The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-08-15

 and my ears strained, waited expect antly for him to move, resolving to wait for favorable opportunity to spring on him. Probably there were dozen more of his associates in the passenger-cars, and as soon as he had secured his prize they would be notified, and the passen- gers robbed. There was enough gold and silver in bricks in my car to make one man independently rica. The small safe was full of specie, amounting to one hundred thousand dollars worth. With the thought of my responsibility came feeling of resolution. 1 must do some thing without hesitation. The dark eyes glared at me, but the robber never changed his ppsition. could read the meaning of their cold glitter, and must act if saved my life. pretended to awaken, by making two or three move ments with my hands, and to my intense relief the cover of the pine box quickly and quietly dropped to its place. With out making any hurried motion, uooed my eyes, gaped once or twice, and slowly rose to my feet.
 "Wel, well," said aloud, "I I've been asleep"
 Then proceeded to rummage around the car as if nothing had happened, but my nerves were not relaxed an instant Before the train had gone five miles far ther had some nails in my pocket. A | quick, careless glance showed me hole in the side cf the box through which the robber was undou otedIy watching every movement 1 made.
 did not go near the revolvers or rifles. | r. vrO,,tI knl, hat cLs~NyaA h,w1 to have raised the lid and Shot me, and knew he would do 50 if l approached them. Instead of that carelessly as sorted pile of express matter near the l box, with a view to what was about to 1 do.
 was terribly excited, though tried to appear cool. When 1 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 IS my prisoner en- deavOred to raise the lid. The weight was too great, and soon had all the nails driven in to hold h!m fast Hewas l secured but to make sure of him sur. rounded the box with heavy bundles and piled upon it the heaviest boxes the Car contained.
 sat down for minute to recover my self; then taking down rifle, cooked it loud enough for him to hear.
 "How many more are there aboard the train r asked, placing my mouth to crack between the bricks In reply heard muffled sound re- sembling curse, and as all the holes through which he might shoot were GOV cred with gold and silver put my mouth nearer and ask the question again, received no reply, and going to the other end of the car quietly opened the door leading to the platform. The night air rushed in, and the noise of the train came ~ith it, making din in my ears We were running at high rate of speed around the hills that abound in that re- zion.
 stepped to the platf,rm of the next car. IT was smoking car The train robbers were already at work Two men, in the forward end, within five feet of me, commanded view of every passenger with their leveled revolvers, and two more were going down the ai le for the valuables
 It was a terrible moment for me. I felt keen sympathy for the passengers, whose terror stricken faces could see in the oim light from the lamps, but was helpless doubtless similar scene was being enacted in the other passenger and sleeping cars.
 was hot and cold by turns. watched the villains going coolly on with their work until began to think of my own safety Charley >la,e, brakeman, was bound hand and foot to the forward seat in few minutes they would finish their daring work and come to my car did no. doubt that the fellow had impris oEed in the pine box was an accomplice, and if they should find tue door ot the express car locked, they wosld break II open 10 see what had become of him, and kill me if resisted
 This would enable them to take pos- session of the money, bullion and valua- ble packages and escape. knew they would not kill any one if he did not re- slst; and inside of i've minutes they would demand an entrance to my car.
 Already the two robbers had nearly reached the farther end oi the smoking car; thousands Of dollars were in my care; must save it.
 Without any, more hesitation stepped to the platform of my car, grasped the lever that operated the Miller coupling. and, with quick, strong pull, separated the two drawbacks was not momeot too soon. Before the engine and express car had shot two hundred feet ahead of the train, the door of the smoking ear opened aud the robbers stepped cut | heard their cry of rage, saw the flashes of their revolvers, and the bullets struck the woodwork behind me. Hurrying for ward, .old the engineer what had done.
 He heartily approved of my action, and his words treasured me. had taken a desperate course, but had saved a great | deal of valuable pYonerty