The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1883-04-05
THE VALUABLE PACKAGE.
A station-Agent's Story.

i was telegraph operator and station
agent on one of the Western lines of
railroad, when this adventure of which
am going to tell you happened to me-
1t was a wild and stormy n;yht. and
as the depot was nearly half mile out
of town, the set of loafers which usually
collected about the stove in the waiting
room had eventually concluded to seek
some place nearer home TO spend the
evening in, and, for wonder, l was
alone. .,f.
The express from the West was due
at $50. After that / should be at lib
erty. and began to wish the evening
was over long before the train came
along, or else that had some one to
talk to, for the depot was in one OF the
lonesomest spots that could have been
selected; and the wind kept up a dismal
moaning in the pines close by, and every
now and then seemed to be positively
bowling in the wires of the telegraph.
began to feel nervous and idgety.
At last the train came. was also
express agent, and the expressman on
the train handed me heavily-sealed
envelope, remarking, as he did so: al Be
careful of that, Branthwaite. There's
abig bonanza in that package, if it were
yours or mine"
money!" 1 asked, noticing that
there were but two passengers getting
off-two men in shaggy overcoats and
slouchy looking hats whom concluded,
without thinking much about them or
paying but little attention to them, to
be hunters returned from some up
country trip. a-. =. f
"Yes; trife of twenty thousand, 1
believe" answered Phillips. .Old Pow
ers is sending it down to his son, who's
putting up mill somewhere near here,
isn't he" ,H.r iE $40 10
Yes; on the other side of the river"
Ireplied. .'lt's lucky to have a rich
father, Phillips .-.t,.
You're right there" answered Phil
lips. 10
And then the train started off. and
turned and walked toward the Office.
AS neared the door with the package
in my hand one of the men, who had
been watching me, made aspiring to ard
me. 1 doa't know how l happened
to be on the lookout for them, but
must have been. for / Jumped back al
most the same instant that he made his
move, and before either one of them
comprehended what / was about | had
made dive between them and sue
ceeded in getting into the Office, and
had the door bOlted almost before
knew what was doing.
heard volley of curses hurled after
me, and then knew by the sounds and
the creaking of the door that both of the
men were trying to break in. But Ihad
no fears of their doing that 1t was OF
hard wood, well-seasOned, and would
resist all their efforts in that direction.
l put the package in the safe, and
locked it securely. before stopped to
think what was to be done. Then sat
down to think. while could hear the
men talking outside. knew they were
holding a co ncil over the means to be
used to effect an entrance and obtain
possession of the money had received.
1t was anything but a pleasant situa-
tion to be in. Here was l alone half a
o'clock at night and stormy night at
nearly everybody was already in bed.
If they were not, no one would think of
coming to the depot at that time of
night. Outside were two desperate
men, who knew had a large sum of
money in my possession, and they knew
that if they cou effect an entrance [
would amount to but lit e in the way of
preventing an accomplishment Of their
vii ainous purpose. '4' '.' ~ 90
Suddenly thought occurred to, me.
The clerk at the hotel where ibo arded
had taken fancy to telegraphy iandwe
had put up wire between the hotel
and the depot Why couldn' 1 advise
him of my danger, and have him send
help? +'"" ~s.''"'','
Iheard new sound at the door Just
then, which sent the blood in great
frgh ened wares .all over me. . The
men had begun to cat their way in with
pocket-knives! .a,..us.W
rushed to the instrument and ''call-
ed" George. What if he had gone to
bed. or should be out? l turned pale
at the thought tnishJ 70 1sap /!
But pretty soon a response came back.
He was there. Go ahead. = ~ s.aG
i began and wrote: .,..,.-.5 - y4r
II am in danger. Two men are try
ing to gain admittance for the purpose
of robbing the express safe Send help
Immediately, for Gods sake! Not q
minute TO loser' Et.Isbn9W
Slower" telegraphed George. who
had not been rracticing long enough to
be able to read well. -.
went over with the message again.
But l suppose excitement made my
writing blurred" for again he sent
back word: 80 tIW
Slower. and more distincti Can't
ma it out +" eaF91 Hsdl hge
Good God! Before / succeeded in
making him understandm me they would
be through the door. 1 thought,. with a
cod sweat breaking out ali over me-.
But went over the message again. and
this time he caught it, and sent back
hurried IAN right Hold out Cor ten
minutesr' sst- ae4 1al saigssah
The men were digging away like
beavers. soald see the points Vt their
knives once in while. as they splintered
away fragments OF the panels But I
lnew that it would Ia them some time
yet TO cut away enough for them to
make an entrance through. How 7
kished ! had pistol!