Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-09-14

age marked t1 ,OOO, c. O. D., is going back to the teWelry firm it came from. Here is tho silver -papered one, that means a wedding present, and this bit of 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- gersa There'd be considerable pickings for man of that sort here. It may be just as well that we arc hemmed 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 as they should be, and he turned over a flat parcel for another look at it's face, dotted by sundry labels, show ing that it had passed over different lines.
 "Something comfortable in the look of Il" unused 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, if it be one, to go off in moment, without warning-''
 An, hard luck for yon, simple messenger, with that dim form standing back of you. with uplifted club that falls without warn ing, striking you down, leaving your trust ungnarded to tho ruthless hand of tho de- spoiler.
 It was but moments work, for the key was still in tho lock. The eager fingers which lowered over tho contents of the desk fastened almost immediately upon the package which had been the last in the messengers hand. Nothing else was touched, although tho gleaming eyes rested upon tho marks '$1 900 c. O. ID. ;'' the dark faco bending over tho safe worked in @ spasm of conflicting emotions.
 "What chance is herem muttered the thief. "But steady-steadyi Remember the stake you are playing for. Don't let any thing less interfere with that, my lad, or you will be left. Hist, dangcr-vam- oose!"
 Instantly, with the words just breathed to himself, tho man disappeared among the piles of expressage which incumbered the car. He had scarcely donc so when Q brake man came whistling in at the door, and be- gan poking at the fire.
 "Hello, Bergman" he called out; "what are you up to, taking a snooze on the sly? You'd better wake up and get ready for business There'n 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.
 eWherc is hea" he asked, excitedly. "Stand hard, Ike. Don't let him get away.'
 "Where is whoa" 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"
 'pThere is," insisted Bergman. s'I havc been robbed. The thicf struck mo down, yet was not altogether senseless, and I saw him move away as you came in. He is here, hidden. Lookl"
 He was searching himself with feyerish 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 tho others earnest ness, grew incredulous again.
 'Pshaw, man, how could any one get in with me at the brakes and this front door lockeds If there is a thief here, he has slowed himself into one of these boxes and nailed himself in. A likely idea, ain't iti Hello, down brakesl What now, won. der!"
 He hurried away to his post in answer to the signal, and moment later, with great jar and quiver of resistance, the train came to a stand.
 Tho conductor hastened forward to 1oin the engineer as he dropped down from his box.
 "What is 1t, Larkinl'
 "Log on the track. We'd have boon into 1t, sure as shot, only for that ar' pesky