Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-11-19

TO fetch the cashier, who had one of the three
keys OF the bank strong room, the Others being
in the respective keeping OF myself and the
manager. While 1 went on this errand, Mr..
Wilmot sent OFF a tel gram, giving a copy of
MI Danes, with some further hints to the man.
ager AT o.. Mr.. Wilmot WAS at the bank
when l returned with the cashier. We found
the porter, who like myself lived on the bank
premises, Al home. and we we're not long in
packing mp, in suitable cases, a sum of seven
thousand pounds in gold, and about two thous-
ana IN Bank of England paper. For tn, con-
Veyance OF TINS to the railway station. We sum-
moned two cars from an adjoining stand.
AS these cars drove up, / ran somewhat quickly
out OF the bank, and, in 50 doing came apsinst
H. tan man who was passing along the footpath.
ne hau handkerchief multi ed about his throat,
ana MS coat buttoned up to his chin, in addition
10 which he held a red silk handkerchief to his
nose and mouth. The Inclc mency Of the night
suniciently accounted for these precautions,
but, as jostled him, his hand was for an instant
cast aside, and saw his face. 1t was handsome
and yet repugnant. However. was busy. He
manager and myself got into one car, and the
Cashier and the porter occupied the other and
we drove as rspidy g We conld through the
there the mail train for M was Just about to
start. The station master was on the platform.
and few words from Mr.. Wilmot explained
al see, sir; Mr.. Dandy wants a compartment
to himself 1 think all the carriages are more
or less occupied will put on another carriage;
guard will not allow delay, so that cannot
break the train. L shall be compelled to put on
the carriage behind the guards van"
TO this we raised no objection, as the one i'm
PortaAt question was to get to M with the
required relief. The extra carriage was quick
~ hooked on and duly screwed up, and tail
lamps put upon 1t. The cases of gold were nut
in upon one of the seats, and took INV place
opposite them. wishing my friends good night
The train began to move. ather slowly, when
caught sight of two men of about equal height,
who hurried from a waiting room across the
platform toward the train.
"This way, gentlemen" said the guard, open
Ing the door OF a compartment behind that
which occupied, but in the same carriage.
Where we were, the station was some VII 1t dark;
but just as they were getting in the light of the
guards lamp fell upon them, and was struck
same height and build, but they were dressed
just in the same way, and that way was precise
ly that OF the man against whom iostled out
very uneasy, and had 1t not been too late as we
were already out of the station, and going rap
Idly through q tunnel, 1 should have got the
with myself that, after all, was quite
safe. L was locked in on one side, and the
motion of the train would as effectually
would hinder me from reaching the guard
Reason as / would, however, felt more and
more uncomfortable, and determined that at
made. L little knew where nv first stoppa9e
was to be; little did think OF the nature Of
those who rode behind me, or Of the doom tn AT
Il n
ner Of the train became fainter, and the motion
OF the carriage less rapid While 1 was irving
TO solve this matter, the carriage seemed to stop
ana then to move again. L looked out. Good
heavens, the train was q considerable distance
ahead, and was being rapidly Carried toward
W. Faster and faster sped the carriage
on its return, and more terrified did / h.
come. The motion OF the carriage became
as swift as IL had been when behind the
mail-nay, even switzerland my heart sank
within me, my very knees shook under ma
Seemed bri,tla WI he far ril
suspense OF those moments, while big DROPS of
cold sweat fell from my face. On, ON we sped,
God! what should do? The carriage stopped;
click as Of q key in the door near which /
stood, moment, and the light of the carriage
lamp fell upon the face saw outside the bank
The man or fend pointed q pistol at me. 1
drew back step, and was seized from behind;
my assailant had entered from the Opposite
door, The one with the pistol advanced across
the moor OF the carriage; made one frantic
grasp at him, saw him raise the but end OF his
weapon, and then felt dizzy, and ia ATTEMPT
ing to grasp his arm tainted away.
When Il came to myself l was lying on the
Moor OF the carriage, too weak to move; the
doors were open, and the bitter storm beat in
upon me in all its winter fury. 1 could not
quite realize my situation; all seemed confused
and mudded L only remembered that ought
TO have been at NJ, but that some terrible
violence had Frustrated me. Presently heard
the whistle or an engine, as If coming from
NJ, and, confused as I was knew the fate
which awaited me, If in the storm the advancing
uain should be upon me ere the driver noticed
nv carriage. I made desperate attempt to rise
but in vain. The shrIll whistle sounded again
still nearer, and this time Ii was answered by
another OF deeper tone from the opposite direc-
ton, and caught, in the lull OF the storm
the sound of wheels OF the approaching engines
became sick with horror, and closed nv eyes
In dread. Then the advancing engines whistied
again and again. and, D joy 1 could tell that
they went slower and slower and then stopped
ihen lost all conscious ness once more. When
again became sensible, felt myself sitting
the carriage was In motion. opened my eyes,
and found myself with Mr.. Wilmot and the
cashier. The porter of the bank and the station
speak but could not i made a motion with nv
nahd, 70 try to make them comprehend that
"He wants something to drink" said Mr..
Wumot. "Has any one got some brandy p'
no one had, but in a few minutes more we
were at W, and I was taken into the re-
fres hrnent room and placed under the care of
surgeon. Under the effects Of warmth aud
account of what happened SO far as I under
stood it. The station-master stated IL as beyond
doubt that the men who attacked me were pre-
they had but too well succeeded In carrying out.
They had evidently got along the footboard of
me carriage, and when ascending q steep in
the carriage ran back to the level. Their place
had been well chosen, as it was in a very lonely
part OF the country, and far from any station
NC lACt tnbl tuc turnpike ROAD approached
the line at point some three hundred Yards
from where the carriage stopped, had possibly
facilitated their escape. 1 was lost to account
for the arrival Of the two engines, which evil
IDENTITY came to search for the missing CARR age
This was soon explained. As regarded the
engine from NJ, that was sent back as soon
as ever the train reached that station, because
the carriage was Immediately missed. The |
engine from W, with Mr.. wimot and |
others, started on account of a discovery made |
BY Mr.. Wilm0t, which caused the utmost |
conformation. This discovery was nothing |
less than that the telegram from WAS q
forgery. Mr.. wilmot had telegraphed to Mr.. Dane |
% cay that the relief asded for had been sent
To this announcement Mr.. Dane replied that he |
could not understand II, that something was
wrong, and that he should await Mr. Wilmot's
at the station at NJ. The false
telegram had been craftily conceived, and, I'M |
fortunately tor me, was in the private code of |
our bank. When 1t was telegraphed from NJ
hat the train had arrived minus my carriage,
the case against me looked doubly strong and |
The two men who entered at W were set down |
as confederates, who were to help me carry of |
the booty. When, however, I was found in the |
carriage, new light broke in upon the mi nds |
of my rescuers, and 1t was seen that was the |
victim, not the chief criminal. |
IL remained now to try TO discover the daring |
scoundrele who had planned and executed this