The Van Buren press., 1878-04-23

read OF such UurplarleS, how cashiers
were made to open the safes of their own
banks and throw thousands at the feet OF
the robbers. He had never dreamed that
such an event would happen it express
car No. Sc, much less that he would be
compelled TO assist in .robbing the patron
izing public But he was at the mercy
OF the villains, and his life was in start
ling jeopardy, Hecame forward with
pale face, and stopped before the
safes,
BE lively about it, said one of the
men. "Youk now the locks like book,
and we know how to treat a man who
obey our orders with alacrity. We give
you two minutes grace in which to work.
Ii at the end of that time the doors do
not swing open, thap. G. d. st. l.. will
lose her best messenger! !"
The imperiled man did not reply, but
fell to work on the locks. The comblna-
ton was quite intricate, but Gleason was
familiar Herewith, and less than a min.
ute's time he opened the first door,
Nov for the packages" said one of
the men.
The messenger put forth his hand, un-
locked an inner door, and started back
agast. The money pocket Of the safe
empty.
whats up, Gleason p exclaimed a
mask looking at the messenger with as
constituent Gleason pointed to the
empty receptacle, almost too amazed to
speak, and the robbers exchanged strange
chances.
"Open the other safer' commanded one.
The messenger obeyed, 1t, too was mo-
ney.ess.
"Georgc Gleason, we want no trilng.
You know where the money is y
"How should knowf' cried the mes
senger, mys,ified more than the robbers
did | know that you were coming, and
socreted the money? lfso, who betrayed
your Here are my books look at them
for yourself, ! swear to you that there
was seventy thousand dollars worth of
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, however soft,
will rouse me- You ask me where the
money is; throw the question back at
you. Upon pain of death cannot tell
you.
He ceased the foremost robber said :
"Ths beats me l believe you, George
Gleason. Somebody has robbed the safe
before we struck They did it 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 dim
inish.
Now, good night, Gleason " said the
disappointed rebsers, moving to the eli
ding door. ave hope the company
won't discharge you for sleeping at your
post. Of course we are disappointed
we expected to make big haul to
night"
The next moment they sprang from
the car, and the messenger heard pro-
longed whistle, Then he saw the bell
rope moving, and the train fast returned
to its usual speed He fell back into his
chair completely mystifed. He could
not imagine who had robbed the safes,
whose empty pockets stared at him from
one corner of the car. HIS thoughts
were suddenly interrupted by the con.
ductor, who bounced into his pres,
enc..
"They did it, eh2 Money all gone ?
Curse the tiends They had man on
each platform, masked and armed. How
much did they get2 They came on board
as passengers"
mot dollar p said Gleason.
The conductor locked at the safes, and
then at the man, whom he seemed to re-
gard as mad.
The train was stopped, and as the mes
senger had told his story search for the
packages began. 1t came to an abrupt
and happy termination. The engineer
placed the lost valuables in Gleason's
hands
Bob, the fireman, saw you climb on
to the coal into the tender, and then you
stuffed all these envelopes into one cor
ner. When you went back into your
car we pulled 'em out, and intended to
keep 'em for you till we got to Graz.
ton. Why, you had your eyes open, but
Bob and me knew you were in a walking
trance"
Thus spoke the engineer, and the read.
er may imagine with what thankfulness
the messenger received the envelopes,
not one of those original number was
missing.
do not know whether the robbers
ever learned the story Of the missing
or not, but do know since that
night George Gleason has not been a
somnambulist.