Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1878-12-07
THE NYSTIFlED MESSEN-
GER.
ON THE 3. & o. RAILROAD.


the tavorite express messenger OF the
P. c. and St. L, Road, was somuan-
bulist. His strange freaks performed
during somuambulistic trance were
known to a small circle of friends and
associates, who mentioned them Eot
when our hero was appointed to the
position he was destined to fill with
honor
For two years he ran his car without
incident, no train robbers attacked 1t,
and he became the favorite messenger
of the road Strange to say that during
that time, while he dozed often in his
car, he did not fall into the sOmnambu-
listc state, and he was congratulating
himself that the singular frances had
left him altogether, when occurred the
incident am about to relate.
His downward run on the night ex-
press extended from Coshocton to
Springfield, distance of one hundred
and eighty miles. There were few sta
tions of Importance on the route, and
the train made but three halts between
the two cities. The officers of the road
were, at the date OF our story, and still
are careful men of business, jealous OF
their patrons interests, and gentlemen
of integrity.
When robbcrics became common on
other roads, the messengers of the I. Z.
aud ST. L. were sure to receive orders
commanding extra precaution, and 1t
was to the obedience of these orders that
much of the popularity OF the road was
attributed.
"Hello!" exclaimed Messenger Glea-
son one evening while looking over the
columes of the Cleveland Herald. "Ihe
express car of the &. q. and j. Z. rob
bed of S3O,OO0l That's a good haul.
Why don't the car thieves try my car!
Here I've been on the road for two
years, and never for moment has the
safety of dollar in my safes been jeop-
ardiZed.
lie considered himself one of the
luckiest messengers in the country, and
with the papers in his hand, stepped
into the express car which moment
later moved out of Coshocton.
1t was a beautiful Autumn evening,
and the messenger sat at the open side
door enjoying cigar until the sun went
down and darkness fell over the earth.
Then he shut the door, lighted the
lamps, and saw that everything was
safe
He knew the value of the contents OF
the company's safes, aud he thought
what q hau! thieves would make if they
would successfully burglarize his car on
the present trip.
But he felt secure, for he dropped
into a chair and fell asleep.
The train had run Of forty-nine
miles before the messenger would again
be called to service, and he thought of
this perhaps when he settled into the
chair resolved upon doze.
By-and-by he rose, and his eyelids
parted.
He walked directly TO the safes which
stood side by side, and opening the com
bination locks threw wide the burglar
proof doors. Then he took forth valu-
able package after package, until he had
emptied the strongholds OF their treas
ures. 1t is safe TO say that Messenger
Gleason deprived the safes of money
and other valuables to the aggregate OF
seventy thousand dollars.
After doing this he closed the doors
and with the packages walked out OF
the car to the tender.
1t was filed with coal, black and
grim, and the heavy smoke of the en-
CINE, the toy OF the smart breeze blow
ing, beat against his face.
But he did not seem to heed it, tor
he climbed upon the tender with one
hand, aud deliberately secured the
packages among the coal in one corner.
Having accomplished his singular
task. he returned TO the express car
washed his hands, which had been be-
grimed by the Jumps of coal, and re-
tired to his chair where his eyes closed
and he breatbed like a sleeping man.
George Gleason had robbed the safes
in state OF somnMhbnlisn, and their
iron doors guarded the messengers
books and few old papers Of little
value l' .a
He slept for half an hour longer when
he awoke and rubbed his eyes. His
first action thereafter was TO consult his
watch. Ill., -fi.. -@iIHsi- "a
a "We're approaching Grafton,N be
said to himself, and drew another cigar
from his pocket Tor quiet smoke.
A mihate, later the fragrance Of
prime t1jr del fun,ar filled the car, and
the messenger was half enveloped in
smoke
Grafton was yet nineteen miles away.
All at once Gleason heard bis name
PRONOUNCED, and turned quickly In his
chair e.a.y r. 1jt 10 II sJ{
He sprang to his feet the moment
afterwards, and as the halfcoDsumed
cigar fell to the floor, his hand flew to
the pocket that beld revolver.
For there stood before him two men.
whose dark masks hung Tar below their
chiDs. fT r,.l -.r.sy. yrt- y
Don't draw, Mr.. Gleason" said one
Of the strangers, and the young messeD-
ger saw a revolver covering his head.
ave don't want to be so uDgentlemanly
as to slay ycu here. The road can't