The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-12-21
TRAIN ROBBERS.
How I Played the Role Of Deaf
Mute w ith Startling Success.

"Good-bye, Connie. BE sure you writ
ss soon as ever you get there. | don't hal
like the idea of your going away alone.
shall have the horrors until hear tina
you have not been kidnapped or muir
dered.'
My friend hugged and kissed me, ant
finally let me go with great unwilling
ness.
had been spending few days with
IN old schoolmate in the pretty little
town ofG--, on my way from Michigan
TO California. Her husband had beer
called away in the morning on urgent
business The latest baby was scream
ing with cramps or somo infantile all
mont, and there was no one to go with
me to the depot, or give me what she
considered a proper send off.
] returned her kisses and good-byes,
not at all put out; being rather inde.
pendent young lady in the first place,
and having very little need for an escort
anyway. | had purchased through
ticket, and my trunk was checked to my
destination, as l had not considered it
necessary to have it with me on so short
a visit.
My friend lived on branch road, and
! had several hours ride before reached
the city whore l would meet the Over.
land.
arrived at the little station just as
the train came in. / was greatly sur
prised at the approach of the station
agent, who stood on the platform outside.
''Hello! here's my little deaf and dumb
beauty" he exclaimed, and put out his
hand in respectfully friendly manner.
He seemed to be addressing two men
who stood near; one a rather tall, good
looking man, with a clustering voice,
and the other small, sly, mean-looking
fellow.
''She goes down on pass every few
months" the agent added.
Amazement held me quiet at first.
As the case of mistaken identity came
to me more clearly, my fun-loving dis
position came to my aid, and | de-
terminod to carry on the farce, for the
amusement there might be in it. So
smiled and bowed in a cordial way.
He accompanied me to the car, and
waving aside the brakeman, who stood
ready to help me in, assisted me up the
steps himself, as if my supposed in
firmity had taken away my powers of
locomotion.
the platform, followed.
Here's nice little deaf mute,
Charlie" he said to tho conductor, as he
tnrned over a seat and piled my few
packages in it. 81 don't believe she's
been down since you've had the run.
She's got on some new togs to-day, and
looks uncommonly pretty, but don't you
be making love to her." and he laughed
at his own wit. 'She's got little tablet
in her handbag that she writes on"
/ was inwardly thankful for this hint,
! had taken notes of my journey, to fill
out into letters to the friends at home.
| kept my eyes discreetly lowered,
fearing that should not be able to keep
my countenance and carry on the COM
edy, and took my seat on the shady side
near the center of the car.
The two men were sitting behind me.
Arranging myself comfortably took
survey of the occupants of the car. One
side, where the sun beat hotly in, was
entirely deserted, and the few persons
in front of me were extremely uninter-
esting.
One poor woman was being pulled and
hauled, and otherwise maltreated by her
half-dozen children. The Older onos
quarreled and fought and made them
selves generally disagreeable, whilo tho
baby yelled till / almost wished my
fictitious deafness had been real. To
my great joy, the incompetent mother
removed herself and her dreadful chill
dren from the car few stations ahead.
The conductor came IN frequently and
we carried on written conversation,
which was as remarkable for its pen
mansbip, as for the astonishing stories
was obliged to invent, TO keep up my
character as deaf mute.
The few passengers dropped off ono
by one. The day was hot, and the
country through which we were passing
nnipSeresting.
4 vas sinking into doze, when sud
delly became wide-awake at tho sound
of a terrible oath bohind me. l raised
my head. The seats before me wero
empty. Feeling thirsty, went to tho
end of the Car for drink of water.
Then ] saw that there was no one in tho
car but myself and the two men wHo had
come on board with me.
<u uncanny feeling cropt over mo.