The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-09-25
CAUGHT BY TELEGRAPH,

clerk on one 81 the lines OF Railroad "
was wild and stormy night, and as the
station was nearly half q mile out Of town
the set OF loAten who usually collected
about the stove in the waiting room had
evidently concluded to seek some place
nearer home to spend the evening in, aud
for wonder was quite alone.
The express was due at $3.50, After
that should be at liberty, and began to
wish the evening was over long before the
train come along, or else that l 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 plneB close by, and every
now and then seemed to he positively
bowling in the wires OF the telegraph.
began to get nervous and fdgety. At
last the train came, and the guard on the
train handed ma q heavily sealed enyel'
ope, IemaTking as he did 80;
'"Bs careful OF that, Branthwalts,
There's a BONANZA in that package II 1t
were yours or mine,"
"Moneym l asked, noticing that there
were but two passengers getting out-Gwo
men in shaggy OVeTConts and Bl0uChy'
looking hats, whom / concluded, without
thinking much about them, or paying but
little attention to them, to be horse deal
ara returning from some up,countTy trip.
"Yes; a triAe Of $40 900, / believe" an
swered Phillips, Old Powers is sending
| It to his son, who is putting up q mill
| have unmaW hnFn ian't he Pr
ayes, on the other side OF the river" |
replied. "It's lucky to have q rich father,
"You're right there" answered Phil
lips.
turned and walked toward the office. AS
| neared the door with the package in my
hand, one OF the men who had been
watching me made spring toward me.
l don't know how l happened to DO on
the lookout for them, but must have
been, for jumped back almost the same
instant that he made hls move and be.
fore either one OF them Comprehended
what | wGH about l had made u dive be-
tween them and succeeded in getting into
the office, and had the door bolted al
most before knew what was doing.
l heard volley oil cursea hurled after
me, and then knew by the sounds and
the creaking OF the door that both OF the
men were trying TO break in. But had
no fears OF their doing that, 1t WAS Of
hard wood, we'll seasoned, and would re-
sist all their efforts in that direction. |
put the package in the safe and locked 1t
} securely before ! stopped to think what
was to bs done. Then ! sat down to
think, while could hear the men hold
ing council over the means to be used
to effect an entrance aud obtain pos
Bession Of the money l had received.
1t wasIanything but pleasant aitna-
ton to be- in. Here was alone, half o
mile away from any assistance, At IL
o'clock at night, and a stormy night at
that-Rnd the probabilities were that
nearly everybody was already In bed.
Outside were two desperate men who
knew | had large sum Of money In my
possession, and they knew that II they
could effect an entrance l would amount
, to but little in the way Of preventing an
accomplishment OF their villainous pur.
pose. The manager at the hotel up in the
town could bs communicated with, ioI
We had put up wire between the hotel
and the station. Couldn't advise him OF
my danger and have him send help2
/ heard q new sound at tho door lust
then which sent the blood in great fright
ened waves all over me. The men had
begun to cut their way in with pocket
knives. rushed to the instrument and
"called" George Hinxman, the hotel man
ager. What ii he had gone to bed, or
should be out? l turned pale at the
thought.
But pretty coon response came back.
He was there. "Go ahead" began:
"Iaul in danger. Two men arc trying
. To gain admittanCa for the purpose OF
robbing the express safe. Send help i'm
mediately, for Gods sake. Not minute
to lose"
Slower" telegraped George, who had
not been practiCing long enough to be able
TO read very rapidly. l went over the
message again. But suppose the excite
Aent made my signs blurred" for again
he sent back word:
"Sl0wor and more distinct. Can't make
1t out"
Good God! Before succeeded in max.
ing him understand me they would be
through the door, thought, with cold
sweat breaking out all over me.
But went over the message again, and
this time he caught 1t and sent back a
hurried "All right. Hold out for ten
minutes"
The men wero digging away like beav-
ers. l could sec the points Of their knives
once in q while as they Bplintered away
fragments Of the panel. But l knew It
would take them some timo yet to cut
away enough for them to make an en-
trance through. How l wished had q
pistol. l waited in feverish Impotence.
Suddenly there was crash, and one panel
was stove in by the foot OF one OF the
men.
"Aha" he grinned, with his leering
face at the Aperture; "you see we mean
business, don't you p" What are Won 20
ing to do when we get in ?"
didn't know. Die, | supposed, II they
took notion to put an end to me into
their heads. Why didn't George and the
help he had promised come! 1t seemed
to mo that they had had time enough to
make ten.milO tramp.
"We,ve got the second panel almost
ready to BtNVe in," said the other man,
| CliuChllhk AVtilDly ONuA lllo CldbElul III
formation. 'Then. l guess, Tom can
crawl through. You might as well be
opening that box O. yourn an hand ouL
that bundle we're after. It'll save all on
uB considerable trouble an time"
Crash came his foot against the panel,
and 1t burst into splintersj and my heart
fairly stopped beating, when saw one Of
them thrust his head and shoulders
through the opening, l seized the poker
and struck him over the head with all the
force / could muster. HerollOd out vol.
Icy OF terrible curses, but was master Of
the situation at that particular moment.
Suddenly there was sound OF voices and
then the man outside cried out that they
we're "nabbed, " and tried TO make his es.
cape. But knew by the sound that he was
caught, and was struggling with his cap.
tors. There were several pistol shots
fred and eager cries, during which the
nnnr MraIDh In the door mhhh m hlInrk 10