The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1878-06-13


little, when I had more leisure. an nm
comfortable wish took possession of me
to look at the faces of the two dead men.
It wasn't mere morbid curiosity, and I
can't describe it in any way better than
to say it was a sort of vague desire
which I could not quiet without Salts
flying it.
I noticed that the lids were not fas-
tened down. Ny 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. I remembered that I had given
the attendants permission to arrange the
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 I raised the
upper portion of the lid of the coffin
nearest me and took look at the face of
the occupant. He was a young man, with
full face and square features. His
cheeks were not sunken, and he had a
decidedly fresh appearance for 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 I had seen in the
express Office That red eye was star
ing straight at me, and I was not mis-
taken! For moment my CONSERVATION
was too great for words. I could not
have uttered sound had my life de-
pended on it.
This man who was alive after the &C
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 I 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-eyes Such coincidence as this
was beyond the pale of reasonable prob
ability.
While yet I gazed at the supposed
corpse, the other eye opened little,
and was sure that it was looking at me!
I was convinced there was fraud here,
but to show that I had discovered it
might cost me my life. So I very qui-
city replaced the lid of the coffin and
took moments time to think the mat
ter over.
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 a
deliberate plan to murder me and gain
possession Of the $4,000 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. Kneeling
down, placed my ear close to che side
of the coffin, and could hear him breathe
quite distinctly. remembered that it
was the intention of the attendant who
had boarded the train to enter the car at
Redwood, ostensibly for the purpose of
| seeing to the bodies, and / could not
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 [ knew we would be
there in ten minutes more. I had no
time for hesitation. Instant action was
my only chance for safety. IF I could
secure myself against attack until we
reached the next station, I felt that all
would be well. In one instant I had de-
cided upon plan of action. AS quietly
as possible I piled several heavy boxes
of merchandise on top of the two collins,
and then knew was safe. Scarcely
was this accomplished when we ran into
the station.
I Immediately found two or three Off
GERS. First the man in the coach was
secured. He was highly indignant that
he should be disturbed on such solemn
mission. But it was no go. He was
handcufed in less than two minutes and
marched out on the platform.
1t was an easy matter to secure the
two quondam dead men. They were
taken greatly at a disadvantage, and were
deprived of all power to resist almost
/ before they became aware how their nice
little scheme had terminated. All three
had been we'll armed.
Bound and guarded the three miscre-
ants were taken to Redwood and lodged
in the county Jail.
Before I left I took look at them
through the grated doors of their cells.
When paid my respects to the man
with the red eye, he smiled little and
remarked patronizlngly:
"You're a pretty sharp young man.
It takes middling keen boy to outwit
u.s."
"Permit me to sympathize with you
in your sorrow at the loss of your dear
brother, just little. .
An EXDerlenceG Youth.