Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-05-15

Before they had gone five miles farther ]
had some nails in my pocket, and care
less glance showed me hole in the side
of the box through which the robber was
undoubtedly watching every movement
/ made.
did not go near the resolvers or rifles.
1t would have taken but second foE
him to have raised the lid and shot me,
and knew he would DO so if l ap.
preached them. Instead of that care
lessly assorted pile of express matter
near the box, with view to what was
about to do.
was terribly excited, though / tried
to appear cool. When ] was all ready,
threw several heavy packages on the
lid, sat down on the box. and hastily
nailed down the lid. heard a noise
within, and felt pressure as my prisoner
endeavored to raise the lid. The weight
was too great, and soon had all the nails
driven in to hold him fast. He was
secured, but to make surg of him / sur
rounded the box with heavy bundles,
and piled upon it the heaviest boxes the
car contained.
/ sat down for minutQto recover my
self; then taking down q rifle, / cooked
it loud enough for him to hear.
'9How many more are there aboard the
train2" asked, placing apy mouth to a
crack between the bricks
|, In reply heard a musfied sound re-
sembling curse, and as all the holes
through which he might shoot were COW
cred with gold and silver, / put my
mouth nearer and asked the question
again.
I received no reply, and going to the
end of the car, ] quietly opened the door
leading to the platform The night air
rushed in, and the noise ef.the train came
with it, making din inlmy ears. We
were running at high rate of speed
.m-ound the hills that abound in that
3 ! ~. e4ao5 the platfoAm of the next
- s'P + ,..s - noking r. The train
a. - ,,ro "~a a,raaSM at rk. Two men,
~ .saal .s~as "a 0 s5 - in five feet of
le, commanded view ~ passen- sl
er with their levelled rev -. .asso
lore were going down
1t vases terrible momei lvers. anc =. -!
keen sympathy for 80 aisle for the
hose terror stricken lscts Isooe4a - -.
he dim light from the lamps, but was
elpless; doubtless similar scene was
eing enacted in the other passenger and
/ was hot and cold by turns. Watched
be villains going coolly on with their
york until l began to think of my own
afety. Charley Slate, brakeman, was
ound hand and foot to the forward seat;
d a few minutes they would finish their
airing work and come to my car. did
ot doubt that the fellow had impris-
ned in the pine box was an accomplice,
nd if they should find the door of the
xpress- car locked, they would break it
pen to see what had become of him, and
i'll me if resisted.
This would enable them to take pos
ession of the money, bullion and valua-
lie packages and escape. / knew they
lould not kill any one if he did not re-
isr; and inside of five minutes they would
cmand an entrance to my car.
Already the two robbers had nearly
cached the farther end of the smoking
ar; thousands of dollars were in my care;
must save it.
w dlN luOIG uGcltdbAOu obCBpO0
0 the platform of my car, grasped the
ever that operated the Miller coupling,
nd, with a quick, strong pull, separated
he two draw-heads. / was not mo-
lent too soon. Before the engine and
xpress-car had shot two hundred feet
head Of the train, the door of the smok-
ng car opened and the robbers stepped
ut Iheard their cry of rage, saw the
ashes Of their revofvers, and felt the bull
cts strike the woodwork behind me.
Turrying forward | told the engineer
THAT had done.
He heartily approved of my action, and
is words reassured me. had taken
esperate course, but had saved great
eal of valuable property.
We hurried on through the darkness,
nd soon reached the next station, from
which the news was telegraphed to
he company's Offices in San Francisco
nd Tucson. The robber in the pine box
ras then secuscd, but refused to say
Ford, and with a gang of trackmen,
re returned to where we had left the
rain. The robbers had departed, taking
valuable with them, and the
assengers hailed us with shouts of JOY
nd sighs of relief Yqath's Companion.
-=
Happy eOpIe.
People who alwaH appear well and