Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 350: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

TRAIN AND STATION. BY EDGAR R. HOADLEY. A railroad story in which the exciting experiences that befall a railroad mam are related with vivid faithfulness to facts by one who Knows whereof he writes. The quest of Dash- wood Dykeman in search of a name that was more rightfully his and the srenge -happenings that marked his pathway to the goal. c CHAPTER XLI. - FORSDYKE UNMASKED. IDWAY across the trestle an enormopis tree swept down the torrent and under the struc- ture,and addedanew peril. At one moment its branches tore at Do- rothy’s clothing, and she clung des- perately and in terror to the ties. Then the boughs parted, and with a final swish the tree swept onward. At last Dorothy reached the end of the bridge, hands and knees torn and bleeding, and every nerve so tense and quivering that her limbs almost refused to support her, and she feared she could not reach the. station after all. But once more her indomitable will and courage came to her aid, and she fought back the weakness. She gathered strength, and, tearing her chnging and torn skirt from about her knees, she hurried forward, fast- er and faster, until~ she reached the Madrid depot platform. She looked wildly about—there was no one there. Were her brave efforts to avail nothing, after all? Where was the operator? “Help! Help!” she screamed, in hoarse and panting tones. There was an instant’s silence, and then, distinct from the noise of the storm without, she heard a muffled groan in the direction of the door lead- ing to the baggage room. *Thes story began in the June tssue of THE ARGOSY. mailed to any address on receipt of 7o cents. With fear and trembling, Dorothy approached the latter and pushed it open. A dark form was revealed, hud- dled up near the door, and, as the light fell upon it, she gave a wild cry, and fell upon her knees beside it. It was Dykeman, bound, gagged, and help- less. “Qh, heavens! what does it all mean?” she gasped, as she tore at the cruel bonds. “ Dash! Dash! save the express! The South Bridge is down! ” Fnding her efforts to loosen the cords were unavailing, she bethought herself of the pocket knife she knew Dash possessed. In a moment she had it out, the ropes severed, and the gag removed. Then she became once more the frail young girl, and fell over in a death-like swoon. Dykeman instantly stepped over the motionless body, into the office, to warn the express. Then he remembered, with a chill of horror, that the robbers had taken away the keys to the instru- ments, and he was helpless to send a message. A moment’s hesitation, and he tore the line wires from the binding posts in the relay, and, clicking the ends to- gether, he made the call of the station on the other side of the South Bridge. He then instantly clapped the ends back to the instrument to await a possible reply. Oh, the terrible suspense of those few seconds. But it came, and then he The seven back numbers will be GOH GOOO SS CO