The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1877-12-01
The MAN WITH THE RED EYE,
An Express Messengers Story.

y
railroaded it as long as have now, was
employed as messenger on a western rail-
way. [ don't think it is necessary for me
10 say just what line it was, but l will
call 1t the Z. L. & G. r. r., just to save
myself the trouble of pronouncing the
whole name
| had not been on the run more than a
month previous to the date of The occur
renee OF which | am going to tell you.
| had been running on a branch route
for more than year, and / might have
stayed there good deal longer, if / had
not been chosen :. take Parsons place
when he went off. You see two or three
attempts had been made to rob the ex-
press car, and at last, at the end of a long
night run, Paxson was found dead in the
car with bullet hole in his head. But
the safe was closed tight and secure,
but an attempt had been made to blow
1t open, which had proved Intellectual.
But the strangest part of it was that the
key was missing from Parsons pockets,
and 1T was not found till a good six
weeks afterwards. Then it was discoy-
cred at the side of the track, with card
tied to it, on which it was written that
robbers were in the car, and he expected
they would murder him if he refused to
give up the key. He was true to the
last! Well, you may suppose that felt
just little bit squeamish about accept
ing such an uninviting birth; but the
superintendent gave me my orders, and
always meant to do my duty, however
disagreeable it might be. Then the pay
was larger than | had ever received be-
fore; and | was acquainted with good
girl who was ready to hel p me inhabit a
house whenever should be able to own
one; that was quite an object to me /
can assure you.
Well, everything passed off smoothly
enough for several weeks, and | had be-
come accustomed to the route, and made
a dozen or so very pleasant acquaint-
ances, and | was growing to be pretty
well contented with my life. | had al
most begun to think the robbers, who
ever they might be, had given up all
thought of ever making anything out of
my car, and had sought another field of
operations.
i. One day | was informed by the agent
OF K that sometime within week |
would have to take charge of about
eighty thousand dollars in specie in its
transit over our road on its way from
Washington to San Francisco. The
officers of the express company had been
advised of this intended important ship
ment in order that they might exercise
redoubled vigilance in view of the great
risk incurred in the transportation of
such a valuable consignment.
The evening after my conversation
with the agent he called me into the
office, and told me the specie was to 90
over the road the next day but one. He
produced an envelope, and handed it to
me, saying as he did so:
There, Bill, are your orders direct
from the superintendent, with his own
signature attached. Read them care.
fully, and obey them to the letter; for a
little missmove might cause great loss
TO the company, and cost you your posi-
ton"
shall do my duty to the very let
ter, | replied.
| am sure you mean to DO So" re-
turned the agent" but you can't be too
careful. Some members of the light
fingered profession are as smart as light
ming. The plans they can't devise amt
worth thinking of, and they are as fertile
IN experiments as the evil one himself
| thought I'd just put you on your guard
in a friendly way, and"
There was slight sound at the door.
1T the depot hadn't been deserted by
every one except us two, and the switch
engine hadn't been put up at the end of
the yard, where we couldn't hear its in
cessant putting, don't believe we would
have heard the sound at all. But we
hotlced 1t at once, and as | looked ont
or the office into the large room be
yend, l saw man standing Just outside
the outer door, with his head inclined
toward us, as II he was trying to over
hear our conversation. He saw me about
he time | first noticed him. | knew il
from the little start of surprise he gave
as his eyes met mine.
He was over his awkwardness in a
minute, for he drew his face down into
an expression of the utmost unconcern,
and came boldly forward to the window
OF the office, through which the agent al
ways transacted any business he might
have with persons without. He was a very
TAR appearing man, apparently about
forty, though he might have been little
Older. He WAS dressed in black, and
wearing high hat; he might have passed
for one of the cloth, if his nose hadn't
been just trife luminous. The only
other popularity | noticed about the
man, was that he had queer sort of a
d-looking eye. 1t appeared fixed and
staring, and As he came nearer, / con-
Guided that it was glass. 1t was so
strange and unnatural in its expression