South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1891-07-03

appearing 10 know each other. while
The old gentleman and myself sat
close together. noticed that the old
gentleman had Q tin or iron box be.
tween his legs which he seemed to be
anxious to keep out Of sight.
Alter a short conversation with
him on all subjects I allowed myself
TO drift gently into a dozs and while
In that condition my car, trained as
1t Was to the intelligent SOUND Of the
telegraph instrument caught a faint
TIC. tic, which resolved itself into tue
following words:
Bill, the young one is going to
sleep and l will tend to him while You
pitch the old one out over the preci.
pice. when Z make The signal and Sc
cure the box.
was now wide awake as IL I had
been called by ap operator TO re-
eeivo message; bit / pretended to
be still dczing while l listened 10.
tenily. Then l hearl the window
rattle aud it resd--
All right, Rob. We will be to the
Big Jump in about twenty minutes
and then give the word aud GU, he
goes.
Taking q curious look from be.
tween my eyelids L saw that one of
the villains was tslegraphing by vi,
brating knife-Llade between his
teeth, while the other used the win
dow for that purpose. neither of them
appearing TO notice the other
i know tho precIpice to which they
referred, a terrible place where a mi
nsr had once jumped off in a fit Of
despair at his bad luck. from which il
was known as the Big Jump. How
to communicate to the old gentleman
was at loss to determine; but &.
nally took out u newspaper and IN.
! derscored the words, In lengthy ed
itoriaI, which. IL read consecutiye!y.
would real, Be cautions, cir. These
two villains here intend to murder
and rob us in ten inmates. When
arise you attack the one with the
mcustache and will take the other.
then handed the paper to the old
gentleman, saying: Have you read
this, sirP LIS most excellent edi.
| Lorial
He took the paper, put on his
glasses, and commenced to read.
Soon the UNDERSIGNED words drew his
attention and ne began 20 study them
rten saw him grow pale and feel
for his box with his foot. Handing
ne Dac4 the paper he said signifi
cant'y.
DO you believe that, s!rP
| know 1t 10 be true, sir, said.
Horrible said he, slipping his
hand In his brea,t pocket, a stern
look coming 10 his face as he added :
believe that I'd feel like shooting
some one.
| saw | had man Of courage 10
help me, go cared little for The vii.
famous smile which his remark
brought to one of the rufiau>s face.
ga" We were near the Big Jump and
were going down a steep grade at a
lively rate when one of the villains
telegraphed.
Nov?
Tue next minute I was on him
knocking him senseless with my re.
volver. The old ge1tleman did O.
qually as well, the ruffians being taxi
en- completely by surprise CT our sud
den attack. We had passed The pre-
cipice now, and calling TO the driver
to stop, lie and the one outside pas
senger helped to bind our prisoners
whom We left inside, while we climb
ed to the top. But when we arrived
In Sacramento we found that the rob
bers hal released each other an
dropped out along the road.
The old gentleman introduced him
self as Mr.. Stamford, O Sacrament,
banker, and Insisted on my accept
ing the hospitality Of his home, say
ing that bad saved bis life sod
large amouut of money. Iconsentet
and was driven with him TO his hand
some residence on the outskirts OF tb
city, where l was introduced TO hi
wife and two daughters, the former
kind mOtherIy woman and the latte
handsome brunette and prett,
blonde.
Three weeks stay at Rose Hill, Mr.
Slamfordls home with is Lowell
walks amid a wreath OF tropical 40 v
srs, and the society Of Ella an,
Blauchs Stamford, loyelier il no
more beautiful than the GlTors whic
bloom ed around tbsm, only served I,
make me wish for n longer stay ant
when Mr. Stanford offered me q DO
, sition IN his banking house, mos
/ gladly accepted ~, not failing 10 tax
courage from tho evident delight o
the fair Blanche (9bom | thought tn
lOvelier OF the two siders) when
told her e the offer and decision.
About this time SIR. Stamford, q
his wife's quest. replaced two Irisl
servants with two Cinnamon, muOI
TO the formers violent dsnuncistioa
Mrs. Stamford was loud ia her praisr
Of her new help, who seemed 10 b
! quiet. active, orderly fellows, Away
ready. always willingJ and always I,
be found 1T their posts.
To these two spoon gobblers a.
the Irish called All Wing and Al
Lee. I somehow conceived decides
aversion. There was, / thought,
sinister look about their eyes (whicI
seemed to be cut less on the bias thai
usual With Monpoliansl which sent