Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 691 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

Dit My ‘-_ “ of Gal 4, ial 7 a ' eta t . als ”> mY . sh oy. Pm ’ Aa . i 7 Sy eo a al nal ¥ ‘cals -* fs x b peg (i) ¢ Pas fq 4. the fire-box to its full capcity, had settled him- self comfcrtably back in his lofty seat to enjoy a few minutes of inactivity. Moving at moderate speed, the train had reached a point perbaps twenty miles from Belmcnt, when a sbarp turn in the road brought into view a sight that caused both men to leap suddenly to their feet, A flaming red light, swung round and round by some unknown hand, mutely warned the ap- proaching trainmen of danger ahead. ‘Quick, pard! The bridge—Wild Creek tres- tle is right abead! Trouble there, I reckon!” elled the excited fireman, and he gained the and-brake with a single bound, But, Headlight Harry only smiled grimly as he swiftly pulled the throttle open still wider than before. “Down with you, Rufe! Down—down, I say!” he shouted, as the engine forged ahead at increased speed; and at the same moment he threw himself upon the floor of the cab, Wondering, Rufe Ruffle obeyed, just as they flashed by the unknown possessor of the treach- erous signal lantern, Then, above the roar and rattle of the train, arose loud shouts mingled with the sharp report of fire-arms, while bul- lets whistled viciously into the cab, shattering glass, but inflicting no harm upon the occu- ants, ‘*Safe!” gasped the engineer, struggling to his feet, “ The secret is out, now, ick Nor. man has opened his game only to be euchered at the start. Hurrah |” Luckless Headlight Harry! His exultance was ill-timed, for Nick Norman’s plans were well laid, and peril lurked in an unexpected source, Two shadowy forms crept stealthily over the swaying tender, poised for an instant above their unsuspecting victims, then with weaponed hands uplifted, leaped into the cab with the fury of jungle tigers, Simultancously, the brave engineer and his associate sunk motionless to the floor, while the masterless engine, rocking and lurching, sped on with frightful velocity. CHAPTER IV. THE MIDNIGHT RAIDERS, THE first section of the returning excursion train was of but moderate length, comprising six spacious coaches, each of which, however, was filled to its utmost capacity, First in the line was the private car of Presi- dent Melrose, containing the directors and high officials, together with their families and a num- ber of distinguished guests, The next two cars were occupied by stockholders and minor of- ficials, with their families and friends, while the remainder of the train was devoted to the ac- commodation of various military and civic or- ganizations that had participated in the grand afternoon parade. It was a merry throng, although a weary one > fora long day of ceaseless pleasure-seeking h ljuced a dominant desire fot home and slum- r; yet enthusiasm was not in the least abated, and one and all united in voting the trip an un- qualified success, Within the president’s luxurious privats coach —a very palace on wheels—were a3sembled some fifty ladies and gentlemen, representing the flower of wealth and fashion, President Melrose, tall, portly and bandsome, occupied a conspicuous position, surrounded by. a group of particular friends, He was a man well advanced in years, many of which had been spent in active railroad life, and when, but a comparatively short time prior to the opening of this narrative, he stepped into bis present high position, it was to bring with him a practical knowledge that at once made him much more than the mere figure-head that a railway president vot infrequently represents Already were his progressive ideas bearing fruit, for it was due mainly to his energy and in- fluence that the famous Belmont Branch was projected and pushed to a speedy completion. ow that the new line was a thing of reality, and the various features of the great celebration had moved without a hitch; it was quite fit that President Maurice Melrose should be, as he seemed, the personification of contentment, as he lolled eresr em in the luxurious reclining-chair, and chatted with bis no less joyful associates. At the same time, in another section of the car, his beauteous daughter might be seen, the center of an admiring group; for of all the ten- der sex whose presence that distinguished company, none could vie with beautiful Mabel Melrose, whose attractiveness of person and charm of manner made her at once the reigning belle of local yee Bright and intellectual to a marked degree, Headlight