The sun. (Fayetteville, N.C.) 1883-188?, 1884-06-17

| ho"CfcI, uli Itldl
my vigilance, and slept as sound a,
at the hotel where | boarded. Final
ly my turn came.
| The train arrived at Tucson one
night nearl y an hour late. There
was great deal of express mlttel
to exchange, and for fifteen minutes
| was kept busy loading and unload.
ing bundles and boxes. The passen.
gers walked up and down the plat.
form to stretch their legs; the en-.
glne's safety-valve hummed witt
escaping steam, and the long train
OF cars, reaching the full length OF
the platform, presented picture oi
hustle and activity.
When the last bundle was pileC
away, | had chance to talk few
minutes with the expressman; the,
the train started; andaI closed the
door, locked it and turned to- the
boxes and packages that were scat:
tered around. The first thing that
attracted my attention was a long
pine box.
| had not noticed it when it was
loaded, and thinking it was quee,
time for funeral to start East,
examined the address. 1t was con-
signed to New Orleans. | entered
it ON the book with the other ex-
press, and for an hour or more
while sorting over the packages,
took no notice of my silent compan-
ion.
1t was common thing to have
one or two funerals the whole length
of the trip eastward, and | thought
of this as thought of others: ..'Some
poor fellow who left a pleasant
home to come here in search of a
fortune, only to die on the alkali
plains, without a friend"
And after | had showed the box
against the side of the car, | opened
a bundle of newspapers and selected
one to read. 1t was not very late,
and fitting my chair against the side
of the car beneath lamp, | was
soon interested in the news of the
day.
How long l was in that position
! do not know, but unconciously |
fell into a light sleep when | had
finished reading the paper, | woke
with feeling of dread and fascina-
ton in complete possession Of me.
| did not move; | could not. Some
thing held me almost breathless,
and several minutes passed before |
could open my eyes. When | did,
my heart gave quick throb!
The top of the pine box was part
ly raised, and the features Of a man,
shaded from the dim light, were re-
vealed to my acute senses!
Even then, though greatly star
tied, | did not make a motion, and
my eyes We're all but closed. Peer
ing from the corner of one eye, |
tried to make out his features, but
saw nothing beyond the brutal eyes
and hatt-savage mouth. In all in
slant it flashed across me. that he
was traln-robber! ----
F He was evidently waiting to see
if | was fast asleep, for he did not
move during several minutes, keep
ing his eyes fastened Oh me with the
steadiness Of all animal. -
I scarcely breathed.
The rifles and ~reyolyers were Oh
the opposite side of the car. If |
attempted to get them he would
shoot before | made two steps. With
my blood tingling and my ears
strained, | waited expectahtly for
him to move, resolving to wait for
a favorable opportunity to spring on
him.
Probably. there were a dozen more
Of his associates in the passenger
cars, and as soon as he had secured
his prize. they woul be notified and
the passengers robbed. There was
enough gold and silver in bricks in
my car to make one man .mdepend-
emily rich. The small safe was full
Of specie. amounting to 100000
worth. ....:
With: the thought of my respon-
sibility came feeling of resolution.
| must do something without hesi-
tation.
The dark eyes ,glared at me, but
the robber never changed his posi-
tion. ] could read the meaning Of
their cold glitter, and | must act if
| saved my life. | pretended to
awaken, by making two or three
with my hands, and to
my intense relief the cover Of the
pine box quickly and quietly dropped
to its place. Without making amy |
hurried motions, rubbed my eyes,
gaped once or twice, and slowly rose
to my feet.
"Well, well, said, aloud, "Ive
been asleep"
Then proceeded to rummage
around the car as if nothing had
but my nerves were. not
-ciaxed an instant. Before the tram
iad gone five miles farther had
.oue nails in my pocket. A quick,
:areless glance showed me hole in
,he side Of tilc box through which
,he robber was undoubtedly watch
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