Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-09-04

/ noticed that the lids were not fasten-
ed 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 I had given
the attendants permission to arrange
the caskets to their own satisfaction,
and that they had been a long time do
ing it. If they had removed the screws
unobserved at the time. what possible
object could they have in doing so?
With this question in 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 a full face and square features.
Ills cheeks were not sunken, and he
had a decidedly fresh appearance for a
young man who had been dead nearly
two days, [ thought.
Replacing the lid, [ passed away to
the other coffin. Here a new and start
ling surprise met ne. The man in the
coffin was the man whom / had seen in
the express Office! That red eye was
staring straight at me; and [ was not
mistaken! For moment my cOnster-
nation was too great for words | could
not have uttered q sound had my life
depended on it. ;
This man who was alive after the ac-
cldent, which the paper said caused the
death Of Van Scooter and Griggs, and
who made. arrangements for the trans
DOrtatlon Of their remains, was now
here III this coffin, to all appearances
dead! Then | remembered that the
bereaved stranger had said that his
dead brother resembled him very close
ly. But two brothers are not apt to
have red glass eyes! Such coincidence
as this was beyond the pale of reasona-
bic probabilities.
While yet | gazed at the supposed
corpse, the other eye opened little,
and | was sure that it was looking at me.
was convinced that there was fraud
here, but to show that had discovered
It might cost me my life. SO [ very
quietly replaced 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-looking
stranger, and could only come to the
conclusion that the whole thing was a
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
kneellng down, placed my ear close
to the side of the coffin, and could hear
him breathe quite distinctly. [ remem-
Der that the attendant who mad boarded
the train intended to enter the car at
Redwood, Ostensibly for the purpose of
seeing the bodies; and [ could not
doubt that the three men intended to
attack me after the train pulled out
from the station, and rob the car before
our arrival at the next stopping place
There was but one station between us
and Redwood, and [ knew we would be
time for hesitation. Instant action was
my only chance for safety. If could
secure myself against an attack until we
reached the next station, [ felt that all
would be we'll In one instant | had
decided upon a plan of action As
quickly as possibly piled several heavy
boxes of merchandise on top of the two
coffins, and then [ knew [ was safe.
Scarcely was this accomplished when
we ran into the station
I Immediately found two or three Of
ticers. First the man in the coach was
secured. He was highly indignant that
he should be disturbed on such a sol
enn mission. But it was no go. He
was handcuffed in less than two minutes
and marched out on the platform.
It was an easy matter to secure two
quandam dead men. They were taken
greatly at disadvantage, and were de-
prived Of all power to resist almost be-
fore they became aware how their nice
little scheme had terminated. All three
had been well armed.
Bound and guarded the three mis-
creants were taken to Redwood and
lodged in the county Jail.
Before [ left I took look at them
through the grated doors Of their cell.
When [ paid my respects to the man
with the red eye, he smiled and remark
ed patronlzing)y:
"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 q little" [ replied.
A Suit for $50, 100000.
Gen. Roger A PRYOR. Hon. John r,