Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1878-10-10


men whose dark masks hung far be-
low their chins.
Don't draw, Mr.. Gleason" sale
one of the strangers, and the mes
Senger saw a revolver covering hi!
head. "We don't want to be so un
gentlemanly as to slay You here.
The road can't spare you, indeed il
can't."
GleaSon's hand shrunk away from
the pocket it had touched, and he
looked at the m II for a moment il
silence.
"What do you want ?" he asked
"What most men earnestly de.
sire-money !"
Il have none"
"But the safes have"
Then open them if you cam
SAID the messenger with smile.
"With your assistance we WILL
answered one of the masked men,
who until that moment, had not
spoken. "Mr. Gleason, we didn't
come here to parleY, and, as We
man business, we will proceed to
it at once. You have the keys, and
will oblIge us by producing them. "
The young messenger looked
twice in the eyes Of the men, and
once into the muzzle of the revolver,
before he displayed the keys.
"Here they are," he said, extend
Ing them.
mo, no, Gleason" was the re-
sponse, and the twinkle of the dark
eyes told our messenger that the
face beneath the mask was smiling.
''It's combination lock, you see,
and we happen to be ignorant of the
cabalistic word - your seasame
Open the doors for Us ifyou please" "
Gleason saw that pleading would
avail him naught. There was stern
determination in the robbers tone ;
death in the depths Of the black
eyes. He had often read Of such
burglaries 4; how cashiers weae 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 in
express car No. sc much less tat
he would be compelled to assist in
robbing the patronizing pnblic.
But he was at the metcy of the
villains, and his life was in startling
jeopardy. He came forward with
pale face, and stopped before the
safes,
''Be Lively about it," said one Of
the men. "You know the locks
like book, and we know how TO
treat man who obeys our orders
with alacrity. We give you two
minutes grace in which to work.
If at the end of that time the doors
do not swing open, the P. G. and
st. L. will lose her best messenger"
The imperiled man did not reply,
but fell to work on the locks. The
combination was quite intricate,
but GleaSan was familiar Herewith,
and in less than a minutes tine he
opened the first door.
"Now for the packages, said one
of the men.
The messenger put forth his hand,
unlocked an inner door, and started
back aghast.
The money pocket of the safe was
empty.
"What's up. Gleason ?" exclaim-
ed mask, looking at the messeng.
er with aston ishment.
Gleason pointed to the empty re-
ceptacle, almost too amazed to speak
aud the robbers exchanged strange
glances.
"Opon the other safe - COM
manded one.
The messenger obeyed. 1t, too
was moneyless.
"George Gleason, we want no
trifing. You know where the mon
ey is -
"How should l know ?" cried
the messenger, mystiGed more than
the robbers. did 1 know that you
were coming, and secrete the mat
ter ? If so, who betrayed you :?
Here are my books, look at them
for yourself. 1 swear to you that
there was seventy thousand dollars
worth of express matter in the
safes when we left CoshoctOn. I
haven't left the car for one moment,
though I have dozed, but like the
cat, footsep, however soft, will
rouse me. You ask me where the
money is, throw the question back
at you. Upon pain of death l co aid
not tell you !"
He ceased, and the foremost rob-
ber said
"This beats me. 1 believe you
George Gleason. Somebody has
rOhhod tho safes hnfOra we struclx