The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1883-04-05
THE VALUABLE PACKAGE.


was telegraph operator and station
agent on one OF the Western lines OF
railroad, wher this adventure of which
am going to sell you happened to me
II was will and stormy night, and
as the depot was nearly half a mile out
OF town, the set of loafers which usually
collected abolt the stove in the waiting
room had eventually concluded to seek
some place nearer home to spend the
evening in, and, for wonder, | was
alone.
The express from the West was due
at950 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 dismal
moaning in the pines close BY, and every
now and then seemed to be positively
bowling in the wires of tie telegraph.
began to feel nervous and iidgety.
At last the train came. was also
express agent, and the expressman on
the train handed me q heavily-sealed
envelope remarking, as he did so: BE
careful OF that Branhwaite. There's
abig bonanza in that package, if it were
yours or minen
Money!" / asked, noticing that
there were but two passengers getting
of-two men in shaggy overcoats aid
slouchy-looking hats whom concluded,
without thinking much about them OF
paying but little attent on to them, to
be hunters returned from some up
cosnlry trip.
"Yes trife of twenty thousand.
believe" answered Phillips. "Old Pow
ers is sending it down to his son, who's
putting up mill somewhere near here,
isn't he y ssa sR
"Tes; on the other side of the river"
irepied, 'lt's lucky to have a rich
father, Phillips y
You're ght there" answered Phil
lips
And then the train started off. and
turned and walked toward the oilice.
AS neared the door with the package
III my hand one of the men, who had
been watching me, made aspiring to ward
me. doat t know how | happened
to be on the lookout for them, but
must ha'e been, for l 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
teeded in getting into the Office. and
had the door boted 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 tho
men were trying to breakin. But Ihad
no Tears of their doing that. II was OF
hard wood, well-seasoned, and would
resist all Their efforts in that direction.
/ put the package in the So g, and
locked it securely, before ] stopped to
lhlnk what was to he done. Then sat
down to think while / could hear the
men talking outside. knew lhey were
no dung q co neil over the means to be
USED TO effect an entrance and obtain
possession of the money had received.
.; IL was anything but pleasant stua-
lloh TO be in, Here was / alone half
iHie away from any assistance, at ten
ciock at night and stormy night at
snat-and the probabilities were that
niscamrly everybody was already in bed.
- lney were not, no one would think of
0Glilhg sin 70 the depot at that time of
n'ght Outside were two desperate
men VINO knew had a large sum of
.loney m my possession, and they knew
mat Il they cou d effect ali entrance |
would amount to butltt G in the way of
preventing an accomplishment Of their
W Mnous purpose.
~, suddenly th'ught occurred 10 me.
ne clerk at the hotel where / boIrded
bod ,J .aaen s.i. fancy tostelegraphy and we
and ~. up wire etween the hotel
uu bn lne depot. Why couldn, advise
Nh IN OF my danger, and have him send
q, heard a new sound at the door lust
t"en which sent the blood in great
~, n gh ened wa es al over me. The
rnli ,uen Ila1 begun to c ttfeir way in with
al, rushed 10 the instrument and ..call-
M ! Gorge What if he had cone to
a, opp; OF should be outP turned pale
IT. pul pretty soon a response came back.
~ was there. Go ahead.
pegan and wrote:
=, am IN danger Two men are fry
~ s % gain almitiance for One purpose
;n,n roo ing the express safe. Send helm
min,va'alely, minn,a for God sakel Not a
hal SisoWer ,s1ster telegraphed George. who
be ab,a bI' pee, oeen racticing long enough to
But went over with the message again.
wri,; suppose excitement made INV
back btt,s e. blurred" for again he sent
slower, and mora d;s,;nott r.u,.
ma g j ont . '''S-S 'is''"cl' Van
oo9d God Before | suoeeeded in