The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1888-04-19


the jewelry firm 1t came from. Here is the
silver .papered one, that means wedding
present, and this bit of q box from Colora-
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
gersi There'd be considerable pickings for
man Of that sort here. 1t may be Just as
well that we are hemmed in IS 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 as they should be, and he
turned over fat parcel for another look
at its face, dotted by sundry labels, show
ing that 1t had passed over different lines.
something comfortable in the look Of
it," muscd he, as he closed the safe and
turned the key. "Not like that box back
there which seems to have an Internal ma
chine in it. Hard luck to the party who
gets that, il it be one, to go of in moment,
without warning"
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-
spoiler.
1t was but q moments work, for the key
was still in the lock. The eager fingers
which hovered 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 tho marks ''$1 200 G. o. D. :" the dark
face bending over the safe worked in q
spasm of conflicting emotions.
'What q chance is here!' muttered the
thief. "But steady-steadyl Remember
the stake you are playing for. Don't let
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
cor. He had scarcely done so when brake
man came whistling in at the door, and be-
gan poking ut the fire.
"Hello, Bergman" he called out; ''what
are you up to. taking snooze on the slya
You'd better wake up and get ready for
business. There'll be 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 gleam in his eyes as he strove
TO pierce the dim length of the car.
''Where is hei" he asked, excitedly.
'.Stand hard, Ike. Don't let him get
away"
"Where is who2" demanded the brake
man, approaching, his suspicious glance
travelling over the car. II guess you're
dreaming yet. There's no one here; couldn't
be, you know"
'SThere is," insisted Bergman. ~ have
been robbed. The thief struck me down, yet
was not altogether senseless, and saw
him move away as you came in. He is here,
hidden. Look!"
Hc 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 momentarily by the others earnest.
ness, grew incredul0us again.
''Pshaw, man, how could any ono get In
with me at the brakes and this front door
lockedl II there is thief here, he has
slowed himself into one of these boxes and
nailed himself In. "A likely idea, amt I'll
Hello, down brakesl What now, I won
deri"
He hurried away to his post in answer Il
the signal, and o moment later, with great
jar and quiver Of resistance, the train came
to stand.
The conductor hastened forward to loir
the engineer as he dropped down from hii
box.
''What is 1t, Larkinl"
'.Log on the track. We'd have been int
1t, sure as shot, only for that or pesk.