Harry’s Haul. and with a wealthy father eager to gratify her every taste and whim, the fair gtrl had very sensibly made the most of her golden oppor- tunity, and now, at the age of nineteen, found | bent upon mischief, herself possessed of a thorough education, the mistress of many accomplishments, as well as a paragon of beauty, and a particularly brilliant star in the galaxy of social luminaries. Little wonder, then, that when Maurice Mel- rose removed to that bustling Western country, to assume the presidency of the R. & 8, R. R., the appearance of his lovely and accomplished daughter created a decided seusation among the marriageable young Richvillians, few of whom, however, dared to aspire to the affections of the queenly heiress, Gayest of the gay was Mabel Melrose, as she reclined upon the velvet cushions, surrounded by friends and admirers, The manifold discom- forts of the day were apparently quite without effect upon her, for she joined vivaciously in the conversation, her merry laughter ringing like the music of a silvery bell. With a tall, graceful form, beautifully chiseled features, sparkling brown eyes, and a profusion of wavy tresses, the young lady presented a picture of health and beauty well calculated to challenge admiration, But, neither the merry maiden nor her friends dreamed for an instant of the perilous times in store for them; else, indeed, their merriment would have been short-lived. Deadly danger hovered over that ponderous excursion train as it rolled laboriously on its homeward way, and the feeling of security that pervaded the occu- pants of President Melrose’s gilded palace car was destined to be rudely dispelled. As a point was reached perbaps twenty miles beyond Belmont—a wild, desolate spot midwa between two unimportant stations—there sud- denly came asbriek of warning from the locomo- tive, while speed was slackened witb an abrupt- ness that served to quite upset the equilibrium of the startled passengers. Almost before they could comprehend what was taking place, the train came to a dead stop, then immediately began to move backward, very slowly at first, but with rapidly increasing speed, POr course this sudden action on the part of the engineer, quite inexplicable as it was to them, created consternation among the occu- pants of the cars, Amid a tumult of excited exclamations and inquiries, windows were thrown up and heads thrust recklessly out in ut- ter disregard of consequences. Stygian dark- ness shrouded the scene, and even the sharpest eyes could discern nothing unusual, nor could augbt be heard save the regular working of the retreating engine. ‘*What means this, gentlemen?” cried Presi- sident Melrose, plainly showing bis surprise and anxiety. ‘Surely, it is a most unexplainable proceeding!” ‘* Perbaps another train has disputed our right of way—” *t Impossible, sir! Remember that this line is not yet open to regular traffic, consequently ours is the only train on the road, excepting the one that will follow us from Belmont.’ “True enough. Then, there is undoubtedly some obstruction on the track.” ‘*In that case it would merely be necessary to come to a stop, without backing in this fashion. That confounded engineer must be either drunk or crazy!” “Pardon me, sir!” quietly interposed Superin- tendent Renwood, who was the coolest man in the car. ‘‘ Headlight Harry is at the throttle, and I am quite certain he is neither drunk nor crazy. Heis one of the most reliable men in our service, and depend upon it, he has good reason for his action, however mysterious it may seem to us,” Ralph Ren wood’s confidence in his old-time as- sociate, thus freely expressed, was by no means misplaced; yet, alas! he little dreamed that one other than Headlight Harry was responsible for the erratic movements of the train. At that moment the young engineer lay senseless on the floor of the cab, while above him, coolly manip- ulating the throbbing locomotive, s a stal- wart ruffian whose name did not adorn the pay- roll of the company, It was not long, however, before the excited passengers were fully enlightened as to the true state of affairs, for while questions and se tures were flying thick and fast, the train, after backing rap on for a short distance, now sud- denly slacken . An instant later the air was rent by a series of vociferous yells, while a host of cnc forms, springing up 24 the road- side, scrambled like wildcats upon the steps of the cars as they neared a standstill. | Imagine the consternation of the entrapped excursionists as a band of masked men appeared in their