Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-03-21
The Man With the Red Eye.
AN EXPRESS MESSENGERS STORY.

~ f--Ni hs-'' 'afsoShs~'ts . Sioh''
About eight years ago. when had not
railroaded 1t as have now, was employed
as messenger on n Western railway.
don't know as 1t Is necessary for me to say
Just what line Il was, but will call it the
K. r. C G.. Il. r., just to save myself the
trouble of pronouncing the whole name
! had not been In the run more than
month previous to the occurrence (which
| am going TO tell you. had been running
on branch route. and might have stayed
there a good deal longer, IL had not been
chosen TO take Parsons place when he
went of. lou see two or three attempts
had been made to rob the express car, and
at last. At the end Of leng night run Pax
son was found dead in the car with Il bullet
hole In his head. But the safe was closed
tight and secure. though an attempt had
been made to blow it open. which had
proved Intellectual But the strangest part
OF II all was that the key was missing from
Paxson's pockets, and it was not found till
a good six weeks aiterward Then 1t was
discovered at the side OF the track, with a
card To Il, on which il was written that
robbers were In the car, and he expected
they would murder him II he refused to
give up the key. lie was true to the last I,
Well, YOU may suppose that | felt just lit
| tie bit squeamish about accepting such an
| uninylting berth but the Superintendent
gave me my orders, and always meant To
| DO nv duty. however disagreeable il might
| be. Then the pay was larger than had
| ever received before; and was acquainted
with good girl who was ready to help me
| inhabit Il house whenever should he able
| 10 own one; that was quite an object 10 me,
| | can assure you
| Well. everything passed of smoothly
I ..s.t 81 4. 4
accustomed to the route. and made a dozen
or so very pleasant scquaintances. and |
was growing to be pretty well contented
! with my life had almost begun 10 think
the robbers, whoever they might be. had
| given up all hope of ever making anything
ont of nv car, aud had sought another
| field OF operations.
One day | was Informed BY the agents at
! R-that some time within A week | would
have 10 take charge OF about eighty thous-
! and dollars in specie 10 It's 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 shipment. in order that they
might exercise redoubled vigilance In view
| OF the great risk incurred In the transporta-
tion of such a valuable consignment.
The evening after nv conversation with
told me the specie was 10 90 over the road
the next day but one. He produced an en-
velope. and handed il 10 me, saving as he
did 40:
There. Bill. are your orders. direct
from the superintendent. with his own sig
nature attached. Read them carefully. and
| obey them TO the letter; for little miss .
move might cause a great loss to the com
panv and cost you your position"
Il shall do my duty TO the very letter" !"
| replied.
al am sure you mean I" do so, returned
the agent. but you can't be too careful.
Some members of the light-fngered profcs-
sion are as smart as lightning. The plans
they can't devise amt worth thinking Of,
| and they are as fertile in expedents as the
| evil one himself. l thought III just put
you on your guard In Il friendly way. and
There was a slight sound at the door. II
the depot hadn't been deserted by every
one except us two, and the switch engine
hadn't been put mp at the end of the yard
where We couldn't hear its incessant puff
ing. | don't believe We would have heard
the sound at all But we both noticed it at
once, and as looked out of the Office into
the large room beyond. saw a man stand
ing Just outside the outer door. with his
utut to"Ah US. rs ~ bt " "a NV :
ing TO overhear our conversation He saw
me about the time first noticed him.
knew l. IRON the little start of surprise he
gave as his eyes met mine.
He was all ever his awkwardness In A
minute. for he drew his face down into an
expression of the utmost unconcern. aud
came boldly forward ts the window of the
Office, through which the agent always
transacted any business he might have with
persons without.
He was very fair appearing man. ap-
parently 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 trhe luminous. The only
other popularity noticed about the man.
was that he had queer sort Of red look.
ing eye. 1t appeared fixed and staring.
and. as he came nearer, concluded it was
glass. 1t was SO strange and unnatural in
its expression, that / thought | should
know it If | should see it peering at me
over the great wall of China.
''Is there a small package here for Isaac
G. Van Scotter?' he asked, in a business
like way. in answer to the inquiring glance
of the agent.
The agent referred to one of the big reg
isters on the desk and answered in the
HcsdtiSc-
Queer" said the man with the red eye.
at ought to have come yesterday. Have
you read the Evening Chronicle?'
And after this abrupt Interrogation. the
stranger stood quite motionless. cycling the
agent inte ntly. for as much as a minute.
We both answered. No"
The man took paper out of his pocket,
and spreading 1t open before us put one of
his slender forefingers upon the following
paragraph:
Fatal ACCIDENT.-ThIs afternoon as
two men. named respectively Henry Van
Scooter anG c. H. Griggs, were at work
chOpping timber 10 the pineries near Scrap-
ton. tree fell upon them, killing ivan
Scooter instantly. and inficti"g injuries
upon the person of Griggs. from the effect
Of which he died In less than an hour. They
are resIdents Of G-and 1t is understood
their remains will be vaken to that place
fox burial"