Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-08-29
which I could not quiet

sort OF vague desire which I could not quiet
without satisfyingit.
noticed that the lids were not fastened
down. My next discovery was that the
screws were gone. This struck me as strange
for was sure had noticed them when the
collins were lifted intothe car. Remembered
that had given the attendants permission to
arrange the caskets 10 their own satisfaction,
and that they had been a long time doing it.
III they had removed the screws uncbserved
have had In doing sos With this question in
my mind l raised the upper portion of the I'D
OF the cofiln nearest me aud took look at the
with full face and square features. His
cheeks we're not sunken. and he had a de-
claedly fresh appearance Tor a young man
Replacing the lid. ! passed away Go the
other coffin. Here a new and startling sur
prise met me. The man in the coffin was the
That red eye was staring straight at me and
was not mistaken! For a moment my life
depended on il.
This man who was alive after the accident,
which the paper said caused the death of Van
Scooter and Griggs, and who had made ar
Iangements Tor the transportation OF their re-
mains. Was now here in this coffin, 10 all ap-
pearance dead! Then remembered that the
pereaved stranger had said that his dead
Spro,her resembled him very closely. But two
brothers, are not apt 10 have red glass ewes,
Such coincidence as this was beyond the
pale OF reasonable probabilities
. whitley Yet gaZed at the supposed corpse,
IL Il
that IL was looking at me. | was conyineed
that there was fraud here. but to show that I
had discovered il might cost me my life Sal
very quietly replaced the lid of the coffin and
took moments time TO think the matter
over.
remembered my conversation with the en-
press agent, which We feared had been over
heard 10y the clericallooking stranger. aud
could only come To the conclusion that the
whole thing was deliberate plan 10 murder
me and gain possession of the sSl0D in INV
charge M hat la
with the red eve was alive, and had no doubt
that the other man was also. kneeling down,
placed my ear close to the side of the coffin,
and could hear him breathe quite distinctly
] remember that the attendant who had
boarded the train intended 10 enter the car at
Redwood, oStenSihly for the purpose OF seeing
the bodies; and / could not doubt that the
three men intended TO attack me after the
train pulled out from the station, and rob the
car before our arrival at the next stopping
pace. There was but one station between uS
aud Redwood, and knew We would be there
In ten minutes more. had no time for hest
tation. Instant action was my only chance
Tor safety. liz could secure myself against
an attack until We reached the next station, I
lett that all would BE- well. In one instant
had decided upon plan of action. As
quickly as possible piled several heavy boxes
OF merchandise on top of the two coffinS and
then knew was safe. Scarcely was this &C
complished when We ran INTO the station.
Immediately found two or three officers
FIRST the man IN the coach was secured. lie
was highly indignant that h. should be dis
turbed on such q solemn mission. But il WAS
no go. He was handcuffed in less than two
minutes and marched out on the platform.
liz was an easy matter to secure the two
quondam dead men. They were taken greatly
at Disadvantage, and were deprived OF all
power TO resist almost before they became
aware how their nice little scheme had termi-
mated. All three had been well armed
Bound and guarded the three miscreants
were taken to Redwood and lodged IN the
county Jail.
Before left took look at them through
the grated doors Of their cell. When 1 paid
my respects To the man with the red eve he
smiled little ard remarked patroniZingly:
You're pretty sharp young man. It
takes middling keen boy 10 outwit us"
Permit me TO sympathiZe with you in your
sorrow at the loss OF your dear brother, just a
little" replied.