Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1890-04-05

You are sure this telegram has not
been sent?" he said, addressing an.
other of the men.
II know it has not" was the
answer. HE was Just getting ready
to send it when we entered"
Very good. snow, he continued,
turning to the white, horror-stricken
operator. Il want you to under
stand that we are going to secure
the treasure which was to have been
sent down from Richport tonight,
and you will help us. Ifyou have any
objections this little persuader will
silence them. As bespoke he tapped
the butt of thereyolver Significantly,
which projected from his pocket.
He then took up q pencil and
proceeded TO write out a message on
a soft sheet. While he was thus en-
ployed Bevan took occasion 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 Richport Bank:
Yes: send the bullion by the milk train to-
night without fail. My cashier with a guard
will be at the station TO receive it.
j. II. CLAUDE. President.
Bevan looked down at his mana
eled wrists. The irons were heavy
and the chains connecting the two
rings not more than three inches long.
II can't send it with these on" he
muttered.
"You mustl' said the chief, grimly.
Bevan resolved to try. Taking up
pencil he managed to count the
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 a
message blank, but under the con-
ditions bethought himself in time.
"Stopl What is that?" said the
chief, pointing to the check.
'"The number of words and the
amount paid" answered Bevan.
is this necessary" he asked of the
man to whom he had spoken before.
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 bullet through
your head. Smith, stand out of
range, or you may get taste of it,
too"
Bevan sat down at the table, the
leader pushing hiv ehaircloser. Open
ing the key he commenced calling
"R." 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"
THAT is good" said the man ad-
dressed as Smith who was the oper-
ator. Send SLOW. can't read fast
he added.
Bevan proceeded very slowly, and
Smith pronounced each word as he
made it. The leader glanced alter
lately at Smith and Bevan uneasily.
1t was evident that this was the
crisis OF their bold conspiracy. eR"
broke Bevan in the middle OF a mes
sage, wanting to know why the deuce
he sent so slowly. Bevan closed the
Key and took his hand away nervous
y.
what did he say2" demanded the
.hief.
He wanted to know why l didn't !
lend faster"
Tell him you have a sore finger"
'aid Smith.
Poor Bevan spelled this lie out |
slowly, Smith reading it aloud, then
vent on and finished the message.
"R" gave a sharp and distinct 30 |
<" which the renegade operator
cad aloud.
The leader gave n sigh of relief
which Bevan promptly echoed as he
cit the pistol barrel removed from
lis head. The chief then unlocked |
me of the handouts, removed it,
placed Bevan's hands behind his
back and reclasped the ring around
lis wrist, thus rendering him perfect
y helpless.
There was nothing to be done ex-
ept to wait. The men disposed
ON the various chairs
catered about the room, the leader
till guarding Bevan, revolver IN
Iand. As Bevan thought over the
vents OF the last half hour he was
He'd with rage at the dastardly
Iced he had been compelled to COM
nit. This money which now would
all into the hands of these mis-
reants was the honest property of
lonest farmers, wives and orphans,
nd he had assisted to rob them.
Better far to have sacrificed his life.
{ unframed, how could he ever hold
p his head again? Oh, that he had
efused to be their tool Was there
% way TO undowhat he had done?
Stop! The key which he had fixed
p in the dark corner under his table,
it to the main line pre-
iSply ms his other key WAS conuectinsr