The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-04-17
TIE EXPRESS NESSENGERS
STORY.

mas eve permission 10 rehain WIN ms
family at the eastern end OF our route,
and not to make the tedious forty heurs
iourney towards the blue waters OF the
Pacifc' on which / was about TO start,
had too much heart 60 refuse him. He
Toe Mel was HIS name-had a young
bride and a younger babe, and it was
hard 10 separate them. True, our orders
from the company were that both OF US
should always Jointly make the trip, for
we were carrying large quantities OF
creenbacks and national notes, for the
0ayment of the Pacific Railroad contract
ors. and of course there was no lack OF
robbers who were waiting every chance
10 clean out our trunks, and perhaps clean
as poor messengers out OF existence.
Shortly before an express Car had been
entered on our line, the messenger, Bill
Hughes. beaten almost to death, and
his valuable charge taken; and 1t was to
guard against such future surprises that
a mate had been given me but joe
pleaded so hard to stay at home, and ex.
blamed to me SO clearly little plan OF
his own, whereby could make the trip
in safety alone, that gave in to his re-
quest, and fastened with him to set our
little plan in motion.
Joe's brother, Ned, the engineer, was
TO run his engine for the first one hun
dred miles OF nay journey, and he was to
help in the plan. You see Ned was court.
ing a younger sister of Joe's wife, and
so, il all being almost in the family, he
was willing 70 do good deal to give Joe
his Christmas at home. First he vent to
the railroad superintendent, and got his
permission to take my through express
car out of the train and substitute there
t.N, IN NV nf tho
kind with a passage outside, and doors IN
each end beside those at the side.
This made il easier of attack, should
robbers get on the train, as the multitude
of doors required strioter guard against
surprise, with an increase of danger,
The grain car had only the two little
grated windows for ventilators, one at
each end, with wooden shutters on the
inside to close them up tightly. Ned was
to lock me in, and TO hand the key to the
next engineer that came on, with some
private instructions.
Well, at z o'clock on Christmas eve the
train was ready TO start. Our express su.
perintendent was down 10 see US of, and
noticed the changed car, but supposing
the other to be out of repair said nothing.
He watched me place the valuable pack
ages had received in my safe, and iron
chest, and spring into the car, and then
warned both Joe and myself to be very
careful, as he had news that mischief
was intended before long. Joe was in
the car, helping me so as to appear to
the superintendent to be going with me.
Ned came and locked us in, Joe first
kissing his wife, who was on the plat.
form, good-by, and pretending-lucky
fellow-that he was so sorry he was GO.
Tl~,et hA
door was slid and locked, Joe went
through the one on the other side, first
thanking me again for befriending ,him,
and then l heard him lock the other door
with the key Ned had sent to him by his
fireman. We were off in O few moments,
and | had time to look around and ar
range my traps TO make the trip as COM
Portable as possible There was no re.
ceiving or handing out of packages to be
done till the next morning, when the new
engineer would open my door. Ned
would leave US about midnight, and till
then, when he would look in upon me,
might make myself as happy or as mis-.
cradle as / choose. In less than an hour
after leaving / had slung hammock
carried with me, and had turned in. The
shutter over the forward ventii2tor-my
car was next to the engine-l had closed
down and fastened with wedge, to keep
the wind from blowing it open, the little
six by six hole, guarded by three iron
bars, giving me ventilation. Near this
] had slung my hammock, and then, with
nv revolver in a box close TO my hand,
and with the bell.rope running just over
my head, surely was in safety, and so
dropped asleep.
How long II slept could not tell before
\ IL . cta ~ Of hi N NOS
cd over my mouth 1t seemed like q
mouse or rat, but it left an overwhelm-
ing smell, a close suffocating feeling, and
before i could open my eyes to see
clearly, or could come to my senses, /
was again asleep Again 1awoke, this time
completely, but with fearful weight of
oppression over my eyes. My head ached,
and | strove TO place my hand upon 1t.
NV hand would not obey my wish; /
must be paralyZed; il seemed as If l was
vet dreaming; | had no power over head
or limb. Another effort would make to
shake off this deadly feeling, but as
strive 10 turn in my hammock, or TO lift
myself something cold touches my fore
head with refreshing GOODNESS, and a
eruff voice bids me lie quiet, l turn my
head with intense difficulty and pain,
and see black. visaged man standing
over me. He repeats the injunction to be
quiet. | trace his arm down towards my
head, and see that it is revolver, which
is touching my forehead. In half-sleep
hall.foolish manner, glance at the dead
" instrument, and wonder what il cost,
and whether il will shoot straight and in
TO my brain should il e.fired. Tho eff
fects of some drug are still working upon
me. and as come more to life, as it were,
| recognize the fumes of chloroform.
Two other black-visaged men are busy
sorting out my valuables, and are throw
ing ali dangerous bonds and papers into
one corner of the car, while they are
placing in bags the currency and notes.
The man watching me speaks, and says;
"No. /, he has come to-" No. l comes
close and looks at me; he also is black.
visaged, made so, l now see, by.a Grape
veil or mask. Without speaking, he re.
turns TO his work of sorting the money.
Having nothing else to do, look more
closely TO myself. Small, thin cords,
which cut deeply into my flesh, are tied
around my wrists and ankles, while
others tie me more tightly to the ham
mock. must, indeed, have been far gone
in sleep and deeply drugged to have al
lowed this. The robbers evidently mean
me no harm, but how can / face the com
pany after this robbery How account
Tor the absence Of Joe, without bringing
hic fOY