The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1881-06-10
miscellaneous.
A Thrilling Story,

A few years ago, as was riding on an out
ofthe-wuy railroad in one of the old second
cars of q more prosperous road, was very
much annoyed by the incessant rafting Of
the car windows. IT'S said that misery loves
company, and at last shouted my feelings
on the subject to the passenger beside me-a
middlc-aged business looking man-who
shouted back.
Eyes, it is pretty noisy, but it don't mean
anything, and amt dangerous. You proba-
bly, never heard window talk nationally.
not to say intelligently?" he said.
Not that | can remember" said ], little
ironically. "Did your"
81 have" said he, "and as soon as we stop
| will not only make a window talk, but pos
sibly get an answer from some other Win
dow"
When we had stopped, my neighbor touch
ed me on the shoulder and said, "Now let
me sit by that window, and will show you
something amusing, and afterward tell you a
story"
/ changed seats with him. and he, taking
hold of the window, began to rattle it ut a
lively rate, pausing every few seconds to lis
ten. Pretty soon was surprised to hear
window at the other end of the car behind us
rattle in the same manner.
Nov" said the stranger, task me a ques-
ton about the back of some special person
sitting behind us without either of US look
ing behind"
"Well," said |, "describe to me the APP
pearance of the back of the head of, say the
outside passenger in the third seat behind
us"
lie ratified the window and then listened
to the answering window. Then he said:
There is no person just sitting there. Try
again"
looked and sure enough he was right
So made it the fifth seat
"Short black hair, parted behind, one side
grey, high shirt collar and coat collar turned
up, Railroad ticket in the back of his hat"
said my companion at the window.
Stepping back found that the description
was correct, one side of the mans hair being
turned white, probably from disease.
How did you do it ?" asked as took my
seat again.
by telegraphy," he said. 81 at first
sounded the single word Fire p over and
over till it caught the trained ear of an oper-
ator in the other end of the car, and he tele-
graphed what | wanted to know. So you
see that window may rattle intclligbly."
Yes" said |, land now about the story.
And he proceeded to relate: Ten years
ago | was a telegraph operator at n small
town in New Jersey, but my health failing,
gave up the situation, and taking an agen-
cy, Travelled westward until | reached San
Francisco. While there | took fancy to
visit mining region, so selecting suitable
goods to sell to miners, ! went and satisfied
my curiosity, made little money and was
returning in slage-coach, when the incident
| am about to relate occurred.
There were besides myself three inside pas
sengers an old man of sixty, and two rough
ly dressed men, apparently miners. These
two men sat at opposite ends of the coach,
not appearing to know each other, while the
old gentleman and myself sat close together
] noticed that the old gentleman had a tin or
iron box between his legs which he seemed
anxious to keep out of sight
After short conversation with him on all
subjects | allowed myself to drift gently into
a doze and while in that condition my ear,
| trained as it was to the intelligent sound of
| the Geographic instrument, caughta faint tic,
| tic, which resolved itself into the following
words:
"Bill, the young one is going to sleep and
/ will tend to him while you pitch the old
ono out over the precipice when l make the
| signal, and secure the box"
was now wide awake as if / had been
| called" by an operator to receive message
but | pretended to be still doing, while
listened intently Then heard the window
rattle and 1t read
| "All right, Rob. We will be to the Big
Jump in twenty minutes and then give the
word and out he goes"
Taking a curious look from between my
| eyelids saw that one of the villains was tel
egraphing by vibrating a knife blade between
his teeth, while the other used the window
for that purpose, neither of them appearing
| to notice each other.
| knew the precipice to which he referred,
terrible place where a miner had once
jumped off in fit of despair at his bad luck,
from which it was known as the Big Jump.
How to communicate to the old gentleman i
was at Il loss to determine but finally took
out newspaper and underscored the words,
in n lengthy editorial, which if read consecu-
lively, would read "Be cautious, sir. These
two villains here intend to murder and rob
us in ten minutes. When / arise you attack
the one with the moustache and | will take
the other Kill if necessary"
l then handed the paper to the old gentle
man, saying: "Have you read this, sir2 It's
most excellent editorial"
| He took the paper, put on his glasses, and
commenced to read. Soon the UNDERSIGNED
words drew his attention and he began to
study them. Then / saw him grow pale and
feel for his box with his foot. Handing me
back the paper he said significantly: