The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-09-21

head. Smith, stand out of range, OF
you may get taste of it, too"
Bevan sat down at the table, the
leader pushing his chair closer. Open
ing the key he commenced calling ..R.
He again felt the cold barrel of the re.
volver on his forehead, and it made
him so nervous that he could hardly
manipulate the key. ar" answered.
THAT is good" said the man adj
dressed as Smith who was the opera.
ator. s.Send slow. 1 can't read fast
sending" he answered.
Bevan proceeded very slowly, and
Smith pronounced each word as he
made it. The leader glanced alter
nately at Smith and Bevan uneasily.
1t was evident that this was the crisis
of their bold conspiracy. "R" broke
Bevan in the middle of a message,
wanting to know why the duce he sent
so slowly. Bevan closed the key and
took his hand away nervously.
What did he say?" demanded the
chief.
He wanted to know why / didn't
send faster"
''Tell him you have sore finger"
said Smith.
Poor Bevan spelled this lie out
slowly, Smith reading it aloud,
then went on and finished the mes.
sage.
''R" gave sharp and distinct 30 K"
which the renegade operator read
aloud.
The leader gave a sign of relief
which Revan promptly echoed as he
felt the pistol barrel removed from his
head. The chief then unlocked one
of the handouts, removed it, placed
Bevan's hlnds behind his back and re-
clasped the ring around his wrist,
thus rendering him perfectly help.
less.
There was nothing to be done ex-
cept to wait. The men disposed them
selves on the various chairs scattered
about the room, the leader still guard
ing Bevan, revolver in hand. As Be-
van thought over the events OF the last
half hour he filed with rage at the
dasterdly deed he had been compelled
to commit. This money which now
would fall into the hands of these mis-
creants was the honest farmers,
wives and orphans. and he had assist
ed to rob them. Better far to have
sacrificed his life. II unframed, how
could he ever hold up his head again?
Oh, that he had refused to be their
tool! Was there no way to undo what
he had done?"
Stop! The key which he had fixed
up in dark corner under his table,
connecting it to the main line precise
ly as his other key was connected, to
play joke on the good-natured sta
ton agent. He had at odd times prac-
ticed sending with his foot and found
it not half so difficult as one would sup
pose He had bent the circuit closer
so that he could move it easily, and
the rest was merely matter OF prac-
tice. He mad preserved until he grew
quite proficient in this novel method
of transmission.
He opened the key with his foot and
made few dots.
what is that?" said the leader.
"Only some one practicing," ans
wered Bevan, readily.
The leader looked at Smith, who
nodded.
Bevan called ''R" rapidly.
What did he say there?n
"Practicing the letter ''c'' he an
swered glibly. "Do you wish me to
read aloud all that passes over the
wire?n
mo. it is not necessary"
81 can read most of it." said Smith,
giving Bevan penetrating glance.
Bevan had is own reasons for doubt
ing this statement however. "R" an
swered, Bevan said, sending as rapidly
as he could under circumstances:
HAS the message been delivered
yet?"
Eyes, long ago."
Then go after it and stop it. That
bullion must not be sent tonight"
The key at .'R" opened and remain
ed SO for nearly five mintes; then it
closed and he said, .'All right, the bull
ion will not go. What is the mat
ter?"
1.-The matter is that this Office is full
Of armed highwaymeu. was forced
to send that message with a loaded re-
yolver at my forehead. !"
Good heavens! Wait minute. .
Bevan turned and met the eye of
the robber chief He could not help
smiling sarcastically.
The chief was on his feet In an i'm
slant.
"By God," he said, s'if you have
played us any trick, young fellow, you
will pay for it with your life"
He has not said word, remarked
Smith.
cit is well for him." said the leader,
'.if that bullion arrives all right you
will be released uninjured. If it fails
20 come, or il there is sign of treach-
sry, your corpse will be found on the
ioor tomorrow morning, with your
brains spattered on that wall.
Bevan shuddered at this picture,
which was beginning to loom up as a
black reality before him.
''The chief of police is here" licked
,ut the sounder, land wants to know
low you are situated"
my hands are handcuffed behind
ne, and a man sits beside me with a
oaded and cooked revolver" Bevan
answered.
Thunder Then how can you
,end?"
81 am sending with my foot on a
key under the table which
vas rugged up to play joke on Ma
,on."
What can be done to save you?''