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

"LooI here, Bevan," said Superin-
tendent Clarke, 81 will give you just
one more chance. / am going to
send you down to Henderson. II
you behave yourself there, and show
that you have any of the true stuff
In you, will give you better posi-
ton in time. Ifnot, / will wash my
hands out OF you, and you will re-
ceiye no more employment from this
company.
He looked after Bevan somewhat
regretfully, as the great, handsome
fellow went out. Superintendent
Clarke was inclined to like him; but
Bevan's conduct made it impossible
to show him much favor.
A week later Bevan went down to
Henderson and opened the little tele-
graph Office over which he was to
be sole manager for-how long?
Telegraphy was more of curios-
ity then than it is now, and he found
himself regarded as sort of lion by
the people there. He tried hard to
be steady and sober, and really sue
ceeded very well. He struck up an
acquaintance with the station agent,
who was a steady, thorough-going
young fellow and an excellent com
panion. He was greatly taken with
the mysteries photography, and very
much to his delight Bevan offered to
teach him and had soon transformed
him into tolerable plug"
One evening about two weeks after
Bevan had been in possession of the
Henderson office hewas attracted to
the sounder by hearing Richport, the
largest city on the line, thirty miles
above Henderson. calling furiously.
The big fellow walked leisurely back
to the table and answered in his
slow, drawing fashion, which always
set the other operators along the
line nearly distracted. He was re-
warded by the following:
To ]. II. Claude, President Henderson Bank:
The bullion has arrived. Do you wish it
sent by milk train TO night? / shall not send
IL unless receive direct orders at once
WILLIAM KLEIN, Cashier r. Bank.
He copied the message, enclosed it
in an envelope, directed it in his
round, bold hand and called to the
who was in the outer
room.
"Be sure and get an answer, Will
lium," hesaid.
Faith, / WILL" William replied.
Bevan followed him to the door.
The moon had gone down audit had
grown very dark. The station was
about mile from the village, and he
could just see the lights OF the near
est house in the distance.
In halt an hour William returned.
"Rather lonely walk, WILL" Be-
van remarked.
"Yes, sir. / came back across the
fields, and so shortened il"
Which in all probability saved hiss
life.
Bevan tore theenvelope containing
the answer open and read it.
You can go home, now my boy"
ne said.
The message read:
TO William Klein, Cashier Richport Bank:
No; do not send the bullion tonight. |
will give further orders tomorrow as to its |
disposition.
]. Il CLAUDE, President Henderson Bank
He had checked the message, and.
by the table, had stretched
,ut his hand toward the key to call
aichport, when an arm was thrown
around him, pinning his
lands to his sides, and he felt the
ofcold steel upon his temple.
"Move, shout or speak but single /
word, and / win blow your brains
nut" said a harsh, determined voice
n low tone.
Bevan was as brave. perhaps, as
most men, yet he was thoroughly
scared almost TO death.
He could hear the mufiied tramp
IT men in the Office. One of them
,lew out the kerosene lamp aud
urned o dark lantern so that II
hown directly in Bevan's eyes, al,
most binding him, Another man,
ow in stature, thick set, with n long
lack beard and q black mask over
he upper part of his face, placed him
elf directly in front of Bevan and
reduced pair OF handouts, which
e secured upon his wrists. His arms
fera then released by the man who
eld them. He with the beard, who
eemed to be the leader, then by tho
ght of the lantern hunted over the
able until he found the message,