train moved on. A little later, when the stars were shining +brightly overhead, they passed into the express car, and sent for the +conductor and other trainmen, and for Foster. In a few words Sinclair +explained the position of affairs. His statement was received with +perfect coolness, and the men only asked what they were to do. + +"I hope, boys," said Sinclair, "that we are going to put this gang +to-night where they will make no more trouble. Lieutenant Halsey will +bear the brunt of the fight, and it only remains for you to stand by the +interests committed to your care. Mr. Express Agent, what help do +you want?" The person addressed, a good-natured giant, girded with a +cartridge belt, smiled as he replied: + +"Well, sir, I'm wearing a watch which the company gave me for standing +off the James gang in Missouri for half an hour, when we hadn't the +ghost of a soldier about. I'll take the contract, and welcome, to hold +_this_ fort alone." + +"Very well," said Sinclair. "Foster, what progress have you made?" + +"Major, I've got ten or fifteen as good men as ever drew a bead, and +just red-hot for a fight." + +"That will do very well. Conductor, give the trainmen the rifles from +the baggage car and let them act under Mr. Foster. Now, boys, I am sure +you will do your duty. That is all." + +From the next station Sinclair telegraphed "All ready" to the +superintendent, who was pacing his office in much suspense. Then he +said a few words to his brave but anxious wife, and walked to the rear +platform. On it were several armed men, who bade him good-evening, and +asked "when the fun was going to begin." Walking through the train, he +found each platform similarly occupied, and Foster going from one to the +other. The latter whispered as he passed him: + +"Major, I found Arizona Joe, the scout, in the smokin' car, and he's on +the front platform. That lets me out, and although I know as well as you +that there ain't any danger about that rear sleeper where the madam is, +I ain't a-going to be far off from her." Sinclair shook him by the hand; +then he looked at his watch. It was half-past eight. He passed through +the baggage and express cars, finding in the latter the agent sitting +behind his safe, on which lay two large revolvers. On the platform car +he found the soldiers and their commander sitting silent and imconcerned +as before. When Sinclair reached the latter and nodded, he rose and +faced the men, and his fine voice was clearly heard above the rattle of +the train. + +"Company, 'ten_tion!_" The soldiers straightened themselves in a second. + +"With ball cartridge, _load!_" It was done with the precision of a +machine. Then the lieutenant spoke, in the same clear, crisp, tones that +the troops had heard in more than one fierce battle. + +"Men," said he, "in a few minutes the Perry gang, which you will +remember, are going to try to run this train off the track, wound and +kill the passengers, and rob the cars and the United States mail. It +is our business to prevent them. Sergeant Wilson" (a gray-bearded +non-commissioned officer stood up and saluted), "I am going on the +engine. See that my orders are repeated. Now, men, aim low, and don't +waste any shots." He and Sinclair climbed over the tender and spoke to +the engine-driver. + +"How are the air-brakes working?" asked Sinclair. + +"First-rate." + +"Then, if you slowed down now, you could stop the train in a third of +her length, couldn't you?" + +"Easy, if you don't mind being shaken up a bit." + +"That is good. How is the country about the --xth mile-post?" + +"Dead level, and smooth." + +"Good again. Now, Lieutenant Halsey, this is a splendid head-light, and +we can see a long way with my night glass. I will have a----" + +"--2d mile-pole just past," interrupted the engine-driver. + +"Only one more to pass, then, before we ought to strike them. Now, +lieutenant, I undertake to stop the train within a very short distance +of the gang. They will be on both sides of the track, no doubt; and the +ground, as you hear, is quite level. You will best know what to do." + +The officer stepped back. "Sergeant," called he, "do you hear me +plainly?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Have the men fix bayonets. When the train stops, and I wave my sword, +let half jump off each side, run up quickly, and form line abreast of +the engine--not ahead." + +"Jack," said Sinclair to the engine-driver, "is your hand steady?" The +man held it up with a smile. "Good. Now stand by your throttle and your +air-brake. Lieutenant, better warn the men to hold on tight, and tell +the sergeant to pass the word to the boys on the platforms, or they will +be knocked off by the sudden stop. Now for a look ahead!" and he brought +the binocular to his eyes. + +The great parabolic head-light illuminated the track a long way in +advance, all behind it being of course in darkness. Suddenly Sinclair +cried out: + +"The fools have a light there, as I am a living man; and there is a +little red one near us. What can that be? All ready, Jack! By heaven! +they have taken up two rails. Now _hold on, all!_ Stop her!!" + +The engine-driver shut his throttle-valve with a jerk. Then, holding +hard by it, he sharply turned a brass handle. There was a fearful +jolt--a grating--and the train's way was checked. The lieutenant, +standing sidewise, had drawn his sword. He waved it, and almost before +he could get off the engine the soldiers were up and forming, still in +shadow, while the bright light was thrown on a body of men ahead. + +"Surrender, or you are dead men!" roared the officer. Curses and several +shots were the reply. Then came the orders, quick and sharp: + +"_Forward! Close up! Double-quick! Halt!_ Fire!"