Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-02-08

Ana then the train started of, and
[ turned and walked toward the
Ofhce.
As | neared the door with the pack.
age in my hand one Of the men who
had been Watching me, made spring
toward me. | don't know why hap
pened to be on the outlook tor them,
but | must have been, for | jumped
back almost the same instant that be
made his move, aud before either one
Of them comprehended what | was
about | had made dive between them
aud succeeded in getting into the
Office, and had the door bolted almost
before | knew what | was doing.
| heard volley Of curses hurled
liter me, aud then knew by the
sounds and the creakiDg of the door
that both OF the men were trying to
break in. But | had no fears OF their
doing that. 1t was of hard wood, well
seasoned, and would resist all theil
efforts in that direction.
| put the package in the safe snC
locked it securely, before | stopped t.
think what was to be done. Then
-at down to think while | could heaI
the men talking outside; knew the,
were holding council over the mean
to be used to effect an entrance ant
Jbtain possession Of the money | haC
received.
1t was anything but pleasant stu
alton to be in. Here | was alone
half mile away from any assistance
at ten o'clock at highland a storm,
night at that-and the probability wa
that nearly everybody was already il
bed. If they were not, no one woulC
think Of coming to the depot at tina
hour of night. Outside were two des
perate men, who knew l had largI
sum of money in my possession, ant
they knew that II they could effect al
entrance | would amount to but littl,
in the way Of preventing an accom-,
plishment Of their villainous purpose
Suddenly a thought occurred to me
The clerk at the hotel where | board
g l had taken fancy to telegraphy and
we had put up wire between the
hotel and the depot. Why couldn't
advise him of my danger, and have
him send me help
heard a new sound at the door
Just then, which sent the blood in
great. frightened waves all over me
The men had begun to cut their way
10 with pocket knives.
rushed 70 the instrument and
called" George. What if he had gone
to bed, or should be out? turned
pale at the thought.
But pretty soon a response came
back He was there. Go ahead.
began and wrote:
| am 10 danger. Two men arc try
ing to gain admittanee for the purpose
Of robbing the express sale Send
help Immediately. for Gods sake
Not a minute to lOsel"
Slower, telegraphed George, who
had not practicing long enough to be
able to read very we'll.
went over with the message again.
But | suppose the excitement made
my writing blurred" for again he
sent back word:
Slower, and more distinct Can't
make it Outr"
Good God Before l succeeded in
making him understand me they
would be through the door, Thought,
with a cold sweat breaking out all
over me. But ! went over the mes.
sage again, and this time he caught /,
and sent back a hurTid "All right
Hold out for ten minutes
The men we're digging away like
beavers. | could see the points Of
their knives once in while as they
splintered away fragments Of the
panels. But | knew it would take
them sometime yet to cut away
enough for them to make an entrance
through. How ! wished l had a PTS
waited in leyerish impatiepce
Suddenly there was a crash, and one
panel was stove in by the foot Of one
Of the men,
"Ahal he grinned with his leerina
face at the aperture. "You see W.
mean business don't you? What arc
you going to do, eh2'
! didn't know. Die, l suppose, 4
they took an idea 10 put an end 10 mt
into their heads. Why didn't George
and the help he had promised come
II seemed TO me that they had had
time encuEh 10 make tensmile trip
We've got the second panel almost
ready to staYe TO-" said the man
| phucklipg horribly over the cheetful
lhlormatio1. pThen guess Torn
cap crawl through. You might AZ,
well be opening that box O. your'n
and GIT out that bundle we're after.
lt'll save all on US considerable trou.
bic an time"
Crash came bis foot against the
panel and i burst into gplin,eFs, aad
by heart fatty stopped heating when
saw one Of them thrust his head and
shoulders through the opening. |
Hleaed the poker aaa struck him over
tho head With all tho force | could
master. He rolled out a volley Of
terrible curses, but | was master Of
the sltlatloH a. taat particular tiwo
Suddenly there was a sound Of
goleeg, and then the man outside cried
out that they we're lnabbea, ; and tiled
to make bis escape. But | knew BY tho
sound that he was caught, and was
struggling with bis csptors. There
we're several pistol shots fred, and
eager oljeS, during which The po5s
wretch ID the door mkde no eifort %
escape, but hythere limp and motion.