Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1878-12-07

mask was smiling ats combination
lock, you see. and we happen to be
ignorant of the cabalistic word--your
sesame. Open the doors for us if you
please.
Gleason saw that pleading would
avail him naught. There was stern de-
termination in the robbers tone, death
in the depths of the black eyes. lie
had often read of such burglarics; how
cashiers were made 10 open the safes of
their own banks and throw thousands
at the feet of the robbers. He had new
er dreamed that such an event would
happen in express car No. sc, much less
that he would be compelled to assist in
robbing the patroniziEg public.
But he was at the mercy Of the vii.
lains, and his life was in startling jeop-
ardy. He came forward with pale face
and stood before the safes.
"De lively about it said one of tho
men. "You know the locks like book,
and we know how 10 treat man who
obeys our orders with alacri,y. We
give you two minutes grace in which u
work If at the end Of that time the
doors do not swing open, the L. {. aud
St. L. will lose her best messenger.
The impe.iled man did not reply, bnt
fell TO work on the locks. The combl-
nation was quite intricate, but Gleason
was familiar Herewith, and in less than
a minutes time he opened the first door.
Nov the packages" said one Of the
men.
The messenger put forth his hand,un-
locked IN inner door, and started back
aghast.
The money pocket of the safe was
empty!
whats up, Gleason!" exclaimed n
mask, looking at Gleason with astonish-
ment
Gleason pointed to the empty receipt
Gle, almost too amazed TO speak aud tho
robbers exchanged strange glances.
open the other safe !" commanded
one
The messenger obeyed. 1t, too, was
moneyless.
George Gleason, we want no triiipg.
You know where the money is.
"How should ! know cried the mes
senger mystifed more than the robbers.
. "Did ] know that you were comlng,and
secrete the matterY Ii so, who betrayed
you? Here are my books, look at them
for yourself swear 10 you that there
was seventy thousand dollars worth ot
express matter in the safes when We left
Coshocton. ! haven't left the car for
one moment, though | have dozed, but
like the cat. A footstep, will rouse me.
You ask me where the money is, ! throw
the question back at you. Upon pain
of death could not tell YOU"
He ceased, aud the tormost robber
said
"This beats me. ] believe you, Geo.
Gleason. Somebody has robbed the
safes before we struck. They didit while
you slept Will you slacken the speed
of the train =
|. The messenger seized the bell-rope,
and the speed of the train began TO
diminish.
"Now good night, Gleason" said tho
disappointed robbers, moving 10 the
sliding door; eve hope the company
won't discharge you for sleeping at your
post. OF course we are Disappointed
we expected to make a big haul TO-
night. ..
The next moment they sprapg from
the car, and the messenger heard pro-
longed whistle. l.-. -a 1i,
Then he saw the ellrOpe moving,a and
the train fast returned 10 lis usual speed.
He fell back into his chair complete
ly mystifed. He could rot imagine
who had robbed the safes, whose empty
pockets stared at him from one corner
Of the car. -l l...y.rt .o
His thoughts were suddenly interup-
ted by the conductor, who bounded in-
to his presence. - 'o' -..'..
% "They did il, ebi Money all gonel
Curse the fieDds They had man on
each platform, masked and armed. How
mnch did they get' They came on
board as passengers.
"Not dollarf' said Gleason.
The conductor looked at the safes.
and then at the man whom be seemed
TO regard as mad. .lf /lIr
"Wbere is the money tbeni
81 don't know"
The train was stopped, and rs tho
messenger had told bis story, search for
the packages began. rct E.rlllg
II came TO an abrupt and happy ter
mination. The engineer placed (lic lost
yal0abjesfiaio GleasoDs hands
"Bob, the fireman, saw you climb on
to the coal tender, aud then yon stuffed
+, all these envelopes into One ooraer.
When you went back into your car we
pulled 1'em ont, and intended TO keep
'em for you till We got to Grafton.
Why, you had your eyes open, but Bob
and me knew you were in walking
trance l3 uo' .33sr ssf 76. rIC-Gs
Thus spoke The engineer and The rea-
der may imagine with what tbapkfal-
uess the messenger received the eDyel-
opes. not one Of whose original number
was mlssing.iia I,3i1d T2i.r 81 ~
h. i do not know whe,her, the robbers
ever. learned the story Of the missing
yaluables, but / do know that since that
night George Gleason has not been
so,nnambnlist IrE - flrIE i5r ~
Anybody can catch cold now. The
trouble is to let it go again. i''sm