Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-06-14

Some years ago." said A. How
ard, my life and Se0, 900 belongingto
my partner, Jim Bigney, and myself,
were saved, and gang of robbers
broken up by means Of an electric
bell. Jim and had been telegraph
operators, but had abandoned the
business for mining. We had luck in
prospecting, and after few years
had sold our claims for SCI, 800. Of
which we took $500 in promisory
notes and started East with the bal
ance, chiefly in bank notes. Ii ap-
pears that three outlaws learned the
real value OF our old trunks and con-
tents. | had left Jim at the clerks
desk of new tangled hotel in a
Western town and followed the par
ties "a they carried the baggage 10
the front end OF the room, on the
fourth floor. After dismissing them
l had shut the door, neglecting to
lock il, however, and had turned to
the washstand, behind, when heard
the door swing slowly open behind
ne.
Thinking il was jim, l rinsed the
lather from my eyes and turned, only
TO find man holding IA six shooter In
my face, another locking the door,
and third making a break for the
trunk. | wanted at first to argue the
matter from standpoint OF morali'
ty, aud so inquired what right they
had to disturb me in dressing. But
the man with the gun remarked, AK
iomatically, Might makes all things
right, stranger, and this Is might,
tapping his weapon with the olsen
gagged hand. | felt that the silent In
strument in his hand was deeper,
a more potent argument than any l
could advance under existing circun-
stances.
Back him up TO the wall and
keep him covered until We get the
stuff, and then Wen slit his throat
and lope, resumed the leader.
Though the programme did not
just suit me, acquiesced, as far as
the wall Put your hands behind
you commanded my jailer. l did,
when n happy thought struck me.
My right hand had come In contact
with knob, which recognized rs
the electric bell which communi.
Gated with the clerk. This was
feature OF civilization the robbers
were not posted about. Unob-
served by them, | began sending
the following message:
'Jim-Three robbers have the
door locked, and are just waiting 20
get our dust TO murder me. Get n
man and step ladder, and don't make
sign Of noise, put gun through
the transom and shoot. BE quick
and careful.
my only hope was that Jim might
be still lounging where left him, In
which case his ear would quickly
catch OH. There was chance In n
hundred, and | began TO sweat very
freely. But ! started repeating the
message, and was nearly through,
when bang, bang, two shots were
fred from over the door, and the man
who had not been hit, turned just
enough to let me hit him back OF the
ear with my right hand-the force OF
despair and the knowledge Of being
on the right side Mt last. IL would be
painting IL a shade light to say we
had sprung surprise party on the
visitors had gun In a moment
and kept the thieves mt bay until
the two men outside got In and tied
them up, except the leader. who was
as dead "a man ever gets to be. The
other wounded one died In n hospital
three months afterwards, and my
jailer was killed m an attempt 10
escape Jail about the same time.
"As had expected, when the bell
began ringing the message ia the
Office, Jim was there aud commenced
taking it. The clerk gazed IN such
astonishment that he forgot TO start
boy mp TO answer II for minute,
whenJi i'm pulled hisgun and remarked:
The first man that leaves this room
gets all I've got here la the neck.
When he had got the 'riDgogram, NJ
he afterward termed II, he rapidly ex-
planned, cautioned everybody else not
to follow. took drummer he had met
on the train, snatched n ladder, and
a. soon as he could climb around the
job was done. SO. Lonn Globe Demo
crdt