Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-10-01

with the others and entered one OF the
coaches. AS the door closed on him, the
bell rang and we went steaming away.
was pretty busy for an hour or more,
and we had passed three or four stations
before | had time to cast more than o
casual glance toward the quiet passen'
gers at the end OF the car. But after a
little, when had more leisure, an uncon-
trollable wish took possession OF me TO
look at the faces OF the two dead men.
IL wasn't morbid curiosity and cant
describe it in any way better than to sag
it was q sort OF vague desire which /
could not quiet without satisfying it.
/ noticed that tt Q lids were not fastened
down. MyTnext discovery was tha. the
screws were gone. This struck me as
boing strange, for | was sure | had no
ticed them when The collins were lifted
into the car. | remembered that had
given the attendants permission TO ar
range the caskets TO their owu satisfaction,
and they had been long time doing il.
If they had removed the screws unob-
served at that time. what possible objsc.
could they have in doing soi With this
question in my mind. | raised the upper
me. and took good look at the face OF
tho occupant. He WAS 3 young nan,
with full iace and square features. His
checks were not sunken. and he had a
decidedly fresh appearance for q man who
had been dead nearly TWO days. thought.
Replacing the lid walked away TO the
other cofliu. Here new and startling
surprise met me. The man in the coffin
was the man whom | had seen in the ex-
press oficel That red eye was staring
straight st me. and Was not mistaken
For a moment my CONSERVATION was too
great for words. could not have uttered
sound, had my lite depended on 1t.
Tie man who was alive after the scci-
dent which the paper said caused The
death OF Van Scotter and Griggs. and
who has made arrangements for the
transportation Of their remains. was now
here in his coffin, 10 all appearances
dead Then | remembered that the be-
reaved stranger had said that his dead
brother resembled himself very closely.
But two brothers are not apt TO both have
red glass eyesi Such coincidence as
this was beyond the pale OF responsible
probability.
While ye. gazed al the supposed
corpse, the other eye opened little. and
was sure il WAS looking at me! ] was
con vinced that there was fraud here, but
to show that | had discovered it might
cos, me my lite. So l very quietly re-
placed the lid OF the coffin. and took
moments time TO think the matter over.
remembered my conversation with
the express agent. which we feared had
been overheard By the clerical appear
ing stranger, and could only come
10 the conclusion that the whole thing
was deliberate plan 10 murder me and
gain possession OF the eighty thousand
dollars In my charge. There was no de-
nying that the man with the red eye was
alive, and had no doubt the other man.
also. Kneeing down, placed my ear
close TO the side OF the coffin, and could
hear him breathe quite distinctly. l re-
membered tbs. II wss the intention OF
the attendant, who had boarded the train,
10 enter the car at Redwood. and knew
that we would be there in ten minutes
moro. l had no time Tor hesitation. In
slant action was my only plan OF action.
AS quietly as possible. piled several
heavy boxes of merchandise on top Of
the two collins, and then | knew that i
was safe. Scarcely was this accomplished
when we ran into the station.
/ Immediately found Two or three
Off GERS. First the man in the coach was
secured. He WAS highly indignant that
be should DO disturbed on such solemn
mission. But Is was no 20. He Was
hspdcuffod in less than two minutes and
marched on the platform.
Il was an easy matter to secure the
two quondam dead men. They were
taken greatly at disadvantage, and
were deprived OF all power to resist
almost before they became aware bow
their nice little game had terminated.
All three had been well armed.
Bound and guarded, the three miscre-
ants were taken 10 Redwood. and lodged
In the county Jail.
Before left took good look al them
through the grated doors of their cell.
When paid my respects to the man with
the red eye, he smiled a little and re-
marked patronisingly:
"You're pretty sharp young man. Ii
takes middling keen boy to outwit US.
Permit me TO sympathize with you In
your sorrow at the loss OF your dear
brother, Just little." said. land more
at your failure 70 get the eighty thousand
dollars"
They broke Jail in less than q week,
but not before one OF them. the youngest
corpse. was recognized as the notorious
Jesse James