The National tribune., 1889-10-31

that when a dead body was shipped for any
station-seldom the case-the fact was tele-
grzphed ahead, but that WAS a surprise, and
Edded not little 20 my nervousness.
Who Is itf" / asked, as the box was carried
into the station.
The stranger answered my question: "The
body l. that Of nv sister-in law She was the
niece Of Tom Beldin. Doubtless you know him.
Her death was very sudden. She is 10 be
buried al Toms place"
Then ] suppose the body is TO be left with
me until 20 MORROW" ] said.
Yes" answered the stranger. do you
suppose ] can get 10 Toms place tO-night2"
'WeH.7 I replied, "ifs a good six miles 70
the Giia crossing, and in such storm as this
"I'll wait until tomorrow" interrupted the
stranger. There is some sort Of a hotel here,
isn't there2"
Yes. a very good one. You'll have to foot
II; but rs only quarter Of q mile, and you
cannot miss il; its straight road"
Then ] went out 70 the exprcss-car where
the money package, which / had secretly
hoped Lad not come. was handed me by the
messenger. As he gave IL 70 me, be remarked /:
YOU have 70 keep sharp eye Oh that.
There's enough IN il 10 make road-agent put
ball through your head and never give you
chance 20 object"
"Ill look out for the road agents and the
package too" said ], confidently, though / did
not like the messengers suggestion.
The train moved quickly of. and swung
the Station Agents lantern By way of bidding
good night" to Ben Hartley.
Then 1 went into the station house with the
package clutched tightly under my rubber
coat, expecting to find the man who had come
with the body there. but he had gone; anxious,
81 ] supposed, 10 get 70 the hotel as quickly as
possible. There was nothing for me TO do but
lock the doors, see that things were all right
shout the place, and cit down 70 my "'Frisco &"
papers in the little room that served the Station
Agent a. sleeping quarters.
Tie harricOpa station was q wooden building
about - feet long by = wide. 10 was divided
into two compartments, the larger being for
freight and baggage. and the smaller for pas
seBgeTs. The Station Agents room was only a
piece Fartiiioned of from the freight room
about 10 feet square. and connected by q door
with The box Of an Office in the passengers
room which served for selling tickets, the
telegraph key, and an Old-lashioncd iron safe.
in which ] locked the package.
When lad -nade all safe about the station,
and bad taken of my wet clothing, sat down,
comfortably, with dozen /" Henry Clay" CIGARS
and bottle Of Kentucky Forester whisky.
with which to make nocturnal teddy, 10 read
ny papers.
Outside the storm continued 10 rage with in.
cosy as could be. bad q blazing fire ia the
stove cheerful kerosene light, an easy-clair
dozen good cigars-the one luxury in which
IN those days i was extravaganU-and fresh
newspapers. Certainly those were pleasant
surroundings, and Sam Fellows, the Station
Agent. ihought they yielded as much solid
comion p 4 man had right 10 have in this
world.
by cigars did not soothe me as was their
won't Try as j might ] could not become ia.
tere6ted lH ne papers. An uncomfortable feel.
Ing Of dread, a feeling that some horrible thing
was about 70 happen. pressed upon my mind
u All comes Of that Internal old money
package Why could il not have come yesier.
day and saved me the worry Of keeping H." ]
mBtteFed
Just then came terrific fash Of lightning
and clap 81 thunder, vivid enough 10 make my
lamp appear 20 burn dim.
The key Of the saie-there was no coInbina.
ton lock-was IN nay pocket had not much
faith IN ms security; IN fact, was sure il did
not require cracksman % open 10, for almost
anyone could have picked the lock. left Ia,
door open between my room and the TICKET
oice, 50 that If Marricopa" was called could
hear Il. Fortunately Army officers were in.
strucled 10 telegraphy, aud knew every SOUND
OF The instrument. which had been clickius
away IL great rate for over ON hour: but A
~ was noneO my business had paid no atten
Ron 70 what was going over the wires
judged az that time from the nearness O
the Lightning and the ierky sounds of the In
etrUment that the storm was playing sad have,
with the messages. ! passed into the ticke
Office, where light was left burning, and
stood FOR some time thinking whether Ia,
money package would be less exposed in ia,
safe than 10 would be under the mattress q
my bed. j concluded the latter place would
De the hardest for a thief 10 reach. took In,
brown package out of the safe and placed h
under The mattress.
Then took a third glass Of tOddy-againsI
my ruie-which / thought warranted by cir
enmstahees once more ] sat down to nay
papers and another cigar with no better sue
Sess than befors.