... It was speedily +over. Left on the car with the men, the old sergeant had said: + +"Boys, you hear. It's that ------ Perry gang. Now, don't forget Larry +and Charley that they murdered last year," and there had come from the +soldiers a sort of fierce, subdued _growl_. The volley was followed by a +bayonet charge, and it required all the officer's authority to save the +lives even of those who "threw up their hands." Large as the gang was +(outnumbering the troops), well armed and desperate as they were, every +one was dead, wounded, or a prisoner when the men who guarded the train +platforms ran up. The surgeon, with professional coolness, walked up to +the robbers, his instrument case under his arm. + +"Not much for me to do here, Lieutenant," said he. "That practice for +Creedmoor is telling on the shooting. Good thing for the gang, too. +Bullets are better than rope, and a Colorado jury will give them plenty +of that." + +Sinclair had sent a man to tell his wife that all was over. Then he +ordered a fire lighted, and the rails relaid. The flames lit a strange +scene as the passengers flocked up. The lieutenant posted men to keep +them back. + +"Is there a telegraph station not far ahead, Sinclair?" asked he. "Yes? +All right." He drew a small pad from his pocket, and wrote a despatch to +the post commander. + +"Be good enough to send that for me," said he, "and leave orders at +Barker's for the night express eastward to stop for us, and bring +a posse to take care of the wounded and prisoners. And now, my dear +Sinclair, I suggest that you get the passengers into the cars, and go on +as soon as those rails are spiked. When they realize the situation, +some of them will feel precious ugly, and you know we can't have any +lynching." + +Sinclair glanced at the rails and gave the word at once to the conductor +and brakemen, who began vociferating, "All aboard!" Just then Foster +appeared, an expression of intense satisfaction showing clearly on his +face, in the firelight. + +"Major," said he, "I didn't use to take much stock in special +Providence, or things being ordered; but I'm darned if I don't believe +in them from this day. I was bound to stay where you put me, but I was +uneasy, and wild to be in the scrimmage; and, if I had been there, I +wouldn't have taken notice of a little red light that wasn't much behind +the rear platform when we stopped. When I saw there was no danger there +I ran back, and what do you think I found? There was a woman in a dead +faint, and just clutching a lantern that she had tied up in a red scarf, +poor little thing! And, Major, it was Sally! It was the little girl that +loved me out at Barker's, and has loved me and waited for me ever since! +And when she came to, and knew me, she was so glad she 'most fainted +away again; and she let on as it was her that gave away the job. And I +took her into the sleeper, and the madam, God bless her!--she knew Sally +before and was good to her--she took care of her and is cheering her up. +And now, Major, I'm going to take her straight to Denver, and send for a +parson, and get her married to me, and she'll brace up, sure pop." + +The whistle sounded, and the train started. From the window of the +"sleeper" Sinclair and his wife took their last look at the weird scene. +The lieutenant, standing at the side of the track, wrapped in his cloak, +caught a glimpse of Mrs. Sinclair's pretty face, and returned her bow. +Then, as the car passed out of sight, he tugged at his mustache and +hummed: + + "Why, boys, why, + Should we be melancholy, boys + Whose business 'tis to die?" + +In less than an hour, telegrams having in the meantime been sent in +both directions, the train ran alongside the platform at Barker's; and +Watkins, imperturbable as usual, met Sinclair, and gave him his letters. + +"Perry gang wiped out, I hear, Major," said he. "Good thing for the +country. That's a lesson the 'toughs' in these parts won't forget for +a long time. Plucky girl that give 'em away, wasn't she? Hope she's all +right." + +"She is all right," said Sinclair with a smile. + +"Glad of that. By the way, that father of her'n passed in his checks +to-night. He'd got one warning from the Vigilantes, and yesterday they +found out he was in with this gang, and they was a-going for him; but +when the telegram come, he put a pistol to his head and saved them all +trouble. Good riddance to everybody, I say. The sheriff's here now, +and is going east on the next train to get them fellows. He's got a big +posse together, and I wouldn't wonder if they was hard to hold in, after +the 'boys in blue' is gone." + +In a few minutes the train was off, and its living freight--the just +and the unjust, the reformed and the rescued, the happy and the anxious. +With many of the passengers the episode of the night was already a thing +of the past. Sinclair sat by the side of his wife, to whose cheeks +the color had all come back; and Sally Johnson lay in her berth, faint +still, but able to give an occasional smile to Foster. In the station on +the Missouri the reporters were gathered about the happy superintendent, +smoking his cigars, and filling their note-books with items. In Denver, +their brethren would gladly have done the same, but Watkins failed to +gratify them. He was a man of few words. When the train had gone, and +a friend remarked: "Hope they'll get through all right, now," he simply +said: "Yes, likely. Two shots don't most always go in the same hole." +Then he went to the telegraph instrument. In a few minutes he could have +told a story as wild as a Norse _saga_, but what he said, when Denver +had responded, was only--"No. 17, fifty-five minutes late!" + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Denver Express, by A. A. 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