midst, armed to the teeth and evidently Ladies cowered in their | seats, clinging tremblingly to escorts, while those | of the sterner sex were too greatly astonished to | do more than stare blankly at the intruders, | Their apathy may have been influenced to some extent by the fact that the new-comers had al- ready brought their weapons to a level, in readi- ness to thwart the slightest attempt at resis- tance, ‘*Hands up, gents! We've got the drop, so there’s no use in kicking. Hands up, I say!” This terse command issued from the lips of a burly mask who had been the first to enter the resident’s coach, and who was apparently the eader of the band. Needless to say, the unwel- come order was obeyed, each and every man elevating his hands with a promptitude that won a nod of approval from the audacious stranger. ‘“*Glad to find you allso tractable, gentlemen,” he exclaimed, with a sneering laugh, as he swag- gered to the center of the car, keenly surveying its terrified occupants with eyes that fairly blazed through the holes in his mask, ‘*‘ Doubtless you all believe that ‘discretion is the better part of valor.’ Very good! Such a feeling on your part is very commendable, and will do much to- ward facilitating matters, “IT trust you do not resent our intrusion, though it must be admitted that the hour is rather unseemly, and our method of introducing ourselves is to say the least unceremonious. However, having carefully prearranged this meeting, if was not in my heart to let you pass by, though in fact that cursed engineer did come near giving us the slip. So here we are, big as life and twice as natural, and I dare say there’s none of you so thick-witted as to need enlighten- ment in regard to our errand. We are out for the boodle, first, last and all the time, and have selected this crowd “s presenting a most promis- ing field for operations.” The masked leader’s speech was glib, his manner free and easy, yet none who heard his careless words doubted for a moment the deter- mination of the speaker. In obedience to a sig- nal, two ruffians now moved forward from either end of the car, while their companions continued to draw a bead upon the passengers. ‘*My faithful assistants will now proceed to take up a contribution, and it is to be hoped you will shell out liberally,” mockingly continued the robber captain, ‘ It is quite fair and right, to my mind, that you bloated railway nabobs and swell aristocrats should contribute to the support of poor, deserving fellows like ourselves; and if you will prevail upon yourselves to view the matter in the same light, 1t will perbaps de- prive the dose of mucb of its bitterness, t the same time allow me to impress upon your minds the utter folly of resistance, for my men have you nicely covered, as you may see, and stand ready to blow you to smithereens at a second’s notice,” This caution was quite unnecessary, however, for the members of the president’s party were nothing if not discreet, and the sight of a dozen rifles brought to bear upon their devoted persons instantly put to flight all ideas of opposing the invaders. Quite at the mercy ‘of the daring knights of the road, they sat with uplifted hands resenting a picture of disgust and rage that was little short of the ludicrous, At least so it appeared to the robber chief, whose mocking laughter rung upon the ears of tbe hapless excursionists like that of a veritable fiend, His nefarious followers were already at busily at work deftly going through the pockets of the unresisting passengers, relieving them of money, watches, and otber valuables with a skill and celerity that implied long practice, When this operation was conipleted, the masked leader strode from the car, followed by several of his men, leaving the remainder to guard the doors, Meantime the occupants of the other cars had had been treated toa similar experience. The road-agents numbered fully two-score, and were thus enabled to seize the ehtire train at the same time, each car being boarded by a separate squad in pursuance of carefully prearranged plans, Thus it was that when the tall captain strode from car to car, it was to find the several hun- dred passengers under complete subjection, while the work of appropriating their valuables was already well sdvanced. After satisfying himself that the conquest was complete, and issuing a few orders to his subal- terns, the chief returned to the private car of President Melrose, who, together with his com- panions, was wishing himself well out of his un- pleasant predicament. Ae ak. ae — Ee | a —— ee — = ~ > ess