Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1890-03-14

q soft sheet. While he WAS thus en-
ployed Bevan took occnsion to
glance around. There were eight
men in the room, all of whom wore
masks similar to those worn by their
chief. He could Just make out their
forms in the dim light. A hand
dropped upon his shoulder showed
that even the turning of the head
had been observed.
'There." the leader said, "you will
send that instead of the other mes
sage"
He held up the blank before Bevan.
| 1t read:
| To William Klein. Cashier Il chport Bank:
| Yes: send The bullion by the milk train to-
| night without fail. My cashier with guard
will be at the station to receive il.
J. H. CLAUDE. President.
Bevan looked down at his mana
cled wrists. The irons were heavy
and the chains connecting the two
rings not more than three inches long.
81 can't send it with these on" he
muttered.
"You must" said the chief, grimly.
Bevan resolved to try. Taking up
u PNhtii ihsi1uStu w tOultU lllt
words and scrawled the check on the
message with some difficulty. He
was going to remark from force of
habit that it should be written on u
message blank, but under the con-
ditions bethought himself in time.
stop! What is that" said the
chief, pointing to the check
The number of words and the
amount paid" answered Bevan.
as this necessary" he asked of the
man to whom he had spoken before
Z" Yes, sir. 1t is all right. They call
it the check and put it on every mes
sage."
Very well, then; go ahead. This
man is an operator; he will watch
you closely, and at the first sign of
treachery | will put a bullet through
your head. Smith, stand out of
range, or you may get a taste of it,
too"
Bevan sat down at the table, the
leader pushing his chair closer Open
ing the key he commenced calling
ar He again felt the cold barrel
of the revolver on his forehead, and
it made him so nervous that hecould
hardly manipulate the key. "R"
answered.
"That is good" said the man ad-
dressed as Smith who was the oper-
ator. "Send SLOW. | can't read fast
sending" he added.
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 mes
sage, wanting to know why the deuce
he sent so slowly. Bevan closed the
key and took his hand away nervous
ly.
What did he say?" demanded the
chief.
"He wanted to know why l didn't
send faster"
Tell him you have a sore finger"
said Smith.
Poor Bevan spelled this lie out
slowly, Smith reading it aloud, then
went on and finished the message
"R" gave II sharp and distinct 90
h" which the renegade operator
read aloud.
The leader gave a sigh of relief
which Bevan 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 hands behind his
l,a 4
his wrist, thus rendering him perfect
ly helpless.
There was nothing to be done ex-
ceDt to wait. The men disposed
themselves on the various chairs
scattered about the room, the leader
still guarding Bevan, revolver IN
hand. AS Bevan thought over the
events OF the last half hour he was
filed with rage at the dastardly
deed he had been compelled to com
NIT. This money which now would
fall INTO the hands of these mis-
creants was the honest property of
honest farmers, wives and orphans,
and he had assisted 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?
Stopl The key which he had fixed
up in the dark corner under his table,
connecting it to the main line pre-
cisely as his other key was connecting
to play joke on the good-natured
station agent. He had at odd times
practiced sending with his foot and
found it not hall so difficult as one
would suppose. He had bent the cir
cult closer so that he could move it
easily, and the rest was merely
matter of practice. He had perse-
vered until he grew quite proficient
in this novel method OF transmission.
lie opened the key with his foot
and made a few dots.
what is that" said the leader.
"Only some one practicing," an
swered Bevan, readily.
The leader looked at Smith, who
nodded,
Rowan called "R" rapidly.
"What did he say there?"
"Practieipg the letter &C. 3" he an
swered glibly. DO you wish me to
read aloud all that passes over the
wire?"
mo, it is not necessary"
81 can read most oft, said Smith.
givingBevan n penetrating glance.
Ravon had his own raoeons TO-,