Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1888-05-10


age marked 81 900, c. o. D., is going back to
the jewelry firm it came from. Here is the
silver papered one, that means wedding
present, and this bit of a box from Cobra
do. that weighs like lead, is something in
the line of mineral specimens, of course.
What wonder that express messengers are
sometimes tempted to dishonesty by the
golden stream that flows through their fin
gers. Thcred be considerable pickings for
man Of that sort here. 1t may be just as
well that we are hcmmed in as closely as
we are"
The young man in whose mind these
thoughts were running let his eye travel
over the packages once more. They were
all there just rs they should be, and he
turned over fiat parce! for another look
at its face, dotted by sundry labels, show
ing that it had passed over different lines.
something comfortable in the look of
it" Unused he, as he closed the safe and
turned the key. Not like that box back
there which seems to have al Internal ma
chine in it. Hard luck to the party who
gets that, il it be one, to go OF in moment,
without Warming
All, hard luck for you, simple messenger,
with that dim form standing back of you,
with uplifted club that falls without warn
ing, striking you down, leaving your trust
unguarded to the ruthless hand of the de-
spciler.
II was but moments work, for the key
was still in the lock. The eager fingers
which lowered over the contents of the
desk fastened almost Immediately upon the
package which had been the last in the
messengers hand. Nothing else was
touched, although the cleaning eyes rested
upon the marks Isl 900 c. o. D.; :" the dark
FACE bending over the safe worked in q
spasm OF conflicting emotions.
What chance Is herer' muttered the
thief. But steady-steady! Remember
the stake you are playing for. Don't Yet
any thing less interfere with that, my lad,
or you Will be left. Hist, danger-vam-
oose!'
Instantly, with the words just breathed
TO himself, the man disappeared among the
piles of expressage which incumbered the
car. He had scarcely done 80 when a brake
man came whistling in at the door, and be-
gan pokng ut the fire.
.'Hello, Bergman" he called out; ''what
arc you up to. taking 1 snOOze on the sly!
You'd better wake up and get ready for
business. There'll be a pretty rush when
we get in twenty minutes behind, and hot
box to boot"
The messenger had dragged himself up
by stack of boxes, and stood wavering,
with wild CLEAN in his eyes as he strove
20 pierce the dim length Of the car.
Where is he" he asked, excitedly.
away
Where is who!" demanded the brake
man, approaching, bis suspicious glance
grnN 'ra
dreaming yet There's 70 one here; couldn't
be. you know"
There is" insisted Bergman. 81 have
been robbed. The thief struck me down. yet
l was not altogether scnseless, and l saw
him move away rs you came in. He is here,
hidden. LOOk!"
He was searching himself with feverish
energy among the heaped-up merchandise.
but in spite of their best efforts, no trace of
the thief was found. Ike, who was i'm
pressed momcntarily by the others earnest
ness. grew incredulous again.
''Pshaw, man, how could any one get in
with me at the brakes and this front door
locked! If there is a thief here, he has
slowed himself into one of these boxes and
nailed himself in. A likely idea, amt it:
Hello, down brakes! What now, Won
;cr."
He hurried away to his post in answer to
the signal, and 4 moment later, with a great
jar and quiycr of resistance, the train came
to a stand.
The conductor hastcned forward to Join
tho engineer as he dropped down from his
box.
What is il, Larlin!"
LOG on the track. We'd have been into
it, sure as shot, only fer that ar pcSky