Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-05-15
ANNAPOLIS, MD, THURSDAY EVENING, MAY Is, 1884,


reg ngLeu, 1ha da Sn.ih al4aao.hs- an ~ us
10y time became accustomed to
uFy phase of my situation. and al
w =, f1gh my lonely life gave me very
s ht and taciturn habit / enjoyed my
~ days at Los Angeles, or at Santa
fost,,lca, sea-bathing, as much as my more
NJ, hate friends who ran north over tie
e Nchapi pass, and were at home every
enjoyed their rests.
lin Yobberies had lately been fire.
9ue and while did not expect to be
ked, learned to be on the lookout.
- d a set of signals with the bell rope
= let the trainmen know when was in
ID lger. Robberies were often made
lie the trains were in motion, and the
"a press messengers were either bound
La Ia id and foot, or killed, the robbers
Ing desperate men who hesitated at
Jthing.
Occasionally, however. did relax my
: igiIance, and slept as soundly as at the
otel where boarded. Finally my turn
eame
The train arrived at Tucson one night
pearly an hour late There was great
deal of express matter to exchange, and
fer fifteen minutes / was kept busy load
ing and unloading bundles and boxes.
The passengers walked up and down the
platform to stretch their legs; the en-
gine's safety-valve hummed with escap-
ing steam. and the long train of cars,
reaching the full length of the platform.
presented picture Of hustle and activity.
- hen the last bundle was piled away,
! hance TO talk few minutes with
! i nau - aau; then the train started
l sne e. ~ locked it, and turned
ana lclosed the uo oLaoes that were
TO the boxes and paessls..,. '.IS;s ia ~e ~
scattered around. The first - .s;e s;.'s
attracted my attention was long p
box.
1 had not noticed it when it Z
was loaded and thinking it n
was queer time for a funeral to
start East, examined the address 1t G
was consigned to New Orleans / en- r
tered it on the book with the other ex- II
press, and for an hour or more, while n
sorting over the packages, / took no no e
tice q my silent companion. n
1t was common thing to have one or
two funerals the whole length of the trip
and. / thought of this as j q
thought of others: ssSome poor fellow v
who left pleasant home to come here in 7
search of fortune, only to die on the q
alkah plains, without friend' D
And after had showed the box against s.
the side of the car, opened bundle of
and selected one to read. 1t u
was not very late, and fitting my chair "
against the side of the car beneath s.
lamp, / was soon interested in the news o
Of the day. II
How long was in that position / do d
not know, but unconsciously j fell into n
light sleep when | had finished reading o
the paper / awoke with feeling of g
dread and fascination in complete pos e.
session of me. / did not move: / could Q
not. Something held me almost breath k
less, and several minutes passed before l
could open nv eyes. When | did, my 8
heart gave quick throb o
The top of the pine box was partly v
raised, and the features of man, shaded 8
from the dim light, were revealed to my q
acute senses!
Even then, though greatly startled, / n
did not make a motion, and my eyes G
were all but closed. Peering from the l
corner of one eye, / tried to make out
his features, but saw nothing beyond the Z
brutal eyes and half-sayage mouth. In L
m instant it flashed across me that he a
was a train robber9 q
He was evidently waiting to sec if / n
was fast asleep, and he did not move e
during several minutes, keeping his eyes a
on me with the steadiness of an II
animal d Q
scarcely breathed 4
The rifles and revolvers were on the L
opposite side of the car. If attempted t
to get them, he would shoot before l v
made two steps. With my blood ting
ling and my ears strained, / waited ex- 2
for him to move. resolving to 9
wait for a favorable opportunity tospring q
on him.
Probably there were dozen more of Z Z
his associates in the passenger cars, and !
as soon as he had secured his prize they :
would be notified, and the passengers 2
robbed. There was enough gold and J
silver in bricks in my car to make one !
man independently rich. The small safe J
was full of specie, amounting TO one
hundred thousand dollars worth.
With the thought of my responsibility I
came feeling of resolution. / must do :
without hesitation
The dark eyes glared at me, but the
robber never changed his position. "a
could read the meaning of their cold i
glitter, and must act if saved my life. i
pretended to awaken BY making two :
or three movements with my hands, and :
to my intense relief the cover of the pine i
box quickly and quietly dropped to its !