Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-08-08
THE TELEGRAPH DETEC-
TIVE e0h
BY j. EDGAR,


following story: 80
'Ten years ago was telegraph opera
tor at small town in New Jersey, but my
heslth failing, l gave up my situation, and,
taking an agency, travelled westward unti!
I finely reached San Francisco. While
thereI took fancy to v sit the mining re-
gions; so selecting suitable goods to sell
among the miners. l went, satisfied my
curiosity, made q little money, ana was
returning in stage-coach, when the mel
dents I am about to relate occurred or at
least began to occur.
''There were beside myself three INSIDE
passengers, an old gentleman OF 6U ana
two roughly dressed men, apparently MI
ners. These two men sat at opposite en9s OF
the coach. not appearing to know eaGn
other, while the Old gentleman ana myseIi
sat close together. l noticed that the ola
gentlemanhad heavy tin or iron box De-
tween hislegs, which he seemed to De anx-
ious to keep out OF sight. .,
'lAfter a short conversation with MIN on
general subjects. I'allowed myself to- drlft
gently into doZe, and while IN tnat COZ
dition my ear, trained as it was TO the H.
telligent sound of the.telegraph instrument,
caught faint tic, tic, which resolved ltseif
in the following words:
'''Bill, the young one is going to sleep,
and will tend to him while you pltch the
| old one out over the precipice when make
the signal, and secure the box
II was now as wide awake as II had
been called by an operator to receive
message, but pretended to be still doing
while Z listened intently. Then heard
the south window rattle, and it read:
"tAll right Bob. We will be to the Big
Jump in twenty minute, and then give
the word and out he goes
Taking a cautious look from behind
nv eyelids. / saw that one of the villains
was telegrahing vibrating a knife blade
between his teeth, while the other used the
window for that purpose, ne Their OF them
appearing to notice the ether.
| II knew the precipice to which they
| referred, terrible place, where a miner
had once jumped off in tit of despair at
his bad luck, from which 1t was known
| as The Big Jump. How to communicate
| to the old gentleman | was at loss TO de-
termine, but finally l took out news
| paper and underscored the words IN a
| lengthy editorial which, if read c0nsecu-
lively, would read: BE cautious, sir. The
two Villains here intend to murder and
rob US in ten minutes. When arise, you
| attack the one with the moustache and l
| will take the other. Kill if necessary
"Tnen handed the paper to the old
| gentleman, saying: Have you re9d this,
| sir? It's a most splendid editorial
HE took the paper, put on his glasses and
commenced to read. Soon the underscored
words drew his attention and he began to
study them Then l saw him grow pale
and feel for his box with his foot. Hand
ing me back the paper he said significant
"'Do you believe that, sir?
l. Il know it to be true, sir said l.
"'HorribleP said he, slipping his hand
in his breast~pocket, astern look coming in
his face as he added: believe that L d
feel like shooting some one
r 81 saw I had a man of CCur6pa to helm
me. so I cared little for the vilIainous
smile, which his remark -brough, TO one
| of the ruffian's faces | saw We were near
the Big Jump and were going down a
steep grade at lively rate, VIXEN one of
the villains telegraphed:
" 'NoWp7~
4 1.-THE next minute l was on him, knock
ing him senseess with my revolver. The
4 old gentleman did equally as we'll, the
| ruffians being taken completely surprise
at our sudden attack. We had passed the
precipice now and calling the driver to
stop, he and the outside passenger helped
| to bind our prisoners, whom he left ins ide,
while we climbed to the top But wheu
we arrived in Sacramento we found that
the robbers had released esch other and
dropped out along the road.
"The old gentleman introduced himself
as Mr.. Stamford, Sacramento banker,
and insisted on my accepting the hospital
lily VI LID AOLAIC AhS GudG L hdO GU LIE
life and large amount Of money. con-
scented, and was driven with him to the
Il city, where | was introduced TO his wife
and two. daug hters, the former q kind,
| motherly woman and the latter a handsome
+ brunette and pretty blonde
II "Three weess' stay ut Rose Hill, Mr.
I Stan ford home, with its bvely walks
am id a wealth of tropical flowers, and the
society of Ella and Blanche Stamford
1 weller, if not more beautiful, than the
u flowers which bloomed around them, only
Il served to make me wish for a LONGER tay,
4 and when Mr.. Stamford offered me a pesi.
tibn in his banking house, l most g ably
accepted it, not falling to take courage
from the evident delight of the fair Blanche
WHOM I though the lovelier of the two
1 sisters " hen l told her of offer and decision
ii l'tAbout this time Mr.. Stamford, at hi
f1Swffes request, replat ed two, Irish ser
shvsnts with two Cinnamon, much to the for.
i mer' s violent denumciat on. Mrs. Stamford
was loudlh her praise of her new help, who
seemed to be quiet, active orderly fellows
always ready, always willing, and always
to be found at their posts. 'ssts3a Ell q.
I ITO these two spoon gobblers,' as tht
l-Itish girls called All W ing and All Lee,
somehow conceived a deciced1 aversion
There was, thought q sinister look sbou
their eyes (which seemed to be cut less on
the. bliss than usual, with Molgplians)
tb cir gaze. 49, ....--- -.io - - rs.
TNone Of the family seconded my dislike 0
the Cinnamon, except Blanche, who seen
ed to think exactly as Ibid (which | accept
ed as another sign of encouragement. al
the rest attributng it to my dislike of thu
N ongo tiaDs rs q race. --a-Ea.z ..-r.. ..rs.
( Zone quiet summer night l had retiret
TO my room in the second story and lay
thinking of the happy possibility ofBianch
Stamford returning the love l felt for her
i battling of hall window, There was hot
/ breath Of air stirring to produce such
i sound, and was about rising to ascertain
the cause. ewhen 1T ceased, and II window OF
the next floor began 10 rattle Then
caught the meaning of It. Some ons wa
telegrsphiDg with the sashes. -s-
| - isteaed, and presently the second
story window teiegraphed: .
a Everything quiet up there, Bob2 -.
Il ''Quiet as a stiff Old one blowing hi
4 horn. HOY is theyrnker down there?' an
. swered the up stairs window. -'~' "a =
9''&All quiet on the Potomac. Are yoV
readyP asked the downstairs wiadow.
Not quite yet. When / write. Go.
then do your best. Dead men tel. no tales
AS soon you finish your man, come u
here and help me with the womsn.'
1T was our old stage-coach robbers q
work again no doubt. How they la
= gained access to the house l was at a los
= toiaccouRt for it was guarded by burgla
alarm and watchdog. Arising an
partly dressing, iitookl my revolver, an
stepping softly out in the hall approaehe
1 the window, where found All Lee stand
ing. -.--.
Il ! 1 - J.