Mexico weekly ledger., 1889-02-07

StttEEEN u k#E#lstt iyE FE-49b&AftfS.
After ! few minutes wasted in forcible
Comments upon what hal happened, the Oh
struct;oa Vas hastily removed from the
track, and the train moved CT,
As the Hast ruuID.a died away in the dis
lance, a single figure ceCpt II from It's hid
ing place in Il wcedy hollow, ana stood
darby defined under the cleaning stars.
II wasn't any more than in time the
figure muttercd. But what az escape Tor
me What a cover to this little affair of
mine: Itcoulint have happened better if
Ia had the planning"
Thc loss - Tho express company proved
10 be I heavy one. and the story Of The
messenger regarding thu first assault pro-
dGgcd but little effect, though tue clearing
out Of the car brought unexpected con-
1irtratiCn o. his tale. \ square sufficiently
large to = iI-sG mans body had been eat
through tie bottom OF the car. leaving the
boards 50 carefully fitted into 1t that u cas-
ual inspection wo:!d nat betray the fact. 1t
was Ike vino made the discovery and I'M
parted il 10 Bergman.
Locks like Your No. One had put up n
carcf4ller job than the gang what follercd
him. Il beats the deuce. Why. that ar chap
must have TGde through on the truck and
watched his chance 20 gct you alone, then
popped UP through ;itst holr and got back
again. i like IS moi dropped quietly down
and made away when the second lpt If rob
bers took the train. What 10 you make out
Of it, BerCraan' Do you reckon that the
cream of the ~sliIrnnaIu' WAS in that ar
one package hc took. II don't seem material
that any common thief should 20 over IA
gold brick ana 4 thousand dollars in jew
+ clry ana more IN cash f1r Ouc bit of q laca-
age unless it was waEth a sigLt-any ways
to him. Pity you doa't know the address It
had on it"
"ButaI do klow. Something's don't
know what-lmprcsscd it on my memory"
II know what Id do If | was in your
shoes, then" said Exc. IA 20 10 the party
il was intended for and tell him all aboutit.
The express company isn't going 10 coax
him to come down on them for the yally of
it By giving him notice Of It's loss. and they're
all taken up in Inc hunt after the other gauE.
Now, / take it that j, wasn't money nor
straight moneys worth, but something of
as much or may be more concern to them
that's interested III it, and I'd give them the
chance to- get on the track Of the thief while
it's fresh. Looks to ne like the square way
Of doing it,
81 believe you are right, Ike" said Berg.
man, ~thoughtfullv, and it was in accord,
ance with this view of the case that he made
his way the following evening to the adj.
dress which he carried in his min 1t was
growing late, for he had been obliged 70
wait until his working hours were over. Ii
was an unknown locality 10 him, the street
u quiet one branching off from one Of the
main vcnUCs. and not so well lighted, sc
that he had some difficulty in determining
the location Of the number be sought. Once
or twice, as he stopped to study the mum.
2 hnpE tn f~7-7,t@A iagI- tlfrl-inu Ia baup1
footsteps and expecting to see on one APP
proach, though no one appeared: but now,
as he made out tie right figures over the
door OF a house which stool Il little back
from the siIyt.@lE. some ore did come hasti,
ly up at his back, ard turning from the
street at the same instant with himself
mounted the steps at his side.
"Going in!' queriod this new conner, fun.
bling in his pocket, apparently for Il key.
Eyes, if, as l suppose, Nr. Childcr lives
here"
lam Lyman Chiller, Haveu'tIscen you
before, somewhere"
Greatly, 1 don't think you'd know for al
the chance you have of seeing me here
thought Bergman, unpIeasantly affected by
the brusque tones OF the other; but he gave
his name, and was surprised 20 find it in
mediately recognized.
tThe express messenger! Have yor
brought 4 package for me, SIR"
II have not, butt it is with reference to tina
I have come"
Explain EpgFcof, please"
II will, - more and more displeased by tht
manner Of the other. The package wa:
stolen, in so strange u way that l thought /
best to let you know the exact circumstance
Attending its loss. If you choose to lister
barn I will make the matter short -
Briefly he related the circumstances at
tending its loss. the other listening until th
sound of withdrawing bolts within mac
him start. With a muttered excuse, h
darted down the steps, and hurried away
while the opening door disclosed a youn,
man equipped for the street, who paused a
the sight of the messenger, lingering on tn
steps.
Did you wish to see nc, sirl'' he il
quircd.
81 had business with 8fr. Childer, VIII
has just left me-" explained Norris Berg
, man
Mr.. Childcr:" in a puzzled tone. 9
, wasn't aware l had q namcsakc at N
, very door, too. Are you quite sure tina
you have not made a mistake! My name j
|, Lyman Childer."
j feelingCf CONSERVATION. mingled wit
chagrln. swept over the express messenger
, He realized instantly that he had bee
!, duped; there was that about the man bt
/ fore him that ave him confidence in hi
truth, had not the hasty manner in whic
:. the other decamped stamped his prefer
sioDs with suspicion.
| 81 am afraid | haze been an idiotr' b
} exclaimed, ruefGllE. III you will give me
moment to explain
: GAS many as you like, if you will step il
: side.n
Bergman followed him through the lighte
t hall, into a small apartment bearing Attic
, of masculine traps which stamped it as
+ gentlenlan's sLlokIng-ruom, andthcre mad
1 his explanation. Lyman Childer treate
: the matter lightly.
81 An not looking for any valuable con
, modify he aid. '.in fact, | haven't tt
!, faintest idea what the package could COZ
tain. 1t strikes me that my counterfeit
a little off his base. Got the notion prob
bly, that the thing is worth more than is
t all likely to prove the case should it eve
turn up.'
do you propose, then, to take no ster
D toward its recovery"
. 81 don't know about that. OF course "
L my own curiosity. What would you advis
me TO do about it3r
"Irace out the sender IN the first Il
. stance. The package came from ROM
V Rock. Tex. That may be a clue TO you r
> garding its nature"
..Don't know q soul there declared L,
d man Childcr, still Lightly. Upon my wort
). Ibelieve You have rs much interest in II
l matter as | have
+ Norris Bergman colOred, and felt abashe
II don't know why IL should take
strong a hold on nc. The mere fact that Il
q thief should single ii from 50 many othel
r that on their face would seem more of
$ prize may have something to DO with
Let me advise you to see the agent about
at once"
Lyman ChiEdcr turned a somewhat qui
zical though searching glance upon Il
messenger.
sDoes the company pay you fer taldr
sides against it," he asked. "Wouldn
the agent think that advice little oficiou
not to say upcGlled for, from youi It
!, good in it's way, though. and I'm likely
follow it. Have Il cigar TO smoke on yo1
: wayii
Norris took it and his departure, leavir
Childsr at the door where he had encoun
= cred him, but the latter evidently b:
: changed his mind about going cut til
night
: CHAPTER II.
ra.l ,,.tt 49,, NJ, na-~-,o-