The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-06-14

little, when had more leisure, an un-
controllable wish took possession Of me
to look at the faces of the two dead men.
1t wasn't mere morbid curiosity, and i
can't describe it in any way better than
to say il was sort of vague desire
which / could not quiet without salts
flying it.
noticed that the lids were not fas-
tened 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 into
the car. remembered that ! had given
the attendants permission to arrange the
baskets to their own satisfaction, and
that they had been long time doing it.
If they had removed the screws unob
served at that time, what possible object
could they have had in doing SOP With
this question on my mind raised the
upper portion of the lid of the coffin
nearest me and took look at the face OF
the occupant. He was young man, with
full face and square features. His
cheeks were not sunken, and he had
decidedly fresh appearance for a young
man who had been dead nearly two days,
I thought.
Replacing the lid, passed away to the
other coffin. Here new and startling
surprise met me. The man in the coffin
was the man whom 1 had seen in the
express office That red eye was star
ing straight at me, and was not mis-
taken For a moment my CONSERVATION
was too great for words. / could not
have uttered sound had my life de-
pended on it.
This man who was alive after the ac-
cident, which the paper said ca sed the
death of Van Scooter and Griggs, and
who had made arrangements for the
transportation of their remains, was
now here in this coffin, to all appearance,
dead Then / remembered that the be-
reaved stranger had said that his dead
brother resembled him very closely.
But two brothers are not apt to have red
glass-e Such a coincidence as this
was beyond the pale of reasonable prob
ability.
While yet / gazed at the supposed
corpse, the other eye opened a little,
and 1 was sure that it was looking at me
1 was convinced there was fraud here
but to show that 1 had discovered il
might cost me my life. So / very qui
city replaced the lid of the coffin and
took moments time to think the mat
ter over.
1 remembered my conversation with
the express agent, which we feared had
been overheard by the clerical. appear.
ing stranger, and could only come to the
conclusion that the whole thing was 9
deliberate plan to murder me and gain
possession of the $50, 900 in my charge.
There was no denying that the man with
the red eye was alive, and had no doubt
that the other man was also. Kneeline
down, placed my ear close to the side
of the coffin, and could hear him breathe
quite distinctly. I remembered that il
was the intention of the attendant who
had boarded the train to enter the car al
Redwood, ostensibly for the purpose OF
seeing to the bodies, and could no,
doubt that the three men intended to at
tack me after the train pulled out OF the
station, and rob the Car before our ar.
rival at the next stopping place. There
was but one station between us and
Redwood, and I knew we would be
there in ten minutes more. / had nC
time for hesitation. Instant action was
my only chance for safety. If / could
secure myself against attack until We
reached the next station, felt that al
would be we'll. In one instant had de-
cided upon plan of action. AS quietly
as possible piled several heavy boxes
of merchandise on top of the two collins
and then / knew l was safe. Scarcely
was this accomplished when we ran intt
the station.
1 Immediately found two or three Off
GERS. First the man in the coach was
secured. He was highly indignant thai
he should be disturbed on such a solemn
mission. But it was no go. He was
handcuffed in less than two minutes ant
marched out on the platform.
1t was an easy matter to secure tn,
two quondam dead men. They were
taken greatly at disadvantage, and wer,
deprived of all power to resist almos
before they became aware how their nice
little scheme had terminated. ALI three
had been we'll armed.
Bound and guarded the three miscre
ants were taken to Redwood and lodges
in the county Jail.
Before left / took look at then
through the grated doors of their cells
When l paid my respects to the mai
with the red eye, he smiled little AM
remarked patronizlngly:
you're pretty sharp young man
1t takes middling keen boy to ontwi
u.s."
"Permit me to sympathize with yor
in your sorrow at the loss of your dea
brother, just little. :"
An Experienced Youth.